10 apps that will make Android even better

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We transform the look, automate tasks and make working with the device more convenient.

1. Gboard or SwiftKey

Android devices are divided into two types: those on which Gboard is preinstalled, and those whose native keyboard you want to immediately replace with something more sane. Gboard and its SwiftKey counterpart are arguably the two best keyboards on Google Play. They differ slightly in appearance, settings, and gestures, but generally provide roughly the same feature set. Both are completely free and contain no ads (although SwiftKey has paid themes).

2. IFTTT

Probably all the readers of Lifehacker know about the IFTTT service. And those who do not know are simply obliged to get to know him. It's an incredibly powerful and flexible tool with tons of recipes. Automatically send a message to a colleague if you're late? Please. Save liked Instagram photos to Dropbox? Easy. The application can also control the functions of your phone, smart home and work in tandem with voice assistants. Try it, you won't regret it.

3. Navbar

This application can style the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, where the Back, Home, and Browse soft buttons are located. Navbar has a lot of themes - both discreet and stylish, as well as fun: with Garfield the cat, rainbow ponies and watermelons. In addition, the application can change the color of the navigation bar to match the application that is currently open.

The only drawback: Navbar does not work with Huawei devices, and some of the functions are available only in the paid version. An alternative is Paphonb's Custom Navigation Bar, which makes the Android Nougat bar look like Android O.

4. Navigation Gestures

Android Pie introduces a convenient gesture control system, which was previously implemented in a third-party application from XDA a long time ago. Navigation Gestures allows you to completely get rid of the navigation bar and control your smartphone exclusively with gestures. Swipes with and without hold, top, side and bottom - you can assign your own action to each movement.

Most of the Navigation Gestures settings are available for free. The premium version costs $ 1.49.

5. Sharedr

A very useful application for those who often use the Share function. Sharedr allows you to put things in order in its menu, removing from there those applications that you rarely use, and organize the rest. The program is absolutely free.

Sharedr REJH Gadellaa

6. Substratum or Pluvius

Substratum and Pluvius can make your smartphone screen look really beautiful. New animation, effects, colors - there are enough settings here. These programs use the OMS (Overlay Manager System) function to completely transform the appearance of the system. Substratum can work without root, but both applications show the best results on devices with superuser rights.

substratum theme engine Projekt Development Team

Pluvius FancyStuff Apps.

7. Tapet

There is no shortage of wallpaper managers on Google Play, but Tapet has a unique feature. It does not download wallpapers from the Internet, but generates them on its own using many templates from which you can choose your favorite. The application is able to create new wallpapers even every hour, while they will correspond to the Material Design style and ideally fit your device, no matter what screen it has.

Tapet - Material HD SharpRegion Wallpaper

8. Tasker

Tasker is one of the most functional apps on Google Play. It is enough to configure this thing once, and it will make backups for you, upload photos to cloud storage, send mail and clean up trash.

Tasker costs $ 2.99, but it's a bargain. In addition, it can be pumped with the help of adding even more functions.

Tasker has a free analogue of Automate, which is not much inferior to it.

Tasker joaomgcd

Automate LlamaLab

9. KWGT

This app allows you to create widgets that look just the way you want. Weather, calendar, clock, action buttons, news and RSS, music player control keys and more. You can create widgets to fit your wallpaper.

You have to pay to unlock all KWGT features. If you don't feel like doing this, you can try its UCCW alternative. These apps are more difficult to set up and haven't been updated in a while, but they have a lot of custom widgets.

KWGT Kustom Widget Maker Kustom Industries

UCCW - Ultimate custom widget VasuDev

10. Zedge

Zedge is another popular Android customization app. It has a pretty decent selection of wallpapers, icons, and home screen widgets. But the best thing about Zedge is its sound effects. There are a huge number of ringtones and notification sounds for you to choose from. You can also upload your own ringtones and sounds to the application to share with other users.

ZEDGE ™ Ringtones, Zedge wallpapers