Are there ANY Metro apps that don't suck?

strollin

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So far pretty much all of the Metro apps I've tried are really terrible, clunky and amateurish. Granted, I have only tried a handful (only FREE apps) but the ones I've tried are pretty bad.

Take, for instance, the Mail app that comes with Win 8. It doesn't allow any form of customization that I can determine. I can't resize the panes (I'd really prefer to turn off the preview pane) and I can't find any way to open an email full screen. Lack of customization seems to be the norm with other Metro apps as well.

I think Metro apps will need to get a whole lot better before they will help Win 8 succeed.

Do others like Metro apps? Can anybody point me to any apps they really like?
 

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Yeah, there are a few actually.

-Fine Cooking, for recipes and delicious food.
-Radio apps. Most of them are quite awesome.
-Chess.
-News apps
-Sky drive
-Maps. Avoid if you are paranoid.
-Calendar
-One Note FX
-Bing, for the pretty pictures it shows.
-Reader
-Internet Explorer is actually quite cool once you get used to it.
 

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I haven't found any apps that are appealing.

Guys like you and me are missing the beauty of these apps. We are supposed to just like what they look like out of the box and stand with our jaws dropped over how pretty, and simple and elegant and stylish and hip they appear to be and accept that if they don't work the way we want, we need to change the way we work because apparently we are doing it wrong.
 

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....... -Internet Explorer is actually quite cool once you get used to it.
On my 24" monitor it sure wastes a lot of space. I don't get it. I have to go to the desktop to use it or FF.
 

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Hi there
most of them are totally RUBBISH -- as I've often said before on these forums if you want to know the time in Guantamino Bay or what the inmates of the said institution are getting for their dinner next Wednesday - then what's wrong with using a decent smart phone with a proper size screen (such as Samsung Glaxy 3S or perhaps the new Windows phone).

Most of this rubbish doesn't actually belong onto what some of us "Old Timers" would actually call a PC.

Things like the previous poster suggested such as "Cooking" or whatever --might be fine but do you really need a COMPUTER for these --you could easily use a tablet etc.

The traditional desktop isn't going away any time soon -- Windows 7, even Windows XP and various Linux flavours will ensure that the traditional desktop survives.

IMO most of these "Apps" are usually written by "One man and his dog under the Railway arches" and if you become too dependent on this type of software - well good luck to you when the developer (who was probably doing it as a hobby) can't be bothered any more.

Do you also need to waste a FULL SCREEN for a RADIO app on a PC -- things like for example Tunein Radio run just fine in the background which is presumably where they need to run.

They work fine on a tablet / smart phone too -- but on a Desktop -- C'mon guys --this is a pure BACKGROUND process once you've selected your station.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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The OP asked "which ones don't suck", not "which ones fail", so I gave him a list of apps I find somewhat entertaining or semi-useful.


Things like the previous poster suggested such as "Cooking" or whatever --might be fine but do you really need a COMPUTER for these --you could easily use a tablet etc.
Waste money on a tablet just to read recipes ? I'd rather spend those $500 on a second VGA card or a better CPU or Mobo.

Do you also need to waste a FULL SCREEN for a RADIO app on a PC -- things like for example Tunein Radio run just fine in the background which is presumably where they need to run.
Fear not, it WILL stay and play in the background when you are done selecting your radio station.

and if you become too dependent on this type of software
Nope, this can't happen on a Desktop. Really, who uses his desktop PC to only stream radio or read recipes ? No way to develop a dependency on this stuff here.

Really, I admit that 99% of the Metro apps are laughable or just unfit for Desktop use, but come on, they don't all fail in the same degree. I am merely trying to find something useful here.
 

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-Fine Cooking, for recipes and delicious food.
Good point

-Radio apps. Most of them are quite awesome.
Can't play in background? No deal.

-Chess.
Worse than win7 chess in every way.

-News apps
Worse than browsing news sites in every way.

-Sky drive
More for "interacting" with other apps that suck. Not something very useful standalone.

-Maps. Avoid if you are paranoid.
Worse than google/bing maps in every way.

-Calendar
Worse than MS office calendar/google calendar in every way.

-One Note FX
Worse than onenote in every way.

-Bing, for the pretty pictures it shows.
Now you're not being serious anymore.

-Reader
Maybe for touchscreens. I give you this one. Not once adobe makes acrobat nice for touch.

-Internet Explorer is actually quite cool once you get used to it.
Worse than desktop IE in every way.


In conclusion, 2 of the apps listed have some reason a user might want to use them. So, the answer is yes, there ARE metro apps that don't suck, just very, very few of them.
 

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-News apps
Worse than browsing news sites in every way.

Not in every way. I like many of the news apps because they provide a more concise summary of stories than most web sites do. In most cases, you just get redirected to the news site for the story anyways, but I prefer the apps for presenting the summaries.

-One Note FX
Worse than onenote in every way.

Other than, you know, being free. I think that's better.
 

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Most music apps are good, like internet radio. To end the myth that these music apps suspend if you're not in them at all tike, you're obviously not using them. Music apps use specific APIs that leave them running in the background and integrate with Windows, use your keyboard's media control keys and you'll see what I mean.

Newegg is ok, it could use some navigational work.

USA Today is a neat one I like n

Tom's Guide and Hardware apps are pretty good.

There are a few language learning apps, I installed the German version. It was free too!

Cocktail Flow is my absolute favorite and most recommended. If you're not into making drinks, then it's not too applicable. Overall, it seems the apps in the Food and Dining section seem to have good reviews and good design to them.

There is a PDF reader that seems better with a touch screen as it makes it look more like you're flipping pages. Slightly better than Reader to me.

MovieGuide is a fantastic one, definitely recommend that.


Personally, I'd recommend to troll and peruse about in the categories that interest your interests and find some good ones. Peoples' opinons about this type of thing are subjective.
 

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I also want to throw out there, BBC News Mobile. Mostly because it's red. :)

But the thing about some apps is that they do look simple or "amateur." Metro design is simple. It's not really amateur like, that is unless if you don't try hard enough. There's a line where an app looks simple and bland and across that is an app that is neatly and simply designed, but gives the feeling of immersion. Right now, not many apps fill that criteria as some developers are just trying their hand at this and some are Windows Phone app developers that know how to fill that criteria.



Another app I'd recommend, Nooo! StarWars. Basically all it is is a Darth Vader sound bit of him saying no during that one scene on the Death Star.
 

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Good for you, Robert! Well done!

Beauty and use is in the eyes of the beholder. I look for apps I like. The rest I disregard. Download and move to a group. Live tiles very informational at a glance. How many and who emailed me, news headlines, personal notes, weather in multiple places, etc. That simple.

We have the best of both worlds. Legacy desktop and touch UI. Play the damn radio streaming on the desktop minimized in the background. Agree that we don't need an app for that. Rather silly IMO.

It just occurred to me, though. Apps do minimize virus and spying threats, for we're not surfing the web as much.
 

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Hi there
most of them are totally RUBBISH -- as I've often said before on these forums if you want to know the time in Guantamino Bay or what the inmates of the said institution are getting for their dinner next Wednesday - then what's wrong with using a decent smart phone with a proper size screen (such as Samsung Glaxy 3S or perhaps the new Windows phone).

Most of this rubbish doesn't actually belong onto what some of us "Old Timers" would actually call a PC.

Things like the previous poster suggested such as "Cooking" or whatever --might be fine but do you really need a COMPUTER for these --you could easily use a tablet etc.

The traditional desktop isn't going away any time soon -- Windows 7, even Windows XP and various Linux flavours will ensure that the traditional desktop survives.

IMO most of these "Apps" are usually written by "One man and his dog under the Railway arches" and if you become too dependent on this type of software - well good luck to you when the developer (who was probably doing it as a hobby) can't be bothered any more.

Do you also need to waste a FULL SCREEN for a RADIO app on a PC -- things like for example Tunein Radio run just fine in the background which is presumably where they need to run.

They work fine on a tablet / smart phone too -- but on a Desktop -- C'mon guys --this is a pure BACKGROUND process once you've selected your station.

Cheers
jimbo
From one "Old Timer" to another; and I would guess that I'm an older timer than you are. While I will agree that the apps in Windows 8 aren't the greatest thing that has happened in the computing would, I disagree that most of them are rubbish simply because one can do about the same thing on a Smart Phone or a Tablet.
 

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If this isn't irony... The ONLY "app" I have paid for is Stardock's $5 Start8 which is used to BYPASS Metro completely and create a decent start menu back on the desktop (and can turn off edge interfacing). I have not even LOOKED at Metro for weeks now so I cannot say ANY app there is my favorite since I don't see them. Out of sight, (MS is) out of mind.
 

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