5 Android apps that will make you say “Wow!” by Kim Komando

The Android operating system along with a huge range of gadgets from multiple manufacturers already offers users tons of options when picking out a tablet or smartphone. Better yet, the Android system has more apps available than any other mobile operating system out there. The more than 1.3 million apps listed in the Google Play Store can make you gadget do nearly anything you wish!

But with so many available apps to choose from, how do you make sure you find the best ones? After all, it would take nearly 150 years to download and try out every app in the store! But you can relax. I've done the leg work for you, sifting through the best, the most useful and the most unique apps.
For instance, how about an app that can read and translate messy handwriting to turn note pages into searchable documents?

I also found great apps for streaming to your home big screen, improving your photography, recording dramatic time-lapse video and more. So come along as I share with you 5 amazing Android apps that will definitely make you say "Wow!"

MyScript Smart Note

Sometimes it seems like handwriting is becoming a lost art, yet there are still times when you have to jot down notes old school style. In the past, you then had to rewrite your scribbled handwriting on your gadget or computer if you want to store them or share with others.

Here comes MyScript Smart Note. This free app can read some of the worst handwriting and accurately convert it into searchable text files. Now this is not the first app from MyScript that can make sense of handwriting. Earlier I've told you about their amazing handwriting calculator app, MyScript Calculator, which calculates answers from handwritten math equations.

Using MyScript Smart Note, you can also draw, annotate, and insert pictures right into your notes.

Then when MyScript Smart Note turns your handwritten words into interactive text, you can easily search your notes, such as the search for "word" in the screen shot above. Words and sentences can be quickly moved, split, joined, and erased by simple gestures. Searching for a word or sentences is simple, allowing handwritten notes to be managed with the same ease as any digital document. You can even interact with words you have written such as looking up definitions or checking your spelling.

MyScript Smart Note is a very practical application that help you save time and stay more organized. But when your work is done, how about a little entertainment? Coming up next is an app that makes your Android gadget the center of your home entertainment system.

AllCast

Your Android gadgets are great for finding and storing all kinds of photos, music, videos and movies. But admittedly, there are times you'd probably like to enjoy your content on a screen just a bit bigger than a phone or tablet, right? That's where AllCast comes in.
 
Chances are, you may already have some sort of streaming gadget at home hooked up to your big screen. AllCast lets you stream your Android screen to at least half a dozen different kinds of hardware. Right now the list includes Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Roku, plus Samsung, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs.

Note, this free version of AllCast has a five-minute streaming limit, which is probably OK for songs or short YouTube videos. If you enjoy AllCast, you may want to consider upgrading to the Premium version that allows unlimited streaming. AllCast Premium is available in the Google Play Store for $4.99.

After you've relaxed with a good movie, how about putting your own creativity to work with your Android gadget? Harness your camera, computing power and these next apps to make your own spectacular photos and videos.

VSCO Cam

I'm surprised when I see folks still toting around separate point-and-shoot cameras these days. Smartphone and tablet cameras now rival the quality of point-and-shoot camera in the $100 to $200 range. Plus, your Android gadget camera has something those little point-and-shoots can only dream of. Your Android has apps!

Photo apps on your Android tablet or smartphone can take your average snapshots from zero to "wow" in just seconds. But with so many photo editing, filter and organization apps in the store, where do you even begin. This is where I have you covered again. VSCO Cam (Visual Supply Company) is getting rave reviews for its simplicity and amazing results.

But VSCO Cam is much more than just a photo editing app, it is kind of like social media that lets you share your photos with others and see other photos from around the world. But in the spirit of "beauty triumphs all," you won't see and "likes" or ratings on photos in the VSCO community. Just enjoy the ones you like and perhaps get some inspiration for your next photo adventure.

And if your next photo outing includes shooting some video, I've found a really interesting app for that, too.

Framelapse

Time-lapse photography is a powerful tool for showing events and changes that we usually can't see with the naked eye. Whether it's clouds boiling up over the horizon, the tide flowing out or a huge construction project, time-lapse photography condenses very slow changes down to just a few seconds of video, showing us the drama first hand. But while it may look pretty simple, time-lapse photography is actually pretty complicated to accomplish well. Not only do you need to do some basic arithmetic to convert hours of action into frames and seconds of video, there's also a huge challenge of dealing with changes in light over the time you want to shoot.

Framelapse is a very impressive app that handles all of these variables and more. With this free app, it is easy to program the period of time you wish to photograph and how long you want it to play back in video. You may also control your camera's exposure and white balance during the time-lapse run.

For example, if the sun is going in and out of clouds, you'd probably want the camera to automatically adjust the exposure according to the available light. But if you are shooting a sunset, you'd usually set the exposure to remain the same so your video shows the creeping darkness rather than constantly brightening up the scene.

I am very impressed with this easy-to-use app. However, as with any time-lapse photography, one of the most important considerations is to keep your gadget completely still while recording. But unlike tradition cameras with a secure socket to mount on a tripod, smartphones and tablets are a lot more difficult to secure for lengthy time-lapse photography. However, I found a clever little inexpensive three-leg stand that's perfect for holding your Android steady while shooting time-lapse. In fact, I liked this Flexible Tablet and Phone Stand so much, I've put it in my store and marked it down to less than $10 just for you. Plus, when you are not using it to shoot time-lapse video, it is also a handy little stand for watching videos.

Besides shooting amazing photos and video, your Android gadget holds the power to render and display graphics that would have required a dedicated computer just a few years ago. To take show off all that graphics firepower, I found a beautifully crafted little game that's not only fun to play, it's even a feast for your eyes. Intrigued yet? Follow along and I'll show you.

Monument Valley

For all the practical utility we get out of our mobile gadgets day-in and day-out, it's also nice to take a break with a fun little game now and then. Monument Valley is not only a relaxing way to spend a few minutes, it is also built to take advantage of your gadget's graphics capabilities. Monument Valley is a surreal exploration through fantastical architecture and impossible geometry. Guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments, uncovering hidden paths, unfolding optical illusions and outsmarting the enigmatic Crow People.

Throughout Monument Valley you'll glide smoothly through 3-D designs, optical illusions and palaces and temples inspired by historic architecture from around the world. Every new screen is a unique, hand-crafted world ready to explore.

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