Starting with Windows Phone 8.1, The App Store has received much needed improvement and features. As a matter of fact, it’s re-thought from scratch. Not only its more discoverable but its much more engaging. As an example, you can now quickly access Categories and Quick links. It is possible to auto download apps and still figure out the recently installed and updated apps.
1) Improved Store Search:
When you look for official apps, the store has become smarter to list them first instead of apps which aren’t. This is very important for new users who just install apps based on name and not look at the ratings and company name before downloading.
2) My Apps: A centralized place to find all the apps you have installed till date.
In earlier version, the only way to figure out the list of apps you have bought or installed, was the stores. This now is available right on your phone, making it easier for users to figure which apps you own but is not installed right now on the phone.
Next obvious step is that you can select a bunch of apps and start installing them on your phone right away. For each of these apps in the list, you get to know how much space the installation will need and when was the app bought.
This reminds of the App Downloader app which used to do that. Now its integrated in your phone. However, a drawback remains. You cannot search in that list. If you want to, go to store and search for the app you are looking for to install it right away.
3) Auto Update Apps; Only Over WiFi if you wish
If you wish to stay updated all the time no matter what, the store can now update the apps in the background. If your mobile data has limitations, you can always choose to update them only on WiFi.
4) Check for Updates : The Nuke Button
One of the most common problem with the app store was reflecting updates for an app. When an app gets an update in the store, Microsoft sends this notification overtime and its delayed so much that people have to manually check when they hear from friends and online portals like us. Now it is possible for you to hit the nuke button “check for updates” in Store’s Settings to force it to check on all the apps installed on your phone and find if there is an update.
5) Downloads: Find Recently Updated Apps
A person like me always would want to know which app was updated recently. Now that App Store has option to update all the apps in background, it becomes even more difficult. Right? No, The store has a new option, downloads, to sort this out. This has two sections:
History: This lists all the apps recently updated.
Downloads: This has a list of apps which got an update, are in queue and downloading. You have a Download App button to instantly download them in bulk.
6) Open Apps from Store; Just not there but close enough
Many a times you find out that an app which you were searching on stores is already installed. Now to open the app, you have to go back, go to the app list, search and then launch it. Though the best practice is to have an open button right in the store if the app is already installed, Windows Phone team took a different approach. They included a VIEW button instead of open, right next to share.
When you tap on it, it takes you directly to the app in the app list. Now you just need to tap and then open.
7) Finding Newly Installed Apps :
A long way to find the recently installed app is to look at the list in Stores > Downloads > History . The short way, look for “new” word written next to an app to know this is new. Shame, Microsoft hasn’t enabled a filter option to get this easy.
8) App Reviews Just got Interesting
Are you one of those good guys who always leave a review for the apps you use ? Do you like to read reviews first and then download an app, specialty the paid ones ? Windows Phone team is with you. They have reorganized the way Reviews used to show up for each app. They look fancy and they have got smarter.
A compact overview which puts the screenshot section, name of the apps, start rating and description in place.
Sort comments based on most helpful, most recent, highest rated and lowest rated.
Instead of just showing some reviews and average rating, you can now see Average Rating Score, Number of Reviews and find out if the app has better 5 star rating or 1 star rating
9) Personal Recommendations, Suggestion Improvements and Location :
This unknown feature in Windows Phone never got attention. Yeah, I am being sarcastic. If you have ever seen the settings of the Store, there is an option called as Suggestion. When you tap on it, it asks for your permission to suggest new apps based on how you use your phone, Bing and Facebook. In this version, the feature is now pushed right on our face!!
When you launch the store, there is a dedicated section “For You”.
The way of getting recommendation is same. It uses Bing, Facebook ( & your Friends) and how you use your phone to suggest an app for you.
It is possible to opt out of your Facebook account.
You can say “Not Interested” If you find an app boring.
The store now has an explicit option to use your location which can be turned off.
10) Quick Links just got Promoted
Prior to update, you had separate links to Apps and Games. They had quick links like Best Apps, Featured Apps, Top paid and so on. In Windows Phone 8.1 this has been merged and hence quick links are separated. So you have now Best Apps, Best Games, Featured Games etc.
I am sure there are more gems hidden, help us to find them. Will You ? Then Share in Comments