Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL confirmed!

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

darkewaffle

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2005
8,152
1
81
Been looking forward to the next round of high-end Lumias. I have a 920 through Verizon (which I have no complaints about) but I've been eligible for a (mostly? who knows) free upgrade for a while now.

And for what it's worth I don't think "docking" to a PC makes much sense. To me you dock something into what is essentially a 'shell' which basically just provides an expanded set of hardware inputs. How the phone interfaces with an existing PC is a different concept.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,989
8,701
136
And for what it's worth I don't think "docking" to a PC makes much sense. To me you dock something into what is essentially a 'shell' which basically just provides an expanded set of hardware inputs. How the phone interfaces with an existing PC is a different concept.

Whats the point of physically docking there though? You can do all that wirelessly.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,501
136
Whats the point of physically docking there though? You can do all that wirelessly.

The same reason people often still use ethernet versus WiFi for desktops and laptops. If you are charging your phone anyway it doesn't hurt to have a potentially more stable/higher bandwidth physical connection, especially if the phone is essentially outputting to an external display. Docks were always for attaching a device for power, using an external display, networking, and adding extra inputs (USB, keyboard, mouse, etc). With Continuum you can choose to just wirelessly do the external display part (which you can do now anyway via casting, which is labled "connect" in the Windows 10 action center, but Continuum makes the alternating between phone and desktop modes more automatic and seamless) as well as use a wireless keyboard and mouse, but nothing beats having a physical connection to at least fall back to.

With a dock you could turn a Windows 10 Mobile phone into a full-fledged desktop, albeit not a powerful one. Still, there are lot of people whose computing needs are currently served by an aging desktop or laptop, or who are currently using basic use computers like Chromebooks. A higher end Windows 10 Mobile phone would probably be fine serving as that kind of computer. No one is expecting power users (like most of us) to get rid of their custom-made, purpose-built workhorse PCs.

What Denly is describing sounds exactly like what Apple calls Continuity (Handoff specifically, which is a Continuity feature). You wouldn't need physical docking to do that, either. I expect Microsoft is going to add more features for syncing messaging and controlling phones through action center/notifications and maybe eventually a separate app.
 
Last edited:

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,596
2
71
Continuum don't solve my biggest issue with smartphone at this stage,
1) I am on my work or personal PC, my phone rec'd a bunch of msgs I have to drop my kb/ms then pickup the phone then type on a small screen with a tiny keyboard. When I am done get back to my PC continues what I am doing.
2) If I want to share information from my PC to my whatsapp group I have to jump hops like email a web link to myself or upload it to web storage then download it back to the phone or put the link on notepad and save that notepad to phone's storage.

A little inconvenience isn't it?

If MS let my W8/W10 PC/Laptop take full control on my WP it will save me a lot of time.

Project My Screen can present the phone in a window, and while not allowing keyboard it does allow typing including Swype via mouse and touchscreen. Sharing may be simplified with OneNote and OneDrive -at least avoiding manual transfers before being available on the phone to send or copy into some app.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42536
 
Last edited:

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,211
597
126
Are the navigation buttons capacitive buttons on the XL? Its screen looks wider from the front.
 

maevinj

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
928
11
81
Are the navigation buttons capacitive buttons on the XL? Its screen looks wider from the front.

From what I have read, they are not capacitive buttons, but they sure look like them in the photos.
 

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,085
663
126

They are only going with carriers that don't screw them over. Ask Leger about the 810. Sold for ~3 months then abandoned. Why should Ms bother with a carrier that acts like this? If you want the phone buy direct from MS.

WP is niche, they are not going to be popular for the foreseeable future so they have limited options. They should try to sell them through Dell and HP also with the surface pro to enterprises.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
The whole phone dock thing to me was more of a tease than anything. Showing me something that looks like Windows when plugged into a dock is only going half way. It needs to actually be Windows. ARM Windows != Windows (x86) no matter how much Microsoft tries.
 

maevinj

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
928
11
81
The whole phone dock thing to me was more of a tease than anything. Showing me something that looks like Windows when plugged into a dock is only going half way. It needs to actually be Windows. ARM Windows != Windows (x86) no matter how much Microsoft tries.

I think that's what the rumored "Surface" phone will be able to do.
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,128
6
81
I love my Android devices, but the Lumia 950 is really intriguing to me. The aesthetics of the phone appeal to me and that is the first draw. Due to my profession I am deeply entrenched in the Windows ecosystem so I think I could work the 950 into my workflow. And the camera has the potential to be great. I will at least check out the 950 when it shows up at the AT&T store. My work cell phone account is through AT&T and I am due for an upgrade in January, this could be cool.
 

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,596
2
71
MS is selling an unlocked version on it's website. It's not clear which carriers will will be willing to activate it.

The IMEI would have to be purposely blocked to stop it working -i.e. it would just work by default.
 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
5,888
10
81
MS is pathetic if only selling thru ATT or online. Been a strong WP user/supporter since 7.5. I despise ATT, will never pay them a penny. Looks like I'll be making a switch to Android. MS doesn't want to succeed in mobile USA, simple as that. 1520 still the bet phone I've ever used or tried.
 

Skel

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
6,218
661
136
MS is pathetic if only selling thru ATT or online. Been a strong WP user/supporter since 7.5. I despise ATT, will never pay them a penny. Looks like I'll be making a switch to Android. MS doesn't want to succeed in mobile USA, simple as that. 1520 still the bet phone I've ever used or tried.

From what I've read, Verizon has pretty much dumped MS. From what I've read Verizon has refused to have it in any of their stores, and blocked MS from updating any of their phones. The only way to get the newest updates is to be part of Microsoft's "Insiders" program. While that's easy to do, it blocks out the non-tech users of the phone, which is the main group. I don't blame them from not wanting to support Verizon as much as I feel it's a mistake. It's not like Verizon is even willing to promote the phone.
 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
5,888
10
81
I'm sure its partly true but in the end $$$ is all that matters. They can dump $7billion on Nokia but can't buy their way into carriers? At least to get the consumer buy in?



MS should by sprint or another national carrier. Imagine the kick ass package they could offer.
 

maevinj

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
928
11
81
MS is pathetic if only selling thru ATT or online. Been a strong WP user/supporter since 7.5. I despise ATT, will never pay them a penny. Looks like I'll be making a switch to Android. MS doesn't want to succeed in mobile USA, simple as that. 1520 still the bet phone I've ever used or tried.

The 950/XL should work on T-Mobile if you buy the unlocked version from Microsoft.
 

Artdeco

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2015
2,682
1
0
I'm sure its partly true but in the end $$$ is all that matters. They can dump $7billion on Nokia but can't buy their way into carriers? At least to get the consumer buy in?



MS should by sprint or another national carrier. Imagine the kick ass package they could offer.

Interesting idea, but I don't think they're that committed to cell phones, Ballmer might have done it, he was pretty gonzo with MS's checkbook.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,665
67
91
Windows 10 Mobile

So is this going to be the same OS that runs on a laptop (for example)? Or is this going to be crippled in some way?
 

maevinj

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
928
11
81
Windows 10 Mobile

So is this going to be the same OS that runs on a laptop (for example)? Or is this going to be crippled in some way?

There is no desktop and it can't run Win32 apps. So I guess it is a "crippled" version by your definition.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,665
67
91
There is no desktop and it can't run Win32 apps. So I guess it is a "crippled" version by your definition.

Damn it. So close to what I want. I'll put it on wait and see for now. That or I need to make a list of needed apps and make sure that they all have 64 bit versions. I think they would.

How is the Windows mobile MP3 player? Is there native Pandora? What about apps for running?
 
sale-70-410-exam    | Exam-200-125-pdf    | we-sale-70-410-exam    | hot-sale-70-410-exam    | Latest-exam-700-603-Dumps    | Dumps-98-363-exams-date    | Certs-200-125-date    | Dumps-300-075-exams-date    | hot-sale-book-C8010-726-book    | Hot-Sale-200-310-Exam    | Exam-Description-200-310-dumps?    | hot-sale-book-200-125-book    | Latest-Updated-300-209-Exam    | Dumps-210-260-exams-date    | Download-200-125-Exam-PDF    | Exam-Description-300-101-dumps    | Certs-300-101-date    | Hot-Sale-300-075-Exam    | Latest-exam-200-125-Dumps    | Exam-Description-200-125-dumps    | Latest-Updated-300-075-Exam    | hot-sale-book-210-260-book    | Dumps-200-901-exams-date    | Certs-200-901-date    | Latest-exam-1Z0-062-Dumps    | Hot-Sale-1Z0-062-Exam    | Certs-CSSLP-date    | 100%-Pass-70-383-Exams    | Latest-JN0-360-real-exam-questions    | 100%-Pass-4A0-100-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-300-135-exams-date    | Passed-200-105-Tech-Exams    | Latest-Updated-200-310-Exam    | Download-300-070-Exam-PDF    | Hot-Sale-JN0-360-Exam    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Exams    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-JN0-360-exams-date    | Exam-Description-1Z0-876-dumps    | Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps    | Dumps-HPE0-Y53-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-HPE0-Y53-Exam    | 100%-Pass-HPE0-Y53-Real-Exam-Questions    | Pass-4A0-100-Exam    | Latest-4A0-100-Questions    | Dumps-98-365-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-98-365-Exam    | 100%-Pass-VCS-254-Exams    | 2017-Latest-VCS-273-Exam    | Dumps-200-355-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-300-320-Exam    | Pass-300-101-Exam    | 100%-Pass-300-115-Exams    |
http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    | http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    |