Titanium Backup
Cost: FREE (Full Version: $3.99)
The thought of losing all the apps on your Android device likely evokes a slight sinking sensation in your gut.
Fortunately for root users, Titanium Backup provides a 2-click peace of mind solution, should such a tragedy befall you. Titanium Backup is a powerful (you guessed it) backup utility which stores your apps, app data, and system data on your SD card for safekeeping.
The application can be configured to run its tasks on a schedule, and the $3.99 donate version allows you to set up multiple schedules for the various combinations of backups it is capable of performing.
In addition to the aforementioned capabilities, Titanium Backup can painlessly remove any application from your phone, including system-installed apps (such as the pesky Amazon MP3 Store, Sprint NASCAR, NFL, and other garbage).
Be forewarned: Titanium Backup’s app removal capabilities can break the OS if you happen to remove an item in your app list that is necessary for critical system functions, in which case you'd need to reboot into recovery and restore from a backup or flash a new ROM.
ROM Manager
Cost: FREE (Full Version: $3.99)
If you’ve ever thought about loading a custom ROM or kernel onto your phone, ROM Manager will make the experience a lot more user friendly. While it does require a little experience to use, it’s a lot easier than using recovery boot to do it yourself.
ROM Manager allows you to flash almost any ZIP to your phone, whether it be a kernel, ROM, app package, or radio image. ROM Manager does this through Koushik Dutta's ClockworkMod Recovery (Koush, coincidentally, is also the author of ROM Manager). Once a ROM or other flashable ZIP file is selected, ROM manager will automatically reboot your phone and flash it through ClockworkMod Recovery.
One of ROM Manager’s best features is its ability to initiate nandroid backups. Using Clockwork Recovery (which must be installed to use the app, and can be done, as shown above, from inside ROM Manager), you can create full system images for easy restoration.
If you mess up your OS, load into Clockwork Recovery, choose restore, find your backup, and voila! Your phone is back to the exact state it was in before you ruined it.
ROM Manager has other features, including support for installing and updating certain big name ROMs (such as Cyanogen), the ability to download and install ZIP files via QR codes, a permissions repair utility, SD card partitioning, and the option to flash alternative recovery images.
ROM Manager is probably the most feature-packed application on this list, and is definitely worth four dollars for the premium version.
ShootMe
Cost: FREE
No, this is not an app which unlocks your phone’s ability to mortally wound you, nor is it yet another annoying soundboard. ShootMe is a screenshot app that allows you to take a screenshot of your Android device with a simple shake, without the need for a computer.
While of varying usefulness to different people, ShootMe is far and away the most convenient screenshot app available for Android that I've used. The catch, of course, is the requirement of root permissions to run it.
Frankly, I find it useful when I want to shamelessly brag to my iPhone-using friends about how awesome my Nexus One and Android are.
Juice Defender: Ultimate Juice
Cost: €2.79
Juice Defender is a battery conservation app. It uses various triggers, rules, and timers to control how often your device utilizes 3G/EDGE APN's (data connections) as well as WiFi. These data connections are the number one drainers of battery life when your phone is idle, so Juice Defender allows you to decide when, where, and how often you want them to be active.
Ultimate Juice (the paid version of Juice Defender) must be installed over an existing copy of Juice Defender, and unlocks a few additional capabilities for users with root permissions.
Ultimate Juice provides some extra goodies for root users, particularly the ability to disable all 3G/EDGE (APN) connections on your device during selected scenarios. This includes pesky background mobile data services like Twitter or Facebook, potentially saving a lot of battery life while your phone is idle. The ability to adjust CPU clock speeds on the fly to conserve battery is another feature of Juice which requires root permissions, and is as customizable as any of the app’s many functions.
For a list of Ultimate Juice features that require root, its developers have provided this handy table in their FAQ.
Root Explorer
Cost: £1.90
Root Explorer is an application for exploring your phone’s directories, much like Astro File Manager, but with one advantage: it can delve into the deepest, darkest corners of Android through the use of root permissions. This includes the elusive “/data” directory, where treasures such as the dalvik cache and application settings reside.
For developers and tinkerers, its usefulness is self-explanatory. For the average user, it certainly is a solid file explorer with a likeable interface, though I’d hesitate to call it as feature-rich as Astro.
One more unique feature of Root Explorer is the ability to modify permissions settings on files or folders. The usefulness of permissions modification is probably limited to developers for the purposes of debugging and testing; then again, Root Explorer probably wasn’t written with the average user in mind.
Edit by Artem: the "dontpanic" folder in the /data directory is simply hilarious.
Quick Boot
Cost: FREE
Quick Boot is arguably the simplest application on this list. However, I find it to be one of the most useful. Quick Boot does 3 things, and 3 things only: it allows you to reboot, recovery boot, or bootloader boot with a single tap. The real usefulness of QuickBoot is in the ability to make home screen widgets for these functions, so they’re always at your fingertips (pun intended).
As has been pointed out to me, these features can all be had separately in other apps. CyanogenMod has the reboot function built into the power/end-button menu, and ROM Manager sports a recovery boot button as part of its menu options. But, neither of these have home screen shortcuts to the aforementioned functions.
Quick Boot may seem a trivial app, but I regularly use the reboot button, and find it to be the easiest way to access reboot, bootloader, and recovery boot functions.
Wireless Tether
Cost: FREE
This is the de-facto app when it comes to wireless tethering - it is free, open source, and actively maintained by its developer Harald Mue.
You can download the app from the market (the first QR code) or from the official google code page (the second QR code). The latter contains experimental releases, which I have so far found stable and more feature-rich than the latest stable versions (specifically, 2.0.5pre2 brings support for WPA2 and infrastructure mode to the EVO 4G).
Wireless Tether remains the best way to utilize your Android device as a WiFi or Bluetooth (PAN) hotspot, and can be installed on nearly any Android device, including those running older versions of the Android OS.
Wireless Tether boasts customization that FroYo’s tether can’t quite match for sheer geekery. The ability to change your wireless LAN’s network block (ie, 192.168.2 vs 10.10.1), enable access control (choose which clients may use your network by MAC address), and alter your broadcasting channel are all features which FroYo’s tethering app currently lacks.
Wireless Tether isn’t perfect; it doesn’t support USB tethering, and certain features (like some higher frequency broadcast channels or alternative encryption schemes) are limited by the hardware of older Android devices.
Shark For Root
Cost: FREE
This app was previously known as Andro Shark over at the XDA forums, and was in closed beta for some time until it recently reappeared as Shark For Root on the Android Market.
What does it do? It’s essentially a stripped down version of WireShark for your Android phone. It’s a particularly geeky app to have, but for developers or those of us obsessed with monitoring where our traffic is going, it’s a godsend.
Shark monitors all network activity on your device (presumably from all interfaces) and outputs a .pcap file. Unfortunately there is no live feed of the log being generated, and currently no app which can read a .pcap file is available on Android. But, this is still a beta and those features may eventually materialize.
adbWireless
Love the geeky freedom of connecting your computer to your Android device via ADB but wish it could all be done wirelessly? adbWireless does exactly what its name implies, all without the need for a USB cable.
There really isn't much more to say here - as you can see from the screenshots above, the app is, quite literally, a big red button that you can push to enable/disable wireless ADB connection. There's also a widget for those times when you're too lazy to fire up the full application. Simple, but, without a doubt, really awesome (and 100% free). Go check it out using the QR code or the AppBrain link below.
Cost: FREE
Move2SD Enabler
Here's a Froyo feature that's off to an even slower start than Google TV: moving apps to the SD card. While it seemed very exciting when Vic Gundotra demoed it at I/O 2010, the truth of the matter is that it won't really be useful until it is widely adopted by developers, which has yet to happen.
Enter Move2SD Enabler, which allows users to move any app to the SD card. Like adbWireless, it's as simple as pressing a button - simply download and install the app, select "External" instead of "Auto" (which is checked by default), and click "Apply." From this point on, any app you visit in the "Applications" section of "Settings" should have a "Move to SD" option - very handy indeed. If you're rocking Android 2.2 or above, there's really no reason not to download this app (especially since it's free), so hit up the AppBrain link or the barcode below to do so.
Cost: FREE
Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle
Another simple yet incredibly useful root-only app: Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle. This time around, we have an app that takes the Market's auto-update feature to a whole new level:
Pressing "Autoupdate On" does exactly what you'd expect: it turns on auto-update for all of your installed apps. That's it - you'll never have to confront that pesky "Allow automatic updating" option in the Market again. The only caveat is that the program only enables automatic updates for apps that are already installed and won't apply to those installed in the future - for those, you'll have to rerun Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle and press "Autoupdate On" again. Unsurprisingly, you'll still have to push the "Update" button yourself when an app receives a manual update (which only happens when its permissions change - not a frequent occurrence). And one more thing: it's completely free. Check it out using the QR code or the AppBrain link below.
Cost: FREE
LEDs Hack
Tired of having your bedroom turn into a planetarium each and every time you get an email? Wish you could disable your Android device's LED/trackball notification system?
LEDs Hack will get the job done, and it'll do it well. Sure, it might be a tad simplistic - after all, its job description only covers disabling LEDs - but it's free, and who doesn't love simplicity?
Cost: FREE
Theft Aware
Theft Aware, while considerably more complex than the other items on the list, is an Android security app unlike any other. With it, you can remotely track your phone if it gets lost or stolen, wipe it, call it and spy on the thief, and do so much more - all without the perp's knowledge.
For more information, hit up Artem's full review; both a QR code and an AppBrain link await you below if you are convinced that Theft Aware is worth £10 (it really is).
Cost: £10
MyBackup
If you love backing up your phone's data but wish you back all of it up at once, all for free, MyBackup might just be the perfect app for you.
With it, you can not only back up your apps' data before transferring it between ROMs; you can also schedule backups, back up to your SD card, and back up things you never even thought possible, such as contact info, home screens, and SMS/MMS conversations.
Rerware, LLC offers two versions of the app: a free version with nearly all of the functionality, and a paid version for $4.99. The main difference between the two is that the free edition only allows you to save your backups on your SD card, while the premium version allows placing them on Rerware's servers, although I wouldn't recommend anybody who values their data to use a random online service.
Now if only it could back up to sftp/ftps/scp or anything equally as secure, we'd call it a winner.
Both are just a click (or a scan) away - be sure to check them out using the QR codes/AppBrain links below.
MyBackup Root
Cost: FREE
MyBackup Pro
Cost: $4.99
DroidWall - Android Firewall
Maybe you signed up for AT&T service after they transitioned away from unlimited data plans... or maybe T-Mobile lured you into their "unlimited" data plan that is throttled after 2 GB... whatever it is, you're now stuck with a limited data plan. Luckily for you, there are a few solutions out there - XDA-Developers member sino8r came up with a good one a couple weeks ago, but unfortunately, it was too complicated for mainstream users.
That's where DroidWall comes in - while it won't free you of your carrier's data throttling, it will make sure apps on your phone don't unnecessarily waste your limited data without your knowledge. The app's main feature is turning off 3G or WiFi access for any application, thus allowing you to restrict which apps can access the network. Of course, in addition to saving bandwidth, DroidWall can be used for security - just lock down a suspicious app to make sure it doesn't try to unnecessarily call home. As an added bonus, a log of what goes on is included, a feature I'm sure the programmers amongst you will appreciate.
Cost: FREE
Button Savior
If your Android phone doesn't have any hardware keys and forces you to rely on software counterparts, you might want to check out Button Savior.
For one, it's probably a lot easier to use than the tiny and hard-to-press "Home"/"Menu" buttons your device's manufacturer has decided to insert into the notification bar. For another, it's actually got quite a few options - in addition to the keys seen in the first screenshot above and the numerous settings displayed in the second screenie, you now get a sixth button which acts as a shortcut to the dialer and the camera.
Button Savior might be worth a look even if your Android phone includes physical buttons - the dev claims they can wear out over time (though many devices now ship with capacitive buttons, and I haven't heard many reports of hardware keys like those on the Droid X wearing out), and several commenters have pointed out that the app is also convenient if you don't feel like reaching over for the hardware button every time you need to press it. Have at it via the QR code or the AppBrain link below.
Cost: FREE
MarketEnabler
One of the most frequent excuses for piracy has to be "The app isn't available in my country" or "Google doesn't allow paid apps where I live." No longer!
MarketEnabler makes your Android phone believe it's on another carrier - perhaps even one in another country. For example, a Swede could use this app to access Google Books, which is, by official terms, available exclusively in the US. Neato, right? If it's up your alley, you can grab it using the QR code or the Market/AppBrain links below.
Samba Filesharing
Hate wires? Who doesn't? This is 2011, after all.
Well if you answered the affirmative to that question, funkyFresh might just have the app for you: it's called "Samba Filesharing," and it allows users to access their Android device(s) over WiFi as a Windows shared folder.
With this free app, you can wirelessly copy files to/from your Android device via the same drag-and-drop interface you use when your handset is plugged into your computer with a standard USB cable. Even security freaks have a reason to celebrate - Samba offers customizable username and password options in addition to letting users choose a Windows workgroup name and a device network (NETBIOS) name. It's free, so be sure to give it a download - you know where to find the QR code and Market/AppBrain links.
SD Maid
It's bound to happen sooner or later - the puny SD card your phone came with has run out of space. What can you do? "Delete the unnecessary files on it" would likely be the most ubiquitous answer, but with SD Maid, you'll be able to free up space on that sucker without having to get rid of your digital belongings.
SD Maid frees up space on your phone's SD card by cleansing it of "corpses in the basement," or unnecessary data left behind by apps no longer installed on your device. It works with all Androids currently on the market, though the process is a bit different for Samsung handsets, hence the "Samsung" tab. Read our thorough write-up to get the full scoop or proceed to download it using the means provided below.
AutoKiller Memory Optimizer
Slow performance can be enough to cause even the most patient of Google fanboys to throw their handset against the wall, but as any self-respecting Android nerd will tell you, most task killers have serious issues of their own.
Enter AutoKiller Memory Optimizer, a task killer unique in its ability to tweak Android's inner memory manager. With it, users can allocate custom amounts of RAM to different app states (i.e. foreground, visible, hidden, etc.). In addition to this and the ability to kill processes, AutoKiller offers the same functionality buried deep in Google's own Settings app: annihilating services.
Donators are also able to choose alternate presets, enter Chuck Norris mode, and enjoy an ad-free experience.
Have at it via the QR code or the Market/AppBrain links below.
AutoKiller Memory Optimizer
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zMooth root
In the same vein as Button Savior, zMooth aims to reduce your dependence on your Android device's hardware buttons (home, menu, back, and search). Unlike Kiumiu.CA's offering, however, zMooth relies on webOS-like gestures rather than clunky virtual buttons.
To access zMooth, users can start by simply pulling up a blue (by default) bar from the bottom of the screen. To go back, they can swipe left; swiping right is equivalent to pressing the Menu button; and drawing an "up-arrow" (see the last screenshot) will return them to the homescreen.
The $1.19 pro version adds the ability to change the gesture area's width and colors as well as a "lightning strike" gesture for powering the device on/off.
But why would you bother learning these gestures when you could simply give one of the aforementioned hard keys a tap? SimpleMobDev, zMooth's developer, makes an argument we've heard before: physical buttons wear out over time (though the jury is still out on the veracity of this claim), and on devices with backlit keys, this app might even improve battery life, as the circuits and lights won't constantly be turning on and off. Test it out for yourself by scanning one of the two QR codes below (or simply clicking one of the links).
LCDDensity
Changing the LCD density of an Android device used to entail digging around in hidden directories and changing properties in secret files. Today, however, downloading the free LCDDensity app is all that's necessary.
Using the app is child's play - simply adjust the slider or click on one of the big rectangular buttons to alter the density, then click 'Apply' to restart your device and see the changes in effect. Of course, the smaller the font, the harder it is to press onscreen objects; the larger the font, the more screen space goes to waste. The choice begins with the QR code and the Market/AppBrain links below.
Keyboard Manager
When it comes to landscape keyboards, it'd be hard to top what HTC has going with Sense UI. If it's portrait input you're after, however, Swype is the cream of the crop. So how can you decide? Should you manually change your input method each and every time you switch orientations, or type exclusively in one position? As it turns out, you won't have to partake in either of those practices; downloading Keyboard Manager will suffice.
The app's premise is simple: allow consumers to use one keyboard in portrait mode and another when they turn their phone on its side. Execution is good too, as evidenced by all the positive feedback in the Market.
Indeed, just about the only caveat is that several users have reported installation issues on the ATRIX - follow these instructions should you experience such problems.
As always, the QR code and the Market/AppBrain links follow.
Live dmesg boot ani and live logcat boot ani
While this pair of shenanigans aren't about to win any awards for practicality, they're fun apps to have nonetheless - what Linux nerd could say no to being shown the real dmesg (kernel debug) or logcat (Android debug) log every time his/her device boots up?
Even at the "price of one beer" (developer's words), the duo manages to stand out from the crowd - they're no pre-recorded BIOS simulation; rather, they're live representations of the code that makes your handset tick. Better yet, the two apps integrate with each other quite well - if you have both installed, you can choose to run either one or the other at boot, or even run them side-by-side in split-screen mode. "Ubergeeky"? You bet - for evidence of that, look no further than the QR codes and Market/AppBrain links below.
Live logcat boot ani
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