Ten of the best tools for your Android phone

Of the thousands of tools on Android Market designed to add functions to your smartphone, some are far more useful than others, says Jack Wallen.

If you are like me and have come to love and depend on your Android-based phone, you will have doubtless discovered the richness of applications on Android Market. But as with the iPhone App Store, not every tool listed is a gem. You have probably found yourself installing and then quickly removing plenty of apps, in the hunt for one that is genuinely useful.

To help you in that search, I have narrowed the field to 10 applications I think are indispensable. These apps serve a number of purposes with little overlap. Most cost nothing and all are at, or near, the top of their category.

1. Dolphin
Dolphin is one of the best mobile web browsers. It is free, fast, reliable, and has real tabs, gestures and multitouch. Although the default Android browser is satisfactory, it simply does not compare, feature for feature, with Dolphin. Dolphin is also much faster than most of the other Android solutions. My big question: why is there no Chrome for Android?

2. ChompSMS
ChompSMS is the best text client for the Android phone. In fact, this free text app is so much better than the default, I am surprised that the various Android-based phones have not switched.

One aspect of this app that makes it so much better than the default is its battery usage. Especially in pre-2.0 releases, the Android text app has a problem entering sleep mode, so it constantly drains the battery. By switching to Chomp, your phone's charge will last longer.

3. My Backup Pro
My Backup Pro is one of those apps you hope you will never need, but when you do you will be very glad you have it.

This application allows you to back up anything you need, including your apps, contacts, call log, SMS logs, settings and shortcuts, to an SD card or online site. Another nice feature of this tool is its ability to schedule a backup of your phone at regular intervals.

4. FeedR
FeedR is a free RSS reader that works as both an app and a widget. In my quest for the perfect RSS widget, it has proved to be the best yet. FeedR can add preconfigured feeds or you can add your own personal favourites.

This app beats the competition with its ability to truly auto-update. Many other feed readers — especially those in the widget category — require a user update to function properly. FeedR handles all updates in the background with no intervention.

5. Advanced Task Killer
Advanced Task Killer is one of those apps you hope you will never need, but sometimes must have. I have noticed on occasion an app hanging...