Windows Store: Page elements loading is jumpy, irksome - windows-store

Question

I have a page with an Image on it, its source is a local .png asset. It loads into view in the most irksome manner.
It loads across the whole grid, like RowSpan="2" and then pops into place after a second or two. It's awful.
Demo from repro app based on new blank Store app.
<common:LayoutAwarePage
x:Name="pageRoot"
x:Class="DeleteMeApp1.BasicPage1"
DataContext="{Binding DefaultViewModel, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="using:DeleteMeApp1"
xmlns:common="using:DeleteMeApp1.Common"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="d">
<Page.Resources>
<!-- TODO: Delete this line if the key AppName is declared in App.xaml -->
<x:String x:Key="AppName">My Application</x:String>
</Page.Resources>
<!--
This grid acts as a root panel for the page that defines two rows:
* Row 0 contains the back button and page title
* Row 1 contains the rest of the page layout
-->
<Grid Style="{StaticResource LayoutRootStyle}" Background="Brown">
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="140"/>
<RowDefinition Height="*"/>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<!-- Visual states reflect the application's view state -->
<VisualStateGroup x:Name="ApplicationViewStates">
<VisualState x:Name="FullScreenLandscape"/>
<VisualState x:Name="Filled"/>
<!-- The entire page respects the narrower 100-pixel margin convention for portrait -->
<VisualState x:Name="FullScreenPortrait">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="backButton" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Style">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{StaticResource PortraitBackButtonStyle}"/>
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<!-- The back button and title have different styles when snapped -->
<VisualState x:Name="Snapped">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="backButton" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Style">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{StaticResource SnappedBackButtonStyle}"/>
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="pageTitle" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Style">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{StaticResource SnappedPageHeaderTextStyle}"/>
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
</VisualStateGroup>
</VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<Image Grid.Row="0" Stretch="UniformToFill" Source="Assets/BackgroundTexturedBlackboard.png" />
<!-- Back button and page title -->
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<Button x:Name="backButton" Click="GoBack" IsEnabled="{Binding Frame.CanGoBack, ElementName=pageRoot}" Style="{StaticResource BackButtonStyle}"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="pageTitle" Grid.Column="1" Text="{StaticResource AppName}" Style="{StaticResource PageHeaderTextStyle}"/>
</Grid>
<StackPanel Grid.Row="1">
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</common:LayoutAwarePage>

Answer 1

The problem was down to the layout. Although technically legal, the arrangement doesn't work well.
I solved the problem by adding another Grid around the existing root one and making the new one the new root.
Into the new root I added the Image and the other elements I need to overlay the artwork and this ordering of elements renders better, although, with the transition effects I still need to tweak it.
Update
Actually, this isn't the end of the story. Removing the image and leaving just a rectangle with Opacity 0.5, the rectangle's opacity is set a second after the page has loaded. It's terrible.
I made a repro app, videoed the problem and submitted a connect bug.
https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/792303/windows-store-xaml-atrocious-obvious-delayed-application-of-opacity#details