Android Applications
About Applications:
- How will you review Android applications?
- After using the applications for an appropriate amount of time (usually a few days, but it will be different for every application), we will evaluate various components on a scale from "poor" at the low end to "excellent" at the high end, and "fair" or "good" in the middle. Evaluation criteria includes the value (the amount of usefulness for the price), practicality, ease of use, whether or not we experience problems or glitches, and how interesting/fun the application is to use.
- With each review we will include the name of the application, price, category, a description, technical specifications, the developer, where you can download it, and an overall rating. We will try to provide at least two new reviews per week and most of the applications that we review will probably fall under the Top Paid and Top Free categories. However, we will make a strong effort to also include lesser known applications that do not fall into those categories.
- In some cases, if the application is also available on the iTunes App Store for the iPad or iPhone, then we will provide the price difference.
- To make this website easier to navigate we will categorize the apps based on the Android Market website. In some cases we have combined or excluded some categories that are on the Android Market. This is because they are either very similar and can be combined or they are not very useful. For example, we will probably not provide many reviews of applications that would fall under the "Comics" or "Live Wallpaper" categories that can be found on the Android Market.
- You can find some of our Most Recent reviews on the right side of the page, which will be updated weekly. As we complete more reviews they will be added below under their respective categories.
Rating Process
- When we review the applications there will be a rating on a four-point scale for each application. These ratings will appear in the form of stars or "Androids" and each rating will correspond to how well the application meets expectations. An example of what the ratings might look like is featured below.
- Rating:
(Excellent)
This application fulfills and exceeds all expectations.
- Rating:
(Good)
This application meets most, if not all expectations and and has few if any issues.
- Rating:
(Fair)
This application meets some expectations and has a number of noticeable issues.
- Rating:
(Poor)
This application does not meet any expectations, has many serious issues, and is not recommended for use.
- Rating:
Categories
- The categories that we will use for organizing the applications and their reviews will be: Books & Reference, Business, Communication, Education, Entertainment, Finance, Health & Fitness, Media, Medical, News & Magazines, Productivity, Shopping, Social, Tools, Travel & Weather, and Widgets. There is a short description about each category below with what types of applications it might include and examples of real applications that may be reviewed.
- The Entertainment category will combine the Entertainment and Sports categories.
- The Media category will combine the Media & Video, Music & Audio, and Photography categories.
- The Travel & Weather category will combine the Transportation, Travel & Local, and Weather categories.
Books & Reference
This section will include applications that can be used for reading or listening to books, reference-type applications like dictionaries or encyclopedias, translators, or other guides. Some applications we might review include the free and paid versions of the Wikipedia app, the Kindle app, or a Spanish translator.
Business
This category will include applications that are helpful and important in work environment. These could include calendars, office packages that might include document edit software, presentation makers or views, spreadsheets, mileage calculators, remote desktops, or email applications. Some examples of applications we might review are Business Calendar, CamScanner, or Office Suite Pro.
Communication
In the Communication category we will review applications like various types of email, chat programs, texting services, alternative phone options, and others that contribute to making it easier to contact others and share information. Some applications that we might review include Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, or Gmail.
Education
The applications we review in the Education category will be good for learning. We will evaluate educational applications that range from teaching Pre-schoolers to studying for college exams. Some applications we might review will be Kids ABC Phonics, the NASA App, or ACT Math Prep.
Entertainment
The Entertainment category will feature applications that relate to movies, television, sports, and other fun things. Some applications that could be reviewed are the Netflix application, TV Guide Mobile, the Magic 8-Ball app, ESPN Radio, or NFL Mobile.
Finance
This section will include applications that range from helping with taxes and calculators to banking and investments. A few applications that we might review would be Google Finance, PayPal Mobile, or TurboTax SnapTax.
Games
This section will evaluate the different kinds of games that are available for Android devices. Some examples of games that might be reviewed are Angry Birds, Scrabble, and Solitaire.
Health & Fitness
The Health and Fitness category will feature applications that aid in exercise or dieting, amongst other things. Applications that could be reviewed are Calorie Counter, RunKeeper, or Pocket Yoga.
Media
The Media category will encompass the Media & Video, Music & Audio, and Photography categories. The applications in this category include apps that can edit audio, photos, and video, camera apps, music players, and video players. Some applications we might review are Adobe Photoshop Express, Pandora, and AudioManager.
Medical
Within the Medical category there are applications that act as symptoms guides, emergency aid instructions, medical dictionaries, and more. We will review applications like First Aid, Nurse Calculators, and Med Minder.
News & Magazines
News & Magazines will feature applications that feature daily news feeds from major sources as well as featured content from popular magazines. Some apps that could be reviewed include the CNN App, NPR News, or The Economist.
Productivity
The Productivity category features applications that aid in time management and other aspects of "productivity." Types of applications that will be reviewed are notepads, calendars, and others. Some examples of applications that will be reviewed are ColorNote, CircleLauncher, and Touch Calendar.
Shopping
The Shopping category includes applications that can be used for grocery lists, barcode scanners, coupon applications, and store or brand specific applications. Some examples include the Walmart App, ScanLife Barcode Scanner, and Mighty Grocery Shopping List.
Social
The Social category includes applications that are used for social networking and communicating with others. Examples of some applications that might be reviewed include Facebook for Android, Twitter, and Bump.
Tools
Tools is a category that features applications that help to monitor your Android device in more detail as well as other useful apps like different keyboards, flashlights, and more. Some examples of applications in this category are Advanced Task Manager or Brightest Flashlight.
Travel & Weather
The Travel and Weather category combines applications from the Transportation, Travel & Local, and Weather categories. This category includes applications that deal with transportation information like schedules, flight tracking, maps and GPS, and weather information providers. Some examples of apps that will be reviewed are WeatherPro, GasBuddy, and Car Dashboard Pro.
Widgets
Widgets are applications that can be conveniently placed on a main screen of a smartphone or tablet for screen space maximization and provide live data without having to open the application. Many applications will also have a widget that can be placed on the phone for more convenient access.
