Must-have apps for the Droid

[zekester]

So I just got my Droid yesterday and I LOVE it. I can't imagine a better phone. It does everything incredibly well so far, and I have no complaints at all.

So now I'm ready to download some apps... I looked through the forum but didn't see any posts with any recommendations. What are some of your must-have apps for the Droid?

Here is what I need:

• Digital clock widget for home screen
• Weather
• Sports scores
• Movie showtimes
• TV listings
• Book reader
• Flash light that uses the LED
• Tip Calculator
• Mortgage Calculator
• Games
• Anything else that shows off the awesomeness of the Droid!

Let me know what's working well for you!

[supitsmike]

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SSHGuru wrote:

Shop Savvy has been pretty cool but I'll download barcode scanner too.

K-9 Mail so far is the #1 useful program for me - I use it to replace the mail client the droid comes with.  It's 100 times better and free.

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Yeah Barcode Scanner is great. Sometimes when you're out at say Walmart, or FYE, there are QR codes on some ads, and sometimes they give you special previews/wall papers for those ad's. I saw a Halo Wars one a few months ago and got some sweet wallpaper thanks to Barcode Scanner.

Not only that, but websites such as www.AndroidAndMe.com acually places QR codes on the reviews so instead of looking for the App, you can just scan it and it'll automatically come up

And yes, you can scan it through your monitor -- works every time.

[Droid12345]

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zekester wrote:

Thanks for all the suggestions here, I've found some really great apps thanks to all your help.

Has anyone found an LED flashlight yet? It seems like there used to be one called "Droid Light" but it seems to not be in the market anymore... anyone know what happened to it?

Also, has anyone been successful using "Key Ring" at the grocery store? I tried it a couple times but it never seems to want to scan.

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Key Ring works for me at the Grocery Store but not at CVS.  I think it has something to do with what kind of Scanning Gun they use.

The bar code scanner using the camera works great though

[SSHGuru]

I prefer Shop Savvy after looking at them both.  Seems to be slicker and works better.

[zekester]

I agree, I tried both barcode scanner and shop savvy and I prefer the latter. Much slicker.

By the way, I found an LED flashlight app today for the Droid called "LED flashlight" by ChetsSoftware. It costs 99c. I haven't tried it yet since I haven't paid for any apps yet. Probably will, but exploring what I can get for free first. Has anyone else tried this one yet?

[SSHGuru]

I attempted to buy a backup program but the transaction failed and it turned out it wasn't needed.

If I'm going to buy anything it's going to be something that takes alot of effort to make.  Not something that turns the LED on and off... should be free.

[eclipsed4utoo]

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zekester wrote:

Thanks for all the suggestions here, I've found some really great apps thanks to all your help.

Has anyone found an LED flashlight yet? It seems like there used to be one called "Droid Light" but it seems to not be in the market anymore... anyone know what happened to it?

Also, has anyone been successful using "Key Ring" at the grocery store? I tried it a couple times but it never seems to want to scan.

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You can check out MotoTorch.  It's a widget-based LED Flashlight.  Just add the widget to a HOME screen, click it to turn on the LEDs, click it again to turn the LEDs off.

[eclipsed4utoo]

for anybody who bought MotoTorch, listen up....

Alright.... so I have some good news, some bad news, and some OK news.

First, the good news, I have an update ready for MotoTorch. Here are the features I have added:

1. The widget icon will now change depending on whether the LED is on or not.
2. An application has been added. You can now turn on the LEDs from either the widget or application.
3. In the application, you can set whether you want the screen to dim or not using a checkbox. This setting will be for the application and the widget.
4. You can now use the LEDs as a strobe light. There is a configurable field for how long you want the strobe to last(in seconds).
5. You can now send MORSE CODE. Just type in your "message", hit the button, and watch the dots and dashes go to work.

Now for the bad news. When I created the first version of MotoTorch, I had to create a "keystore" which creates a key to sign an application. Google requires that any application that is added to the Market is signed with a key. Somehow, the "keystore" became corrupted or I forgot the password. Since I had to create a new keystore, the Market would not allow me to "update" MotoTorch because of the different keys. So I had to add the new update as a totally new application.

Now the OK news is that since this is my fault, you shouldn't have to suffer.  I am now giving the application away for free. 

So for those who want to upgrade, you will need to uninstall the old version, then download the new version.

If you have any problems, let me know. Remember that I am always up for suggestions. You can email me directly from the application's page in the Market. Simply click on the "Send email to developer", choose your email client, then send me the email.

Also, the application name has changed a little. It's now MotoTorch LED. I felt it needed to be named something more descriptive.

Since the app is now free, if you like MotoTorch LED, you could donate toward it's continued development.{no soliciting}

[Mustangman]

Thanks for the info................can't wait to get started!!!

[Maurice00]

Any way to get the previous version back? I liked the convience of one touch to turn the light on. I don't want a refund.

[SSHGuru]

Moto-Torch is a great app - thanks for making it free.  Now I can light the entire house up or do what I just did and blind myself.

You could sell the same version and call it intruder repellent - blind criminals.

I like the way it has the widget for easy on and off.

[yewslus]

I wasn't overly impressed with the MotoTorch LED.  I bought LED Flashlight and it works great.  $.99

Pandora is great but is a powerhog

I like barcode scanner but the database is lacking.

ShopSaavy screwed up royally at one point, had to uninstall.

Instant Lyrics is great, but only if you're playing music through the stock player.

Remote VNC is the shizz, allows me to control my Windows desktop at home from my PC.  Love that.  Same for AndFTP, allows me to connect right to my FTP on the same computer.  Using both together, I can logon to my PC, download mp3's via ******, save them to my FTP file tree, and then DL them via FTP.  Great stuff.

Radar Now is handy, very simple, not flaky.  Gives you good doppler.

Caller ID Faker is a blast, having this much fun should be illegal (and probably is).

Robo Defense Free is a cool cure for boredom.

Still looking for the best APP manager/killer...

All of the above were FREE APPS, except for the LED flashlight.

[LiquidAlloy]

I WANT a Sirius Radio app, most important to me and it doesn't exist yet (^$^*#@@) haha

I use:

Draw and Share (fun when I am bored)

Shop Savy (entertains me when shopping)

OI File Manager

Handcent SMS (works great for attaching Audio and any other files)

Instant Lyrics (runs perfect with the factory music player)

Speedtest. net

Funny Jokes (Chuck Norris facts haha) = Chuck Norris can send a text from a typewriter, classic

Shazam

Pandora Radio (until Sirius makes an app for the Droid)

Movies

Jewels (best alternative for Bejeweled)

HI AIM Beta (zero issues yet)

The Weather Channel

Labyrinth

Advanced Task Killer

Sports Tap

I have many more in here but mostly sound boards.

Joe

[y0diggity]

I have to say that "Where's My Droid" has to be one of the coolest apps I've ever seen on a mobile phone. I don't know if there are others like it for other platforms, but the whole thing is really neat and it works very well. I wish I could find the same thing for my wife's Blackberry, she's always losing that thing.

Otherwise, some of the apps I really like are -

PKT Auctions

CIDR Calculator

Compass

Google Voice

Shazam

They're all free too. I haven't gotten any paid apps yet. I see that a lot of them seem to not work so well with the Droid quite yet, so I'm going to give the dev's some time to get things caught up a bit before I start plunking down cash for them.

[SSHGuru]

Draw and Share is cool - thanks.

Shop Savvy cool also.

The AIM Beta I downloaded today and it was eating up the downtime if you use spare parts so I deleted it.

[pecula00]

What are you guys using to turn off bluetooth and wi/fi without having to go into the settings all the time?  Is there a way to create a shortcut for these or is there a widget to help manage these?

[kenyu73]

The Droid has the Power Bar widget  thing and the Eris has individual toggles widgets  for each. You can also download the toggle widgets from the market.

[pecula00]

Ken,

Why can't I find the Power Bar widget?  LOL been looking for an hour.... 

[supitsmike]

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pecula00 wrote:

Ken,

Why can't I find the Power Bar widget?  LOL been looking for an hour.... 

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If you're using the Droid, long press the homescreen>Widgets>Power Bar.

If you're using the Eris, you'll have a different array of widgets, 1x1 size. Press the arrow going ^ to the right, or longpress>HTC Widgets>Power Widget/Wifi/GPS etc.

[kenyu73]

Thanks supitsmike (=

[Azartrus]

cant find the car ??? no problem ! I suggest the app carrr matey which uses your phones gps as a marker to mark your vehicle and then lead you to it when you specify. VERY COOL!

[n0yxl]

Slacker  Personal internet radio - like Pandora, but you can chose from many different stations; all comercial free