Want the best must-have apps from the Android Market? We’ve got them for you, all rounded up in one place, and shown off in video too!
All you need to tap into the world of tasty Android apps is a Android phone, such as the HTC Magic. Fire it up, prod the Market icon and start browsing. Here are our top choices from its wealth of downloadable goodies.
BeebPlayer
This handy Android app lets you tap into BBC iPlayer shows wherever you are. That’s the last seven days’ TV, radio and even access to who series and previous episodes.
BeebPlayer works using 3G or Wi-Fi connections, so the app can grab the lastest TV or radio no matter where you are, and it doesn’t stop there: it’ll even serve up live TV and Radio on the move too.
Last.fm
The Last.fm app turns your HTC Magic into a personalised internet radio. Tap into it and the app will dish up music based on tunes you’ve listened to in the past. That means you’re more likely to enjoy the sounds it streams from the web.
The last.fm app also taps into artist biographies and shows who’s on tour near you.
PicSay
Taking photos on the HTC Magic is all well and good, but install this Android app and you’ll find yourself able to tweak them with clip-art, effects and captions.
Fire it up and you’ll see all your existing photos, but with the option to add to them, apply filters and then share the results with friends, or upload them to Picasa web albums for public viewing.
Qik
One of the cleverest Android apps in the world, Qik lets you broadcast live video from your phone to the web. Fire it up and within seconds you’ll be sending live footage to the internet. You can sign up to Qik’s free service through the phone itself, and your video streams are even saved online so they can be viewed later too.
Shazam
Whether you desperately want to know the name of a track, or you’re doing some sneaky cheating in the pub quiz’s music round, Shazam is an astounding Android app that identifies songs simply by listening to them.
Install Shazam, hold the HTC Magic aloft, and let it listen to the music. In a few seconds it’ll return the full name and artist, and even save previously identified tunes so you can keep track of music you’ve discovered on the move.
ShopSavvy
You’re shopping, you find a product you’d like, but how do you avoid being ripped off at the til? Simple: point ShopSavvy at the product’s barcode. It’ll scan the stripes and find the product online. You’ll see the latest prices, as well as reviews, and can even use the Android app to build up a wishlist.
Google SkyMap
Don’t stare blankly at the night sky. Use this handy Android App to turn the HTC Magic into an interactive stargazer! Fire it up, point the phone to the heavens and you’ll see constellations overlaid on its screen. You can choose how much detail is shown, and even use on-screen directions to hunt out specific stars or planets.
Google Search by Voice
If tapping into the HTC Magic’s browser and typing web searches is too laborious for you, try Google Search by Voice. It does exactly what you’d expect: turning your spoken queries into super-fast Google searches. One of the most impressive Android apps going, it even copes with different accents. Simply install it from the Android market, fire it up, and speak!
Wikidroid
Harnessing the power of Wikipedia, the world’s largest encyclopaedia, this handy Android app automatically formats information for the HTC Magic’s screen. That makes it fast to load, and easy to read, putting the world’s largest knowledge bank at your fingertips, no matter where you are!
Metal Detector
Turn your HTC Magic mobile phone into a metal-sniffing super sleuth! The Metal Detector Android app repurposes the built-in compass to search for nearby metallic objects. It’ll vibrate as soon as it’s moved anywhere near your metal belongings. Great for scouring for lost keys, or simply showing off to your mates!
