13. Daily Wallpapers
Windows 8 comes with some attractive and eye-catching images for the lock screen, but let's be realistic - you'll be bored with them before long. And that's where Daily Wallpapers comes in. This app can customise your system with images found in local folders, on Facebook, SkyDrive, or perhaps that you've just taken with the system's camera (if you have one).
The real fun is to be had in the "Today's Wall" and "Trending Images" sections, though, where you can browse a host of gorgeous images (with new examples added every day), and set up your favourite to be displayed on the lock screen.
And many of the images are so beautiful that you can waste plenty of time just browsing them in Slideshow mode (although the ads sometimes spoil the atmosphere, since they can be a little intrusive).
14. Wikipedia
While it's a fabulous website, packed with essential information, Wikipedia has never quite looked as glossy as the best print encyclopaedias. But the Windows 8 app changes all that.
Launch it and gorgeous "featured pictures" catch your eye immediately, for instance. Clicking any of these drills down to the relevant article, carefully formatted for better display on mobile devices.
Scroll to the right and you'll find a similar set of "featured articles", a collection of events that happened "on this day" and links to recently changed pages, all useful as starting points for browsing. But best of all, once the app is installed, you can search Wikipedia at any time from the regular Windows 8 Search tool. And you just know that's going to be very useful indeed.
15. SnagFilms
There's nothing on TV. Again. Annoying, but it doesn't have to be a problem - not if you've installed the SnagFilms app. This simple tool provides on-demand access to thousands of independent films, for free, whenever and wherever you want (as long as your internet connection is up to it, anyway).
Start by browsing the site's categories - Thriller, Comedy, Drama, Family Friendly, Science and Nature and more - and you'll find all kinds of offerings, from obscure shorts to major pictures with big Hollywood names.
And you can then read more details about the movie, add it to your own movie library, or start watching in just a click or two.
16. Skype
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Skype, it's a bit of a no brainer that the world's leading internet calling software would arrive on Windows 8 sporting a new interface that compliments Windows 8's distinctive look.
Skype's integration with Windows 8 isn't just cosmetic though, as a lot of effort has been put into making sure that the app takes full advantage of Windows 8's new features. One of the most useful features is that Skype will run in the background, even if the PC is locked or the app has been closed down. This means that you don't have to worry about missing important calls. Microsoft has also worked hard on minimising the Skype app's impact on battery life, especially when running in the background, making this easily one of the most useful apps for Windows 8.
17. Norton Studio
Norton Studio is a free app that's been created to make protecting your Windows 8 device as quick and easy as possible. Of course, there's one proviso; you need to be running Norton AntiVirus or Norton 360 as your primary antivirus protection software. That's not particularly a bad thing though, as Symantec has worked hard on making sure that its Norton products and Windows 8 work brilliantly together. In third-party tests Norton products on Windows 8 perform 50 per cent faster than the built in Windows Defender software. It has also been able to pick up threats and viruses that Windows Defender has missed.
Norton Studio fits into Windows 8 very well, with at a glance security status updates and quick access to additional features, all from within Windows 8's modern user interface. If you have other devices that are covered by your Norton subscription then you can easily update, renew and check on their protection status as well.
18. Shazam
If you've ever wanted to know the name of a song when it's played over the radio or during an advert, then you'll love the Shazam service, which has just launched a Windows 8 app. It uses some pretty clever technology to record and analyse the song that's playing (via your device's microphone) and then searches for a match. You can then explore more music by the artist, as well as buy and download tracks straight to your device. The Shazam Windows 8 app includes social sharing features that let you share music you've found with friends over Facebook and Twitter. You can also bring up lyrics to a song with a simple touch of a button, as well as view music reviews and biographies. The app looks great in Windows 8 and is easy to use, and there are hints of close integration with Windows Phone 8 in the near future as well.
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