Guns Windows 8 app review

Overview

Just about every platform has some kind of app that mimicks the sound of a gun like an M-16, Deagle, or .50 cal as a prank or just for fun. I installed the highly acclaimed Guns HD which closes as soon as I open it. This app had a surprisingly nice design with 8 guns and various achievements. It could use some work with bugs etc but overall nice experience.

Functionality

The app isn't hard to figure out. It has eight guns of various classes that you can tap to fire. I've had a couple of gun apps (albeit for Android) that I was surprised not as good as this app. Start up speed was average, the tile was nicely designed, and the app was very nice overall. No speed issues and the sounds were pretty authentic. The app doesn't have any sharing features or any settings which wasn't too surprising. The app never crashed on me and the animations are so - so. The sounds are pretty loud and the information was very well informational. The achievements could be good if they worked. Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. Obviously there are bugs to be fixed but the app was free so I can't really complain too much.

Design

This is where I give the app major kudos. The design for an app of this caliber (no pun intended) was phenomenal. It had a perfect MDL content first look and feel. Never have I seen an app with a (obviously) low budget have such a grand design. It does have its pitfalls like it doesn't have the best background (quality a bit low) but overall it is a winner for me. Information is well laid out and the typography is neat.

Rating

4/5 The design really resonated with me above the average functions for this "category" of apps. I was satisfied that the dev put enough effort into this app and its Windows Phone counterpart that we will see updates later on to make it a five star winner.

Music Maker Jam app review

    Music Maker Jam mobile app for Windows 8 or higher is nothing professional or sophisticated. But it is a very fun, simple, and amateur way to mess around with music! The design is good, no shiny or chromic shenanigans. You can buy different music styles but my favorite is Dubstep. I would give this app 4 out of 5 stars because you cannot upload your own music to edit but the app is fun.

Internet Explorer Test Drive (test your browser)

     I came across these great websites one day. They are great to use as visual aid on your browser's capabilities. The video also has the links but here they are. IE Test Drive - http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive. IE Audio Explosion - http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/browser/audioexplosion. A stunningly great looking website - http://beautyoftheweb.com. The best web IE Experience is with a touchscreen device. IE has 2 types: desktop app and the less robust start screen app but is probably more secure. The start screen IE is touch-friendly and simple. When you happen to get a message saying install silver light or something that can't run in the mobile app, just switch to desktop mode.  Click "page tools" and then "view on the desktop". The video features Dubstep from IE and Darku! Be sure to turn up the volume and listen to the great music.

Tom and Jerry App review

The world's favorite cat and mouse TV show has an app for Windows 8! The app hampered by a lackluster design and limited feature set does do a good job of showcasing content first.

Overview
       
      The app performs fairly well. It took 8 seconds on my low end machine with a couple other apps opened to load up. When you open the app you are greeted by a grid of 40 Tom and Jerry episodes. Design is a bit simple and really unimaginative. Just click on the arrow to go to the next grid of 40. In all there are 161 episodes that really aren't long about 6 minutes on average. Right clicking on an app gives you the option to pin to start. The video experience is less than stellar with buttons that make absolutely no sense at all.

Functionality
                
     The app loaded videos in a few seconds and playback wasn't anything to write home about. Videos never stuttered and the quality wasn't bad (of course these videos were made before HD) plus the ability to pin individual videos was nice. What was a major knock in my opinion was the lack of sharing. I mean they could have added to ability to tweet, share, or blog what episode I was watching and attach their website. Just common marketing. The video experience was clouded by completely random buttons. Top right was a weight with a random number, bottom left was a clock with the wrong time, and then there was a Wi-Fi indicator and all of these do nothing when clicked. Weird? Not only that but the buttons were like bigger then needed. I know it is a touch enabled app but they were beyond the point of touch friendly unless you were a dinosaur or Sasquatch.

Design

      This was the worst part of the app the design. I realize MDL (which this blog follows) a.k.a Microsoft Design Language does say put #contentfirst which +lloyd slichenmyer my fellow editor posted recently. The design does show you content immediately it is poorly designed. They could have a spotlight, highly rated, have information about the show, etc. There is great potential for a great blockbuster Tom and Jerry app but the design really hold it back.

3/5 The app has potential to be an end all app for Tom and Jerry fans like me if it had a wealth of information, sharing options, a background, and a nice Metro design like All Recipes but it failed. Hopefully the app makers might improve in a later version.

How to play Basketball (chilled dubstep music also)

     I know this might not fit in but of course we can be like that at school. This is how to play basketball. Even if you don't like basketball, there is still great music featuring chilled Dubstep by Darku!

The History of Microsoft Research

     Microsoft Research (MSR) is the research division of Microsoft. MSR consists of more than 1,100 highly recognized experts in various subjects such as computer science, mathematics, and physics. MSR was created in 1991 to develop computer science ideas and integrate them into Microsoft products - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Research. Microsoft Research has laboratories around the world and also collaborates with other research centers including Barcelona Supercomputing Center and  Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Here is a quick video about finding a cool way to see Microsoft Research's history through there website http://microsoft.com/research. You can swipe through the timeline and view the history interactively. Enjoy the timeline when you visit http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/about/timeline/ and it also looks like Windows Phone style!

Windows 8 App reviews are coming.... BACK!

One thing I must say to my readers is a big: I'm Sorry

I apologize for the lack of content in the past few months due to spending time on other projects. But thank the Lord that as the title says Windows 8 app reviews are coming back. Yes, people out there desperate for editorial like app reviews that are longer than the ones you might find in the Store. We will be reviewing them  as much as possible, frequently, with a lot of content!

Book N Tech logo

We are proud to have our first logo. As you can see, it follows MDL (Microsoft Design Language). The shape in the background representing a Surface or other Windows hybrid look was designed to look similar to the button representing Surface on Microsoft.com homepage. We will have a live tile in the near future for your start screen and all you will have to do is go to the website on the Internet Explorer start screen app, not the IE desktop app, and push "Pin to Start".