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I confess I just do not understand those tiles. I don't want to put my phone down on a desk or restaurant table (well I don't do the latter much anyway) and have other people observe photos and social media feeds. And my current iOS device allows for many more available options from the home screen with the small icons. But horses for courses I guess.

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It's not so other people can see them, your phone will probably be at lock screen when you put it down anyway. It enables you to quickly glance at your phone and see the crap you care about.

From the home screen tiles I can instantly see if I've missed any calls, any unread emails, status updates on twitter/facebook, chat messages and text messages. Without scrolling, or tapping.

A scroll down the screen gives me other less useful stuff, like whether or not I need my umbrella today and if there is a wreck on my normal commute route.

Each to their own.

Fair enough. I'm not too involved in social media (wrong generation :) apart from twitter, and don't feel the need for such live updates but amny perhaps do. I'd rather make a conscious effort to check info feeds e.g email rather than be distracted. It is alreadybad enough at meals for instance when people are constantly checking their mobile.

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