Innovative Android Apps

As an Android smartphone user and app fiend, I'm always looking for apps that really push my device to the limits. Apps that I'm drawn to always have a certain quality that makes my phone not just, well, my phone. Gone are the days where these devices mainly make phone calls but also take pictures, keep my calendar, etc. Now we have devices that don't mainly do anything. They simply do everything. Here are my top pics that really transform my phone into a device I can't live without:

Springpad

My Springpad widget is one of my most heavily-used features on my phone, period. Springpad features "smart notebooks" where you can compile notes, pictures, recipes, anything. For example, I have a notebook called "Products I Love". Using their bar code scanning feature, I can snap a picture of a product bar code, have Springpad find the product, and store it in my notebook. That way, I always know what haircolor I buy, what notebooks I really like, or what kinds of tea I've tasted. 
Springpad is free to use, has apps for Android and iOS, and features a robust website where you can access your notebooks. Try it out!

Box/Dropbox

I tentatively grouped these two together, but rest assured, these are two different services. Both Box and Dropbox are cloud syncing services that store documents, pictures, and other files in their cloud which you can access via their website or one of their mobile apps. I'm going to try to describe these two separately but not get too long-winded, so bear with me. 
Dropbox has a great feature called Camera Upload, which will automatically upload pictures you take on your phone or tablet. So no matter how many times you switch phones, your gallery always comes with you. Sadly, Box doesn't feature this tool, but it does excel just as much. 
Both apps feature a clean layout and access to your folders in a manner that doesn't get too confusing. You can also preview certain files right within the app, such as PDF and word files. This becomes handy when you just want to take a quick glance at a file and not launch another app to fully open it. 
In my opinion, with as many gadgets as people own these days--laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets--grabbing one, or both, of these apps is a no-brainer. 

Cam Scanner
This is a really neat one. Rather than scanning a document, uploading it (maybe to your cloud service?), then shuttling it to your phone, simply snap a picture, and let CamScanner do the rest. The app takes your photo, digitally enhances it to make it more legible, and spits out a PDF. This has come in handy for me during my MRI coursework. I really like to draw things out to help me understand them. With CamScanner, I can take a doodle, snap a picture of it, and have an enhanced PDF waiting for me come exam time! 

Barcode Scanner
This was an app that really blew my mind once I got into the smartphone thing. Using your device's camera, this app can read a bar code and pull up relevant information. 
Many apps have a scanner like this already integrated into their apps, such as the aforementioned Springpad, but also retailers such as Amazon have scanners that help you find products in their inventory. 

Foursquare
This is an app I've really gotten addicted to. With Foursquare, you can "check in" at a location and let your friends know where you are and what kind of venues you've visited. Some places even have "specials", which can come in the form of discounts, coupons, and even freebies if you happen to be at the right place. Living in a new city for a couple of years, Foursquare was immensely useful for me. For example, I love coffee. Searching for popular coffee joints on Foursquare got me out of my apartment and enjoying St. Louis. Earn badges from your check-ins and show off how well you know your city!

Flipboard
Flipboard calls itself a "social magazine", but to me, it's the perfect marriage of information and beautiful visuals. With Flipboard, you can literally "fliip" through news articles, Facebook or Twitter posts, or  entries from your favorite blogs. The user interface is clean and vibrant, which makes reading the news a real treat. If you integrate your social feeds, Flipboard provides an alternate platform for surfing the goings-on of your friends. A definite must-have!

AutomateIt
This app is a little more advanced, but well worth it if you're willing to put in a little work. With AutomateIt, your phone can automatically perform various tasks. It essentially operates "if/then" rules. For example, I have a task where if I plug in my headphones, then my music player app automatically launches. Pretty nifty, right? You can program your own tasks or go into their Rules Market and pick ones that users have already created. Save lots of time and allow your phone to think one step ahead!


So there you have it, folks, apps that I think have really changed the game. I should also include the fact that all apps I've listed here are free! (I'm kind of a cheapskate when it comes to apps, but I'm not totally against coughing up a dollar or two if I think the creators are really onto something.) Call it coincidence, but I think you've paid enough for the device, why not have a few apps that don't drain your wallet even more?

Know of an app you think I should have included? Drop a comment below.