PCFormat Forum Archive

I realise that apps for various operating systems could be discussed in the official threads for those operating systems, but since many apps are cross-platform, a dedicated app thread may not be a bad idea.

What apps do you have that you use all the time and consider particularly useful, be it on your phone or tablet?

I've been using Flipboard since I got my first iPad, but last night I installed News360, and I must say, I actually like the way it works better than Flipboard. It's one of those apps that supposedly learns what you like to read the more you use it, so it'll take some time, I'm sure, to optimise it, but so far I'm liking it even more than Flipboard as a news reader.

Evernote is the other app that I use all the time on all devices, and even on my PC.

Nokia E7 (Symbian3 Belle)

Opera Mobile
Calculator
Whatsapp
Notes

Used occasionally:
Adobe PDF/Alt Reader/Smart Office
Microsoft Office Mobile
Nokia Maps
Mobile Yellow Pages
Video Player
Unit Converter

Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy Nexus (4.1.1 Jelly Bean)

Heavy usage:
Whatsapp
Facebook
Fuelly
Tapatalk (paid)
Winamp (Pro, paid)
Tiny Flashlight
native Browser
native email app (for my work email)
GoSMS Pro
Profile Scheduler
AccuWeather

Google:
Play Store
Talk
Gmail
Maps
Navigation

Moderate usage:
Torque Pro (paid)
TrackID
DolphinHD browser
ConvertPad
Skype

As system apps (always on):
Watchdog Lite
Smart Keyboard trial
SuperSU
Ivona Text to Speech (to replace the ghastly stock tts)

I have Inkpad for notes, though I rarely use it. Another app I paid for that I think can be very handy in a pinch is CamScanner. Use it to take photos of documents and convert it to PDF on the spot.

Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy SII (2.3.3 Gingerbread)

Applications i use very often, most of them every day...
AccuWeather
3G Watchdog light
Opera Mini
Playstore
Compass
News and Weather
Twitter
GTalk
Skype
WatsApp
Calculater
Bettery Info
Battery Monitor
Gmail
Latitude
Amazon Kindle
Flashlight
Adobe Reader
Translate
Countdown Widget
Calender
Foursquare
Facebook
Period tracker

Great Idea Stu!

For everyone who is posting, Please mention what device(s) and the OS(es) you are using the apps on.


iPhone 4 - iOS 5
Atomic Web Browser
Instapaper
Whatsapp
Tapatalk
Flipboard
Medscape

Monty wrote: Atomic Web Browser

Have you tried Chrome for iOS yet? I was using Atomic but Chrome is far superior IMO. Plus it helps that it syncs with my desktop Chrome.

KatrynKat wrote: Compass

Why do you use the compass"often"?

Edit: Or is "Compass" som über-fancy Android app?

Stuart wrote:

KatrynKat wrote: Compass

Why do you use the compass"often"?

Edit: Or is "Compass" som über-fancy Android app?

use it with my studies... need to know direction of the wind when not near an automatic weather station...

Stuart wrote:

Monty wrote: Atomic Web Browser

Have you tried Chrome for iOS yet? I was using Atomic but Chrome is far superior IMO. Plus it helps that it syncs with my desktop Chrome.

Yeah, I have chrome installed - I still prefer Atomic Web

Monty wrote:

Stuart wrote:

Monty wrote: Atomic Web Browser

Have you tried Chrome for iOS yet? I was using Atomic but Chrome is far superior IMO. Plus it helps that it syncs with my desktop Chrome.

Yeah, I have chrome installed - I still prefer Atomic Web

Ah, okay. I actually uninstalled Atomic after a few hours using Chrome.

Stuart wrote:I've been using Flipboard since I got my first iPad

iPad!=smartphone

false advertising!

<edit><stealth edit defeats my point...></edit>

Our Electricians and Engineers are finding this app very useful since they get tasked to make cables up:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... nica&hl=en

ElectroDroid

Powerful collection of electronics tools and reference.A must for any enthusiast
ElectroDroid is a simple and powerful collection of electronics tools and reference; it includes:

• • Resistor color code decoder (3-6 bands);
  • Inductor color code decoder;
  • Ohm’s law calculator;
  • Reactance calculator;
  • Voltage divider;
  • Resistor ratio, value/series/parallel;
  • Capacitor charge calculation;
  • Operational amplifier;
  • LED resistor calculator;
  • LM317 calculator;
  • Heat dissipation;
  • Battery Life calculator;
  • Inductor design tool;
  • Voltage Drop calculator;
  • PCB Trace Width calculator;
  • Simple Filters calculator;
  • NE555 astable calculator;
  • Port pin-out (USB, Serial, Parallel, Ethernet, SCART, DVI, HDMI, S-Video, VGA, FireWire, Jack, XLR, RCA, DMX, ATX, Molex, EIDE, SATA);
  • Resources (Resistivity table; Table of standard resistors and capacitors; Capacitor marking codes; AWG and SWG Wire size; Ampacity Table; Symbols and Abbreviations; Circuit Schematic Symbols; SI Units prefixes; Battery info; Boolean logic gate and algebra Theorems; 7400 info and pinout; ASCII code);
  • Full support for EIA resistor series for all caluculators;

So maybe someone will find it handy here...

rustypup wrote:

Stuart wrote:I've been using Flipboard since I got my first iPad

iPad!=smartphone

false advertising!

<edit><stealth edit defeats my point...></edit>

Lol, actually I said "phone or tablet" in my first post before Monty edited the title.

Can I put a non-essential app here?

Who here remembers Logo? Want to enjoy the Logo experience on your Android phone?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... raw.client

Description
Droid Draw allows you to draw amazing complex shapes and patterns while learning the basics of programming! Droid Draw is a twist on the original Turtle Graphics app that uses the LOGO programming language.
Not sure what Turtle Graphics and LOGO programming is? The original Turtle Graphics allowed a user to enter commands which represented what would be drawn out out on a Cartesian plane. Droid Draw brings this same functionality to Android users.
Not sure what to do? We included helpful information on how to use the Droid Draw app and what every command does both in the app with overlay tutorials and on our website. Also, we are constantly adding to our website with interesting tips and tricks!

Have fun!

/It is an essential app to someone out there...

Mmmm let me take a look at that.

iPhone , iOS6

Not already mentioned:
Fantastical - Calendar app which allows you to add events using natural language input. It's Fantastic!
Readability - is Instapaper much better?

I still have not switched to iOS6 because google maps is for phones only and I need it for my ipad.

Mailbox. Currently just for iPhone with gmail but it seems it will eventually make its way to Android as well. Queue for the app is around 700 000 people but it seems to be moving fast (they are trying to prevent a server overload) I got in after two weeks with the queue moving at a slower pace.

Uses swipe gestures to archive, delete, add to list or schedule an email to re-appear in your inbox at a later time/date. Sounds really simple, but I've found it to be a really powerful way to deal with email, and it's really strange to finally have an empty inbox.

I love it to bits, can't wait too see what the developers do with it next.

D3PART3D wrote:(they are trying to prevent a server overload)

So this is in no way related to EA then?

I must say, my inbox is always clean. Just deal with emails and then label and archive them.

Whats wrong with the default mail app? The only issue is blackberry I got my mail instantly vs iphone it has to check every 15minutes. I tried the instant thing via microsoft exchange but then I need 2 step verification which is not going to help when I am oversees.

The pleasure of gmail.

Tried that two step verification myself - not sure I am sold yet but if it means I stop spamming people....

Two step verification is nice and all, with the extra security, but it's a real pain in the nether regions when you try to set up an account on your device when you have flaky reception and no wifi- the system loses connection and then has to restart the whole process.

Stuart wrote: So this is in no way related to EA then?

Stuart wrote: I must say, my inbox is always clean. Just deal with emails and then label and archive them.

Not all of us are that diciplined Stu - some of us need help!

StarBound wrote:Whats wrong with the default mail app?

Depends on how you use it, I guess.

This could mean good things:
Dropbox acquires email app Mailbox

I think Tweetbot (iOS) and Readability make a great duo, and for some purposes it works better than an RSS reader.

On android:
aCar
QuitNow!
Kindle
Comixology
Cracked Lite
9GAG
Flipboard
RunKeeper

If anyone is rooted on Android one app to investigate to help with battery life is Greenify: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... nify&hl=en

Works like a charm and I am seeing some nice results with my phone. How it works according to the description:

Never should your phone or tablet become slower and battery hungrier after lots of apps installed. With Greenify, they can run almost smooth and lasting just like on the first day you had it!

Greenify help you identify and put the bad behaving apps into hibernation when you are not using them, stop them from lagging and battery leeching, in an unique way! They could do nothing without your explicit launch, while still have full functionality when running in foreground, like what iOS apps act!