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Important points
- Android requires more native apps to improve the user experience.
- Here are seven apps for iPhone users that Google should seriously consider developing.
- Weather, compass, and tape measure are just a few examples.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about booting up your great new Android smartphone for the first time and finding a clean, unbloated experience. I’ve long criticized OEMs and cell phone companies for ruining new devices with pre-installed apps and services that users didn’t even ask for.
That being said, I also believe that a rich suite of inbox apps is essential to round out the platform’s usefulness. Some might argue that the Calculator, Notes, and Voice Memos apps are just unnecessary bloat, but I think they’re a sign of the operating system’s maturity. Despite its various shortcomings, the iPhone has a wealth of applications that cover most of the basic functions. Android smartphones are a hit or miss affair, with various manufacturers, including Samsung, gradually incorporating their own utilities.
Some might argue that the Calculator, Notes, and Voice Memos apps are just unnecessary bloat, but I think they’re a sign of the operating system’s maturity.
I’ve compiled a list of some apps that I wish Google itself would make available across the Android ecosystem.
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1 Google version of Apple Shortcuts
No, Tasker is not the answer
Apple’s Shortcuts app is so powerful that it’s now on the Mac as well. This allows you to automate certain tasks and makes it very easy. You can use it to do everything from combine photos and create animated GIFs to automatically send messages to specific locations and connect to third-party apps to further automate tasks on your phone. I can.
A popular solution that already exists in the Android world is the Tasker app. It’s definitely powerful and flexible, but it’s paid software, and while the interface is easy to use, it’s by no means easy to use.
Some Android OEMs like Samsung are building their own solutions, but I’d love to see Google try this feature. If anyone can streamline a somewhat complex idea into an easy-to-use package for the masses, it’s Google.
2 A compass that keeps you grounded
Wait, this isn’t available yet?
Here I will introduce a simple one. Most Android smartphones have a built-in magnetometer, but few OEMs are developing their own compass apps that utilize the sensor. An interface that gives you a sense of true north and current elevation is something you probably don’t need until you actually need it.
While there are plenty of third-party compass apps on the Play Store, we’re confident that Google can build a visually appealing native app that meets most people’s needs.
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3 App to measure things
It will come in handy sooner or later
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From pasting up photos to assembling furniture, there are many situations where horizontal tools and tape measures come in handy. And after all, you’re likely actually carrying it around in your pocket all day.
The simple built-in version with the Material You theme is something I’m sure I’ll appreciate, and I think others will appreciate as well.
Similar to the Compass app, there are many third-party options available on the Google Play Store. The simple built-in version with the Material You theme is something I’m sure I’ll appreciate, and I’m sure others will appreciate as well.
Four rain? snow?I need a weather app
Just linking to a Google app is not enough
Surprisingly, the out-of-the-box weather experience on Android isn’t a standalone thing, but a shortcut to a section within the Google app. The interface and information provided is nice, but it really needs to be an app that can be launched directly from the app drawer. Currently, you can manually create a home screen shortcut to display the weather, but it feels disjointed no matter how you look at it.
The same goes for financial updates and sports scores. These are simply components of the broader Google app, and you can benefit from extending them into your own standalone experiences. Ideally, I’d like to see Google develop dedicated apps for finance and sports, but I think weather is the service that would benefit most from more efficient user access.
Most Android smartphone manufacturers have already built their own weather apps by this point, so Google is definitely playing catch-up here.
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Five Google Password Manager — Passwords are a pain
Where exactly is that?
Similar to Google’s weather interface, the search giant is making password managers unnecessarily complicated to navigate. You’ll need to delve into your phone’s settings to create a home screen shortcut to launch the interface.
Why not make this feature available as a standalone app? This would improve discoverability and be very useful for users. I’m often surprised at how few people even know this feature exists on their phone. You also don’t have to worry about security because you can easily access your saved passwords. Keep your sensitive information safe from strangers by simply locking your app with biometrics or a PIN code.
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To be fair, the iPhone’s own password manager suffers from the same problem. However, just like with native apps, you can use the Shortcuts app to create an app icon and go directly to your password.
6 Music player when there is no signal
YouTube Music is the wrong place to listen to local music
The Android platform does indeed have its own audio player, YouTube Music. The problem is that this app is absolutely terrible at playing local sound files. I understand that. Most people stream their own songs these days, and YouTube Music is a strong competitor to his Apple Music and Spotify. However, none of these should come at the expense of basic features such as local file playback.
None of these should come at the expense of basic functionality such as local file playback.
It’s functional, but clearly sidelined and treated as a second-class citizen from a user interface perspective. This is also confusing for users. Would anyone launch an app with “YouTube” in its name to play a .mp3 file stored locally on their phone?
Unfortunately, Google is on the path to consolidation and bringing more features to the YouTube Music app. In addition to being the current home of local music playback, podcasts will also be here in the future. The company is releasing a dedicated app that will be a simple, lightweight and functional portal to the world of podcasts.
7 Video editing software that even moms can use
Android deserves a Windows Movie Maker moment
peter stumpf unsplash
Android devices are increasingly being used as productivity machines rather than strictly as content consumption devices. Google Workspace provides users with basic tools for word processing, slideshows, spreadsheet creation, and more. Google Photos has a decent set of image editing tools at your disposal. What’s missing from this list is a basic video editing application. Apple has iMovie, Microsoft has his ClipChamp, and it’s about time Google built an equivalent.
I expect the solution Google has built to be very basic and easy to use, and not even close to third-party products. Apps like the popular Luma Fusion provide the kind of robust toolkit video editors need for more specialized purposes. Google could effectively fill a niche market with a lightweight, easy-to-use package for general users.
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