Microsoft News gets more fluid performance with WinUI 2.1
What you need to know
- The latest version of Microsoft News for Windows 10 features a more responsive layout.
- Leveraging an update to the Windows UI 2.1 framework, the layout now reacts fluidly when resizing the window.
- This experience is available now with the latest version of Microsoft News.
The next time you fire up the Microsoft News app on your PC, you might notice it feels a little more fluid. In the latest update to the app, it’s now build on Windows UI Library version 2.1, which brings a new feature that makes the layout performance much smoother when adjusting the size of the window.
@Microsoft News Windows 10 App with @WindowsUI 2.1 is out in public! Using #WinUI‘s new API gives the app fantastic relayout performance.#WinUI #UWP #MicrosoftNews pic.twitter.com/gpIStooCQG
— Thai Nguyen (@nqtspinner) September 12, 2019
The Windows UI Library is a set of open source controls and UI elements that apps can leverage in Windows 10. Version 2.1, which became available earlier this year, shipped with a new feature called “ItemsRepeater” that is built to make collection experiences, like those you see in Microsoft News, more performant. From the release notes:
Unlike ListView, ItemsRepeater does not provide a comprehensive end-user experience – it has no default UI and provides no policy around focus, selection, or user interaction. Instead, it’s a building block that you can use to create your own unique collection-based experiences and custom controls. It supports building of richer and more performant experiences.
While the explanation of how it works matters mostly to developers using Windows UI Library, the end result is an app that should feel much smoother in action.
Thanks to Mark N. for the tip!
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