I'm always saying mobile Apps suck - but here are a few good ones

So I've had my Google Nexus now for a little over a month and I'm liking it.

I'm always saying though that apps are way over-hyped when it comes to smartphones. I still stand by that belief, but I will say I've found a few (free) apps for my Nexus that I actually like.

Given there are millions of apps out there, it's kind of sad that there are only half-a-dozen that I actually find useful.

Out of Milk - a 'to do' list application

GPS Navigation - voice-enabled GPS navigation from your phone. Probably the best app on my Android (comes as part of the Android system).

SoundHound - simply press a button when a song is playing and your phone analyzes the audio and within seconds tells you who the artist is (it's amazing how accurate this thing is, it has yet to fail).

Tape-a-Talk - free voice recorder. Works well and saves files as mp3s, a MUST have for PR folks. A bare minimum it's a great back-up to your existing stand alone voice recorder.

That's about all in terms of apps that I think add real value.

I've got a ton of other apps also loaded on there, but I hardly ever use them. Things like:

- a couple games
- a weather app
- couple of quotes applications
- a few news outlets and stock market trackers
- a few internet apps like IMDB
- obviously the socmed apps like Twitter and LinkedIn

You get the drift. Nothing I couldn't live without because I easily access this content on my PC.

It's because of this that I sometimes wonder if I'd have been happier with a Blackberry and if I would have enjoyed things like a longer battery life and stronger reception more than the couple apps I currently use (probably all of which you can get on the Blackberry).

But I can't say I regret getting the Nexus, it's been an enjoyable phone (and definitely glad I tossed my landline in favour of it).

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