It’s the start of the new year and if you or anybody else got some new gadgets during the last month, congratulations on your new toy. Like you, I spent the last few days loading up my new Android tablet with all the apps and content I could find.
However, if you’re new to Android, it can be hard to know where to start. I’ve collected a few awesome apps that everybody should have on their new Android device.
Must Have Android Apps for a New Device
Pulse
Anybody can make an RSS reader, but Pulse stands out from the crowd with its attractive, image-centric design.
Despite relentlessly pushing you to sign in with LinkedIn, of all social networks, Pulse offers good features, syncs your feeds between devices, and makes RSS beautiful.
Download Pulse from Google Play Store
MightyText
MightyText (or its paid equivalent, DeskSMS) is one of my favorite apps on Android. It offers something totally unique that you can’t get on iPhone- full texting from the desktop (over SMS, not just iMessage).
Just install the MightyText app on your phone, and it’ll mirror your messages to any web browser. Using a real keyboard to talk to your friends feels so much smoother than virtual keys.
Try desktop texting. Once you get hooked, there’s no going back.
Download MightyText from Google Play Store
Steam
It’s not the best of apps, but it is Steam, on your phone. You can buy games, add to your wishlist, check out the sales, and chat with friends.
Basically, everything except playing your Steam games. For people with a long Steam friends list, this app is invaluable.
Download Steam from Google Play Store
Netflix
Netflix is essential for its subscribers. It offers the company’s entire catalog, streaming down over data to your phone.
Plus, the new version of the app includes profiles and Chromecast support. You can cast data to a television from in the app. Simple, and effective.
Download Netflix Google Play Store
Play Music
Google Play Music is easily the best way to listen to music on Android. Take all the songs on your computer, even the ones in iTunes, and send them up to the Google cloud.
From there, you can stream content down to your phone. It’s a great way to keep a large music collection if you’ve got a phone with 8 GB of storage.
Download Play Music from Google Play Store
reddit sync
Redditors fiercely debate which reddit app is best, but only one offers tablet support and a gorgeous interface.
reddit sync is the best way to consume the internet’s most addictive site on mobile. It’s got everything you could want, and the developer keeps it under active development. This is how you should collect dogecoin.
Download reddit sync from Google Play Store
Evernote
Professionals take notes with Evernote. Type data into the app, and it’ll automatically sync it between your devices. There are apps for every platform imaginable, including Android.
The Android app has flaws, but it works fine and gives you access to everything in your Evernote profile. The best part? It’s free.
Download Evernote from Google Play Store
14px
14px behaves differently than other apps. It’s free, and without in-app purchases. The brutal difficulty gives no ground to appeal to a “mass market.”
Think N+ or Super Meat Boy on mobile. 14px does platforming right. It’s an excellent experience that I’d recommend to any gamer unafraid of a challenge.
Download 14px from Google Play Store
Aldiko
While you can’t find anything as smooth as iBooks on Android, Aldiko can read almost anything you throw at it within a decent interface.
For those of you without any eBooks, the app includes a built-in store for buying new content or downloading the free stuff. You can’t go wrong with this reader.
Download Alkido from Google Play Store
Airdroid
Airdroid is another awesome app that’s only possible on Android. You install the app, start it up, and connect to your phone through any web browser.
From that browser you can text, transfer files, manage images, and install apps. The texting feature alone is worth the price of admission, honestly.
Download Airdroid from Google Play Store
Business Calendar
The stock calendar app is AOSP works fine, but I’m not a fan of the interface. Business Calendar has a much better version.
The month view in particular allows easy handling of events and calendar data. The app also includes some cool widgets. Google Calendar fiends should give this one a shot.
Download Business Calendar from Google Play Store
chan sync
The people who would use this app know who they are. chan sync translates 4chan into a user friendly app. It makes it easier to track threads without jumping between pages.
I also liked the image browser, which lets you scroll through every image in a thread. That’s always useful for YLYL.
Read more about chan sync here.
DashClock
Assuming your phone is at Android 4.2+, you can run DashClock, the app that makes notifications look good.
It operates as a desktop and lock screen widget. You can download extensions from the Play Store to display data from reddit, email, Hangouts, and even a random word of the day. Try it.
Download Dash Clock Widget from Google Play Store
Greenify
Android has its issues, including improperly programmed apps which run too many background services. To conserve your phone’s battery, it’s best to use Greenify.
Greenify freezes background processes of whatever apps you select. It’s highly useful, but you’ll have to pay for the non-rooted version.
Download Greenify from Google Play Store
KeePassDroid
KeePass keeps your passwords safe on desktop, and now on Android as well with this app. Typing in long passwords on a virtual keyboard remains a pain, but you can’t argue with free and open-source security.
Download KeePassDroid from Google Play Store
Minecraft Pocket Edition
Minecraft. On your phone. That should be enough to sell anyone on this app, which Mojang has faithfully updated since its 2011 release.
While it’s not as good as its massively successful desktop cousin, it is touch-optimized and undeniably fun. Can’t argue with good sandbox gameplay.
Download MineCraft Pocket Edition from Play Store
My Boy! Free
Yet another great app only on Android (jailbreaking excluded). Ever wanted to play Pokemon on your phone? Feel like the Game Boy Advance was underrated? Get My Boy!, the free GBA emulator.
I like My Boy! over free alternatives like Gameboid because it offers more customisation and better performance.
Download MyBoy! Emulator from Google Play Store
Final Thoughts
If you still can’t find something to tickle your fancy, just check out the most popular lists on the Play Store. There’s always something good there.
