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Ask Slashdot: Best Phone Apps?
An anonymous reader writes: The phone app ecosystem has matured nicely over the past several years. There are apps for just about everything I need to do on my phone. But I've noticed that once an app fills a particular need, I don't tend to look for newer or potentially better apps that would replace it. In a lot of areas, I'm two or three years out of date — maybe there's something better, maybe not. Since few people relish the thought of installing, testing, and uninstalling literally hundreds of apps, I thought I'd put the question to the Slashdot community: what interesting, useful new(ish) apps are you aware of? This can be anything from incredibly slick, well-designed single purpose apps to powerful multi-function apps to entertainment-oriented apps.
What's next? "Ask Slashdot: What food is good?" or "Ask Slashdot: What's the best place to live?"
If you've got more than a few GB of music then get subsonic. You can stream your full collection from home to your phone to listen to at work, in the car, etc. When you're offline or configured to only stream over wifi you can have it stick to playing the last few GB you've configured to cache on your device.
if you haven't tried a new IM client in a couple years, try yo.
That would be the killer app.
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
I love listening to books... So Audible is where a lot of my entertainment money goes. Great for car trips or commuting. Goodreads is a good app for logging and rating books you've read. Unfortunately, the two are not merged, so buying a book on audible doesn't add it to good reads.. Audible has a free trial.. You really should pick out a good book and give it a listen.
The better question would be, are there any apps that you would like to have, but that don't exist (yet)?
JMRI and Engine driver are niche programs and apps, for Model Railroaders. I use both several times a week. Fantastic job of updating with new decoder definitions, new features, and tie-ins to various manufacturers. If you are looking for a project to show you the way to excellence, this is the one. All open source, too!
I forgot to take my Lego keychain flashlight with me when I walked the dog last night. I was looking for a flashlight app this morning. I couldn't find a flashlight app that didn't collect data that I was willing to share with an unknown vendor. I'm planning to move all my house keys to Lego key chains. I may also hack the leash and use a wire tie to attach a fash light and a set of house keys.
Best app depends on your needs, an app for Maidenhead Grid Locator is great for ham radio operators, but pretty useless for anyone else.
If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
F-Droid is without competition: The only app store for open source software.
OsmAnd is a navigation and mapping app which works with free offline maps based on OpenStreetMap.
K9-Mail is an email app with IMAP-push support: get a notification as soon as mail arrives on your server.
Xabber is a multi-protocol chat client.
All of these apps are free (as in beer and in speech). None of these apps require the Google apps on your Android phone.
There are apps for just about everything I need to do on my phone. But I've noticed that once an app fills a particular need, I don't tend to look for newer or potentially better apps that would replace it. In a lot of areas, I'm two or three years out of date — maybe there's something better, maybe not.
You may be asking the wrong question, at least if you see your phone as a tool. If the apps you've got are doing the job you want them to do, who cares if they're apps you picked up two or three years ago?
It might be better to think on what it is you would like to be able to do using your phone but can't currently accomplish with the apps you've got on hand. If nothing that comes to mind, then there's no problem to solve and no questions to be answered - you're good to go.
Since few people relish the thought of installing, testing, and uninstalling literally hundreds of apps, I thought I'd put the question to the Slashdot community: what interesting, useful new(ish) apps are you aware of?
You've said absolutely nothing specific regarding what it is you want to do on your phone. There are literally millions of apps in the iOS and Google app stores - if you want meaningful responses, shouldn't you qualify your question a bit first? Are you trying to manage your diabetes? Do you only want to buy local, in-season fruit? Are you using your phone to manage illicit drug transactions? Looking for a wife? Learning to repair cars? Managing your Pokemon collection? What??
#DeleteChrome
I live near Boston. I'd load the MBTA app if I used public transportation. Unfortunately I work in the burbs so I rely upon Google maps for navigation and traffic information. I think about switching back to a flip phone every time Android does something that I don't expect. I'm also much happier with a real keypad instead of a fake keypad. This is why I bought a Nexus 5 so I'm not locked into a carrier contract. The most compelling reason for me to upgrade to a smart phone was to make it much easier to exchange long text messages with my wife and son. Android speech to text is a fun way to send some interesting text messages.
I'm not happy with the religion that I was born into, many of the leaders have turned out to be child molesters and other leaders all the way to the top of the organization have turned out to be doing things that were protecting them from the law. So please post back and tell me what the best religion is.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
I've been using this note taking app on my iPhone since 2009. It's just like having a little pad in your pocket that you can scribble into. I use it more than any other app.
There aren't many, every app is the best app!
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Probably the most useful app I have installed is the Xposed installer.
This is Slashdot, so it's okay to be meta, right? Heh.
I really like Hello SMS. It's a very simple interface. It's light on features, but has what most people probably really need, and some neat UI tricks I've not seen elsewhere.
ownCloud or BitTorrent Sync.
I have found both of them to be incredibly useful. Especially since I have a hard time accessing my mobile files via USB since upgrading to an Android 4.x phone.
There are, of course, hundreds of thousands of apps you might consider installing, but I think most people will agree that only two are absolutely essential for everyone:
Hypnotic Spiral: https://play.google.com/store/...
(sample review: GREAT APP ESPECIALLY IF YOUR STONED OR DRUNK OR ANYTHING ELSE,TRIPS U OUT,I USE IT WHEN I'M ON ANOTHER LEVEL,WHEN I'M ON THE MOON STONED *****)
this will allow you to make anyone else do your bidding, making a large majority of other apps completely redundant.
I Ching - Divine Your Future: https://play.google.com/store/...
(sample review: 'Excellent! The only I ching app that uses sticks and not coins. Much more reliable. The editable entries are also a bonus. Great work, thanks!' )
This will help you make all the major decisions in your life, including what apps to install. It is also useful for understanding the plot of The Man in the High Castle. I meditated on your situation, and using the yarrow stalk method received the wisdom of Hexagram XLII ('The second SIX, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune.'). I hope this is helpful.
Google?
Maurice W. Hilarius Voice: (778) 347-9907
An interesting Android app is Medical ID. It could save your life in case of emergency: https://play.google.com/store/... You can test it for free since it is available as a freemium app.
An interesting Android app is Medical ID. It could save your life in case of emergency: https://play.google.com/store/... You can test it for free since it is available as a freemium app.
just get Angry Birds.
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-- See?
What's the appeal of Firefox mobile over Chrome? On the desktop I use Firefox because it has a real adblocker, but on Firefox mobile it doesn't appear I can add to the filterlist from my phone which makes the adblock plus mostly worthless.
What are your requirements and budget? Asking what is the best app is like asking what is the best OS or the best programming language.
Asking that on slashdot is asking for trouble.
Android Central lists their favorite games and apps every week: http://www.androidcentral.com/...
iMore's favorite iOS apps: http://www.imore.com/ios/edito...
Happy hunting.
I tend to gravitate towards FOSS when possible to be used on a rooted, custom Android ROM. Here are a few useful ones I've found...
Note: Most of the following can be found on GooglePlay, in addition to other locations. They may also be on other app marketplaces, but these are those I've confirmed. Sometimes, there is a difference in version number or whatnot between F-Droid, GooglePlay, and an .apk downloaded from a homepage, so be aware.
F-Droid (www.f-droid.org) - a FOSS app marketplace. Not the only place to find FOSS apps, but a great option for any interested uses.
RomToolbox Pro (Google Play) - If you like to tweak, mess around with rooting and custom ROMs, RomToolbox has a great selection of utilities. Not entirely
FOSS, but it is basically a wrapper for a ton of utilities, some of which have source available. The Pro version opens a few new features and supports the platform; generally worthwhile!
Firefox for Android (Google Play) - Mozilla's privacy focused, FOSS browser. Has many of the same great features (add-ons etc..) as on desktop.
GuardianProject apps (www.guardianproject.info) - Lots of great utilities here, including Orbot (TOR for Android) and Orweb (TOR browser bundle for Android so to speak, based on Orbot and Firefox Mobile), ChatSecure (OTR-enabled XMPP client), and more. They also support Ostel.co, a SIP provider with privacy in mind.
Antox (www.tox.im) - Android version of the FOSS "Skype alternative, but secure" TOX project
OpenWhisperSystems apps (www.whispersystems.org) - TextSecure and RedPhone are FOSS, encrypted SMS (and other text messaging) and mobile dialing apps respectively. If talking to a fellow user of the program, it automatically negotiates a secure connection, yet they still both work to send common texts and calls. Using them as your main apps still have some benefits (ie such as TextSecure taking both text and pictures you receive and storing them in an encrypted form on arrival). Note - TextSecure is new and up to par, RedPhone is a bit sparse and is being completely redone. They also offer Flock (very newly developed), a CardDAV/CalDAV FOSS app that allows you to sync contacts, calendars and more. Pay a couple a bucks and user their servers, or host your own.
FreeOTP (Google Play) - With Google Authenticator no longer FOSS, this is your new best friend in Android 2-factor Authentication. You can generate and pair lots of different codes; if I remember correctly a RedHat dev wrote/maintains it. Works with all major 2FA standards and has lots of options!
CSipSimple (https://code.google.com/p/csipsimple/) - A ZRTP/OTR supporting SIP client for Android. LinPhone (found on F-Droid) is a good alternative as well.
K9 Mail (F-Droid) - This is a great, full featured Android mail client, that just happens to be FOSS. Plugin system too.
MediaCrush (https://mediacru.sh) - Not really an app per se, but one of my favorite image/media hosting sites around. Works with just about every media format, has an API, clients, and plug-ins for various browsers and platforms. FOSS, if you want to host your own MediaCrush site. Privacy focused too.
KeePass2Android (https://keepass2android.codeplex.com/ and GooglePlay) - A FOSS, full-featured, modern form of the KeePass database software for Android. Works with the newest KeePass 2.x database (.kdbx) styles. There's even an offline-only version if you prefer! Note, this is different from "KeePassDroid", which has less features and limited compatibility with the 2.x database format.
Plumble (F-Droid) - A quality Android client for connecting to Mumble servers (Mumble being the gaming-focused, FOSS VOIP system)
OwnCloud (www.owncloud.org, GooglePlay ) - One of the best FOSS cloud storage options, OwnCloud has an official client for Android. You can compile it yourself, but the pre-compiled version on GooglePlay is $0.99. You will need an OwnCloud server to connect to somewhere, of course. Consider this an alternati
If you don't have a guitar tuner app, then how in Sam Hill are you going to tune your guitar when you are at Open Mic at Logon Cafe and you forgot your dedicated tuner?
If you don't play the guitar, then get the piano tuner and stuff. OK, maybe you don't play the piano. Me neither.
If you have no need to tune any instrument at all, ever, then just forget it.
Get a good word search program.
If you don't have a word search app, then how in Sam Hill are you going to spend your time when you are at Open Mic at Logon Cafe and I don't go on for another hour?
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
Umano is a great app--reads news and blog posts to you from tons of great sources. It is excellent if you're a commuter...a great answer to NPR and talk radio.
I'd like to know the best Slashdot app.
Most apps have a web browser based alternative. Use a browser in 'desktop' mode, (and with no beta).
Sound recorder closes, and doesn't save the file quite often. Making it incredibly unreliable. I used to use Vrecorder, but the new version doesn't work well and it doesn't encrypt the files properly.
Open source better of course,
Is there an app that starts up properly with the phone, that's open source. Video calling and Open Source, popular encryption modules preferred.
Waze for traffic and navigation. Nice combination of social and mapping. I just turn it on without routing on my work commute. I get fairly accurate road hazard and speed trap info and people actually thank me for reports that I post.
Audible for ebooks. Subscription service but it means you can get recent publications of decent books (one a month for the subscription) or more if you are willing to buy additional credits.
Airbnb for finding some cool places to stay while traveling
Flighthero for tracking airplanes that are enroute. I recently flew back to DFW from LA. A friend of mine gifted me with a few hours of inflight WiFi so I used it to track the plane I was in just for shits and giggles.
WeatherTap for... weather
iCitizen for political information
BillGuard syncs with your bank account and gives you decent warnings about unauthorized transactions
HBOGO and Showtime has one too. If you have HBO as one of your premium channels, you can stream anything HBO to your device
ZocDoc handy for finding a doctor or specialist near you
IMDB because I can never remember the name of that actor, you know, the one that was in Space Truckers and had a great scene in True Romance with that other actor, you know, the one that was so ugly. He was in Prophecy with what's her name.
Or, just take the time to go looking for an app every time you come across a situation or issue that could be aided by access to your augmented cloud memory.
Charter Member of The Committee Group For The Elimination And Eradication Of Repetitive Redundancy
BeyondPod has been my podcast app of choice.
MyTracks is a hiking program that will generate files that google and apps like Lightroom can use. I use it to add GPS info to my photographs, or to tell me how far I hiked. Or both.
I like Orbot with Firefox and Twitter. I don't really need to route everything over TOR, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy when I do.
Thirded. I wasted so much time (and some money) trying to get Plex up and going on my server/devices and the quality of the video is crap. I use ES File Explorer now on all my devices to browse the NAS and play videos. This and K9 Mail are two I install and it's not even worth looking for a replacement as they do their job so well.
Phillip.
Property for sale in Nice, France
You need to have the right combination of apps. Too often an app I really like causes my voicemail or music storage not to run... not the fault of the app, I just don't have room for it and have to prioritize.. Perhaps the question should be, which are the most efficient apps, most value for the least resources? all glory to the hypnotoad... need to free space for the hynotoad app
Gently reply
It's a pretty niche app, but the Slashdot crowd has a pretty large percentage of retro-computer collectors, so I thought it might be worth a mention...
tapDancer is an Android app that encodes .TAP / .TZX and many more and plays the audio out through the headphone jack. You can either direct-connect your device or use a 'cassette CD adapter'.
https://play.google.com/store/...
You'll spend so much time wandering around outside hacking portals you won't have time for any other apps.
For me MightyText is a must have. I can't rely on others to have internet access but everyone can receive an SMS. But I hate typing them on the on screen kbd. There's a free version but also a premium that includes gens like "queue an SMS for sending at a later time/date".
OneBusAway works great for that kind of thing in the Seattle / Puget Sound region. Though I still use Google Maps to provide the best transfer schedule, OBA is then good for tracking if the busses are running on time.
Unfortunately, I found that there are some dead ones where the busses aren't able to check in for a while... So the system might start to assume that a bus is running 15 minutes late, but then the bus will suddenly check in as on time just a few minutes before reaching the stop down the road from me. So. Mrrr
It's rather unknown but I use it every week to do my grocery shopping. I think it's the first real innovative app for doing grocery shopping in years. It will use your headset and the text to speech engine to read your groceries. If you click the headset button it will read the next item. This way you have your hands free for picking. It also learns the optimal route once you sort your first lists in the best order. It's only available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/...
Firefox doesn't require a Google account. It doesn't require you to save your browser settings, history, favorites in the cloud.
If you care about ads, you care about Google, don't you?
I used Waze off-and-on for a while. I didn't find the "social networking" stuff exactly appropriate while driving. Worse, it kept popping up screen-obscuring advertisements for things like Enema (however the rapper spells his name) albums that I have active antipathy to, and no way to get it to target ads less inappropirately.
Worst, though, was the battery use, and the fact that no matter what I did with the settings, it insisted on randomly re-starting itself and devouring my battery. That was why I eventually uninstalled it.
It did have some good features, but I sure hope Google doesn't incorporate its misfeatures into Google Maps.
Seconded on ES File Explorer, although I had to "rearrange" my network slightly to get it to work in a way that would make it useful (wired and wireless networks were separate and didn't talk to each other, having 2 network connections on the laptop made Internet stuff painful). Since all I want to do is access a network share and select the file(s), ESFE made sense and does a decent job, the only thing is I cant make a playlist or select an entire folder full of media (as far as I know).
Hadn't tried Plex because I didn't want to install anything on the computers themselves.
I currently use regular old Android mail but now I'm going to check out K9 as well.
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