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Jun 11, 2009

Six Cool Android Apps

There might only be one Android phone out there (for now), but that doesn't mean that there aren't any cool Android apps. In fact, we've rounded up a half dozen.

The iPhone and BlackBerry aren't the only phones backed up by great app stores brimming with helpful add-ons. The T-Mobile G1 also has an app store, the Android Market, full of nifty apps to soup up the Google's platform. The Android has a ways to go before it catches up to the iPhone or the BlackBerry, but it's already got a decent stable of apps. We reviewed a half dozen recently, and we were (mostly) impressed.

chompSMS is a messaging app that spruces up Android's stock messaging client. Texting with chompSMS is a more pleasurable, user-friendly experience. It provides you with a very cool on-screen keyboard that lets you type messages without whipping out the G1's keyboard. It also gives you threaded SMS conversations and lets you customize the interface to your liking. What's more, you have the option of sending texts via your carrier or buying credits from chompSMS for 10 cents a message. This could come in handy if you need to send more-expensive international texts. The one downside: chompSMS doesn't support multimedia messaging, so you can't send or receive picture or video text. Still, it's well worth the install.

If you want to turn your G1 into a mobile jukebox, imeem for Android can get the job done. It comes preloaded with stations that let you discover new music and hear what's hot in the imeem music scene, but you can also save stations based on your favorite artist to listen to later. Better yet, you can upload up to 100 of your own tracks, which you can then stream on your Android phone and listen to without any skip or rewind restrictions. It also plays in the background, so you can do other things on your phone without stopping the music. When it comes to customizing your own stations, the imeem for Android lacks the depth you'll get with an iPhone radio app like Slacker but it still gives you an easy, fun way to enjoy your favorite songs.

You can also use Last.fm for Android, which offers features like unlimited track skipping and the ability to listen to other Last.fmer's favorite stations. But be wary: Though these extras make Last.fm for Android appealing, slow performance, unresponsive controls, and constant error messages outweigh any of the positives—at least until Last.fm irons out the kinks in this app.

Of all the mapping apps we've seen in the Android Market, none (even Android's own Google Maps) quite compares with the TeleNav GPS Navigator for Android ($9.99 per month). It features advanced features like voice entry, live traffic, and text-to-speech functionality that effectively turns your Android phone into a midlevel GPS device.

For the price conscious, SnapTell's Android app makes a handy shopping companion. This app delivers prices and product information on CDs, DVDs, books, and video games with just a snapshot you take of the product cover. Unlike the iPhone version, SnapTell for Android can also scan bar codes. So if you ever find yourself on the go and need to do some price comparisons, this app does it in a snap.

With Google Sky Map you can use your phone to explore the cosmos. The app syncs with your G1's GPS locator to pinpoint your location and provide a labeled map of the night sky. Just aim your phone at a particular patch of sky and the on-screen map will show you the corresponding planets, stars, and constellations. If you're looking for an app that can satisfy your astrological curiosity, Google Sky Map for Android is the way to go.

Pretty soon the G1 won't be the only Android phone on the block: T-Mobile is planning to release a new Android-powered phone this summer, so you'll have another option for enjoying Android apps. Click the links below for full reviews, and check back soon for more app reviews at our Android App Product Guide.

Featured in This Roundup:

T-Mobile G1 (Google Android Phone)

$179 list
The T-Mobile G1 is a basic introduction to what could be a blockbuster mobile platform. While it lacks key features right now, it's a decent smartphone that will surely grow with time.

chompSMS (for Android)


Free
chompSMS lets you spruce up Android's native SMS client with a colorful, user-friendly interface, a touch-screen keyboard, and enough customization options to personalize the SMS to your liking.

Google Sky Map (for Android)


Free
Google Sky Map is a cool piece of technology that turns your G1 Android phone into a detailed window looking onto the night sky. Point your phone in the direction of a patch of sky and the app will show you what stars, planets, and constellations are visible in that area.

imeem (for Android)


Free
The free imeem app for Android gives you an easy, fun way to listen to your favorite tunes on your Android-powered mobile phone.

Last.fm (for Android)


Free
Last.fm for the Android platform has the makings of a nifty mobile radio app, but too many kinks still need ironing out.

SnapTell (for Android)


Free
Feed it a snapshot of a CD, DVD, book, or video-game cover and SnapTell will deliver product information, prices, and shopping links. It's an efficient way to make your Android phone a handy mobile-shopping platform.


TeleNav GPS Navigator (for Android)


$9.99 direct
TeleNav's newest mobile app lets you turn your T-Mobile G1 into a midlevel GPS device, complete with voice entry, live traffic, and text-to-speech functionality.


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