Losing faith in Windows Phone (in America)

[pantsaregood]

I've been a Windows Phone user since 2010. I've had an HTC HD7, HTC Titan, Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 520, Nokia Lumia 635, and a Nokia Lumia 1520. They've all been great phones.

Recently, however, it seems like support for the platform has been slipping. A lot of American services (lots of banking) have been withdrawing support. Furthermore, Snapchat blocked third party clients (and by extension, all of Windows Phone) and Instagram hasn't updated in over a year. Google still refuses to allow a proper Youtube app to be published.

Do these things directly affect me? No, but they're a sign of poor overall health. I love the operating system, but developers abandoning the platform is a bad sign.

Of course, I don't expect the platform to die - market share has broken 10% in a number of European countries, and support from services in those areas is better.

As things look right now, my next device may very well run Android. Sad, because the reason for the change has absolutely nothing to do with the OS. I must admit that Android has gotten a load of polish since 2010.

 

[Crono]

If you need to use something else, use something else. It's a hardware and software platform, not a religion.

If it is a religion to you, wait for Windows 10. The ecosystem right now isn't fantastic, but it's still better than it was in the WP7 days, and if anything can potentially give Windows Phone a boost it's unified Windows 10.

Relevant video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM

I've had the HTC 7 Trophy, Dell Venue Pro, Lumia 710, Lumia 920, Lumia 521, Lumia 1520, and Lumia Icon (929/930). And WP's ugly older sister, KIN OS (or whatever the name was for the OS) before that. Hasn't stopped me from owning half a dozen Android phones and two iPads in the same period of time (and choosing to come back to Windows Phone those times when I was purely Android).

If you truly love Windows Phone, you'll be back. Maybe you need some time apart to see if you really do love it.

Android is great, by the way. I love Android for different reasons and just as much as Windows Phone. Thinking about picking up a ASUS Zenfone 2, since I am currently Android-less.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Some people like apples, some like oranges better. Doesn't mean one is better than the other. But the one that sells the most is the one will get the most attention/display in the market. Same with phones. For me, android.

 

[Artdeco]

Sanjay may manage to save WP, but honestly, I expect MS to abandon it entirely.

I've heard of some IMHO, brilliant ideas from MS like the rumor they have custom ROMs to install on top of Android devices, etc, we shall see how committed MS is to WP over the next year.

 

[biostud]

They will try to re-launch the Windows Phone brand along Windows 10 with the unified store and unification across platforms as the major selling point. Until then they're not going to do anything spectacular.

 

[IamDavid]

I too started in 2010with WP7. I could never go 100% WP until I switched to the Nokia 1520. I have grown frustrated with the lack of progress but in the end its stil better then the alternative..

I'm a very heavy MS Office user along with OneDrive. I HATE all email programs on Android/Apple.

Windows 10 should be a huge leap forward, still doubt carries/vendors will push it to make it successful.

 

[Ichinisan]

I too started in 2010with WP7. I could never go 100% WP until I switched to the Nokia 1520. I have grown frustrated with the lack of progress but in the end its stil better then the alternative..

I'm a very heavy MS Office user along with OneDrive. I HATE all email programs on Android/Apple.

Windows 10 should be a huge leap forward, still doubt carries/vendors will push it to make it successful.

Outlook is available on iOS and Android. Getting great user reviews.

 

[notposting]

Outlook is available on iOS and Android. Getting great user reviews.

I have a feeling they will be incorporating that into Windows 10. And making us fucking swipe to delete every goddamn single email at a time. Because it's so cool and flashy looking!

Versus tap on the left side of the email listing and start multi-selecting...

*heaves lightning bolts at Redmond*

 

[Kaido]

I liked Windows phones, great GUI, but yeah...no apps. I just switched my mom's 20mp Nokia to an iPhone 6+. It's too bad because the Windows phone had an amazing camera & really nice interface.

 

[mmntech]

Outlook is available on iOS and Android. Getting great user reviews.

I think that might be part of the problem. Microsoft keeps porting their best apps to competing platforms. Leaves little incentive to pick up a Windows Phone.

There's reports going around that Microsoft is considering implementing an Android emulator for Windows Phone 10. That should help get more apps for the platform, but it's a band-aid solution at best. It didn't work for BlackBerry. If you're going to go this route, why not just buy an Android phone and call it a day.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-emulator-for-windows-phone/

Devices really need apps that work natively with the OS and GUI. Unfortunately, it costs time and money for developers to do a proper port. WP's install base is still too small to make it economically viable.

Hopefully the free Windows 10 upgrades and focus on universal apps encourages more developers to get on board.

 

[biostud]

I think that might be part of the problem. Microsoft keeps porting their best apps to competing platforms. Leaves little incentive to pick up a Windows Phone.

There's reports going around that Microsoft is considering implementing an Android emulator for Windows Phone 10. That should help get more apps for the platform, but it's a band-aid solution at best. It didn't work for BlackBerry. If you're going to go this route, why not just buy an Android phone and call it a day.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-emulator-for-windows-phone/

Devices really need apps that work natively with the OS and GUI. Unfortunately, it costs time and money for developers to do a proper port. WP's install base is still too small to make it economically viable.

Hopefully the free Windows 10 upgrades and focus on universal apps encourages more developers to get on board.

Yeah, but they probably fear that google docs and an apple office suite might be developed to be an alternative to MS office.

 

[Anon_lawyer]

I've never actually bought a Windows Phone device, but I sympathize. When it first came out I thought it looked like a solid option, but a little rough around the edges. For 5 years now I've been thinking that the next version of Windows Phone would be the one to buy, and it seems like every time they're a day late and a dollar short.

I get that they want a coordinated Windows 10 launch, but with how long it's taking it feels reminiscent of BlackBerry OS 10. It needs to ship and it needs to finally deliver, by this summer, or IMO they are done in the US.

 

[spdfreak]

I liked Windows phones, great GUI, but yeah...no apps. I just switched my mom's 20mp Nokia to an iPhone 6+. It's too bad because the Windows phone had an amazing camera & really nice interface.

What apps does your mom need that WP doesn't have? WP is perfect for people that need a phone, good maps (Nokia HERE stuff is the best) email, messaging, weather, etc and want an intuitive easy to use GUI. That's why I use it. I guess maybe some games aren't available...

 

[maevinj]

What apps does your mom need that WP doesn't have? WP is perfect for people that need a phone, good maps (Nokia HERE stuff is the best) email, messaging, weather, etc and want an intuitive easy to use GUI. That's why I use it. I guess maybe some games aren't available...

The only app I really miss on WP is the Target Cartwheel app.. I've been known to carry my old iphone with me and hot spot off my WP just to use it

 

[notposting]

I liked Windows phones, great GUI, but yeah...no apps. I just switched my mom's 20mp Nokia to an iPhone 6+. It's too bad because the Windows phone had an amazing camera & really nice interface.

It's also a lot of other things as you look back.

WP7 debuted built around the WinCE kernel which didn't help. WP8 had a fighting chance but they basically just re-released WP7 with the modern Windows kernel base.

But no real thought or improvements at that time, IMO. No VPN (wtf). Just whole piles of features left out -- and devs needed them, users needed them. Exchange email wasn't correctly working (not sure if it is yet). Hubs still completely built in -- and then in 8.1 they basically started completely dismantling those. And the new "app" versions are such shadows of the Hubs, that things are painful.

And they CONSTANTLY do the MS shuffle -- add something! (and take away).

Calendar -- add week view (ditch agenda -- it finally came back in a buried, neutered, version).
Phone -- how do you mess this up, I don't know, but hey MS, come on down. Add Speed dialing, STILL don't add T9 dialing (ie hit the digits and watch it sort through contacts), neuter the attached contacts to ONLY a phonebook (because a smartphone shouldn't have any concept of email/IM/video/text/etc), get rid of the distinctly clear "circled phone" icon to make calls with -- now sometimes tapping a name brings up info, and sometimes it calls! Yay!
Photos -- I liked having backgrounds of my favorites. Every. Single. Time. I launched the Photos hub, I smiled.
Games Hub -- MS says, no, WP owners! Hahahahaha! You suckers wanted folders in the app menu? How about 30 games scattered throughout it instead because there was someone somewhere who could find GAMES in the goddamn GAMES hub!

Basically, I'm hoping the iPhone 7+ gets a xenon flash, high res with oversampling, and Qi charging. I'll hate the interface but whatever. By then Apple will probably have introduced "revolutionary and magical" hubs and swipes and tiles...

[Guess how I feel about W104P and upper left hammmbooglars. Go ahead. Guess!]


Edit by Moderator PM
Excessive profanity removed per rule #6 of the Anandtech Forums

 

[gmaster456]

If it is a religion to you, wait for Windows 10. The ecosystem right now isn't fantastic, but it's still better than it was in the WP7 days, and if anything can potentially give Windows Phone a boost it's unified Windows 10.

The issue I have with WP is that it's always been a game of waiting. It has been for the last 5 years.

"Wait for 7.5, things will get better."

"I wouldn't leave, 8.0 will really change things"

"Developers are waiting for 8.1 before they do anything"

The problem is, the platform has been in a chicken or the egg situation from the start. Devs won't come because there's no users and users won't come because there's no devs. And we've been promised more dev support with each new os release but little has changed. We have big name apps (a few) but they haven't been updated in months if not longer, devs are pulling support, and the app store is a junkyard of 3rd party apps, most of which don't work.

I know there's people who love the platform and will defend it to the death. I like it, but I'm going to be honest and call a spade a spade. I'm not going to pretend like there isn't a problem.

 

[sequoia464]

Recently, however, it seems like support for the platform has been slipping. A lot of American services (lots of banking) have been withdrawing support. Furthermore, Snapchat blocked third party clients (and by extension, all of Windows Phone) and Instagram hasn't updated in over a year. Google still refuses to allow a proper Youtube app to be published.

Lost both the B of A and the Chase apps, I used both of them.

Instagram wasn't even available for a while at the app store, didn't make my wife very happy. She might be done with windows phone.

I'm sticking with WP for the time being, just prefer it to Android (haven't used an iPhone), but if the app situation doesn't improve or gets worse ...

 

[Artdeco]

Just the rumors of making Windows Phone compatible with Android apps is going to kill the WP developer community.

 

[gmaster456]

Just the rumors of making Windows Phone compatible with Android apps is going to kill the WP developer community.

Exactly. It would remove any and all incentive (of what very little there is) to develop WP apps. Especially if they already have an android version.

 

[Denly]

WP user since 7.5, now using 830. Not a heavy app user and social network isn't my thing, it got everything I need and is basic and simple.

I my house we have android, ios and win8 tab. ipad and Lenovo tab have been collecting dust, non of us pick those up.

MS have so many good features/app on WP but MS can't really tie them together, they're my only complaint.

The camera button is a live saver.

 

[gorcorps]

The issue I have with WP is that it's always been a game of waiting. It has been for the last 5 years.

"Wait for 7.5, things will get better."

"I wouldn't leave, 8.0 will really change things"

"Developers are waiting for 8.1 before they do anything"

The problem is, the platform has been in a chicken or the egg situation from the start. Devs won't come because there's no users and users won't come because there's no devs. And we've been promised more dev support with each new os release but little has changed. We have big name apps (a few) but they haven't been updated in months if not longer, devs are pulling support, and the app store is a junkyard of 3rd party apps, most of which don't work.

I know there's people who love the platform and will defend it to the death. I like it, but I'm going to be honest and call a spade a spade. I'm not going to pretend like there isn't a problem.

True story, that's about how I felt. I almost made the jump to windows phone, and I might have if ATT got the Icon instead of Verizon. Luckily I didn't because people are still waiting on updates and proper app support.

 

[biostud]

Hopefully updates will move from phone companies to Microsoft. But I doubt it.

 

[maevinj]

Lost both the B of A and the Chase apps, I used both of them.

Instagram wasn't even available for a while at the app store, didn't make my wife very happy. She might be done with windows phone.

I'm sticking with WP for the time being, just prefer it to Android (haven't used an iPhone), but if the app situation doesn't improve or gets worse ...

The 6tag app is light years better than the native Instagram app.

 

[darkewaffle]

I've had a Lumia 928 for almost two years now, it should be eligible for an upgrade in a month or two. I plan on sticking with WP - I'm really happy with it but apps have never been a big thing to me. It has enough for me at any rate - basically just sports scores, emulators and my battle.net authenticator is all I'm looking for.

 

[Svnla]

I've been a Windows Phone user since 2010. I've had an HTC HD7, HTC Titan, Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 520, Nokia Lumia 635, and a Nokia Lumia 1520. They've all been great phones.

Your phones have an average usage life time of less than 1 year each?

I am using the Nokia 635 now (free after rebate). Do you or anyone know any good sites/forums/etc. that I can make it better?

The only things I do not like my 635 is lack of apps vs. iPHone and Android.