Android devices are great devices that'll fit any person's needs. If you're a power user or you just want an alternative to the norm, then an Android device is for you. What's a high powered smartphone without the apps to back it up? If you need an app to search for reviews, play a specific game, or get directions to a restaurant, there's an app for you. I'll provide the link for the five apps at the end of their description.
All Android Smartphones come pre-installed with the "Play Store". The "Play Store" is the app where you can search and download new apps. There are other app stores like "Amazon Marketplace” and "Getjar" that require extra steps to download their apps. You'll have to go their respective sites, and request a link be sent to your phone. This a fairly simple process.
- After you unlock your phone, hit the menu button.
- Scroll down your options menu until you see Security.
- Click on that, and make sure you have install from unknown sources checked.
Without doing the steps above, you won't be able to download the third party apps that aren't directly from the "Play Store."
- Select Screen State.
- Make sure you select Auto Data Disable.
- You can auto disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from here as well. I leave those two options unchecked because I use my Bluetooth headset when I'm driving so I don't want my headset to disconnect in the middle of a phone call. I don't want my phone disconnect from an active Wi-Fi connection either because the 3G network can be really slow at times.
- Select Wi-Fi network.
- Select Data Disable, select Auto Wi-Fi disable, and set the Wi-Fi disable delay to thirty seconds. This will come be handy when you're leaving a Wi-Fi connection. Instead of leaving your Wi-Fi radio on and draining your battery, you'll be saving battery in the long run. The first option is key for those users who don't have an unlimited data plan for their contract.
- Next select Background and Sync.
- The only option I have checked is control auto-sync. (By doing that, you allow Superpower to control your background and sync options. If you don't have this option selected, apps will try to update whenever they want in the background. When those apps try to pull in new information, it's a constant drain on your battery.
- Select Lock Screen.
- This option controls what radios you want to have turned on and off when your screen goes into standby mode. I only have auto data disable selected. (I constantly check the clock on my phone when the lock screen pops up. My phone won't be sending data back and forth as long as I stay on the lock screen. This set of options is similar to those found in the Wi-Fi network sub menu.
- The next set of options include when downloading files. I left those two options standard because I'm mostly on a W-Fi network when I'm downloading files.
- The most featured setting list is the application specific options.
- For instance let's say that you use Pandora which constantly uses data. You can set that option to override previous settings so you can listen to Pandora regardless of the state of your phone. You can also set the application to kill at screen off. Again that option is for people who don't have an unlimited data plan.
- You can leave the tethering, night mode, charging state and notifications set to the default settings. I don't see the need for them.
- The final option I tweaked was the schedule data.
- I set the frequency to never, and the amount of time to 1 minute. This option works together with background and sync. If I want to sync new information with any program; I can go into the app, and do it myself.
Superpower is an awesome program that allows you to tweak options that would normally drain your battery. Tarandeep Singh from Geeknizer states, "SuperPower attempts to save battery power by controlling various power hungry components and features of the device. Everything in this app is Event-driven rather than polling, which makes this app itself play nice on battery." Superpower allows you to turn on/off Bluetooth; WI-FI, Background and Sync, and set low power mode options. If you constantly have these features running, there's a high chance that you'll reduce your battery life significantly. There are many imitation programs out there that claim that you will receive better battery life is you use their app. I would definitely stay away from those apps because they don't work like they should, and they fail in comparison to this app. I have been using this app for the last three years, and all of my friends ask me about Superpower because it works so well. You can grab this app from the Play Store for free. It's ad-supported, but if you don't want the ads to pop up then you'll have to pay $4.99 for the license key. SuperPower
- You can select recent files to open a file you were recently working on.
- By selecting my documents, you can browse all of the files you currently have saved on your phone.
- The internal storage and ExtSdCard options work the same way. Files are saved on your internal storage or you can set to save them onto your SD card which in most cases has more space available.
- The remote files option allows you to connect and modify files that are saved on a server. If you ever used Dropbox, the same concept applies here.
- There are four options at the bottom as well.
- The new icon allows you to create a new Word, PowerPoint, or Excel spreadsheet.
- The find icon allows you to set specific parameters so you can find your files.
- The updates icon allows you to see if there's any available updates for your software.
- If you need further help within the program, you can click on the Help icon.
OfficeSuite Pro is the best mobile version of "Microsoft Office" that you can get. Journalist Darryl Doak from Android Authority states, "OfficeSuite Pro features rich mobile office solutions for creating, viewing, and editing popular document formats..., as well as for viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) files right on your Android device." This app allows you to open, edit, and create Documents, PowerPoint, and Excel worksheets. You can even connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your device, and type away with ease. I currently use this app quite often on campus because students flock to the open computers in their down time. You can currently grab this app for $14.99, and I believe that's a great price for all of the features that are available at your fingertips. OfficeSuite Pro 6
APP 3: Splashtop Remote Desktop
- At the top of the screen, you can press the plus icon.
- By doing that, you can add a new computer to your app.
- You can also press the refresh icon just in case your computer doesn't show up.
- Once you computer is connected, you can use your smartphone screen as a mouse and keyboard for your computer.
- If you need help using the app, you can press the help icon at the bottom of the screen.
Description
Splashtop is an awesome app that allows you to control your computer with an active Wi-Fi connection. John Brandon from the Laptop Magazine website states, "For just $5, Splashtop Remote is an inexpensive and easy program to use, and it provides a simple interface for controlling your computer across a local network." This app essentially turns your phone into a digital receiver for your computer. Instead of using your onboard memory, you can stream your content back and forth. This app is essential for the media lover who doesn't want to go through the leg work of converting videos to the correct format for their Android device. You can watch movies; listen to your music files, and even access various types of files that are on your computer. The bigger screen you have, the better the app will work. This app is currently on sale for $4.99, and that's currently half off it's normal price. Splashtop Remote Desktop
APP 4: Flipboard
- In order to use the app, you have to make an account. You'll setup a username, and password.
- From the next menu, you can select what your home screen looks like. Some of the catergories you can add include Sports, Technology, Food, Flipboard Picks, and Cover Stories will show at the top by default.
- You can also sign into your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can share articles with your friends.
- To move down the page, you just flick your screen from the bottom up. You'll be able to access more categories, and more importantly more stories.
- When you select a category you can flip through the featured stories.
- By selecting a specific article, you get to read the full article within the app. Some stories have a "Click for more" button if they want you to visit the site for more options.
Flipboard is by far the best news website because the user interface is so interactive. You can prioritize your stories anyway you want. I have covers stories, technology stories followed by Flipboard picks. I really enjoy using this app on a daily basis because there are times when I'm waiting in line, or just sitting on the couch and I want to read some articles. Some of the articles give you a overview of the full article, and you can click the included link to go the full webpage with the article. You can even share these articles with your Twitter and Facebook accounts so your friends can read them. Flipboard
App 5: Google Maps
- You find directions by selection the eyeglass icon. This is where you can type in a building name or location.
- You can then specify if you want to get there by car, bus, or walking. You can always set the directions to avoid thruways and tolls if you're not comfortable going through them.
- The directions icon allows you to put in two specific locations if you know the address.
- For example, you know your address. Then you type in the address for Buffalo State College. Directions will pop up, and then you have the if you want a list of directions or driving directions.
- The third icon called location allows you to search for local restaurants and gas stations.
- This is useful if you're in a new area, and you don't know what to get for dinner.
- The final icon is the layers icon. This icon will allow you to set different skins over the map app.
- For instance if you wanted to see local traffic or bike routes. This would be the icon you would want to use.
Google Maps is a free program that allows you to get turn by turn navigation on your mobile phone. Let's face it, GPS systems probably won't be around in the next five years or so. Once you input a destination, you can get turn by turn directions or you can look at set directions. This app also gives you an estimated time of arrival for each trip so you can plan accordingly. The last thing that's worth mentioning is that all of the updates are absolutely FREE! I can't emphasize that feature enough. If you buy a GPS system that isn't LMT(Lifetime Map and Traffic updates), then you're paying roughly $20-$25 for those quarterly updates. They're optional, but you won't have the latest map which could be troublesome for any occasion. You can avoid all of that hassle by downloading this single app. Google Maps
Conclusion
These are just some of the available apps for your Android. Everybody has different taste so there is definitely an app for you! There are some apps that I may have overlooked in this post so feel free to post your thoughts and concerns under the discuss tab.
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