Fav Apps for Droid

[dizneechic]

Hi everyone. We're hoping to pick up a Droid 2 when it comes out this Thurs to have in time for our upcoming trip. I'm a total "smartphone" newbie and dh has a blackberry through work so it's not something we get to really do cool stuff with. Anyhow I think I will want a few apps on the D2 once I figure out how to use the dang thing and I was wondering if there are any you would recommend.

They don't need to be Disney related, although if there are any you suggest I would certainly check them out. I also like games, puzzles, some fun things to pass time in line w/ the kids (ages 9, 7, 5).

TIA!

 

[Inigo]

You definitely need Bar Code Scanner and Key Ring.

I use Advanced Task Killer Free every day as it helps my battery life by letting me close out unwanted programs that suck up power. (You're going to find quite a few of those--I've now got my battery were it lasts 3 days by not running all those apps all the time, and only turning on the internet went I'm actually using it.)

 

[Guy Incognito]

if there's one app I'd call a "must have", it's Mobile Defense. You download it, and register on their website (all free), and then it disappears into the background on your phone. If you ever lose your phone, or it's stolen, you can log into their website and show you where your phone is at (gps position, so just the general area), and also let you lock it down, so no one else can use it.

others:

-Sportstap (free). Lets you pick your favorite nfl/mlb/nhl/etc teams, and sends you updates for games in progress.

-Pandora - lets you pick favorite artists, and then builds a radio station around that genre (playing songs by that artist, as well as others in that same music range).

-Ringdroid - lets you take any mp3 and cut/splice it down into a ringtone and/or notification tone.

-Cardiotrainer - tracks your running/walking/biking/etc workouts. Shows your route on a map. Can also be used for indoor/treadmill workouts (but I've found it's not very accurate that way. The outdoor/gps tracking workouts are much more accurate). App is free at the basic level, but does have some paid additions (optional) that you can also get.

-Google Places or Aloqa - both nice apps for locating various restaurants, shopping, gas, etc in the area (handy if you are traveling and want to see what's around you).

-Urban Spoon - kind of a goofy app, but fun to play with. Shake your phone and it will roll slot-machine like reels to give you a city, type of restaurant (i.e. - italian, chinese, american, etc), and a price range. Lock down any reel to narrow the range. Fun if you just want to try something new for a meal and just want the app to pick for you.

 

[AprilShowers]

My new favorite right now is Magic Marker. It's totally fun, where you draw with your finger, and it looks kinda like a neon sign when you're done. I can't explain it very well, but just try it! I've made fun screensavers with it too.

 

[golfgal]

COOL--AUG 12th

I hate my Blackberry, I hate my Blackberry, I hate my Blackberry

 

[dizneechic]

Thanks everyone. Keep the suggestions coming, a bunch of whats been mentioned sound great!

Aprilshowers, my ds would flip over the magicmarker app, the kid carries a notebook and pen with him 24/7 and is constantly drawing everything he sees.

@ golfgal... my last (ok current!) phone is 7 years old, at least your blackberry is from this era! We even have new every 2, you can see we used that - NOT! We've been stalking the droid 2 for some time, anxiously waiting for the big announcement to make it official for this Thurs, so far everything is confirmed leaks. But between bestbuy intranet screen shots, vz training manuals, and our VZ store guy telling us to check back Mon for confirmation all signals are saying go.

 

[golfgal]

From what everyone else here has said, get the App Killer app so it shuts off things so it doesn't drain your battery as fast.

 

[dizneechic]

pre-sale starts tomorrow (woo, a whole 24 hours before the launch)
http://www.slashgear.com/verizon-motorola-droid-2-gets-official-pre-sales-from-august-11th-1097128/

 

[TeresaBelle]

You definitely need Bar Code Scanner and Key Ring.

I use Advanced Task Killer Free every day as it helps my battery life by letting me close out unwanted programs that suck up power. (You're going to find quite a few of those--I've now got my battery were it lasts 3 days by not running all those apps all the time, and only turning on the internet went I'm actually using it.)

What do these apps do??

 

[lsyorke]

I use Advanced Task Killer Free every day as it helps my battery life by letting me close out unwanted programs that suck up power. (You're going to find quite a few of those--I've now got my battery were it lasts 3 days by not running all those apps all the time, and only turning on the internet went I'm actually using it.)

An absolute must! They put this on my phone in the store before I left.

 

[DrCavin]

From what everyone else here has said, get the App Killer app so it shuts off things so it doesn't drain your battery as fast.

I found this interesting if you are needing to kill a task.

http://androidforums.com/android-applications/138844-advanced-task-killer-dangerous.html

 

[DrCavin]

What do these apps do??

Most are using either wireless or are CPU crazy...

 

[DrCavin]

One of my favorites is google sky...

 

[Inigo]

An absolute must! They put this on my phone in the store before I left.

I guess I should have included that.

Bar Code Reader lets you use your phone camera to scan barcodes on products, and you can do lookups on the phone to find where the items are sold, or for more info on the items. The app makes it so easy to add more apps too! The app barcode is a square box, instead of the lines of a regular barcode. When you scan the box off a website or magazine ad, it takes you right to the app on the internet.

The Keyring app lets you stop carrying all those little savings tags around with you, like from CVS, Best Buy, or the grocery store, or whatever store. You use Bar Code Reader to scan them into your phone, then you can just pull up the keyring app on your phone and the cashier can scan in the barcode from your phone. You can put in all your keycards, even for your local businesses, such as the library. One less thing to carry around.

 

[golfgal]

Somehow my stupid Blackberry wiped itself again. This is the third time I have lost all my data on my phone. I took it to the store and they couldn't retrieve it either so they put me down for any phone I wanted so I reserved the Droid 2

 

[dizneechic]

Inigo, both of those apps sound fabulous!!

Do you find the barcode scanner one works well? I can't tell you how many times I'm out shopping with my kids and they "want" something or a new book etc and I wish I could amazon it to check reviews and prices before saying yes/(or more often)no. That app would be a dream!

 

[dizneechic]

Somehow my stupid Blackberry wiped itself again. This is the third time I have lost all my data on my phone. I took it to the store and they couldn't retrieve it either so they put me down for any phone I wanted so I reserved the Droid 2

Sorry to hear it wiped itself but sounds like a sweet turn of events! When will you get to pick it up? Thurs I assume?

We're waiting to see the VSW site switch over to add the D2 so we can "preorder" and get DH's company discount (hopefully) as well. Not sure when it will ship, hopefully quickly but not as easy as walking into a store and picking up. 20% savings though is pretty sweet...

 

[golfgal]

Sorry to hear it wiped itself but sounds like a sweet turn of events! When will you get to pick it up? Thurs I assume?

We're waiting to see the VSW site switch over to add the D2 so we can "preorder" and get DH's company discount (hopefully) as well. Not sure when it will ship, hopefully quickly but not as easy as walking into a store and picking up. 20% savings though is pretty sweet...

I don't know for sure, assuming Thursday but now I don't know if I want the Droid 2 or the Droid X??? I played with a Droid X at the store and that was really nice. The screen was so big but it is a virtual keyboard so I don't know if that is good or bad.

 

[Inigo]

Inigo, both of those apps sound fabulous!!

Do you find the barcode scanner one works well? I can't tell you how many times I'm out shopping with my kids and they "want" something or a new book etc and I wish I could amazon it to check reviews and prices before saying yes/(or more often)no. That app would be a dream!

I've not had any problems with it. It did take a bit of practice to get good at using it.

 

[bonoriffic]

As Droid 2 comes with Android 2.2, you more than likely do NOT want to use a task killer. Android 2.2 changes how these tasks quit, and without getting too technical, you may be doing more harm than good.

Prior to Android 2.2, I agree task killers can help.

I've been running Android 2.2 for months without a task killer and see no impact to battery life by not using it.