Our readers are a savvy bunch, you know all about apps for your smartphone, but did you know Windows 8 also has an app store? Here are some top apps for you to get to grips with your new Windows 8 device.
Accuweather - Free
Simple and beautiful, Accuweather is one of the best applications on any platform for weather updates and info. The information is as up to the minute as it gets but not many applications have such a down right beautiful user interface to play around with - it even makes the 7-day forecast of 100% rain here in Preston look appealing...
Lazy Paint - Free
Any app with the strapline "No talent, no problem" has us immediately intrigued. Many times in my life I've felt a creative wave come over me yet lacked the ability to express myself in any way, shape or form. Enter Lazy Paint - the app that helps you mash, distort and get creative with your image work. The program recommends brushes and effects that suit the image you upload and helps shape your creation, check out the hilarious videos on their site for some inspiration. Anything that provides an outlet for the frustrated artist inside this Geek Squad uniform is a winner in my book!
Khan Academy - Free
The Khan Academy are an amazing organisation. Their non-profit education website offers over 3,800 video on everything from Maths and Physics to Farming techniques and was the brainchild of Salman Khan who started the project in 2006 with the goal of "Providing high quality education for anyone, anywhere". Their Windows 8 app is a lovely way to engage with their colourful and diverse content and whether your a post-grad marketing manager or 8 year-old child, there's something on here that you'll enjoy.
BallStrike - Free
A handy app for when you’ve been sitting in front of the screen for too long, BallStrike is an augmented reality app – this means it uses your webcam to track your movements, to make you hit balls out of the air on the screen. This keeps you fit, gets you off your hindquarters, and even take photos for you to share with your friends – or even get them involved to make fun of them.
PepperPlate– Free
Great free app for all those professional cooks or amateur chefs out there. You can view recipes from others, or enter your own creations to then share with the world. It has other cool features like multiple timers for those tricky multi-stage culinary treats, and you can even plan your menu for the coming weeks with a meal schedule.
Windows 8 Handbook– Free
Moving to Windows 8 can be a bit of a learning curve – especially if you’ve been used to your old Windows XP computer for the last decade or so. This handy application breaks down the features of the newest Operating System into bite-sized chunks so they’re easy to learn, or the coolection is also useful as a reference point to refresh your memory when tricky task crop up. You’ll be zipping about your system more efficiently than ever before in no time!
MinimaList– Free
As the name perhaps implies, this is a clean, initiative list and to-do application, which lends itself well to touch based use. Make entries into custom lists, view them and complete them with a swipe of your finger. The app is super stylish as you can see above and it even integrates into Windows search just in case you have way too many apps to sort through manually - very handy indeed.
Metro Commander– Free
Annoyed you can’t manage your files or documents without having to use the proper desktop view? With Metro Commander, your woes are a thing of the past! All normal file functions are available, such as copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc. It's big and finger friendly, easy to use, and even allows the setting of favourite folders for you to jump straight into – a must have for those times you don’t have a keyboard and mouse handy.
There you go folks, some top picks to bulk up your Windows 8 app library. We hope you enjoy them!