Free Apps Android

OruxMaps App for Android Review

OruxMaps is a complete mapping and GPS application for Android, available for free downloaded from the Android Market place. If you tend to use it a lot, the developer might ask you some donations to fund its development. Oblige if you appreciate what Android OruxMaps app brings to the table. Most likely, you’ll fall in love with it, thanks to its many unique features, despite the apparently steep learning curve.

How OruxMaps Android App Works?

OruxMaps is designed to be a substitute for the traditional hand held GPS receiver. It is also a map viewer and route logger rolled into one. And the best part of OruxMaps app is that it is adapted to operate both in online and offline modes. So, there is no need to be connected to the internet all the time to use the application. The only thing to note is that in order to have OruxMaps work offline, you need to calibrate the online maps with the application. Once done that, you can have your tracks logged or go trekking with no mobile phone tower anywhere near in sight. It just works fine. FYI, the app also comes with topographical maps, if you understand what it means.

In OruxMaps app for Android, you can load in GPS tracks with waypoints in standard GPX format. This comes handy to mountain bikers/runners, who might want to follow the footsteps of those who’ve gone ahead of them. You can learn to use these features with the aid of an online manual. But be warned that it might not be an easy exercise for first timers. On the other hand, it is worth the effort, given the apps great features.

OruxMaps app scores above par in virtually all departments. If to point out one little downside, then it has to be the interface; it could have been better than the current one. But then it is no turn off either.

Final Thoughts

OruxMaps is certainly one of the top offline GPS solutions on the Android market space. It delivers what it promises. Though it might take a while to get going, the utility it brings to your smartphone is unparalleled on many counts. Verdict: If you are looking for a free yet powerful GPS application for your Android device, OruxMaps might just fit the bill. Highly recommended!

Bipper bSafe App for Android Review

It is not always safe out there; whether you’re out on a party with your friends, or walking alone back to home from the tube station, you don’t want to be caught off guard. Bipper bSafe app for Android helps you add an extra layer of security, by providing a one-touch access to SOS button, to call your dear ones (called guardian) if feel threatened. Bipper bSafe app can be downloaded free of cost from the Android Market place.

How Bipper bSafe Android App Works?

Bipper bSafe application uses your Android phone’s basic functions to alert the few chosen contacts. It could be your friend, husband, cousin, brother or even a police person you know. Clicking the SOS button activates an alarm that goes off in 3 seconds. If you have a change of mind, you can opt to cancel the alarm before it sends an alert.

The alert includes a text saying “Attention, I have triggered my bSafe alarm and need assistance,” along with a link to the exact GPS location, which they can easily pull up on Google Maps. Further, when the SOS goes out, bSafe app simultaneously calls one guardian that you’ve chosen. In fact, when you first select a guardian in bSafe Android app, the person will be sent an SMS with the text “I’m using the bSafe safety alarm, and have chosen you as my Guardian. Get bSafe too, it’s FREE!” followed by a link to bSafe. So, next time, when the person receives your alert, he/she knows what exactly is happening.

On the other hand, if you’ve set off the alarm, but decided later on that everything is Ok, bSafe sends another text saying “I’ve turned the alarm off and the threat is most likely over. Thanks for being my guardian.”

Other notable feature in Android Bipper bSafe app is the fake call button, to fake an incoming call, even though there is only a maximum delay of 30 seconds possible. The premium version of the app comes with timer and alert modes.

Final Thoughts

Bipper bSafe is certainly a useful app; just press the red button in an emergency. Of course you should dial 911 if it is an extreme emergency. If it a level below that, you can rely on bSafe. The GPS integration works perfect, and it could relay your movements to your guardian once the alert is triggered. Verdict: Bipper bSafe Android app is a must have application for your mobile device.

Fruit Slice Game App for Android Review

Fruit Slice is a simple fun game to kill time. The objective of the player is to slice as much of flying fruits as possible, and gain points on the way. The more fruits you slice, more points you earn. The Fruit Slice app for Android can be downloaded for free from the Android Market Place.

How Fruit Slice App Works?

Android Fruit Slice app does not require your mind or intelligence. Instead, it is your hand-eye coordination that matters. So it is unlikely that you’re going to stick to this game for too long on end. It will be just perfect to kill time while riding to work in the company bus or waiting for your turn in a queue.

Fruit Slice app for Android involves two different types of game play: classic mode and time mode. In the former, the objective of the player is to slice as much fruits as possible, alongside avoiding being hit by bombs that is randomly get thrown up with the fruits. Slice a bomb, and the game is over. So, see before you slice! Further, you can’t miss too many fruits without slicing the same. You can let go of two fruits at the max. A third fruit slips past your blade, and it is again the end of the game.

In the time mode, on the other hand, you are supposed to slice as much fruits as possible within a given time limit. There is no missing fruit penalty in this mode, and hence you can freely slice and dice the fruits flying in your way. If you like a carefree approach to slicing, you’ll like this mode over classic one.

Once a game is over, you can opt to submit the scores online to the leaderboard. However, what is lacking in Fruit Slice is the social gaming features of Fruit Ninja application.

Conclusion

Fruit Slice app for Andriod is not a boring game. The graphics is slick, and sound effects quite align with the game play. Those looking for an alternative to Fruit Ninja should not mind considering this free app. And given its small file size, it won’t eat up much of your phone’s internal memory either. Verdict: Fruit Slice is a fun app to own.

Paper Toss Game App for Android Review

Paper Toss app for Android is a simple yet addictive game wherein you attempt to throw crumpled up paper balls into a trash kept at a distance. We all have been doing this for years in our office every day. Now for change, try its digital version out. Paper Toss app can be downloaded for free from Android Market.

How Paper Toss App Works

Paper Toss Android app is a combination of Arcade game and puzzle, with a bit of physics thrown into the mix. Before going any further, let you be reminded that even though the game might appear to be simple, it will take some time to master the same. In Paper Toss application, you fling the paper ball using a flick of your finger on the touch screen. From playing the game, it appears that delicate touches give the best trajectories, even though different players might do it differently.

But Paper Toss game app for Android is not just a sit and throw routine; various difficulty levels (six in all) and the wind factor thrown in makes the game much more challenging and engrossing. Fans placed at specific locations will alter the trajectory significantly, and hence the challenge also includes your ability to judge and throw the paper ball accordingly to cover for the deviation caused by the wind. Each level has got different settings, and different fan speeds. As you go up the levels, it’ll be more difficult to toss the paper ball into the trash basket. Your successful judgment of the deviation eventually decides your hit rate.

The graphics is excellent as it recreates the office environment realistically, complete with real office sounds, and including abuse from your co-workers should the paper ball flies in some other direction. If you think you’re performing well, you can let others know of it by sharing your score via online leader board.

Final Thoughts

Paper Toss app for Android is a great time killer, if you are waiting in the line or riding in your office cab. It is addictive, and has enough challenges and difficult levels to satiate even the hardcore gamers. On the downside, there are some ads on the top of the screen. But that is a hazard that comes with free apps, and you can’t help it. Otherwise, Paper Toss Android app has enough in it to capture your focus for minutes on end.

Lovefilm App for Android Review

If you are a movie buff, perhaps you would love to have Lovefilm app in your Android device. This handy application gives you an unparalleled peep into the world of movies free of cost. Lovefilm Android app lets you do virtually everything that you want to do with your Lovefilm account on your phone, minus watching movies.

Features of Android Lovefilm App

To start with, Lovefilm app for Andorid has got a very easy to use user interface. Even a novice won’t take too long to get used to the menus and options. The download and installation process is a breeze. Those who’ve already used or using Lovefilm portal will certainly feel at home with this app.

In Lovefilm, you can search from over 70,000 titles of DVD, XBox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, XBox, PS2 and Blue-ray with a swipe of your finger. You can perform the search by language and category, wherein the different categories include ‘new releases’, ‘genres’, ‘most popular’, and ‘coming soon’ moves, to name a few. Once you select a film, you can view the title of the film, director, genre, synopsis, runtime and release date. The most useful feature of Lovefilm app is that you can any titles that impress you into the rental list.

With Lovefilm Android application at your disposal, no more forgetting of titles to be added to the rental list; you can do it on the fly. Further, you can even customize the search so that only the titles/types that you wish to see would be returned every time. It matters when you’re searching amid 70,000+ titles.

Final Thoughts

Lovefilm app for Android virtually brings film search at your finger tips. If some title pops up in your head, you can search or add a title to the rental list in a matter of seconds, even when you’re in the middle of your working hours. True, you can’t watch movies in Lovefilm app. But then how many will watch a full movie on your mobile phone regularly, when you have HD in your home? Lovefilm application can be downloaded free of cost from the Android Market Place.

Yahoo Weather App for Android Review

Most smart phones already have got a weather widget. But if you fancy something a bit different, try out the Yahoo Weather app for Android. It comes with some decent upgrades and features that you would love. Typical of Yahoo widgets and apps, the Yahoo Weather Android app comes free of cost for its users.

How Yahoo Weather App Works?

Yahoo Weather has joined hands with The Weather Channel for weather information from around the globe, and Flickr to leave you with a visual impact. So, when you download and install Yahoo Weather app – which is a breeze – it will detect where you are and present you with the current weather information of your location. Further, you can assign different locations – up to ten of them – whose weather conditions you would like to know. This could be the places you travel to quite frequently.

Yahoo Weather Android application presents the weather details in a pretty standard fashion, but fills the background with beautiful pictures from the Project Weather group on Flickr. This is a Yahoo group, set up by Yahoo to let people submit their weather pictures for inclusion. Thanks to Yahoo patrons around the world, now the group has a decent collection of weather photos from around the globe. The best part is that you’ll get to see a new picture every time you glance at the app for some weather info.

Clicking/tapping on the background will move the weather info aside, and you can marvel at the photo. If you want a better view of the photo, click on the link provided alongside, which takes you to Flickr. There is a widget available too; but the images are a bit small. This too will provide a background image consistent with the application.

If to point out a downside, not many cities are supported. So, if you have Birmingham as your location, you might still get a photo of London. Hope things will improve as more photos get uploaded to Project Weather group.

Conclusion

Yahoo Weather app for Android delivers results. And in combination with Flickr, it provides a rather nice presentation of weather information on your screen, without boring you with the same image always. If you want a weather app with a difference, Yahoo Weather application is the one for you. Verdict: Good one to have in your phone.

Codeanywhere App for Android Review

Now you can connect to your FTP server, edit the PHP code of your website that you’re developing, or simply any of those wonderful things that Codeanywhere does, right from your Android device using Codeanywhere application. Technically speaking, Codeanywhere app for Android is code editor and FTP client for Android. The app automatically syncs with your Codeanywhere account, and as in its web service, lets you add multiple FTP/SFTP servers, browse through and edit the added servers’ files/ folders, download/edit any PHP, HTML, JavaScript, CSS and XML files on the go. Codeanywhere app for Android is free of cost.

How Codeanywhere Android App Works?

Android Codeanywhere app is useful for those who own website(s), and quite frequently find the need to edit/make changes to the said site, while being away from their PCs.

Once you login to the app, you can add as many FTP or SFTP servers from the home screen by tapping Menu and clicking ‘Add Server’. Once the server is added, you can go through the files, rearrange, alter/rename permissions for the files/folders, create new text files, download/edit existing files, or upload new files from your SD card. Files opened for editing appears in separate tabs. It remains opened unless explicitly closed by the user from Opened tabs screen. The advantage of such an arrangement is that you can pick up right from where you’ve left off, every time you log in.

In order to close an opened file, navigate to the ‘Opened Tabs’ screen, and hold down on the tab and click ‘Close tab’ from the context menu that appears henceforth.

Conclusion

Codeanywhere app for Android lets you make edits/changes to your code, files anytime anywhere from your Android device. Since it auto-syncs with your web account, you can pick up from where you have let off, once you login from your PC. The user interface is easy to use, and with a 3.5’ screen typing won’t be a struggle either. While Codeanywhere Android application can’t be a substitute for a full fledged code editor, it works reasonably well to solve your coding needs when you’re away from your PC, and you got to do something urgent on your website. Verdict: A handy app to have, if you want to be near to your code all the time.

Greedy Spiders App for Android Review

Greedy Spiders app for Android is an addictive and fun game application where you got to save flies/bugs trapped in spider’s web. The game involves you, the player, attempting to outsmart the spider wisely rather than outrunning it. An ad-free version of Greedy Spiders game app can be downloaded for free from the Android Market Place.

The Game

Greedy Spiders, in some ways, looks like the spider version of Angry Birds. Here, instead of shooting birds, you should be blocking spiders from eating other bugs by cutting/removing or burning one strand of web at a time so as to prevent the spider(s) from reaching up to the bugs.

To start with, Greedy Spiders game appears rather simple. But it is not so in reality. Even in the first levels, for most players, it’ll take more than one round before they eventually clear the level. As you play couple of times, you’ll realize that Greedy Spiders is also a game of strategy wherein every move you make is crucial to the bug’s survival. You need to devise your moves cleverly so as to slow down the spider.

As you go up the levels, the game adds more number of insects to be saved, on more complicated webs, with the spider now got multiple ‘routes’ to maneuver its way towards the insects. It is worth mentioning at this point that some of the levels are frustratingly difficult. The graphics of Greedy Spiders Android app is awesome. Sound effects add to the overall pomp of the game.

Final Thoughts

Greedy Spider Android game app is riveting, when you play it for the first time. It takes some amount of planning to get through the different levels. More often than not, you’ll end up playing each level multiple times before you eventually pass the same. If you’re someone who does not get bored as difficulty levels increase in a game, this one certainly qualifies to find a place in your game repertoire. The free version of Greedy Spiders is ad supported. If you want it ad-free, prepare to spend a modest $0.9 at the Android Market.

Hipmunk App for Android Review

Hipmunk has launched their flight search and booking application for Android. The app provides flight search details in a visual timeline, let you book a flight either entirely through the app or finish the booking later using a code online, have multiple booking options alongside saved searches. And the best part is that Hipmunk app for Android sorts flights by ‘agony’, which takes into consideration the duration of the flight, how many stops it make in between, and also, yes, price of ticket. Hipmunk is a free download.

How Hipmunk Android App Works?

Hipmunk app for Android has a user friendly enough interface. You won’t have any troubles to pick the airport and date of flying from the user screen. Once given search, and results displayed, you’re given four views over a visual timeline, based on Agony (the duration), Price, Depart Times, and Arrival Times. Even though the idea of Hipmunk application was to have you, the user, switch between the different options and arrive at the best choice. But it is here things get trickier; there is no explicit indication as to how to book the tickets. Clicking on the displayed options simply expands them. In practice, the flights are selected by clicking on the price tag. Most likely, you’ll tap around for sometime before hitting the bulls-eye.

Once you select a flight, you can book it through Orbitz or Airfare.com. Hipmunk Android app also gives you an option, wherein you’ll be issued a code that lets you book your flight on your PC through hipmunk.com. This comes handy if you don’t wish to go through the entire booking process in your mobile phone.

Hipmunk only works with Android OS versions 2.2 or higher. If you use Éclair or the ones before that, please excuse. Given the pace at which Android OS versions are released, it would have been better had Hipmunk app had backward compatibility. But then this is one of the inherent drawbacks of Android.

Conclusion

Hipmunk app for Android is easy to use, and surprisingly attractive. It works fine all the time, and offers what it promises. Hopefully, it’ll also help you save money and lots of time. However, few more options such as car hire/hotels would have been made it better. Verdict: A handy booking app to have in your device.

Springpad App for Android Review

Springpad app for Android lets you take notes quick & easy, and save anything – from tasks and lists to products, places, movies, reminders, recipes and much more – in one place, but in a variety of ways. And Springpad application adds a social component to its functionalities by allowing you to view what other users are ‘springing’. In terms of utility and user friendliness, it is certainly superior to other productivity apps such as Evernote and CatchNotes. Springpad can be downloaded for free from the Android Market place.

How Springpad App Works

Once you install Springpad Android app, you’re required to sign up for a user account. But there is a good reason for this compulsion as what you do in Springpad is automatically synced with a web account in your name. The same can be accessed by the user from any place by visiting www.springpadit.com. Alternatively, you can also login to Springpad through Twitter, Facebook, Google or Yahoo.

Once you login, the home screen gives you the view of all your ‘notebooks’: ‘My Stuff’, ‘Friends’ Stuff’, and ‘My First Notebook’. The first one contains your notes, while ‘friends stuff’ contains public notes from other Springpad users, and the last one features an empty note that you can rename and add notes into. Creating notes is easy; simply click ‘+’ and type it in. You can add audio files to a note, or even an image or video clip directly from the camera or gallery app. Further, you can tag notes, add flags and alerts, or set a notebook as private or public to define its access restrictions.

Further, using a chrome extension, you can push information from the web to your Android device.

Springpad app for Android also comes bundled with a barcode scanner. That is, using Springpad app, you can scan barcodes and it retrieves the product information from a database. Once you get hold of the product, you can add this product, write notes, input the price or even add one or more pictures of the same.

Final Thoughts

Springpad application runs seamlessly on your Android devices, save few small glitches. It is ad-free, and user friendly for most parts. Further, its many features are currently unmatched by most of its rivals in the market place. Verdict: Springpad app for Android is a good alternative to Evernote application.