How do you sell me a new Android phone? Introduce AIR to Android 2.x and show me a working demo. That’s how excited I am, even though there’s no time frame for the release. While AIR will be a mobile version, it offers the same flexibility Adobe AIR has brought to desktop operating systems. As I’ve written in previous posts, I’m a huge fan of AIR and several applications based on AIR. Let’s put this Flash hype aside and focus on what AIR can do for mobile devices.

While all the possibilities were available on Android through Java, the addition of AIR will bring lots of new apps from non-Java developers. Using AJAX, Flex and Flash as development tools, web developers will be able to implement their apps in a whole new way.

Below is a video of AIR and Flash in action on the Droid.

What are your thoughts? Any applications you’d like to see ported over to the AIR Mobile platform?

- Astro File Manager: Best file manager system for Android. While it acts like a regular file browser, it has many tools for things like backing up applications.

- Better Terminal Emulator: Best terminal emulator for Android. I also use it for SSH occasionally, however connectbot is a better tool for SSH in my opinion.

- 3Banana: notes application. I usually use OI Notepad, however this integrates with other applications.. not a necessity, but useful to have if you can waste space.

- ANDftp: Mobile FTP Client. With an 8gb SD Card, I’m able to use my phone for quick fixes and backing up files on my server. I’ve also used it to mass upload photos and videos.

- AP Mobile: Horrible news application. I downloaded it to write a review, however it never made the cut.

- Archipela: RTS game on android. It is kind of lame, and easy at times.. but the lite version is worth the free download to check out.

- Armored Strike: fun game. I only have the demo, and don’t really see the point in upgrading to the full. Kind of old school, but good for while you’re taking a shit.

- Artful bit’s MineSweeper: Still play minesweeper? Good (free) minesweeper game.

- aTumble: $1.99 tumblr application. Great for mobile blogging, however I can’t say that Tumblr or the application are my favorite. Still, for those on Tumblr it’s worth checking out.

- Barcode Scanner: Neccesity. QR Codes are more and more popular. While unlike other barcode applications, this doesn’t do price comparison.. but the high point is that it integrates with other applications and is good for reading QR Code.

- Beat Down Boxing: Mike Tyson Punchout on a touch screen. I only have the demo, but I play it occasionally.

- Calvin and Hobbes: Like the comic? Get the app.

- Chess: Mobile multiplayer chess.

- CM Updater: CyanogenMod updater. Essentially a self updater for people running Cyanogen ROMs on rooted phones.

- Compass: Again, probably not necessary. I have used it twice to get my bearing, one of those was to choose the room with the least morning light at my new place.

- Connectbot: Manage a server? Ever need an SSH connection? This is your app. It does telnet/SSH flawlessly. I use it as my primary SSH Client, even while at my computer.

- Daily Dilbert: Like the comic? Get the app!

- Dope Wars: Remember that game we used to play on our TI-83 Calculators? This is the same, with a couple more options. Well worth the FREE download.

- DroidAnalytics: Got a website using Google Analytics to track your stats? This app is the perfect interface with Google Analytics on the go. Information is neatly organized and easily accessible.

- eBuddy: Multi instant messaging client. It’s my favorite chat client on Android, although I rarely use it because it randomly signs me off.

- Facebook: Facebook’s Android client. It’s nice, but I prefer just going to http://touch.facebook.com/

- Flashlight: White screen full brightness.

- FX Camera: Nice alternative to the regular camera. Fun stuff like fisheye lens effects..

- GDocs: Use Google Docs, you might be interested in this application.. I’ve used it for creating documents, but it’s not that intensive.. I’m unable to access folders (shared or unshared).

- Google Voice: This application is win if you use Google Voice.. for those unimpressed like Kevin, this application is likely to be a waste. I use my GV Number for business, which makes the application almost a necessity for me. It allows almost full control over GV.

- Greed: Mediocre RSS reader. It was the top RSS Reader, however got beaten by News Room.

- Gube: It’s like a rubix cube on your phone! Tricky and not really responsive, I have played it several times.. never really made process though.

- Hold ‘em: Online texas hold ‘em game. Multiplayer is fun, I just don’t have time to play.

- Kevin: Remember Simon? The memory based game.. Yeah, same thing on a phone.

- Key Ring: Scan/Save your keyring cards (like Kroger or CVS?) and use your phone to have them read. I got it under suggestion, however shortly later realized that I have no use for it.

- KittenCannon: This is the game of games. Shoot kitten from a cannon.

- Layar: “Reality browser.” Again, not extremely practical. Was asked to review it, but never got arround to it. Kind of like the Sherpa application with more options.

- Light Racer: One of my favorite games. 2d tron type game.

- Listen: Podcast tool.

- Midnight Bowling: decent bowling game. Rather easy though..

- MobileSlide: Alternative to the Android Market. I have it because Google claimed proprietary rights on their market app, and for a while this was the only option.

- My Account: T-Mobile users can check their account from their phone!

- News Room: BEST RSS Reader on android.

- OI Notepad: Preffered notepad application. Basic.

- PacMan: Yes.

- Pandora: Internet radio streamed over 3G.

- Photoshop: John linked to my review. Read it. Enjoy it.

- QuickBoot: Root users only. one touch reboot, one touch reboot into recovery..

- Screen Capture: Does what it says.. Does it well. (ROOT ONLY)

- Screenshot: Does what it says.. does it well. (ROOT ONLY)

- Seesmic: Twitter client. I don’t use it often, however keep it around because it’s faster the Twidroid.

- SNesoid: Super Nintendo emulator for your phone.

- Solitaire: If you don’t know what solitaire is, shoot your self.

- Speed Test: Speedtest.net on your Android.

- Tapatalk: Application Dave uses for OS.

- Tether Petition: The way for HTC Android owners to get a wireless tether application on your phone. Essentially turning your phone into a 3G modem with WiFi connection. ROOT ONLY
- TheWeatherChannel: You know what it is. It does the job well too.

- Throttle Copter: fun game of keep up. I have found it addictive, but that’s because I’m simplistic.

- Time Clock: I actually use this to track my hours for billing. I’ve found a few glitches, and it’s a $3 application.. but it really has been a help.

- Twidroid Pro: Best twitter client for android. Multiple accounts and almost full functionality of twitter. It starts when the phone starts, and downloads the newest 200 tweets from each account.. So it can be a hassle.. but it can be a great tool.

- Ultimate Stop watch: Is exactly what is implied.

- USA Today: Best news application, due to layout and usability. I know people have their favorite news sources.. but this is the best in terms of layout and accessibility.
- Whois: Ever thought about a domain name you want, but have been away from the computer? This is a great solution, although about as stripped as can be.

- Wireless Tether: What you get with the Tether Petition. Great for ROOT users though.

- Wixel: Boggle meets android. Definitely fun time waster.

- WPtoGO:  A mobile wordpress client utilizing XMLRPC.  Great solution for bloggers like myself.

Like I’ve stated I have had T-Mobile for a while now and it’s not just the new phone that I am so happy with, I am more so overwhelmed by their generosity and customer service. The last thing I remember getting from AT&T was my iPhone and I was “assisted” by some cold, hard headed, foreign bitch that didn’t want to do anything! I straight up left the store and ended up ordering one online instead of dealing with that. After my contract ended there was no way I was staying with AT&T. I was either going to hack the iPhone and use it on T-Mobile or just get a new phone when I switched. Long story short I gave up on the iPhone. After a few months of using a Blackberry 8320 and a Moto Zine I decided to look into upgrading my plan which consisted of 600 minutes and unlimited texts. After a day of deliberation and much help from T-Mobiles customer service and billing department I decided on getting the new Moto Cliq and the Even More Plus plan that included 1000 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited data which only amounted to $20 more a month than I was all ready paying.

All in all T-Mobile gets a well deserved 10 out of 10. With such strong phones like the G1, Moto Cliq, MyTouch, and numerous others that will come out running android, you pair that up with their new rate plans and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if people start dropping their current providers at the end of their contracts and start switching.

Initially, my first response was feeling less than impressed because I thought back to the days I used Facebooks app on my old Blackberry 8320. The reason I liked the bb application so much was because it was simple and fast.

Now for the Android application, it seems to be pretty smooth and functional. I have not put it through rigorous testing, as I do other apps I write about, but I have come to the conclusion that it is an app for “the new facebook.” While I can appreciate the continuity here, I am not the biggest fan of the new Facebook design.

I am yet to receive notifications from facebook over my phone, however the settings for the notifications seem rather limited. However, the basic notification settings are probably ‘just right’ for the more popular Facebook users.

I have seen numerous complaints on the Android market about chat being disabled. I didn’t write the application, but I’ll take a guess at the thought pattern behind ditching chat (which is available through other applications). My primary guess is that writing it in to the app would have concluded with large headaches, as the primary focus is showing friends activity on the ‘wall.’ My next guess, would be that it would be a bother to most people, in the case that you accidentally left it ‘online’ and drained battery like woah.

Anyway, the end result is a functional app for Facebook, which isn’t exactly what I want but will settle on.