Five Android apps worth checking out

The Android marketplace is an exciting place to be. With almost over 30k new apps coming in every month it is very easy to miss out on some of the interesting apps. Here are five apps, we think you should definitely give a try this month!

The Android marketplace is an exciting place to be: there is this whole range of exciting apps coming over time and again. With almost over 30k new apps coming in every month it is very easy to miss out on some of the interesting apps. Here are 5 apps, we think you should definitely give a try this month!

1. Onavo

Onavo is a free data usage montiroing app available for Android phones. It lets you set limits on your data plan usage (GPRS and 3G) and lets you control your mobile bill.

Unlike other data monitoring apps, that simply provide you notifications on data usage, Onavo not only tracks your data usage and notify you on set quotas, it also analyses your apps for their data-hogging nature and if you partake in their community features, it will also let you know if that app you are installing next is a data hog or not.

The app also has a set of 3 functional widgets that will keep you updated about your and app data usages.

All in all a wonderful app for people who use a lot of internet-based apps over their mobile networks to not only keep a check on their monthly mobile spend, but also keep their apps in check.

Download from Android Market

2. Catch

There is no dearth of note-taking applications for Android. There is Evernote, One Note, Stock Apps, and then there is Catch.

Catch is a free app that allows you to record your notes and sync it across devices. With Catch you can capture photoes, notes, voice memos, locations and alerts, which you can also share on collaborative streams. It also has a powerful tagging subsystem that lets you categorise your notes in contextual streams.

You can also create a stream, which is a collection of related notes. So next time you are planning a birthday party, you can record everthing related to it: venue options, greeting card ideas, menu items in the events sprint and set alerts for the same. It can definitely make task management and simple project management very effective.

Download from Android Market

3. wattpad

Wattpad is one of the largest online communities for writers and readers, and is one of the most exciting places to discover new authors and stories.

The Wattpad reader brings the complete portal to your mobile with millions of stories. If you like reading stories, Wattpad can be your window to new talent out there.

It is not one of the best readers out there, in terms of features and user experience, but the content it houses is pretty good. Worth exploring for literature aficionados.

Download from Android Market

4. Scanner Radio

Powered by RadioReference, Scanner Radio is an app that brings police and fire department radios from all over the world to your phone. though the radio channels are mostly from USA and Australia right now, their library is growing day by day and including feeds from across the world.

One of the most exciting features in the app is the 'Near Me' feature that lets you listen from scanners closer to you. You can favorite scanners you like listening to.

Even though the app has no real usage, other than listening to Police and Fire departments from different places responding to situations, it has a decent amount of satisfaction for all our vigilante and superhero fantasies.

Download from Android Market

5. doubleTwist Player

doubleTwist Player is one of those apps that has got me very excited recently. There are some really good music players out there for Android including Winamp and PowerAmp. And then the stock music players that come with many Android distributions are very well done too. And yet all of these somehow miss out on the overall experience of using a music player. doubleTwist has got that bang on target!

Managing your library and finding that very track you are in the mood for is a joy in doubleTwist. The listings are very clear and very colorful. Simply looking at your music collection is a wonderful experience. The playlists are very nicely represented too, with an interface for 'Up Next' tracks.

The app also serves as an Internet radio and can handle all your podcasts for you. Since its launch, the app has got an average rating of 4.5 stars out of almost 75k reviews. That speaks a lot for the app's usability.

The free app comes with paid services that allow you to AirSync your music library from your desktop to the phone, and update your album art from Gracenote.

Download from Android Market