More apps are available at launch for Microsoft Surface than seen for iOS and Android
A couple weeks ago when the Surface went online for pre-order I decided it was worth the money to take a look at one and figured I could return it if I didn't like it. I read the reviews as mine was enroute for delivery and most left me thinking the hardware was great, but there were not many apps and all I could really use it for was Office. I am very pleased to now have it in my hands and see that many of the apps I use on Windows Phone, iOS, and Android are indeed available and the hardware really does rock!
If you recall, Windows Phone 7 launched with about 1,000 apps and then was the fastest mobile phone OS to hit 10,000 in about four months. The Windows Phone Marketplace continued to grow over the next year and half when it hit the 100,000 apps level in June 2012. The apps came fairly quickly and I believe they will come for Windows RT as well. It helps that developers now have a common core with Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Phone 8 too.
I understand there are currently something like 10,000 apps in the Windows Store for Windows RT and I think that is a very healthy number given it just launched. You can't compare these numbers with what is now available for iOS, Android and even Windows Phone, but as I wrote above when you compare the number available at launch then Windows RT wins. Here are the ones that I already have installed on my Surface:
- Netflix
- Skype
- MLS MatchDay (Go Sounders!)
- Rowi: A Twitter app
- Cut the Rope
- Evernote
- Slacker Radio
- Wordament
- YouVersion Bible
- Lync
- Jetpack Joyride
- Amazon Kindle
- Kobo
- Soccer Coach's clipboard
- Kayak
- MetroTwit
- New York Times
- Fox News
- ABC News
The Windows Store is enjoyable to browse with apps found in the following categories. On each category page you will find links to Top Free and New Releases.
- Spotlight apps
- Games
- Social
- Entertainment
- Photo
- Music & Video
- Sports
- Books & Reference
- News & Weather
- Health & Fitness
- Food & Dining
- Lifestyle
- Shopping
- Travel
- Finance
- Productivity
- Tools
- Security
- Business
- Education
- Government
As you can see this is quite a list of categories, but I like when things are organized where I can find them and don't find this breakdown to be a problem. There are free and paid apps and unfortunately it looks like you have to purchase apps on both Windows RT and Windows Phone 8, but it is this way for many apps on iOS as well. Android doesn't have that many tablet apps and on my Nexus 7 I just run the phone apps I already purchased for my smartphones.
What apps are you looking for on a Microsoft Surface?