AdamBowers.com

 

This is by far the best Exchange Client for Android and the only app that cost me money. Touchdown from Nitrodesk syncs email from multiple accounts as well as tasks and calendar items. While the tasks part needs a few usability updates, all of the information and potential is there. I’ve been thrilled with Touchdown’s push email notifications and calendar alerts. The app even lets you choose what folders you sync to your phone. One of my deal makers was the ability to move email to different folders to archive and organize. I use my email inbox as a task list, so this is a vital feature to me.

I mentioned that the task section could use a few updates. I contacted the maker of Touchdown and asked for the following:

1. Add a drop down menu to the task creation/edition page with the categories. This would cut down the steps of pressing the menu button > pressing the categories button >selecting a category.

2. Assign a quick category filter list to a long press on the menu button. I use this in the browser to bring up my history. It would be very simple to switch my categories/contexts using a menu button long press. To be clear, I'm talking about the flush button next to the screen, not the one in the keyboard. Many times I want to quickly switch filters based on my location. That's how GTD users operate. That would take this app way beyond the other GTD task management apps on the market!

Apps Organizer

I use this app to create custom lists of all my apps, and star favorite apps for quick retrieval when I can't remember the exact name. Apps can be tagged to many lists and shortcuts to the lists can be placed on the home screens. I have lists for media, news, work, shopping, tools, internet, games, and a few others. 

Pandora – Streaming Music

This app brings you great music to your tastes anywhere you are – even in your car. I have a male-to-male cable in my car that I use to connect my Droid with my sound system and play great quality music. This is way better than radio or satellite! I’ve also used the Pandora app to stream Christmas music for a few hours through a surround sound system and was very impressed with the quality.

Google Listen – Podcast Player

Listen is the best free podcasting app. Other paid programs offer more features, but this has everything I need. I keep track of about 20 podcasts using Listen. I love listening to a podcast in the car over the speakers and taking the show with me after I park. Makes walking more productive.

Advanced Task Killer 

There is one thing every Android user should know right away: multitasking kills battery life! A few apps are no problem, but a power user like me could end up with 30 different apps running in the background and not knowing it except for the unusually sluggish response of the phone. A good task killer will show you what is running and let you selectively close or mass close running apps. 

Advanced Task Killer is a great free task manager that lets you close specific tasks or several tasks at once. Uncheck the tasks you want to remain open for push email and texting before mass closing tasks. You can also switch to an open app right from the task list.

TasKiller

This is similar to Advanced Task Killer but comes with a great widget to quickly kill select tasks or mass kill all open apps.

BibleReader 

Olive Tree released this great free Bible app. Many Android Bibles require internet access to read the text and jump from chapter to chapter. BibleReader downloads the entire text to your SD card so you have the Scriptures available whenever you want! More versions and notes are available for purchase, but the free versions are sufficient for me.

Gmote – Wireless Computer Interface and Media Server

This amazing little app is paired with a computer based server that connects the PC to your phone. Gmote lets you browse your computer’s media library and choose a song or video to play right on your PC. Another great feature lets you stream music or video from your PC to your phone. Gmote can also turn your phone into a wireless touchpad and keyboard for your computer! 

Photoshop Mobile – Photo Editor

Ever wish you could crop or touch up a photo taken with your camera phone? Now you can – right on the phone! Photoshop Mobile has some powerful tools and effects to make sure your photos are perfect before you share them.

NewsRob – RSS Reader

There are many free and paid RSS readers in the market but this is the best I have found for usability and features. NewsRob does everything I need and is very quick to use.

Twidroid – Twitter Client

With a great set of features Twidroid has proven a stable and quick Twitter client. Tweet, check other’s tweets to you, direct messages, search Twitter, and even upload pics right from your phone. Paid version allows uploading video, but I wouldn’t use that anyway.

Dock Runner – Media Player and Clock

This app lets you access the built in but hidden media/clock app meant to activate with the $30 dock. I prefer using Digital Clock as it lets me set MP3's as my alarm.

Digital Clock – Alarm Clock

This great clock app lets you choose MP3’s as your alarm sound!
 

This is a very cool level app with two bubble levels and a spherical level.

Bubble – Level

This is a great bubble level that beeps at the right angle.

Aldiko - Reader

E-readers are plenty for android, but none are prettier than Aldiko. Read free books or paid with a great user interface.

Astro – File Browser

Multi-select and search make this my favorite file browser for Android.

AndFTP – FTP Client

I’ve used this app to upload files to my web servers. It gets the job done. 

Barcode Scanner

Does what it says but also reads the QR codes that can contain urls, business card information, and links to other Market apps. If you have wondered what those strange looking blocks of white and black are on some Android web pages, this app will let you find out.

Shop Savvy 

This app is similar to Barcode scanner but with many more features. I’ve saved quite a bit of money by double checking what I’m buying against Amazon’s online store. I have not been able to get ShopSavvy to read QR codes like Barcode Scanner.

Flashlight 

This app turns your screen to white and cranks up the brightness. I’ve used it quite a few times but I prefer MotoTorch.

MotoTorch - Flashlight

The Flashlight app uses the screen but MotoTorch uses the dual LED flash of the Motorola Droid! This produces an incredibly bright light for several feet. MotoTorch includes a widget for one-touch access to this very handy light source.

Dead Pixel Detect 

A few phones sell with dead pixels in the screen. To test yours, use Dead Pixel Detect. Some have had Best Buy replace their phones after showing this app.

Corporate Directory 

While Android syncs with my Exchange contacts it does not let me search through the Exchange directory. Corporate Directory saves the day by letting me search or browse all of the employees in our directory.

Metal Detector 

This app lets you customize the text that appears when your phone detects metal nearby. My detection screen says “Detecting crappy phones…” and my detected screen says “Detected!” Now when I compare my Droid with my friends’ iPhones I just load up that app and wave their phone over mine. Detected!

Tricorder – Star Trek Themed Instrument Panel

I’m not a Trekkie, but I am familiar with Star Trek, Next Gen, Voyager, and all the movies. Ok, maybe I am a light Trekkie. Either way, I think the Tricorder app is really cool. The best part is, the readings are real! Display acceleration, magnetism, sounds, geocodes, and even real solar flare data.

Qik – Live Video Stream 

I don’t really have much use for this app but the potential is great. I know that Robert Scoble has been using this with his Nokia N95 for some time to do live interviews from tech conferences. I used and tested Qik successfully but I don’t think I’ll do much more with the app.

Ustream – Live Video Stream

Similar to Qik, this app lets you send live video to the well populated Ustream website.

Ringdroid  – Ringtone Editing

This app can edit MP3’s for use as ringtones.

Screencrack – Joke App

For a funny practical joke, run screen crack, hand the phone to your friend, and act like he broke your phone!

Screens – Backgrounds

Never run out of great backgrounds with this great app. Choose from several categories to keep your phone looking fresh.

Backgrounds

This is similar to Screens but lets you see three backgrounds at once. Multiple categories let you narrow down your tastes.

Speed Forge 3D – Racing Game 

I’m not much of a mobile gamer but this app really shows off the graphics processor in the Droid.

GPS Tracker 

As long as GPS is activated on your phone, this little app can show you in a web browser where it is located.

Where's My Droid – Phone Locator

Send a text message to your phone with a special code and this app will crank up the volume and blast a noise. GPS Tracker and Where’s My Droid could work together to locate and pinpoint your phone virtually anywhere.

Xtremelabs Speedtest – Internet Speed Test

This app checks your phones download and upload speeds. This is a great way to check your connection and annoy people with DSL when your 3G is faster than their internet.