Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How is Windows Phone?
- Thread starter TechGod
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yes, there is a program you can download for the mac so that you can do file transfers back and forth. Can't remember the name of it though.
And yes, most major apps are available now. Just depends on what you need or want app wise.
With WP 8.1 (I have a 1520 on AT&T) I feel like I have everything I had on my iPhone. The desktop app let's you synch up with iTunes.
Want to try the 6+ though as I like the idea of the watch possibly. Will wait until that comes out before I decide. Just can't go back to anything smaller than the 5-6" screen format.
Want to try the 6+ though as I like the idea of the watch possibly. Will wait until that comes out before I decide. Just can't go back to anything smaller than the 5-6" screen format.
Had a 1520 and really enjoyed it. I'm in the apple ecosystem though and went with the 6+ and absolutely love it. Feels light and slim compared to the 1520 but with still an amazing big screen. I think you will like it.
My work phone was a Windows phone for the past 2 years and I hated it. Worst onscreen keyboard, nearly no customization, and the app worked toon sucked. For me, no free Words With Friends, no app to control my Denon receiver, no app to control my Fios cablebox, etc. My work just moved me a Galaxy S4 and I like it much better, by still not more than my iPhone.
Just took a check on the first app you mentioned. Yep, free. The keyboard is great, too. I can customize it more than the iPhone I had.
If I didn't know better, I'd say you were talking out your rear. Or maybe you used a WP 7 device and never bothered with 8.
I'm glad you understood what he said because I did not. Anyway, it is likely he was using an old version and def not 8.1.
I think Windows Phone is real slick.
It's the apps that are a problem, especially on the Google front, where they are pretty much boycotting Windows Phone to purposely gimp it.
It's the apps that are a problem, especially on the Google front, where they are pretty much boycotting Windows Phone to purposely gimp it.
So, so true. I hate that you have to depend on 3rd party devs in order to get any Google apps. Some are extremely good and some are absolute junk. I really wish Microsoft and Google would kiss and make up.
Sorry if I was unclear before. I was watching a movie and typing on my other phone and not paying attention. That being said, my Lumia 920coukd no be upgraded to 8.1 until the week before my new phone arrived. Didn't upgrade as my Android phone was on the way and didn't want problems for a week. That being said, I had a windows phone 7 for a year before my windows phone 8.0 for 16 months.
One issue I do have is how long it took 8.1 to be rolled out to all devices. Reminds me of android. And I stopped checking Words with Friends because after 2 years I finally gave up. Glad you didn't check my Denon or Verizon app issues though...
One issue I do have is how long it took 8.1 to be rolled out to all devices. Reminds me of android. And I stopped checking Words with Friends because after 2 years I finally gave up. Glad you didn't check my Denon or Verizon app issues though...
If you depend on any NZ-specific apps then you should check whether Windows versions are available; I've heard that NZ developers typically don't bother with it.
I'm actually considering going back to Windows Phone but only for media playback. I am starting to peak and feel complacent with Android now and I don't think I was giving WP a fair shake since I left it when it was still on 7.5 Mango.
I saw Taylor Martin and Michael Fisher from PocketNow mentioned using two phones and one of them was a Windows Phone. Actually Taylor Martin mentioned using Lumia 1020 LAST YEAR. He has been using M8 (Android) mostly this year.
But Android/WP combo seemed to work for them.
I think Windows Phone COMPLIMENTS Android better than iOS would mainly because of BT file transfer since 7.8 and Nokia is great at photo quality which surpasses even iPhones. With iOS, it is Apple device or nothing! Nokia can communicate with other brands/OSes.
Been wanting to get a small QVGA WP so my 360p videos can look better on it.. But read too many probs from the Lumia 530 and the 520 actually sells higher here! Been tempted at the 630 and bigger 930 as well. The 1020 is getting pretty cheap these days too. WP is not a daily driver. I'm not looking for apps or ecosystem. I just need a third wheel for my Android duo that could be cheap, slick, and refreshing.
Almost every Android under $100 lags or doesn't have enough RAM. WP doesn't lag or is unstable as much in the same price point. Smooth and efficient but lacks the depth, customization, and apps I get from Android. Considering Steve Ballmer now owns my LA Clippers, I guess I might just need to return to WP. I just wished with its 2-3% marketshare, it should be Microsoft that should start offering sub-$50 smartphones first. They should be more price conscious than Google considering how smooth and efficient it is on low specs.
Back in 2011, I ranked it -
1. iOS
2. Windows Phone
3. Android
Now in 2014, I might rank it -
1. Android
2. Windows Phone
3. iOS
Windows Phone was my daily in 2012 and actually liked the UI better than other two's static UI. I also liked webOS UI better than iOS and Android. After 3 years, things just flip flopped. My most hated mobile OS (Android) became my fav and my fav before (iOS) became my most hated.
I saw Taylor Martin and Michael Fisher from PocketNow mentioned using two phones and one of them was a Windows Phone. Actually Taylor Martin mentioned using Lumia 1020 LAST YEAR. He has been using M8 (Android) mostly this year.
But Android/WP combo seemed to work for them.
I think Windows Phone COMPLIMENTS Android better than iOS would mainly because of BT file transfer since 7.8 and Nokia is great at photo quality which surpasses even iPhones. With iOS, it is Apple device or nothing! Nokia can communicate with other brands/OSes.
Been wanting to get a small QVGA WP so my 360p videos can look better on it.. But read too many probs from the Lumia 530 and the 520 actually sells higher here! Been tempted at the 630 and bigger 930 as well. The 1020 is getting pretty cheap these days too. WP is not a daily driver. I'm not looking for apps or ecosystem. I just need a third wheel for my Android duo that could be cheap, slick, and refreshing.
Almost every Android under $100 lags or doesn't have enough RAM. WP doesn't lag or is unstable as much in the same price point. Smooth and efficient but lacks the depth, customization, and apps I get from Android. Considering Steve Ballmer now owns my LA Clippers, I guess I might just need to return to WP. I just wished with its 2-3% marketshare, it should be Microsoft that should start offering sub-$50 smartphones first. They should be more price conscious than Google considering how smooth and efficient it is on low specs.
Back in 2011, I ranked it -
1. iOS
2. Windows Phone
3. Android
Now in 2014, I might rank it -
1. Android
2. Windows Phone
3. iOS
Windows Phone was my daily in 2012 and actually liked the UI better than other two's static UI. I also liked webOS UI better than iOS and Android. After 3 years, things just flip flopped. My most hated mobile OS (Android) became my fav and my fav before (iOS) became my most hated.
I sum up Windows Phone in one word. That word is sucks. If I could add one more word, it would be really. As in really sucks.
I'd rather use Android than Windows Phone. At least there are apps, even though most were written by idiots, at least they exist. Actually, I'd rather not. Android was/is/seems to always be a mess.
----------
First, that doesn't even make sense. iOS can't communicate with other OSes? So I can't send a text to another non-iOS phone? What? Huh? Also, your point about iOS being only Apple doesn't really mean much. That's like saying a Symbian phone was made by Nokia... completely meaningless in terms of comparing two things. Apple made iOS. They make iPhone. In terms of advantages or disadvantages, it goes both ways.
Also, Nokia camera quality is not better than an iPhone. 40MP? Garbage. It was just downsampling the resulting file to something like 8MP (forget the exact number). It was a gimmick. The other cameras were great, but not appreciably better. iPhone has always had a camera that was at or near the top. Samsung too.
I'd rather use Android than Windows Phone. At least there are apps, even though most were written by idiots, at least they exist. Actually, I'd rather not. Android was/is/seems to always be a mess.
----------
First, that doesn't even make sense. iOS can't communicate with other OSes? So I can't send a text to another non-iOS phone? What? Huh? Also, your point about iOS being only Apple doesn't really mean much. That's like saying a Symbian phone was made by Nokia... completely meaningless in terms of comparing two things. Apple made iOS. They make iPhone. In terms of advantages or disadvantages, it goes both ways.
Also, Nokia camera quality is not better than an iPhone. 40MP? Garbage. It was just downsampling the resulting file to something like 8MP (forget the exact number). It was a gimmick. The other cameras were great, but not appreciably better. iPhone has always had a camera that was at or near the top. Samsung too.
Android most certainly is NOT a mess. I guess that Swiftkey keyboard many people are using now was written by an idiot? What about the official FlipBoard app? etc. Android apps aren't written by idiots.
Can we for once be objective about this, or not?
iOS is awesome, Android is awesome and WP is awesome.
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/fios-tv/a8230634-ca9f-4948-bbcb-5a2d0499bd69 (3rd Party, but still)
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/mydenon-remote/014883fe-fbf6-42a0-8e22-2a80ef2f9da9 (3rd party app again)
Yes, 8.1 took a while (unless you were in the developer preview, which I am). That's one of my biggest complaints about Windows Phone.
----------
How does WP suck? Also, how is having an amazing photo that you can zoom as far as you want without losing any detail a gimmick? Then again, saying the iPhone has "the best camera ever" kind of lets me know you're just here to wave pompoms.
Last edited:
He is just one of those typical people who read someone else's rant without proof and regurgitates it.
All high MP Windows phone cameras reduce the size typically so the raw image doesn't take up so much space on the phone, but you don't HAVE to do that. My 1520 saves the smaller version on my phone and uploads the raw image to the cloud for me to edit later if I want.
I do think the iPhone camera is actually incredibly amazing considering the "megapixel limitations" if you want to call it that. Their processor and every day features that make it more fun are awesome.
Oh, I wasn't saying it was a bad camera by any means. I just don't see it as the best one. Apple does amazing things with their camera. Nokia has just done better.
After reading SnowLeopards comments in other areas of this board, I don't believe that is possible. If it doesn't have an Apple logo, it sucks. If you have anything negative to say about Apple, he'll say you are wrong and Apple is right.
Best just to put him on ignore. There is no debating with someone like that.
I wish Microsoft would embrace their pedigree and put a stylus on the 1520, I'd probably buy it in a second, although those sharp corners would make me think about it.
I'm still holding out hope for a surface phone with Ntrig technology, it makes MUCH more sense for MS to make one than to make a 8" surface mini IMO. Put a kickstand and stylus on it and I'll be first in line.
I'm still holding out hope for a surface phone with Ntrig technology, it makes MUCH more sense for MS to make one than to make a 8" surface mini IMO. Put a kickstand and stylus on it and I'll be first in line.
I have always liked Metro UI since the Zune HD back in 2009. I even use the UberMusic app with the Metro UI skin on my HTC since I didn't like the look of its default music player. But Windows Phone is nearly 4-years old now (2010-2014). It didn't mature as fast as Android did from 2008-2012. My brief time with WP from Nov 2011-Apr 2012, here is what I like and didn't like....
Things I like -
- Smooth, slick animation and transition effects.
- Non static live tiles and tiles that flipped made the homescreen feel alive.
- No redraws unlike Android which sucks at caching.
- Fast boot up time.
- Low RAM usage.
- Hubs so I didn't have to open other apps.
- Gallery tile showed a moving slide show and had this nice carousel effect to view photos.
- Zune app is one of the best music player apps ever. Adds a photo with the artist along with brief bio info and FM radio.
- Games. Hydro Thunder (old arcade/ Dreamcast game) and I loved that basketball shooting game. I haven't one on Android as smooth and refined.
- Making my own Xbox Live character is pretty fun even though I haven't own an Xbox since the original and don't use Xbox Live. Sony PlayStation fan here.
Things I dislike -
- Google service apps by third parties generally sucked especially for Google Voice.
- Never liked Internet Explorer, so its mobile browser also bad.
- While Bing is beautiful, it simply isn't as useful or thorough as Google Search.
- No TubeMate alternative. I actually used one briefly but the app took out the download video feature.
- Some apps on WP were not as good as other platforms because of the Metro design or lacked the info (ie IMDb)
- They added resizing tiles and background wallpapers, but still not enough personal customizations like gesture shortcuts, changing the tile color, and no SwiftKey.
- Some Android devices now have multiple ways to wake or sleep the screen to lessen using the physical buttons.
With all I said, I can see myself returning to WP. The only real advantages I see from iPhones over Android are GAMES and CAMERA. I think WP is just as smooth and even more beautiful than iOS. And the Carl Zeiss optics Nokia uses is still years ahead of current iPhones. It seems a Nokia WP (ahem, Microsoft Windows device) can compliment Android better but only as a secondary mobile platform for me.
If Android is the main course, Windows Phone is like the dessert. If only they can improve the quality/quantity of apps, add more personal customization, not shove Microsoft services/apps/ecosystem down our throats, and lower the price down to like $20-$50 for their budget devices to undercut Firefox devices. Microsoft can skyrocket to #2 globally and have faster adoption rate not only in South America. Late bloomer, perhaps? Google & Microsoft need to work together if they want to topple the loner/isolated personality of Apple.
Android + Windows Phone = better combo?
Yes, if iOS & Android can generally look the same, have same essential apps, and act the same even though iPhones and Android devices mix together like oil and vinegar.
Things I like -
- Smooth, slick animation and transition effects.
- Non static live tiles and tiles that flipped made the homescreen feel alive.
- No redraws unlike Android which sucks at caching.
- Fast boot up time.
- Low RAM usage.
- Hubs so I didn't have to open other apps.
- Gallery tile showed a moving slide show and had this nice carousel effect to view photos.
- Zune app is one of the best music player apps ever. Adds a photo with the artist along with brief bio info and FM radio.
- Games. Hydro Thunder (old arcade/ Dreamcast game) and I loved that basketball shooting game. I haven't one on Android as smooth and refined.
- Making my own Xbox Live character is pretty fun even though I haven't own an Xbox since the original and don't use Xbox Live. Sony PlayStation fan here.
Things I dislike -
- Google service apps by third parties generally sucked especially for Google Voice.
- Never liked Internet Explorer, so its mobile browser also bad.
- While Bing is beautiful, it simply isn't as useful or thorough as Google Search.
- No TubeMate alternative. I actually used one briefly but the app took out the download video feature.
- Some apps on WP were not as good as other platforms because of the Metro design or lacked the info (ie IMDb)
- They added resizing tiles and background wallpapers, but still not enough personal customizations like gesture shortcuts, changing the tile color, and no SwiftKey.
- Some Android devices now have multiple ways to wake or sleep the screen to lessen using the physical buttons.
With all I said, I can see myself returning to WP. The only real advantages I see from iPhones over Android are GAMES and CAMERA. I think WP is just as smooth and even more beautiful than iOS. And the Carl Zeiss optics Nokia uses is still years ahead of current iPhones. It seems a Nokia WP (ahem, Microsoft Windows device) can compliment Android better but only as a secondary mobile platform for me.
If Android is the main course, Windows Phone is like the dessert. If only they can improve the quality/quantity of apps, add more personal customization, not shove Microsoft services/apps/ecosystem down our throats, and lower the price down to like $20-$50 for their budget devices to undercut Firefox devices. Microsoft can skyrocket to #2 globally and have faster adoption rate not only in South America. Late bloomer, perhaps? Google & Microsoft need to work together if they want to topple the loner/isolated personality of Apple.
Android + Windows Phone = better combo?
Yes, if iOS & Android can generally look the same, have same essential apps, and act the same even though iPhones and Android devices mix together like oil and vinegar.
I agree with you. My friend has a Windows phone and while I wouldn't personally buy one, it absolutely doesn't "suck."
I like the slick design; it's something fresh. 3rd Party app support IS lacking, but give it time. I would go iOS > Android > Windows right now, but Microsoft has done a good job, especially with OneDrive.