And, while most Android apps will run on a tablet, those that are built explicitly to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens tend to provide the best experiences. I’ve spent countless hours finding and testing Android tablet apps to uncover the best of the best.
Here are 11 essential apps every Android tablet owner should consider.
SwiftKey Tablet X
I never cease to be amazed at how often SwiftKey’s predictions are right (and how much key-tapping that saves). SwiftKey is fully customizable, too, with multiple color schemes and an optional split-screen mode for thumbs-only input. Altogether, this app is a must-have add-on for any Android tablet.
PicSay Pro
Its tablet-optimized interface has easy-to-use tools for resizing, rotating, cropping, and flipping photos. Aside from being useful, I found the app fun to use: A couple of taps, for example, will let you paint on your pictures or apply a dizzying array of advanced effects, ranging from contrast and color adjustments to red-eye fixes and funky filters. If you plan on handling photos in any way from your tablet, you’ll definitely want this app in your arsenal.
File Manager HD
In order to do this, you need a good file management utility. My pick is File Manager HD, available free in the Android Market (with an optional $2.49 in-app donation to eliminate a small on-screen ad). File Manager HD makes full use of your tablet’s display area with its multipaned, intuitive interface. It even boasts integrated support for file compression and decompression, as well as the ability to access remote systems via LAN or SMB connections.
Movies (by Flixster)
When you open the app, you see a list of all the current movies showing that day. Tapping on any film brings up a panel with a detailed description, local showtimes, images, trailers, cast info, and reviews from critics and users alike. You can browse through upcoming theater releases and DVD releases, too, and search for any movie–past, present, or future.
I like the app for its ease of use and the sea of information that it puts at your fingertips. The Movies app even features Netflix integration, allowing you to manage your streaming queue and to add any title with a single tap.
News360 for Tablets
I found News360’s interface to be clean, crisp, and carefully crafted to take full advantage of Android’s tablet-centric features. Best of all, the app is free.
Accuweather for Honeycomb
Within the program itself, you can see the forecast hour by hour or switch to a 15-day view to plan ahead. You can even get detailed info about how the weather looks for a specific factor like grass growing, bicycling, or asthma risk. The Accuweather app has interactive radar and satellite maps; it also offers a selection of national and regional forecast videos as well as the latest weather headlines from around the world.
Next: Apps for making lists, docs and spreadsheets, remote accessing, tweeting, and Facebooking.
Springpad
Springpad lets you input text notes, audio notes, image notes, or product notes (via scanned barcodes) into any number of “notebooks,” or categories, that you create. You can even input the name of a movie or book that catches your eye, and Springpad will automatically attach a full profile of the product to your note. Springpad continuously syncs your data, so all of your stuff is always accessible on the Web or via the company’s free Chrome extension.
Quickoffice Pro HD
Quickoffice Pro HD can integrate with a number of different cloud storage services, too–Google Docs, DropBox, and SugarSync, among others–allowing you to save files directly to the Web in addition to your device. For my money, no other Android tablet office app even comes close to comparing.
Wyse PocketCloud Pro
Setting up PocketCloud Pro is simple, and once you’ve installed the PC or Mac client, it takes just seconds to get your desktop up and running on your tablet’s screen. You can swipe around the desktop with your finger and use mouse or keyboard tools to interact. PocketCloud Pro supports RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and VNC (Virtual Network Protocol) connections; it also offers TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption and the ability to connect to multiple computers.
Plume for Twitter
Tapping on a tweet causes it to open in a side panel on the screen. Plume has its own built-in browser, too, meaning that you can view linked pages without ever having to exit the program. Add in multiple account support and a completely customizable interface, and you’ve pretty much got the total package.
Friendcaster Tab for Facebook
Friendcaster does what Facebook’s own app should do on Android tablets: It gives you a multipaneled view of your news feed, with numerous filtering options and split sections to zoom in on specific content. In addition, the app has simple tools for posting new content, whether it’s a text update, a photo, or a video, and whether you want to share it with everyone or just with certain friends. Friendcaster has full support for check-ins, messages, groups, events, and pages as well.
JR Raphael is a PCWorld contributing editor and the author of the Android Power blog. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
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