Chapter 27: Adding and Managing Windows 8.1 Applications

IN THIS CHAPTER

Using the Windows Store

Installing apps

Updating apps

Removing apps

The Windows Store is an online location where you can find and install Windows 8.1 apps. Once you find an app you like, you must install it on your computer before you can start using it. This chapter explores how to access the Windows Store, how to navigate it, how to install apps, how to look for and install app updates, and how to remove apps.

Using the Windows Store

The Windows Store (shown in Figure 27.1) is a new feature of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. It provides an online area where you can download Windows 8.1 apps for your computer, tablet, or Windows phone. Windows 8.1 apps are typically single-functioning applications (for example, reading and responding to Twitter feeds) designed for the Windows 8.1 interface and must adhere to strict application development guidelines before they're approved for the Windows Store. Users can browse the Windows Store for apps. (Future Windows Store offerings might include full-featured applications, such as Microsoft Office.)

As you read in Chapter 2, the Windows 8.1 interface represents a shift toward touch-based interaction with the operating system and applications, driven in large part by the growth of the tablet and handheld device markets. But Windows 8.1 is not just about touch; it's also about simplification and putting applications within easy reach. The Windows Store makes acquiring apps easy and quick. The Windows Store is available online and requires that your computer meet the following requirements:

• High-speed Internet connection.
• Screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• For the Snap feature to work, your screen resolution must be set to a minimum of 1366 x 768.

To use the Windows Store, show the Start screen and click the Store app tile (shown in Figure 27.2). The Windows Store page appears (refer to Figure 27.1).

Reviewing Windows 8.1 apps

Using the Windows Store is pretty straightforward. When you enter the site, the Spotlight area highlights some of the most popular apps. To see the apps and your account, right-click your mouse on any part of the store. The Store menu drops down giving you access to your apps, app categories, and your account. The Store menu is shown in Figure 27.3.

To learn more about an app, click its tile. A page appears that includes information about the app, such as cost (many apps are free), ratings, description, and features.

Figure 27.4 shows an example of the app page for a free calculator.

To learn what other users have to say about the app, scroll or swipe to the right of the Description to the Review area, or click the Ratings and Reviews link (see Figure 27.5). This shows any reviews that have been added for the app. You can add a review as well by clicking the Write a Review link on the left side of the screen and filling out the resulting form. You may have to scroll to the right to see the Ratings and Review section.

Navigating the Windows Store

Navigating the Windows Store is like navigating a full-screen web page. All the information for a page is displayed on a single page so you don't have to scroll down very much. Instead, additional Windows Store pages are accessed by scrolling to the right using one of the following methods:

• If you have a scroll wheel on your mouse, scroll toward you to scroll to pages to the right. Scroll away from you to return to previous pages on the left.
• Drag the scroll bar at the bottom of the page to the right to see additional pages to the right. Scroll to the left to return to previous pages on the left.
• On touch devices, swipe from right to left to see pages on the right. Swipe from left to right to return to previous pages on the left.

You can navigate back to the main Windows Store page by using the following methods:

• Clicking the Back button on the top left of the window: You may have to do this several times if you've viewed several pages already.
• Using the three methods listed previously to return to previous pages to the left until you arrive at the main Windows Store page.
• Right-clicking the top of a page or swipe down from the top edge of the page to show the app menu: From this menu (refer to Figure 27.3) click Home to return immediately to the Windows Store home page.

Windows Store categories

The Windows Store displays apps in categories to help you locate them. Apps are available within the following main categories:

• Games: Provides game apps, such as Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Mahjong Deluxe, and more.
• Social: Provides apps for accessing social media sites, such as Rowi and Tweetro for Twitter, WordPress.com for WordPress sites, FlipToast for Facebook and Twitter, and more.
• Entertainment: Shows apps that provide entertainment value, such as the Naturespace Holographic Audio app, Kids Song Machine apps, and the CW TV network app.
• Photo: Lists digital photography apps, such as Camera, Photo Monkey, and Composite.
• Music & Video: Shows apps for sharing and storing videos, accessing podcasts, listening to Internet radio, and working with music. Apps you can find in this category include Givit, SlapDash Podcasts, and Slacker Radio.
• Sports: Provides sports-related apps, such as Major League Soccer, Basketball Coach's Clipboard, and New Zealand Cricket.
• Books & Reference: Shows apps relating to books, e-books, references, the Bible, and online magazines.
• News & Weather: Provides apps for news and weather resources, such as the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and AccuWeather.com.
• Health & Fitness: Lists apps for helping you stay healthy, get in shape, and lose weight, including Fit Ball and Medicine Cabinet.
• Food & Dining: Provides recipe and food- and drink-related apps, such as Fine Cooking, Cocktail Flow, Matias Winery, and AllRecipes.
• Lifestyle: Lists apps that fall into general lifestyle areas, such as AutoTrader, PRINZ Cityguide, and AuctionKing.
• Shopping: Shows apps for shopping, such as Yellow Pages, Amazon Windows 8.1 for Windows, and CBAZAAR.
• Travel: Lists travel-related apps, such as Kayak Hotels, INRIX Traffic, and Navitime.
• Finance: Provides apps for helping you manage finances, including the Finance app and the Ameriprise Financial app.
• Productivity: Includes apps for computer and tablet productivity, including EverNote, Skitch, and Quick Note.
• Tools: Shows computer tools, such as WinZip 16.5, Maps, and Dr.eye.
• Security: Lists computer security-related apps.
• Business: Shows apps that help you in the business world, such as MyStarJob, Captain Dash, and Presenter.
• Education: Provides educational apps, such as SATMax, My Baby Piano, Star Chart, and ICT Break.
• Government: Lists government-related apps.

Within each category, individual apps are showcased. Some categories also show an All Stars category for apps that have been rated the highest for a category, a New Releases category for just released apps, and a Top Free category that lists top-rated free apps.

Costs of apps

The costs of apps vary. Typically, the costs fall into one of three payment structures:

• Free: Many free apps are free because they also include built-in advertisements to offset the cost of development, support, and upgrades. In some cases, you have the option of upgrading from a free version to a full-featured version that includes additional features and no ads.
• Trial: Gives you many of the features available in a full paid version, but for a limited time period.
• Paid: Gives you access to a full version of the app. Costs vary from 99¢ to several hundred dollars.

Searching for apps

Because the Windows Store is itself a Windows 8.1 app, you can use the Windows Search tool to locate apps in the Windows Store. To do this, display the Charms Bar and click Search. In the Search field, type an app name or a keyword for an app and press Enter. The Windows Store returns a listing of apps that meet your search criteria. Figure 27.6, for example, shows a screen with the Search tool visible with a keyword called calculator apps and a search results screen from the Windows Store.

Installing Windows 8.1 apps

When you find an app you like, you must first install it before you can use it on your computer or tablet. Apps are very easy to install. Click an app tile to show the app's description page. Next, click the Install button on the left side of the page. The Windows Store shows a message at the top of the page that your app is installing. Once it's installed, Windows displays a message notifying you of the installation.

After the app is installed on your computer, the install button is no longer available when you go to the app's page in the Windows Store. Instead, it shows that you own this app. An example of this is shown in Figure 27.7.

To start using the app, display the Start screen and click the app's tile.

Updating Apps

Periodically, app developers enhance an app by adding features or improving its performance by providing an update. If updates are available, the Store tile on the Windows Start screen shows a number corresponding to the number of updates available.

Click that tile to open the Windows Store. At the top right of the Windows Store, click Update. Windows displays the App Updates page and begins the process of downloading updates available for your installed apps. These updates run in the background and display a message when the updates are installed on your computer.

Removing Apps

If you no longer want an app installed on your computer, you can remove it by uninstalling it. To do this, use the following steps:

1. Display the Start screen.
2. Right-click the app that you want to remove. Windows puts a check mark on the app's tile and displays a menu at the bottom of the screen (see Figure 27.8).

   

3. Click Uninstall from the menu. A message appears telling you that the app will be removed and any information related to that app will also be removed.
4. Click the Uninstall button to remove the selected app.

Wrap-Up

The Windows Store provides access to many different types of apps, including productivity apps, games, news apps, and more.

Here's a quick summary of the main points presented in this chapter:

• You use the Windows Store to install apps to your computer.
• Apps are divided into categories in the Windows Store, such as Social, Entertainment, Business, and Productivity.
• Many apps are free.
• You use the Windows Store to install updates to your installed apps.
• To remove an app from Windows, right-click it and click Uninstall. Click Uninstall to confirm that you want to remove that app.