Whether an app is good or not is subjective, of course, but one of our main measurements is if whether or not we continued to use the app after we reviewed it. Each of the following apps became a part of our everyday workflow.
Clatter for Windows 10
There are loads of different chat apps, and most of us use quite a few of them. Instead of using separate apps or having to open a bunch of tabs in a browser, you can use Clatter as a one-stop messaging app on Windows 10.
The app is free but certain features require you to purchase the premium version for $1.99.
It puts web wrappers for each of your services into one app. Before you get turned away from the term "web-wrapper," it's worth giving Clatter a try. It's well designed and seamlessly holds all of your favorite services. It also adds features such as quick reply to WhatsApp if you upgrade to the premium version.
Clatter supports Discord, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack, Telegram, WeChat, WhatsApp, Mattermost, and RocketChat.
Meet Clatter, your new favorite all-in-one Windows 10 messaging app
You can check out our full review of the app to go more in-depth with Clatter.
AirServer Xbox Edition
AirServer Xbox Edition adds a feature to the Xbox One that Microsoft should have shipped with it: Miracast support. In addition to being able to cast any Miracast device to the Xbox One, AirServer Xbox Edition also gives you the ability to use your Xbox One as a Chromecast or AirPlay receiver.
The app costs $19.99 which is pricey for an app but isn't pricey compared to the cost of a Chromecast, Miracast receiver, and AirPlay receiver.
The app supports background audio on the Xbox One so you can stream music or podcasts while you play your favorite games.
It only has a couple things stopping it from being perfect. First, you have to connect your Xbox One to an Ethernet cable to use Miracast. Second, there is some lag while mirroring your screen. The app is excellent for media consumption but it's too laggy for gaming.
AirServer brings Miracast, Chromecast, and Airplay to your Xbox One
Overall, AirServer Xbox Edition is a great app that adds functionality to the Xbox One to make it an even better media hub. Read our full review to find out more.
Compact View for Windows 10
Okay, so we're cheating a bit on this one. We covered Compact View in August but since we didn't have a must-have apps roundup that month, Compact View gets a mention here.
Compact View is basically an Edge browser that can become a compact overlay, or in other words, a small box that you can have appear over anything else on your computer screen.
The app is great if you want to watch Netflix in the corner of your screen while working on something else, have a Twitter stream open, or do just about anything that can be useful without requiring your entire screen.
Compact View all the websites including Netflix with this free app
The app is available on Windows 10, and best of all, it's free. You can check out our coverage for more.
Wr-app-ing things up
Each of these apps is unique and adds something to your everyday Windows experience. It's great to see developers utilizing creative ideas when it comes to apps and making the Windows ecosystem better.
If you want to see coverage of every app that we review, you can head over to the dedicated app section of the site.
And if you have a favorite app you'd like us to review, let us know in the comments.
