(1)HowStuffWorks
It provides a phone-friendly way to access the best HowStuffWorks content, ranging from podcasts and videos to the informative articles that kicked the whole thing off. The presentation of the app is clean and simple, making it easy to find the stuff that you want to read about. But it's the high quality of the various articles, blogs and videos that will keep you coming back for more.
You can use it across a range of activities including, cycling, mountain biking and snowboarding, as well as running, and at the end of each session your stats are automatically uploaded to the Runkeeper website so you can view them online.
It allows you to have as many different homescreen panels as you like and also installs a customised shortcut bar at the bottom that scrolls horizontally independent of the homescreen panels, to allow you to add shortcuts for up to 15 apps. You can also change the screen transitions, hide the notification bar and change the app drawer from vertical to horizontal scrolling. In fact, it lets you customise a huge number of different elements of your phone.
The software works over 3G as well as Wi-Fi, so you can use it on the move as well as when you're within range of a Wi-Fi router or hotspot. The app is totally free and doesn’t have any annoying in-app adverts, either. The developers say that they will soon release a Blackberry version, which will broaden the range of users you can call for free.
As well as allowing you to view thousands of images from NASA's archives, it also gives you on-demand access to the agencies videos and provides information and countdown clocks for upcoming launches. There's even a tracker for earth orbiting satellites and the International Space Station. All in all, there's a huge amount of information available here.
The game takes a similar approach to controls as Glu's previous hit game, Star Blitz, in that there are two virtual joysticks on either side of the screen – one to control movement and the other to control the direction of fire. The graphics are very stylish and the game play is easy to get into, but also suitably frantic.
One of the reasons why Dice Player is so fast is that it uses a phone's hardware video decoding when it's available. Using hardware decoding also helps to cut down on battery usage, so you'll get longer play time between charges.
It's been worth the wait, because the app allows you to stream around 25000 music videos on your phone from around 7500 artists. The app is also neatly designed and even lets you search by voice, so finding the videos you want to play is pretty straight forward. It works over 3G as well as Wi-Fi, so you can use it when you're out and about, but the video quality could be better, especially in the high quality mode.
The graphics really are top notch, with gorgeous backdrops and smooth animations. And while the gameplay may be old-school, it's still hugely fun and addictive. Part one includes three missions and is free, while part two has five missions and will set you back £1.19.
It makes it easy to check fixtures or view results, and you can even set up favourites to make it easy to follow your favourite team or teams. As well as the English leagues it also lets you see news on foreign leagues such as Serie A and the Bundesliga. Some other sports are covered too, including Rugby and Formula One.
HowStuffWorks started off as a website that helped to explain the concepts and engineering behind everyday objects in a fun and informative way, but it gradually expanded into different mediums, including TV, with a series on the Discovery channel. Perhaps it's not surprising then that the brand now has its own app too.
It provides a phone-friendly way to access the best HowStuffWorks content, ranging from podcasts and videos to the informative articles that kicked the whole thing off. The presentation of the app is clean and simple, making it easy to find the stuff that you want to read about. But it's the high quality of the various articles, blogs and videos that will keep you coming back for more.Verdict
This app provides a great window into the high quality infotainment available from the HowStuffWorks brand.
(2)Runkeeper
If you're trying to up your fitness, it's important to be able to track your progress, to check whether your times and stamina are actually improving or not. Runkeeper is one of the best free apps available for handling this task. You can set up your own coaching parameters, say for running a 10K, and the app will then use GPS to monitor your route and speed and will call out prompts at distance or time intervals to give you an idea of how far you've travelled and what pace you're currently achieving.
You can use it across a range of activities including, cycling, mountain biking and snowboarding, as well as running, and at the end of each session your stats are automatically uploaded to the Runkeeper website so you can view them online.Verdict
Runkeeper's excellent tracking and coaching abilities, combined with its impressive companion website, make it a must have for sports junkies.
(3)Go Launcher EX
One of the great things about Android is the level of customisation it allows you to carry out on the look and feel of the OS. One of the easiest ways to make a dramatic change to the way your phone's software looks is to install a new launcher, such as Go Launcher EX.
It allows you to have as many different homescreen panels as you like and also installs a customised shortcut bar at the bottom that scrolls horizontally independent of the homescreen panels, to allow you to add shortcuts for up to 15 apps. You can also change the screen transitions, hide the notification bar and change the app drawer from vertical to horizontal scrolling. In fact, it lets you customise a huge number of different elements of your phone.Verdict
Go Launcher EX may be free, but it holds its own against paid for options such as ADW Launcher EX and LauncherPro.
(4)Viber
Viber is another free communications tool for your Android handset. At its core it's a voice over the internet application that allows you to make free calls to other Viber users. What's interesting about the app is that it offers better than usual sound quality compared to other VoIP services. As well as supporting voice calls it also allows you to send free text massages to other users. And as Viber is available on the iPhone, you're not limited to just communicating with other Android users.
The software works over 3G as well as Wi-Fi, so you can use it on the move as well as when you're within range of a Wi-Fi router or hotspot. The app is totally free and doesn’t have any annoying in-app adverts, either. The developers say that they will soon release a Blackberry version, which will broaden the range of users you can call for free.Verdict
Viber is easy to use and offers better-than-usual call quality, so it's worth downloading if you have other mates with smartphones who you want to call for free.
(5)NASA
The shuttle programme may have recently come to an end and, unfortunately, after the cancellation of the Constellation programme, NASA doesn’t seem to have a coherent strategy about what type of vehicle will replace it. But there's still plenty going on at the US space agency and this app provides an excellent way to keep up-to-date with recent developments.
As well as allowing you to view thousands of images from NASA's archives, it also gives you on-demand access to the agencies videos and provides information and countdown clocks for upcoming launches. There's even a tracker for earth orbiting satellites and the International Space Station. All in all, there's a huge amount of information available here.Verdict
NASA may be in limbo as to what its next human space program will entail, but this app provides you with plenty of ways to keep up to date with some of the more interesting stuff the agency is currently up to.
(6)Star Blitz
Star Blitz is a classic shoot 'em up that sees you take control of an intergalactic space fighter with a mission to defeat the Alien Xeno Cluster, who are th bad guys that want toot take control of your home world. Your ship is equipped with a pretty powerful array of weaponry including lasers, electrons and homing rockets that you can use to blast the enemy into smithereens.
The game takes a similar approach to controls as Glu's previous hit game, Star Blitz, in that there are two virtual joysticks on either side of the screen – one to control movement and the other to control the direction of fire. The graphics are very stylish and the game play is easy to get into, but also suitably frantic.Verdict
Star Blitz is a classy top-down shooter with good looking graphics and engaging, old school gameplay.
(7)Dice Player
Dice Player is yet another video player for Android devices, but what differentiates it from many of its competitors is its support for high definition MKV files. Obviously, for MKV files to play smoothly you need a device with a pretty decent amount of horsepower. However, there's a free trial version available in the Android Market so you can test whether the formats you need to be able to play actually work on your device before you purchase the full app.
One of the reasons why Dice Player is so fast is that it uses a phone's hardware video decoding when it's available. Using hardware decoding also helps to cut down on battery usage, so you'll get longer play time between charges.Verdict
It doesn't work smoothly on every device, but when it does work Dice Player is a great option for playing back high definition MKV files.
(8)Vevo Android App
The Vevo website gives you access to thousands of videos from artists signed to three of the big four record companies – Sony, Universal and EMI. When the site launched it quickly became one of the most visited music sites on the web. An iPhone app for the service has been available for quite a while, but Vevo has now finally launched an Android one, too.
It's been worth the wait, because the app allows you to stream around 25000 music videos on your phone from around 7500 artists. The app is also neatly designed and even lets you search by voice, so finding the videos you want to play is pretty straight forward. It works over 3G as well as Wi-Fi, so you can use it when you're out and about, but the video quality could be better, especially in the high quality mode.Verdict
If you want to check out the latest music videos from big-name artists on your phone, Vevo is a must have.
(9)Air Attack HD Part 1
If you look back on the 1942 arcade game with fondness, then Air Attack HD will be right up your street. Like that old classic, this game sees you take control of an old fighter airplane as you battle through wave after wave of airborne enemies. Destroying certain waves leaves you with power-ups like money and health bonuses, and at the end of each level can purchase various upgrade with the money you've collected throughout the mission.
The graphics really are top notch, with gorgeous backdrops and smooth animations. And while the gameplay may be old-school, it's still hugely fun and addictive. Part one includes three missions and is free, while part two has five missions and will set you back £1.19.VerdictAir Attack HD's sumptuous graphics and addictive game play make it well worth a download.
(10)UK Sports News
With the new football season having just kicked off, footie obsessives will no doubt be scouring the web for every last snippet of news and information on their teams. If that sounds like you, UK Sports News could be a vital weapon in your information gathering arsenal. It takes the sports feeds from the BBC and Sky websites and combines them together in a single new reader app that's quick to load and straightforward to use.
It makes it easy to check fixtures or view results, and you can even set up favourites to make it easy to follow your favourite team or teams. As well as the English leagues it also lets you see news on foreign leagues such as Serie A and the Bundesliga. Some other sports are covered too, including Rugby and Formula One.Verdict
UK Sports News isn’t the most complicated app in the world, but what it does, it does well.
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