Global Positioning System or GPS, has, little by little, become an integral part of our lives. Whether it be finding our way home or checking out the best restaurants in a foreign country, the satellite-based navigation system has been making our lives better since 2007. Not only that, GPS has also made military operations and strategies much more advanced.

Despite the fact that many technologically-challenged people go through a bit of a struggle while using GPS, there are, in fact, many applications that have made that process a whole lot easier. In today’s article, we’ll be touching upon some of the best GPS-based apps that are out there for Android. These apps will not only help you use GPS, but will also let you get the most out of your phone and discover new places.

Waze is a social GPS application that helps you navigate to your destination and also connects you to other drivers. Once installed, the free app lets you lookup real time traffic information and road reports. Furthermore, you get notifications about upcoming police traps, speed cams, and occasional road hazards. The app is well designed, and the GPS integration is good enough to be used as your main navigation tool. In fact, the app also features voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, so that you won’t get lost in the traffic.

One of the most important, and slightly controversial features of the app is the ability to create or join local driving groups and the ability to carpool with them. Some users might find this helpful, and some of them might find it a bit privacy-invasive. However, overall, the app is great for anyone who travels a lot and is looking to improve his or her overall transportation experience, so it's like one of those handy Android travel apps.

Known as the Swiss-army knife of GPS navigation, GPS Essentials is a free tool that lets you navigate, manage waypoints, and much more. The app lets you view data like altitude, declination, climb, sunrise, moon phase and more. Moreover, you can use it as a compass to show the earth’s magnetic field and also as a marine orientation device. The app is composed of widgets, all of which you can drag and drop to your custom ‘dashboard’. GPS Essentials can also be handy in long journeys, wherein you could send waypoints to your lost friends via email or share with them using Dropbox (KML or GPX format).

Google Maps is perhaps the best GPS application out there for Android. Simple, feature-loaded, and stable, the Google-made app turns your phone into a full-fledged GPS device. From detailed maps with 3D buildings to real photos of streets, Google Maps is the perfect app for your every navigation needs. It also comes with a voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation system, which, complimented by the live traffic information, takes you to your destination without having to stop by and ask random strangers for directions.

Sygic is a voice-guided navigation app that displays 3D cities and landscape along with spoken street names. With Dynamic Lane Guidance and Signposts, the app comes with features that most of the other navigation apps don’t offer. You can search for any street, city, or suburb along with looking for maps of most of the major countries that are loaded in the app. Other features include stopwatch, Facebook and Twitter integration, pedestrian navigation, and much more.

Though free to download from the Google Play Store, you have to pay for the app after the 7-day trial period. So, if you are looking for a simple GPS-enhancing application, we will not recommend Sygic; however, if you are in need of a full-fledged, dedicated GPS navigator, this is the perfect choice for you. Sygic has been rated 4 out of 5 stars in the marketplace and has gotten quite a lot of nice reviews.

Google Earth is one of the most innovative software the big G has developed so far. The free tool lets you browse the whole globe without the need for any fancy equipment. Roam freely around the blue planet, explore new places, and augment your geographical knowledge by simply sitting in front of the computer. Google Earth’s magical navigation lets you ‘fly’ to any place that comes to your mind.

Whether it be the architectural marvels of Havana or the ruins of Babylon, Google Earth lets you browse almost any marvel on the planet. Furthermore, the tool also lets you see 3D buildings, imagery, and terrain. You can also find cities, places, and local businesses, thus making Google Earth a rather useful tool for frequent travelers. Other interesting features of the application include the ability to visit art museums, baseball stadiums, world skyscrapers, and soccer stadiums.

That said, despite all its nice features and amazing capabilities, Google Earth comes with its fair share of flaws. Despite being made available on almost all popular platforms, including on our beloved Linux, it has been widely criticized by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). Written in Qt, the Linux version of Google Earth uses the controversial Digital Rights Management (DRM) thus turning the FOSS community against it. In fact, an open-source version of Google Earth has been made a high priority and is included in the list of High Priority Free Software Projects.

Even though the FOSS version of Google Earth is not available yet, there are certainly some great alternatives you can try natively on your Linux box. Despite the fact that these tools don’t quite offer the same amount of features as Google Earth, they do, however, let you browse the earth and come with all the essential features the proprietary tool offers.

Developed by the revered NASA organization, World Wind lets you zoom from satellite altitude to any place on earth. Using Landsat satellite imagery and shuttle radar topography mission data, you can view 3D images of the Earth and increase your geographic knowledge. Written in Java, World Wind is cross-platform, open source, and is developed on open standards. You can browse the globe easily either by using your mouse or by taking advantage of the numerous keyboard shortcuts it comes with.

NASA World Wind requires a 3D video card with the latest drivers, so NVIDIA and ATI cards are generally preferred.

Marble is a virtual globe and a World Atlas that you can use to learn more about the planet Earth. Whether you want to increase your geography knowledge or check out new destinations for traveling, Marble lets you zoom into the remotest corners of the earth. Part of the KDE Education project, the open-source tool not only lets you look up places and roads, it also leads you to links of Wikipedia articles of that particular location.

Marble offers classroom-style topographic maps, a satellite view, street map, earth at night, and temperature and precipitation maps. All maps come with a custom map key that makes it easier for educators to use Marble in classrooms. Marble is part of the KDE suite of application, and looks even more beautiful if you have a K desktop environment installed. In fact, KDE users can take advantage of the marble widget that they can drop onto their desktop.

One great thing about Marble, as compared to Google Earth and NASA World Wind, is that it runs decently even without any hardware acceleration. Moreover, the ability to take advantage of third-party plugins make Marble much more interactive and fun to use. Plugin sources include OpenStreetmap, Wikipedia, KML, and GPX. Quick to startup and easy on the system, Marble is perhaps the best alternative to Google Earth you can have on any platform and not just on Linux. Surely worth a try even if you’re not a fan of KDE-based applications.

The way we travel has evolved a lot over the years. In the early days, people used to walk around with giant folded maps, asking for directions to random strangers. Not that anything is wrong with that, it was just that those methods weren't as great as the ones we have now. For example, not only is using GPS devices more convenient than carrying maps and guides, it’s also much more time saving.

These days, all the things you need for your journey are packed neatly into your tiny smartphone, thus fitting a whole bag full of accessories right in your pocket. Furthermore, there are a variety of applications that help us take care of the smallest of hassles we encounter in our voyage. Today, we’ll take a look at five handy apps that makes an Android smartphone or tablet a perfect companion for travelers.

TripAdvisor is a free app for Android that allows you to browse through over 50 million reviews and opinions by travelers about the best places to eat, sleep, and visit. The intuitive app helps you find hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more with tight map integration. Moreover, you can also find out more about places by browsing through thousands of photos uploaded by other TripAdvisor users. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, the app is freely available for download from the Play Store.

Co-founded by Reddit co-creator Steve Huffman in 2010, Hipmunk helps you find the best hotels and flights for your trip. Competing directly with Google’s flight search service, the free app shows you the cheapest and the most hassle-free flight. So, for example, you’re flying from New York to Seattle, not only will Hipmunk find you the cheapest deal, it will also take into consideration factors like travel time, number of stops, and more, so that your journey is as comfortable as possible.

Furthermore when it comes to finding hotels, Hipmunk shows you a nice map of all the best ones around your area. Above each hotel’s marker, you’ll find the pricing, rating, and a small picture of it. If you’re more meticulous about the hotels you choose, you could also browse pictures of the rooms right from the app. Overall, Hipmunk is undoubtedly the best and the most useful travel app in this list.

KAYAK lets you compare hotels, rental cars, and flights right from your Android device. Once installed, the free app lets you track your flight status, look up baggage fees, manage itinerary, access airline numbers and more. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, KAYAK is freely available for download from the Google Play Store.

Hotel Tonight will help you find great deals on hotels while planning your next big trip. Limited to U.S cities only, this free app can save you up to 70% on hotel bookings. Hotel Tonight is especially made for frequent travelers who are forced to book hotels at the last minute. Once installed, the app will make sure that you’re not stranded on the airport after your delayed flight.

Expedia Hotels is a free app that helps you book from over 130,000 hotel rooms without picking up the phone. Optimized for tablets, the app shows all available hotels in your vicinity on a nice map and then lets you book from any of them. You can then narrow down to the ones you need by using filters based on price, distance, hotel name, and traveler rating. If you’re on the fence about the booking, you can browse through reviews of millions of other Expedia users, thus making the process quite transparent. Finally, when you’re ready to book, you can securely reserve your room without having to worry about security issues. Rated 4 out of 5 stars, Expedia Hotels is freely available for download from the Play Store.

The recently revamped Google Play Store is one of the most frequented application stores on the Internet. Competing head-on with the iTunes Store, the free marketplace lets you browse, download, and purchase variety of applications without any hassles. And though the store suffices the needs of almost every app-hungry user, it doesn't, however, provide access to apps that violate Google policies. Furthermore, modders and rooters are always ready to try out variety of new apps, many of which aren't available in the Play Store.

So, if you are looking for some great alternatives to the traditional Google Play app store, here is a list of some great replacements for the revered marketplace (previously known as Android Market):

While it might seem a bit weird for a big company like Amazon to invest in an alternative to the Google Play Store, it does, in fact, help the retail giant cater to the needs of its huge user base of Kindle Fire consumers. The Amazon store isn't that different from the Google Play Store; it doesn't offer any banned apps, nor does it provide any special apps of its own. The only advantage that the Amazon app store has over Play Store, and also other competing app stores, is the fact that it gives away one app for free everyday. This makes the store a perfect choice for all the users who are always on the hunt for freebies.

GetJar is perhaps the biggest app store on the Internet. Founded in Lithuania in 2004, the store provides more than 350,000 applications for Android, Blackberry, Symbian and other devices. GetJar, thanks to its versatility, is quite popular amongst developers as well as users. The site sees about 3 million downloads a day, which is quite an achievement for an independent app store. The store can easily be seen as a replacement for the default Play Store.

AppBrain is one of the most frequented alternative stores for Android. Rather than being yet another app store, AppBrain serves more or less like a website for discovering and sharing new Android apps. Once you download an app, it gets added to your custom wish list that is then stored on your AppBrain account. Since AppBrain doesn't distribute apps, purchase of paid apps happens via the Play Store itself.

The most important feature of AppBrain is its discovery engine, which lets users stumble upon new apps. Also, each app’s page has a detailed description of the title, something that you won’t find on all apps in the Play Store.

Installing of apps can be done via two methods: you can either use the link leading to the Play store and install it from there, or you can use AppBrain’s fast installer. The Fast Web Installer is an application that lets you push applications to your smartphone just like you do in the Play Store. To get started, all you have to do is install the Fast Web Installer application on your phone.

Overall, AppBrain is one of the rare marketplaces that can be used as a viable replacement for the original Play Store. A must try even if you’re not willing to quit the Play Store.

SlideME is an app store that is more lucrative for developers than end users. While Android Market keeps 30% of your app price and gives you the remaining 70%, SlideMe offers much better payouts so that developers can benefit the most. As for the applications, users can browse through thousands of titles, or they could just search for an app they like. To install a particular application, simply click on the Download button and save the .apk file to your computer. You can then transfer this file to your Droid and install it from there. Also, you can send this .apk file to your friends so that they could also install the app on their phones. Overall, the variety of apps offered in this store is nothing compared to what we have on AppBrain; however, it’s still a great place to publish new apps and download apps from.

Nomophobia is the buzzword these days. For those living under a cave, nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile contact. It’s one of those modern-day addictions that our ancestors were never able to predict. And though the addiction hasn't killed anyone (yet), it’s a testament to our increasing dependence on our mobile devices. We constantly want to be notified of SMSes, BBMs, emails, and whatnot.

That said, if you’re an Android user and a nomophobe, you won’t have to be fervently clutching at your phone throughout the day. Instead of swiping your finger downwards in a compulsive anxiety to check for any new SMSes and emails, you can, instead, get notified of any new happenings right on your desktop. So, if you’re impatiently awaiting an SMS, here are some of the best apps that will help you get all your Android notifications on your desktop.

SMS2PC is a cute little app that routes SMSes from your Android smartphone to your computer so that you can send and reply to your messages without getting off from your chair. The app, which works on Linux, Windows, and Mac, connects to your phone using Wi-Fi thus letting you seamlessly access your messages without any lags. Unlike other remote access applications, SMS2PC doesn't require you to enter cryptic commands or IP addresses; everything is done automatically. Furthermore, the app syncs your address book to and from your phone, thus making it easier to compose messages. Overall, the app is quite good when compared to other remote access applications, and does work perfectly if you’re looking for a desktop SMS app.

LazyDroid is an app that lets you control your Android device from your web browser. Making use of Chrome’s or Firefox’s built-in notification system, this free app alerts you of any new messages and lets you interact with them. Apart from notifications, LazyDroid also allows you to manage contacts, handle calls (whether to hang up or silence them), manage files, view clipboard, and much more. Furthermore, since the application relies on the web-browser, you don’t have to worry about switching to another operating system.

Another SMS-to-desktop app on this list is Smshare. This free download lets you send and receive SMSes to your browser. Once installed, the app will alert you of any new messages or missed calls by email or by using desktop notifications. The app works perfectly with Chrome and thus, it can be used across all platforms, including our very own Linux. To get started, all you have to do is install the app’s official Chrome extension and then grab the app. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, Smshare is freely available for download in the Google Play Store.

When it comes to remote access applications, AirDroid is definitely the hottest and the most talked-about in the marketplace. Though not a desktop notification app per se, it does, however, let you browse through your recent SMS notifications, making it easier to check your messages without handling the phone. The free application, once installed, lets you almost completely control your Android device right from your browser. You can kill tasks, set ringtones, check call logs and much more. To see the app in action, here’s a short walkthrough video that the developer has made:

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars, AirDroid is freely available for download from the marketplace, and, it works seamlessly across all platforms.

Remote Notifier, as the name suggests, notifies you of any incoming phone notifications on your desktop. The app, which works perfectly on Linux, Windows, and Mac, notifies you of calls, SMSes, battery status, and more using the desktop’s built-in notification system. To get started, all you have to do is download the notifier app from the Play Store and then grab the companion desktop application from the project’s web page HERE. Remote Notifier is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars in the Play Store and is freely available for download.

When it comes to wowing the crowd with technological innovations, there’s no company as successful as Apple. No one can forget those breathtaking moments when the great Steve Jobs unveiled yet another revolutionary product captivating the crowd like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. No company, so far, have managed to achieve that ‘magician’ status until very recently. -And that company, if you’re wondering, is none other than the search giant Google.

It has been more than a week since Google unveiled the amazing new Google Glasses, and the world is already going crazy over it. The demo video was uploaded on 4th April, and so far, it has got more than 13 million views. Moreover, almost every major newspaper and news channel covered the story, thus making Google Glasses one of the most coveted innovations of the decade.

So, what's Google Glasses?

Google Glasses, or Project Glass, is an under-development project by Google that brings augmented reality to a head-mounted display (HMD). As compared to other HMDs, this one looks more like goggles and less like some Robocop accessory, which is one of the biggest USPs of the project. Despite all the awesomeness that comes packed with Google’s ‘pet project’, there have been growing concerns about privacy along with some hilarious parodies openly suggesting a dystopian Google-owned future.

Voice commands have existed for a long time now, but it wasn't until Siri came along and showed the world the right way of doing things. Same is the case with Google Glasses, a project which, if works as demoed, will revolutionize the concept of augmented reality. You see, augmented reality, like voice commands, has existed for a long time now; however, no project has managed to really impress us so much so that we’d make it a part of our daily lives. Google Glasses promises to change that paradigm and make augmented reality an integral part of our life.

If you've ever envied that Terminator eyesight, Google Glasses is like a dream come true for you. To be fairly honest, it is the most innovative thing we've seen in a very long time.

Google already has an amazing lineup of products. From the classic text search to news updates, Google’s got it all. So, it won’t be hard to imagine you walking down a street, seeing a rare flower, then just looking at it for a few seconds and knowing its name. Moreover, you could lookup where you could buy those flowers using Google Maps, navigate to the shop, and buy them using your Google Wallet-integrated phone. Finally once you've fitted them neatly in that beautiful vase, you can snap its picture and share it with your friends on Google+ or any other social network. Cool huh?

Google hasn't got a good track record when it comes to dealing with users’ privacy. In this department, the search giant has messed up many times before and it has been a concern amongst many of its users. Privacy advocates have prophesied a much more dystopian future wherein everything you see is recorded and sold to advertisers. Moreover, it’s really hard to put up with ads or ‘sponsored content’ popping up in front of your eyes the moment you wake up. Even if Google assures us otherwise, there will always be concerns about the project’s privacy handling.

Imagine riding a bicycle on the streets of New York wearing one of those Google Glasses? Yes, it’s crazy!! As awesome as it looks, there’s a huge chance you’ll bump into something -- or someone? -- unexpected and make them wonder if you’re drunk. Also, walking around with notifications popping up in front of your eyes isn't something you’ll put your money into.

The demo video shows all the great features of the product; however, it would be really hard to say anything overwhelmingly positive about it unless the we get to see the actual product hands-on. For now, let’s just hope Project Glass lives up to its expectations.

If you have a penchant for painting, drawing, and sketching, then the normal canvas and paper might usually suffice your needs. However, with the advent of technology and the ever-growing need for mobility, the canvas has gone touch-friendly and the painting brush digital. Thanks to iPad, iPhone, and a bunch of impressive Android devices, painting on a mobile device is no longer a thing of the future. You can now draw, sketch, and paint on your tablet computer, smartphone, and other mobile devices without getting your hands messy with the paint and all. Though, of course, it’s not the same experience as painting with a real brush or a pencil, it still has some advantages over the old-school method.

Firstly, painting on a mobile device can be used to teach kids the creative art of painting without exposing them to toxic crayons or messy paints. Secondly, you can share your work to all the major social networks by simply clicking a button and get the exposure you always needed. So, if you’re looking for some good painting, drawing, or sketching apps for your Android device, you've come to the right place. Here’s a list of all the best ones in the genre.

Draw Something, apart from being a painting or sketching app, is a fun social game that you can play with your friends and family. Topping the charts currently as the number 1 free app, the game involves players taking turns to draw pictures that their opponents have to guess correctly. The better you are at guessing, the more coins you earn. The app has soared to unimagined heights since its launch; the hype of this little wonder is so much that the popular Zynga has recently acquired OMGPOP, the creator of Draw Something.

A painting app specially designed for kids, Kids Paint lets you unleash your creativity without getting your fingers messy. Once installed, you or your kid can use it to draw anything from a grizzly bear to a scenic vista. If you mess up, just shake the screen and start over. Rated 4 out of 5 stars, Kids Paint is freely available for download from the Play Store.

This free app lets you do finger painting, brush painting, spray painting and even layer painting. The app can be used by kids as well as adults to unleash their creativity.

Kids Doodle is an app specially designed for young children who love to paint. Apart from letting kids paint with various brushes, the app also features a special movie mode. So, once you paint your picture, you can play it back as a movie.

Another unique feature of this app is that it comes with various brushes including neon, rainbow, emboss, and crayon. Once you’re done painting, you can share your masterpiece via Facebook, SMS, Gmail, or else, you can store it safely into your SD card. With over 3 million downloads worldwide, this free app is a must-have for the budding doodler in you.

Paint Pro is a simple application that lets you paint with various effects and backgrounds. Though the app doesn't have much to offer, especially when pitted with most of the aforementioned titles, it’s still a great download if you’re looking for something simple and straightforward. Paint Pro is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars and has been downloaded more than a million times so far.

This app is not a sketching app per se; however, it does let you doodle for hours. The free download lets you draw on pictures and add a little funk to them. So, for example, you have your 21st birthday pictures with you. With this app, you can add a lightsaber or a lightning to your image with a touch of a button. Of course, you can doodle anything, but it’s much more fun to draw over your favorite images.

Of all the learning methods in the world, mind mapping has been regarded as one of the best and the most efficient ones around. A mind map is basically a diagram that represents various ideas, words, or tasks, and links them together branching out from one single idea. The reason these spider-like diagrams work well is the fact that they facilitate learning in a more visual manner as opposed to the tedious process of going through long texts. Invented and popularized by Tony Buzan, mind mapping can be used for brainstorming ideas, preparing for exams, or breaking down a big project.

Though the easiest way to start mind mapping is using a pen and paper, many people actually prefer taking the help of software. We've already talked about the best mind mapping tools available for Linux, it’s time to touch upon the ones that are available for Android. So, without much ado, here are the best mind mapping tools for Android:

Connected Mind is one of the most feature-laden mind-mapping apps for Android. This cloud connected tool lets you draw detailed mind maps and sync them with your Google cloud account (via Google App engine). Rather than relying on a plain drag-and-drop interface, Connected Mind brings a more intuitive approach to mind mapping. You can draw mind maps with your fingers like you are drawing on a piece of paper. Furthermore, the app comes with support for all versions of Android, including the recently released Ice Cream Sandwich. Once you’re done mind mapping, you can share your maps as images on Twitter, Facebook, etc. without leaving the app.

This free app lets you draw mind maps in a neat, intuitive way. You can choose between different node icons, change background color, and even select your favorite node color. Another important feature that this app offers is that it allows users to import and export their maps to and from Freemind. Rated 4 out of 5 stars, Smart Diagram Pro is freely available for download from the Google Play store.

Actually a diagramming tool, Smart Diagram Pro can also be used as a great mind mapping application. Not only can you draw mind maps with it, you can also design flow charts, tree diagrams and more. To get started, the app features a nicely detailed tutorial guiding you through the basics of the application. Then, once you get the hang of it, you can draw as many diagrams as you like. Though the app doesn't provide any cloud-based backup, it does, however, let users export their files in XML and SVG format.

Mindjet, earlier known as Thinking Space Pro, is an app for capturing and organizing information. The tool lets you take notes, brainstorm ideas, and track tasks right from your beloved Android device. Not only can you create detailed mind maps with this application, you can also organize and tag them later on, so that finding them wouldn't be a drag.

Drawing maps is easy; the app supports a variety of keyboard shortcuts and gestures that make the process quite intuitive. You can drag and drop various topics and also add icons and images for context and detail. Furthermore, if you like to work with a little focus, the app also provides a nice full screen mode.

Finally, once you’re done with your mind maps, you can sync them with your PC using the Dropbox support that comes with the application. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars, Mindjet is freely available for download from the marketplace.

MindMeister brings one of the most popular mind mapping applications to your Android device. The free app lets you create mind maps and sync them with your free online account. Also, you can share your maps with your friends or colleagues without leaving the app. Though the app hasn't been received that well by Android users, it still is worthy enough to belong to this list.

If you’re a programmer, then we all know that the laptop or the desktop PC is your only workplace. However, as we enter the world of smartphones, tablet computers, and smart TVs, everything is going portable, and so is the process of programming. Programming is something that requires a lot of practice, and missing out on it even for a couple of weeks can set you back a bit. The best way to avoid this problem is to make sure you get your daily dose of coding, no matter what.

Here at TechSource we've already discussed a lot about programming and today, we’re here to let you know of a bunch of great apps that would make your coding process a little more mobile. Whether you’re traveling or too tired to slouch over your huge laptop, you can take your coding experience anywhere you want.

Thanks to some great Android applications, your programming skills won’t suffer just because you can’t spend enough time on your computer. So, without further ado, here are some of the best Android apps for programmers:

If you’re learning C programming or just been looking to hone your coding skills, this little app lets you test your knowledge of C concepts in a fun, interesting way. C Programming Quiz, as the name suggests, presents users with a neat quiz based on C programming concepts, thus letting you master what is important for your programming skills.

A high-end emulation of the famous HP-16C RPN Programmer’s Calculator, this next app lets you do math, display numbers in decimal, hexadecimal, and do much more without hiring a mathematician monkey. Though not a programming tool per se, HC-16C is a great companion for alleviating most of your coding woes.

If programming on your Droid is your latest hobby, then the default keyboard, which is more suited for relaying LOLs and snarky smileys, might not be the most comfortable coding tool. Enter Programmer Keyboard, a free app that brings a full-fledged QWERTY keyboard along with code completion. The app, besides from offering a full QWERTY layout, also includes the Ctrl, Alt, and Arrow keys that proficient coders miss out on these mobile devices. Though in beta, the app is quite stable and doesn't suffer from any major bugs.

Though a good coder will make do with a relatively stale slice of pizza, he or she would never settle on just an ‘average’ text editor. Catering to that ideology comes DroidEdit, a free code editor for Android that lets you write your code along with complete syntax highlighting. Apart from highlighting codes for Ruby, Java, C, C++, and almost all major programming languages, DroidEdit also comes with several color themes and character encoding support. Though the free version suffices the needs of most programmers, the pro version does offer some interesting features like Dropbox support and the ability to run external commands via SSH.

C4droid is a C Compiler for Android. If you write a lot of C or C++ apps on your Droid, this app will save you from the trouble of loading those source files onto your computer and then compiling them. Though not free, this app is pretty useful for practicing coding on the go.

Much like the aforementioned programmer’s keyboard, this app brings a full-fledged computer-like typing experience to your Android. More useful for tablets, Hacker’s Keyboard comes with a complete QWERTY keyboard along with Alt, Ctrl, and even function keys.

Whether you’re an experienced Ruby coder or simply a beginner, this DRM-free book will help you learn more about the amazing programming language in great detail. Written by David Flanagan and Yukihiro Matsumoto (creator of Ruby), this top-rated title will walk you through Ruby from the rudimentary basics to the essential details.

One of the biggest advantages that Android has over its universally worshipped archrival is the fact that one can customize a Droid to any extent. iOS however, though customizable via jailbreaking, is still alien to even the slightest of changes that don’t originate from its Cupertino-based HQ. The customizability and the openness of Android, though a tad bewildering at first to the cellular neophytes, have managed to give the Linux-based OS its unexpected popularity.

That said, the customizations, and sometimes, the unnecessary additions to the vanilla Android OS, has made the platform not only fragmented but also a bit bloated. The manufacturers who make these changes to bring a dash of their own ‘uniqueness’ to the open-source operating system fail to give users any freedom in the UI department.

Thankfully, though, there’s an ongoing trend of custom launchers for Android that completely change the look and functionality of your phone. A launcher is responsible for presenting the main view of the phone and for starting other apps and hosting live widgets. So, if you are looking for some great launchers to revamp your plain vanilla Droid, here’s a list of some of the best in that genre.

Allowing you to use up to 7 homescreens, LauncherPro brings some smooth, powerful yet fast animations to your Android device. With animated previews similar to the ones found in HTC Sense UI, LauncherPro also includes a slick scrollable shortcut dock. LauncherPro is freely available for download from the Google Play Store.

If your phone-savvy mind yearns for some serious eye-candy then SPB Shell 3D is the app you shouldn't ignore. Loaded with some stunning animations and 3D effects, the app comes with an impressive collection of 3D widgets and smart folders. Though the app offers a lot of stunning effects, its performance has been reported to be buttery smooth.

GO Launcher is one of the most popular launchers in the Android Play Store. Equipped with impressive features like screen-lock widgets, animated transitions, and the ability to group apps into folders (one of the most missed feature by pre-ICS Android users), GO Launcher EX gives your phone a complete revamp without compromising on the performance. What makes GO Launcher so popular is the fact that there are thousands of personalized themes that are available for download right from the marketplace.

If you prefer sticking to open-source software even for your customization needs, then ADW Launcher is just the app for you. This completely free app comes with a neatly designed application drawer and a bunch of customizable drag-and-drop action buttons. Though the features in this app are nothing compared to other aforementioned launchers, it is still a great customization option for FOSS enthusiasts. If, however, you prefer more features, ADW Launcher EX, its non-free counterpart, will never disappoint you.

If the stylishly designed Windows Phone 7 UI leaves you with a tinge of jealousy, then Launcher 7 is a perfect app for you. The free download lets you perfectly emulate the elegant-looking Windows Phone 7 UI without saying goodbye to your good old Android.

Though most of the aforementioned apps cater to the needs of Android 2.x users, there are barely any apps that are designed for ICS. Belonging to that rare minority is Apex Launcher, a free app specially designed to customize Ice Cream Sandwich. Apex offers features like customizable home screen, infinite scrolling, scrollable dock, and app hiding making ICS look even more awesome. The app is smooth, functional and yes, it has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Play Store making it one of the most highly rated apps in our list.

BIG Launchers addresses the needs of the elderly who can’t manage to operate phones that are bundled with small text and confusing menus. BIG Launcher simplifies the menus, and yes, it makes all text and icons big so that your grandma too can proudly flaunt a droid.

Despite the soaring popularity of microblogging, content curation, and video logging, the good old way of publishing your thoughts on a blog hasn't really died out. Defying many predictions, blogging still rocks as it used to be about 3 or 4 years ago. An apt testament to this fact would be Mashable and TechCrunch, the two biggies in the business, which started out as modest websites and went on to become two of the most popular tech-related sites on the Internet.

Despite the multitudes of blogging services offered right now, most bloggers prefer using either WordPress or Blogger. We at TechSource prefer Google-owned Blogger; however, you’ll find many more sites relying on the open-source CMS WordPress. While it’s easy to use those two services via the web, more and more bloggers prefer updating their site on the go. This is especially true for travel bloggers and citizen journalists.

So, if you’re a travel blogger, or a tech blogger like us, we've come up with an impressive list of all the best blogging tools for your Android device. Not only will these apps help you update your blog on the go, they’ll also make it easy for you to chronicle your travel tales with a touch of a button.

Blogger, the Google-run service is the most popular blogging platform around. With millions of users worldwide and almost no downtime, the free platform has managed to garner a huge fan following. Since the search giant is in charge of this service, they have developed an official Android app for it. The free application lets you publish posts (with photo uploads, labeling, and location information), view posts, and to a limit manage your Blogger account. If you own multiple accounts or blogs, the app lets you switch between them without any hassles.

Though the aforementioned official app suffices most bloggers’ needs, it still falls short when you need a little more control over the posts you publish. Solving this problem comes Bloggeroid which, once installed, lets you customize your drafts using simple wikisyntax. Also, the app lets you save and load your posts from SD card making it easier for you to backup and transfer them onto your computer. In all, Bloggeroid is a great alternative to the official Blogger app.

If you’re planning to start a travel blog, this is an app that you’ll find quite handy. Travel blog, as the name suggests, lets you blog your location along with a short description of the place. The app is a great way to publish your itinerary, which in turn will help your readers in their own travels if they were to make the same trip. And yes, the app is completely open-source!

If you’re blog is powered by Drupal, you can go for Drupal editor, which is a free app that lets you create and publish posts to your site. Though unofficial, it’s nevertheless a useful tool for all the Drupal users around.

If you’re a Tumblr user, this next app lets you share photos, chats, links, texts, and even videos with all your readers. The free tool also lets you reply to messages, save drafts and manage multiple Tumblr accounts on the go.

WordPress, one of the most popular blogging platforms around is used by many top-notch blogs online. Their official app, once installed, brings the same WordPress experience to your little Android device. Either you’re a self-hosted WordPress user (wordpress.org) or a WordPress.com user, you can easily write, edit, and publish your heart out with this free tool. To make things easier, the app includes an innovative dashboard that lets users quickly jump to and from any of the main menus (New Post, Comments, Drafts etc.).