Odds are you’re rocking Windows 8 if you own a Windows Phone device. If that’s you, you’ll want to check out this Store Companion app on Windows Phone. This app gives you access to the Windows Store while you’re on Windows Phone. It’s a neat way to browse the Windows Store without busting out your tablet, laptop, or desktop. Let’s check it out.
Fire up Windows Store on your Windows Phone 8 and you’ll be able to search for Windows 8 apps by using Windows Phone. Type in a search item for an app and you’ll see your results populated in a list view. This view gives you quick access to the price, number of ratings, rating average, developer, and name of the app. It’s a quick way to scan through the fluff that you’ll find in the Windows Store. The layout is very reminiscent of how search results look in the Windows Phone Store.
Jump into any Windows 8 app and you’ll be able to view the description of the app and check out screenshots. Most Windows 8 apps work best in a landscape orientation, so Store Companion will keep screenshots in the proper landscape orientation when viewing them. No need to disable or enable orientation lock in your settings.
Obviously you can’t run Windows 8 apps on Windows Phone, so why use Store Companion? Because it’s a great way to browse for apps when you’re not at your Windows 8 machine. You can then share the global link for that app in the Windows Store from the Store Companion app. Sharing works via the built-in social networks on Windows Phone, through messaging, email, or through NFC (if your phone has it).
Store Companion is free for Windows Phone 8 users. It’s ad-supported, but you can remove those advertisements with an in-app purchase for $1.99. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store today.
