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.
Related
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.
He's kinda had his heart set on a new iphone, coming from a 3GS and a Mac user.
I think he'd be smart to make the jump now to Droid, and if he was able to pull the trigger i think he'd never look back. He can get a new Skyrocket refurb for $150 less than the 4S he wants. He's broke so the savings alone should be huge for him! But you know how it is when you get your mind set on something like this. He's also pretty savy, so i think he'd figure out everything he wants to do. He thinks iphone will sync better with his mac and everything he wants to do already.
one thing that will make him think about it - tell him that the iphone doesnt have any porn applications,free or paid NADA....iphone is for kids 13yo below.
android has it all...u name it.
Free mp3 sharing sites on Android market. Never pay iTunes again....that alone made my 14 year old switch.
If her friend bought a cd and wants to share a song, Droid does....iTunes can't....
Sent from my DROID using Tapatalk
meh, he's too set on iphone, since he has a mac. he wouldn't even take the free 30 day trial i told him he could have. lame
Can't really say much. You yourself said he already has a fixed mindset. Tbh iPhone does have the advantage when it comes to syncing. Personally, if it wasn't for Android's crazy level of customization, I would've gone with an iPhone. But that was the past. Its just too expensive. Especially without a plan.
Sent from my GT-I5500 using XDA App
tell him to enjoy the thousands of fart apps
Can you take the battery out or upgrade the memory via sd yet?
How about customise to your liking via themes?
Oh sorry, nevermind, iPhone SUX!
Some people will want the iPhone no matter how much you tell them about alternatives, they are buying it based on brand loyalty only. But here are most Android device advantages:
Hardware:
-Replaceable battery
-Expandable Memory (microSD)
-Non-proprietary charging/usb cable (microUSB)
-Better specs for cheaper than iPhone
The OS itself allows more customization with widgets, launchers, keyboards, etc. So even if you hate the default look it can easily be changed without rooting/flashing. Adobe flash, even though its being discontinued, is great for the full internet experience at least until HTML5 deployment catches up.
This probably doesn't apply since he has a Mac, but I hate iTunes on Windows. It feels bloated and runs useless background processes wasting resources. I keep it off my computers. I'm not sure how iPhones sync better. I can download apps from the market to my Android phone from a browser. I sync music with a small batch file that I made which uses xcopy to sync the two directories, its a lot faster than iTunes.
I guess I'm in the minority here but if he's used to iphone and mac, and got his heart set on 4S maybe its best for him to get what he wants rather than what the majority think is better for him.
As a mac and older gen iphone user he is used to that and it is easier for apple products to connect together than android with apple, if he isn't looking at other phones he is probably not ready to make a switch anyway.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
the iphone is a good product if you are into a limited scope of activities and do not want to learn how to use something that is a little less intuative. If I got my wife a galaxy nexus she would hate it. She wants to turn it on, send a text, make a call, and check her facebook. for users in that class the iphone is the easiest way to go
- iphone's ugly looking waterdrop theme, lifeless, static icons, the entire interface is from the past and feels cheap - like a toy. ice cream sandwich is lightyears ahead in styles und functionality.
- caged. man you cant do anything. my droid remotely controls my dslr (iphone does too, with a laptop in between, duh), locates cables in my walls when i need to drill holes, measures my sleep patterns and wakes me outside REM-phases or sends messages into REM for lucid-dreaming/astral-travel, etc. android is full freedom, everything the device is capable of android allows. iphone is a brick, i'd be bored to heck playing angry birds all day.
- it's inability to change keyboard. most iphone users i know haven't even heard of swype. they need ages to get simple texts done or they reduce their typing to a minimum. i laugh when i see them sweating hard tapping out texts - it's a stone age thing to do really. so apple decides what's good and what's not, you have to bite the bullet and use a typing technology that was never meant to be used on a device as tiny as a smartphone. it's keyboard renders it use-less.
- multitasking on android is awesome. droid's getting real-time facebook msg's, whatsapp, skype calls, voip calls, mail, bluetooth walkitalki, company mail, dropbox, just about every service in the net. everythings coming in nicely through subtle push-notifications. personally i have stopped using countless of programs on my laptop and the browser can go screw itself, phone is collecting everything with ease wherever i go. iphone users are not even close to that experience, again coz apple has crippled the device. they argue battery power, but what the heck, one day or two at max is fine, recharging is fast.
convinced my girlfriend to drop her apple.
Don't convince him to get anything. If he hates it it's now your fault.
Sent from my SGH-I897
Instead of convincing him, which can be a pain since he's hardcore Apple products, do yourself a favor by getting a Samsung Galaxy S2.
Hop on the SGS2 xda forum and switch ROMs weekly.
That's way he will see your new Android phone, new look, new launcher, cool features, 'til he gets envy and jumps ship
votinh said:
Instead of convincing him, which can be a pain since he's hardcore Apple products, do yourself a favor by getting a Samsung Galaxy S2.
Hop on the SGS2 xda forum and switch ROMs weekly.
That's way he will see your new Android phone, new look, new launcher, cool features, 'til he gets envy and jumps ship
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's nothing envious about that.
Sent from my SGH-I897
Don't try to convince hi because he may regret it and be pissed that you talked him into it. The iphone has a ton of games for ppl his age. Also he doesn't have to suffer the lag android has that will irritate him. Also the post in this thread are dumb because a jailbroken iphone does everything a rooted android does except for custom roms. I do find both apple and android fans don't know crap about the others platform and just spread false info.
apollooff320 said:
Don't try to convince hi because he may regret it and be pissed that you talked him into it. The iphone has a ton of games for ppl his age. Also he doesn't have to suffer the lag android has that will irritate him. Also the post in this thread are dumb because a jailbroken iphone does everything a rooted android does except for custom roms. I do find both apple and android fans don't know crap about the others platform and just spread false info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You make good sense but regarding jailbroken iphones doing all a rooted android can do I'm sure that must be wrong.
For example on a non rooted android you can change launcher completely, have full automation using apps like tasker (eg when I'm at home turn wifi on but when at cinema go silent, auto answer calls and when films finished book me a taxi etc).
You can also change keyboard completely for example, use widgets, put toggle switches in notification bar and so on. I know at least the tasker type automation isn't possible as that's an ios restriction that stops that so at least one thing I can do on stock android a jb iphone can't.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
Don't waste your time. Do you really want to support his device should he end up getting an Android? Tell him to go through all the guides/rooting/flashing if he doesn't like stock?
Just let your bro get the iPhone, he might hate you for convincing him to get an Android after it starts locking up, randomly rebooting and draining battery like crazy. Your brother might also enjoy timely software updates and well design apps with consistent UI.
To be honest, I have been back and forth from Iphone 4 to Samsung Galaxy s2 over the last few months.
The ability to change, customise and tweak everything on Android has its pro's and cons. fun but takes over your life, especially when you get into Rom flashing, I swapped my SGS2 a few weeks back for another Iphone 4, I thought I had managed to quell my addiction to Android...Alas nope, I am returning yet again, OK things run along all well and good on the iOs not too many hiccups, all nice and dandy, dandy andnnnnzzzzzzzz zzzzz arrrghhh I woke up, yes the Iphone can become a little tedious to say the least.
I think iOs is brilliant on the IPAD, Android Pads just don't come close in my opinion, but for the phones there is such an amazing choice and the SGS2 is similar in style to the Iphone. There just is not a community like this one for the Iphone except for trawling through the Itunes clunky market...Androids market you can faff about on anywhere on any computer and it syncs directly to your phone, even if you dont have it with you...Google is better synced with Android and facebook on Android is far better with many more options, twitter notifications work on Android, rarely do on iOs and to top it all of Scramble has just been released for Android yesterday, so there are no more excuses
alex2792 said:
Just let your bro get the iPhone, he might hate you for convincing him to get an Android after it starts locking up, randomly rebooting and draining battery like crazy. Your brother might also enjoy timely software updates and well design apps with consistent UI.
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Do you actually have an android phone? Mine does none of that other than use battery quick which is lg's fault for putting a crap battery on a powerful phone.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
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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Click to collapse
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.
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.
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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.
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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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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