If you are interested in checking out unique tools instead of the most common desktop options, you can find terrific apps on the Windows Store. And the apps on the store go through a certification process. So you might just feel more secure about installing them rather than from an unfamiliar website.
For things you do every single day, these apps may not carry the big names, but do offer great features.
1. One Calendar
For an all-in-one calendar solution, One Calendar is a convenient tool. You can view Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Exchange, Hotmail, and Facebook events in a single attractive app.
Choose a theme, add your accounts, and switch between day, week, month, year, and list views or just the current day. You can also enable the Lock Screen feature which displays your reminders and events.
One Calendar offers a premium in-app version for $4.99 with features such as direct sync, appointment colors, and search ability.
2. One Task
From the creators of One Calendar is One Task for managing to-dos. With a similar interface to Wunderlist, you can pick an eye-catching theme, add lists and tasks easily, sort, and sync. If you like to customize your task manager, you can adjust each theme's background, text, and selection colors as well as change the photo.
Plus, if you have the One Calendar app installed, you can access it directly from One Task.
You can use One Task with Google, Outlook, and Office 365 tasks, so you can access your to-dos easily.
3. Eclipse Manager
For a visual task plus project management tool, Eclipse Manager is a good choice. When you set up your projects, they display in columns with the colors you assign and the progress completed so far.
Each project holds the tasks you create and you can add a description, rank, deadline, and checklist. You can also check out the data analysis and time and cost tracking features.
The app is free to download and use, but it contains an in-app purchase for additional features such as reports, exporting, and offline mode.
4. EasyNotes for Keep
If Google Keep is your favorite app for capturing and organizing notes, then EasyNotes for Keep puts it right on your desktop. It is identical to the official Google Keep application because it uses the web service in a standalone app.
So, you can do all the same things that you use Google Keep for, but with a convenient Windows app.
EasyNotes for Keep is free with an in-app purchase to remove the ads for $0.99.
5. EasyMail for Gmail
When you want to access your Gmail, check out the EasyMail for Gmail app. From the same developer as EasyNotes for Keep, you can also view your Google Keep notes from this application. You can compose an email, view your contacts, and review your calendar.
You can also adjust various settings like appearance, downloads, privacy, and general items such as notifications and unread email count.
EasyMail for Gmail is free with an in-app purchase to remove the ads for $1.99.
6. Xodo PDF Reader & Editor
Xodo is the official Windows Store app for the Xodo online tool. Instead of trying various PDF tools or purchasing expensive software, Xodo is perfect for basic reading and editing. You can view, annotate, merge, fill forms, and sign documents quickly and easily.
If you use the app for business, you can take advantage of the collaboration feature.
With the convenient settings in Xodo, you can have annotations copied to a text note, enable auto-save, add an email signature, include an author, and choose a light or dark theme.
7. ReadAloud
If you are looking for a text-to-speech app, ReadAloud is a terrific choice. You can create a custom document, extract content from a webpage, or import a file. The app supports five file formats including PDF, DOC, and TXT.
You can adjust the voice setting for male or female, change the text theme, and hear the selected text using your cursor.
ReadAloud is free for a 400-page maximum and you can also subscribe to a paid plan via in-app purchase.
8. My Study Life
For students, My Study Life is a convenient tool for managing classes, schedules, tasks, and exams. The colorful dashboard lets you pick from those four categories. You can create and color-code classes by subject and include location details.
You can add assignments with due dates, set up recurring courses, and use helpful reminders for exams, tasks, and classes.
You can also access My Study life on your Android [No Longer Available] or iOS mobile device, so you are always on track.
9. MyRadar
If you like getting more than just the temperature and current local conditions, MyRadar is a neat weather app. You can choose from three radar map styles: road, aerial, and greyscale. Then, customize the layers with forecast, outlooks, winds, clouds, and temperatures.
You can enable your location as well as zoom and drag on the map to view different spots.
If you enjoy MyRadar you can grab the ad-free version for $1.99.
10. TuneIn Radio
Whether you like listening to the news, sports talk, music, or an interesting podcast, TuneIn Radio has a wonderful selection. The News Feed gives you what is trending and you can browse by category. Within each category are subcategories.
For music, you can choose classic rock, country, or blues; and for sports, you can pick from NFL, NBA, or college.
You can listen for free, but if you want to save your favorites, just sign up for a free account.
Did You Find an Awesome Windows Store App?
These free Windows Store apps each have something to offer that you would likely use on a regular basis. A calendar, task list, email, and even a weather application are all useful tools. And, if you want to move away from the ordinary or common desktop applications, then take one of these nifty apps for a spin!
Is there another Windows Store app you like and use regularly? If you would like to share it with us, we would love to hear about it!