Top 10 Windows 8 Apps For Beginners (PART 2)

By Vamien McKalin | Dec 03, 2012 10:33 AM EST

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Windows 8 is out and Microsoft is no longer competing for who has the largest number of devices in the market, but the largest and best ecosystem.

A continuation to a previous article, Top 10 Windows 8 Apps For Beginners (PART 1).

Pirates Love Daises

When it comes to fun Windows 8 games, Pirates Love Daises is one of those little games that just grab the player with no intention to let go. The game was originally created to show how robust Internet Explorer 9 was; however, it became so popular that the developers turned it into a full-fledged game.

Pirates Love Daises is a tower defense game, the goal here is to strategically place pirates on the map to protect daises from creatures of the sea that are hell bent on robbing the daises. Pirates placed on the map can be upgraded to be more efficient in taking down these nasty sea creatures, though this is never an easy task.

At the end of each level, the player will go up against a boss, and they are difficult to kill. With enough well upgraded pirates on the map, players should find the going a little bit easier.

Wikipedia

Who doesn't love Wikipedia, one of the best known sources on the internet for all sorts of information. While some users may choose to go visit Wikipedia via a web browser, the ones who give this Windows 8 app a chance will instantly fall in love with the application. The design is the biggest aspect here and it feels more like a digital encyclopedia than just a place to read articles. The app also has Live Tiles support, which means users will be able to snippets of random articles.

eBay

The Windows 8 eBay application makes it easier to shop online, though the main downside is that for some functionality, users will have to visit the website. This is understandable, because the eBay app is intended to minimalist and not for replacing the website.

The app brings to the watch list, sales, and purchases sections, which are all available via the main screen, and that's it. It would have been better if the app didn't take users back to the website, however, it is good for what it is.

HowStuffWorks

HowStuffWorks is a Web site that is filled with many educational articles for the young and old alike. It is like a miniature version of Wikipedia and provides valuable information for those who are interested in doing things themselves, or just simply want to know random facts and how things work.

Angry Birds: Star Wars

A top 10 list of Windows 8 apps wouldn't be complete without the addition of Angry Birds: Star Wars. This game is possibly the best and most addictive game in the Windows 8 Store, something fans of Angry Birds and Star Wars will no doubt enjoy.

The gameplay mechanic is the same compared to the original Angry Birds; however, things change a little bit with the ability to use lightsabers and the force to destroy the evil pigtroopers. At $4.99, Angry Birds: Star Wars is hands down the best app to get on Windows 8.