In headsets running Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft included a Start background feature that let users set the Start screen with a parallax background image that only appeared behind the Live Tiles.
However, in the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones, the company is changing the Start background feature to align the design throughout phones, tablets, PCs, and Xbox One. In the latest preview users will notice that they can set a background on the Start screen and the Live Tiles will be made translucent, so users can view more of the background image, identically to the Xbox One dashboard transparent Live Tiles introduced in the February 2015 update and how the Start menu will look in Windows 10.
The only issue is that many Windows Phone 8.1 users like the old Start screen background feature more than they do the new change in Windows 10 preview. For this reason, Microsoft has confirmed that is planning to include both “full background” and “in the tiles” options when the operating system releases later this year.
@OpenPlumbob yes… Were planning to include both the "full background" and "in the tiles" options.
— Joe Belfiore (@joebelfiore) February 13, 2015
The idea is simple, Microsoft is only trying to accomplish the vision of one Windows, one core, one experience, throughout all screen sizes.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].