A Quick Look at the Modern Apps Bundled with Windows 8

The first time you log in to Windows 8 you'll find your Start screen loaded with a series of built-in modern apps. Unlike the third-party chaff you find cluttering the hard drives of most modern computers, these apps are intended to be extremely useful while also introducing you to the modern Windows 8 app format. 

Mail

 The Windows 8 Mail app is a basic email client that allows you to aggregate mail from a number of email addresses into a single easy-to-use location. Though it lacks support for the POP3 accounts many ISPs still use, you’ll have no trouble adding web mail accounts from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook and others. Once you set it up, you can check all of your inboxes and email from any account right from within Mail.

Messaging

 The Messaging app lets you connect your Facebook and Windows Live Messenger accounts and allows you to initiate and carry on conversations with users from either service. Though this application is extremely basic, it can be useful for those who spend a lot of time trading messages back and forth as it can be configured to throw up alerts when new messages arrive.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

People

 The People application is basically a contact repository for all of your connected accounts. Configure your Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Google LinkedIn or Microsoft accounts and all of your contacts from all of your accounts will show up in People. You can use this app to post tweets or Facebook statuses, check social network feeds and initiate emails. The People app also integrates with your Mail and Messenger apps to make finding contacts easier.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Calendar

 The Calendar app syncs with your Hotmail, live, MSN or Outlook calendar to keep your events in order. You’ll receive pop up notifications for events on your calendar so you’ll never miss an appointment again. The Calendar originally supported Google calendar synchronization but the feature was removed in an app update and has not yet been returned.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Photos

 The Photos app brings together all the images from your hard drive, SkyDrive, Facebook account, Flicr account and even networked PCs into a single interface. The app lets you view images, view slide shows and set images as your background.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Finance

 The Bing Finance app is a great place to go for a quick look at stock information and financial news. The app provides info on the DOW, NASDAQ and S&P 500 as well as the option to look up quotes for specific companies. You can also view financial news articles from many sources including Bloomberg, FOX Business and the Wall Street Journal.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Weather

 The Weather app, as you’d imagine, provides access to local weather reports. After configuring your location you’ll get instant access to the five-day outlook, hourly forecast, weather maps and historical trends for your area. You can configure multiple locations to get reports for your home, work, dream vacation or anywhere else.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Internet Explorer

 Internet Explorer is a modern app version of Microsoft’s popular Internet browser. It’s everything you’d expect from the desktop version of the browser except in a full-screen touch optimized package.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Store

 The Windows Store is where you’ll head if you want to download new apps for your Windows 8 devices. You’ll find spotlight apps that are new and exciting and categorized apps to make finding new titles easy. There are thousands of apps to choose from, so poke around and you’re sure to find something you like.

Image used courtesy of Microsoft. Bob Kingsley

Maps

 The Maps app allows you to view information from Bing maps. You can get traffic reports, directions and find points of interest near your location. 

تصنيف : windows