Tag Archives: Android Apps

Android

Top 3 Android App Review Sites

Android marketplace is no doubt booming but you will be surprised to see that you won’t be able to find quality Android Apps reviewing websites if compared with iOS ones. This lack of Android app reviewing portals is mainly because of the fact that most of the apps on Android marketplace are free, meaning that users can try out for themselves instead of reading the reviews. But if you happen to stumble upon a feature-rich Android app with a certain price tag then you will prefer to read some reviews before spending your dough. So today I am highlighting 3 pretty useful online resources for reviews of Android Apps:

Useful Android App Review Sites

Android AppStorm

Reviews Android.AppStorm

Part of AppStorm network, Android AppStorm is a very useful blog that give users with some quality contents that include stuff like general information about Android and How To’s.

You can access the android App reviews by browsing through categories, but the volume is limited in terms of amount of apps. The thing that I liked about it is that the reviews of all these apps are detailed having loads of photo illustrating in detail the working. The website is having user friendly interface and it also rounds-up best apps from categories.

Android Tapp

Android Tapp. Android App Reviews Android Apps News App Recommendations Interviews

If you enter a query of Android Apps review in Google search then the most likely result you will see is Android Tapp. Site also has news and reviews alongwith blog posts that are strongly related to Android. As many as 2-3 reviews are uploaded daily offering quite a deep insight of the app. Apart from that some of the reviews also have video footings that show how the apps work. Android Tapp also offers browsing through the categories.

Life of Android

Android app reviews Life of Android

This page is all about Android’s blogs and app reviews with a slight touch of news related to Android. The front page of the website contains big names from Android marketplace and it also provides a best-of apps list. The rating system is quite good, the review of each app is displayed in a miniature format alongwith a list of pros and cons. Life of Android provide users with the screenshots and on the average 1 review is uploaded daily.

All the Android App Review Sites I have mentioned are pretty good with some potential to them, if you are searching for some cool Android apps and want to read their reviews then do try out these Reviewing web platforms.

Google

Google Currents: Feed Reader App for Android and iOS

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We recently reviewed the amazing magazine styled news reader app for iPhone called Flipboard. And now here’s a new one for both Android and iPhone and it’s by none other than Google. There are a lot of news reader apps out there, but there aren’t many that are fun to read. Google Currents, as this new app is called, has a magazine styled theme just like Flipboard. But, unlike the latter, this app is available both for Android devices and for iOS devices as well.

Google has no native feed reading app for any mobile device, but it’s Google Reader is quite famous and used by many on the internet. This is their first feed reader app for the iPhone and Android phones, but, it isn’t as great as it looks. Like all Google products, this one is quite buggy as well. The current version doesn’t load all the feeds from a Google Reader account after you sync with the app. Plus, it hasn’t got any interesting or different feature that sets it apart from other magazine styled apps.

When you fire up the app for the first time, you’ll be asked to log-in with your Google credentials. If you have Google reader, then it should automatically sync all the feeds with the app. But, since there’s a bug, it probably won’t. You can share the articles, as usual, with various social media websites and also on Instapaper, Pinboard etc.


Check out more on Google Currents over here. Also, watch the video after the break, to better understand how Google Currents can help you.


That’s pretty much everything that you can do with Google Currents. Read your favorite Google reader feeds on iPhone and Android devices.

Google Currents is available for download from the Android Market and the App Store. It’s also free. So, try it out now. Although, if you already happen to have a good RSS feed reader app installed, then it’s alright to skip this app entirely.

Android

Send SMS with your Voice using Text by Voice for Android

Since the announcement of the iPhone 4S and Siri, there have been many attempts to bring out similar apps for other devices. However, most of them have failed and the ones that worked, are not so good overall. We’ve already talked about certain Siri alternatives for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and also for Android devices. Yet, new apps are still trying to be the next Siri. This one isnt’ like Siri, nor does it respond to your witty questions, but it does something quite useful.

Text by Voice is a free Android app that lets you Send text messages using your voice and also reads out incoming text messages out loud. It’s pretty useful when you’re driving or don’t want to use the keyboard to send a text message. Although, this is the only thing that this app can do, it’s actually very good at it. Unlike other apps that claim to do it all, this one is awesome at just this, sending and reading text messages.

Text by Voice allows you to safely text while you drive entirely through voice. There’s no need to touch or look at the screen at all. Text by Voice will automatically read incoming text messages aloud and give you a chance to respond. You can also set an auto responder for incoming text messages, and have Text by Voice start automatically when you start driving. Text by Voice lets you compose texts on the fly. It runs in the background so you can use other apps at the same time. Drive more safely with Text by Voice.

It’s definitely not a Siri replacement or alternative, but it works. Watch the demonstration video after the break.

You can download Text by Voice from the Android Market.

Try it out and let us know how it worked for you. If you haven’t tried it out yet, then you can do so once you’re in the hospital recovering from an accident caused by texting and driving. 

Android

Run Android Apps in Windows with BlueStacks App Player

There are more than 200,000 apps available on the Android market, but it’s not like you can try all of them on your mobile phone can you? Well, what if you could try it on your Windows PC. Yup, you’ve heard of the famous Angry Birds game being made to run on Windows, well the same thing has happened again.

BluesStacks is a Windows software that can run any Android app on your PC in full screen mode, can sync apps from your Android phone to PC and it works really really smooth as well. The software has been under development since almost 6 months now, and yet it’s still in Alpha.

So, don’t panic if apps crash when you’re in an intense gaming situation. The best part, it’s all free. Yes, you can install up to 26 Android apps at once and use them, but not more than that. You’ll have to uninstall and delete a few to add new ones!! That’s a downer, but it won’t be same for long. According to the BlueStacks team;

With 56-percent of smartphone consumers purchasing an Android device in the last three months[1], it’s apparent that Android is rapidly becoming a preferred operating system. The BlueStacks App Player now gives users one-click access to their favorite Android apps right on their Windows PC. Both Windows and Android users stand to benefit greatly from this capability.

Well, I for one, totally agree with what they have to say and I’m already using the App Player to it’s core. It’s amazing. If you liked a game on your mobile device, but it did not work so well on it, then you can download it on your PC using BlueStacks App Player. The simplest way to run Android apps in Windows. Check out this video and be stunned.

You can download BlueStacks App Player right away and try out your favorite Android apps in Windows. Sadly, this is not available on Mac, but it will be soon.

Android

Official Flickr App for Android Released, Offers Real-time Picture Sharing

Flickr applications for mobile platforms is not a new thing, developers in the past have been releasing loads of Flickr based apps for both the Apple and Google’s mobile operating system. But this time Yahoo Inc has jumped the Flickr mobile bandwagon by releasing its first official Flickr app for Android platform. This official app boasts some pretty cool features including the provision for users to quickly share the pictures in real-time with their family and friends.

The app was released during a press conference organized by Yahoo to chalk-out the salient’s of its mobile market strategy.

What’s new in Flickr for Android?

Well first of all users will be able to instantly access their entire photos, contacts and album collections via this app. Users can view activity streams and can also see photos uploaded by friends and family.

flickr app android

Flickr have also integrated a camera experience within the app, there is a built-in viewfinder that ultimately allows users to select photo ratios and also allow them to add metadata.

flickr app android2

Photograph taken via this new app can be instantly uploaded to social networking hubs like Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.

Photo Session Feature

flickr

Apart from this Android app, another notable feature that Flickr has released is Photo Sessions. Name it as a feature that somewhat replicates the way we show photos to our friends or family for real while sitting together. Photo Session means that users can show their photos in real-time to their relatives or pals regardless of their location. Working is simple, Photo Session generates a unique URL that is sharable with 10 faimly members or friends. Clicking on that URL will let you join group viewing of that photo or album.

URL generated by Photo Session will last for 24 hours and it works perfectly on iPads, computers and iPhone. This feature also enables group viewing participants to modify the photos they are viewing like drawing or writing on them, any modification done is seen in real-time by other session viewers.

So Android users, go on and hit the Marketplace and grab Flickr for your Android powered phone. Try it out and let us know about your experience.

Android

Download the Amazon App Store for your Android Phone

The Android Market is evolving at a rapid rate, and nearing those big numbers of the Apple App Store. The number of Android devices in the market is more than what you can count and it’s only increasing. You can use the Android Market to buy apps, download free apps, sell apps and also know about all the new apps that are being added every single day.

Some time back, if you remember, we told you that Amazon had also launched their own App Store to sell Android apps. Since Google’s Android OS is open source, it wasn’t a problem for Amazon to go ahead and set it’s own Android App Market.

However, until now, the Amazon Appstore was only available in the United States of America, thus leaving everyone else in the world inaccessible to it’s stores. The best thing about their appstore is the App a Day section, where they sell an app for free every single day. The Amazon Appstore is now available in few more international countries, including India, which is a really good thing for all the Android users here.

The main reason that you should download the Amazon Appstore on your Android device is ‘App a Day’, where you can get Paid apps for free and they do have good discounts on certain paid apps now and then. A really good alternative to Google’s Android Market, however the test-drive feature is still not available in India, which lets you test an application on the browser before downloading. Check out this video after the break;

To download the Amazon Appstore on your Android mobile device you’ll need to go to this link :  amazon.com/appstorelanding on you mobile browser and the app will be automatically downloaded and installed on your device. Also you’ll have to create an Amazon account to start using the Appstore and download/buy apps.

Go try it out now. 

Android

3 Feature-Rich Photo Gallery Apps for Your Android Device

Photo apps are an essential part of any smartphone Operating system, these apps range in multiple categories. Some are designed to take photos, some to edit them while some of the photo apps are designed specifically to change the way photos are displayed. The stock gallery app on Android lacks some vital features so that’s why users normally have to resort to third-party app. Android marketplace is full of these apps but I will highlighting three quality gallery apps for your Android phone that are worth downloading.

Fishbowl (Android 2.1+)

Fish bowl

Though a bit new on the Android marketplace, Fishbowl for Android takes a totally different approach and gives users a new way to interact with the photos. The app does not display the photos in a thumbnail view rather it crams the UI with as many photos as possible with varying thumbnail size. This particular way of displaying photos is called as Fishbowl View. Navigation is quite simple on this app, Swipe from center of photo to switch between images. Fishbowl app is available as a free download from Android marketplace and it is compatible with Honeycomb as well.

Gallery 3D (Android 2.2+)

 

If you love graphical rich apps with loads of features that Gallery 3D is the app you should definitely get hold of. The app has a 3D enhanced UI having some core 3D effects incorporated in it. Though the 3D visuals are not that heavy but they do uplift the overall visual looks of the app. same goes for the feature front, you will find loads of apps features like cropping, alternate album views and even some basic editing options. Gallery 3D is available as a free download and runs smoothly on Android 2.2+.

Photo Days (Android 2.1+)

photo days

This app is designed in such a way that it enables users to browse through their entire photo collection in a chronological manner. Though a bit limited as far as the features are considered Photo Days is a perfect app for those who want to view their photographs as per time periods.

 

Do try out these apps and give us your feedback that whether you liked them or not.

Android

Discover Android Games of Your Taste with Hooked App

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Gaming on smartphones is a very essential thing these days, if you don’t have some cool games on your high-end smartphone then it means that you are not maxing out of it. Android marketplace in the recent times have flooded with some really cool and awesome games but finding out a worth while gaming gem out of so many is a bit hectic. So today I will be telling you about an App on marketplace that will let you discover games for your Android phone that will be matching your taste.

What is Hooked?

Hooked is basically a new and an innovative way of discovering Android games and eventually sharing it with your friends. On Hooked you can do loads of stuff like finding amazing games, discovering games as per your personal interests, inviting friends to join, sharing your discoveries with your friends. Simply stated, Hooked is a social networking based community solely designed for Android gamers.

Hooked App’s Intelligent Working

hooked app

The application has been designed intelligently in such a way that it automatically returns appropriate gaming recommendations for users. It also keeps users updated with the popular gaming titles that users world-over are trying. There is a built-in quiz on the app, this quiz learns about the gaming habits of the user and gives a specific gamer’s title. The app also suggests 3 gaming-titles based on your quiz answers.

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You will have to go through the quiz when you will launch the app for the first time, Hooked will learn about your gaming taste from this quiz and will recommend you 3 games daily. Recommended games are displayed in the center of App’s homepage, you can also install games directly via Hooked. Live Feed enables users to view games that are being played by other Hooked users.

Well I think Hooked app will very much end your search for Android games, you can not only share your discoveries with your friends but can also invite them to use this app. Hooked is available as a free download from Android marketplace.

Android

Say Cheese to Click Pictures with This Camera App [Android]

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Recently we reviewed a one of a kind camera app for iOS devices known as ShutterVox, which clicked photos when you shouted Cheese, Snap etc. If you were sad that you couldn’t do the same with your Android device you would be wrong.

A new camera app is now available for Android phones that does the same things. However, the Android version adds some extra features too, such as a Stealth mode.

The app is called Say Cheese Camera, and is a perfect stock camera app replacement because it has voice recognition, stealth mode and mass photo sharing options. That’s what everyone needs at the moment, don’t they? A cool camera app that does more than just click photos. I haven’t tested the voice commands, but reviews say that not all of them work perfectly, just as the iOS app. There are many camera apps for Android, but this has all those features put together plus some more.

The voice recognition is the most interesting one, which lets you take pictures by saying words like Cheese, Smile etc. Another useful feature is the ability to mass upload photos to Facebook and create slideshows using rainSlides.

The app has many settings and useful options that’ll make it easier to take pictures. If you click on settings, you’ll find options for auto-focus, Auto-Save, Timer, Stealth Mode, Voice Response & Voice Pitch, effects and the option to use your Camera button to launch this app.

It also has a Gallery for easy picture viewing so you don’t have to navigate all the way to your Android gallery. You can select multiple photos together and as I mentioned before, upload to Facebook. It’s easy to setup, all can be accessed through the settings option. There’s also a pretty useful Torch option to keep your flash on during the photo shoot, just in case you’re afraid of the dark. That mostly sums it all up. I would suggest that you try this app right away and let us know what you think of it.

You can download Say Cheese Camera app from the Android Market for free and it would require Android 2.2 and above.

Android

iPhone Lockscreen for Android: MagicLocker App

One thing that I like the most about smartphones is the innovative lock screens, you swipe your finger or input a combo to unlock your phone. But sometimes we tend to get bore of these lockscreens even on our smartphones, so my today’s post is for those Android users who want to give their smartphone Lockscreen a makeover.

MagicLocker

MagicLocker for Android gives your stock lockscreen a spin my giving you option to choose an altogether different lockscreen. This particular Lockscreen alternate application has by default two built-in skins, a perfect looking clone of iPhone’s lockscreen and the other is a scruffy looking 3-point lockscreen codenamed as Robot Lost. The quality of these themes is quite remarkable and if the developers stick to their claims then it means that we will see a lot of other Lockscreens as well.

MagicLocker Features and Specs

iPhonelock screen

MagicLocker iPhone’s lockscreen is a perfect replica of iDevice’s original screen, plug in your phone for charging and the lockscreen will transform into an iPhone’s charging screen with a battery displayed on the screen.

iPhone charging screen

The only noticeable difference you will find is that the unread message count is just below the clock which is not there on an iPhone.

RobotLost screen

Lost Robot skin has a totally different layout and visual appearance, it features 3-side unlock with shortcuts that will lead you directly to Dialer and Messaging applications. In the center of Lockscreen there is an animated version of Android depicting Mad Eye Moody.

Just launch the app, go to settings and check the Enable button, select the screen you want to set and tap Apply. You can download MagicLocker for free from Android marketplace. I will definitely recommend you this app because it will give your Android device a new look. Try it out and Let us know in comments that whether it’s worth it or not.