Innovative interface and unfulfilled potential
Live Tiles have taken a lot of heat from Windows phone critics and blamed for Microsoft's mobile woes. But they're actually the best thing about the platform.
Must watch!
A new video posted by Nokibar supposedly shows Mix View Live Tiles in action including the 3D hover touch that was supposed to be part of McLaren’s cutting edge (and problematic) technology.
Mmm Toast
Microsoft confirms that 'interactive' Live Tiles are still coming to Windows 10 in a future update. Also, during last week's Ignite conference, details about new Live Tiles, features in the Action Center, and actionable Toast notifications were presented to developers. Here are the highlights.
Patent troll defeated
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board this week has ruled in favor of Microsoft in a patent lawsuit that was filed against it in 2012 by SurfCast. The board has thrown out all SurfCast's 52 claims of infringement that it said Microsoft had made when it released its Live Tiles feature in the Modern user interface, which debuted in Windows Phone 7 and is currently used with Windows Phone 8.1...
8.1 HD Tiles is a Windows Phone 8.1 app that will let you add transparent Live Tiles to your Start Screen. The app not only offers transparent tiles for two hundred apps but 8.1 HD Tiles also offers tile options for settings, websites and blank tiles that can be used as spacers or to categorize groups of Windows Phone Live Tiles. The app is compatible with Windows Phone 8 devices but...
One of the many features of Windows Phone 8.1 is the ability to add a third row of tiles to your Windows Phone Start Screen. We’ve already gotten used to seeing the third row in action on the larger screened Nokia Lumia 1520 but how is it performing on the smaller screened devices? WPCentral member nexialbinding has started this discussion in the forums asking just that. Nexialbinding...
Update: Microsoft has now pulled the page and videos While there's a lot to love about live tiles in Windows and Windows Phone, there's one element that's been missing: interactivity. Sure, they'll refresh with your latest notifications, but all you can do is tap on them to open the respective app. Microsoft Research is aware of this limitation, and is working actively to supercharge...
Simple Calendar is a clean looking alternative to the native Windows Phone calendar. The Windows Phone 8 app uses your existing calendars, making setup easy and has an extremely user friendly interface. The calendar app ranks amongst the best we’ve seen and an update is now available, taking Simple Calendar to version 3.5. The version 3.5 update for Simple Calendar mainly deals with...
One of the key features of the Windows Phone platform are Live Tiles, which provide a snapshot of information on your Start Screen. We have Live Tiles that will deliver weather information, appointments, TV shows, and even gaming progress. But how often do you rely on the Live Tile information, or do you overlook it and just use the Tile to jump into the app or game? Personally, I...
Since Windows Phone 7 launched, there have been numerous attempts by developers to create the perfect settings and connectivity shortcut solution, but many have either fallen short and/or ceased development. So which app should you look at if you're wanting such a download? Cue Status Tiles. The app itself has been available since November, but we've somehow missed it and the developer...
We love the live tile for Today’s Word on Windows Phone 8. It lets us increase our vocabulary by displaying a new word with its definition every day. Today, the app has received an update to version 1.1. The new features appear to be in direct response to your feedbacks! Let’s take a look at the change log after the break. We also have video. What’s new in Today’s Word v1.1 Fix...
Do you want to increase your vocabulary? One way to do that is by learning a new word every day. Today’s Word, a new app from the Windows Phone Store was built to help you with that. Just open the app and you will be given the word of the day. In case you missed it, yesterday’s word is also available. If you’re eager, you can also look at tomorrow’s word. Each of the word displays its...
Internally, we’ve known that Windows Phone 8 Update 3 (aka GDR3) used to have an option for three columns of tiles for smaller displays. That layout is now only found in devices with displays 5-inches or larger e.g. the Lumia 929 for Verizon and the Lumia 1320/1520. Below 5-inches and Windows Phone 8 will return to the traditional layout, as seen in the 4.8-inch ATIV S Neo. Exactly why...
If you want shortcuts to important settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, airplane mode, rotation lock (GDR3 only), flashlight, and more on your home screen, you owe it to yourself to check out System Tiles for Windows Phone 8. This handy tool also just received an update to version 2.0. You can now change the background color for the quick tiles. Head past the break to see what’s new in...
The rather important and major upgrade for WebApps is now available. We previously looked at the Windows Phone app last month when we were able to publish a sneak peek at the new features, including Live Tiles for individual web applications. If you're not familiar with the app, it enables consumers to enjoy HTML experiences on Windows Phone. As well as the new Live Tiles, the team has...
You may think to yourself that you’ve heard the name WebApps before. You’d be correct in thinking exactly that as we’ve covered the interesting suite previously. It’s a superb concept, enabling Windows Phone owners to check out apps that aren’t currently available on the official store. These aren’t native apps, however and are instead web app counterparts. The team behind this...
Windows Phone developer extraordinaire Rudy Huyn, the mastermind behind TVShow, Fuse, Wikipedia, and soon Vine (unofficial) has a new app out that has blown us away with its design. Counters is one of the simplest Windows Phone 8 apps we've seen and if even if you don't have a need for it, you'll want to gaze over it's UX. It's designed to help you keep count of things such as days...
Ideas Project has launched a Nokia Lumia Start Screen Challenge. The task is to share your creativity in customising the Windows Phone start screen. Even if you don't own a Nokia Lumia you're eligible to enter. There are some awesome prizes involved. All that's required to enter is to show off your start screen and explain how your expertise have been utilised to personalise the layout...
Windows Phone UK has uploaded a number of new videos on its YouTube account. The first being a history on how tiles have evolved, from roof tiles to the tiles in the bathroom that have no choice but put up with awful shower karaoke. Of course, Windows Phone owners know Live Tiles as a useful way to provide information to the smartphone user without requiring to fire up any apps. It's...
Earlier today we shared with you guys news about Microsoft looking to add more live tiles to Windows Phone. It would allow the interface to look better on displays with larger and higher resolutions, something that Windows Phone 8 currently might not excel at. A reader sent a quick mockup of what that would look like. We figured we’d share it with you all. RafK decided to play around...