I’m Feeling Lucky

I just found out that if you go to http://google.com, enter Jason Southwell in the search box and click the I’m Feeling Lucky button, you are directed immediately here to this here fine site.

Moral of the story, if you are reading this, you are in fact very lucky.

My Recommended DROID apps

I’ve been using Android for over a year now, first with the G1 on TMobile and now with the DROID on Verizon.  A big part of the Android experience is in the apps.  I figured I’d write up a list of my favorite Android apps.  They are in alphabetical order, so no preference is to be inferred by the numbering.

1. AK Notepad - Simply the best notepad app for the Android.  Quick, simple, configurable and the data can be easily backed up and restored. - Free
2. AndroZip - A great file unzip utility. - Free
3. Better Keyboard - A great replacement for the built in keyboard.  Searching for this in the market is tough because of all of the skins, so look for the publisher “Better Android” - Paid but inexpensive.
4. Bubble Level -  The best bubble level app out there for Android. - Free
5. Google Voice - Absolutely fantasic integration with your Google Voice number… just wish it integrated better with SMS, at least as well as it does with the phone app. - Free
6. Linda File Manager - A great file manager for your phone.  The real reason to get this (or most any file manager) is that it permits you to download file types not registered with Android from the browser.  A must have. - Free
7. Listen - The best podcast catcher in the market. - Free
8. NewsRob - A terrific rss newsreader that syncs perfectly with Google Reader.  You will never miss a news article or spend time rereading through crap you’ve already read or skipped. - Paid but inexpensive.
9. PicUp - A great picture uploader.  Makes sending photos to Flickr, Twitter or Facebook extremely easy. - Paid but inexpensive
10. Qik - Send live video streams to your website from your phone’s camera.  Awesome.  - Free
11. Remote Desktop - This app from Xtralogic is simply a terrific way to get on to your windows machines remotely.  And now that Android supports VPNs there is no reason to be disconnected from work, ever. - Paid, not cheap.
12. Robo Defense - This game is a terrific tower defense game for Android.  Will occupy way too much of your time. - Free trial, Paid but inexpensive.
13. Speed Forge 3D - This game is an interesting flying/driving style game that uses the accelerometer to steer.  Very cool - Free trial.
14. Speed Test - A nice app to determine just how fast your 3G connection is running.  Uses SpeedTest.Net in the backend. - Free
15. Sports Tap - The best app to keep up to speed on the football scores and stats.  - Free
16. UStream Broadcaster - Much like Qik, this app permits you to broadcast your phone’s camera live to the web but over UStream. Free.
17. Where - The best local info app on the market.  Smartly uses locale information to provide everything from movie listings to yellow page lookups.  Terrific interface - Free.
18. — bonus pick — Moxier Mail - This application isn’t really one that I’ll use any longer now that I’m on the DROID, but if you are stuck on a pre Android 2.0 device and don’t have built-in exchange support, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Moxier.  It is a terrific exchange client supporting ActiveSync, Microsoft’s push technology.  - Paid and not cheap.

Hope this helps any new Android users out there.