Tag Archives: Windows 8

Launch, Backup & Uninstall Modern UI Apps From Windows 8 Desktop

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Those of you who have already joined the Windows 8 club should be aware that the Start Screen is the only place from where the OS lets you manage Modern UI apps. The Start Screen allows users to pin legacy apps to the Taskbar, unpin any app from Start Screen, uninstall them or change the sizes of their tiles. However, all that doesn't seem very convenient, particularly if you’ve also pinned additional items here, such as files, folders or desktop apps. That’s where Windows App Boss comes to the rescue. This freeware allows users to manage Windows 8 applications right from the desktop. It can also help developers and testers easily add signed packages for testing purposes. Keep reading past the break for further details. Read More

Create A Personal Dashboard & Sync It Across All Your Windows 8 & RT Devices With Qool

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When was the last time you saw something and said "cool"? Can’t recall? Well, today you just might, when you check out Qool – clever name, no? Qool is an app for Windows 8 RT that can boost your productivity in a number of ways. The app lets you create your own fully customizable dashboard, on which you can paste sticky notes regarding to-dos and important events, graphical charts related to an important business presentation, images and videos, and various files of other types. What's even more impressive is that everything you add to your dashboard automatically gets synchronized across all your Windows 8 and RT devices via your Microsoft account, which can be really useful if you have let's say, a Windows 8 PC and a Windows RT tablet, or a Windows 8 PC at work and one at home. Read More

Access Windows 8 Start Screen, All Apps & Search Charms From Desktop

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Even though, applications like Start8 and Pokki for Windows 8 successfully restore the Start Menu, if you want play around with Start Screen a little bit, then Start Charming just might be what you’re looking for. The application is yet another Start Screen modifier (like we haven’t seen plenty of them already) that lets you display Start Screen within desktop in a manner similar to Immersive Taille and the likes. The application is pretty handy if you want to spend most of your computer time within the Desktop mode and seldom find the need to jump back to the Metro interface. The application also lets you invoke the Charms Bar from a system tray button. Read More

View Your Facebook Feed Items In Tiles With Metro Social For Windows 8

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Just yesterday, the official Twitter app hit the Windows Store, and I loved every bit of it. It’s great to see that the world's largest microblogging service has kept things minimal yet intuitive on the Metro platform. On the other hand, Facebook users are still waiting for an official Windows 8/RT app from the world's largest social network to join the club, and it might not happen anytime soon either. You don’t have to worry much though, as Windows Store is riddled by a number of third-party Facebook apps like MINE, Facebook Touch and many more. Already tried those but want something different? Metro Social is yet another one that seems worth a shot. Read More

DeskScapes 8 Brings Wallpaper Effects, Animated & Video Backgrounds To Windows 8

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It seems Stardock is paying very close attention to Windows 8. After creating some wonderful apps like Decor8 and ModernMix and selling thousands of Start8 copies, the company has also updated its DeskScapes utility for Microsoft's latest OS. DeskScapes 8 is not only a nice addition to Stardocks' fascinating line of customization tools, but it’s also one of the most powerful wallpaper personalization app for Windows 8. The application puts various enticing desktop backgrounds at your disposal, letting you apply static, panoramic as well as Windows Vista’s Dreamscene-like animated wallpapers to your desktop. Keep reading! Read More

Hands-On With The Official Twitter App For Windows 8 & RT [Review]

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Official twitter apps for most mobile platforms have been available for quite a while, but Windows 8 and RT have been missing from the picture till now. Microsoft's tablet-optimized OS has been gaining a lot of traction since its release, and it’s about time for Twitter to bring its own Modern UI app to Windows Store. While it’s a little late to the show, the app does a great job in delivering a snappy Twitter experience on Windows 8 & RT devices, both PCs and tablets alike. Twitter for Windows looks quite similar to it’s mobile brethren, packing the same feature set, albeit in Microsoft's Metro design language. You get to discover topics of your choice, receive suggestions on who to follow, browse tending topics and so on. In addition, it boasts some Windows 8-exclusive features as well, such as the snap view to place the app on the sides of the screen, support for Windows 8 Share and Search Charms, notifications and live tiles support, etc. What’s more, it lets you browse and open URLs posted in tweets and view images in full screen, all within its own interface. Read More

Official 8tracks Radio App For Windows 8 Impresses With Great UI & Music Discovery Options

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Being an avid music listener, I love fiddling around with different radio apps. After trying out services like Pandora, Last.fm and Spotify, I recently stumbled upon 8tracks and found it to be pretty amazing to say the least, especially with all its social networking and mood-based music exploration features. After enjoying critical acclaim on iOS and Android platforms, the app has finally landed on Windows Store. 8tracks radio allows you to listen to user-curated music playlists and follow other 8tracks users (called DJs) in order to stay updated on their music collection. Read More

EaseUS FileManager Is A Decent Explorer Alternative For Windows 8 & RT

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Microsoft put a lot of emphasis on Modern UI – initially referred to as Metro UI -- when it unveiled Windows 8, but quite ironically didn't include a native Modern-style file manager in the latest version of Windows. Perhaps the software giant wants users to stick to the desktop File Explorer for all kinds of file management, which in all honestly feels fairly cumbersome to navigate on a Windows RT device. Those who want to manage files without leaving the Metro environment can install third-party file managers such as Metro Commander or Files&Files from the Windows Store. Today, we stumbled upon another simple yet powerful Windows 8 file manager called EaseUS FileManager and couldn't wait to give it a try. Read on for our review. Read More

Change Size & Position Of Windows 8 Start Screen With ImmersiveTaille

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Windows 8 has entered its fifth triumphant month since general availability, and a lot of developers have already built an umpteen number of Start Screen tools to let you customize this latest Windows feature to your heart’s content. One such example is ImmersiveTaille that lets you customize the Start Screen in a few different ways. This portable application is basically designed to change the size of the Start Screen, and move it to to user-defined positions on the screen i.e. top, bottom, left or right. Its works in pretty much similar fashion to our previously covered Start Screen Modifier from WinAero. For instance, it enables you to specify a custom Start Screen resolution, or display it along with the Taskbar when in Full screen. More details after the jump! Read More

Stardock ModernMix Runs Windows 8 Store Apps In Windowed Mode On The Desktop

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The significantly revamped Windows 8 has been at the center of the spotlight since its unveiling, and as we mentioned in our Windows 8 review, it’s up to the users to decide whether they fancy the new Modern UI philosophy or not. Speaking of Modern UI, the gripe most users have with the new Windows is that you have to move away from the legacy desktop environment to use its new Metro-styled apps. Those who've been following us for a while would know that back in November, we covered an update of the Windows 8 app RetroUI Pro, which allows users to run Modern UI apps in windowed mode, right within the desktop environment. If you liked that feature then you’ll probably love ModernMix from Stardock, the team behind popular Windows 8 apps like Start8 and Decor8. Read More

Inkulator For Windows 8 & RT Solves Handwritten Math Expressions

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Windows 8 has an integrated calculator that we’re long used to seeing in every iteration of Microsoft’s operating system. On Windows 8, the application runs in Desktop mode, and contains different calculation modes like standard, scientific, programmer and statistics, along with a built-in unit conversion system. Though if the standard calculator interface that aims to emulates a real calculator doesn't suit your taste or you just want to try out something entirely different, give Inkulator a shot. It’s a Windows 8 and RT app that takes an interesting approach to how you perform all your mathematical calculations. The application basically lets you input your queries via freehand writing on its canvas. You can write any number, calculation symbol and what not, either by touch gestures or with your mouse, and Inkulator will automatically interpret it into a computer-understandable mathematical expression. Read More

25 Best Windows 8 Themes & Visual Styles

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Anyone would get bored looking at the same computer screen day after day. Changing the look of your system with new wallpapers and themes every now and then makes it feel fresh. Applying new themes isn't all that hard; it's looking for the perfect theme that takes a fare bit of time. Back in 2009, we compiled a list of great themes for Windows 7, and now, after a long time, we have put together for you a collection of awesome Windows 8 themes. While the themes remain roughly the same, a major (and much needed) addition in Windows 8 personalization now allows you to apply a different wallpaper to the each display in a dual-monitor setup. In what follows, you'll find some of the best themes from deviantArt and Windows' own downloads page, plus a little surprise for our dual-monitor users. Read More

Add Windows 8 Start Screen-Like Metro Tiles To Desktop Using XWidget

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XWidget is quite a popular application that lets you add some extraordinarily beautiful widgets to your desktop screen, similar to Windows Vista’s gadgets. You can customize the widgets in a lot of ways. Although it includes some preinstalled widgets out of the box, you can download and use a truckload of additional ones developed by XWidget’s user community. One such widget that I recently came across is Windows 8 ShorCut Small by Ubeto. It lets you add Windows 8 Start Screen-like tiles to the Desktop, and can especially compliment your setup if you have followed our guide to give a Modern UI makeover to your Desktop. Read More

Jazz Up Your Photos With Filters, Text & Frames Using ALSee For Windows 8

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Previously, we have covered some really great photo editing and image manipulation apps for Windows 8 and Windows RT users, such as Fotor, and the Windows Store version of the popular Windows Phone 7 app Fotoroom, just to name a few. ALSee is another Modern UI photo editor that's not too different from most other apps of its kind, but its touch-friendly, customizable interface and some really fascinating photo effects make it worth a shot. Details to follow after the jump! Read More

Breezy Is A Minimal But Beautiful Modern UI Weather App For Windows 8

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Although Windows 8 and RT contain a stock weather app capable of showing a full five day forecast for your selected locations, there are also various third-party options available on Windows Store from a number of developers. We have previously covered a multitudes of Modern UI weather apps, but we've never come across something as simple and elegant as Breezy. Where many other apps try to copy HTC Sense-like features and weather animations, Breezy’s grandeur lies in its minimalism and simplicity, as it showcases the weather conditions with the help of simple looking weather icons. The app is also powered by Dark Sky weather prediction, which enables it to tell hourly and daily forecast conditions in advance, though this feature is available in US territories only. Read More

SnapGadgets Is A Great Desktop Gadgets Alternative For Windows 8 & RT

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Remember those sidebar gadgets Microsoft debuted in Windows Vista and then later reintroduced in Windows 7 as desktop gadgets? Unfortunately, the company had a change of mind and decided to remove them entirely from Windows 8, disappointing a lot of users. Although the Redmond conglomerate hasn't given any clear explanation regarding their removal, it is safe to assume that the desktop gadgets were removed because they weren't going to sit nicely with the Modern UI. Today, we found a handsome Windows 8 / RT Modern UI app that (kind of) brings back those missing gadgets. Labeled SnapGadgets, this light, miniscule Windows Store app comes packed with calendar, calculator, sticky notes and time gadgets that can be viewed alongside your desktop by snapping the app to the right or left of the screen. Read More

How To Get The Windows 7 Look & Feel On Your Windows 8 PC

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Change has always been hard for most people to accept; they generally want things to keep running in a set pattern that they are used to, and any deviation from their regular practices can cause them a lot of panic. That is exactly what happened with Windows 8. With such a huge shift from the conventional Windows UI, Microsoft managed to displease a lot of people, including some critics as well as a significant user base. However, as people came out of the initial effects of the shock, a lot of them decided to stick with Windows 7 for now,  some decided to try and adapt to the new system, and the more tech-savvy lot with the knowledge of coding started writing programs to bring the old Windows 7 interface back in Windows 8. As a result, different tools surfaced, promising to bring back the Windows 7 UI to Windows 8 either by installing the missing features, or by disabling the new Windows 8-specific ones. If you are among those looking to transform your Windows 8 to Windows 7 in terms of the interface, here is a list of some of the best tools out there that can help you achieve that. Read More

Tasks By Telerik Is An Elegant, Feature-Laden Task & Project Manager For Windows 8

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We live in an age where life has become a busy and hectic routine, with a lot on our hands and little time to manage it all manually. That’s why keeping a tab on what’s most important plays a significant role in managing everything successfully. Thanks to various task management utilities available for web, desktop and mobile platforms, technology is helping us tackling this more efficiently. If you’re on the hunt for a Modern UI task manager for Windows 8 or RT, take Tasks By Telerik for a spin. It’s a Windows store app that lets you manage your tasks and projects in a refreshing UI. You can set task notifications, add voice and photo notes, specify a recurrence pattern, filter or sort the tasks according to categories, and a lot more. Read More

Memorylage For Windows 8 Creates Collages From Images & Webcam Photos

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Collage is an art technique that involves creating an image by using a number of other images, but it is not limited to that; you can use newspaper cuttings, images, text, photographs, parts of other artwork - almost anything that you can find, provided that your creativity and the available tools allow you to work with the raw materials. Previously, we have covered some great collage-making applications, such as CollageIt that allows you to make a collage in just 3 steps, and Shape Collage, a cross-platform tool to create collages in any shape. While there are a lot of desktop apps available to create photo collages, Memorylage is a new Modern UI option for Windows 8 and RT users. It allows you to create simple image collages using images stored on your computer. Moreover, it lets you capture images through your webcam and create an instant collage, which can be perfect if you are having a party and want to capture its great moments straight to a collage. Read More

Discover Music People Are Listening To Nearby With Soundtracker For Windows 8

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Listening to online radio is one of those activities that we enjoy the most during our work hours. For many of us, listening to music apparently keeps us coping all day with a hectic work routine. Spotify tends to cover all my music listening needs most of the time, but that doesn’t stop me from trying out new similar apps for myself as well as our readers. The latest such app to come across my way is Soundtracker for Windows 8 and RT - an online radio service that makes listening to music more engaging, thanks to its Foursquare-esque location-based concept. The app lets you discover music that’s being listened to and shared by folks in your vicinity. You can browse other Soundtracker users’ profiles and befriends those who share the same music taste as yours. Read More