There's been some confusion about the apps that are included with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Many of these apps resemble Metro-style versions of apps that Microsoft currently includes in Windows Live Essentials, and that's not a coincidence, as they too "complete" the Windows 8 experience. But they're included only to provide testers with this more complete experience. They're not part of Windows. Rather, most of these apps will ship with Windows 8 on most new PCs, and will be available separately, and for free, from the Windows Store.
So what's an App Preview? According to Microsoft, its own internal apps developers began work on these apps at about the same time that external developers received the Developer Preview code at BUILD. And with the underlying Windows 8 platform only complete for about two months, these apps are not as far along as is the OS. So they're branded as App Previews to differentiate them from the underlying system, which is more robust and mature.
To be clear, not all of the apps included with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are App Previews. For example, the two included games, Pinball FX2 and Solitaire, are not. I think the naming here is telling, though, and not just for the fact that each app is incomplete.
In any event, here's a quick rundown of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview App Previews.
Bing Finance
App type: Utility
Purpose: Discover financial news, information, and rates
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: None
Services integration: MSN Money
Bing Maps
App type: Location
Purpose: Location, traffic, and mapping
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Bing Maps
Services integration: Bing Maps
Bing Weather
App type: Utility
Purpose: Weather forecasts, maps, and other information
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: None
Services integration: AccuWeather
Calendar
App type: Utility
Purpose: View and modify your schedule
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: Windows Live Mail (Calendar module)
Windows Phone equivalent: Calendar
Services integration: Hotmail Calendar, Google Calendar, Exchange, Office 365
Camera
App type: Utility
Purpose: Take still photos and video with the PC's webcam(s)
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Camera
Services integration: n/a
App type: Email
Purpose: Email management
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: Windows LiveMail
Windows Phone equivalent: Mail
Services integration: Hotmail, Gmail, Exchange, Office 365
Messaging
App type: Instant messaging
Purpose: Instant messaging solution
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: Windows Live Messenger
Windows Phone equivalent: Messaging
Services integration: Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Messaging
Music
App type: Digital media
Purpose: Music management and playback
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Music + Videos, Music Marketplace
Services integration: Microsoft Music Marketplace
People
App type: Contacts
Purpose: Contacts management
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: Windows Live Mail (Contacts module)
Windows Phone equivalent: People hub
Services integration: Hotmail Contacts, Gmail Contacts, Exchange, Office 365, Twitter, LinkedIn
Photos
App type: Photo
Purpose: Photo management(but not editing)
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Phone equivalent: Pictures hub
Services integration: SkyDrive, Facebook, Flickr
SkyDrive
App type: Cloud storage
Purpose: Access files stored in Microsoft SkyDrive
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: SkyDrive (app), SkyDrive integration in Office hub
Services integration: SkyDrive
Videos
App type: Digital media
Purpose: Video management and playback
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Music + Videos, Video Marketplace
Services integration: Microsoft Video Marketplace
Xbox Companion
App type: Xbox integration
Purpose: Connect the Windows device to your Xbox console for purposes of content sharing
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Xbox Companion (app)
Services integration: Xbox LIVE, DLNA, PlayTo
Xbox LIVE Games
App type: Video games
Purpose: Discover Xbox LIVE games for Windows and the Xbox 360, view and configure Xbox profile information
Windows Live Essentials equivalent: None
Windows Phone equivalent: Games hub
Services integration: Xbox LIVE, Xbox LIVE Marketplace
