Internet). Other tiles show similar dynamic data. Figure 2.3 shows some examples of live tiles.
FIGURE 2.3 Live tiles on the Windows Start menu.
TIP
On a touch device, swipe from the left edge of the screen to display the Task view, which you can use to switch among running apps.
Using the Action Center
The Action Center (Figure 2.4), located at the right edge of the display in Windows 10, replaces the Charms bar found in Windows 8.x. To open the Action Center, click or tap the Notifications button on the taskbar just to the right of the time and date. Or, slide in from the right edge of the display.
FIGURE 2.4 Access settings with the Action Center.
Where the Charms bar gave you access to settings, devices, search, and a handful of other functions, the Action Center integrates many of those features with system notifications. For example, using the Action Center, you can quickly switch between tablet mode and regular mode, turn on or off airplane mode, and access display and other settings.
Using the Action Center is fairly intuitive. Some of the buttons on the Action Center pane function as toggle switches that turn functions on or off. Examples include tablet mode, airplane mode, and rotation lock. Other buttons open the Settings app to enable you to change settings. For example, if you click or tap VPN in the Action Center, The VPN page of the Settings app opens (see Figure 2.5).
FIGURE 2.5 The VPN page of the Settings app controls VPN connections and settings.
In addition to buttons for settings and modes, the Action Center shows system notifications, if any are present.
Working with Windows 10 Apps
If you're working on a traditional PC with Windows 10 installed, some (potentially many) of your apps will be “traditional” Windows apps. But, as more and more modern Windows apps are published, you'll no doubt have several favorites. On touch devices such as tablets and smaller handhelds, many of your apps will probably be modern Windows apps.
NOTE
The term Windows app refers to an app that is designed for Windows 8.x and later Windows versions. Formerly called Metro apps after the original name for the Windows 8 interface, Windows apps generally have a streamlined, minimalist appearance. Legacy Windows apps created for Windows 7 and earlier are called Windows desktop apps.
In general, working with a Windows app should be fairly intuitive. The gestures and actions you use to work with the Start menu and other Windows 10 screens are the same for apps. For example, to scroll up or down in the Maps app, just swipe up or down.
Rather than focus on specific modern Windows apps, this section of the chapter focuses on actions and methods you use in general to work with Windows apps.
Opening and using a Windows app
Opening a Windows app couldn't be any easier. Just open the Start menu, locate the app's tile, and tap or click the tile. If you're working on a non-touch device, and you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can use the wheel to scroll through the Start screen's tiles. Then, just click the tile for the app you want to open.
Unlike in Windows 8.x, which runs Windows apps only in full-screen mode, Windows 10 enables you to run apps in a window or full screen and change between full screen and windowed mode just as you can with a legacy desktop app. When Windows 10 is running in tablet mode, however, all apps run full screen. When running in a window, the apps display minimize, maximize, and close buttons just like a desktop app. Use these buttons to change the window state.
How you work in a Windows app depends entirely on the app, but relies on the standard touch gestures and mouse actions described earlier in this chapter.
NOTE
The term Windows app refers to apps written for Windows 8.x or later versions. In this chapter, the term app refers to these Windows apps.
Snapping apps on the screen
At first, it may seem that you can view and work with only one app at a time when running in tablet mode because all apps run full screen by default. But, you can actually snap two apps to the screen at once and easily switch between them. You can even view the desktop and any running apps there side-by-side with an app, or snap a legacy app beside a modern app.
To snap two apps to the screen, follow these steps:
1. Open the two apps.
2. Using the app's title bar, drag the app to the left or right side of the screen. Either action snaps the second app to the left or right of the screen. If the title bar isn't visible, slide down from the top of the display over the app to make the title bar visible.
Figure 2.6 shows two apps snapped side-by-side.
FIGURE 2.6 Two Windows apps snapped side-by-side.
You can snap a modern Windows app beside a legacy app, enabling you to see and work with a traditional Windows app on the desktop while also using a modern Windows app. For example, Figure 2.7 shows the Windows 10 Store app snapped beside Notepad.
FIGURE 2.7 Notepad and a Windows 10 app snapped side-by-side.
To snap the desktop and a modern Windows app, first switch out of tablet mode (if the device is not already in window mode). Then, open the app in a window. If you want to work with a desktop app, open it from the desktop or Start menu. With either app in the foreground, drag the title bar of the other app to the left or right side of the screen to dock the app. You can drag the edge of an app's window to resize it as needed.
Switching between apps
If you're an experienced Windows user, you'll be happy to learn that the methods you've used in the past to switch between apps are still available in Windows 10. For example, you can press Alt + Tab to view a list of running apps (see Figure 2.8) and select one to bring to the foreground. Continue pressing Alt + Tab until the desired app is highlighted; then release the keys to switch to that app. You can also press Windows + Tab or swipe in from the left edge to open the task view showing thumbnails of your running apps (see Figure 2.9). Click or tap on an app to bring it to the foreground.
FIGURE 2.8 Use Alt + Tab to switch between apps.
FIGURE 2.9 Use Windows + Tab to switch between apps.
Closing a modern Windows app
Closing
