The delightful dozen: 12 fantastic (and free) Windows 8 apps

Whether you're new to Windows 8 or an old hand who's already swiped through all the software in our previous app recommendation roundups, it's a great time to take some fantastic, utterly free Windows 8 apps for a whirl. The vastly improved Snap experience—moving an app to the side of your screen—in the impending Windows 8.1 update makes modern-style apps infinitely more useful than before. There's never been a better time to try a modern app or two.

But where do you start?

The Windows Store holds close to 100,000 apps, many of which will cost you some of your hard-earned cash. Fear not! We're here to protect your wallet and your time. Don't spend days wading through the Windows Store searching for gems. Just download these stellar software showcases, instead.