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When the Going Gets Really Tough - AppMonster Pro
Tested version: 1.8.3
Latest version: 2.6.1
Requires Android: from 1.6
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Summary
Sometimes an app update can do more harm than good: either something goes awry or the whole thing flakes out on you… and everything had been going so well up until the update! Then there are those days when the only solution is to wipe everything and reinstall all of your apps.
Sound familiar? Okay, that means you’ve been paying attention! And yes—you’re right a few days ago I reviewed the free version of AppMonster. Today we’re featuring the pay-for version AppMonster Pro that has even more to offer.
Features & Use
Section rating:
Test device: HTC Wildfire
Android version: 2.1
As of: 1.6
Permissions: Absolutely clean
I bet every Android user has had to go through the kind of scenario described in the teaser—either directly or indirectly. Are you prepared? AppMonster can’t help you avoid these types of situations, but it’s specialized in helping you muddle your way back out of said sorry state.
After starting AppMonster Pro it lists all of the apps you’ve got installed. Displaying the list takes a few seconds as all system data has to be processed: which versions of which apps have been installed, how much space do they take up (including their data), when were they installed, etc. The list’s default arrangement is by installation date (newest apps at the top of the list), but you can change this via the menu if you want (arrange according to size, alphabetically). This gives you a good overview of what you’ll be dealing with.
You can access actions via the context menu of each app-entry, which means you can start, uninstall, and save apps, as well as search for them in the Market, display additional information, or recommend them to your friends (via calendar, mail/Gmail, SMS, Twitter… depending on which apps are installed on your phone). If you’ve installed an app it’s a good idea to save the *.apk file to your SD card. But why should you waste your time doing this manually? AppMonster Pro can take over for you and do it automatically after every installation and every update, provided that’s what’s programmed in configurations. This means that you have to save everything that’s important to you once and then kick back and relax—that’s one of the bonuses that come with the pay-for version.
If you haven’t yet backed your apps up make use of the Save function when you first start using this app, and tap on More in order to read up on the app itself (English only).
You probably noticed the Install option in the menu, right? Well, you probably won’t need to make use of it just yet: it is to be used in sticky situations such as the ones described in the teaser. Whether you’ve just installed an older version of the app that got scr*wed up when you updated it or wiped everything clean—AppMonster Pro has saved everything for you (including *.apk), provided you made backups (or the Monster has done it for you in the case of the pro version). This means you won’t have to comb through the Market, but can reinstall apps at your leisure. Another alternative is to use Batch-Install. Wait until the list has been completed, tap on menu until you see Batch Install and select all *.apk files that start actions—and kick your feet up once more! Another pro perk. Whichever version you’re using, it’s important to remember that this can only work if you saved the files, not just the Market links, because otherwise you can only reinstall via the Market (i.e. the current version, provided the app hasn’t been removed altogether), which means you can’t install the previous version.
When you press the Install button the app switches to install-mode: AppMonster scans the SD card for available *.apk files / Market links and then asks you if you’d like to install them. Previously installed apps are displayed as such—the third bonus that comes with the pro version. The fourth bonus is an easy search tool even when you’ve got lots saved: the first letter suffices to help find what you’re looking for.
Bottom line: AppMonster Pro really is an app in shining armor in a lot of annoying situations.
BTW: If you’re still hesitating about whether or not to go for the pro version… what can I say, it’s your loss. Give the free version a go, but be warned that the four bonus featured mentioned above only come with the pro version… But it will let you get to know the Monster without having to splurge.
I was hesitating between giving this app a 4 or 5 star rating, but went for the full monty as I’d already awarded the free version 4 stars and pro has a lot more to offer.
Screen & Controls
Section rating:
You won’t have any trouble getting used to AppMonster Pro. It’s designed in a logical and straightforward way that makes it easy to access all relevant function.
The configuration was also designed intelligently: you choose if the app should keep the same sorting mode for the next time you use it, if app/installer icons should be displayed or hidden (hiding them makes the process a bit faster)…
Speed & Stability
Section rating:
It does take a bit of time for the list to appear—but you can’t blame AppMonster Pro for that, it simply takes time for the information to gather. Aside from this the app runs really smoothly. The current version didn’t crash, expect for one time when I was using the test version a few days ago, but that’s it and I’ve been using AppMonster Pro for months.
Price/Performance Ratio
Section rating:
AppMonster can be downloaded for free from the Market. AppMonster Pro costs EUR 1,77—and it’s worth it IMHO. The app is updated regularly and the support is great—five star rating in this department!
Developer
Top App:
AppMonster Free Backup Restore
Try the full version. AppMonster Pro Trial: http://goo.gl/gvmIf AppMonster is an (...)
Try the full version. AppMonster Pro Trial: http://goo.gl/gvmIf AppMonster is an (...)
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Market Comments
A Google User, May 14, 2013
Disappointed Used to work on my Droid Incredible 2. Now ineffective on my Galaxy s4. Can't even find where to email the creator to ask for help.
A Google User, May 11, 2013
Excellent Best app ever! If there was one thing wrong that was ask to say about this app.... My answer would be left blank! No flaws! This app is perfect! I love this app...Big Big Thanks to the people that put this app on the market !
A Google User, May 9, 2013
Best app manager for a non-rooted android install Best app manager for a non-rooted android install
A Google User, May 8, 2013
So good that I have shared w/All Social mediums#!¡! 4FREE Beautiful Thing Google plus'd it(+1=)),Shared 2 my own FB news feed,&2 "NitTwit"... &others specific to me;;-) All completly free...I have never done that in reference to an application on GP...Still #Speechless(.)
A Google User, May 7, 2013
CHRONIC FREEZING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO BACKUP LIST This app has started freezing & stopping cold when attending to view backups. Needless to say, I cannot perform any function whatsoever when trying to pull up my back up list. VERY FRUSTRATED!! Have emailed Dev; hoping for help SOON. Will revert to my initial 5 star rating if/when resolved.
A Google User, May 4, 2013
Pro is well worth it Been using App Monster for a while now. It had made moving to a new phone a snap. Restoring my apps was simple. And with the saved versions, I could restore to a previous version of a weather app that I really liked when I discovered the new version was drastically different. Highly recommend.
A Google User, Apr 29, 2013
Best App Manager This way to manager apps from internal storage to your SD storage.
A Google User, Apr 29, 2013
Not too bad Ok if I could figure out how to move my apps that are already installed to my sd card!
A Google User, Apr 27, 2013
Some observations... Firstly, App Monster sometimes tells me that an app can be moved to the SD card when this is not the case, e.g. Soundhound. Secondly, App Monster incorrectly counts the number of backups saved.
Hello all,
I really like this app and appreciate the convenience of having it automatically back up my apps (with archives of past versions). The way AppMonster Pro restores my apps is different from what I thought it would do. I thought that in batch restore you would just mark the apps you wish to restore, select batch restore and walk away. When you got back it would all be done. That's not how it works with me. With batch restore I select the apps I wish restored,start the process and then find out that AppMonster Pro requires me to OK each and every install. I have to click "Install" and wait for it to finish, go to the next one and wait, etc. That gets a bit tedious when reinstalling 150 apps!
Am I missing something?
I have a rooted Toshiba Thrive tablet with ICS.
Thanks!