Android App/Game Recommendations Thread

[Knightshade Dragon]

I just bought a Nexus One off ebay so when it comes in I will be app shopping, so keep those recommendations coming.

You will love your Nexus.  I'm super happy with mine. 

[Destructor]

Forget everything else - the Onion News Network is on Android. 

[farley2k]

The only thing I expect to be disappointed by is gaming.  Just the screen shots of Android games compared to Apple games is enough to disappoint me already.  Is there some kind of technology with Apple allows for graphics that Android doesn't?  Just look at solitaire games on both.  The cards, the backgrouds, everything just looks worse on Android.  Why?  I am not a programmer so maybe there is some technical reason I don't understand.

[Destructor]

The problem is that game developers aren't focusing on the Android market yet. Or worse, they're just simple ports from the iWhatever market, which generally don't work too well.

[Jag]

Gaming on Android is not nearly as fun as on an iPhone.

[GuidoTKP]

Buh bye Swype and ShapeWriter. The new shizzle is SwiftKey. Download it fast before they close the beta. This thing is crazy; it predicts what word you are going to type next based on your own use of the device. I've had it about an hour and the speed increase is already pretty significant. Here's a video.

[LoneStarSpur]

Here's what I have installed.

[Huw the Poo]

Frozen Bubble is a really good port of the old Linux classic.  It's more difficult to play on the phone of course, but still a great, addictive game.

[Jag]

Here's what I have installed.

How does Appbrain work. Can i sync what is already on my Droid to an account?

I'm getting a free Droid X from work soon to replace my aging Droid. I'm hoping to do a seamless conversion of apps.

Edit: I got it, seems pretty cool. Here is my massive list (yes, the spongebob and simpsons are for my kids!)

http://www.appbrain.com/user/Jagg/apps-on-the-phone

[GuidoTKP]

Here's my list.

[LoneStarSpur]

Here's what I have installed.

How does Appbrain work. Can i sync what is already on my Droid to an account?

I'm getting a free Droid X from work soon to replace my aging Droid. I'm hoping to do a seamless conversion of apps.

Edit: I got it, seems pretty cool. Here is my massive list (yes, the spongebob and simpsons are for my kids!)

http://www.appbrain.com/user/Jagg/apps-on-the-phone

My X is here so I'm going to find out this afternoon how AppBrain works pushing stuff out to a new device.

edit: Danger Will Robinson!!!

I installed AppBrain on the X first and it synced by to their website and my installed list on from the Incredible is gone. Bummer.  

[farley2k]

I just got launcher pro for $2.99  I like how he did the people widget and I figure you have to support developers who do what you like.

Now I just need to find something to do with that stupid trackball on the Nexus one.  Is there any app that makes it interesting or useful?  It is really a waste as far as I can tell.

[SkyLander]

I just got launcher pro for $2.99  I like how he did the people widget and I figure you have to support developers who do what you like.

Now I just need to find something to do with that stupid trackball on the Nexus one.  Is there any app that makes it interesting or useful?  It is really a waste as far as I can tell.

Only thing really is the LED in the trackball can change colors for different alerts.

[GuidoTKP]

Here's what I have installed.

How does Appbrain work. Can i sync what is already on my Droid to an account?

I'm getting a free Droid X from work soon to replace my aging Droid. I'm hoping to do a seamless conversion of apps.

Edit: I got it, seems pretty cool. Here is my massive list (yes, the spongebob and simpsons are for my kids!)

http://www.appbrain.com/user/Jagg/apps-on-the-phone

My X is here so I'm going to find out this afternoon how AppBrain works pushing stuff out to a new device.

edit: Danger Will Robinson!!!

I installed AppBrain on the X first and it synced by to their website and my installed list on from the Incredible is gone. Bummer.  

Does that mean it didn't transfer the apps? I've been curious about whether one can transfer all of their apps between android devices using AppBrain.

[LoneStarSpur]

Here's what I have installed.

How does Appbrain work. Can i sync what is already on my Droid to an account?

I'm getting a free Droid X from work soon to replace my aging Droid. I'm hoping to do a seamless conversion of apps.

Edit: I got it, seems pretty cool. Here is my massive list (yes, the spongebob and simpsons are for my kids!)

http://www.appbrain.com/user/Jagg/apps-on-the-phone

My X is here so I'm going to find out this afternoon how AppBrain works pushing stuff out to a new device.

edit: Danger Will Robinson!!!

I installed AppBrain on the X first and it synced by to their website and my installed list on from the Incredible is gone. Bummer.  

Does that mean it didn't transfer the apps? I've been curious about whether one can transfer all of their apps between android devices using AppBrain.

I should have updated my post...

There was a "Apps on the phone" list along with an "Apps on DroidX" list. The "phone" list had the apps that were installed on my Incredible.

I was able to move the apps in the "phone" list to the "DroidX" list and then sync them up to the X with no problem.

The X is friggin' fantastic, btw.

[Eco-Logic]

For those that care, my Evo is now sporting Froyo!  (Android 2.2).

It seems even zippier than before and the new features are pretty sweet. 

[LoneStarSpur]

For those that care, my Evo is now sporting Froyo!  (Android 2.2).

It seems even zippier than before and the new features are pretty sweet. 

Jealous!

Original Droid gets it next week. My X not until "late summer".

[Huw the Poo]

Still on 1.6 with a 10-month old phone.  Fuck you, HTC.

[Destructor]

For those that care, my Evo is now sporting Froyo!  (Android 2.2).

It seems even zippier than before and the new features are pretty sweet. 

I'm waiting until they get a rooted Froyo with all the features running. Cyronagen I think is the mod developer I'm looking at. Basically, I love Wi-Fi tethering (works great for getting the DS onto the 'net as my security is too high on my home router) and don't want to get rid of that.

[jersoc]

For those that care, my Evo is now sporting Froyo!  (Android 2.2).

It seems even zippier than before and the new features are pretty sweet. 

I'm waiting until they get a rooted Froyo with all the features running. Cyronagen I think is the mod developer I'm looking at. Basically, I love Wi-Fi tethering (works great for getting the DS onto the 'net as my security is too high on my home router) and don't want to get rid of that.

this is exactly what i do with dq9. rooting ftw.

[disarm]

i just got the official Froyo update for my Evo...download and install took about ten minutes over wifi and went off without a hitch.  i've only had my phone since friday and haven't had the chance to play much, so it's hard to tell if it's much faster, but some of the new features are nice.  i just have to dig a little deeper now to see how much difference the updated OS really makes

[Destructor]

And I finally upgraded my Evo as well - to Fresh 3.1.0.1 (current latest version). 2.2 everything, all the stock Sprint apps removed (as short of SprintTV, I'd never use them - but they can be installed back in), and it's running Sense (which I immediately replaced with LauncherPro).

It's definitely faster and smoother.

The best part? I updated completely over the air (as I was rooted) via Rom Manager (an Android app). Pulled the ROM OTA, installed it, and it worked perfectly the first time.

[SkyLander]

Do you use LauncherPro Plus? Or the version from the app store? I tried it on my Nexus One and things kind of bogged down. Wondering if the Plus version is any better.

[Destructor]

Do you use LauncherPro Plus? Or the version from the app store? I tried it on my Nexus One and things kind of bogged down. Wondering if the Plus version is any better.

The Plus version is the normal free version but with the ability to run some 'HTC lookalike' Widgets on your main screen (which you wouldn't be able to use otherwise, as the HTC Widgets are Sense UI only) that he personally developed. So if the normal version doesn't play well with your device (which is weird, as LauncherPro is fantastic on my Evo), the Plus version wouldn't be any better.

[kratz]

One of my new favorite apps:

http://mytracks.appspot.com/

My Tracks - so, so awesome... gives me a GPS track of my rides/runs with total distance, moving time, average speed, average moving speed, elevation gain, high/low... gives me a speed/elevation chart (though I can't seem to upload that to google?  Or I just don't know what I'm doing...)

Uploads to Google Docs/Google Maps...

Here's one of my tracks (scroll the spreadsheet right for a link to the map):

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Avm5Ig23_ygddFdTU3lCQlhoa0pNX0FFTDdMZWkzekE&hl=en&authkey=CJu_qZkN

[Dreamshadow]

And I finally upgraded my Evo as well - to Fresh 3.1.0.1 (current latest version). 2.2 everything, all the stock Sprint apps removed (as short of SprintTV, I'd never use them - but they can be installed back in), and it's running Sense (which I immediately replaced with LauncherPro).

It's definitely faster and smoother.

The best part? I updated completely over the air (as I was rooted) via Rom Manager (an Android app). Pulled the ROM OTA, installed it, and it worked perfectly the first time.

I'm afraid to root my Evo.  Whats the advantages? Disadvantaged? Help me Destructor. Only you can save me from SenseUI and the Ko-Dan Armada

[Destructor]

And I finally upgraded my Evo as well - to Fresh 3.1.0.1 (current latest version). 2.2 everything, all the stock Sprint apps removed (as short of SprintTV, I'd never use them - but they can be installed back in), and it's running Sense (which I immediately replaced with LauncherPro).

It's definitely faster and smoother.

The best part? I updated completely over the air (as I was rooted) via Rom Manager (an Android app). Pulled the ROM OTA, installed it, and it worked perfectly the first time.

I'm afraid to root my Evo.  Whats the advantages? Disadvantaged? Help me Destructor. Only you can save me from SenseUI and the Ko-Dan Armada

What does rooting offer? For starters, it offers programs that I wouldn't otherwise be able to use. Wireless Tethering (without paying the silly $30 a month fee - allows me to get my DS online), screen grabbing programs, SetCPU (control your processor's speed, the theory being that if it's lower it'll use less battery power), adblock software (usefulness can be argued), or you can remove all the Sprint bloatware (who really uses it anyway?), and generally you can bask in the knowledge that your OS is updated more often than Sprint/HTC does.

Plus, you can grab an experimental OS that is highly touted called CyanogenMod. It totally removes the SenseUI and everything Sense related (so you'll have to use the generic Android UI or install something like LauncherPro) and thus it'll cut back the running processes (as Sense is always running) giving you increased battery power and/or more memory for other programs. Cyanogen also has better Bluetooth capabilities (better quality basically) among other things.

FYI - as far as I know, if you've already upgraded to Froyo (Android 2.2) there is no way to root at the moment. Take a look at xdaDevelopers for further information (and it's a great place to talk about Android development as well) if you get bored.

[SkyLander]

Only reason I am weary of replacing my Nexus One is all the crap they put on the phones. Every app they load on there I wouldn't use and I hate not being able to delete them. I'll just wait for Google to put out a new development phone.

[Dreamshadow]

Okay.  I'm on Froyo. So I have to wait.  When I bought my Evo, i was informed that if I installed any custom apps that bypassed Sprint paid features (like tethering software/hotspot) that my data plan could be revoked.  And since I don't pay for this accoubt, my father in law does, I'm leery of doing anything that might cause problems.

[SkyLander]

Okay.  I'm on Froyo. So I have to wait.  When I bought my Evo, i was informed that if I installed any custom apps that bypassed Sprint paid features (like tethering software/hotspot) that my data plan could be revoked.  And since I don't pay for this accoubt, my father in law does, I'm leery of doing anything that might cause problems.

It really comes down to usage, if you tether and start bittorenting 50 gigs worth of stuff every month, yes they will nuke your account.

But if you just tether every once in awhile just to surf/check e-mail. Maybe game a little if you are on vacation then I don't see how they can nuke the account.

[Destructor]

Okay.  I'm on Froyo. So I have to wait.  When I bought my Evo, i was informed that if I installed any custom apps that bypassed Sprint paid features (like tethering software/hotspot) that my data plan could be revoked.  And since I don't pay for this accoubt, my father in law does, I'm leery of doing anything that might cause problems.

BHAWAAHAHAHA... Oh, sorry. That's just Sprint talking out of their ass. You pay for unlimited data, and wireless tethering is a built in feature of Android 2.2 (Froyo). But Sprint (along with everybody else) turns it off unless you pay for it. Rooting your phone allows you to use Android how it was designed. Sprint can't detect what you're doing with your phone unless you're doing something that should be impossible on it (like running BitTorrent over a hotspot connection). So as long as you don't go absolutely nuts on your data plan (like stream music 24/7 over your phone), you're perfectly fine.

FYI - you can wired tether. It's a built in feature of Android that worked just fine in 2.1, and I think works in 2.2 without doing much (short of installing drivers that are on your memory card when you bought the phone).

And apparently you can root your Evo if you're on 2.2. It's not even remotely simple however (like it was back on 2.1), as you basically have to downgrade to 2.1 in order to do it, but it can be done.

[LoneStarSpur]

Got Froyo installed on my X this morning.

It's amazing how much faster it is.

[JayDee]

Bump.

I just bought myself a shiny new Nexus S and noticed that this forum doesn't have enough Android love. Let's hear about your favourite apps.

So far I'm really digging Google Goggles and Air Control.

[Caine]

i've had the evo for a week now and for the most part, i still have the stock apps and those that i had before on the iphone (and are available, of course).  i did get an automation app which should be useful for cutting down on the manual hassle of turning off the wifi while away from home, and some system management apps to better deal with what gets installed.  still searching through the app store on a regular basis and always check to see what the free amazon app of the day is.  haven't rooted it yet as i haven't made up my mind on whether i need to or not. 

so i guess you can count me in with the same request. 

[rshetts2]

I have an Evo myself.  I recently put a really nice JVC receiver in my car that has bluetooth capabilities but it appears that the Evo has compatibility issues.  Anyway I noticed someone say that the cyanogen mod has improved bluetooth.  I am completely a n00b when it comes to the concept of rooting a phone and am leery of doing it but if theres a chance it will help my Evo work with my handsfree car stereo it may be worth doing.  The receiver works fine with iphones and older android so Im wondering if the cyanogen mod would make a difference.  I sure as hell dont want to turn my new Evo into a plastic brick.

[Morgul]

The problem is that game developers aren't focusing on the Android market yet. Or worse, they're just simple ports from the iWhatever market, which generally don't work too well.

I would say this is going to change in the not so distant future.   Android is exploding in popularity and has not been around very long. 

I still have a droid 1 and contract isnt due for a upgrade yet.

Soon, developers (out to make money) will be designing them for android first.   

[Destructor]

I have an Evo myself.  I recently put a really nice JVC receiver in my car that has bluetooth capabilities but it appears that the Evo has compatibility issues.  Anyway I noticed someone say that the cyanogen mod has improved bluetooth.  I am completely a n00b when it comes to the concept of rooting a phone and am leery of doing it but if theres a chance it will help my Evo work with my handsfree car stereo it may be worth doing.  The receiver works fine with iphones and older android so Im wondering if the cyanogen mod would make a difference.  I sure as hell dont want to turn my new Evo into a plastic brick.

Once you've rooted for the first time (which is a pretty simple experience as of last check), you seriously have to work to outright brick your phone. Yes, it can be done, don't get me wrong, and if something goes truly wrong you're going to have to take your insurance (you do have insurance, right?) out on it (as if Sprint can tell you've rooted your phone, you're borked when it comes to just saying 'it doesn't start anymore'), but still, it takes a bit of work.

That said - over the last week or so, I went ROM hopping, flashing a half dozen ROMs to my Evo. No problems at all. For the moment, I've settled on a MyTouch 4G ROM (which doesn't have 4G support, go figure - of course Sprint has been lazy getting it in the Phoenix area, too), which makes it look great and gives fantastic battery life.

As I linked to before, go visit xda-developers and poke around. They know their stuff when it comes to Android phones and devices.

[Moliere]

I bought my first smartphone about a week ago going with the Thunderbolt on Verizon. No new app discoveries yet though I have installed a couple that were recommended in this thread.

[happydog]

In case anyone doesn't know, you can get a free app every day from the Amazon App store. http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b/ref=sa_menu_adr_app4?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

[JayDee]

BTW the Nexus S is awesome if anyone is looking for a good smartphone. It was only released in Canada two weeks ago so people have been going gaga over my phone when they see me pull it out. It's nice to feel like you own the new hotness, even if for a little while.