25 Top Android App Introductions

The Android Market may not have as many apps as the iPhone App Store, but there are still plenty to overwhelm you, and it's growing at an astonishing rate. To help you navigate through them, here is a list of what I consider to be the best apps I've found for Android. Keep in mind this is only a snapshot in time; with how quickly the Android platform is evolving, I guarantee my home screen will look different again next month (with some app changes).

Here are the top 25 outstanding apps:

1. Google Voice

Google Voice is a very useful service, and I think it's a huge advantage for Android, especially because Apple has refused Google Voice on the iPhone. You can use one phone number that can call multiple places or devices, and also allows you to access all your voicemails and text messages via the web. The Android app integrates well. Outgoing calls show as coming from your Google Voice number, thus protecting your real private number.

2. Task Killer

A reality of the multitasking Android mobile OS is that you need to manage your apps to avoid performance issues or battery drain. My favorite is Task Killer (ATK). It even comes with a small widget that allows you to close all open apps with one click.

3. Dropbox

Dropbox is an excellent cloud service that automatically syncs folders across multiple computers (Windows, Mac, or Linux). This app extends Dropbox to Android and can interact with other apps (like Documents To Go) to open files.

4. Evernote

Once you get used to typing on a virtual keyboard (which took me over a year), these devices are great for taking notes, and Evernote is an excellent note-taking app. Like Dropbox, it saves locally and syncs to your other machines and devices.

5. DroidAnalytics

For some reason, Google doesn't have an official mobile version of Google Analytics (for either Android or iPhone). The best one I've found for Android is DroidAnalytics. Another good one is mAnalytics.

6. Documents To Go

The free version of Documents To Go provides a reader for Word and Excel files. If you want to edit documents and add PowerPoint support, you can upgrade to the full version ($15). If you're looking for editing capabilities, I'd also recommend checking out Quickoffice.

7. Amazon Kindle

I've never been a big fan of Amazon's Kindle e-reader, but I am a fan of the Kindle app for mobile. Since the phone is always with me, I can read a few pages whenever I have spare time, which is quite relaxing.

8. Places Directory

This is an incredibly useful app for finding nearby stores and services, from restaurants to cinemas, medical facilities, and taxis. The app is very accurate and leverages Google's local business information. It's more useful than the info you'd get from a GPS unit (or app) and better than similar iPhone apps.

9. TripIt

I highly recommend TripIt. It's by far the best trip-planning app I've used. It runs in the background. You just forward your flight, hotel, and car rental confirmations, and it automatically organizes them into a detailed itinerary with confirmation numbers.

10. Seesmic

Twitter is an amazing real-time intelligence engine and has a mobile-friendly version. While there's now an official Twitter app for Android, Seesmic is still the best Android Twitter client.

11. FCC Speedtest

I've become obsessed with running speed tests, checking my bandwidth in various locations, seeing fluctuations in 3G speeds, and testing Wi-Fi quality. There are many excellent speed test apps, but recently I've liked the FCC Test app.

12. Astro File Manager

Another great thing about Android is that you have low-level access to the system itself. Astro is an app that lets you browse the Android file system.

13. Got To Do

There are many to-do apps available for Android, but I prefer Got To Do because of its solid interface and ability to sync with the online service Toodledo.

14. Gist

Most people have contact directories across different computers, devices, and online services. Gist is a web service that aggregates them and even extracts contact information from the web, helping you keep important contacts updated. This app works on both Android and iPhone.

15. TED Mobile

TED is a fascinating event, gathering some of the most influential thinkers in society. You might disagree with some views due to differing positions, but many talks are worth listening to. Thankfully, they've recorded videos from the conferences that are freely available online. This app provides a great way to access those videos. I wish more conferences were like TED.

16. Pandora

Pandora is an "internet radio station." You just search for an artist or song, and it creates a continuous playlist based on that information. There are occasional ads between songs, but they're localized and sometimes useful.

17. Shazam

If you want to impress your friends with a mobile app, tell them about Shazam. Have you ever heard a song playing in a store or on the radio and wondered, "What is this song?" That's where Shazam comes in. Just press a button, let it listen for 15 seconds, and it queries its database, quickly returning the artist and song title. It has about an 80% success rate.

18. Dial Zero

Are you the type who dials customer service numbers and keeps pressing 0 until you get a real person? Then Dial Zero is your new friend. This app provides a directory of U.S. companies and gives you numbers that are closest to getting you to a real person, along with tips on how to do so quickly.

19. Google Goggles

This is a fun app that's not fully advanced yet but is still cutting-edge. It uses visual search. You can take a picture of an object, and the app will try to tell you what it is. Currently, its scope is limited, but it's pretty cool and definitely a glimpse into future applications. One of the coolest features is the ability to recognize foreign language text in images and translate it with your app. This can help you read signs abroad, avoiding restroom confusion. Haha!

20. Google Sky Map

At some point, you've probably looked up at the stars, trying to name constellations for your sweetheart or remembering which planet is near the South Celestial Pole. Google Sky Map makes it easy to find out with just a tap on your phone. This is part of a new wave of "augmented reality" apps that add a digital information layer to real-world experiences.

21. Tricorder

I know many fans would say our smartphones are becoming more like Star Trek's Tricorders. Well, here's a fun app that turns your Android device into a virtual Tricorder. It even offers some useful environmental data, including GPS info, wireless data, sound levels, and environmental measurements.

22. FxCamera

Honestly, Android's camera software is one of the areas that needs the most improvement, but this app is the best. It offers reliable camera controls, full customization options, and some nice special effects for processing photos.

23. Photoshop Mobile

Photoshop is undoubtedly the world's most famous photo editor, and its mobile version doesn't disappoint. However, compared to the countless features of the desktop version, the mobile app is relatively simple. It's still the best photo-editing app for Android (and iPhone), offering basic cropping, brightness adjustments, sharpening, etc.

24. Bump

Bump is a fun (and useful) idea that uses the accelerometer to share information between two phones, working on both Android and iPhone. You can use it to share contact information (yours and others'), photos, and apps. Just open the Bump app simultaneously, select what you need to share, hold the phones, and bump them together.

25. Barcode Scanner

This app turns your Android camera into a barcode scanner. Just scan the UPC code of a product, let the app run, and it will search for the product on Google Product Search or the open web. You'll be amazed at how fast it works. When shopping for retail items, if you want to check prices online before buying to ensure you're getting a fair deal, you'll see how excellent this app really is.