Non-game Android Apps Recommendations Catch-All

For those who use multiple chat/sms clients or want a novel take on contacts - try Drupe

Microsoft's, yes Microsoft has a really good lock screen offering called Next Lock

SpyNavy wrote:

Microsoft's, yes Microsoft has a really good lock screen offering called Next Lock

MS's has turned into one of the best Android developers, either with internal development, or via acquisitions.

MannishBoy wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

Microsoft's, yes Microsoft has a really good lock screen offering called Next Lock

MS's has turned into one of the best Android developers, either with internal development, or via acquisitions.

I definitely agree. If they would come out with a full featured version of Outlook (calendar, tasks, email) I'd be in productivity Nirvana.

SpyNavy wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

Microsoft's, yes Microsoft has a really good lock screen offering called Next Lock

MS's has turned into one of the best Android developers, either with internal development, or via acquisitions.

I definitely agree. If they would come out with a full featured version of Outlook (calendar, tasks, email) I'd be in productivity Nirvana.

They're buying those piecemeal. Sunrise, Wunderlist, and Acompli, respectively.

The Smithsonian App is fantastic. It's free, has floorplan maps just like the $1 brochure maps, exhibit and event info and details, and more.

Pocket Casts question:

If I'm listening to a podcast on headphones and I unplug the headphones and then plug them back in, I get no audio until I close Pocket Casts and open it up again. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's annoying; I'd really like to be able to switch from headphones to speakers and back again without jumping through hoops. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm using a 2014 Moto X running Android 5.1 if that helps. I've only had the phone for two days so it's entirely possible that user error is a factor.

hbi2k wrote:

Pocket Casts question:

If I'm listening to a podcast on headphones and I unplug the headphones and then plug them back in, I get no audio until I close Pocket Casts and open it up again. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's annoying; I'd really like to be able to switch from headphones to speakers and back again without jumping through hoops. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm using a 2014 Moto X running Android 5.1 if that helps. I've only had the phone for two days so it's entirely possible that user error is a factor.

The latest update running on Lillipop (5.0.2 on Xperia Z3 for me) should have you covered.

Untick "Hide Notification on Pause" in Settings > Playback.
even after removing headphones (and the podcast pausing) the lockscreen widget should still be there.

hbi2k wrote:

Pocket Casts question:

If I'm listening to a podcast on headphones and I unplug the headphones and then plug them back in, I get no audio until I close Pocket Casts and open it up again. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's annoying; I'd really like to be able to switch from headphones to speakers and back again without jumping through hoops. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm using a 2014 Moto X running Android 5.1 if that helps. I've only had the phone for two days so it's entirely possible that user error is a factor.

I've got the same phone with the same update (AT&T) and haven't had that problem. Pocket Casts has been very good about me disconnecting my Bluetooth speaker and having it automatically pick up on my phone.

Not saying it's user error or anything...just sayin' I haven't experienced that particular issue!

The WiFi at my workplace is very spotty, so I often turn it off and connect through 4G during the workday. Problem is: I often forget to turn it back on when I leave for home, which doesn't help with my 1gb data cap.

Any recommendations for an app that automatically turns WiFi on at a certain hour, if it's turned off?

Seems to be several wifi apps based on location. Smart Wifi Wifi-Matic Probably more.

And I recall someone suggesting using an NFC tag for something like that, when you arrive home.

Maybe when I was running Cyanogen at one point a couple years back... I seem to remember having a scheduler of some type where you could set home, work, and wifi, volume, etc. settings at those locations.

dejanzie wrote:

The WiFi at my workplace is very spotty, so I often turn it off and connect through 4G during the workday. Problem is: I often forget to turn it back on when I leave for home, which doesn't help with my 1gb data cap.

Any recommendations for an app that automatically turns WiFi on at a certain hour, if it's turned off?

Just setup your device to forget the WiFi networks at your job? It will not connect to it.

dejanzie wrote:

The WiFi at my workplace is very spotty, so I often turn it off and connect through 4G during the workday. Problem is: I often forget to turn it back on when I leave for home, which doesn't help with my 1gb data cap.

Any recommendations for an app that automatically turns WiFi on at a certain hour, if it's turned off?

This could lead you down a (very interesting) rabbit hole, but there's Tasker. It can do help you do a bunch of stuff with your android device, more if you're rooted.

based on GPS or even better, based on the specific cell tower you connect to, you can determine when to connect to specific WiFi networks.

It's incredibly granular.

Thing is: the wifi at work sometimes actually works, and when it does I do want it to connect. I just want it to turn on again IF I had to switch it off during work hours (which I don't mind manually doing).

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Are you sure there aren't settings that will do that already on your phone? Smart Wifi, etc?

My last two phones have had some of that built in. Maybe my last three.

For instance, I can turn Wifi off, but then my LG G4 will know that I'm back home and I'll connect to my home wifi.

Just a heads up - if you have a SHIELD tablet - NVIDIA has initiated a recall for a large group of them. You should get an email from NVIDIA providing details and process for getting a new one.

dejanzie wrote:

Thing is: the wifi at work sometimes actually works, and when it does I do want it to connect. I just want it to turn on again IF I had to switch it off during work hours (which I don't mind manually doing).

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

A friend of mine use this : https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...

MannishBoy wrote:

Are you sure there aren't settings that will do that already on your phone? Smart Wifi, etc?

My last two phones have had some of that built in. Maybe my last three.

For instance, I can turn Wifi off, but then my LG G4 will know that I'm back home and I'll connect to my home wifi.

Sony's Xperia could do that with KK 4.4.4. Can't seem to find that option now that I've upgraded to 5.0.2.

:/

Amazon's got a lot of free apps and games up again.

The only one you really need to pay attention to is Goat Simulator.

Scribblenauts is in there too though, I suppose.

I recommend the Sudoku4ever app. Tons of options, tons of difficulty levels, hints if you need them, statistics on everything. I probably use the app every day.

Stele wrote:

I recommend the Sudoku4ever app. Tons of options, tons of difficulty levels, hints if you need them, statistics on everything. I probably use the app every day.

No, I think he is right. If he wanted to talk about games, he would not have posted that in the non-game thread.

I'm still one of those old-fashioned people that refuses to let go of RSS feeds and Google Reader. I've been using Press for quite awhile and am still generally satisfied with it, but it hasn't been updated since January 2014 and the developers aren't responding on Twitter or via e-mail about whether any updates are still forthcoming (supposedly a Material Design update was in development at some point).

I don't like using Feedly itself, as I think it's a bit "bulky" for my taste. I'm going to give FeedlyReader a try...

Do any of you still use RSS for news articles? I get hundreds per day, so something lightweight, fast, and attractive would be preferred...

I'll never stop using RSS.

Have you tried gReader? It looks fairly nice and it's very customizable.

I've been quite happy with Feedly's native app.

I've been looking for some kind of reader app. I tried Flipboard again, but it doesn't seem to do what I want very well.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I've been looking for some kind of reader app. I tried Flipboard again, but it doesn't seem to do what I want very well.

Flipboard seems cool for discovery, but not as good for flying through my hundreds of articles quickly. Also, I preferred it on a tablet rather than on my phone... Still, seems well-made - just not for me.

Hyetal wrote:

I'll never stop using RSS.

Have you tried gReader? It looks fairly nice and it's very customizable.

I haven't tried it recently. Last time we used it, we installed it on a Kindle Fire because Google Reader wasn't available. And at the time, it was quite ugly. But that was years ago, so perhaps it's better. I'll give it a look!

Here's a screenshot. There's a lighter color scheme, too, if that's your jam.

I stand by gReader.
It's been my RSS reader for years.
It sticks to the basics in terms of design, but it's a very competent app.

I just discovered Keep. What a great little app.

duckilama wrote:

I just discovered Keep. What a great little app.

Keep is great. Been using it since launch. Not a ton of features, but it does what I want...

Hyetal wrote:

Here's a screenshot. There's a lighter color scheme, too, if that's your jam.

Definitely works better than it used to! I'll give it a try!

Looks like Pocket Cast added support for Subscribe on Android, for one click podcast subscriptions. Didn't realize this existed.