Thursday, January 6, 2011

Six Essential Utility Apps For Your New Android Phone

Got a new Android phone for Christmas?  Here are six utility apps you'll want to get on it ASAP.

LauncherPro.  If you don't like your default homescreen, this ultra-flexible replacement app can do better.  From the number of panels you want to the style of the app drawer, this has all the customizations you wish the default Android homescreen came with.

Astro File Manager.  Eventually, you'll want to get a folder view of your phone's contents.  This app gives you that, along with a task killer, attachment sending and files backup.

Widgetsoid.  Want to configure your home screen widgets?  Look no further than this app, which can do a whole host of things, from replacing the icons to managing various aspects of the experience.

Quick Uninstaller.  There are many ways to get rid of crap apps that you originally thought were cool.  This app is probably the most convenient available.  One tap to choose, another tap to remove and your business is done.

AppBrain App Market.  The Android Market is functional, but terrible to navigate.  If you switched sides from the iPhone, you would be very disappointed.  Fortunately, there's AppBrain, a third-party app that offers a better overall experience, including search, rankings and categories.

Apps to SDCard. If you like hoarding apps, your phone's built-in memory will eventually tap out.  This app lets you move some of them from the phone's flash storage to your SD card.  Do note that Android 2.2 already has the same capability, so if your smartphone's running that, you can probably give this one a pass.