The platform's fragmentation woes have been well documented. As of early March, only 1.6% of devices accessing the Android Market were running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and a recent survey by IDC and Appcelerator suggests that app developers are losing their enthusiasm for the mobile OS.
From an end user's standpoint, Android's chaotic nature can be a hassle, particularly when the app you want won't run on the device you own. Take, for instance, MLB.com At Bat 12, the official app of Major League Baseball. It's a convenient way for baseball fans to watch live MLB games, but its support for Android tablets is sketchy at this time. If you're using a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 (Verizon Wireless version), Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Wi-Fi version), Motorola Xoom, or an Amazon Kindle Fire, you're good to go. Other Android slates? No guarantees.
On the plus side, Android's anything-goes philosophy has its merits, particularly for adventurous types fond of rooting mobile devices to do any number of things, such as avoid annoying ads, improve battery life, and boost performance. (Keep reading our slideshow for specific examples.)
What Android lacks in a cohesive, unified experience (see: Apple iOS)--it compensates for with an abundance of software and hardware options. Example: The iPhone 4S has Siri, a voice-controlled "personal assistant," but Android has speech recognition tools as well, including Speaktoit Assistant, Vlingo, and Google Voice Actions for Android. Sure, Apple's voice implementation is arguably the better choice for users who'd rather not dabble with various speech tools, but Android's mix-and-match approach is certainly more fun for the tech-savvy tinkerer.
Of course, the sheer number of Android devices is staggering--Sony even offers an Android-based SmartWatch --and Android's infiltration of consumer electronics will likely continue to grow, particularly if the OS successfully migrates to home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Will the future bring a more buttoned-down Android? It doesn't appear so. "Android was built as an open ecosystem, and we have no plans to change that," wrote Google CEO Page in a recent letter to investors. That's good news for Android fans who love the platform's freewheeling ways--but less comforting for users who simply want assurances that their Android devices will work with the desired apps.
Dig into our list of apps and tricks to get more from your Android device.
Ad-supported apps may seem like real money-savers, but they're costing you cash by draining your smartphone's battery in a hurry. Purdue University researchers have found that free apps use up to 75% of their energy tracking your geographical location, downloading ads, and sending information about you to advertisers. Solution: Cut back on the free apps. Another tip is to load an energy-saving app like Easy Battery Saver, which has four preset power-saving modes.
If you're not afraid to flash a kernel, you can conserve battery life by underclocking your Android phone when it's idle. The process isn't all that hard to do, but it's not exactly novice-friendly either. Lifehacker has a nice overview of how to go about it.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Does anyone really love software keyboards? They can't compare to the tactile goodness of the physical variety, although they're getting better. For Android users, the new SwiftKey 3 is arguably the best of the soft bunch. What makes the latest SwiftKey special is its Smart Space algorithm, an auto-correction tool that determines when you've missed spaces or mistakenly hit a letter between words. The new version has a larger spacebar and punctuation keys, support for seven new languages, and a UI that matches Android 4.0's motif. Currently in beta, the tablet and phone versions of SwiftKey 3 are available to members of the developer's VIP community, and are worth a look if you can't find a software keyboard you like.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Innovative apps generally come to iOS devices first, and then migrate to Android. But Google's Chrome is one app that made its mobile debut on Android. OK, no great surprise there, given the familial connection between Android and Chrome. But it's still something for Android users to cheer.
Why should Android users load the Chrome beta? Because like its desktop counterpart, the mobile version of Chrome delivers fast browsing and search. The synchronicity between desktop and mobile Chrome is handy as well: Browser tabs you've left open on your desktop PC will open automatically on your phone or tablet. Bookmarks and omnibox (address bar) data, including auto-complete suggestions, also migrate.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Ever had a business conundrum where you need to return someone's call, but you'd rather leave a voice message than speak to the person directly? Mobile Sphere's Slydial is a sneaky app for Android that connects you directly to a mobile user's voicemail. The app is free but requires a subscription to the MYslydial Premium service, which costs $2.95 per month or $29.95 per year. Alternatively, the pay- per-use plan is 10 cents per Slydial call.
Still too pricey? Slydial has an ad-supported free alternative: Phone the Slydial service, enter the mobile number you want to reach, and listen to an ad before Slydial connects you. There's also a Slydial app for BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows Mobile users. (Windows Phone fans should try "MetroSly" instead.)
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Do you love your Android device, but hate those flashing, annoying ads that turn the screen into a digital billboard? Your ad-zapping options are limited unless you want to root your phone, which is legal but voids the device's warranty. For non-rooters, Android Adblock may do the trick. Currently in beta, this open-source HTTP proxy blocks ads from websites in your mobile browser. However, it doesn't block ads in apps. If you've rooted your Android device, ad-blocking options abound, including AdAway and AdFree Android. But before you install these ad-zapping apps, please understand that many developers rely on ads to keep the lights on.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Apple's Siri voice-command feature isn't exactly flawless on the iPhone 4S, a shortcoming that points to the limitations of today's speech recognition software. But when Siri works well, it's both helpful and fun. Android users can acquire a degree of Siri-style functionality with Google's Voice Actions for Android, which performs a specific set of vocal commands, such as "map of [address/city]" and "go to [website]." For a natural-language experience (i.e., more Siri-like), try Speaktoit Assistant, a free "virtual buddy" that answers questions, finds information, launches apps, and so on. And Vlingo, another free virtual helper, is handy for sending texts and emails, and updating your status on Facebook and Twitter.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
You're at a dreadfully dull business lunch, listening to some pompous bore pontificate on topics of great irrelevance. How can you escape without offending the bloviator? Call Faker to the rescue! You use this free app to input a bogus contact name, time, and ringtone, and your phone rings with a fake call at a predetermined time. If you're no good at advance planning, simply add the app's call widget to Android's home screen; when you long-press the Call Faker button, the app makes a phony incoming call.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Baseball season is underway, and your Android tablet, or perhaps even a gargantuan phone like the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note, is a great way to catch your favorite Major League teams in action. Subscribers to MLB.TV Premium ($24.99/month or $124.99/year) get the MLB.com At Bat 12 app for free, allowing them to watch live out-of-market games in HD on select Android devices. Alternatively, you can buy the app for $15.
If you'd rather spend your cash on chewing tobacco, the free MLB.com At Bat Lite provides news, stats, standings, schedules, and rosters for the AL and NL--but no live games.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
How much does it really cost to drive your vehicles? Android apps like aCar and My Cars provide an easy way to monitor and control your car and truck expenses, including mileage, maintenance, and those obscenely high fuel costs. Each app supports multiple vehicles and has numerous charts and stats. But there's one significant difference between the two: aCar is designed primarily for U.S. vehicles, while My Cars is tailored for U.K. drivers.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
Automation devices that control lighting, temperature, and security alarms have been around for decades. But smartphones and tablets may finally bring them into the mainstream. Android phone users, for instance, can control the innovative Nest Learning Thermostat with the free Nest Mobile app.
The $249 Nest is a stylish and smart device that studies your thermostat-usage habits and adjusts itself accordingly. The Nest app lets you change your home or office temperature remotely, check stats on heating and cooling usage, and monitor other settings as well. The bad news: It currently doesn't work with Android tablets.
RECOMMENDED READING
Google's Page: 'Android Is On Fire'
Google Rethinks Price, Specs On Android Tablet
Android 4.0 Forces Samsung To Delay Galaxy Tablets
10 Essential Android Apps For SMBs
Google Must Make Android Upgrade Worth Networks' While
Will Google-Branded Tablet Crash And Burn?
Tablet Shootout: Which Fits Your Enterprise?
Android To Surpass Windows By 2016: IDC
BlueStacks: A First Step Toward Android On Windows
Samsung Ships 5 Million Galaxy Notes, Proves Reviewers Wrong
