Getting a new phone is always an exciting time. From exploring all the new features, to testing out how it performs in the latest graphically demanding games. Some parts have become somewhat of a tedious ritual, such as re-installing all your apps.
Let’s do a quick rundown of the apps that I install on every new Android phone that I setup. Excluded are things like banking apps, and other apps that are highly dependent on who you do business with.
1 – Google Podcasts
There may be more popular third-party podcasting apps out there, but for my purposes, the app from Google fits the bill just fine. From offline-downloading, to playback speed control, Google Podcasts has everything I need to enjoy podcasts while exercising and traveling.
2 – Poolsuite.fm
This popular music streaming site is chock full of 90s poolside vibes wrapped into a pre-Mac OS X inspired interface. While an official Android app is still pending, you can install the site as a PWA (Progressive Web App) and get the closest thing to a native app. Music continues to play while the screen is locked so you literally won’t skip a beat.
3 – AllTrails
As an avid hiker, AllTrails is the best collection of local trails and maps that I’ve been able to find. It’s easy to find trails based on proximity, difficulty, length, or any combination of all of those. The paid version has some nice perks, but basic discovery and online mapping comes free.
4 – Reddit
Everyone has their social media fueled dopamine addiction, and I don’t put myself above others in that regard. At least Reddit is very much self-aware, and there’s a huge”community of communities” that are ripe for exploring. Watch out, NSFW content is aplenty on Reddit.
5 – Survey Monkey Rewards
Above all, I am a cheapskate at heart, so when I discovered how easy it was to earn Amazon gift cards, $0.25 – $1.00 at a time, I was on board. By taking short market research surveys, you can quickly accumulate enough money to turn into anything you want (as long as it’s on Amazon [so basically anything]).
6 – Google Recorder
Everyone needs to record audio every now and then and the relatively new Recording app by Google fits the bill with basic features and more. Online backups, and automatic transcriptions are the icing on the cake to this simple recording app.
7 – Google Opinion Rewards
Similar to Survey Monkey Rewards, Google Opinion Rewards lets you earn Google Play Store credits which you can then spend in the Play Store, or even toward a YouTube Premium subscription. The questions seem to be less oriented around market research, and more toward personalized ad recommendations. But hey, if Google is profiting off your data regardless, you may as well skim a little off the top, eh?
