Android Central Editors' app picks for July 9, 2011

 

It's that time of the week again, the time everyone looks forward to, where we give you all the good apps to download on your device. Hit the break with us and take a look at some of our picks from this past week, and hopefully some of them will become your favorites as well.

Anndrew Vacca - CardioTrainer Plus ($9.99)

OK, I’ll be honest: I don’t exercise nearly as much as I should. Heck, if there isn’t a cheeseburger incentive, I won’t do it all. But on the rare occasion that I feel energized enough to get off my couch and go for a run, I love CardioTrainer Pro. It’s got a ton of cool features: in-app music player, GPS route tracking, an exercise scheduler for each day of the week, and a nifty planner to plot your weight-loss goals on a long-term basis. It’s got a widget for your homescreen that shows your calorie-burning goals and how long it will take to achieve them, and if that isn’t enough incentive to get off your butt, you can even share your fitness progress with other CardioTrainer users. If you’re more of a casual trainer, start off with the free version—Pro will cost you $10. If you’re serious about fitness, though, it’s well worth the Hamilton. [Market Link]

Alex Dobie - Sony Ericsson Data Monitor (Free)

It's easy to lose track of your cellular data usage at times. With constant app updates, web browsing and new features like Google+ Instant Upload, you could be approaching your monthly allocation of ones and zeroes before you know it. Unfortunately, not all carriers provide a convenient way to keep an eye on how much data you're burning through. However, if you've got a Sony Ericsson phone, then the manufacturer has you covered with a newly-released app on its Android Market channel. The Sony Ericsson Data Monitor app tracks mobile data consumption in both directions, and gives you the option to set an alert when your usage hits a certain level. If you're on a monthly contract, you can set the counter to reset at the start of your billing month. If you've already pre-paid for a set amount of data, there's the option to enter a start date instead. There's even a chart function included to allow you to see how your data usage has changed from day to day, or even during specific hours of the day. If you've got a Sony Ericsson phone and would like a little more control over how much mobile data you use, then this one is a no-brainer -- it's available for free from the SE channel on the Android Market. [Market Link]

Sean Brunett - BBC News (Free)

If you’re a fan of the BBC or just want easy access to top stories throughout the world, BBC News is a must have app. The homescreen of the app is very well done. It displays a variety of stories separated by category, such as Top Stories, US & Canada and Technology. It allows you to edit the topics that are displayed as well. The stories displayed have thumbnails that give users a quick glimpse as to the main theme of the story. There is also a nifty feature where you can swipe right and left on the categories to gain access to more stories. The app allows the stories to be shared to basically wherever you want, including Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Other features include live audio and video streams. This is a terrific news app that has an incredible UI and makes it easy to read and browse the top stories of the day. [Market Link]

Menno - Pzizz $5.59

During college, I stayed up insanely late at school and worked third shift when I was on break. Even though I'm several years out of school, I still find it hard to get to sleep at a "normal" hour, and if something is occupying my mind at all, I can lay in bed for hours before I finally nod off, just to wake up restless in the morning. A few weeks ago, I started seeing reviews pop up for Pzizz, and they were positive enough that I decided to give it a try. How Pzizz works is you set it to go off and then this monotone voice will speak over background noise that the developer says will be unique each time. The guy talking says some pretty silly things, but the point of it isn't to listen to him, it's more like white noise that will help you calm down. I've used it pretty consistently since I first installed it and while it didn't "cure" my insomnia, I find it a lot easier to get to sleep on most nights, and for whatever reason I feel better in the morning as well. The app is on the pricey side, but if you're like me and are tired of waking up grumpy every morning, it could be the best $5 you'll spend this week. [Market Link]