Interesting/useful Android Applications
Android apps by category:
General Interest
Sort of in my idea of descending order of potential interest.
Tiny Flashlight
Turn your phone into a flashlight. Brighter than you would believe, and very useful.
However, if you have a later version of Android OS on your phone, this is built in to the OS (though the app has a LOT more options) if you pull down from the top and press the flashlight icon.
Starbucks
OneNote
Replacement for Evernote. Works great for synchronized note taking across multiple computers/phones/tablets. Evernote has gone downhill, see below.
I use OneNote to create and update shopping lists, stuff I need (or people have asked me to get) at estate sales, information for upcoming trips, Christmas lists, and general info I need access to. It is GREAT to have that info at your fingertips and be able to update it from anywhere. The only issue I've had is needing to remember to SYNC after making changes; a note should sync automatically across all your devices as soon as a change has been made, in practice it takes a while unless you sync manually.
Evernote
CHANGED - use OneNote app instead. Evernote has recently changed so you have to purchase it if you want to use it on more than two devices. This is ridiculous in 2018... sucks because this is a great multiple note taker editor/manager - shopping lists, general notes, etc. Create lists on computer or phone, and automatically syncs them so you can create/edit on any platform and see the changes on all immediately.
Dogcatcher
Podcast search tool/aggregator/player/manager. Very nice. See my page on podcasts.
Accuweather Platnum ($2.99)
If you're going to use a weather app, this is the one to get. Runs weather out 3 weeks (!), min/hourly/daily forcasts, Access to maps, video summaries, and weather news. Track weather at multiple locations.
Tweetcaster
Ya, I'm on twitter. Don't expect me to say much, I just use it to track comments in the tech world. Company that wrote this is called 1Louder or oneLouder, not sure which.
Compass
It's a compass. On your phone. By company called "Catch.com"
Google Sky
Very cool, identify starts, constellations, etc, in the night sky.
Easy Voice Recorder Pro
Why this doesn't come std in the Android OS is beyond me.
Stop Watch
Because like the compass, the Android OS doesn't come with one built in unless you have a newer Android OS (and phone) in which case this functionality is built into the phone's OS in the "clock" app.
Scan
QU reader (Those perfectly square things with the odd lines inside them - takes you to web pages without your having to enter the http address)
Flash Card Maker Pro
Memorize in your spare time. Easily create flash cards, save them in different packs if you want.
Kindle
Read books on your cell phone. This app just keeps getting better. Also you can convert a document or article to .pdf format and upload it to Kindle, and it will appear on your Kindle app.
Overdrive Media Console
Plays E-books you download from your local library :-) And it works, really nicely!
Techy-stuff
WiFi Analyzer
This is the shit for debugging home WiFi or checking out WiFi wherever you are. Covers both 2.5 and 5G bands if you have both transmitters/receivers in your phone. Great tool, easy to use.
Wolfram Alpha
Answers all the questions that Google can't. Unlike almost all the rest, this cost a little coin.
Frequensee
Audio spectrum analyzer (display). Basic, but can be useful.
HandyCalc
A VERY extended calculator. Not for the casual calculator user.
ES File Explorer
Lets you see all the files that are on your phone, view sub-directories, etc. "opens the lid". The later Android OS versions have a file explorer built in that you can use, but the app can be easier to bring up and use.
NetworkMapper
Scans your network for attached equipment, returns data on same
ES File Explorer
Explore the file system on your android. You can do some of this with andSMB
andSMB
Samba client for Android (xfr files to/from computer to phone)
Fing
Network probe
Foxfi
Tether application - allows your cell phone to act as a wifi hotspot, so your computer, tablet, Kindle, etc, can connect to the internet through it when no other wifi connection is available. Fair warning, usage will go against the data cap on your cell plan...
Games -
OK, not a catagory I was into much at all until I got a tablet. But on a tablet:
Candy Crush - this is very addictive and easy to learn and to pick up/put down. You can play it on two different levels - one just as a distraction, but you can also pay attention and it becomes a logic puzzle with a bit of 5-card stud mixed in.
Kingdom Rush - build forts, archery towers, defend a position against attacks. addictive fun.
Zombie Gunship - straight shooter. You're in a plane, shooting zombies on the ground. Saving the civilians. Fun.
Angry birds - but you knew that already.
Crossy road - if you liked Frogger you'll love this.
Programming on the Android (much easier than you think)
Python for Android
Almost the full Python library, including beautiful soup (!). Rather than writing a full application in Java and xml using eclipse or some-such and D/L to your phone, this allows you to write python programs and execute them as scripts. Very easy to do, and very powerful.
onx
Microsoft's quick scripter, as in on(x) do(y) at onx.ms
Tasker
Haven't played with this yet (I use python) scripting language for Android, recommended by others.
IFTTT - If This Then That
A simple conditional statement programming ability
For instance, "if I turn on Bluetooth, then bring up my music app"