Windows 10 Universal Apps Tutorial

Windows 10's app store (formally known as the Microsoft Store) is still around, despite the apparent lack of interest in desktop app stores from both users and developers. That's a pity, since app stores help you avoid malicious programs, restrict apps' access to deep system functions, ease installation and updates, and sync app ownership among devices. The apps in the store are lightweight, touch-friendly, and can run either full-screen or windowed.

What Is a Universal Windows App?

Universal apps (aka UWP apps, for Universal Windows Platform) have other benefits over traditional PC programs, too. UWP apps can interact with Windows' built-in notification and sharing features. UWP apps can display current info on live tiles in the Start menu—handy for things like weather, sports, and messaging. These secure apps also run in their own sandboxes so as not to jeopardize the rest of the system. Another appealing aspect of universal apps is their ability to run on different devices, including tablets, laptops, powerful desktop PCs, Xboxes, and the HoloLens, VR headsets, and the huge Surface Hub. The apps use Fluent interface design and cloud services. Another advantage: They dispense with the Registry, which can gunk up PC's and prompt users to run tune-up utilities.

What's Not Here

The list below doesn't include PC games, though the Microsoft Store houses loads of these. In fact, the store is aligned with the Xbox Store. I also left out apps that are bundled with Windows 10, such as Maps, Office Mobile, OneNote, Skype, ToDo, and Your Phone. Even with these caveats and exclusions, you can see from the below entries that you can find plenty of good options in the Windows Store. Don't hesitate to point out any we've left out in the comments section below.

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The smallest sibling among Adobe's several photo applications, Express offers basic image editing along with several special effects and corrections. On mobile devices, getting all of its capabilities requires a subscription, but the UWP app is completely free (though it lacks some tools found in the Android and iOS versions). Instead, you merely have to put up with a little button promoting the company's excellent Lightroom photo workflow application.

Adobe Photoshop Express Review

Amazon Alexa

This app basically turns your PC into an Amazon Echo. You can even set it to listen for a wake word (I like using "Computer" for this, as it has a fun retro feel). Control your home devices, get factual answers, the weather or even some humor or daily affirmation to brighten your day. Of course, all the usual privacy caveats apply about having a large corporation privy to your conversations. One good thing about having Alexa on your PC instead is that it's less likely to be always listening!

You can use this with a standard Prime account, but for it to really shine you need an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription ($7.99 per month). That ups the number of streamable songs from 2 million to 70 million. A third option, Amazon Music HD ($12.99 per month) gets your tunes in the highest quality available, that is, 24-bit 192kHz—which is a higher resolution than a CD's 44.1kHz, also known as FLAC. The same app handles all these services, and it's extremely well designed. Strangely, however, I was unable to cast music from this app to my Alexa devices, even though doing so from the Spotify UWP app was no problem.

Amazon Music Prime Review

If you're on a train or plane with your Windows tablet, you certainly want to watch shows and movies on it, and Amazon's Prime video brings a huge library to quench that thirst. You get all the standard Prime video fare such as Amazon Originals, but you also get free content from IMDB, paid new in-theater release rentals and purchases (even up to 4K quality!) and any premium channels you subscribe to through Prime Video—think HBO, Showtime, and the like. You can watch trailers, and even get some live news and streaming sports content. The dark interface is clear, complete, and well designed.

Amazon Prime Video Review

Drawboard PDF

This very up-to-date UWP apps lets you view and annotate PDFs, with excellent stylus or touch input options. You can highlight documents, add shapes, or write with pressure sensitive digital ink. Add bookmarks and keywords to documents. The interface is very flexible. The Pro paid account ($6.99 per month) adds features for technical drawing like calibrated measurements and a protractor and lets you merge, re-order, manipulate and arrange PDFs.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is one of our favorite messaging apps: Not only is it fairly unique in not requiring your phone number, but it offers all the fun frippery you get on mobile messaging apps. Unlike WhatsApp's store app, it does support voice and video calling (even group video chat rooms), and you can garnish your messages with stickers and GIFs. I'm also pleased that it supports not only dark and light mode, but also offers gray and high-contrast modes. Multiple users accounts? Not a problem.

Hulu presents a fine selection of watchable fare, and you can even sign up for the (pricey) live TV streaming option. Unfortunately, unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime, you'll have to sit through commercials even for on-demand shows. Aside from that, the Hulu app is a strong entry, letting you add to your "stuff," Like or Dislike, and record shows. You also get picture-in-picture and full subtitle support. The well-designed app even supports Dark mode and multiple profiles.

Hulu Review

Instagram

Many of the younger set have moved on from Facebook to the social networks photo-centric app, Instagram. While its functionality and options are limited compared with the doyen of social networks, sometimes limitations turn out to be strengths. Unfortunately, the app no longer works as a share target for the standard Windows sharing dialog. You can still do all the things inside the app itself: posting, following, liking, messaging, and watching stories. The app supports notifications and switching between multiple accounts, but not dark mode.

Instagram beta (for Windows Phone) Review

Netflix

Everybody's favorite streaming service to chill with offers an excellent Windows 10 UWP app. A highlight feature is its ability to download shows for offline watching—say your getting on a plane with your Surface Pro. The interface is as clear as it gets, so you can start streaming Bridgerton or The Crown or pick up where you left off with whatever series you binge on at the moment.

Netflix Review

PicsArt

This app offers myriad ways to edit your photos. You can work on pictures from your camera roll or online accounts. It's a snap to add text, clipart, and endless effects to photos, or even start drawing from scratch. Collage creation is one of this app's strengths, too, as are templates for social posts. You even get Photoshop-style selection, masking, and tone curve adjustments. And there are enough filters to put Instagram to shame, including impressive AI artistic style transfers. Blemish fixing, blur effects—it's the whole nine yards of photo manipulation. Unfortunately, you can only upload JPG, PNG, and BMP image formats—no TIFF or raw camera formats.

Pinterest

The Pinterest UWP app garners a rare 5-star rating on the Microsoft Store, with a respectable 2,000 reviews. Indeed, it is a well-designed app with a big search box atop and clear buttons for Home, Today, and Following. You can use the card-based social interest service's chat, tune your feed, and choose what activities you want notifications for. You can even upload bulk pins in a CSV file. Of course, you can also add your own new pins directly in the app with images, links, and text.

Signal Private Messenger

Many users are fleeing WhatsApp for fear of sharing marketing data with Facebook, instead heading for privacy-focused services like Signal and Telegram. Both have produced Windows 10 store apps that are arguably better than that of the biggest player in the space, WhatsApp. Aside from text messaging with stickers and GIFs, Signal lets you make voice and video calls—things you can't do in WhatsApp's UWP app. You also get night mode, group chats, voice messages, multiple account support, and end-to-end encryption. And it's all free!

Signal Private Messenger Review

For good or bad, businesses that don't use Microsoft Teams usually use Slack. The store app for this workplace communication tool pretty much duplicates the web experience, but you do get the benefit of integrated notifications in the Action Center, and not having everything in browser tabs provides you with a clearer separation. I also like that the app uses a Notification Area (formerly known as the System Tray) icon for anytime access. In another helpful touch, the icon turns red if you have a message waiting.

Slack Review

Our Editors' Choice music streaming service provides an excellent Windows 10 UWP app—one that I use daily. Get automatically curated playlists or create your own. Play on-demand any just about music that's ever been recorded (if you're a premium subscriber), listen to podcasts, and see what your friends are listening to. One of the coolest things about the Spotify app is that it lets you send tunes to any device signed into your account.

Spotify Review

Twitter

Now that the headline social network is a bit more civil, think about getting its Windows 10 app. It supports multiple accounts, and most importantly for me, it's a share target in Windows' standard share panel. That means I can tweet a website from Edge with minimal fuss, no extension required, or post a photo from Windows' default Photos app. Other than that, the interface mimics the web interface, offering all the Twitter things you'd ever want to do.

VLC

A true UWP app, VLC runs on Xboxes (X, S, and One), HoloLens, PC, mobile device, and Surface Hub. It not only lets you watch pretty much any video format (including MKV, MPEG, and MOV), but also plays music, for which you get an equalizer with presets for genres like Classical and Reggae. For video, you can choose to take advantage of Windows 10's PiP mode and to use hardware acceleration.  The Network page lets you play internet streams in HLS, MMS or RTSP format, the last of which is commonly used in security cameras and live streaming webcams.

Windows 10 Universal Apps Tutorial

Source: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-universal-windows-10-apps

Posted by: humphreyhunty1956.blogspot.com

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