This Week in Android Apps – Spotlight on Top Security, Productivity & Social Apps

Welcome to another edition of the new weekly series focusing on the best in Android Applications.  Each week, I explore the most popular Android Apps,  utilizing statistics and rankings via one of my favorite apps ATrackDog.

As of 27 Mar 10, The Android Market is up to 41,771 Android Applications used 5.8 million times. The number of apps are growing at a rapid pace and Android users are benefiting from all the outstanding developers.

Today, I wanted to first highlight three excellent security applications, then provide this weeks top productivity and social applications. The apps are calculated by total number of downloads in the last week. Enjoy!

Three Awesome Security Android Apps

antivirus free (FREE) 4 Stars, 10k ratings, 250k downloads

Protects your phone from viruses, malware and other attacks via real-time scanning.

Antivirus Pro ($4.99) 4.5 Stars, 290 ratings, 5k to 10k downloads

Gives you real-time scanning protecting against viruses, malware, operating system exploits. The pro version also offers “findR” to find your lost or stolen device via GPS and cell tower identification.

Lookout Mobile Security (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 8k ratings, 250k downloads

Blocks viruses and malware, scans your memory card to stop viruses from phone to PC and has a built in backup tool. If you lose your phone, you can use Lookout Mobile Security to locate the phone on a map and activate a loud alarm.

Top 10 Android Productivity Apps

10. Quick Settings (FREE) – 5 Stars, 3k ratings, 50k to 250k downloads

Provides a quick way to toggle your Ringer, Wifi, volume (multi-channel), Bluetooth, LED Flashlight (Droid only), etc. You can also add additional settings and customize.

9. OI File Manager (FREE) – 4 Stars, 3k ratings, 250k downloads

Lets you browse your SD card, create directories, rename files as well as copy, move and delete them. This app also adds an extension to other applications, providing the ability to Open or Save.

8. AK Notepad (FREE) – 4.5 Stars, 19k ratings, 250k downloads

Create notes, set reminders for your notes, share via SMS or e-mail and stick any note on your home screen. You can customize the notes’ appearance, setup labels, sort and search.

7. Documents to Go Full Version ($9.99 on sale) – 4.5 Stars, 50k to 250k downloads

View and edit files in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe PDF. You can create new, save and send changes, view and update charts, zoom, modify formats and password-protect files.

6. AndroZip (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 6k ratings, 250k downloads

Manage files and folders and work with files in ZIP, RAR, 7ZIP, GZIP, TAR and BZIP2  formats. Copy, delete, move and sort files. This app also provides a task killer.

5. Root Explorer ($2.10) 5 Stars, 624 ratings, 5k to 10k downloads

This is a file manager for root users. It provides the ability to access the entire Android file system, including the elusive data folder. It includes a text editor, zip files, execute scripts, re-mount, permissions, bookmarks, APK binary XML file viewer and more.

4. EStrongs File Explorer (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 9k ratings, 250k downloads

This app is an all-in-one file manager, app manager and task killer.  Copy, cut and move, use thumbview, multiselect, edit text, send as, search, unzip, media on FTP, access PC and more.

3. Documents to Go 2.0 (FREE) 4 Stars, 7k ratings, 250k downloads

Lets you view Microsoft Word and Excel files and attachments in doc, docx, xls and xlsx file formats. The pay version provides additional editing and viewing of PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files.

2. Advanced Task Killer (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 27k ratings, 250k downloads

This tool kills applications running, giving you the ability to select particular apps or the entire list of running apps to end.

1. ASTRO (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 26k ratings, 250k downloads

Manage files, applications and tasks. Read ZIP and TGZ files, view files and images, kill tasks, backup and restore multiple applications, send files as attachments and more.

image via androlib.com

Top 10 Android Social Apps

10. Touiteur (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 1k ratings, 10k to 50k downloads

Touiteur is a sharp looking, highly customizable Twitter client to keep up with your Tweeps.

9. Foursquare (FREE) 4 Stars, 2k ratings, 50k to 250k downloads

Foursquare lets you explore your city by seeing where your friends are, find places they visit often and as you travel, you can unlock rewards.

8. Wingletter (neighbors talk) (FREE) 4 Stars, 58 ratings, 1k to 5k downloads

This app stems from the idea of messages flying high above the sky. Once a letter is released, other users are able to comment. The more popular your letters are to the public, the higher they fly. If your letter doesn’t get any attention, it sinks to the ground.

7. Bloo – Facebook Beta (FREE) 4 Stars, 3k ratings, 50k to 250k downloads

In its’ beta stage, this app provides an excellent alternative to the Android Facebook App.

6. Camera Magic (FREE) 4 Stars, 2k ratings, 250k downloads

This app provides an improvement over the default camera. It features autofocus, a higher resolution, digital zoom, a timer, burst, white balance and more.

5. Bump (FREE) 4 Stars, 2k ratings, 250k downloads

Bump simplifies swapping contact info and photos. To use this app, open it up on both phones, bump your hands together while holding the phones and confirm the exchange.

4. Seesmic (FREE) 4.5 Stars, 6k ratings, 50k to 250k downloads

Seesmic is a feature rich Twitter client that lets you share photos, post videos to YouTube, search Twitter and get all your notifications for new messages.

3. MySpace (FREE) 4 Stars, 65k ratings, 250k downloads

This MySpace app for the Android provides a nice mobile solution for MySpace users.

2. fring (FREE) 4 Stars, 4k ratings, 50k to 250k downloads

This app lets you call and chat with your friends free over 3G and Wifi using the fring network. It supports Skype, MSN Messenger, GTalk, Twitter, SIP, Yahoo!, AIM and ICQ.

1. Facebook (FREE) 3.5 Stars, 52k ratings, 250k downloads

Share status updates from your home screen, check your news feeds, view your friends’ walls, view profiles, upload photos and share links.

image via androidtapp.com