Top 10 Android apps

The ever-increasing Play store is inundated with hordes of apps, with many more on the way. Manufacturers have even started loading their devices with several apps, especially as seen in the affordably priced tablets that entered the Indian market recently. To our surprise, several apps have managed to sustain their position and stay among the favourites, even as others went through their usual cycle and got replaced in a while. We wanted to dig into this vast market and explore what could make it to our list of Top 10 Android apps. Picking our favourite apps, across categories like, productivity, utility, photography, social and few other miscellaneous apps, here’s our list of the Top 10 Android apps.

Productivity
QuickOffice Pro – Trial, Rs. 771
This comes out as the winner, when compared to the other Office apps available at the Android market. This office suite serves well for tasks like creating, editing and sharing Microsoft files. It includes a PDF viewer, and file manager which works seamlessly with email attachments, local files, and cloud storage accounts allowing to work online as well as offline. Managing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations and viewing PDF gets easier. It allows accessing files remotely from Google Docs, Dropbox and more. QuickOffice Pro has its lite version that allows using it for free for 7 days. Users can also look into QuickOffice Pro HD, which is a more advanced version optimized for ICS tablets.

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Make a note

Evernote - Free
This simple, yet efficient and fun app has the ability to remember everything across your all devices. Taking notes, capturing photos, creating to-do lists, recording voice reminders is all possible. Moreover, it makes searching notes simpler on-the-go, and search text in images, too. Besides creating and editing notes, it is simpler to save, sync, share and organize them, too. Some highlights of the app are offline access to notebooks, allowing others to edit them and also adding a pin lock to the app. This app keeps you completely organized.

Utility
Astro File manager - Free
This is a perfect manager to look after and organize your pictures, music, videos and other files. This finder for your phone allows easier browsing and organizing of all the files. It is also capable of stopping processes that burn battery life and takes backup of apps that comes handy, if you change or lose the phone. Astro also allows some personalizing now with some coloured icon sets. Some highlighted features are inclusive of file management, Android file browser, file and/or app backup, image and text viewers, networking, search files, application manager, task manager, and more. It you are fine with the ads then this free version is apt, otherwise you will have to shell out some moolah to get the ad free version.

A scoop of the cloud

Dropbox - Free
This service needs no introduction and the app makes it all the more mobile for Android users. It makes all your docs, photos and videos accessible from anywhere and the service is free. On installing the app on your computer, the file saved on Dropbox is automatically saved to your computer and Android device. It allows sharing content with just a few taps and even if you misplace your phone, then the content is all in the Dropbox. The app also allows users to edit docs in Dropbox and save e-mail attachments.

Android task killer - FreeYes, it’s a true Android killer (not literally). The Advanced task killer app is a tool that kills the running applications, saving your battery life. It is used to clean memory and kill apps. Some features of the app include the ignore list, one tap widget and auto kill. However, it is suggested that one should opt for manual kill apps, instead of automatic. The app is free, but one can opt for an ad-free paid version, too.

Finally…here it comes…

Photography
Instagram - FreeThis most recent and highly anticipated app is very addictive, we must say. It’s simple and fun to use. There are numerous filters to choose from and it has the ability to transform everyday moments into work of art and also lets you share them with others. This free app comes with custom designed filters and borders. It allows instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare and is compatible with Android 2.2 and above which support OpenGL ES 2.

Media player

RockPlayer Lite - Free
This media player supports almost all formats and saves you a good deal of time and disk space. It has several functions and to watch a video simply place the video on an SD card or simply click the URL in the browser. This version supports ads and apparently the developer has halted the paid, ad-free version in the Google Play. However, those still looking for an ad-free version can visit the company’s website. 

On-the-go entertainment

Social Networking

Hootsuite - FreeWe wouldn’t dare to give social networking apps a miss. The most trending virtual social scenario can be spruced up on your Android devices with the Hootsuite for Android. The app offers a suite of social networks under one roof. It manages Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare from one place, allowing you to manage multiple social networks on-the-go. It also supports uploading photos, receiving notifications, viewing click stats, and much more. It allows you to schedule Twitter updates as well.

So whats up?

WhatsApp - FreeThis app shows that SMSes have become passé. The WhatsApp Messenger allows sending and receiving messages, pictures, audio notes and video messages. You don’t need to log in and out each time, as pin notifications keep you connected always. The app saves offline messages and also helps one indulge in group chats. The address book automatically helps you connect with your buddies, while it has much more to it, such as the ability to share location, exchanging contacts, customizing wallpaper and notification sounds, and precise message time stamps. The app is free for the first year, and then would charge users some nominal $0.99 per year.

Browse swiftly

Miscellaneous

Dolphin Browser HD - FreeThe Dolphin browser is an easy and swift mobile browser for Android devices. The browser supports gestures and sidebars for faster browsing on-the go, and is also add-on enabled.  The Sonar feature takes voice input for searches on Internet and allows bookmarking your favourite sites. Speed Dial allows visiting sites with one touch and tabbed browser feature makes it even more convenient to use.

You can add in your list of favorite apps, and those wondering why the gaming apps have been given a miss, watch out this space for our list of best Android games soon.