# Just got my first Android phone, need app suggestions. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167 "2013-06-17T07:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/1 "2013-06-17T07:57:49Z")
It is very basic, an LG Optimus Elite that I got at Best Buy for$50. It uses 2.3 and runs over Virgin. One issue is battery life. My home is in a really weak signal area so when I am here the battery just drains away. is there an app that will disable the 3G, but still leave the phone on? Any other suggestions for utilities that will help the battery issue or other must haves,or general advice is also welcome! Thanks. (I think composing this message took about 30% of my battery!) ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/2 "2013-06-17T08:37:46Z")
I suggest LAMA - a Location Aware Mobile Application. You can use it to turn 3G on and off based on location, or time of day, and do a whole bunch of other things. If the phone is on Wi-Fi, the 3G should be disabled anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/3 "2013-06-17T08:44:11Z")
I’ll start it off while you guys are still in bed: Read this first: [Set Up and Get to Know Your New Android Phone](http://lifehacker.com/5717356/set-up-and-get-to-know-your-new-android-phone) Alarm Clock Plus Astro: An Android task manager that kills useless background processes -a good file manager, too. Evernote: A note-taking app that syncs notes, photos and files across multiple platforms, (still in beta.) Facebook: If you are into that. Goggles: Google’s visual search app, scans barcodes, books, movies and music, and also landmarks artwork and business cards. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/4 "2013-06-17T09:10:12Z")
Airdroid, Copy pics and music over from a main computer via wifi and free too! My Tracks, keep track of your wanderings by foot, car, bike etc never argue about just how far you walked again! ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/5 "2013-06-17T09:18:36Z")
I would be interested in a good astronomy app, so I can know what I am looking at in the night sky. Also, I am using an app called colornote to make miscellaneous notes, but I wonder if there is something better? What I really want is some kind of external power pack so I can run for extended periods while camping, etc. I saw one that uses 2 AA’s, but would really like something beefier that is rechargeable, if such a thing exists! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/6 "2013-06-17T09:39:44Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > I would be interested in a good astronomy app, so I can know what I am looking at in the night sky. > > Also, I am using an app called colornote to make miscellaneous notes, but I wonder if there is something better? > > What I really want is some kind of external power pack so I can run for extended periods while camping, etc. I saw one that uses 2 AA’s, but would really like something beefier that is rechargeable, if such a thing exists! Google Sky is great and free. For the power puck, you could get a 5 to 10 W solar panel, perhaps with integrated battery pack, and a USB output. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/7 "2013-06-17T09:42:26Z")
Like [this one](http://www.amazon.com/Instapark-Portable-Charger-Compatible-Included/dp/B006ZSFH6I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1371462019&sr=8-8&keywords=10W+USB+solar+panel). Less than 1 lbs, the included 5200 mAh battery can probably charge your phone twice over, and you can leave the solar panel at camp to charge that battery while you’re out on a dayhike or such. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/8 "2013-06-17T09:44:15Z")
You can start with these battery options: [daydeal.com](http://www.daydeal.com/home.php?cat=6802) ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/9 "2013-06-17T09:50:08Z")
The thing is, I get get five bars on the voice here, but the 3G is intermittent at best. I want to have the phone work as a phone but have the option of turning the data on and off as needed. Or am I misunderstanding how it works? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/10 "2013-06-17T09:56:43Z")
If you have wireless internet at home you can connect to that as a default, otherwise just disable mobile data in the settings ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/11 "2013-06-17T10:27:49Z")
I do not, and wifi takes power too. I can’t find any setting to just disable data in 2.3. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/12 "2013-06-17T13:47:47Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > I’ll start it off while you guys are still in bed: > > … > Goggles: Google’s visual search app, scans barcodes, books, movies and music, and also landmarks artwork and business cards. Goggles???!!! Seriously?? Have you ever tried to use it? It is so crappy, wrong and completely non functional I cannot believe it is a Google product. All it ever does is bring up a gallery of completely unrelated objects with a similar colour scheme. Will not recognize a serial number, product number or UPC, take a picture of an object you need identified, and all you will get is aforementioned gallery of colour coordinated flotsam. Maybe it would be useful for decorating a room. If I take a picture of an end table it will give me a mug, flower, shovel, and car that all have a matching colour scheme. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/13 "2013-06-17T13:54:48Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > I do not, and wifi takes power too. I can’t find any setting to just disable data in 2.3. It takes sigficantly less power, though. The avoided hassle might be worth the $20 for a wireless router. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/14 "2013-06-17T14:43:18Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Google Sky is great and free. But [SkySafari](http://www.southernstars.com/products/skysafari_android/) is much more powerful. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/15 "2013-06-17T14:49:48Z")
[Turning off mobile data on Android 2.3](http://telbitconsulting.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/turning-off-mobile-data-on-android-os-version-2-3/) It’s easier on newer Android versions, on mine (4.1) there’s a “mobile data” icon right at the top of the settings. Also you might consider an app like [Juice Defender](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.latedroid.juicedefender) which has a lot of tricks for optimizing battery life, e.g. only turning on mobile data at specified intervals to check for updates. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/16 "2013-06-17T14:57:44Z")
If you like beer, get [The Beer Expert](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.namco.bacchus). I got it for free, it now says $1.99 and is worth five times that. I have only entered a “not found” beer once or twice in years of use. Entries can be typed, spoken, or scanned. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/17 "2013-06-17T19:31:01Z")
From the specs I saw online, it seems like a fairly decent first Android phone. To get around the limited storage on the device, though, I’d recommend getting an SD card ASAP if you haven’t already done so. You might also consider rooting (gaining superuser access) and possibly flashing a custom ROM (i.e., a customized version of the Android OS). These steps will allow you to get rid of most of the carrier bloatware and can greatly improve the performance of the device. For more information see [this](http://forums.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-elite/) subforum of the Android Central community. I know, all this isn’t about apps specifically, but it’s worth mentioning because it bears on your phone’s ability to accommodate apps at all. My last phone was an LG Optimus S, which was extremely limited in onboard memory and processing power, but for me rooting and flashing a custom ROM brought its performance to an acceptable level. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/18 "2013-06-17T19:38:36Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Google Sky is great and free. Yes it is. There’s a new one on Android market that I think is even better. It’s called SkEye. It’s free as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/19 "2013-06-17T19:40:15Z")
If your phone has a light (mine just uses the camera flash) I really like the [Tiny Flashlight](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devuni.flashlight&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5kZXZ1bmkuZmxhc2hsaWdodCJd) app. It also includes a useful widget for your home screen. It’s simple but has come in handy many times. If you like running, the [RunDouble apps](https://play.google.com/store/search?q=rundouble&c=apps) are good. If you don’t like running, they might help you anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167/20 "2013-06-17T19:51:43Z")
[moderating] Since the OP is looking for suggestions, I’ve moved the thread to IMHO. [/moderating] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-my-first-android-phone-need-app-suggestions/661167.md?page=2)