Microsoft - no more excuses of Beta apps - Nokia Lumia 920

I am so displeased with MS. It seems they hide behind all the apps by saying they are beta. WP7.5 was frustrating enough with lack of skype for a year even after they bought it. Between skype and the miserable version of pdf they created one could only wonder how serious they actually are. It would be nice to have an android app so we could have apps that work. Seriously MS stop hiring sweat shop kids to develop your apps and invest in some proper programmers. I don't want a repeat of WP7.5

Yeah, the past couple of days I have seriously considered going back to Android. WP8 is missing some pretty key features that I could ignore if there were apps to fill the holes, there are none... No wifi sync? Unable to "delete" music from Xbox music, even though it's no longer on my device(I used to have Music Pass and the music I downloaded still shows up)? Media volume and Ringtone volume are shared? that seems like a no brainer. The camera, while the overall picture quality is good, I find the colors to be very inaccurate(not WP8, but still a gripe). A lot of my "live tile" apps do not update anymore, maybe the app devs fault? The desktop sync program is almost useless, why can't Zune be used?
So, I am probably gonna try and trade my 920 for an Android... I miss my Nexus

Vangink said:
I am so displeased with MS. It seems they hide behind all the apps by saying they are beta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must despise google.

schettj said:
You must despise google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or Apple with their Maps app.
Verstuurd van mijn Nexus 7 met Tapatalk

Honestly, I have bought my wife a chinese phone called Oppo. It was slick phone and light, 6mm thick running Android 4.3. I didn't mind android but I perferred the enviroment of 7.5, much cleaner and simpilar. I did not start this poste to talk about Android or Iphone though, I bought a 920 hoping that WP8 was an improvement. But some key apps i use on regular basis created by MS are junk. The point is, if the apps are so much better on other platforms why can't MS do it on theirs especally Skype, come on! I just hope this post opens eyes of MS to begin to deliver a better experience now not in 1 year. On good note, I do give them the respect of Bing Translater the camera feature comes in handy, and people are amazed when i show them.

phxtravis said:
Yeah, the past couple of days I have seriously considered going back to Android. WP8 is missing some pretty key features that I could ignore if there were apps to fill the holes, there are none... No wifi sync? Unable to "delete" music from Xbox music, even though it's no longer on my device(I used to have Music Pass and the music I downloaded still shows up)? Media volume and Ringtone volume are shared? that seems like a no brainer. The camera, while the overall picture quality is good, I find the colors to be very inaccurate(not WP8, but still a gripe). A lot of my "live tile" apps do not update anymore, maybe the app devs fault? The desktop sync program is almost useless, why can't Zune be used?
So, I am probably gonna try and trade my 920 for an Android... I miss my Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can delete music from xbox by pressing on the track long enough then remove it.
It works. It seriously does.

Vangink said:
I just hope this post opens eyes of MS to begin to deliver a better experience now not in 1 year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think Microsoft monitors this forum
And I am quite sure people are working very hard to deliver a better experience as fast as they possibly can. You can help too, download the SDK and start coding.

Vangink said:
Honestly, I have bought my wife a chinese phone called Oppo. It was slick phone and light, 6mm thick running Android 4.3. I didn't mind android but I perferred the enviroment of 7.5, much cleaner and simpilar. I did not start this poste to talk about Android or Iphone though, I bought a 920 hoping that WP8 was an improvement. But some key apps i use on regular basis created by MS are junk. The point is, if the apps are so much better on other platforms why can't MS do it on theirs especally Skype, come on! I just hope this post opens eyes of MS to begin to deliver a better experience now not in 1 year. On good note, I do give them the respect of Bing Translater the camera feature comes in handy, and people are amazed when i show them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bet they're even more amazed at 4.3!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

ScooterG said:
I bet they're even more amazed at 4.3!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad, 4.0 really not a big android guy. I had phone for a week before passing it over to my wife. At least her skype works in background.
To schettj's reply, I am hopping that your optimism is true. I would be closer to doing laundry at my hotel then developing a version of PDF that works. That's what I shelled out 600 bucks for.

Related

From Android?

Anyone moved from Android to a Radar? Thoughts? I'm on a GS2 right now and considering a switch.
I moved over from a Evo 4G to the Radar.
For me having to adjust to a smaller screen was a little hard.
The performance is great. I love the UI.
The app's in the marketplace can be a little limited, but I have found some great apps that are better than their counterparts on Android.
I will say that as of now, this platform is not from everybody, but with some of the new devices comming around, and the next few updates, the platform should grow.
I personally love the who WP7 experience. Out of all three of the major OS's, I love this one the most.
I had a Droid Incredible for 2 years, then the HTC Sensation on T-Mobile. This fall I tried an HTC HD7 when I knew I could put Mango on it, and I really liked WM7. I left the HD7 for a Samsung Galaxy 2 because I wanted the 42 mbps radio.
The Galaxy is a fantastic phone, but as soon as I got it I realized that I'd been spoiled by WM7 and no longer had the patience to deal with Android. Android is great if you like to fiddle with your phone and create a very customized experience. But I just couldn't face taking a day to download apps and configure the phone to put my tasks, calendar, podcasts, and contacts front and center.
I dumped the Samsung on eBay and got a Radar, which I LOVE. The advantage of WM7 is that you turn it on, and it just works. I put in my Google and Windows Live accounts and in five minutes everything is right there.
The disadvantage on WM7 is that it works on a different organizing principle than Android or IOS. In addition, the design approach emphasizes a clean simple interface - which also means that some capabilities are hidden and you have to know how to find them. So, there is a learning curve.
The Radar is not for everyone, but for me it's ideal. I like the small size, the clean interface, the internet sharing, and Zune music. The fact that it is not another big black slab is also appealing.
The only negative for me is the 8gb of memory means I have to be selective as to loading music and movies on the phone. Other than that, i think I'll have the Radar for quite a while. Or until I can get my hands on a Nokia Lumia 900.
Im thinking of doing this too. I have never gotten normal battery life on my GS2 no matter what I do. Also like how it seems WP7 works right out of the box. Now just to try and get someone to buy this GS2....
Anyone else with input?
Switched from Android to WP7
I recently switched from the Galaxy S Vibrant to the HTC Radar. The OS's are pretty different, but I'm enjoying WP7. The lack of options in WP7 has saved me lots of time playing with themes, launchers and the sort. The UI is simple, straight forward and doesn't take much to figure out. The battery life is amazing for a smart phone. Turning on the Battery Saver option helps squeeze every last drop of juice from the battery. I haven't looked into how the location service works, but it works ok, not as accurate as a GPS in my opinion. The screen is responsive, clear and made with Gorilla glass. The on screen keyboard is as easy to use as any other on screen keyboard. The predictive text is pretty accurate. The only complaint I have is with syncing. The hotmail account (ya, just like Android and Gmail) doesn't quite sync as fast as Gmail does on Android. The official Facebook and Twitter app are lacking in the syncing area as well. I haven't looked into any unofficial apps yet. Speaking of apps, the app store is a little lacking, but I don't use to many apps. Overall, I like the phone and I'm pleased with WP7 experience. The whole thing is simple and straight forward.
Here's the link to try out the UI in your browser.
http://m.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/demo/index.html
hah2110 said:
Anyone moved from Android to a Radar? Thoughts? I'm on a GS2 right now and considering a switch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am. I switched from Galaxy S2 to Rader but have trouble now
Check this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1444832
Thanks for the opinions. I'm really on the fence! I feel like it would be wrong to move without having used ics
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Bump
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Add me to the migrants - I've just sold my GS2 and purchased a Radar, just got to wait for it to be delivered now. I had a HD7 at the beginning but the battery was crap on it and Mango wasn't even mentioned so I got rid of it but now it looks like the OS is really moving now.
I just moved from a G2 to the Radar and I'm liking it. Only things I'm having trouble with it getting a good GoogleTalk app to IM with all my friends and family. I wish it was integrated much like how Facebook Messenger is. Also being able to use my Google Voice account to make outgoing calls is a bit difficult.
My biggest complaint about the phone is the lack of memory for storage. I download a lot of podcasts and music (through Spotify) to listen to and its already full with just my podcasts. No place to fit the cached music. If i had unlimited data it would be nice but I don't. I usually meet my 5gb quota in a month without streaming.
I think the storage can be a problem but it is obviously dependent on how you use your phone. I mean 16GB is a good minimum to have but I can make do with the 8GB. I can see why there isn't a microSD slot - it keeps the phone simple just having one type of storage. I reckon as long as the cloud continues to expand local storage will diminish.
I thought about this too because I have 7+ gb of pictures BUT, can't you just throw them on Skydrive for when you need them? More and more I think I may jump! I do feel like, on paper, it won't be powerful enough but do mos people really need the power of dual core, etc.
Yeah you can! That's another great thing you get with WP7 - 25GB of free storage! The crucial thing is that WP7 is closed-source, native and optimized for the strict hardware requirements that Microsoft have laid down. It's similar to Apple's approach with their hardware. Like I said the only reason I ditched the HD7 was because of its woeful battery life and not knowing that Mango would come. This phone seems to get it right from what I've read and see and as far WP7 and its associated devices well they are just going to go from strength to strength. I can't wait for it to arrive!
What is the integration with Skydrive like though? Am I just browsing a cloud file directory or is there any sort of gallery integration? Also, if all pics are 2-3mb+, it could be annoying when you are trying to find a picture. Is there thumbnailing, previewing, etc?
You get excellent integration, I've just uploaded some photos and it works really well! Yep you get all that
xspsi said:
I just moved from a G2 to the Radar and I'm liking it. Only things I'm having trouble with it getting a good GoogleTalk app to IM with all my friends and family. I wish it was integrated much like how Facebook Messenger is. Also being able to use my Google Voice account to make outgoing calls is a bit difficult.
My biggest complaint about the phone is the lack of memory for storage. I download a lot of podcasts and music (through Spotify) to listen to and its already full with just my podcasts. No place to fit the cached music. If i had unlimited data it would be nice but I don't. I usually meet my 5gb quota in a month without streaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Calling with the GoVoice app isn't too difficult.
I recently switched, but kept my old phone just in case.
I have a Samsung Vibrant [MIUI], Mytouch 4G [MIUI]
and I play with my girls GS2.
The smaller screen is taking me a bit to get used to.
The UI is AWESOME, responsive, quick, etc.
No apps to have quick on-tap shortcuts to disable/enable 3G/4G, brightness... but that's ok.
Not many apps, but a few that are awesome.
Cool if you have an Xbox and/or Windows PC.
It's not for everyone... but I feel like I won't get bored with it anytime soon.
I also think it's better than iOS.
I "switched" a week ago from the GS2 to the Radar. I'm not a heavy user but I like to be connected and synced up with my emails and social networks all the time.
The App Ecosystem on WP sucks and anyone coming from iOS or Android or even BB would agree. They're either lying or don't use apps at all if they disagree.
The smaller screen size compared to the 4.5" is certainly noticeable but not a deal breaker.
The camera functionality on the Radar and is better, and I think the lens is better too. But the front facing camera is only VGA vs. the GSII 2mp.
Battery life is much better on WP and WP works just as smooth.
I enjoy the fact that WP is less buggy than android, but there's a lot of limitations to how to customize the UI and how multi-tasking works (or doesn't work). There's no flash support and I cannot even visit sites that allow me to find out when the next Muni or Bart train will show up, and of course there's no app for that in WP.
The Radar has NO COMPASS so you can't use a lot of apps that utilize a compass and navigation seems to take a bit longer to figure out which direction you're facing (which makes sense).
Anyways, it's like the best alternative to the iPhone for first time smartphone users and for people who aren't app crazy. It's stable and is quite capable. What a change from Windows Mobile.

Might be switching to WP7... But apps

Hey guys. So I'm thinking of going to windows phone, i like it and all but there doesn't seem to be a lot of apps? and a lot of them cost a lot, like fruit ninja is 2.50 compared to 69p on Android.
Any help? Are there a lot of good free apps?
JccageX2 said:
Hey guys. So I'm thinking of going to windows phone, i like it and all but there doesn't seem to be a lot of apps? and a lot of them cost a lot, like fruit ninja is 2.50 compared to 69p on Android.
Any help? Are there a lot of good free apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, my friend, if you want a phone that syncs with your social networks, email and phone contacts, along with simplicity and ease with no hassle. A Windows phone is for you.
If you want a phone purely for apps and games, I would recommend an iPod Touch 4G, obviously if TomTom and GPS matters, then I would recommend an iPhone.
If you want to gain easy root access and modify the brains out of your phone, then I recommend Android. It's a big decision to make.
I chose Windows, after using all three OS's, and yes I'm a casual gamer, I love tweaking, but I don't even wish to tweak this phone, as it's so pretty.
As for apps, they have many, games most definitely cost more than all three OS's. Hope that helps.
JccageX2 said:
Hey guys. So I'm thinking of going to windows phone, i like it and all but there doesn't seem to be a lot of apps? and a lot of them cost a lot, like fruit ninja is 2.50 compared to 69p on Android.
Any help? Are there a lot of good free apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are coming from Android, you will be disappointed at the prices of Windows Phone apps and especially, games. They are exorbitant in comparison.
Windows Phone is a young OS, which is trying to catch up quickly. Perhaps wait for another 6 months or so before you switch.
I too was in the same position 2 months ago.
I think the real question should be, what apps do you use? It's easy to look at the three marketplaces and say that the Windows Marketplace is lacking in apps. But do you really need that many apps? Switching to WP7 made me cut down on installing crapps. I found a good alternative for every core iOS app that I was using and in the end am very happy with what the marketplace has to offer.
The only apps I'm still waiting for are my banking apps (Chase, mainly for depositing checks, and Viber/Skype).
Most of the essentials are catered for. There's Youtube (unofficial ones are better), IMDB, various Twitter clients. You barely need a Facebook app because it's built into the OS.
Games are annoyingly overpriced, and many of the titles I've tried have not been updated for Mango so run at a choppy 30fps. Even Angry Birds is not as smooth as Android or iOS and it's a simple sideways scroller. There are a few great games though, Rise of Glory and Jet Car Stunts are brilliant. Plus some excellent free titles like NinjaBoy.
The apps I miss the most are Google Earth (and Skymap) and there is no native Amazon app anywhere except the US.
Coming from Android background, one thing I find most annoying about Windows Phone is the lack of a true dialer replacement (I believe this is due to OS limitation). I am currently using the paid version of 7Dialer but it does not really replace the default dialer completely. Missed calls are not captured, contacts don't synchronize in real-time, slower launching time and a few other issues.
The same goes with keyboard replacement. Being accustomed to the intelligence of SwiftKey, the built-in Windows Phone keyboard feels very inadequate in comparison.
CervezaPorFavor said:
Coming from Android background, one thing I find most annoying about Windows Phone is the lack of a true dialer replacement (I believe this is due to OS limitation). I am currently using the paid version of 7Dialer but it does not really replace the default dialer completely. Missed calls are not captured, contacts don't synchronize in real-time, slower launching time and a few other issues.
The same goes with keyboard replacement. Being accustomed to the intelligence of SwiftKey, the built-in Windows Phone keyboard feels very inadequate in comparison.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I really miss is 3rd party keyboards. I too use Swiftkey on my Android devices. The WP keyboard is too small.
I also miss 3rd party Messaging apps. Need QuickReply
I've been through Android, and I'm on an iPhone now. Just wanan try WP7 because it looks brilliant, but I need apps, and I'm not paying a fiver for sims lol
JccageX2 said:
I've been through Android, and I'm on an iPhone now. Just wanan try WP7 because it looks brilliant, but I need apps, and I'm not paying a fiver for sims lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If games are what you're after, no point switching to the WP, at least for now.
Think I've solved my problem. Gonna get a 3GS as well as have this phone. It looks to brilliant to not have.
Just asking, can you jailbreak the device yet?
JccageX2 said:
Think I've solved my problem. Gonna get a 3GS as well as have this phone. It looks to brilliant to not have.
Just asking, can you jailbreak the device yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No jailbreak/root yet. Basically, you are stuck with the official stuff for now.

First Day With Lumia 920 and WP8

I bought a new Lumia 920 yesterday and after one day im loving it. The lumia is not my first Windows Phone device. I previously had an HD2 with WP7, HD7 with 7.5 also a Samsung Focus Flash. I always liked the look of WP but could never stick around with it because lack of features (multitasking, front cam, lack of quality apps.)
So far im really enjoying the phone, its one of the best i have owned and i have owned every major OS and flagship phone in the last 5 yrs. The camera easily beats my old 4S and One X for best camera i have had on a phone and i really love the build quilty and weight to the phone.
The only problem I have with the phone is the same one that has been repeated over and over...Apps. While I have pretty much found replacements for the main ones i use on my Galaxy Nexus, there are others I miss. Namely Instagram (great camera like this needs instagram.) And all my google apps. Im a hardcore google user, from mail to G+. i have a shortcut for G+ pinned to my start screen but its not the same.
Pros:
Great Camera
Great Screen and Sensetivity
Good Sound
WP is coming along nicely
Cons:
Google Apps (For Me)
While i have returned every Windows Phone i have had in the past I plan on sticking with the Lumia and see what comes of Windows Phone.
I was also happy with my Purchase experiance at my local AT&T store. I had my usual rep help me who has sold me and took returns of phones i have bought over the years and he was actually pretty good and knew a lot about the 920. I was also happy to receive my wireless charger because i believe i read somewhere that they were sold out.
I, too, just got a Lumia 920 alongside my Galaxy S 3. I like it a lot.
The integration with my work Outlook and Lync is top-notch.
The Skydrive integration is a lot nicer than the detached feeling I get with Google Drive.
In my tests so far, the camera is stellar! I am truly impressed with the clarity of photos even in a dark room.
I echo the lack of Google Apps. The lack of a native Google Music, most notably. Also, I've been an OLED screen user going on about 4 years now (ever since the Zune HD) so the lack of rich blacks on this screen is taking some getting used to, but that's not that big of a deal.
Will it help? I doubt it but here's a petition you can sign to get Google to add their popular apps to Windows Phone.
http://www.change.org/petitions/goo...utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
I've had the phone for a day now as well and my verdict is exactly the same. It's a shame there's no native support for Google Apps, specifically Google Talk and Google Voice, apps I use a lot. The transition will be hard but I think it'll be worthwhile.
This is one of the device i am aiming, one thing bothered me is the battery life.
Google, Apple and Microsoft are all competitors. The best thing you can do is stick to standards. You can get a domain and email package for a small fee and be totally independent of all these petty morons.
afx55 said:
I've had the phone for a day now as well and my verdict is exactly the same. It's a shame there's no native support for Google Apps, specifically Google Talk and Google Voice, apps I use a lot. The transition will be hard but I think it'll be worthwhile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MetroTalk is a great app for Google Voice. Worth a buck or so.
I have it on good authority that Instagram is going to be baked into the OS at some stage and I hope it's true, even though I currently no longer have a WP.
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ReventonX said:
This is one of the device i am aiming, one thing bothered me is the battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My battery life is stellar. It's as good as the One X and S3 I previously owned. The only other device I've owned with better battery life is the Note 2.
Gona get flamed... Here
Yes the hardware is howsome
Yes WP8 seems great and I feel it become soon the leading OS somehow a very credible alternative.
But I feel sad it is totally in locked in syndrome
Got it for few bucks but locked to orange FR
No carrier unlock joy so far... Not big deal for me as I got it mainly for development toying... Left windows phone 6 and currently on android and thought it be open I mean just develop and debug on device directly... But nop... Need to have good HW and worth hyper-v conflict with virtual box on my main machine .... Debug on a VM machine.. Yea right...
I don't under that one that buy phone cannot put what he/she wish on it(not taking pirate soft here) but start develop and debug on device directly...and when ready publish.. Instead need to pay $99 that is not the issue really it's just to be forced to do it is not right IMO...
This stuff needs get out of jail else its just be a nice phone and camera plus nice music player nothing as special and open as android is right now. BTW no decent dlna for the moment.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
questionmark said:
Gona get flamed... Here
Yes the hardware is howsome
Yes WP8 seems great and I feel it become soon the leading OS somehow a very credible alternative.
But I feel sad it is totally in locked in syndrome
Got it for few bucks but locked to orange FR
No carrier unlock joy so far... Not big deal for me as I got it mainly for development toying... Left windows phone 6 and currently on android and thought it be open I mean just develop and debug on device directly... But nop... Need to have good HW and worth hyper-v conflict with virtual box on my main machine .... Debug on a VM machine.. Yea right...
I don't under that one that buy phone cannot put what he/she wish on it(not taking pirate soft here) but start develop and debug on device directly...and when ready publish.. Instead need to pay $99 that is not the issue really it's just to be forced to do it is not right IMO...
This stuff needs get out of jail else its just be a nice phone and camera plus nice music player nothing as special and open as android is right now. BTW no decent dlna for the moment.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is amazing, but a completely different animal to android. I defected to jelly bean on the s3 but I really love WP
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[Q] Switch from S3 to lumia 920?

im really debating on whether i should switch from an GS3 to a lumia 920? i just worry about the app store. are the apps really that limited on lumia 920?
it depends....
If you're talking about applications I would say that the ones that are there are as good or better than Android and for those few that are missing, there are alternatives or 3rd party apps that do the job and in some cases exceed those original apps still missing. So if you're talking about functionality with respect to apps, I would say you'll be perfectly fine with making the switch.
However, if you are a heavy phone gamer and want the latest games and have them for free with ads etc, Google Play is much more ahead of Windows Phone. If you just want light gaming like Angry Birds Star War's, Cut The Rope etc.....you'll be perfectly satisfied.
I made the switch to Windows Phone. I'm not a big gamer, don't really care about gaming on the phone (I prefer a tablet even for light gaming). What I would argue though is that the functionality out of the box, the consistency of the UI1 and the consistency of the apps, and the speed of Windows Phone seriously makes it a better phone than either Android or iPhone.
If you want to drive your car with your phone, or are a heavy gamer and love to tweak your phone over and over and over I would say get Android. If you want a dumb but safe OS with a phone that has a high resale value and you don't mind paying through your nose for an overpriced product which has serious limitations like small screen and proprietary accessories etc, iPhone is for you.
I chose the Lumia 920 and have no regrets whatsoever. Seriously, if you use Google services and you switch to Windows Phone, just get gMaps & Metrotube and that covers pretty much everything (Skydrive is better than Google's offering anyways). I had gMail and switched to Outlook and only use my Google account for Youtube when I'm on the PC. People who say "But with an Android I can get Google Services" are seriously not realizing that there is really not much there, if anything, compared to Windows Phone. Hope this helps you make your choice.
I've contemplated switching myself. My wife has a new lumia 920 and it's a beautiful phone. She's been a Windows phone user for a year and a half now and absolutely loves it. We also picked up a new lumia 920 for my 19yr. old son for Christmas and being an avid xbox guy, he was extremely happy. At least for the twelve hours he had the phone before it got knocked off the table onto our tile floor and cracked the screen. It should be back from the repair shop next week.
I do have to admit that with Windows 8 on all our computers, the integration with my wifes Lumia 920 and her LIVE account is pretty cool. To a large extent, google has the same sort of integration, but it seems quite a bit more scattered with multiple different google apps for different things, where WP8 just seems to sync/integrate everything quietly in the background.
I've always enjoyed "tweaking" my phone. Started with a Nokia e71 and Symbian, moved to an iPhone 3GS and Jailbreaking, then finally to Android where pretty much anything is possible. I'm worried that moving to WP8 would feel a little too restrictive.
That being said, my contract is up for renewal in a couple months and I'm actually thinking of going with a Lumia 920 just to see how I like it. I figure I can always sell it and go back to my i9300 SG3 if things don't workout.
so this is the thing
bigkahuna111 said:
If you're talking about applications I would say that the ones that are there are as good or better than Android and for those few that are missing, there are alternatives or 3rd party apps that do the job and in some cases exceed those original apps still missing. So if you're talking about functionality with respect to apps, I would say you'll be perfectly fine with making the switch.
However, if you are a heavy phone gamer and want the latest games and have them for free with ads etc, Google Play is much more ahead of Windows Phone. If you just want light gaming like Angry Birds Star War's, Cut The Rope etc.....you'll be perfectly satisfied.
I made the switch to Windows Phone. I'm not a big gamer, don't really care about gaming on the phone (I prefer a tablet even for light gaming). What I would argue though is that the functionality out of the box, the consistency of the UI1 and the consistency of the apps, and the speed of Windows Phone seriously makes it a better phone than either Android or iPhone.
If you want to drive your car with your phone, or are a heavy gamer and love to tweak your phone over and over and over I would say get Android. If you want a dumb but safe OS with a phone that has a high resale value and you don't mind paying through your nose for an overpriced product which has serious limitations like small screen and proprietary accessories etc, iPhone is for you.
I chose the Lumia 920 and have no regrets whatsoever. Seriously, if you use Google services and you switch to Windows Phone, just get gMaps & Metrotube and that covers pretty much everything (Skydrive is better than Google's offering anyways). I had gMail and switched to Outlook and only use my Google account for Youtube when I'm on the PC. People who say "But with an Android I can get Google Services" are seriously not realizing that there is really not much there, if anything, compared to Windows Phone. Hope this helps you make your choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been a windows phone user for two years now and I will say this much, if you are looking for customizability and playing with the look of your phone, windows phone will bore you to tears. The truth is that once you setup your layout on the homescreen, there isn't much else you can do or will do since it is already setup to your needs and how you use the phone. Like I add tracking packages to the bottom of the screen and once they get delivered I delete them, same goes for games once I finish playing them. So once the screen is setup I would argue that you do get bored after a while and go through different colours depending on your mood or even depending on the Bing wallpaper which is showing that day (if you use that lockscreen feature) etc. There really isn't any other customizability you can do or really will do after a bit because the phone is perfect for a lack of a better term, its perfectly setup for your needs.
I would argue that's a good thing, even though I do wish I can see some animations on the lockscreen etc. At the end of the day the added functionality I get with a Windows Phone and the way it integrates with everything I use, is just too good to give up to get some more freedom with respect to tweaking icons, text, wallpapers, animations etc.
Hope this helps you in your decision....
If you can live with the out of the box WP functionality & experience for the majority of your needs then you will be happy. If the stock apps don't cover the majority of your needs then stick with Android. Of course WP has some great 3rd party apps that add functionality/fill in the gaps, but you may not be able to count on them always working or the program being around in the future. A good example are YouTube apps which may stop working because Google has made a change, until the developers make the necessary changes.
For the best WP experience you are basically going to use Microsoft services Outlook.com/Hotmail/Live. If you have all your info in GMail,Google Docs etc. then you should decide if your willing to migrate it to the MS ecosystem, before moving to WP IMO
Hi. Coming from SGS3, I wanted to know if i could find an apk like Gstrings and Musical lite?
acruxksa said:
I've contemplated switching myself. My wife has a new lumia 920 and it's a beautiful phone. She's been a Windows phone user for a year and a half now and absolutely loves it. We also picked up a new lumia 920 for my 19yr. old son for Christmas and being an avid xbox guy, he was extremely happy. At least for the twelve hours he had the phone before it got knocked off the table onto our tile floor and cracked the screen. It should be back from the repair shop next week.
I do have to admit that with Windows 8 on all our computers, the integration with my wifes Lumia 920 and her LIVE account is pretty cool. To a large extent, google has the same sort of integration, but it seems quite a bit more scattered with multiple different google apps for different things, where WP8 just seems to sync/integrate everything quietly in the background.
I've always enjoyed "tweaking" my phone. Started with a Nokia e71 and Symbian, moved to an iPhone 3GS and Jailbreaking, then finally to Android where pretty much anything is possible. I'm worried that moving to WP8 would feel a little too restrictive.
That being said, my contract is up for renewal in a couple months and I'm actually thinking of going with a Lumia 920 just to see how I like it. I figure I can always sell it and go back to my i9300 SG3 if things don't workout.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 same thoughts here....
Haha you'll suffer
Sent From My Galaxy S3
I did a switch and am unhapppy.
Its just been 18 hrs since i switched from S3 to 920 and am already missing it very much. Its nothing to do with the phone as such. The major thing am missing is the android. If you happen to be an android user for over a year and if you like to play (Not just games but roms etc etc.) then i seriously suggest you NOT to switch.
kaladhar.r said:
Its just been 18 hrs since i switched from S3 to 920 and am already missing it very much. Its nothing to do with the phone as such. The major thing am missing is the android. If you happen to be an android user for over a year and if you like to play (Not just games but roms etc etc.) then i seriously suggest you NOT to switch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed.
I had a Lumia 920 for 2 weeks. Fantastic little machine, but I just found myself constantly looking on enviously at my friends' Android phones. Once I got the Nexus 4 it felt like I was back home.
For me, WP8 is too limited and has too many things that drove me up the wall. Type quickly? Forget about the auto-correct working properly, it couldn't keep up (and I'm by no means the quickest typist on a touch screen). Just little things such as the time not being displayed in certain screens at the top, and connectivity icons always being hidden used to irritate me. No notification was another irritant. Yes OK, the tiles would display unread texts etc, but I found sometimes I wouldn't notice them. The Android solution is so much better.
Overall, I just felt like I didn't have the same level of control as I do on Android. If I want to kill a task, how do you do that on Windows?
This can be a good or a bad thing, but I suspect many on XDA will not like it, being that most XDA members are very technically able people.
I thought I would enjoy having less choices and just getting on and using it, but you know what, it had the opposite effect.
exactly my same thoughts..^^^^^.
I switched to 920 at Christmas time. I love my new phone, Windows phone 8 is great, i can modify the home screen as much as I want and I love the live tiles. the only bug bear I had was the wifi switching of when asleep, but that has been fixed in the update I just received
one of the major reasons I switched was the slow uptake of Samsung to update it's phones, if I had not manually updated the firmware my s11 would still be sitting on gingerbread, the fragmentation of Android is hopeless. I only hope the same thing does not happen with Windows.
can you download files from the internet like you can with an android? I download a ton of torrents while i'm at work.
squarebobspongepants said:
can you download files from the internet like you can with an android? I download a ton of torrents while i'm at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe nobody here downloads file ?
I not used torrent application myself but I did a search to see what apps in the store from my Lumia 920. I found a dozen so apps that manage and control torrent server software that you would have on your home computer. Some are free and some are paid .99 to 1.99. So at least you can control and manage your torrent server. I would suspect if you had a router based on tomato firmware that has torrent you could control/manage that as well in theory as well.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
tameracingdriver said:
Agreed.
I had a Lumia 920 for 2 weeks. Fantastic little machine, but I just found myself constantly looking on enviously at my friends' Android phones. Once I got the Nexus 4 it felt like I was back home.
For me, WP8 is too limited and has too many things that drove me up the wall. Type quickly? Forget about the auto-correct working properly, it couldn't keep up (and I'm by no means the quickest typist on a touch screen). Just little things such as the time not being displayed in certain screens at the top, and connectivity icons always being hidden used to irritate me. No notification was another irritant. Yes OK, the tiles would display unread texts etc, but I found sometimes I wouldn't notice them. The Android solution is so much better.
Overall, I just felt like I didn't have the same level of control as I do on Android. If I want to kill a task, how do you do that on Windows?
This can be a good or a bad thing, but I suspect many on XDA will not like it, being that most XDA members are very technically able people.
I thought I would enjoy having less choices and just getting on and using it, but you know what, it had the opposite effect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience is the opposite many of yours. I have had Android phones since T-Mobiles G1 (I still have it) and I loved all the tinkering I could do with them. I've had Moto, HTC and Samsung. But there was always 'something' that didn't work quite right. Maybe the bluetooth stack wasn't that great or the GPS would show me blocks from where I am. Even the compass on one of them would have me twirling in circles as I sat at a traffic light. Some hardware issues, some software. An update would occur to fix something then another thing would suffer. Many ROMs built here were phenomenal pieces of work and way beyond my skill set. However a fgreat deal of the time even they were not quite done 'baking', for lack of a better term.
I saw the demo of my 920 while shopping for a new phone for my girlfriend. I had my One X for about 8 months. I HAD to have this phone. I've been using it for about 6 weeks now and it just works. That's all I can say. Everything on mine just simply works. GPS, compass, BT, mail services, WiFi...even phone calls! I've embraced the UI so much that I bought a windows 8 tablet and sold my iPad. (I sold the iPad for more reasons than just Windows 8 but that's for a different forum)
The seamless integration between the two is great and, for my purposes, I couldn't be happier with my decision to make this move. Is the app store lacking? Absolutely. But not to the point that I miss my Android phone(s). Don't misunderstand. I really do get why you would miss the flexibility of that OS. If I had time I'd keep one just for messing with. But it's so much easier now that when I want to do something I just do it and the phone cooperates completely.
My 920 from my perspective. Thanks for listening. Now back to your regularly scheduled browsing already in progress.

Thinking of switching

So as of late, I have been seriously considering switching to a 920 after using android for awhile, and I was wondering how some of you guys feel about the 920, specifically if you have come from Android. Main thing really holding me back is the new hardware put out like the Xperia Z, HTC One, or the S4. Your thoughts?
I had been using android non stop since like 2010 and honestly i got a bit bored of it (and a was quite a flashaholic). WP8 is amazingly fluid and i absolutely love the build quality of the 920. The only real downside is lack of apps. I currently switch between my 920 and my Nexus 4 because i can't decide which to sell.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Coming from a EVO 4g - I don't miss Android, but I did miss Google Maps at first. I have gotten used to Nokia Maps and Drive though and now like them quite a bit. Overall I like Windows Phone better. I have all the apps I need, so the smaller number of apps doesn't bother me. I think the quality of apps is much better on windows. I have not seen a better phone than the 920. The screen is by far the best I have ever used. The camera and video is amazing. I have not seen all the phones you mentioned though.
I bought a Galaxy S2 outright about a year and a half ago. Came from Apple and android was just the best thing that happened to me. So sick of Apple's ball and chain. Anyway, my contract with Telstra recently allowed me to get a new phone. I was going to go with the Galaxy Note II, but saw some things about the 920 that caught my eye. I liked the idea behind wp7 but thought the home screen didnt fit quite enough information on it. When I saw what WP8 looked like plus the features of the 920, I thought I should give it a go. Definitely the best decision I could have made. I dont know what it was about android but there was something that was just starting to bug me and was becoming stale. WP8 and Lumia 920 are just beautiful to use. Camera is ok (not groundbreaking, or maybe Im biased as I own a 'Real' camera) But taking videos with the stabilization is great. plus the video quality in general is quite good. Microphones are a notch above the rest too. Screen is brilliant, build is great (although I am construction worker so I have it locked away in an otterbox regardless). Sure there's not the app choice, but they are certainly coming, and all the apps that the average person -needs- are there. As a Smart Phone, it is in my opinion the best.
I went from Android to WP7.... because i was not satisfied with the stability of the OS... There were really a lot apps Missing back then.... But i really like how fluid an reliable WP was... The phone functions are most important to me...
Recently i bought a new Android Phone just to see how much has changed since than and if I'm missing out something with my Lumia 920...
Im using both now.. but I will stay with Windows Phone.. I get to used to it..
I just works.. no need for custom ROMS and tweaking around... There are
some apps missing but most of the popular one are available or there are solid alternatives...
Check if the app that you really like and use are on Windows Phone..
I don't mean games... the most are boring after 4-5 days anyway..
If not .. and you really need them stay with android.. else give WP8 a try... you won't regret it... The Lumia 920 is really the best phone i ever had!
One more thing i love about the 920 is the choice of colors you get. Most android phones only have one or two color choices (but most all are still dull)
With the 920, you get to choose between eye popping red or yellow, a glossy elegant white, and the sophisticated matte cyan and black. I had the white but got switched to the red and I love it
Sent from my Nexus 4
The short answer is come on over! The long answer:
The hardware is impressive, especially the Lumia 920 right now. If you are not completely on the google bandwagon then jump in, the waters fine.
As for pc connectivity, it can't be beat. Windows 8 has a tile dedicated to it, music and photos "just sync". iJoke about iTunes because it's laughable by comparison, and import your library for free. Then there's Nokia Music, Microsoft Xbox music, Spotify, and get free Pandora Premium for 2013 http://bit.ly/17Oac2m
Use your phone as a touch mouse for your netbook/Surface with "mouse without borders". Navigate your XBOX with smartglass, play games on xbox/8pc/phone/tablet that is purchased once on the Store.
Twitter, facebook, are fully integrated into the People app, share a photo with three clicks from taking the picture to all of your networks (again, except Google). Linked in is almost fully integrated, you have to download the app but it plugs itself in.
Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, Aol, messenger, fully integrated into the platform, get all of your email in one place, see all the details from all your contacts in one place. Calendars too (except Google! Microsoft will update that by July to connect after Google cut them off (see them as a threat methinks)) Skype works flawlessly and also integrates once you download the app.
GoogleTalk = IM+Pro (again, Google v. Microsoft) use a 3rd party app if you really want to.
Maps are solid, provide great navigation information, 8 out of 10 on the redirect if you go off course and no live traffic (yet). I only say this because google maps is faster at turn redirection if I miss a light, but that will improve and I don't use it all the time.
No notification drawer, but you get live tiles which do the same / similar job! No email notification? Not true! The live tiles just flipped, oh look! Five new emails from all my inboxes. Same for text messages, phone calls, etc.
Want updates on specific folks? no problem, put their live tile on your screen, see facebook posts, tweets, phone calls, photos, text messages, skype interaction and more on the tile. Not doing it for you? Click the tile and dive into every interaction you have with the person, all the history is there.
Apps Apps Apps... not all of them, and many by fans of first party developers. But get your head out of your phone. What is the more important app, or set of apps you need? check www.windowsphone.com and decide what you can live without before you make the switch. Is Instagram worth staying on Andy? Will it help you to know that Nokia confirmed that it is coming to WP8 this year? Can you do without for a short while? I don't use it, but I say yes you can!
My example is I like to use Springpad, no WP8 app. But look, Evernote is here! and on Windows 8, and on my Surface Pro. So I switch. Same with Dashlane to Lastpass.
Tethering: Yup
Headset: Holy cow this thing is quick to connect to all of my devices
Sound Quality: How's HTC Beats audio (HTC8X) or Dolby Digital sound (Lumia 920) for great audio?
NFC?: Check, and implemented, and working
Wireless charging: got it, works, nuff said
Camera: 920 has the best low light camera. (that last item there, was a period.)
Bluetooth: fantastic.
Processor: ZOOM (really, nuff said)
Screen (if you have 20-20 vision, you'll be fine) I have better than that and screen looks fine to me.
Battery life: holy cow. four days light use. 12 hours (easily) heavy use). My galaxy note dies repeatedly after about 8 hours.
Also, if you have a bluetooth headset on, it will whisper your incoming texts and allow you to listen, reply, and call hands free. Everyone will ask you who you are talking to. Bonus!
Bing vs Google. Who cares? I'm on a Microsoft kick, I'm going to run with it until Google gets their heads out and starts playing nice. Bing does a good job at finding the same answers that Google does, in a much more eye candy fashion.
What's to gripe about?
For me, Path (coming), Mint (no roadmap), Ally bank (coming), Manilla (unknown), YNAB,(no), Square (no), Paypal (check),... again, critical? nope. Want? yep. Surface pro and tethering to the rescue, problems solved.
Let us know what you decide (and if you took time to read all this.. I'm winded...)
afght19 said:
Coming from a EVO 4g - I don't miss Android, but I did miss Google Maps at first. I have gotten used to Nokia Maps and Drive though and now like them quite a bit. Overall I like Windows Phone better. I have all the apps I need, so the smaller number of apps doesn't bother me. I think the quality of apps is much better on windows. I have not seen a better phone than the 920. The screen is by far the best I have ever used. The camera and video is amazing. I have not seen all the phones you mentioned though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gMaps Pro is good replacement for Google maps but not free (also free version available)
btw.
for use Bing maps on Lumia just install this
http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=9e8f8fc5-da17-4b7f-80f3-2dc334de8dac

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