Sunday 6 March 2016

10 Must-Have Android Apps for 2016


Comics
Comics
 
Free
Are you tired of schlepping all the way to the comic book store? Heck, is there even a comic book store in your town anymore? Comics, the excellent app from digital comics groundbreakers Comixology, is both storefront and long box. You can browse the seemingly endless lists of titles, and then buy new books with a tap. It's wonderfully easy! Depending on the state of your wallet, it may even be a bit too easy.

Evernote
Evernote

Free with premium plans billed monthly
Evernote is your digital multi-tool. It's a great list keeper, note taker, voice recorder, to-do manager, and Web clipper. It's so open and powerful that it can be overwhelming at first, but you'll quickly find smart ways to use it. My favorite feature is optical character recognition (OCR), which makes text in photos searchable. Next time you get handed a business card, just snap a picture.
Be sure to read our organization expert Jill Duffy's advice on how to use Evernote better.

Feedly
Feedly
 
Free
Google Reader was the best thing to happen to the Internet since sliced blogs, but it has passed on to the big Google graveyard in the sky. If reading news and blog posts on your Android is your jam, you need Feedly. It's a versatile platform, but what I like about it is that you can do all your reading in a single app. If you're looking for something a bit more stylish, try the magazine-style Flipboard. And if you're still mourning the end of RSS as we know it, we may be able to help you find a replacement for Google Reader.

Google Drive
Google Drive

Free with additional costs for increased storage
Google Drive is a great cloud storage service, but it does double duty as an excellent mobile office suite. With Drive, you can access your important files from anywhere; create new spreadsheet, text, and presentation documents; and collaborate with other people, all from your Android device. It might not replace your desktop office utilities, but it comes darn close.

Inbox by Gmail
Inbox by Gmail

Free
I long ago realized that email is the worst thing on the planet, and have waited patiently for everyone else to get the memo. Thankfully, there's been a renaissance of email and Google Inbox is among the best options for Android. Instead of ignoring messages (as I used to do), Inbox lets you quickly manage your inbox. Its best feature are groups called bundles, which put all your finance, shopping, and low priority mail in their proper places.
Please note that our review is of the iPhone version, which is nearly identical to the Android app.

LastPass
LastPass
  
Free; $12 annually for the Premium version
Everyone knows they should be using a complex, unique password for each and every website and application. Oh, you didn't? Thankfully, there are password managers like LastPass. With a password manager, you let the app generate unique, complex passwords for each site or app that requires one. When you need to log in, LastPass can fill in the correct information, even into other apps. A new feature lets you safely bequeath your passwords to a trusted person in the event of your demise.
Though the app and service are free, using it on more than one type of device costs $12 per year, or $1 per month. Trust me, it's well worth the price of admission.

PicsArt Photo Studio
PicsArt Photo Studio

Free
When you think of mobile image editing, you probably think of a certain Facebook-owned property modeled after old timey cameras. I'm talking about Instagram, in case you couldn't tell. But where Instagram ends, PicsArt Photo Studio begins, bringing not just filters but many more powerful tools. And if you're already a fan of Insta, you can share your PicsArt creations there to the envy of all your followers.

Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts

$3.99 Podcast fans, rejoice. Your frustrations have been heard and your prayers have been answered. "I bring you good tidings for an, excellent podcast app has been created: Pocket Casts. With this app, you can manage all your favorite podcasts and even sync them between devices. And it was good.

Slacker Radio
Slacker Radio
  
Free with paid, ad-free plans
There are many, many ways to get music onto your phone, but we like Slacker Radio best. This service has a huge library of songs, but it also stands out for its excellent curated playlists and wide variety of streaming content. There's a little bit of something for everyone in here, but check out Spotify if you must have on-demand Led Zeppelin.

SwiftKey Keyboard
SwiftKey Keyboard
 
Free
Are you still tapping your thumbs against the screen like some kind of rube? Get with the times, grandpa, and let the words flow. With SwiftKey, you can drag you thumb or finger from letter to letter on the screen to create words, and predictive text makes shooting off short messages even faster. Since the rise of Google Keyboard and competition from the original gesture keyboard app Swype, SwiftKey has stayed ahead by packing in lots of excellent extras. You'll wonder how you ever got by without it.

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