My Home Button. How do I go Home on my phone with a broken Home button ? Samsung Galaxy S3

Here's my latest find.
How do I go Home on my phone with a broken Home button ?
My Samsung Galaxy S3 has a broken home button !

My Home Button. 
Top marks for the bright person that wrote this app.

Here's the link to the Google market.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wq.myhomebutton&hl=en

This is a screenshot from my Huawei Mate 7, which doesn't need this app as it has an unbreakable soft key for Home.
However my Samsung Galaxy S3 needs it, because the central hard key Home button is broken.

Install, tick the box To Home, and a Home link appears in the pull down notification panel at the top of the phone.

All of you who have an Android phone with a broken Home key, grab this app.
There's that To Home link in the pull down notification panel. So easy.
This also makes it easy to back out of apps that require multiple taps on the Back button.

I don't often write a blog for just one app anymore. I have been combining a few apps in the one post. This app is such a life saver for those of us with old busted phones that it deserves a post of it's own.

Cheers. Si.

Microsoft Office - how can I get a free copy, do I need it, what I can I use instead ?

Here's my latest good advice.

I have just been asked how to get a free or cheap copy of Microsoft Office.
Why I ask ?
"For Outlook for emails and Word for documents."

My answer is to use Thunderbird for emails. I've been using it for many years with no problems.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/download

Use Open Office for Word and Excel.
http://www.openoffice.org.au/  - well that's because I'm in Australia
http://www.openoffice.org/  - use this elsewhere.
Read more about it here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_OpenOffice

Open Office is similar to Microsoft Word and can read and save Word and Excel documents.

Use Chrome or Firefox or Opera as a web browser, rather than Internet Explorer (IE)
Firefox link -   https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
Opera link   - http://www.opera.com/
Google Chrome link - http://www.google.com/chrome/

Google Chrome is a lot better than Internet Explorer. I can sign in to me Gmail account and sync my Gmail, Calendar, Contacts and Bookmarks across every device, computer and phones.

In my opinion, Thunderbird is every bit as good as Outlook and it is free.
Open Office is every bit as good as Microsoft Office and it is free !

Cheers. Si.

My Dropbox is full, how do I fit more in ? - or - How do I shrink all the pictures in my Dropbox to fit more in ?

Here's my latest very useful advice - read carefully and understand - dedicated to Grace and her full Dropbox account.

To fit more pictures onto your phone and into your 'Dropbox', do this...

Dropbox link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android&hl=en

1. Go to you camera on your phone and go to Settings and look for Resolution.

If it is up at the maximum, select a setting that is a lot lower. This will make you pictures smaller in size in terms of Megabytes or Kilobytes.

If you pics are over 1 or 2 MB, they are too big to store or email. Try to keep at around 500 KB.

2. Change the resolution to something a bit smaller

3. Go to your Gallery and find a pic and touch on it to bring up the details. I use 'QuickPic' as my gallery app on my Android phone.

QuickPic link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alensw.PicFolder&hl=en

Check the size of that pic. Mine is 281 Kilobytes which is a good size. If you see 1.5 or 2.3 MB, for example, that pic is too big to email and hogs up the space on your phone and 'Dropbox'.

4 . Download Batch Picture Resize for free. I wonderful and easy program to use.
http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize

Copy and paste it into your Dropbox folder on your computer. 

Here's the link for Dropbox if you don't have it already
https://www.dropbox.com/

You should be looking at this. The Dropbox folder, and then Camera Uploads...

.4 and a bit -  If you don't often download programs, here's what to do...

First click on that link ...

Second, see where you computer wants to save it - some random place from the last download or to Desktop or a place of your choosing.

Find Dropbox and Camera Uploads and choose that spot to download the program.

Third, you should now see the program here in Dropbox - Camera Uploads...

5 . Copy and paste the 'PhotoResize' program into your Dropbox - Camera Uploads folder, if you downloaded it onto your desktop or somewhere else..

6 . Read the instructions, but I'll make it easy for you. Right click on the program file and rename.

I have renamed this one as PhotoResize40PQ75IO.exe

PhotoResize40PQ75IO     - you can copy and past this to rename it. Keep the .exe on the end if you see it there.

** Aside. On my computer in Documents or Libraries, I set my Tools-Folder Options-View- untick "Hide extensions for know file types". This hides or shows the .exe at then end of a file name. This helps me keep track of what a file actually is, such an an executable file, .exe, or a batch job, .bat, a picture, .jpg, and so on. For more, read here ...   http://filext.com/     **

This means - reduce to Percent 40% of original, at Quality 75%, I=overwrite original file, O=don't wait for the Enter button prompt (makes it a tad quicker).

** Warning - experiment first with one picture. Try these

PhotoResize80PQ75IO  - shrink to 80 percent of original. Keep the .exe on the end.
PhotoResize60PQ75IO  - shrink to 60 percent of original

7. Drag and drop groups of pictures on it

Now all your pictures will be smaller - taking up much less space in 'Dropbox' - once it syncs.
You will not have quite as good a quality if you zoom right in, but you will have a lot more space.

** Warning again - experiment first with one picture. Try these

PhotoResize80PQ75IO  - shrink to 80 percent of original. Keep the .exe on the end.
PhotoResize60PQ75IO  - shrink to 60 percent of original

This is an example of  PhotoResize40PQ75IO - My original photo is 481 KB in size...

Drag and drop - very easy.

End result is a picture at only 33 KB in size. This is a bit too small, and looks grainy if I zoom right in. Aim to bring your pictures down to about 500 KB, if they are over 1 MB.

** Warning one - this will use up your data allowance as Dropbox syncs.

** Warning two - keep track of which pics you shrink. Maybe make a new folder called "Shrunk pics" or start making lots of folders to sort your memories / holidays / pets / family etc.

You WILL thank me for this one ! Cheers. Si.

How To clean up old files, old programs and remove browsing history with CCleaner

Here's my latest piece of advice on keeping your computer clean. CCleaner.

CCleaner (was Crap Cleaner) is a useful program.
Here's the link to their home page of Piriform CCleaner
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Here's the link to download it CCleaner at FileHippo.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner

I use it to clean and remove browsing history and temporary files.
It has a one button approach. Nice and easy.
It cleans out temporary files and cookies if you want, from Internet Explorer and Windows.



CCleaner will also clean up files and history from Opera, Google Chrome and Firefox.



It has a registry cleaner, so don't go paying for one.



It also has a program removal tool.
This is very handy for removing those pesky tool bars that every piece of software wants to install.



Use this to clean out all your rubbish before you backup your computer now !

Keep yourself nice. Cheers. Si.
Checked for links and relevance, April 2014. Still very relevant for Windows XP and Windows 7

Defragment your hard drive now. April 2014. Windows XP and Windows 7

If you are reading this, then you probably don't know what "defrag" means.
Read at Ask Leo about "defragging", then get to work.
http://askleo.com/what_is_defragging_and_why_should_i_do_it/

Over time as your load up new programs and delete others, your files will become sprawling and bloated. You computer will start storing large file over many areas, not just in the one spot.

De-fragmenting a hard drive puts all these files in the one spot and makes it much quicker to load and find files. It's good basic maintenance.

Start at "My Computer."



Right click on the C Drive to open up this box.



Click on Properties of the C Drive.
You can start by using the Disc Cleanup utility, or use CCleaner.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Read that bit again ! Clean up first before you defrag'.



At least you will not be de-fragmenting all your junk files.
Then click on that Tools tab to open up this box.



Then click on Defragment. It opens up like this.


Then click that Analyze button to see this...


Here's my report. I don't need to Defragment my C Drive.
But you can see the blue line of files, red lines of fragmented files, and the white spots of empty space. If you see a lot of red lines, it's time to Defrag.

** As you can imagine, it will take a LONG time to defrag all those files. Do it before you go to bed and let it run for the night.
Check it now and then. Once every few months.
Cheers. Si.
Checked April 2014 for link and relevance. Still valid for Windows XP and Windows 7

Best free finance Android apps for HTC, Sony and Samsung phones. Currency Exchange Rates and Gold Price.

Here's my finance apps I've just loaded onto my HTC, Sony and Samsung phones.
Currency Exchange, Gold Prices, Google Finance.

I like to keep an eye on currency exchange rates and the price of gold.
I have a few shares in a gold miner called Silver Lake Resources, you see.
https://www.google.com/finance?q=ASX:SLR

I tried quite a few Currency Exchange apps and settled on this one as the clearest, simplest and easiest to read.
Same with the Gold Price app. I tried five or six, but settled on this one as just what I want.

Here's the link - Exchange Rates
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.xelnaga.exchanger

I have set my home currency to Aussie Dollars of course (AUD) and also locked in the USD, IDR, Euro and gold price XAU.


I also use the XE Currenct exchange app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xe.currency

Here's the link to Gold Price Live if it interest you. Might be good when the party gets boring and you need a conversation starter.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.goldprice.app

I also use Kitco Gold Prices
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kitco.android.free.activities




I'm also a big fan of Google Finance for my share prices.
https://www.google.com/finance


Not rich yet. Cheers. Si.

How to save website text only, using a Text Document. Windows XP and Windows 7. April 2014

Here's my latest hint - and a very useful and simple tip it is too.
I often want to save only the text on a web page, but it is full of fonts, links and images.
I create a Text Document on my desktop or in some convenient folder.

Here I have right clicked on my desktop to bring up my context menu.
(Incidentally, you can alter your right click context menu using TweakUI.)

\
I will use a page of my site as an example.
Here I have typed 'CTRL A' to highlight 'all text' on the web page.
Then I right click on part of that highlighted text and Copy.



I then go to my Text Document and Paste and Save.



Easy peasy - all the text without formatting, fonts or images.
You will find this a very helpful tip, so don't forget it.

Cheers. Si.
Checked for Windows XP and Windows 7 relevance.

How to make a PDF - Windows XP and Windows 7. April 2014

I had to create a PDF the other day for the first time in a long time. I had forgotten how.
Now we all have Adobe Acrobat for reading PDFs, but do you know how to make one ?

I had some info in a Word document, and I wanted to present it to a manager and protect it from being changed, so I went and fired up CutePDF.

Here's the link to CutePDF
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Also try PDFCreator
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Also take a look at FileHippo's list on PDF creators.
http://www.filehippo.com/search?q=pdf

Note that you also have to download and install a Ghostscript interpreter.
"GNU Ghostscript is an open-source interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License. You may obtain the source code for GPL Ghostscript 8.15 here."

I just downloaded CutePDF and installed it, and CutePDF went and found that Ghostscript program anyway, and installed it as well.

Here's what it does.
I have opened up my Word document and clocked on PRINT.
I then change my printer to 'CutePDF'.



Here's the next pop-up.
Choose what to call it and where to store it.



Here's the results. My PDF.



This can now be opened with Adobe Reader.
Now it is secure information and can't be tampered with .



Easy enough.
File that one away. It's a useful little program. Free too.

** Note that you can choose multiple images and 'print' them all into one PDF. I use this a fair bit.
** Always send your resume and cover letter for that new job as a PDF, never as a Word Document.


Cheers. Si.
Checked links and relevance to Windows XP and 7. April 2014

Media Players to play all your music and videos. Windows XP and Windows 7. April 2014

  This is my section on media players. 

FileHippo list of MultiMedia device
http://www.filehippo.com/software/multimedia/

This is your best bet as you while find most good free media players here.

MediaMonkey
http://www.mediamonkey.com/

Running on my desk top...



It's free of course, and will play anything I can throw at it.
There are plenty of add-ons too, such as skins, device and languages.

RealPlayer
http://www.real.com.au/

Winamp
http://www.winamp.com/  but download it at Filehippo, here...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_winamp/


VLC Media Player from VideoLAN
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols.

Cheers. Si.

Checked April 2014 for links and relevance to Windows XP and Windows 7.

How To check what programs are running on your computer with Process Explore. Windows XP and Windows 7. April 2014

Here's a program I added to my boot menu. Process Explorer.

As a techie geek, I am often curious as to what programs are running on my computer.

This is the link to Microsoft Sysinternal Process Explorer, to give it its full name.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx



I added Process Explorer into my boot using GlarySoft Quick Startup.
http://www.glarysoft.com/quick-startup/

Now when my computer boots, I can see exactly what's running and hogging my system resources.
I can also see what needs to be deleted from my start up menu.
Almost everything these days adds yet another program to your start up menu.

Cheers. Si.
Checked and still relevant in April 2014. I still use these on my Windows 7 rig.

Web Browsers for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Android - April 2014

Here's a list of web browsers that I use on my Windows XP and Windows 7 desktop PCs, as well as my Android phones.

For Windows desktop PCs or laptops.

You may be used to using Internet Explorer and have never tried anything else, but maybe it's time for a change. You really have nothing to lose by trying out a new web browser.
You can download and install three or four and just swap between them.

I have Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome all running.
I usually use Google Chrome because I love all the add-ons and for syncing my Contacts and Calendar from my PC to my phone.
I use Opera to check that my websites look good across all browsers.
I use Internet Explorer for its Citrix ability for virtual application access.

Google Chrome Web Browser.
https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/


Here's the link to Google Chrome Extensions.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions


Chrome is my main web browser on my desktop PCs. I constantly use the Google Calendar and Contacts to sync my life to my phone and workplaces.

*** A really good tip is to make entries that repeat monthly for various things, such as all your house bills. Chrome gives me the ability to put a huge amount of text in one calendar entry.
I have one huge entry for all my house details, including rent, insurance, taxes, rates, purchase date, bank loans and so on. I can always find it whenever I need it, on the 4th of any month.

I have another monthly entry for all my phone plans for the family. When they were started, what they cost, when we broke all those phones, account numbers, and so on.

I have a monthly entry for all my major purchases - just date, what they were and what they cost. It's been surprisingly useful.

Opera
http://www.opera.com/

I use this occasionally to check my websites.

Internet Explorer
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/internet-explorer/download-ie

I use Internet Explorer for its Citrix ability for virtual application access.

Firefox
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/products/

I confess I haven't used Firefox for a few years after all those rapid changes. It wouldn't even work on my Windows XP box for a while.

For Android phones.

Google Chrome Web Browser - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome

I use Chrome as my secondary browser on my phone. I prefer Opera Mobile.

Opera Mobile
http://www.opera.com/mobile or this link for Android
http://www.opera.com/mobile/android

Opera Mobile is my main browser on my phone. I just prefer how it looks and handles.

Firefox - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox

UC Web Browser - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UCMobile.intl

I use this to check the mobile versions of my websites... and it's also kind of cool.

DuckDuckGo Search and Stories - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duckduckgo.mobile.android

This is also kind of cool. I like the stories idea, and the anonymous browsing.

Cheers. Si. Happy anonymous browsing.
Links checked April 2014

My best free Android apps for HTC, Samsung and Sony phones - August 2015

Here's my little list of good, free Android apps that I use.
I have tried and tested all of these.
I have tried similar apps as comparisons. I just happen to like these ones the best. 
More than anything, this is my own backup list. I'm big on BACKING THINGS UP.
(You too can create a blog like this in about 4 easy steps, for no other reason than to back up your links, photos, documents, whatever you want.)

Please note, you will NOT find any Facebook stuff here. No games either.

Here we go then. Links straight to the Android market. Blue text is not links, just highlight.

3G Watchdog, to monitor my data use.
I have now found I don't need this with latest versions of Android as there is a built in data usage monitor in Phone Settings
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.rgruet.android.g3watchdog

Adobe Reader if it isn't there already.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.reader

AdSense. I have a few blogs and a few videos on YouTube which host Google Ads. I make a tiny amount of money from this. I use the AdSense app to keep track of my AdSense account.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.ads.publisher

App Freeze - to freeze unwanted apps on my root access phone. * Only useful if you have rooted your phone and have super user access. Say goodbye to Google Play Services draining 60% of battery. If you want to 'root' your phone, try the Kingo Root website. It's easy but will VOID your warranty on your phone. Read more on my post "How do I root my phone" and scroll down to the bit about Kingo Root.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartapp.appfreezer&hl=en

ASTRO File Manager to organise my files, plus a few other things.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metago.astro

AU Weather, only relevant if you live in Australia, like me. There's a free and paid version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tomfusion.au_weather_pro

Battery Widget - this is the best one I've found because I like its touch-to-launch menu.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.droidparts.battery_widget

BBC News for my daily news fix.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bbc.mobile.news.ww

Bahasa Indonesia dictionary - good for anyone planning a trip to Bali.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gits.bahasa

CDE. Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. A handy reference guide.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clc.encyclopedia

Contact Widget. Perfect for my needs. Simple and small and works well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=lcc.simplewidgets

CNET news. Very good source of tech news, reviews, etc.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.treemolabs.apps.cnet

ClockSync to check on my time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.org.amip.ClockSync

ColorNote for my shopping list widget.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note

Colors to change my background to a simple plane color. A clever app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citc.colors

Compass
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apksoftware.compass

Contact Sync Fix
"This tool will help to fix some (not all) of the causes of "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly." message from Google contacts sync. If this app does not work for you - it's because there are multiple causes for this error message."

I have always had "Sync is currently experiencing problems." on my phones. This handy little app is a very quick fix to an old problem.
Make sure you look for a phone notification to 'delete faults' if there are more than a few faults.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.ivary.ContactsSyncFix

Convert Pad for all unit conversions. Free and paid versions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mathpad.mobile.android.wt.unit

Device Info. A geeky app to show me all about my phone.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jphilli85.deviceinfo

Dictionary.com
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dictionary

Digital Clock Widget. Perfect for me. Small and simple and to the point.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=red.extension.DigitalClockWidget

Dropbox - an essential app. I use this for my live camera upload to the cloud. I also have their app installed on my computer at home to receive those live photos from cloud/camera. I back up my tax files, resume and a few other documents to Dropbox.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android

DuckDuckGo web browser. Search anonymously.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duckduckgo.mobile.android

Easy Uninstaller to uninstall all these apps you are going to try.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.uninstaller
I pay for the Pro version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.uninstallerpro

ES File Explorer, also for sorting files and other things. I use both Astro and ES.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop

Evernote, which I daily to keep track of lots of things. An essential app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote

Exchange rates.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.xelnaga.exchanger

ezPDF Reader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=udk.android.reader

File Browser Widget - very useful for quick access to my PDF books.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ceenic.filebrowserwidget

Free Dictionary.org
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.freedictionary

Ghostery web browser. The Ghostery Privacy Browser increases your browsing privacy, protection, and speed. I can block all cookies on a site by default.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ghostery.android.ghostery&hl=en

Gmail app. I can't remember if it was on the phone or I downloaded it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gm

Godville - OK, well maybe one game, sort of. All you do is watch your stupid hero do stupid things, and smite him with lightning now and then. Bwahahaha.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.godvillegame.android

Gold Price Live, with some interesting little diatribes and historical graphs.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.goldprice.app

Google Drive (was Google Docs). I keep my resume and a few other bits and pieces handy here.
It's also a good place to store scans of passport docs and travel plans when I go overseas.
I also stash scans of receipts and warranties and precious family photos.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs

Google Finance.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.finance

Google + only really to access my backed up photos. Pardon me but I do avoid social media sites.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.plus

Google Keyboard. This does not always come installed, and it is still my favorite. I love the swipe ability.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

Google Translate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate

Google Maps of course, if it isn't already there.
August 2015 update now has tap to go full screen and remove the Search and Around Here bars.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps

Google Sky Map. For fun, for interest.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Hacker's Keyboard, just for something different.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard

Here maps by Nokia - wondeful offline maps I can save to my SD card.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.maps&hl=en

History Eraser
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.eraser

IMDb for checking out the movie news
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imdb.mobile

Jorte Calendar. My one really essential app.I keep a 1x1 widget on my front page with today's roster, as well as a 4x4 widget on another page showing a fortnight. I can choose from a huge range of widgets, and it will sync to Google Calendar. Make sure you select Google Calendar from your main Google account as the calendar to show. Same in the native calendar app. ( Not PC Sync Calendar, for example.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.johospace.jorte

Knots Guide. A bit geeky, but interesting.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.max.KnotsGuide

Latin Phrases, comes in useful occasionally
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.linuxguy.LatinPocketbook

Marine Traffic -  a fascinating app that let's me look at the world's ships in real time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marinetraffic.android

Marine Compass. Another good, simple compass.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.pierrox.mcompass

Moon 3D moon phases, it has a 1x1 widget plus a tap to show more in the app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.watabou.moon3d

MyBackUp.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackup
I pay for the add free/expanded version... MyBackUp Pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro
I back up to my SD card, as well as to their online service.
** This can be very handy to move an app that is no longer available to a new phone.

My Home Button. Top marks for the bright person that wrote this app.
*** All of you who have an Android phone with a broken Home key, grab this app. It puts a Home key in the pull down notification panel. I now put this app on all my phones as it makes it very easy to back out off apps that require multiple taps of the Back button.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wq.myhomebutton&hl=en

MySMS. Another essential app to sync SMS messages to the cloud, and hence to any phone, and to your PC too. A brilliant app. I pay a subscription for the Pro features. It's well worth it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mysms.android.sms

On this note, always have a link to Settings>Applications>Running Services on your desk top. A lot of games I have tried have remained running long after I shut them down, using battery and also possibly data. If you find that a game keeps running after you've exited it, my advice is to uninstall it.

NASA app, for pics of planets and such like. Great spot for wallpapers and ring tones - "Houston, we've had a problem".
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nasa

No Wallpaper. A simple app to give you a truly black background. Also see Colors above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sapps.android.NoWallpaper

Offline Dictionary.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.nghs.android.paid.dictionnaires

Office Lens by Microsoft. A very clever camera app to capture documents. Combine with OneNote.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.officelens

OneNote by Microsoft - my note taking, cloud sync, app of choice now. Evernote has become too hard to use.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.onenote

Opera web browser. There's a few little things I like about it more than Chrome.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.browser

Paper Camera for some nifty special effects
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dama.papercamera

PayPal. Handy to at least check the balance.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paypal.android.p2pmobile

Picasa Mobile. All my photos are backed up on Google Drive (was Google Doc and Picasa). The Google + app also shows this stuff, but this app is a bit easier.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imprologic.micasa

Pocket (formerly Read It Later). I use this if I take my phone overseas. If I'm at a free WiFi spot, I will download a few pages of Wikipedia to read later. I save many articles to Pocket for future reference.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.pro

QuickPic for my photo gallery. It's very good.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alensw.PicFolder

Quick Battery widget. This widget does the obvious and shows the battery level. A tap also enters the app to show Phone Info, Battery Info, Usage and WiFi info. I like this one.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bwx.qs.battery

Quick Settings. A must have for me. Probably my most used and most useful app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bwx.bequick

qPDF Viewer
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qoppa.activities.viewer

QuickDic offline dictionary. This is a nifty offline dictionary app.
I can select which languages I want and it has a nice simple interface.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hughes.android.dictionary

RealCalc scientific calculator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nickfines.RealCalc

Skitch. Mark up your photos. Good fun and useful too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote.skitch

Satellite AR. Another app where you hold your phone up to the night sky to check out passing satellites. Yeah it's a bit geeky but kinda fun.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agi.android.augmentedreality

Star Chart. Hold your phone up to the sky at night.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.escapistgames.starchart

SkyMap. Much the same as above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Super Tool Box. Not sure if I really need this, but I play with it now and then.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.lepeng.superboxss

TerraTime. OK it's not free, but it's well worth having if this sort of thing interest you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.daylightclock.android.license

Tricorder. Not from Android Market, but from here.
http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Science/Entertainment/Tricorder-Android-71544.shtml
Lots of geeky fun.

UC Web Browser. I like to sample different web browsers.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UCMobile.intl

Ulysse Gizmo for a bit of geeky fun. Compass, spirit level, magnetic fields etc. A bit like that Tricorder above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binarytoys.ulysse

Urban Dictionary. You have to keep up with this stuff.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citc.ud

XKCD viewer. My favorite comic.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.bytten.xkcdviewer

YouTube, of course.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.youtube

Shortcuts on desktop:
Settings>Applications>Running Services.

My Widgets (which show real time data changes, as opposed to shortcuts to apps).
This is for my info really.
Quick Battery. Jorte 1x1 and 4x4. Moon Phase 3D. 3G Watchdog. TerraTime.

No games. I find too many games stay running after I have finished playing, draining battery. Always keep a shortcut on your desktop to Settings>Applications>Running Services, and uninstall anything that stays running when you don't want it to. Did I say that before ?

Cheers. Si.
Links correct as at August 2015. 

Apps for root phones. You don't need these if your phone is not rooted.

SuperSu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu.pro

Root Checker
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeykrim.rootcheck
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeykrim.rootcheckp

TWRP
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jmz.soft.twrpmanager

Kingo
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kingouser.com