1) Timeriffic - an app to set your droid behave differently in different period of time (ring, vibrate, airplan mode)
2) Missed call - a custom notification for missed call, text, voice mail, etc.
3) Astro Pro - file explorer, task manager, zipper.
4) iGo 8 - gps navigation software, without internet or data plan
5) SMS Wishes - sms text messaging scheduler
So why are they essential? I'll discuss that in a bit, but first let me tell ya my first impression bout Android. I used to be a big fan of Windows Mobile phones, but now I know why Win Mobile is falling behind the competitions; it's not fingers friendly. For anything on Windows Mobile phone, you will need a stylus, a pen, or a toothpick, or something pointy. Thanks to SPB Mobile Shell, which made it a bit easier on the finger, but still, most applications on Win Mobile were not designed for fingers use. On the other hand, Android (or even iPhone) doesn't require pointy fingers, in fact, it doesn't work if you use a pen or stylus on the touch screen; just stick your thumbs on it, or better yet, stick the whole tongue on it and it will work better.
Ok, back to the topic :D
1) Timeriffic
Ok I'm not sure about you, but cellphone reception is spooky. It tilts the VGA monitor screen if you put cellphone close to the monitor; it generates weird noises if you place it close to a speaker; it alternates the compass pole if you place the compass between 2 cellphones and make a call. While no one can prove that cellphone wave is unhealthy or not, I certainly don't like to keep it bouncing back a forth in my room while I'm sleeping. Timeriffic does a terrific job of managing automatic airplane mode (save battery), ringer, phone profile, and more. Just set your desire time for whichever action you want your phone to perform as a routine and it will do it automatically. It work best compare to other apps, doesn't matter if your phone is rooted or not, and best of all ...it's FREE
2) Missed call
Missed call should be a standard features on an Android. It lets you customize the notification of missed call, incoming sms, incoming call, voice mail. Customize how often it should repeat notification until you notice; it even let you control the LED blinking light and its color WOW! I thought LED color is a hardware thing, but turn out its color can be changed ...interesting!
3) Astro Pro
I was surprised that Android doesn't have a built-in file explorer, which is really silly thing for a smartphone. Maybe my Android (1.6) version is old or something. Maybe it will be included in future release. But for now, Astro remain the best appp for file explorer compare to other apps. It's more stable, quicker, and recognize SD card better than others. It has more features than just file explorer, but I haven't fully explore it yet.
4) iGo 8 Navigation for Android
The Google Maps is a great app. It has a broad database of virtually anything you need to find on the road. But for someone who doesn't have a data plan like me, Google Maps is useless. Even if I do have a data plan, it becomes useless when I go up the mountain or in the desert where there's no reception. iGo is best known for GPS Navigation, even better than other apps in the same class, such as TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot. iGo8 comes in 3 different versions: Windows Mobile, iPhone, and Android. The Android version however, seem to have less features than other versions, but they all share the same map files, which divided into separate states for the US.
5) SMS Wishes
This is my personal favorite apps. It's a text messaging scheduler for the future. You can setup a "Good morning sunshine!" text to your friend for tomorrow morning, while you're still snoring in bed; or a reminder, or a birthday greeting, or anything you like and it will text it for you. It's very simple and should be included as an option for sms texting.
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