Apps on N1: What works, what doesn't, what's good and why.

[snovvman]

We might as well start to compile a list of apps that work well with 2.1 and N1, and what don't. A list of recommended apps might be good too--especially those that work well to enhance the N1 (like a flashlight app that turns on the LED). If folks contribute, I will update the first posts so visitors can get a quick glance...


Updated on 7-Jan-2010 at 7:50 PST

[Free] Handcent SMS works, great SMS application

[Free] Handcent Keyboard works, a good T9 IME for quick texting (still maintains voice input)

[Free] Battery Indicator works, a light weight task-bar icon that gives you battery %

[Pay ($0.99)] Advanced Task Manager: Works - Lets you manage active tasks and shut down all active tasks to help clear up memory/speed up the phone.

[Free] AK Notepad: Works - Very nice notepad application.

[Free] Amazon: Works - Gives full access and navigation to the store, wishlists, barcode scanning, and picture searches for items off of Amazon.

[Free] Astrid: Works - To-do list with flags to get things done, scheduling of to-do items, etc.

[Free] ASTRO: Works - File manager for the phone (one of my must-have apps)

[Free] Backgrounds: Works - Huge catalog of (non-live) backgrounds for the phone. Backgrounds look fine on the display.

[Free] Bump: Works - Contact information and file sharing application (cross-platform, files can be transfered to the iPhone).

[Free] Cestos: Works - Multi-player game much like marbles.

[Free] chompSMS: Works - Alternative to built-in SMS messenger. Does a better job with organizing the conversation visually.

[Free] Dial Zero: Works - Application to automatically make your way through phone trees to get to where you need to go (list is user-updated, so it's good, but not complete).

[Free] Documents to Go: Works - Read PDF, Word, etc. documents (pay version allows editing and Excel access).

[Free] Dolphin Browser: Works - Alternative brower that supports multi-touch pinch zooming and tabbed browsing.

[Pay ($0.99)] Doodledroid: Works - Android drawing application. Good to give kids to pass the time, or to pass notes when you want to draw out something.

[Free] Draw!: Works - Not as full-featured as Doodledroid; basic drawing application.

[Free] DroidDice: Works - Dice roller (d4-d100).

[Free] Google Sky Map: Works - Google's viewer that allows you to find constellations based on your current location.

[Free] Google Translate: Works - Basic Google translation service (many languages supported), also supports audio translation.

[Free] GPS Status: Works - Visual display of current access to GPS satellite to determine signal strength.

[Free] i Music: Works - Online music library download application.

[Pay? (I don't remember)] Keeper: Works - Secure password vault for the phone. Supports significant encryption and self-destructs after a number of failed login attempts.

[Free] Layar: Works - Use the camera + lists to find items using the camera as a visual interface.

[Free] Magic 8 Ball: Works - Really, it's just a magic 8 ball.

[Free] Metal Detector: Works (and wow it's more sensitive than my G1 ever was) - Detects metals using the built in magnetometer.

[Free] Mobile Banking: Works - Online banking application used by many banks to access account information.

[Free] Mobile Defense: Works - Application allows for tracking of your phone remotely from a website and the ability to permanently shut down the phone (not the SIM card) remotely.

[Free] Movies: Works - Flixter Movies lets you find theater show times, reviews, etc.

[Free] Open Table: Works - Restaurant reservation application.

[Free] Pandora: Works - Web based streaming music service.

[Pay ($0.99)] Power Manager: Works - Set up automatic features that turn on/off features and screen brightness based on current battery levels.

[Free] Ringdroid: Works - Create ringtones from MP3 files.

[Free] Sherpa: Works - Basic yellow pages application built into a map interface.

[Free] Shop Savvy: Works - Barcode/product search tool for finding prices of items on the web.

[Free] Solitaire: Works - Multiple solitaire games.

[Free] The Weather Channel: Works - Temperature, forecasts and radar images. (Yes I know it's built in, but sometimes I want radar)

[Free] Tiny Comics: Works - Database of current and upcoming comic releases searchable by publisher.

[Pay ($19.99)] Touchdown (Used 2.0 Build): Works - Full-featured MS Exchange syncing application. Syncs contacts, e-mail, calender, and to-do list. A must-have application if you use Exchange.

[Free] Trap!: Works - Simple game.

[Free] Word Up! (Free Version): Works - Word search game.

[Free] My Account: Works (Sort of, but yes it works). The application doesn't recognize the phone and provides an error message, but once you pass that message it works just fine giving information about minutes used, messages left, billing, etc.

[Free] Contact Owner: Works (Sort of) - Display selectable contact information on the lock screen in case the phone is lost (I put in my work address and phone number). This application works, but it kind of screws up your pattern login page. You have to fail the login once in order for it to scale back to full screen size. Workable, but a bit of a pain. An absolute must-have app.

[Free] Android Manager Free, Works, A task manager, application manager, and file manager

[Free] Barcode Scanner, Works, Scans QR and other codes and shopping services

[Free] City Caller ID, Works, Adds city and state of the incoming call

[Free] Goggles, Works, Take a picture, search based on the picture

[Free] Key Ring, Works, Keeps a copy of all your store discount cards/club (barcodes) so you won't have to carry them

[Free] T-Mobile Visual Voicemail, Works, the same as VVM from other devices

[Free] Wapedia, Works, a Wikipeida client, nice interface

[Free] Retro Clock (Widget): Sort of Works - The clock widget and the calendar work just fine (nice if you want a digital date/time display). The calendar widget opens the Google calender fine when pressed, but the clock does not open anything. This is likely due to the removal of the Alarm application and its integration into the Google Clock application.


Thanks to MisterSlanky for contributing.

 

[snovvman]

Reserved 1

 

[snovvman]

Reserved 2

 

[snovvman]

One more.

 

[TaeKwonDonkey]

Great idea, once I get my N1, I'll try to contribute

 

[MisterSlanky]

This is a great idea. I just wrote down a list of everything I'm transferring over from my G1. I'll try to post a list of what works and what doesn't.

The whole MyAccount thing is a bit of a letdown. I actually use it to track minutes, texts, etc.

 

[iPhoneMilk]

If you get a keyboard app like better keyboard or something i wonder if the Mic Icon is still there?

that would be my concern..

i will download an app and try and find out

 

[snovvman]

If you get a keyboard app like better keyboard or something i wonder if the Mic Icon is still there?

that would be my concern..

i will download an app and try and find out

With the Handcent T9, I can still use menu to activate the voice input "speak". I hope that answers your question.

 

[1080p]

My account doesn't work? I thought T-Mobile said they will "support" this phone. What about Visual Voicemail?

 

[chaoscentral]

The actual minute data and text usage should work in My Account, I know it did when I had my UK Hero on T-Mobile US. That's a feature irregardless of the phone. Remember the app might also not be updated to 2.0+ yet since no T-Mobile phone runs 2.0

 

[smitty24]

My account doesn't work? I thought T-Mobile said they will "support" this phone. What about Visual Voicemail?

It installed and opens without crashing. Have yet to get a new VM, but it did sync an old one....take it as you want

Also, myaccount seemed to work, it just says 'doesnt recognize phone' but if you click ok, it goes to the info (min/txt usage)

 

[lazzy_8]

Terminal Emulator (free) doesn't seem to work (crashes when clicked)
Mobile Defense (free) doesn't work. Keeps saying phone does not have a data connection

 

[fearyaks]

Lazzy - I have Mobile Defense and was able to communicate with my phone. The first time I installed it, I tried connecting multiple times and was unable to. A few days later I tried it again and was able to see the location, wireless network, etc... I didn't try to disable it or anything though.

Apps (includes games?)
Age of Conquest
Armageddon
Astrid
Astro
BuzzLock
Dolphin
iheartradio
Nesoid (as good as any non KB Android phone)
TasKiller
Toddler Lock (power button still seems to work though)
Weather Widgets

 

[MisterSlanky]

Here's what I've tried:
[Pay ($0.99)] Advanced Task Manager: Works - Lets you manage active tasks and shut down all active tasks to help clear up memory/speed up the phone.

[Free] AK Notepad: Works - Very nice notepad application.

[Free] Amazon: Works - Gives full access and navigation to the store, wishlists, barcode scanning, and picture searches for items off of Amazon.

[Free] Astrid: Works - To-do list with flags to get things done, scheduling of to-do items, etc.

[Free] ASTRO: Works - File manager for the phone (one of my must-have apps)

[Free] Backgrounds: Works - Huge catalog of (non-live) backgrounds for the phone. Backgrounds look fine on the display.

[Free] Bump: Works - Contact information and file sharing application (cross-platform, files can be transfered to the iPhone).

[Free] Cestos: Works - Multi-player game much like marbles.

[Free] chompSMS: Works - Alternative to built-in SMS messenger. Does a better job with organizing the conversation visually.

[Free] Dial Zero: Works - Application to automatically make your way through phone trees to get to where you need to go (list is user-updated, so it's good, but not complete).

[Free] Documents to Go: Works - Read PDF, Word, etc. documents (pay version allows editing and Excel access).

[Free] Dolphin Browser: Works - Alternative brower that supports multi-touch pinch zooming and tabbed browsing.

[Pay ($0.99)] Doodledroid: Works - Android drawing application. Good to give kids to pass the time, or to pass notes when you want to draw out something.

[Free] Draw!: Works - Not as full-featured as Doodledroid; basic drawing application.

[Free] DroidDice: Works - Dice roller (d4-d100).

[Free] Google Sky Map: Works - Google's viewer that allows you to find constellations based on your current location.

[Free] Google Translate: Works - Basic Google translation service (many languages supported), also supports audio translation.

[Free] GPS Status: Works - Visual display of current access to GPS satellite to determine signal strength.

[Free] i Music: Works - Online music library download application.

[Pay? (I don't remember)] Keeper: Works - Secure password vault for the phone. Supports significant encryption and self-destructs after a number of failed login attempts.

[Free] Layar: Works - Use the camera + lists to find items using the camera as a visual interface.

[Free] Magic 8 Ball: Works - Really, it's just a magic 8 ball.

[Free] Metal Detector: Works (and wow it's more sensitive than my G1 ever was) - Detects metals using the built in magnetometer.

[Free] Mobile Banking: Works - Online banking application used by many banks to access account information.

[Free] Mobile Defense: Works - Application allows for tracking of your phone remotely from a website and the ability to permanently shut down the phone (not the SIM card) remotely.

[Free] Movies: Works - Flixter Movies lets you find theater show times, reviews, etc.

[Free] Open Table: Works - Restaurant reservation application.

[Free] Pandora: Works - Web based streaming music service.

[Pay ($0.99)] Power Manager: Works - Set up automatic features that turn on/off features and screen brightness based on current battery levels.

[Free] Ringdroid: Works - Create ringtones from MP3 files.

[Free] Sherpa: Works - Basic yellow pages application built into a map interface.

[Free] Shop Savvy: Works - Barcode/product search tool for finding prices of items on the web.

[Free] Solitaire: Works - Multiple solitaire games.

[Free] The Weather Channel: Works - Temperature, forecasts and radar images. (Yes I know it's built in, but sometimes I want radar)

[Free] Tiny Comics: Works - Database of current and upcoming comic releases searchable by publisher.

[Pay ($19.99)] Touchdown (Used 2.0 Build): Works - Full-featured MS Exchange syncing application. Syncs contacts, e-mail, calender, and to-do list. A must-have application if you use Exchange.

[Free] Trap!: Works - Simple game.

[Free] Word Up! (Free Version): Works - Word search game.

[Free] My Account: Works (Sort of, but yes it works). The application doesn't recognize the phone and provides an error message, but once you pass that message it works just fine giving information about minutes used, messages left, billing, etc.

[Free] Contact Owner: Works (Sort of) - Display selectable contact information on the lock screen in case the phone is lost (I put in my work address and phone number). This application works, but it kind of screws up your pattern login page. You have to fail the login once in order for it to scale back to full screen size. Workable, but a bit of a pain. An absolute must-have app.

 

[gentlefury]

Home++ latest update says its 2.1 compatible and everyone that installed 2.1 on their Droid have reported it working...and really really fast too

 

[coeus]

Using Better Keyboard here. It works fine. There is no dedicated button for speech-to-text like on the default keyboard. I can hold down the 123 key to pull up the options and select voice input from there. Two key presses instead of one I guess.

 

[xtop]

is there a good media player out there..you know, that plays more than just mp4?

 

[scottricketts]

AT&T visual voicemail does NOT work, it's just regular old VM.

 

[snovvman]

Thanks for your contributions. I would like to update the first post with these items. For those who do report on apps, please list them like this:

[Free/Pay] {App Name} {works/does not work} {What it does} {Recommended/Not Recommended}

This way, I can copy/paste and complile a full list for all those that visit. For you who have already provided a list, I would greately appreciate it if you can go back and fortify the info. I'm just trying to build a good list for people.

Thanks y'all.

 

[Dendore]

Does anyone know a good app to test the accelerometer?

 

[gentlefury]

Does anyone know a good app to test the accelerometer?

Try easy spirit level.

My Droid is perfectly calibrated 0 on every mark, which really impresses me, because I had 3 ipod touches and they were ALL off!

 

[MisterSlanky]

I just went back and updated my mega-list. Hope it meets your criteria.

Note, I haven't had the problems with My Account others have noted. Yes it gives an error indicating that it cannot ID the phone model, but after you bypass that error the application works just fine.

 

[snovvman]

I just went back and updated my mega-list. Hope it meets your criteria.

Note, I haven't had the problems with My Account others have noted. Yes it gives an error indicating that it cannot ID the phone model, but after you bypass that error the application works just fine.

Excellent work. Thank you. I tried My Account twice but no joy. It simply won't download the data. The T-Mobile Visual Voicemail does work, however.

 

[MisterSlanky]

I tried My Account twice but no joy. It simply won't download the data. The T-Mobile Visual Voicemail does work, however.

Strange,

Now the phone doesn't give me any errors on startup and the app works just fine as if nothing went wrong that first time. I wonder what I did differently, since they're the same phones on the same OS.

I have a new one:

[Free] Retro Clock (Widget): Sort of Works - The clock widget and the calendar work just fine (nice if you want a digital date/time display). The calendar widget opens the Google calender fine when pressed, but the clock does not open anything. This is likely due to the removal of the Alarm application and its integration into the Google Clock application.

 

[polbit]

Hey everybody, new Nexus One and new T-Mobile user here. Having a bit of a problem with the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail - it seem to work fine 1st time after receiving a new voicemail, but if I go back to it again after exiting to Home screen, it does FC. I then have to click on it again, and all is good. Is that normal?

Polbit