Stardock’s Tiles reimagines the Windows task metaphor
Thursday, March 10, 2011 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing
Over the years, Stardock’s Object Desktop suite of utilities has been the source of many innovations on the PC. It is where the concept of “widgets” and “gadgets” was born. It is where ZIP files being treated like folders came from, it’s where GUI skinning came from, it’s where animated desktop wallpaper came from. And more recently, it’s where the popular icon organization program, Fences came from.
This year, Stardock is proud to add Tiles to the list of new Object Desktop programs. Tiles is to tasks what Fences is to desktop icons. It is designed to allow users to more effectively manage what they are working on.
“The current PC task management metaphor hasn’t really changed in over 18 years,” said Brad Wardell, President & CEO of Stardock. “In recent years, mobile devices have been able to introduce users to more modern metaphors of arranging their digital life. Tiles has been designed to update that metaphor to the PC experience.”
Tiles works by taking advantage of the wider aspect ratios of today’s desktops. On the right side of the screen, a page of tiles is displayed. Users may have multiple pages that they organize as they see fit or make use of several sample page filters such as displaying only active windows or only web pages. Users can then switch between pages either by clicking on the page title or on touch systems by sweeping their finger across the page to “turn the page”.
Users add tiles to a page through either holding the shift key down and dragging a window onto a page or by dragging an icon onto the page. When the tile is active, it is displayed as with a thumbnail of the window. When the tile is inactive, only the program’s icon is displayed. Users can configure Tiles to be different sizes, automatically maximize the windows selected tiles, automatically hide and show windows based on the tiles on a particular page as well as dozens of other options to enable users to customize Tiles to their work style.
Tiles is currently in beta exclusively on Stardock’s Object Desktop software network. Users can get Object Desktop at www.objectdesktop.com. It is expected to be generally released this Summer.
Download:
Video:
http://www.screencast.com/t/u4oK0520uoK
Screenshots:
Reply #2 Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:47 PM
Agreed 110 percent!!!
I have been Using a windows phone for about 4 yrs now the introduction of tiles has been a wonderful blessing .
I have found myself missing the tiles when I move from my phone back to my PC and I am very excited to hear this!
Skinnable too AWSOME!!!
Reply #3 Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:49 PM
This looks GREAT!
* doc asks "where's the broom?" (https://forums.wincustomize.com/405379/page/1/#2890221)
Reply #4 Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:53 PM
I dont understand what Tiles does, sorry.
I guess i am not Pro enough, to understand and therefor have use of it. *shrug*
Reply #5 Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:12 PM
I guess i am not Pro enough, to understand and therefor have use of it. *shrug*
It allows you to easily manage running applications and windows.
Check here: https://forums.wincustomize.com/406242
Reply #6 Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:18 PM
OsirisDawnreply 4I dont understand what Tiles does, sorry.I guess i am not Pro enough, to understand and therefor have use of it. *shrug*
It allows you to easily manage running applications and windows.
Check here: https://forums.wincustomize.com/406242
I was confused too...So it appears it is a taskbar replacement that allows you to organize the apps with less clutter, right?
Reply #7 Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:30 PM
It organizes apps, work apps, web, no further need for quick launch...skins, hides....you name it. Unreal!
Reply #8 Thursday, March 10, 2011 5:10 PM
Hey, this looks awesome. Definitely going to try it out.
Reply #9 Thursday, March 10, 2011 5:34 PM
This is such a cool app! Lots to play with! Thanks Stardock folk, love ya!
Reply #10 Friday, March 11, 2011 2:12 AM
I use the classic taskbar because I found the W7 one to be unintuitive. It looks neat but, and this is exactly what Tiles seems to address, you can't easily see what's running. Also, they ditched the quick-launcher which was dumb. The old taskbar doesn't scale very well but if I had that many things open at once my OCD would make my head explode.
Having just moved to a widescreen monitor a few weeks ago, I'm still getting used to the extra acreage either side of where I'm generally looking. I can't even run Libreoffice full screen any more or I get tennis neck when I'm writing.
Am I correct in saying the taskbar shown in the screenies is the W7 default and isn't affected by Tiles? Because I'd take a punt on OD if it is. I already owe you for the joy I get using Fences.
Reply #11 Friday, March 11, 2011 2:41 AM
you mite want to try this. http://www.slickscreen.com/corporate.aspx
Reply #12 Friday, March 11, 2011 8:25 AM
Thanks for the suggestion Terry. That certainly looks like something.
Reply #13 Friday, March 11, 2011 9:00 AM
you are welcome. You can fulley custmize ,it to
Reply #14 Sunday, March 13, 2011 6:20 AM
I like it for many reasons but the biggest one is that I can finally hide the windows task bar.
With aero peek there was a glimmer of hope where the desktop was concerned but now with this app partnered with fences the task bar can finally be banished.
As with a lot of stardock apps there has always been an option to hide windows task bar and whilst this is something I have always wanted to do there has never been the functionality until now.
I can watch video, close unwanted pop under windows and keep an eye on running proccesses all at a glance.
Of course these functions have all been available before but never in a form that I have found to be usable for me
Reply #15 Monday, March 14, 2011 11:15 AM
Previously, I've shied away from many of Stardock's customization tools because the results look gaudy and require an immense investment of time to configure. Now, like Fences, I'm warming up to Tiles. It's got a straightforward and slick finish and more reasonably matches the way I do work, which is to work in different groups of apps.
Anyway, a few questions, since I can't figure out where to post them:
- Is there an appropriate technical forum where we can post feedback and get help? My Office apps aren't showing a preview, and I'd like to figure out what's causing that.
- Is there a way to adjust the width of the bar?
- Have you considered a simple, graphical way to encourage skin creation. Failing that, a video tutorial or two would be an immense help.
This is already proving to be quite useful, and that's without any tinkering and mucking about in confusion. That's a really great start.
Reply #16 Monday, March 14, 2011 11:22 AM
Tiles feedback thread is here: https://forums.wincustomize.com/406271
The size of Tiles can be adjusted by right-clicking inside Tiles, and going through the Size and location menu.
Tiles has an included skin editor which is pretty simple to use. There's no tutorials yet, but soon.
Reply #17 Monday, March 14, 2011 11:33 AM
Wow, I'm positively thick to have missed the size options. Thanks, Dog! It's nice to have that feedback thread too; I appreciate the quick response.
Reply #20 Saturday, November 19, 2011 4:17 PM
First let me say that I have downloaded the "free" version of Tiles and I have to say that the concept is a good one, it's been quite a while since someone has come up with software that is actually usefull and not just a ripoff of someone elses idea, with that being said ..............
It really bothers me when a company advertises their software as free when it is really not, such as Stardocks software, your "free" version of Tiles just like most of the other "free" versions of your software and is VERY LIMITED on configuration or just not configurable at all, which is why there is absolutely no Stardock software on my system and after I finish writing this Tiles will be removed also, even though the concept is intriguing your "free" version is too limited for me to see what it ACTUALLY will do. If you want me to purchase something then give me something in return, don't just tell me something is free then give me the "bare bones" and expect me to come running with cash in my hands.
When you say free, in my mind that means 100%, no bs, no strings attached for the full blown version of the software, otherwise if I have to pay for it or any portion thereof then it's called "SHAREWARE", so lets call a spade a spade here and what Tiles is .......shareware, not freeware, shareware.
This is the reason why those of us in the skinning and Windows customization community would never recommend anything Stardock to anyone because there are always strings attached to your downloads.
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Reply #1 Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:39 PM
Nice to see new apps.. really nice.