It’s Thursday October 30, and that can only mean one thing – T-Mobile G1 launch day! Now at long last we can get to grips with Google’s Android OS and test out all those lovely open source apps developers have been slaving away on for months.
We’ve shown you the ones that’ll turn iPhone owners putrid green with envy, the ones to make you into a social butterfly and the ones to make you money, but which are the tippest of the top, the ones you simply can’t be without? Want to know what you should be downloading from Android Marketplace right now? Read on!
TuneWiki
TuneWiki is like every social network you could imagine, from Facebook to Last FM, squeezed into a mobile cake and iced with GPS functionality. That’s a bad analogy, but the concept behind TuneWiki isn’t – share songs and add lyrics for mobile karoake, and even see what other people in the area are listening to – is far more addictive than the sweetest cakes out there.
Compare Everywhere
The innovative thinking behind price checker Compare Everywhere won it the top prize in Google’s developers’ challenge, and it’s not hard to see why. Taking advantage of the G1’s three megapixel camera, you scan a barcode to find out the price of the product not just in your shop, but every other in the area. It even pulls up user reviews instantly, so you can find out if it’s a duffer without ever having to lug it back for a refund!
BreadCrumbz
Google Street View comes as standard in the G1, but this social mapping software mashes up the Google Maps API to let users add their own trails, snaps and suggestions, making you a more entertaining guide than Richard O’Brien in Crystal Maze. If there’s another phone in the world that can match the G1 for sightseeing abilities with BreadCrumbz installed, well eat our hat. We’ll even sell you an over-priced souvenir photo of us doing it.
Maverick
Make use of the G1’s QWERTY keyboard by blitzing out messages to mate a bit more substantial than “where r u?”. Maverick is a mobile instant messaging app that’ll have you chatting away on Google Talk, iChat or whatever program you prefer, and even blogging on the go.
Photostream
Unleash the full power of Flickr by sharing your shots as you take them. A clean, quick and easy interface will have you uploading in minutes, and if that’s still not fast enough for you, you can slap shortcuts on the home page and switch accounts at a snap. Photostream turns the G1 into a full-blown photo studio. You’ll wonder why you never shared mobile phone photos before!
e-ventr
A mobile is pretty useful for staying touch with your mates, but it becomes even more vital if it automatically co-ordinates events for you, sending out invites and letting you know about any in the vicinity so you can become the ultimate party crasher. Have friends? Download e-ventr. Need friends? Download e-ventr.
BlueBrush
This takes Google Docs’ collaboration function and replaces boring old spreadsheets with a touchscreen canvas for you and your friends to doodle on. Sound insipid? Wait until you play hangman against each other on a packed train and we’re sure you’ll think again. Of course, there are more sensible uses for it too. Draw maps for each other. Share ideas for a project. Or just draw “hilarious” pictures of your mates behind their backs.
Video Player v0.1
Until VLC Media Player drops on Android, this useful tool will keep your mobile movie cravings in check. Play video clips straight from an SD card, giving you an extra 8GB of TV shows to keep you happy on the commute. Unless you’re driving of course, that’s pretty dangerous.
Any Cut v0.5
Get to your fave apps even quicker with this lil’ upgrade. Place home shortcuts to any apps or files on your phone, or bookmark your favourite sites for one tap access – perfect if you’re a menuphobe, or simply need to know the very latest football scores at a single press when you’re out and about.
Shazam
Until Amazon MP3 arrives in the UK later this year, Shazam is the mobile music store you need on Android. Handily, unlike all those other download services which require you to know the name of the song you’re humming, just playing it into the phone will come up with the track and artist. Watch out for MySpace on Android when it’s released, as the app comes integrated with Shazam.
