Best Windows 8 Apps

Adobe Reader: The ability to open and read PDF files might not sound interesting at first glance, however, its quick install and bloatware free footprint should pique your interest. The Windows 8 version of Adobe’s reader certainly outperforms the desktop version by a fairly wide margin, and is a must install for any Windows 8 user.

PDF Touch: $3 might sound like a bit much for a PDF annotator, however even on competing platforms, these seem to go for a premium. The ability to quickly and easily mock up PDF files is super handy, and PDF Touch has almost all the bases covered. Need to sign a document and send it back? No problem. Need to highlight or cross out passages to send corrections back to the author? No problem. Its simple, and it works.

Pin-Steam No this isn’t a fully functional version of Steam for Windows 8, but it does allow you launch games from Microsoft’s new modern UI without hopping over to the desktop. Given Gabe Newell’s numerous objections to Windows 8, this might well be the closest thing we ever get to an official Windows 8 app. Pin-Steam allows you to do little more than pin icons, but it still offers a great experience for modern UI enthusiasts.

Ebay: Ebay’s website is quite functional, but when you just want to window shop, the Windows 8 dedicated app is ultimately the best experience. Users can log in to see their watch list, monitor items they are selling, or just browse the store. Desktop and tablet users alike will probably both appreciate this intimate full-screen shopping experience.

Amazon: The Amazon's Windows 8 app offers a clean and easy to navigate UI that needs little explaining. The app is free, but we really doubt you’ll manage to get out of it without running up a massive credit card tab. We noticed that our version of the app had some issues with international customers being offered items they can’t buy, but for customers in the USA, you can’t go wrong. Full screen can be limiting, but for some reason when you are shopping, it just feels natural.

Dropbox: In our last round-up we recommended the Skydrive app for your Windows 8 cloud storage needs. Since launch however, Dropbox has joined the party. This version of the app is missing many of the features that make it so useful on other platforms (like automatic photo uploading), but its tile based interface certainly makes it much more finger friendly than Windows Explorer. The other downside is that its currently cloud only, and requires an Internet connection to even fire up.

Remote Desktop: Remote Desktop might sound like nothing new, but the Modern UI version available for Windows 8 is a major improvement. This app allows you to easily bring up the desktop on any Windows machine on the network, and the performance is fantastic. The older version of the remote desktop application is still around, however the modern UI version feels smoother, and you can easily switch between full screen desktops in under a second just by swiping in from the top left.

Shazam: Shazam is on nearly every mobile platform, so its introduction on Windows 8 was a very natural extension. The ability of this app to recognize and tag the song you are listening to is uncanny, and the service it provides to the mental wellbeing of its users can’t be understated. Never again will you find yourself doubled over in agony over the name of a song that you’ve heard a million times, but just can’t seem to identify.

MusicTube: YouTube is literally overflowing with professionally produced music videos, but curating this content has always been a challenge. YouTube’s goal is to make all types of video files discoverable, however, Music Tube is an app focused just on music. Simply type in an artist, and watch your screen fill with content relevant to your search. This app isn't exactly Google approved, but it does an amazing job of surfacing music content.

Tune In: Do you want to listen to a radio station anywhere in the world with just the tap of your finger? Tune In does just that, all while maintaining Microsoft’s modern UI style. By default the app points you towards web versions of your local radio stations, however, the ability to tune into stations half way across the world in seconds is just amazing. Tune In has been around on other platforms for years, but the Windows 8 versions works well, and is hard to fault.

Picasa Gallery: Picasa is one of the most under appreciated Google services, and its ability to easily share and save high resolution camera images is hard to beat. Windows 8 users looking for an easy way to browse their own content (or public images), should check out Picasa Albums. The layout of this app works perfectly with the new Windows 8 modern UI, and beats the website hands down if you are in the mood for a full-screen experience.

Plex: Plex is one of the most popular free and open-source media player solutions you can find these days, and the Windows 8 version does an excellent job of presenting your content using the modern UI. You will need to install the Plex media server on the PC where you store all your music and videos, however once you do, this Windows 8 app does an excellent job of serving up your content.

Netflix: The popular video streaming service is one of the first apps to hit the Windows 8 store. The interface takes some getting used to, but this app is all about the content.

Hulu Plus: Another heavy-hitter in the streaming video arena, Hulu Plus makes the content licensing side of things more complicated than it needs to be, but it’s still one of the best entertainment services on the web.

Skype: One of the best and most ubiquitous communication services available for the PC, the Skype Windows 8 app may actually be better than the Windows desktop version of Skype with its cleaner UI.

OneNote: Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of OneNote but it’s really one of the hidden gems of the Office ecosystem. OneNote is a note-taking app that really comes into its own on a flexible device like a Windows tablet.

Xbox SmartGlass: SmartGlass is nothing short of revolutionary, and is an absolute must-have for Xbox owners. Think of it as an extra controller for your Xbox and you’re halfway there.

MetroTwit: MetroTwit isn’t the only Twitter app available in the Windows Store, but so far it’s our favorite. It supports multiple accounts and lets you set up your timeline, mentions, and direct messages in different columns.

Evernote: Note taking apps are the perfect candidate for cloud synchronization, and Evernote does it better than most. If you use the service, download the app, if you don’t use the service, start.

IM+: It’s really a pain keeping up with all of the different chat services that one uses these days, so an app like IM+ is indispensable.

Xbox Music: Both an app and a new service, Microsoft is betting on Xbox Music to compete against the likes of Pandora, Spotify, and the iTunes store.

Xbox Video: Xbox video is a central location to rent or buy movies or TV episodes from the Xbox video store. It’s another aspect of the burgeoning Microsoft ecosystem, and it’s worth giving it a go.

Xbox Games: Like Xbox SmartGlass, the Xbox Games app in Windows 8 is another way for Xbox users to get their game on from the PC side of things. We’re really looking forward to watching where Microsoft takes this new-found integration in the long-term.

Skitch: Skitch is actually part of the Evernote family of services, but it focuses more on the image and doodle side of things. We’re not completely sold on the idea, but it’s certainly intriguing enough to check it out.

Kindle: You don’t have to buy a tablet from Amazon to have access to their e-book library. The Kindle app for Windows 8 gives you access to all the functions you’d expect from one of the most popular e-book platforms ever.

The New York Times: The New York Times needs no introduction. The New York Times app isn’t exactly anything spectacular, but the content is first-rate.

Bing: Microsoft’s search engine gets the app treatment in Windows 8. Search apps aren’t the most exciting thing around, but the ability to hit Bing right from the Start Screen is pretty handy. You can also save those daily images as your lock screen with the click of a button.

Google Search: Like Bing it’s a search app, but Google Search also provides easy access to the rest of Google’s web apps.

LastPass: LastPass is a secure locker for usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or whatever else you need to remember but don’t want publicly available. LastPass support synchronization of your encrypted information between multiple devices, so it can be a really useful tool to have handy.

SkyDrive: Like OneNote, SkyDrive is one of those Microsoft offerings that has snuck under the radar, but Windows 8 may change that. SkyDrive integrates tightly with Windows 8, powering file and setting synchronization between PCs.