android

The sound of search

If you're Google, what better way to test new, experimental products than to test them on mobile phones running your platform? This is precisely the move behind Google's move to drop Listen for Android into the Android Market before making other native apps.

Listen, which is part of a Google Labs project, turns Google's formidable search technology toward audio. Listen searches out and manages mostly podcasts. You can subscribe to podcasts or stream on-the-spot, download audio files, queue share them, or queue 'em up to listen to later. An extra perk? If you're tracking a specific … Read more

Texting essential

Android's management of text messages leaves much to be desired, which is why enhancement apps proliferate. Like others, the free Handcent SMS pops up text messages on your screen, complete with the contact's photo (if you've got one for that person) the message, management icons, and a text field for replies. You have some control over the theme and skin, and many more customizations when it comes to notifications and adding a personal signature. We'd like to see a greater number of skins and themes in future releases, but even as is, Handcent SMS is a … Read more

VoIP + IM

Even if you never use the free Fring app for making VoIP calls using Skype or SIP services, it's still a more than decent app for chatting with friends on multiple IM networks.

Fring helpfully pulls in contacts from your address book so you can choose to chat or call them from the app. You'll be able to talk using GoogleTalk, ICQ, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), and AIM, and you can view Twitter messages as well. Unlike Fring on other mobile platforms, this app does not support photo- and file-sharing.

We experienced some sluggishness at times; the … Read more

Yelp for Android now uploading photos

Yelp's first foray on Google's Android phones wasn't much to look at.

The initial feature set of Yelp's business review app for Android, which debuted December 7, was minimalist. It contained enough features--read-only access to Yelp.com, click-to-call, and a hyperlink to get directions from the browser or Google Maps--to avoid a user riot, but one would hardly call it the answer to Yelp's iPhone app.

On Tuesday, Yelp is making good on its promise to quickly pad the app's features. Version 1.2, an update available through the Android Market app on your … Read more

Tweet simply

Seesmic's Twitter client for Android gives casual tweeters most tools they need to get the word out and stay connected with followers. You can view your master timeline of all your incoming and outgoing messages in one screen, profiles, replies, direct messages, and profile from one of four tabs. You're also able to take and upload a picture from the clean interface, add a location, and shorten a link. A long press on a message pops up options for responding, including retweeting. You can also share others' tweets via e-mail, SMS, and other social networks, like Facebook.

Settings … Read more

A choice of one

Why access Twitter from Twidroid's free, teal app? Because it's as complete an incarnation of the many impressive Tiwtter desktop and iPhone apps as you can get for the Android platform.

Twidroid's landing page drops you to your scrollable feed list, which rests atop a tool bar of navigation options that quickly get you tweeting, retweeting, responding, and searching topics and messages. Long pressing on an item brings up a lengthy list of tweet options, including copying the tweet to the clipboard and reporting spam. Unlike many newcomer apps, Twidroid goes deeper to get you viewing and … Read more

A ways to go

The official Facebook for Android app is undoubtedly the best way to view Facebook on your Android, and it's come a long way since its early days. Unsurprisingly, you can update your status from the app and read your news feed; take and upload a photo; and comment and like a status message. A long press on a status message gets you quick links to view a contact's wall message and see user info. The latest version gratifyingly integrates photo-viewing so you can browse friends' photos without going to Facebook's mobile Web page. Facebook for Android has … Read more

Wikipedia express

Quickpedia isn't the only free Android app to access Wikipedia, but its extras make it our favorite. If you're patient, Quickpedia will search for common entries as you type, which saves you some effort. As it pulls in content, it will also import the photos and table of contents of your Wikipedia article. Quickpedia handles space well by collapsing the different chapters so you don't have to scroll through the entire thing. Quickpedia displays articles on featured and popular content, news stories, and entries for noteworthy places nearby. Handily, you can e-mail an article to yourself or … Read more

Take Android to task

Astrid may look unassuming when you first encounter it, but the free, open source task and to-do list-maker has customization settings beneath its skin. Type to add a new task. You can leave the note to self where it is, or select the entry to edit elements like importance settings, tags, notes, deadlines, recurring reminders, and alerts. We like being able to add tasks to Android's calendar, and that there's an option to sync with online reminder service Remember the Milk.