7 of the Best Android Apps Not on the Google Play Store

7 of the Best Android Apps Not on the Google Play Store

  12:59 AM    Anaclet Ahishakiye

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1. TubeMate

TubeMate is a very popular YouTube downloader app which is obviously not allowed on the Play Store due to Google restrictions. It also supports downloading video from other websites such as Facebook, Vimeo, and DailyMotion among others. While the interface is a little clunky and riddled with ads, it works very well for what it’s worth and allows you to download videos in a variety of formats and resolutions.

You are advised to download the apk from verified websites, as there are a lot of fake, infected TubeMate apks on the Internet. An alternative to TubeMate is Videoder which has an attractive interface but slower download speeds compared to TubeMate in my experience.

2. MiXPlorer

MiXPlorer is one of the best Android file managers out there with a very neat user interface and plenty of features that should appeal to both casual and power users alike. For one, it offers tab support and a dual panel mode on big screens which helps if you’re working with several folders at once. You can also access your cloud files with up to seventeen services to select from including all the popular ones such as Google Drive, Dropbox, MEGA, and Onedrive.

MiXPlorer also supports root access for advanced operations, advanced search functions and a very customisable user interface. Overall, it’s a very well-rounded file manager you can get for free that doesn’t have ads.

3. Lucky Patcher

Lucky Patcher is an app that allows you to modify other Android apps in various ways. You’ll need a rooted device to harness all of this app’s great power. You can run several actions with this app such as removing license verification for premium apps, modifying apk files, removing Google ads, and backing up and restoring apps. It’s better to make a full backup of your apps and data before using this app as it can possibly lead to loss of data.

4. F-droid

F-droid is the market for free and open-source Android software. Downloading the F-droid client makes it easy for you to search for and install open-source apps, and it also helps you keep track of updates on your device. It’s highly recommended for open-source enthusiasts.

5. Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time allows you to watch movies and TV Shows on your Android device either by streaming or downloading to watch offline. There are literally thousands of high-quality movies here, and you can either search for specific titles or browse the available collections. We have also debated the legality of this app, so you may want to use it with caution.

6. XPosed Framework Installer

Installing a custom ROM is one way to modify your Android device, but you don’t really need to do so if you just want to modify a few things here and there. The XPosed Framework allows you to modify your existing system without going through the hassle of installing a custom ROM. It is for root-level users only, and there is a wide range of mods and tweaks that can be applied to your device, but be careful. I’d recommend making a full backup before using the Xposed Framework or its components.

7. Adaway

Adaway is a free and open-source ad blocker for Android. It was previously available on Google Play but was later removed after violating a section of the Google developer agreement. You can install it from F-droid nonetheless. Adaway requires root access to work, and it’s only available for Android 2.1 devices and above.

All you need to do to try out each app is to download the apk from the links above. Don’t forget to allow installation from unknown sources, and do let us know of any other useful apps not available on the Play Store in the comments section below.

The links to download these apps:

1.tubemate

2.MiXPlorer

3.Lucky Patcher 

4.F-droid

5.Popcorn Time

6.Xposed Framework

7.Adaway

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Top 5 Awesome Android Features that the iPhone Doesn't Have

Top 5 Awesome Android Features that the iPhone Doesn't Have

  12:05 AM    Anaclet Ahishakiye

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We love both Android and iOS, but the open nature of Android just means it can do things others just can't. Here are our favorite Android apps and features that you won't find on its Apple-clad brethren.

1. Alternate Keyboards

From text predictors like Swiftkey to the innovative like Swype and thedownright adventurous like 8pen, you have a lot of different keyboard choiceson Android. Typing on a tiny phone keyboard isn't anyone's idea of fun, so it's great that Android provides so many options to make it as painless for people as possible, and super easy to install. The iPhone has other keyboards, but they're usually separate apps that require you to import text to another program—it's just the kind of system-level functionality that's hard to get around.

2. Automation

One of the most powerful, useful Android apps around is Tasker, the automation program that lets you turn your phone into a superphone. You can turn settings on and off for certain applications, by location, time of day, and pretty much any other condition you can think of. With the right commands in place, Tasker can access the deepest and darkest settings on your phone, which is something you just can't do on other platforms. Be sure to also check out our second list of Tasker setups,three handy Tasker profiles from our readers, and how to roll your own "Find my iPhone" for Android. Similar apps like the battery-saving JuiceDefenderwould also fall into this category.

3. Custom Home Launchers

While iPhone users can customize their home screen quite a bit if they've jailbroken, they don't allow the kind of customization that you can get on Android with custom home launchers. Third party launchers can add all sorts of extra features to the home screens of your device, like gestures, different kinds of shortucts, and even low-level settings that can help speed up an older phone. Whether you're using the super-fast LauncherPro or the insanely customizable ADWLauncher, third-party launchers add a ton of configuration to your  device.

4.Widgets

Sure, they take up a bit of space, but there's no substitute for the convenience of having a big weather widget right on your home screen, or a music widget to show you the currently playing track. Even more useful are the to-do list widgets, that take an "in your face" approach to productivity, which is not only effective but necessary from people, as they don't require you to actually look for your to-do list—they're always reminding you of what you need to do. If you've jailbroken, you can get widget-like apps for the iPhone, but you can only put them on your lock screen—not the actual home screens that you're always swiping through.

5.Wireless App Installation

Browsing for and discovering new apps should be fun, not challenge to make it through a tiny app store with your sanity intact. The App Store and Cydia App Store aren't exactly fun to browse on your phone, but you either have to download apps on your phone or plug it into iTunes to sync them all over. With the new Android Market, or with third-party sites like AppBrain, you can find a cool app, hit the install button, and it'll be on your phone the next time you pick it up. It doesn't get much more convenient than that.

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