While Windows 8 may be an operating system that has divided the desktop market, numbers would suggest that the User Interface and Metro Apps are proving unpopular, irrelevant of whether you are an “attacker or defender” of the Windows 8 OS.
A recent report by Soluto suggests that on average Windows 8 users launch just 1.52 apps per day via the Metro UI interface. This is more successful with tablet owners who open 2.71 apps per day and touch-capabale notebook owners use 2.22 apps per day.
Of those apps that are launched Microsoft Communication apps are the most popular with 4.4 average launches per week, this includes Skype. Windows photos apps, readers, camera and Bing Weather come next with 1.59, 1.27, 0.61 and 0.70 average uses per 7 days, respectively.
“The data shows that while most people try the Windows Communications Apps, on average they are used less than once a day. Note that launching ANY of the 4 apps (Mail, People, Messaging and Calendar) counts as a use. Therefore, the 4.4 uses per week (on average) of these Apps reflects the aggregated use of all 4 apps. Yahoo! Mail is an extremely engaging app showing that Yahoo! Mail users 1) love Yahoo! Mail and 2) get along with the Metro interface. In all 4 form factors (desktop, laptop, laptop with touch-screen, and tablet) Yahoo! Mail is the No1 most engaging Metro app. What’s surprising is that its highest engagement is on desktops, and it gets lower the more mobile the device is.”
So it appears apps for Windows 8 are a bit under-used, but is the feature worth saving? Do you use Windows 8? If so what do you think of the apps and Metro UI, how often do you use them?
On the PC I don’t use Metro at all but if I used a Windows touchscreen device (which I don’t) I may use it. Dunno.
most people who jumped in on windows 8 don’t have touch screen monitor so apps are used less.. but it the ability to use the apps when you need that still gives you an advantage over windows 7.. vista and XP