Top Utilities for the HTC Inspire

The new HTC Inspire Android touch screen smart phone offers high speed data transfer, expansive screen real-estate, and a cutting-edge processor, but its high-tech design is for nothing without the right apps to unlock the phone's potential. For new customers, however, the choice of which apps to install can be daunting! The Android Market contains tens of thousands of apps, and while the rating system makes choices somewhat easier, some of the best apps get lost in the shuffle. Three excellent choices for utility applications include Locale, a location-based control system, Color Flashlight, a customizable lighting program, and Astro File Manager, an app that allows users to access and back up the files and apps installed on the Inspire. Together with a few essential HTC Inspire accessories, these apps provide a great starting point for a new phone.

Everyone has gone through it one way or the other: an unwanted phone call during a meeting or a movie or a wake-up call on the go. Thanks to modern smart phones however, these incidents can become a thing of the past. An app named Locale is the solution: it automatically detects the phone's current location and applies a set of user-chosen options. For example, a movie watcher would set his phone to silent when he arrives at the theater or a student might prefer different ring tones during the day and night. Locale costs $9.99 on the Android Market, but the value in peace of mind it brings to the user is worth far more.

Color Flashlight may not be the most complex application on the market, but it provides a very important function. Just as the HTC Inspire case keeps the phone itself safe from falls and impacts, this free flashlight app keeps users safe from similar dangers. Complete with a full range of color options and lighting options including the ability to make the phone flash or turn the intensity up or down, Color Flashlight is an all-in-one solution for navigating a darkened room or finding a lost object under furniture. For most HTC Inspire owners, this app will find its way to a convenient spot on the home screen before long.

Astro File Manager, the final app of the top three utilities, is easily the most complicated and feature-rich. Astro not only allows users to navigate their phone's software and stored files, but also to back up data and installed apps to the SD card. While the Android platform is intuitive in general, accessing files in a timely manner is often difficult. Astro is a quick and effective file browser that takes much of the effort out of finding new media files, copying files from one location to another, and other common data management tasks. Astro is available for free on the Android Market.

The apps listed above fit the Android platform like the HTC Inspire screen protector fits the phone itself. These three applications offer excellent functionality and customization options, for low or no cost. File managers, location-based software, and a handy flashlight give users the tools they need for life on the go!