My favorite Android apps on the BlackBerry Z30

It’s been a while since I have been on the blog but I am slowly coming back to try to post when I can and become more involved with that.  I figured I would kick things off with some apps I like on my Z30, specifically from Android.  Ever since the early leaks of BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, many of us have been enjoying the improved Android application capability.  This goes well beyond the ability to sideload through a PC, but directly on the device instead.  Downloading applications became much easier through third party mobile application stores such as Amazon and 1Mobile Store or even Aptoid.  How about Snap which offered a full third party solution for Google Play?  That’s probably my most frequently used marketplace when it comes to downloading Android apps.  So now that we have Jellybean runtime, and awesome ease of access of applications, here’s a quick roundup of my favorite Android applications on my BlackBerry Z30.

Instagram

I think I speak for many when it comes to this one.  Instagram is among iOS and Android with no official BlackBerry love.  However, there are third party solutions such as iGrann and BlackGram available in BlackBerry World which give you Instagram access.  I must say though, I do also favor the native Instagram application, even while using the other third party ones.  The application integrates well with BlackBerry 10, even though you do not receive any notifications in hub at all, and have to check the app to see if any new notifications have come on.  Back to the integration – let’s say you’re browsing through your photos in Pictures (native BlackBerry 10 picture viewer app).  Once you click the Share button, you have the capability of sharing your selected photo with other services such as text, BBM, email, applications – and Instagram!  That’s right, an Android application integrated right into BlackBerry 10 right here.  Selecting Instagram will do as you expect, open your selected photo in the application ready to apply filters and a caption with all the great hashtags.

Bank of America

This one seems specific, as you may not find it feasible if Bank of America is not your bank.  However, with the lack of US banking apps for BlackBerry 10, I’m sure others are enjoying Android apps on their devices such as Chase which I have confirmed also works.  The Bank of America app from my experience is pretty straight forward.  All typical mobile banking operations work without any issues.  The app will also sign me out after some time when it’s in a live tile for security purposes.

Netflix

This one goes without saying.  Netflix refuses to release any native application for BlackBerry 10.  We struck back with utilizing an older laggy build of Netflix in earlier OS 10 builds.  However, as we have new and improved Jellybean support, the latest and greatest Netflix app works a charm on my Z30.  Makes you not really care for a native application since it streams just fine with all capabilities on the Android application.

HBO GO

This one ties in with Netflix pretty much as another media streaming application.  I have to say that I do use this quite often to stream my favorite TV shows and new release movies.  The application works without any issues and stream quality is great.

Fandango

I’m a huge movie nut – at times, but when I am into the whole going to the movies mood or just have time to, I always Fandango.  A lot of IMAX movies get sold out quick, especially with my local theater which features Dine-In (order food and drinks while sitting in reclining chairs).  So reserving my seat is important, thus making the reservation on my mobile rather than on a PC or mobile browser.  Through the Fandango application, I am able to watch previews of films, locate theaters, check movie times, and seal the deal with a reservation.

Pebble App Store

Although Pebble is not officially supported on BlackBerry 10, there are third party native solutions available in BlackBerry World.  The Pebble App Store recently launched for Android as beta, but I have been using it to load applications and watch faces.  Surely some of the watch apps will not work such as the weather and check-in ones as they can’t find those services on the phone.  I’m sure others have figured this out or maybe loading those Android applications will do the trick.  Either way, it’s a good app that helps me style out on my wrist.

And there you have it.  These are my favorite Android applications on my BlackBerry Z30 so far.  I am using many more, but these are my handpicks for the time being. 

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