But there are lots of apps that most people have likely never heard of. These are great apps that lots of users would probably benefit from, but if nobody tells them the apps exist, they'll never be able to take advantage of the cool features these apps bring. So, I would like to share 7 very useful apps that most of you reading this are probably quite unaware of.
UPDATE: This post has been updated with links to the Play Store for each app.
This is a very simple, but extremely cool little app. It's been around for a very long time and yet is still relatively unknown. It automatically changes your homescreen wallpaper every 30 minutes to an image from a live webcam. It provides a list of dozens of webcams from around the world to chose from and then ensures that your homescreen is showing a nice fresh image from the webcam all the time. You can even define your own webcam URL if one you want isn't in the list. (
This is another simple app, and one that you didn't realize you needed until you have it. It allows you to keep your screen always on when certain apps are running. For example, I have it set to keep the screen on when Maps are running because I often use Maps in the car and I don't want to have to keep waking the phone up. This will reduce your battery life, obviously, but it's surprisingly useful, I recommend giving it a try.
This app is, quite simply, the best Geocaching app I have ever used. Easily the best Geocaching app for Android, and possibly the best on any platform. It works totally independent of the browser and is able look up, help you locate, and then log your finds. Some of its extra features include a live map, which updates as you move around; searching by address; compass directions or driving directions, etc. It really is an extremely full-featured app and if you're into Geocaching (or want to be), this is the app to check out first.
Update: This app has been renamed Catch and is completely new. There are lots of apps available on smartphones for taking notes. Most even ship with a standard, bare-bones app for jotting down simple notes. If you want more, though,
This app should be pre-installed on all Android phones sold to those with small children. It is pure, straight-up brilliance. It locks the phone so all buttons do nothing, and lets children (or adults) draw on the screen with colorful shapes and fun noises. Amber loves playing with it and I can happily hand her my phone without worrying about her messing things up or deleting my stuff. :-)
This app no longer works with newer versions of Gmail.
I don't personally use this app, but it's so remarkably useful for people who need it that I felt it was worth including on the list. It very quietly runs in the background and logs details about your phone calls. Things like time and date, duration, who you called, who called you, etc. are all logged and added to a Google calendar that you specify. The benefit is that you can look at your calendar online and see an exact record of all of your phone calls. This is hugely useful for people who make time sensitive phone calls or who simply want an easy way to look back at their call history.
So there you have it. These are 7 of the most useful and yet most unknown apps available for Android. I think everyone could benefit from at least one app on this list, and many of you would probably be able to use all of them.
How about you? Do you have any relatively unknown apps not on this list? Share them in the comments!