Windows 8 applications, including the WinZip for Windows 8, which we will review here, are built for touch. If you use a touch screen, these applications mostly work like a breeze. However, if it is a desktop that you are using, lack of a toolbar and blank expanses are just too prominent and can be irritating. In this regard, WinZip for Windows 8 is no different—it is perfect for touch screen, but far from perfectnfor a desktop user. That said, it contains some useful new features that will appeal to both touch screen and desktop users.

When you open WinZip for Windows 8, as expected, it does not offer any menus or buttons. But it does show a message which goes something like this: use app bar to open a file or to add files or folders to a new zip file. How to access the app bar, however, is not shared. To access it, right-click on an empty space on WinZip’s interface.

The toolbar provides you with 6 buttons: Add a Folder, Add Files, Open Zip, New Zip, ZipShare and ZipSend. Like previous versions, WinZip for Windows 8 allows users to add folders and files locally. However, more importantly, unlike previous versions, the tool allows you to pull files from Google Drive, Dropbox, and SkyDrive into your archive. Perhaps, for this feature alone, WinZip for Windows 8 is a pretty useful tool for desktop users as well.

Whether you use touch screen or desktop, keep your Windows 8 system protected from malware by installing an advanced antivirus tool.