Going back to Windows Phone

I bought a Blu advance 5.0 HD last week.

I wanted to just try out Android. The thing I like about it, are some of the widgets. Like the weather, google keep. Being that keep is on the home screen, I would see my todo list or notes everytime I use the phone.

What I don’t like. Apps are not uniform. Some are circle, some are squared.

I thought I would like horizontal scroll. I much prefer vertical scroll.

The few apps I downloaded, no big deal. Apps that I use are all available for Microsoft. So apps to me aren’t a big deal. But I installed my bank app(capital one). The other thing that offers that their web app(which is perfectly fine on Windows Phone), is deposit by check.

One major thing I hate, notifications doesn’t work. I tried everything. 

The setting menu is a mess. There’s like 5 different menus to get to permissions. Apps have their own notification settings, there’s also another notification menu. You set up permissions inside whatever app. You also have them inside the settings menu. And there aren’t all in one place.

I try to turn on one notification for outlook. I have to go to app notification, it gives me 4 options(block all, treat as priority, allow peeking,hide sensitive content), so I have it set to allowing peeking. I think that’s it, it will then show notifications. But no. I have to hit on the !. For more options. If I go to notification, it gives me the same as before.

Who to say that I won’t get voicemail or missed texts notifications if I put a sim in it.

In Windows Phone, I just go to notifications and action. Just 1 menu to turn on or off notifications. And it’s only one tap to get to the permissions menu.

I use a 4 digital pin on Windows Phone. So after I put in the pin, it logs me right in. 

On Android, after I put in the pin, I have to hit the check mark to finish it(like an enter key).

Also Android apps hamburger menu, is the same thing as if you swipe from the edge of the left screen(a la Windows RT).

 

This is getting returned.

For me, Window Phones just works. Android seems complicated to set up. Settings and permissions are all over the place.

I like On Window Phone, the all app are alphabetical.

I tried arrow launcher, it was slow on this phone.

I also tried next lock screen. It did not want to work without me opening the app before I locked the phone. Otherwise, it won’t ask for a pin. Took me like 30 mins. to find out why I was putting in the pin it next lock screen, the also the regular lock screen.

Android is just too much tweaking that’s required to make it behave the way I want it too.

Conversation 85 comments

  • 2611

    Premium Member
    29 November, 2016 - 4:46 pm

    <p>Looks like you went the Microsoft Android route — Arrow launcher, Outlook (app).&nbsp; Try a more standard android approach like Nova launcher and Gmail (app).&nbsp; The gmail app can use your outlook/hotmail/exchange account.&nbsp; Nova shows its apps drawer alphabetical.</p>
    <p>Best if you can get a phone with a fingerprint sensor.&nbsp; I’m guessing the pin + enter is an extra secure feature that prevents a bad guy from knowing how many digits are in your pin.&nbsp; It is annoying if you’re coming from WP.</p>
    <p>After 5 years on WP, I’ve found android to be a good fit for me.&nbsp; Give it time and consider a better handset (Moto G4, Honor 8, Axon 7, OnePlus 3T, Pixel, etc).</p>
    <p>Otherwise iPhone if you really don’t want to tweak.</p>

    • 5496

      29 November, 2016 - 5:11 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27840">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ben55124">ben55124</a><a href="#27840">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I really didn’t like arrow launcher anyway. Or Google now launcher.</p>
      <p>But the not receiving notification was a big deal breaker.</p>
      <p>Outlook wasn’t syncing with Google. I went to sync my Outlook with my Google calendar. It wouldn’t work.</p>
      <p>It should just work. I shouldn’t have to go in 10 places to do something that should be in just 1 place.</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <p>Being that this was my first Android device since the original Nexus 7(which I liked), I wasn’t going to spend hundreds of dollars on one.</p>

      • 170

        29 November, 2016 - 11:05 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#27844">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#27844">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>I recently just made the move and have not had any problems with my Outlook calendar syncing. &nbsp;I set it up in gmail as an exchange account and had it sync contacts and calendar. &nbsp;I downloaded the Outlook app to use for email even though I wouldn’t have probably needed too. &nbsp;I’m using Nova launcher and SquareHome2 when I want to revisit the Windows 10 feel. &nbsp;I’m using a Pixel though if that makes a difference.&nbsp;</p>
        <p>I honestly wish I could have stuck with a Windows phone but can’t really leave Verizon. &nbsp;I had an Icon upgraded to 10 but was running into some issues with bluetooth and other little things that made me move on. &nbsp;</p>

      • 5812

        Premium Member
        07 December, 2016 - 3:49 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#27844">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#27844">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>The nexus 7 was a google device. Unless you buy a google device please don’t say Android is the issue. Get a nexus 6p or something from a place you can do a return without a restocking fee. Again if I buy the cheapest windows phone am I going to have a good feeling about it? That even would have the benefit of not having a crappy skin and old version of the software. Sorry but feel you really not giving a fair shot to Android.</p>

        • 5496

          08 December, 2016 - 9:11 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#29083">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Nicholas_Kathrein">Nicholas_Kathrein</a><a href="#29083">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>I never said Android is the issue. But all these manufactures putting on they own skin is the issue. And that makes it an issue for Android. But it doesn’t help them out.</p>
          <p>I am not spending hundreds of dollars on something if I am not sure if I am going to keep it.</p>
          <p>I got a cheap Windows phone, a 640, and it works good.</p>

      • 165

        Premium Member
        01 January, 2017 - 1:15 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#27844">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#27844">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>I have a 950Xl, and a work SS Galaxy 6.</p>
        <p>I get to play with both. For apps missing with WP, I try them on Android. I find that I can do without my bank’s app as the web site interface is actually better. So far the only missing app that I would use is the Green P Parking app in Toronto. But I don’t usually drive into Toronto and park so the odd time I do I have the inconvenience of putting my credit card in the machine – not a big deal. The best part of the app is that it notifies you when you are out of time and can extend it from the app.</p>
        <p>Settings and Notifications on Android are a mess. I have tamed my phone’s notifications&nbsp;but I wish my coworkers would – very noisy with all the notification sounds ( and they are all the same!!) – Come on people, change that default sound!</p>
        <p>I do not use Google anything on my windows phone (or my PCs as well). On the Android phone, the built in mail app does not play nicely with my personal Outlook account and contacts etc. My work Exchange mail and contacts work, but not nearly as nice as outlook on my personal phone.</p>
        <p>So, I don’t use my work phone except for tethering my Surface on the train to work and back. I get my work mail on my Windows phone.</p>
        <p>If I had to drop windows phone, I would go Android over IOS. too bad Cyanogen is dead, as that is the route I would have taken.</p>
        <p>All this being said, smartphones are wonderful. I just wish people would actually learn how theirs work. All platforms have their unique benefits</p>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>
        <p>For me, I love the way I have my start screen set up. I can get to all the people I care about, my email, texts, calendar, podcasts, weather, health stats, facebook info, pictures, security app, wallet, secure storage, wunderlist, music etc. and with just a glance of the screen, I can see the latest info on the live tiles.</p>

  • 5027

    30 November, 2016 - 1:42 am

    <p>Well come back to Windows Phone/Mobile.. &nbsp;Personally I never left 🙂 &nbsp; Tried android several times.. for my use. it still suck &nbsp;he he&nbsp;</p>

    • 5027

      04 December, 2016 - 10:40 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27885">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/JudaZuk">JudaZuk</a><a href="#27885">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>and why would anyone down vote a Welcome back message? &nbsp;</p>

  • 2

    Premium Member
    30 November, 2016 - 7:47 am

    <p>I’m semi-amazed by how many die-hard Windows phone fans focus on the superfluous—"it just looks/works better," usually meaning the basic UX—and not on the important stuff: Availability and quality of apps. I suppose it’s because that’s all that’s left.</p>
    <p>But Android is like any other personal tech device/product: You use it, you get used to, and in doing so, you become more efficient using it. If you go into this requiring it to look and work like something you’re more familiar with from the past, you’re just going to be disappointed.</p>
    <p>It’s like moving from the U.S. to another country and expecting to get a 3000 square foot McMansion with a giant American-style kitchen. Embrace the differences, and then you will see what is really better/worse. And not just the&nbsp;nit-picky very specific stuff that ultimately doesn’t matter at all. Or at least shouldn’t. Android is demonstrably "better" than Windows phone across the board. (And I happen to feel that iOS is even better still, but whatever.)</p>

    • 5496

      30 November, 2016 - 9:12 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>The UI is not&nbsp;superfluous, if I am going to see it everyday.</p>
      <p>The biggest problem were notifications were not working. I couldn’t get any email&nbsp;notifications, Outlook calendar wouldn’t sync with gmail.</p>
      <p>The settings menu is a mess.&nbsp;</p>
      <p>It seems like Android is trying to pretty up the UI. And worry about the way it works later.</p>
      <p>Like I said,&nbsp;Android is just too much tweaking that&rsquo;s required to make it behave the way I want it too.</p>

      • 5486

        01 December, 2016 - 10:37 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#27920">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#27920">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Do Blu customize their Android implementations? It’s unlikely to be running stock Android. You can search for any setting, which creates a filtered list, and notifications work perfectly, so I don’t know what you’re talking about there (maybe another ‘Blu’ mod). You’d have been better off getting a Nexus or Pixel, and not some brand barely anyone has heard of – then you get the pure Android experience.</p>
        <p>Personally, having had to briefly use a WM10 device, I completely hated it. Horrible, basic, plain, ugly, black/white – it goes on. Horses for courses….</p>

        • 5496

          01 December, 2016 - 4:14 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28161">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ghostrider">ghostrider</a><a href="#28161">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>Being that this is the first time using Android since the original Nexus 7. I was not going to spend hundreds of dollars on one.</p>

          • 8819

            02 December, 2016 - 10:30 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#28228">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#28228">:</a>&nbsp; I’d look at the Moto Series (particularly G) vs. a BLU phone.&nbsp; Stock android at a reasonable price.</em></blockquote>
            <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 6447

      30 November, 2016 - 12:47 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Hi Paul, yes iOS is "better" (and even as an android primary mobile user I would get an iPhone over a Pixel if I was willing to spend that much $$$ on a phone) but android is "good enough" for those who don’t appreciate/care about that bit more UI/app refinement and other less obvious reasons iPhone is "better" (security, OS updates/support/duration). Many people I know are coming from feature phones for the first time, have no care in the world about iPhone/Apple and will be totally thrilled by their cheap android-based first smartphone. Also android allows things like pushbullet SMS and &nbsp;SMS&nbsp;over bluetooth headsets, things considered insecure by Apple.</p>

    • 5496

      30 November, 2016 - 3:15 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Also not everyone gives a crap about apps.</p>

      • 5027

        30 November, 2016 - 9:57 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28011">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#28011">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Exactly. Apps on my phone is one of the last thing I care about when I buy a phone … &nbsp;"does it have this or that app" ..well I don’t really care :)</p>

        • 5615

          02 December, 2016 - 4:15 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28095">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/JudaZuk">JudaZuk</a><a href="#28095">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>OTOH, there are folks who could care less about what phone they have as long as it runs the apps they need. Take my niece, for example. She had a low-end Android phone (a cheap Samsung whatever). I asked her what it was and she didn’t know. She dropped it and it broke. She replaced it with a Windows Phone (because it was cheap). I asked her what it was and she didn’t know. Turns out it was a Lumia 730. She recently dropped that and it broke. She replaced it with another low-end Android phone (a different cheap Samsung whatever). I asked her what it was. You know what? Right. She doesn’t know.</p>
          <p>She could care less what the phone is. Her main criteria? That it runs WhatsApp and Facebook, and that it’s cheap. And she’s in her 30s. The "younger folks" and kids I know are mostly the same. It’s all about the apps. If they care about the phone at all it’s usually just whether or not it’s an iPhone or a Samsung.</p>

          • 5027

            04 December, 2016 - 10:37 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#28277">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/offTheRecord">offTheRecord</a><a href="#28277">:</a></em></blockquote>
            <p>Well the apps she needs is on Windows Phone apparently. &nbsp;Some people care about apps … some care about the phone being a good phone..&nbsp;</p>

        • 5812

          Premium Member
          07 December, 2016 - 3:35 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28095">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/JudaZuk">JudaZuk</a><a href="#28095">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>If your pyrmid of needs tip of the pyrmid is apps then any OS can work. Ubuntu phone anyone?&nbsp;</p>
          <p>https://www.ubuntu.com/phone</p&gt;
          <p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpfHYpfEXY</p&gt;
          <p>&nbsp;</p>

      • 5812

        Premium Member
        07 December, 2016 - 3:33 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28011">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#28011">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>That is the reason you can put up with Windows Phone. For anyone who doesn’t care about apps then any phone OS works. Hell even ubuntu phone will work for you. Why did you even want to switch then? Hell you’d be better off with Windows phone 8 or 10. Seems like you wrote this just to say Android is crap. How many Android or Iphone users buying a sub $100 phone wouldn’t say Windows Phone sucks. Almost all because they are use to apps and using them.&nbsp;</p>

        • 5496

          08 December, 2016 - 9:14 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#29079">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Nicholas_Kathrein">Nicholas_Kathrein</a><a href="#29079">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>If you read the whole thing. I said I wanted to try it out. And it wasn’t for me.</p>
          <p>Just like Paul is entitled to his opinion about Windows Phone. I am entitled to my opinion about Android.</p>

    • 214

      Premium Member
      30 November, 2016 - 3:28 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Perhaps a bit of Occam’s Razor here:&nbsp;why can’t you accept that some small percentage of&nbsp;people just don’t give a darn&nbsp;about apps?&nbsp;</p>
      <p>I’m an early adopter by nature. I’m always waiting for the next big thing. More apps ain’t it.</p>
      <p>My next phone will be "the coolest thing ever."</p>

    • 8781

      30 November, 2016 - 7:35 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>You seem to be personally insulted whenever anyone suggests Windows Mobile is better in any way. Why does it bother you so much when people use something you clearly don’t like?</p>

      • 5108

        16 December, 2016 - 7:19 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28069">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Goff256">Goff256</a><a href="#28069">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Mind you, any of us can wonder what the people around us think. I love me some Sci-Fi. My&nbsp;redheaded Irish gal?&nbsp;For her it is cheesy romance or animals. On the other hand, Paul is just wrong this time. I see a crap ton of Android and iPhones around me every day at work. People needing both hands to scroll. My 950?&nbsp;Not so much. Much easier to thumb up or down than across. I hate across. </p>

    • 1792

      03 December, 2016 - 9:10 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27912">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a><a href="#27912">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I agree pretty much completely other than personally IOS is not my favourite. However that’s a personal thing.</p>
      <p>As a platform Windowsphone is dead. There will be people (like me) who would like to use it. However my day to day needs are not met due to the app gap.&nbsp;</p>
      <p>I also dont feel Microsoft is serious about mobile any more. They rarely mention Windowsphone and seem to have no strategy. if Microsoft doesn’t care about Windowsphone then it’s inevitable that those that do care have the passion and anger that they do.</p>

  • 399

    Premium Member
    30 November, 2016 - 11:34 am

    <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Android is just too much&nbsp;tweaking that&rsquo;s required to make it behave the way I want it too.</p>
    <p>Did you try the out of the box experience (like using the built in launcher or&nbsp;using gmail instead of Outlook) for anything length of time or did you immediately jump into customization?</p>
    <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Also Android apps hamburger menu, is the same thing as if you swipe from the edge of the left screen(a la Windows RT).</p>
    <p>That is what Material Design calls for. Same thing happens on Windows 10 (I just tried it in the Groove app on my 950), which isn’t surprising as Windows 10’s design language is basically a greyscale version of Material.</p>

    • 5496

      30 November, 2016 - 11:53 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#27958">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/maethorechannen">maethorechannen</a><a href="#27958">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I never knew you can swipe from the left edge in Windows phone.<br />I did try it out of the box. I even tried Google Now launcher. They both sucked in this phone. They slowed the phone down.</p>
      <p>The default launcher isn’t that bad once you customize the screen.</p>
      <p><br />It also may just be the phone. Sometimes I have to press or tap something a couple times for it to register.<br />When I swipe down, some I have to swipe it a couple times for it to go through.</p>
      <p><br />Now I had an email come in from outlook. I don’t know why all of a sudden it’s going through.</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 661

    30 November, 2016 - 11:47 am

    <p>for those that are looking for Windows Phones -&nbsp;</p>
    <p>http://www.windowscentral.com/dont-miss-200-saving-hp-elite-x3-desk-dock-bundle</p&gt;

  • 6447

    30 November, 2016 - 12:23 pm

    <p>if you just need a simple phone, and what it has "out of the box" works for you, then maybe its a good option. Android is expected to have every feature, customization and app under the sun so depending on the phone, things can not be as clean. It can be overwhelming if you can’t resist all the control you have. I sometimes use an iPhone for a while just because it doesn’t let me do much customization and I get a break. But, I would not dismiss "Android" based on a cheap Blu phone however. I once had a Lumia 535 (or 530, I forget) and was not impressed with windows phone.</p>
    <p>I guess I share your similar feelings as far as laptops which is why I use a chromebook over windows (or even mac) in my personal life.</p>

  • 3270

    Premium Member
    30 November, 2016 - 3:14 pm

    <p>People too often confused good UX with familiarity. &nbsp;I’m not sure what to say about performance, but a 70 dollar phone is hardly high end. &nbsp;I don’t really understand the issues you had with notifications, unless Blue does something to them in their android build.</p>

  • 5530

    30 November, 2016 - 3:27 pm

    <p><em>Some are circle, some are squared</em></p>
    <p>Oh, diehard Windows Phone fans.</p>

    • 165

      Premium Member
      01 January, 2017 - 12:49 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28013">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/FalseAgent">FalseAgent</a><a href="#28013">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>it is about consistency…</p>

      • 5530

        02 January, 2017 - 10:03 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#33096">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/RonH">RonH</a><a href="#33096">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>yes, consistency about superficial stuff totally matters.</p>

  • 6169

    30 November, 2016 - 3:54 pm

    <p>It is funny how we come full-circle.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Windows Mobile OS (6.5) lost to iOS, supposedly, because it offered too much customization/complexity and menus.&nbsp; iOS just worked and was "simple".</p>
    <p>Now Android is the one offering full customization/complexity and owns the smartphone market.</p>
    <p>So, the "excuse" is that Windows does not have "apps".&nbsp; Microsoft tried to make it easy to port apps over, but the hatred of MS by so many in the tech community has created a new form of racism aimed at anything MS.</p>
    <p>Windows Phone is more secure, easier to use and better to integrate with your Windows PC than either Apple or Google.&nbsp; That is where MS needs to focus its efforts.</p>
    <p>Show people how easy it is and help them convert.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 3270

      Premium Member
      30 November, 2016 - 4:22 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28019">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Erik Latranyi">Erik Latranyi</a><a href="#28019">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Except no one cares about integrating with a windows PC anymore. &nbsp;It’s all about the cloud.</p>

      • 165

        Premium Member
        01 January, 2017 - 12:48 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28043">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/shanepbrady">shanepbrady</a><a href="#28043">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>It would not be "integrating with a windows PC&nbsp;", it would be a pc…</p>

    • 1413

      Premium Member
      16 December, 2016 - 6:50 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28019">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Erik Latranyi">Erik Latranyi</a><a href="#28019">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Unfortunately that’s not going to happen. I was/am a huge Windows fan, and tried to sell Windows Phone 7/8 to anyone who could hear me.</p>
      <p>The elephant in the room is apps – Google and iOS have won the fight, time to accept it. MS should concentrate on the enterprise and leave the consumer space. There’s just no point – but in the enterprise it could excel.</p>
      <p>My workplace has Windows Phones, if they do ARM based devices, capable of running Win32 apps like they’re showing recently – this could be a killer enterprise feature.</p>

  • 5601

    30 November, 2016 - 10:20 pm

    <p>I have had an iPhone an android phone but for me the best phone is the Windows phone I just love it I will run this phone into the ground before I give it up Guess I am just a diehard windows phone fan LONG LIVE MY WINDOWS PHONE</p>

  • 3322

    01 December, 2016 - 11:19 am

    <p>Amen! While the rest of my family with their Android phones says "look at all of these apps you don’t have". I respond with "look how quick and easy and fast it is for me to get to the apps I actually use!". Oh, and with Hello on my Alcatel Idol 4S w/Windows, I don’t even have to type my PIN. Uber, Edge, Outlook, texting, email, continuum…all of those apps work great. So when you mention "availability of apps", which apps do you _need_ that Windows mobile does not have?</p>

    • 5615

      02 December, 2016 - 3:46 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28168">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28168">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>"which apps do you _need_ that Windows mobile does not have?"</p>
      <p>I’m sure you’ll find as many answers as there are smartphone users. Everyone will have that "one" app that they "need" that doesn’t exist in a Windows Phone version. In my case, it was Google Voice.</p>
      <p>I switched to a Lumia 630 from a Nexus 4 and used the Lumia as my main phone for almost a year and a half. During that time, probably 80% to 90% of the apps I used regularly on Android existed on Windows Phone. It’s no secret, though, that almost no Google apps were available in Windows Phone versions. In most cases, you could just use the web version of the Google app. It was often inconvenient to do so, but it was doable. However, that was not the case with Google Voice. To use Google Voice on the web (rather than the app) you needed an extension. No mobile browsers support such extensions. Therefore, no Google Voice on Windows Phone. That ended up being the "one" app that was the deal-killer for Windows Phone for me.</p>
      <p>It also didn’t help that Skype was broken and unusable for me on Windows Phone. So if I wanted to use Google Voice and Skype (reliably), Windows Phone was out.</p>

      • 3322

        02 December, 2016 - 5:12 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28276">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/offTheRecord">offTheRecord</a><a href="#28276">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Google Voice? Is that voice to text? My wife uses Google Voice to Text, it stinks. She loved her Cortana and Windows 10 voice-to-text. IF it’s just that functionality (voice assistant, whatever), Windows does have that in Cortana, and my wife and I believe Cortana works better than Google in that aspect.</p>

        • 5615

          03 December, 2016 - 5:00 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28370">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28370">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>No, Google Voice is not voice to text. Voice to text is one of the features of Google Voice that you can choose to use. I don’t use voice to text, so I can’t comment on how well it may or may not work relative to any other comparable service.</p>
          <p>Google Voice is a virtual telephony service: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice</a&gt;. I’ve been using it for years and have found it to be much better than something like Skype, especially when travelling. No matter where in the world I am, I can make free phone calls and send SMS/MMS messages free to any US and Canadian phone number and receive calls and SMS/MMS messages to my free US Google Voice number. If I need to call or text an international number, the cost to do so using Google Voice is much lower than it is with Skype. In my experience, call quality has been very good. And, since it’s integrated with Hangouts, I can do this from any Android or iOS device and any PC. It has become an almost indispensable service.</p>
          <p>This greatly oversimplifies things, but a general way to think about Google Voice is to compare it to Project Fi (in fact, a lot of underlying Fi functionality is basically just Google Voice). With some notable feature exceptions, Google Voice and Project Fi are basically the same underlying service except that Project Fi includes the network connection (for a monthly fee) whereas with Google Voice (which is free) you have to supply your own network connection.</p>

    • 8819

      02 December, 2016 - 10:28 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28168">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28168">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>"which apps do you _need_ that Windows mobile does not have?"</p>
      <p>1.&nbsp; The app for my bank to allow me to take pictures of checks for deposits</p>
      <p>2. The app for the train I take to work sometimes that allows for schedules, notifications, and buying tickets</p>
      <p>3. The app for my garage door opener</p>
      <p>4. The parking app I use at parking garages for discounts and QRD codes</p>
      <p>5. The southwest app for when I fly</p>
      <p>6. The apps my company makes for time and expense reporting</p>
      <p>7.&nbsp;The app for my grocery store that I use for coupons&nbsp;</p>
      <p>8.&nbsp;The app for the IT training site I use</p>
      <p>9. The app for the alarm system on my home</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <p>That about covers it.&nbsp; I am a huge windows phone fan, but there’s&nbsp;a point when many of us had to move on.</p>

      • 3322

        02 December, 2016 - 5:22 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28294">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/TechnologyTemperance">TechnologyTemperance</a><a href="#28294">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>1. I have that (Bank of America) on Wmobile</p>
        <p>2. Nope, have to use web site. :(</p>
        <p>3. whoa, I don’t have a smart garage. However, I do have Cox HomeLife (security), and they told me when I got the service (1 1/2 yrs ago) that they were making a WIndows Phone app for it. I keep checking, and nope they still do not have it. Will they ever? Probably not, unless they come up with a UWP to reach Win10 tablet/PC users.</p>
        <p>4. Nope. Don’t have that. I can do QR codes, though.</p>
        <p>5. Not really on Windows Phone. Yeah, have to use the web browser.</p>
        <p>6.&nbsp; Nope. Of course, I could use Citrix on my phone to work, but it’s still too small of a display.</p>
        <p>7. Not an app, but web page.</p>
        <p>8. Used to have a PluralSite app for Windows phone. They yanked it without telling anybody. About that, I’m ticked!</p>
        <p>I feel ya. I have not quite hit the breaking point for moving on. Did I mention that I love Continuum? (ugh, I am really reaching to defend WM….sorry). Good points.</p>
        <p>But I do have Netflix, Windows Hello, Work email, Maps (Here, which is quite good!), Uber, Weateher, OneDrive, podcasts, Avis, MSBand, Pandora, Kindle, Citrix, TOkens (VIP, RSA), Travel app for work (CWT to go), Facebook, Gas Buddy, Guitar Tuner, Guitar Tab, Hulu, Hertz, Linked In, Skype, TripIt, NBC News, etc. None of those are exclusive to WM, though. But at least I have _them_.</p>

        • 8819

          04 December, 2016 - 11:11 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28371">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28371">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>Yeah, it was really the commuting apps (parking/trains/flights) that put me over along with the dying hardware selection in the mid range.&nbsp; Sure their are workarounds and 3rd party apps, but why work harder?&nbsp; I got a Moto G and run Nokia’s Z launcher and am really happy.&nbsp; I do miss email on WP, still the best to bang those out.</p>

      • 9281

        15 December, 2016 - 9:14 am

        <p><em><a href="#28294">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/TechnologyTemperance">TechnologyTemperance</a><a href="#28294">:</a></em></p>
        <blockquote><em>1. I don’t use checks anymore. Everything is electronic.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>2. The last time I took a train anywhere was for the short time I was in D.C.&nbsp; NEVER. AGAIN.&nbsp; I’ll walk, drive or take a cab.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>3. We don’t have a garage.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>4. My city doesn’t have paid parking lots, and the rare times I go to a city that does (San Antonio, MAYBE once a year)&nbsp;there aren’t any sort of "discounts".</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>5. Cortana is able to handle pretty everything I need handled for the rare times we fly anywhere (again, maybe yearly if we go on a scuba diving trip somewhere).</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>6. My job relies almost exclusively on web-based systems.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>7. I don’t do coupons.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>8. See #6.</em></blockquote>
        <blockquote><em>9.&nbsp;I use the Alarm.com app on Windows Phone to control my security/home automation system.</em></blockquote>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 1792

      03 December, 2016 - 9:04 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28168">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28168">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>The apps Windowsphone doesn’t have for me;</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <p>1. Banking app that allows me to send money to people on the move.</p>
      <p>2. Paypal</p>
      <p>3. Bitcoin apps</p>
      <p>4. NFC payments via my debit card</p>
      <p>5. Transit timetable app</p>
      <p>6. Bus mobile ticketing app</p>
      <p>7. BBC Weather app</p>
      <p>8. Quidco online cashback app.</p>
      <p>9. Google services.</p>
      <p>10. Local taxi company app.</p>
      <p>11. Maps app that is accurate.</p>
      <p>12. Weswap travel money app</p>
      <p>13. Spotify app that allows casting to home devices from my Spotify subscription</p>
      <p>and a few lesser used others.</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <p>Also the apps that do exist are several generations behind Android and IOS.&nbsp;</p>
      <p>However I love my Lumia 930 and 950. Every so often I put the sim back in them and try to survive for a week… its tough with a lot of workarounds. It’s so tough having a Windowsphone as a daily driver I can see why normal users stick to Android.</p>

      • 124

        Premium Member
        03 December, 2016 - 1:36 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28394">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ponsaelius">ponsaelius</a><a href="#28394">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Windows store does have PayPal….just sayin</p>

        • 5496

          03 December, 2016 - 2:20 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28418">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lwetzel">lwetzel</a><a href="#28418">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>And PayPal also work just fine on a mobile site.</p>

  • 8798

    01 December, 2016 - 12:40 pm

    <p>I also prefer Windows phone. I just want to add that it’s also necessary to secure your phone and private data from internet fraudsters. I think <a href="https://www.bestvpnrating.com/vpnrating/best-vpns-windows">VPN security</a>&nbsp;apps&nbsp;are must-have for all the windows phone&nbsp;users.&nbsp;As for me, I’ve already downloaded ExpressVPN and I’m completely satisfied with its work.</p>

  • 187

    01 December, 2016 - 1:15 pm

    <p>I would like a way to save website as an app on mobile – rather than in the brower. Esp for airlines in Europe like easyjet or Ryanair who have decent mobile friendly websites.</p>

    • 661

      01 December, 2016 - 2:32 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28196">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/LuxuryTravelled">LuxuryTravelled</a><a href="#28196">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>unsure what you mean exactly but you can pin a website to the screen and launch it like an app</p>
      <p>that is what I do for my bank and TripIt</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 8812

    01 December, 2016 - 9:44 pm

    <p>My wife and I had several Windows phones and loved them. But reality set in and we finally opted last spring to go for the new Samsung S7 Edge. Seriously… there is no comparison. It’s just a better phone all round. We can do so many more things in our home because the apps that are now available which previously we had dismissed as unimportant simply make our lives much easier. It took about two weeks to adapt but there is no going back now.&nbsp;</p>

  • 206

    02 December, 2016 - 11:06 am

    <p>I have all 3 phone platforms that I bounce between. &nbsp;iPhone 6 16GB (a little dated, yes), Galaxy S6 128GB &amp; Idol 4S. &nbsp;I just like playing with mobile tech. &nbsp;I can honestly say that whenever I switch, I do have a day or 2 of frustration when I’m retraining my brain to use that device.</p>
    <p>Here’s my 2 cents…a ‘cheap’ Blu phone is a poor representation of Android. &nbsp;Blu’s Vivo 5R is a premium device at a mid-ranger price point and a better representation of ‘good’ Android. &nbsp;The Advance 5.0 HD is a terrible device, full stop. &nbsp;Even Blu phones have a UI skin on them that you’ll either like or dislike. &nbsp;I even dislike Android on my really nice Galaxy S6. &nbsp;However, its important to remember that the only way to try pure Android is on a Nexus/Pixel or other truly unmolested phone. &nbsp;All the other manufacture’s skin/tweak their phones in a way that only seems to ruin Andoird IMO. &nbsp;Though I do like HTC’s front end quite a bit…also a Vertical App Drawer btw…</p>
    <p>I think you’d like HTC’s Android products better, and find that you have to do far less tweaking with them as I have.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;Apple is a great product if you can afford it.</p>
    <p>I like my Idol 4S a lot btw, and its been my daily driver since I got it. &nbsp;Though in fairness, it has some compromises, some pretty serious on the App/Functional side. &nbsp;Camera is good, not great. &nbsp;My work won’t sync to it (where my 950 does) so I’m completely in the dark on work calendar &amp; emails. &nbsp;So…that is a very serious flaw right now. &nbsp;Its a Mobile Iron issue that would never have been allowed out the door if Mobile Iron knew it was an Android or iOS issue honestly. &nbsp;Again, WM10 has such low market share that they just didn’t bother to fix it before releasing their product. &nbsp;Its just the ‘price’ of being on a WM10.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 3322

      02 December, 2016 - 5:09 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28299">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/EnterMegatron99">EnterMegatron99</a><a href="#28299">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Say, I’m having issues with my Idol4S w/Windows accessing my work email as well, and I thought it was something with my work. Interesting that we’re using AirWatch, and it just will not complete enrollment (and it worked fine on my Lumia Icon). I can’t find anything on Airwatch about this issue. Interesting that same hardware we both have, different mobile device management tools, and neither of them work! </p>

      • 206

        03 December, 2016 - 4:55 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28369">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/dylanmcneill">dylanmcneill</a><a href="#28369">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Yep, ok, so what my Mobile guy says is that the WM10 ‘broke’ the ability for the MDM solutions to recognize our PIN password length. &nbsp;(This is at my shop.) So, when the MDM software checks to make sure my PIN is 6 digits or greater, AU doesn’t return a valid number? (Or length value?). &nbsp; So it fails to sync. &nbsp;I can enroll my device, but it won’t sync. &nbsp;Gives the error about device not being secured or something.</p>
        <p>That seems to be BS though b/c my 950 is on the exact same release and is enrolled just fine.</p>

        • 3322

          12 December, 2016 - 12:44 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#28441">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/EnterMegatron99">EnterMegatron99</a><a href="#28441">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>I think perhaps BS as well. My Nokia Lumia Icon enrolled just fine a while ago. My MDM folks had me reset my phone (don’t restore settings) and ensure that Airwatch is the first thing (after using my Microsoft account) installed. I did such, but could not enroll. I get hung up on the Enrollment page (white screen, blue bar, as if there is a form there that simply will not render). This looks like an MS enrollment page, btw (like the "enroll in workplace" setting). It has to be this phone doesn’t work with Airwatch. I have no PINs set, btw. </p>

  • 7102

    03 December, 2016 - 1:48 am

    <p>I used Windows Phone before. Now on android with a Sony Xperia XZ. Its not just about the apps. Its also about the Internet Of Things, the connected home and so on, the new gadgets are often only supported by iOS and Android.</p>
    <p>(like Ring Video Doorbell as an example)</p>
    <p>In that area Windows have falling way behind.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 124

      Premium Member
      03 December, 2016 - 1:38 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28382">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/johnh3">johnh3</a><a href="#28382">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Every link to IoT devices in the home is an opening to hacking.&nbsp; Just sayin.</p>

      • 7102

        04 December, 2016 - 2:14 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28419">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lwetzel">lwetzel</a><a href="#28419">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>I suppose thats a risk but as a android or iOS user I atleast have a choiche. It not just IoT thats lacking support. Recently Amtrak and eBay pulled off their apps from Windows 10 Mobile, so the UWP app development seems to struggle to.</p>
        <p>As I understand it all Microsoft Lumias will not be sold in 2017, so december will be the last chance to get one. In the future the only choice will be if HP, Alcatel and other OEM,s releasing any phones. So my bet are that the low marketshare for Windows 10 Mobile will going down to almost 0% in 2017.</p>

      • 5812

        Premium Member
        07 December, 2016 - 3:42 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28419">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lwetzel">lwetzel</a><a href="#28419">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>You can say that about anything like your computer and laptop. Lets face it. If someone wants your data or you they can get it. Ever seen "Enemy of the State"? You don’t think it still that easy for the gov or anyone with training break into your house, car, and any other place you go to put cameras, recording devices, and whatever else they wanted without you even having a clue. If you stay away from something just because something could happen then your missing out. Yes there is responsibility that each of us have to do the best we can to protect ourselves but you don’t have to hide in a bomb shelter.</p>
        <p>Just saying.</p>

      • 5496

        08 December, 2016 - 9:20 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#28419">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lwetzel">lwetzel</a><a href="#28419">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>It you change the default password on the IOT device, and have you home wifi secured with a password. You wouldn’t have 99.9% of these IOT devices getting hacked.</p>
        <p>Whenever I hear about IOT devices getting hack, it’s because they left their wifi password off. or didn’t change it from the delault password, and didn’t change the default password for that IOT device.</p>

    • 5730

      12 December, 2016 - 6:48 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28382">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/johnh3">johnh3</a><a href="#28382">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Well, Ring Doorbell/Camera app is one example where they <em>do</em> offer a Windows 10 Universal app (phone, PC) – so there’s at least one app Windows Phone users can’t complain about :)</p>

  • 5496

    03 December, 2016 - 10:56 am

    <p>If Microsoft doesn’t care about Windows Phone like you people are saying. Then why do they have the insiders program and are constantly updating it?</p>

    • 1792

      14 December, 2016 - 11:49 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28404">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#28404">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Windows 10 Mobile is now just a compiler option. There is close to zero development. Just enough to keep the market share of 0.1% going.</p>

      • 2371

        14 December, 2016 - 1:54 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#30415">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ponsaelius">ponsaelius</a><a href="#30415">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>It is more than a compiler option.&nbsp; It is a place holder and an environment/shell Microsoft will both learn from and take from for the Windows 10 ARM edition.&nbsp; I would bet any UWP that works on W10M will work on W10ARM.&nbsp; 6" Phablets running W10ARM will replace W10M.&nbsp; Until that happens Microsoft will continue to slowly evolve W10M, but I am betting they are putting more into W10ARM right now.&nbsp; I wonder if any of the newer W10M phones will be upgraded, especially the ones with 820 processers.</p>

  • 8846

    04 December, 2016 - 9:24 am

    <p>So here’s a general question to the group.&nbsp; We know the pro’s &amp; con’s for the Windows phone platform.&nbsp; No need to rehash.&nbsp; I purchased the 930 specifically at the time because I had some Amazon credit, I liked the windows phone platform and I wanted a really good camera.&nbsp; After close to 2 years, and after many little drops, doesn’t thing take a wrong bounce and crack the screen.&nbsp; To repair will cost about $180+taxes.&nbsp; I do have some Amazon gift certificates.&nbsp; I have no interest in paying 500-600 for 950 or 950 XL.&nbsp; I would prefer to stick with the Windows platform.&nbsp; Do I ‘downgrade’ and get the 650 for $99, go shopping on Amazon for the 1520 for $300-$400 (before gift certificates), do I try to find another 930, or is there another phone in the $300+ range, ideally on Amazon that has similar camera capabilities to the 930 that maybe isn’t a Windows phone?</p>
    <p>What say thee?</p>

    • 5615

      04 December, 2016 - 10:24 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28487">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/johncon50">johncon50</a><a href="#28487">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>You should probably consider asking this in a new post. This one is almost a week old. A different post with a more relevant title might attract more useful replies.</p>

    • 5027

      08 December, 2016 - 12:01 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28487">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/johncon50">johncon50</a><a href="#28487">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>If you prefer Windows Phone, take advantage of the huge deals on Lumia 950 and 950XL at the moment while it is still possible I’d say.&nbsp;</p>

    • 3842

      02 January, 2017 - 2:24 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#28487">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/johncon50">johncon50</a><a href="#28487">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>It’s pretty easy to pick up a new 950(xl) in the $250 plus USD price range. </p>

  • 5812

    Premium Member
    07 December, 2016 - 3:58 pm

    <p>You say "I use a 4 digital pin on Windows Phone. So after I put in the pin, it logs me right in.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>On Android, after I put in the pin, I have to hit the check mark to finish it(like an enter key)."</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>There is a security reason for this and it makes sense. If someone is trying to break into your phone you can guess how much easier it is to guess you pin when you don’t have to hit the checkmark.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Example. Your pin is 667766. On windows phone a person could enter 6677 and say it didn’t take it so that’s no it and say lets try 66 again and boom your in. On Android you only get so many tries so if you have to use the check mark that takes a try away where on windows phone it makes it so much easier to crack. It just is simply easier.</p>

    • 5496

      08 December, 2016 - 9:23 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#29084">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Nicholas_Kathrein">Nicholas_Kathrein</a><a href="#29084">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>You only have a certain amount of tries before it erases itself and resets the phone.</p>
      <p>By default, I think it’s 10 time on both.</p>

  • 5496

    14 December, 2016 - 3:14 pm

    <p>People, get it through your thick skulls. Not everyone cares about apps.</p>

    • 8121

      18 December, 2016 - 3:16 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#30463">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#30463">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Simply far more do and that’s the end of that. Thick skulls? Nice passive aggressive evangelical hill to hold.</p>

  • 6242

    Premium Member
    15 December, 2016 - 4:49 pm

    <p>I think we have a new paradigm for phones with Microsoft’s ARM platform announcement. Overnight they have&nbsp;made smart&nbsp;phones dumb&nbsp;phones…in relation to a solution that&nbsp;can be a true full fledged computer&nbsp;in a handheld format. The game is just starting to heat up.</p>
    <p>Also think of the door the announcement has opened – consumers unwilling to leave their iPhones not for apps but for iTunes…well now you have iTunes on a Windows phone coming. Issue solved. No chrome on your&nbsp;phone…issue solved with Chrome&nbsp;now&nbsp;available. Strategically MS has finally found a solution that will work for a large segment of phone users to move from&nbsp;iOS or Android.</p>

    • 5496

      15 December, 2016 - 8:03 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#30705">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/VancouverNinja">VancouverNinja</a><a href="#30705">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Windows on ARM is not going to be a desktop is on a phone. </p>
      <p>A phone is too small to run regular desktop apps. Because win32 apps will not scale to a phone app. Or even good enough to use on a phone.</p>

      • 6242

        Premium Member
        16 December, 2016 - 3:23 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#30721">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/lordbaal1">lordbaal1</a><a href="#30721">:</a> You are right. However they are driving at the ultimate "mobile device" that will run x32/x64 legacy apps and just happen to have cellular capabilities. If that Snapdragon can reside in a 4 – 6 inch form&nbsp;they most likely have a few unspoken tricks up their sleeve.&nbsp;It&nbsp;will be interesting to see how it unfolds. I am betting they are going to show off a phone that has a few surprises when it comes to running legacy software beyond the continuum feature. &nbsp;</em></blockquote>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 5108

    16 December, 2016 - 7:13 am

    <p>I feel your pain. Sadly good design doesn’t equal an advertising juggernaut. Despite some people saying otherwise, I’ll stick with&nbsp;WP for a while. I don’t need the&nbsp;apps that others whine for. I need a phone that does the functions I need, and&nbsp;my WP does that.&nbsp;</p>

  • 1687

    Premium Member
    16 December, 2016 - 1:29 pm

    <p>I was a windows phone fan since the beginning, but&nbsp;one year ago I needed to change to Android due to my company adopting Google for Work.&nbsp; Here are a few high level thoughts on the experience after 1 year:</p>
    <p>1)&nbsp; I replaced a Lumia 650 with a ZTE Maven.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both were&nbsp;purchased for $40 each off contract.&nbsp; The ZTE Maven was simply unusable, the phone was painfully slow and I ran out of storage before installing all the Microsoft apps.&nbsp; (Takeaway:&nbsp; Windows 10 mobile&nbsp;runs much better at cheap price points)</p>
    <p>2)&nbsp; I then replaced the ZTE Maven with a Samsung Galaxy S6.&nbsp; This was much snappier and had enough storage of course.&nbsp; Still I showed the UI (standard &amp; Arrow launcher) to my non-techy wife who had a Lumia 635 and when looking at the icons and widgets she just said, "it looks old".</p>
    <p>3)&nbsp; I do enjoy using voice commands to take pictures on the S6.&nbsp; Say "Cheese" :)</p>
    <p>4)&nbsp; I was not able to add my Outlook calendar to the Google calendar, so I needed a 3rd party calendar app.</p>
    <p>5)&nbsp; I do miss live tiles.&nbsp; I use widgets, but you cannot fit as many of them on the screen.</p>
    <p>In general I use my phone for:&nbsp; calls, text, email, calendar, weather, news, facebook, amazon, taking photos/video, browsing the web.</p>
    <p>A year later I have the S6 set up in a manner that works, but I do pick up my wife’s phone (now my old Lumia 650) with nostalgia.&nbsp; If I had the opportunity I would likely try to&nbsp;switch back, and be interested to know if I would&nbsp;miss Android.</p>

  • 2611

    Premium Member
    16 December, 2016 - 4:45 pm

    <p>Impressive how much write-up this thread has received on one user going back to his $30 L640 from a $70 android phone.&nbsp; Ok if your old gadget still meets your needs, but not worth trying to make a case for it being relevant.&nbsp; I still use Media Center because for some reason MS still feeds it guide data (shhh, don’t tell them), but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone now.&nbsp; My kids still use old WPs for media players, but I wouldn’t recommend WP to anyone now.</p>

    • 5496

      17 December, 2016 - 9:06 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#30900">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ben55124">ben55124</a><a href="#30900">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Well, Windows Phone works better for me then android.</p>
      <p>The other thing is that 2 apps that I also use on Windows Phone, accuweather and weather bug.</p>
      <p>Even though both of them opened faster in android, once you get in the app, the navigation was slower then on Windows Phone.</p>
      <p>Another thing was also, battery life sucked. Even though it had a smaller one, it used double to triple what my 640 did. How i use Phones, I can change it like once every 3-4 days. With blu, I had to charge it almost everyday, or every other day.</p>

    • 6242

      Premium Member
      01 January, 2017 - 9:28 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#30900">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/ben55124">ben55124</a><a href="#30900">:</a> For some people it is just a matter of not wanting to us&nbsp;the other two operating systems. Windows is simply&nbsp;a much nicer platform, than&nbsp;iOS or Android, to use.</em></blockquote>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 5510

    20 December, 2016 - 10:04 am

    <p>Your behavior is that of the typical "new user." Especially, one who is forcing himself to like something. &nbsp;Lol…I did the same exact thing when I experienced my Verizon Microsoft Lumia for the first few weeks. I couldn’t squat with my Windows phone. I was so used to all the power and fun of Android as it was the hub of my digital life.&nbsp;</p>

    • 6242

      Premium Member
      01 January, 2017 - 9:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#31269">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/Bats">Bats</a><a href="#31269">:</a> That&nbsp;is sardonic, yes? "…all the power and fun of Android…".&nbsp;</em></blockquote>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 9201

    05 January, 2017 - 9:50 am

    <p>Just bought a Lumia 650 to replace my three year old plus 925. Great device for such a cheap price &pound;95 here in the UK. Better looking than many mid Tier and 950 phone.</p>
    <p>I have&nbsp; nexus phone to develop and test Android Apps etc, but Android is still butt ugly to use. Not into Apple, but the icon centric approach really doesn’t appeal.&nbsp; I guess I am unusual as I am not so desperate for the latest and obscure Apps, which is really what Android, iOS really offer.</p>
    <p>I am just wanting an inspiring phone, and&nbsp;that means a&nbsp;Lumia</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

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