best apps for newbie?

[cm123]

Whenever they decide to (finally) release the TB, it will be my first smartphone. Since it's all new to me, I know I have a lot to learn and wanted to get a head start on making a list of apps that I need to download when I (finally) get the phone. Any good apps that a newbie must-have/know about? Thanks!

 

[lamoglinsgal]

These aren't "must have," but they're a few of my favorites.

Alarm Clock Plus - you can set it up to have you solve a math problem to be able to snooze or dismiss it. It's great for me because I'll his snooze in my sleep.

AppBrain- you can go ahead and go to Top Android Apps and Games in the Android Market | AppBrain.com now and start making a list of apps you'll want to download. Then when you get your TB, download the app on there and sync it.

Backgrounds

Better Keyboard

Phandroid

SiMi Folder - just found this and I love it! I hate having a cluttered home screen

Handcent

Loot - checkbook app

Photobucket app - you can have it automatically upload your photos as you take them. It's nice for a backup.

QuickPic - it's an alternate gallery. I just found this one as well, but I love it!

 

[NyStrongest]

Best one I can say is app brain

 

[jaydroid88]

What do you recommend for a better keyboard? Also what is the best QR scanner or does it not matter?

 

[TheWhale]

What do you recommend for a better keyboard? Also what is the best QR scanner or does it not matter?

Swype for the keyboard.

Bar code scanner is good.

If you want swype legally you need to go ahead and sign up for the beta..Swype | Text Input for Screens

 

[lamoglinsgal]

I use the Better Keyboard app. I've used it since my OG Droid. Better Keyboard - Android app on AppBrain

 

[MongolStomp]

What do you recommend for a better keyboard? Also what is the best QR scanner or does it not matter?

I suggest Smartkeyboard pro, a lot of skins plus more available on their forums. I'm not a fan of the stock HTC keyboard so when I get the TB i'll be reinstalling smartkeyboard and using the gingerbread skin, good 2 or 3 dollar investment.

 

[cm123]

These aren't "must have," but they're a few of my favorites.

Alarm Clock Plus - you can set it up to have you solve a math problem to be able to snooze or dismiss it. It's great for me because I'll his snooze in my sleep.

AppBrain- you can go ahead and go to Top Android Apps and Games in the Android Market | AppBrain.com now and start making a list of apps you'll want to download. Then when you get your TB, download the app on there and sync it.

Backgrounds

Better Keyboard

Phandroid

SiMi Folder - just found this and I love it! I hate having a cluttered home screen

Handcent

Loot - checkbook app

Photobucket app - you can have it automatically upload your photos as you take them. It's nice for a backup.

QuickPic - it's an alternate gallery. I just found this one as well, but I love it!

thanks! love the alarm clock plus! that's def a necessary for me! i appreciate your list.

 

[cm123]

Swype for the keyboard.

Bar code scanner is good.

If you want swype legally you need to go ahead and sign up for the beta..Swype | Text Input for Screens

won't the TB already have Swype? or am i missing something?

 

[TheWhale]

won't the TB already have Swype? or am i missing something?

I dont know as I dont have it.. I heard that HTC sense does NOT have it pre installed though.. Idk it will be my first HTC phone.

 

[atrain311]

Okay, gang. I need your help. I'm piggy-backing off of the OP's question...
As I've mentioned a lot over the month (zing!) I will be giving my wife my INC when I get my TBolt. Two questions...how do I get all of my apps (both free and paid) onto my new phone and what will happen to the apps on my INC?

 

[MongolStomp]

Okay, gang. I need your help. I'm piggy-backing off of the OP's question...
As I've mentioned a lot over the month (zing!) I will be giving my wife my INC when I get my TBolt. Two questions...how do I get all of my apps (both free and paid) onto my new phone and what will happen to the apps on my INC?

When you go into the market after activating your new TB and you're signed in, your apps will automatically download. Your INC will be factory rested when your wife takes over and if she doesn't have an android phone right now she'll have to start fresh.

 

[atrain311]

When you go into the market after activating your new TB and you're signed in, your apps will automatically download. Your INC will be factory rested when you're wife takes over and if she doesn't have an android phone right now she'll have to start fresh.

Thank you very much. My wife will probably be happy to get a blank slate...which means I'll be setting her phone up too, haha. Again, thanks for the help. Seems nice and easy. Got to love Android.

 

[jaydroid88]

Do live wallpapers take up a large portion of CPU usage? I can configure my mac to run a screen saver as a wallpaper and the thing basically becomes a brick.

 

[MongolStomp]

Do live wallpapers take up a large portion of CPU usage? I can configure my mac to run a screen saver as a wallpaper and the thing basically becomes a brick.

It really depends on which LWP it is. There are many available in the market and some of them run perfectly fine in the background and you'll never notice any lag in your phone. However some of them will eat CPU and result in battery being drained quicker and lag. The best thing to do is read the reviews that people given within the market. I'm sure the stock LWPs that come on will be smoooooooooth

 

[DroidL]

Program I like is Where. It will help you find things and I use mine all the time to find out the gas prices at the stations near me using where.

Also for neato app get google sky map. You open the program and hold your phone up in the sky and it identifies stars and planets.

Pandora is cool for musc.

App brain is also cool. It allows you to track your I stalled programs and sync them to an online server and if you lose your phone you just install app bran and it will download and install the apps you had before.

 

[DroidL]

Decided I could add a few more...

Movies is a good one for movie info and start times at theaters everywhere.

Shop Savvy alows you to scan a barcode and then tells you the best local price and the best internet prices. See something you like not sure if the price is right, scan the barcode and get the info to make an informed choice.

Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons great fun.

Chrome to phone.. If you use Google Chrome as your browser in you PC then you can click a button and send a web page to your phone. Use your PC to look up some info but now you need that info in your phone no problem use Chrome to Phone and you don't have to search it again.

Magic 8 ball for those tough questions just like the old Toy. Am I gonna win the Power Ball this week? Very Doubtful but one day it will say yes and I will head out to buy my ticket!!

THN This is only good if you like hockey but it is The Hockey News app with live scoreboards and lots of cool articles and stats.

Wikidroid just what it sounds like quick access to wikipedia


The Weather Channel.. do I need to explain that? Radar maps and forcasts

Fartdroid because even at 50 fart jokes can still be funny especially if you have a 6 year old around.

 

[DroidL]

@ Atrain I suggest downloading and syncing with App brain first. It is a very cool app and lets you store your app list on line and you can even share them with others on line.



My Apps on the HTC Droid Incredible

Phone: HTC Droid Incredible
95 total, 92 free (96%), 3 paid (3%), 179MB total size, $4.98 total price

• doubleTwist Player
• Google Maps
• pocket BLU

 

[gunner252]

^^^ that's it?

 

[DroidL]

I have been pruning in anticipation of the T-Bolt.

 

[cm123]

Program I like is Where. It will help you find things and I use mine all the time to find out the gas prices at the stations near me using where.

Also for neato app get google sky map. You open the program and hold your phone up in the sky and it identifies stars and planets.

Pandora is cool for musc.

App brain is also cool. It allows you to track your I stalled programs and sync them to an online server and if you lose your phone you just install app bran and it will download and install the apps you had before.

so i looked up "Where" and it says the app is no longer available. why does that happen? it seems like a really useful app.

 

[DroidL]

Oh that sucks that means I won't be able to get on my new phone.


Just checked and the program is still posting up to date gas prices. Wonder why it is gone.

 

[EarlyMon]

so i looked up "Where" and it says the app is no longer available. why does that happen? it seems like a really useful app.

I'd used Where since it's earliest beginning, pre-iPhone. In my opinion, the more they catered to the iPhone crowd, the further downhill it went.

FWIW - I'm using Google Maps for the same thing.

Where's model was - ok, what do you want, and where are you?

Maps' model is equivalent - now that I know where you are, what do want?

Works for me.

BTW - this is a must-know link for anyone looking for Android app advice -

http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ns-guide-updated-14-01-bst-aug-31-2010-a.html

 

[DroidL]

Just a note..

where is back, I have gotten two updates since this thread. They had evedently pulled down an old version while getting a new one ready. They put the new one up the other day and I got another update this morning so I am guess there was a minor tweak.

 

[Red Devil]

Are there any good apps for streaming live sports?

I am looking for European soccer in particular