We’ve covered Apple iPhone apps here quite a few times, but now Android is on the scene in a major way! I’ve gotten the Samsung Moment and I’ve been loving every moment of finding awesome free apps for it that make my life easier or are just plain fun!
Below you’ll find my handpicked list of 10 great Android apps that are a must for new Android owners. Tell me your favorites in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!
Note that I’ve included QR code for each download, too, so you should get Barcode Scanner (go to the Marketplace and search for “Barcode Scanner” and install on your device) before using the QR codes with your phone’s camera.
1. Twidroid is my favorite Twitter application for Android. It comes in a free version and a paid PRO version, but both offer great features. I use the free version because I don’t need bit.ly support or multiple account support, either. The color scheme is a little perky, but you get used to it. If it bothers you, get the PRO version and change the theme!
2. Get your shopping done with the Amazon.com app! Securely log in to your Amazon.com account, view your cart, shop for items and check out all from your Android device. The interface is clean and easy to use, and I have used it a couple of times, including ordering for Christmas.
3. Last.fm is a great music streaming application. The user interface is easy to navigate and the selection of music is as vast and varied as your preferences allow! There are limits to how many hours you can stream music on your phone and online. However, the quality is good and I experience little buffering.
4. Along the same lines as Last.fm is Pandora. When I run out of free listening on Last.fm, then I switch to the very popular Pandora for listening to tunes while I’m on the go. My only complaint is that you can’t save the streams to your phone for listening when you don’t have a data or wi-fi connection.
5. CardioTrainer keeps track of my exercise routines, how much I’ve walked, run or biked using GPS or maps, plus the paid version unlocks more features that would be useful to anyone interested in a healthy lifestyle.
6. Love movies? Fandango makes it so simple to view movie trailers, buy movie tickets, find theaters and read movie reviews from your Android phone.
7. Google Sky Map will make any iPhone user insanely jealous and make you look cool to your friends and kids. By using your phone’s GPS, you can navigate the night sky and show off constellations and other heavenly bodies with minimal effort but a big cool factor.
8. Jewels is a free Bejeweled knock-off, but don’t let the pricetag fool you. You can play in Normal or Timed mode, save games and come back to them later and keep track of your high scores. The game is challenging and the colors pop off of the phone’s screen.
9. Just because Android allows you to run programs in the background doesn’t mean you have to let programs run in the background. Get Advanced Task Killer and quickly exit out of programs that are running. I find it most useful for quitting Sprint Navigation, which comes bundled with my phone but I don’t use. You can whitelist programs from being forced closed by ATK, too. Very helpful for saving battery life and freeing up memory.
10. Google Voice was banned from the Apple App Store, but it is offered in the Android Market for users of Android phones. Make all of your calls via Google Voice or select the option on a call by call basis. You can also view Google Voice voicemail transcripts and text messages on your phone from the native-looking client. It’s a great addition to a good phone.
PDF 
