Windows Phone guy goes ‘Rouge’ (Andriod)

Hi Everyone

I am a WP fanboy from the UK. I got a WP as soon as they launched and have been a fan ever since. I’ve converted many too WP. I currently use  950.

Now comes the but. I have bought a OnePlus 3t. Yes im going Andriod. Why you may ask. Well yes in general WP does all I need. But there are times when there’s an app i could do with especially when going on holiday. So yes I’m leaving WP.

If anyone is interested I am going to update this thread with my experience of going to Andriod, having only ever used Windows products for everything.

I’ve has the phone now 3 days. At present it is not my daily phone. I’m getting the apps I need and getting used to how it works. 

So what do i think so far. Well its interesting, exciting trying something new. Do I miss parts of what WP is, how it works hell yes. But I think the reason for that is is that ive only ever used WP.

The phone is quick, very quick and the battery since its first charge still has 43%. That will be interesting to see when Im using it full time.

The finger print scanner, WOW, AMAZING. Quick at unlocking the phone is an understatement.

Getting the phone up and running was easy thanks to Paul’s advice and help from posts he’s made.

Will I miss WP, yes. But this is real life and times have moved on. And compared to my 950 the 3t feels like a premium phone with hows its made.

As I said I will update this or put knew posts for those on WP so they can get an honest opinion from a WP fanboy and his experince.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

UPDATE. The OnePlus 3t is now my daily phone. Lets see how this goes.

Conversation 20 comments

  • 1321

    15 January, 2017 - 5:58 am

    <p>950XL UK user here, this will pretty much be me by the end of the year I think. I used to be able to live with the ‘app gap’ but its starting to hamper me so I will probably end up having to move to Android as I just don’t seem to get IOS (is there a way to sort the app folder alphabetically yet or do you have to memorize app locations or use the search gesture?).&nbsp; I think Android looks messy but I guess if you keep on top of it you can mange the screens ok, I used to own a GS2 before I had Lumia 920, 930 &amp; 950XL so have had Android before.. Maybe I will check out the Galaxy Note 8 or what ever they call it when it arrives as I prefer the larger screen.</p>

    • 677

      Premium Member
      16 January, 2017 - 1:03 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36506">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/nightmare99">nightmare99</a><a href="#36506">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Arrow launcher by Microsoft sorts everything. Its great. I chose the OnePlus over the Pixel because of cost and dont like the Samsung phones.</p>

  • 5486

    15 January, 2017 - 7:48 am

    <p>The OnePlus 3t is a great handset – probably one of the best Android phones at the moment. I almost every way, it’s better than the 950, which was plagued with problems since launch. Good choice.</p>
    <p>I’ll just add the Android is only as ‘messy’ as you let it get. If you install 100 apps, and don’t manage your screens, yes, it can get tricky, but Android is almost infinitely customizable – icons, wallpaper, widgets, launchers, custom roms etc. You can make it ‘yours’ in pretty much any way you like (try doing that on iOS!). You can also install the MS launcher if you really want, and a bunch of MS apps – which are generally better and updated more regularly than their own platform. Your phone – your choice.</p>
    <p>I really don’t know why people try and hang on to the Windows Mobiles. Yes, you become familiar with the way things work, but even MS can’t be bothered with it these days. Time to move on.</p>

    • 677

      Premium Member
      16 January, 2017 - 12:59 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36508">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ghostrider">ghostrider</a><a href="#36508">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>No problem with messy apps. Arrow launcher puts them in alphabetical order. Its great. Just like my WP</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 9201

    15 January, 2017 - 9:53 am

    <p>So what were the first five [missing] Apps you loaded&nbsp;?</p>

    • 8032

      16 January, 2017 - 12:57 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36515">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Jules_Wombat">Jules_Wombat</a><a href="#36515">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Great question. I’d love to know the answer. I’m from the "Pry W10M from my cold dead hands" camp but barring eBay… I don’t think I miss much. In all honestly, I don’t miss the reminders about eBay auctions and if something popped up that I really wanted… I’d save a reminder to my calendar… I never trusted their alert notifications. </p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 677

      Premium Member
      16 January, 2017 - 12:57 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36515">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Jules_Wombat">Jules_Wombat</a><a href="#36515">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>As i said in general I had what i needed. The first apps I loaded were all the microsoft ones that I use. Amazon as its better and a whole load of apps for when i go for my months long vacation in Orlando soon.</p>

  • 8585

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2017 - 11:03 am

    <p>This is where I was about a year ago. I had used WP7/8 since the day they were available. I switched to a Nexus 6P though I still have my 950XL. I actually just joined T-Mobile’s DIGITs program that gives me a second SIM tied to my first SIM. It allows me to use either phone and they share the same phone #. This has allowed me to start using the 950XL again after not really using it for months. My thoughts on the difference:</p>
    <p>The WP/WM interface is just so much better than Android. But then again, I had a Beta back in the day and hated VHS so my track record isn’t so good in picking platforms.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>App wise, to be honest I could probably go back to WP/WM and be just fine day-to-day. There is no one major app that I use daily on Android that I can’t use on my 950XL. The catch is, there are a whole bunch of apps I use occasionally&nbsp;that I can’t get on my 950XL. That is where Android shines. There’s an app for that.</p>
    <p>I loved my Samsung Focus. Loved my HTC Titan, my Lumia 920, Lumia 1020 (seriously I loved this phone). But I never felt that same love/lust for my Lumia 950XL. And I don’t feel it for my 6P either. I do love my Surface Pro 4 so I know I am not dead inside when it comes to Tech. Hopefully another phone will spark that feeling again.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 2

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2017 - 11:36 am

    <p>This is pretty much the reaction I expect from most people: Begrudging switch and then that light bulb goes off because suddenly there are so many fewer limitations on Android (or iPhone). It’s a process. And yes, there are things from Windows phone that one might miss, but Microsoft has helped in a way by making Windows 10 Mobile so terrible.</p>
    <p>Thanks for this.</p>

    • 677

      Premium Member
      16 January, 2017 - 12:53 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36535">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#36535">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>My pleasure. Just hope it helps some people with there choices.</p>

      • 124

        Premium Member
        16 January, 2017 - 11:03 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#36647">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Shane">Shane</a><a href="#36647">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>My choice is to stay with WP until there isn’t one working that I can use.&nbsp; Lots of talk about new Windows running on phone chips, Windows is still being updated on my 830, New folding phone article, and that all just makes me think WP or Surface Phone is still in the realm of possibilities.&nbsp; Until then WP is my phone.&nbsp; I’m pretty app content.</p>

        • 677

          Premium Member
          16 January, 2017 - 11:07 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#36751">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lwetzel">lwetzel</a><a href="#36751">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>Yes I’m sure there will be more windows phones. But will there be any apps in the end. I would love to stay with it. Honestly after today the OnePlus being my main phone and playing about with it for the last few days I should never have bought the 950. Was a waste of money. Yes it would of been a Nexus i would have got a year ago. But im guessing i would be happy.</p>

  • 5530

    16 January, 2017 - 2:26 am

    <p>You could not have done better than the OnePlus 3t. Miles ahead of the 950 and OnePlus has does a good job of stamping out bugs.</p>
    <p>I switched to Android late last year too. I think that was the best decision I made in 2016. Android itself is, well, it’s an operating system, but it’s proven to be capable and resilient enough for most.&nbsp;But the <em>apps</em> man, the Apps have been such an eye-opener. The apps are all high quality unlike the half assed stuff developers do for Windows phones. Ultimately the apps are what matters, apps are what we use to get stuff done, be it a tweet or book a cab. It just happens to be the case that the OS all these apps are on is Android.</p>

  • 187

    16 January, 2017 - 2:55 am

    <p>A Lumia 950 user in the same boat as everyone else. Was thinking of the OnePlus, but the Nokia 8 looks quite interesting with the 835 – I’m going to wait until the next wave of phones are released to work out what to do. Nothing really compelling at the moment to switch.</p>

  • 2394

    Premium Member
    16 January, 2017 - 9:00 am

    <p>I tried iPhone for a year after my Lumia 920 and came screaming back for Windows 10 and a 950. Sure, apps on iPhone are more plentiful and robust, but try finding the right one when its icon is red and you’ve got three other red ones on each page. And that’s only a slight exaggeration.</p>
    <p>Eventually, I’m going to get Android, as it’s the only major phone OS I haven’t tried yet. My folks have Androids, and they seem to like them (Verizon service, another story entirely). But I want to find a nice one this time.</p>

    • 289

      Premium Member
      17 January, 2017 - 5:47 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36706">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/John Dunagan">John Dunagan</a><a href="#36706">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Work gave me an iPhone a few months ago (my first in about four years) and I’m continually disappointed with the home screen/app launcher situation. &nbsp;If they improved that and loosened up some of the restrictions around app interaction (e.g. let LastPass fill stuff in as it does on Android) and default apps I could see myself investing in the next iPhone. &nbsp;</p>

  • 5812

    Premium Member
    16 January, 2017 - 4:55 pm

    <p>Hello. Great choice on a phone. If your not on a Google Pixel it’s the next best phone released in 2016. My wife got this as a replacement to her Samsung Note 7 which was probably the best phone of the year if not for the battery issue. She loved that note 7 and would trade it in until I forced her and other than the S Pen and the batter camera she is happy with the One Plus 3T. If you have any questions I’ve been on Android since it was released and happy to help.</p>

  • 289

    Premium Member
    17 January, 2017 - 5:42 pm

    <p>Good luck and enjoy! &nbsp;It’s been a year since I switched from a Lumia 930 to a Nexus 5X. &nbsp;I think my first few weeks were similar to what you described.&nbsp;I still miss some of the Live Tiles from WP 8.1 and some of the general UI/UX (I didn’t use W10M enough to have an opinion). &nbsp;And I actually miss the third party YouTube apps from WP which offered an ad-free experience and the ability to play in the background (I don’t like YT enough to pay for YT Red).</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>After a month of the vanilla Android experience I went crazy with Nova Launcher, Tasker, icon packs, etc. &nbsp;Battery life and performance took a big hit. &nbsp;About six months in I was tired of apps (especially the camera) crashing and hanging. &nbsp;I went through all kinds of diagnostic crap trying to figure out the problems. &nbsp;I realized that between the customization and the debugging I was spending way too much time "managing" the phone so I just did a factory reset and kept things simple. &nbsp;Life has been better since then. &nbsp;Until the 5X crashed right before Christmas and never started again. &nbsp;But Google was kind enough to send a replacement unit and it’s been smooth sailing once again. &nbsp;</p>

  • 4743

    Premium Member
    05 February, 2017 - 11:55 am

    <p>OK, I think I am being more than dumb, but I am trying the switch from my 950XL to an LG V20.&nbsp; I’ve got most things going, but…</p>
    <p>How do I get my text messages over?&nbsp; I thought they would come when switching the SIM from the 950XL to the V20, but I guess I might not be accessing them appropriately.&nbsp; Most other things I’ve got working.&nbsp; Band2, Telegram, GroupMe, all that stuff seems to be OK.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Also, a feature that I have recently loved is the Skype Preview + SMS Relay on my 950XL.&nbsp; Any news on that coming to Android soon?</p>

    • 677

      Premium Member
      06 February, 2017 - 1:47 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#41189">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Smidgerine">Smidgerine</a><a href="#41189">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>For the text messages I think there are possible apps that could do this.</p>
      <p>The skype thing I think Microsoft is working on this.&nbsp;I did read about this end of last year.</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

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