I really like Android. It's easy to use, powerful, has tons of apps, and HTC's Sense UI is really nice. The browser is also really great, supports multiple browser windows and has Flash and Air. Android has great notifications and multi-tasking too (although no one, not even Apple, can beat webOS's notifications and multi-tasking - it's too bad HP is pretty much shutting down webOS.)
In the past, I've written about educational apps for the Palm/HP smartphones running webOS. Today, I'd like to share some cool apps for Android. All of these apps allow me to use my smartphone as a mobile computer and pretty much do anything on it that I can do on my desktop or laptop.
For anyone who uses Google's applications, Android is a dream because it comes with them all and they work great. There are also great apps for all of the other services I use.
1. Google - search, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Google Plus, Docs, Google Tasks, Blogger, Maps, Google Voice, Voice Search, Translate, Music, goo.gl, YouTube, and much more. They all work great, with Docs having full editing features and Translate even translating spoken word. I use lots of Google apps so this makes my life much easier and more productive.
2. Evernote - a must have app and service for pretty much everyone - teachers, students, administrators, mom's, dad's, business people, etc. The Android App is excellent and you can sync your notebooks to your phone for offline access. Take notes, clip web sites, upload files, upload and search photos, share notebooks, and much more.
3. Email - I have my Gmail account, Optimum account, and School email all set up, along with the Gmail account for my grad school.
4. QuickOffice - access, view, and edit Word, PowerPoint and Excel files.Free version comes with phone and can view documents. Pro version adds editing for a fee.
5. Cloud Storage apps - Dropbox, SugarSync, and Zumodrive - access, upload, download all your files and data.
6. Kindle - access my books on my phone. Great for research or relaxation. Syncs with my Amazon account so I can start off where I left off on my TouchPad.
7. TweetDeck - I love Twitter as a learning and sharing tool and the TweetDeck app on Android is great. Works just like the desktop/web version.
8. Web Browser - the web browser is excellent on Android. It supports multiple web pages open at once and has Adobe Flash and Air. I have yet to meet a website that I couldn't view in it's entirety. It's also very fast. I can access all kinds of web services and sites using the browser, including PowerTeacher, our district's SIS.
I've used a PDA since the Palm IIIxe in 2000, moving up through a Palm T3, Palm TX, Palm Centro Smarpthone, Palm Pre+ Smartphone and now an Android smartphone. I love the ability to access information and data, and connect with others, and get work done, all with a device I carry in my pocket.
Check out Android Central for tips, resources, device and app reviews, news, help, and more on Android.
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Great apps. I think I checked out Evernote a while back, but never really fell in love with it. I'll have to revisit it soon.
ReplyDeleteOne app that I'm becoming addicted to is Pulse. I guess it's an rss aggregator, but it's a lot more visual than most. It saves me time because I don't have to individually check all 30 of the websites that like to visit. Really nice way to stay current.
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Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups thanks once again.
ReplyDeleteAndroid is a mobile operating system that has been highly successful because of its incredible features. Most of the smart phones in the market run on Android OS. Since the success of Android, lot of Android Development Companies has spurred up everywhere. We are also putting good logic to develop more in this field.
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I believe each 'cloud service' has it's own merits and 'market'.
ReplyDeleteEvernote offers student pricing, but the free edition is a great start for students because you can always have a backup. Additionally, you can mark up your pictures of the lecture dryerase board for a later review, you can run your ToDo list in it, attach modules that have specific features you may need as a student, you can use your iPad camera to shoot pictures of documents and notes and have it 'OCR' the document with other apps.
Google Apps is tied to MAKING documents like Excel and Word format docs. You can also export to PDF in there, which is good for people who haven't figured out how to do this in Windows operating systems. You can also share specific documents with study groups.
Dropbox is limited to 2GB of space for the free edition, which is more than enough for documents like papers and study notes. It offers specifically a way to share larger files like a zip folder filled with pictures for a project, or a large file that many people need access to.
For photos, the best deal today, I believe is to use the Picasa Web album, which allows you to hide or share your photos, but it works with Picasa photo app, which is free and works on both a Mac and PC. For most non-professional photographers and digital camera owners. The BIG secret over there is they offer 2GB of space for free, but it costs ONLY $5.00 US per year to make that 20GB. NOTE: Be sure to set your Picasa preferences to UPLOAD ORIGINAL sizes of the photo if you want to use this as a backup.
The existence of online app has also paved way for many e learning courses to target the needs of online users seeking both professional and personal development, trainings and certification, and a lot more of education online.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I'd like to add is that if you have Flash and you know a little programming, it is super easy to publish an Android App and get it in the market instantaneously. As a teacher, you could publish homework modules as an app.
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