Create custom Start Screen tiles!

By Ice_Blue
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
Posted

OblyTile is a free tile creator for Windows that you can use to exchange app tiles on the startpage of the Windows 8 operating system.

custom-windows-8-app-tiles.jpg

Here is how it works. You extract the program on your computer and run it afterwards. The application displays four mandatory and one optional field.

  • Tile name ? the name of the application
  • Program path ? the path of the program, use the file browser to select it
  • Program arguments ? if you want to run the program with command line arguments, add them here
  • Tile image ? select a 120?120 and 30?30 px image for the program.

You can download various sets of Metro images from the Internet, for instance from Deviant art, or create your own tile images that you want to use in programs like Photoshop or Gimp. It is important that the tiles have the right dimensions.The program saves all created tiles under C:\ProgramFiles\OblyTile.

I ran into an issue using the program. The startpage tiles are created when I use the program to create a new tile, but the images that I have selected do not show up. I?m not sure if this is because of the 64-bit version of Windows 8 that I?m running, or a bug in the program.

It also needs to be noted that you can?t change backgrounds of Windows Store apps right now due to the lack of executable files on the system. OblyTile regardless of that is a program that many users may find useful. (via Deskmodder)

Update: The author of the program has fixed the issue. I have justed tried version 0.7 of the program and it is working as advertised on my 64-bit version of Windows 8. The new version ships with options to hide the tile name that you enter, and four tile background colors that you can select one from.

Credit:

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/09/27/create-custom-windows-8-app-tiles-with-oblytile/

Download site:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1899865

  • remixedcat, neo1911 and subcld
  • Like 3
Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1108529-create-custom-start-screen-tiles/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Is it usable to non super geeks?

It's quite easy to use, even for non-geeks.

Basically, gather your tile images in advance, one large and one small for each tile you want to change.

Then run the program, and fill in the relevant information as stated in the article.:

  • Tile name ? the name of the application
  • Program path ? the path of the program, use the file browser to select it
  • Program arguments ? if you want to run the program with command line arguments, add them here
  • Tile image ? select a 120?120 and 30?30 px image for the program.

(The third line is optional)

Then press "Create Tile"

When you return to the Start Screen, your new tile should be there in all its glory.

Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Are the generated icons easily portable? That is, can they be backed up and moved to a new Windows install?

This I'm not sure of. The tiles are stored in the program's folder, so they should be easy to copy over to a new install.

As to getting Windows to re-instate them, I will have to try in a VM.

Surely someone will make a more polished program that works similarly. Perhaps Stardock, and I'll have a nice system for managing the tiles.

It's only a matter of time. I am guessing that once Windows 8 is released to the public, some enterprising soul will do just that.

  • 4 weeks later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Valve finally confirms Steam Machine prices, starts at $1049 for 512GB option

      By Neonix1 · Posted

      The memory and nvme can be swapped and upgraded with standard parts. But the GPU cannot, which is the weakest part of the box. It's a dead product at these prices.
    • Microsoft releases major feature updates for stock Windows 11 apps

      By matthiew · Posted

      Sounds like the debloated build you are running is missing some components that the Photos app and Snipping Tool rely on.
    • Microsoft is building an AI datacenter that "uses less water than a fast food restaurant"

      By Legend20 · Posted

      Apparently, Microsoft doesn't use water in their taps, washrooms or clean their facility. /sarc
    • Anyone Here With Turbo Pascal Experience?

      By +Nik Louch · Posted

      Wow, throwback.  VERY VERY briefly - but realised that it wasn't the language I needed for the tasks I was taking on.
    • Apple and Tesla trade secrets reportedly exposed following a Tata Electronics cyberattack

      By Hamid Ganji · Posted

      Apple and Tesla trade secrets reportedly exposed following a Tata Electronics cyberattack by Hamid Ganji Image via Depositphotos.com Tata Electronics has confirmed that it detected a cybersecurity incident in some of its systems. The Indian company is a manufacturing partner of both Apple and Tesla, and the incident may have exposed some trade secrets belonging to the two American companies. The World Leaks ransomware group is said to be behind the attack, and it has reportedly posted up to 200,000 files on the dark web, including component designs and specification documents related to Apple and Tesla products. Tata Electronics told Reuters that its response protocols were deployed immediately and that the “incident has had no impact on our operations across businesses, which remain unaffected.” The ransomware group reportedly sent a ransom demand to Tata Electronics, while Apple has launched an investigation into the incident. World Leaks claims it stole more than 200,000 files totaling over 630GB from Tata Electronics. Some database files on the ransomware group’s website are titled "com.apple.factorydata," which could refer to Apple’s iPhone production operations in India. Moreover, some documents reportedly contain material specifications and quality inspection standards for iPhone circuit board components. However, Apple is not the only affected company. A folder found in the World Leaks database is titled "NV36 Chargeport Controller - North America," which may refer to Tesla Model Y components. Additionally, other files in the database reportedly contain drawings related to Tesla’s Project Highland, the internal codename for the EV maker’s updated Model 3 sedan. To support the authenticity of the stolen files, World Leaks has published documents containing footers that read: "This document contains proprietary and confidential information of Apple Inc." and "information contained herein is deemed confidential, proprietary, and a trade secret of Tesla Inc." Cybersecurity researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia told Reuters that the database also contains emails, event logs spanning several years, and passport copies of employees, including foreign nationals. Both Tesla and Apple have declined to comment on the scale of the incident.

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      nates earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Rookie
      dorf went up a rank
      Rookie
    • First Post
      mike_rumble earned a badge
      First Post
    • Dedicated
      tuben earned a badge
      Dedicated

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      487
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      201
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      96
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      91
    5. 5
      neufuse
      71
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!