Related
I know this is an idiot question.
But I want to fire a subject to let people think about!
It would be good if we can experience this marvelous OS on this cheap device
Possible, but considering the fact that WM is a proprietary OS, porting it to something it wasn't meant for is extremely hard, but I think is still possible.
Windows 7 is not an open operating system. So there will never be a port. And even if it would be possible, there would be still missing hardware drivers...
Well, even if they could, why would someone try to port WM7 when we've got Android, which is pretty damn awesome with almost no restrictions...?
reminds me of porting android to the kaiser, but with far more problems...
if there were a wp7 device with similar specs it could be made possible.
but, as the previous post says, what's the point?
android for kaiser was a good-ish idea, as wm6 is... well... wm6.
well. just have a look at HD2
My colleague has just put DarkForceTeam WP7 Rom to HD2, I found it was really wonderful.
If we can do something like this to our P500, that would be marvelous. We have a big chance to enjoy an absolutely new OS on our cheap cellphone.
I still hope and thank to some developers who can do this.
I don't see any reason, why somebody should port this bad os to the optimus one.
Sorry for WP7 bashing
domenic_s said:
I don't see any reason, why somebody should port this bad os to the optimus one.
Sorry for WP7 bashing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if for some reason there's a WP7 rom for the O1, and that it doesn't have the touchscreen lag bug. Would you switch?
Still don't think i would do that, doubt WP7 will be as successful as Android.
herohut said:
well. just have a look at HD2
My colleague has just put DarkForceTeam WP7 Rom to HD2, I found it was really wonderful.
If we can do something like this to our P500, that would be marvelous. We have a big chance to enjoy an absolutely new OS on our cheap cellphone.
I still hope and thank to some developers who can do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And so.......Exactly WHEN Android became a "non New OS" ??
Someone thinks that Android is the BEST OS for smartphone..............
Other people thinks that iOS is the BEST OS for smartphone............
BUT all thinks that Microsoft Mobile (6.5 - 7) is the WORST OS for smartphone.........
the_best_hacker said:
And so.......Exactly WHEN Android became a "non New OS" ??
BUT all thinks that Microsoft Mobile (6.5 - 7) is the WORST OS for smartphone.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was there anyone who said this idiot thing 3-4 years ago?
If there is a new thing born, idiot people will have a new chance to compare with the previous ones.
If you first look at the home screen of an iOS, an Android, a Bada OS, Windows Mobile menu: ohhhhh, icons, icons and icons, yes they are almost similar, even in more details. From years to years, they are still almost similar. And if you first look at a Windows Phone 7 phone: ohhhhh different, you can realize the difference even if you don't like that style.
If you research more and learn about the technical things, you will find that the collection of these OS are all based on Linux. Windows Phone 7 is absolutely new architecture which is built by user experiences of Microsoft in years.
BUT don't put the idiot words on Windows Phone 7 if you haven't touched it even just once.
My personal idea: use Windows Phone 7: professional OS
@herohut:
I see your profile picture is the XAML logo, which means you are probably a fan of Microsoft. I myself like to use WPF, .NET, C# and Microsoft technologies, and I'll explain why.
It's not about the look of Windows 7 or MSN. Microsoft deserves respect. If you look back into history, or even now in Wikipedia, you will see that there are two families of operating systems - UNIX and Windows. UNIX once included the true UNIX, but now almost all of UNIX operating systems are based on Linux; some on BSD; some on Solaris; and off course Apple's Mac OS and iOS. The core difference between Windows-based and UNIX-like operating systems is that ALMOST all (not all) of the UNIX-like operating systems are open-source.
Off course, it is not bad for a software to be open-source, but the main problem is that almost every developer makes his own variation of the software, resulting in instability. There is no way to proove it, but everybody here should agree with it.
On the other hand, Microsoft is a developer of proprietary software, which is not only stable, but rich-featured and customizable. It is not a secret that most of Windows, Office, Visual Studio and other Microsoft products can be programatically controlled, yet closed-source. Microsoft is the developer of high-end costumer software, which means the software requirments often fulfill the quality of the software.
Linux and most UNIX-like operating systems are intended for use in either weak machines, or on supercomputers. It is also known that Windows 7 can use maximum 192 GB RAM (Which is sad for supercomputers). As a very minimalistic and customizable kernel, Linux can be tweaked to work even on a piece of wood.
So for a customer use OS, I say Windows.
As for base-level modifications, advanced features and supercomputer usage, I say Linux.
EDIT: To be on-topic:
Microsoft says it is good to have a 1GHz processor to run Windows Phone. From personal experience I can tell that it is better to buy a phone with a 1GHz processor than to modify Windows Phone to run on Optimus One. The reason is simple - preformance.
So, if you want Windows on your Optimus One, simply make a Windows Mobile 6.5/6.5.1 firmware.
And if you want to develop with familiar to you techologies, simply visit monodroid.net
Very well spoken ianis.. I will have to agree with this Guy.
And I will say at very least run 1gb for optimistic to run a wp7 port..
But im content with what I have been given for the dollars I paid.
carry on...
Astroturf?
You can off course theme the Optimus One to look like Windows Phone, but I have noticed lately that most "visual themes" are just a piece of ...err...trash.
While I was waiting for Windows 7 to come out, I decided to theme a XP machine to look like 7, just for fun.
When I searched "XP themes", I noticed that more than 95% of the results were: XP theme for ME, Vista theme for XP and 7 theme for Vista. I asked myself "Why?". There wasn't any difference. The same themes from page to page. All people just wanted to make their old OS look newer, probably without even knowing that it is possible to upgrade Windows. I noticed the same thing around here: many newbies requested a Gingerbread theme. Not even the music equalizer. I felt somehow...strange seeing people mad for a new look of their battery/WiFi icon. And not just a new look. The SAME as Gingerbread's.
I don't even believe that these people know what a system process is. And they don't care for it. They are all ready to pay money for a Gingerbread theme!
Sorry, I've gone slightly mad, but I now I feel somehow relaxed after sharing my opinion.
Ianis G. Vasilev said:
@herohut:
I see your profile picture is the XAML logo, which means you are probably a fan of Microsoft. I myself like to use WPF, .NET, C# and Microsoft technologies, and I'll explain why.
It's not about the look of Windows 7 or MSN. Microsoft deserves respect. If you look back into history, or even now in Wikipedia, you will see that there are two families of operating systems - UNIX and Windows. UNIX once included the true UNIX, but now almost all of UNIX operating systems are based on Linux; some on BSD; some on Solaris; and off course Apple's Mac OS and iOS. The core difference between Windows-based and UNIX-like operating systems is that ALMOST all (not all) of the UNIX-like operating systems are open-source.
Off course, it is not bad for a software to be open-source, but the main problem is that almost every developer makes his own variation of the software, resulting in instability. There is no way to proove it, but everybody here should agree with it.
On the other hand, Microsoft is a developer of proprietary software, which is not only stable, but rich-featured and customizable. It is not a secret that most of Windows, Office, Visual Studio and other Microsoft products can be programatically controlled, yet closed-source. Microsoft is the developer of high-end costumer software, which means the software requirments often fulfill the quality of the software.
Linux and most UNIX-like operating systems are intended for use in either weak machines, or on supercomputers. It is also known that Windows 7 can use maximum 192 GB RAM (Which is sad for supercomputers). As a very minimalistic and customizable kernel, Linux can be tweaked to work even on a piece of wood.
So for a customer use OS, I say Windows.
As for base-level modifications, advanced features and supercomputer usage, I say Linux.
EDIT: To be on-topic:
Microsoft says it is good to have a 1GHz processor to run Windows Phone. From personal experience I can tell that it is better to buy a phone with a 1GHz processor than to modify Windows Phone to run on Optimus One. The reason is simple - preformance.
So, if you want Windows on your Optimus One, simply make a Windows Mobile 6.5/6.5.1 firmware.
And if you want to develop with familiar to you techologies, simply visit monodroid.net
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am absolutely agreed with this guy and thank you for your good idea.
I have certainly known the requirements that Microsoft forced hardware manufactures to follow: these are the standard to obtain 100% performance of WP7
But there's one thing to remark: Windows Phone 7 is not as heavy as it is thought to be. 1GHz CPU mades WP7 running very fast (as in HD2), i feel that if we have WP7 running on OptimusOne at 60% performance of WP7 standard (40% slower) [600MHz/1GHz * 100% = 60%], it will be still fast enough for us to enjoy WP7. Just see how much slower the OptimusOne runs in comparison to other Android smartphones with 1GHz.
And yes, I am a fan of Microsoft software technologies, especially the thing on my avatar, it is extremely faster to write something that runs on WP7 than in other OS
I'm currently trying to MOD HD2's Windows Phone MOD
(It's fun MODing MODs...)
Hey! I'm trying to play with HD2 WP7 DarkForces Team ROM, too. But I am just a beginner in this MOD world, trying to find out if it is possible to run WP7 on my Optimus One.
Invoke me if you need someone to mod together.
WP7 wonderful os? LOL
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Incompatible processor...not only the cycles per second, but the instructions. WP7 requires an ARM7 processor with extentions. To run it on an ARM6 Cortex there are two ways:
Hypervisor virtualization - should be very complex;
Decompile the WP7 binary and recompile it with all stock drivers remastered. Sounds harder but is probably easier.
Any help will be accepted.
Hi all,
What follows could be considered to be the ramblings of a lunatic however it is intended to provoke discussion and maybe some thought about where we (Sense users/fans) go from here. Personally I know I don't want to see Sense die off (I'm not planning on moving to Android or WinPho 7 any time soon, as you'll read) and my phone (HD2) is only a YEAR old!
The Future of Sense?
Many of us bought our HTC WinMo phones on the strength of Sense (henceforth referred to as Manila to differentiate it from its Android, and Windows Phone 7 "Hub", incarnations), which brought a compelling and attractive interface to ugly old WinMo. Judging by the amount of devices Manila has been (or has been requested to be) ported to it is still a compelling and attractive interface. However users and fans of Manila are now facing a dilemma; Manila is, in all probability reaching, if it hasn't already, the end of its (officially) developed life. Short of any previously unknown major bugs surfacing its not hard to imagine HTC now focusing all their efforts on Android and Windows Phone 7.
So where does this leave us, many of us who still have perfectly functioning phones, which often still have up-to-date hardware? We could, thanks to the guys (with very large brains) here on XDA developers, choose between Windows Phone 7 or Android to give our phones a new lease of life. However, personally (and I know I'm not the only one) I don't want to. Windows phone 7 doesn't appeal because of its lack of customisation (and copying of iOS on so many levels), and Android because of, well, Google! WinMo gives us the freedom to tinker, without the need of "jail breaking", which many of us love WinMo for. Manila is the icing on the cake... and everyone knows the icing is the best bit of the cake!
So where do we go from here?
Organise. Mobilise.
First off I don't want to take anything away from the (quite brilliant) people here on XDA Developers that have already managed (or facilitated others) to do some pretty amazing things with Manila, having extended it far beyond HTCs original scope. However despite all the hard work and effort that has gone into reverse engineering Manila there is still much that is unknown about it and parts we cannot change. If we wish to see Manila grow and develop (further than we already have), to keep our phones current, we need HTCs co-operation, we need the actual Manila source.
But why should HTC help us when they would probably rather us buy new phones? Well, HTC is a business and all good business' like a good deal. So, they've got something we want but what do we have to offer them in return? I believe that Manila has applications outside of Android and Windows Phone 7 (which HTC already have covered, so we can forget about them) so there is still one avenue left to us that we could attempt to try and tempt HTC with...
Swallow the Tablet!
At the moment the tablet market is dominated by iOS and Android but inevitably Microsoft will manage to muscle Windows into the tablet market. It managed it with phones (then, as we all know, lost its way) and more recently it managed to (almost completely) squeeze Linux out of the netbook market. At CES 2011 scores of Windows based tablets were unveiled from manufacturers such as Asus, Lenovo, Viliv and even Samsung! Microsofts desire to muscle its way into yet another market (tablets) with a full fat version of Windows is compounded by the fact that the next version of Windows (8) will support SoC architectures from Intel and ARM. Make no mistake; Whatever your views on the suitability of Windows for tablets, Windows tablets are coming and they will sell. However, lets not get too hung up on tablets, there are still millions upon millions (upon millions!) of PCs out there and sales of PCs are still strong.
But what does this have to do with Manila? Well, I believe Manila would make the perfect lightweight 3D widget engine for Windows and this is where our opportunity lies. HTC currently has a massive presence in smartphones and are now entering the tablet market (currently Android to begin with, but given their ties with Microsoft, in the past with Windows Mobile and now Windows Phone 7, it won't be long before they produce a full fat Windows tablet). However they do not (yet) have a presence, of any kind, on desktops and it is with this that we could tempt them. So, HTC get the opportunity to have a presence PC desktops worldwide and we get to extend the life of our phones that utilise Manila!
Don't forget the presence of "Sense" on the desktop would be a great marketing tool... people see the advertisements for Sense on the TV (as HTC are currently doing in the UK), they give it a try on their computer, like it, and may be inclined to buy a phone with Sense in the future. There are also the opportunities that "Sense" (Manila) on the desktop could tie in with Sense on phones.
To be continued...
Reserved for future use
It is a long time which developers attracted to WP7 and android, and I've never attracted to new builds in this section.
of-course it was started for me when I've tried the first customized ROM with my HD2.
When I had Diamond, the Cooked ROM were better than the Original ones but on my HD2, the original ones are better and more stable.
Any comments?
any Idea?
please give me your opinions.
wrong section.
stock roms better than customs in HD2? you havent tried many then.. or at all.
I had diamond too and there were really good custom roms but that time there was NONE this big jump from stock to better usability.
try elegancia for example and you find really stable, fast, eye candy rom with great stuff in it.
My HD (Blackstone) was abandoned by HTC with windows 6.1 and Manilla 2.1... the amazing Devs of XDA made it a WM6.5 Sense super-machine. The HD2 (Leo) is still the best WM phone out there and microsoft themselves aren't pushing out anything much new... so the Dev's haven't got the same amount of raw material to work from to take the HD2 beyond stock (not within WM anyway).
And as the post above says, "wrong section"!
I think that Marketing drives development, because from free development You can get money with support or with custom dev.
On WM6.5 there is no more marketing around by Microsoft, at least since WP7 was commercialized.
It's just because of Windows Mobile is dying. You can't help it. No new things to port, to tweak and to achieve on our devices. Add to that Android and Windows Phone 7 working perfectly on HD2 and there is your answer.
But I have to admit that there are few heroes supporting Windows Mobile, like sir Sternas who is still improving his ROM with his own Software. I have to say that WM is very useful and capable OS, it's just no one is developing and creating for it no more. I found it troublesome to find one decent twitter client (except Peep of course) for WM, whereas on Android I just head to Market, type twitter and BAM, dozens of twitter clients, one better than other, appear. I love Sense and tried hard to use Windows Mobile (best OS to use just as a phone and basic internet browser), but if I wanted to something more than it's included in phone, it's almost impossible. You understand me?
What ROM is Sterna's?
Sternas rom is here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=612580
"Stop worrying about Windows Mobile. The name is changing. It's not a big deal. It isn't a dead platform. (At least not yet, anyway. )"
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11975316&postcount=1423
Cooked ROM on HD2
Check and search XDA for ROMs on my signature.
I agree, there have been no news for applications, I mean on the WM 6.5.5.
Developers, I believe, have given up developing apps for an already dead platform
nbee said:
"Stop worrying about Windows Mobile. The name is changing. It's not a big deal. It isn't a dead platform. (At least not yet, anyway. )"
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11975316&postcount=1423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The page you reference clearly says that there will be no more phones with anything other than WP7. The other devices are specialized for a certain purpose, or are tablets / pads, etc. Not phones.
I love WM despite it's flaws, but I don't expect more applications. The people from which I have purchased WM software are only updating android.
nbee said:
"Stop worrying about Windows Mobile. The name is changing. It's not a big deal. It isn't a dead platform. (At least not yet, anyway. )"
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11975316&postcount=1423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for quoting the info.
Many people are visiting here everyday. Windows Mobile is not dead. The cooked ROM is updated more frequent than the official stock ROM. It is still alive
As an application developer I loved Windows Mobile as it was a very capable platform (I have apps that I wrote for it that I couldn't have written for other mobile device) and the development tools (Visual Studio, SQL Server CE, etc) rock, so I'm not really happy or understand why WM is dying, but it seems it is. The question is what to replace it with. XDA Developers seems to jumped over to Android, and likely I try developing something for Android, but no doubt it will take some time before I find something I like better then Windows Mobile (I'm still writing apps for WM as its the platform I like to use myself and the ROMs here rock, for example I'm using the Energy HD2 ROM and can't find a reason to leave it, what does Android give me that Energy doesn't have?)
Android
DukeNukem said:
As an application developer I loved Windows Mobile as it was a very capable platform (I have apps that I wrote for it that I couldn't have written for other mobile device) and the development tools (Visual Studio, SQL Server CE, etc) rock, so I'm not really happy or understand why WM is dying, but it seems it is. The question is what to replace it with. XDA Developers seems to jumped over to Android, and likely I try developing something for Android, but no doubt it will take some time before I find something I like better then Windows Mobile (I'm still writing apps for WM as its the platform I like to use myself and the ROMs here rock, for example I'm using the Energy HD2 ROM and can't find a reason to leave it, what does Android give me that Energy doesn't have?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is the way to go. It has a brighter future that windows 7. It is becoming a very nice os. Windows 7 is a dead duck cant do anything with it.
What do you find in this ugly Android? Except the faster reaction comparing to WM.
It's even a problem to find a good dialer for Android.
Rest Windows Mobile rocks. Very flexible and customizable. Lot of dealers for your choice. Lot of other software.
I don't understand why people jump to some other system.
I better use WM7 then Android.
DuQ3r said:
What do you find in this ugly Android? Except the faster reaction comparing to WM.
It's even a problem to find a good dialer for Android.
Rest Windows Mobile rocks. Very flexible and customizable. Lot of dealers for your choice. Lot of other software.
I don't understand why people jump to some other system.
I better use WM7 then Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is better because the development is continuing (unlike Winmo).
You will know why is Android better if you use Android as native (in Android handset not in HD2)
Cheers..
silverwind said:
Android is better because the development is continuing (unlike Winmo).
You will know why is Android better if you use Android as native (in Android handset not in HD2)
Cheers..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on my experience with the LG G2X (I have two of them) android is a battery sucking nightmare that can't even download emails on a regular basis. Not to mention all the privacy concerns and ridiculous amounts of ads. It is useless as a business phone. It seems to be a toy OS for kids.
My HD2 with Elegancia by Steve runs flawlessly. If I want android toys and games a SD version works fine.
My wife wants to keep her G2X, but mine is going back because it is a piece of crap.
jcbofkc said:
Based on my experience with the LG G2X (I have two of them) android is a battery sucking nightmare that can't even download emails on a regular basis. Not to mention all the privacy concerns and ridiculous amounts of ads. It is useless as a business phone. It seems to be a toy OS for kids.
My HD2 with Elegancia by Steve runs flawlessly. If I want android toys and games a SD version works fine.
My wife wants to keep her G2X, but mine is going back because it is a piece of crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand about battery sucking in Android But it also happens with Iphone and BB
So, it doesnt mean Android is bad...
I think the development of Battery technology is far left behind from the development of the device and os..
The disadvantage is as you said about privacy and ads, I do agree with you
About WInmo, dont get me wrong, I still keep my HD2 and it runs smooth with Platinum Series (see my sig). Only that, you dont have market to play with. Windows Market is not interesting to me So, I rarely play with my HD2, instead I use it more with SD Android ...
Cheers...
This question has flooded my mind almost as much as Android has flooded the market...
Does anyone else think that Android has gone out of control? I mean there are literally dozens of devices announced / released every week, updates are a mess, developing is tricky due to all the different versions of the OS, screen resolution, cpu, gpu etc. The custom overlays is so common that the AOSP phones are almost non existant.
Manufacturers release a new phone each week since its an easy buck because its free and they know that with Android it cant keep a decent life span since its forgotten pretty much the day its released since all the new phone arriving or due to arrive, so asking for good support is a bit much nowadays. It seems like Android is becoming the new "featurephone OS" since almost every phone released runs it, so imo it loses its Premium feel since i can run most of the same apps in a crappy free budget device than a high end monster save some games and speed...
I have had dozens of android devices, from the HTC Touch port, to the EVO 3D, and frankly its hard to get exited for an android device nowadays since theres always something bigger and better almost immediatly instead of living out its life span before it gets eclipsed by something else. Thats why i like the iOS and WP7 approach since they release it in batches (cept apple because its 1) in a certain time frame, so you know you dont have to worry about being left behind or being behind the curve for a good while (i you care about that stuff like me) OS updates are a sure thing, app compatibility is all there and it just feels more integrated and organized
Android feels like mess actually, i have an android and really like the OS but honestly, its a touch friendly version of Windows Mobile in my eyes. It has all the features you would wanr, but performance is inconsistant, user experience is a mess, updates are hit and miss, and development is a headache
Sorry to rant so much, i really like Android actually, but got to the point that flooded the market with such a thing has ruined a good thing imo
Any imput?
s3nT Fr0m mY pYrAmId fLaVoReD gLaCi3r
*Fixed a few things
Well, I believe that's what android is about. Its like windows, many different computers run different versions of windows. I understand the "premium feel" aspect, but there's no alternative to Linux on phones besides android.
on the other hand, no one wants to be as confined as iphone. there is nothing unique between one iphone and another. they are both iphones whereas android has variety
It'll really be interesting to see what the future holds. Android could replace Windows and MacOS in a lot of ways.
Good post OP. I feel, as you do, that the fragmentation of the Android platform is a complete mess. It would have been nice if Google had more control over what happened to the OS on a manufacturer level. I'd have liked, at the very least, to have seen a minimum hardware requirement, an outright ban on carrier bloat and manufacturer skins too. I'm a purist though and some people buy HTC, for example, because they want 'Sense'. Personally i believe these skins should have been an optional component, perhaps available as a Market download.
Updates to the OS should have been arranged in a more consistent and controlled manner too, but with the diversity of hardware it has become a crap-shoot. Manufacturers are churning out phone after phone and most are horribly derivative. Of course, it's all about the $$.
I'm a fan of what Microsoft are doing with the WP7 platform and can only dream about a similar scenario with Android!
I think its all good.Its all about freedom.The freedom to choose you firmware,kernal,ROM or what ever.Others like iOS are to confined.Its great.
It is just because android is "opened". All manufacturers can produce and sell a phone running android. Like the computers, for example, you can't say to HP that "Why did you guys releases computers so fast? ASUS just released one yesterday!"
Also about what you think android is complicated is because of it's customizability (ability to be customized). When it can be very personalized, it gets a lot of settings. When it have a lot of settings, things get complicated. This is also why every android device is unique
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I've always been a PC guy and have used Macs in the past. I'm just used to Windows as opposed to an iOS. The fact that Android is open sourced, it allows for any user to customize it however they want.
I own an EVO 3D, and own an iPod Touch. There's endless possibilities on what I can do on the 3D versus what I can do on the iPod. I also know that the iPod can be jailbroken as well.
I do understand your argument as there are many different phones that come out each week/month. It gets overwhelming as to which device is better and what not, but it all comes down to what the end user wants for a device that fits their needs. A typical user just wants to be able to call, text, and get online. These typical users would like to see different styles, colors, sizes that fit their lifestyle.
Apple has a standardized iPhone/iPod and it receives an update once in a while. Granted, you can pick out a cover for it in different colors and styles, but it has the same UI look.
But I, on the other hand, like to tinker and like to customize the device of my choice.
Based on the fact that we're all members here on this forum by choice and are happily reading and writing...I'd say that there's no such thing as too much.
Although I'll be honest, I was dying to just say about this much "...................." (there I said it)
i agree that android is all over the place with late updates ect however i love the fact that its available in all flavors not just one flavor like you know who.
Android is just the hip thing. It's quickly becoming to mobile-devices what MS-DOS/Windows was to home computers. Only, the licensing is different
That doesn't mean there's too much of it though. Android is still linux at its core, and part of that is putting up with the disorganized community development.
First smartphone was some low-end Android phone on a prepaid carrier, and even though it ran like crap, I've loved Android since. I took a shot with Windows Phone by buying a Dell Venue Pro, but the main reason I chose it (hardware keyboard) turned out to be a bit disappointing, and I kinda came with a negative attitude toward the OS, and eventually returned it. Plus, it was last-gen specs and it had its share of issues, so I probably wouldn't have kept it regardless.
Anyway, I've really been considering getting an HTC Radar on T-Mobile US, because I love everything about the phone (size, design, cameras, etc.)...but I need to be sold on Windows Phone and its functions/capabilities. I'm not too big on customization with Android (single homescreen with no widgets), and most apps I could live without on a daily basis (the few apps like Square I could plan in advance for and use an Android phone). I did like how smooth it was overall, but it seemed like a lot of basic phone/messaging/internet options were either hidden in weird places or non-existent (like manually refreshing certain stuff). And I did update the Dell to Mango, so I don't need to be told about the benefits, unless some of them apply only to the 2nd-gen WP devices like the Radar.
And in this case, I'd either get a Radar and then a Flyer so I can keep Android (and still use it as a phone if necessary), or just the new One S and no tablet.
First of all, everything is about your priorities and preferences. Mobile devices are a personal decision because there is always a tradeoff between cost, power, size, simplicity, customization, prior experience, and battery life. I can only tell you what works for me, then you can evaluate and come to your own decision.
In my signature you can see the devices that I have used, so I have some experience on both the Android and Windows Phone side. Last year I bounced back and forth between the two, but came down on the firmly on the Windows side for one major reason:
Simplicity.
It takes me two or three days to get an Android phone into a usable state so I have my major apps front and center, and eliminate as much "junk" as possible. (Of course, one man's junk is another man's favorite app.)
Windows Phone has most of what I need already set up once I've loaded my Google, Live, Exchange, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts. As a matter of fact, give me the standard Microsoft apps, plus a Google Voice client, and I can do just about everything I need to do.
Also, I find the Live Tiles and Hubs very useful in pulling information together from multiple sources. The clean, bold, unified design of the OS is icing on the cake.
After using Windows Phone, Android looks like a mish-mash of random interfaces and cluttered design.
But that's just me.
I've got a Radar on T-Mobile and a Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T. One of them has to go this week. The Lumia is about the most beautiful phone I've ever used and the AT&T LTE is strong and fast where I live. On the other hand, the Radar feels perfect in the hand, and T-Mobile's HSPA+ is fast enough. (But the coverage doesn't stretch out into the suburbs where I sometimes go.)
If you like Windows Phone and are a T-Mobile customer, the Radar is a quality choice. Also take a look at the Nokia 710. Some people like that handset better.
That's my opinion, for what it's worth. Best of luck!
Thanks for the quick reply. I do agree that Windows Phone is much simpler, and that definitely does appeal to me. I looked around and saw that it's possible to get OEM apps like the Nokia-specific apps without much work, that's nice. It's also nice that there might be a ROM for the Radar sometime soon.
However, I'm a bit confused when it comes to side-loading apps and unlocking and whatnot. I read something about Chevron tokens, and that they're out of stock, but then the official site charges $9 to unlock - what exactly does that do? And then in another thread I read something about being able to unlock it for free through a student DreamSpark account...is there a simple explanation about unlocking and ways to do it?
Anyway, I might be a little more sold on it as a result...if I can get one for a good price, I might jump on it soon.
EDIT: Also, since I saw you had a Nokia N8...where does Symbian fall into any of this - would it be something you'd ever consider going back to? I haven't had the chance to experience it, and have no idea how it compares to Android or WP7.5
magus57 said:
I'd either get a Radar and then a Flyer so I can keep Android (and still use it as a phone if necessary), or just the new One S and no tablet.
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Ive also had experience of both and getting a tablet is a sensible thing.. I have a Galaxy 5 Wifi for my media player and now a Radar for my Phone.
As has been mentioned here.. the best thing is simplicity, unfortunately, Android is being hammered at us from every angle from the One X to the Sensation XE, the Galaxy S2 and now 3 to the Note and sadly, WP7 seems to be getting left behind.
This year we're now seeing HTC and Nokia battle it out, but ultimately.. its down to you.. My advice..
Dont follow the Advertising and Media circus.. it'll drive you mad and no matter what you buy, theres always something new coming out.. so is it Android, with its many apps and open source marketplace.. which can result in some rubbish apps or WP7 for simplicity and ease of use, but without the customisation, just add ons.
Bear in mind, at the end of the day.. they are just phones.. even though the adverts will tell you different. A ONE X is just a faster Desire.. but its still a phone. I find WP7 call quality is much better than my old Wildfire S and under Mango theres alot more to work with.
Good luck
magus57 said:
...However, I'm a bit confused when it comes to side-loading apps and unlocking and whatnot. I read something about Chevron tokens, and that they're out of stock.. Also, since I saw you had a Nokia N8...where does Symbian fall into any of this...
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If side-loading apps is your goal, WP7 is not the best platform. The Chevron unlocker was available to aid developers of the first edition of Windows Phone. But it was never updated for later versions, and after Mango it is useless. So there is no easy way to open up the platform, although some have managed it on a phone by phone basis. But, really, Android is so much more open in that respect that I would stay in that environment if hacking is your goal.
As for Nokia, they consistently make the best phones. The N8 is still unsurpassed as a camera phone. No one has even attempted to put that large a sensor in any smartphone since. It will only be bested this month when Nokia releases the 808 PureView running Symbian. They are ahead of the competition in build quality and their radios usually pulll in better reception that others.
Their move into Windows phone looks very strong, and they have only been making them for six months. It will be interesting to see how that lineup grows.
The Symbian OS, however, gets mixed reviews. Back in the days of Windows Mobile, it was a very strong competitor. In a post-iPhone world, however, it cannot match the mobile operating systems that have been conceived from the ground up for touch navigation. Although they have made huge advancements, including touch-enabling the whole OS, it will always feel a bit more like a super-advanced feature phone OS when compared to Android, iOS, WM7, and WebOS.
Even so , I would say that the combination of Nokia hardware and Symbian represents the best value for money of any phobne / OS combination. For example, all of these phones can upgrade to the just released Symbian Belle update and are faster and have more features than they did when they were originally released:
N8 - Feels incredible in the hand and even more distingushed from the competition today. $340
E7 - The business phone; a tilt-up touchscreen with a great slide out keyboard. $380
C6 - essentially a thinner, lighter version of the N8, minus the super large camera sensor. $215
The problem for most Americans is that they have never used a Symbian phone before, so the whole feel of the OS is odd.
I think Nokia made the right decision moving to WP7, although Symbian will remain a strong platform for them, especially in new developing markets.