Home > My Lists > Android Applications
I eventually broke down and bought a tablet computer. I discovered that it was far more convenient than (even) my netbook for things like casual browsing at the coffee shop and checking off items from my shopping list at the grocery store. For my uses, it is as much a souped-up PDA as it is a browsing platform. I started this list of apps when I was thinking about buying the tablet, so now I am revisiting the list and adding commentary based on my (ongoing) experimentation.
Reviews
I’m slowly migrating the sections below into bite-sized posts.
The Basics
PDF Readers. I download a lot of PDF documents, including e-books, technical manuals, tax forms, you name it. I also produce a good number of PDFs of my own. I have had problems opening PDFs created from Linux-based applications (e.g. OpenOffice) using Adobe Reader in the past, so I need a reader that can handle them. I’d also love to be able to annotate PDFs (write in the margins). But hey, who says I need to have only one reader loaded? I might want several options available to me.
Adobe Reader. [2.8M] The old standby! Reviews confirm that it works, but can be slow and may not read non-Adobe PDFs. I have not yet had these issues myself. It does support bookmarks, text search, sharing, several page-flow options, and “go to page” via a slider.
PDF To Go. It came loaded with the tablet. Very basic. Cannot even “go to page” with the free version.
ezPDF Reader. [4.9M] Full version ($3) permits annotation, personal bookmarks, and some other neat features. Some reviewers have noted some limitations, including the inability to read from SD card. Haven’t tried it yet.
Office Suites. I’ve purposely avoided the temptation of downloading an actual office suite for several reasons. First of all, I already have a netbook for heavy computing, including document manipulation. Second, most of the apps focus on Microsoft document formats, but my family has been using the Open Document Format for a few years now and we’re not about to convert everything now. Thrid, the tablet is not that easy to type on, and by the time I buy a Bluetooth keyboard to lug around and a case with a stand, I might as well have just brought my netbook instead. Reading documents may be necessary though.
DocumentsToGo. [size varies] Opens Microsoft Office files, but I haven’t seen anything about OpenOffice docs.
OpenOffice Document Reader. I will need the ability to read OpenOffice files.
Media Players. The ability to play movie and audio files is also very basic
Adobe Flash Player. [size varies] At the time of this writing, Flash Player 11 is the current release. It has a 4.4 rating in the Market, with over 336,000 five-star ratings and 33,000 one-star ratings. The most serious complaints are that it is big (~10MB?) and cannot be moved to the SD card. Since I plan on using a tablet and not a phone, this shouldn’t be a problem. It also appears that some did not install it properly as a browser plug-in and, of course, there are the Flash haters.
Productivity
Editing & Notetaking.
AK Notepad. [468K] By the makers of Catch (below). This appears to be a very simple notepad, but does allow tagging and export.
Catch. [size varies]
Evernote. [6.9M] I have started using Evernote online and love it! The app is great too!
Inkpad Notepad. [445K] I created an account and used this notepad online. It’s clean and simple, but I was hoping to see the same options as are shown on the screenshots for the Android app, namely the ability to create checkbox-laden to-do lists. All I get is blank notebook paper.
OneNote. [7M] Well, first of all, it’s made by Microsoft, which almost automatically disqualifies if from my list; however, I was impressed with it a few years ago when tablet PCs (read: laptops with swivel screens) first came out. It’s limited to a certain number of notes before you have to pay a license fee, and it does not appear that notes can be exported. I think I have better options.
Online Tools.
Facebook. [size varies] The BlackBerry app is not that good and I’ve heard that the iPhone app is lacking too. If the Android app is of the same caliber, I will probably opt to use the site via the browser.
Skype. [13M] I seldom use skype, but it would make me feel more like an extra on Star Trek if I can video conference on a flat handheld computer.
WordPress. [1.4M] I’m not always online, but when I am, I prefer posting to WordPress.
Planners.
DGT GTD + Toodledo. [1.3M + 233K] This app syncs with Toodledo (with extension), which I already use for GTD components. I need this, but I’m not holding my breath. It’s third-party and only in beta testing.
Pocket Informant. [2.4M] It syncs with Toodledo and I like the book layout interface! The User Guide is available in PDF format on the Market page. I need to read this before deciding. For $13, which is a lot for an Android app, I expect it to work well.
Specific Application
GroceryIQ – Tablet. [8.8M] This service is quite promising; however, I loaded up a list one day using the online interface, went for the store, and could not retreive my list when I arrived. The list came back the next day.
Cloud Storage
Dropbox. [size varies] I’ve heard nothing but good things about this service.
Religion
Laudate (Catholic One). [4.8M] This is one of the first apps I had to evaluate. Confession: I installed it on a tab in the store. It has a lot of good stuff! I wrote to the author who confirmed that the lectionary and divine office require an Internet connection, but smaller content, such as prayers, rosary, and stations do not. Interestingly, the NAB Bible relies on a connection, but the Douay Rheims does not — I wonder if this is due to copyright restrictions. I came to realize that I could download most, if not all, of the same content to an SD card in PDF or TXT format, and/or cache it with Read It Later (see above).
Entertainment
TV & Radio.
Hulu. I’m not a big TV person, and, as stated above, I probably won’t be near the wi-fi long enough to watch a show, but a friend suggested that I give it a try. We’ll see.
Games.
Angry Birds. [15M] Everyone else’s addiction.
Cut the Rope. [18M] My addiction.
Drisk. [3.1M] Screenshots remind me of World Master.
Frozen Bubble. [497K] One of my Linux favorites.
Refraction. [941K] My buddy’s addiction.
Photography
Skitch. [1.5M] I definitely want this app if for nothing but to annotate pictures to post on Facebook.
Instagram.
Measure & Sketch.
My Measures & Dimensions.
Toys
Bump. [2.7M] Recommended by a friend, but it looks like it’s most useful for phones, and I’m not sure I’d use it for much of anything at all.
Graffiti. [free:4.1M pro:2M] Palm-style data input. From what I’ve read, it disables some browser zooming.
Sky Map. [2.2M] Great reviews, and it’s not critical for me, so I will probably use it. I can get back into astronomy again!
Swype. Similar to Graffiti (above). I don’t see it on the Market anymore.
Voxer. [3.2M] PTT/walkie talkie functionality. Probably not necessary on a tablet. Perhaps on a phone. Recommended by a friend.
System
Connectbot. [707K] Installed this at a store. All I could do was ‘cd’ and ‘ls’. No grep, sed, perl, etc. The good stuff (if it exists) probably requires rooting the tablet.
Ftpserver. [76K] May come in handy once in a while. Not sure about security.
Juice Defender. [size varies] Comes in regular ($0), plus ($2), and ultimate ($5). Recommended by a friend. I will probably try it.
Lookout. [3.3M] Security and antivirus suite recommended by a friend.
Yet To Research
Milage Tracker. I’d like to capture the data once.
Mindmapping. I’ve used MindMeister in the past. I don’t use this type of tool often.
DOT Reader. I’ve used Graphviz in the past and can create the files with a text editor.
Genealogy. A GEDCOM file reader/browser would be useful.
Guitar Tuner. I plan on storing scanned copies of my music, so why not include a tuner too!
App Organizer. Recommended by a friend to keep app icons organized and not cluttered.
PicsArt – Photo Studio
Sketch Notes
FreeNote
Note Plus +
GMemory
