Some general Android information
The Complete Android Guide - wiki-version of the LifeHacker book
The Lifehacker blog has a great string of Android-related posts
Wikipedia:Android_operating_system
Android FAQ from http://android-dls.com/forum/
Where to get new apps
Android Market and related sites
Android Market - usually installed by default on OEM releases, not on most custom ROMs. Nearly impossible to browse without their mobile widget.
AndroLib can be difficult to navigate (it’s a very busy page layout), but it’s a great way to search the Android Market, look at video reviews, and more.
AndroidZoom is also browse-able from your desktop, and gives you downloads, rating and reviews. Download via QR barcode, links emailed to you mobile, or instructions to find in the Android Market.
AM alternatives
AppBrain.com - has own widget/app, but can actually be searched via a browser. You know, when you’re not on your tiny phone.
SlideME - apps that aren’t necessarily in the Android Market, because the AM isn’t available everywhere. Browse the website, because browsing via the Slide.me Application Manager (SAM) widget can be frustrating. Although SAM is due for a major upgrade soon.
Cyrket is a different kind of site — it aims more for data analysis, than review aggregation. Their stated goal is to”use advanced data analysis and extraction to help users find apps to buy and to allow developers to learn how their applications fit into the extended ecosystem of the mobile application marketplace.”
Communication
The default HTC mail client — on the Incredible, at least — may have had a memory leak problem. It worked decently for, but I experienced some system issues while it was active.
Google’s Gmail has been updated and decoupled from the OS. If you didn’t get it pre-installed, this is a must-have.
I’ve been quote happy running the open-source K-9 mail client. It supports multiple accounts, has a combined inbox view (see new mail from all accounts at once), set update frequency in each account, and other options.
HootSuite (paid and lite) — I use HootSuite in my desktop browser, and recently started using it exclusively on Android. Most of the browser functionality — like scheduling updates — is available in the free Android app (“lite”).
Seesmic - microblogging client for Twitter, Google Buzz, Facebook, StatusNet, etc. Out of the box it supports more services than HootSuite, but lacks that scheduling and stats features that HS provides.
Handcent SMS for text-messaging (see blog post)
Great Browsers for surfing the web with your fingers
Dolphin browser - a sweet alternative to the default, Dolphin (for 1.5, 1.6) and Dolphin HD (2.0+) gives you tabbed browsing, gestures, extensions, and more [not all features available for 1.5, 1.6].
SkyFire — has Flash (“YouTube”) support built-in (through it’s own proprietary streaming technology), which is amazing! until you update to 2.2. But it’s also better than the HTC Internet app.
Best Photo Apps
Camera 360 is a great camera app (free or paid). Even if you don’t use the effects, tt has easier access to controls than the default Android camera.
Vignette is another camera app with easy, on-screen controls, and a ton of nice effects. Free version only supports 0.3 mega-pixels — just like a toy digi-cam!
Power Management and Automation
Battery Status Pro (free) gives good status
Juice Defender (free) turns things on and off:
Tasker (7-day trial) can do everything JuiceDefender does, and a whole lot more — based on time, location, etc. But after 7 days, it’s not free. This was the second app I paid for, you might want to check it out.
Accessories and bling
Because screens get scratched, and we’re clumsy….
I got a rubber skin, a car-adapter and power cords from BargainCell. The packaging was cheap (inside the bubble-wrap — it shipped fine), but the products were fine. I’m happy to save on the packaging.
I picked up some longer cables at Amazon for a song. They were 5x to 10x as expensive elsewhere.
Where to get answers for your Android questions
Android Enthusiasts (on StackExchange) is in public beta
http://ForceClose.com - an Android Q&A site based on the StackExchange 1.0 engine (will be closed by April 2011)
also see AndroidQuestionsAndAnswers for a larger list
Application Development Resources
Official Android Dev Guide
- Also, the Android Developers Blog is a good read
AppInventor allows the non-developer to, er…. develop apps for Android.
StackOverflow questions tagged ‘Android’ covers all sorts of Android development issues from rebooting to installing the Eclipse plugins.
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