15 Best Google Android Apps for Newbies (1)

If you just nabbed a new Android smartphone or tablet, or are coveting one, which apps should you download immediately? Check out these 15 picks.

Android Apps to Grab

One of the best things about Google’s Android mobile OS is the vast collection of crafty developers constantly working away on new mobile applications for Android phones and tablets. In other words, Android is all about the software. And there’s certainly no shortage of Android apps.
As such, navigating Google’s Android Market can be intimidating for new or beginner users, to say the least. So we handpicked 15 free Android apps that every Google phone or tablet owner, whether you’re a newbie or power-user, could benefit from installing.
Keep moving for details and download links. (Note: The following apps were tested on a Motorola Atrix 4G running Android v2.2.1, but most should run on all new Android devices.)

Pandora Radio for Android

A variety of cool, free Internet radio applications exist for the Android platform, but none offer the same quality music catalogue and customization options as the free Pandora for Android app. Pandora is easy to setup and use: Create and account, log in, simply pick an artist or band you like and the application creates a custom “station” based around that artist, with similar tunes, selected by other like-minded listeners.
Download Pandora Radio from the Android Market

Twitter for Android

Any and all Twitter users with Android devices should download the most popular Twitter app on the Market: the official Twitter for Android app. The software boasts an intuitive and visually appealing interface. And though more advanced, feature-packed apps exist-like Plume for example-Twitter for Android provides all the basic Twitter functionality you’ll need for free, with no ads.
Download Twitter from the Android Market

Google Maps for Android

Google Maps is the must-have mobile-mapping app for Android smartphones. View your current whereabouts on a Google map, based on GPS or cell-tower-location; get walking/driving directions; share your current location with friends, via Google’s “Latitude” service; and much more. All for free.
Download Google Maps from the Android Market

ScoreMobile for Android

ScoreMobile is the Android-device-toting sports-nuts’ dream app. The completely free app offers scores, statistics and more for a variety of sports and leagues, including both NFL and NCAA football, Major League Baseball, professional golf and NASCAR. Users looking for in-depth info on specific sports can find more full-features apps in the Market, but ScoreMobile is the best software for keeping tabs on a variety of game-types at once.
Download ScoreMobile from the Android Market

TV Guide Mobile for Android

Installing the TV Guide Mobile app for Android is like keeping an always up-to-date copy of TV Guide in your pocket; you’ll never have to look beyond the screen of your Android device to determine your current local TV options. Just enter your location and TV provider, and you instantly get all relevant TV listings. And you can set favorite-show reminders that integrate with your Google Calendar so you never miss an episode of 30 Rock or Modern Family.
Download TV Guide Mobile from the Android Market

(To be continued)

By Al Sacco

PCWorld

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