The Android mobile operating system is both fast, reliable and can do everything that the Apple OS can and a little more (all for normally a fraction of the price.) plus it supports Flash and soon Flash 10.1.

However due to the open source nature of the Google Android system there are a wealth of applications for free on the Android market place, so which ones should you try first?

Facebook for Android

With a desktop widget for quickly sharing and browsing and a one touch link to a slick version of the website – the Android Facebook app is a no-brainer for anyone with a Facebook account.

It naturally integrates with your phone, along with Twitter and YouTube meaning simply browsing your contacts you can see all of your friends updates in one place. It also allows for background alerts of new Facebook updates.

The picture gallery is where this app shines, allowing you to flow through anyone’s gallery in a sexy lightbox environment.

The application is a complete Facebook experience able to display text and images just like the full website in an easy to scroll interface.

Seesmic

The best Twitter client for Android, it’s quick, easy to use and most importantly has a cute icon.

It features widgets for your dashboard with the ability for one touch composing, viewing replies and automatically scrolls through your timeline for you.

However Seesmic as an application is feature packed allowing for multiple Twitter accounts, background alerts, and a neat tab display for all the options Twitter has in it’s arsenal.

Easily flow through your time line, view replies, messages and update your profile. All the links and keywords also work allowing you to view them in your default browser.

beebPlayer

This unofficial app, yes that’s right, allows you to use all the features of the BBC iPlayer on your phone.

It’s very nicely laid out, smooth to use and supplies options for high and low quality watching.

Watch BBC programmes, listen to radio you have missed, browse categories perform searches – it really is the iPlayer in Android form.

The latency seems low, meaning streaming is quick even down your mobile network. With options to view recommendations, A to Z listings and the ability to listen to radio live via the web, the application is fully featured.

It will be interesting to see what is added to this app and if there will be an official one released, however one thing is for sure – the future for mobile TV on Android phones is very bright indeed.

Last.fm

Got a Last.fm account, well what are you waiting for – download this app!

With a very functional widget allowing you to listen to any of your stations from your desktop and with a background information viewer this app is a great way to listen to an nearly unlimited collection of tunes for free and in high quality.

With the rich functionality found on the full website, discovering new bands or old gems couldn’t be easier. The app gives you unrestricted access to the stations you have created, allows you to create new ones and perform searchs.

Layar

Layar by augmented reality (also on iPhone) allows you to look through your camera and see real events, notifications and information overlaid. For instance you may wish to view people Tweeting around you, or use a Google local search to direct you to a restaurant in real time, and since anybody can create new “layars” for you to use their are some superb, strange and fun layars already ripe for the picking.

The interface is again slick allowing to view the most popular layar’s, the hottest or the newest and of course perform a search.

Due to the flexibility of the Android system the app is able to use all of the senors on a phone to really make tracking accurate. On an HTC  Tattoo, Hero, Legend or Incredible the tracking will follow even the slightest move giving you a real sense of 3D and perspective. The app can also be used as a first person view on giving directions, or switched to a bird’s eye view for a real understanding of what is around you.

Google Shopper

Currently in Beta this app allows you to search for Books, DVD’s and Games but interestingly not only by keywords but by the cover or bar-code.

Yep, point your camera at the cover of a game, book or dvd –  or the bar-code and within seconds Google shopper will give you the best prices around, combined with Amazon allowing for mobile ordering it really is a great app for proving those price matching offers wrong.

Google Voice Search

Surprising this work really well. Simply talk to your Google voice search app and with the magic power of Google software it will analyse your voice and figure out what you said.

We have tested this with helium, noisy offices and even a Scottish accent and surprisingly it worked every time – bravo Google.

Honourable Mentions

WordPress for Android
Google Sky Map
Spotify