My Always Up to Date Apps for Android and iOS

A phone has become such a congested device that many people have chosen to start from scratch.  However, there will always be apps that iOS or Android can’t provide you out of the gate.  This post is an up to date listing of my current apps on my iPhone and my Android tablet.  The entire set is almost entirely free.  The apps listed aren’t mainstream — I won’t be listing Dropbox and WhatsApp on here or services like Venmo — unless that service/app deserves special recognition.  So without further ado:

​Last Updated (12/18/2017)

Messaging and Voice

• Hangouts (iOS | Android | Android Dialer) - I have 3 phone numbers: my work cell, my number from high school that I recently moved to Google Voice, and my 415 number from when Grand Central was still around.  Now that MMS messages (except group messaging) are available through Hangouts, I dumped my personal line and am using my work phone as my sole carrier.  The iOS version could be better (it is a pain to start a new text message), but the Android version is married to the system and is fantastic.  I only have good things to say about VOIP with this free service too (1h conference call off of gas station Wifi).
  • ​Now that Google Voice on the Android, at least, supports MMS, I have kept my 617 number with Hangouts and swapped 415 to Google Voice so that there is better phone integration.  I also live in a shoddy reception area so putting my 415 number with ObiHai VOIP has been a great free alternative to a landline.
• MobileMeet (iOS | Android) - if you work in sales and have an Intercall number, this is a super simple app to join and start conference calls.  VOIP is also supported (but is spotty at best).  Lots of force quits with VOIP.  If the call is important, use it to direct dial one of your phones.
  • ​Most of my meetings are now centralized with WebEx and WebEx can handle VOIP directly in the app so this app is no longer necessary

Maps and Navigation

• Waze (iOS | Android) - true live traffic and speed traps; still prefer Google in terms of usability, but those two items are the reasons why I will prefer Waze.  You'll want to go into settings and uncheck all the noise outside of the things you care about.
  • ​I can't stand Waze anymore.  There's too much noise as people submit false positives and incidents that don't affect the flow of traffic.  I've also gone through too many shady neighborhoods (Paterson, NJ) where I wouldn't trust the route less traveled.  Google Maps is the way to go.
    
• Nokia HERE (Android) - offline map and navigation - a bit CPU intensive, but becomes your GPS when traveling abroad without internet
• Maps.Me (iOS) - offline map - I love 2D maps and is a skill that is lost on a lot of people these days

Reading

I use Feedly for my feeds.  I dislike Flipboard and the official Feedly app because not everyone has 10 articles to read and I process information in lists, not quarter page ads.

• gReader (Android) - Most intuitive and best layout of all OFFLINE Feedly readers.  Free version has minimal ads.
  • ​I've switched to Feedly's app.  I am less reliant on RSS readers these days.
    
• Newsify (iOS) - Same as above, but for iOS.
• Google News and Weather (Android) - Instead of visiting CNN, then NYTimes, and then Cornell Daily Sun, I enter those zip codes and I am in one source.
• Pocket (iOS | Android) - Offline Article Save and Read.  I used to use Instapaper until they started charging.

Web and PDA

• Chrome (iOS | Android) - bookmark synchronization and password sync makes life too easy especially when I own 2 different mobile device OSes and 2 different PC OSes.  Sorry, can’t use IE or Safari for that.
• Acompli (iOS | Android) - Recently bought by Microsoft, but offers great Exchange support and has a separate Calendar so you can separate professional and personal.  Also, your IT guys can’t remotely wipe your device, just the contents of the app.
  • ​I use Nine for Android now.  I don't have to put a crazy passcode on my phone just to check email.
    
• Sunrise (iOS) - Best calendar app for iOS.  Period.
  • ​This no longer exists
    
• GoTasks (iOS) | Tasks Free (Android) - Synchronizes your to-do lists with Google Tasks.  That’s all I need.  There are better To-do lists out there, but I just need something to write something down and cross off and synchronized on the cloud.

Utilities

• MiniKeePass (iOS) | KeePassDroid (Android) - Open Source and FREE password manager.  Keep it simple, use KeePassX (Mac) and KeePass Portable (PC) and store the apps and the password file using your favorite cloud provider (I prefer Dropbox).  Create passwords on the desktop and sync/view/use passwords on your mobile device.  Don’t complicate it by creating ones on your mobile device and expecting them to show up on your desktop or cloud storage.
  • ​I've been juggling MiniKeePass and LastPass ever since LastPass became free.  Android accessibility usage is great for logging in and the syncing anywhere is great, but I still don't fully trust it to not remain free.
    
• Authy (iOS | Android) - The multi-device version of Google Authenticator.  It also available as a Chrome app.  If you just have one device, then stick with Google Authenticator.
• Screen Filter (Android) - dims the screen just that much more for battery life and use in the dark
• Chrome Remote Desktop (iOS | Android) - connects to my desktops when I am away.  Works on any Chrome browser (and Chromebook) also.
• Genius Scan (iOS) | Google Drive (Android) - Document scanning (i.e. receipts, tax forms, and etc)

Entertainment

• Plex (iOS | Android) - Will need a Plex server, but you can get access to your movie and tv shows anywhere anytime (where there’s an internet connection).  Getting full access costs $5; and you'll need full access.  For everyone else, use NetFlix!
• MX Player (Android) | VLC (iOS) - Plays any files thrown at it.  It helps with those 1h30m commutes.
  • ​VLC on the Android works well now too
    

What are some of your favorite apps?