Although veterans of this site will know what are some of the best, must-have-apps are for Windows Phone, new users coming to the platform with the Lumia 900 (review) will not. So for our new friends, we'll get you started on some of the most popular, useful and impressive apps for Windows Phone.
Sure, we "only" have around 70,000 apps but that's still a heck of a lot to sift through. And since we've personally installed over 1,200 apps and games on our Windows Phone, we think we can lend a hand.
So without further ado, here's our list...
The best games for the Lumia 900
Twitter - There are literally dozens of Twitter apps on Windows Phone and everyone has their personal preference. Here's a few worth looking at ranging from free to pay:
YouTube - The official YouTube app is but a portal to the site. But something like YouTube Pro will knock your socks off with HD video, background downloading, favorites, login into your account, comments, uploading of new video and more.
Facebook - Well, besides the built in Facebook capability (which is limited) there's the official Facebook app which gives you nearly 100% access and control of your Facebook account and features to interact with your friends.
Foursquare - Yes, there's an official app but the third party version called 4th & Mayor is the better choice. Both are free.
Netflix - If you enjoy watching movies on the go and have a Netlix account then this one is a no brainer. Go pick up the official Netflix app for free in the Marketplace and enjoy streaming over 4G LTE.
Pandora - While there is not an official app for Pandora you do have three unofficial apps that are even better.
- MetroRadio
- Radio Controlled
- WpFandora
We're also going to give a shout out to the incredible iHeartRadio app (free) which not only gives you Pandora-like features but also lets you stream live radio. Plus it even works on your Xbox 360.
Photos - There are quite a few photo editing apps including the free Nokia Creative Studio. But if you want more, then our recommendation would be:
- Thumba ($0.99)
- Pictures Lab ($2.99)
- Apict ($0.99) Instant Polaroid effect
- Video Diary
Instant Messaging - There are quite a few messaging solutions for Windows Phone including
- Kik
- IM+ (Google Chat, AIM, Yahoo!, Facebook, Skype, etc.)
- GroupMe
- eBuddy XMS
Skype Beta - Though it can't run in the background and is still in beta, you can go ahead and use Skype on your new Windows Phone with voice, video and chat capabilities. In fact, the audio is really good for phone calls.
Weather - Like Twitter apps, there are quite a few really nice weather apps available. Everyone has their preference but here are some of the best and most popular:
For those wanting a very visual weather experience, you'll definitely want to try
News and RSS Readers - If you follow a lot of websites and need something to handle your RSS feeds or just want the latest news, then you have a great selection from these top-shelf apps:
- Fuse
- Weave
- USA Today
- BBC News Mobile
- Newsy (Video news)
Google Services - If you use a lot of Google stuff, you'll want to try
- GoVoice for Google Voice
- gMaps for Google Maps + Latitude
- Nextgen Reader for Google Reader
- IM+ for Google Chat
- Gooroovster for Google Music
- Picasa Metro for your online Picasa album
Miscellaneous - Some other official or noteworthy apps include
- AppFlow (app browser)
- Cocktail Flow (mix drinks)
- Ffffound!
- Beem (Digital Imported client)
- Baconit (Reddit client)
- Surfcube (3D browser based off of IE9; on sale this weekend)
- Microsoft Insider App (tips, wallpapers, ringers)
- Das Image + Designinspire (image search and more)
- Xbox Companion App (control Xbox with your phone)
- Pinstation (Pinterest client)
- IMdB
- Flickr
- I'm a WP7! (Windows Phone fan group)
- Handyscan (convert photos to documents)
- eBay
- Amazon Mobile
- Fandango
- Flixster
- GoodMovie
- Plex
- The WPCentral App
We're sure we missed a bunch of apps, so if you have any that you can recommend, sound off in comments!
