Top 3 Android apps

I’ve had my Android-powered HTC Desire smartphone for a while now and I am really loving it! Even loved the fact that Vodafone UK had allowed an update to Froyo as soon as it was released. Other carriers, like T-Mobile, have only just started to upgrade their customer’s handsets to this latest Android version not so long ago, while 3 even had to recall it.

Upon powering up the device, I was already taken with the fact that all my Google contacts and calendar entries are automatically synchronised. Following that, another exciting thing about getting an Android phone is the Android Market. Here, you can find apps (paid and free) that entertain and make lives more efficient and organise. Since there are thousands of apps and my phone only has very limited storage space, I can only install a few. Perhaps when more and more of these apps allow to be moved to SD I’d be able to install and share more apps that I find useful. Apart from the bleeding obvious apps (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, foursquare), here is my top 3.

1. OurGroceries by HeadCode
OurGroceries is primarily an app that lets you list down shopping items. It is so simple to use. Add the item that you need to buy by typing it in or by choosing from items you have entered in the past. When you’ve purchased the item, tap on it to strike it off from the list. What’s brilliant about OurGroceries is the fact that you can share a common list for your entire household, which avoids buying two of the same item. My partner and I share a list so when we know which ones are still outstanding in real time. [Cost: FREE | official page]

2. NetCounter by Cyril Jaquier
When I renewed my contract with Vodafone, I was told that I could no longer have an unlimited data usage. They have capped all new and renewed contracts to 1GB per month for data usage. Since I use a lot of social media apps whilst out and about, I needed something to tell me how much traffic I’ve used to date to ensure that I won’t go over the 1GB limit for the month. NetCounter did just that. Not only did it provide a breakdown of usage by day, week, month and total it also separates the traffic by wifi and mobile. Looking at the data on my phone now, I see that I have used 363.35MB of mobile traffic – well under my limit and I’ve already had the phone for at least 2 months – and 4.561GB of wifi. [Cost: FREE | official page]

3. FxCamera by stackrmobile
I’m a photography nut. I love taking photos. With FxCamera, I am able to take pictures with different effects such as ToyCam, Polandroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam and Warhol. Below are samples of photos I’ve taken with this app. Check out the FxCamera group on Flickr to see other people’s creations, too. [Cost: FREE | official page]