The past 4 days I have spent playing with my new phone and exploring the bottomless well of Android widgets and apps on the online Android Market unable to tear myself from the magical gadget! As I have concluded my research I have come across a large number of good and bad apps and tested them on my new Android powered HTC Wildfire.
Some of the apps I have downloaded just out of curiosity, others were recommendation of Android apps review websites. Below you will find a list and a short description of some of the must have apps I have encountered.
My top 10 list includes:
1. Advanced task killer
This is a great app that displays a list of apps available and allows users to de-select those they don't want to run in the background while you are using your phone or web searching draining your battery and slowing down the processor. It helps to keep your smart phone fast and improves your battery life. This is one to keep. I believe, there is a full version available in the top paid apps but I have a lite version for free.
2. Astro File Manager
This app will display folders with your apps that you can access and delete all undesirable files. I have noticed some of the uninstalled apps still left behind folder with images and other debris that were unwanted leftovers after uninstalling. I have successfully removed these files using the Astro File Manager, which allows you also to select and delete multiple files. It can prove very useful and that's why I am keeping this one for sure.
3. Aldiko
This is a virtual bookshelf that allows you to access and download books as well as purchase specialist books such as O'Reilly series web designer tutorials and other textbooks. You have to pay for these; however, there are also many Creative Commons books available for free. Some of the titles I've found quite impressive as I was amazed to see they are free. Between others, some of the titles include: Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Irish Fairy Tales etc. for kids. And for adult readers famous titles such as: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Frankenstein, or perhaps even Dracula by Brahm Stoke, if horrors are your preferred genre! I would definitely give it a try even if you don't consider yourself a bookworm.
4. appInstaller
This is a great app that lets you remove your apps in one easy step. You simply click on its icon and it displays all your apps. Then you select those you don't want from a list and appInstaller deletes it. I found it very helpful because there is so many apps, and you just can't keep them all! I have been using the appInstaller quite frequently as the original interface is a bit comfusing to follow. There's also an option to save app to your SD card. Definitely a keeper!
5. ColorNote
This is a great app! The icon looks like a sticky note and you can customize the colour of the note. It enables you to create colour coded messages, write down shopping lists, things to do or remember. You can set a reminder or even leave a little icon at the top of your browser to remind you everytime you look at your phone. It's a handy app to have enough said! :o)
6. Contact Remover
If you find your interface a little complicated this one is a simple way to remove unwanted contacts. I found it quite useful as I have still not figured out how to remove contacts otherwise. The icons on the Wildfire are rather monotone without any colour coding and difficult to remember. Little apps like this one make life a bit easier for those that get lost in the smart phone interface.
7. Dolphin Browser
Although the preinstalled browser is pretty good, Dolphin is somewhat like the Mozilla Firefox for smart androids. It has tabs and features that can significantly improve your browsing experience.
8. Facebook/Twitter and other official mobile versions
Yes, you actually have to download it as it is not preinstalled. That is if you use Facebook. There's others I found useful such as Yahoo mail, Ebay, Amazon etc. Yahoo mail even notifies you with an audible sound everytime you receive an email. Who needs SMS texts? OK, you do need an internet connection.
Anyway, if you use Twitter and other networking sites, short stream is provided with the Wildfire yet you best download the official app to improve your experience.
9. Places
This is a great app that uses the GPS to display the nearest restaurants, petrol stations or hotels. It can prove particularly handy if you travel a lot or find yourself in uknown places.
10. Flixter
Another great app that let's you see film reviews and it also displays nearest cinemas to your location. You can even watch the trailers for the movies you are interested in. A great app if you love going to the cinema!
Honorable to mention
Barcode Scanner - this app lets you scan a barcode on your DVD, CD and so on, using your phone which allows you to compare current prices for the scanned item.
Wapedia - It's like Wikipedia for mobile.
And finally a list of games I will keep:
Bebbled, Abduction, Various puzzles (Avatar, Simpsons, Shrek, Toy Story etc.),
Bistro Cook, Galaxy Domination, GemMagic_Light, Hearts, Memory Games (Shrek, Toy Story), Slugs,Toss It, Zap a Minion, Word Game..and many more.
Ok, I hope you have found this helpful. I will update the list once I come across some new keepers!
Everything about digital media, graphic design, video production and editing, cinematography, technology, tutorials, and so on.
Friday 30 July 2010
Wednesday 28 July 2010
First day with my HTC Wildfire
I am really excited to finally receive my first smart phone! I have managed to install some of the many apps that are available on Android Market. Most of the apps I got were games, puzzles, and trivia, word game and so on. I noticed the live wallpaper app was not working. I checked it on the internet and apparently the HTC Wildfire doesn’t support these.
The rest of the day I spend trying to connect to WIFI. It worked yesterday just fine but today there was an issue, although it may have been a problem with our modem or me :o). I have reset my phone which removed all my downloaded apps and finally managed to get the WIFI and Bluetooth working just fine.
In spite of this initial inconvenience, I still very much love my Wildfire and I believe we will become truly inseparable friends. Most of the user reviews are very positive about the Wildfire, and although it’s not a high end phone, it’s becoming increasingly popular. You either love or hate the Wildfire.
I’ll try to make a video review once I get the phone set up, contacts, and pictures added on etc. Right now it seems to be a never-ending story.
Tuesday 27 July 2010
What smart phone?
The market is saturated with all kinds of gadgets and the smart phone is becoming an increasingly popular option when buying a phone, also thanks to the (in)famous iPhone. The truth is, I really like the iPhone, it 'looks' beautiful, however I couldn't justify the price for a phone that drops calls and has a number of other issues. Apart from the great apps, many of its features, such as the 5MP camera are very common now. This is why HTC phones are becoming the best alternative. I decided to do my research further.
I wanted a phone that would have a better camera than my old Ericsson, and number of widgets and apps that would be useful and fun to have. In fact, I wanted all the features I could get for a reasonable price. I have decided on the HTC Wildfire. It looks a lot like the HTC Desire, a very popular HTC smart phone.
The Desire is about 1/4 inch longer, has amolled screen, and it has a faster processor, however all the main features are practically identical to the HTC Wildfire. I could not justify spending another £170 for a better screen and 1GB processor.
I believe the Wildfire is one of the best value smart phones currently available also because of its great user reviews. It has the Android OS which is very popular now due to the thousands of free apps you can download. This is similar to the iPhone, only iPhone apps are of higher quality and generally not free.
While waiting for the box to arrive I have created this poster in anticipation of the day when I will finally unwrap my first smart phone ever!
The HTC Wildfire comes in 4 colours: black, brown, red, and white. The video above takes a closer look at this great value Android phone!
I wanted a phone that would have a better camera than my old Ericsson, and number of widgets and apps that would be useful and fun to have. In fact, I wanted all the features I could get for a reasonable price. I have decided on the HTC Wildfire. It looks a lot like the HTC Desire, a very popular HTC smart phone.
The Desire is about 1/4 inch longer, has amolled screen, and it has a faster processor, however all the main features are practically identical to the HTC Wildfire. I could not justify spending another £170 for a better screen and 1GB processor.
I believe the Wildfire is one of the best value smart phones currently available also because of its great user reviews. It has the Android OS which is very popular now due to the thousands of free apps you can download. This is similar to the iPhone, only iPhone apps are of higher quality and generally not free.
While waiting for the box to arrive I have created this poster in anticipation of the day when I will finally unwrap my first smart phone ever!
The HTC Wildfire comes in 4 colours: black, brown, red, and white. The video above takes a closer look at this great value Android phone!
Sunday 25 July 2010
Introduction - the first post!
I have taken a long time before I have finally decided to start writing my own blog and - this is it! Partly inspired by another blogger and partly to gather various information I come across during my internet ventures in order to share it with other people just like me. Sharing knowledge and opinions about new products or gadgets, as well as design ideas etc. is a great way of connecting with people.
Perhaps I should start with introducing myself. I am originally from the Czech Republic, therefore English is not my first language! Please forgive me any errors you will come across, I probably will have noticed them by then too!
I have travelled a lot and lived in English speaking countries since I was 20 years old. I am in my late thirties now and will be for a while yet. Like many other people, I don't feel my age and believe I was frozen somewhere in my early twenties! :o)
Currently, I live in Scotland and love it! Not only because it's a beautiful part of Great Britain but also because I am meeting new people, as I have become a full-time student again. Yay! I love learning even more now than when I was younger. It is said, that generally mature students, as they call us here, are better students since they are more focused, which from my personal experience I must confirm is very true.
Anyway, enough about me. Let's start this blog with a bang!
Bang!!! :o)
Perhaps I should start with introducing myself. I am originally from the Czech Republic, therefore English is not my first language! Please forgive me any errors you will come across, I probably will have noticed them by then too!
I have travelled a lot and lived in English speaking countries since I was 20 years old. I am in my late thirties now and will be for a while yet. Like many other people, I don't feel my age and believe I was frozen somewhere in my early twenties! :o)
Currently, I live in Scotland and love it! Not only because it's a beautiful part of Great Britain but also because I am meeting new people, as I have become a full-time student again. Yay! I love learning even more now than when I was younger. It is said, that generally mature students, as they call us here, are better students since they are more focused, which from my personal experience I must confirm is very true.
Anyway, enough about me. Let's start this blog with a bang!
Bang!!! :o)
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