I've had a 920 for a few days and I'm really torn

[b166er]

I picked up a Lumia 920 on Friday and I've been trying to use it as much as possible while I am still in my 14 day return window. But I'm coming up short in a few areas.

Pros-
-I think WP8 is awesome- the live tiles are great for seeing a lot of information quickly without doing a lot of opening and closing. Setting up a tile for a contact is second to none when it comes to keeping tabs on your close friends.
-The camera is awesome, there is no way around it. The extra lenses are great, the city lens feature is great, all around the camera smokes every other cell phone camera I've ever used.
-The screen is gorgeous, and I don't think I can go back to the iPhone 4S screen now. I never thought I'd be in the larger screen camp, but this thing has converted me.
-Office is integrated nicely
-the nokia maps (beta) are very nice, not perfect, but they smoke iOS maps.



Cons-
-The signal strength is weird. I'll be showing 5 bars of "4G" on my iPhone, and 1 bar on the 920. Yesterday I was in an LTE covered area and I had 1 bar of EDGE. Something weird going on there, I checked all my settings and can't see any issues there.
-Apps, of course. Most of what I need is available, but there is no skype, no dropbox, and no way to do google video chat. Those are pretty big misses for me personally. I expect those things will come in time, but not knowing when makes it hard for me to dedicate myself to the platform.
-Battery life seems all over the place. I used the Nokia Drive app for an hour yesterday and my battery barely budged. Today I was very busy at work and I only played with the phone for a few minutes, checking facebook and the like, and my battery went down to 60% pretty quick.
-Facebook integration on the OS is great, but the facebook app sucks. I use facebook enough for that to matter, unfortunately.
-The lockscreen has almost no functionality. I was hoping to be able to set up something in the vain of lockinfo like a jailbroken iPhone, but there is very little you can do here.

Anyone else using this phone and have any input? I don't think I can go back to a smaller screen now. I am not a huge Android fan, but it looks like an S3 would be more in the direction I'm looking to go. But damn, I would really miss the WP8 tiles.

 

[Akash.B]

I have hopped and skipped from phone to phone in the past two months and I've finally gotten the Lumia. I'm having the weird issue with the battery too, but I'm pretty sure I just have to go through the cycles a few times before it starts behaving.
My main reason to get the Lumia was the fluidity and camera. Both are beyond what I expected. I know some major apps are missing, but I know they will be coming out as time goes on (Skype has to come, Microsoft owns it now!) I use the mobile version of Facebook on the browser and let the built in functionality tell me about any updates.
I think it will be hard to go back to any other device for me. iPhone has great apps and is smooth, but the screen isn't as exceptional. The GS3 has the customization, but for some reason lags (not majorly, but in minute enough amounts to become annoying)

 

[Bkasm]

Almost everything you mentioned can be handled through updates. Apps will come in time, if it gets the support. Which I believe it will. I'm using the Facebook app from the app store without any real problems. It's certainly not any worse than what I had on my iPhone.

I haven't personally had any issues with signal strength. My battery has also been fine from what I noticed, perhaps, like the other person said, you need a couple more cycles on it.

It just depends if you're willing to wait.

 

[3bs]

I have hopped and skipped from phone to phone in the past two months and I've finally gotten the Lumia. I'm having the weird issue with the battery too, but I'm pretty sure I just have to go through the cycles a few times before it starts behaving.
My main reason to get the Lumia was the fluidity and camera. Both are beyond what I expected. I know some major apps are missing, but I know they will be coming out as time goes on (Skype has to come, Microsoft owns it now!) I use the mobile version of Facebook on the browser and let the built in functionality tell me about any updates.
I think it will be hard to go back to any other device for me. iPhone has great apps and is smooth, but the screen isn't as exceptional. The GS3 has the customization, but for some reason lags (not majorly, but in minute enough amounts to become annoying)

You're right about the GS3 lagging. I never noticed it until I started using my friends and my sisters and they both lag compared to mine. I rooted and flashed a custom ROM (currently CM10) that's probably why mine is smooth. I think they were both on ICS though so maybe JB would take care of that.

 

[Vegastouch]

I picked up a Lumia 920 on Friday and I've been trying to use it as much as possible while I am still in my 14 day return window. But I'm coming up short in a few areas.

Pros-
-I think WP8 is awesome- the live tiles are great for seeing a lot of information quickly without doing a lot of opening and closing. Setting up a tile for a contact is second to none when it comes to keeping tabs on your close friends.
-The camera is awesome, there is no way around it. The extra lenses are great, the city lens feature is great, all around the camera smokes every other cell phone camera I've ever used.
-The screen is gorgeous, and I don't think I can go back to the iPhone 4S screen now. I never thought I'd be in the larger screen camp, but this thing has converted me.
-Office is integrated nicely
-the nokia maps (beta) are very nice, not perfect, but they smoke iOS maps.



Cons-
-The signal strength is weird. I'll be showing 5 bars of "4G" on my iPhone, and 1 bar on the 920. Yesterday I was in an LTE covered area and I had 1 bar of EDGE. Something weird going on there, I checked all my settings and can't see any issues there.
-Apps, of course. Most of what I need is available, but there is no skype, no dropbox, and no way to do google video chat. Those are pretty big misses for me personally. I expect those things will come in time, but not knowing when makes it hard for me to dedicate myself to the platform.
-Battery life seems all over the place. I used the Nokia Drive app for an hour yesterday and my battery barely budged. Today I was very busy at work and I only played with the phone for a few minutes, checking facebook and the like, and my battery went down to 60% pretty quick.
-Facebook integration on the OS is great, but the facebook app sucks. I use facebook enough for that to matter, unfortunately.
-The lockscreen has almost no functionality. I was hoping to be able to set up something in the vain of lockinfo like a jailbroken iPhone, but there is very little you can do here.

Anyone else using this phone and have any input? I don't think I can go back to a smaller screen now. I am not a huge Android fan, but it looks like an S3 would be more in the direction I'm looking to go. But damn, I would really miss the WP8 tiles.

What do you mean there is no Skype? My Wife has a Windows phone (running 7.5) and she has Skype on it. There is a new Skype revamp coming soon to Windows 8 so maybe that is why?

 

[b166er]

What do you mean there is no Skype? My Wife has a Windows phone (running 7.5) and she has Skype on it. There is a new Skype revamp coming soon to Windows 8 so maybe that is why?

Skype is not available on the 920 as far as I can tell. MS says it is "coming soon"- I was a little upset to find this out because on several WP8 demos they clearly had a Skype tile on the screens, and the 920 is a WP8 flagship and there is no Skype yet. As it stands right now, the front facing camera serves no real purpose on the 920, unless you seriously take a lot of pictures of your own face. Skype and Google chat are the two biggest video chat options out there and neither of them are available.

All the hardware is awesome, I'm just struggling with some of these apps not being around. I know developers need some time to get it together, I'm not writing off the platform or anything. I'm just wondering how other 920/WP8 users are coping.

----------

Almost everything you mentioned can be handled through updates.

Yeah that's true. I just don't want to fall back in to that mentality. I've been saying this about iOS for years now. If I could get the app selection of iOS and a lockinfo alternative on the 920 I would be in bliss. I really do dig WP8 a lot, I was just a little surprised that it is as closed off as iOS, maybe even more so.

The more I talk about it the more I can hear everyone thinking "what he wants is Android" but I'd love to not go down that road if I can avoid it.

 

[Vegastouch]

Skype is not available on the 920 as far as I can tell. MS says it is "coming soon"- I was a little upset to find this out because on several WP8 demos they clearly had a Skype tile on the screens, and the 920 is a WP8 flagship and there is no Skype yet. As it stands right now, the front facing camera serves no real purpose on the 920, unless you seriously take a lot of pictures of your own face. Skype and Google chat are the two biggest video chat options out there and neither of them are available.

All the hardware is awesome, I'm just struggling with some of these apps not being around. I know developers need some time to get it together, I'm not writing off the platform or anything. I'm just wondering how other 920/WP8 users are coping.

I wouldnt worry about it. Im sure it just isnt optomized for windows 8 yet but it will be soon. I think they are revamping it a lot for Windows 8 so you dont have it now, but when you do, it should be a lot better than it was.

Have some patience, it will come. Just like Maps is messed up on the iP5...it will get better but people have to cope.

Did you look to see if Tango is in the App store? That does video chat as well.

 

[MuffCabbage]

I think Skype came out for WP8 today in preview form
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ORw8WaX3EWM

 

[b166er]

yeah I saw that but I think it was pulled down already. The link is dead from a PC and when you search for Skype from the phone it's still not there.

 

[Vegastouch]

Skype looks pretty cool once it comes and i bet it will be soon. That phone with the new tile setup looks impressive. I wish the 920 was also at T-Mobile. The off contract price is good too. $100 more than the Nexus 4 but still, it has twice the memory and perhaps a better camera.

Id be very torn if i could get both. Anybody ever heard if you can unlock a Windows phone? Id rather have either one over an iPhone 5.

 

[blackfox]

Skype looks pretty cool once it comes and i bet it will be soon. That phone with the new tile setup looks impressive. I wish the 920 was also at T-Mobile. The off contract price is good too. $100 more than the Nexus 4 but still, it has twice the memory and perhaps a better camera.

Id be very torn if i could get both. Anybody ever heard if you can unlock a Windows phone? Id rather have either one over an iPhone 5.

I believe best buy offers unlocked Nokia Lumia 920s, and they are/were matching AT&T's price ($450 vs $600).

I've had a 920 for a few days and I love it.

 

[Vegastouch]

I believe best buy offers unlocked Nokia Lumia 920s, and they are/were matching AT&T's price ($450 vs $600).

I've had a 920 for a few days and I love it.

Ill have to go there tomorrow and check it out. Does the 920 use a micro sim?

 

[flameproof]

There is certainly Skype.....:

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-mobile/download/skype-for-windows-phone/

It's a reminder too that you can download and install apps from other sources, unlike iOS.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I've been using an 820 since Friday and think it's fantastic. Sure Skype isn't out yet, but I'm pretty sure Microsoft will get Skype into user hands soon. It's a great phone, great OS... It's really nice!

 

[Bkasm]

This might interest you...

http://www.wpcentral.com/skype-preview-windows-phone-8-now-available-hands-video

 

[blackfox]

Ill have to go there tomorrow and check it out. Does the 920 use a micro sim?

Yes. You should at least do a hands-on before purchase anyways. Untill you see it in person you can't really appreciate the design elements, and the weight may be an issue. I don't mind the latter at all, but opinions may vary.

 

[Vegastouch]

Messed around with a 920 today at a AT&T store.

I was very impressed with it. I dont think thickness of it is an issues at all and found it to be a bit thinner than i was expecting. Has a bit of weight to it but not like it is too heavy. It is a lot heavier than the HTC 8X which they also had but not something that is a deal breaker.
Nicely built, i like the feel of the plastic back....feels solid and the screen was beautiful. I liked the screen on it better than on the HTC 8X. Colors IMO were nicer. Both worked well.

I actually loved the feel of the HTC 8X. The back is nice. Has a slight rubberish feel to the back...just enough to make it feel different and a decent grip and it was much thinner but if i had to choose between them, id pick the Lumia. Great phone.

I didnt get a confirmation when i went to Best Buy on whether they sell it unlocked off contract or not since i couldnt get anyone to hel;p me and i didnt want to wait around all day. Usually i have to fight them off they come aroound so much...lol, but not today. I also had a question about the Levona Yoga Ultrabook but again, no help around.

Now i have to find out more info about an unlocked one but also if it can run 4G on T-Mobile. If not, no go for me but i am considering the 920 or the Nexus 4....which is why im not jumping in and ordering a N4 right away on top of wanting to see more reviews with the final OS on it.

 

[ITS ME DAVID]

There is certainly Skype.....:

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-mobile/download/skype-for-windows-phone/

It's a reminder too that you can download and install apps from other sources, unlike iOS.

Which can be harmful.

 

[MuffCabbage]

There is certainly Skype.....:

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-mobile/download/skype-for-windows-phone/

It's a reminder too that you can download and install apps from other sources, unlike iOS.

Which can be harmful.

You actually cant unless you are a dev. The link takes you to the web version of the Windows Phone Store

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Looking around WP market and my god do the lack of apps kill the platform. The 920 is a nice piece of hardware, the UI is great, but the content is lacking so bad it's not even funny.

 

[snow blind]

Looking around WP market and my god do the lack of apps kill the platform. The 920 is a nice piece of hardware, the UI is great, but the content is lacking so bad it's not even funny.

Agreed. Thank god i'm not a 13 year old craving angry birds and fart apps. They have what I need in terms of music, productivity and news... i'm set. WP8 also kind of begs for a leaner approach to mobile living. In a few months i'm sure the missing apps ( Pandora i'm talking to you ) will arrive.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Agreed. Thank god i'm not a 13 year old craving angry birds and fart apps. They have what I need in terms of music, productivity and news... i'm set. WP8 also kind of begs for a leaner approach to mobile living. In a few months i'm sure the missing apps ( Pandora i'm talking to you ) will arrive.

Citibank, united airlines, Dropbox, tunein radio are a few that I use quite a bit traveling that are missing.

 

[Prototypical]

Citibank, united airlines, Dropbox, tunein radio are a few that I use quite a bit traveling that are missing.

These types of apps will come in time. WP8 probably isn't for people who are hopelessly dependent on their devices, but there are plenty of people who can stand to be flexible and patient with app developers. Hopefully those are the people that buy into the WP8 ecosystem and help build up a third player in the market.

I agree with snow blind - I've looked into it, and most of my heavily used apps are available in some form or fashion already. I would miss Flipboard but I'm sure there is an alternative that will work until FB can get on board.

 

[snow blind]

I agree with snow blind - I've looked into it, and most of my heavily used apps are available in some form or fashion already. I would miss Flipboard but I'm sure there is an alternative that will work until FB can get on board.

I'm also super bummed that the FlipBoard devs say they (according to rumor) have no plans to bring it to WP8. I've been using Weave as a replacement... and it's actually pretty damn good! Live tile and themed perfectly too.

 

[b166er]

the preview version of Skype did roll out yesterday.

But without dropbox and some others, I may be faced with a deal breaker. I love this phone, especially the screen. But when I go app for app with the iPhone there are too many crucial ones missing for me. I am so disenfranchised with the iPhone I really thought making a transition away from it would be easy.

I'm still in my trial window for another 10 days so I'm going to really try to embrace WP8 and research the ETA on some of the essential apps I need. I wish developers were more quick to adapt this OS, it's so great. But I can't blame them for not wanting to invest their time on what could be another MS flop.