# Please Recommend the most Common and Useful Android Apps.. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500 "2016-04-17T20:20:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/41 "2016-04-19T20:58:16Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Almost all really useful apps are more or less included with most phones- there IS a media player, a video player, a couple of email clients and a couple of browsers on most phones already (mine comes with the Google and Samsung ones standard) > > But the OP asked for “useful”, and I happen to prefer the Yahoo mail client and Swiftkey for my keyboard. > > Others probably like the slightly brighter than stock flashlight apps out there- more power to them. > > Back to the OP… I don’t know how “useful” it is, but Google Sky Map is pretty damn amazing if you ask me. Apps fill up memory, though. My phone is relatively inexpensive and has only 8 Gb of internal memory and 4 Gb of that is used by the OS. If you have something like 16 Gb, internal space becomes less of an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/42 "2016-04-19T21:08:57Z")
Most phones allow you install apps onto a micro SD card, though. One of the few huge issues with my Nexus 4 was that it didn’t have a card slot. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/43 "2016-04-19T21:23:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Most phones allow you install apps onto a micro SD card, though. One of the few huge issues with my Nexus 4 was that it didn’t have a card slot. They only store part of the app on the SD card, though. On my phone, the app data is split between the internal and the external memory. Some app data remains in the internal memory, even if I transfer most of it to the SD card. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/44 "2016-04-20T02:47:36Z")
GMail on the phone is way out of date. Messages that I deleted 7 hours ago from my laptop are showing up on my phones Gmail. I hoped sync would be automatic but it’s obviously not. Is their an App that will sync Gmail for me? Most of my mail will be read on my laptop and not the phone. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/45 "2016-04-20T02:59:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > GMail on the phone is way out of date. Messages that I deleted 7 hours ago from my laptop are showing up on my phones Gmail. > > I hoped sync would be automatic but it’s obviously not. Is their an App that will sync Gmail for me? Most of my mail will be read on my laptop and not the phone. Go to Settings, then to Accounts & sync. Check the box that says Auto-sync data. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/46 "2016-04-20T03:04:17Z")
ok. I’ll check that. It’s synced itself since I posted. I guess there’s a bit of a delay after booting up the phone. I did see some messages I deleted yesterday from the phone also deleted from the GMail server that my laptop connects too. so thats working. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/47 "2016-04-20T03:32:07Z")
This moto x has really good volume. I transferred 3 folders of mp3’s to the phone with MTP. I had a bit of trouble finding it. The option to turn on MTP was under notifications. I’ll know next time. Using the VLC app. I had to turn down the volume because it was too loud. I’m quite impressed. I wanted good built-in speakers because I hate ear buds. I’ll only listen through speakers. Reviews said the stereo speakers on the moto x were good and they were right. I need to buy a sd card and put most of my music on it. I just wanted to move a few albums to try out tonight. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/48 "2016-04-20T05:30:52Z")
Anyone used the Skype WiFi app? I’ve used Skype on my laptop with a plug in usb camera. I wonder if a phone has enough speed to support a smooth video stream connection? I guess it would use the front camera on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![kgbb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e68b1a/32.png) [@kgbb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgbb)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/49 "2016-04-20T08:10:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Picked up my phone at Best Buy and got it logged into my home Wi-Fi network. Signed into GMail. > > It had just enough battery out of the box to do that. It’s going into the charger now. > > They weren’t kidding about these things getting warm. It was only on for 15 or 20 mins and warmed up quite a bit. Not hot. But it’s noticeably warm. > > A cool features made me smile. I like the way the screen goes from portrait to landscape depending on how you’re holding the phone. It doesn’t seem to really turn off. I pushed the power button and it went dark. But if I move the phone the clock displays for a few seconds. So it’s not fully off. > > I still have a prepaid balance on my old flip phone to use up before getting phone service on my new Moto x pure. Meanwhile I’ll use it at home in Wi-fi mode. get my music moved over and organized. Setup a few apps. It’s got really nice stereo speakers. Looking forward to playing music and see what volume I get. > > Gotta search out info on learning the OS. nothing in the box. I guess they expect us to find it on our own. Here ya go! > **[PureEdition\_mm\_68017973001c.pdf](https://en-us.support.motorola.com/ci/fattach/get/1485406/1450879881/redirect/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDYxMTM5Nzk3L3NpZC9YZ2ltV3RPbQ==/filename/PureEdition_mm_68017973001c.pdf)** ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/50 "2016-04-20T14:25:33Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Apps fill up memory, though. My phone is relatively inexpensive and has only 8 Gb of internal memory and 4 Gb of that is used by the OS. If you have something like 16 Gb, internal space becomes less of an issue. 8 gb total? What is this, 2010? My 2 year old Samsung Galaxy S5 has 16 gb internal, and I got an additional 64 gb micro SD card for most apps, photos and videos. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/51 "2016-04-20T14:46:29Z")
Another interesting app: Some years ago the power company installed smart electric meters on houses that report hour-by-hour electricity consumption, I guess over the cellular network. A few weeks ago I downloaded an app that lets me see that data for my meter. It’s been enlightening to see how much power our house is consuming at various times of day. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/52 "2016-04-20T15:51:01Z")
**CamScanner** : Scan from your phone camera direct to multiple file formats and send via email, text, etc. **Graph 89** : Emulator of the venerable Ti-89 calculator, I use it constantly. **Drastic** : Nintendo DS emulator. Play DS games on your device, 'nuff said. **Peel Smart Remote** : Your device as a master remote control. Great for travelling and hotels. **Remote Desktop** : Handy for work travel and in-the-field access to your PC **Reverb** : Buy guitars. You need another guitar don’t you 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/53 "2016-04-20T17:26:39Z")
> [@kgbb](#): > > Here ya go! > [https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/1485406/1450879881/redirect/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDYxMTM5Nzk3L3NpZC9YZ2ltV3RPbQ==/filename/PureEdition\_mm\_68017973001c.pdf](https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/1485406/1450879881/redirect/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDYxMTM5Nzk3L3NpZC9YZ2ltV3RPbQ==/filename/PureEdition_mm_68017973001c.pdf) Thank you. Thats the manual that I needed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/54 "2016-04-20T17:36:02Z")
> [@bump](#): > > 8 gb total? What is this, 2010? > > My 2 year old Samsung Galaxy S5 has 16 gb internal, and I got an additional 64 gb micro SD card for most apps, photos and videos. That’s nice. - tousels **bump’s** hair. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500/55 "2016-04-21T17:45:08Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Those programs (I should mention that I also use and very much like ES File Explorer) are just for managing files that are already on your device. Portal is a way to transmit files (movies, pictures, APKs, whatever) from your computer to your device, quickly and wirelessly. Even very large files that would take forever on, say, Dropbox (which is another app the OP would find highly useful). The video on the site I linked will probably make it clearer. Um, I use ES File Explorer almost exclusively to transfer files (and sideload apps) to and from my devices. Rarely do I use it for local only moves. What part of this aren’t you getting? **These programs easily transfer files!** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-the-most-common-and-useful-android-apps/752500.md?page=2)