<p>As we reported, the core app updates for Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging are available a little earlier than tomorrow, that is, they're ready to go right now. If you don't see them in the Windows Store, from the settings (right click or swipe in from the right), click on "check for updates" and you should be good to go.</p><p>Just a couple of notes and first impressions: although Messaging was left off the list in today's announcement of the updates, it did in fact make it to the party and appears to have received a bit of a makeover of its own (although we have to admit we hung on to Messenger and then switched to Skype, and haven't done much with Messaging except try to turn it off). Like all of the core apps, big, clean, and bold are the watchwords, so much so that using the apps feels like using one of those giant pencils from first grade (do they even have those anymore? those giant black pencils with no erasers that felt like they were cut out of a single tree? the ones that probably held enough lead to close down a whole school?). Maybe it's because we're still on a desktop machine with dual monitors and value real estate more than touch, but Microsoft's approach with Metro/Modern feels more like dumbing down than cleaning up.</p><p>Still, the apps are an improvement, and Mail looks like it may just be usable:</p><p>It does a good job on those endless messages from The Messenger Team, anyway, and you can easily switch between accounts in the lower left corner. We've yet to go through and check out all the changes that Brandon LeBlanc listed this morning, but we might just be tempted with this one.</p><p><a href="http://www.liveside.net/2013/03/25/windows-8-core-apps-available-now/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/the-windows-8-productivity-apps-get-more-productive/">The Windows 8 productivity apps get more productive</a> (Ars Technica)</p><p><a href="http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/windows-blue-iso-image-video-leaked-online-20130325/">Windows Blue ISO image, video leaked online</a> (Geek)</p><p><a href="http://www.techshout.com/software/2013/25/windows-blue-build-9364-leaks-shows-baby-live-tiles-ie-11/">Windows Blue build 9364 leaks, shows baby Live Tiles, IE 11</a> (TechShout!)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dVZFDX1nn20eU7MoRwtSGUVtW9crM&ned=us">328 additional articles.</a></p>