ANDROID STARTER KIT

ANDROID STARTER KIT

    MOST Android phones come with some basic apps: Twitter, Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Chrome, etc. If you don’t have these installed, go to the Play Store and get them. But there are a few more essential apps that you must download on your shiny new handset… 
 
UTILITIES 

Avast: Better safe than sorry, which is why we suggest you get Avast. This antivirus will guard your phone against malware and viruses. And you can also install Avast Anti Theft – an app that will lock, locate, and wipe your handset in case it falls into the wrong hands. 

SwiftKey Keyboard: If you find it hard to type using the touchscreen, download SwiftKey Keyboard – one of the best virtual keyboards on Android; complete with fantastic auto-correction and predictive-word algorithms. This is the only app in this list that you will have to pay for, though you have the option to try it for a month before you buy a licence. 

File Explorer (by Amey Sakhadeo): One great feature of Android is its open file system that lets you look for files, copy, delete, or move them between different folders. File Explorer is a simple, goodlooking app that lets you do all of this easily. 

Pixlr Express: Powerful and easy to use, Pixlr Express allows for photoediting tasks like adjustments in contrast, colours and brightness in your pictures – and you can even apply filters, remove red-eye, add borders and crop images. Best of all, it allows you to save your edited images in their original resolution, and it even reduces noise and grain to make your pictures look smooth. 

Eye In Sky Weather: Do you know your phone can serve as a weatherman? EISW is a basic app that gives you weather forecasts depending or your location data. And if you have travel plans, you can also manually set the place for which you require weather information. EISW will pull up data for the next 15 days. 

Tiny Flashlight+ LED: You won’t miss this app till you actually need it; Tiny Flashlight uses the camera’s LED flash to turn your handset into a torch, even allowing you to adjust the intensity of the light. And if your phone does not have a flash, this app illuminates your screen to its brightest point to show you the way in the dark. 

    RunKeeper: If you’re the sort that never misses your morning jog, then download RunKeeper. The app uses the GPS feature on your phone to measure the distance you cover, calculate the calories you’ve burnt, and even keep a tab on your jogging speed. And all of this data can be saved on your phone to help you chart your fitness regimen. 
 
ENTERTAINMENT 

    MX Player: The video player bundled with Android still faces problems with formats such as AVI and FLV, depending on the codec used. To play such files, your best bet is MX Player. The app allows you to zoom in and out by pinching and swiping across the screen; and it even supports a ‘kids lock’ plugin that will keep your children entertained without you having to worry about them making calls or touching other apps. 

    Gaana: Gaana is a personalised radio station, that allows you to stream songs in 21 regional languages – including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi and Marathi – using your phone’s data connection. You can search for songs, create your own playlists and even share your favourites with friends on Facebook and Twitter. The app also feeds you with smart recommendations depending on the type of songs and artists you like. 

    TuneIn Radio: So you’ve got access to over a million songs with Gaana, but what if you’re in the mood for something more than just music? TuneIn provides access to 70,000 radio stations, two million podcasts and shows on your phone, all for free. So whether it’s music, news, sports, or comedy you crave, this app promises to meet all your listening needs. 
 
    SoundHound: You’ve just heard this track you like, but you have no way of finding out what it’s called or who the artist is. Well, with SoundHound, you can get all this information and more. Just hum the tune to the app, and it sifts through its database to give you the details. Besides you also get free information on new artists through SoundHound Headlines, and you can even see lyrics move in time with the music with its LiveLyrics feature. 
 
COMMUNICATION 

GO SMS Pro: You may find the SMS app in your new phone a little bland. Go SMS Pro is a replacement that looks cooler and comes with greater functionality, including support for themes and hundred of smileys. You can share files with contacts; schedule SMSes (set a message to go out automatically at the right time); and you also get a private box for messages meant only for your eyes. 

Viber: Want to make calls to the US using Wi-Fi? Try Viber. The app allows free calls between two Viber accounts (data charges apply). When you install the app, you will have to add your number to Viber’s database. After that, the app scans your phone and searches for other Viber users among your contacts. So the next time you make a call, you have the option to use a regular cellular connection or the Viber app. 

Facebook Messenger: Google Talk comes with your phone, but what if most of your friends are on Facebook? Well, get Facebook Messenger. The latest version of the app displays your Facebook messages – whenever you get one – in a floating window on top of any other app that you may have open. You can then click on this floating window to read the message and send a reply. Or you can long press the window and drag it to the bottom of the screen to dismiss it. 
 
PRODUCTIVITY 

Kingsoft Office 5.3.4: There’s no Microsoft Office on Android. But that doesn’t mean you can’t read Excel reports or check PowerPoint presentations on your phone. Kingsoft Office Suite is a free app – with support for common formats like .doc, .xls and .ppt – that allows you to edit and create text documents as well as check spreadsheets and presentation files. As a bonus, it can also read PDFs. 

Any.Do: This free app allows you to create minimalistic to-do lists (with reminders) for all your tasks. It lets you organise your jobs based on due dates, whether they have to be completed by Today, Tomorrow, or Someday (in the near future). Plus, you can also split tasks between your Work and Personal folders. And if the tasks at hand seem overwhelming, you can use Any.Do’s Plan feature to sort tasks according to priority.

    Evernote: The granddaddy of all notetaking apps, Evernote lets you record voice messages, jot down thoughts, annotate images and even save web pages. The latest version supports voice-to-text functionality so you can dictate your musings. And when you shoot photos and store them on Evernote, it automatically saves metadata like GPS location, which you can use to search for the image. Of course, you can attach searchable tags to everything you save into your account. The app is cloud-based so you always have access to your data regardless of the device you’re using; very powerful and very handy. 

    Feedly: If you are fond of reading news and articles on your phone, download Feedly. This app is an aggregator of content that lets you pick and choose the sites you want to follow across different categories like news, DIY, tech, business, design, photography, gaming, sports, cinema, etc. If the websites you follow are not on Feedly’s list, you can add those by searching from within the app. And it’s all presented to you in a very snazzy layout; even allowing for easy sharing with friends and followers on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn. Of course, you also have the option to save for later. 

    Pocket: Pocket, formerly known as Read It Later, is a bookmarking app that lets you save anything for later viewing, whether it’s a web page, a video or even a tweet. Just hit the Share button and add it to Pocket. The app also formats text for a better reading experience on your mobile screen, and is accessible across platforms as well as the web.