In Windows 8, you can configure what applications can send you notifications, where you get notified and of course, if you get notified.
You can get to this from the
Charms >
Settings >
More PC Settings >
Notifications
Inside Windows 8: PC Settings - Notifications■ There are options to turn app notifications off or on.
■ You can decide whether you show app notifications on the lock screen
■ You decide if the notifications should be silent or have some sort of sound
Finally, below that it shows a list of apps that you can control notifications for.