New Apps Included with Windows 8.1

Just like Windows 8, Windows 8.1 includes a collection of new modern apps to add value for its users. Some are of general use that most people will find helpful, others are niche apps that many will simply delete or ignore. We’ll run through a list of the new apps you'll find and which of them are worth your time.

1. Alarms

Alarms is a new app that offers just what you’d expect; the ability to set alarms on your Windows 8.1 device. Use it to wake yourself up in the morning or to remind yourself of something. Setting new alarms is a snap as the interface is about as simple as you could imagine. You can set one-time or repeating alarms and select different tones for each.

On top of the obvious feature, Alarms also offers a couple of other tools. The Timer tab allows you to set up a countdown from a specific amount of time. I use this feature to stay on top of my daily schedule. There is also a Stopwatch tab which lets you count up from zero to time how long something takes. This is useful for mobile users to track lap times while running.

2. Calculator

Calculator, like Alarms, is exactly what you think it is. A modern app version of a calculator. It’s big and it’s touch-friendly, which is great, but it isn’t as simple as that.

The Calculator app offers three modes. Standard provides basic calculator functionality; no fancy frills. The next mode, Scientific, provides a ton more options for trigonometry, logarithms, algebra and other advanced math. The best feature though is the third mode, Converter. This allows you to select common units of measurement and convert them to other units. I use this all the time in the kitchen.

3. Sound Recorder

The Sound Recorder is about the most basic app you’ll ever see. There are no options, no special features, no frills. There is one button which you tap or click to begin recording. It may not be fancy, but it can be useful.

4. Food & Dring

Food & Drink is a pretty excellent new application for home cooks. On the surface it’s a simple app for finding new recipes, but it goes deeper than that if you dig.

Browse through the available recipe list to find interesting things to cook. See something you like? You can save it to your recipe list. Next, set up a meal plan using your recipes to map out what you’ll cook all week. Thinks that’s cool? Try the shopping list feature which will look at the recipes you’ve chosen and combine them into an easy to follow shopping list you can take to the store. It’s really helpful.

Keep digging and you’ll find sections for wines and spirits you can combine with your meals and a tips section to provide helpful advice and basic recipes for beginner cooks.

Perhaps the best feature of Food & Drink is that it showcases a new feature for Windows 8.1; hands-free navigation. Select a recipe and tap “Hands Free Mode” and you’ll be able to page through the recipe just by waving your hand in front of your device’s camera. No more fingerprints or gummy keyboards.

5. Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness is an expansive personal health application that will help you take charge of you get healthy and stay that way.

This app has a calorie tracker to help with your diet, workout selections to help you get in shape, a symptom checker to make sure you’re paranoid (or help you know if you need a doctor) and a ton of educational material to ensure you know enough to be healthy.

تصنيف : windows