Mosaic: Get Windows 8 Style Live Tiles with Metro UI on Windows XP, Vista and 7 Desktop

UPDATE: Works in Windows XP and Vista as well. Thanks Swapnil…

We know that Windows 8 comes with new Start Screen which shows live tiles on Windows Desktop:

Windows 8 Features New Metro Style “Start Screen” with Live Tiles

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We shared “Omnimo” Rainmeter skin suite which brings a similar interface to Windows:

Get Windows 8 Start Screen in Windows XP, Vista and 7 Using “Omnimo 4″ Rainmeter Skin Suite

Today we are going to share another free software which puts live tiles on your Desktop.

Mosaic(previously known as Metro Home 2) is a free utility that brings Windows 8 style Live tiles with Metro UI on Windows 7 Desktop. Its a set of live widgets which shows various useful content like weather, clock from the web on your Desktop.

Mosaic_Live_Tiles_Windows_7_Desktop.png

Mosaic supports WPF and HTML widgets. Currently HTML widgets has some restrictions: they are visible only in fullscreen mode, there are some problems with input.

Also some widgets are just link to something (e.g. video or desktop or control panel) but in future they could get more functions.

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Remember that Mosaic is in alpha stage atm.

You can download it using following link:

Download Link

You’ll need Microsoft .NET framework 4.0 in your system which can be found here.

Some Tips for Using Mosaic:

  • To open Mosaic menu move mouse cursor to the right border of screen and click. This could not work if your Taskbar placed on the right or left or you have more than one monitor.
  • To add widgets open Mosaic menu click on the Widgets… icon and choose widget
  • To remove widget click on widget icon in Widgets menu again
  • By default widgets are shown over your windows and can be covered by them. There is fullscreen mode in the Mosaic options which makes Mosaic to cover whole screen
  • If your widgets covered by windows just click on the right border of screen and they will quickly bring to front
  • Some widgets has options which can be accessed through context menu
  • If widgets animation annoys you, you can disable it in Mosaic options
  • “Me” widget shows your avatar from Windows. You can change it by dragging any picture to it
  • Pictures widget shows images from Pictures library in Windows 7

Published in: Software, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. how come it work’s in windows xp and windows xp does not support “Microsoft .NET framework 4.0”

  2. How does it works with Windows XP?
    It runs in Windows 7 only if .net framework 4.0 or higher is installed.
    It can only run in Windows XP only if .net framework 4.0 is installed & .net framework 4.0
    doesn’t support windows xp.

  3. HELLO, HAVE A NICE DAY, MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN I CREATE WADGET IN HTML AND SET ON DESKTOP FOR XP, PLEASE HELP ME , I AM WAITING FOR YOUR ANS….

  4. VG, you have not completed the tutorial. According TO ME, 3 things are still left

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