Slew of new Windows 8 Apps on the way: Dropbox, ESPN, PayPal, NASA & more

With Windows 8 now available for public consumption, Microsoft is plugging all of the various apps that are either already available or coming for the new operating system.

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At today’s Build conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer not only talked up the forthcoming Twitter application but also apps from PayPal, Dropbox, and more. Even the media business is plotting apps, such as ESPN’s, which will deliver an aggregated news feed, game scores, and, of course, lots of video content. All the new apps should take full advantage of the Windows 8 pinning functionality, instantly making them distinct over other platforms.

Below is the official list of Windows 8 applications, along with descriptions, posted by Microsoft. Let us know which apps you’re looking forward to in the comment section.

Via The Official Microsoft Blog:

• Disney – Disney’s Phineas and Ferb game, Agent P Strikes Back, aka Perry the Platypus, on Windows 8, and forthcoming on Windows Phone 8, showcases how easily browser-based games can become Windows Store apps. Disney developed the game for Windows 8 by taking advantage of Windows 8 HTML5 support as well as built-in capabilities like in-game sharing and support for an Xbox controller via USB. “Agent P Strikes Back” is the first of a series of games that Disney will bring to the Windows 8 platform, including the hit mobile games “Where’s My Water?” and “Where’s My Perry?”.
• Dropbox – Dropbox’s new Windows Store app, coming soon, offers a cloud based storage and synchronization service for photos, documents and videos on Windows 8.
• ESPN – ESPN previewed a Windows Store app that re-imagines the ESPN experience with aggregated news, scores and video as well as ESPN The Magazine, ESPN podcasts and photo galleries. With Windows 8, ESPN’s app allows fans to pin specific sports and teams to their Start Screen.
• Legos – The LEGO Group will deliver LEGO® Life of George, the award winning game that combines real LEGO Bricks and a smart device, with new unique features on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. With LEGO® Life of George, the LEGO Group is using Windows on mobile devices to explore the next frontier of childrens’ play, combining the physical world of LEGO bricks, the virtual and networked experiences and a child’s imagination and creativity.
• NASA – NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently released a number of free experiences on PCs, Windows Phone and Xbox geared for inspiration and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Making learning and discovery accessible, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program has now released “NASA Be A Martian” and “Mars Rover: Curiosity” as free Mars-related apps for Windows 8 PCs.
• PayPal – PayPal’s Windows 8 API enables developers to use the PayPal payment system within their Windows Store apps for simple and secure commerce activities for the more than 100 million active PayPal users. Crowdstar’s free Windows 8 game, Fish With Attitude, uses PayPal in-app purchases of game characters.
• Unity – Unity, the cross-platform game engine and development environment, is deep into development on the Windows Phone 8 add-on which will give game developers the power to deploy new and existing games to Windows Phone 8.

Photo via Microsoft