Windows 8 "Metro" Applications
Posted: November 10, 2012, 6:43 pm
First, I'll say I haven't used Windows 8 on a touch device yet so I'm basing this off of my experience using it on a PC with a mouse.
The more I use "Metro" Apps, the more I'm liking them. I spent last night playing around with Windows Store Apps. I browsed through their various top 100 apps and most recent releases and installed about 20 apps to try out. All free.
One note on Windows Store Apps that I've mentioned before. You can't run them when you are using an Administrator level account. I've always used Windows as an administrator so when I upgraded to windows 8 Pro, it upgraded just fine but any apps that I didn't install with "universal" access to, only show up in my Admin account. That's not an issue with Windows 8, just the way I chose to install some programs. The default isn't to always be in an admin account when you install windows so most people won't run into this issue.
My non Administrator account is tied to my Windows Live account, which means that I can access windows store applications, etc. Switching between accounts on Windows 8 is very easy and only takes about 10 seconds. Since I'm actually enjoying my experience with Windows Store Apps, I'm slowly moving over some config settings to my Live account (Firefox Bookmarks, Mail Client, Directory Opus settings, etc.)
For moving your complete firefox profile (add-ons, history, the works) I recommend the add-on FEBE. It does a great job of doing an entire backup/restore of everything or lets you choose what you want.
There are some issues with having multiple accounts. Logitech setpoint (what's new, it has always sucked ass) just requires you to run it's start up app with administrator rights. That's easy enough to do permanently in Windows 8. Just use win file explorer to find the exe file, right click, troubleshoot and it will default to admin rights. As always, in Windows 8, even in Metro, you can right click your mouse with an app highlighted and choose to run it as admin temporarily.
Unlike with Apple, you don't get an invoice emailed to you every time you install a free application which is actually nice. You also don't constantly get asked for your password when you install free apps. Installing Windows Store Apps is seamless and works very well in the background as you continue browsing. The app updates are also handled very well and in the background.
As for the Apps, I was impressed with how stable they were and their access to my hard drives. There's a nice free Windows Media alternative player out there called "Multimedia 8" that's not bloated and works well for videos. It may be lacking a couple codecs but is actively being updated. (my default is KMPlayer with all the extra crap disabled, which is a Korean video player)
I tried out a game "Guns4Hire" freebie which visually looked nice on my display. (crisp hi res graphics). The UI for MovieGuide app worked well. The News Apps, online storage like BOX and Skydrive, etc worked well. Cocktail Flow (alcohol drink mixing app) was well put together for you alcoholocs.
What I've come away with so far is that I enjoy using some of these apps. Maybe it's because I use a 46" monitor as my primary display and possibly it feels more like entertainment/media experience than hunched over at a desk, but even with a mouse, using and viewing these apps was enjoyable. The usuals, like Netflix, etc work very well. I understand that's it's possible to do these things using windows 7 but for some forms of media and consuming of information, the more simplistic App environment is actually nice. Having these apps one Windows Key click away is a major positive IMO. It most certainly doesn't detract from my old fashioned desktop experience and for me, it enhances it.
Another takeway from spending some time with the Metro Apps (windows store apps), is that I'm definitely going to get a windows 8 tablet or hybrid tablet/notebook like the Lenova IdeaPad Yoga 15. I'll get the full blown Windows 8, not the RT. Everyone knows how much I like my iPad(s). Having used them daily for 3 years, I can see where Windows 8 has some advantages, especially the full Windows 8 versions. I like the touch UI interface Microsoft has developed for Win 8. I like the snap to, dual app viewing capability of Windows 8. I like that Windows 8 has a similar App store approach to Apples Itunes which allows for successful commercial development of third party apps which will encourage quality app development for the platform while at the same time (for full non RT windows 8 tablets) you can run any app you want and aren't forced to use the App store like with iTunes. You also have easier access to storage devices, etc.
I don't care for Android but I see a ton of potential with Windows 8 for mobile touch devices. I like the UI better than Android's and also like the full ability of Windows applications available on non Windows RT products. It works both ways. I personally think it's great to have Windows Store Apps available to me with just the click of a key on my desktop PC, and will appreciate full access to all windows apps on portable devices.
While playing around with moving config stuff from my admin account to my live account, I've also come to appreciate the finer details that Microsoft has enhanced in Windows 8 over Windows 7. (taskmanager, resource management, etc)
I can appreciate people sticking with Windows 7 but the more I use Windows 8, I think it's unfounded to say it sucks. Far from it. It rocks and is well worth getting to know. For those that don't like Apple/iPads, I'd recommend considering Windows 8 over Android for your tablet if you ever get one. From what I've seen, the experience is better and the high end/quality apps will come quick to the platform. The Remote Desktop Windows Store App (free) also looks very nice and with Windows 8 designed for touch, it also makes using it remotely on a tablet easier as well.
The more I use "Metro" Apps, the more I'm liking them. I spent last night playing around with Windows Store Apps. I browsed through their various top 100 apps and most recent releases and installed about 20 apps to try out. All free.
One note on Windows Store Apps that I've mentioned before. You can't run them when you are using an Administrator level account. I've always used Windows as an administrator so when I upgraded to windows 8 Pro, it upgraded just fine but any apps that I didn't install with "universal" access to, only show up in my Admin account. That's not an issue with Windows 8, just the way I chose to install some programs. The default isn't to always be in an admin account when you install windows so most people won't run into this issue.
My non Administrator account is tied to my Windows Live account, which means that I can access windows store applications, etc. Switching between accounts on Windows 8 is very easy and only takes about 10 seconds. Since I'm actually enjoying my experience with Windows Store Apps, I'm slowly moving over some config settings to my Live account (Firefox Bookmarks, Mail Client, Directory Opus settings, etc.)
For moving your complete firefox profile (add-ons, history, the works) I recommend the add-on FEBE. It does a great job of doing an entire backup/restore of everything or lets you choose what you want.
There are some issues with having multiple accounts. Logitech setpoint (what's new, it has always sucked ass) just requires you to run it's start up app with administrator rights. That's easy enough to do permanently in Windows 8. Just use win file explorer to find the exe file, right click, troubleshoot and it will default to admin rights. As always, in Windows 8, even in Metro, you can right click your mouse with an app highlighted and choose to run it as admin temporarily.
Unlike with Apple, you don't get an invoice emailed to you every time you install a free application which is actually nice. You also don't constantly get asked for your password when you install free apps. Installing Windows Store Apps is seamless and works very well in the background as you continue browsing. The app updates are also handled very well and in the background.
As for the Apps, I was impressed with how stable they were and their access to my hard drives. There's a nice free Windows Media alternative player out there called "Multimedia 8" that's not bloated and works well for videos. It may be lacking a couple codecs but is actively being updated. (my default is KMPlayer with all the extra crap disabled, which is a Korean video player)
I tried out a game "Guns4Hire" freebie which visually looked nice on my display. (crisp hi res graphics). The UI for MovieGuide app worked well. The News Apps, online storage like BOX and Skydrive, etc worked well. Cocktail Flow (alcohol drink mixing app) was well put together for you alcoholocs.
What I've come away with so far is that I enjoy using some of these apps. Maybe it's because I use a 46" monitor as my primary display and possibly it feels more like entertainment/media experience than hunched over at a desk, but even with a mouse, using and viewing these apps was enjoyable. The usuals, like Netflix, etc work very well. I understand that's it's possible to do these things using windows 7 but for some forms of media and consuming of information, the more simplistic App environment is actually nice. Having these apps one Windows Key click away is a major positive IMO. It most certainly doesn't detract from my old fashioned desktop experience and for me, it enhances it.
Another takeway from spending some time with the Metro Apps (windows store apps), is that I'm definitely going to get a windows 8 tablet or hybrid tablet/notebook like the Lenova IdeaPad Yoga 15. I'll get the full blown Windows 8, not the RT. Everyone knows how much I like my iPad(s). Having used them daily for 3 years, I can see where Windows 8 has some advantages, especially the full Windows 8 versions. I like the touch UI interface Microsoft has developed for Win 8. I like the snap to, dual app viewing capability of Windows 8. I like that Windows 8 has a similar App store approach to Apples Itunes which allows for successful commercial development of third party apps which will encourage quality app development for the platform while at the same time (for full non RT windows 8 tablets) you can run any app you want and aren't forced to use the App store like with iTunes. You also have easier access to storage devices, etc.
I don't care for Android but I see a ton of potential with Windows 8 for mobile touch devices. I like the UI better than Android's and also like the full ability of Windows applications available on non Windows RT products. It works both ways. I personally think it's great to have Windows Store Apps available to me with just the click of a key on my desktop PC, and will appreciate full access to all windows apps on portable devices.
While playing around with moving config stuff from my admin account to my live account, I've also come to appreciate the finer details that Microsoft has enhanced in Windows 8 over Windows 7. (taskmanager, resource management, etc)
I can appreciate people sticking with Windows 7 but the more I use Windows 8, I think it's unfounded to say it sucks. Far from it. It rocks and is well worth getting to know. For those that don't like Apple/iPads, I'd recommend considering Windows 8 over Android for your tablet if you ever get one. From what I've seen, the experience is better and the high end/quality apps will come quick to the platform. The Remote Desktop Windows Store App (free) also looks very nice and with Windows 8 designed for touch, it also makes using it remotely on a tablet easier as well.