Apps come and go. Some new ones emerge, while others die out or stop getting updates. To stay one step ahead of the changes, we’ve rounded up the best 5 Android apps you simply most have installed on your smartphone in 2014.
- Google Voice
For those of us that like the mobility of having our communications on the road. Google voice will easily take priority over Skype or your inlaid text messenger pronto. Cross compatible alongside your PC, the app can actually give the user a singular number that can ring through as many devices as you’d like. Not to mention that it’ll block spam and implement the appropriate filters in order to assure the user’s absolute privacy. One of the best features that Google Voice allows is the mixture of cheap international calls as well as the uncanny ability to siphon through text messages on your PC.
- Astro File Manager
Maintaining your expected level productivity on your Android mobile device requires you to trudge through files that’ve dropped into the Android file system. Which can be a horrendous mess altogether, since those files can literally be strewn everywhere, and anywhere besides where you’d probably like them to be. Astro File Manager hops right in and grants you the freedom to search your files no matter where they might be hidden on your device. It is accessible on your PC as well, and implements a search function so that you’ll be able to find that hidden file you might’ve saved on your phone weeks ago in a matter of moments.
With its relatively brand-new “Cloud Hopping” technology, Astro File Manager will allow you to seamlessly move files in-between various cloud storage services without even downloading them onto your phone first.
- Air Droid 2
Air Droid 2 is quite literally a lifesaver when it comes to being able to shift files from Android device to your PC, or vice versa. Even if they’re nowhere near one another. But that isn’t the only hassle that this app can offer you. Air Droid 2 will also grant you the freedom to sling text messages, pinpoint your phone’s location, and even allow you to manage your app installations from the security of your Web browser. In addition to that, you can push URLs from your PC to your Android, or copy text from your phone or tablet to your PC.
- Google Cloud Print
Being able to print on your Android device can prove to be an enormous hassle. Transferring from PC to smartphone in order to print can be a nightmare for those of us whom expect the deed to be done as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Especially if we’re in a rush, and trust me there will be moments that you’re too busy to tussle with prepping your Android to print. Google Cloud Print will take the agony out of your day. After you’ve connected your printer to Cloud Print, or any printer on any Net-connected PC will do as long as you have Google Chrome affixed to your devices. You’ll ultimately be able to print documents or photographs by sharing them on the Cloud Print app via Android’s useful Share options. It’s so incredibly useful whenever you’re moving around from place to place. Not to mention if you don’t need paper copies, Cloud Print will also allow you to save screens onto your Google Drive as PDFs.
- Splashtop Remote Desktop
And perhaps the best for last, I’ll almost guarantee you that this app will save your butt at least once! Imagine that you’re on the road with only your mobile device or tablet, preparing for a big transaction or lofty business meeting; then it hits you– the file you need is actually somewhere on your PC. Chances are that in this predicament that you’d potentially weigh your options of rushing back home and transferring the file onto your device. However, that can be risky. Not to mention we can take out that messy third-step (if it even is an option, sometimes it’s not!) and introduce you to this useful little trinket called Splashtop Remote Desktop. What it does is basically burrow into your Desktop from wherever you might be situated so that you can be given access to whatever is that you might need on your computer via smartphone.
Don’t get the version I’m recommending you to confused with the $9.99 version of Splashtop Remote Desktop, though. Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop is the free app that you can download before opting to the paid version. I’d recommend taking the free download out for an evaluation before you’re prepared to invest in the product. However, both are relatively useful and can save you from those terrifying moments of being caught off-guard in the field. Being able to view and control your Windows PC right from your mobile device is something that will come in handy.
In Conclusion
In order to wrap up our “useful apps that are accessible on Android devices and PC,” we’ve managed to gather a few other apps that might prove to be useful on the Google Play store for you as well. No matter what you do on your smartphone, or PC—we live in a world now that optimizes the usage of both. So be considerate of what is chosen for your Droid, and it’ll serve you well!
Look forward to our other listings of useful Android apps that’ll be available in the near future.