Marcus Hellberg

Sure, there are a lot of top lists for Android applications. But there is not yet one for my top Android apps. So here are my top 5 (or so) applications for Android:

1. MyTracks

MyTracks is Google’s sports tracking software for Android, much like Nokia Sports Tracker is for S60 devices. With this application you can track your sporting (or other) routes and see statistics over your performance. The application lets you upload routes to Google maps and statistics to a Google Docs spreadsheet for easy analysis.

I really like this application as I bicycle a lot. Being able to measure routes and see average speeds, resting time vs moving time and other statistics really make working out more interesting (and geeky).  It allows you to concentrate on the sports performance without having to worry about pausing the application every time you take a break for instance.

[Image courtesy of Google]

2. Fring

Even though I mostly use Google Talk on my HTC Hero, I occasionally need to contact people without Google Talk accounts. Fring is by far the best application I have found to do this on the Android platform. Fring lets you access contacts on pretty much any imaginable instant messaging network, like MSN, AOL, Yahoo, Skype, as well as its own Fring protocol. To make things even better, the application has support for making Skype calls over 3G and WLAN, which has come in handy while traveling.

[Image courtesy of Fring]

3. Google Maps

I want to mention Google Maps even though it comes with the phone. I use the application almost daily, looking up nearby services or routes to places. The Maps application on the HTC Hero lacks navigation, which would definitely place this application at the top of the list. Once you have gotten used to having a GPS in your pocket, there is no going back.

4. handyCalc

This is probably the best calculator I have found for Android. It allows you to do simple calculations easily, but also supports much more. For instance, it supports solving equations, plotting graphs and converting currency. This application is a must-have for anyone that has to do some more advanced math once in a while and doesn’t like lugging around a Texas Instruments calculator all the time.

5. ConnectBot

ConnectBot is a very handy SSH client for Android. It allows you to easily connect to SSH servers and perform maintenance tasks without having to bring along your laptop everywhere. Combined with the large screen of the Hero, this application is really useful.

[Image courtesy of ConnectBot]

6. Bebbled

The final application on this list is a game. The game is much like Bejewled, and easily as addicting. The major difference is that it supports turning around the device have the blocks move to the “ceiling.” This brings a new dimension to the game and makes it really addictive.

[Image courtesy of Bebbled]

What are your favorite Android Apps? Please share any apps that you have found useful in the comments.