When T-Mobile launched the very first Android-powered handset - the G1 - back in 2008, the app library to go along with it looked like a minimart beside Apple's Wal-Mart. But the past few months have been kind to Google. The recent release of several new high-profile Androids handsets like the Motorola Droid, HTC Hero and Motorola Cliq have turned that initial drizzle of apps into a torrent. Now with over 40,000 apps and counting, Google's Android Marketplace offers applications for just about everything - sometimes making it difficult to choose. With that in mind, we've rounded up our favorites in several different categories to give new users a rough guide to getting the most from their phones, and experienced users a heads up on some apps they may be missing out on.Utility -Weather Channel: This is the weather app you'll find yourself checking before you even crack the blinds in the morning. Besides offering accurate current conditions with extreme detail down to wind s peed, humidity and UV index, the Weather Channel's app offers hourly and 10-day forecasts for planning ahead, plus advanced features like animated weather radar.Fun- Softrace: Inject a little competitive juice into your everyday run in the park or bike ride to work with this clever workout app. It tracks your workouts in real time and allows you to compete virtually, either with friends across the country or your own previous performances.Productivity -Astrid: Also known as Android's Simple Task Recording Dashboard, Astrid makes it simple to keep running to-do lists and organize your life within the phone. It integrates cleanly into the Android interface, and even offers humanizing reminds ("Come on, let's get this done.") to help motivate you along on deadlines.Games -Nesoid Lite: When you can quite literally carry every NES game ever made in your pocket, it might be tough to ever be bored again. Nesoid, a full Nintendo emulator for the Android, makes it possible. We'll lea ve it up to you and IsoHunt to find the questionably legal 650MB library of ROMs to flesh it out, but possibilities are quite exciting.Video and Music -Qik: Put all the power of the local news station's video broadcast van in your pocket. Qik allows you to upload live video footage from your phone, anywhere you get sufficient coverage. Broadcast your kid's sports game to his grandparents or a live Muse concert in Barcelona to the entire Web, all in real time.Personalization- Backgrounds: Use the Backgrounds app to spice up the boring home screen on your Android phone. Thousands of images are on offer and, to make wading through the options easier, they're neatly categorized. Dozens of images stretch from basic patterns and abstract art to sports teams, games or movies, and you can also browse through the most popular images.Android app development is growing at a fast pace with so many developers coming in and building apps for this superior platform, with google's support t hrough the Android community, developers have a better chance to stand ahead and make apps for Android platform.
Brought to you by My Android Gadgets
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