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Today’s Apps
- ModFace [Add cartoon faces to your images]
- SMS Backup & Restore [Backup and restore your text messages]
- Lookout Ad Network Detector [See what types of ads apps show and what personal information is accessed]
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About Android Apps of the Day
Android has over 450,000 apps. With so many apps out there, app discovery (aka finding new and useful apps) is extremely difficult. With our Android Apps of the Day initiative, dotTech aims to change that. Everyday we post three apps, allowing our readers to discover new apps, daily. Enjoy! [Subscribe to our Android section to never miss an article: RSS Feed | E-mail]
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Apps for May 22, 2012
ModFace
ModFace is an app that allows users to add cartoon faces to photos. There are dozens of faces to pick from and the free version of ModFace allows users to add up to three faces per photo (paid version allows up to 10 faces per photo). Faces can be rotated and resized as desired; and faces can be added to existing photos or you can snap new photos using the front or back camera on your Android device. Once you are happy with your modified photo, you can save or share it via e-mail, messaging, or any app that accepts image inputs.
Price: Free, $1.99
Version discovered: v1.31
Requires: Android 2.1 and up
Download size: 2.4 MB
ModFace Free on Play Store | ModFace on Play Store
SMS Backup & Restore
As the name implies, SMS Backup & Restore allows users to backup and restore SMS/text messages on their Android devices. Backups are created of all existing SMS/text messages (you can’t pick and chose which messages you want to backup) and once a backup has been created (backups are stored in XML files) you can restore the messages, view the backed up messages, or search backed up messages. Additionally, while viewing backed up messages, you can copy individual messages to clipboard and/or forward them. Other features of SMS Backup & Restore include automated backups, deleting backed up messages, and deleting all existing messages on device. There is also a free add-on that allows users to send an e-mail after an automated backup and upload backups to Dropbox.
Take note SMS Backup & Restore only works for SMS/text messages — not MMS (picture/video/audio/etc.) messages.
SMS Backup & Restore (the free version) is fully functional and ad-supported. There is an option within preferences to turn off ads in the free version or, alternatively, you can purchase SMS Backup & Restore Pro which is completely ad-free.
Price: Free, $1.47
Version discovered: v5.81
Requires: Android 1.5 and up
Download size: 941 KB
SMS Backup & Restore on Play Store | SMS Backup & Restore Add-on on Play Store | SMS Backup & Restore Pro on Play Store
Lookout Ad Network Detector
Previously dotTech discussed Addons Detector, an app that allows users to detect what apps are showing ads. Lookout Ad Network Detector is a similar type of app. Lookout Ad Network Detector scans your Android device and tells you what ad networks display ads on your device (via apps) and what personal information those ad networks are being collected. When Lookout Ad Network Detector scans your device, it shows you a list of ad networks that:
- Display ads in Android notification bar
- Modify default browser homepage or bookmarks
- Add icons to desktop
- Phone call, SMS, or camera on ad touch
- Collect personal information
- Collect location information
- Collect device or mobile network information
- Replace dialer ring with advertisement
Clicking on an item in the list shows which ad networks are doing that specific thing; and clicking on an ad network name shows which apps are using that ad network, the behavior of that ad network, privacy effects, and how to ‘opt-out’ (if applicable). Clicking on an app in the list brings you to the app information page on your Android device form where you can uninstall the app, if you wish.
Price: Free
Version discovered: v1.2
Requires: Android 2.1 and up
Download size: 292 KB
Lookout Ad Network Detector on Play Store
dotTechies: We have tested all the apps listed above. However, Android Apps of the Day articles are not intended as “reviews” but rather as “heads-up” to help you discover new apps. Always use your best judgement when downloading apps, such as trying trial/free versions before purchasing paid apps, if applicable.
