What were the best apps for Android in 2012? Google has compiled its own best of the year list and published it for your perusal. I found the list to be a little surprising, as despite owning a couple of Android devices this year I’ve never heard of most of these apps, and only one was looked at as a possible download candidate; the Evernote app.
Here’s how Google’s Tavares Ford introduces the best apps of 2012 list
“These are some of the best apps available in Google Play. Some launched in 2012 while others issued updates that achieved a great combination of utility, beauty and accessibility. Almost all of them are available globally and offer a great user experience on both tablets and phones. From excellent tools to objects of beauty, each of these applications represents the best of Google Play.”
The apps are listed below, though it isn’t mentioned if the order is an order of merit or any particular order at all. The first app in the list is the aforementioned Evernote, which I’ve never used but does an sound excellent utility. It is a “New York Times Top 10 Must-Have App”. I had stumbled across this app before but simply decided it was probably more functionality than I required on my ancient creaking Android handset and decided to make do with the capabilities of the built-in personal organisational tools.
App list in no particular order
- Evernote – an organiser
- Pinterest – social network
- Grimm’s Snow White – electronic storybook
- Pocket – offline reader
- Expedia Hotels & Flights – mobile gateway for the popular holidays site
- Ancestry – for genealogists
- Fancy – social network with fashion shopping focus
- Seriesguide Show Manager – “second screen TV experience”
- Pixlr Express – photo app
- TED – watch and listen to geniuses talk
As pointed out by Pocket-Lint magazine, Google hasn’t necessarily given any weighting to app downloads and popularity in this list. Otherwise Facebook and Need for Speed would both be in the top 10. SwiftKey, my favourite addition to Android, isn’t listed either, though it offered significant upgrades to users in 2012. Also SwiftKey was the biggest selling app in 38 countries according to its publisher.
Hopefully this list will bring new users to the highlighted apps, deemed special enough to get in the best of 2012 list, and they will attain the popularity they deserve. What do you think of the list?
