The new year is about to start and if you’re looking for some interesting Android apps to try in 2023, there’s no better time to get started than the holiday season. Amidst the annually growing use of technology, it can be a chore to track spam calls and texts, control all the devices on your WiFi network, or even keep your sanity in check. However, there are some Android apps that can help you here.
While not all of these apps are new, they can still help you take better control of your digital life as we head into 2023, where we cover everything from unwanted spam to overwhelming browsers. Let’s start with the first on our list.
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doosra
This service has been around for a while, but Doosra can really help make 2023 a saner year by allowing you to avoid unwanted calls and spam. Just imagine a VPN, but with phone numbers. Doosra allows you to use a secondary phone number that you can share in restaurants, at the mall, or even with people you don’t want to share your real cell phone number with. The idea is that this second number ensures that you are not constantly spammed by random callers, which has become a nuisance in this day and age.
When you receive calls or SMS from these numbers, you can choose to forward them to your real number or not.
Once set up, the app can eliminate the need to give your primary phone number to a service or person you may not want to be associated with in the future. This is essential in this day and age where our phone numbers are linked to everything from bank accounts to Aadhaar accounts.
Features offered by the second number on Doosra. (express photo)
If you get spam, you can simply block some or all calls from the second number. The app takes this a step further by allowing users to use the second number to create a new WhatsApp account or use it with any other service that works with phone numbers.
Native Alpha
Many websites have good design but relatively poor app design, or worse, no app at all. Native Alpha allows you to create “web apps” of such frequently visited websites. Suppose you frequently visit a particular site or page through your browser. With a web app, you can create a simple “app” that takes you straight to this website in a full-screen view without the distraction of a browser window. This allows you to take advantage of the site’s original design with the convenience of a dedicated app.
Building a Native Alpha Web App. (express photo)
In addition, Native Alpha also has a really simple creation process that is as simple as copying a page’s URL to create a web application, automatically fetching data such as the website’s icon and name. You can also control how these web apps work by completely blocking access to cookies, ads, or javascript.
Unified remote control
Unified Remote is the only tool you need if you have a desktop or laptop (or both) that you need to control remotely frequently. The application allows your Android phone to remotely control all aspects of your Windows PC as long as both the desktop/laptop and the smartphone are on the same WiFi network.
The one-time setup process is quite simple and the use cases are many, including the ability to remotely control the volume of media playing on your PC, shut it down, or even control your mouse and keyboard right from your smartphone.
With Unified Remote you can do everything from simple typing on your PC to viewing your screen output remotely. (express photo)
For example, when I’m downloading a big game, the app allows me to turn off my monitor to save power while I see the screen output and download progress on my phone. A Pro version is also available, which provides even more features for a one-time fee.
Gesture by DogPoo
Gesture apps are not new on Android phones, but this is one of the simplest applications that make the most of gestures. It requires minimal setup and is easy to use. Instead of drawing shapes on your screen, which can often cause problems with other apps, Gesture lets you open a small, special window every time you swipe up from the home button.
Here’s how you can set gestures to trigger calls or app launches. (express photo)
You can then draw shapes or letters in this window to instantly trigger app launches, phone calls to select contacts, and more. If you don’t use navigation buttons, you can also choose to have the window trigger when you tap a floating button, which can be on either side of your screen.
Voice
For those of you who may be struggling with frustration, self-control, or even motivation, Voice is a mental health guidance app that helps users through audio sessions with tools to help them achieve their chosen goal. The app also claims to teach users psychological skills that can turn any task into “something simple and beautiful.”
Voice’s home page. (express photo)
Users can choose from goals like Bored with Common Tasks, Lack of Energy, Fatigue, Low Motivation, etc. followed by a quiz to help the app understand you better. While the app offers a 7-day free trial, users have to pay Rs 899 per 12 weeks or Rs 1,499 per year for future sessions.
