Windows comes with several useful applications already installed. These applications can help you with many common tasks, including browsing the Internet, managing your calendar, and shopping for music.
Most of
these apps can be opened by clicking the Start button, then clicking the icon
of the app you want to open. You may need to navigate the Start menu to find
app you’re looking for. Take a look our Navigating
Windows lesson to learn more.
Web browsers
Microsoft Edge replaces Internet Explorer in Windows
10 but serves the same function. It has a few features over Internet Explorer, including
an option to display webpages in an easy to read format, better security, and
integration with other parts of Windows 10.
Internet Explorer is one of the most well-known
application on the Internet, primarily because it has come bundled with many
versions of Windows for the 20 years. It has a simple interface and most
standard web browser features, including bookmarking your favorite websites.
Productivity
Windows 8
and Windows 10 include several productivity apps that can help you with daily
tasks, like managing your email and calendars, finding directions, and
organizing notes.
Mail and Calendar are apps that connect your accounts with other services,
such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple. They synchronize your mailboxes and
calendars within these services and display them in a single window on your
computer.
Maps, an app powered by Bing Maps, gives
you access to all of the same navigation and search features. It adds a few
other features as well, like pinning locations and saving directions on all of
your window devices.
OneNote is the advanced note organization software
originally included with Microsoft Office, but now it’s a default app in
Windows 10. One note lets you create a collection of notes that you can then
search and share.
Media
Photos, introduced in Window 8, is a
digital photo organizer that helps you store, sort, and display photos on your
computer. It also includes features for editing, online storage, and sharing to
social media.
Groove Music and Movies & TV are apps
included with Windows 10 that access Microsoft’s online media services. Groove
Music can play stored on your computer and OneDrive, and it can stream online
music with the purchase of a monthly subscription. You can play video files
stored on your computer with Movies &TV, and you use it to shop for movies
and TV shows online as well.
Window Media Player is Microsoft’s default basic media
player that has come with most versions of Windows. It can play most types of
audio and video files stored on your computer.
Settings
The Control Panel is where you can adjust
your computer’s settings and configurations. The Settings app, introduced in Window 8, give you access to most of
your computer’s settings but is designed in a new tablet style instead of the
classic Window style.
