A few Android apps

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I have written before about smart phone applications both in the Wisconsin Law Journal and for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Inside Track. However, the majority of the apps featured in those articles are for the iPhone. Many lawyers use Android mobile phones and so I thought I’d highlight a few Android apps. Please add any you have found useful.

IRS2Go – The IRS launched an app for individual’s to check their refund status, read news and get tax updates. It is free and available from the Android Marketplace

Droidlaw – Droidlaw calls itself the “one stop shop for legal reference material.” The free app includes the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (with a note that the new revisions have NOT yet been incorporated), Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the bankruptcy rules. There are also several add-ons available. These include U.S. historical documents, the U.S. code, U.S. Supreme court cases, and statutes from several states. The cost of these add-ons vary.

Kayak – Kayak compares the information from several travel websites at one time. You can search for flights, hotels, vacation packages, etc.

Evernote – This free app is amazing. It is an organizational tool that allows the user to capture information (text, web page, screenshot, pictures, etc.), organize it, and then retrieve it. My favorite suggestion is “Keep notes from your meetings all in one place. Take a picture of a whiteboard and you’ll be able to find it later.”

Sunlight Foundation’s Congress – “‘Congress’ is a free pocket directory that allows you to quickly get detailed information on your members of Congress, and what they’re up to. Follow the latest bills and laws, see recent votes, and read about your legislators in the news.” The app is free.

Mileage Tracker – The cost of this app is $1.99 and is available from the Android Market. The name says it all. Per the developer’s website, the smartphone application offers password protection and can be exported to Excel. It will keep track of mileage, fuel costs, tolls, etc. Another useful application from this developer is Cashbook. The website describes it as a “mobile phone app which helps you tracking your daily expenses anywhere and anytime. If you go out for a business trip and need a quick and handy way to write down all your expenses in order to get reimbursement later on or tax deductions, Cashbook in Android is the perfect tool for you. If you’d like to keep tracking your incomes, daily expenses and monthly balance sheet, you can easily do it anywhere and anytime with Cashbook on Android phone.” Cashbook currently costs $4.99.

USA Today – Keep current with weather, sports, news and entertainment with this free USA Today Android app. You can read stories online or offline. Many other newspapers offer Android apps.

United State Constitution – A free searchable version of the Constitution.