If you own a smartphone that uses the Android platform, or are looking to buy one, you may be wondering what applications can be added to your phone to increase its functionality and to enhance your lifestyle. Though the Android platform has been in existence for quite a few years, the introduction of newer models of smartphones have led developers to design better and more efficient applications (apps) Here are a few of android’s top applications.
1.WaveSecure
Google’s latest android platform was designed to make the nightmare of a lost or stolen smartphone a thing of the past. WaveSecure can track and locate your phone, lock and secure it, backup and restore your data or even wipe it out completely. This app will render your phone useless to anyone who gets their hands on it, and even help you track it down.
Track and locate: If the person in possession of your phone inserts a new SIM card, a text alert will automatically be sent to a phone that you have designated (before the theft/loss) giving you the contact information of the person who has your device. You can also track your phone and plot out its location on a map.
Lock and secure: WaveSecure can be programmed to automatically lock your phone once a SIM change is detected. This will shut down the phone and all of its functions, rendering it useless.
Data wipeout: If you cannot locate your smartphone, WaveSecure will allow you to remotely wipe out all private data on the device.
This application is amazing due to its sheer functionality. Most people with a cell phone have had to endure the nightmare of losing their phone or having it stolen, only to be hit later with charges that the thieves ran up on the account. WaveSecure offers peace of mind that your phone is secure, and no stranger will be thumbing through your private contacts, texts and pictures of Little Billy.
2. AP Mobile 2.0
The news app powered by the Associated Press delivers news updates as they happen, both nationally and locally. Adjust the settings to view only news, or just the sports scores or weather forecast. Unlike other apps that only deliver a single newspaper source, AP Mobile 2.0 taps into the clearinghouse for breaking news.
AP Mobile is a fantastic app for news buffs who want up-to-the minute coverage. This app saves the user from having to access their web content and search for the stories or categories relevant to them. AP Mobile also has a video feed, which is a great complement to the service.
3. Pandora Radio 1.1.2
If you’re looking for great radio on your Android phone, look no further than Pandora’s internet radio app. Tailored to the user’s pre-selected song choices or artists, the Pandora will create custom stations that play alongside your other smartphone audio. Although you cannot request specific songs on Pandora, the app does a great job of recognizing your preferences and delivering hours of endless music for your device.
4. Glympse
Answering the question of where you are has never been easier with the glympse app for the android platform. Glympse allows android and iPhone users to share their exact geographic location with friends and contacts on a real-time map. Glympse users can set a specified period of time where designated friends can plot their ongoing location (say 2-4 hours). For more limited access, users can send a “glympse,” or a periodic check-in listing their location to their designees.
This is a great app for someone always on the go who wants to give an accurate ETA (estimated time of arrival) Add mom to your contacts and she can get a glympse of exactly where you are on your road trip and what time you’re scheduled to arrive. The glympse app is a genius way to answer the question, “where are you?”
5. ShopSavvy 3.5.5
Forget running from store to store to scout out a bargain, or doing endless online searches for the lowest price. ShopSavvy allows you to use your phone’s camera to scan a barcode of a product and beams it into the database of retailers in your area. You can also add the product to a wish list or shopping list, see online reviews, and purchase online.
Although this app has been around for years in a number of forms, ShopSavvy 3.5.5 has worked out the bugs in the system and delivers more accurate pricing than apps in the past. This is a great app for the shopper on the go, and it gives retailers more of an incentive to keep their prices competitive.
6. DialZero
Go straight to a person when you choose from over 600 customer service numbers. Skip the prompts, the on-hold music and the million and one option menus. DialZero has a database of the most frequently called businesses (banks, phone companies, etc.) and some lesser-known companies as well. Interact with other users who give tips on handling common customer service issues such as complaints, specific departments and the like. This app is great for the person who hates twiddling their thumbs while listening to on-hold music and suffering through voice prompts to get in touch with a live person.
