Windows 8 Metro style apps is designed for different environmental factors.

The Metro style app runs on desktops, laptops, and tablets, and you need to design your applications for these different situations. Users may switch between devices, change the screen direction, or turn something (device or service, etc.) off or on, and your Metro style app needs to adapt to these situations.

Touch, mouse, and keyboard input
When you plan your applications for touch operations and input, you can directly get support for mouse and keyboard operations. If you use one input mode to switch to another, there will be no bad user experience. What if I insert a keyboard into a touch screen device? It doesn't matter. Your application can fully adapt to the user's choice.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh700412.aspx

 

Device features
Great applications can take full advantage of the features of devices running it. Windows 8 (release Preview) supports the following built-in features:
　1. Accelerometer and other sensors: Devices now support more and more sensors. Your application can control the brightness and shade of the screen through the detection of ambient light. When the user turns the device, the UI Display orientation is rotated, or the physical movement is responded.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/br211360.aspx

　　2. geographic location information: The geographical location information allows users to obtain information about the surrounding area, locate the current location on the map, or get notifications of people or activities around them.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465139.aspx

　　3. Cameras
　　4. Near-Field Communication: Allows users to connect devices by clicking devices (or "Shake" =) at the same time. This allows nearby users to play multiplayer games.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465229.aspx

Consider the devices that your application may run when planning your application features. Are some device features necessary for your application to work properly? Or can you discard some devices? You need to declare the features supported by your app in the manifest file of the app. However, for optional and unimportant system features within the application, you may write some fallbacks. for example, an app that allows users to track their travel routes can mark sites, diary comments, send to social networks, and add photos and videos on maps. For this application, the geographical location is a required device feature, and the camera is optional (because there is no camera, it will not affect the main features of the app, you can also import photos and videos from other devices ).

Multi-status, multi-page
Windows 8 puts users first. You want your app UI to run perfectly on any device or screen, so that you can decide to use it under any circumstances. When the user changes the screen direction, your application should "easily" change the layout to adapt. When you design the UI to consider the above issues, windows will be concerned about the rest.
　　Landscape: Landscape View
　　Portrait: Landscape View
The key to looking good at these views is to define the layout of each state of each view. After you define both views in advance, your application automatically adapts to different device directions.
Http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465386.aspx

Http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465327.aspx

 

Built-in drawing
Users can use your app on different devices. Does this mean that you need to design the UI for different scenarios? There are too many screen sizes! The answer is, not necessary. Built-in rendering means your apps and content will always look good, whether on a small 7-inch device or a large 30-inch screen. You only need to use a streaming layout.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465362.aspx

 

Cloud synchronization data
What if a user switches from an office desktop to a home tablet? Their files, application status, and application personalized settings should follow him.
For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465109.aspx

 

 

 

Translated from:

Design for different form factors (Metro style Apps)

Http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh465400.aspx

 

 

Jin Yanyun

http://www.cnblogs.com/vistach/archive/2012/08/02/Windows8_Win8_MetroStyleApps_DesignForDifferentFormFactors.html