aNewDomain.net — Using Windows 8 apps is a first for many of us. Yet these tiny programs can be very beneficial and can greatly enhance your computing experience. Here are my top ten Windows 8 apps.
Microsoft didn’t include a clock in the Windows 8 Metro desktop, and many people miss it. I like this one because it’s a live tile that shows both the date and time. When open, it gives you a large analog clock and calendar.
This news app offers a great Windows 8 app experience. You can select from its growing list of news sources or add an RSS feed from any website. Bento’s news articles expand to fill the screen making them easily readable and you can use the Share charm to share articles.
3. Skype app
Compare the Skype app to the Skype traditional experience and you will immediately see a cleaner and more usable interface. It syncs with the contacts in your People hub and gives you notifications even when you are in another app.
4. Fresh Paint
This app will bring out your creativity. It really shines on a touch screen, but is also quite usable with a mouse. Choose your canvas, brush, and color. Then start having fun. You can even draw on a picture from your hard drive or one taken with your webcam.
5. Tool Box
This versatile app gives you the ability to perform six different tasks. It functions as a clock, calculator, takes voice notes, shows the weather, and has Facebook integration. It even lets you doodle during a boring meeting. You can choose different layouts and can show up to six tools at one.
While the built-in Bing Search app is very good, many of us want another option. That’s where the Google Search app comes in. This app gives you a full web experience with an excellent interface. It also gives you easy access to all of Google’s services, many of which don’t have apps.
7. Evernote
Evernote is the perfect gathering point for information. Whether you are doing serious research or coordinating a home project, it will let you make notes, save scraps of information, and keep everything organized. It also keeps everything in sync between your desktop and mobile devices.
8. IM+
Windows 8 comes with a Messaging app, but it only works with Facebook and Windows Live Messenger. If you have friends or relatives who use other chat interfaces, you need an app like this. IM+ supports Google Talk, AIM, Facebook, Jabber, ICQ, and Yahoo Messenger.
9. Tasks
List makers will find this app full-featured. You can group items by categories and projects, prioritize tasks, define due dates, and add notes and pictures.
10. Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Solitaire is the most played computer game of all time. This collection offers five variations including Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, TriPeaks, and Pyramid. It also has a variety of backgrounds and deck designs. You’ll never get bored!
All images credit Sandy Berger for aNewDomain.net
Based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Sandy Berger is a veteran tech journalist and senior editor at aNewDomain.net covering tech tips and tricks, apps and gadgets in general. Email her at Sandy@aNewDomain.net. Follow her on Twitter @sandyberger, +SandyBerger on Google+, and www.facebook.com/sandyberger on Facebook.
Have had Windows 8 now for three months. The worst piece of garbage I’ve ever encoutered. Everything is convuluted and extremely difficult. Support is non-existent.
I couldn’t agree with you more!! I absolutely HATE Windows 8.. Everythings behind each other and it’s the biggest pain ive dealt with since ever owning a computer!!! It’s VERY difficult!
If you want to boot to the desktop and Microsoft says you can’t, then, follow this tutorial – a scheduled task: http://www.7tutorials.com/how-boot-desktop-windows-8-skip-start-screen
Hope this helps
“Absolutely Hate” why? Everyone in my family uses Windows 8 Pro. I have not had one single system crash. Not one. The Desktop app works like previous versions of Windows. People make a big deal out of the fact that the Start Button is missing but why do you need it? Simply “Right Mouse” click where the Start Button was and you can access whatever you need. I Absolutely Love it! I stay in the “Metro” screen when enjoying a break and go to the Desktop app when working. If you’re easily frustrated or confused simply stay in the Desktop app and there is absolutely no difference in the windows experience.
Umm yeah I dont see why everyone hates windows 8. Ive been using it since it came out and yeah it was frustrating to learn at first but now I love it. its so much quicker than 7 and i prefer it over IOS any day. I find the windows 8 display very attractive and pleasing to the eye. Everything is gonna have haters though i guess.
I “hate” it because after months of use, I’m still missing a vital driver, Microsoft still hasn’t fixed the ongoing problem with power management (PC goes to sleep every sixty seconds following the first normal scheduled sleep cycle), the dynamic switching between metro and desktop when running apps is heinous, the app store is sorely lacking, I hate that I’m being forced to use my laptop like a tablet (why bother selling Surfaces if MS wants to force PCs to become tablets?), and Microsoft removed several key and formerly standard features like Media Player just so they could monetize them and resell them to users as apps. I’ve used Windows since version 3.1 but nowadays it’s “Hello OSX”, which is infinitely better than the FrankenOS steaming hot mess of an OS that Redmond dumped on us.
You don’t “hate it” as much as you’re not very good with computers. I can see how a novice can become frustrated with a new operating system. Your computer company should be more proactive. I am using a laptop designed for Vista and I am not missing one single driver and my computer runs faster on Windows 8 than it did with Vista or Windows 7. The “Dynamic” switching is seamless between the Start Menu and the Desktop App. I don’t use the app store because I purchase the programs I use from the software vendors. I do however use many apps for playing games and they are awesome! Who is forcing you to use your computer like a tablet? I use my computer to work. I am in the Desktop App 90 percent of the time. Not once have I been forced by any unseen power or person to use my laptop in the Start menu screen as a tablet. I know that you don’t use Windows 8 because Windows Media Player come standard with Windows 8. If you really used Windows since 3.1 there is no way you could be so confused. I believe you are a Mac Fanboy! Go to Mac. Windows is for big boys!
Great come back Steve… I believe there are a lot of Win8 haters who are closet Mac followers… you can come out the closet now… WINDOWS 8 is here to stay and will continue to give the Mac World some good competition as long as the laptop producers keep producing great products… GO DELL! LOL!
Good god haters in reality the usage pattern is the same as win 7. Here is my usage pattern… window key then start typing to find my app press enter and app opens. Desktop – window key plus ‘d’ for desktop. Pin my favorite desktop apps to the task bar.
This is exactly how I used windows 7. People get so caught up in the visual differences that they don’t even realize they can use the OS in the same patterns that they used to. I was never a fan of browsing through the old start menu as well I am not a fan of browsing through the new tile screen. I prefer to keep my hands on the key board.
Another thing to remember is that if you don’t like something about the OS chances are there are free utilities and widgets that developers have created to solve your issues. That’s the beauty of windows, millions of developers are supporting us.
MS is taking huge leaps to try and bring all your computing needs to one device and they should be applauded for it. In addition they are making strides to bring user experiences that are the same across all their devices (PC, phone, tablet and Xbox) and close integration between them all. Being a user of all their products I have to say my experience has been great. I certainly have had my fair share of frustrations but I see constant improvements that are making by computing life better.
Windows key and ‘d’ typing program names, sounds a lot like DOS to me
At least give us a start button back.
OneNote is much better solution than EverNote IMHO and it’s avaialable as a free Win8 app
I use OneNote a lot at work, but I tend to fall back on Evernote on my phone. Another Tech Page One team member has hundreds of items in Evernote. I’d say it depends on the use case. Nicole, Tech Page One Staff.
Great. It took less than a minute to set Skype on WIN 7 on Laptop. Faught with SKYPE on WIN 8 for 10 minutes to get the buy credits out of the way to video with wife. Please. Get off the Windows 8 love affair. Not everyone values an APP based on FACEBOOK or MYSPACE or FLICKR interactivity. Grow up.
If Windows 8 APPS don’t do the job, no one will leave Apple.
Have you noticed how when it comes to actually doing something like configuration or set up or management, WIN8 always returns to the desktop interface. I can’t help but believe that regardless of what MS says, 8 is really an overlay on 7. The Mail app is just as bad. Took forever to find print email. Still can’t make a decent connection to GMAIL, but it loves my hotmail account. Wait, it just required me to exit MAIL and brought up the browser to logon to Windows Live before I could send an email. It worked yesterday. This is FUN! Glad I’m an MCSE. This is the stuff that profitable IT businesses are made from. Don’t get me started on the dual boot with Windows 7, that’s a whole different ghost story.
I love it on my Surface. Why didn’t they just put this out for the pads?
For decades Microsoft has had multiple versions of their software. Mostly it’s been more features or less features in the different versions. I’ll never understand why they insisted on making a single Windows 8 instead of a version for touch machines and another for keyboard machines. To me that is a fundamental programming flaw and a big downside.
For better or worse Microsoft feels that the future of consumer computing will be tablet/mobile based, not traditional desktop/keyboard based. This is why Win8 is so directly focused on mobile devices and only secondarily on the keyboard and mouse. You may disagree with that prediction, but it’s not a “programming flaw” as much as a possible error in long-term design philosophy.
Besides as we all know there are plenty of people still using their XP and/or Win7 machines so this supposed transition to mobile computing is not going to happen overnight regardless. Obviously Microsoft would have plenty of time correct themselves if this market trend towards mobile computing somehow fizzles out in the next few years.
I like the QR4 Social Login APP http://goo.gl/ct3B5 I use it every morning to check my accounts.
I do consider all the concepts you have presented on your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for starters. Could you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.
Mi English is no very goo but I fin it amazng that yoo fin Win8 so difucult. I have no problima wit it. I tink it best thng, how you say it “sinc sliced bred”. I do mor than wit it. I hve usd XP, Vista, Win7 this is the bst. Becaus of BAD PRESS by CNET i no instl for lon tim but want for WinPro $39.99 and fre WMC so I finlly instl bfor 2013/2/1. I lve it. I do mor wit it. Are yu no computer literat??? I no us FB, twit or scial netwoks. Thy only gosip sits. I no ned gosip sites. I lke truth. Ty it, yu lve it. I now US citizn. I lik US an Win8…
Haha. You know something is VERY WRONG when one of the top 10 apps for Windows 8 is a Clock. WTH? I’ve used Windows 8, but without a touch form factor, I see no reason to use it. And with Windows 8 devices still coming to market at high retail prices, I’m in no hurry.
Tablets, and now Windows 8, in general, aren’t designed for BUSINESS. Business needs a “functioning” start button to access FILES, DATA, SOFTWARE, and DIFFERENT DRIVES. Apps are for PLAYING. Anybody who has a real life, and a real job doesn’t need an App – especially not for a d@mn clock.
A tablet is the most expensive “dumb terminal” I’ve ever seen.
For those of us who actually work all day, instead of playing on our phones, and now tablets, bring back our functionality and stop trying to shove new toys down our throat. If we actually had play time, it sure wouldn’t be to spend more time on a “computer”.
http://www.classicshell.net
Gives you a spyware free, and free start button and makes your Windows 8 computer useful again.
Michele of course Windows 8 is designed for business. That being said no business that is using proprietary software will immediately migrate to a new operating system. That is the main reason you still see companies using Windows XP. As an XP fan I can tell you that it doesn’t come close to Windows 8 in any category. I’ve been a part of several XP to Win 7 migrations and this is in the last six months. Windows 7 has been out for about 4 years so it took awhile. All I heard was how great XP was and the world is going to end and Windows 7 is no good. People fight change. I’m a professional geek and I love change and innovation.
In Windows 8 you don’t need a Start Button to access “FILES, DATA, SOFTWARE, and DIFFERENT DRIVES”. When you are ready for work just use the Desktop App. The Desktop App functions exactly the same as the desktops found from Windows 95 through Windows 7. If your concerns is quickly accessing your files, programs or drives you can create shortcuts on the desktop. You can also “Pin” programs to the task bar. If you right click on the desktop you can select the Personalize option and there you will find the option to change desktop icons. This will give you the option to place the User Folder, Computer, Network, Control Panel and Recycle Bin icons. If you want more features simply right click on the lower left hand side of the screen, where the “Start Button” used to be and you will find all kinds of cool options.
I have my laptop setup with the option to boot to Windows 7 or 8. The Windows Experience Index is faster on Windows 8. Give it time and look for a few “windows 8 for dummies” type books. There are a lot of great work features in Windows 8.
I’m the IT guy for a collection of engineers who are the best in the world at what they do, and we ship them around the world to do it.
For them to waste their time learning a new desktop is a crock of [censored] and shows that Microsoft doesn’t give a rat’s [censored] about the folks that have to use it.
If they had given us the option to have a classic desktop, rather than an abomination that AOL [!!!] walked away from years ago, I wouldn’t be as angry about having to deal with it.
My answer? We’re looking at different LINUX distro’s and migrating away from Microsoft products, because their business decisions impact our billable hours.
–Jim
If the engineers you work with were really “the best in the world at what they do” they wouldn’t have a problem in using Windows 8. You go to the desktop and you have your Windows 7 interface, I don’t see how they have to “waste their time learning a new desktop”. Oh, but you need your start menu, right? You poor thing. Install a third party and stop whining.
Seriously, I am sick of all these self proclaimed “IT gurus”, “experts”, “power users” and yet they are not able to learn a few new shortcuts which any normal person would be able to do in approximately 10 minutes.
But from the tone of your comment I am pretty sure that you have never even used Windows 8 and just jumped on the “Windows 8 sucks” bandwagon just after looking at the different interface.
People like you remind me of that story about the tech support guy spending half an hour with lady whose PC “wouldn’t work” only to find out that the power cord was unplugged. “Ma’am, this is a serious issue, you will have to return your computer”. “Really?! Why?”. “Because you are too stupid to own a PC”.
John: I don’t know what world you live in, but “normal” users at other clients used to do things like center justify text, and then put a carriage return at the end of a line and a second one to double space the document. I can’t see those people finding a third party solution to a system that they were told was “better.”
If the average user you’re talking about was so clever, why did Microsoft decide to go with a desktop skin that AOL walked away from ten years ago or more?
It’s people like you that give real IT guys a bad name, slamming the people who pay your salary and give you job security.
I went back to Windows 7 after 3 months of Windows 8 limitations and annoyances. I can’t understand why MS released this product and why hardware suppliers (except for touch screen manufacturers) push it to the exclusion of a proven Windows 7. Windows 8 is a dog. I’ll switch to Apple to avoid it.
Jim,
If you really are the I.T. Guy then how does Windows 8 confuse you so much? In a previous post I showed you how to use Windows 8 Desktop App. I explained how the Desktop App has the exact same functionality as previous versions of Windows desktops.
If you really are the I.T. Guy then how will anyone who is dependent upon you for keeping up with the trends that change the way businesses do business stay relevant? You seem to be completely against ever having to learn another thing in your life.
As the I.T. Guy you should have visited sites like, Lynda, that offer an overview of many software packages and more specifically Windows 8. As the I.T. Guy you are responsible for learning and then facilitating that knowledge downstream.
Go get some knowledge it really is powerful. Windows 8 is by far the fastest, most secure, flexible and innovative Operating System since the birth of Windows 95. Windows 95 was to us DOS users what Windows 8 seems to be to many. Mind Blowing!!
I like Windows 8… it is innovative and secure. I upgraded my computer systems to Win8 and have not had one doggone problem like some of the folks have described. I have both a touchscreen tablet, touchscreen laptop, and plain old fashioned laptop. It is no problem switching between the two modes… the Apps side of the house is entertaining and desktop side of the house is just like frigging Win7… what the hell is the problem? And I ain’t no IT guy… just a regular hard-working guy trying to keep his checkbook balanced using Quicken…. LOL!
There’s no indication in this article, but I wonder what Microsoft regards as the 10 top Win 8 apps.
If they agree with this list of pedestrian, rehashed, marginally useful and totally unnecessary programs, Microsoft has a product management problem of huge proportions.
Wow…Judging by the vitriol being spewed by “techs” about Win8 and its lack of usefulness, I’m going to have to LOL off stage left. My three year old and my seven year old have learned the Win8 interface faster than what would seem a die-hard tech or consultant or engineer can. They close apps with the mouse and their fingers (swipe down); they pin apps and internet websites to the Start screen; they launch apps via mouse and touch; they switch between the “Metro” interface and the desktop without blinking. (They also notice that it starts up a heck of a lot faster than their previous computer.) Don’t want the Tile/Metro interface? Fine, boot to the desktop and for about $10, you can have your whiney Start button as well as launch Metro apps in the Desktop mode (thank you StarDock!). I wonder if any of the people lambasting Win8 were around for the switch from DOS to Windows 3.1…If you’re in this industry, you should know one thing is constant: change. If you don’t like it, there’s a community college down the street that has courses on kennel feces cleaning.
It seems that the same folks who complain about Windows 8 also complained about Windows XP after upgrading from Windows 98…
who moved my cheese? Jeez, Sure Windows 8 is new and different. Jim if you work with engineers they are OK with the change, THATS WHAT THEY DO, they take an existing thing or process and make it better. Windows 8 is a newer better version of Windows 7. Don’t be left behind to starve, your cheese was moved, stop whining and start looking for more cheese before you starve to death. Or lose your job cause you suck as an IT guy and cant change with the technology, and in turn keep your group of engineers at the forefront of technology, so they can continue to be some of the best in the world.
Windows 8 is fantastic. Love it. Hands down, the most elegant OS. Change is good, right? This is pretty close to a home run. The Windows and MS haters will always be there, and they’ll always be the loudest. The rest of us, who can adapt to and embrace change and improvement, can enjoy Windows 8 without them. Alas, their vitriol will continue, like a mad six year old.
Windows 8 is very difficult because the Sun does not struggle to shine, unless there is smog, or a storm clouds or volcanic ash, or a fire. Windows 8 is difficult because you dont want to paddle up stream but prefer to go with the flow or down stream. So most people just want to go with the flow. So what Im saying is unless you have the wisdom understanding,knowledge and smarts to use windwos 8 it is very difficult to get use to. For example Im very frustrated that I have office 13 and I cant seem toget outlook to prompt me for the different profiles in outlook 13. Whereas in windows 7 you go to mail and you can prompt for maybe 7 or more mail clients in windows 7. Now can you do that in windows 7 no not to my wisdom and understanding. Now I have 2 email accounts mixed up with one email account and I have 7 email accounts I want to prmt for in outlook 13 and I dont know how to do it. When you go to the Microsoft office 13 web site you there is no support they talk about windows 7. So you pay money for windows 8 and pay money for office 13 and there is no support. Is this progress? No not if you live me in the wilderness, or Im stranded on a mountain top with search and rescue to find me in a jungle or in the Pacific Ocean. Whats the point and the best use of my time? Im not some high school child living with my parents goofing around hacking up the universe going on wild goose chase. Any suggestions Spock?
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to
me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll
be book-marking and checking back often!
WTF is with saying that people who dislike Windows 8 are simply not smart enough to use it. To my way of thinking they are the smart ones for not being sold on marketing hype but rather on the functionality of the product. This is not the first time MS has dished up crap and expected us to swallow it without complaining. I’ll use Windows 8 when and if they make work right or toss it in the trash and give us Windows 9.
I miss the point of why a computer should become more difficult to use as it supposedly becomes more advanced. Many people on this board commented with “novice” computer users will have a hard time. That is my point. Why does one have to a techie to use a computer. The idea behind advancements in personal computers or MACs is to make it more user friendly for the most ignorant and alien computer users. DOS was difficult. W.97 – 98 – xp were the best. Now Windows 8 claims that if we LEARN how to use it we’ll like it. That’s what I don’t get!!!!! I use a computer 8 – 10 hours a day.
It’s not more difficult at all. It may be unfamiliar at first, but it is very simple. When you started a new job, you may have been unfamiliar with it at first until you did it a few times, right? Should you just up and quit because selling shirts is different from selling shoes? I think you would learn a little bit about the shirts and continue to sell them(as logn as they made you more money.
Tell me, when people started dumping their basic phones running whatever rudimentary OS they happened to run, and picked up the iPhone, do you think they immediately knew how to use every feature? Is it immediately intuitive to the point that everyone knows to “pull down to refresh” and what the Share icon means? It may be that people understand it now, but I talk to people every day that buy their first iPhone and have no idea how to use it… they just heard that they would like it from their friends.
Same thing with Windows 8, just in reverse. It’s all over the news..Windows 8 is difficult to use, Windows 8 sucks! The same thing happened with AT&T and Verizon a few years back. AT&T’s network was not as good as Verizon’s but it wasn’t horrible everywhere. People loved to hate on them anyway without having even used them!
If people would boot the computer, go to the familiar desktop view, they would be just as productive as always AND learning the new features as they go. There is no decrease in productivity in this OS. I can’t believe people actually pay to revert to Windows 7 or for Start buttons and such.
Regarding your statement “advancements in personal computers or MACs”… a Mac is a brand of personal computer. Why are you separating the two here?
how do i get those apps on my pavilon g7
A few months ago I purchased a new laptop with WIN8. With work and college classes there were several applications that I needed right out of the gate. With Windows 8 I did not skip a beat went from WIN7 to WIN8 overnight with no issues at all. I run a virtual environment for testing and have set up back up and system files as needed. I use my mouse pad for shortcuts and have my apps organized efficiently. Lots of customization. No driver issues. Not sure why some folks are having an issue with Windows 8, I don’t miss the start button at all.
Windows is very intuitive and I welcome the changes it has brought to windows. Its funny I have friends who have repeated what has been said in the media about how difficult Win8 is but have never even tried it. Once they sit down at my computer within 5 minutes they are well on their way to loving it. Spend an hour with Windows 8 and you will definitely want that upgrade.
Windows Blue should make some haters happy though. Peace…