Android Tablet Update

Every week we cover Android gaming on Wednesday, followed by Top 10 app updates on Friday. Now every Monday (or Tuesday) we will look back and see which ones were the most crowd-pleasing among our audience. Read on for the 10 most popular Android apps from your peers.

1. AirDroid

Debuting at the top spot in our weekly roundup is AirDroid. This app is a fast, free service that lets you wirelessly manage your Android device from your favorite browser. The developer released a major update this week that added a ton of new features. Our very own Clark loves this app and uses it daily, so check it out if you need a way to manager your phone from your desktop PC.

2. AfterFocus

Wow, really guys? AfterFocus remains in the top 2 spots on our site for the 4rd week in a row. We know you love camera apps and the developer just released another update, but even I’m surprised that this app has such staying power. If you haven’t tried it yet and want to create DSLR-style background blurred photos, then download it from the link below.

3. Shot Control

Shot Control won week 3 of #thenextinstall and it jumped all the way up to our 3rd most popular app this week. If you prefer to just point and shoot pics and know nothing about photography, then this camera app might not be for you. However, if you love to play with all your camera settings to get that perfect shot, then Shot Control is easily worth the $1.99 asking price.

4. iris

Iris is the original Siri-clone and this week it saw a significant update that added several new features. I’m not a fan of the apps that let you talk with your phone, but this is one of the best reviewed ones with an average score of 4.2.

5. LogiType

LogiType claims they have a “new groundbreaking technology to give you the easiest and fastest touch-typing keyboard available for Android tablets.” I haven’t tried it out yet, but it has an average review score of 4.3 and I’ve heard mostly positive things about it. If you have an Android tablet and want to test out a new input method, check it out and let us know what you think.

6. Schemer

Google’s own Schemer finally opened up signups last week and new users are quickly joining the service. The app claims to help its users “start doing more awesome stuff.” The app integrates with Google+ and uses your circles to suggest the perfect scheme for the moment, which sounds like a cool idea. I’ve had access to Schemer for a couple months now and I have yet to really explore it, so maybe now is a good time to show it some love.

7. Apex Launcher

Last week Nova Launcher appeared in our Top 10 list, and this week Apex Launcher makes an appearance. Both of these launchers are the new kids on the block and target devices running Android 4.0. They provide a ton of tweaks for performance and customizations, but Apex has a slightly higher review score. Both are worth checking out if you love mixing your home screen up.

8. Weatherwise

Weatherwise returns this week but drops six spots down to number eight.. This weather widget looks pretty cool, but the free version only comes with a single skin. Additional themes will cost you $0.99. Average review scores have been stead at 4.3, so the early users have enjoyed the app thus far.

9. Oven Break

Oven Break from Com2uS is the only game to crack the Top 10 this week. It’s free so I gave it a try, but I was bored within minutes. Maybe the game gets better as you progress, but it didn’t keep my attention long enough to find out.

10. Solid Explorer Beta

Solid Explorer is amazing. The app is still in beta, but it’s already one of the best looking file managers I have tried on Android. I guarantee you this app will return next week and it should be in the top three.  Try it out right now and tell me it’s not your new favorite file manager.

Can our community help discover the next great Android app? Welcome to a new experiment called #thenextinstall where we try to see if we can find an Android app in the rough, and boost its installs and exposure to new highs.

Last week our community selected Carrier Coverage, an app that attempts to answer the question ‘Which carrier is best for you?’, which is a pretty ambitious project. We thought it was a cool concept, but the developer might have a hard time finding success. The app hasn’t been updated since February and we discovered there are competing apps like Sensorly that have better reviews and a larger following. Not all our picks will turn into winners, but at least we helped boost Carrier Coverage’s daily installs to new highs.

Week 4 Winner: Shot Control

This week was a very close call, but Shot Control by StarvingMind came out on top as our weekly winner. Our audience has a thing for camera apps, and Shot Control is one of the most details camera apps to come around in awhile. It was designed to help serious photographers take better photographs.

If you prefer to just point and shoot pics and know nothing about photography, then this app might not be for you. However, if you love to play with all your camera settings to get that perfect shot, then Shot Control is easily worth the $1.99 asking price.

Most customers who have reviewed the app have all praised the developer. Comments include, “Dev seems to very proactive in wanting to make this app stand head and shoulders above else”, “The developer responded to my email within minutes”, “The developer is excellent about responding to issues and questions”, and “He is clearly committed to making this the most flat-out functional camera app on the market. Get it!”

I went ahead and purchased the app just to support the developer, but I haven’t had much time this week to play around with it. Now that it’s on all my devices, I’m sure I’ll be spending some more time with it soon.

Key features include:

• Multiple Touch Focus/Meter regions on ICS (on supported devices with Android 4.0)
• Direct access to exposure control and zoom
• One tap access to ISO, White Balance, Scene Modes, Focus Modes, and Flash Mode Settings (based on device abilities)
• Custom mapping for hardware buttons (like volume down for focus, volume up for shutter)
• Pre-focus function
• 35mm style film roll integrated with the viewfinder display
• Star your favorite photos, which will be added to their own “Stars – Shot Control” group in the stock gallery app on most phones.
• With “Instant Upload” enabled in Google+, photos with stars will be “instant uploaded” to G+/Picasa as if they were taken with the stock camera app.

Week 4 Challengers

Browse over the new app suggestions and let us know if any make it on to your device.

Time2Go

Pitch: Never be late again. Notifications when it is time to leave to make it to your events on time.

PicShop Lite Photo Editor

Pitch: Beautiful design combined with tons of editing options and dozen’s of filters make this the premier mobile editing suite on the market.

LogiType Tablet Keyboard

Pitch: LogiType uses a new groundbreaking technology to give you the easiest and fastest touch-typing keyboard available for Android tablets.

Smart Statusbar

Pitch: Smart Statusbar is the first and only Status bar enabler in full screen app. You can now reveal status bar in any Full screen app with gesture.

App Folder Advance

Pitch: Organize your home screen quick and easy. Group icons and place them in a folder.

Solid Explorer

Pitch: Solid Explorer brings to you a new file browsing experience. This is the most attractive, eye catching and intuitive file manager for the Android.

Suggested by: amgala

SMS Flash

Pitch: Instant SMS notification without stealing focus! Unlike SMS popup, you can touch through the displayed SMS and continue interaction with the screen. Specially built for gamers.

Zillow Rentals

Pitch: Find apartments and houses for rent with this app designed for renters in a hurry and on the go. Zillow Rentals is the easiest way to find your next apartment or rental home.

Make Me a Pirate

Pitch: Arrrr you a real pirate? Just take a photo and look like a pirate within seconds!

Schemer

Pitch: Schemer. The beginning of everything worth doing. Are you curious? Ambitious? Daring? Start doing more awesome stuff by using Schemer.

What’s next? How can I participate?

If you want to play along, then join the league of app addicts.

• Join Android and Me and suggest new apps in this weekly thread
• Download AppAware and let it track your new app installs
• Share this post with a friend who has an Android device and ask them to try out one of the apps from the list

Over the coming week, we will continue to monitor all the apps and see which generate the most buzz. We will be watching the installs, download clicks, review scores, coverage on other sites, and more to see which app comes out on top.

Next week we will name the winning app, and then put it up against 10 new apps to repeat the process.