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GOOGLE’S ANDROID, the Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, is the world’s most popular and leading mobile platform in the world.

Android has a huge community of software programmers writing applications “apps” that enhance and extend the functionality of mobile devices.

Programmers typically write code in a version of Java and apps can be downloaded from online stores such as Google Play, the app store run by Google, or from independent websites. As of July 2012, there are more than 600,000 apps and games available for download on Google Play and it is estimated that the number of downloads from Google Play is a staggering 20 billion!

Looking at the boom in Android devices, we will be bringing to our readers, periodic updates.

App for the socially networked

Instagram which was limited to i-users earlier, is now available on Android devices. Instagram, a free photo-sharing program and social network allows users to take a photo, apply digital filters and effects to it, and then share it their friends on various other social networks, who are also using Instagram.

App for the general user

Smart Screen Off is a free Android app which puts the phone’s display off as soon as you pocket your device, or put it aside on your table. Smart Screen Off does not depend on the screen timer but quickly cuts power to the screen. The advantage here is that it doesn’t lock the device automatically, allowing you to continue with whatever you are doing, such as listening to music, without the hassle of having to periodically unlock the device. Great app for the couch potato who does not even want to extend his limbs to reach for the phone!

App for the businessman

Lookout Mobile Security is a freely downloaded security tool or app which will help your desktop web browser to back up contact information. But the smart feature is that it also assists you to track down and search and locate one’s device if stolen, lost or misplaced. The paid version of this tool offers remote security functionalities such as remote locking which can help keep one’s phone data secure from snooping eyes. Of course, if you are lucky enough to own a Galaxy SIII, this feature is pretty much built in!

App for the busy man

Android Notifier is a mobile-desktop app combo which helps you keep attention focused on the desktop computer at the same time ensuring that important notifications popping up from one’s Android phone are not missed out! This app saves you from the distraction of having to continually keep checking for important events or notifications that keep popping up on the phone.

It is possible with this app to map your events to your laptop or desktop, helping you be more productive @work! Whenever a pre-configured event occurs on one’s phone, the Android Notifier app pops a message which shows the contact name, number, text of incoming messages etc wherein one can decide whether the item warrants urgent attention. This is one app that we suspect employers would voluntarily get for their workforce.

App for the movie fanatic

iMDb is indeed well known international movie database. The Android app helps one access this database and also provides all kinds of data one might wish to have about the flick – right from the snapshot of the movies, star cast, reviews – you name it and its available at the click of the button or at the swipe of your finger!

prashant.vadgaonkar@hotmail.com