Windows 8 comes with existing apps classified
as Media, Social and Search. Most of them look like completed apps which are
optimized for previous Windows version we have seen earlier. However, there is
room for upgrade and Microsoft did provide regular updates.
Windows
8’s search apps
Microsoft gives Bing a remarkable presence in
Windows 8. It becomes the default search engine in Internet Explorer 10.0 and
includes Maps, Travel, Sport, News and Finance.
Bing’s apps surely won’t be used frequently
as they are carbon copies of search features in internet explorer 10.0 though
they own more interesting interface. Maps app is a good version of online Bing
maps but it works well on large screen to explorer areas. However, it lacks Bird’s
Eye (imagery captured at a 45 degree angle).
Travel app offers eye-catching things, such
as info and views of places of interest around the world. As not completed yet,
it provides beautiful overviews as well as info about flights and hotels.
In Windows 8’s Consumer Preview version, Sport
app concentrated a little more on US. Now it gets along with UK and brings
friendly vertical Modern UI to fans of soccer, cricket, golf and F1. In
particular sports, such as soccer, you can select a specific team and follow
them. Then, feeds are going to bring you info, results and images from that
team.
News app seems basic but it lets you create
personal news feed by adding sections for topics you cared about. Instead of limiting
you in some categories, the app allows you to type and search for titles with the
‘key words’. There’re a lot of news sources to choose from.
Last but not least, you have Finance app
which enables you to keep track of stocks and shares (through a list that can
be re-configured) as well as financial news. Another section provides stock
rates updated in every single minute.
Windows
8’s Search apps
Windows
8’s Media apps
Media apps in Windows 8’s preview versions
were example of how the completed apps will finally look like. In final
version, they seem like a store rather than a place for browsing and playing
your music/video, not just because they are branded Xbox.
Music, Video and Games apps are basically
alike although they have different contents. In Music and Video, basic info is
hidden in the left and the app default shows songs/videos that are newly added
or well-known in Xbox store. You can preview music tracks but now there’s no
trailer for most video contents.
For $180 per month (much cheaper than
Spotify Premium), you can register a Xbox Music Pass (early dubbed Zune Music
Pass) account which allows you to unlimitedly stream music to play on PC,
Windows Phone or Xbox.
Photos app haven’t changed much since beta
versions. It allows you to view images that are locally stored or kept in
online storage, lik SkyDrive, Facebook and Flickr.
You can make one of your images to become app’s
background or tile in Start menu. Slideshow button on home screen displays images
randomly from all storages but you may opt for a service, like local storage,
for photos as well.
Sematic zoom is supported by Photos app,
allowing you to zoom out to watch thumbnails of images/folders and making
navigating a big library faster. You can also perform pinch-to-zoom on a
thumbnail to watch the whole picture in full-screen or pinch again to return
thumbnail overview.
It’s possible to import images from USB
device or memory card via Photos app and share them through any installed apps that
support image-sharing.
Videos uploaded to Facebook can be viewed
by Photos app but not in Video app. Oddly, there’s no option for connecting to online
video services, like YouTube or Vimeo, in Video app.
Windows
8’s Social apps
Social apps include Mail, Calendar,
Messaging and People yet Photos can be considered one of them, given the fact
that it collects info from some online services. Initializing any one of these
apps at first time prompts you to log in to some services, such as Google,
Gmail, Hotmail, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook…
After having been configured, these apps
automatically fill your personal information, email, appointments and updates. There
are surely going to be overlap between apps, especially People and Messaging.
Messaging lets you add Windows Live
Messenger and Facebook accounts, but whenever you compose a new message, People
app pops up thus you are able to see who’re online and choose one of them.
There’s no overview of contact list of online people like it used to be in full
versions of Live Messenger or Facebook. Besides, unlike in Live Messenger, you
only can send texts without image or file plus there’re no support for video or
voice chat. Messaging app doesn’t work with other IM client apps at the time
though the issue will be fixed in near future.
People app seems more completed. You are
able to link with accounts from Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Hotmail
and Outlook. In case accounts are added and you feel they are crowded, it’s
advised to use web interface to remove linked account.
Windows
8’s Social apps
Contacts from each app are automatically synced.
On the left lie favorite contacts and Social column which has links to
notifications and new feeds.
Mail app is a good example of what can be
done well by Modern UI. It is divided into 3 columns with folders (Inbox, Sent,
Trash…) lying on the left. In bottom-left area are names of configured accounts,
thus you need to click on a name in order to switch to that account.
Beside this, Mail provides few features. You
only can sort emails by time and there’s no way to flag or mark messages. Talks
are not display in threads. We think that many people will prefer continuing to
use their webmail app tasks that are more complex than instant messaging or e-mailing.
One useful feature is to pin a folder
(Inbox, for instance) into Start screen. Through this way, you would create a
shortcut for each email account and jump into it instantly from Start screen.
Calendar app synchronizes all of your
accounts logged in to gather dates. Feeds are marked with colors and you can
turn it off (if preferring) as well as change the overview into day, week,
month…
SkyDrive app provides a simple way to view,
edit and download you online files. Application bar, showing up when pulled out
from the bottom (or once user right-click) plus options are ready for you to
create, upload or delete folder.
Mail
app is a good example of what can be done well by Modern UI.
Internet
Explorer 10.0
You may note recognize 10.0 in comparison
with its previous version (in Windows 7). By default, websites are displayed in
full-screen mode containing address and thumbnails which pop up only when you right-click
or slide from the screen’s top or bottom edge.
This means that you are able to see more
than one web page but we are confused by why Microsoft move address bar into the
screen’s bottom. It may be an attempt to break an unnecessary familiar habit and
tabs should be easily seen in the bottom.
Internet
Explorer 10.0
