With over ten billion apps downloaded, Apple may rule the roost when it comes to downloadable application software.

But if Mobile World Congress 2011 is anything to go by, Android is definitely the cool kid in school, and this kid is growing in popularity all the time.

Smartphones running Android outnumber Apple’s iOS by more than 2-to-1, which is likely to increase. And with Android tablets on the up too, the iPad will be getting a run for its money in the near future too.

There’s no doubt we’re becoming increasingly mobile-orientated. This also means all you designers and creatives out there no longer have to chain yourselves to your studios – you can flex your creative muscles on the move.

So without further ado, here are six of the best creative Android apps out there.

1. Photoshop Express

Photoshop Express is a trimmed-down version of the full desktop version of Photoshop. For fine-tuning photos on the move, this is a great little app.

You can rotate, crop, straighten or flip images, whilst you can also adjust the tint, contrast and saturation. Not bad at all…and the damage? Free – sweet!

2. WordPress

The most popular blogging platform out there, WordPress for Android is a must for any creative who likes to blog, irrespective of their physical location.

This app will let you write new posts, edit content and manage comments. It’s open-source and free.

3. Magic Color Picker

The Magic Color Picker app is for designers, artists and programmers, where you can select colors using different color models.

This neat little app supports seven different models, including RGB, HSV, HSL and YUV. A palette or slider is at your disposal, and colors are shown in decimal and HEX.

The damage for this app is zilch.

4. Flicker Uploader Pro

Many creatives have a deep, inseparable relationship with their Flickr account, which is why Flicker (sic) Uploader Pro may come in handy.

You can back-up your pictures to your Flickr account when on the move, but there are a couple of catches here. Firstly, it only backs-up via Wi-Fi. And secondly, it will cost you a couple of bucks.

A decent app nonetheless.

5. Soundcloud

If sound’s your thing, whether it’s as a musician or podcaster, Soundcloud is the app for you.

Free to use, you can record audio and share it across your social networks immediately, or simply store it in the cloud for access at a later date. An excellent app that opens up a whole new world of opportunity to audio-artists on the move.

6. PRO Zoom Camera 5X

PRO Zoom Camera 5X replaces whatever default camera you’ve been lumbered with.

With a 5x zoom, 8 filters and a multitude of filters and effects, the PRO Zoom takes a good quality photo. Though you’ll have to cough up a mammoth $2.99 to enjoy this baby.

Excuses, excuses, excuses…

Okay, here’s one final app that creatives may or may not find useful. The rather bizarre Freelancer Excuse Generator does what it says on the tin.

If you’re already working flat-out and feel the need to arm yourself with a few good excuses to fob-off clients, this app will generate excuses at random for you. So what does two hundred slick excuses cost these days? A dollar, apparently.

Of course, these apps aren’t designed to replace professional tools for your PC or Mac. But for prototypes, mock-ups or general messing around, you could do a lot worse than check these out for your Android smartphone or tablet.