You could have called me an iPhone fanboy, there are plenty of articles on WillINeedIt demonstrating the fact. I recently had the chance to take possession of a new HTC Hero, a Google Android powered phone, and I wanted to see just how well it stacked up against the mercurial Apple device.
I am a week in to my experience of being an Android phone owner and I think it’s safe to say I will be sticking with the open framework and ditching the restrictions and closed nature of the iPhone. I have found that the two devices are very similar and that most of the apps can be downloaded for both platforms.
There are quite a few Android Market list articles floating about on the web and I am going to add another one to the list. This article is for people who have recently moved from an iPhone and want to know just what apps will mimic the functionality of their old device, helping their transition from the walled garden of the iPhone to the glorious pastures of the Android operating system. All of the apps listed here will be downloadable from the Android Market, we will try to either link to the Market or the official homepage of the app itself.
Facebook For Android
If you own a Smartphone, the likelihood of you either belonging to or knowing about Facebook is going to be pretty high. After tensions tensions between Facebook and Google were temporarily forgotten about, an official Android app was created to sit alongside the much more powerful and user-friendly iPhone version.
Facebook for Android is a little lacking on features but if you want to check statuses, upload photos and catch up with friends, it’s a great little app.
FML (FMyLife)
FMyLife has become a cult phenomenon, serving thousands of stories that are submitted by users detailing “recollections of everyday anecdotes likely to happen to anyone”.
This app takes the website content and delivers it right to your phone with options to comment, vote on submissions aswell as submitting your own.
BeebPlayer
One of the best things about the media today is that television channels are now starting to embrace the showcasing of their programming online. The BBC have an online service named iPlayer, which broadcasts nearly all of their television and radio offerings, luckily it is available on Android in the form of BeebPlayer.
After downloading, you can choose to search for a programme, choose from the most popular or browse specific categories. Once selected, the programme information will display how large the file will be to stream via 3G and WIFI aswell as a little synopsis of the programme in question.
I would recommend waiting to view programmes when you have a WIFI connection as watching a couple of programmes via a 3G connection could max out your 3G data allowance on your mobile plan.
Fring
A new addition to the Android Market, Fring brings all of your favourite instant messaging protocols to your mobile phone. What differentiates it from similar messaging apps is that it is the first Android app to feature Skype support.
Skype calls are supported on both 3G and WIFI, although I found the 3G connection to be quite laggy. SkypeOut is also featured, allowing Skype power users to truly get the most out of this free messaging app.
Last.fm
Last.fm set the bar for music recommendations and playlists. By analysing what you listened to and who you were friends with, it was able to suggest new music based on this criteria. Whilst offering this service, they began to include personalised radio stations that would use this data and allow you to listen to the tracks that other people would recommend.
The Android app was released at the beginning of this year and allows you to create your own personalised radio stations, listen to them on the go, whilst viewing live tour dates and friend’s profiles. Again, watch out when using your 3G connection, this could blast through your bandwidth limit!
Movies
If you are an avid movie fan, this is the app for you. Movies is available on both Android and iPhone devices and is one of the few apps that has the exact same functionality over both systems. By setting your GPS to locate cinemas near to you, you are able to grab show times at all of your local movie theatres.
Upcoming films are listed aswell as movie ratings for previously released movies via Rotten Tomatoes. Support for watching trailers is also included meaning you can keep on top of all the newest releases before checking to see when they are on at your local cinema.
Qik
There are no shortage of video apps on the Android Market but Qik differentiates itself from the rest of the pack by offering live streaming. Working over both 3G and WIFI, you simply start filming and then hit the Share button to let the world know you are streaming. Social networks like Twitter and Facebook are supported also.
The app is great for the opportune moments in life you want to share with the world, like conferences and chance celebrity meetings.
TV Guide
There aren’t many applications on the Android Market that give you the programme detail that TV Guide provides. Upon download, you select the channels you wish to gain information on the app takes care of the rest. When launched TV Guide will alert you to what programmes are currently on air and up next, aswell as having separate listings so you can view what films and sports are on in that particular day.
There is a paid and free version of this app, the choice I leave up to you.
Conclusion
As the new Android firmware update looms we will see more innovation in Android app development. With iPhone developers refusing to go near the Android SDK, we are still waiting for viable alternatives to Tweetie and Facebook on the iPhone but I believe it will just be a matter of time. Android is an open framework and as devices are released to rival the iPhone’s power and precision, we will gradually see the gulf between iPhone and Android apps diminishing.
Let us know what some of your favourite Android apps are in the comments, we will add them to the bottom of this article so our readers can really get the best apps there are to offer.
