Thoughts on WP7. (iOS, Android and WP7)

[ChazUK]

Well, it's been 4 days since I got my Omnia 7 and thought I'd share some thoughts on the phone and WP7.

Hardware wise, I love it. Using the plasticy Nexus S day in day out, it's nice to hold something with a more premium quality. The SAMOLED screen is stunning to look at and does look better than my Nexus S IMO. The PenTile display does let it down when compared to my iPod's Retina display.

On the software side, WP7 is one smooth OS. Transition animations and polish is easily on par with iOS and both iOS and WP7 easily beat Android when it comes to fluidity.

Zune software is great to use on the handset and looks equally polished on Windows 7. It's great to finally be able to experience Zune.

Biggest negative for me is Internet Explorer. It's horrid.
http://www.html5test.com gives a score of just 25, compared to 222 on Android 3.2, 217 on iOS 4.3.3 & 184 on Android 2.3.4. I'm really looking forward to this being fixed in Mango. If anything, using IE on the Omina has shown me how far HTML5 has come and how well it's propagated itself online.

The other issue it has is app selection and discovery. The Zune Marketplace isn't the most stocked app store but time will change that. Prices of apps and games on WP7 are generally more expensive too (Angry Birds is 69p on iOS, free and ad supported on Android and £2.50 on WP7).

Overall I think that Microsoft have the roots of a fantastic smartphone OS and something that can easliy fit alongside both Android and iOS.

I await Mango with baited breath!

Some comparison pictures here and attached to the post below: (Picture quality isn't the greatest as they were taken on my Xoom which was all I had nearby!)
Picasa Web Album

 

[fireshot91]

Is there software to sync with a Mac?

 

[TheSideshow]

Is there software to sync with a Mac?

yes, in app store.

 

[KingCrimson]

Whatever negatives you find in current WP7 will evaporate when Mango is released. I doubt there will be any legitimate complaints afterwards except for the usual - no Flash..

 

[laserfox]

Yes, I have mango on my HD7 and its miles ahead of previous ie version! You can even stream audio/video from html5 websites in the background!

 

[maflynn]

Overall I think that Microsoft have the roots of a fantastic smartphone OS and something that can easliy fit alongside both Android and iOS.

The biggest question is, can Microsoft start generating some critical mass, i.e., stronger sales? With Nokia on board they may have the pieces in place for that, but only time will tell.

Better technology does not always guarantee success.

 

[neiltc13]

The biggest question is, can Microsoft start generating some critical mass, i.e., stronger sales? With Nokia on board they may have the pieces in place for that, but only time will tell.

Better technology does not always guarantee success.

I still believe that for many people the OS their phone runs does not matter. What matters is whether it has phone, text, a decent camera and Twitter/Facebook etc. If a phone can tick all of those boxes then I think it should do pretty well, especially if it can present as smooth an experience as Windows Phone 7 does.

 

[KingCrimson]

I still believe that for many people the OS their phone runs does not matter. What matters is whether it has phone, text, a decent camera and Twitter/Facebook etc. If a phone can tick all of those boxes then I think it should do pretty well, especially if it can present as smooth an experience as Windows Phone 7 does.

Except in the case of WP7 OS really does matter. People can't help but notice the Metro UI is completely different from iOS/Android. It's a love it or hate it deal.

 

[roadbloc]

Great comparison of products ChazUK, thanks for posting it. I do hope that WP7 makes it big with the power of Nokia. I've always been a big fan of Nokia's hardware and from WP7 I've heard nothing but praise. It seems that Microsoft deserve a success in the Smartphone market for once.

 

[maflynn]

I still believe that for many people the OS their phone runs does not matter.

To a degree you're right, but on the other hand when people going shopping for phones they're looking for what's popular (herd mentality) and will it work the way they want it too, which includes apps.

For WP7 phones, there's no excitement, and few apps. I also wonder if WP7's UI is scaring people off, I mean its so different. With iOS, its a grid of icons. With android its a home screen of icons and the application drawer is a grid of icons. MS's UI does not resemble anything and that might scare off the typical consumer as well.

 

[Abstract]

I'm most likely going to get a WP7 phone, but am still strongly considering an HTC or Samsung Galaxy 2. Only a few months away now....

 

[TheSideshow]

I'm most likely going to get a WP7 phone, but am still strongly considering an HTC or Samsung Galaxy 2. Only a few months away now....

Samsung Galaxy S2 based Windows Phone is coming out so there you go.

 

[ChazUK]

Samsung Galaxy S2 based Windows Phone is coming out so there you go.

Won't that be restricted to Snapdragon and not Exynos like the SGS II?

 

[TheSideshow]

Won't that be restricted to Snapdragon and not Exynos like the SGS II?

Yeah, I think it means it will most likely be a dual core Qualcomm chip

 

[ChazUK]

A little update:

Using my Omnia this morning I really do hope that Microsoft sort out font rendering in IE in Mango.

As you can see by the below pictures, my iPod touch looks flawless at apple.com with the Retina Display, my Nexus S manages to smooth out fonts at maximum zoom and doesnt look too bad on the PenTile display but IE's text really suffers from aliasing.

It seems the biggest thing I need fixed when it comes to WP7 is Internet Explorer.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

A little update:

Using my Omnia this morning I really do hope that Microsoft sort out font rendering in IE in Mango.

As you can see by the below pictures, my iPod touch looks flawless at apple.com with the Retina Display, my Nexus S manages to smooth out fonts at maximum zoom and doesnt look too bad on the PenTile display but IE's text really suffers from aliasing.

It seems the biggest thing I need fixed when it comes to WP7 is Internet Explorer.

The text looks all messed up because it's not actually text

No, seriously. Go to Apple.com, and try to highlight the text. You'll find it's a giant image.

I also have a WP7, the Samsung Focus, and it's spectacular. I could never switch to a droid device, and find the 'hub' design better than an iOS 'app' design.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I've had my HTC Arrive for about a month now and I'm pretty pleased. I probably would have opted for a software-only keyboard phone if I had a choice, but the Arrive is the only WP7 phone on Sprint at the moment, so I took what I could get.

I'm happy with WP7 and will be even happier when Mango is released. That should fix just about all the qualms I have with WP7 at the moment.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The more I see it of WP7 the more I kind of want one to play with. It seems like a fun os to use. If I had the money I would have a wp7, a nexus and more than likely another android phone all to play with and off contract.

 

[KingCrimson]

The more I see it of WP7 the more I kind of want one to play with. It seems like a fun os to use. If I had the money I would have a wp7, a nexus and more than likely another android phone all to play with and off contract.

I also want a WP7 but not paying $80/month contract. The cheapest Verizon plan for smartphones comes out to that.

 

[fireshot91]

The more I see it of WP7 the more I kind of want one to play with. It seems like a fun os to use. If I had the money I would have a wp7, a nexus and more than likely another android phone all to play with and off contract.

It really looks interesting. I'd love one to mess around with for a month or two.

If I had it my way, the next Nexus, an HTC Dual-core running Gingerbread, and a WP7 with Mango would be my ideal pick.

But then again, who needs three phones.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

It really looks interesting. I'd love one to mess around with for a month or two.

If I had it my way, the next Nexus, an HTC Dual-core running Gingerbread, and a WP7 with Mango would be my ideal pick.

But then again, who needs three phones.

I do. Come on that would allow me to switch between phones on wims.

 

[fireshot91]

I do. Come on that would allow me to switch between phones on wims.

Don't need. Otherwise you'd have it now. Just want .

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Don't need. Otherwise you'd have it now. Just want .

Ok fine. My thirst for electronical toys has a needs to be filled. One of those is multiple cell phones.

 

[FrozenTomato]

Here's how i'd rank them.


iOS >>>>>>> WP7 >> Android

 

[ravenvii]

Here's how i'd rank them.


iOS >>>>>>> WP7 >> Android

Similar, but I'd move WP7 a few notches to the left, and add a few more forward arrows between WP7 and Android.

Apologies to Fandroids, but I honestly do think the OS sucks.

And apologies for the feeble troll attempt.

Well, nah not really.