12 Lesser-Known but Incredibly Useful Android Apps From Huge Tech Brands
A lot of popular companies, and even some tech giants, are best known for just one or two flagship Android apps. However, if you go through their Google Play profiles, you’ll find that a lot of these brands have some hidden gems that you don’t know about.
These companies have tons of experience in the app development business and offer some pretty decent solutions that might have gone under your radar. So, let’s look at some lesser-known apps by popular companies and tech giants that you should try.
1. Action Blocks (Google)
Action Blocks is one of thoseapps by Google that you might not have heard of. It aims to make performing everyday tasks easier on your Android phone with the help of Google Assistant.
The app does this by creating customizable action blocks on your home screen, which are basically large shortcuts that you can tap to initiate a chain of actions. Essentially, it’s like a non-voice-controlled version of Google Assistant.
Here are some of the things you can do with Action Blocks with a single tap:
Action Blocks is particularly helpful as an accessibility tool, however, it is equally useful for all types of users as it saves time and effort in performing repetitive tasks.
Download:Action Blocks(Free)
2. Remote Desktop (Microsoft)
Remote Desktop is one ofthe best Android apps offered by Microsoft. It allows you to remotely connect with your desktop or your work servers to access the data on your Android phone.
Remote Desktop connects you through a remote desktop gateway and a secure connection. It allows screen capture and clipboard access so you can share text from one device to another. This app can streamline your work a great deal and reduce the effort of switching between devices.
Download:Remote Desktop(Free)
3. Wikimedia Commons (Wikimedia Foundation)
We’ve all used Wikipedia, but do you know about Wikimedia Commons? It’s an open-source community-based project that allows you to upload and download images for free.
It has a vast multimedia gallery with various categories that you can browse. These images can be helpful for multiple purposes, like using them on your blog or examining screenshots of a particular device.
Reading the individual licenses of the images you’re interested in is always recommended. Though, if you want to use images for personal use, you’ll probably be safe to download just about any image.
Download:Wikimedia Commons(Free)
4. Tracker Detect (Apple)
Tracker Detect is a personal security utility from Apple. It helps you find and track your lost trackers, or detect any that have might have been placed on you without you knowing.
The app provides support for all item trackers that are compatible with the Apple Find My network, which means AirTags, among other devices.AirTags don’t work well with Androidso this app is very useful if you own one, and is an essential privacy tool if you don’t.
Download:Tracker Detect(Free)
5. Open Doors (Truecaller)
A social app from Truecaller, Open Doors lets you meet new people and be a part of fun discussions. You instantly join any community or room, and it’s possible to add other people to a chat and make new connections as well.
The app is available globally, so it helps you meet people from different locations and cultures. It also provides safety features and community control so that you may keep a safe environment for everyone on the app.
Download:Open Doors(Free)
6. Learn to Read (Duolingo)
Learn to Read uses Duolingo’s language-learning capabilities to help children read and write in English from a young age. The app provides a lot of educational content and some hands-on reading lessons to help your kids practically improve their reading skills.
Learn to Read uses fun ways, like animations and cartoons, to grab kids' attention and get them to read in a fun environment. It provides personalized lessons based on their age—the stories section is a great attraction for children in particular.
Download:Learn to Read(Free)
7. Soundtrap Studio (Spotify)
Soundtrap Studio is a collaborative music recording app by Spotify. It provides virtual instruments like pianos, synths, drums, and some pretty cool pre-built effects to enhance the sound. you may collaborate with other artists and create music in real time.
The app lets you record your music sessions. These recordings can be stored in the cloud, and you could download them later. Moreover, the in-app chat feature provides great collaboration features.
Download:Soundtrap Studio(Free, in-app purchases available)
8. Dropbox Paper (Dropbox)
Paper is an office app that allows teams to work on ideas and collaborate. You can review your team members' ideas, sync up with them, and add your comments.
With Dropbox integration, you can easily access your documents from all your devices. The shared workspaces let you work on complex projects with your team and divide them across other spaces.
Download:Dropbox Paper(Free)
9. Fuelio (Sygic)
Fuelio is a nifty little app by Sygic—makers of one ofthe best map and GPS apps for Android. Fuelio aims to help you track your fuel consumption and costs and minimize them where possible.
The app allows you to log fuel fill-ups, track mileage, and calculate fuel economy. It also provides you with insights into your driving habits so that you can identify areas where you can save money on fuel.
Download:Fuelio(Free)
10. Pocket Casts (Automattic)
Pocket Casts is a feature-packed podcast app with an elegant material design and cool themes. It’s owned by Automattic, the company behind WordPress, Tumblr, and many other things.
With this app, you can listen to tons of podcasts on the app from various categories and search or filter out the podcasts you like.
It provides a powerful audio player that has features like skipping forward or backward, next and previous buttons, favoriting, notes, and chapters for the podcasts.
Download:Pocket Casts(Free, in-app purchases available)
11. Avast Secure Browser (Avast)
Avast Secure Browser is an Android web browser that offers a variety of security and privacy features. It blocks ads, trackers, and other malicious content, and encrypts your traffic to protect your privacy. This browser also has a built-in VPN that lets you browse the web anonymously.
As the name suggests, it focuses on ensuring your online security. In this vein, it also offers to keep your banking details safe online, if you choose to allow that.
Download:Avast Secure Browser(Free, in-app purchases available)
12. Kaspersky SafeKids (Kaspersky)
SafeKids, as the name suggests, helps you protect your children. It provides GPS-based tracking so that you can ensure your kids’ safety.
To protect their digital well-being, you can also control their screen time and apply various restrictions like blocking harmful websites or restricting adult apps. The app also offers usage reports that you can review.
Download:Kaspersky SafeKids(Free, in-app purchases available)
Give These Lesser-Known Apps a Shot
You’ll probably be using some popular alternatives of these apps already. However, with the backing of these big companies, the apps on this list are pretty trustworthy and worth trying.
Sometimes, an app that is not suitable for the majority turns out to be a lifesaver for you. So, just because some of these apps didn’t gain huge popularity shouldn’t deter you from giving them a shot.
Here are the most amazing apps for Android that will change how you use and interact with your device on a daily basis.
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