Hi all
I thought I'd create this post as sort of resource for Android users. If I need an app for something the first thing I do is browse the internet to look for forum discussions, instead of searching Google play. There are often too many choices to download and try so I thought it would be handy if people would post their experiences with certain apps here. I may try and keep an updated list of top apps in the OP if I can be arsed.
I'll put links later maybe.
Browsers
Opera Mobile
Turbo mode sends the data first through their servers where they compress images before it goes to your phone. This is great for speeding up page load times and reducing download consumption. Note that you can still redownload an image in full quality if you desire. It has saved me 38% download.
Another great feature is that for users who haven't rooted their phone can effectively create an ad blocker for the browser in a few simple steps. (details to follow). Also contains many options and even the ability to display pages in desktop mode. FREE. No ads.
How to block ads:
Create a notepad file called "urlfilter.ini"
Paste this code and save
Under the [exclude]tag, copy and paste the list from here. The two I've added aren't on the filter lists.
Opera Mini is a barebones version of Opera Mobile and a less than 1MB install. You can install both.
Video Players
MX Player
Allows playing of many file types like flv and such which many other players don't. Also scales very well and smooth playback. Definetely one of the best video players for android. FREE. In app ads.
Ad free version costs $5.62
Audio Players
Winamp
Simple yet effective. Allows syncing with mac/PC. Neat 1x4 widget, and a large widget to if you want album art. FREE. No ads.
Pro version ($4.99 USD) includes a number of options such as graphic equalizer, browse by folder, and many other things.
Control Widgets
These are widgets of variable size that squeeze in a variety of buttons of your choice.
Power Controls
Add widgets and include a large variety of buttons for toggling basis system settings. Eg toggle auto rotation, wifi, WiFi hotspot, mobile data, flight mode, silent, vibrate, GPS, disable screen auto off, bluetooth, brightness, volume slider, sync, flashlight and still many more options.
Also includes application shortcuts. I use these extensively to increase density of launchers and toggles on my home screen. For example, Two 2x1 widgets with 5 shortcuts each allows 10 applications to fit neatly in a horizontal row. That is my favorite configuration. Adjust background transparency and colour of widget too. FREE. No ads.
Sound Recorders
Rehearsal Assistant
Allows lossless wav recording and apparently gives good quality recordings compared to many other apps. Very simple. Note has no widget but adding app to home screen allows almost instant 2 touch recording. FREE. No ads.
TapeMachine
A far superior product. Has many options and is on a whole other level. However free version only allows 1 min recording. Costs 4 bucks to remove limit but would be worth it if you would really make use of it.
Flashlight
TeslaLED
I know power controls include flashlight option but this is a good standalone flashlight app. I prefer it for flashlight anyway as it is a full 1x1 widget unlike in power control widgets. You can also add customisable widget depending on whether you want to have to touch once or hold to activate LED. You can even add variable strobe light or Morse code within app.
Games
I don't often play games but when I do they're awesome.
Cartoon Wars
A fun simple game. you get mana and use it to send units to attack the enemy who does the same. Use coins and gems gained to upgrade units and mana regen. Infinite levels and you will be hard pushed to each level 200. Don't need to pay for coins/gems to fully upgrade units. FREE.
Radiant Defence
A superb tower defence. Set in space you build towers to kill the many wonderful and weird aliens before they reach your spiral. You have to pay for packs to unlock many towers, $1 per pack and there are 4 packs. However you don't need to buy packs to have fun. Many people comment it's impossible to get past mission 4 or whatever out of ten, however I have almost reached the end of level 8 without paying, and plenty of fun was had.
Power Saving
Juice Defender
Screen Dimmer
Screen Filter
Ever use your phone at night in the dark? If you have you probably feel your eyes burning even on the lowest brightness setting. Simply add this widget to home screen and touch to dim. When you add widget you select the % you want to dim from 0-100%. Just touch widget again to deactivate. Be careful if dimming to around 20% when in daylight. Saves battery power too.
Auto-Rotation Control
Rotation Locker
This inconspicuous app is one of a kind. This allows locking of the screen IN LANDSCAPE. As far as I know only one other app does this and it is pay for and not superior. All other rotation lockers do not support locking in landscape. Note, you may have to put widget in middle two rows if your home screen doesn't do landscape as it will cut off bottom. Just re-add widget if you make this mistake. I use this when trying to read stuff in landscape when phone is horizontal and it keeps flipping.
YouTube Downloader
TubeMate
Allows you to download YouTube videos and save them to your phone. It's not available via the app store but it's easy enough to install. Whenever you click a YouTube link you choose whether to open it with a YouTube app or TubeMate. In TubeMate you touch download and select what quality you want to download. I think this is the only way to download YouTube vids in Android. FREE.
To install:
Download apk file from link.
If extension is .zip, change to .apk
Run on phone. You may have to allow installation from unknown sources (allow installation of non-market applications) and re-run.
I thought I'd create this post as sort of resource for Android users. If I need an app for something the first thing I do is browse the internet to look for forum discussions, instead of searching Google play. There are often too many choices to download and try so I thought it would be handy if people would post their experiences with certain apps here. I may try and keep an updated list of top apps in the OP if I can be arsed.
I'll put links later maybe.
Browsers
Opera Mobile
Turbo mode sends the data first through their servers where they compress images before it goes to your phone. This is great for speeding up page load times and reducing download consumption. Note that you can still redownload an image in full quality if you desire. It has saved me 38% download.
Another great feature is that for users who haven't rooted their phone can effectively create an ad blocker for the browser in a few simple steps. (details to follow). Also contains many options and even the ability to display pages in desktop mode. FREE. No ads.
How to block ads:
Create a notepad file called "urlfilter.ini"
Paste this code and save
Code:
Opera Preferences version 2.1
; Do not edit this file while Opera is running
; This file is stored in UTF-8 encoding
[prefs]
prioritize excludelist=1
[include]
*
[exclude]
*mgid*
*dt07*
Opera Mini is a barebones version of Opera Mobile and a less than 1MB install. You can install both.
Video Players
MX Player
Allows playing of many file types like flv and such which many other players don't. Also scales very well and smooth playback. Definetely one of the best video players for android. FREE. In app ads.
Ad free version costs $5.62
Audio Players
Winamp
Simple yet effective. Allows syncing with mac/PC. Neat 1x4 widget, and a large widget to if you want album art. FREE. No ads.
Pro version ($4.99 USD) includes a number of options such as graphic equalizer, browse by folder, and many other things.
Control Widgets
These are widgets of variable size that squeeze in a variety of buttons of your choice.
Power Controls
Add widgets and include a large variety of buttons for toggling basis system settings. Eg toggle auto rotation, wifi, WiFi hotspot, mobile data, flight mode, silent, vibrate, GPS, disable screen auto off, bluetooth, brightness, volume slider, sync, flashlight and still many more options.
Also includes application shortcuts. I use these extensively to increase density of launchers and toggles on my home screen. For example, Two 2x1 widgets with 5 shortcuts each allows 10 applications to fit neatly in a horizontal row. That is my favorite configuration. Adjust background transparency and colour of widget too. FREE. No ads.
Sound Recorders
Rehearsal Assistant
Allows lossless wav recording and apparently gives good quality recordings compared to many other apps. Very simple. Note has no widget but adding app to home screen allows almost instant 2 touch recording. FREE. No ads.
TapeMachine
A far superior product. Has many options and is on a whole other level. However free version only allows 1 min recording. Costs 4 bucks to remove limit but would be worth it if you would really make use of it.
Flashlight
TeslaLED
I know power controls include flashlight option but this is a good standalone flashlight app. I prefer it for flashlight anyway as it is a full 1x1 widget unlike in power control widgets. You can also add customisable widget depending on whether you want to have to touch once or hold to activate LED. You can even add variable strobe light or Morse code within app.
Games
I don't often play games but when I do they're awesome.
Cartoon Wars
A fun simple game. you get mana and use it to send units to attack the enemy who does the same. Use coins and gems gained to upgrade units and mana regen. Infinite levels and you will be hard pushed to each level 200. Don't need to pay for coins/gems to fully upgrade units. FREE.
Radiant Defence
A superb tower defence. Set in space you build towers to kill the many wonderful and weird aliens before they reach your spiral. You have to pay for packs to unlock many towers, $1 per pack and there are 4 packs. However you don't need to buy packs to have fun. Many people comment it's impossible to get past mission 4 or whatever out of ten, however I have almost reached the end of level 8 without paying, and plenty of fun was had.
Power Saving
Juice Defender
Screen Dimmer
Screen Filter
Ever use your phone at night in the dark? If you have you probably feel your eyes burning even on the lowest brightness setting. Simply add this widget to home screen and touch to dim. When you add widget you select the % you want to dim from 0-100%. Just touch widget again to deactivate. Be careful if dimming to around 20% when in daylight. Saves battery power too.
Auto-Rotation Control
Rotation Locker
This inconspicuous app is one of a kind. This allows locking of the screen IN LANDSCAPE. As far as I know only one other app does this and it is pay for and not superior. All other rotation lockers do not support locking in landscape. Note, you may have to put widget in middle two rows if your home screen doesn't do landscape as it will cut off bottom. Just re-add widget if you make this mistake. I use this when trying to read stuff in landscape when phone is horizontal and it keeps flipping.
YouTube Downloader
TubeMate
Allows you to download YouTube videos and save them to your phone. It's not available via the app store but it's easy enough to install. Whenever you click a YouTube link you choose whether to open it with a YouTube app or TubeMate. In TubeMate you touch download and select what quality you want to download. I think this is the only way to download YouTube vids in Android. FREE.
To install:
Download apk file from link.
If extension is .zip, change to .apk
Run on phone. You may have to allow installation from unknown sources (allow installation of non-market applications) and re-run.
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