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50+ Essential Android Apps for Back-to-School

Sorry kiddos, the summer is drawing to an end and it's time to start getting ready to crack those books again.  In fact, we venture to guess that some of you might already be in class right now and should be paying attention to the teacher or professor.  We're here to help you start the new school year off right and are happy to give you an invaluable resource with more than 50 Android apps geared for back-to-school season.  Whether you are looking for handy apps to have in the classroom or if you need a new set of kicks, we've got you covered.

Many of the apps listed below are free, but there are the occasional pro and paid versions. We suggest coughing up a couple of bucks and getting the paid clients as they generally offer more features and remove unsightly ads.  What's more, some of these have excellent tablet experiences for those of you who have a Honeycomb device.

Also bear in mind that we're not advising you download every single title below, that would be silly.  No, we're simply pointing you in the right directions based on your needs.

Hit the break to see what apps we recommend for you as summer ends and the school year begins.

Shop for School Supplies and Clothes

  1. Target - Order items direct from the app, shop for bargains, scan barcodes and browse the most current weekly ad.  FREE, Android 1.5+
  2. Staples - Weekly ads, product search, store locator and more have us saying, "That was easy". FREE, Android 1.6+
  3. OfficeMax - Shop through the app, locate stores, browse the weekly ad, and mange your MaxPerks account.  FREE, Android 2.1+
  4. OfficeDepot - Purchase products, locate nearby stores, get exclusive deals, even scan barcodes to add to chopping cart.  FREE,  Android 2.1+
  5. Best Buy - Scan barcodes, read product reviews, manage Reward Zone purchases, special offers, weekly ads. FREE, Android 1.6+
  6. JCPenney Weekly Deals - Preview the best of this week's in-store sales, special offers, build a favorites list to take to the store, browse the Little Red Book and find a JCPenney near you.  FREE, Android 1.6+
  7. Kmart - Full listing of items and categories available on Kmart.com. Search, browse and buy, right in the app, then have your order shipped to your door. Find local store locations, hours and contact info, using GPS or zip code. FREE, Android 2.1+
  8. Sears -
  9. Walgreens -
  10. Walmart -
  11. HSN Shop App -
  12. eBay -
  13. Amazon.com -
  14. QVC -
  15. Catalogue by TheFind -

Find Deals Wherever You Go

  1. ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner
  2. RedLaser Barcode Scanner
  3. ScanLife
  4. Shopkick
  5. GeoQpons
  6. GoRebate Mobile
  7. The Dealmap
  8. Peekaboo

Get Some Shoes on Those Feet!

  1. Zappos
  2. Famous Footware
  3. Finish Line
  4. Shoes.com
  5. Naturalizer

Reading Apps and Services

  1. Kobo eBooks
  2. NOOK
  3. Kindle
  4. Aldiko Book Reader
  5. Wattpad

Cloud Storage and Note-Keeping Apps

  1. Evernote
  2. Catch Notes
  3. AK Notepad
  4. DropBox
  5. Extensive Notes Pro - Notepad
  6. Sugar Sync

Official Google Apps

  1. Google Body
  2. Google Books
  3. Google Docs
  4. Google Earth
  5. Google Translate
  6. Google Shopper

Additional Resources for Students

  1. Class Buddy - Student Planner
  2. Flashcards Buddy Pro
  3. Blackboard Mobile Learn
  4. ShareYourBoard
  5. Big Words
  6. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
  7. Dictionary.com
  8. Dictionary.com Flashcards
  9. Documents To Go
  10. QuickOffice Pro
  11. Miss Spell’s Class

What Did We Miss?

Try as we might, we know we're gonna miss a few apps.  That's where you come in!  Leave a comment below to share your picks for helpful Android apps for back-to-school time and we'll add them to the list!

Scott founded AndroidGuys on November 5, 2007 and has been hooked ever since. His other mobile efforts can be found on AndroidAtlas (CNET) where he covers Google's mobile platform. When not obsessing over phones and tablets, Scott can be found listening to house music, watching the Green Bay Packers, or catching the latest movie.

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  • Anonymous

    Great post! We're going to highlight it on our blog! Today we reviewed an app that I think is missing from your list: Google Reader!
    I've spoken to the administrators of my local college to implement this in the classroom. It would really facilitate for students to learn about a subject from a current events perspective, which would be sooooo much better! Here is the link: http://www.practicallyandroid.com/1/post/2011/08/how-to-keep-up-on-the-important-things-with-your-android.html

  • http://getyourgadgetsgoing.com Tristan Thomas

    =/

  • Shai K, The Author

    And ... SponTalk for sending free messages to your friends!

  • tas

    eduPort

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZLOTEIADMVYKDQXQBWAO6P7XRQ Jim

    Are Documents to Go and QuickOffice Pro both essential apps?  Do I need both Evernote and Catch Notes.  A deal finding app is a must, but you listed 8 of them - which one does the best job?  Have you used any of these apps? What's you impression of them?  That's the kind of information that people are looking for.  As it is, this is just a collection of links that anyone could assemble after a few minutes in the browsing market.  If you could add content that would help people decide, that would be much more helpful.

  • http://twitter.com/mypodsta mypodsta

    +1 on Evernote and Dropbox. Essential. I've found that Skype and Netflix are critical "college" apps as well.  Of course, not an App, but PODSTA allows you to use all the above pretty easily ;)

  • Ocluke

    For whatever reason, Google Body is devoid of any download link in the marketplace. Anyone know why?

  • Xxvinc3xx

    I think it is only on tablets.

  • Joana

    I myself use School Assistant. It allows me to organize my tests and works in a calendar with reminders, but as well automatically calculate my progress at school, my grades, and even has an easy way to contact my partners at projects. It is very easy to use and practical. Take a look at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.school&feature=search_result

  • Joelsamdavid

    Good day..Fantastic post,where did you occur up with this information? Thanks for your information.

    http://gloriatech.com/mobile-application-development.aspx

  • Clarence Simpson

    Very nice app list! I would also add some grade/GPA calculators and trackers like CoursePro, Kitten Mittens' GPA Calculator, and the newest one of the bunch, GradeWizard, which was just released.

  • Andrew

    For myself Mute-O-Matic has saved me the embarrassment of having my phone go off during class... Which IMO is essential :-)

  • Alex

    Another study application (Encore Study Platform) that belongs on this list IMHO: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tempo.encore&feature=search_result