jacques is hier
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As a Android user can a windows user please tell me what is the difference between live tiles and widgets and why would live tiles be better.
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Live tiles vs widgets
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Bar0n
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The Windows Phone "home screen" is filled with live tiles. Tapping a live tile opens the application, but just viewing the tile gives you information related to the app. For example, the twitter app might display the most recent tweet, the weather app might show the current temperature, etc.
Think of live tiles as a hybrid between a widget and application icon in Android.
Think of live tiles as a hybrid between a widget and application icon in Android.
Bar0n
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Okay, I'm guessing you've never used a WP interface before?
This is what your phone looks like as soon as its unlocked:
There's no place for widgets since there's no "wallpaper" screen.
Last edited:
Okay, I'm guessing you've never used a WP interface before?
This is what your phone looks like as soon as its unlocked:
There's no place for widgets since there's no "wallpaper" screen.
I know that, I said that Live Tiles were essentially the same as widgets as per OP's question. They have the same functionality but on different platforms.
Bar0n
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I don't know about that. The tiles are standardised, so to speak, whilst on Android the widgets are all very unique. Widgets also have functionality whilst the tiles offer none, except to load the app.
Bar0n
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Well they are more like "read only" widgets.
Another way of looking at it is that Live Tiles are great and don't clutter your screen like those silly widget thingies
True. I love live tiles, and despise widgets.
faniebraai
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There is no difference. Actually widgets are a little better imo.
Both display info and if you tsp them, they open the app. What makes widgets a little better is the look and feel and customizability
Both display info and if you tsp them, they open the app. What makes widgets a little better is the look and feel and customizability
K
kingrob
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faniebraai
RIP
Lol.Faantjie, kom uit hierso!!
Netnou gooi hulle jou deur 'n venster!
Always funny to see the 1% lives
Bar0n
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Faantjie, kom uit hierso!!
Netnou gooi hulle jou deur 'n venster!
Kom ek stel jou voor aan Oom Wilhelm Hekke en Vensters 95.
Essentially widgets but ALL on a square background of the theme colour, available in a "full square" (about the same as a 2x2 on android) or quarter size (1x1).
Only "action" is opening the app so can't have any buttons or anything.
They sort with the normal app icons and pretty much look the same.
Mostly animated on a "flip" animation if it contains multiple "slides" of info.
Only one live tile per app (at least last time i checked) as it replaces the app icon.
Some people prefer the uniform look.
Only "action" is opening the app so can't have any buttons or anything.
They sort with the normal app icons and pretty much look the same.
Mostly animated on a "flip" animation if it contains multiple "slides" of info.
Only one live tile per app (at least last time i checked) as it replaces the app icon.
Some people prefer the uniform look.
So from what I read widgets are miles ahead then.
On Android you can have more than one widget and in different sizes per app and usually can customize each ones look as you like depending on settings. Most widgets also have 'buttons' on them to refresh or for example the calendar widgets which have 'buttons' on it to add new events etc...
On Android you can have more than one widget and in different sizes per app and usually can customize each ones look as you like depending on settings. Most widgets also have 'buttons' on them to refresh or for example the calendar widgets which have 'buttons' on it to add new events etc...
Frikkenator
Expert Member
Yea you can do more with widgets, but tiles work better the other way around though. I might be wrong here I haven't used Android in a while, but a lot of apps on WP allow you to quickly pin tiles for specific things in the app.
Example: In here maps you can easily pin a location to your home screen from the app, which works great for when you search for a location in advance, and when it comes time to navigate there you just tap the tile. Weather apps also allow you to quickly pin different locations to your home screen from within the app to show the weather for those locations.
While you can do that with Android (and again it might have changed since I last used it) you have to add the widget, and then set the widget up to show what you want to show.
K
kingrob
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Can do that on Android as well plus you can add additional screens next to your home screen so you can dedicate screen just for these kind of shortcuts and just swipe your home screen to the left or right to go there
I use just one widget with several locations. It shows the one I'm in at that stage and there is a small icon on the widget which you tap to change the location. So just one widget needed for multiple places or you can expand the widget and show all of them.
Frikkenator
Expert Member
They say a picture says a thousand words....well, here you go.
Cool background! Here's mine (I know it's chaotic but I know where everything is, it's a lot like my desk
)So just a quick glance on my home screen here gives me the following information:
- Latest email on outlook (5 unread)
- No missed calls
- No apps that need attention
- Next appointment
- Latest email in work email
- Latest post on Huffington Post
- Top 3 headlines on wpcentral
- No Skype messages
- No WhatsApp messages
- No text messages
- No twitter notifications
- Top 3 posts on the Dota 2 subreddit
- Last Facebook notification
All tiles can be resized between the 3 sizes visible here (shows different information depending on size) and moved around as you wish. So while it doesn't have functionality, you can fit a bucket load of information onto your home screen.
