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Stardock’s Tiles reimagines the Windows task metaphor

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Stardock’s Tiles reimagines the Windows task metaphor

from JoeUser Forums

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:

http://www.objectdesktop.com

Video:

http://www.screencast.com/t/u4oK0520uoK

Screenshots:

 

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88,353 views 28 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting edee2, reply 25
Why don't you read this post here at the Windows Club : http://www.thewindowsclub.com/download-tiles-stardock-free?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWindowsClub+%28The+Windows+Club%29
That's not a Stardock advertisement . . So how can we be accused of "false advertising"?

I don't see a bait and switch.  I see a free, useful app, that can be made more useful if a person wants.

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 26

I don't see a bait and switch.  I see a free, useful app, that can be made more useful if a person wants.
-End of story. :sun:

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I installed Tiles, but didn't find it that useful and removed it.

I kept reading reviews by users who said it was in fact really handy so I thought I must be missing something. I reinstalled, and now I can't imagine using my computer without it.

The ability to scroll through my (categorized) shortcuts by simply bumping my mouse up against the edge of the screen is very handy and time-saving. It completely decluttered my desktop, and slides out of sight when not in use.

I look forward to future improvements.