Top 3 Android Apps: Fall 2012 Edition

All of the Android apps that made my fall 2012 “best of” list have a few things in common–besides being worth a download.

They’re all “social apps,” allowing you to organize your Twitter stream, make free calls and send group messages, and dial into conference calls while barely thinking about it. They’re all free. And all of the apps are available for iOS devices, too. (Since my last Android faves roundup, I really wasn’t wowed by any Android-only apps.)

Here are favorite Android apps I tested since July 2012.

Imo Messenger

Like imo messenger, plenty of apps corral all of your IM services in one place. In imo’s case, the list of supported services is fairly extensive, and it includes Skype, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, AIM and Facebook Chat. Imo messenger lets you make and receive free phone calls over Wi-Fi connections (you can also place calls over cellular connections). These features aren’t unique to imo, but the app has a few things that set it apart, including an easy-to-navigate interface, surprisingly good voice quality (for a smartphone app) and the abilities to message from your Android or from the imo website (in text or voice). IMHO, imo messenger is a worthy addition to your Android.

Slices for Twitter

Unlike some other Twitter clients I’ve used, Slices for Twitter neatly organizes tweets from accounts you follow into categories, or “slices.” By default, the app comes with pre-defined categories to get you going. But you can create your own, which makes it easier to see what the Twitterverse thinks about, say, technology or health topics at a given time. You can explore tweets by content providers, such as CBS and ABC News, too. Slices for Twitter lets you compose and post tweets. But easy content consumption is where this app truly shines.

MobileDay

Among the world’s pressing problems: The tedious chore of dialing into a conference call from the road, which ranks somewhere between a sore toe and a missing sock. (Speaking of missing socks, have I got an app for you!)

MobileDay makes the conference-call process as painless as possible. You just launch the app, peek at your calendar and click the conference call appointment. The app enters the necessary dial-in and passcode numbers for you. All you have to do is say something brilliant during the call.

MobileDay also lets you easily fire off text or email messages to others using prepared text, such as “I’m running late” and “Is this meeting truly necessary?” (Confession: I made that one up). 

Your Android Favorites

Have you tried any new Android apps that you can’t live without? If so, please share the details in the comments section.