Why is Microsoft obsessed with live tiles, and why doesn't

iOS 7 just added the first live tile. the weather icon will apparently show the current temperature now.

and the article is coming from a guy who wrote the book "Death of the PC".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Live tiles are useless too me. If I want to see info, I will open the app.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X2 260 @ 3.2GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M4A88T-EVO
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Radeon R7 240 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek Integrated
    PSU
    Seasonic
Live tiles are useless too me. If I want to see info, I will open the app.

You defeated the purpose of the live tile...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Live tiles are useless too me. If I want to see info, I will open the app.

You defeated the purpose of the live tile...

Preference. It is all about preference and leaving live tiles run when you never use them or not often enough to warrant using resources, then it is defeating the purpose of the live tile switch.

8 loads the apps so fast anyway, what's the difference if some of us turn them on/off at will ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
Live tiles are useless too me. If I want to see info, I will open the app.

You defeated the purpose of the live tile...

Live tile of photo collection = Who is going to stare at little tiny pics on the face of your phone?

Live tile of current weather = I can look outside and get a more accurate reading of the current weather conditions. I would open the app to see further out.

Live tile of new mail = Any OS can place a number on the mail icon to show new incoming mail.

Just some examples. I use a Lumia 920 and don't really see the benefit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X2 260 @ 3.2GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M4A88T-EVO
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Radeon R7 240 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek Integrated
    PSU
    Seasonic
I think the live tile of email is a very cool feature. I see an email from a personal friend and I immediately open the email. I see email from random associate, he can wait.

I just wish it was bigger which is what they're solving for 8.1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
I think the live tile of email is a very cool feature. I see an email from a personal friend and I immediately open the email. I see email from random associate, he can wait.

I just wish it was bigger which is what they're solving for 8.1.

I agree with live tiles being a cool feature. The coolest part is we control when they live ... and when we kill them ... even temporarily.

I turn mail tile on when expecting something special too, but most of the time it is off.

Weather tile is pretty much left on because I keep track of several locations (family & friends)

If someone wants to keep them turned on because MS gave them to us ... that's cool too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
The thing about having Live Tiles on an Apple Device is this: They use up the limited resources of the device.

I had installed some "Widgets" to my Springboard, I had little Spiderman Icons slinging webs. It was really cool, until I realised it was leaving me with 20 MB from of my allotted 512 MB of Ram! And locking up my phone when important calls came in.

The normal Apple iPhone or iPad user does not want to have to reboot their device an inordinate amount of times each day. garbage that runs animated gunk on the Springboard eventually causes the device to lock up solid.

So I assume Apple supports this with MS Devices, because they will continually crash, and then people will sell their Windows 8 Phones and by an iPhone 5.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Live tile of current weather = I can look outside and get a more accurate reading of the current weather conditions. I would open the app to see further out.

To be fair, I do like the weather one on my gs3. Can't see much use for any others on my phone, and absolutely zero use on my pc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    AMD FX-8150
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
    Memory
    8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (9-9-9-28)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6570
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    PX2710MW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1x1TB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1 ATA Device Caviar Black -

    4 x 2TB Seagate ST32000542A -
    1 x 4TB Seagate External
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
    Internet Speed
    60meg cable
    Browser
    Cyberfox
    Antivirus
    AVG Security Suite
Rikkins, I would like that too. For now, I just say, "Siri, what's the weather like?" I used to have an iWidget that showed Real Time Weather, but i had to remove the whole Widget subsystem. And Dreamboard, and Background Manager - My iPhone was gong as low as 8 mb free!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Now only if weatherman could get their predictions right !!! It seems they can't predict yeaterday's weather.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Adverti$ing.

Soon that news live tile will show you a few news headlines and then a McDonalds ad. That VMware app tile will try to sell you server equipment.

That's why so many dumb decisions have been made regarding how this OS works. They must have you landing at the live tile area to expose you to advertising they are planning on selling.

Darn near took a revolt to get them to take a few steps back on this issue and deliver a bit of what their customers have been asking for.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pssh. Who buys prebuilts?
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2600k 3.4 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Asus 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    OCZ SSD boot drive. Spinny secondary drive.
    Case
    Diablotek
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Razer BlackWidow Toureny edition.
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50 down 10 up
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. AV is for noobs.
    Other Info
    I like Macs.
The idea that Windows 8 was built to accommodate a new kind of Advertising - Ie, Built In to Apps - Repulses me and is repugnant.

People used to go to the Movies to get far away from the mass crass commercialism of Television - Now, you go to the theatre and have to sit though hundreds of Spam Trailers. And if you download certain "free" apps for Apple you have these banners in the header and footer which stream targ-targeted ads in your FACE. This is also repugnant, I have installed Ad-Blocker in my iPhone which successfully prevents these banners from showing. And Microsoft is just following the bellowing herds. "Moo! Buy Coke!" Moo- Buy Angry Birds!" "Moo- Buy an iPad" and Microsoft: "Moo- iPads Suck!"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Advertising commercial stuff, well, I can see some logic there, but nowadays you can't download freeware without somebody pushing more freeware with it. That I can't stomach at all. In Metro you can at least unpin the live tiles or to pay attention to them, but when some app try to push some other one or bunch of bars in the browser, that's when I draw the line. Some sites try to push downloaders just to be able to download a freeware from it, what for ? they are all free but the still push them on it. So many times I downloaded a program, unchecked the option to install something else and still it installed, I call that sneaky, underhanded and just fraud. M$ is still a baby in that field comparing to some.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
The idea that Windows 8 was built to accommodate a new kind of Advertising - Ie, Built In to Apps - Repulses me and is repugnant.

People used to go to the Movies to get far away from the mass crass commercialism of Television - Now, you go to the theatre and have to sit though hundreds of Spam Trailers. And if you download certain "free" apps for Apple you have these banners in the header and footer which stream targ-targeted ads in your FACE. This is also repugnant, I have installed Ad-Blocker in my iPhone which successfully prevents these banners from showing. And Microsoft is just following the bellowing herds. "Moo! Buy Coke!" Moo- Buy Angry Birds!" "Moo- Buy an iPad" and Microsoft: "Moo- iPads Suck!"

I hate the ads on cable/satellite that play on the lower or upper half of the screen after the commercials are over and the show you're watching is back on. I assume this is in part to advertise to people with DVR's. :mad:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pssh. Who buys prebuilts?
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2600k 3.4 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Asus 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    OCZ SSD boot drive. Spinny secondary drive.
    Case
    Diablotek
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Razer BlackWidow Toureny edition.
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50 down 10 up
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. AV is for noobs.
    Other Info
    I like Macs.
IMGburn, Unlocker, cCleaner and even Java tries to force you to install extra cack. Imgburn you have to watch out for "uniblue" which is a series of really poorly written "utility" apps. Unlocker tries to get you to install a few Toolbars and other irritations. But Imgburn is the worst - It is very difficult to bypass the default extra installations it wants to add. Some of the apps are downright Viruses. I've even talked to the Developer, but he has no control over how the app is distributed now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I hate the ads on cable/satellite that play on the lower or upper half of the screen after the commercials are over and the show you're watching is back on. I assume this is in part to advertise to people with DVR's. :mad:

Yes, because most people delete the commercials, so they have to spam you during the show. It's not just on Cable/Satellite though, it's Broadcast like that.

I have every episode of Fringe recorded on the date it was originally broadcast, I've saved all of these so I can watch them at my convenience. The first season had 50 minute eps, which were great, that extra five minutes gave the producers that much more story. - The Original Star Trek was like this, 50 minutes of show, this to me is the proper length for episodic television. Most TV shows are 45 minutes now, but "Enterprise" was absolutely the worst - They chiseled each show down to 41 minutes. It was the reason UPN went belly-up.

In seasons 1 and 2 of Fringe, they had some very Obnoxious Ads which would cover the whole bottom half of the screen - I suppose they got LOUD screams about this, because it stopped in Season 3.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I still remember the hard time I had cleaning up the mess Babylon left after I uninstalled it after it installed itself even when I told it not to. It really is pity that it had to make such a mess because it was a good program, but noooo, they just had to go and ruin it by forcing something I did not want.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
babylon is the worst, fortunately there are massive tools to completely eradicate it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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