Friends who get a new iPhone, iPad or Android device often ask me what apps to get on their new device. So I’ve compiled a list of the essential apps that are available on both systems. I chose these apps because I feel this collection will allow new users to experience the magical feeling that they are thirsty for from their new gadget.
Also check out the things you can do on Android but not on iOS as well as apps available on iOS but not Android.
- Google Essentials
- Google Search – particularly for Google Now and Google Googles (reverse image search)
- Google Maps
- Chrome Browser
- YouTube
- Social
- Yelp
- Skype
- SoundCloud – audio clips from musicians, news networks, etc
- Vine – share short animated clips
- Grooveshark – personalized internet radio
- Last.fm – personalized internet radio
- Google+
- Cinemagram – share short animated clips
- Photos
- Pixlr Express – simple photo editing
- Google Goggles – reverse image search
- Reading
- Pocket – offline reading
- Flipboard – news feeds
- Pulse – news feeds
- Kobo/Kindle – books
- Zinio – magazines
- Food
- Urbanspoon
- Foodspotting
- Epicurious Recipe App
- OpenTable
- Music
- SoundHound – record a clip of music to find out which song it is
- Songza
- Movies
- Flixster
- Netflix
- Text/Notes/Documents/Files
- Evernote
- Dropbox
- Skitch
- Google Drive
- Location
- Around Me
- some transit apps specific to your city
- Optical
- Layar – augmented reality
- Word Lens – real-time translations from camera’s live feed
- any QR code scanner (e.g. ScanLife for iOS, QR Droid for Android)
- Utilities
- Google Translate – quick access to translate
- any Flashlight app
Games
Don’t download all these games at once, because then they will just sit on your device and you will forget to ever open them up and then after a while just forget why you downloaded it at all. I’d suggest to download and try out 1-2 games per day and only look for something new from this list when you get tired of what you already have.
- Physics-based
- Angry Birds franchise
- Cut the Rope franchise
- Wimp: Who Stole My Pants
- Crayon Physics
- Paper Toss
- Endless
- Fruit Ninja
- Temple Run franchise
- Doodle Jump
- Tiny Wings (try Tiny Bird on Android)
- Jetpack Joyride
- Super Mega Worm
- Social
- Draw Something
- Puzzles
- Where’s My Water
- Pudding Monsters
- Candy Crush Saga
- Tangram
- Platformers
- Wind-up Knight
- Vector
- Spell Sword
- Megatroid
- Word Games
- 4 Pics 1 Word
- Scramble
- Words with Friends
- Music Games
- Tap Tap Revenge
- Tower Defense
- Kingdom Rush
