Finding stellar Android apps isn't the easiest task, but that certainly doesn't mean they don't exist. Here's the cream of the crop. Twitter: The official Twitter app is good enough for almost everyone. Along with giving you a clean, easy way to keep track of your timeline and updating your status, Twitter for Android also has a snazzy swipe down to refresh feature. Pinterest: Pin until you can pin no more, Android fans. This month the online bulletin board launched a version compatible with Google's platform for the first time. Time to scope out some new DIY projects. Tango: Tango is the best (and clearest!) way to video chat with your buddies, Android or iPhone, over 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi. Free. It's fully customizable (in look and theme) and gives options for popups and to even tweak individual contact settings. If you've never thought the stock messaging app on Android sucked, we won't blame you. But after using Handcent, you will. It supports AIM, Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo, Facebook chat and others and is free.
Facebook Messenger: Think of it as a cross platform messaging service that enables you to easily talk to people on any platform—Android, iPhone, Facebook, SMS and everything in between. It's not dissimilar to Kik or WhatsApp in this aspect. If your friends are on Facebook, they'll get your message in the Messages (or on their Android or iPhone). If they're not on Facebook, it'll be re-directed as a SMS message. Everything about 2.0 is smoother, simpler, and all around better. Writing an entry is easy—be it a photo post or just a reblog—and switching between multiple blogs is handled gracefully. Not only can you scan Flickr photostreams, upload pictures, share photos to other social networks, you can also take filterized pictures and look so hip with it. 8tracks: 8tracks has always been a great way to combine your favorite songs into a custom playlist and share it with your friends.
It's now on Android. The service allows you to create a social playlist of songs with 8 or more songs, pulled and organized from their huge database of tracks. Music reviewers like Pitchfork, Spin, and Rolling Stone contribute playlists, and the service promises a social music discovery experience that lets you discover music that real people think works together. Download SmartGlass to control your Xbox from your phone. Basically you never have to leave your couch ever again. Streaming's silky smooth over Wi-Fi, less so over 3G, but the app itself is indispensable. Vignette: With Vignette you get those wonderful artsy effects your friends love and a ton of straight shooting options that'll make you leave your Point and Shoot at home. You know the one. The internet radio app that has uplifted a million work hours and scored a million make-outs. It's simply the best out there, streaming music at home or on the go over Wi-Fi or 3G. Free.
Rdio: A "social" music subscription service, as in you can leech off your friend's good music taste to listen to exactly what they are. Plus, you can sync songs to listen offline. Free. Play all the movies, tv shows and videos you've accumulated in your Internet career on your Android phone. Videos: You can use Google's official Video app to watch videos you store on your phone or flicks you got from the Market. Soundhound also throws in lyrics and links to videos too. Free. Where's he from, Should I even watch this movie, Solve all your movie questions with Android's official IMDB app. It's basically IMDB's website optimized for your phone—which in this case, is a good thing. Movies: Pretty simple: you like knowing the movies that are playing in theaters around you, right, Flixster's got local listings and showtimes, along with trailers and reviews from Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, you can manage your Netflix queue!
Free. There's not too many effects available (ToyCam, Polaroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam, and Andy Warholizer), but all of them are stellar. Free. The e-book wars aren't quite over, but no one will judge you for siding with Amazon. The popular bookmarking tool landed on the Google platform this month, and it looks a lot like its iOS counterpart. Find your podcasts by searching Google's database and stay up to date with automatic downloads (set to your preferences). Backgrounds has a ridiculous, ridiculous amount of options to choose from (over 10k!). Free. Lightbox: Lightbox is a stylish camera app that's good enough to replace the stock camera app. Though it doesn't have basic features like zoom or autofocus, it does give you the ability to add 10 trendy filters after your shot. Your artsy photos can be shared via Twitter and Facebook and is automagically beamed down to your Honeycomb tablets and Lightbox's web interface. Like Instagram and iCloud but for Android.
Facebook Messenger: Think of it as a cross platform messaging service that enables you to easily talk to people on any platform—Android, iPhone, Facebook, SMS and everything in between. It's not dissimilar to Kik or WhatsApp in this aspect. If your friends are on Facebook, they'll get your message in the Messages (or on their Android or iPhone). If they're not on Facebook, it'll be re-directed as a SMS message. Everything about 2.0 is smoother, simpler, and all around better. Writing an entry is easy—be it a photo post or just a reblog—and switching between multiple blogs is handled gracefully. Not only can you scan Flickr photostreams, upload pictures, share photos to other social networks, you can also take filterized pictures and look so hip with it. 8tracks: 8tracks has always been a great way to combine your favorite songs into a custom playlist and share it with your friends.
It's now on Android. The service allows you to create a social playlist of songs with 8 or more songs, pulled and organized from their huge database of tracks. Music reviewers like Pitchfork, Spin, and Rolling Stone contribute playlists, and the service promises a social music discovery experience that lets you discover music that real people think works together. Download SmartGlass to control your Xbox from your phone. Basically you never have to leave your couch ever again. Streaming's silky smooth over Wi-Fi, less so over 3G, but the app itself is indispensable. Vignette: With Vignette you get those wonderful artsy effects your friends love and a ton of straight shooting options that'll make you leave your Point and Shoot at home. You know the one. The internet radio app that has uplifted a million work hours and scored a million make-outs. It's simply the best out there, streaming music at home or on the go over Wi-Fi or 3G. Free.
Rdio: A "social" music subscription service, as in you can leech off your friend's good music taste to listen to exactly what they are. Plus, you can sync songs to listen offline. Free. Play all the movies, tv shows and videos you've accumulated in your Internet career on your Android phone. Videos: You can use Google's official Video app to watch videos you store on your phone or flicks you got from the Market. Soundhound also throws in lyrics and links to videos too. Free. Where's he from, Should I even watch this movie, Solve all your movie questions with Android's official IMDB app. It's basically IMDB's website optimized for your phone—which in this case, is a good thing. Movies: Pretty simple: you like knowing the movies that are playing in theaters around you, right, Flixster's got local listings and showtimes, along with trailers and reviews from Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, you can manage your Netflix queue!
Free. There's not too many effects available (ToyCam, Polaroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam, and Andy Warholizer), but all of them are stellar. Free. The e-book wars aren't quite over, but no one will judge you for siding with Amazon. The popular bookmarking tool landed on the Google platform this month, and it looks a lot like its iOS counterpart. Find your podcasts by searching Google's database and stay up to date with automatic downloads (set to your preferences). Backgrounds has a ridiculous, ridiculous amount of options to choose from (over 10k!). Free. Lightbox: Lightbox is a stylish camera app that's good enough to replace the stock camera app. Though it doesn't have basic features like zoom or autofocus, it does give you the ability to add 10 trendy filters after your shot. Your artsy photos can be shared via Twitter and Facebook and is automagically beamed down to your Honeycomb tablets and Lightbox's web interface. Like Instagram and iCloud but for Android.