Phone Friday: sites to get you started with Android

So it seems like lately the only posts I've managed to maintain doing is this "phone friday" concept that my friend Ben suggested. This week I'd like to discuss something slightly different but related. Instead of discussing what I'm doing with my phone, some suggestion on how to get started with your phone.

So why this post.... well on Tuesday, my boss asked me a bunch of questions since she is thinking about going 'Droid' and then yesterday my dad started asking me a bunch of questions since he had just ditched his Windows Mobile Moto Q in favor of the 'Droid2'... and this after a good friend of mine from Miami got the Evo (the same friend who convinced me to get my first Treo). Also another friend of mine upgraded from the Centro to an Evo too.... but basically all of them know that I've been using Android since the start. I ordered my G1 minutes after the site went life after the Google T-Mo announcement was made and it arrived in hand the day before it hit stores.

Anyways so for those out there new to Android or considering it.... the basic question I get is 'is there an app for X' and the basic answer is... most likely. (not yes since I'm sure that there is always one feature/app missing from every phone market).

So some suggestions if you are planning to make the switch to Android first stop.... the blogosphere (in no order):

• http://www.absolutelyandroid.com
• http://androidandme.com/
• http://www.androidcentral.com/
• http://phandroid.com/
• http://www.droid-life.com/
• http://www.droiddog.com/
• http://www.droidstone.com/
• http://androinica.com/

These sites are great for news and rumors about whats to come and for app reviews.

Now on the app front a few sites to check out, they all provide a web-based look at the Market.

• http://www.appbrain.com/ - this is a must... plus make sure to install the "Fast Web Installer" so you can install apps directly from the site. 
• http://www.cyrket.com/m/android/ - the first site to provide web access to Market... this site is also good if you don't use Android since it also provides a window into apps for WebOS and WinMo (sorry iPhone users... you're out of luck)
• http://www.androlib.com/ - just another site.... also provides QR Codes which you can scan from your phone to go directly to links in Market

Now for those who like to get into 'trouble' and hack with your phones... (attempt at your own risk)

• http://www.cyanogenmod.com/ - probably the most popular Rooted Mod out there, initially started as a one-man project, but the team that has formed around it is amazing...hell they've got FroYo 2.2 running on a G1 (which I'm currently using)
• http://androidspin.com/ - great site for information on mods/roms and other hacks for Android.... plus a great source of news relating to rooted phones.
• http://www.xda-developers.com/ and http://forum.xda-developers.com/ - probably the best site for finding any solution you need relating to Android (or WinMo for that matter). The forums cover basically everything... if the question has been asked... you'll probably find a running discussion on XDA-Developers.

So if that isn't enough links to get you started...