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Recommended Android Apps

A friend just got her first Android phone, so I put together a quick list of apps I think are well worth an install. This is by no means a complete list, just a start.

All of the Google Apps. Most of them aren’t the default on a Samsung device, and it’s well worth it to either install them or set them up as your default.

  • Google Now Launcher - provides the default Google Android Experience - No Samsung/HTC crap interface.
  • Android Device Manager - remotely manage your device. Locate it when it’s lost. Remote wipe.
  • Google Opinion Rewards - Answer the occasional survey, get some change added to your Play account. Buy more games.
  • Inbox by Gmail - replacement for standard Gmail app. Allows you to quickly manage email, and take action on your mail.
  • Google Play Music - Now with Songza integration. Great way to pick out music for whatever you’re doing.
  • Google+ - Just a fan, don’t mind me. But it comes with the Photos app, which has some great editing tools.
  • Chrome Browser - Don’t use the default browser. Just don’t.

Misc

  • Car Home Ultra - Turns your phone into a dashboard while you drive.
  • Authy 2-Factor Authentication
  • BeyondPod - Podcast catcher/player w/ beautiful design and variable speed playback
  • Pushbullet - Mirror selected notifications from your device to your computer. Great to see who’s calling, etc.
  • Link Bubble Browser - Open links in a ‘bubble,’ then open those bubbles individually. Prevents you from having to jump back and forth between apps.
  • Life Time Alarm Clock - A great alarm clock app. Easy to use, and works well.
  • LastPass - Keeps all of your passwords safe. Will copy/paste your passwords into new apps. Huge time saver.

Work

  • MappedIn - Internal Maps. My workplace is mapped here, and I can find my way around much better.
  • Nine - Exchange/Active Sync client. Holy crap, this is a great app. Easily worth the $10 price tag.
  • RSA Token - Instead of the key fob

Fun/Distraction/Just Plain Dumb Apps

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