This post was written as a review of my experience with the new HTC Droid Incredible. Verizon Wireless and Kyle Communications provided a phone for my personal use for a couple of weeks. No other monies were exchanged and no review or editing of this post were done by Kyle Communications, Verizon Wireless, or any other PR companies. I always give you my honest opinions in any review post, that’s a Royal Guarantee.
Yesterday, I attempted to answer the age old question, “Can an expensive phone save you money?” While my answer was a bit foggy, one thing I do know is that it can save you time and your sanity plus do several things you wouldn’t be able to do with out it. Here are my Top 10 Favorite FREE Droid Apps.
10. YouTube: Yep, YouTube can be a total time suck if you spend your days watching videos of Clapping Bears, Dancing Babies, or the Queen doing her best Cheri O’Teri impersonation (sorry it’s a little fuzzy). BUT it can literally save your rear if say you’re getting a shot to help clear up poison ivy and your Youngest Princess hate, hate, HATES the doctor office. Blues Clues, Veggie Tales, Elmo, all of your favorite little people friends right in the palm of your hands and at the speedy click of the screen. I didn’t really get a chance to search but I know there are TONS of toddler/preschooler/elementary aged friendly apps to keep the kiddos busy at everywhere from the pick up line to the grocery store to yes once again the doctor’s office (no more touching germy toys for those little people!).
9. Pandora: Oh how I love Pandora the FREE online music station where you can create a station of your very own based on a particular song, artist or composer. The App takes it to an all new level where you can mobilely (is that a word?) take the show on the road. Love it. It’s like the soundtrack of my life in my pocket.
8. OurGroceries: This great FREE list keeper helps you organize your list for the store and quickly cross things off as you zip down the aisle. Easy as pie to use with several pre-sets already ready and a memory function that helps you specialize your lists for the things you buy weekly. Very nice.
7. YouVersion Bible App: Choose your translation, your passage, your reading plan, and more with this great Bible App. I used it several times to search particular passages. Really cool churches in the area are starting to use it as well for their sermon notes and your phone will automatically go to that week’s teaching passage (it searches by your location for churches that use it). Hint, hint Stones Crossing we’d love to see this one make an appearance on a Sunday morning soon.
6. Flixter Movies: Choose what you want to see and list them, find out times, locations, ticket prices. See what is coming out soon both in the theater and on DVD. Read reviews. Anything movies, right at the touch of your finger tips. Easy to navigate and loads very quickly. We don’t go often but this would certainly eliminate the worry and stress of finding the right theater.
5. Key Ring Widget: Forget about the big ole bulky wallet or key ring filled with discount savings cards like Kroger Plus, CVS, etc. You can scan your card into your phone and simply scan your phone to get your discounts upon checkout. Suh-weet.
4. ShopSavvy: Find a bar code. Scan the bar code. Instantly see the cheapest place to buy said product online and in stores. Take it one step further – map out the locations and prices and see where you can score it the most inexpensively right in your backyard.
3. The Coupons App: Super handy for everything from local gas prices to coupons at stores and restaurants. Search and use ’em directly from the phone. A coupon queen’s dream – no printing necessary.
2. RunKeeper: Who needs a personal trainer? You have your own personal motivator in this free app. I ran with it. I walked with it. I cycled with it. You can even eliptical, cross country ski, and swim (hmm?) with it. It GPS tracks and maps your route. It calculates your calories burned. It figures your rate (minutes/mile). It shows you the overall intensity of your workout. And you can use it conjunction with Pandora or a music player at the same time. Save your activities and chart your progress. I will miss this app greatly! The only thing it’s lacking is a heart rate monitor (hint, hint) and maybe a little sound alert after each mile you’ve completed. I’ve heard good things about RunStar, too.
1. Google: I know it seems simple but several times I googled the store I was in and coupon and found additional savings. Plus I also Googled a hundred million other things with that bad boy. Any question I had, I found an answer. Any location I needed, I found easily (and then swapped it into the Car Navigation App and got turn by turn directions by the nice lady speaking to me). And since the Android is a Google phone you have the little eyeglass search option on the bottom bar at all times.
People I barely had the phone for a couple of weeks and I am scratching the surface here. There are literally 1000s of FREE apps in the Android Market (I *heart* the NPR app and didn’t even mention it!) that you can easily search by category and see the top free ones without even being tempted by those that cost $. Everything your little heart can imagine, dream, or desire, there’s probably a Droid App for that. Games, Entertainment, Finance (mint users there’s one for you!), comics, maps, travel, social media (I *heart you* Twitter and FB apps, Sports, and MORE. Here’s yet another quick Droid App post to help you save $, time, and your sanity. Hope you learned a thing or two. 🙂
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