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Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google and is based on Linux, which in my opinion, is the very best operating system out there in the wild, but then, that is a topic for another discussion.

What is without doubt is that in the last two years, Android’s share of the worldwide smartphone market has been inexorably climbing. As of Q2 2009, Android had a 2.8% share of the market. As of Q2 2010, this share had climbed to 13%. It has even done better in the key US market, whereas as of Q1 2010, Android is now second only to RIM’s Blackberry. Europe is following as well, and based on the number of Android phones I am beginning to see in Nigeria, it is just a matter of time before Nigeria will be in the race too.

One of the main advantages that Android has, which has helped in its uptake, is that unlike RIM’s Blackberry OS, and Apple’s IOS as examples, Android is multiplatform and is free. This means that more phone manufacturers are using it as their OS of choice on their phones.

One of the killer features of ALL smartphones is the applications that can be installed on these phones. In this area, Apple’s iPhone platform is the clear leader, but again, as in most things Google gets involved in, there is a quick catch up going on. Since Google began to allow third party apps for the Android platform, and with the growing number of Android based handsets, more and more third party applications have begun to appear for Android, and as at 15 July 2010, there were over 70000 applications available with more than a billion downloads.

Now, given this large number of applications, which would be most useful for the average user? My top five are briefly reviewed below:

First stop for me is Battery Booster. Given that NEPA is still a problem in this environment, Battery Booster helps increase the juice in your Android phone by providing a quick widget from which you can control some of your more battery intensive functions such as wi-fi. It also tells you just how much battery life you have left, so you know if you can take that phone call from your bothersome co-tenant.

What did people use to do before the coming of the Internet? Frankly, I find it difficult to remember, and do not really have the will to do so since I spend an undue amount of my time online. With the advent of data plans, one is online all the time on his phone. However, not everyone has the patience to browse on the relatively small screens offered by phones. This is where PdaNet comes in. With PdaNet, it is easy to connect your laptop to the Internet using your phone the moment you can get service. This works especially well with MTN’s 3GB 30 day plan.

Some people like me hate touch screen keyboards. I have always preferred to have that QWERTY feel under my thumb, but unfortunately, manufacturers think differently, and given current trends, the keyboard on phones would soon be a thing of the past. Swype is a software that makes typing on a touchscreen easier. Swype allows the user to enter a word by sliding your finger (or stylus) from letter to letter, lifting only between words. By the time you get used to it, you will almost stop missing that keyboard.

A programme that I really don’t want to mention, but one that I live on, is Facebook. Yes, people, my name is Cheta and I am a Facebook junkie. Many Nigerians are increasingly spending their time on Facebook, including our President, so why should I be ashamed of being an addict? Android’s Facebook app allows you to interact with your Facebook page quite easily. The only thing you will miss are those applications like Mafia Wars. Just try as much as possible not to use this app when you are at dinner with the better half; you might find yourself in the doghouse sooner rather than later.

Then there is my girl’s favourite, Aldiko. She reads books a lot, and this one is her top preference. It is an e-book reader, which supports the industry standard EPUB format, and also includes a facility for browsing online catalogues and downloading books. Aldiko also allows you to import your own books into your Android device and read them on the go. I am currently reading ‘Things Fall Apart’ and really enjoying it. Can someone hook me up with ‘The Passport of Mallam Ilia’?

Other programmess that I find particularly useful are Office Suite Pro, which allows me read my Microsoft documents and PDFs on my Android phone; Google Maps, which let me find my way around strange places. It is actually getting better in Nigeria, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja as they are quite well mapped. Photoshop Mobile does an excellent job of editing pictures that you have taken on the move before sharing them with friends. Shazam (thanks, Peter Ikenebomeh) is an excellent programme that identifies songs when you hear them. I was pleasantly surprised when it correctly identified Bongos Ikwue’s ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’.

Note that this list is not even nearly exhaustive. There are a lot of other great apps for you to chose from. So tell me, what Android apps make your life easier?