This page is intended to share how to get a little more out of Android phone/tablet devices.
Regardless of what device you have, most apps and tips now have cross platform (e.g. iOS) application, so it's helpful to share how we use them.

At this point this document is mostly about apps I've found interesting. The categories and apps are not in any particular order, but a thorough perusal will likely yield something new or interesting for you. The idea is to be a starting point as you explore your ideal choices in any given niche for whatever mobile device you use.

The suggestions are a mix of free or paid, but I'll usually support the software where possible.
I hyperlink apps to the Android version, but there is usually a corresponding one for other platforms such as Apple's iOS.
In brackets after each app name is the cost rounded to the dollar as in the first half of 2013 (likely not updated thereafter).

Mobile Browsing

• To read/sign/markup PDF documents Adobe Reader($0) is a must install if it's not already on your device.

• Browsers vary in how well they render some sites. If you have any problems, the following browsers give you alternatives: Dolphin($0), Chrome($0), Opera Mobile($0), Firefox beta($0), Skyfire($0+$5 for video add-on), and xScope($3). You may not need the paid options for your surfing needs.

• Flashify($0) lets you stay on the same URL while switching among your browser apps.

• Some of the browsers listed above, handle Flash on their own, so you may not need/want to separately install Flash.. For Adobe Flash($0) Google search "adobe flash player 11 apk" or "archived adobe flash player versions" to find how to install flash on your release of Android.

Calendars

• I'm a fan of Google calendar. It is best of breed as a simple calendar that can can be used anywhere on-line or off-line, synchronizes with any other calendar anywhere, and it works well for collaborative calendar sharing. Solves my business and personal calendaring needs. The Android app Google Calendar($0) is better than many native calendar apps. Use the CalendGoo($6) app for the nicest user interface and best configuration and management.

Contacts

• Contact Editor Pro($3) edits and manages your contacts much more completely than the stock Android contacts app.

Email

• If you use Yahoo mail, definitely install Yahoo! Mail($0). It gives you far more of the functionality of Yahoo webmail than the standard Android Email app.

• The standard Email app is still entirely competent for handling single/multiple email accounts. The best value in an email app upgrade is Aqua Mail($5), if you don't need MS exchange accounts. The business grade MailDroid($20!!) will connect to any account and nicely do everything imaginable. What do you get with these? Spell checking, widgets, "richer" text editing, phone/tablet user interfaces, and configurable everything. Try their free versions to determine if either of these paid upgrade apps are for you. I now only use MailDroid.

• Be sure that your email accounts on PCs and mobile devices use IMAP (i.e. not POP) protocol, so that all stay synchronized. Settings should be as follows:

  • incoming server will be of the form imap.mail.domainname.com.
    For example:  imap.mail.gmail.com or  imap.mail.yahoo.com.

    • Rogers email users must use yahoo.com as rogers.com does not support IMAP on PCs and IMAP support for mobile devices is limited.

  • outgoing server is like incoming, but you replace imap with smtp. For example smtp.mail.yahoo.com

  • ports: incoming is 993 and outgoing is 465

  • security protocol for both in and out is SSL. Outgoing requires login/authentication.

Passwords

• I use Roboform Everywhere($15/yr) to manage all my passwords and form filling from my identies/profiles. Works on all my PC's and mobile devices and they stay synchronized. For Android, RoboForm($0) does the syncing and surfing. The Roboform app is a browser, but you may prefer to use therespective add-on plug-ins for Dolphin or Firefox browsers when you want to fill in or login while surfing.

Notes

• I do use Evernote($0) mainly for its synchrony among PCs and mobile devices. I haven't had much success with note taking apps, but contenders include LectureNotes($4), FreeNote($0), Handwrite($4), Quill($0) and Papyrus($0). The Outliner($0, Pro $5) and NoteLynX Pro($ ) apps are also interesting. The only app I'm actually using for notes is 7notes($10). The search continues for the perfect note taking app. The latest Samsung Note devices with a stylus have promise in this category.

• Pocket($0) captures just about anything for later off-line reading/reference.

• For me, the stock sticky note widget didn't offer the right sizes or non-text inputs, so I switched to apMemo($0).

Handwriting recognition to text

• For taking notes or input to any application, try 7notes($10) which takes your cursive writing and converts it to text surprisingly well. I'm using it mainly to take notes. I use a stylus to get the best results. See the root only apps topic for tuning your touch screen for better results.

Tasks / todo

• I have tried many, but have yet to find a task manager for Android or iOS that I'd use. App contenders you might look at are Outliner($0, Pro $5) and iRT GTasks($6). Outliner can sync with Tree Pad on your PC. For a web centric solution that syncs everywhere consider Todoist, WorkFlowy or MyLifeOrganized services. I'm intending to thoroughly trial all of these in the near future.
  Meanwhile, I still carry a Win Mobile 6.5 smartphone as a PDA because it's apps & user interface happen to be superior for lists and todos. There isn't yet anything close on more recent mobile devices.

Calculate / Measure / Convert

• For a basic calculator, I use Office Calculator Pro($2) for it's editable virtual paper tape.

• To record and calculate shared/trip expenses for a group, try Settle Up($0+ add-ons).
  I don't think that any of the apps that split a restaurant tab are a net benefit over pen and paper or a calculator.

• Stopwatch & Timer+($1) has a fully featured set of timers

• ConvertPad($0) takes care of unit conversions.

• Smart Ruler Pro($1) is a handy ruler, protractor and thread pitch app.

• To mark measures on a photo My Measures is the market leader, but their Android app is poor. D-Photo Measures($3) is easier and more versatile. ImageMeter Pro($3) is similar but drops freehand drawing and adds the ability to derive measures from a reference rectangle in the same 3D plane. To help you choose, both apps offer a free trial.

• The Partometer apps from Vistech lets geeks measure anything the camera sees, whether in 2D or 3D.

Office Suites

• Most Android office apps are very lame and somewhat destructive of office files. If you work with Word/Excel/PowerPoint files created for or by a power MS Office user, you'll want Softmaker's TextMaker($4), PlanMaker($4), and Presentations($4) mobile apps to view or do anything useful with them on Android. (To load Textmaker's spell check dictionaries search help for spell.) All of the following better known office suites are distant second choices such as: Quickoffice($15 or $20), Thinkfree($9), OfficeSuite($15), Documents to Go($15), Polaris($0), Kingsoft($0). Quickoffice does include a spell checker. There is a $5 spell check add-on for OfficeSuite.

• An interesting new alternative is Cloudon($0), a real Microsoft Office suite in the cloud for files in your cloud storage services. It has a proper spell checker built-in.

• Don't overlook Google Drive($0) which incorporates Google doc's office like web apps in a collaborative space. Maybe not for every business, but I use it regularly among my friends and clients for document sharing and/or collaboration.

• It seems that spell checkers are often not integrated into mobile writing apps. Spell Checker Pro($3) does the checking with a few extra steps. Spell Checker Editor($0) is less integrated but adds html rich text editing.

PC Remote

• LogMeIn or GoToMyPC are pricey subscription services that let you run your PC from any device/PC. You can also exchange files and print on the remote PC. I use GoToMyPC.

• If not opting for the premium choices above, other well reviewed solutions include TeamViewer($0) and Splashtop 2($2/month) Avoid the first generation Splashtop apps.

Faxing/Signing

• I subscribe to SRFax as a virtual fax machine. Totally reliable. Always answers (i.e. no phone/fax/PC required). One can fax from any internet connected device. Incoming faxes arrive in your email account(s). Not really a mobile app, but SRFax provides an excellent mobile/fixed solution for faxing.

• To easily sign documents on your mobile device either SignNow($0) or DocuSign($0) will do it much better than Adobe Reader. A stylus can be useful for signing. See the rooted only apps topic for how tuning the touch screen helps as well.

Finance

• Every financial institution has an app. Install any you think are useful to you.

• If you want to accept credit cards on your mobile device then answer is either Square Register($0) or Payfirma.com.

• Invoicing from your home PC or mobile device is easy and integrated with Invoice2go. View the various subscription options at Invoice2go.com.

Maps & Navigation

• Google maps etc. depend on cell network access and eat a lot of data. Sygic GPS Nav($0). does navigation and POIs from a TomTom database on your device. A useful alternative if you are roaming or beyond cell range. Worldwide coverage is available. Purchase North America for about $40 (Note it can use up to1 GB on your device.) CoPilot Live($10) is similar for a good price, but their consumer maps cover everywhere but Canada.

• Admittedly low-brow, but you can buy $1 road maps for offline use for a state/province e.g. Ontario (150Mb)

• If you want topographic maps and have cell network access, Canada Topo Maps Pro($6) shows topos not only for Canada, but the USA as well. For enhanced topo map apps the top apps are Backcountry Navigator Pro($10) and MyTopo Maps Pro($5). All should let you save topos for off-line use.

• If you use a handheld mapping GPS then I highly recommend the topographic and marine map data from TrakMaps. Far superior to GPS manufacturers' offerings for much of Canada. A GPS+data is expensive but better than any android device in the backwoods.

• Marine map apps by Navionics are pricey but are very reputable.

• GPS Essentials($0) gives you the display and analytics of a GPS.

• It's curious that you might have to install Street view($0) for Google maps. Google Earth($0) works well on a tablet, and provides the best street view experience.

• Checkout traffic camera apps for your community. For example apps from Babao($0) serve my nearby areas.

• Waze($0) is an innovative user community based traffic navigation app.

Travel

• I use GasBuddy($0) every week to save money on fill-ups.

• Useful for airline travel (either as an app or via their website):
  SeatGuru($0) Choose which airline to fly (based on seat pitch) and select which seats to reserve.
  GateGuru($0).Know your way around the airport. Includes user ratings of available amenities.
  Tripit Travel Organizer($0 or $49/yr) or WorldMate($0 or $10/yr) facilitate itinerary management and control for frequent fliers.
  Skyscanner($0) Before visiting any booking site, start here to do what ifs for all available flights for your itinerary.
  Apps to track flights in real time: Flightradar24($0, Pro $3) is unique and fun , but for more complete tracking features I like FlightView($0, Elite $4). Other similar choices to try: Flighttrack($0, Pro $5) or FlightHero($0, Pro $5).
  Do you want to know which airport your baggage is in? Check out Trakdot.com for their product and app.

• To find parking try the Parkopedia($0) and Best Parking($0) apps.

• Urbanspoon($0), Yelp($0), TVFoodie($0),. TVFoodMaps($0) and various city/general TripAdvisor($0) apps are useful for diners and tourists.

• Sometimes the classified organization of Yellow pages($0) can still be a welcome aid for finding businesses.

• If you track your car fuel/expenses, try aCar($0). If you track trip mileage try Mileage Tracker($3)

• Public wifi hotspots are not as secure as using the cellular data plan for your device.

Data/Voice Roaming

• Forget about your cell service provider for roaming in the USA. Roam Mobility is definitely the go to answer for affordable voice/data service plans, sim cards and dual sim mobile devices for Canadians traveling/staying in the USA. If you are in the US for months at a time, you can also look into a phone and plan from Zact. As I don't know the cost of adding Canada to the Zact service I haven't confirmed whether it is also a good cross border option.

• To find pay as you go voice+data plans suitable for travellers in any country in the world checkout prepaidwithdata.wikia.com.

• Check with your cell provider about unlocking your phone/tablet for roaming use. Compare the cost with these two reputable online unlock services CanadaGSM and CellUnlocker.

• If you need a little help controlling data use while roaming or not, have a look here for some of the settings to use.

Weather

• I use a shortcut to an Environment Canada Weatheroffice web page, and when I want additional forecast data points, I then use The Weather Network($0), AccuWeather Platinum($1), and The Weather Channel($0). For Radar images I use Canada Radar (single local radar)($1) and gRadar (lager multi radar coverage)($1).

• Shortwave marine weather forecasts are broadcast in numeric mafor codes. Enter the codes into the MAFOR($2) app to effortlessly interpret the forecast. Learn more about mafor here.

eReading (books, news stand, library)

• For ebooks use Amazon Kindle($0) and Kobo($0) apps. Calibre($0) software on your PC with the appropriate plug-ins will convert ebook files from/to any format and can remove DRM.

• Replacing printed newspapers with Press Reader($0) app with a subscription plan, is especially nice on a tablet. Our local public library members have Press Reader access to read online any newspaper anywhere. It's not a subscription, but one can read today's edition.

• For magazines use the Zinio($0) app to read your Zinio subscriptions, again best on a tablet. Our local public library members have access to quite a few Zinio magazines. It's not a subscription, but you can read the current issues. Another high value service is NextIssue which is like Netflix for magazines, Next Issue works on all iOS devices, and Android tablets. An Android phone version is in the works.

• Our local public library has alot on offer for mobile devices/PCs: ebooks and audiobooks, online resources, auto repair manuals, consumer reports online, newspapers, magazines, virtual reference library, and much more. Full web and app access needs a current library card and login pin. Companion apps for our local library include: AccessMyLibrary($0), OPL Mobile($0), and OverDrive Media Console($0).

Scan/Sign/OCR/Copy/Listen

• Use your device camera to copy, fax, email, and web share documents, drawings, notes or photos as PDFs with the CamScanner($5) app. It intelligently corrects perspective and cleans up text/writing from the background or poor exposures. If it's a document, you can sign it more easily than Adobe Reader with either SignNow($0) or DocuSign($0). Adobe Reader($0) is still useful for marking-up PDF documents.

• Scanthing OCR($5) captures text using your camera.

• QuickMark($0) is great for scanning barcodes and Quick Response (QR) codes. QR Droid($0) is the top app for QR code creation. The innovative Scansfer($0) expands QR code creation with file sharing and PayPal payment acceptance.

• Vivino($5) & Wine Secretary($0) are useful wine rating apps that keep track of your cellar wines and preferences. Just scan the label to input a wine.

• Google's Goggles($0) searches what you take a picture of.

• An audio recording app seems like a good idea, but I rarely use my RecForge Pro($4) app. Playback a test recording before each use.

• Shazam($0) identifies music/songs for you.

• TuneIn Radio Pro($5) adds the recording of radio broadcasts to the free version.

Translation / Languages

• Google Translate($0) and CamDictionary($2) translate text from your camera photos. iTranslate($0) is a voice translator. These three apps use internet data access. Google translate does let you download languages for offline use.

• I highly recommend the on board translation suites for Android from Ectaco($20 to $30). I use these versions of their English-French and Universal language translation apps.

• Why not start to learn another language instead? The Duolingo($0) app looks like an excellent value for starting to learn another language.

Reference

• Wiki Encyclopedia Pro($1) does the nicest presentation of Wikipedia.com.

• Dictionary.com($0) and Advanced English($0) conveniently provide dictionary and thesaurus look-ups.

Bible software

• PocketBible($0) is an excellent reader application for use with an extensive library of Bibles, commentaries, devotions, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, studies, concordances, etc. available for purchase from Laridian. Outstanding. product, service and content. Nothing else lets you buy books once and read on any platform (existing now or in the future).

• Two noteworthy apps pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church are iMissal($5) with the complete and always current Missal, and Laudate($0) a comprehensive resource that even includes the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

• Hymns can usually be found online, but I haven't found a hymn app that I can use enough to recommend. Copyright restrictions make it hard for any app to deliver a wide hymn selection.

Astronomy

• Casual sky watchers will enjoy Google Sky Map($0). Serious sky watchers won't outgrow Skysafari Plus($15) or Pro($40), but they use 500 Mb or 1 Gb of storage on your device.

Photography

• I don't do much photography, but these useful add-ons are worthy to explore:
  HDR Camera+($3) remarkable image enhancement (using "multi-exposure" algorithms)
  Pano($3) produces panoramic shots, if your device camera doesn't do so.
  QuickPic($0) is the leading do all image gallery/viewer/browser
  Snapseed($0) is an easy editor for most nearly everyone.
  Handy Photo($2) an easy editor with unique object moving and cropping features.
  Photo Editor($0 or $3 no ads) is an intermediate level choice that is well featured (e.g. I loaded this to get perspective correction).
  Photoshop Touch($5 or $10) apps will appeal to Photoshop users and digital darkroom geeks.

Handyman

• If you frequently work in any combination of units (such as feet-inch-fractions and metric) the best app to calculate and convert intuitively and easily is BuildCalc($20). It incorporates a lot of other functions, so study the help, manuals, FAQs and website videos to master the user interface. Then it will indeed be easy and intuitive when you need it. BuildCalc as it makes better use of software verses the competing Construction Master calculator apps that employ an outdated hardware emulation approach.

• Plumbing is a 3D project. Check out LMF Services calculator apps, probably socket pipe($4) or pipe fitter($6). A simple app Pipe Offset($2) will also get your cuts in the ball park.

• Handy Construction Calculators($8) offers many single purpose calculators that are easy to use.

• Clinometer+bubble level($1) might keep you level and plumb.

• See the Calculate / Measure / Convert topic for other apps that are also very useful to handy people.

• I haven't found a paint color matching/picker app that I can recommend. Any ideas?

iTunes

• doubleTwist Player($0)and Winamp($0+add-ons) are popular iTunes players/managers for Android users, but the iSync($4) apps from JRTStudio may be a more elegant answer.

Cinema

• Even though I prefer Landmark Theatres, the Cineplex Mobile($0) app covers all the local movie theatres, anyhow.

• Most theatre apps tie you to a single membership/user, whereas you can use any/all memberships on the theatres website.

• For Canadians, CinemaNow($0) offers the best selection of current releases for rental viewing.

Streaming

• TED($0) streams topical conference speeches.

• There are YouTube video download apps to be found by searching. As Google owns YouTube don't expect the best download apps to be found in the Play Store.

• With the purchase of a SlingBox for your cable box, you can control and watch your TV/PVR anywhere at home or elsewhere with the SlingPlayer($15) app. If not on wifi, do keep an eye on your mobile data cap.

RSS/podcast/tweeting/SMS/forums

• For podcasts and RSS feeds there are many to choose from. I switched from BeyondPod($6) for everything. I now use Pocket Casts($4) for podcasts and Feedly($0) for RSS feeds.

• Tweetcaster Pro($5) is for power tweeters.

• If the forums you follow support the Tapatalk($3 or $4) mobile interface it's probably worth getting.

• Note that all tablet plans do not include the voice network that carries SMS/text messages. If you have another mobile device there are apps that virtually share SMS/text numbers between phones and tablets. If your phone was run over, conceivably you could put the phone's voice & data plan sim card into an unlocked cell enabled tablet and you'd have SMS. Entirely weird, eh?

Health

• For any reason you'd want to track/analyze what you eat, it can't be cheaper or easier than using Calorie Counter - MyFitnessPal($0) or the MyFitnessPal website. I do fit into all my clothes much more comfortably thanks to what I learned while using MFP. I haven't explored the MFP app beyond its nutritional or calorie counting uses.

• It's hard to beat Internet searches for medical info/help, nonetheless, Medscape($0) provides a comprehensive off-line reference (takes about 350 mb).

• For first aid take courses, then carry iTriage($0) and American Red Cross First Aid($0) apps.

File Management

• ES File Explorer($0) manages your files easier and better than android's native manager or competing Astro($4). Add the ES bookmark($0) app as well. AntTek Explorer($0) is an innovative choice and especially suitable for a tablet.

• Storage management needs to be pro-active. When you get too low in space, storage managers won't have room to work. A must install is App Cache Cleaner Pro($0 or $2) that will keep app caches from eating up your storage. The DiskUsage($0) app is quick and easy way to see what is using storage and act on it. Use Android's Downloads link/app regularly to clean out downloaded files, some you might not even know about.

• All the file manager apps see and do more if your device is rooted.

• Move files wirelessly in/out with WiFi File Explorer Pro($1) and Bluetooth File Transfer($0) apps.

• Choose among several file storage/synchrony apps: FolderSync($3), Dropbox($0+storage), Box($0+storage), Cubby (has versioning!)($0+storage), Google Drive($0), MediaFire($0), etc.

• If you need to extract an installer from an app you have, try Apk Extractor($0) or Extract Apks($0). Handy for sharing the installer with other devices/people. To install the apk, you need to allow unknown sources in Settings/Security/Device Administration.

User Interface / Personalization

• I have tried several leading keyboard apps such as SlideIT($4) & Swiftkey($4) but I keep coming back to Thumb Keyboard($1) for its many configurable layouts and shortcuts. Tablet users should definitely load this one. Other, very worthy choices to checkout are A.I.type Keyboard($4) for a phone or FloatNSplit($4) for a tablet.

• If you have Android 4.0 or higher, try using folders to organize apps and save screen space. It's more efficient than swiping among pages for icons. Folder Organizer($1) app lets you nest folders to make this work even better. Open anything within one or two taps.

• It seems that the screen auto brightness is never right. The Lux Auto Brightness($2) app can make it perfectly responsive to every lighting situation. A side benefit may also be longer battery life.

• Try Sidebar($0Lite or $2Pro). It's an elegant improvement for app launching and task switching that should be built into to OS of every device.

• If you don't like your phone's available ringtones consider Business Ringtones($0). Then again more than half a million rate Zedge($0) highly for ringtones, wallpapers, etc.

• The only app I've installed that destabilized my android device was HD Widgets. It interfered greatly with the Samsung touch wiz user interface. It has favourable recommendations and reviews, so many do not share my bad results.

• See also the TouchScreenTune app description (here) in the Root only apps topic.

Security, anti-theft & back-up

• Do get a back-up app. There are many to choose from. I've used MY Backup Pro($5), but switched to Titanium Backup Pro($6) after rooting my device. Both apps are great and have extended capabilities on rooted devices.

• Do get a security and anti-theft app. There are many to choose among, so shop features, ratings and price. AV-Test independently rates security apps. Then follow up using Google to get comparative test reviews. Apps I thought most interesting (March/2013) were avast!($0), Lookout($30/yr) and Kaspersky($15). These include anti-theft measures, that you must set-up before you lose your device.

• You can look an app's permissions anytime, but tSpyChecker($0) does it for all your apps far more easily. Your security app may already do this easily for you.

• AVG Privacy Fix($0) is useful to manage your privacy settings on Facebook, Google, your mobile browser, LinkedIn and web ads. I had to turn off the wifi tracking control, as it wasn't well behaved with my trusted wifi networks. None-the-less it's useful to identify and fix privacy gaps.

• Public wifi hotspots are not as secure as using the cellular data plan for your device. Travellers needing to use public wifi should consider getting a virtual private network (VPN) such as HotSpotSheild or StrongVPN. Short term rates are available.

• I use a lock screen on my tablet as a way to display owner contact info. to those who return things. (Not all losses are thefts.) I continue to willingly share my tablet and/or Android experience with anyone who expresses an interest/need.

Utilities

• For pro-active battery power management I use JuiceDefender Ultimate($5). Use GSam Battery Monitor Pro($2) to track and understand how the battery power was consumed.

• If you are truly a deep geek take a peek at Tasker($6) for extraordinary automation that effectively customizes your device. My needs aren't this deep.

Network / wifi management

• Really useful apps to explore and manage wifi/networks include: Wifi Analyzer($0) + Wifi Connecter Library($0) , Wi-Fi Analytics($0), Speedtest($0), and Fing($0). They each offer something different for understanding and managing networks.

• To locate hotspots anywhere but here, use Wi-Fi Finder($0)

• I use Droidstats Premium($3) to track my mobile data usage.

• Network Signal Speed Boost ($0 or $3) claims to improve cell tower connections. Check the results with Network Signal Info($0) which I use all the time.

Printers

• Many printer manufacturers offer a mobile app for their printers. PrinterShare($13) and Cloud Print($0) are universal apps that work anywhere. Cost-wise try Cloud Print first.

• My current device was recently rooted, and it's very beneficial. My future devices will be rooted as early as possible.

• Rooting your device lets you use programs that require "super user" access to the root directory. As the rooting instructions are device and OS release specific, you'll have to search for a match. For many devices, the rooting process is a simple as SuperOneClick or CynogenMod Rooting solutions arrive soonest for devices that are both high end and popular. Rooting solutions lag new releases of the Android OS, so hold off upgrading your OS until the root solutions for it show up.

• Rom Manager(Premium$6) lets you more easily manage ROM changes. You may install the latest OS well before your device manufacturer and/or cell provider releases it or in the event they choose not to.

• A benefit of rooting your device is to perform truly complete device back-ups with Titanium Backup Pro($6). For instance, you can fix a bad app update with a quick and easy app rollback.

• You can optimize the touch screen with TouchScreenTune($0). Great for: optimizing handwriting recognition, tuning general response, compensating for a screen protector, overcoming manufacturer's defaults, and less than ideal thumbs/fingers. Also helps with apps for signing documents such as SignNow($0) or DocuSign($0).

• You can thoroughly kill/filter in-app ads (for rooted devices only) with AdAway($0). It's no longer in the play store for it technically modifies what is normally a secure part of your OS. It's O.K. anyhow. You'll have to temporarily modify your settings to permit installs from unknown (i.e. non-play store) sources. If you install the F-Droid app tweak it's settings so that it only reminds you of AdAway updates. I think is best policy to buy ad free versions of apps, but AdAway solves the problem when that isn't offered.

• SetCPU($2) lets you manage CPU speed for performance and/or battery saving. Watch the video and read the help to get started.

• WiFi Pass Recovery($0) reveals the password keys for your saved wifi networks, so you can use them on another device. It's odd that you need root privileges to satisfy this simple need to know.

• ROM Toolbox Pro($5) is a Swiss army knife app. One use is to prune start-up applications and processes. You'll really see what your apps are really up to. Facebook eats lots of power to know everything! I killed 18 of their running hooks ;)

• RAM Manager Pro($2) is an easy to use RAM optimizer.

• Another perk of rooting is to be able to use Undelete($4) to recover files.

• SD Maid($0) offers easy to use tools to clean your system and files on rooted devices.

• The use of file management, utilities and root only apps can dramatically improved performance, battery life and storage space.

• VooDoo Sound Plus($4) lets rooted users adjust sound in/out characteristics.

• If you are truly a deep geek take a peek at BusyBox($0 or $5) and Root Explorer($4).

Android OS

• There are many ways to keep up with Android news such as: Zinio subscriptions to Android Magazine($49/yr) or Apps Magazine($48/yr). Web sites worth a look once in a while: Best Android Apps Review & KnowYourApps.

• See the preceding Root only topic for upgrading your OS on a rooted device.

• You can run your Android apps on your PC with an emulator such as Bluestacks or YouWave. I found them too slow to start up on my PC, so lI ost interest in these.

• If you have regular app back-ups, you won't need the precaution to turn off automatic updates for truly mission critical or time sensitive apps. In which case you wait until the play/app store reviews on the web are happy before doing a manual update. Note that you can see version info. on the web Play store, but not through the Play store app.

• My Android experience is on all OS versions since Honeycomb (3Q11). Currently running Samsung Galaxy phone, phablet and tablet products on KitKat. As with all my previous devices, once the upgrades from Samsung and mobile provider end, I'll switch to getting the latest available OS releases from CyanogenMod.

Hardware

• If your mobile device is a new product, screen protection options may initially be limited.
  I can recommend from personal experience these products Zagg InvisibleSHEILD, iSheildZ, and Bodyguardz although they add friction to the surface feel. As for my current choices, I've just installed covers made of glass (zNitro Glass and Spigen GLAS.tRNANO SLIM). Easier to install, the tempered glass is extremely thin and the feel and touch are not changed . It's too soon for me to assess durability. The Spigens are preferred if they fit your device.

• If you have an HDMI out cable, you'll be able to play online streamed/rented/purchased content on a TV/monitor.

• I insert in my contacts a ";" between phone numbers and any following extension or notation. This is a hard pause that prevents "too smart phones" from needlessly dialing unwanted character strings.

• A smartphone with less than 16G of memory could be somewhat limiting. Regardless of the internal memory size, a memory expansion slot is a desirable feature to have.

• One advantage of a cellular data plan on your device is that you can avoid using insecure public wifi hotspots.

• Some of the most popular and sought out phones have sealed in batteries. Note that some provider contracts may be longer than the useful life of a battery and such "less-green" devices wouldn't be a good sell/buy item. I highly value products that have user replaceable batteries for demanding days or whenever the charge-up wasn't completed. A spare phone battery you can carry is a wonderful thing. I'd wish the same for tablets, but they are less critical than phones, so one can live with the fact that they all have sealed in batteries.

• I have an external battery (an Anker Astro E4) for extended tablet/phone use beyond reach of 12VDC/120VAC supply. I also have a solar charging panel, but it is not field proven as yet, so the verdict is still out.

• I think people are well served by either iOS or Android devices, so my Android choice doesn't infer a recommendation either way. It depends on the device and OS cycles as to which products will suit one best at any given time. Contrarians can choose Win Mobile 8. Once upon a time Android users were the contrarians. Backberry OS devices are no longer a viable consumer choice.

• A valuable user community resource for phones and carriers is Howard Forums.

Misc. / other

• Android teleprompter apps are still playing catch-up with iOS offerings. PromptWare Plus($0) looks like a DIY choice for when your public speaking agency calls:)

• I'm not much into games, music, or social networking apps. Most people already know what they like in these categories, so I remain open to the experience of others in areas I haven't addressed on this page.