10 free must-have apps for Android phones

Just getting started with a new Android handset? I’ve rounded up 10 apps from the Android Market that’ll have you posting status updates, watching videos, reading e-books, checking the weather, and finding great places to eat in no time—and best of all, they’re free.

1. Facebook/Twitter
Rejoice, social mavens: mobile apps for both Facebook and Twitter are available for Android phones, and each will let you post updates, browse the latest stories from your pals, upload photos, and share links.

2. Netflix
It took awhile, but Netflix finally got around to releasing an Android version of its mobile video-streaming app. You can browse a (limited) selection of categories, manage your instant video queue, and watch movies and TV shows over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G cellular networks. Just be careful not to bust over your carrier’s monthly data limit.

3. Kindle/Google Books
Yes, bookworms, you can use your Android phone as an e-reader with the mobile Kindle or Google Books apps, which let you download and store, and flip through purchased e-books, even when you’re offline.

4. Pandora/Slacker/Last.fm
No need to go without free, streaming music if you’ve got one of these music apps on your Android phone. Each app serves up all the streaming tunes you can stand—albeit with advertisements.

5. Amazon MP3
Browse, purchase, and download new and catalog tunes from Amazon’s massive digital music selection.

6. Read It Later
Similar to Instapaper, Read It Later (also available for the iPhone and iPad) saves and formats web pages you’ve bookmarked for mobile (and offline) reading. It’s the perfect app for Android users looking to dive into lengthy news and magazine articles on a small screen.

7. WeatherBug/The Weather Channel
How’s the weather out there? Both WeatherBug and the Weather Channel serve up current conditions and forecasts, plus animated radar maps, video forecasts, and webcam images from local weather stations.

8. Lookout Security & Antivirus
In addition to scanning your handset for the latest crop of mobile viruses; Lookout’s mobile security app will also track your lost or stolen Android handset, similar to Apple’s “Find My iPhone” feature. An absolute must-have app, if you ask me.

9. Google Reader
Perfect for keeping tabs on your favorite blogs and news sites, the Google Reader app syncs with the free, web-based Google Reader service and even saves new articles for offline reading.

10. Yelp
Where to go, what to do … and what’s for dinner? Yelp for Android will pinpoint your location and list nearby stores, restaurants, banks, museums, hospitals, you name it. Each listing includes details like street addresses, hours of operations, and plenty of user reviews.

Keep in mind, of course, that these aren’t the only must-have apps in the Android Market. Have any suggestions for more? Post ‘em in the comments below!

Update: A reader just sent me a great suggestion: Pulse News, a sleek mobile news reader that syncs with Facebook and Google Reader, and boasts featured sections from the likes of TIME, The Huffington Post, CNNMoney, and more. Excellent pick—keep ‘em coming!

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