Got a craving for the best Android apps of the week but don’t know how to sate your hunger? Wonder no more, because we’re here to ease the burden and bring you the best downloads the Android Market has to offer. And we’re not asking for a penny in return! Are we good to you, or what?
Eagle-eyed readers might notice something different about this week’s column – we’ve included swanky-type web links which whisk you away to the new online version of the Android Market, which was unveiled by Google a few days ago. So now it’s even easier to grab the app you want.
Having said that, we remain massive supporters of the quick and convenient QR Code, so you’ll find them included as per usual. Simply download the Barcode Scanner app if you haven’t done so already and you’re good to go.
Best Android apps of all time: Top 100
Skifta
Don’t fret about the rather unusual name – this is an app you’re going to fall head over heels in love with if you’ve a large collection of music and videos on your home computer. Skifta allows you to stream your media library to your phone using a standard WiFi network connection, and the developer has even coined a new buzz-word to accompany this magic: ‘media shifting’. There’s no need for wires, downloading or side-loading, and it’s even possible to use your phone to funnel your collection of hugely embarrassing Elton John albums to another device on a local WiFi network. Your friends may not thank you as you belt out Candle in the Wind for the umpteenth time, but you’ll be on the cutting edge of wireless tech regardless.
Mozilla Firefox (UPDATE)
Firefox has been pottering around on the Android Market for quite a while now, but this week has seen a significant upturn in the web browser’s fortunes. The app has been given a massive kick up the posterior in terms of raw speed, with Mozilla claiming a three-fold improvement over the stock Android browser. We’re not entirely convinced this is the case, but Firefox is certainly quicker than before. The fact that you can sync it with your desktop Firefox browser and share bookmarks is another bonus, and Mozilla has reduced the amount of space the app takes up in your phone’s internal storage, too. If you’re after one of the best Android apps for alternative web viewing, give this foxy proposition a spin.
Crystal Defenders
Granted, it’s been available on the iPhone since what feels like the dawn of time, but Square Enix’s unique take on the tower defence genre is still worthy of investigation now that it has stumbled over to Android – so much so we’re giving it a coveted place in our run-down of the week’s best Android apps. The visuals are certainly a step up from the norm, and the gameplay is more addictive than a box full of ice-cold Turkish Delight bars. The only bugbear is the price – at nearly five quid, this is one of the more pricey Android releases of recent memory. Still, the entry fee is worth paying when you consider the highly polished nature of the entire package – you can practically see your face in it.
Tiger Lab Demo DS
We all know that Android is capable of some truly amazing tricks – fart apps notwithstanding, of course – but this work-in-progress demo has truly blown our proverbial socks clean off. Bad news first – it’s not playable in any sense, so don’t go expecting New Super Mario Bros on your humble Google Nexus S. However, it gives a tantalising glimpse into Android’s emulator future – dual-core phones are inbound, and they should have the power to make playing Nintendo DS games on your phone a reality. In the meantime, download this demo and ponder whimsically over what you might be playing in a year’s time.
Toyshop Adventures
Available in both premium and ad-supported freemium guises, Toyshop Adventures is best described as LittleBigPlanet Lite. You’re tasked with reclaiming the toyshop owner’s lost marbles, and to do so you must traverse the hostile environments of the shop shelves, avoiding possessed puppets and rampaging robots. The graphics are gorgeous, while the physics-based action offers hours of entertainment and ensures the game effortlessly glides into our weekly pick of the best Android apps. It’s as sickly-sweet as five toffee apples and a chocolate milkshake, but as long as you don’t let your mates catch you playing it under the table down the boozer, you’ll be perfectly fine.
