Live vs Static
Why Microsoft is considering a pivot away from live tiles on Windows
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A new Start menu without live tiles is in the works at Microsoft, but why drop live tiles to begin with? Let's explore.
Live Tiles
Innovative interface and unfulfilled potential
Stop blaming Live Tiles for Windows phone failures, they're the future
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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!
New video shows exploding Mix View Live Tiles in action!
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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
Interactive Live Tiles for Windows 10 still happening
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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
Microsoft wins in Live Tiles patent lawsuit
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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, delivering transparent Live Tiles to your Windows Phone
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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...
Does the third row of tiles make your Windows Phone 8.1 Start Screen too small?
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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...
Microsoft Research shows off awesome interactive live tiles for Windows
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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...
How useful are your Windows Phone Live Tiles?
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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...
Status Tiles helps you easily manage your Windows Phone connectivity and settings
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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...
Latest update for Today's Word brings more options to display the word of the day
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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...
Today's Word - learn a new word every day with Windows Phone 8
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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...
Windows Phone Update 3 and the missing 3 column Live Tile option
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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...
Pin shortcuts to your favorite settings with System Tiles for Windows Phone 8
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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...
Have Windows 8.1? Pin the Windows Phone Central Live Tile to your Start screen!
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If you’re like us, you’ve spent a good chunk of the day updating your PCs, tablets and Ultrabooks to the brand spanking new (and spectacular) Windows 8.1 OS. If you did, pat yourself on the back because we have a small, but cool, bonus for you troopers: The Windows Phone Central Live Tile. Sure, it’s not our official RT app, which is still in the works (you can bug Jay about it), but as...
Weather Radar Tile, radar imagery and more for Windows Phone 8
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Weather Radar Tile is an interesting Windows Phone 8 weather app that not only allows you to access weather forecasts and radar, but also pin a radar tile to your Windows Phone Start Screen. The radar Live Tiles are not animated but do update periodically to give you a snap shot of what's headed your way. Weather forecasts and radar are provided through the National Weather Service and...
Lock Manager for Windows Phone 8, a nifty way to add more gusto to your Lock Screen
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If you're looking for a way to snaz up your Windows Phone lock screen, take a look at the Windows Phone 8 app Lock Manager. It is a feature rich option to add everything from the weather to appointments to a slide show of your images to your lock screen. Lock Manager includes four weather themes, Bing daily image support, and live tile support that reflects the information posted to...
Iconical, a Windows Phone calendar option that makes the most of Live Tiles
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Iconical is a Windows Phone calendar app that allows you to create multiple appointment groups filtered from your Windows Phone calendars and pin them to your Start Screen for quick and easy reference. You create appointment filter groups based on subject keywords. The Live Tile focus lets you pin that group to your Start Screen, view up to three appointments (ten with the Plus version...
High end furniture company takes inspiration from Windows Phone Live tiles
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Los Angeles, California based furniture company Stanton True is now offering a series of tables, rugs, and seating options that are inspired by our Windows Phone Live Tiles. Stanton True focuses on the modern market specializing in bold, customizable furniture pieces. The high end furniture company looked for pieces with a sophisticated, neatly designed layout that is functional as well...
Sneak Peek at the upcoming WebApps update with Live Tile support
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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...