5 free Android apps I all the time set up

Nothing feels fairly as satisfying as getting one thing at no cost, and the identical feeling can definitely be utilized to smartphone apps. In a world saturated with in-app purchases, subscriptions, microtransactions, and ‘freemium’ enterprise fashions, actually free software program seems like an absolute breath of contemporary air.

There are a variety of apps on the market that I contemplate to be non-negotiable at any time when I arrange a new Android phone, and, fortunately, a few of them come without charge by any means. Listed below are 5 apps that I personally all the time set up on day one.

1 KineStop

The go-to app for lowering movement illness

KineStop: Automotive illness assist

A well-built app for lowering movement illness when in a car.

Again in Might, Apple announced plans to include a brand new ‘Automobile Movement Cues’ characteristic into each iOS and iPadOS. The characteristic embeds quite a lot of animated dots onto your display, which shift in accordance with car movement to scale back automobile illness in these troubled with the difficulty.

Fortunately, Android customers are in a position to expertise a really related characteristic utilizing the utterly free KineStop app from the Play Retailer. The idea is roughly the identical, and the interface is easy and straightforward to arrange. In case you’re susceptible to feeling movement illness when utilizing your Android telephone within the passenger seat of a automobile, KineStop is solely a must-download.

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2 Feeder

A beautiful and open supply RSS reader

Feeder

A free and open-source RSS reader app that works with out fuss.

Actually easy syndication readers, normally acronymized as RSS readers, are streamlined methods for viewing information articles throughout your favourite publications. Within the age of social media, these apps aren’t as in style as they as soon as had been, however they’re nonetheless a great tool for while you need to cut back distractions whereas nonetheless maintaining with present occasions.

Feeder is one such RSS reader accessible on Android, and it is utterly free and open-source. For an open-source app, the interface is genuinely beautiful, and the person expertise is equally intuitive. The one caveat right here is that it forces you to manually enter RSS feed hyperlinks to get began, however that is a reasonably small criticism total.

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3 AntennaPod

A superb resolution for streaming your favourite podcasts

AntennaPod

A free and open resolution for all of your podcast streaming wants.

In the identical vein as Feeder, AntennaPod is a totally free and open-source Android software — however as a substitute of aggregating information articles, it is designed with podcast streaming in thoughts. The interface is clear, easy, and efficient, and I’ve no usability complaints.

Vital inclusions like shownotes, casting assist, and a sleep timer are all current, which makes this a reasonably full-featured expertise. In case you love listening to podcasts however need to avoid main gamers like Spotify, Apple, and Google, then AntennaPod is a superb alternative that I would extremely suggest.

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4 VLC

The notorious Home windows program can also be at dwelling on Android

VLC for Android

A widely known native media participant that is suitable with all kinds of file varieties.

VLC requires no introduction — the long-lasting media participant is a favourite amongst Home windows desktop customers, resulting from its open-source nature and its spectacular file format assist. If there’s ever an audio or video file in your pc that merely refuses to open, you possibly can rely on VLC to play the file with out skipping a beat.

VLC on Android is equally open-source and highly effective. In case you’re searching for a no-nonsense multimedia participant for native playback, then it is a must-download.

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5 Cloud Backup Checker

A useful utility for confirming whether or not apps are backed up

Cloud Backup Checker

A easy software for checking which apps are being backed as much as your Google Account.

Google provides a local cloud backup resolution for its Android working system, however many app builders additionally supply an ‘choose out’ alternative. Sadly, it might get considerably complicated to maintain observe of which apps are backed up and which of them aren’t.

The place Google does not supply an amazing native software for checking the standing of backups, the free Cloud Backup Checker app steps as much as the plate. The software program is light-weight, speedy, and does precisely what it says on the tin. If and while you improve to a brand new Android telephone, it is price downloading this app so you are not left blindsided.

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