Windows 8 is all about the apps. Here are the most
important ones you should download first.
SmartGlass
SmartGlass functions like a second screen for your Xbox 360.
It keeps track of what you’re watching or playing and offers complementary
information such as achievement charts and additional video content. You can
also use your PC as a remote control for your 360, launching videos or games on
your HDTV from within SmartGlass. Further, it allows you to track real-time
stats while watching sports, queue up songs in a dance game, or check your in game
GPS while racing. Microsoft will update the app with a bevy of new features to
accompany the Windows 8 launch.
Entertainment is
more amazing with Xbox SmartGlass
IM+
Everyone needs a good, free instant messaging client, and
though the Windows 8 Messaging app is functional enough, as of press time for
this issue it supported only the Windows Messenger and Facebook chat services.
That situation may change in the future, but if you want to chat with your
friends across disparate chat networks such as AIM, Facebook, Google Talk, ICQ,
and Jabber, the IM+ app has you covered right now. Not only is it free, but
also it supports a variety of chat networks, and it lets you enable push
notifications so that you can stay on top of your social life no matter what
app you happen to be using.
Microsoft Minesweeper
Windows 8 is the first version of Windows since 3.1
(released way back in 1992!) that doesn’t come with Minesweeper pre-installed;
but if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can download the game for free from the
Windows Store. The classic guessing game-play of Minesweeper remains the same
as it ever was, but Microsoft has updated this Windows 8 version with a fresh
coat of paint and some new features, including an Adventure mode, online
leaderboards, and the ability to log in with your Xbox Live account and earn
Minesweeper Achievements.
Microsoft
Minesweeper
Box
The free 7GB of SkyDrive storage space that Windows 8 hands
out to new Microsoft accounts is plenty if you just need to sync your photos
and personal documents. For serious cloud storage, however, many businesses and
business professionals turn to Box. Whereas most cloud lockers focus solely on
consumers, Box offers Business and Enterprise storage options, along with
several consumer-friendly features. These include a 99.9 percent uptime
guarantee, full text search, document collaboration, and restorable version
histories. IT nerds will be happy, too, thanks to robust administrative
controls, strong security features, and comprehensive audit trails. But this
slick Windows 8 app does have a few quirks. Unlike the Web app, for example, it
relies on third-party programs to open files. Nevertheless, overall it’s a
great piece of software for business professionals and for small-business
owners.
Tuneln Radio
There are more than 14,000 radio stations in the United
States, and Tuneln Radio will let you listen to most of them plus a bunch more
from across the world for free. Though you could always stream your favorite
radio station from your browser, Tuneln has done a fantastic job of bringing
together a huge variety of AM/FM radio streams and podcasts in one slick app
that’s simple to navigate. The sound quality is great, playback rarely
stutters, the Tuneln live tile displays information on what’s currently
playing, and you can choose from more than 70,000 talk shows, sports broadcasts,
news programs, and local radio broadcasts and podcasts.
Tuneln Radio
Evernote
A perennial favorite, Evernote is one of
the best free tools available for staying on top of your to-do list because you
can access it from anywhere and on almost any device, including your new
Windows 8 PC. The Windows 8 app packs all the functionality of Evernote into a
custom interface graced with big, beautiful buttons designed to make swiping
through on your touchscreen extremely easy. You can create and view notes and
notebooks, clip websites and data from other apps in your Evernote notebook for
later, and share your notes and notebooks with other Windows 8 apps and
Evernote users.
