How to dynamically update the tile of my app?

Question

How are the "tiles" in the New metro start menu called? I want to have my apps icon to be replaced by dynamic text (icon) depending on the state of the app.

How would I do that? Whats the sample in the samplecode distro that I should look at?

PS: is there already a Metro style guide available in msdn?

Answer 1

  Basic Toasts Sample

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Visual C++ MVP

Answer 2

The "tiles" are called "Tiles" :) 

There are samples on how Metro style apps can customize their tiles at at:

Basic Tiles Sample: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Basic-Tiles-Sample-805a5d7b
Advanced Tiles Sample: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Advanced-Tiles-Sample-1995ac42

In the future please post development questions in the appropriate forum based on the type of app and language you are writing in.  The General OS forum is for non-development related questions.
Building Metro style apps with C# and VB: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winappswithcsharp/threads
Building Metro style apps with C++: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winappswithnativecode/threads
Building Metro style apps with HTML5/JavaScript: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winappswithhtml5/threads

Windows Desktop Development forums: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsdesktopdev

There isn't yet a full style guide for Metro style apps, but there are some guidelines at:
Designing Metro style apps: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465427(v=VS.85).aspx

You can discuss how to design your app's UI at:
UI Design for Metro style apps: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winappsuidesign/threads

The toasts Sheng Jiang's sample discusses are notification windows which can be briefly shown rather than notifications which appear on the tile itself (although they are often used together).

--Rob

 

Answer 3

Thanks Rob!

I misplaced the question in the general forum but realized that too late to change it. My other questions went right into the C++ forum.

Thanks for your comprehensive answer. I already, by now, learned about the MS Notification Push Service and I am excited to learn about its possibilities.

Just one more question: Is the usage of the MS push service free or does a (volume) based fee apply? I could not find any information about that on the msdn sites.

 

Phil