WP8 "Semantic Zoom" Tile Groups

Posted by smileyctp on August 13, 2012 04:30 pm 11

I have been meaning to post this for a long time, but after taking a look at the post located here I thought I would do it now.

A lot of people want folders in Windows Phone 8. To me, having folders would simply be another feature that iOS and Android already have and that isn't very unique. I don't even think that the proposed four-icon folders look good. To me, the solution is obvious: use tile groups in a similar way that Windows 8 uses them. This feature utilizes semantic zoom as a way of organizing different kinds of apps. It is a unique way of doing "folders" and it would bring greater conformity between the two platforms.

This picture shows the way tile groups are implemented in Windows 8:

via blogs.msdn.com

And this picture shows what a "zoomed out" picture of the tile groups look like:

via www.winsupersite.com

The tile groups can be named and rearranged however you would like them to be.

I made a few quick concepts of what this would look like on Windows Phone a few months ago. This was before the new start screen had debuted, so forgive the absence of small tiles and the new logo. :)

Regular view:

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

There are a view options for "zoomed out" ("zoomed in" is on the left):

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

But this is my personal favorite:

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

As you can see, I opted not to do mini versions of the tiles themselves as it is in Windows 8, but to simply show one "tile" for each group to avoid clutter and such. This concept can even help with some of the intense desire for a notification center, because it will show the total number of notifications for each group.

Use your imaginations to picture what these concepts would look like with the new start screen. What do you think?