Windows 8 is here, and it's everywhere. Against analyst beliefs, Microsoft's latest has indeed turned out to be it's greatest with Windows 8 dominating on all fronts, all of whose credit goes to Microsoft's marketing and the product itself. And Windows 8 brought along something we never thought was necessary for our desktops or laptops 2 years ago, an App Store. Here's a guide to the best apps across the board.
IM: Skype
Skype is the world's most popular application for Video Calling, and now Voice calling as well as an excellent IM (thanks to it's huge user base). Skype is available on every platform you could ask, PC, Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows Phone as well. After Microsoft's acquisition and deep integration of Skype features into Windows Phone, it's almost a no brainer to use thi (can we say, native) app for your IM needs.
Skype for Windows 8
Notes: OneNote
OneNote is Microsoft's cloud synced Note storing service which as re-imagined (re-designed) for Windows 8. The very fact that we are mentioning OneNote instead of the ever popular EverNote goes a long way telling you just how good this app is. You can type, click, or swipe, this app notes it all. The best part? You can access all your notes stored on OneNote using any of the mobile apps or a web browser as well.
Features
OneNote for Windows 8
Mix: Music Maker Jam
Time for some music and fun? Music Maker Jam is the app to start a Jam Session wherever, whenever! This free app allows you to modify your music collection, create jams and put you on the way to creating your own hits (note: depends on skill level). You can combine parts of different songs, play around with the key or tempo as well as add special effects that will give end results that sound like professionally produced tracks. The app does the synchronization of the sounds on it's own, so this app can be used live in case you wanted to show off to your friends too!
Music Maker Jam on Windows 8
FB: Facebook+ Lite
Facebook+ Lite is a Facebook app for Windows 8 that is much better than some of the paid apps as well (which are often nothing but the browser version of Facebook itself). You can do most of the tasks of Facebook using this (supposedly "Lite" app) such as
interact with your feed, friend's feed, view photos, share photos, and more...
Features
Facebook+ Lite for Windows 8
Radio: TuneIn Radio
TuneIn Radio is one of the many online radio providers (apps). And it is surely counted among the very best. With this radio app, you can TuneIn to over 60,000 channels from literally every corner of the earth. There are as many as 2 million on-demand programs available as well. Be it ESPN, BBC, or TEDTalks, TuneIn allows you to search and listen to shows featuring your favorite artists, talk show hosts of even comedians.
TuneIn for Windows 8
Reader: Nextgen Reader
Nextgen Reader is a self proclaimed best and fastest Google Reader app for Windows 8. The app has a very nice Modern UI (Metro UI) theme. The app itself needs a Google account, for which you have to weirdly open your browser and sign in to and then start using the app.
Features
This version says it's an unlimited Ad-free trial. The app works in Classic (non-touch) view as well as the Touch screen optimized view, both of which are excellent for their respective modes of input.
Nextgen Reader for Windows 8
Study: Khan Academy
Khan Academy is the app version of the very popular website that allows anyone and everyone to learn about almost anything and everything. The new Windows 8 app allows you to view their complete library of 3,800 educational videos covering a massive range of topics beginning from K-12 math and science subjects as well as (and not limited to) tutorials on finance and history.
Features
Khan Academy for Windows 8
Imaging: Fresh Paint
How about a little fun? Fresh Paint is a delightful (and popular!) app that gives you a fun yet realistic painting experience, that promises to be fun for you as well as your entire family. The app allows you to simulate oil painting and much more. Whether you're a budding artist or even a kid, Fresh Paint lets you unleash your inner creativity. Fresh Paint is the canvas for your ideas, so get painting! (best experience with touch-enabled Windows 8 devices).
Features
Fresh Paint for Windows 8
Game: ARMED!
This round up wouldn't be complete without a game. But what do we have here? Not Angry Birds Star Wars, not Jetpack Joyride. Welcome to "ARMED", a sci-fi turn based multiplayer strategy game developed entirely by indie studio Sickhead Games. This game will remind you a lot of Starcraft, only re-realised.
ARMED! puts you in command of a fleet of futuristic tanks, turrets, and robots with one mission: infiltrate enemy territory, crush their forces, and destroy their headquarters.
ARMED! for Windows 8
Here's hoping that this guide introduced you to a nice set of apps to get started with you brand new Windows 8 device!
IM: Skype
Skype is the world's most popular application for Video Calling, and now Voice calling as well as an excellent IM (thanks to it's huge user base). Skype is available on every platform you could ask, PC, Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows Phone as well. After Microsoft's acquisition and deep integration of Skype features into Windows Phone, it's almost a no brainer to use thi (can we say, native) app for your IM needs.
Skype for Windows 8
Notes: OneNote
OneNote is Microsoft's cloud synced Note storing service which as re-imagined (re-designed) for Windows 8. The very fact that we are mentioning OneNote instead of the ever popular EverNote goes a long way telling you just how good this app is. You can type, click, or swipe, this app notes it all. The best part? You can access all your notes stored on OneNote using any of the mobile apps or a web browser as well.
Features
- Make lists --- Quickly write up to-do lists with check boxes.
- Draw and write --- Use your device's pen to draw in your notes as you would on paper.
- Take pictures --- Take photos with your device's camera to put in your notes.
- Customize formatting --- Organize your notes with tables, bullets, colors, and more.
- Search --- OneNote works with Windows 8 search, so you can always find the notes you're looking for.
- Snap view --- Need to reference another app or website while taking notes? OneNote can snap to the side of your screen so you can use both apps at the same time.
- Paper --- Take notes on a white background or change the background of your notes to grid or ruled lines.
- Share --- With Windows 8 share, you can quickly email notes to friends or send information from other apps directly into OneNote.
OneNote for Windows 8
Mix: Music Maker Jam
Time for some music and fun? Music Maker Jam is the app to start a Jam Session wherever, whenever! This free app allows you to modify your music collection, create jams and put you on the way to creating your own hits (note: depends on skill level). You can combine parts of different songs, play around with the key or tempo as well as add special effects that will give end results that sound like professionally produced tracks. The app does the synchronization of the sounds on it's own, so this app can be used live in case you wanted to show off to your friends too!
Music Maker Jam on Windows 8
FB: Facebook+ Lite
Facebook+ Lite is a Facebook app for Windows 8 that is much better than some of the paid apps as well (which are often nothing but the browser version of Facebook itself). You can do most of the tasks of Facebook using this (supposedly "Lite" app) such as
interact with your feed, friend's feed, view photos, share photos, and more...
Features
- Easily view your Facebook feed the way you are used to: vertically and in a clean interface
- Express yourself by commenting, liking & posting status
- Easily share photos to Facebook from apps such as Photos app using Share charm
- Upload multiple photos from within app
- View your friends' feed and albums
- Write on your friends' feed
- Birthdays - Live tile update of your friends' birthdays
- Browse your Facebook albums
- Browse FB messages and notifications
- See who's invited/going/hot among your Facebook events
- Browse friends using semantic zoom (press Ctrl+Dash, or pinch gesture)
Facebook+ Lite for Windows 8
Radio: TuneIn Radio
TuneIn Radio is one of the many online radio providers (apps). And it is surely counted among the very best. With this radio app, you can TuneIn to over 60,000 channels from literally every corner of the earth. There are as many as 2 million on-demand programs available as well. Be it ESPN, BBC, or TEDTalks, TuneIn allows you to search and listen to shows featuring your favorite artists, talk show hosts of even comedians.
TuneIn for Windows 8
Reader: Nextgen Reader
Nextgen Reader is a self proclaimed best and fastest Google Reader app for Windows 8. The app has a very nice Modern UI (Metro UI) theme. The app itself needs a Google account, for which you have to weirdly open your browser and sign in to and then start using the app.
Features
- Completely safe oauth2 web authentication.
- Choose between eight color accents to personalize the design e.g. teal, blue, etc.
- Modern view for your touch-screen/tablet device.
- Classic view (beautiful 3-column layout) for PCs/Laptops.
- Pin multiple live tiles to start screen from either classic view or modern view.
- Full keyboard support in classic view (press "?" key).
- Incremental sync with ability to limit number of items to download per feed.
- Set default open method per feed: summary, full article or webpage.
This version says it's an unlimited Ad-free trial. The app works in Classic (non-touch) view as well as the Touch screen optimized view, both of which are excellent for their respective modes of input.
Nextgen Reader for Windows 8
Study: Khan Academy
Khan Academy is the app version of the very popular website that allows anyone and everyone to learn about almost anything and everything. The new Windows 8 app allows you to view their complete library of 3,800 educational videos covering a massive range of topics beginning from K-12 math and science subjects as well as (and not limited to) tutorials on finance and history.
Features
- Downloadable videos: take individual videos or entire playlists to watch offline at your own pace
- Search and share: use Windows charms to search videos and share using any app which can share
- Track your progress: Log in with your Khan Academy user account to get credit for watching videos
- Watch on TV: use devices charm to play videos on your TV using a PlayTo enabled device on your network
Khan Academy for Windows 8
Imaging: Fresh Paint
How about a little fun? Fresh Paint is a delightful (and popular!) app that gives you a fun yet realistic painting experience, that promises to be fun for you as well as your entire family. The app allows you to simulate oil painting and much more. Whether you're a budding artist or even a kid, Fresh Paint lets you unleash your inner creativity. Fresh Paint is the canvas for your ideas, so get painting! (best experience with touch-enabled Windows 8 devices).
Features
- - Experience highly realistic oil paint. It works just like real oil on a canvas, just a little easier.
- - Paint without the mess, clean-up, and costly supplies.
- - Help your kids be creative and explore their imagination.
Fresh Paint for Windows 8
Game: ARMED!
This round up wouldn't be complete without a game. But what do we have here? Not Angry Birds Star Wars, not Jetpack Joyride. Welcome to "ARMED", a sci-fi turn based multiplayer strategy game developed entirely by indie studio Sickhead Games. This game will remind you a lot of Starcraft, only re-realised.
ARMED! puts you in command of a fleet of futuristic tanks, turrets, and robots with one mission: infiltrate enemy territory, crush their forces, and destroy their headquarters.
- Seven maps with unique artwork and tactical terrain features.
- 13 defensive and offensive units to command into battle.
- Over 50 unit upgrades and special attacks to help turn the tide.
- Simultaneous turn online multiplayer with ratings and matchmaking.
- Challenge your friends to a multiplayer matches.
ARMED! for Windows 8
Here's hoping that this guide introduced you to a nice set of apps to get started with you brand new Windows 8 device!
Buying a new phone? Or a tablet? Need help with something everyday-tech related? Ask me and I'm sure to help!
— Preetam Nath (@hipreetam93) April 18, 2013
— Preetam Nath (@hipreetam93) April 18, 2013