Mastering Metro apps: 4 ways they can work for you

It's time to give Windows 8's modern-style apps some respect. Admittedly, some Windows Store apps are inferior to their desktop cousins. But many others take advantage of the full-screen modern (also known as "Metro") interface to provide a different and better experience. With an open mind anda little TLC, your Start screen can be a great resource. Here are four ways you can get the most out of modern apps.

These five apps are free and provide a compelling reason to visit the Start screen.

FlipboardThis beautifully designed personal magazine app has been a staple of tablets for years and has recently arrived at the Windows Store.

FacebookAnother new arrival, needing no further introduction.

WikipediaThough it closely resembles the traditional browser view, this Windows 8 app has a level of design and polish that makes wasting time on Wikipedia more fun than ever before.

The Windows Store Wikipedia app is a lot more polished than the browser view.

NetflixTheres no shortage of ways to stream content from Netflix these days, but the app for Windows 8 is the easiest, most attractive way to do so from your PC.

ToolboxThe quirky Toolbox is designed to give you quick, multitasking access to a number of useful tools, such as a calculator, a clock, and a weather report.

A clear advantage Modern apps have over regular applications is their live tile functionality, which displays information directly on the Start screen without having to open the app. These five apps make the most of the new visual scheme.

ClockWindows 8s clock-deprived Start screen is puzzling, but tons of developers have stepped forward to fill this basic need. Among the dozens of free options, we like Alarm Clock HD, which looks nice and provides a number of additional small features.

Here is the original post:
Mastering Metro apps: 4 ways they can work for you