Inspiration for WP8 Users

Whether you it's your first time using a windows phone, or you upgraded...it's always nice to have a little bit of inspiration. I've pretty much spent the past month looking up resources to personalize my Nokia Lumia 521, to my liking. Whatever Nokia you have, all the apps are pretty much the same. I'm a broke, and I got a really good deal on this phone and I love a million times more than my Android Samsung Admire. I haven't even used any space on my SD Card yet. I paid $90, if I would have gotten a new number I would have only paid $70 at MetroPCS, and it is also a 4G. It's a pretty nifty phone if I do say so myself so...let's get started.

This is what my "homescreen" looks like, although +Microsoft Developer refers to it as the start menu.
**Note: It's in order from top to bottom.

STEP 1:

Change your color scheme:
What I like is that you it's pretty hassle free to change your color scheme. Go to Settings > Theme > and than you choose the color scheme you want. I read online that for some devices the dark theme uses less battery. The images above use the Dark theme and the Yellow accent color. Here is an example of my screen using the Light theme with a Purple accent:

So as you can see, I dramatically changed the view of my homescreen with those easy steps. but now we get to the fun part. Actually customizing.

STEP 2:
Customize!
Whether or not you use your phone for social networks, work/school, or just because: it's always nice to have a phone that is actually yours. These are a list of what I used to customize my home screen, of course this list is going to get more added to it, and I'll end up writing a version 2 when I feel it's dramatically changed.

** These apps only apply to windows devices, only have been tested on the Nokia Lumia 521

Pinning Pictures: Pin Picture

This a nifty app where you simply choose a picture you want pinned on to your screen and if you accidentally press it, no problem; it takes you directly to the picture NOT to some application. It's awesome and you can even have the picture in any of the three tile sizes. As you can see I used it a few times on my home screen.

Custom Web/Utility Tiles: MetroSkins+

This is a very helpful app if you want to pin custom tiles for your favorite websites. Not only that but it includes utility shortcuts (some examples are lock screen, new maps, wi-fi, add number, and stop music) or you can customize your own tile for a website or tile with a note on it; and both can either be a simple tile or they can be live and have a front and back. Some of the websites included are +Skype , +Yahoo! , +Google+ and +Netflix .

Custom Tiles: MagicTiles 2

This another pretty cool app that includes a lot of custom tiles. It includes tiles for websites, connection (wifi, cellular data, etc), various shortcuts to make browsing on your phone quicker such as: new text message, add an appointment, and add an account, and to widgets such as to share your status or to share your media. You can also pin your phone's information and customize your own tiles (live or still) or sticky notes. There's a lot of possibilities and this has to be one of my favorite personalization apps.

Nifty Shortcuts: Tile Builder

I don't really use this app for much anymore now that I have found the above apps except for the fact that it has an emergency call shortcut. Maybe I am just a little paraoid; but paranoid or not, it makes me feel safer. It also includes tiles for LinkedIn, Outlook, search google, and to take a Picture. You can also create your own still or live tile for a few different applications, or add a sticky note. 

Battery Tile: Battery+

I use this so I can see how charged my battery. I like it because it does help me use less battery power and my only complaint would be however, how I have not figured out how to put my battery usage on my lock screen but that could very well be my fault. The tiles are pretty awesome because you can have them in three sizes.It shows what's using your battery, phone statistics, ways to save your battery power, and tools like a flashlight which I have also added to my  home screen because I never know when I will need it.

Other Cool Custom Apps

Just from what I have read online, it's pretty much impossible to change the format of the Window's Phone (I could be wrong, let's keep in mind, I am still learning about my phone) like in Android where you change the launcher. But there is however apps where it can appear that way, and I personally use them as a guest spot on my phone so that if someone uses my phone, they can't mess around with all my stuff. So here is two apps that I have tried that you can try to if you get as bored as I do:

Like a Computer: Super 8

I really like it and I would love it if my windows phone would look like this on it's own. Therefore I've decided to keep it, comes with various apps (most I don't use) but it is pretty neat looking and it has a few options to make it feel more like yours. It's worth a shot, I'm still playing with it but it's worth a try if you are bored with your home screen.

New Computer Feel:Win 8.1 Launcher

I thought that this was a pretty cool app and also made me wish my window's phone could look like this on it's own. It has all the basic functions of a phone and that is why I use this as a guest account as well. It really does make me feel like I'm on a mini newer +Microsoft Community .

In So Few Words...

A lot of people told me to steer clear from a windows phone because you can't do anything with them. In my opinion, you just have to get a little more creative. With Android yes, you can wipe the whole thing but with a Window's phone you have to really think when it comes to making the screen yours. and besides, I like the simplicity. At the same time you can make it complex. These are just apps that I personally use and enjoy. Plus these are featured in the pictures. So, what's your screen look like?

**More apps will be added in time; with my opinion and what it features.