10 Paid Android Apps Canadians should consider

Canadian users are now able to access paid applications on their Android phones for the first time. Here is a list of 10 great apps to celebrate that announcement.

The months-long wait is over: Canadians can now purchase applications in the Android Market. Though Android phones have been officially available in Canada for nearly a year, it wasn’t until yesterday that apps costing money were accessible in the market. Here are some of the great apps available for the HTC Magic, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola Milestone, and other phones running Google Android.

Keep in mind, however, that prices are listed in the currency of the app’s creators and not in Canadian dollars. You also have a 24-hour window to decide whether or not you want to keep these apps.

NOTE: Some customers have reported being unable to see apps yet. If you don’t see apps on your phone, you may have to wait a little longer for the roll-out to take place.

1. DocumentsToGo Full ($19.99 USD)

For the ultra-mobile user who needs to have Microsoft Office documents at all times, DocsToGo is a must-have. It’s a little on the expensive side, but if you find yourself needing to edit Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents while on the train or in an airport terminal, spring for it. Note: If you only need to read documents, there’s a free version.

2. The Pro Twitter Apps:

Twidroid Pro (€3.39) or

Touiteur Premium (€1.99) or

HootSuite ($1.99 USD)

There are plenty of great Twitter apps for Android, but professionals may demand a bit more from their Twitter app. Twidroid Pro, Touiteur Pro, and HootSuite all have great feature sets like multiple accounts, search, list support, and media sharing features. HootSuite is the fastest of these apps. Each also has a free version for comparison testing.

3. ZAGAT To Go ($9.99)

ZAGAT is one of the largest restaurant ratings and reviews guides available online. Bring that power into your mobile device with ZAGAT to Go, an app that finds nearby restaurants based on location, cuisine style, price, and decor. It works best in the Toronto area, but is useful for frequent travelers to major cities in the U.S.

4. Power Manager Full ($0.99 USD)

Power Manager is an app that can help fight battery fatigue. The app optimizes your phone’s settings to use less power, triggers certain settings when a battery gets too low, and helps users manage how much power their phone will use based on time of day or battery level. It’s one of my favourite all-time apps.

5. Raging Thunder (€4.00)

Racing fans can start their engine with Raging Thunder, a 3D game that works best for Milestone users. The graphics and gameplay are among the best available on Android.

6. Slidescreen Pro ($6.99 USD)

The Android home screen is based primarily on graphics and icons, but there are people who prefer a data-centric homescreen. Slidescreen Pro offers that in a Gmail, Calendar, call log, favourite apps, and social media display sure to please. Note: There is a free version supported by ads.

7. Pure Calendar Widget (€1.49)

If Slidescreen Pro is too much and you just want an agenda-style look at your calendar, PureCalendar Widget is the way to go. The app provides several skins to dress up and quickly access your Google Calendar on the homescreen.

8. The Emulators:

Nesoid ($3.49 USD)

SNesoid ($3.98 USD)

Gensoid ($3.49 USD)

Remember those days of playing Tetris, Super Mario, and Sonic? Wouldn’t you like to recapture those days on your phone? Of course you would. These apps are emulators that can play ROM’s for classic NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games. Users have to download and load the ROM’s elsewhere, but these apps can turn a phone into a retro gaming device.

9. Protector ($0.99 USD)

Android already provides a lockscreen to keep unwanted people out, but for an additional or faster layer of protection, get Protector. Users can secure their email, messages, or other applications by password-protecting certain apps.

10. a2b ($2.99)

Leave your mark on the world with a2b, an app that memorizes GPS coordinates and makes it easy to return. In a large parking lot? Save the point and a2b will offer walking directions back to your car. You can also geotag photos, save points in a park, or mark favourite restaurants/attractions on a trip, and navigate back to those locations in the future.