Summer is winding down, and that means there are plenty of great television programs to catch upon before the launch of the new season. Thankfully, there are some great entertainment apps on Android’s horizon, including Dish Network and Netflix.
Here are this week’s top Android apps.
Entertainment
Netflix will soon offer streaming video on Android phones—the first official app from the on-demand rental company. You’ll be able to catch up on entire seasons of TV shows and watch a Will Ferrell flick, even when you’re on the go. Great for those Android users with HDMI outs.
Dish Network beat Netflix to Android, with its new app SlingPlayer Mobile. Access all your recorded programs from your phone anytime. The satellite provider has a great selection of channels to view on-demand, including live TV. The mobile version of its set-top box service will cost you $29.00, and acts as another portal for a single DVR account.
Local and social
TweetDeck will soon be on your phone desktop as well as your computer’s, bringing a well-featured Twitter app to Android devices. The initial app will be a beta version, and is being custom built for the Android platform. Your TweetDeck columns will still be there, but updates and alerts will be reorganized. We can’t wait to find out what this means for tweeting on the go.
Waze is making the act of driving much more social. The free navigation app added digital caravans so you can share updates with people that take the same routes as you. Pass a great donut shop on the way to work? Share it with fellow commuters. You can also earn “game” points for visiting new venues.
On the heels of Comcast’s official Android app announcement comes another app from the cable provider; DailyCandy. The fashion newsletter, known for its delivery of daily tidbits, now alerts you with recommendations based on your location. Android users, you’ve got the exclusive on this app for now.
PayPal’s Android app has seen another update, adding Bump-to-pay features. Between two app holders, payments can be sent from one account to another. The free app conjures peace of mind more than saved time, and would be best used by vendors and friends at the baseball game. PayPal’s iPhone version has had this feature for some time.
App developer C2Call raised $2 million in funding; a welcome boost for the VoIP service. Its free Android app FriendCaller (still in beta) offers free calls and instant messaging, with support for landlines and mobile phones. With a much broader offering for the iPhone, hopefully the funding will lead to more Android apps in the near future.
Safety measures
If a puzzle-like passcode isn’t enough to protect your Android device, keep an eye out for BioLock. Literally. The security app will offer IrisScan and facial recognition to confirm your identity and unlock your phone. Targeted at a price of $2.99, it sounds like it could be a good investment.
Parents using SafetyWeb to monitor their childrens’ online activity can now check in from their phones. The new Android app provides updates of your kid’s visited websites and other activity, including alerts for flagged words and actions taken across social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The app is free, but a SafetyWeb account will run you $10 per month, or $100 per year.
