DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Five apps you can't live without

57 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/five-apps-you-cant-live-without.195753/

dashing.sujay
dashing.sujay Original post #1
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:00 PM
These days people are almost obsessed with apps. App for this, app for that. A typical smartphone has countless app these days but the ground reality is that we seldom use those many.

So I'd to know your feedback on let's say you have a brand new smartphone (irrespective of OS), and you're given an option to keep only 5 apps.

I know 5 is a bit too hard :chinscratch:, 10 could have been a much sensible number given the array of needs but that's why the question.

Which are those 5 inevitable apps ?

Treat each ecosystem as they are bundled, for eg Gmail is present by default in Android, but not in iOS I guess, so that makes it a count of 1.

--

Mine goes (almost in order of priority):

1) WhatsApp

2) ES File Explorer

3) Pushbullet

4) AdAway

5) A News app (usually I use TOI, now a days trying News Republic)

Looking forward to your views guys!

Thanks
Nerevarine
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:03 PM
1) Firefox

2) ES File manager

3) Drastic DS Emulator

4) PowerAMP

5) Youtube

Some of the apps I like but I can definitely live without these apps :lol:
ZTR
ZTR #3
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:37 PM
1) Titanium Backup

2) Whatsapp

3)MX Player

4) Solid File Explorer/X-Plore

5) Chromium/Chrome
K
Karan85 #4
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:40 PM
No particular order.

Twitter
Whatsapp
Pocket
Pocketcasts
Reddit is fun


Not including stock apps that I cant live without like Chrome and Youtube...
Oh .. and MX player has to get a mention.. but I use that more on the tablet than on the phone
Zangetsu
Dec 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM
FX explorer (ES is crap now a days)
MX player
Whatsapp
Shareit (better than software datacable)
TrueCaller
ankushv
ankushv #6
Dec 17, 2015 at 12:33 PM
WhatsApp
Es file explorer
AccuWeather
Mx player pro
Taptalk
Desmond
Desmond #7
Dec 17, 2015 at 3:18 PM
In no particular order (not counting messaging apps like Whatsapp):

- Poweramp
- Now For Reddit
- Firefox
- Tapatalk
- MX Player
R
Dec 18, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Clash of Clans (does this count?)
Blackplayer
MX Player
Youtube
Opera Mini
Zangetsu
Zangetsu #11
Dec 18, 2015 at 7:47 PM
Ads,removed features and added as a paid option,and in general has become too bloated compared to past

Yup..there is also an article on the same in XDA
ES is now bloatware
ankushv
ankushv #12
Dec 18, 2015 at 9:17 PM
Any good alternative to es file explorer ?
Sorry for OT .
ariftwister
Dec 20, 2015 at 10:17 AM
1)Titanium Backup
2)Xposed
3)CoC
4)Touchpal Keyboard
5)Bacon Reader (reddit)
5)ES Explorer pro
5)Opera Mini
5)Cymera
5)Internet Speed Meter
5)whatsapp
Anorion
Anorion #15
Dec 20, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Phone
Calendar
Clock
Maps
Safari

live without the rest. as in cannot think of one app that has always been critical to my usage.
TechnoBOY
TechnoBOY #16
Dec 20, 2015 at 12:39 PM
1.FireFox,Whats app
2.xposed
3.xender,INTERNET SPEED METER
4.tapatalk
5.flud
dashing.sujay
Dec 21, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Xender / Internet speed meter ? Do you guys really can't live without these ?
v.Na5h
v.Na5h #18
Dec 21, 2015 at 9:47 AM
TB
Gravity box
Solid Explorer
Aqua Mail
Greader pro
Zangetsu
Zangetsu #19
Dec 21, 2015 at 1:26 PM
Any good alternative to es file explorer ?
Sorry for OT .
I use this *play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.fx&hl=en
UI is excellent
Limitless
Limitless #20
Dec 21, 2015 at 5:01 PM
FX explorer with root access
MX player Pro
Whatsapp
Shareit
Youtube
dashing.sujay
Dec 24, 2015 at 7:05 PM
I use this *play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.fx&hl=en
UI is excellent

I tried it today. UI is no hands down best, no competition. But it couldn't perform operations on my SD card even though root access is there. Major flaw. Plus, no app management. Otherwise, very good.

Also tried Solid explorer, apart from not able to video, it's pretty competent to ES. Still, can't find a reason for it to have edge over ES, so back to pavilion.
Zangetsu
Zangetsu #22
Dec 24, 2015 at 7:33 PM
I tried it today. UI is no hands down best, no competition. But it couldn't perform operations on my SD card even though root access is there. Major flaw. Plus, no app management. Otherwise, very good.
root access is separate plug in needed to download
plus version is paid.

SD card issue might be bug.


App management is there and far better than ES.
dashing.sujay
Dec 24, 2015 at 10:04 PM
root access is separate plug in needed to download
plus version is paid.

SD card issue might be bug.


App management is there and far better than ES.

I did install the plug in.

Couldn't find app management somehow. Anyway, not able to operate of memory card is enough reason not to choose it, otherwise I'd have gladly uninstalled ES.
Zangetsu
Zangetsu #24
Dec 28, 2015 at 1:22 PM
I did install the plug in.

Couldn't find app management somehow. Anyway, not able to operate of memory card is enough reason not to choose it, otherwise I'd have gladly uninstalled ES.

strange..I was able to access memory card on Xperia M and Lava X5 4G

which phone and ROM ?
R
r4xe #26
Jan 17, 2016 at 11:42 AM
Whatsapp
UC Browser
AfterShip
Reddit is Fun
Youtube
thetechfreak
Feb 7, 2016 at 5:53 AM
WhatApp
Telegram
Alien Blue
Twidere
Spotify
Inceptionist
Feb 7, 2016 at 5:11 PM
I guess no one here is from Mumbai. No mention of m-indicator anywhere.
T
Tomal #30
Feb 10, 2016 at 8:18 PM
For e these are most important apps
Facebook
Whatsapp
Gmail
Candy Crush Soda Saga
rickenjus
rickenjus #31
Feb 12, 2016 at 12:42 PM
pandora
di.fm
DSub
youtube
mxplayer
ramakanta
ramakanta #32
Feb 23, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Telegram
UC Browser
Accuweather
Firefox
CamScanner
dashing.sujay
Feb 23, 2016 at 9:02 PM
Those who are using UC Browser, try CM Browser, it's much much better.
R
Rajesh345 #34
Feb 23, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Firefox with adblock plugin
Esfile explorer
MX player
Truecaller
swift keyboard

-

ADM
Airdroid
ramakanta
ramakanta #35
Feb 24, 2016 at 3:58 PM
Those who are using UC Browser, try CM Browser, it's much much better.

btw CM Browser have resume facility ..??

- - - Updated - - -

best app to store username and password ????
Gollum
Gollum #39
Feb 26, 2016 at 6:01 AM
Quickpic - faster more customizable image and video viewer
ES File explorer - best file explorer with wifi stream function
Whatsapp - nothing can explain the smartphone revolution without this app
OlaCabs - for going to places where you cannot go on a bike
Flickr - best automatic online backup for your photos and video


I need more than 5 apps
Evernote - I like to keep notes
MX Player - how else am I going to play videos on my phone
Skype - I have a front cam, need to use this
Automatic call recorder - for quality and training purposes
Google Maps - my savior when I am lost
M
mayasim #40
Mar 17, 2016 at 6:24 PM
whatsapp is most important for every one.
TheSloth
TheSloth #41
Mar 17, 2016 at 10:52 PM
Anything better than ASTRO file manager?? OR ES file manager is best?
Anorion
Anorion #42
Mar 17, 2016 at 11:59 PM
google cardboard now, spend some time with it every day
stopped using whatsapp from my end. Reply to notifications with sms, or more often I just call people now and talk. :) feelsgoodman
TheSloth
TheSloth #43
Mar 18, 2016 at 1:25 AM
[MENTION=56202]Anorion[/MENTION] which cardboard you have. there seems to be lots of versions. And it seems very addictive, like inception
Anorion
Anorion #44
Mar 18, 2016 at 10:13 AM
oh, device is all more or less the same. I ordered mine from Google cardboard virtual reality kit, Buy google cardboar and watch content from 360° Video
- YouTub
But it is not really VR, and both me and my friend started experiencing vomiting sensation after a while
Stop Calling Google Cardboard’s 360-Degree Videos ‘VR’ | WIRE
so now do only 20 minutes a day, not more. But want a real VR rig now.
TheSloth
TheSloth #45
Mar 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Wow sounds really good except vomiting part. And the prices are cheap too. I thought it will be around 3000 or something. Adding to wishlist. thanks for the link
Anorion
Anorion #46
Mar 18, 2016 at 7:04 PM
just go to manufacturing website and really check if the device has a gyroscope or not. There is some magnetic pseudo sensor that works as a gyroscope, and gsmarena and ndtv lists the feature as a gyroscope, but the magnet on the cardboard sends the sensor haywire and it wont work unless you pluck out the useless magnet from a pre-assembled cardboard.
for example k3 note is consistently listed as having a gyroscope except on the lenovo web site.
TheSloth
TheSloth #47
Mar 19, 2016 at 12:29 PM
You mean the I should check the gyroscope on the VR kit or on my mobile? I own a moto e2. it doesn't have gyroscope.
Hrishi
Hrishi #48
Sep 23, 2016 at 6:37 PM
Add One More App and that is Google Allo App.it is Created by Google. It works Very Good. For More Information Click Here
Oh, come on!
The AI this app has is so dumb! :(

Sent from my ONE E1003 using Tapatalk
A
amit.tiger12 #49
Sep 23, 2016 at 8:43 PM
Add One More App and that is Google Allo App.it is Created by Google. It works Very Good. For More Information Click Here
Privacy matters for me..
TheSloth
TheSloth #50
Sep 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM
we all use Whatsapp and it is owned by FB. Privacy is just a word now
ramakanta
ramakanta #51
Oct 5, 2016 at 8:34 AM
Google Map
outlook
Telegram
Chrome
Skype
A
Oct 5, 2016 at 10:18 PM
1) WhatsApp

2) ES File Explorer

3) Pushbullet

4) AdAway

5) FB messenger
S
Oct 10, 2016 at 7:12 PM
One drawback to AirDroid is that you can't send messages to your contacts via third party apps such as Whatsapp.
A
amit.tiger12 #54
Oct 10, 2016 at 7:14 PM
Any ad blocker for non rooted device
A
amit.tiger12 #55
Oct 10, 2016 at 7:30 PM
One drawback to AirDroid is that you can't send messages to your contacts via third party apps such as Whatsapp.
Request this feature in Airdroid app..
B
Beth641 #56
Oct 10, 2016 at 7:34 PM
1) Titanium Backup

2) Whatsapp

3)MX Player

4) Solid File Explorer/X-Plore

5) Chromium/Chrome
ariftwister
Oct 11, 2016 at 10:32 PM
1) Titanium Backup

2) Xposed

3) Chrome

4) WhatsApp

5) Bacon Reader (reddit)

Sent from my ZUK Z2132 using Tapatalk