Our smartphones are with us all the time, making them something like our best friends or our best personal assistants. Either way you look at it, your smartphone can be a great support system for keeping you focused.
Several productivity Android apps are available, for basic note-taking to full-force project managers. Geo-tagged reminders and custom organizations are just the tip of the iceberg.
Productivity Enhancers
Sometimes, all you require is a good start for a productive day. Math Alarm Clock sounds counterintuitive, but the $1.99 Android app could just be the thing to get you up and out the bed. Solve a problem of your choice in order to turn the alarm off, with options for multiple choice, difficulty, snoozes before math problems, and power nap features.
Astrid is a solid task manager with tools to help you get things done. Set tasks and to-do lists, reminders and more. The free Android app syncs with several related tools you may already have, such as Remember the Milk, Locale, and more. Its open-source and plug-in capability are Astrid’s greatest assets, as it can link to multiple calendars, etc.
Shuffle is for those that like folders. Organize action items from various projects, task and to-do lists, in one Android app. The free Android app aims to work the way you do, plowing through tasks to help keep you focused. Removable action scheduling, search and a special focus on the context of a project makes Shuffle indispensable.
Stay on task with ActionComplete. The free Android app is designed to keep you on target, delineating tasks by urgency, people and places. These organization tools help you prioritize your schedule, with various tools for easily viewing projects and to-do lists. ActionComplete is also helpful for those working with group members or a partner.
Note-Taking and Beyond
3banana is a note-taking tool that lets you organize and access your notes in most ways you can imagine. The free Android app turns your phone into a digital note pad with home screen widgets, note-sync, geo-tagging, phone storage and attachments, and exporting options.
Taking a quick note by recording yourself is often the fastest way to get down your thoughts. The free Voice Recorder Android app lets you email recordings to yourself and others, and has a home screen widget option for quick access. Recordings are filtered by title and date, and can even be used as ringtones.
Those using their phones to increase productivity will likely want their phones to be optimally productive as well. The free Handcent KeyBoard for Android app replaces the phone keyboard with one that is designed for quick typists and navigators. Especially helpful for those with devices featuring the touchscreen only.
While You’re Out
Locale helps you be more efficient by running certain phone functions and tasks on autopilot. The $9.99 Android app is pricey, but may be worth it. Set your ringer to turn off or down based on your geo-location. Send a tweet announcing your arrival to work. Sync with Astrid to receive task reminders to go along with certain GPS location.
CompareEverywhere comes with a bar code scanner and helps you find the best deal on a given product. Increase your productivity by decreasing the time you spend on research and travel during errands. The free Android app links you to reviews, tracks your shopping lists and overall minimizes time wasted while out and about.
DroidAnalytics may be a useful Android app for those looking to remain productive while away from the office. For about $2, you can have a mobile visualization of your Google Analytics data, from page views to visitors and each page’s bounce rate. Graphs are available with this app, making it easier to get the gist of the data.
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