So, you got a fancy new Android phone for the holidays! Congratulations! Now that you’re all set up, the only thing left to do is find the best apps and start having some fun. Google Play offers thousands of different applications and games to choose from, so without getting lost looking through countless pages of apps, allow us to drop some knowledge on you.

These are our top 10 recommendations to get you started with Android. 

1.  Chrome (free):

Earlier this year, Google released Chrome for Android and changed the way folks were using their Internet browsers. With Chrome, your mobile device and desktop computer’s tabs/browsing history can be perfectly synced, allowing for a fantastic browsing experience while on the go. Were you looking up that perfect spot for lunch on your desktop and forgot the name while on your way? Chrome has you covered. It’s free on Google Play and is always the first app we suggest to new Android users.

2.  Falcon Pro ($0.99):

Our love for the Falcon Pro app for Twitter is well known in these parts. We even did a full review on the app just to inform the masses of its existence. What makes the app so great is the user experience. The app is built amazingly well and offers up a very smooth, yet easy-to-navigate experience. It features swipe controls that help you go through your different feeds, which allows you to only see and read what you want. When it comes to Twitter apps, Falcon Pro rules the roost.

3.  SwiftKey 3 Keyboard ($1.99):

For Android users, having a third party keyboard can be a major plus. There are a lot of different options out there and we have found that SwiftKey 3 (especially the new beta, Flow) takes the cake. As for me, I type extremely fast, so I need a keyboard whose auto correct I can actually rely on. The app also offers up a ton of customization options such as themes, layout options, and more. To top that off, it offers usage statistics that show you your typing efficiency and things of that nature. Definitely worth the price.

4.  Instagram (free):

Instagram makes our list given that we feel it to be the “perfect social network.” None of those silly status updates – just pictures that give you a peak into the lives of those you care about. And of course, you can follow some celebs if you are so inclined. You can always check out Facebook, Google+, and Tumblr as well.

5.  Nova Launcher (free):

Custom launchers are one of the many things that makes Android great. If you aren’t happy with the stock home experience, you can change it! What makes Nova our go-to launcher is that we simply love the performance and customization options. Once applied, it gives you the ability to use custom icons, adjust grid sizes, change home screen transitions, manipulate the app drawer, and so much more. If there was something in your stock home experience that you weren’t enjoying, Nova likely has a fix. Also, if you’re looking for a good custom icon pack, check our Lustre and Tersus from Google Play.

6.  Snapseed (free):

Snapseed is relatively new to Android, but it has already become one of our new favorites. Previously only available for iOS devices, it is award-winning photo editing software that puts many other “filter apps” to complete shame. With swipe controls that put you in command of some powerful editing tools, you can turn your silly smartphone pictures into works of art. Once you are done editing your pictures, you can easily share them to your favorite social network or save them to your device. What makes it even better is that it is completely free.

7.  Games (Granny Smith, Need for Speed: Most Wanted):

Okay, we couldn’t narrow it down to just a single game, so we will give you two to get started. For starters, if you know anything about us, you will know we love Granny Smith. We named it our top game of 2012 and for good reason – it’s addictive! To start, it’s nice and easy and then evolves into a game that can become frustrating and extremely difficult, all while being completely enjoyable to play. It’s priced at $1.99, but is a game that we can’t get enough of. Secondly, we have Need For Speed: Most Wanted. To put it simply, it’s the best driving game on Android. Period. For having tilt controls and some touchscreen controls, the game plays extremely well. The graphics are insanely sweet, but it does come paired with a high $5.99 price tag. Act quick and you can still get it on sale for $0.99.

8.  AppSales (free):

This app is fantastic. It’s sole purpose is to save you money on the apps you want. Everyday, AppSales is updated to show which apps on Google Play are currently on sale. From using this app, I’ve easily saved $10 on apps/games, which is a win in my book. Definitely install this one if you’re big into buying content for your device.

9.  Beautiful Widgets ($2.50)

Beautiful Widgets has been around since the beginning, and it’s always on our list of recommendations for new Android users. With the newest updates the app has received, it has blossomed into an amazing widget application, with a literal ton of different options to choose from. Once one of the widgets is applied to your homescreen, you can see the time, current weather reports for your location or another location, dates, and access your alarms all from your homescreen. There isn’t a single option you can’t customize, which allows users to make a widget that fits their device and lifestyle with relative ease. The app runs a couple of dollars, but it could be some of the best money you spend in a long time.

10.  Dropbox (free):

Being able to have all of your important files/media on the go is important to everyone, not just Android users. With Dropbox, you have a safe place to store your important photos, videos, work files, and everything else that you don’t want stored on your device. Dropbox is one of the must-have apps for any Android user.

Honorable Mentions:

The below listed apps didn’t make our top 10, but they certainly deserve a mention. Some are apps for getting work done, and the others are games that will help you waste that extra time you have. Either way, these are just a few more apps that we can’t live without as Android users.

1.  Flipboard (free)
2.  Pattrn (free)
3.  Grand Theft Auto: Vice City ($4.99)
4.  Adobe Reader (free)
5.  Zombiewood (free)
6.  Google Currents (free)
7.  Sound Search (free)
8.  Ingress (free)

If you have any apps that you want to share with the community, feel free to list them below in the comments section. Have a good time with your new device!

Top 10 Apps For Your New Android Device is a post from: Droid Life

We can’t get through a full week of working it seems that we don’t hear about another purchase by Google. Whether it’s a high profile buyout like they finished up with Motorola, or a smaller snatch up like they did with Snapseed, they tend to always directly relate to Android or some other product Google is working on or has future plans with. Today, sources close to the matter say that Google is to replace their head of mergers and acquisitions with their top internal lawyer, Don Harrison. 

The man that has been in charge of over 70 deals of Google’s has been David Lawee, but there is no confirmation from Google as to why the change is happening. From what is being reported, it looks as though Lawee will be placed in an investment group that could work closely, but separately from Google Ventures.

Whatever is taking place, good luck to you, gentleman.

Via: Electronista

Google Looking to Replace Head of Mergers and Acquisitions? is a post from: Droid Life

Snapseed, the award winning photo editing software that Google purchased back in September, is now available on Android. Originally an iOS exclusive, Snapseed really is one of the better photo editing apps you’ll see. Not only does it include all of the filters that users enjoy in apps like Instagram, but it also has auto correct, image tuning, selective adjusting, cropping, and more. This isn’t just another retro-filtering photo app, it’s a pretty decent photo editor that lets you fine tune any image.

Once in the app, you select an image, and then scroll through the options at the bottom. This is where you’ll find your filters and other image tuning tools. To use them, once you’ve selected one, you use dragging motions from top to bottom or left to right. You can also pinch-to-zoom to expand corrected or enhanced areas. It’s a bit tricky at first, but once you play around with it, you’ll get it.

It should work on both tablets and phones running Android 4.0+. It’s free on Google Play.

Play Link

Via:  Google Blog | +Snapseed

Snapseed Now Available on Android, Making Beautiful Photos One Adjustment at a Time is a post from: Droid Life

There must be a lot of perks to being a big wig at Google. One of which is using products that your company hasn’t even publicly announced whenever you want. Lots of fuss was made when Google snatched up Snapseed, a popular iOS photo editing software, for use in Android, but it seems that the Android launch isn’t too far away.

Vic Gundotra posted a picture to Google+ the other day, which looked very hipster-filtery but upon closer inspection you can see that it was posted using Snapseed. The photo editing application was only acquired two weeks ago so it makes you think the Android app was already in production before Google acquired them. Whenever it does come out, it looks like it will have a tight integration with Google+.

Via: Google+

Vic Gundotra Posts Picture to Google+ Using Snapseed, Which Isn’t Out for Android Yet is a post from: Droid Life

This morning, Google’s Vic Gundotra took to his Google+ account to announce the company’s newest purchase, Nik Software. The software company is known best for their Snapseed application which is one of the more popular image editing apps found on Macs and iOS platforms. It has also won iPad App of the Year in 2011 and can be best compared to Instagram, where using filters and other tools can turn your boring photos into something people may want to tolerate. 

No specifics on the purchase have been announced, such as price or purpose, but along with the announcement of acquisition, Vic also threw out some big Google+ numbers. According to the newest crunching of numbers, there are over 500+ million Google+ accounts open, with 100 million of those being active users. With Vic tying the both together, we get the sense that Google will be utilizing Nik’s expertise in enhancing photo sharing and editing on Google+ and other platforms.

Cool, right?

Via: TechCrunch, Google+

Google Acquires Makers of Snapseed, Looks to Offer Better Photo Goodies on Google+ is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday at NVIDIA’s press event we got a sneak peak at a couple of apps that are sure to get Android users excited. If you happen to own an i*ad, then it is quite possible that you have heard of Snapseed. It has recently won the “iPad App of the Year” award, but is now coming to Android. The Snapseed application allows users to turn any ordinary photo into a work of art. With its amazing filters and effects software, it is no wonder why it won app of the year.

Another announcement that came from yesterday, is that MadFinger is working on a multiplayer edition of ShadowGun. It’s called ShadowGun: DeadZone and it will keep folks busy for a long time with the ability to play with others just as you would any other online multiplayer shooter.  And from what we saw yesterday, they were playing with Xbox controllers. Oh boy. 

Both applications will be making their way to Android in early 2012, so keep your eyes open.

Snapseed and ShadowGun:DeadZone Both Headed to Android Devices in Early 2012 is a post from: Droid Life