<p>When Reg contributor Tim Anderson reviewed Windows 8 in August, he described the built-in Metro Modern UI Windows Store apps that ship with the OS as being "a bit rubbish." Microsoft must have agreed, because it's already planning to deliver updates for at least 13 of those apps, most of which should ship before Windows 8 even hits retail stores.</p><p>In a blog post on Thursday, Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live division, said the updated apps will be made available to OEMs to preinstall in new PCs soon. In the meantime, early hardware buyers and those who have already installed the Release to Manufacture (RTM) version of Windows 8 should expect to download the updates through the Windows Store.</p><p>First out of the gate is an updated Bing app, which shipped on Friday. According to Sinofsky, the new version features richer search results for local content and images, and allows users to zoom on searches to find related queries. It also now integrates with Bing Rewards, Microsoft's loyalty program for online searches.</p><p>Sinofsky writes that the rest of the polished-up apps will roll out in the weeks leading up to October 26, which is the official launch date for Windows 8, as well as Microsoft's Surface line of tablet devices, the first of which will run Windows RT on ARM-based processors.</p><p><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/05/win8_builtin_app_updates/">Keep reading...</a></p>