Top MUST HAVE apps for the S3

[RickyDavis1051]

Hey guys what are your top MUST HAVE applications for the Samsung Galaxy S3? Sorry this is my first post!

 

[treb1797]

Welcome to the forums !! I'd ask your question here : Samsung Galaxy S3 - Android Forums , as this section is just for introductions. Glad to have ya & I'll see you over there.

 

[treb1797]

Thread was moved over from Introductions.

 

[KevSmileTime]

Swype Beta or Swiftkey. The stock keyboard seriously sucks.

 

[JiggyFly2o89]

Flipboard has all of the news you want in one app and 500px for inspiration if you're a photographer like me!

 

[pseudoware]

ROM Manager & Titanium Backup

 

[tolisHD]

I bought Swiftkey. A great keyboard, predicts what you want to type before even typing it!
I also use iMediaShare Lite, Dolphin browser HD, Zedge(for new ringtones), Smart Office 2 and the Elixir Widget 2(the best free widgets/shortcuts for me).

 

[kkudi]

havent tried SwiftKey - quite happy with the stock keyboard....swipepad works well for me....although any brightness widgets you have...they will stop working!

 

[mattc89]

thanks

 

[Shockwave78]

what i don't like about swift key is that it would not work everywhere i typed. Say on this forum replying in this box, or in google or so forth..

 

[mikes1]

what i don't like about swift key is that it would not work everywhere i typed. Say on this forum replying in this box, or in google or so forth..

I tried that swift key once, i really hated it. I'm fine with the stock keyboard to be honest. It is a bit slow sometimes but the trace works nicely for me and it learned all my words by now so I have no real issues with it. And coming from a Droid X and Fascinate whose stock gingerbread keyboards constantly made my phone freeze, I'm quite happy with the stock S3 keyboard

 

[Hogan773]

Swiftkey 3 is incredible, really.

This will be the FIRST PAID APP I've ever bought (once my 30 day trial comes up soon). The stock Samsung keyboard is fine IF you turn OFF the predictive text. Then it's just a normal keyboard where you need to be very careful with hitting the correct keys. You'll be doing lots of backspaces!

The Swiftkey you could type GWLKP and when you hit the space bar it will magically turn into HELLO. Now I can almost (ALMOST) type as fast on my GS3 as on my Blackberry. No, it's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot better than the stock keyboard. It has a 30 day free trial. For me it was like night and day. I was skeptical too! (no, I am not a paid shill)


Other apps I like:

GAS BUDDY (often I can save 10-30 cents a gallon in the same area)

RAINDAR (great FREE weather radar - I've tried lots of them and I like this one the best)

FLIXSTER (for local movie times)

KAYAK (for hotel searches etc)

TANGO (for video calling - until Skype gets its sh&t together because Skype video calling doesn't seem to work on the Galaxy SIII - but why should they care...it's only the MOST POPULAR PHONE RIGHT NOW and selling tens of millions of units....maybe their devs should quit playing World of Warcraft and release a new version of the app that actually works on our phone)

GPS TEST (free app that shows which satellites you're locking, your accuracy, time to lock, etc)

 

[CrimsonPride]

Everyone has been recommending SwiftKey3, but I never was a fan, but I do highly recommend the stock jellybean launcher
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jellybeankeyboard.f.g

Also if you don't like touchwiz, I find Nova launcher the best replacement.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDEsImNvbS50ZXNsYWNvaWxzdy5sYXVuY2hlciJd

Probably my favorite app is WidgetLocker, since I do not like the lockscreen that comes on the phone. This allows you to change it, no rooting needed. I've always been a fan of the stock android lockscreens so this has been one of my favorites for a very long time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sImNvbS50ZXNsYWNvaWxzdy53aWRnZXRsb2NrZXIiXQ..

 

[maverick777]

Apex Launcher
The best launcher for Android 4.0+. It's fast and it's customizable.

Smart App Protector
Allows you to require a password for certain apps and allows you to control the time of days it's required. For example locking down email, SMS, etc during the work day.

Allows you to keep the screen on when in certain apps. Better than Smart Stay since it works in the dark. Keeps the screen on for browsers, emails, forum apps, news apps, etc.

Allows you to block auto screen rotation for certain apps if you like keeping that feature on.

Widget Locker
Custom lock screens. Gives you a lot of options for customization.

Light Flow
Once it's updated. The developer has an AT&T S3 now and will update the app to properly control the LED in the US version.

PowerAmp
Best music player on the market. Using the ICS skin.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ikorolkov.poweramp.skins.ics&hl=en

MX Video Player
Best video player

QuickPic
Much better than the stock gallery app

ES File Explorer
Best file browser. It's free and even has access to the root directory if you're rooted.

Go SMS Pro
My favorite SMS app. I like it better than Handcent. Using it with Smooth ICS skin.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jb.gosms.pctheme.ssdsmoothICSblue&hl=en

Tasks
Syncs with Google Tasks. Looks and works great.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDEsImNoLnRlYW10YXNrcy50YXNrcy5wYWlkIl0.

Genie Widget
The Jelly Bean version of the Genie Widget which is transparent. Looks great!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1347792

Swype Beta
The best phone keyboard. I have Swiftkey 3 installed as well, but I never use it.

Lux
Must have auto brightness control app. It lets you go into the negatives (it applies a black filter to the display to make it look dimmer). AMOLED screens are too bright even on the lowest settings when you're in a completely dark environment like in your car at night or in a movie theater. This app lets you fine tune the brightness settings based on your preference.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS52aXRvLmx1eC5mcmVlIl0.

 

[Metroid Prime]

You could try Go Keyboard or Go SMS.

 

[Funnyusername]

Swiftkey 3 (Swiftkey gets better over time. Because it learns to predict words you type often)
Beautiful Widgets
Go SMS Pro ( a must if you hate when your screen turns on for every text )
Or handcent
QuickPic
Google Drive
Gmail
FoxFi
JuiceDefend
Phone info
Vaulty
Airdroid

 

[BigCiX]

Beautiful Widgets
MLB at Bat 12
Mini Flashlight
Fast Reboot
History Eraser
SpeedTest
Tune In Radio
Sound Hound or Shazaam
ESPN's Scorecenter

GAMES
Dead Trigger
Guns N Glory
Jewels
Temple Run
NBA Jam

 

[lunatic59]

ROM Manager & Titanium Backup

I would recommend against ROM Manager on any Samsung Phone. There have been numerous problems with ROM Manager and custom recovery (in case you were considering rooting your phone.)

 

[PicomatStudios]

Our app, Magic Keyboard, is popular on S2 and S3. As they have lots of RAM the word prediction and correction is at its best (the RAM means we can load large dictionaries).

 

[rcyphermd]

I use slide it. Works great!

 

[pseudoware]

I would recommend against ROM Manager on any Samsung Phone. There have been numerous problems with ROM Manager and custom recovery (in case you were considering rooting your phone.)

I have no problem flashing CWM Recovery w/RM, if that's what you mean. FWIW, RM "officially supports" all GS3 variants. Of course, I'll tread carefully and look for a track record. Still on stock ROM, sans bloatware.

 

[CrimsonPride]

I would recommend against ROM Manager on any Samsung Phone. There have been numerous problems with ROM Manager and custom recovery (in case you were considering rooting your phone.)

I will go ahead and agree with this. ROM manager is no longer needed, and usually causes more problems than it helps. I know on the galaxy S2 almost every dev would specifically say not to use ROM manager. And after recently started with the ROMs for the S3, I find no reason at all to use ROM manager

 

[CafeKampuchia]

I would recommend against ROM Manager on any Samsung Phone. There have been numerous problems with ROM Manager and custom recovery (in case you were considering rooting your phone.)

On any phone. The app has bricked a good number of HTC phones too.

 

[StuDaddy]

I prefer ThumbKey for keyboard replacement.

Flipboard

Speedtest

 

[smguy101]

I was unhappy with the default "swype" t9 on the default Samsung keyboard. You need to be alot more so I went ahead and downloaded the Swype beta keyboard off the Swype website since I was already used to swype from my Bionic and Droid Charge. Swype beta is a pretty good keyboard, although I have never tried swiftkey yet