[small project] Best Android Tablet/Smartphone Apps for Singapore

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

BEST ANDROID APPS IN SINGAPORE

 

Background:

 

If you looked around at the IT show or even at major computer retailers these few months, you will notice quite a revolution going on.

 

There are numerous Android devices on the market, ranging from your run of the mill iPhone competitors to things that resemble devices that a decade ago were usually custom made for major sci fi productions or too expensive for mass consumer use (Trivia: There was a functional Fujitsu tablet in the 2004/2005 movie Star Trek Nemesis, which was available commercially)

 

High cost is no longer a part of high technology. You could get a super-powered 12.1 inch Lamborghini-branded netbook at only $800 from last week's IT show. But do you want one?

 

An Android tablet like Motorola Xoom (as reviewed by @mechwira here), the transforming Eee Pad and the more portable and well seasoned Galaxy Tab 7 are easier to use, more power-efficient and much more functional than a Windows netbook.

 

Furthermore, Android is a highly customisable OS that is fully optimised for mobile use. You don't have to mess around like a hacker to get an Android tablet optimised to your liking - you just log on to the Android Market and grab the apps you need.

 

Only problem is, there are so many apps that do the same thing. Which one to use? Some apps even have malicious code that may degrade your phone/tablet's performance. App reviewing is not an easy thing to do.

 

There are today, many international websites catered to listing down the "Best Android Apps of them all".

 

However, many of them are geared towards an American or European market, and many such articles are outdated or were not written for the kind of intensive mobile productivity tasks that I use my Galaxy Tab for.

 

So, why not start a SBF Android apps review thread?

 

You can post your favourite apps, and I will aim to review one app every few days. I spent about two months seeking out applications that are basically, functional and do not consume much battery power.

 

It's actually strange but true that certain so called "Battery Saving" apps are responsible for cutting a device's battery lifetime by as much as 50%, because they make the same mistake as some real-life managers do - they micromanage every bit of the device's function, causing it to stall...

 

Stay tuned then for a list of apps recommended for Singaporean lifestyle and motoring

 

In the meantime - I have already written some posts about app management, Elixir widgets to create control panels, and how to pick a good external battery for your tablet.

 

Most of them are on this page here:

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/309153-Samsung-Galaxy-Tab...?p=7123243&viewfull=1#post7123243

[mechwira]

The only active android discussion channel here is the galaxy tab thread, so I guess i'll use this thread to discuss android apps.

 

I need recommendations for two types of app.

 

The first is a driving sensor app that can measure and record data such as speed log, acceleration, braking and general g forces. Augmented reality would be nice but data log record is more important. Free is best of coz.

 

I saw one that claimed to be based on the dashboard of the nissan gtr, which is what I want but I didn download it and now i can't find it again.

 

Essentially I want to show my wife how unsteady her driving is, and then show her how she can improve her driving. She drives slower than me but its a white knuckle nail biting experience in the passenger seat.

 

Yesterday I tried one called dashboard assist, the free one. Looked cool with augmented reality and g force measurement for braking, acceleration and cornering, in addition to standard speedometer and bearing. Full paid version can even allow hands free call, plus voice-reading of received sms. Haven tried in the car yet. But I uninstalled it because after closing the app by pressing my home button, it continued to run in the background. Then three different task killer app I tried couldn kill it, it would come back to life every time. That's one heck of a 'highlander' app.

 

Which brings me to my next request. Anyone found a good task killer app?

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Yes and yes

 

Driving - there are some "black box" type apps that are meant for data logging and accident video recording. They can be programmed to save data or trigger video recording in the event of an emergency. I saw some free "black box" apps like this and there are also some designed for motorsports. I'm at work right now but the apps are rather easy to find on the Market with the right key words.

 

"black box", "driving", "driving log" should net you some decent ones.

 

For the second task killing request I recommend ZDBox for task killing and diagnostics. The widgets supplied with this app are below average in quality but the task killer module is fast and intuitive compared to Elixir which is rather clunky.

 

You can also find some dedicated "task killer" apps that are smaller and more specialised, which is always preferred.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Here's the first contender for a dashboard app + driving data logging

 

https://market.android.com/details?id=uk.co.roboticode.dashboardassistpro

 

There is a free version of Dashboard Assist to try, so don't buy it yet. It does log stats such as G forces, acceleration etc.

[mechwira]

Name: Splashtop Remote

 

Brief Description: Controls your PC or laptop from your handheld. Essentially your handheld displays exactly your monitor, and you have control of your PC/laptop like you're holding a portable touchscreen monitor connected directly to your CPU (with some limitations explained below). Works via Wi-fi network; apparently you can also use internet connection to connect from elsewhere far away by using your google account to search for your PC at home. Bluetooth not available.

 

Price: S$2+

 

Review:

 

You can try the free app demo. It is identical, fully functional like the paid app, except that you are limited to a single 5 min connection to your PC/laptop before it self terminates.

 

You need to download and install the splashtop program into your PC/laptop. Activate it on your computer. First time connection requires you to input your comp's IP (provided by the comp's splashtop program) to your handheld device. subsequent connections simply require you to select your comp from the menu.

 

Your handheld then displays your comp or laptop monitor. exactly as is. you then use your handheld touchscreen to control everything. of coz comp must be running and connected to the wi-fi home network the entire time, but your comp's monitor and speakers and other peripherals can be inactive if you wish, or remain on. it is basically a streaming display connection from CPU to handheld.

 

Amazingly, there is no lag (on same wi-fi; i haven tried internet-based connection). it is not like your finger touches an icon and the comp at the other end takes like a second or two before moving the pointer. it is instantaneous, like a direct monitor connection between handheld and cpu.

 

but it is not without its problems. firstly, display compatibility. if this is used from a smartphone, it will be very awkward coz the tiny screen means you have to zoom all the time to properly view the monitor display, and that means plenty of finger swiping to go the various areas of the display. even on my 10.1" tablet, a difference in aspect ratio means that it will be horizontally shrunk to fit my tablet display. maybe i can adjust the aspect ratio from my comp first before establishing connection. didn try it yet. but at least on my tablet display, i just need to do minor zoom occasionally. it is small but workable on 100% zoom display most of the time.

 

A bigger issue is that technically the controls are mouse-type and not touchscreen-type. finger swipe and pinch controls your handheld's display, and no control signal is sent from these to your comp. a single finger touch sends your mouse pointer to the touched area and performs a left click. double tap to double click. touch and hold for right click.

 

thats where the limitations appear. first example: window scrolling. you keep wanting to finger swipe to scroll, but it doesn work coz a finger swipe on the handheld does not give a scroll wheel signal to the comp. you need to manually use the mouse pointer to scroll the window. awkward because if you read my control instructions above, there is no option for left click hold. a single finger tap and hold performs a right click, not a left click hold. so how do you control the window's scroll bar? i donno, i try doing a double finger tap and holding on the second tap. this works 50% of the time.

 

resizing is also awkward. sending the mouse to a corner of the window turns the pointer into a resize arrow. on the comp, you then left click hold and drag to resize. but like i said, there is no perfect way to send a left click hold and drag signal. so dont try using any software which requires dedicated mouse controls, like graphics.

 

when typing is required, splashtop allows you to manually call out the handheld's touchscreen keyboard.

 

ultimately, you have to consider what you plan to use it for. remote controlled presentations from a laptop? this would be more versatile than other remote control apps since you would essentially be controlling the laptop itself. mobile multimedia viewing of pics/music/videos around the home from an immobile cpu? works perfectly for this. any use you can think of that is not limited by dedicated mouse control should really work perfectly.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Nice review! Outstanding detail as always. You raise good points about the compatability issues between touch control and mouse control. This issue also comes up when running flash games obviously designed for a PC interface.

 

Cross compatability is an interesting subject. I was thinking about if an Eee Transformer would give better PC cross interfacing (the answer is no, because it will be limited not by hardware but by Android app design) and this raises another question - where did all the tablet convertible netbooks go to?

 

It seems ipads and Android tabs all but eliminated the "logical" evolution of netbook design. Infact... I wanted to buy the Asus-Lamborghini super-netbook because it's so cheap at the IT show. Then I realised I was looking at the Asus-Lambo specs on my Galaxy Tab and the Tab more or less already has Mitsubishi Evo net access speed with the right apps so since I had a Tab backed up by a quad core PC there was no use for the super-netbook concept anymore.

 

---

 

Coming up next...

 

 

http://www.pocket-lint.com/images/dynamic/9ea69724de0b62a93d607809b2135eb8eecef084.jpg

 

A review of the ultimate Android heads up display apps that transform your commutes into your very own Top Gun production.

 

You can opt to project a big, friendly GPS speedometer on your windscreen with Ulysse speedometer or if you have a HUGE phone/tab on your handlebars you can go for a full half dozen aviation style gauges or fighter HUD with ZP Dashboard.

 

You don't need to purchase the pro versions to get the epic projections featured in my last few youtube videos (see my channel).

 

The free ones are fully functional. There are just some issues with tablet use of those apps and the lack of manual orientation control in ZP but I have already contacted the developer on that note. Ulysse does have manual-selectable orientation but it only shows speed. Good for quick easy reference for cruiser bikes with no front console (many of us only have tank mounted speedos), but cmon, a galaxy tab can display much much more than just the speed.

 

Note:

 

If you are using a phone case with magnets in it (like a Galaxy Tab leather book case) then you need to remove the magnets (yes, do surgery on the case). The magnets interfere with some of the sensors, disabling the artificial horizon feature. (i.e. the "pitch ladder" of a fighter aircraft HUD)

Edited June 20, 2011 by Pandora's Kitten :3

[redlavita]

I'm subscribed to this thread... great jobs guys,

[LTC]

This thread quiet down liao?

 

Anyway I just want to recommend an app called, "Android lost"

 

Why I want to recommend it? Of course... I think it's one of the best and it's free.

 

This android lost app is very simple to use. U compare it to the "Where my droid" recommended on Crime watch and several other apps found on android market, it is simple to use and does wat it supposed to do.

Most apps on the market needs u to input the settings and requires u to remember the commands to sms to ur lost phone.

 

Android lost does not need all that.

U just need a Google account... Go to their web page and login using ur google account which ur phone is linked to.

From there it is very easy to use...

The functions of ringing alarm on ur phone(Even in silent mode), activating GPS, based on nearest base station, send sms to ur lost phone, retrieve sms logs, call logs, screen timeout, hiding the app, lock timeout, lock phone, unlock phone, erase sd card, wipe phone, text to speech and using front and/or rear camera to take pics to see the culprit. All this is on top of the sms commands thingy with existing similar apps, all on their webpage. Call and sms logs are send to ur Gmail. No hassle.

 

Dun ask me if it works when it's powered off. So far I have not found any apps able to do that.

[iproapps]

Check this out bros if your're learning class 2B or 3.

 

SGBasicTheory, SGFinalTheory and SGRidingTheory in AppStore.

 

Cheap and good!

[srihari1986]

Let me try the Class 3 one...planning to take a car license ...

[Johnpush]

I did my research, knew what I wanted and when I found it, I bought it... Having owned an best Android tablet for a couple of years was helpful, the stuff I learned in this forum was helpful, and taking my time was helpful.

 

Probably the biggest issue with the Android Tablets are companies that are out to make the quick buck, they have low prices on tablets that are not certified for the Android Marketplace, that's a killer.

 

If you do spend the money, from what I have seen, you get a good product.

[Guest supermario]

I love android tablet pc

[accom]

Hi Guys,

 

Can also try this app for getting around Singapore.

 

It is very popular on line http://gothere.sg and on the iPhone.

 

Gives you traffic direction, bus direction and taxi fee calculations.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bynode.gothereandroid

[Marfjtha]

there was no use for the super-netbook concept anymore.http://dayna.lovweifeg.com/1.jpg

http://dayna.lovweifeg.com/2.jpg

http://dayna.lovweifeg.com/3.jpg

http://dayna.lovweifeg.com/4.jpg

[humph]

Summon auntie )