Since you’re stuck several android versions behind, I looked up if Cyanogenmod was released for your phone. Cyanogenmod is a custom OS that’s actually as close to stock android as possible (no bloat!), and often lets you use a more up-to-date OS than your provider usually…provides. Anyway, it’s too bad about that. It might happen in the future, but who knows. Usually Cyanogenmod is better at battery life as it’s a bit more optimized.
If you want more control over your phone or would like a way to back up your phone apps and settings easily, I would recommend rooting. It’s usually painless as long as you read every step you’re given and follow it. Also, make absolutely sure the instructions are for your model.
If you are rooted, you can then use TitaniumBackup, which is a great app for backing up all your user data. You can go from phone to phone and still have everything there. It’s great.
I like to organize my apps into tab groups in the app drawer. Most providers use a launcher that doesn’t allow that. So I use Nova Launcher. Haven’t had problems with it, allows for tons of customization as to what apps go where. You can even lock the homescreen so you don’t drop or delete app shortcuts on it by accident (that was a lifesaver when I had a digitizer going bad and pressing random things sometimes)
If you do geocaching, don’t pay for the geocaching.com app. The c.geo app is perfect and free. Lots of great features for use off a connection, too, which you can expect in parks.
Airdroid saves you having to find the cable when you want to transfer files from computer to phone or vice-versa. Painless, free, and saves time.
Llama is a simpler and free version of Tasker. Depending upon what you want to automate, such as “get home, turn phone to quiet, turn on wifi” and “arrive at work, put phone in vibrate, turn off wifi”, “arrive at grocery store, open grocery list” Llama is perfect. If you want to get more complex, pay for Tasker.
If you have a terrible cell connection somewhere that you spend a lot of time, consider using a VoIP setup. I use a combo of google voice + groove IP + wifi to make calls at home where I otherwise have no nearby towers. The downside is you have to make the switch to a google voice number (so if you already told everyone your number, you gotta tell them again), and it makes texting slightly cumbersome if you want people to see the same cell number as you call on. It’s possible and once you go through setting it up it’s all good from there - you can even keep the same phone number forever as google voice becomes your number regardless! Also, using the phone in this way eats no minutes. I am on a 100-minute, unlimited data + text plan and effectively use next to none of my mintues via this method as I make most calls while at home. It consumes slightly more battery life as it is impossible to stop cell polling (wish I could tell my phone, “stop looking, there’s nothing good there!”), and on top of that my phone has to be in wakelock or it won’t wake up in time to receive a VoIP call. I figure I’m at home though, and can easily charge since this is the case.
I found my automatic brightness settings on my phone to be lacking. I bought Lux. It’s great, and allows for lower than normal screen levels when you desire them. If you don’t want to be blinded by your phone at night, this app is for you.
I also use Google Sky Map.
I use GoSMS as a sort of tie-in to my grooveIP + google voice setup. It displayed contacts names better for me so it’s now replaced my messenger app. Notifications from creators can be annoying, but does allow for blacklisting numbers so you don’t get their texts. (I don’t know if it actually receieves the text but doesn’t show you it, this may be a sticking point for those on a limited plan)
If you are interested in games, I enjoy games made by the company Kairosoft.
Whew, that seems way too long. I hope it was helpful…