CAMERA FV-5: BEST PREMIUM ANDROID CAMERA The stock camera app’s fine for snaps, but for more control over your photos, Camera FV-5’s w...
CAMERA FV-5: BEST PREMIUM ANDROID CAMERA
The stock camera app’s fine for snaps, but for more control over your photos, Camera FV-5’s where it’s at. Although not quite a DLSR crammed into your smartphone, the app does provide adjustments for shutter speed, exposure, ISO, focus, and more.
You also get handy features for taking different kinds of photos: an ‘intervalometer’ boosts your chances of capturing a decent time-lapse, and long-exposure support gives you a fighting chance of getting snazzy night shots.
SNAPSEED: BEST ANDROID PHOTO EDITOR
We’ve long had a bit of a soft spot for Snapseed. Its intuitive interface was always one of the most tactile on Android; moreover, the huge range of filters and effects made it perfect for all manner of photographic manipulation and fine-tuning. But with 2015’s major revamp, Snapseed became further entrenched in must-have territory.
The star of the upgrade? Stacks, which converts each filter you apply into an editable layer. This means each effect can later be tweaked, rather than being burned into your image when applied, thereby providing even more scope for experimentation. Most surprisingly, it’s free – and no paid app on Android comes close
PRISMA: BEST ANDROID PHOTO EFFECTS APP
The idea behind Prisma is to turn photos into works of art, with almost zero effort. You load a pic, and then select a painting or illustration. Styles vary from Munch to manga-style fare, and the results are surprisingly authentic (although occasionally terrifying – probably don’t try your own version of The Scream unless you want to look like a demon).
The only snag is you must be online for Prisma to work its magic. However, any art it makes can be saved to your device or shared with the world. Just don’t get too excited about your artistic prowess and lop off an ear.
POWERDIRECTOR: BEST ANDROID VIDEO EDITOR
If there’s proof Android doesn’t need to end up second-best when it comes to creative fare, you’ll find it in PowerDirector. This app in many ways echoes Apple’s iMovie, in providing you with a user-friendly but powerful video editor.
Clips and stills can quickly be arranged, rotated and trimmed, titles can be added, and you get a decent set of transitions to experiment with, including slow-motion effects. For free, you get access to everything. Pay the one-off IAP (£5.99) to rid movies of watermarks and export at up to 4K.
GOOGLE MAPS: BEST ANDROID MAPS APP
Chances are, you’ve already got this beauty installed on your Android device. If not, what are you waiting for? Google’s mapping app is the best around, with excellent routing by car, public transport, or bike/foot. But it’s more than just a massive map.
You get Street View for nosing around selected spots (including national monuments – and a TARDIS, if you can find it) by way of panoramas, fast access to information about local amenities and entertainment, and an offline mode. That last one enables you to save a chunk of a map to your device, using it as a turn-by-turn driving aid even when you’ve no internet connection.
WEATHER TIMELINE: BEST ANDROID WEATHER APP
Weather apps are tricky to get right. Some fire information at your face like a weather facts blunderbuss. Others offer a pretty gradient with a single icon. Weather Timeline cuts through the dross, balancing information and lush visuals.
Current conditions are displayed on a little card, below which are hourly, daily, and weekly forecasts. You also get graphs for weather geeks, an interactive map, notifications, alternate source selections, widgets, and a rainfall forecast that’s perfect for figuring out whether you might drown if you dare walk the dog before lunch.
NOVA LAUNCHER PRIME: BEST ANDROID LAUNCHER
A key reason why many people gravitate towards Android is that it’s not a closed box. You can configure all kinds of things, including the main interface for launching apps. And, if you’re not happy with your current launcher, Nova Launcher Prime is the best around.
The app enables you to mess about with themes, colours, and icon arrangements. Want multiple docks you can flick between? Done. Fancy experimenting a bit? Back-up and restore your settings. Gesture-happy? Open your apps in new and weird ways. And that’s just the start of it.
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