Smart Phone Apps for the Mobile Tech

[DocGreen]

I love my gadgets. I also love finding new and exciting ways to put those gadgets to good use. One of the things I've been having trouble with, however, is finding useful apps for my Android smart phone. Sure, there are a million apps out there that are helpful for the average user... but I want things that will help me as a mobile tech. Apps that will make my life easier, simplify common tasks, and if nothing else, impress the client!

So what apps have you guys found, and how are you putting them to use as a technician? Here's my short list:

• Blogger
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.blogger
  Price: Free
  Post to and manage your blog on the go!​
• HootSuite
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hootsuite.droid.full
  Price: Free
  Manage your social media presence on the go!​
• FoxFi
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxfi
  Price: Free
  WiFi Tethering. Extremely handy for when you need a quick WIFI hotspot while on the go. Best part? Doesn't require a tethering package from your carrier. Uses your regular mobile data package.​
• Wifi Analyzer
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer
  Price: Free
  Great app that scans for and identifies wireless networks, measures signal strength, identifies optimal channel for new wifi network, etc. I use this on every service call now.​
• Fing
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.overlook.android.fing
  Price: Free
  This one has a collection of Networking tools. MUST HAVE!​
• TeamViewer
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.teamviewer.market.mobile
  Price: Free
  Remote control a computer from your phone. Comes in SUPER handy and works well even over a cellular connection!​
• 2X Client
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tux.client
  Price: Free
  Best RDP client I've been able to find. MUST HAVE!​
• Dropbox
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android
  Price: Free
  Dropbox on your mobile! I use this so I have access to all important data on the go. It's saved my butt on more than one occasion!​
• Square Register
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.squareup
  Price: Free
  Most people recognize this one. Accept Credit/Debit card payments.​
• GIST
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cisco.gist
  Price: Free
  Cisco cellular/WIFI speed tester. Keep in mind, your cell phone WIFI speeds will probably be significantly less than a computer's speed would be connected to the same network.​
• Speed Test
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.zwanoo.android.speedtest
  Price: Free
  Another Cellular/WIFI speed tester​
• FCC Test
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ookla.fccbroadband
  Price: Free
  Another Cellular/WiFi speed tester.​
• Timesheet
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rauscha.apps.timesheet
  Price: Free
  Simple project based time tracking with enough features to make me love it. Anytime I'm performing a service that I'm billing hourly for, I've got this running to keep accurate track of my time.
  ​
• Advanced Password Generator
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ellipselab.android.pwdgenerator
  Price: Free
  Haven't used this one in the field yet, but found it and it seems to have the features I would want in a password generator. Beats the hell out of coming up with a complex password on your own!​
• IP Network Calculator
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.orbitingpluto.android.ipcalc
  Price: Free
  Another on I haven't tested in the field yet. Thought it might come in handy though!​
• Wifi Fixer
  
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.wahtod.wififixer
  Price: Free
  Ever have your phone just go stupid and fail to connect to a network? This app helps keep you connected!​

Can't wait to see what everyone else is using!!!

 

[altrenda]

Lots of good stuff on your list.

I would add
Bios Beep Codes

Drive - for google drive

Electro Droid for color codes, pin outs, etc.

EZ netscan - who's on the network?

IP webcam - simple video streaming

Log me in- my remote tool of choice

Router Passwords

Evernote - everything goes here, tech notes, time spent at client site, pictures of client set ups, links to articles. Any info I want to save and actually find again.

Sorry, no links. I'm not as organized as you are.

 

[DocGreen]

Bios beep codes/Electro Droid: good ones!

EZ netscan: Fing does that as well, but I'll check this one out to see which is better.

Router Passwords: I've got a "computer technicians Quick Reference" in my dropbox with those... is this an actual app? That might be quicker to access.

Evernote: Had this one installed for the longest time and never messed with it. Guess I'm lazy, LOL


Thanks for the list! (the links and formatting on my post were pretty time consuming, LOL!)

 

[AlexT]

That's a great list i've downloaded most of them now, thanks . I tend to carry a lot on usb keys as well as on the sd card of my phone as a back up.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

There was a really long thread on this about a year ago.....
Never really got into using my phone for much except e-mail..and phone. That thread got me to install a few things....but quite frankly, since my laptop is with me when I go to clients all the time...I still much prefer to use that.

Useful apps..since I travel to business clients.
*Google Maps
*mHelpDesk client...we use that for our client note tracking/tickets
*Touchdown for Exchange, by Nitrodesk. We have an Exchange server at our office....and Touchdown is many times superior to any corporate e-mail client support that smart phones come with. It's much more "Outlook" like
*Microsoft OneNote....free for Android, and it syncs notes to OneNote installed on your office computer.
*FoxFi
*WiFi Analyzer

Other apps I eagerly downloaded 'n installed...but ultimately found I never used..
*FING...yeah..scan a network and find nodes. Or just open your eyes and look! I probably built the network so I already know what's there
*Remote Desktop Lite...or any other RDP client...lets be honest...smart phones with that tiny screen, utterly unusable resolution. RDP on a tablet is still frustratingly small in usable resolution. Laptop right next to me...I'll use that.
*Speedtests....grossly innaccurate on any smart phone. Generally online speedtests are inflated anyways, and I never test internet speeds over wireless...more accurate to plug into router via ethernet.
*I have electrodroid installed...but the only time I've ever really opened it was when I was on the toilet and bored with my other apps. The only wiring I do is ethernet..568B....and I already know that by heart. But I guess it looks techy having it on my phone. Maybe one day I'll have to wire something that I don't know..but I'd most likely still look it up via Google on my laptop.

*Leo's RC Simulator

 

[TenYardFight]

Fing.

Oh my gosh, cool. How is that even possible?

 

[TenYardFight]

Oh yeah, don't forget tapatalk for forums!