Windows Phone 8.1 Start Screen backgrounds revealed

Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update will include an option to set a background image on the Start Screen. While the software maker has been experimenting with methods to support this, The Verge understands Microsoft has settled on an option that will allow Windows Phone 8.1 users to skin existing tiles with an image. Screenshots demonstrating the feature have leaked today, showing how Live Tiles can now be transparent and skinned with an image. The Verge can confirm these are genuine screenshots.

Read more at: Windows Phone 8.1 Start Screen backgrounds revealed in screenshots | The Verge
 
I've been wondering if this is the way to go since it's been revealed. I'm all for options. While I welcome this, since i'm currently using Skinery Tiles to do the same thing, it is limiting in that you can only use certain apps. These of course do not include the system apps... ones I use most often and would like to incorporate on my start screen.

I've come to the conclusion that I like it, however, I want the option to have a background image too. I want both. This would be the ultimate unified experience using the same Onedrive for alternating backgrounds on W8.x and syncing the same for phone. This needs to happen now. It's the only way and why Windows will soon be awesomely one.

Like this.

[video=youtube;M6P-uXwG-18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6P-uXwG-18[/video]
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Dell Venue 8 Pro, i5 2500K overclocked PC
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4gb Surface Pro, 8gb PC
It looks very cool and pretty!!!! :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate/Windows 8.1 Update Pro with Media Center/Windows Technical Preview [All 64-bit]
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g6-1d85nr Notebook PC
    CPU
    AMD A4-3305M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics 1.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Hewlett-Packard 169B
    Memory
    4GB Ramaxel DDR3 RAM 1.33 GHz
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    AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6480G
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    Generic PnP Monitor
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    1366x768
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    1 Mb/s Download & 400 Kb/s Upload
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    Internet Explorer 11 [default]/ Pale Moon [64-bit]
    Antivirus
    MS System Center Endpoint Protection
Skinning tiles with pictures natively- I want this feature added in the next main operating system update for desktop and laptops so badly, a step more or less in the right direction, albeit a search function which doesn't take screen space up is better. It's not so much the Start Menu I miss but the search files and programs feature which took up a tiny sliver of my screen only on the little list. But this is how Windows 8.1 phones are going to stand out from the pack.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 64-bit/ Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Desktop: Allison Designs by Austin Computers / Laptop: Toshiba Satellite L50-A006
    CPU
    Intel Core i5- 4590/ Intel Core i5 processor 4200U
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H97M-D3H/ ?
    Memory
    16 GB Kingston at 1600 Mhz/ 4GB
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    Onboard Audio'
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    AOC 2216Vw 22"/ 15.6" Widescreen HD LED Backlit Display
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    1680*1050 / 1366*768
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    Corsair Carbide SPEC-02 Mid Tower Gaming Case (Desktop Only)
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    Microsoft Wired Keyboard Desktop 600 (Desktop Only)
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    Microsoft Wired Mouse 600/ Toshiba Touchpad and Logitech Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer and Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton 360 by Symantec
As a Windows Phone enthusiast and purist, I don't know what to say about this... It looks interesting but glosses over the concept of minimalism and modernist design.

But looking at it from an android versus Windows Phone perspective, it's great.
 

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
As a Windows Phone enthusiast and purist, I don't know what to say about this... It looks interesting but glosses over the concept of minimalism and modernist design.

But looking at it from an android versus Windows Phone perspective, it's great.

Yeah, that was my thoughts on this also.
I have downloaded a couple of the Customer Tile apps, they are ok I guess. But I think they lose something in translation.
Maybe this will be better. Can't wait for release though. It's like Christmas. :party:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
Nice, I am not sure though how that will play out on my 4" screen. And I would not really want my tiles with Chinese titles, LOL.

There is one question to those who have more sophisticared W8 Phones - does your start screen go into landscape mode if you turn the phone - because mine does not.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
Nope, landscape mode isn't something on Windows Phone with Start. I can't think of why other than aesthetics and how it would have your layout become fragmented. But honestly, Windows 8.1 does this, Windows Phone can easily do this. I'm a HUGE landscape view person and I'd rather have landscape view for Start.
 

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
Thanks guys for the input. And I thought only my little guy was retarded. I have to go and apologize to it, LOL.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I've been wondering if this is the way to go since it's been revealed. I'm all for options. While I welcome this, since i'm currently using Skinery Tiles to do the same thing, it is limiting in that you can only use certain apps. These of course do not include the system apps... ones I use most often and would like to incorporate on my start screen.

I've come to the conclusion that I like it, however, I want the option to have a background image too. I want both. This would be the ultimate unified experience using the same Onedrive for alternating backgrounds on W8.x and syncing the same for phone. This needs to happen now. It's the only way and why Windows will soon be awesomely one.

Like this.

[video=youtube;M6P-uXwG-18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6P-uXwG-18[/video]

Hi there
it would be nice to be able to customize the screen - as someone who NEVER uses facebook or twitter I would much rather have other apps there that I could choose myself.

Above asll I would like a MINIMUM of bloatware installed -- some of the Android phones out there now have zillions of "pre-installed apps" none of which I ever use.

If it's all about "monetisation " - simply have some tariff's that might cost a few cents more a call or slightly less free minutes -- and make up the difference that way.

If you really NEED or use 6000 minutes talk time a month on your phone you really need to GET A LIFE. !!!!

Cheers

jimbo
 

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System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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