Contract expriing soon, Windows Phone users, would you stay?

[zokudu]

My contract for my 920 is running out very soon and I'm really torn on what to get. I'm considering staying with Windows Phone and the new supposed Microsoft flagship this fall vs getting the new iPhone this fall.

After two years with my 920 it's starting to feel stale. Not that the platform is bad but this was my first smartphone and everyone talks up how much better Android and iOS are. Everyone talks about apps, I don't see anything in particular that I can't get on windows phone but there has to be a reason people say that?

I feel like some apps are of sketchy quality, Skype being a major one that I think the iOS version is much better for. Joe B has said theres a major overhaul of that app coming soon but it may just be too little too late.

So other WP users. Are you staying with the platform or looking elsewhere when your shopping for a new phone.

 

[Imaginer]

I am, it is the ONLY one that can offer (now useful to me) Live tile updates for the apps I use. With the 8.1 update, notifications are centralized too.

It is the ONLY one that can have tiles be arranged by size of importance and area of access and location at will, unlike other phone options in their phone functions being just limited to the bottom "taskbar". Organization of apps is like the Start menu of before, foremost apps pinned on the main screen, a swipe shows all that is installed ala "All Programs".

Everything else, if an app uses the scheme, the Modern interface is nice. IE - maybe a bit of a toss, seeing their tab history mingles with app history, but this is a way to preserve browsing memory usage. But internet browsing is acceptable for me.

As a phone first and foremost, and in facilitating short burst communications, Windows Phone for me is quick to use and quick to put away. I am not glued to the phone for long, and Cortana is actually nice in recognizing who I want to text from my contacts and spelling out the intended words. Texting in a traditional manner, the suggestions pull up via a horizontal scrolling list, that doesn't AUTOMATICALLY correct things off the bat.

And unlike the iOS on screen keyboard, shift changes the capitalizations on the keyboard , instead of leaving them at caps, with the only indicator being a lighted shift key, on an already what feels like a cramped keyboard (but a larger iPhone would solve that possibly).

App issues and selection is not a problem - and it is much like in the console world of a chicken and egg scenario. Developers develop what has market share, but people would not go for a device without a significant app share. That isn't a deciding factor, as many communication and networking apps are already available for me to use. Banking wise, I have used USAA and with it having mobile deposits, it is also good as well (and Bank of America has an app with mobile deposits too).

Office integration and OneDrive integration is nicely done. Pictures taken are seen across my computers with such access along with document viewing.

So, I am and will definitely stick with Wiindows Phone.

The black background and soft white text, is another point I want to make. I have said before Windows Phone is more easy on my eyes and this is one of the areas as such.

Something on the horizon for me would be the Lumia 1525. Other contenders I have considered upon my renewal is the Samsung ATIV SE, due to the removable battery in such contingencies.

 

[darkewaffle]

I have a Lumia 928 and can't really say I have any interest in iOS or Android. I've fussed with my dad's Android tablet and phone (or attempted to help him with it before) and it's just annoying and messy to me. I get that you can customize it do all sorts of tweaks and stuff that appeal to a "power user" but to me a "power" phone user is kind of like being a heavy commuter with a bike. I'd rather leave my tweaking and toying to my PCs and stick with a phone that gives me an out of the box experience that I'm happy with pretty much start to finish that I don't feel the need to 'fix'. Stability has been great for me too - it still runs extremely well (imo) and I think I've only had to reboot it two or three times for any reason other than phone updates.

One of the common complaints is definitely [and allegedly, lol] apps, and I'm a light user, but I've got a handful of emulators, a stat/score app for NBA games, my battle.net authenticator, a stopwatch, and Nokia's various offerings and it's covered pretty much everything I've wanted to do in the year I've had it.

I think I'm probably eligible for an upgrade next May or something, can't think of any foreseeable reason to not get WP personally.

 

[gorcorps]

I don't have a windows phone, but my friend has the Icon and it seems pretty nice. This is probably the best WP has ever been (8.1) so I'd say jumping on the next flagship is a decent option. Their apps aren't updated as often as they're not the priority, but it seems to be getting better.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I switched away from Android specifically because it was slow and laggy, and Windows Phone has been great for me.

Now MS has their head up their ass as far as improving the OS goes, but I think it's fine how it is. Things work, that's enough for me. I'm not a power user.

Once you're off contract, why not just keep your phone but bring it to a prepaid carrier? If there's no device worth getting, you can save some money and have the freedom to change carriers at will. There's no reason to continuously re-up a contract.

 

[Insomniator]

If you're not currenlty missing anything with Windows then I wouldn't bother changing.

People talk about app selection constantly... but really think about what you use and if its missing. I'm on Android but I'm sure I could use Windows just fine - Texting, Gchat, Pandora, Netflix, Email/Office... what else..? Personally I play no games, and use very few OS specific apps. If something like Foursquare isn't available for Windows (no idea) then I'm sure i could do with out it.

I've often wondered what the big deal is with apps. Its nice knowing being on Android almost anything that exists IS available... but I wouldn't go about learning an entire new OS, if I liked what I was currently on, unless it was something truely critical.

The bigger thing to me would be the hardware, I don't know what the newest windows phones are... I barely hear about them in general. The new androids are thing, light and get excellent battery life.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I switched away from Android specifically because it was slow and laggy, and Windows Phone has been great for me.

Sounds like you had a terrible phone and it wasn't Android's fault.

 

[cmdrdredd]

If you're not currenlty missing anything with Windows then I wouldn't bother changing.

People talk about app selection constantly... but really think about what you use and if its missing. I'm on Android but I'm sure I could use Windows just fine - Texting, Gchat, Pandora, Netflix, Email/Office... what else..? Personally I play no games, and use very few OS specific apps. If something like Foursquare isn't available for Windows (no idea) then I'm sure i could do with out it.

I've often wondered what the big deal is with apps. Its nice knowing being on Android almost anything that exists IS available... but I wouldn't go about learning an entire new OS, if I liked what I was currently on, unless it was something truely critical.

The bigger thing to me would be the hardware, I don't know what the newest windows phones are... I barely hear about them in general. The new androids are thing, light and get excellent battery life.

There's apps I use all the time like a remote app for my Receiver and TV that aren't available on Windows Phone and will probably never be according to sony. There isn't an official drop box app and there is really no good 3rd party client for it. A lot of banking apps simply are not available with no word on if/when they may be. No playstation app(just apps that link to videos). No sea tow app. No google wallet. No marvel comics app. No HBOGo.

I can go on and on about stuff I use often that is not available. Also with Android I have more hardware access available from software so apps like wifi analyzer are possible. On Windows phone and iOS it's impossible because they lock you out. It's ultra useful and probably the single best example of an app that is highly useful but not available on another mobile OS. It's also free.

There's also an app called Open Signal on Android that will track and send the data on the cell towers you connect to and anyone using it will share tower data. So you can check a city for where the towers are, what network it is using, see your connection info, and see the data speeds reported.

As was said, if you don't feel you're missing anything then stay with what you have.

 

[Imaginer]

Foursquare isn't available for Windows (no idea) then I'm sure i could do with out it.

It is.

 

[Belegost]

Very anecdotally, in the same amount of time I've enjoyed my 920, my wife has gone through a GS3 and is now 6 months on an iPhone 5s. The GS3 I heard frequent complaints about sluggishness and poor response, and the update in Dec/Jan (4.3) so frustrated her with changed/broken functionality that she forced the issue on switching to iPhone. I no longer here complaints about sluggishness, but a lot about lack of capability.

Overall I've come to the conclusion that they can pry my Windows Phone from my cold dead hands. As far as apps go, I have all the ones I've wanted - my bank, RSS aggregator, OBDII reader, Kindle, photo/video editing, Office, and the absolutely critical Domino's pizza app. At this point I'm sitting on my 920 until a 1020 successor is available.

So if WP is doing well for you, why change?

 

[wasabiman123]

In the same boat here with a launch 920.
I'm waiting it out until the fall and the rumoured 3D gesture whatever flagship, bound to be a massive upgrade. Not sure how they're planning out the 1020 successor. I want a new phone this fall though.

 

[Deeko]

I still love my Windows Phone but I'm starting to get frustrated at the pace of things.

It's almost mind-boggling how little has been released between the WP8 launch and now. From a hardware perspective, as awesome as the Lumia 920 and HTC 8x were, there really hasn't been much since then. HTC hasn't released anything - they were rumored to be launching a version of the One running Windows Phone but that never happened. Samsung hasn't released anything substantial. Even Nokia is dragging its feet. 2013 saw the 925 and 1020, which were basically just rehashes of the 920. So far in 2014, we've had the Icon, which is a nice step, but it's only on Verizon and not that awe-inspiring...and too bad the 930 isn't available on any other carriers in the US. So if you're an AT&T or T-Mobile user, your best option is still essentially a two year old phone. Sad. Supposedly there will be some new stuff this fall, but we'll see.

Then, from the software front, things aren't much better. Since then, we've had a few maintenance releases not worth talking about. I've been running the WP 8.1 dev preview since it came available, and it's one of those cases of two steps forward, two steps back. On one hand, some of the additions are invaluable - the notification center improves the experience drastically, Cortana is useful (for Google-Now style notifications mostly, but I'll take it), the new keyboard is nice....but then, in some areas, they've crippled the experience.

With WP7, most things built into the operating system were very tightly coupled and integrated. This led to a fast, smooth, consistent experience - but that also makes it hard for Microsoft to update. So they've been slowly breaking pieces off - and the results aren't always positive.

Let's start with music. Last year, they broke a lot of things when they transitioned from Zune to Xbox Music in WP8. I wrote about it here. With WP 8.1, it's gotten worse...much worse. They've completely rewritten the Music app from the ground up. Hey - I get it! The old music app was likely written in native C code for the Zune HD, and messily ported into Windows Phone. Sometimes you have to make a clean break. I'm a software engineer, I know how that goes. The problem is, this clean break sucks. Real bad. The app is incredibly slow, it's incredibly buggy, sometimes it doesn't play songs, it lacks basic features of the old app (recent/new music, for example), and the new Radio feature is a pathetic imitation of the old SmartDJ. I've had a Zune Pass since 2008 and I'm strongly considering cancelling it, because I can barely use that app.

They've also broken one of the more unique / useful features of Windows Phone - the People Hub. This, again, I understand. The old People Hub was tightly coupled to the OS, so if Facebook or Twitter made a breaking API change, Microsoft had to release an OS upgrade to fix it. No one wants that. However, rather than just separating that module out, they turned the whole system into a "plugin" architecture - in theory, this is great. Now anyone can integrate to the People hub, and the onus is on them to fix it. In practice, it's so much slower. Nowhere near as clean of an experience. No more cross-posting between Twitter and Facebook. Just not as good.

Also, they've removed Facebook chat from Messaging. THIS is what they should have made plug-and-play! I love the idea of combined messaging - this is something Palm got right back in what, 2008, when the Pre came out? They should have opened up the API for the messaging hub so people could write, say, Google Chat or Skype plugins. Instead they've gone the other way, and it's annoying.

Anyway....now that the ranting is done, it's still my favorite platform. Not enough has changed in Android or iOS to sway me that way. It's just frustrating to see the platform going...well, sideways, rather than forward. Every time we see one of these side steps we're told "don't worry, it's good for the future, it sets this up to be better down the road"....how many times can that be the case? When IS that future?

 

[Imaginer]

They've also broken one of the more unique / useful features of Windows Phone - the People Hub. This, again, I understand. The old People Hub was tightly coupled to the OS, so if Facebook or Twitter made a breaking API change, Microsoft had to release an OS upgrade to fix it. No one wants that. However, rather than just separating that module out, they turned the whole system into a "plugin" architecture - in theory, this is great. Now anyone can integrate to the People hub, and the onus is on them to fix it. In practice, it's so much slower. Nowhere near as clean of an experience. No more cross-posting between Twitter and Facebook. Just not as good.

It is what we get for "following the leader" (Android) of implementation... Now I lost this, before I can hit the switch button to switch contact mediums for messaging through Facebook for that contact (which is now an additional step through the Facebook app instead through People/Messenging for any messaging through that means)

Remember one of the things why Windows Phone ran so well on little hardware chips? Another corollary, is remember how good Firefox is before plugins and bloat? I don't like to draw this conclusion but it very well can be the same thing.

they've removed Facebook chat from Messaging. THIS is what they should have made plug-and-play! I love the idea of combined messaging - this is something Palm got right back in what, 2008, when the Pre came out? They should have opened up the API for the messaging hub so people could write, say, Google Chat or Skype plugins. Instead they've gone the other way, and it's annoying.

However, with the new way of handling, Facebook's Live tile information is now much faster in updating than in the past. I am not sure if the fault before lies within People Hub of before and the Facebook app tie in or allowing such disparity now has a much quicker notification update.

Either way, I am definitely going to make note of it in the suggestions area (though I say this, but it took a good while for customized text tones and tones for other user defined notifications to be implemented).

 

[Imaginer]

Let's start with music. Last year, they broke a lot of things when they transitioned from Zune to Xbox Music in WP8. I wrote about it here. With WP 8.1, it's gotten worse...much worse. They've completely rewritten the Music app from the ground up.

At the very very least (for me, I like the Zune desktop application and still use it) the Zune playlists are recognized in syncing to the phone through the syncing Windows Phone application/app. What could be a benefit here, is that the Music app allows for wireless sync much like the Zunes did before.

The Music app is a bit better for me in 8.1, but I haven't really managed music through my phone, possibly with good reason as it is easier for me to essentially manage everything on desktop Zune and push/sync everything to the phone this way.

Though I can definitely update the playlists, but the push back of the new playlist on the phone back to the PC is something I haven't exercised.

 

[Imaginer]

It's just frustrating to see the platform going...well, sideways, rather than forward. Every time we see one of these side steps we're told "don't worry, it's good for the future, it sets this up to be better down the road"....how many times can that be the case? When IS that future?

It is sideways, because some areas, many mobile areas of development are playing the "me too" card with Android and catchup with implementation with some end result being overall net-zero.

Sure it is "open" but that doesn't mean it is ease of being "collaborative", "cohesive", and solution oriented and not a pure "computer science technical oriented" in the end in a tightly unified and "coupled" manner. Anyone can do their own thing, but this is a double edge sword - ANYONE can do their OWN THING, even if there are standards - following conventions is another matter.

This has happened in many computing areas of the past. It would continue to happen.

As you mentioned in their API areas. Facebook or other app developers decides on a whim to use the new one, but doesn't mesh. Interfaces and additonal steps can be made to interface or drive on the OS, but that adds a bit of overhead - like I mentioned with the plugin system of Firefox, one of the main reasons I left, because to gain some needed funciton, it would have been through plugins on top of browser tabs sucking resources.

 

[Imaginer]

Back to the OP's Topic at hand:

I want to add this.

Customization first and foremost in function initially has been with ease with Windows Phone (granted, I have not another reference platform to play with) in determining my foremost function, and ease of access to all other functions (apps). Initial set and contact integration was done and I am all good to go.

No ROM flashing for unnecessary additional tinkering either. Direct and foremost in tile placement with how comfortable my center thumb positioning is for main phone access areas. Tiles are clear and distinct over icons and small subtext. There is no busy wallpaper to worry about (but now with 8.1, I can literally have the Start Screen act as viewing through a window - hah! Windows Phone! and it still remains not as busy and any touch areas is full without having to zero in on an icon).

But as Deeko mentioned, some roundabout way because... people in the companies they work for do not want to easily play nice...

 

[IamDavid]

I've been a WP user since the Samsung Focus S and I still favor WP over the other OS's. The lack of new hardware this year has become very frustrating and caused me to start looking elsewhere. I won't make a switch till late 2014 if I make it at all. MS can't be so slow not to offer a new flagship device soon.

The lack of APP argument is a tired, ill informed argument made by people who don't know how to use the search function. Sure, some "official" apps may not by available but 99.9% of the time a 3rd party is, many times being better then he original.


I want the next version of the Nokia 1020 now!

 

[cmdrdredd]

I've been a WP user since the Samsung Focus S and I still favor WP over the other OS's. The lack of new hardware this year has become very frustrating and caused me to start looking elsewhere. I won't make a switch till late 2014 if I make it at all. MS can't be so slow not to offer a new flagship device soon.

The lack of APP argument is a tired, ill informed argument made by people who don't know how to use the search function. Sure, some "official" apps may not by available but 99.9% of the time a 3rd party is, many times being better then he original.


I want the next version of the Nokia 1020 now!

Find me versions of the apps I mentioned. You can't because they don't exist. It's not a tired argument when I lose 90% of my daily functionality.

I like how some defenders of a platform act as if everyone who makes an argument against it is not being honest about why it wouldn't work for them.

 

[quikah]

Find me versions of the apps I mentioned. You can't because they don't exist. It's not a tired argument when I lose 90% of my daily functionality.

I like how some defenders of a platform act as if everyone who makes an argument against it is not being honest about why it wouldn't work for them.

if you need an app then stick to the platform it is on. Anyway, no HBO go (have netflix) or WiFi Analyzer. Others are available in some form.

 

[cmdrdredd]

if you need an app then stick to the platform it is on. Anyway, no HBO go (have netflix) or WiFi Analyzer. Others are available in some form.

The PlayStation app is not. The only PlayStation apps are links to YouTube pages.

My point is that people act like everyone who touts lack of apps is lying. They aren't at all.

 

[quikah]

There are apps that are on WP that are not on android. If you need a specific app that is on one platform then stick with that platform. If you need the apps then the app gap willl be huge, if not then it is overblown.

 

[bassoprofundo]

I switched when the Lumia 900 came out and haven't really gone back (L900-> 8x-> L920-> L1020 -> L1520) when it comes to my personal line. I do have a 2nd work line, so in this same period, I had an BB 9810, an iPhone 4, a BB Z10, and and HTC One on the other line for brief stints along with cycling over my last used WP to my work line in between. I'm currently on the 1520 at home and the 1020 at work.

I can echo most of the thoughts above... both positive and negative. With few exceptions, I've never really felt the "app gap." I use my phone primarily as a communications tool, and in general, when it comes to WP8, I've needed a lot fewer apps to do what I need to get done. Most of what I need was baked into the OS in the form of the hubs, integrated messaging, etc. However, I did say "was"... I have the same frustration with the move away from the hub concept in WP8.1. I get why it needed to be decentralized, but it's frustrating nonetheless. Now, you're taking away some core functionality and putting the fate of a lot of services in the hands of developers whose primary attention is (understandably) on iOS and Android. I'm not sure the unbundling strategy will work, either, but I get it that that had to be able to move faster and had to try. Hopefully, developers will step up to the plate and leverage the new extensibility capabilities so that the integrated experience returns in some form. The removal of the integrated FB messaging and the butchering of the Music app are frustrating, too. Both things I used heavily, and I now find myself in the position of using 3rd-party apps, workarounds, etc that aren't as cohesive as the initial solution. Now, I find myself somewhere in between the "it just works (as long as you only do it our way)" of my experience with iOS and the "I can do anything I want, cohesiveness be damned" experience I had with Android.

Overall, though, I still find that WP does what I need it to do, and the integration with a lot of the MSFT services I use is still better than on any other platform. I love the design language, and I find that the Nokia hardware in particular is just beautiful and very capable. The camera experience is still head and shoulders above the competition, and since my phone is my primary cam now, that's a huge one for me. Every time I left to toy with another platform, I found myself wishing for my Nokia's camera and the WP hardware camera button. The platform has everything I need in terms of apps and most of what I want. Once they bring the music app experience back on par with what it was, I'll be a happy camper again. I have no plans to migrate away barring something crazy (ex.- MSFT bailing on the underlying OS core in favor of something AOSP and/or bailing on the dev platform in favor of Android app virtualization (a la Blackberry)).

 

[QueBert]

Sounds like you had the typical Android experience.

FTFY

I have an HTC One with a custom rom and the supposed best kernel. It's still laggy. It's not anything close to unbearable, but I notice it. On a WP device I don't notice the same thing. Android still has a long way to go it feels laggy.

 

[Crono]

I use pretty much everything, though I don't have an iOS device at the moment (do have a Firefox OS phone and looking to get an Ubuntu one eventually). I've been using Windows Phone since almost the beginning (Dell Venue Pro, Lumia 710, HTC Trophy, Lumia 920, Lumia 521, and the Lumia 1520), though, and it's fairly mature at this point.

Windows Phone is caught up enough on apps (similar to where Android was 2 years ago versus iOS) that I wouldn't feel like I'm missing a lot if I had to go WP only. Sure, there are some apps that are only on Android, but then again even on Android there are still apps that exclusive to iOS (or at least initially) and everyone still manages to get by just fine. Only the lack of Google apps is a major annoyance to me personally, but its not insurmountable unless you really need to use their apps like Hangouts (can't do group Hangouts on the unofficial WP clients).

The Lumia 1520 and Icon are very good. Up there with the HTC One (M8), in my opinion, which is what I consider to be the best Android phone overall at the moment. I'm a power user and access to apps like cmdrdredd mentioned (plus root apps like XPrivacy and AFWall+, to name just two), the ability to flash custom ROMs, and other granular ways of tweaking or tinkering with Android are why I use Android as much as Windows Phone. But WP is smooth and has the best mobile UI and is married to excellent hardware on Nokia's high end, flagship models (and even their low-end phones like the 520/521 or newer 6xx models). So if you just need a really good smartphone and already app availability isn't a problem, stick with Windows Phone. Otherwise Android is the best alternative, and it's getting smoother and more efficient with "L".

iOS 7 isn't worth trying. I've used it enough (and previous versions of iOS) and have a number of purchased apps I still own for it, but I'm not going to buy another iOS device until Apple improves it, maybe with their next major version. I can't fault iPhone 5s hardware too much except for screen size, but their UI - which you would think is Apple's strong suit, but no - feels cobbled together out of their old UI elements and their newer, brighter flat designs. It's still not as mobile-centric and easy to use as Windows Phone, nor as powerful as Android's. There's a case to be made for their camera even versus the Lumias, and they do have a considerable library of apps and support for third-party hardware, but it's just not worth what you pay. People locked into the Apple ecosystem will probably disagree.

Apple might have a stronger product with the 6, but we'll have to wait and see. Their other products like the Mac Pro or the long-rumored iWatch are far more interesting to me than the iPhone.

 

[Crono]

FTFY

I have an HTC One with a custom rom and the supposed best kernel. It's still laggy. It's not anything close to unbearable, but I notice it. On a WP device I don't notice the same thing. Android still has a long way to go it feels laggy.

Out of the box, the M8 doesn't feel laggy (nor did the M7) but one thing I've noticed is that Android devices - for whatever reason, even after TRIM and other prior updates - will lag a little or hitch from time to time. Not by a huge amount, and some manufacturers UI skins make it worse than others (I'm looking at you, Samsung), but whether it's from having a lot of apps and after using a device for a while, every Android device I've used hasn't been perfectly smooth throughout its lifetime. I think it might just be that Android still doesn't handle background processes very well and only recently has the processor and RAM on flagships been enough to mostly compensate. It's reminiscent of how Windows used to be prior to 7 and 8.

I recently purchased two inexpensive LG phones, an Optimus F6 ($100 at the time) and an Optimus Fuel ($40), and was pleasantly surprised at how smooth and responsive they are, especially the low-end Fuel with KitKat (I haven't used them long enough to really junk them up with apps, though). Real contenders to the budget Lumias, except speaker and camera quality. I've been meaning to get a Moto G or E and probably will soon.

Just a year ago the ~$100 or less Android phones were not good, but I think there's a lot less lag even on those low end phones then people were used to even on high-end phones pre-KitKat and Jelly Bean. I've seen hitching from time to time on iPhones and on Windows Phones, so I won't fault Android for not being perfectly smooth yet.