All Things Windows Phone - Apps, Phones, and Discussion

Somebody at Samsung's Marketing Dept. is trolling. Big time.

 

I quite clearly never said that.
But here's a sensible question - if Symbian is so awful, why did Nokia continue releasing handsets using it? Why did the PureView ever go into production, 18 months after Elop took over and a full year after the announcement they were switching to WP7, given it's complete and utterly predictable commercial failure?

Why were they the only two choices? What about Maemo/MeeGo/Tizen?
Or, on the flip-side, if that was never going to be viable, why release the N9? Why not just shut it down and save money?


And here's the problem under-pinning your entire post:

There is zero evidence to support that.
Nothing has improved for Nokia since they switched to WP7, they're rapidly running out of time and money and you can talk about WP8 all you want but there's nothing to suggest it's going to be a magic cure-all.

 

So, AT&T has an exclusivity lock on the Lumia 920, and is also getting the Lumia 820, HTC 8X, Ativ S, Ativ Windows 8 tablets and several other devices like the Note II and a couple more Samsung Android devices.

A while back when AT&T made the statement that they'd like everything to be on a wireless network, I guess they meant it. ._.

It's been a LONG time since I've seen this many devices announced with a single carrier this short after launch.

 

My reaction:

 

AT&T doesn't just have exclusivity on the Lumia 920, it's also got it on the 820. That's right, for WP8, AT&T is the only American carrier carrying any Nokia Lumias at all.

No wonder Microsoft made HTC the "signature" WP8 phone. With asinine decisions like this, it's obvious how Nokia got in the dismal economic situation it's in. I was fully prepared to buy a Nokia--hell, I might have chosen the midrange Lumia 820 over the flagship Ativ S or 8X--but I refuse to switch to AT&T.

Boo Nokia. Continue punching yourself in the face and wondering why your nose is bleeding. I'm done caring.

 

Nokia just updated their website. The Lumia 920 is described as "exclusively from AT&T," but now the Lumia 820 is described as "from AT&T." So the 820 will come to other carriers as well. Verizon and T-Mobile are likely, but I hope Nokia also sells it on US Cellular and some other regional or inexpensive carriers.

 

Well then, the HTC 8X for Verizon it is.

 

Its pretty amazing how many terrible decisions Nokia has made over the past decade. From dominance to the edge of bankruptcy.

 

That's what I was thinkin' lol. Hopefully theres a decent color selection on verizon.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

 

HTC can't build handsets.

EVERY FREAKIN TIME I go in thinking, hey that's a nice HTC, surely they've sorted out their build quality by now and EVERY FREAKIN TIME the decision comes back to bite me in the butt.

Nokia can. So can Samsung. So I'll be poking the ATIV and Lumias.

 

please delete. i've had enough of the back-and-forth with vogelbung.

 

One X
Sensation XE
Titan
HD7
7 Pro
Desire HD

What seems like every single Windows Mobile phone they did - ending with the HD2.

Though the 8's look like viable candidates, I'm finally drawing a line at the One X - just another crappily built HTC, masked by the pretty slick stylings and the cutesy marketing they do.

(Even their RMA's come with a cute 'all good' thumbs-up box. I can tell you even post-RMA my One X was definitely not 'all good')

 

That's debatable.
I've seen more shoddily-built Nokias than you've had hot dinners.

 

At this level?

 

Sorry, you'll have to elaborate.

 

please delete. i've had enough of the back-and-forth with vogelbung.

 

Drag Queen? Stressed father to three or four?

To someone who doesn't have the relevant experience in e.g. manufacturing, materials and design, you may well find they are pretty similar across the board.

Besides, who says I owned them one at a time? I have up to four handsets with me at any one time with sometimes more in reserve if I haven't yet got rid of them - and since October 2010 the majority of them have been WP7 handsets. I chop and change as interests / needs change and I don't give my handsets a particularly easy life in terms of duty cycle. I'd say I was *very* well placed - even if you discount my background in industrial design and engineering - to gauge stability, reliability and median build quality, especially as physically I don't subject them to inordinate abuse.

The worst of the HTC worst was a tossup between the Tytn or the S6xx series of WinMo handsets - i.e. just before the HD2. I was burning out the Tytn radio every 2-3 months on average, and the S6xx's just used to die. Back then I was on contract with advance replacement, but quite often I had to wait for a replacement. On a couple of occasions both Winmo sets were on the fritz, leading me to move my message phones wholesale with disgust onto BB (Not that the first-gen Bolds were actually that much better, I found). None have been as bad since then, but I don't think HTC still has 'quality' down (they do usually have 'throwing the kitchen sink at it' down), especially when it comes to flagship handsets.

 

At the flagship level?

i.e. how many falling-apart N900/N9/N9x/N8x/Communicators (with their original bodies of course - I know you can get cheap knockoffs) etc have you had compared to their contemporaries? (Because again, with a few breaks here and there especially recently before WP7, I've had a pretty consistent stream of flagship Nokias over the years. Their track record in my case has been better than almost anyone else in the build quality stakes)

 

We're trying to get support to have dedicated sections of NBR for desktops, tablets, phones, etc created so we won't have to have to have everything crammed into a single thread for these discussions. The idea is to consolidate the forum components of NBR's sister sites with this one since the other sites are all but abandoned. Link in sig to vote or post opinions!

 

Posts have been removed. If you're bickering for the sake of arguing, please take it to PMs. Thanks.

 

So... anyone pick up a WP8 device? If so, which one and how are you liking it?

Here is a screenshot of my start screen on the Lumia 920

 

Awesome, how are you liking it! I'm not due for an upgrade until around March. I'm hoping US Cellular will have a few WP8 options by then. I'm not expecting them to get the Lumia 920, but maybe they'll get the 8X.

 

I actually currently work as a Windows Phone retail trainer, so I have pretty much every WP8 device. I have been loving WP8 so far, definitely a huge step up from 7.5. Between the 8x and the Lumia 920, I definitely like the sleek form factor of the 8x, but find myself using the Lumia 920 more due to Nokia excusive Apps like Nokia Drive+. Also, even though the 8x has very sleek hardware, I prefer the overall build quality of the l920, though both are outstanding devices.

HD screens +WP8=win though. Can't wait to check out the Ativ S once it launches.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

 

What a device designation. lol

I agree though. The 8X is typical HTC... beautiful hardware, but sub-par build quality. The Lumia OWNS at build quality even though it's bulkier.

 

That name brings this to my head.

 

^LOL.

NAM is something Nokia has been using for over a decade to designate "North American". Usually an ATT or T-Mobile model.

 

LOL. Fixed.

And yeah, small details on the 8x bother me like slightly uneven glass, and flush power/lock button on the top of the device.

As for the bulk of the 920, yeah its a monster, but it feels great in the hand and really doesn't need a case. Overall, have been very impressed with Nokia's attention to detail with the hardware.

So HAL, are you going to pick up a WP8 device?
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

 

Unfortunately, Nokia seems to believe that all Americans are on AT&T. That's a poor strategy outside of major metro areas; AT&T's coverage in rural Oregon is abysmal. HTC is catering to just about every carrier. We don't know what US Cellular (the best carrier for rural Oregon) will be getting yet, but I think given each company's strategy with their WP8 phones there's a very high likelihood of the 8X and almost no likelihood of the L920.

That said, if US Cellular offered both, I'd probably take the 920. I'm not exactly overwhelmed with HTC's attention to detail after owning my 7 Pro and after reading reviews of the 8X.

 

I will be. A Lumia 920 if I can swing it.

 

I'm trading my HTC One X+ for a Lumia 920. I should have it Wednesday.

 

Nice, what color will you be getting? Let us know how you like it!

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

 

Will do. I'm getting the red model.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

 

I just received my Lumia. For some reason, it's telling me I have to have a parent set up My Family before I download certain apps(YouTube). I just turned 18 though, I shouldn't have to do that.

 

I hadn't added my complete birth date to my Hotmail account.

I really like this phone. The YouTube app kinda sucks though. The keyboard is very good.

 

what'd you upgrade from?



_____
EDIT: just saw a few posts above, from an HTC one X+. in that case, welcome aboard!

 

YouTube support on Windows Phone has always been abysmal. :/

I'd love to see a "Metro" style YouTube app though.

 

I've been playing with the HTC One X+, iPhone 5, and a Nexus 4. I'm going to keep the best one. I buy and sell phones as an after school job.

I really like the Nokia music player.

That would be cool. Pretty much anything would be better than the browser YouTube app. I might as well just go to YouTube through the browser.

 

Download metrotube from the windows store http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=8d93224f-2808-e011-9264-00237de2db9e
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

 

For those who own Lumia 920, is it capable browsing network shared folder by Windows 7/8 and play music/videos (1080p mkv) from there? or browse pictures?

 

Editorial: Does Windows Phone even have a chance without Google?

 

Very narrow minded and stupid article imo
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

 

Is it though?
Just two posts above mine was one from yourself linking to an app filling-in for one of the missing official Google apps.

And it's certainly a telling difference between, say, iOS and WP8 that Google are supporting iOS and don't feel it's worth doing so for WP8.

 

Google apps are needed on iOS, because Apple does not have a native, in house alternative that can rival, or in some-cases exceed the usefulness and functionality of its Google counterpart. If you actually have used WP7/8 for an extended period of time, you would see that google apps really are not needed. Also, so what if a third-party creates a great YouTube app? MetroTube is one of the best youtube clients I have used on any platform, native or not.

If google apps and services were integrated to the core of Windows Phone, or replaced Microsoft's services Windows Phone would simply be Android with a different interface. I just don't see a point to having deep Google integration with WP8. If you live and breathe Google, get an Android device (which is why I used Android for so many years). But with Skydrive, Office, Outlook.com and Xbox music, weening off Google apps was painless, and in many cases a better experience.

THIS article really does a great job of summing up why this really is not a huge blow to the platform. The success of WP8 really hinges on the success of Windows 8 and app development for both platforms.

 

@mrXniick: The problem with that, though, is that there are plenty of people who hardly "live or breathe Google" and only use GMail. I was actually considering waiting for WP8, since I really do like the platform and the visual style. But if switching to a WP8 device meant I had to switch away from GMail, Google Calendar, and GTalk to get a favorable experience, it's not something I was willing to do even if I liked WP8. I'm sure there are others who think the same way as me, particularly those who are less inclined to spend a lot of time customizing their phones.

The lack of a cohesive environment unless you switch to Microsoft services is worrying for WP8, especially after Google discontinues Exchange ActiveSync support for GMail. MS is going to have a hell of a time converting existing Android/iPhone users to get the momentum it needs.

 

Well said.

I agree that the stigma about Google being the concentric point of all connected services, well... that's just wrong. If you're a GMail user, yes there'll be a learning curve. You'll have to make outlook receive your GMail, you'll have to get used to Microsoft's ecosystem since it's a bit different than Google's. But it's nothing that can't really be done by just about anyone I know.

Microsoft needs to push their ecosystem just as much as Google does because I really do believe it is just as good, if they can work on it a bit. Outlook has presented me with several issues, vs Google's GMail. And other Microsoft services don't really integrate that well compared to Google services. But they're getting there.

 

The same is true of MS and WP7/8 as well, in some cases at least.
iOS has a native e-mail app, WP has Outlook, neither offers the same functionality as a dedicated G-Mail app. And of all the Google services, that's right up there as one of the biggest.

Except it's not just 'so what' - if a third-party hadn't gone out of their way to produce one, there wouldn't be a YouTube app for WP7/8. You can try and pass that off as unimportant but the fact it's the most downloaded iPhone app in the Apple App Store says otherwise.

Who said anything about integrating the Google services into the OS?

Just because there are alternative integrated apps that offer similar functionality doesn't mean that Google's services are redundant, especially not when MS are trying to take a bite out of a market in which 75% of people are currently buying Android handsets - pretty much any potential customer for WP is going to have experience of some sort of Google service and will potentially want to continue using them on their WP handset.
The lack of official support from Google can only be a disadvantage for WP7/8. It may not be a disadvantage, though it's unlikely given the ubiquity of some of those services - the one thing it cannot be though is an advantage, having less choice is never beneficial.

It's not just a matter of getting it to work though, it's about the quality of the user experience and MS can't match that of a dedicated Google app.

 

Google has declared war on WP8. Someone is feeling threatened.

October 29, 2012: official release of WP8.

November 2012: Most first-gen WP8 devices hit stores.

December 14, 2012: Google announces the removal of support for Exchange ActiveSync with Gmail, making it much harder to sync mail, contacts, and calendar on a WP8 phone. This ability had previously existed on WP7 and WP8 phones.

January 2, 2013: Microsoft announces that its attempt to release an official YouTube app for WP has been hampered by Google refusing MS access to YouTube metadata. Without this information, the app would not be able to search video categories, find favorites, and view video ratings. Google offers Apple access to this metadata but will not extend access to Microsoft.

January 4, 2013: Windows Phone users begin reporting en masse that they are blocked from accessing google maps on their phones; the URL now redirects them to google's main page. They previously could access google maps. (I can confirm both that I used to be able to and no longer can on my WP7 phone).

 

^^^I suppose those MS commercials bashing Google didn't do any good.
Anyway, no Google maps on WP8 isn't something I would worry about. I drove with a guy who had WM7 and he used onboard MS maps, couldn't say they were better or worse than Google maps.
Youtube on the other hands is different... But I suppose you could access YT from Internet browser.

 

LOL. Threatened? No.

Also, the whole YouTube thing... they OFFER ED metadata to Apple. Not any more. Apple's YouTube app is no more, and it's not been a part of any shipping iOS version since 6.0. Microsoft just doesn't command the market share necessary to warrant building an app and having support for WP. And who's to say Google didn't just tell Apple that they're cutting off support for their iOS app, and will be publishing their own app to the AppStore? Microsoft never had an app in the first place, so there's no one to cut off.

About the Maps... I will be the FIRST to say that although WP's browser is as smooth as hot butter, it's FAR from decent. I've seen more rendering errors in WP's browser than with any other platform.

 

WP7/7.5/8 (WM stopped at 6.5) uses bing maps by default, which i personally think is just as good if not better than google maps. there's satellite vs. bird's eye imagery, for one, even though that means nothing on a mobile device. i'd bet route selection is the same 9.9/10 times. youtube has always been a pain. the youtube "app" is nothing more than a browser that accesses the mobile page. because of the whole flash fiasco, whenever the phone detects a youtube video (it being a flash object) some type of "embedded player" is launched.

now THAT'S forward thinking if i ever saw any.