Hi Guys and Girls,

Just bought a new phone? Wandering what app should you install to enhance your Android experience? Fret not, I've compiled a list that should kickstart your Android phone into full gear. Check some of these out, if you don't like it, just uninstall. No harm done. Bear in mind this is just some of the wonderful apps that Android has to offer.

Utilities

Barcode Scanner
Free

Scan barcodes on products then look up prices and reviews. You can also scan Data Matrix and QR Codes containing URLs, contact info, etc.

Link Here

Astro File Manager
Free with ads

Lost track of something on your phone? The free Astro File Manager presents a folder view of your phone, including program folders for third-party apps and the contents of your root system folder.

A swipeable toolbar along the top helps you navigate through the directory, and contains buttons to start a search, edit an entry, bookmark a folder, and so on. In addition, Astro File Manager also kills tasks, sends files as attachments, and creates and stores backups of your apps.

Link Here

3G Watchdog
Free

Monitors your Mobile Internet (3G/Edge/GPRS) data usage, shows a status icon (green/orange/red) in the notif bar and a detailed report page. Widget available. Useful if your "unlimited data" plan actually has some restrictions.

Link Here

MyBackup Pro
Paid (free trial of 30 days is available)

Backup (schedule option) to our online secure servers, or SD card, your Apps, Contacts, Call log, Bookmarks, SMS\MMS, Calendar, Settings, Home Shortcuts, Alarms, Dictionary, Music Playlists, and more. Restore on existing\new phone.

Link Here

Ultra Keyboard
Paid

Keyboard with custom theme/skin support, word tracing, camera mode, multiple languages, speech to text, compact keys, customizable settings, and more. A better way to type on Android devices!

Link Here

Extended Controls
Paid

Control bar Widget with different colors and dimensions.

Link Here

Quick Settings
Free

Be quick with Android settings. Don't think where to find it - just switch it.

Launch the app by long-pressing a search button of from a status bar.

Link Here

Productivity

Dolphin Browser HD
Free

While most Android Web browsers are based on the same engine, many offer interesting and sometimes powerful twists on the basics of downloading, bookmarking, sharing, pinch to zoom, and tabbed browsing. Dolphin Browser HD, which looks good and supports gestural navigation, is one favorite for replacing Google's default (you'll need the original Dolphin Browser--no HD--if your phone runs a pre-2.0 version of the OS.)

Link Here

Jorte
Free

This software is a personal organizer application.
We designed the application to be as close to a real personal organizer possible, and also to be attractive and practical.

Not only the scheduler but also Tasks can be used.

It corresponds to synchronization with Google Calendar and Google Tasks.

Link Here

Documents To Go
Paid (free support read-only)

The Documents To Go productivity suite gives you finger-friendly tools for reading, editing, and creating office documents from your phone.

Link Here

Social

Twidroyd
Free (Paid version support extended functions like multi-account)

Twidroyd (f.k.a Twidroid) is the industry-standard twitter client on the android platform, available as a free or PRO version for all android devices. Twidroyd is the only Twitter app where you can instantly see live linked web pages and photos right next to tweets without opening a separate browser.

Link Here

Seesmic
Free

Seesmic is the best way to manage your social networks in one powerful and yet simple app. You can see and update your Twitter and Google Buzz accounts, search, share photos and videos, and get notifications for new messages!

Link Here

Truth or Dare
Free

Break the ice or make things HOT with Truth or Dare!

Features:
* Hundreds of truths & dares
* Add your own dares
* 'Make it dirty' mode to make things a little hotter

Make the party come alive with Truth or Dare!

Link Here

Communication

Handcent SMS
Free

Handcent fully unleashes the messaging power for Android phone

Full SMS/MMS Support
Group Sending Options
SMS Popup w/Quick Text
Customize Look w/Theme Support
Individual Contact Notification/Look settings
Security Lock Options
Animated Greetings

Link Here

Whatsapp
Free

WhatsApp is a smartphone to smartphone messenger currently available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia devices. The application utilises push notifications to instantly send and receive messages free from other WhatsApp users. Supports pictures, audio and video.

Link Here

Fring
Free

Even if you never use the free Fring app for making VoIP video calls using Skype or SIP services, it's still a more than decent app for chatting with friends on multiple IM networks. You'll be able to talk using GoogleTalk, ICQ, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), and AIM, and you can view Twitter messages with it as well. If you're not interested in two-way video chats, Skype, Facebook, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MySpace, ICQ, Gadu-Gadu. Nimbuzz IM is another all-in-one option.

Link Here

Entertainment

MP3 Online Premium
Paid

MP3 Online can help you search & download unlimited music, it also can help you share music with friends. Easy to search and download mp3s, you can also listen online.

Link Here

Feint Game Spotlight
Free

The largest social gaming network for iPhone is now available on Android! And we’re bringing some of the best games for iPhone with us. Download this app today to:

Find the hottest games before they hit the charts
Win prizes & enter contests (coming soon)
Discover soon to be released games

Link Here

Pandora Radio
Free

Pandora Radio is your own FREE personalized radio now available to stream music on your phone. Start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs or classical composers and Pandora will create a "station" that plays their music and more music like it. Already a Pandora User? Just log in to enjoy your stations.

Link Here

Soundhound
Free

Are you not sure which song is playing? Crack open SoundHound and hold it near the source long enough for the app to get a fix. Each will return a match and give you an opportunity to do more with the song, such as read artist information or make a purchase. SoundHound's more advanced app offers five ways to look up artist information, and it also throws in song lyrics and limitless song ID-ing.

Link Here

Vignette
Paid

Add film and camera effects to your photos.

68 effects & 56 frames. Retro/vintage, LOMO/toy camera-style, Polaroid-style, cross-process, tilt-shift and more.

Flash (if avail.), self-timer, steady shot, zoom, geotagging, front-facing camera (on some phones).

Link Here

Camera 360
Free/Paid

Turn your phone into professional camera. Provides LOMO, HDR, axis shift, draft, ghost, etc. and multiple styles.

Link Here

PicSay Pro
Paid

Color correct, remove red eye, sharpen, distort, crop & straighten, insert cutouts of other pictures, paint, make color splash out of black-and-white pictures, add text, word balloons, stickers, apply effects like Cross Process, Lomo, Vignette, Pencil Sketch, and much more.

Link Here

Meridian Media Player Pioneer
Free

Meridian Player is an advanced multimedia player. Play video and music, with lyric/lyrics search, gesture control and extra information. Edit ID3 tags, ratings and threshold.

Link Here

Music PlayerPro
Paid

PlayerPro is an advanced music player for Android 2.x devices.

- Browse by albums, artists, genres, songs, playlists and folders
- Download album artwork, artist pictures and genre illustrations
- SKINS
- Grid/list views
- Album/artist infos
- Search lyrics
- Home/Lock screen widgets
- Scrobbler
- Wired controls

Link Here


That is it for not, I'll add more later. Hope this helps!

Cheers guys.



This post has been edited by d3m0n: Sep 30 2010, 11:45 AM

-RESERVED-

noob here but is Google Goggle default in all androids? else i think it is a must have XD

dun forget camera 360 .

No it is not default in all Android. Only certain manufacturer install them to the OS. Its a cool app but not that practical in this part of the world.

Added. Thanks.

thanks for sharing.. really usefull.. =)

You might want to consider merge with this thread ?
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1400511&hl=

nice thread.... i would sure look through all of it when i get my desire Z.

Welcome. Just wanted to contribute something.

I think I'll keep it separate because that thread contains too much apps and some of the app are probably not for everybody. Not that any of it is bad.

Thanks. Do tell us how your new phone is when you get it.

Quick Settings? i feel its one of the must have in Android phones lol.

I prefer Extended Controls. Added nonetheless. Thanks for the suggestion.

BLOO for facebook social ... light, fast and easy ... no widget though but comes with fb chat in the 1.5beta version

For obvious reasons, I prefer Titanium Backup to MyBackup Pro.

Lol. As you know only rooted phones can use Titanium Backup. Not everybody here root their phone, except for brave souls like yourself.

3G Watchdog is the best App for monitor data sucking plans. It is very accurate so far.

There is lot ppl root their phone already, they don tell how u know? If no root a lot of paid apps cannot use leh...

Will look into it. Sounds promising.

Absolutely.

Not all Android are tech-savvy people. Nowadays Android has become more like a public OS instead of like what it used to be 1-2 years back. And not everybody willing to take the risk of rooting. I know this by observation my friend. Can, see shah's sticky. You don't need to root your phone to use paid apps.

is it possible to broadcast music through radio so that I can listen to tracks in my Android through car radio-audio system?~

that function is known as FM transmitter.
I don't think Wildfire got this function. Phone such as N97 got it.

how to get paid apps without rooting?