Group test: what are the best Android apps?

5. Flixlab

• Reviewed on: 22 June 11
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

If you're particularly worried about online privacy, you may be alarmed by the fact that Flixlab intends to keep your video on their servers indefinitely, unless you cancel your account with the company. And Flixlab puts a text ad for their service at the end of your movie. But for me, those issues were easily outweighed by Flixlab's benefits: it's fast, it's free and it makes something presentable out of those video clips that would otherwise languish on your SD card.

4. MobileGo

• Reviewed on: 12 July 11
• RRP: $40 (around £25)
• Rating:

MobileGo does not offer a built-in store for downloading new content the way iTunes does. But it does offer an easy way to transfer content to and from your Android device.

3. Lookout Mobile Security for Android

• Reviewed on: 3 May 11
• RRP: $2.99 (about £1.80) per month; free version also available
• Rating:

The Lookout app for Android offers a triple-threat of protection for your smartphone, and it's completely free. Lookout is currently free for Android phone, making it a must-have for Android owners. You wouldn't leave your PC unprotected, so why should it be any different for your phone? And Lookout is such an easy-to-use, low maintenance app, you'll hardly know it's there - until you need it.

2. Guardian App for Android

• Reviewed on: 8 September 11
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

As a free app the Guardian on Android is a must-have for any Guardian readers. (Well, those with Android devices anyway.) It can't quite compete with the way that The Times' and The Telegraph's iPad apps have ported the newspaper-browsing experience to a mobile device, but the levels of content and customisation make the Guardian app a winner.

1. Ignition

• Reviewed on: 12 July 10
• RRP: £17 inc VAT
• Rating:

As apps go it's not cheap, but we're smitten with LogMeIn Ignition. Easy to install and use, cool and practical. On the iPhone or a Google Android smartphone it makes remote access of your desktop PC simple, and useful. And on the iPad or an Android tablet, it makes Apple's uber gizmo as useful as a high-end laptop.