6 Android Apps For Geeks

There are over 450,000 apps on the Android market, recently rebranded as Google Play. While the most popular apps may be games, do not be fooled, there are some real geeky apps out there.

I bought a new smartphone a month ago. The four-year old predecessor died on me impromptu during a phone call—while I was abroad I might add. And so I was with a brand new Android phone begging to be loaded with apps. I obliged.

During the past month using my new phone, I've discovered and used some pretty cool apps which may please the geeks among you. They range from the news-savvy and intellectually-stimulating apps to the fun and mind-boggling ones. The vast majority of apps I use are free although I like to think that those I paid for are worth the money.

Here are some Android apps which you should check out:

1. Pulse (free; Android, iOS)

Think of Pulse as a better-looking RSS feed optimised for a mobile device. Instead of seeing a boring list of titles, Pulse elegantly displays stories in a mosaic. Each row features the latest stories from partnering websites of your choice. Click on a story and you get this minimalist mobile version of the article. Pulse is clean, simple, elegant and fast. Importantly, Pulse features a number of publications covering a variety of topics. Some of the many publications present on Pulse include Mashbale, BBC News and ESPN. Science publications include Wired Science, Discover Magazine, Popular Science, amongst others.

2. Google Sky Map (free; Android)

My Android phone was loaded with Google apps on purchase but this awesome app was not included. This is perhaps because the Google Sky Map has recently been open sourced. Regardless, with this app installed on my smartphone, I simply need point my device upward to discover the stars, planets and constellations in the sky labelled on my screen. Also, if I want to look for Mars for example, I need just to type it in and the app directs me to the planet. It's pretty cool to have the sky in my pocket, trust me.

3. Smart Tools ($2.40; Android)

Need to measure length, height or angle for your DIY project? Lost in the woods and need to know your way around with a compass? Or perhaps you want to check the sound level of your neighbor's stereo system? This app is for you. Oh, and it also has a metal detector. WIN!

4. TED (free; Android, iOS)

You know what TED is right? Remarkable people talking about some remarkable ideas. From tech gurus, to education experts, to music legends, TED has hosted so many people and so many ideas. The TED talks are inspiring, mind-blowing and sometimes eye-openers. The Android TED app brought it all onto my phone. It has 1,200 talks with more added every week. I can stream videos or audios of talks or save them for viewing later (perhaps when I'm on the train and don't have Wifi access). This is a must have.

5. Amazon Kindle (free; Android, iOS, PC and everything else really...)

I do own a Kindle but as portable as it is, I don't carry it around all the time simply because it does not fit in my pocket. I do however carry my phone around. So while I'm on the train or waiting for my especially fashionable friends for a bite at the nearby cafe, I take out my phone and read a couple (usually more--this is how fashionable some of my friends are) of pages of Game of Thrones. The great thing about the app though it that it allows me to sync with my Amazon account so once I'm back home, I can continue the Game of Thrones adventure on my Kindle straight away. No need to flick through all the pages I've just read on my phone.

6. Osmos ($2.99 for Android version; Android, iOS, PC, Mac)

Osmos is a game. But then again, it's more than just a game. It's an extremely beautiful game with perfect artistic design and soothing music. It is meant to relax. The premise of the game is simple: control a single-cell organism which needs to ingest smaller organisms in order to grow bigger. But the organism can also be ingested by larger ones. It got pretty challenging as I progressed and fought for survival against more evolved organisms (with chemotaxis and more complex defence mechanisms). So much so that this relaxing game did get me a little frustrated once or twice.

I'm still new to Android so I'm sure I've missed some other exciting and interesting apps out there. Do share your favorites in the comments below.

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All prices listed correct at time of posting.