Essential apps

This page contains a selection with recommended apps taken from the bigger list of useful applications with a short description and a link to the respective Androlib pages which contains their QR-code (which allows for direct download with the market application on the device). Maybe the QR-codes will be added too later on.

Start with getting Barcode Scanner and find the respective QR-code's of the applications on Androlib. Great source of applications BTW.

NB: I'm not endorsed by any of these applications; they are just being extremely handy, great to have or otherwise amusing. I am not responsible for whatever those applications do to your device or otherwise. See it as a repository or treasurebox for your Android phone. All of the applications in this list are free. There may exists paid versions of the programs with more features, so be sure to discover gems on your own. Also, there might be a donationware version available to thank the author for a job well done.

Games

• Andoku - sudoku game
• Bonsai Blast - shoot to match colored balls in groups of 3 or more
• Graviturn - tilt your phone to move the red balls out of the screen while keeping the green balls

Location based info, tracking and GPS various

• Compass - compass application using the electronic compass in the phone
• Google Sky Map - show the stars and find other celestial bodies
• GPS Status - shows the position, number and signal strength of GPS satellites. Check your position, GPS accuracy, speed, acceleration and bearing
• Layar - show information about the area surrounding you; many layers available, like house prices, bars etc. Really nice augmented reality application
• Places Directory - allows you to browse nearby places in categories like Restaurants, Movie Theaters and Hotels

Networking, communication

• AndChat - formerly known as AndroidIRC, this is a great IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client
• ConnectBot - ssh client
• EStrongs File Explorer - great file manager with build-in task manager, zip support, FTP and SMB (windows network), and more
• Seesmic - clean, feature rich Twitter client
• Sipdroid - VoIP client: place and receive voice calls over the internet through the phone's dialer
• Twicca - clean, feature rich Twitter client; you can colour-code the contacts

News, information, weather etc.

• Het Weer - great Dutch weather app, including Buienradar images and more
• NewsRob - great RSS/Atom reader that auto syncs with Google Reader
• NU - nu.nl client, which also has tv guide etc
• Tvgids.tv Nederland - tv guide for Dutch TV (nicer and more extensive than the NU application has)

Productivity

• 3banana Notes - Capture your notes on your phone and on the go (syncs with snaptic.com too, so you have your notes online too)
• Astrid - todo list which can sync with Remember the Milk
• ColorDict - dictionaries, from thesauri to wikipedia addon

Phone admin

• EStrongs File Explorer - great file manager with build-in task manager, zip support, FTP and SMB (windows network), and more
• NetSentry - network traffic alert system for the android operating system
• Phonalyzr - show information about the calling history
• Quick System Info - Quick access of the basic system information for your Android platform, including information for CPU, memory, SD Card, running processes and installed applications
• SMS Backup & Restore - A simple App to backup and restore SMS Messages. Backup is stored in /sdcard/SMSBackupRestore folder. Now with Scheduled Backups
• Spare Parts - extra settings
• TaskPanel - (auto)kill background tasks. Includes widget
• Timeriffic - set mute, wifi settings etc based on time of the day
• Titanium Backup - backup all your apps, settings including market link etc. Requires root

Tools

• Aldiko Book Reader - Read and download thousands of books right on your Android phone. Browse huge catalogs of ebooks (most for FREE) or import your own ePub files
• Barcode Scanner - scan 1D and 2D barcodes and qr-codes
• handyCalc - super complete and really great designed calculator and equation solver. Even does unit and currency conversions
• OI Safe - password manager
• SDrescan - force rescan of the SD card (helps against mediaplayers and such not getting update metadata)
• ShootMe - screen grabber (screenshot tool)

Toys

• Ringdroid - create your own ringtone by editing a music track in your library, or record a new one directly from the phone