If your smartphone is the fancy Samsung Galaxy S4 or the HTC One, or any other Android smartphone for that matter, sit up and take note of these 15 apps that you need to load onto your phone. These apps will assist you with almost everything and will make your life easier. These are the top 15 apps for Android as suggested by TIME magazine.

1. Pocket

This useful app allows you to bookmark a story you are wanting to read online but don’t have the time for right now. Simply install the Pocket extension into your browser and the article will be been stored for later reading. This app is free.

When you find something on the web that you want to view later, put it in Pocket. It automatically syncs to your phone, tablet or computer so you can view it any time, even without an internet connection.

2. Flipboard

This app reformats stories and personalises them into magazines  The user can simply flip through the content by swiping up or down. The app is free.

Flipboard brings together world news and social news in a beautiful magazine designed for your Android phone and tablet.

3. MightyText

Once you have installed the MightyText app on your phone, you can send and receive messages from your laptop. This app is free.

Text from your Computer or Tablet, using your CURRENT ANDROID PHONE NUMBER.

4. Pulse News

This app allows you to wizz through news headlines and choose what you want to read. Once you have picked your favourite news sources, you can scroll through the images and stories. This app is free.

Pulse News brings all your favorite blogs, magazines, social networks and newspapers in one place for FREE.

5. Stitcher Radio

Every talk-radio source at your fingertips. Live station, recorded talk-radio shows and podcasts from all over the web can be customised. This app is free.

Listen to your favorite news, comedy, sports and talk radio shows on your Android phone or tablet.

6. Fandango Movies

This is the go-to movie app. All your movie listings, trailers and ticket purchases in one place. This app is free.

Download Fandango Movies – Times & Tickets, the #1 movie ticketing app and winner of three Webby Awards!

7. Songkick Concerts

Looking for a concert with music that you enjoy could not be easier. The app scans your music library and Google Play Music account and then provides you with a list of the bands that you love listening to. This app is free.

Songkick tracks your favorite bands so you never miss them live. Instantly create a personalized concert calendar based on your bands and your location by scanning your music library, your Google Music account, or your Last.fm app.

8. ConvertPad

This is the app for all your unit conversions. It can convert almost anything: form weight, distance to energy flux, this app does it. This app is free.

ConvertPad and ConvertPad Plus(Ad-free version) are most powerful and fully featured Unit converter, Currency converter and Calculator.

9. TripIt

This will be your favourite travel buddy. All you have to do is send your flight, hotel, car rental and restaurant reservations to plans@tripit.com and the app does the rest for you. This app is free.

No more searching through your inbox to find your airline reservation. No more scrambling to get directions to your hotel. No more worrying about what time your business dinner starts.

10. Onavo Extend

More data for days thanks to Onavo Extend. This app is free.

Onavo effortlessly extends the value of your existing data plan.

11. Shazam

You have finally heard the song that has been on the tip of your tongue, but still you don’t know who plays it. Shazam is here to save the day. Open the app, press the button and in seconds you will have the song title, artist, album and lyrics. This app is free.

Music – identify songs in as little as 1 second, preview or buy the track, get streaming lyrics, YouTube videos and more.

12. ESPN ScoreCenter

You will always know the latest score with ESPN’s ScoreCenter. This app is free.

 ESPN ScoreCenter brings you scores, news and standings from sports leagues around the world.

13. Yelp

Looking for the closest restaurant, dry cleaners, hairdresser or something like that? Yelp is the answer you have been looking for. This app is free.

 Looking for a burrito joint open now? An Irish pub nearby? A gas station you can drive to before your tank hits empty? Yelp for Android is here to help.

14. Any.do

This will help you manage your tasks more effectively. Whatever is on your to do list, put it into the app and categorise it for “tomorrow”, “upcoming” or ” someday”. This app is free.

 Millions use Any.do every day to remember all the tasks they want to-do and make sure they get them done.

15. Google Keep

This is the perfect note creator. You can put down all your thoughts in a neat and easy way. This app is free.

Quickly capture what’s on your mind and recall it easily wherever you are. Create a checklist, enter a voice note or snap a photo and annotate it. Everything you add is instantly available on all your devices – desktop and mobile.

For the rest of the apps click here.

[Source: TIME]