Search for Dubai in the Windows 8 app store

Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system has arrived to a very mixed reception: users are fundamentally split over whether they love it or loathe it. The new interface is heavily biased towards use on ‘touch-enabled’ tablets and laptops; so desktop users have found it to be a little cumbersome to use with some applications.
But there’s plenty to like in Windows 8 if you find the ‘swipe-able’ charms bar on the right of the screen to suit your preferred way of working. Here you can find the search and share function tool that will work inside some Windows 8 applications, the Windows 8 app store, plus also help you navigate around the operating system itself. Users without touchscreen devices can just hover their mouse icon into the top right hand corner of the screen until the same options appear.
A friendly swipe and search inside the Windows 8 store is where the real fun starts. Not only can you search for specific games or applications, you can also start to search through all the apps simply with a chosen keyword. Enter “Dubai” and the Windows 8 app store will throw up a list of over 10 apps tailored to the region.
You might like to sort out your household arrangements first. Download the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s own app. There are payment and customer service options here as well as a news feed to keep you up to date. You can even log customer complaints and watch videos to find out how Dewa operates.
Radios in Dubai
The Emirates has a great selection of radio channels and if you like to stay tuned in pretty much all the time, now you can stay with the vibes while you are using your Windows 8 machine. A selection of Arabic and English channels are available.
Dubai Cinemas
UAE residents love the cinema and there are more of them every year. Now you’ll be able to find which movies are playing where by downloading this free app to your Windows 8 device. The app lists every single movie playing along with its screen times. You can even get details on the cast with pictures. In some cases there are also trailers.
Dubai Airport and Hotels
The dedicated Dubai Airport Windows 8 app is a great way of finding out the status of your flight before you are due to depart, or checking arrivals as they line up to land in the Emirates. All flights are shown with colour logos belonging to the airline carrier operating the route. There’s also a travel planner. While you’re in travel mode you might like to check out Hotels Dubai with its promise to find you the best rooms, at the best prices, with a clickable map and lots of pictures.
DubaiPedia
The purple-logo behind the DubaiPedia (yes, that’s one word!) app is designed to get you to dive into this tourism guide and explore hotels, nightspots and the culture. It’s one of the new apps, but don’t let that put you off from having a quick browse — it’s free to look, as the shopkeepers would say.
Gulf News
The newspaper has its own built Windows 8 app. It lets you view news by section in much the same way as the website, but with the additional benefit of touch screen swipe-ability between sections and stories.
The list of apps here is growing all the time and it is worth coming back to Windows 8 app store searches and using Dubai, Emirates, Gulf and other related terms from time to time as the number of related apps continue to grow.
Adrian Bridgwater is a freelance journalist who specialises in software applications, gadgets and games.