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.
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:
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).
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 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:
You can navigate back to the main Windows Store page by using the following methods:
The Windows Store displays apps in categories to help you locate them. Apps are available within the following main categories:
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.
The costs of apps vary. Typically, the costs fall into one of three payment structures:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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: