While not necessarily the top apps around, but below are some apps that have become so integrated in my life that things would be harder without them.

Springpad

A really clever notebook that’s also completely FREE! It synchronises all your data across all your devices and the cloud. You can make lists, tasks, notes, save pages while you surf, share with social networks and email. You can also use a built in bar code scanner while shopping and look up products online. I don’t know where they make their money because there also does’t seem to be a limit on the amount you can store.

DeskSMS

Despite having a smart phone I tried to find more and more ways to avoid using it. DeskSMS is the best way I’ve discovered to not have to text on a small keyboard. Either through a webapp found at https://desksms.appspot.com/ or through a Chrome browser extension, you can access your SMS inbox and address book from a tidy interface. With the android app installed your phone needs to be connected to WiFi (or 3G) so you can send and receive text messages. There’s also a call button so you can start dialing before even picking up the phone, or while your phone is in a Dock, or with your bluetooth headset on or…  Subscription is only €4 a year (think how much a pint or a large coffee costs) so while not free, it’s not exactly expensive either.

Cabbage

Actually nothing to do with cabbage at all.

An android app, a desktop app, a web app, Cabbage has it all except anything to do with Cabbage. Very simply it allows you access your web texts available on Irish mobile providers (as well as others) without having to go through the really bad websites that they all seem to have. Everything is free, but there is also a premium android app that gives you extra options that  means you can replace your built-in SMS app.

Anything by the GO DEV Team

Talking about replacing built-in apps, GO DEV have replaced almost everything at this stage, the phonebook, the dialer, the SMS, the launcher, the keyboard, while also building their own apps like a e-book reader, and various widgets including a very good weather app/widget/live wallpaper. Almost all their products are highly customisable with themes that are either free or purchasable from the market. Any bugs are quickly squashed and updates roll out every few days with new features and improved old ones. There aren’t even any ads on their apps!

Swiftkey X

Swiftkey is a replacement keyboard application that is very very clever. It learns from you to make corrections that are scarcely accurate at times. It is theme-able and you can give it access to your facebook, twitter, email, and sent sms accounts so that it can learn from you before you even start using it. It is a dream to use and I can not recommend it enough.

Swiftkey sold for half price over the 2011 Cyber Monday deals where I picked up the full version. There is also a month long demo so you can try before you buy.

Edit: Quick! Swiftkey is part of the 10c sale today on Android market. http://www.swiftkey.net/celebrating-android-10-billion  Get it here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.touchtype.swiftkey

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