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Here’s a list of 3 home design apps for Android which you can use to create mock ups of your dream house, plan redecoration’s and more. Seeing how we’re talking about tablets and smartphones here, you can’t really expect the kind of advanced functionality and usability that can be found in desktop applications, but the apps I mentioned do come very close to being just as good as desktop software of this sort.

Let’s see what exactly it is that they can offer.

Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden

Home design isn’t just about making everything the way you like it within the walls of your home, don’t forget about the outside, and that’s exactly what Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden focuses on.

With the help of this app, you’ll be able to create a design of the backyard and the front of the house using hundreds of items and building types ranging from simple table sets to full on gazebos, see image above. Unfortunately, the same kind of freemium model is applied here like the one that can be found in the indoor version of Home Design 3D, seeing how the same developer is behind both of the apps. Still, app is fully functional apart from losing the save feature after 2 hours, but screenshots help with that, at least they did the trick for me.

Get Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden

Planner 5D

Planner 5D is a very advanced home design app for Android where you get a large database of all kinds of furniture in lots of different variations that you can use to decorate your rooms.

Since the app has a lot to offer it also requires a lot of storage space, close to 250MB. Four demo designs are available by default to help you familiarize yourself with the app. Online, in the Planner 5D gallery on their website, you can find designs shared by others or share your own creations. 2D and 3D view modes are available. Move around by holding down a screen tap, zoom with pinching, the usual. An optional paying subscription gives you access to an additional 3000 items from the paid database offered by Planner 5D for more detailed customizations of the designs that you’re creating.

Get Planner 5D

Home Design 3D

Before we delve into what exactly it is that Home Design 3D has to offer, keep in mind that the app works on a freemium basis. What that means in case of this app is that for 2 hours after installation you have full functionality. After the 2 hours are up the ability to save designs is taken away, but you can still create designs and then take screenshots to share them with others.

Other than the previously mentioned limitations app works pretty much just like Planner 5D does, only the interface is a little bit revamped. Furniture selection is on the left. 2D and 3D modes are available. Room layout and furniture designs can be changed in both 2D and 3D. Furniture is placed into categories, and there’s a find tool to help you find the furniture that you need more easily.

Get Home Design 3D

Telkomsel berhasil meraih penghargaan internasional pada malam penganugerahan Global Mobile Awards 2011 di sela-sela berlangsungnya GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011 di Barcelona, Spanyol, baru-baru ini. Predikat sebagai Best Mobile Learning Innovation untuk layanan Urban English menjadikan Telkomsel satu-satunya perusahaan telekomunikasi selular di Indonesia yang memperoleh pengakuan sebagai yang terbaik pada ajang penghargaan bagi perusahaan-perusahaan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi terkemuka di seluruh dunia tersebut.

Direktur Utama Telkomsel Sarwoto Atmosutarno mengatakan, “Kami berterimakasih atas kepercayaan seluruh pelanggan yang telah menikmati manfaat menggunakan berbagai produk dan layanan Telkomsel. Penghargaan internasional ini merupakan bukti bahwa kami terus berinovasi dalam memberikan layanan berkualitas, sejalan dengan misi Telkomsel untuk menjadi penyedia solusi layanan mobile lifestyle terbaik dan terdepan di Asia Pasifik.”

Best Mobile Learning Innovation: Seorang pelanggan Telkomsel sedang mempelajari bahasa Inggris menggunakan layanan Urban English di ponselnya. Telkomsel baru-baru ini berhasil meraih penghargaan internasional Global Mobile Awards 2011 dengan predikat sebagai Best Mobile Learning Innovation untuk layanan Urban English, yang menjadikan Telkomsel satu-satunya perusahaan telekomunikasi selular di Indonesia yang memperoleh pengakuan sebagai yang terbaik pada ajang penghargaan bagi perusahaan-perusahaan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi terkemuka di seluruh dunia tersebut.

Dewan juri Global Mobile Awards 2011 menilai Urban English sebagai “sebuah inovasi sederhana dan menarik yang mudah digunakan dengan memanfaatkan layanan suara untuk melayani pelanggan”. Pada ajang penghargaan bertaraf internasional tersebut, Urban English berhasil mengungguli inovasi mobile learning lainnya, yakni program BBC Learning English untuk BBC Janala, program inisiatif edukasi global Connect To Learn yang dikembangkan Ericsson bersama The Earth Institute Columbia University dan Millennium Promise, program Bridgeit yang dikembangkan Nokia dan The Pearson Foundation, dan CellCast Solution milik OnPoint Digital, Inc.

Urban English merupakan inovasi layanan edukasi Bahasa Inggris melalui ponsel pertama di Indonesia, hasil kerjasama Telkomsel dengan Urban Planet Mobile, sebuah perusahaan penyedia layanan mobile education yang berbasis di Amerika Serikat. Urban English memfasilitasi pelanggan untuk mempelajari Bahasa Inggris setiap hari melalui SMS audio. Metode pembelajaran yang mengombinasikan membaca dan mendengarkan ini diharapkan mampu meningkatkan pemahaman dan keterampilan berkomunikasi yang lebih baik, sehingga pelanggan bisa memahami pelajaran Bahasa Inggris dengan lebih cepat.

Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang disediakan Urban English terfokus pada kata dan frase yang digunakan dalam berbagai situasi sosial untuk beragam kalangan, mulai dari pebisnis internasional hingga pelajar. Pelanggan bisa memilih layanan pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris untuk pemula, pebisnis, bahkan Bahasa Inggris gaul yang sering digunakan dalam percakapan sehari-hari. Topik yang dibahas dalam Urban English pun bervariasi, seperti: hiburan, shopping, kuliner, dan sebagainya.

Pengguna kartuHALO, simPATI, dan Kartu As bisa berlangganan layanan Urban English hanya dengan Rp 500 untuk setiap SMS konten yang diterima. Caranya mudah, cukup hubungi *252*5# untuk memilih pelajaran Bahasa Inggris bagi Pemula, Bisnis, atau Gaul, selanjutnya pelanggan akan menerima SMS berisi link untuk memainkan audio pelajaran Bahasa Inggris setiap harinya. Layanan Urban English kini telah dinikmati sekitar 200.000 pelanggan Telkomsel.

Have you ever been in the home improvement store wishing you had all the measurements for your do it yourself project handy? Have you been in the middle of your project at home and found you can’t find a protractor, ruler and leveler? The iPhone has changed the way we look at our everyday world, and home improvement apps are bigger than ever. There are over 250,000 apps out there. We pulled together 20 of the best iPhone home improvement apps that have helped us, let us know if you have any to add to the list!

1.) Dream Home:, Dream Home Free: Rated 4 stars, $2.99, FREE:  If you need inspiration for color, style, room and design help, the Dream Home app gives you a multitude of full color photos in varying home categories to choose from. Worldwide designers have contributed inspiration photos to help you have ideas in hand to share with your home improvement, designer or sales person to get your point across. No more clipping magazine pictures! Free version also available.

2.) iHandy Carpenter:  Rated 4 stars, $1.99: How much better can the iPhone get when you have a ruler, protractor, bubble leveler, plumb bob, and surface leveler all in the palm of your hand. Whether you are hanging a picture and need the leveler, or you are mitering the corners of crown molding, this app is for you!

3.) Home Sizer: Rated 3 stars, $2.99: If you are in the process of designing a home and need to compare costs of supplies, materials, and square footages of the project, then this app is perfect. Easy to read interface and allows you to even figure in mortgage payments and interest before you build your dream home!

4.) Palettes: Rated 2 stars, FREE:  Are you trying to match colors to a paint or fabric in your home improvement project? Palettes app allows you to grab colors from pictures, magazines, or websites and match/contrast with color schemes. This app is good for choosing accent wall colors and comparing colors for your interior and exterior projects.

5.) Drywall Calculator: Rated 3.5 stars, $0.99: Anyone who has ever tried to calculate drywall for a room knows how time consuming and confusing it can be with paper and pencil. Trying to keep the lengths correct along with the height, removing doorways/windows, etc… The drywall calculator will let you figure square footages easily and faster. Includes data area for measuring ceilings and sloping walls.

6.) Handy Man DIY: Rated 5 stars, $2.99: This app has just about everything you will need for your home improvement project. From categorizing your products in a shopping list format, to measuring ‘take-offs’ for your individual rooms and adding together the measurements. Other features include do it yourself step-by-step instructions for common projects and video tutorials!

7.) HomeLogic Mobile Control: Rated 4 stars, FREE: Wouldn’t you love to be able to control your home’s lights, heating, alarm system and audio from the touch of your iPhone? This app works through WiFi or over the internet. Also available are controls of home video cameras, air conditioning and pool!

8.) Home Interior Layout Designer – Mark On Call: Rated 3 stars, $2.99: This app is for those that want a room planning tool, take off list, and quick idea guide all in one. For those that are trying to design a space, go to the store from a material list in an easy user friendly interface, this app is perfect for you. From iTunes library – “It’s the next best thing to hiring a designer or having an assistant.” – Apartment Therapy

9.) inchCALC: Rated 3.5 stars, $1.99: Have you ever had to add fractions on a calculator and have to keep converting them to decimals? inchCALC is a construction calculator that allows you to add fractions and lengths without converting. This is an essential app for adding up materials and finishes! 

10.) iScrew: Rated 3.5 stars, $0.99: This app is for the carpenter or do it yourselfer that needs classification on types of screws, bolts, and fasteners. This educational app helps if you have missing screws and need to ask a home improvement salesperson to assist you finding a replacement. Also helpful in determining what screws work best in what materials.

11.) Tap4RENOVATIONS: Rated 2 stars, FREE: When you need a home contractor this app will help you find the ones that are located closest to you. Choose from a variety of contractors and your most recent calls are stored automatically. This app is perfect for price hunting between contractors, or in an emergency. Who knows when a DIY project will need a professional on the scene!?

12.) Home Maintenance: Rated 3.5 stars, $2.99: Trying to remember when it’s time to change the air filters and or when a repairman fixed your garage door? The Home Maintenance app sets reminders and gives you suggestions as to when your home systems needs regular maintenance and scheduling. Email yourself a complete record of maintenance and add pictures to help keep an archive history of your home and its repairs.

13.) Work Shop: Rated 4 stars, $4.99: Whether you are a novice handy person or a professional contractor, the Work Shop app allows you to order supplies and keep track of them for multiple projects. Keep track of billing, orders, and receiving inventory. For the novice, use it to make future lists and budget how much you will spend on supplies.

14.) Crown Molding Angle Finder: Rated 3.5 stars, $2.99: Have you ever installed crown molding and have to cut a piece 3-4 times because the angle wasn’t correct? Instead of making multiple trips to the store, use the Crown Molding Angle Finder. This app will help you calculate the miter and bevel angles for you! Less mistakes, less time, and oh yes… less waste!

15.) BalusterPro: Rated 4.5 stars, $2.99: Have you ever needed to fix stair balusters? The spacing between the balusters and can also be used on other projects that equal spacing is important. Try using on fences, floor decking and bench seat backs. Select from 6 different railing conditions and types.

16.) Pitch Gauge: Rated 4.5 stars, FREE: Trying to determine what pitch your roof is for roofing supplies and roof projects. If your iPhone has a camera you can angle your phone off of the picture of your roof. This app is great for measuring existing roof slopes and matching an adjacent roof to the same slope.

17.)  Hardwood flooring design: Rated 3 stars, Free: Want to know how your space will look with hardwood flooring before you purchase? Hardwood flooring design takes the guess work out of imagining and gives you the power to see it before you buy it. Wood species information and buyer information also included.

18.) Interior Design – Photo Library: Not rated, $0.99: Interior photo pictures of homes for inspiration. Use for planning out your next space, or thumb through for a digital ‘idea book’. Dozens of interior photographs help you visualize a space and get interior professional ideas without hiring a designer..

19.) Eden Garden Designer: Rated 2 stars, $0.99: Use this handy app to determine what type of flowers you’d like to plant in your garden. From a plant glossary to pictures of planned gardens for you to grab inspiration from. Choose plants from color, height, planting zone and climate categories. A must have app for the avid gardener.

20.) Home Improvement Glossary: This app is for everyone who is new to do it yourself projects and needs glossary terms for starting a new project or fixing an old one. Common knowledge terms and more advanced terms are listed in an easy to read format.

For all of your home improvement needs, the iPhone app store can help you get the job done. These are 20 we think will help the novice and the expert. If you have any you’d like to add, please tell us in the comment section. After all – you can never have too many iPhone apps, can you?