Just the other day I was thinking back to how I imagined the future would be when I was little. I didn’t have any exact ideas, but thanks to all those science fiction movies I at least had a notion of what the main features would be: voice and gesture controlled computers and hundreds of other similar gimmicks and gadgets… And then I stopped and said to myself, “Hey, you’ve already got all this stuff!”

Readers, the future is in your hands. The same type of future that if you show it to grandma or grandpa, or even to your parents, they’ll stare at you stunned and won’t even attempt to try and understand it (now that’s magic). Let me introduce you to a few of the applications that are fast establishing a before and after. Here goes with the TOP 6.

6 – Google Navigation/Google Maps

Since Google Navigation was activated automatically on our phones a couple of months ago, I’ve been able to use the application to its full potential and understand that although it’s not the best ever, Google Maps Navigation has marked a before and after in the GPS world. To begin with, the fact that you get a complete GPS for free upfront when you open the map application is incredible. But Google Maps is much more than your run-of-the-mill GPS: Navigation checks the road traffic in real-time and if it detects congestion, it searches for alternative routes. You can navigate with Street View which shows you with real photos the streets you have to take, or you can just say “ice-cream parlor” and it’ll take you to the nearest one.

So it really doesn’t matter if you’re visiting a city for the first time. Now there’s no excuse: you can’t ever get lost anywhere, even if you tried. Amazing.

5 – Awesome Drop

I just can’t help it- I love this little application. Awesome Drop is a perfect representation of what will soon be the integration of HTML5 in our lives. Let me sum up what it’s all about. On the one hand, you install the application on your Android and on the other, open a browser on your PC. Visit the website and after entering the code that appears, all you have to do is drag and drop the files you want and they’ll automatically download onto your phone through push. Awesome.

Allow me to underline the advantages of this little application. You don’t need wires, or to be connected to the same Wifi network to send files from a computer to a cell phone. No restrictions whatsoever. But what’s more important: there are no physical limitations. I can open my application and my girlfriend Paola who lives in Madrid opens her browser. She gives me the code and passes me all the files she wants and they’ll appear instantly on my phone. Great.

4 – Chrome to Phone

This application is similar to the previous one but with a few modifications. Chrome to Phone has two main components: an application for Android and an extension for Chrome or Firefox. The principle of Chrome to Phone is to remove the physical boundary that exists between your computer and your phone in terms of information flow. If you’re watching a video on Youtube, press the button and it will automatically continue playing on your phone. If you’re reading an article, the same applies: press the button and continue reading on your cell phone. But it goes one step further: search for an address or map on your computer and Google Maps will open on your Android. Select a telephone number on your computer screen, press the button and be amazed as your phone starts to dial.

Technology aside, I love this application for the philosophy behind it and because we’re getting closer to a future where moving from cell phone to PC is completely fluid and vice versa. Changing devices will no longer mean you have to stop what you’re doing.

3 – Gesture Search

We already talked about this application but it’s been updated recently with a movement that will leave you speechless.

We literally open this application with a “doubleFlip” and then all we have to do is write with our finger the application we want to open. It’s amazing that with the flick of the wrist we can browse our contacts, applications and music. You should see the look on people’s faces when I do this trick.

2 – Shazam and music recognition

This application is a must for music lovers. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Shazam is one of those applications that leave you thinking “how do they do that?” Imagine a song is playing… Open Shazam and in 15 seconds you’ll know the title of the track, the artist, the album, dates, Youtube videos, lyrics, places you can download it and much more. You really have to see it in action to believe it.

With applications like this, I’m left thinking why they don’t integrate it somehow in car radios and other places. It automatically tells you what band and what song you’re listening to… Seriously, try it if you haven’t done so already.

1 – Voice search with Voice Actions

Introduced just over a week ago, this is one of those applications that lead you to the conclusion that the future really is here. The new Google voice search is much more precise and it now recognizes voice commands. So from now on no more wasting time typing on your Android- voice is the future.

Commands such as “Get directions to Juanma’s house”, “Message to Narbona, colon, pick up the phone” or “Play Owl City” are understood perfectly by your phone and executed immediately with outstanding results. For the time being, it’s only available in English… but that doesn’t stop you giving it a try and gasping in awe.

And of course, I’ve failed to mention applications for controlling your computer, changing songs, measuring distances or representing a virtual reality right in front of you. In any case, I’m starting to realize now just how far our phones can go and how unaware we are of it.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]