Microsoft Windows Apps

With the dominance of Apple iPad and Android devices and their phones, why would Microsoft apps be of any interest?

There are some important reasons.

The most important one is cost. It is far cheaper to buy a Windows phone or tablet or laptop than most offered by others. Windows phones and tablets are available under $100, and laptops well under $200.

But also, circumstances have changed. Availability of apps has increased. Windows 8.1 has been improved. Both the conventional desktop and the Modern desktop are available in the same tablets and laptop for broadened functionality from competing tablets and laptops

Microsoft also has reduced the licensing costs, and streamlined Windows to run from the cloud as much as possible. Basic hardware requirements have been reduced.

Especially, the availability of apps has increased. And many of us are now comfortable with the Modern desktop. Once comfortable with it, navigation of apps works very well.

So the challenge is to find apps that work as well or better than apps on other platforms such as iPad.

So how do we do that?

The basic source for apps is the Microsoft Store, which now has many more apps, especially for Windows RT devices, though more limited for smartphones.

In order to find apps which are equivalent to apps on iPad and Android devices, the best utility is called Appswitch. There is a good YouTube video on how to use it.

For windows phones, there is another app called Switch to Windows Phone which will find what you need.

Then, where Chrome is available, Chrome apps may be installed, along with Chrome extensions, such as for Hangouts.

If you have access to an Android device you can use an app called Chrome APK Packager to convert an Android program to a Chrome Extension.

Then again, where the old desktop is available apps may be downloaded which were formerly exclusively old desktop applications.

The Internet Explorer browser can create apps for Modern from websites.

Consequently, apps need not limit the capabilities of Windows anymore.

Gathering them just requires more work, but Windows has always required more support, and there are many who are not put off by it for the benefits indicated above.

The ability for one device to perform as a smartphone, a tablet, and a laptop, and even a desktop, at a very low price, is unique.

It goes even further. With a Microsoft TV Miracast dongle, Windows tablets and laptops can mirror both conventional desktop and also Modern tile desktop to TV to create a smart TV.

I was able to take such a device as the $60 7" inch WinBook and make it serve as smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop and Smart TV. (It did take some knowledge about how to use memory well for success.)