With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.
For that reason, every Friday we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.
They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.
Cortanium
Liquid Daffodil's Cortanium takes Windows 10's personal assistant to new heights by adding additional functionality.
You can get TV and movie recommendations, read your daily horoscope, or view your latest Xbox stats. Search for restaurants or interact with your Microsoft Band Microsoft Health.
But it works for more than just entertainment. Cortanium adds commands for checking your OneDrive storage and reading SharePoint documents, as well as search Windows and Exchange contacts. You can have it create passwords and save your current location as a favorite.
For social media, you can use Cortanium to check in with Foursquare and fetch your Klout score.
There are tons of things you can do. Cortanium is a just a taste of how developers can leverage Cortana in Windows 10. It works for Windows 10 Mobile Technical Preview, but given the inconsistent nature of the OS, may lead to some bugs.
- Download for Windows ($1.99)
Start Screen Clock
Start Screen Clock is exactly what you think it is, an app that creates a clock tile on your Windows Start Screen.
The app itself is an interface to configure the tile however you would like using either 12-hour or 24-hour time format. Choose from a wide selection of fonts, then determine the size and whether or not you want bold and/or italic.
The horizontal and vertical position of the clock on the tile is adjustable as well.
You can also select tile color with a simple slider, or get the exact hue using the shading selector.
When you're finished, just pin it.
- Download for Windows (Free, with in-app purchases)
Nearby Live
Nearby Live, which was previously known as WNM Live, is the official Windows and Windows Phone app for the proximity-based social network of the same name.
Using your device's location settings, you can find other Nearby Live users in your area. Whether it's your house, a local hangout, or you're on a trip, you can instantly meet new people with similar interests that you can search by.
But searches are not limited by location. You can look for new friends anywhere.
You can browse lists of users, start up conversations, see who views your profile, and even send gifts to others.
And Nearby Live is privacy-friendly. You do not have to use your real name and only your general location is shared with other members. The Nearby Live community grows bigger every day. Who knows who you will find.
- Download for Windows (Free, with in-app purchases)
- Download for Windows Phone (Free, with in-app purchases)
Kids Piano
Kids Piano uses a color-coded keyboard and a host of popular songs to teach kids about music. The view in the app is split between the piano keys and a musical staff that displays the same colored notes of whatever song is playing.
You can choose to have the music autoplay, viewing the notes and keys as they go, or play it manually, so you can do it at your own pace.
The music staff can be replaced by a second keyboard that presses the keys of the song, so you can play along.
There are many different options depending on how experienced the musician is. You can also choose to have the app play songs in piano tones, as well as guitar and trumpet. Songs range from children's jingles, like "Happy Birthday" to well-known sonatas.
Kids Piano is a great introduction to music theory and instrumentation. You can get it free for Windows and Windows Phone.
- Download for Windows (Free)
- Download for Windows Phone (Free)
Tile Rider
What happens when you mix a battle racing game with a labyrinth puzzler? You get Tile Rider, that's what.
Tile Rider finds you driving your vehicle through mazes filled with traps, enemies, and teleporters trying to get through alive and in the fastest time possible.
Using tricky controls and impressive physics, Tile Rider is a simple, yet very challenging game. Between trying to figure out where to go and trying to eliminate you enemies, it will have you scrambling and cursing its name, but in a fun way.
It feels like you are playing an old-school arcade game, but with crisp graphics.
Tile Rider is available for your computer and phone for $1.99, with a free trial.
- Download for Windows ($1.99; Free trial)
- Download for Windows Phone ($1.99; Free Trial)
Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!
Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.
