In case you were too busy eating hot dogs and BBQ ribs over the holiday weekend, a number of notable Android apps emerged in the Market. The bigger-brand app releases focused primarily on media this week, from streaming radio to Gary Coleman tributes.
Here are some of the top Android apps, from the week of May 31, 2010.
Mobile media and games
After launching an iPhone and BlackBerry app, Sirius XM Radio has finally come to Android. The free streaming radio offers 120 stations, with options for viewing what’s playing on other stations while listening to your current one. Set your favorites and load up on music and talk radio, which runs in the background. If you don’t have a subscription, you can try the app free for 7 days.
DoubleTwist brings a more iPhone-like experience to your Android with its new app. Free, the app acts as an iTunes program, syncing content between your phone and your computer. DoubleTwist also acts as a media player on your phone, giving you easy access to music, photos and videos.
RealPlayer Media is making a comeback, looking to the mobile scene for a new audience. The free Android app is reminiscent of the early Web’s RealPlayer media tools, incorporating a bit of nostalgia for some users. One major perk is the app’s support for several file types, and Android devices. You can also manage your phone downloads with RealPlayer Media.
If you have an Android phone with a front-facing camera, the Fring release is just for you. The free IM and VoIP service has updated its Android app to enable video-chatting, making Fring a pioneer for smart phone communications. There are still bugs to be worked out, but we’re glad to see this type of innovation flourishing around the Android platform.
Mixing the fun of Scrabble and Boggle, Word Drop PRO is fun and addictive. An update to the $1 Android app has improved gameplay, which involves creating words in an ever-changing drop board while racing against the clock.
Custom options and security
Norton Connect saw a boost this week, with the company announcing new mobile initiatives for protecting your phone. Free, Norton Connect lets you access and share files from your phone, with PC syncing options. Its Android capabilities will be expanded with the upcoming Norton Everywhere, protecting your phone and its files, as well as disabling options for lost or stolen devices.
Proving once again that consumers love the ability to customize their Android phones, the free ADW.Launcher app has made waves this week. Set personalized actions for drag-and-drop on your home screen, change your theme and improve the use of your shortcuts and folders.
What’chu talkin’ bout?
Three days after the tragic death of actor Gary Coleman, a tribute app appeared in the Android Market. Free, Gary Coleman Tribute offers a photo gallery of the beloved personality, with options to send along your own last words. Though the app isn’t extensive, it does show the mobile industry’s adoption of social media trends through its apps.
