Getting Started with Stardock Tiles

Published on March 10, 2011 By Island Dog In Personal Computing

With the release of the beta for Stardock Tiles I wanted to write a quick getting started guide on some of the basic features of the app. I have been using Tiles for a while now, and it’s another one of those must have apps that resides on my desktop daily.

https://www.stardock.com/products/tiles/

What is Tiles?

Tiles is an application that lets you easily manage running applications and windows with a customizable interface that resides on your desktop. Many of us are used to switching windows via the start menu, but that can become difficult with lots of apps open, especially with apps with multiple windows or documents that you might be working on.

Using Tiles

Tiles is very easy to use and within just a few uses you will be breaking the habit of using the taskbar for running applications. Tiles has pages like Apps, Webs, etc. that will display the applications running for that category of app. Switching between pages is done by swiping left or right. The display windows in Tiles are live previews, and you can quickly select and bring to focus any window that is open. Click the window within Tiles to minimize and maximize the windows as well. All the options for Tiles can be accessed by right-clicking in the Tiles interface.

You can customize your pages further by creating your own filters. You can set specific applications to be open in your pages, and pick running apps to be included that are already running. Another feature is holding down the Shift key and dragging a window into Tiles. I usually do this with apps I have open for a short time and use it to keep them organized in a custom page I have setup.

Is it Skinnable?

Of course it is! Tiles has several skins included to get you started, and even includes a skin editor to help you build your own custom skins. If you are a WindowBlinds user it will also match the skin you are using so everything goes “together” on your desktop.

So that was just a quick overview of Tiles, but there is much more to explore. Check out the demo video below to see Tiles in action and let us know how you like it!

Comments (Page 2)

theAVMAN

on Mar 14, 2011

There is now one in the gallery https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/tiles/2/

JohnDDent

on Mar 15, 2011

Hi,

Love Tiles! Now where are the help files? How do I remove/rename Pages? Easy to add though.

I couple of years ago when I started to use Fences I made some suggestions and sent them in. I thought that fences should have a rotating bar that would let power users reduce the icon clutter on the desktop. Is suggested that these bars [now called pages] should work inside a fence so you could rotate any group of icons to the top. That way the amount of icons on the screen at any one time would be seriously reduced. {I have nearly 500 programs running on my system.]

Now it looks like someone heard what what I said then. But they made a new program [Tiles]. I applaud the developers of Tiles but would like my suggestions for Fences incorporated in Fences.

Again, how do I remove pages? With no help files to turn to I'm lost.

Island Dog

on Mar 15, 2011

Right-click Tiles and then go to Config Pages, and then select Add filters. You can manage pages from there.

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