Escape contract hell with a DIY 1G mobile network

A hacking convention was the obvious place for Brandon Creighton to show off his latest development -- a self-made 1G mobile network that brings the first generation of mobile phones back to life, should any of them still have batteries that hold a charge. 

Warning that it might be against the law to operate such radio equipment where you live, mind, the maker of the system has put his code up on GitHub for everyone -- or anyone who understands what any of it means -- to download and use to build their own base station to relay hyper-local calls to compatible old mobiles. 

Hardware hacks

What it's doing is using the ancient AMPS -- Advanced Mobile Phone System -- technology of the first generation of mobile phones, which is more of an analogue radio system grid than anything resembling today's networks. That means you're best off not using it for secure business negotiations or arranging dates, as anyone with a scanner could listen in to the unencoded calls -- but then again today's hackers probably don't bother intercepting calls made over 1G, so it might actually be more secure than instant messaging. 

Of course you need some hardware to make it work in the first place. Something like the HackRF One should do the job, with a software defined radio like the RTL-SDR handling the scanning of the frequencies. 

So it won't be that cheap and it certainly won't be easy unless you've had a career working in radio systems or are the dad of a particularly precocious child, but it might be fun, of a sort, if you enjoy extreme engineering challenges and have a stash of legacy mobiles from the 1980s filling up a sock drawer somewhere. And the chargers for them. 

Posted in Uncategorised

10 failed smartphone ‘innovations’: projectors, 3D screens, gamepads and more

It looks like us consumers and the mobile phone industry have decided that fingerprint recognition can stay, with the feature now permanently added to the toolkit of amazing things our phones can do in the year 2016. 

Which is quite a rare thing to happen, as the short history of the portable telephone is littered with examples of phone makers deciding we need a thing and forcing it upon us without even asking, only for no one to use it or care about it and the amazing new thing getting quietly phased out an update or two later.

Here are some such tech dead ends, all announced as being the future by the makers of the day, before going AWOL from the bullet pointed feature set of next year's supposedly better model.

Nokia N-Gage

First up, the gaming-focussed N-Gage. You'd think phones would be perfect for gaming, what with their built-in screens and their buttons, but no. Even the mighty Nokia at the peak of its mobile domination powers couldn't sell the N-Gage even with a version of smash franchise Tomb Raider on it. 

The N-Gage was well documented as being a bit of a design mess, mind, with its comical need to turn it off and take the battery out to swap games, plus the legendary "side talking" meme it launched thanks to having its earpiece output along one edge.

LG's Optimus 3D display

We suspect that if you were to salvage an LG Optimus 3D of these from eBay the 3D hub would be devoid of content now, with the only reminder that this was once considered the future being its clever rotating carousel.

The worst thing about 3D's failure here is the way it means there's a hole in the photographic life of the phone's hoodwinked users, a chasm of months or years when some photos are saved in inconvenient 3D file formats thanks to LG's one-year-only flirtation with the display system.

See also HTC Zoe. No one ever wants proprietary photographs. Bigger files that are harder to share. Stuff that only works on your phone, now, and won't work on your laptop, 20 years from now.

Ultra rugged phones

The shocking secret that you won't believe is that we all actually quite like breaking our phones, as this means we can have a new one that's 17% better at most things and also have a funny story about the time we broke a really expensive phone two weeks after getting it and were then stuck using an cheap candybar one that used to be mum's for 23 and a half months.

Plus the rugged ones look terrible, like something from the 1990s glammed up in a cheap case from the 2000s, as illustrated by the heinous CASIO G'zOne Commando here, a phone you wouldn't even be able to break on purpose to escape having to use.

Facebook Phone / Facebook Home

First there was going to be a Facebook phone for ages and it never appeared. Then there were two by HTC and they were both rubbish. Then there was another go by Facebook and HTC (the HTC First) and it was rubbish as well, so then there was just Facebook Home, the app and OS skin for Android, and that was rubbish too. So everyone just uses Messenger like they did before and no one Googles “Facebook phone” any more. End of story.

Samsung Galaxy Round

Samsung started the "curved" phone trend off with a phone display that was only noticeably curved if you have it up against something very, very flat and examined it in close detail (Galaxy Nexus), before bending it sideways for the Galaxy Round, which not even one of our most gifted politicians could describe as being “round” and get away with it. 

Shortly afterwards lots of other companies tried similar tricks and sold"curved" phones that were similarly not really very curved at all, then LG did that LG G Flex one that you could bend a little bit but there was not much point in that either. So now they're all just flat again.

Face unlock

This was very nearly the way we all would unlock our phones thanks to becoming a feature in Google's Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich OS, but it turned out that picking phones up from the table and pointing them towards our faces and smiling and looking at the camera, and maybe seeing our awful pasty phone faces, was too much effort when all you want to do is tell the time. And fingerprint recognition came along and was better and quicker.

Xperia PLAY

Surely Sony, with its gaming library, its brand and its knowledge of hardware could become a byword for mobile gaming with ease, straddling the worlds of... no. Despite winning fans with the Android hardcore, the Xperia Play and its pop-out controller was a tech dead end, sadly, killed by cumbersome marketplaces and app incompatibility issues. Most people are happier poking Angry Birds and using software buttons than fiddling with option screens to configure buttons. 

Samsung Galaxy Beam

Weren't we supposed to have phones with projectors in them that turn any wall into a massive screen by now? This idea, modelled here by the Samsung Galaxy Beam, didn't catch on, probably because LG sells 52-inch TVs for pocket money now and we're all perfectly happy watching films on 5.2-inch screens, as if you hold them really near your face it's like being in the cinema anyway.

HTC's trackballs

Early HTC Android models had this physical trackball thing on them, which eventually turned into the optical tracker that beamed out of the original HTC Desire's Home key. God know why these existed, though, as the entire point of the smartphone was to make navigation easy through touch -- so having a wheezing old trackball to do exactly that only slower and less accurately was... peculiar. Hence they don't exist now. See also all gesture input systems, ever. 

Nokia N93

It was also a camcorder! Two expensive devices in one! Problem was it turned out phones could record HD video through a small, normal-shaped lens, and didn't actually need to look like camcorders in order for our brains to understand that they were equal to and in many cases better than having dedicated video capture devices. So off to the second hand shop they all shuffled.

Posted in Uncategorised

Opinion: Surprises are dead: Endless leaks and teasers are killing the joy of tech

Opinion: Surprises are dead: Endless leaks and teasers are killing the joy of tech

Did you read about LG's new G4 last week? I didn't. There was no point clicking on any of the official stuff, as the entire internet has spent the last six months analysing almost every single facet of the phone's external design and internal components, thanks to a non-stop campaign of leaks.

The actual announcement was an anticlimax, a formal dotting of the Is and crossing of the Ts that simply said "Yep, here it is, looking just like it was in those pictures that appeared on the internet two months ago, and with the exact same camera sensor that was rumoured to be included back in January." In fact, LG employees were openly showing off the handsets to people at the event before the conference even kicked off.

It's definitely not just LG. If feels as if most tech announcements now lack the element of surprise that they so often used to have. Most of the bare-bones stuff is outed beforehand, while the more fanciful rumours of exciting new and innovative features turn out to be wrong, leaving us with an official product that can't live up to the rumoured, half-right, half-wrong version.

The rumour mill always turns the same way. Someone guesses the stats of next year's flagship phone model, then some mystery benchmarks appear, then official specs come out, then a photo of the case, one of the back, a photo of the side, and finally – to make sure the official launch event is entirely pointless – the high-res promotional images appear on Twitter a fortnight before the announcement.

Sometimes you even end up in the bizarre situation where official company 'teasers' appear, only to hint at things we already know.

The only time anything more interesting than this tired old news cycle happened was when that iPhone was found in a bar. And lots of people got very angry about that because suddenly the usual drip-drip-rumour-rumour agenda wasn't being followed.

At a tech company such as LG, or HTC, or Sony, it's surely not that hard to say to people in possession of prototype hardware: "Hey, remember not to put it on any publicly viewable benchmarking sites or we'll take it back and sack you in the morning" as a way to stop leaks?

Diminishing returns

Not only is the leak-based news cycle diminishing the impact of new product reveals, it often feels as if it's being orchestrated by the smartphone makers themselves. I feel that the only alternative explanation could be that all the major tech companies are staffed by imbeciles who care more about their Reddit account status than their jobs.

You can see why I'm suspicious. Instead of one day of people talking about its LG G4, LG's had months of trickling out news stories about the thing, thanks to endless leaks of specs and photos. It's generated thousands of pages, lots of discussion and has surely raised the profile of the phone among the tech audience thanks to it being, well, everywhere, before it was even confirmed.

Of course, it would be ridiculous for us to not point out that it's good for the news sites as well. Smartphone rumours, particularly those based around such tedious facts as the number of screw holes around the case of the next iPhone or how long its headphone cable might be, keep the tech part of the internet alive.

Imagine a world in which there was no speculation about how the iPhone 7 might have a slightly more asymmetric power button placement this year, or how HTC's next model may also have the same camera unit as its last model according to the EXIF data someone found on a Taiwanese social site. What on earth would we read all day?

We'd have less to talk about for sure, but imagine an announcement containing an actual surprise. When did that last happen? The Apple Watch reveal in 2014 is the closest thing that I can recall, and even then we knew a lot about what was coming.

Apple Watch

In the end, constant leaks are not going to help widen the audience for a product. Leaks keep the hardcore interested, but are only pandering to those in the know. People who read tech sites are, no offence Dave, in the minority when it comes to the entire world of potential shoppers.

If an official product launch is so spoiled by advance discussion it barely registers on the Richter scale of news, surely your mainstream buyer is less likely to hear about it? So, not for the first time on the internet, it's all one big waste of everyone's time.








Fighting Talk: Kickstarter isn’t a store, so Pebble shouldn’t treat it like one

Fighting Talk: Kickstarter isn't a store, so Pebble shouldn't treat it like one

The maker of the Pebble smartwatch took to Kickstarter again this week, successfully pulling in enough money to fund a new version of its wearable hardware (The Pebble Time), with enough spare cash left over to pay for a fun mission to Mars for the original team members.

Problem is, it's done all this before. Pebble was one of the first wave of super successful Kickstarter fundees, with its first big win helping to launch the smartwatch boom while also going some way toward establishing the crowdfunding model as a valid way for the masses to back risky and artistic ventures.

But should previous winners be allowed to return to the trough for seconds?

There's nothing risky for Pebble in making a new version of its amazingly popular watch. The only risks it faces now are not being able to convince its factory in China to make them fast enough to meet rabid demand from tech nerds, or any negative publicity caused by people getting trampled underfoot in the stampedes to buy the updated model.

It shouldn't really be back on Kickstarter, ironic knitted hipster cap in hand, pretending it has no idea if its latest iteration will be a success or not, begging, please, for money to fabricate products, money that it promises it won't just immediately spend on alcohol for the launch party.

Kickstarter itself said, back in 2012, that the site shouldn't be used as a shop window, but that's surely exactly what Pebble's doing with its latest seven-figure global currency raid.

"Here, we've done a new version, you can order it if you want one" is what it's saying, turning the Kickstarter portal into one massive pre-ordering service for a hugely successful existing company.

Pebble is being given a free safety net by its chums at Kickstarter, which is letting it guarantee a number of sales, have the money in advance, then swan off without worrying about the dangers of capitalism and the whims of consumers that affect other tech manufacturers. Pebble wins, Kickstarter bags an almighty commission, and we get a new thing to play with.

This doesn't seem particularly fair on the the likes of Sony, LG, Samsung and the others, that, although enormous and minted, can't use a global pre-ordering basket to accurately gauge demand for their next-gen products.

It entirely removes the risk. It's not, like any other company out in the real world, taking a gamble on making 200,000 of a thing, only to discover that only 4,800 people want them, like Microsoft did with those crappy tablets, or like Microsoft did with those crappy Kin phones, or like Microsoft did with those crappy MP3 players.

Please empower us to be as rich as Mark Zuckerberg

Pebble explains the need for its latest cash-grab as if it's doing it for the benefit of the world, saying: "We're back on Kickstarter to give you - the community who cares the most - an opportunity to support our vision for wearables and get exclusive access to our newest product."

Which makes it sound like a charity, bringing the gift of being able to tell the time and dismiss some useless notifications about the weather and cinema times to the world.

But it's not a charity, it's a business that's selling a small screen for $179, with reward tiers designed to make sure people bought the early limited edition colours for a bargain price to guarantee it'd hit the funding limit in quick, newsworthy time. Like it did last time.

As for the "Risks and challenges" section, a compulsory element Kickstarter demands is added to make things sound like they're not already a shoe-in for getting made, Pebble says: "Pebble Time is nearly complete. All watches shown on this page and in the video were built on our production line."

So it's done. It's being made. What's the money needed for, then? Surely Pebble should be brave enough to go it alone, leaving the amateur venture capitalists to fund things a bit more innovative than the redesign of a popular existing product?

What's to stop Unilever and Procter & Gamble popping up on Kickstarter and Indiegogo next year, claiming they need public funds to take the risk out of road-testing new fabric conditioner scents?

"We need your help to see if the world is ready for the lemony freshness of new Funky Fruit Daz liquitabs," said A.G. Lafley, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble, ahead of the launch of this week's crowdfunding campaign.

"We only took $84.17 billion in revenue in 2013," Lafley added. "Your $150,000 could help pay for one social media viral marketing campaign to ensure Funky Fruit Daz liquitabs get to the people who need them."








Updated: 50 best Android apps 2015

Updated: 50 best Android apps 2015

Best Android apps - introduction

Best Android Apps

The Google Play store has exploded in recent years, with a proliferation of apps that can cater to your every need. The problem is: there are just too many of them.

Even with Editor's Picks, Featured and Best Selling, Top Paid and Top Free categories there to help you out with your downloading decision it's still a difficult task finding the best apps around.

And that's why we made this list. Like you we want the best apps for our Android phones. The apps that are going to revolutionise functionality or, at the very least, offer something so great that it becomes one of the must-have apps that has to be downloaded whenever you get a new handset.

The following apps will be constantly updated and are a mixture of paid and free ones and have been chosen by our Android experts. So, even if you do dip into actual cash for one of these apps, you are safe in the knowledge that it is a worthwhile purchase.

Spotify

Spotify

Free (premium version needs a subscription)

No, wait. It is free. Sort of. Spotify now comes with a stripped-down playlist/radio combo for users who don't pay for the service but still want to use it on mobile, accompanied by a swish new tablet interface that has much more in common with the free desktop browser player. So yes, it's free. Hobbled a bit, but free.

The premium version drops the annoying adverts, ups the audio quality and provides additional features such as offline play, so it's worth splashing out for the subscription if you use the service often.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Strava

Strava

Free

If you're serious about running or cycling then you should be serious about Strava. As smartphone fitness tools go it's one of the best, allowing you to track your performance, set goals and see daily progress updates.

There are leaderboards and challenges to give it a competitive edge and if you're ever not sure where to run or cycle you can find user created routes on the app, or share your own. All of that comes free of charge, while a premium version adds even more tools.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Evernote

Best Android Apps

Free

Evernote is the original and the best note-taking app. It allows you save ideas for that book you are always nearly about to write, syncs across devices and you can also create to-do lists, record voice reminders and capture photos straight from the app. It's a seamless way to organise your probably very messy life.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Pocket

Pocket

Free

Even in 2015 there are still times and places where we can't get an internet connection, but this doesn't have to mean you can't read websites, however, thanks to the excellent Pocket app. It allows you to save articles, news stories, blog posts, videos and much more, letting you read and watch them offline.

You can also synchronise your saved articles across every device you've installed Pocket on, allowing you to pick up where you left off and continue reading.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Pushbullet

Best Android Apps

Free

If you spend a lot of time at a computer and don't want to dig your phone out every time it vibrates thenPushbullet could be the app for you. Download it to your phone and get the extension for your browser and any notifications that appear on your handset will also appear on your computer screen.

So not only will your calendar reminders pop up but you'll also be able to see who's texting or calling and decide whether it's worth replying before you ever look at your phone. You can even reply to texts from your computer and you can easily mute notifications from apps which you're not interested in seeing.

But Pushbullet is a two way street, because you can also use it to easily send files and links from your computer to your phone. Just tap the icon in your browser, attach the relevant file or information and push it.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Periscope

Periscope

Free

Periscope, Twitter's live video streaming app, has made its way to Android and it's an essential download for anyone who likes the immediacy of Twitter but craves something more visual.

You can easily create your own live streams or watch other people's, send comments and hearts in real time and if you miss the action there's a 24 hour window with which to replay streams. In short it's simple enough to dive straight into but has enough to it that you'll keep coming back, whether you're more creator or viewer.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

WhatsApp

Best Android Apps

Free (for the first year)

The instant messaging behemoth WhatsApp is an essential Android install, especially if you can convince the people you message most frequently to use it too.

The concept is simple - it takes over text messaging on your mobile, routing messages through any Wi-Fi connection instead. Which means no more SMS allowances, no size restrictions, plus images are sent at a decent resolution.

Winner of app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Timehop

Timehop

Free

For the most part, social media is fleeting, but Timehop is all about digging up precious memories from the past. You link it to whatever social media services you frequent (and your on-device photos) and it shows you what was happening years ago on today's date.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Instagram

Instagram

Free

Instagram is the go-to app for quickly taking photos, adding quirky filters to them and sharing them with the world. Over 300 million people use Instagram and thanks to the social aspects and effortless interface it's easy to see why it's such a hit.

You're not limited to sharing your snaps on Instagram either, as you can easily add your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more with just a few taps.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Snapseed

Best Android Apps

Free

Google's free photo editing app Snapseed is one of the best tools you can get for your Android device to edit your photos and make them look better than ever before.

You can manually tweak your images or let Snapseed do all of the hard work with settings such as Auto Correct as well as a number of ready to use filters and effects.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Google Photos

Google Photos

Free

There are probably hundreds of photo apps around, but Google Photos stands out as it gives you unlimited storage for photos and videos, all for free.

That's reason enough to jump on board, especially as it works not just on Android but on iOS and computers too.

But with basic editing tools and the ability to make collages and albums this is more than just photo and video storage, it aims to be your first and last stop after taking a picture. To achieve that it will need a few more features, but it's well on its way.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Uber

Uber

Free

Uber is transforming the way we travel. You can quickly and easily request a taxi using the app and get picked up within minutes and you can compare rates and get quotes, as well as paying with Google Wallet, PayPal or by adding your credit card to a secure Uber account.

The Uber service is available in over 50 countries, and it's rapidly growing. Give it a try and you'll never want to hail a taxi the old fashioned way again.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Google Maps

Google Maps

Free

Google Maps is probably already on your phone, but as the best free mapping option around it's well worth highlighting.

Transit directions, live traffic updates, voice-guided GPS navigation, Street View and more are all included, making this more feature-packed than even most paid options. Importantly it's detailed and accurate too, so you'll never get lost again.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Citymapper - Bus, Tube, Rail

Best Android Apps

Free

Arriving in a brand new city is always exciting but it can also be a little daunting, especially if you need to get around using public transport. Citymapper - Bus, Tube, Rail is a brilliant app that brings you real-time information on public transport for cities around the world.

You can easily plan your route using all kinds of transport and you can be kept up to date with any disruptions or cancellations. An essential app for any city-bound traveller.

Listed for app of the year at the TechRadar Phone Awards.

Launchify

Launchify

Free

Keeping things simple is often key to success and that's exactly what Launchify does. The app does one thing and one thing only- gives you shortcuts to other apps from your lock screen and notifications bar.

It means you're never far from your favourite apps, with the ability to add six shortcuts with the free version and twelve if you pay to upgrade.

It's even a little bit smart, as it can learn which apps you access when and where, to present you with the most appropriate selection at any given time. But if you'd rather just choose which ones it displays you can do that too.

Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts

£2.49/$3.99/AU$4.99

There are any number of podcast apps for Android but Pocket Casts is easily one of the best. Its slick, colourful interface helps it stand out from the drab designs of many competitors and it's feature packed, with Chromecast support, auto downloads, sleep timers and more.

There are even tools to improve the listening experience of podcasts, such as the ability to remove silent sections to speed them up or toggle video podcasts to audio only. There are cheaper and even free alternatives to Pocket Casts, but you more than get your money's worth with it.

VLC for Android

Best Android Apps

Free

VLC for Android is an incredibly versatile media player that can handle pretty much any file that you can chuck at it, so if you've ever struggled to open and play a media file, then make sure this is installed.

It's recently got a major update which brings bug fixes and new features, such as support for DVD menus from ISO files.

Palabre

Palabre

Free

There's no shortage of news readers around but Palabre stands out, as with multiple display modes and themes, plus the ability to switch categories with a swipe and hide read articles, it's easy to navigate and possible to set it up exactly how you want.

It's not quite the most stylish news reader, but it's not far off and it's well laid out. More importantly it also has a vast range of sources that you can add to your feed, with more being added all the time.

Plex

Best Android Apps

£3.30/$4.99/AU$5.50

The idea behind Plex is that it assimilates your existing media collection and serves it up, through one standard interface, via the cloud. It's a bit of a struggle to get going as you need a free account on Plex's servers to access your stuff, but once it's all up and running it offers streaming and transcoding of files, meaning everything ought to play everywhere.

It also supports Chromecast too, so if you've bought into Google's own media-managing dream, then you're going to get a lot of use out of this app.

Zombies, Run!

Zombies, Run!

£2.99/$4.61/AU$5.90

Running is a great way to get fit but it can also be a bit boring, which makes building up the enthusiasm to run a struggle in itself. The unique Zombies, Run! app manages to make running fun by creating an audio adventure game where you run away from zombies in a bid to rescue survivors.

As you run the story unfolds with missions asking you to reach certain distances to bring supplies for your base. Not only is the story entertaining but it makes running fun again, and you'll be getting fit without even noticing it.

Runtastic PRO

Best Android Apps

£4.99/$4.99/$AU9.25

A hefty price, but can you put a price on not dying of obesity at age 52? That fitness promise is what you pay for with the RunTastic Pro. It is able to map you, track you, automatically cheer you on, generate live feedback and more, also covering interval training and letting users create their own regular routes to attack again and again. Serious stuff for competitive people.

S Health

S Health

Free

S Health has been around for a while, but until recently this Samsung-built app was only available for Galaxy devices.

There are any number of other health and fitness apps around, but few as jam-packed full of features as S Health. You can track everything from running, walking and cycling, to food, water and caffeine intake and even things like blood pressure and sleep.

There's also the ability to set goals and undertake training programmes to run 5K or 10K. So whether you're gearing up for a marathon or just want to watch what you eat, S Health could help you out.

Boomerang from Instagram

Boomerang

Free

Think Instagram and you probably think photos, but the company is branching out into videos, or at least a series of photos combined into a short GIF-like clip which loops backwards and forwards endlessly.

Rather than pollute the main Instagram app with this feature the company has launched a new app called Boomerang. You can share your creations on Instagram or other social networks with a tap though, so it's not totally separate.

If you're addicted to Instagram Boomerang is a nice way to keep it fresh, but even if you're not an Instagram fan it's worth a look. You don't need an Instagram account and it's a bit more interesting than just snapping static images.

SwiftKey Neural Alpha

SwiftKey Neural Alpha

Free

There's a good chance you've already given SwiftKey a try, seeing as it's one of the most popular Android keyboards available. SwiftKey Neural Alpha is similar, but with an intriguing addition.

It uses artificial intelligence to predict and correct your typing, theoretically offering smarter suggestions than other keyboard apps as it uses neural networks which are inspired by the structure of the human brain. This allows it to think more like a human and understand complex word relationships and word similarity, as well as being able to analyse context in longer sentences.

In practice so far it feels a lot like the normal SwiftKey, but anecdotally its suggestions seem a little better. As the name suggests it's in Alpha, which does mean it might not be entirely stable, but it also means it will hopefully get better over time, so it's worth trying out.

Arrow Launcher

Arrow Launcher

Free

If there's one company that should know how to do a user interface right it's Microsoft and its Arrow Launcher is proof of that.

Arrow is all about keeping things simple, so you can forget about reams of home screens and folders, instead there are just three screens. The main one shows your most frequently used apps, another shows the people you most frequently contact and the third one shows your most recent downloads, app installs and photos, so you can easily get back to them.

Arrow learns as you use it, so it will get better at putting the right apps front and centre and the main app drawer is only a tap away if what you want isn't listed.

A swipe up from the bottom of the screen will also give you shortcuts to toggles and your favourite apps. It's a slick, simple and minimalist interface that does something different from the Android norm.

Dropbox

Best Android Apps

Free

Pretty much essential for anyone juggling a work PC, home PC, laptop, tablet, phone and internet fridge, Dropbox's key power lies in letting you access any files anywhere.

It can also automatically upload photos taken on your phone to your account, meaning that, after a bit of uploading and downloading, all your shots are *right there* on your desktop without any tedious cable connecting.

Yahoo Livetext

Yahoo Livetext

Free

Yahoo Livetext is somewhat impressive in that it manages to put a new spin on instant messaging. Because rather than just sending messages out to a blank screen the person you're talking to can see a live video feed of you and you of them.

So it feels more like you're face to face and you can instantly see their reactions to your messages, yet you're still typing, there's no sound here, which means you can easily use it when out and about where it might either be noisy or you don't have enough privacy for an audible conversation.

In most other ways it's a fairly standard messaging app. If there's a downside it's that you'll need to convince people to get the app, which could be hard given the huge number of communication apps most people are already using, but it's a novel experience.

IF

Best Android Apps

Free

IF was formerly known as IFTTT, which stands for "if this then that", concisely summing up what this app does. It's a simple ethos that gives you a huge amount of options for making your Android device do some pretty cool things.

You can create simple statements such as "if any photo is taken then add them to Dropbox", or "if my location is home, send a text message to my partner saying "I'm home!"" which can also be shared with other IF users. You'll be amazed how much you can do with such a simple premise.

Skype

Best Android Apps

Free

Skype is an excellent app for keeping in contact with friends and family throughout the world via instant messages, voice and video calls. If you're connected to a Wi-Fi network you can make calls to other Skype members absolutely free.

You can also buy Skype credit to make calls to landlines and mobile phones, and it's far cheaper to use Skype than make long distance calls on your mobile network.

Hopper

Hopper

Free

Booking flights can be a minefield, with so many different airlines offering them and prices changing all the time. Flight comparison sites can help a bit but they usually only tell you what the prices are at any given time.

Hopper goes a step further and tells you whether prices are likely to get more or less expensive if you wait to book, as well as giving you a snapshot of which days have the cheapest flights, so you can predict the best time to buy. You can 'watch' specific trips too, getting alerts for price drops and warnings before a price is likely to rise.

So if you're planning a trip it never hurts to stick it into Hopper and see if you can't save yourself some money.

Vine

Vine

Free

Vine is the movie-making sensation took a little while to appear on Android, then took a while for the numerous bugs to disappear – but now it's all good. It's a simple recording/stop-motion/animation tool, letting you shoot live video on your phone and share it via social networks.

The app is also the best way of browsing Vines from others, as the categories and pages mean you can leaf through it like telly, favouriting users.

YouTube Gaming

YouTube Gaming

Free

If you enjoy watching games as much as playing them you might want to check out YouTube Gaming. The app includes videos and livestreams, covering reviews, speed runs, let's plays, trailers and more, from both gamers and publishers.

You can chat and comment while watching videos and the app is easy to navigate, with dedicated pages for every game, plus various video categories and the ability to save your favourite games and channels.

Javvy

Javvy

Free + £7.18/$9.99 IAP

Java is the most popular programming language in the world, so it's a useful skill to have and if you've been put off in the past by the thick books and dry websites which typically teach it Javvy could be for you.

It features over 150 interactive bite-sized tutorials, to take you from the basics to more advanced things like HashMaps and classes. Not only does Javvy make it easy to learn at your own pace, but it's written in a light, engaging way.

You get the first two chapters for free, covering basics and variables, but if you want a more comprehensive Java education you can shell out for the other chapters, either a bit at a time or with a single £7.18/$9.99 in-app purchase.

Polarr Pro Photo Editor

Polarr

Free

Considering the basic app costs absolutely nothing Polarr puts a lot of photo editing power in your hands. From cleaning images up with sharpening and noise removal tools to tweaking the exposure, temperature and contrast and adding one of a number of filters.

There are other apps with similar tools, but few which have quite the wealth of options this does and with an in-app purchase of $4.99 / £3.84 you can unlock even more features, giving you the ability to make fine-tuned edits to just certain sections of a photo.

Adblock Browser

Adblock Browser

Free

No-one likes adverts and they can be especially annoying on a smartphone, where they consume both data and battery. Adblock Browser is built expressly to combat them, automatically blocking all intrusive adverts.

As well as saving data and battery life this can also lead pages to load faster and reduce the risk of malware infection, not to mention removing the annoyance of pop-ups. If you want you can set it to block all adverts, but it defaults to allowing non-intrusive ones, so websites can still make their money.

Alto Mail

Alto Mail

Free

AOL has been doing email for decades, so the company knows what it's doing and now it's brought its email smarts to a new app, called Alto Mail.

The app supports Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, AOL and other email addresses and it can be used like any other email app. But it also provides various organisational tools, allowing you to view just the photos or just the files from your emails.

It's all wrapped up in an attractive Material Design inspired interface and even takes inspiration from Google Now, with cards popping up to show the likes of travel and shopping information from your emails.

Google Drive

Google Drive

Free

You're likely to already have the Google Drive app installed on your Android device, but if you don't make sure you download it as it's an incredibly useful tool.

It allows you to view all the files you've saved to the Google Drive cloud storage service, and you can share them all with friends and co-workers as well.

CloudCal

CloudCal

Free

It's not easy standing out as a calendar, but if you just want to know when you're busy and when you're not at a glance CloudCal does a better job of it than most.

Each day is shown as a clock face, with white space at times when you don't have any plans, so you can see immediately exactly how busy you are every day of the month and even what times you're free, all from a single screen.

You can of course dig deeper by tapping a specific day and when adding events to the calendar there are a bunch of options to choose from, letting you put in a time, reminders, notes, locations and more, plus it syncs with other calendars, so it gets the basics right too.

Hooks - Alerts for Everything

Hooks

Free

Want to be alerted when your favourite band has a new album out or a new gig in your area? Or how about when a certain Twitter account tweets, or when a new episode of Game of Thrones airs? Perhaps you want to be alerted every time a critically acclaimed game launches for the PS4? Or when there's a weather warning in your area?

Hooks – Alerts for Everything can do all that and more. Despite the name it doesn't quite cover everything, but it has options for things as niche as being alerted of when a particular website goes down or when a well-regarded restaurant opens nearby and new alert types are being added all the time.

So just set up alerts for everything you care about and never again worry about missing something or having to hunt for it.

Airbnb

Best Android Apps

Free

A posh B&B listings service designed specifically around mobile app use, the selling point of Airbnb is that it personalises the hosts, so if you really want to stay in Glasgow with a cheery looking alternative lifestyle man called Dave snoring in the next room, it's ideal.

It's also a fantastic way to travel the world and save money with over 450,000 listings in 34,000 cities.

Duolingo: Learn Languages Free

Best Android Apps

Free

Although for many English speakers it's easy enough for us to communicate with the locals when we're travelling by pointing at things and speaking LOUDLY AND SLOWLY, it's also quite nice to learn a bit of the local lingo before you leave as well, which is where Duolingo: Learn Languages Free comes in.

This excellent app makes learning a second language easy, fun and convenient, with a number of daily challenges and tests to help you learn.

Microsoft Translator

Microsoft Translator

Free

Microsoft Translator ensures you'll always be understood, no matter where you go. You can get a written and spoken translation for any word or short sentence in dozens of languages and it supports both text and speech input.

There are other similar apps, but Microsoft Translator has a slick interface, Android Wear support and most importantly it works well, almost always understanding what you're saying to it.

TRACKR: Next Bus & Train Times

TRACKR

£2.99

There are any number of transport apps, but few as comprehensive as TRACKR. If provides live train information, bus routes and timings for all 370,000 bus stops in the UK, plus departure boards for the London Underground, Glasgow SPT Subway and every other underground, tram and light rail service.

It also offers route maps, journey planning and even proximity alarms to let you know when you're approaching your stop. In other words TRACKR has all the tools you need to make efficient use of public transport in the UK.

My Alarm Clock

My Alarm Clock

£0.59/$0.99/Around AU$1.37

Alarm clocks aren't always exciting, but they're something almost all of us use daily, so having a good one is important.

My Alarm Clock is one of the best, as beyond the alarm clock basics it also has a sleep timer, a nightstand mode, a built in flashlight, easily adjustable brightness, widgets and a selection of beautiful clock faces. So whether you're waking up or drifting off you can do so in style.

Google Now

Best Android Apps

Free

Exclusive to Nexus devices since launch, Google Now has been opened up to owners of any Android phone running version 4.1 of the OS or higher.

Install it and you get the experience that is having Google Now fill an entire Home screen, providing a permanent collection of the cards to the left of the existing Home screen setup. These useful cards include weather information, the time it will take to get home, news stories you're interested in and even where you parked your car. The more you use Google Now, the better it gets to know you and the more useful it becomes.

LastPass Password Mgr Premium

Best Android Apps

£7.77/$12/AU$15.43 a year

If you've got different passwords for different online accounts (and you should) it can sometimes be a difficult and frustrating experience to remember them all when you want to log in. One way of beating this is to have the same password for every account, but that is far from secure.

A much better way is to use LastPass Password Mgr Premium to manage all of your passwords. It makes signing in a piece of cake, while also remaining completely secure. You can also quickly populate forms automatically and check just how secure your passwords are with the LastPass Security Challenge.

MoneyWiz 2

MoneyWiz 2

£2.29/$2.99 (around AU$4.20)

Managing finances isn't exciting, but it is important and tools like MoneyWiz 2 make it easier than ever.

You can add all your accounts, balances and scheduled bills to it so you can see the ins and outs of your finances all in one place, as well as getting bill reminders so you're never late on a payment and forecasts to show you a prediction of how much you're likely to have to spend before your next pay cheque.

Set up a subscription and you can even connect your bank accounts directly to the app, so you can see all your transactions and balance changes without having to add them manually.

ClickMe - Reminder in a click

ClickMe

Free

The idea behind ClickMe is simple- set up any reminder in just one or two taps, or clicks. You simply tap a contact or select a general reminder, optionally add a picture or text and tap a time that you want to be reminded.

To make things as fast as possible you can even set it to automatically launch after calls end or screenshots are taken, instantly letting you set a related reminder. Once you've set a reminder the app automatically closes, saving you another tap and you won't hear from it again until the appointed time.

When a reminder appears it will also display shortcuts to call or message the relevant contact, keeping the number of taps down yet again. If you find yourself needing a lot of reminders this is faster than most calendar apps or to-do lists.

Shuttle+ Music Player

Shuttle+

£1.10/$1.75/Around AU$2.50

There's an enormous number of music players to choose from on Android, but Shuttle+ is one of the best.

With an attractive and intuitive Material design-inspired interface and most of the options you'd hope for from a premium player, including gapless playback, a sleep timer, lots of themes, automatic album artwork downloads, a 6-band equalizer, widgets, Chromecast support and a lot more besides it's a joy to use.

There's a free version, but the premium one is only £1.10/$1.75 and has far more features, so it's worth the investment.

Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus

Best Android Apps

£9.70/$14.95/AU$19.22 a year

Unfortunately viruses and other malware often target Android owners, and considering we use our devices for important task such as online banking, it's a good idea to make sure your device is free from any nasty programs, which is where the Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus comes in.

It's one of the best tools for keeping your Android handset or tablet free from viruses. However a much bigger threat to your device is it getting lost or stolen, and this is where the app really proves to be worth the money thanks to a suite of anti-theft tools that can help you lock and track your device.

It could help you get it back, but if that fails you can remotely wipe your data to make sure your information doesn't fall into the wrong hands.










Updated: Best free Android apps 2015

Updated: Best free Android apps 2015

Best free Android apps

Nova

If you have an Android device you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to apps, with the Google Play store being home to thousands of them.

The huge quantity of apps doesn't mean they're all quality - far from it in fact. To make sure you never install a duff app here's our selection of the best 50 you should install right now. Each one has been carefully chosen to ensure that you have the best apps on your device.

1. Periscope

Periscope

Periscope, Twitter's live video streaming app, has made its way to Android and it's an essential download for anyone who likes the immediacy of Twitter but craves something more visual.

You can easily create your own live streams or watch other people's, send comments and hearts in real time and if you miss the action there's a 24 hour window with which to replay streams. In short it's simple enough to dive straight into but has enough to it that you'll keep coming back, whether you're more creator or viewer.

2. WhatsApp

whatsapp

WhatsApp is one of the most essential apps you can install on your Android device, especially if you have friends and family across the world.

Rather than using up your SMS allowance by sending text messages, WhatsApp lets you send messages over any Wi-Fi or mobile data connection instead. You can also send and receive photos with no size restrictions, and if you're using Wi-Fi (or you have unlimited mobile data) they won't cost you any extra to send.

3. Spotify

Spotify

Similar to Netflix, Spotify has been pretty quick to establish itself as the top music streaming service, and the Spotify Music app brings some great features to your Android device, turning it in to a pocket jukebox that delivers your favourite tunes no matter where you are.

Even better you can now listen to Spotify music for free on Android, although if you want to download songs for offline listening and without any ads, then a Spotify Premium account is worth investing in.

4. Evernote

Evernote

Evernote is an excellent app for your Android device that lets you stash and sync all your text notes, voice memos and files on your phone and access them through a desktop computer.

It's a brilliant productivity tool that lets you organise and search your notes so you always have exactly what you need at your fingertips.

5. Timehop

Timehop

For the most part, social media is fleeting, but Timehop is all about digging up precious memories from the past. You link it to whatever social media services you frequent (and your on-device photos) and it shows you what was happening years ago on today's date.

6. Pushbullet

PushBullet

Boost your productivity with Pushbullet, which lets you view your Android phone's notifications and messages directly on your desktop PC. It means if you get a text message you can read it there and then without having to take your phone out of your pocket or bag.

You can also quickly send files from your computer to your phone with only a few clicks, and if you regularly find that you email links to yourself just to open them on your smartphone, then you'll never have to do that again thanks to Pushbullet's link sharing features.

7. Snapseed

Snapseed

Snapseed is Google's own photo editor that's been designed from the ground up to make tweaking your snaps as easy and fun as possible on a touchscreen Android device.

Although the interface is simple enough to use with just your fingers, there's also a lot of depth to this app as well. You use tools to tweak and enhance your photographs to make them look the best they ever have, as well as playing around with fun filters that can transform the photos you've taken on your smartphone or tablet.

8. Instagram

Instagram

Instagram is the go-to app for quickly taking photos, adding quirky filters to them and sharing them with the world. Over 300 million people use Instagram and thanks to the social aspects and effortless interface it's easy to see why it's such a hit.

You're not limited to sharing your snaps on Instagram either, as you can easily add your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more with just a few taps.

9. Google Photos

Google Photos

There are probably hundreds of photo apps around, but Google Photos stands out as it gives you unlimited storage for photos and videos, all for free.

That's reason enough to jump on board, especially as it works not just on Android but on iOS and computers too.

But with basic editing tools and the ability to make collages and albums this is more than just photo and video storage, it aims to be your first and last stop after taking a picture. To achieve that it will need a few more features, but it's well on its way.

10. Strava

Strava

If you're serious about running or cycling then you should be serious about Strava. As smartphone fitness tools go it's one of the best, allowing you to track your performance, set goals and see daily progress updates.

There are leaderboards and challenges to give it a competitive edge and if you're ever not sure where to run or cycle you can find user created routes on the app, or share your own. All of that comes free of charge, while a premium version adds even more tools.

11. Pocket

Pocket

Even in 2015 there are still times and places where we can't get an internet connection, but this doesn't have to mean you can't read websites, however, thanks to the excellent Pocket app. It allows you to save articles, news stories, blog posts, videos and much more, letting you read and watch them offline.

You can also synchronise your saved articles across every device you've installed Pocket on, allowing you to pick up where you left off and continue reading.

12. Uber

uber

Uber is transforming the way we travel. You can quickly and easily request a taxi using the app and get picked up within minutes and you can compare rates and get quotes, as well as paying with Google Wallet, PayPal or by adding your credit card to a secure Uber account.

The Uber service is available in over 50 countries, and it's rapidly growing. Give it a try and you'll never want to hail a taxi the old fashioned way again.

13. Citymapper - Bus, Tube, Rail

Citymapper

Arriving in a brand new city is always exciting but it can also be a little daunting, especially if you need to get around using public transport. Citymapper - Bus, Tube, Rail is a brilliant app that brings you real-time information on public transport for cities around the world.

You can easily plan your route using all kinds of transport and you can be kept up to date with any disruptions or cancellations. An essential app for any city-bound traveller.

14. Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps is probably already on your phone, but as the best free mapping option around it's well worth highlighting.

Transit directions, live traffic updates, voice-guided GPS navigation, Street View and more are all included, making this more feature-packed than even most paid options. Importantly it's detailed and accurate too, so you'll never get lost again.

15. Launchify

Launchify

Keeping things simple is often key to success and that's exactly what Launchify does. The app does one thing and one thing only- gives you shortcuts to other apps from your lock screen and notifications bar.

It means you're never far from your favourite apps, with the ability to add six shortcuts with the free version and twelve if you pay to upgrade.

It's even a little bit smart, as it can learn which apps you access when and where, to present you with the most appropriate selection at any given time. But if you'd rather just choose which ones it displays you can do that too.

16. Snowball

Snowball

If like us you've filled your phone up with hundreds of apps you may find that you're getting an almost endless stream of notifications, many of which you have little to no interest in. Sure, Android has its own notification management, but Snowball arguably does it faster and better.

With it you can make sure important notifications are always shown at the top, while less important ones are listed below or hidden completely.

Better yet it learns and makes predictions over time and it allows you to reply to many notifications, such as WhatsApp and SMS messages, straight from the notification itself.

17. Twitter

Twitter

A few short years ago if we'd recommended the official Twitter app as the best resource for tweeting from your Android device, we'd have been laughed off the internet.

However a lot of work has since been put into the official app to help it compete and even surpass third party offerings. New features such as being able to embed tweets within tweets for some sort of tweetception shenanigans, as well as uploading GIFs, are all very welcome.

These new features plus a streamlined interface, a lack of superfluous features some of its competitor apps contain and no ads makes this the best app for firing off a quick tweet.

18. VLC for Android Beta

VLC gallery

It might not be quite as glamorous as other media players, but if you want a no-nonsense app that can play pretty much any media file under the sun, then VLC for Android Beta is the app for you.

As the name suggests this app is still in Beta which means there could be the odd bug, but we've yet to encounter anything serious and it's perfectly stable for playing and streaming your media from around your house.

19. Dash Radio

Dash Radio

There are a number of streaming radio apps available for Android but where Dash Radio differs from most of them is that it includes over 60 original stations, with real DJ's, no adverts and 24/7 content.

It's not FM so you can listen with or without headphones and there are radio stations covering numerous genres, so it's easy to find ones you'll like. It also has daily competitions and supports Bluetooth streaming to external speakers. The overwhelmingly blue interface could use a bit of work but we can't fault the content.

20. SwiftKey Neural Alpha

SwiftKey Neural Alpha

There's a good chance you've already given SwiftKey a try, seeing as it's one of the most popular Android keyboards available. SwiftKey Neural Alpha is similar, but with an intriguing addition.

It uses artificial intelligence to predict and correct your typing, theoretically offering smarter suggestions than other keyboard apps as it uses neural networks which are inspired by the structure of the human brain. This allows it to think more like a human and understand complex word relationships and word similarity, as well as being able to analyse context in longer sentences.

In practice so far it feels a lot like the normal SwiftKey, but anecdotally its suggestions seem a little better. As the name suggests it's in Alpha, which does mean it might not be entirely stable, but it also means it will hopefully get better over time, so it's worth trying out.

21. Dropbox

Dropbox

Dropbox is probably the best known tool for syncing and sharing your files, photos and videos across all your devices, and its popularity is well earned. Any files that you save to your Dropbox folder on any of your PCs or devices will appear in the Dropbox app.

It took a while for Dropbox to come to Android, and after a shaky start this app is now essential with a number of helpful new features that let you save photos and videos from your device straight to Dropbox, as well as quickly editing your documents from within the app.

22. CloudCal

CloudCal

It's not easy standing out as a calendar, but if you just want to know when you're busy and when you're not at a glance CloudCal does a better job of it than most.

Each day is shown as a clock face, with white space at times when you don't have any plans, so you can see immediately exactly how busy you are every day of the month and even what times you're free, all from a single screen.

You can of course dig deeper by tapping a specific day and when adding events to the calendar there are a bunch of options to choose from, letting you put in a time, reminders, notes, locations and more, plus it syncs with other calendars, so it gets the basics right too.

23. Hopper

Hopper

Booking flights can be a minefield, with so many different airlines offering them and prices changing all the time. Flight comparison sites can help a bit but they usually only tell you what the prices are at any given time.

Hopper goes a step further and tells you whether flights are likely to get more or less expensive if you wait to book, as well as giving you a snapshot of which days have the cheapest flights, so you can predict the best time to buy. You can 'watch' specific trips too, getting alerts for price drops and warnings before a price is likely to rise.

So if you're planning a trip it never hurts to stick it into Hopper and see if you can't save yourself some money.

24. YouTube Gaming

YouTube Gaming

If you enjoy watching games as much as playing them you might want to check out YouTube Gaming. The app includes videos and livestreams, covering reviews, speed runs, let's plays, trailers and more, from both gamers and publishers.

You can chat and comment while watching videos and the app is easy to navigate, with dedicated pages for every game, plus various video categories and the ability to save your favourite games and channels.

25. Palabre

Palabre

There's no shortage of news readers around but Palabre stands out, as with multiple display modes and themes, plus the ability to switch categories with a swipe and hide read articles, it's easy to navigate and possible to set it up exactly how you want.

It's not quite the most stylish news reader, but it's not far off and it's well laid out. More importantly it also has a vast range of sources that you can add to your feed, with more being added all the time.

26. IF

IFTTT

IF was formerly known as IFTTT, which stands for "if this then that" and handily sums up what this app does. It's a simple ethos that gives you a huge amount of options for making your Android device even smarter.

You can create simple statements such as "if any photo is taken then add them to Dropbox", or "if my location is home, send a text message to my partner saying "I'm home!"" which can also be shared with other IF users. You'll be amazed how much you can do with such a simple premise.

27. Nova Launcher

Nova Gallery

One of the best things about Android is how customisable it is, and there are loads of apps out there that can help you change the way Android displays and launches apps to suit your preferences.

Out of these Nova Launcher is the best, giving you complete control over your home screen. You can change the icons, themes, colours, layouts and much more.

28. Skype

Skype

There's a good chance that you've heard of Skype, the excellent voice and video service (with instant messaging thrown in for good measure as well). The Android app integrates brilliantly with your device, making it easy to make and receive calls.

Calls to other Skype users over Wi-Fi are free, but you can also make calls to mobiles and landlines as well. You'll need Skype credit for this, but you could find yourself saving a small fortune, especially if you're ringing people in other countries.

29. ClickMe - Reminder in a click

ClickMe

The idea behind ClickMe is simple- set up any reminder in just one or two taps, or clicks. You simply tap a contact or select a general reminder, optionally add a picture or text and tap a time that you want to be reminded.

To make things as fast as possible you can even set it to automatically launch after calls end or screenshots are taken, instantly letting you set a related reminder. Once you've set a reminder the app automatically closes, saving you another tap and you won't hear from it again until the appointed time.

When a reminder appears it will also display shortcuts to call or message the relevant contact, keeping the number of taps down yet again. If you find yourself needing a lot of reminders this is faster than most calendar apps or to-do lists.

30. Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict

If you're more into the spoken word than music then you're going to want one good podcast player on your phone and Podcast Addict is among the best, made all the better by the fact that most of its many features are free.

The interface can take some getting used to, but once you do this is a powerful and flexible player, with Chromecast and Android Wear support, widgets, the ability to download or stream content, a car-optimised layout and just but every other feature you might want. Binging on Serial has never been better.

31. S Health

S Health

S Health has been around for a while, but until recently this Samsung-built app was only available for Galaxy devices.

There are any number of other health and fitness apps around, but few as jam-packed full of features as S Health. You can track everything from running, walking and cycling, to food, water and caffeine intake and even things like blood pressure and sleep.

There's also the ability to set goals and undertake training programmes to run 5K or 10K. So whether you're gearing up for a marathon or just want to watch what you eat, S Health could help you out.

32. Google Fit

Google Fit

Google Fit is an excellent app for keeping track of your activity and you don't need any additional fitness trackers; you can just carry your Android phone around with you. If you do have Android Wear-compatible fitness trackers and wearables, then Google Fit gets even better.

Fitness goals can also be set to help you reach the level of fitness you desire, as well as keeping you motivated.

33. Map My Fitness Workout Trainer

MapMyFitness

Map My Fitness Workout Trainer is another great app for keeping tabs on your workout regime. As the name suggests it uses the GPS positioning features of your Android smartphone to log your runs, letting you get an accurate look at your workout regime.

Voice feedback will keep you in the loop even when you're in the process of working out, giving you information on your pace, the route you're taking calories burns and plenty more.

34. Boomerang from Instagram

Boomerang

Think Instagram and you probably think photos, but the company is branching out into videos, or at least a series of photos combined into a short GIF-like clip which loops backwards and forwards endlessly.

Rather than pollute the main Instagram app with this feature the company has launched a new app called Boomerang. You can share your creations on Instagram or other social networks with a tap though, so it's not totally separate.

If you're addicted to Instagram Boomerang is a nice way to keep it fresh, but even if you're not an Instagram fan it's worth a look. You don't need an Instagram account and it's a bit more interesting than just snapping static images.

35. Duolingo: Learn Languages Free

Duolingo

If you fancy learning a foreign language then make sure you download Duolingo: Learn Languages Free, as it's one of those rare apps that manages to be both educational and fun, ensuring that you'll keep coming back for more to brush up on your langueage skills.

Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, and English can all be learned, it's completely free with no ads or hidden fees and it's one of the best ways you can learn a new language with your Android device.

36. Truemessenger

Truemessenger

If you're as sick of spam messages as you are of spam calls then Truemessenger could be for you. It's the SMS counterpart to Truecaller and leverages a massive database of numbers to identify almost any person or company that texts you, even if they're not in your phone book.

SMS ID is handy for any number of reasons, not least knowing which numbers you should block, but Truemessenger is also smart enough to automatically send most spam messages to a separate folder, so your inbox never gets clogged up with them.

37. Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office? On Android? Don't worry, you have read that right; Microsoft's suite of office applications is now available on Android devices and not only is it free, it's also really rather good.

Word, Excel and PowerPoint are all included, so you can open and edit your documents no matter where you are.

38. Google Drive

Google Drive

If having Microsoft on your Android device feels a little weird, then worry not, as Google Drive has you covered as well. You can view all the files you save to the Google Drive cloud storage service, as well as share them with friends and co-workers.

PDFs, photos, videos and much more can be accessed through this handy app.

39. Google Translate

Google Translate

If you need to quickly and easily find out what something means in another language, then there's no better way than with Google Translate. You can translate between 90 languages and even converse naturally with speakers of other languages and let Google do the translation.

One of the best features lets you use the camera of your Android device to translate real-world objects such as signposts and posters. Just point, shoot and translate!

40. Polarr Pro Photo Editor

Polarr

Considering the basic app costs absolutely nothing Polarr puts a lot of photo editing power in your hands. From cleaning images up with sharpening and noise removal tools to tweaking the exposure, temperature and contrast and adding one of a number of filters.

There are other apps with similar tools, but few which have quite the wealth of options this does and with an in-app purchase of $4.99 / £3.84 you can unlock even more features, giving you the ability to make fine-tuned edits to just certain sections of a photo.

41. Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Fancy brushing up on physics or world history? How about learning the basics of macroeconomics or taking a crash course in Expressionism? For all of that and more Khan Academy has you covered, with over 10,000 videos and explanations split across dozens of subjects.

Remarkably it's also completely free of charge and without an advert in sight. You can even download content for continued study when there's no internet connection. In depth learning is rarely this easy, cheap or accessible, so it's well worth a look whether you want to learn something completely new or just take a refresher on things you already know.

42. Feedly

Feedly

If you've got a huge list of websites and news sources that you like to keep up to date with, then you'll need to get Feedly. This excellent RSS feed reader collects all the latest news from your favourite sources and brings them together in an elegant interface that makes it easy to find what you're looking for.

43. Kindle

Kindle

Amazon's Kindle app is a great e-reader, which is seamlessly linked with your Amazon account. Support for magazines and newspapers is limited at the moment, with only a handful of niche publications in Android-friendly format.

But for books it's great, with plenty of screen and text display options to get it looking a way that hurts your eyes the least. Another exciting new way to collect classic novels you'll probably never get around to reading because there's the internet now.

44. Black Screen of Life

Black Screen of Life

With its massive library of music YouTube is a great free way of listening to songs on your phone, but if all you want to do is listen then it and most other video services have one fatal flaw- they turn the tunes off when you turn your screen off. So you have to leave the screen on, draining masses of battery in the process.

Black Screen of Life is the solution to that, automatically turning the screen off when the proximity sensor is covered but keeping the video playing in the background. The look of the app might be quirky, and that's putting it kindly, but since you'll mostly just be seeing a black screen that doesn't really matter.

45. Tinder

Tinder

Tinder is the dating app that's taking the world by storm, and it's easy to see why as it lets you view and connect with people nearby, and its simple interface could net you a match made in heaven.

All you need to do is swipe through the photos of people who are using the app nearby and if you like the look of someone swipe right and if not swipe left. If someone likes you back, you'll be put in contact with them through the app. It's also compatible with Android Wear devices.

46. Microsoft Translator

Microsoft Translator

Microsoft Translator ensures you'll always be understood, no matter where you go. You can get a written and spoken translation for any word or short sentence in dozens of languages and it supports both text and speech input.

There are other similar apps, but Microsoft Translator has a slick interface, Android Wear support and most importantly it works well, almost always understanding what you're saying to it.

47. Javvy

Javvy

Java is the most popular programming language in the world, so it's a useful skill to have and if you've been put off in the past by the thick books and dry websites which typically teach it Javvy could be for you.

It features over 150 interactive bite-sized tutorials, to take you from the basics to more advanced things like HashMaps and classes. Not only does Javvy make it easy to learn at your own pace, but it's written in a light, engaging way.

You get the first two chapters for free, covering basics and variables, but if you want a more comprehensive Java education you can shell out for the other chapters, either a bit at a time or with a single £7.18/$9.99 in-app purchase.

48. Adblock Browser

Adblock Browser

No-one likes adverts and they can be especially annoying on a smartphone, where they consume both data and battery. Adblock Browser is built expressly to combat them, automatically blocking all intrusive adverts.

As well as saving data and battery life this can also lead pages to load faster and reduce the risk of malware infection, not to mention removing the annoyance of pop-ups. If you want you can set it to block all adverts, but it defaults to allowing non-intrusive ones, so websites can still make their money.

49. Hooks - Alerts for Everything

Hooks

Want to be alerted when your favourite band has a new album out or a new gig in your area? Or how about when a certain Twitter account tweets, or when a new episode of Game of Thrones airs? Perhaps you want to be alerted every time a critically acclaimed game launches for the PS4? Or when there's a weather warning in your area?

Hooks – Alerts for Everything can do all that and more. Despite the name it doesn't quite cover everything, but it has options for things as niche as being alerted of when a particular website goes down or when a well-regarded restaurant opens nearby and new alert types are being added all the time.

So just set up alerts for everything you care about and never again worry about missing something or having to hunt for it.

50. Amazon Appstore

Amazon Appstore

There's a particularly great reason to have the Amazon Appstore on your phone or tablet - free stuff. Amazon is enticing users to stick its alternate Android app store on their devices with the promise of a free app every day, with some classics like Sega's ChucChu Rocket and World of Goo featuring as previous daily freebies.

The catch is these are unsupported releases, meaning no updates or fixes in the future, but you can't moan too much about getting some ace freebies every day.