Windows Phone 8 people

[thejadedmonkey]

The UI.

This gets me every time I pick up my girlfriends' iPhone: In the text message app, if you want to go to the contact info, you have to scroll all the way up, and hit some button. In WP you just tap on the users name. That's an example, but the entire OS is like that. What takes 2 or 3 steps on iOS takes 1 in WP.

Live tiles are fantastic, and the keyboard is the best keyboard I have ever used.

 

[dgr874]

Media management is really lacking.

No smart playlists
No rating songs
podcasts can only be managed on the phone
Xbox videos are incompatible with the phone
Almost impossible to make a playlist on the phone

I had a lumia 920 since release and got tired of waiting for Microsoft to fix these issues so last week I went back to my iphone 5. I do miss the screen and the interface but not at the expense of having all my media broken.

 

[Liquorpuki]

Just wanted to add one crappy thing about Verizon and Windows Phone 8 is Verizon disabled group messaging in WP only. No clue why because Verizon doesn't even offer a proprietary substitute but this is probably the thing I hate most about being a WP user on VZW, and it has nothing to do with the OS.

 

[scott craft]

Well I need it for Verizon, but I'm still going with the 822 since it according to the Nokia rep, has the exact same internals as the 920/928 but less expensive (especially in Craigslist)

I've owned the 822 and now have an 8X. Unless you need the extra storage from the sd slot I think the 8X is a better place phone. The 8X camera and screen are better and music through the headphone jack is also better. The 822 does have the Nokia apps, but I don't miss them as much as I thought I would. Naturally if the prices are close the 928 is a better deal with the extra storage.

 

[MuffCabbage]

Just wanted to add one crappy thing about Verizon and Windows Phone 8 is Verizon disabled group messaging in WP only. No clue why because Verizon doesn't even offer a proprietary substitute but this is probably the thing I hate most about being a WP user on VZW, and it has nothing to do with the OS.

Really annoying! Verizon is saying theres a fix coming Mid June, but who knows. Definitely good that you brought that up.

 

[kasakka]

As a web developer, I want to steer people away from Windows Phone 8 simply because its browser is awful. Want to clear the cache? Tough luck, you also have to clear all saved passwords. No alternatives. Want support for latest (non-experimental) web technologies? Tough luck, the WP8 browser does not have anywhere close to feature parity with desktop Internet Explorer 10.

I haven't explored if there are alternative browsers available (as we have to support the default one) but if not, you will have to get used to some websites not having proper support for your phone and its set of quirks as Windows Phone devices are still a bit marginal compared to iOS and Android.

I don't find the rest of the OS particularly impressive either. It is fast for sure and the devices running WP8 are actually rather nice, but the OS is enough to keep me away from them. The "non-upgradable WP7 devices" fiasko doesn't inspire much confidence in MS either.

 

[thehustleman]

I think it's cool that you're getting some first hand experience with Windows Phone, but it sounds like Verizon didn't give you enough training on phones they expect you to sell.

I'd have thought that they'd at least make you aware of the "killer features" of any platform that you're selling.

They do in VZlearn but nothing is going to make it sick for me like having my own

 

[Internaut]

Regarding maps, I thought Nokia's mapping software (and the big data behind it) was supposed to be quite competitive with the Google product. Comments?

 

[MuffCabbage]

Regarding maps, I thought Nokia's mapping software (and the big data behind it) was supposed to be quite competitive with the Google product. Comments?

Its okay. Google Maps is better, but Here Drive works okay. The big issues I have with the Nokia solution is the voice guidance says stuff like "Keep right" which would mean, "Get off the freeway" if I followed it, when in reality I wanted to stay on the freeway.

 

[TSE]

I'm an owner of an older Nokia Lumia 710 with Windows Phone 7.5. Have been since Septmber, here is my quick review of the old hardware and software (still very similar to Windows 8 and the Nokia app experience):

-Nokia Drive - best voice driving navigation app out there. It is easy to use, fast, and always a pleasure.

-UI - best UI on the market. Looks fantastic, functions fantastically. It's just fantastic!

-Web performance - I am aware that Windows Phone 8 has a totally new Internet Explorer, so this is not relevant to Windows Phone 8, but I haven't had a problem with web performance, what I have had a problem with, however, is viewing video content. Some videos on the web that are supposed to be supported just simply don't work. Hopefully they fixed this with WP8.

-There are enough apps to satisfy everyone but a few. Windows Phone basically has all the essentials as far as I am aware, they just don't have alternatives and the gimmicky, trendy apps. Who really cares though?

I am going to wait until the iPhone 5S to come out and decide between the new Nokias or the iPhone. I really, really enjoyed my time with Windows Phone and would recommend it, along with the Nokia hardware, to anyone.