For those who do not know (though it is hard to believe it), Android is an operating system developed by search engine giant Google for mobile phones. It is a Linux based system that is called an open source platform as Google provides it for free to hardware manufacturers. Thus it is not surprising to see a majority of smartphone manufacturers using Android as an OS in their phones. In addition, Google has also developed an online store that has thousands (now close to a hundred thousand) of applications that work on Android run devices. Anyone who uses a mobile phone having Android as OS can go to this store, browse and download applications that are also developed by third parties and hosted by Google on Android app store. A majority of apps available at Android market are free of cost, but there are many that you can get on payment only. Being open source, Android the fastest growing OS of the world.
With the number of apps now close to a hundred thousand, it is difficult to choose top ten Android apps, but judging by its popularity and the number of times it has been downloaded; here is a list of my top ten Android apps.
1. Amazon Kindle
While there may be some who might not agree, Amazon Kindle is an app that lets you use your phone as an e-book reader and is one of the most popular of apps in Android market. This app will obliterate the need to carry any books along if you have your smartphone. You can use your free time reading anything that is there on the internet. The app works very smoothly and you can flick the pages of the book as if you are reading in real life. The app directs you to Amazon where you can browse from thousands of books, buy and download quickly. The app is currently available for free, and you can use it to read free books also.
2. Opera Mini
If you are looking for a smart, efficient web browser for your phone, Opera mini is the perfect mobile web browser available at Android app store. It gives users the ability to browse the net in a fast manner with ease. Mini is one browser that uses the compression technology to shrink web pages to fit the size of mobile screen. Available in more than 90 languages of the world, opera mini is a very popular download from app store. It is available for free.
3. Advanced Task Killer
For those who use any Android device, Advanced task killer is a must have app. It is a common perception that Android based phones loses battery power earlier than their users would like. This amazing app kills all that apps that the user is not making use of currently. This saves on memory and CPU as this app kills unused tasks and increases the battery life of the phone. Available for free, this is one app that has been downloaded the maximum number of times.
4. Astro File manager
This is an app that manages all other apps on your phone. You can imagine how haphazard it can become with hundreds of apps in your phone. There are thousands of apps on app store and you have downloaded them, but you cannot keep all of them on your phone. What this app does is to allow you to launch an app that you have kept in a micro SD card. You can choose any app in the SD card and launch it instantly swapping it with any of those in your phone. It is available for free.
5. Goggles
You must be thinking I have written a wrong spelling, but yes this is a fun app available on app store that is not a very serious app, but fun all the same and informative as well. It conducts search based upon photographs. If you like something, just take its photo and use this app to get the price of the product at Amazon, and if it is not there, it will come up with prices of similar products on Amazon. What is amazing is that you can take a photo of only a barcode to know the price of the product. This app is available for free on app store.
6. Tomcat
If you have a toddler at home, you will love this fun app. It is a hilarious app in the shape of animated cat with a big mouth. Ask your tiny tot to touch its stomach, and he will hear a purr from the funny cat. If your son touches the milk icon, this cat will start to drink milk. There is another icon which when touched makes the cat to scratch the screen which is all clean fun for you and your tiny tot. The best part of the app is that the cat repeats whatever you say in a silly voice of its own. Though the basic version is available for free, there is a paid version that has many more animations to make your son or daughter play with it for a long time.
7. WebEx and CISCO Jabber
This is an amazing app from Cisco that has now been made available on the Android platform. If you own an Android device, you can join webinars sitting at home or on move. You can view the meeting in full screen mode on your PC, getting the audio through VoIP, and even listen to calls on your phone to get into the meeting. You can even share documents and view them in real close through zoom in and zoom out functions. You will be amazed how using the small screen of your phone you can actually attend the meeting as if you were there in person. This is one must have app for all executives who can remain connected with their office all the time. This is a free app.
CISCO Jabber is also a Multimedia over IP application for PC, MAC, Tablet and Smartphones. Users can find right people on right device and start using this application to make phone calls, video calls, voice messaging, video messaging, IM, desktop sharing and audio, video conferencing.
8. Last FM
If you are a lover of music, and wish to hear fresh music all the time, this is one app from android app store that you will definitely like to install on your phone. The special feature of this app is that it keeps track of all that you listen, and based upon your liking creates a playlist that is based upon your preferences. When you use this app, you will feel as if the radio is playing all the music according to your liking. Listening to music is now never boring. This app is available for free.
9. Groupon
I am sure you have heard about some of the best deals available in city. This app makes available all the best daily deals in your area on your mobile and you can use the deals through mobile. Though the app is free you will need to spend for the groupon deals of course.
10. Angrybirds
This is a wonderful time pass for all those who are waiting for someone or play this game when having spare time. This is a simple game based upon principles of physics where you fling birds across the screen to kill their enemies. It is a simple, but very interesting game. In a very short time period, this game has become one of the top rated apps from android app store.
With these 10 apps, Foursquare is also very popular.
11. Foursquare
This is a GPS enabled app that is a must for all those who feel lost in their way as this app tells them exactly where they are. This is a location based social networking tool that brings in real life rewards for you for telling your friends where you are. You can broadcast your location and hangout with friends using this app. It also allows users to collect reward points from the retail outlets that are members of this tool.
This is not a conclusive list and is purely based upon my preferences but there are certainly many more that can be as entertaining or interesting for Android users.