"Windows 8 Apps" or "Modern Apps" are the new type of applications designed especially for this version of Windows - unlike your normal desktop application which runs in a window that can be moved, resized etc - these apps run full screen so they can make full use of all the space on the screen, and are designed to be just as easy to use whether you use keyboard/mouse or a touch screen device

 

The images below show the difference between a normal desktop application like you used on previous versions of Windows, and the new "Windows 8 Apps" - this comparison shows the desktop and Windows 8 versions of Internet Explorer 11 so you can see the clear difference

 

 

 

Windows 8 comes with several built in apps which are covered in other sections in this guide - other apps can be downloaded and purchased from the Windows Store