Android is a still young and yet within months, hundreds of applications have landed on the Market and the Internet (there are over a thousand now). Faced with this mass of programs that increases day by day, here is a small selection of Android applications which we consider indispensable to your mobile. In comparison, Palm holds the record with 32,000 applications, followed by the iPhone software with 25000, Windows Mobile is now third.

Better browser: Steel / Opera Mini

The default browser for all its qualities does not offer all the convenient features such as auto-rotation, or the virtual keyboard. Just for these two possibilities, the browser Steel is to be adopted. But it offers a Zoom “single touch” of top performers. A long press on the screen brings up a menu that offers zoom and other functions specific if you hold down the links. Other advantages: a double-click on the trackball open links and redirection of videos available online to the media player system is automatic. Above all, it adjusts the display of text from one site to the width of the screen so that text is never cut and you do not have too much to handle pages. Alternative, Opera Mini 4.2, which uses Opera Software’s servers before displaying the page of a site optimized for your screen size. The zoom function is called by double tap on the screen or click on the trackball. It also allows you to view WAP sites on your mobile. One of its only drawbacks is that it is a bit longer to load some pages. Personally, I much prefer Steel.

For SMS: pop-ups with SMS Popup ChompSMS and keyboard!

Pending version Cupcake Android on the HTC and HTC Dream Magic, which must necessarily have a keyboard, it is possible to use programs that have their own keyboard to quickly respond to a text message without opening your phone: ChompSMS is the case. This program is similar to the default Android interface but offers a more sympathetic (the messages are presented in comic style bubbles) and the ability to purchase credits to send SMS through the service ChompSMS (not required). Its only flaw is that it does not yet support MMS. Another little gem: SMS Popup! With this freeware, SMS and MMS are displayed directly in a pop-up upon arrival: no need to go to the Notifications tab to read them!

No video player? Meridian video player!

The HTC G1 MeridianVideo2MeridianVideo did not come with video player but there are several on the Android Market, including the excellent Meridian video player. This media player is capable of playing video 3GP, MP4, WMV (version and AAC audio files, MP3, AMR, WMA. It will resume playing where you left off. Orders in advance and use a move back to the left or right finger (the classic interface controls can still be activated). To play a video, tap the screen and pause, press again. The rotation of the next screen portrait or landscape format is automatic but can also be set manually.

For ringtones, Ringdroid!

Ringroid is one of the best programs available for Android. This software is opensource and easy to handle thanks to him, you can get an excerpt from an MP3 into a ringtone. Ringdroid can indeed save an excerpt from a recorded or imported audio file (MP3, WAV and 3GPP/AMR). Its use is very intuitive since the waveform displayed on the screen and is very easy to create markers for start and end by dragging two sliders.

Music, RSS / podcast

In terms of audio playback, you can get the default player for Android but some free alternatives offer more features. TuneWiki can not only read the songs are on your memory card but it also displays their words, acts as a client for last.fm, can play online radio stations (shoutcast) and music videos from Youtube. Proponents of Web radio stations will throw a glance at StreamFurious that supports both the Shoutcast / Icecast MP3 and offers a list of personalized radio stations. If you want to track both your favorite RSS feeds and podcasts, software is required: Beyondpod. This software is truly a marvel in terms of functionality and ergonomics.
System tools

The main drawback of the HTC G1 / HTC Dream, namely its low autonomy that many tools have emerged to disable / enable certain energy-intensive functions (3G, Wifi, GPS) without going through the setup menu for Android . For example, Useful Switchers includes direct access to all these functions to save time. You can activate the silent mode plane, cut the BlueTooth, adjust volume, brightness etc.. In short: a must! For WiFi, a small tool called ToogleWifi can activate and deactivate it from a simple click on an icon: it is always a click win against Useful Switchers need to start to access affordable to the function. If you use WiFi often, there are applications such as WiFi or Lock KeepWifi that keep permanently the wifi when the screen goes to sleep. To monitor the battery of your mobile, you can use a tool like Power Manager (paid, $ 0.99) that will automatically adjust the connection settings to increase the autonomy of your smartphone. With Locale, you can create dynamic profiles by choosing the criteria that will apply a profile specific to a particular situation. For example, depending on your location, you can choose to turn on wifi or 3G, increase the ringer volume or drop completely.
File manager

With memory cards with capacities of more and more important, we do not understand that there is no default file manager in the system Android. Our preference is for Astro File Manager that allows you to browse your files, create and delete directories, create encrypted and compressed files or send file attachments. In addition, you can make backups of your favorite free applications for reinstall later and it has a built-in image viewer. A great program not to be missed. Astro is still free but pay could rise soon. As free alternative, there is also Linda’s excellent File Manager that provides equivalent functionality to that of Astro (including decompression of ZIP files).
Voice recorder and note taking

The HTC Dream is capable of recording via microphone, but no application is included with the smartphone to use this feature. We must turn to the great Voice Recorder. Recordings are saved on the memory card. It is possible to send attachments directly with the client to Gmail Android. The application proposes the recording in the background, a timer and a search of records by date and title. For note-taking text, Ak Notepad will do the job: it allows the import and export your notes on the memory card or sent as an attachment via email. Its interface is still a bit basic and some users may prefer it to be G-Notepad prettier but can not be used in horizontal mode.
FTP, SSH, Tethering

Many applications are available for communication. For FTP transfers, the excellent AndFTP can upload and download files via FTP or conventional modes secure (SFTP and FTPS). It allows the resumption of interrupted downloads. Unlike the iPhone, some functions such as tethering or SSH connection does not necessarily require a phone “jailbroken” (Root in the case of HTC G1 / HTC Dream) for works in combination. Connecbot is for example a secure shell client on Android. It allows you to connect to a server to administer or to transfer files securely. Finally, the tethering is possible both in root mode in non-root mode. However, in the prermier case, the connection is via the USB cable (with software like Tetherbot or Azilink) while it is possible to do the same thing in WiFi and Bluetooth (with or TetherWifi TetherBlu) non-root mode .
Synchronization and backup

One of the complaints made Android is that it can synchronize with a computer. This is somewhat true, but at the same time, this synchronization is done on your GMail account accessible from any operating system then finally …. However, there is software to perform an automatic backup of your messages, SMS / MMS and images as G-Backup ($ 4.99) or MyBackup Pro ($ 0.99). The first backup your SMS, MMS, Call Log and pictures to your Gmail account. The second, much more complete, backup your contacts, bookmarks, SMS, MMS, AK Notepad options, settings and shortcuts on the memory card or the secure servers of the publisher.
“Android sucks, there is no MS Exchange ‘…

ExchangeByTouchDown
Another criticism that was made to launch the HTC G1 the month of September in the USA. Since then, several solutions have emerged and it is now possible to use the corporate email from Microsoft. The two best programs seem Exchange By TouchDown and Moxier Mail Beta. Using, not this email, I could not test them.

Wow, the iPhone ads on TV!

It is not about to compare the number of applications Android (just over 1000) while those for the iPhone are 25 times more but it is amusing to note that the programs presented in the latest television commercials for Apple’s mobile TV (when my car is parked it there a Vélib in the corner, what is this music on the radio?) have their equivalent in Android. Indeed, A2b find your car for you, or Veloid Veliblike displays a map of bikes available in major cities and Shazam will give you the title of a song from its distribution.