5 Android Utility Apps You Should Have On Your Phone At All Times
© Bloomberg/Getty ImagesSamsung Galaxy S23 UltraEvery Android phone comes with its own suite of software that handles countless daily tasks. Many Google utilities may already be pre-installed, such as Google Maps. You can also easily install various Google apps that can help you locate your lost phone or replace the ones present on your device with suitable alternatives.
Apart from the obvious essentials like an online messaging app or an SMS app, there are other types of tools that every Android user should have installed on their device. Whether it's an app that helps you protect your data or an app that helps you perform everyday tasks more efficiently, a quick look at the list of categories available in the Google Play Store will tell you that there are literally too many options out there for you. choose. . From: It really depends on the type of activities you need help with. To get started, here are some suggested Android apps to try and keep on your mobile device.
Task Manager
© Jam Kotenko/SlashGear Notepad Android AppGoogle actually offers several apps to help you manage your to-do list well. A good solution is Google Calendar, which allows you to add not only events, but also tasks on specific dates. Another example is Google Keep, which is great for creating quick notes and checklists.
If you want to explore apps outside of the Google family, you can try alternatives to calendar apps that work like task trackers. The very popular Any.do; Among other things, you can use it to create and categorize to-do lists and set reminders to make sure they're completed on time. As an all-in-one productivity app, it is highly rated by Play Store editors, has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating, and has over 10 million downloads.
Another program to highlight is Notepad, a program that, as its name suggests, allows you to take all kinds of notes and organize them in the way that suits you best. The interface is very simple and easy to use: you can create and save notes or checklists. Any note or list you save can be easily searched in the app, sorted by date or title, and edited or deleted instantly. Backups can also be created via Google Drive or directly on your mobile device. So far, Notepad has 4.7 out of 5 stars and more than 10 million downloads in the Android app market.
voice recorder
© Jam Kotenko/SlashGear Otter Android AppYour phone may already have basic audio recording software that saves audio files in a playable format. Depending on your Android phone model, your built-in recorder may be a simple recorder that lets you listen to just your past recordings, share them with others, rename files, or delete them entirely. Your device might already have Google's own Recorder app, but you might want something with a bit more functionality.
Otter not only lets you record audio and save it as a file you can listen to later, but you can also convert the recordings to text and review them in a readable format. This simple feature comes in handy when audio recording interviews or meetings where participants need to share notes and minutes. Any transcription errors can be easily corrected by hand.
With a basic Otter account, you have a 300-minute logging limit that resets in a month. The main points of each recording can be highlighted for later review and helpful comments can be made during audio playback. You can also easily search the generated transcript for specific keywords and export it to a general text file. If you need to record and transcribe more minutes of audio, you can upgrade to Otter Pro for $16.99 per month, which includes more file output formats, import of pre-recorded audio, and more. other additional features.
translator
© Google Translate Google Translate softwareA useful application that every traveler should have on their Android phone is a tool that can translate foreign languages into understandable ones. Google Translate is a good place to start. You can use it to instantly translate written English into 133 other languages so locals can understand you. You can also use the built-in microphone feature to record spoken dialects for easier translation, or use the camera to decode strange words on all types of boards. If you are in a place with limited internet connection, you can download the language before arriving at your destination, so you can translate even without mobile data.
There are other popular translator apps on Google Play. Depending on the languages you need to translate, DeepL Translate, Papago, and Talking Translator are some of the best options available for Android that are worth trying. All of these options have millions of downloads and a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
password manager
© Maor_Winetrob/Shutterstock Last Step app for Android phonesEvery Android user who is active online on various online platforms, services and apps needs a quick and easy way to save passwords on their mobile device. The easiest way to do this is to download a password manager. Most of the best options require you to pay a subscription fee, but in return you get premium features like unlimited password storage and the ability to use the service on multiple devices.
The main competitors of the Play Store are Bitwarden, Dashlane and Norton. To access passwords stored in any of these apps, you need to authenticate your identity through a master password, facial recognition, or fingerprint scan. These programs can also help you convert your existing passwords to more complex, hard-to-crack strings for added security without memorizing them by hand.
verification app
© Jam Kotenko/SlashGear Android App 2FASFor most websites and services that require you to enter a username and password, you can use two-factor authentication for added privacy and security. This introduces additional access restrictions, making it difficult for hackers and scammers to access your online accounts. Two-factor authentication is best handled with authentication software.
Apart from Google Authenticator, the best ones for Android include 2FAS, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy, some of which have received rave reviews from Android users. These apps work pretty much the same way: you can add your account to any website that supports two-step verification. Once you've done this and ensured that two-factor authentication is enabled, the next time you try to log in with a password, you'll be prompted for a code generated by the authenticator you have chosen.
Note that the authenticator app is associated with the Android device it is installed on. Many verification programs give you access to codes on multiple devices. However, if you lose an Android phone with an authenticator app, you may need to log in using another access method, or go through the security measures provided on the app's support pages. authentication of your choice.
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