New Android tablet owner? Once you're done familiarizing yourself with your device and have learned how to use the Android Market, it's time to download and install apps that'll make your new gadget a lot more useful. While not all apps on the Market are compatible with your Honeycomb tablet, you still have thousands to choose from ? many of which are completely free!
To help you decide which among the bevy of free titles to download first, here are 10 of the handiest and best free Honeycomb-optimized apps. Even if you've had your tablet for quite some time, you may still spot one or two that you haven't encountered yet.
1. Tablet Keyboard
Download:Tablet Keyboard for Android
Especially useful for tablets in the 10-inch size range, this app splits an on-screen keyboard down the middle so you can type with your thumbs while holding your device with both hands, perfect during hectic times when you find yourself on your feet most of the day. The downside is that it has no predictive text or spell check, so it's all up to you to dot your I's and cross your T's.
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2. Kid Mode
Download:Kid Mode for Android
This app will keep your children busy with games, storybooks, videos, and a drawing board while you go about your day. It could also be a great, age-appropriate way to introduce technology to curious kids. Unfortunately, you have to pay the rather hefty fee of $59.95 per year to access most of the storybooks and the parental lock function. But as the upgrade is completely optional, your child can still access most of the app's features even without paying for premium membership. Family members whom you register on the Kid Mode website can also send video mails to the app that your child can watch on your tablet.
3. Minimalistic Text
Download:Minimalistic Text for Android
This app may overwhelm you the first time you use it, as it gives you complete control over what you want a text widget to look like on your home screen. But once you learn how to tweak fonts, backgrounds, and widget types and sizes, you'll have a great tool you can use to personalize your tablet. Use Minimalistic Text to create different types of widgets like clocks, system monitor gauges, and weather and temperature monitors ? or simply to create blocks of pure text for aesthetic purposes.
4. iTriage
Download:iTriage for Android
Has anyone in your family ever been down with an illness with symptoms you've never seen before? iTriage can help you if and when that happens. It tells you what you could be suffering from, based on the area of the body that's afflicted and the symptoms you're having. The app is in no way a replacement for a doctor's diagnosis, and that's why it has a search function that you can use to find doctors who specialize in particular conditions. You also get a directory of all U.S. hospitals, clinics, and emergency care facilities with addresses that you can look up on Google Maps.
5. Lookout Security & Antivirus
Download:Lookout Security & Antivirus for Android
Aside from being able to scan your tablet to determine the presence of malware, this app can also find your tablet if it gets lost, even when its GPS is switched off. All you need to do is log into the app's web portal to initiate a search for the tablet, and you'll receive your device's location through email. You can also trigger an alarm system that sends your tablet screeching even when it's in silent mode ? for those times when you just can't seem to remember where you placed it.
6. Springpad
Download:Springpad for Android
With Springpad, you can create several to-do lists that appear as small squares on the app's interface ? think of them as the digital equivalent of Post-its on a virtual cork board. As long as you sync your tablet through wireless Internet, you can access your notes through the Springpad website on any computer. To make access even more convenient, install Springpad's Google Chrome extension or Firefox add-on.
7. Astro File Manager
Download:Astro File Manager for Android
This app, with all the features that it can offer, is a step above your native file manager. Aside from the file organizer itself, Astro has an image viewer, task killer, and file and app backup utility. The free version has ads, but they don't impede the app's functions in any way.
8. Amazon Kindle
Download: Amazon Kindle for Android
You don't need one of Amazon's e-readers to access its collection of books. The company's app is free and so easy to use ? it takes but a single click to buy a book from the store, as long as you have a credit card attached to your account. In fact, we suggest being careful while browsing books because with the simplicity of the process, you may find yourself making an accidental purchase!
Even if you don't want to use it to buy ebooks, the Kindle app could still be worth installing to be used purely as an e-reader. Besides, the Amazon store has free titles you can download, mostly classic titles. The Kindle app also comes with a built-in dictionary as well as a feature called Whispersync that you can use to sync the book you're reading across devices.
9. Retro Camera
Download:Retro Camera for Android
Even if you think it's awkward to take pictures with a device as large as a 10-inch tablet, it doesn't hurt to have a few photography apps. Retro Camera is one of the better Android photo apps that work on Honeycomb. Its free version has six different types of vintage filters, including one that resembles a Polaroid film ? sure to make retro gadget fans happy!
10. Cloudy
Download:Cloudy for Android
This is a cute physics game kids would love. Your mission is to find the best route for your paper plane so it'll reach its destination and touch all the floating stars on the field at the same time.
The best of the bunch
These 10 are but a very small fraction of the number of titles available on the Android Market. You're bound to download more free apps the longer you've had your tablet. Not all will be worthwhile, but you may find more gems out there that you'll end up keeping.
More from Tecca:
Beginner's guide to Android phones and tablets
How to get more battery life out of your Android tablet
Ice Cream Sandwich: What to expect from Android 4.0
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