Everything Android - Apps, Games, Browsers, Flash...

What's your favorite Android apps you can't go without? Tips? Tricks? Hacks?

Flash Browser:

I've recently discovered the Photon Flash Browser. This is an interesting workaround for the 4.0 flashplayer loss of service. It's a little sluggish but it might be my slow connection. The flash processing is done remotely and then streamed to your android like a VPN tunnel. The free version does have an ad banner in flash player mode. It's a little weird but better than nothing. Also this will let you access Hulu in Canada.

I never could get the flashplayer11 / dolphin browser beta flash fix thing to work for my androids.

Some of my other must have apps so far:

Full!Screen - Hides the system bar completely, needs Superuser app / root capability.

Advanced task killer - Helps close down those pesky background tasks. Some persistent apps do keep coming back. I'd like to find something better.

Airdroid - provides an IP transfer connection to your PC, backs up all your apps.

Astro File manager - a simple file/folder browser. Launch videos, install apps... I wish it would remember my LIST preference though.

Utorrent - Download Pirate bay torrent files right on your droid.

MX Player - Plays some videos that go out of audio sync on HDPlayer.

Crackle - free movies and shows. In Canada you can switch your WiFi DNS to TunLR for more USA content:

- Long hold your Wifi SSID in Settings, choose "modify" / "Show Advanced"
- Change DNS1 to 192.95.16.109 / DNS2 to 142.54.177.158
- Reboot. Google "tunlr status check" to verify.

Not sure if this works anymore for netflix, I do not have.

 

screen filter (i have sensitive eyes, phones are too bright)

aquamail (though only k-9 works for push, for me, so i changed)

es file explorer

launcher pro (home screen manager)

uc browser

feedly

sms popup (i dont use the popup feature, i use this app purely for the privacy options)

magiclocker (screen locker, i am using the jellybean free theme)

ak notepad

dropbox

(good light and data friendly facebook apps)
mychatdroid
notifier widget

 

I have been waiting for this one for droid...gonna check it out now

http://www.buycott.com/

 

You can build your own apps with AppInventor. It's kind of fun to try.

 

I'm on Boat browser right now. It's nice, probably my favorite so far. Has partial flash, YouTube works good but other flash sites fail. With my slow internet, it loads Youtube videos much faster than the actual Youtube app.

Mobile device detection and website redirection is annoying, all Android browsers should let you choose if you want Mobile sites on not.

 

I tried UC Browser, it's pretty good. Man, there's a lot of different browsers for android. Unfortunately there's not a single one that completely does everything I want. I found UC Browser had problems loading some sites. The HD version worked better than the mini, the mini wouldn't even play youtube videos.

I can't help but feel like I'm missing something about getting flash working. I know it's not officially supported in ICS or JB but I do have the hacked flashplayer 11.1? installed in my apps but most browsers tell me I have no flash plugin.

Android is getting very close to replacing 95% of everything I use my desktop PC for. I like the idea of surfing the web on a 10 watt android vs a 150-200W PC tower. Right now I have 2 Android devices, an 8" cheap-o tablet with a single core A9 processor and an Android TV mini PC box MK808 with a dual core A9. The tablet was $50 and the MK808 was $40 on ebay. I think the MK808, is the best bang for your buck for a web surfing multimedia PC box. They can also be converted, "reflashed" as a Linux PC, Ubuntu 12.10 flash image with lots of extras. I've ordered an extra MK808 specifically to run Linux.

I have an Xbox 360 and a PS3 and I spend more time playing games on the MK808; Angry Birds, Plants vs Zombies, Candy Crush, Playstation and NES emulator with an Xbox controller plugged in, and we watch all or HD videos on it... Amazing little box with tons of potential. It's a whole multimedia PC with a free open source OS for a fraction of what one Windows 8 license will cost you.

..
TV portal - access to tons of free TV shows.

 

Youtube is one of my biggest pet peeves on android. Google frigging owns youtube and their OS is crap for playing it? WTF?

Why is it so damn slow loading and why does it often just get stuck on the loading circle when the internet connection is good and other programs load fine?

Why do some videos cause the app to close down?

"The content owner has not made this video available on mobile"

Why WHY WHY!!!???
Why have this?
Why do this?
WHY FUCKING RECOMMEND VIDEOS THAT YOU WONT LET ME WATCH????????

Damn it!!!!

 

It occurred to me that if I disable the Play Store auto update option, I can install older versions of youtube without them changing on me. Been working good for a few weeks now.

I don't know what Google's problem is with blocking apps, I've been testing some 4.2.2 devices that have Boat browser showing as incompatible. Don't take play store's word for it. Boat browser works fine, I just had to download the apk file from an android that has the app. Airdroid is a good option for this. Once downloaded install the app from Astro or ES File Explorer.

Play games the way there were meant to be played... With your Xbox 360 or PS3 game controller. The app is called GKM Touch and maps controller buttons to the screen. Used it today for Bloody Harry, awesome fun on the big living room TV.

 

Oh yea I love Android.. I remember being soo pissed off I couldn't get an Iphone when they got really big with the 3G because I was locked into a 2 year contract with Tmobile.. Then someone told me.. they're coming out with some google phone.. it's supposed to be like the iphone.. so i was on the waiting list and got my G1.. on day one.. rest is history...

 

So yesterday I checked out Crackle, it's been a while and asked to update. It goes to the Play Store and tells me it's not compatible with my device! More senseless google PS BS! Quick fix, uninstall app, re-install from 1Mobile Market instead, works great. Been watching Mongrels today, a British adult comedy with puppet animals, funny, and Crackle rates it as PG. It is not PG!