Who here uses Windows Phone?

[gorcorps]

See, those kinds of statements, I want to say "fair point to," but I can't. I have to instead ask WHAT was/is missing. You say that there was a great lack of apps in 2012, and that there are still many apps and games lacking. I'd like to hear some examples, because as someone who doesn't use Android to know, I'm curious as to what people still ask for from the platform before they'd legitimately switch.

I still haven't heard if WP got a Chase bank app that lets you deposit checks by taking a picture of them. That's very important to me given where I live now, and without that app alone I would never switch.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'm curious as to what people still ask for from the platform before they'd legitimately switch.

Lets see. I need:

-An app that can torrent a high quality mkv
-An app that will let me browse in the file system to my downloaded mkv files and open them with an app of my chosing
-An app that can play high quality mkv files with either Dolby or DTS audio tracks
-An app that will let me emulate old PSX games WITH dual shock support
-An app like tasker that can run scripts for me ("do this when I am around this wifi")
-Flipboard
-A music app like Poweramp with a full equalizer
-And app that allows me to create ringtones on the phone from mp3s
-A good terminal emulator
-And app that will let me view Flash videos

I think if I had all of that like I have on Android I could switch. I apologize in advance if Windows Phones can do some/all of that I am just listing my requirements.

 

[Lil Frier]

I used WP7 for over a year, wasnt bad.

Tried using WP8 recently, after having a Note 2 for about a year.

Nope. Nothing to make me go back. Not enough apps, no widgets, not enough customization (both in fun stuff like themes and practical stuff like settings), lack of regular updates, some things are impossible while the rest require multiple steps, just unacceptable all around.

1. What do widgets accomplish that tiles can't?
2. What do you mean, lack of updates? The first big one came one month in. The second was after about 9 months. Another is coming at about a year. The BIG update comes at about 15 months. WP8 is guaranteed 36 months of support, and I believe they said all device would be upgradeable to WP9. With Android, it can be rather hit-and-miss as to the longevity of support. The HTC Droid Incredible I got was done with support after about 12 months.
3. The potential for customization is definitely less than that of Android, but when you're not rooting the device, it's not that big of a deal.

Personally, I never cared for the page-and-grid styles of iOS and Android. The contiguous lists Windows Phone uses seem much more fluid, in my opinion. One thing I REALLY like with Windows Phone's app setup is the Games hub, just because it sorts the games out of the regular app list, preventing excessive clutter.

What is impossible or excessively difficult to do on Windows Phone though? I didn't do much with my Android device, but something I found out a couple of months back with my grandma's iPhone is that attaching things to texts or e-mails is obnoxious to do on iOS (not sure if 7 changed that). I can't think of one thing in Windows Phone where it has seemed to be more difficult than Android, except what someone else mentioned bout how awkwardly "sorted" the Setting menu is.

 

[poofyhairguy]

1. What do widgets accomplish that tiles can't?

Can a tile be configured to a script so that when you press on it some action happens? For example, I have a widget that when I press it once it mounts my media servers to my phone via cifs, and when I hit it again it unmounts.

I don't know what tiles can do, hence why I am asking.

 

[Lil Frier]

Lets see. I need:

-An app that can torrent a high quality mkv
-An app that will let me browse in the file system to my downloaded mkv files and open them with an app of my chosing
-An app that can play high quality mkv files with either Dolby or DTS audio tracks
-An app that will let me emulate old PSX games WITH dual shock support
-An app like tasker that can run scripts for me ("do this when I am around this wifi")
-Flipboard
-A music app like Poweramp with a full equalizer
-And app that allows me to create ringtones on the phone from mp3s
-A good terminal emulator
-And app that will let me view Flash videos

I think if I had all of that like I have on Android I could switch. I apologize in advance if Windows Phones can do some/all of that I am just listing my requirements.

I'm simply not sure with much of that, as I don't use my phone for that stuff. However, as to what I can SOMEWHAT comment on:

--No idea on audio support, but I know VLC's due out pretty soon.
--Not sure what you call a "full" equalizer, but there's an equalizer with Dolby support on Nokia devices, and there's a Beats-related one on HTC devices, I think.
--I think there's a ringtone maker, but I might be wrong.
--I did see a Flash video app on the store recently, but the description said it wasn't a full Flash support application, so I don't know how limited/functional it is.

Never needed to torrent on my phone, so I don't know how that goes (I know there are options to do it). I don't even know what Flipboard is, so no input there.

 

[Lil Frier]

Can a tile be configured to a script so that when you press on it some action happens? For example, I have a widget that when I press it once it mounts my media servers to my phone via cifs, and when I hit it again it unmounts.

I don't know what tiles can do, hence why I am asking.

I doubt it, I'm not sure, since I don't write apps or anything. I'm more thinking that people like widgets for displaying information, something tiles do well. I fully admit that if you're someone who likes doing in-depth and crazy stuff such as that, Android is likely a better option. However, such a large percentage of things are on Windows Phone now, and I think that for the general public, it presents things in a simpler, cleaner way.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'm simply not sure with much of that, as I don't use my phone for that stuff. However, as to what I can SOMEWHAT comment on:

--No idea on audio support, but I know VLC's due out pretty soon.
--Not sure what you call a "full" equalizer, but there's an equalizer with Dolby support on Nokia devices, and there's a Beats-related one on HTC devices, I think.
--I think there's a ringtone maker, but I might be wrong.
--I did see a Flash video app on the store recently, but the description said it wasn't a full Flash support application, so I don't know how limited/functional it is.

Never needed to torrent on my phone, so I don't know how that goes (I know there are options to do it). I don't even know what Flipboard is, so no input there.

Jeez, if Windows Phone can play mkvs, make ringtones (on the device), and play flash then its more capable than iOS7. I had to make my wife some iPhone ringtones last weekend and it was the biggest pain I have dealt with in years.

Thank you for the input.

 

[dlock13]

Jeez, if Windows Phone can play mkvs, make ringtones (on the device), and play flash then its more capable than iOS7. I had to make my wife some iPhone ringtones last weekend and it was the biggest pain I have dealt with in years.

Thank you for the input.

Want to PM me that way for a ringtone on iOS? I have to do the same for my wife.. >_<

 

[poofyhairguy]

Here is the link for everyone:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-make-ringtones-for-iphone/

It works but its a pain. What is even worse is that iTunes will only accept a AAC it made. I tried to cut out steps by just saving in the AAC format in Audacity and it rejected me.

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, once you know the steps to make your own ring tones, it's not that hard.

I've stripped audio tracks from TV shows to make ringtones for my wife. Works pretty well.

 

[maevinj]

Lets see. I need:

-An app that can torrent a high quality mkv
-An app that will let me browse in the file system to my downloaded mkv files and open them with an app of my chosing
-An app that can play high quality mkv files with either Dolby or DTS audio tracks
-An app that will let me emulate old PSX games WITH dual shock support
-An app like tasker that can run scripts for me ("do this when I am around this wifi")
-Flipboard
-A music app like Poweramp with a full equalizer
-And app that allows me to create ringtones on the phone from mp3s
-A good terminal emulator
-And app that will let me view Flash videos

I think if I had all of that like I have on Android I could switch. I apologize in advance if Windows Phones can do some/all of that I am just listing my requirements.

I think it's pretty obvious you love android, and nothing is going to change that. WP obviously isn't for you or anybody like you.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think it's pretty obvious you love android, and nothing is going to change that. WP obviously isn't for you or anybody like you.

I don't really "love" Android, its just another OS to me. Currently I can get more tasks done in OSX or Windows than Android.

My list wasn't made to bash WP or any other OS, I just listed functionality I often use on my primary mobile device. Every function I was doing on my Macbook three years ago, or my Windows desktop five years ago.

Utility is what matters to me. I just want as much"real computer" functionality in my pocket as I can get. I never want to buy another laptop.

 

[maevinj]

Yes, that was what I was alluding to... Power users such as yourself. Not non-power users such as myself.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yes, that was what I was alluding to... Power users such as yourself. Not non-power users such as myself.

You also seem to allude to the concept that WP will never be for power users like me. That surprises me as Windows x86 caters to power users.

I get why iOS will never be for me, but why do you think the same for WP? I have been hoping the next version would unlock a lot of utility.

 

[Lil Frier]

I still haven't heard if WP got a Chase bank app that lets you deposit checks by taking a picture of them. That's very important to me given where I live now, and without that app alone I would never switch.

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/chase-mobile/1e8b41a1-a4f6-4b8a-9028-4ba7cd9b8734

Not sure if picture-taking of checks is an option. I don't do mobile banking, nor am I with Chase, so I cannot test it.

 

[Lil Frier]

Jeez, if Windows Phone can play mkvs, make ringtones (on the device), and play flash then its more capable than iOS7. I had to make my wife some iPhone ringtones last weekend and it was the biggest pain I have dealt with in years.

Thank you for the input.

I'm not sure on playing .mkv files. Maybe I'll hop over and download a file and test it on my 920 (I don't do .mkvs because I'd run out of HDD space too quickly) in a bit.

I attempted using the torrent app on my phone, but the torrents didn't start. I don't know if any setup is required, or if using a semi-private site messes with it.

Yes, there are a few .mp3 ringtone makers. I gave a 10-second look at one, just to make sure it launched, and it does.

Also, you'd have to give me a link to an unquestionable Flash video for me to test that Flash player application. YouTube is smart enough to redirect and play on mobile devices, and I don't know of anything I really check out video-wise with Flash, so I don't have anything to test it with myself.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'm not sure on playing .mkv files. Maybe I'll hop over and download a file and test it on my 920 (I don't do .mkvs because I'd run out of HDD space too quickly) in a bit.

I attempted using the torrent app on my phone, but the torrents didn't start. I don't know if any setup is required, or if using a semi-private site messes with it.

Yes, there are a few .mp3 ringtone makers. I gave a 10-second look at one, just to make sure it launched, and it does.

Also, you'd have to give me a link to an unquestionable Flash video for me to test that Flash player application. YouTube is smart enough to redirect and play on mobile devices, and I don't know of anything I really check out video-wise with Flash, so I don't have anything to test it with myself.

Sure, here is the link:

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/accessibility/tests/flash/video.html

Thanks for testing this stuff. WP is officially more useful than iOS at this point.

 

[maevinj]

You also seem to allude to the concept that WP will never be for power users like me. That surprises me as Windows x86 caters to power users.

I get why iOS will never be for me, but why do you think the same for WP? I have been hoping the next version would unlock a lot of utility.

I think with WP they are trying to cater to the masses vs. the power users. Whether this is a mistake or not, only time will tell. I think Microsoft is trying to close their environment like Apple has. Plus Microsoft had a power user version a while back in the early 2000's.

 

[Sacraster]

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/chase-mobile/1e8b41a1-a4f6-4b8a-9028-4ba7cd9b8734

Not sure if picture-taking of checks is an option. I don't do mobile banking, nor am I with Chase, so I cannot test it.

yes, you can do mobile deposit using chase app (im on wp 7.8)

 

[bearxor]

Sure, here is the link:

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/accessibility/tests/flash/video.html

Thanks for testing this stuff. WP is officially more useful than iOS at this point.

Video plays fine in Skyfire on iOS.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Video plays fine in Skyfire on iOS.

Yeah, that is not the example for comparison purposes, it just establishes basic functionality.

The site I really use flash with is a streaming sports site I shouldn't link here.

 

[Lil Frier]

Sure, here is the link:

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/accessibility/tests/flash/video.html

Thanks for testing this stuff. WP is officially more useful than iOS at this point.

Doesn't look like it does that. What we seem to have are applications built to work on specific sites, such as this: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/flash-videos/6e5424ae-04ac-4e76-855b-a8cc9ddcc38c

$5 is pretty steep, I think, though there is another one that's $3.50 (I got it for free during a sale). So Flash support in full's not there, but some level of functionality exists, I guess.

 

[gorcorps]

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/chase-mobile/1e8b41a1-a4f6-4b8a-9028-4ba7cd9b8734

Not sure if picture-taking of checks is an option. I don't do mobile banking, nor am I with Chase, so I cannot test it.

Huh, looks like they got it added in. Some of the more recent reviews say it's broken but there's always reviews like that.

 

[Lil Frier]

Yeah, there really has been a decent increase in app availability over the past few months, and it's nice. More-importantly (to me), we've gotten a fairly-steady stream of Xbox-enabled games released over the past month. We've gotten one every week for about 5 weeks now, which beats the droughts that users had to put up with over the summer. I'm still DYING for Microsoft to utilize their first-party franchises on the platform. we got Halo: Spartan Assault, but they REALLY need to hook people with titles like Forza and Fable or something.

 

[Mopetar]

I've got a Lumia 620 that I use when traveling. I'm not much of an app guy, so I just have a few basics like weather apps and whatnot. Otherwise the build quality is great, and the size makes it great for one-handed use. It's got a micro SD card slot, which is nice. Even though I don't use it as a daily driver phone, it works out for loading it with music for when I'm at the gym since I don't have an iPod.

Windows Phone seems fairly snappy, especially given that the specs on that phone aren't that great (1 GHz duel core S4, 512 MB RAM). The screen isn't bad, but it's just a shade under what would probably qualify as retina, so there are a few times where something doesn't look as sharp as on devices with better screens.