Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Lookout Security & Antivirus

| FREE | Lookout Mobile Security

Google Maps - CNET 100 Android apps: Winners, in pictures - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Editor's note: Over the last two weeks 10 CNET editors have chosen their 10 favorite Android apps as part of the 2011 CNET 100 series. And with each post, we asked you, our readers, to vote for your favorite. You left sharp opinions with each editor's picks, but in the end it all come down to which apps received the most votes. So now, we're proud to present the titles that you love most. One of the areas where I find Android head and shoulders above the iPhone is navigation, and Google's Maps app is why. I use it plenty--finding out where I am when I emerge from the subway, looking for a nearby restaurant, even showing strangers where to go when they flag me down asking for directions. All that is great new stuff I couldn't do with a phone a few years ago, but it's the navigation component that spared me a couple hundred bucks I otherwise would have spent on a sat-nav system. The navigation shows a virtual view of the road as I drive, warning me of upcoming intersections and telling me which exit I need to take off the roundabout. I use it for walking, too. Clicking the locate-yourself button in the upper right helpfully toggles from a bird's-eye view to one showing your own orientation and perspective. The app downloads route information in advance, which is essential for trips where wireless data doesn't reach and helps cover for the major weakness of sat-nav systems with their own maps. And a new labs feature lets you download map data in advance that reaches 10 miles away from a point of interest. That's good for those of us who don't have unlimited data plans or who are traveling in foreign countries where roaming fees are exorbitant. And Read More

Google+

| FREE | Google Inc.

Google+ - Nicole's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Call me an early adopter if you must, but count me in with the millions of people who have fully embraced Google+, Google's latest attempt at a social network. I am really digging the Circles paradigm, where you're invited to group up your friends and colleagues into separate circles, so you can fine-tune who you choose to keep in touch with. I also find the interface clean and intuitive, and I have to give props to Google+ for being much more privacy-aware than a certain other competitor. One of the best things about Google+ is its Android app. Just download it from the Android Market, and within a couple of taps, you're ready to go. The mobile app is well designed, and you can switch Circle views by just swiping left to right. It's also easy to check notifications, and posting photos couldn't be simpler. Even better is the Huddle feature, which is only accessible on mobile handsets. This brings group messaging to a whole other level--you can send one text to a designated Circle, for example, and all members of that Circle will get that message. This is a great tool for organizing parties. Even though Google has just released the iOS version of Google+, the Android app still wins out with a key feature: the ability to customize the main stream with your own chosen circles. Price: Free July 21, 2011 3:55 AM PDT | Caption by: Nicole Lee Read More

Photo Effects

| €2.49 | Swiss Codemonkeys

Photo Effects - Molly's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Comment reply The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Click here to review our Terms of Use. If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CNET's Site Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed. Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language Spam: Advertisements or commercial links Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content Comments (optional): E-mail this to: Your e-mail address: Send me a copy of this message Note: Your e-mail address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the e-mail and in case of transmission error. Neither your address nor the recipients's address will be used for any other purpose. Add your own personal message: (Optional) Read More

Read It Later Pro

| $2.99 | Read It Later

Pulse News - Jaymar's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Now I don't know about you, but I do pretty much all of my news gathering online. I make my daily rounds of the blogosphere, visit major online media outlets, and, of course, try to stay current with my social media circles. Needless to say, the abundance of sources necessitates a means of organization. Enter Pulse News. Some of you might say to me, "Just use an RSS reader, dude," which would be an admirable suggestion (and I do use Google Reader, by the way). But the thing is, as efficient as traditional RSS readers are, they're not nearly as engaging or immersive as they should be. Pulse News, on the other hand, has a beautifully intuitive interface that presents stories in a visually arresting way. Each post is marked by a bold headline and an image, making your daily reading rounds as simple as swiping vertically between news sources or horizontally between stories within the same source. The app comes with a bunch of suggested sites to subscribe to, plus it even lets you pull content from your Google Reader account. If you live a more-or-less plugged-in kind of lifestyle, I highly suggest checking out the elegant Pulse News reader. Price: Free July 20, 2011 3:55 AM PDT Photo by: Pulse / Alphonso Labs | Caption by: Jaymar Cabebe Read More

Waze Social GPS & Live Traffic

| FREE | Waze

Vlingo Virtual Assistant with InCar Beta - Antuan's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

When you spend as much time behind the wheel as I do, you quickly develop a short list of must-have car tech apps. These days, I rarely hop into the driver's seat without Vlingo Voice with InCar Beta running on my handset. At its most basic, this voice command app allows me to initiate calls, fire off text messages, and perform a variety of other tasks with the sound of my voice. I know what you're about to ask me: "Can't Google Voice Search already do these things?" Sure it can, but Vlingo's got a few features and a custom interface called InCar that that is optimized for in-car use. A feature called SafeReader, for example, processes incoming text messages and reads them aloud, so I never have to choose between missing an important message and taking my eyes off the road. Another feature, called Auto Listen, allows me to interact with the app for simple functions, such as sending a text message or initiating navigation, without even touching my phone. I simply say, "Hey, Vlingo, navigate to In-N-Out Burger" or "Hey, Vlingo, text Wayne, I'll be there in 10 minutes." and the app takes care of the rest. Price: Free July 19, 2011 4:00 AM PDT Photo by: Screenshot by Antuan Goodwin/CNET | Caption by: Antuan Goodwin Read More

IMDb

| $1.50 | AndroidNetwork

Gowalla - Scott's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

After resisting the check-in services as long as I could, I found myself gravitating to Gowalla. I immediately fell in love with the overall design with its clean, colorful graphics and easy-to-learn interface. The recently refreshed UI makes it a breeze to check-in, manage my account, track friends, and browse collected items. One of my favorite aspects in Gowalla comes in picking up items whenever I check in. Be it a pair of sneakers, a movie reel, or office stationary, it's fun to get a little reward for going out. I like leaving items behind for others to find almost as much as I enjoy reading the history of items in my pack. Aside from individual check-ins, Gowalla has created a number of trips for you completionist-types. Rather than hitting up one memorial at the park, see if you grab the entire series! While Gowalla can operate completely independently as a mobile app, the service is also complemented by a terrific Web site. Price: Free July 15, 2011 3:55 AM PDT Photo by: Gowalla | Caption by: Scott Webster Read More

Maps

| FREE | Google Inc.

Google Maps - Stephen Shankland's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

One of the areas where I find Android head and shoulders above the iPhone is navigation, and Google's Maps app is why. I use it plenty--finding out where I am when I emerge from the subway, looking for a nearby restaurant, even showing strangers where to go when they flag me down asking for directions. All that is great new stuff I couldn't do with a phone a few years ago, but it's the navigation component that spared me a couple hundred bucks I otherwise would have spent on a sat-nav system. The navigation shows a virtual view of the road as I drive, warning me of upcoming intersections and telling me which exit I need to take off the roundabout. I use it for walking, too. Clicking the locate-yourself button in the upper right helpfully toggles from a bird's-eye view to one showing your own orientation and perspective. The app downloads route information in advance, which is essential for trips where wireless data doesn't reach and helps cover for the major weakness of sat-nav systems with their own maps. And a new labs feature lets you download map data in advance that reaches 10 miles away from a point of interest. That's good for those of us who don't have unlimited data plans or who are traveling in foreign countries where roaming fees are exorbitant. And props to Google for splitting this (and Maps) out of the Android OS build so that it can be updated frequently without slow-moving carriers getting in the way. Price: Free July 13, 2011 3:55 AM PDT Photo by: Android Market | Caption by: Stephen Shankland Read More

FxCamera

| FREE | ymst

FxCamera - Bonnie Cha's 10 favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

I love taking photos wherever I go and have a particular fondness for street art, architecture, and things out of the ordinary. I carry a small point-and-shoot camera with me, but more and more, I'm reaching for my smartphone first because it's easier to share its pictures with others and also because of great apps like FxCamera. With FxCamera, you can take photos using one of five effects: ToyCam, Polandroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam, and Warhol. Polandroid and Fisheye are my favorite, and though I try not to use effects too much, you can get some really cool-looking photos. Price: Free July 12, 2011 3:55 AM PDT Photo by: Android Market | Caption by: Bonnie Cha Read More

Read It Later Pro

| $2.99 | Read It Later

Read It Later - Kent German's favorite Android apps (CNET 100) - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

Of course, you probably know about this one, but Read It Later is oh so incredibly useful for saving all the articles and news stories I find while commuting or waiting in line. Even when I'm trying to go cold turkey and lay off reading political news, it's a godsend for media junkies like me. It couldn't be easier to use, though you will need an account to get started. When you find an interesting article, you can slide it over to your "queue" for safekeeping. It's great for periods when you're just browsing for a few minutes and don't have time to peruse a whole story. Then, once you're ready, you can access it later either on your phone or on another device. What's more, the Android app will download the content to your SD card so you can read it when data or Wi-Fi access isn't available. That's nice. Price: $2.99. There's also a free version that offers the core functionality, but without some added tools. July 11, 2011 3:55 AM PDT Photo by: Android Market | Caption by: Kent German Read More

Note Everything Pro Add-On

| €2.99 | SoftXPerience

Free Android note-takers: A rundown | Android Atlas - CNET Reviews - Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews

When choosing a notepad app for your Android, the first thing to think about is: what kinds of notes will you be taking? Are we talking grocery lists here? Are you looking for a full-on multimedia mood board? Do you need to be able to set reminder alarms? Voice notes? The choices can be overwhelming, we know. Luckily we've done some of the research for you. Here's an inside look at five of the most popular free note-takers for your Android mobile device. AK Notepad is your basic, bare-bones notepad app. Open it up, click "Add note" and start tapping away. If you're looking to do more than that, you might want to look elsewhere, because AK Notepad is made for text notes, and not much else. It doesn't offer much in the way of formatting or multimedia, and it doesn't create checklists. However, it can set reminder alarms, and pin notes to your Home screen when you need frequent access. It also shares notes via Twitter, Facebook, SMS, Gmail, and so on. If you're just looking for a quick-draw note-taker for scrawling random ideas that don't require formatting, AK Notepad is exactly that. Now, if you're itching for just a bit more under the hood, we highly recommend you check out ColorNote. It's perfect for all of your basic note-taking needs, and we really liked that it could format notes as checklists, which surprisingly few free note-takers can do. You can organize notes in a number of ways, including by color, which is nice. It lets you share notes, or add shortcuts to your Home screen for one-tap access. If you set reminder alarms regularly, you'll probably love ColorNotes' integrated calendar. When it comes to basic, free note-takers in the marketplace, we think ColorNote is on top. Note Everything straddles Read More