Released Oct 21, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Joe Fedewa has actually been discussing innovation for over a years. Android and the rest of the Google community have actually been a focus for many years, in addition to examining gadgets, hosting podcasts, recording videos, and composing tutorials.
Joe enjoys all things innovation and is likewise a devoted DIYer and food blog writerHe has actually composed countless posts, numerous tutorials, and lots of evaluations.
Before signing up with How-To GeekJoe operated atXDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google environment. He got his start in the market covering Windows Phone on a little blog site, and later on relocated toPhandroid where he covered Android news, examined gadgets, composed tutorials, produced YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast.
From mobile phones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe has an interest in all sort of innovation. After a number of years of jailbreaking and greatly customizing an iPod Touch, he proceeded to his very first mobile phone, the HTC DROID Eris. He’s been connected since.
Microsoft uses a wide variety of apps on numerous platforms, however the majority of people just think of Office.
A sly excellent option
Method back in 2015, Microsoft launched an
app called “Arrow Launcher” in beta. Individuals were happily shocked by how restrained it was. Microsoft wasn’t attempting to press a lot of its own services– it was simply an extremely strong launcher with some cool concepts. 11 years later on, the name has actually altered, however that initial viewpoint hasn’t.
On the surface area, Microsoft Launcher is a quite fundamental home screen launcher. You get a grid of icons, a dock, and an app drawer. That app drawer can be several rows, and some rows can be concealed up until you swipe up. The very best function, however, is “Your Feed”: believe Google Discover, however just your things. The feed can be utilized with the native calendar and order of business, plus you can include any Android widget you ‘d like. It’s quite cool.
Microsoft To Do
Simply get things done
A great deal of list apps get slowed down when they attempt to do excessive. There’s something to be stated for an easy, no frills to do list or list app. That’s where Microsoft
To Do actions in. Like the launcher, it’s simply a strong app that isn’t attempting to transform the wheel.
Lists can be color coded, identified with an emoji, and arranged into groups. You can star products to pin them to the leading, include partners, designate jobs to individuals, include due dates, set repeating tips, and more. There’s a “My Day” view that puts whatever that’s due today in one location, plus a “Planned” view to see what’s showing up.
Microsoft Translator
Like Google Translate before AI
Microsoft has actually been including AI to a lot of apps similar to every other tech business. Remarkably, Copilot hasn’t discovered it’s method to Microsoft Translator. AI can be really fantastic for equating, however not everybody likes it.
Microsoft Translator is basically what Google Translate utilized to be. You’ve got a fundamental two-way discussion mode that accepts text and voice input. The translation can be revealed upside down, making it simple for somebody sitting throughout from you to read it. You can likewise equate text in pictures. In addition, there’s a “Phrasebook” with lots of typical expressions you may wish to state. It’s a good, easy equating app.
Microsoft OneNote
Workplace Lite
I understand, I understand– OneNote is technically part of Microsoft Office. It’s not one of the “Big Three”: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The majority of the Office suite has actually been around considering that the 80s and 90s, however OneNote didn’t actually strike the mainstream till the 2010s. Microsoft does not even highlight it on the Office 365 website
All that aside, it’s really among the business’s finest apps. It’s created to seem like a collection of digital note pads. You can type or draw, include images and audio recording, develop lists, insert web clippings, and arrange with tags. There’s likewise “Sticky Notes” for fast capture, and you can scan files with the electronic camera. Whatever is searchable. OneNote is the most complicated app on this list, however the additional performance deserves it.
RIP: Microsoft Lens
Keeping in mind a fallen hero
alt=”microsoft lens logo”src=”https://i0.wp.com/media.pmnsports.co.uk/2026/10/localimages/microsoft-lens-logo.png?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1″>I desire to share my regard for an app that I truly desired to consist of in this list. Regretfully, Microsoft Lens was retired previously this year. The app was pulled from the Play Store in February, and even if you kept it on your phone, it can no longer carry out brand-new scans.
Microsoft Lens was an exceptional app. It was my favored approach to scan files, and now that Google Lens has actually been devalued a bit, its lack is felt much more. You can still scan files with OneNote and OneDrive, however the simpleness of Microsoft Lens belonged to what made it so great.
A strong option to Google
Microsoft definitely isn’t the flashiest tech brand name, however it silently makes some strong apps. If you’re searching for an option to Google, however do not wish to change to a lesser-known, smaller sized indie app, Microsoft is most likely the very best option for Android users.
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