Understanding Live Tiles and Hubs on Windows Phone 7
Applies To
Windows Phone 7 introduced a revolutionary user interface called Metro (later renamed to Microsoft Design Language). At the heart of this interface are two key concepts: Live Tiles and Hubs. This guide will help you understand these features and how to use them effectively.
🎯 Key Concepts
- Live Tiles: Dynamic app icons that display real-time information
- Hubs: Integrated experiences that bring together related content and functions
- Metro UI: Clean, typography-focused design with emphasis on content
- Glance and Go: Philosophy of providing information at a glance
What Are Live Tiles?
Live Tiles are the foundation of the Windows Phone Start screen. Unlike static icons on other platforms, Live Tiles are dynamic, updating with real-time information without needing to open the app.
Types of Live Tiles
Windows Phone 7 supports three main tile sizes:
- Small (1x1): Basic icon with optional badge count
- Medium (2x2): Standard size with room for detailed information
- Large (4x4): Double-width tiles that show extensive content (WP7.8+)
📱 Windows Phone 7.8 Update
The Windows Phone 7.8 update added the ability to resize most tiles to small, medium, or large sizes, giving you more control over your Start screen layout.
Customizing Your Live Tiles
You have complete control over your Start screen arrangement:
To add an app to your Start screen:
- Go to the app list (swipe left from Start screen)
- Tap and hold on any app
- Select "pin to start" from the menu
- The tile will appear on your Start screen
To organize your Start screen:
- Tap and hold any tile until it "lifts"
- Drag it to your desired position
- Release to drop it in place
- Other tiles will automatically rearrange
⚠️ Important
Some system tiles (like Phone and Messaging) cannot be unpinned or moved. They're fixed to the top of your Start screen.
On Windows Phone 7.8, you can resize many tiles:
- Tap and hold a tile until the menu appears
- Select "resize"
- Choose from available sizes (small, medium, large)
- The tile will adjust and other tiles will rearrange
Not all apps support all tile sizes. The available options depend on what the app developer has implemented.
To remove a tile from your Start screen:
- Tap and hold the tile
- Select "unpin from start" from the menu
- The tile will disappear from your Start screen
- The app remains installed and accessible from the app list
Understanding Hubs
Hubs are another key innovation of Windows Phone 7. Instead of isolated apps, Hubs bring together related content and functions into integrated experiences.
Key Windows Phone 7 Hubs
| Hub | Purpose | Key Features | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| People | Centralized contacts and social updates | Contact cards, social feeds, recent activity | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Windows Live |
| Pictures | Photo management and sharing | Camera roll, albums, social uploads | Facebook, SkyDrive, local storage |
| Music + Videos | Media playback and management | Now playing, playlists, Zune integration | Zune Store, local media, podcasts |
| Office | Document creation and editing | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote | SkyDrive, SharePoint, email attachments |
| Games | Gaming center | Xbox Live integration, achievements | Xbox Live, game invites, leaderboards |
| Marketplace | App discovery and management | App store, updates, app history | Microsoft account, purchase history |
Tips for Mastering Live Tiles & Hubs
Place your most-used apps at the top of the Start screen. Group related tiles together (social apps, productivity tools, games) for quick access.
Enable Live Tile updates in app settings. Badge counts (numbers on tiles) help you stay on top of messages, emails, and updates.
Use tile colors to create visual sections. All blue tiles for communication, green for productivity, etc. This makes finding apps intuitive.
Swipe horizontally in Hubs to access different panes. Use the app bar (tap ...) for additional options. Pin specific Hub sections to Start.
Use large tiles for apps with important info (calendar, weather, news). Medium tiles for frequent apps. Small tiles for utilities.
Regularly review social account connections in Hub settings. Disconnect unused accounts to improve performance and battery life.
Advanced Features
Secondary Tiles
Many apps support "deep linking" with secondary tiles. For example:
- Email: Pin specific folders or accounts
- Calendar: Pin specific calendars or views
- News: Pin specific categories or feeds
- Music: Pin playlists or radio stations
💡 Pro Tip
In the People Hub, you can pin individual contacts to your Start screen. This creates a Live Tile that shows their latest social updates and contact options.
Hub Integration with Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps can integrate with Hubs to provide a seamless experience:
- Camera apps: Can save photos to Pictures Hub
- Social apps: Can post to People Hub feeds
- Music apps: Can integrate with Music + Videos Hub
- Document apps: Can save files to Office Hub
⚠️ Limitations on Windows Phone 7
Compared to later Windows Phone versions, Windows Phone 7 has some limitations:
- No live tile backgrounds or themes
- Limited tile templates for developers
- Fewer hub extensibility options
- No folder organization for tiles
- Background agents (for tile updates) have stricter limits
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Live Tiles Not Updating
If your Live Tiles stop updating:
- Check internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
- Verify app has permission to run in background
- Restart the phone (hold power button for 10 seconds)
- Unpin and re-pin the tile
- Reinstall the app if problem persists
Hubs Not Showing Social Updates
If social feeds aren't updating in Hubs:
- Go to Settings > email + accounts
- Select the social account
- Tap "sync now"
- Check account password is still valid
- Re-add the account if necessary
Performance Issues
If your phone feels sluggish:
- Reduce number of Live Tiles (especially those updating frequently)
- Disconnect unused social accounts from Hubs
- Clear temporary files (Settings > applications > temporary files)
- Restart your phone weekly