How to make your Android Smart Phone Smarter Part 2

Ok so now you decided on your new phone and now you want to tweak it.

Here is what my Lock screen looks like.

And here is my present home screen

Here are some things that you’ll what to download right away:

Android Market 3.4.4  – Have weekly specials

Amazon App Store – have a Daily Free app. Make sure you get the free app reminder too from the app store

GetJar App Store -  the have Many Free apps and they change daily

Note: When I say free I am not talking about the regular Free apps I am referring to paid apps that are on special and free that day or week.

 

All of these Stores have free apps and specials. If you find an app you like try and wait for it to go on special.

Here are some of my Favorites so far. (I’ve only had this phone about a month so there is still lots to learn and lots to tweak but this will get you started.

SO here is my recommended must have apps:

Beautiful Widgets – Great for customizing your Home screen

Widget Locker – Allows to to create a custom lock screen like I have above

My Phone Explorer – Great to use to connect your phone to your PC and sync you outlook contacts

AnTUTU Benchmark – great to see how fast your phone is

Zedge – all the wallpaper and ringtones you could ever want

Unlock with Wifi – this app is great because it allows you to unlock your phone when you are on your home wifi so you don’t have to constantly unlock your phone.

Music Off – this is a great little app that allows you to fall asleep with your music on and it will shut down the phone on a timer and they claim it can sense when you fall asleep and shut it off early (haven’t tested this yet))

Beaver’s revenge – if you like angry birds you like this

Google Sky Map – not really useful but really cool for finding planets and constellations

Out of Milk – Great app for creating a grocery list. it even has a bar code scanner built into it so that you can scan in the products that are running low or you are out of. My wife loves this app.

MyITForum Mobile – Lastly create a shortcut on your homepage for http://myitforum.com/myitforumwp/ and enjoy the community in Mobile mode. No need for an app. If you find an issue with the website please let Rod know so he can fix the issues. I found several issues this weekend (1/7/2012) and he he used that opportunity to make the website better. now it is a lot more stream lines and easier to use from the phone

There are hundreds of other apps that have free versions and paid (full versions) and Amazon has a test drive section.

Of course once you get your phone your wife is going to want all the cool features on her phone so make sure you can afford 2 phones and 2 Data plans.

Lastly use wifi when ever possible save your Data plan for when you are traveling and don’t have access to wifi.

Note: Please Please Please don’t text and drive. This is the number 1 killer of teens now a days.

If you must text and drive get a voice activated app like Vlingo or Google voice and let your phone do the typing for you. Or better yet get an app like ATT offers that answers all of your  texts and calls with a message saying you are driving and will return there message when you reach your destination.

Enjoy your new phone and remember to share your favorite apps and tweaks.

 

Chris Stauffer <><