1. Evernote rocks. 'Nuff said.
2. I love K-9 Email; you will too if you use IMAP, high security settings or weird port numbers.
3. QR Droid or other barcode scanner comes in handy...especially if you have Google shopper attached (scan an item at the grocery store, for example, and see other prices in your area based on GPS data).
4. Pandora. No brainer.
5. ASTRO File Manager--a free file system explorer that also gives control over permissions that certain phone companies don't want you to have.
6. PDANet--a free "tethering" app. Free version doesn't allow you to browse secure [https] web sites, but there's a workaround. Click "Register PdaNet" and pretend you're going to buy a copy via credit card...it will open up the ports (443, 8080, etc). Hah!
7. Google Sky Map. "So is that Jupiter or Venus?" Hold your phone toward the bright light and let the GPS, compass and accelerometer work it's magic to give you a live view of the sky with labels. So cool.
8. Compass. My favorite version of this app is Compass v2.1 by Catch, Inc. I use it when I haul my telescope out or when I need a quick view of the address I'm parked in front of.
9. Flashlight (or in my case, BACKFLIP Light). This app turns on the ultra-bright LED normally used as a photo flash and keeps it on until you say so. It's smaller and brighter than a typical handheld flashlight, plus I always seem to have my phone with me, but not necessarily by big cop flashlight.
10. Navigation by Google. Be sure to load the voice stuff so that your FREE navigator (with current traffic info) can speak the directions to you. You may type or--more importantly--speak your destination. I try to be as hands-free as possible.
Now the fun/geeky stuff. Click on the photos for a closer look at the app as presented on my Motorola Backflip:
1. Jedi Light Saber--has several Star Wars music choices and uses the Android's accelerometer to make the appropriate light saber sounds:
2. Star Trek communicator-uses the Android's accelerometer so that you may "flip open" the communicator as Captain Kirk would. It has all the cool sounds that you'd expect and some typical samples ("Kirk to Enterprise. Kirk to Enterprise. Enterprise, come in". Touch the moire pattern then close the communicator; shortly after you will hear the "hailing" tone from the Enterprise. Open your communicator and proceed to make a geek of yourself.
3. Scanner Radio--So you're a meth dealer trying to outrun The Fuzz or you just think it's cool to hear about a dead body floating down the Chicago River (as I did a couple of weeks ago). Can you imagine? A bunch of geeks like us took the trouble to set up Internet feeds of 50+ police scanners in popular locations. From LAPD softies and the hard-boiled down in New York's Battery district to the "G'Day" Australian boys in blue, you can tune in to just about any venue.
4. Bump. If you and another both have the "Bump" app, simply start it and choose what information you wish to share. Once done, do a fist bump with phone in hand. Between GPS co-locations and the physical movement detected by the accelerometers, information is wirelessly exchanged between the two phones via a manly gesture. Arrrh arrh arh!
5. Geico BroStache. So I saw this crazy Geico commercial where the guys in the office were singing while holding their phones up to their mouths. Meanwhile, an animated and mustachioed mouth seemed to follow along. This free app sends you over the edge of Geekdom by using your voice (microphone is live) to make the coordinated and appropriate mouth movements. It's so stupid that it's cool...and free.