Apps Every Galaxy Nexus Owner Should Try: A Reviewer's Short List
Apps that need no root
Light Flow
This was the top pick because it works on every Galaxy Nexus. It lets you choose which app uses the LED, how fast it blinks and which colour it shows, from stock or custom colours. It can also assign sounds and vibration patterns to notifications.
Because Light Flow controls notification sound, it can also run a sleep schedule. The reviewer set the phone to go silent at 10 p.m. and return to full volume at 6 a.m. Light Flow came in a free version and a paid version at $1.99, and the paid one had more options.
Volume+
The reviewer’s main complaint about the Galaxy Nexus was that its maximum volume was too low. Volume+ lets you adjust sound volume and the music equalizer. It does not need root on the Galaxy Nexus, although other phones may need root for its full function. Pushing the settings too high or setting them badly can cause distortion, so raise the volume in small steps. It helped most in loud workplaces where notifications were hard to hear.
Fancy Widgets
One of the reviewer’s favourites for any Android phone. It offers an attractive weather widget and many downloadable themes, and it can show the next alarm or the remaining battery percentage. The free version has little customization, so the full feature set needs the separate unlocker.
Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher replaces the home screen and looks like the stock launcher, but with far more control. It also ran more smoothly than the stock launcher in the reviewer’s experience.
- Custom grids to fit more icons on each page.
- A scrollable dock for extra quick-access icons.
- Resizable widgets.
- Changeable folder and app icons and labels.
Android Pro Widgets
A multi-function widget set covering bookmarks, calendar, Facebook, SMS, people and a social timeline. Everything is customizable and extra themes exist. Most features were free, but themes required the paid unlocker.
Apps with extra requirements
Adobe Flash Player 11
The Galaxy Nexus did not ship with Flash Player built in, unlike newer Android devices at the time, so owners had to install it themselves. Flash is now discontinued and should not be installed on any current phone.
Netflix
If you had a Netflix subscription, the app was a natural fit. At the phone’s launch, Netflix did not support it, so playback left the on-screen navigation buttons visible. A later update added full Ice Cream Sandwich support, which let video use the whole 4.65 inch screen.
Root Explorer
This is a file manager built mainly for rooted phones. It can back up, move, delete and zip files, and send APK files to other phones. Without root it still works but cannot reach protected areas. It cost $3.99 and the reviewer considered it worth the price for anyone serious about rooting and flashing ROMs.
Quick comparison
| App | Root needed | Cost noted |
|---|---|---|
| Light Flow | No | Free or $1.99 |
| Volume+ | No on the Galaxy Nexus | Free and paid versions |
| Fancy Widgets | No | Unlocker for full features |
| Nova Launcher | No | Not stated |
| Root Explorer | Best with root | $3.99 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use these apps today?
Some of them still exist in newer forms, but the Galaxy Nexus is no longer supported and the exact versions described here are historical.
Do I need to root a Galaxy Nexus for these apps?
Not for most of them. Only Root Explorer needs root to reach its full usefulness.
Why was Light Flow the top pick?
It works without root and gives detailed control over the LED, sounds, vibration and quiet hours.