Cortana for windows phone. I am jealous of the 5 people in the world with one. =(
Yeah, it's why I'm now in the position of possibly getting a One. My dad said he'd get me one as a graduation present, if I wanted. I'm just not sure if I want to, since a discussion with a friend online today resulted in needing about 30 minutes to come up with 4 games I'd play on the system (and I failed at the challenge of picking 4 already-released ones).
The only stuff through the end of 2014 that would interest me:
Titanfall (only if I got the bundle, because I won't give EA my money otherwise)
Kinect Sports Rivals (because David Tennant is the announcer, and it looks decent)
The Division (still think it's the best game we'll get this year)
Watch Dogs (it's slowly pulling me in...)
The Crew (could go up against NFS: Rivals, which is part of my EA embargo)
Dying Light (might actually get me interested in a zombie game)
There are a couple of outside options, like Forza 5 (would be bigger on it if they hadn't cut the car/track count and the graphics), but given that I still have SEVERAL 360 games to finish (BioShock 2, Borderlands 2, Defiance, Forza 4, Fallout 3 DLC), plus a lot of PC games to play (roughly 45 I've never even touched), I'm on the fence. Then there's the potential for a Halo 5 version of the One, and I'd REALLY like to get that...
I call bull. I have one (920), 3 relatives have them (822, 900, 920), a friend as one (8X), and a classmate has one (8X). That doesn't even count the other one (1520) I saw at school a couple of weeks ago.
We are at least 7. Fear us.
As for the folks who say Microsoft won't bring us a consistent app ecosystem:
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/microsoft-pushes-universal-apps-that-run-on-everything-windows/
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/universal-windows-apps-on-xbox/
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/universal-apps-xbox-one-microsoft-approval/
Even the Xbox is apparently going to get some of it, though I imagine that's limited to higher-end games (read: mobile games from major developers) and streaming apps (like Netflix, MLB.TV, and the like).
I had a Windows Phone for 2 years, then switched back over to the iPhone 5s when it came out last year. I miss my Windows Phone and would love to switch back over to 8.1.
I think you are misunderstanding what a universal app is. That means a developer can write one app that works across every windows device including xb1 but that does not mean you buy it once and you get the other version. This is news for developers more than consumers.
I'm android all the way for the sheer value. I work on iPhone and windows phones daily and don't mind them but find they are INSANELY poor value for what I need.
I might consider dropping my iPhone, but I'd need to use the other phones and get some real reviews from people I know with a similar usage pattern as me. Granted, I pretty much only text with my phone lately. I think I used 4 minutes this billing cycle. =(
I agree that it is something where personal usage is the biggest factor. For me, the only app I miss from Android is Trillian, and IM+ does a decent-enough job to replace it that I don't mind. However, I would hate going back to Android, not knowing if my device would get an OS update, having to root my phone to remove bloatware, and losing the Games hubs (which keeps games and general app separate on the device, which is nice).
That, and getting my Lumia 920 for $50 with a free $50 wireless charging plate right at release (they did a Black Friday deal a week after I got it, and I was refunded the difference) made it all the better, since the alternative was a $150-200 Galaxy S III.
Look into Blu, their phones are unlocked out of the box, and run completely barebones with no BS in there. You start with basic Android, and build it from there the way you want.
Not to get too far into this discussion (since there are already too many in the Mobile forum)... I'm sure there are many concessions for that $55/month. You already listed data speed, and I'm sure coverage isn't the same between that and say, Verizon.Using what you want is great though, but contract phone plans are ludicrous unless the deal is ludicrously good. You can use an unlocked Windows GSM phone on a no-contract carrier and potentially save an insane amount of money. I had Sprint and was paying $130-$160/mo for two phones on contract with limitations on data. Now I'm paying $55/mo for two phones with no contract with zero limitations (no 4G though).
Not to get too far into this discussion (since there are already too many in the Mobile forum)... I'm sure there are many concessions for that $55/month. You already listed data speed, and I'm sure coverage isn't the same between that and say, Verizon.
Granted, these things may be insignificant for you. But they also may be very important for someone else. So, what may seem "ludicrous" for you, is certainly not for someone with different priorities.
Great that your plan fits your priorities. But like I said, not everyone has the same priorities or wants to make the same concessions.Well data speed is good enough to watch SD Youtube on, it's just not '4G'. Coverage has been flawless in my area of DFW (and trips to LA, Denver, Seattle, NYC, Chicago, and Ft. Meade).
Verizon is a standalone, they are dramatically more expensive, but their LTE is top-notch for people with extreme data speed needs.
FWIW, my network is T-Mobile, but ATT is also available for the same price. And this is the identical coverage of the plans that cost dramatically more for the EXACT same cell towers/frequencies/data speeds.
The caps make most 4G sort of pointless, but there are exceptions. I had it, but don't miss it. If someone has no wifi, needs very fast data, and is willing to pay an arm and a leg, then that's a match for them.
Great that your plan fits your priorities. But like I said, not everyone has the same priorities or wants to make the same concessions.