Software suggestions? - Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile General

I've been away from the WinMo space since my Universal crapped out on me - since then I've been a reasonably happy Symbian then iPhone user for a number of years.
Don't infer anything from that. I'm a deep nerd and the one thing I really like about WinMo is the platform's relative openness, and the fact that a LOT of software is available for it.
I just bought me a Rhodium from Expansys, in all its unlocked and carrier-uncustomized glory.
I've decided to disable Touch Flo 3D (Low-Flo 3D, ha-ha), and I the phone is now better and snappier. I'm pondering next steps.
So what is your top list for apps on this phone? Free stuff preferred, but I absolutely don't mind paying for good apps.
Especially interested in good desktop remote control (the TS client is clunky), but anything goes: from dialers through backup to games.
TIA

Related

Rant. WP7, TP2, Nexus, Android etc

Just figured I'ld post this to weigh in.
I love WM. The TP was actually my first WMPhone and I really loved customizing it, ROMs, and in general HTC as a company. Easy tethering, tons of detail, thousands of programs. I hated the TP battery, waited six months for the TP2 to finally come out and changed to Tmo just to not wait anymore. Obviously, I'm a (relatively new) fan.
However, in all my reading and browsing, and mixing and matching Roms and programs, I got annoyed with the endless glitches. It seemed customizing was a chore to fill gaps half the time. And so I waited to hear about WP7.
On a random decision, after loading DualBoot and Android on my TP2, I bought a Nexus One just to have the Snapdragon and multitouch (HD2 announced for Tmo like 3 days later lol). But I kept my ears open for WP7 and totally expected to move back in October.
I know you guys are all WinMo, but to be honest this has to be a common feeling. Look how popular Android on TP has become. We have been looking for something, but wanting it to be windows.
So, the point: my experience.
A.) the nexus one has made me sorely miss a keyboard. However other than that I actually like it. The battery is at least equal to TP2. Things that are chores on WMo are easy on Android, like Fbook integration of contacts and maintaining stability. Having several open programs is such a non-issue battery wise and slowdown wise that there isnt even a freaking task manager or close program button. You have to download a program, and its not that common. You just leave everything open. Zero slowdown. Same battery, more or less. I don't think its superior to WM, more like a close cousin that doesnt share the bad family traits. In the present climate, Android is very similar to WM.
B.) and now the hard part. WP7 looks nice. Looks great actually. Devices will surely be as cool as always. But set aside your loyalty and look: what do you tell your friends you like about WM, why you stay with it? Customization. Open program downloading and creation. EFFORTLESS MULTITASKING. Endless differentiation between companies, UI's, and phones. Where the $%^& is what we love in WP7? Complicated, apparently limited, multitasking that sounds too much like Iphone. Closed development. Limited, almost meaningless so far, customization. Closed App environment. The best anyone can come up with so far about differentiation is adding freaking keyboards and hardware colors. Does anyone now wonder why HTC started shifting more support, and Sense, to Android?
As much as I hate to say it, I will probably stick with Android unless WP7 pulls something great out. It looks great, but so does the Iphone and that is not something I consider wanting. My nexus one has everything I love about htc, and adds in perfect stability and customization. Hardly anyone bothers posting apps online, but only because the Market lets basically anything in! Tethering apps, rooting apps, whatever. Let's face it: Microsoft appears to be spurning its loyal fanbase. And Google is waiting with open arms.
WP7 does not appeal to me at this time with its current UI. They should have hired SPB mobile shell to create their UI.
I like most droid devices (not the motodroid) and the OS is extremely responsive and easy to understand. Haven't done any detailed work w/ the andoird OS, but WinMo customization is what keeps me here.
I agree Trev.
I believe the software industry, much like the music and film (big and small screens) industries, is changing. Open source is the way forwards as people are more able to communicate with each other the need for centralised programming is going to more and more take a back seat.
This means margins will be cut and I'll be supprised if MS, being such a large organisation will be able to keep up. Maybe this the reason for the speculation on WM7 being locked down, so they can have a greater control over revenues. I've read an article which mentioned that MS consider Linux to be a virus that gets into profitable areas of business and destroys the margins. That attitude won't get them anywhere.
I don't think WM7 will have anything new. MS are in the business of preserving what they have and not winning new customers. WM7 will be safe, not amazing.
Android is new so nothing is set in stone. It will be more flexible, open to new ideas and will grow it's market share. They let pretty much anything into their app store which will allow anyone to have a go, not just a centralised "elite". This will help to keep it new too because it's not just the same people going through the motions because it pays the bills. The is what keeps this forum alive.
The MS business model is dying and being replaced with something that's better for the consumer. Much like the short haul airline industry changed
trevorwhopkins said:
Just figured I'ld post this to weigh in.
Let's face it: Microsoft appears to be spurning its loyal fanbase. And Google is waiting with open arms.
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Absolutely right! Wouldn't surprise me if google is working on an OS for the pc. If they are I would be scared if I were MS.
On another note, i'm not sure what people mean when they compare winmo to android customization. You can customize android just as much as you can custimize winmo. Do these people ever visit the android forums and see all the customization people are doing with their android phones? Any hard core winmo fan will not miss customization moving from winmo to android. I just think some people are having a hard time letting go.
I have also felt like this for a while. Mainly due to being given an MSM7200 for 3 years! Sure there is the HD2 with the snapdragon but that doesn't have AT&T 3G bands and a couple other WM phones with it too, but none that I like.
I would have switched to Android (and still will) if a phone comes out that meets these requirements:
1) WVGA Screen
2) Snapdragon
3) NICE keyboard, comparable to TP2. This is the best keyboard I have ever used.
4) AT&T 3G bands.
The only phone that comes close is the Motorola Milestone on Telus (unlockable). It doesn't have a snapdragon but a decent processor. Its keyboard also sucks.
Google do have an OS. It's called Chrome, like the browser, and it based on Ubuntu.
And Microsoft seems to be basing their business on people not letting go. It's sad really, I wish they'd try harder
I would not care if my Tilt 2 came with Android or WinMO to be honest. They are overall about the same to me.
I got the Tilt 2 because I wanted a qwerty keyboard, with a large very high quality touch screen as well. And I did not want an internal HD like iPhones, I want interchangeable light weight cheap storage cards! That gives me unlimited storage. All that, on AT&Ts service plan.
It did not hurt that it cost me $50 to upgrade from my Fuze to the Tilt 2!
If Microsoft would open up WinMO so the different phone manufactures could customize the OS for each phone, companies like HTC could do amazing things with WinMO.
I honestly wish HTC would update their software for their phones more often.
Keep TILT2 or wait a few more months???
Deleted due to duplication Here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5679065#post5679065
enahs_ said:
I would not care if my Tilt 2 came with Android or WinMO to be honest. They are overall about the same to me.
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I disagree. But then again, they keyword here is "me". To you they're overall the same. Which is somewhat of a true statement. They both lend themselves to customization and both have plenty of funtionality. But where Android sets itself apart is speed and stability, which I would take anyday. What good is a phone that has all this functionality, when half the time the functionality doesn't function properly or you have to tweak the hell out of the OS to get it to work properly.
So, So true
I remember feeling a weird sort of guilt for liking Android so much when I got my N1. I had spent so much time on my TP2 to get it right and the N1 came "right", right out of the box. Granted full free tethering(with free options) was not there, but everything else is. I think the guilt was all the time, I don't want to say it.... wasted.
I remember starting a thread that really ticked a lot of people off. Just mentioning how Android was what real functionality and customization should be like and BAM!, flame city.
When it was just Windows Mobile or another smartphone option(you can name them), there was no choice. Now with Android, I feel I have made the most equitable of the choices. And the little pleasures of the choice I have made are the reason that it would take a game changer of a WindowsPhone7 to make me think of going back. The lack of weekly(with the best of Roms) or daily resets(just to keep the phone fresh), glitches, memory leaks(a given), freezes, weird pauses and the like, which rank as my largest pet peeves, are my joys with Android. I have reset the phone twice in 3 weeks only to change a memory card and another time just because. Not one freeze, slowdown, memory leak, not in what's going on a month, which I can't say of the TP2 in the same time period. Which was the motivation to flash it. After agreeing on the almost overwhelmingly unanimous feeling that it was the best shipped Rom in a long time!
Yeah, no more of that for me , thanks....
I agree. If Windows "Phone" 7 is going to be as rigid as the other mobile operating systems are now; where's the fun in that? Personally, what NRGZ28 has done with his EnergyROMs especially his most latest is why I bought this device in the first place; he did remarkable work with the Wing. That's me! The work these folks do is nothing short of outstanding; all of them. Now, I don't know enough about the Android devices other than there is a whole lot of folks liking them but everybody I've talked to who looks at what I've done to my TP2; their eyeballs and tongue roll out of their heads; they can't believe it can be done and with the latest ROM I have on my device at first glance they think they're looking at the HD2 (Leo). If Windows "Phone" 7 (I'll never get use to calling it that) is going to follow the path of everybody else then you're probably going to see the bulk of us jump ship; but what cannot be dismissed is are we the majority or are we the minority? My Wing was living proof Windows Mobile 6.5 could run on it as were many of the Windows Mobile devices out there at the time. But smart phones like desktops are becoming as powerful as netbooks today; maybe notebooks. I've had my desktop PC for years but clearly the software today is forcing me to consider a new PC with 4, 6 and 8 GBs of RAM; my current PC maxes out at 512mbs. I've read good reviews about Windows Phone 7 and the moment the HD2 comes out I want it, but I also know the market is going to be flooded with TP2s and they will come down in price as they've already have now from $349.99 to $269.99. What is unknown is how much will the HD2 costs given it's horsepower and upgrades to the US market. We all have to remember there are other devices that will be released after the HD2, for example the Tera, looks like the TP2 with a 600mhz CPU. There is the HD Mini, smaller than it's bigger brother and I'm sure there will be a TP2 style device with the 1GHz Snapdragon maybe clocked higher. I kill to have a HD2, but I also know it is wise to wait. I have read nothing that says it won't be upgraded to Windows Phone 7, though with the exception of XDA, PPC Geeks and other websites; it might be awhile. I've had Windows Mobile 6.5 on my TP2 day one and then on my Wing; it didn't officially release until when; January 20, 2010.
"I would not care if my Tilt 2 came with Android or WinMO to be honest. They are overall about the same to me."
That is the feeling I generally got. I dualbooted android on my TP2 and basically still loved the phone for exact same reasons.
"I remember feeling a weird sort of guilt for liking Android so much when I got my N1. I had spent so much time on my TP2 to get it right and the N1 came "right", right out of the box. Granted full free tethering(with free options) was not there, but everything else is. I think the guilt was all the time, I don't want to say it.... wasted"
my sentiments exactly. except that full free tethering is available. same way as on wm. with some customization. i just rooted my n1 yesterday and got the tethering. works perfect.
As for new comments since original post... I am ever more convinced I am right. When I finally rooted my phone (much scarier than hardspl'ing my tp2 i must say, though not too difficult. similar to Pre unlocking.) it locked in that I'll stay with Android, unless they release a WP7 phone without the tiles and with full customization. Check out the android forums. I just flashed Sense onto my n1. I almost laughed.
It has the exact same look and feel as Sense on Winmo! Same keyboard. Same dialer, almost, so now I dont miss smartdialing. It even has a version of the sliding homescreen with texts and alarms, etc. It feels exactly like the day I flashed 2.5 onto my TP2... only it didnt hamstring my phone at all. It just worked. Customization is more complicated but ultimately more rewarding and way more usable on Android. It's sad to see so many posts agreeing finally. I figured I would get flamed too. This is a Rhodium forum after all! I will probly try to leave this thread alone to not bother the Rhodium guys. I loved my phone and would never trash it now that I got the n1. But I don't regret it at all. Still miss that fantastic keyboard though.
Oh and to the Milestone loving guy... go try that milestone. The keyboard is a joke to me. Its just like the droid. hard flat keys. At least it's finally centered on the phone though. And its sad someone mentioned the milestone as decent powered, it being a low end Droid. But then again, Android still has the G1, which is so much a joke its why I hesitated to even try Android before 2.1.
One final comment:
Are we the majority or minority? Obvious answer: minority. Or else they wouldnt be catering to the masses with 7. However: masses follow trends. Trends come and go. Our minority I would define as a LOYAL FAN BASE. Up until now. What happens when your LOYAL BASE is lost? Obvious answer: your company is a victim of the masses, lol.
Look at the Palm Pre. I had one for about a month before Rhodium. Fantastic OS, always stable, so easy to use. I reccomend that phone to every teenager wondering what phone to buy, or person who doesn't want to bother with the phone. But Palm built its empire on the Corporate and Power User. And then ditched them with Web OS and no poweruser form factor phones like HTC has. They arent necessarily dying, but with alllll that buzz, why do I constantly read reports of their company struggling with insolvency? Because they ditched their fanbase I would say. Sadly, I bet MS banks on WP7. They have the power of laaaarge budgets. But what happens when Iphone 4.0 or whatever the next buzz stealer is comes out? Hope they picked the right group.
trevorwhopkins said:
One final comment:
Are we the majority or minority? Obvious answer: minority. Or else they wouldnt be catering to the masses with 7. However: masses follow trends. Trends come and go. Our minority I would define as a LOYAL FAN BASE. Up until now. What happens when your LOYAL BASE is lost? Obvious answer: your company is a victim of the masses, lol.
Look at the Palm Pre. I had one for about a month before Rhodium. Fantastic OS, always stable, so easy to use. I reccomend that phone to every teenager wondering what phone to buy, or person who doesn't want to bother with the phone. But Palm built its empire on the Corporate and Power User. And then ditched them with Web OS and no poweruser form factor phones like HTC has. They arent necessarily dying, but with alllll that buzz, why do I constantly read reports of their company struggling with insolvency? Because they ditched their fanbase I would say. Sadly, I bet MS banks on WP7. They have the power of laaaarge budgets. But what happens when Iphone 4.0 or whatever the next buzz stealer is comes out? Hope they picked the right group.
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I agree with this. Companies alienate their loyal fanbases all the time in pursuit of of larger sales. There's nothing wrong with niche products, even when influential tech blogs try to declare your mobile OS "dead" even though you still have roughly 20% market share in the space.
I'm with the OP on the original point as well. I've defended WinMo to the death in the face of hordes of iPhone users and what thanks do I get? A dead Moto Q9h (replaced under warranty), a quirky Palm Treo Pro, and a Tilt 2 with a dead touchscreen (also being replaced under warranty). I applaud MSFT for trying to standardize the hardware experience of WP7, but I can't stand the walled-garden, locked-down UI, app store approach. Android is the most logical choice for my next phone - that Dell Mini 5 is looking pretty good.

Why does Windows Mobile suck so bad?

First of all,
I'd like to say this is my 4th Windows Mobile device. I've owned 2 HP PocketPCs, a HTC Touch Pro and now a HTC Touch Pro2. I like the looks of the Touch Pro2 a lot. However, I have never liked Windows Mobile at all.
How is this OS still around? All programs available for it are a nightmare to find compared to competition such as an iPhone, which has only been around for a couple years. Windows Mobile has been around for a while, why do I still have to repeatedly open and close my keypad for it to rotate the screen? Why when I want a game to play or program to help make my life a little bit easier, it takes 30 minutes to find and then turns out its some ridiculous price. Every time I see a person with an iPhone find, download and install an app within a minute from the device, I wonder why I would even pay for a Windows Mobile device.
I've never been a big Apple fan and I love my Sprint service, so what i'm trying to ask is what options do I have with my Touch Pro2? I've tried a couple ROM's and non of them have made my phone better, they just fix one problem and present another.
I really appreciate the work every developer does on here, I know they are trying their best to make the devices run as best as possible, but I'm very close to cancelling my Sprint contract and switching to an iPhone.
I have to disagree with your view. I don't find iPhones to be nearly as customizable as WinMo, I have tried Droid, and maybe in a year or 2 it will be a bangin' OS, but for stability, I will stick with my faithful workhorse...
Yes it isn't as pretty or flashy, yes it is a touch slower, but my WinMo devices have been like Timex...takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. I'll take that ANY DAY over flash. My last was the Wizard...I had it almost 4 years. If I buy a new battery for it, it will still work...but it doesn't have GPS which I really wanted. Now I have the TP2. I am NOT gentle with my phones. I use them for everything...my device keeps me on schedule, makes my calls, keeps my kids happy while waiting somewhere...I never power it off, and only charge it once every 2-3 days...
I have friends with iPhones and with Droid devices, and they have had to replace them under warranty, they carry chargers with them because the battery life sucks...they look good, I'll give them that...for me that isn't enough.
Each person has their own taste, maybe yours isn't a taste for WinMo, but I cannot agree that it SUCKS. I agree that there are things that I'd like to see updated or sped up a bit, but for the abuse it can take, WinMo is good.
Couldn't agree more with akashastrega, I had a Iphone 3GS for a month or so.
I got tired of it, nothing to do.
Same crap got pretty boring, and yes, the battery life on those suck.
These WM phones are extraordinary and much more customizable.
I just ditched a BlackBerry Pearl 8120 for my Touch Pro 2 yesterday. In the 10 hours I have had the phone, I have customized and tweaked it to my liking. I installed several programs I know I will love, and NO MORE LAGGING. I'm just missing 2 games and the Seidio Slim Extended Battery, and then it will be the phone I will carry everywhere for the next 2 years.
WM is great!
Disagree too,
Yes there are some issues, but if you spend some time tweaking and configuring you can get great results (using a good ROM)
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Guys vote on my sig!
Internet troll is trolling..
I'm new here, but I didn't join just to post this. I am gonna be getting a Tilt2 in the next couple days, and wanted to read up on things. I have had a few WinMo phones, and I currently have an Iphone... I have jailbroken my iphone, and the things I could do with it improved drastically, but I will tell you, stock for stock, I prefer the WinMo OS over the Iphone OS. I like it so much better, that now that it's upgrade time, I'm going back to WinMo with the tilt2.
Scott
jirobinson13300 said:
First of all, Windows Mobile has been around for a while, why do I still have to repeatedly open and close my keypad for it to rotate the screen?
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Try gyrator.
jirobinson13300 said:
I've never been a big Apple fan and I love my Sprint service, so what i'm trying to ask is what options do I have with my Touch Pro2?
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Try here and here.
I hate that everyone always threaten windows mobile users with picking up an Iphone. No one can make your mind up for you. Every phone/os has its problems and none will be perfect. I respect apple for waking up the industry and making everyone step there game up. But as far as im concerned anyone not computer illiterate, not picking winmo or even android before iphone reminds me of people who pay 100 for an hdmi cable.
My main beef with the T-Mo TP2 was the browser. There's IE, but IE is IE and we all know to avoid it like the plague, however, for certain things, it worked much better than the (surprisingly) crappy Opera Mobile 9 included in the latest Tmo US build.
It all changed, though, when I got Opera Mini 5 beta. That browser should be the standard against which all mobile browsers should be measured.
I also figured out how stupidly simple it's to tether my phone's 3G connection to my laptop with Vista (rather than android requiring a rooted system and kernel support) with an official build, no less. There are some things that lack polish, but HTC made a formidable job of keeping those encounters with the uglier parts of winmo at a minimum.
jirobinson13300 said:
First of all,
I'd like to say this is my 4th Windows Mobile device. I've owned 2 HP PocketPCs, a HTC Touch Pro and now a HTC Touch Pro2. I like the looks of the Touch Pro2 a lot. However, I have never liked Windows Mobile at all.
How is this OS still around? All programs available for it are a nightmare to find compared to competition such as an iPhone, which has only been around for a couple years. Windows Mobile has been around for a while, why do I still have to repeatedly open and close my keypad for it to rotate the screen? Why when I want a game to play or program to help make my life a little bit easier, it takes 30 minutes to find and then turns out its some ridiculous price. Every time I see a person with an iPhone find, download and install an app within a minute from the device, I wonder why I would even pay for a Windows Mobile device.
I've never been a big Apple fan and I love my Sprint service, so what i'm trying to ask is what options do I have with my Touch Pro2? I've tried a couple ROM's and non of them have made my phone better, they just fix one problem and present another.
I really appreciate the work every developer does on here, I know they are trying their best to make the devices run as best as possible, but I'm very close to cancelling my Sprint contract and switching to an iPhone.
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If you are just looking to use games and entertainment apps i strongly suggest you an iphone... WinMo devices are more for productivity and less for entertainment iphones on the contrary were made for the masses so that my be your kind of phone.
Yeah, WM really sucks, such as:
1) That sucky ability to tether and use as a WiFi hotspot.
2) Sucks that the hardware keyboard is hands down superior to the stupid iPhone on screen keyboard.
3) Sucks that MS Office is native, and greatly enhances my productivity on the road.
4) Sucks that I can customize and customize, where the iPhone is stuck how Steve Jobs wants it to look and work.
5) Sucks that the TP2 speaker phone is incredible. So good that I used it during a 10-person business meeting at a remote site where there were no landlines (iPhone could have never accomplished this).
Man, WM sucks! I better get an iPhone!
Anyway, most the iPhone "apps" that people are always raving about are all GAMES. I like to casually distract myself from time to time at the airport and such. But there are enough WM games for that. When it comes down to real apps, iPhone owners actually don't have many, they just download games. And there are WM versions of practically all of those.
If you're a kid that needs a toy, the iPhone is perfect. If you're an adult with real business needs, the iPhone doesn't cut it.
Why does it suck so bad? That's easy. Same reason IE 6 sucked horrendously, but was still used by 90%+ of all people browsing the web. Because Microsoft will take over a market, then let their products stagnate. They won't do anything groundbreaking or cutting edge at all once they've wiped out the competition.
Windows CE is 14 years old, and it is still the core of a lot of Windows Mobile. When MS finally beat Palm to rule the PDA market they let their OS stagnate. Along came cell phone connectivity, and MS made only minor changes to the OS to adapt it for smartphone use. MS didn't make any real efforts regarding a finger-based GUI until the iPhone came along and showed how bad Windows Mobile was in that area. Now MS is playing catch up - just like when Firefox came along and suddenly started eating up IE 6's market share, and woke MS up. They will catch up - it's much easier to implement something when someone else has already shown how it can be done. So I expect Windows 7 will be pretty slick.
hmmm... I have long pondered this question myself.
But, as the eternal wisdom of Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie has shown us, "Every OS sucks."
So, it really comes down to a few deciding factors:
If you are a pompous **** that drives a BMW 3 series because you really can't afford a real Beamer, but you still want to catch diseases from women you don't know, you'd better get the iPhone.
If you question your own sexuality and you beg your mother to let you go to the $8 a cup coffee house to watch your favorite beatnick while wearing a $200 dollar Tshirt that looks like something from goodwill and you're 47, spend that extra $57 a month and get a droid.
If you're a pencilneck geek that probably hasn't had a sexual experience with someone else in a few years, but you have hacked into your toaster to burn computer generated pictures on your Albert Einstein shaped frozen french toast that you pulled out of your freezer that you grafted a 52" LCD screen onto that has your favorite fish from Dream Aquarium on it as your "pets", Winmo is probably for you.
(I hope everyone understands this post was made in jest.)
I wish we could "favorite" posts in the forum.....
...this would be a fave! LMAO
Ivanstein said:
hmmm... I have long pondered this question myself.
But, as the eternal wisdom of Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie has shown us, "Every OS sucks."
So, it really comes down to a few deciding factors:
If you are a pompous **** that drives a BMW 3 series because you really can't afford a real Beamer, but you still want to catch diseases from women you don't know, you'd better get the iPhone.
If you question your own sexuality and you beg your mother to let you go to the $8 a cup coffee house to watch your favorite beatnick while wearing a $200 dollar Tshirt that looks like something from goodwill and you're 47, spend that extra $57 a month and get a droid.
If you're a pencilneck geek that probably hasn't had a sexual experience with someone else in a few years, but you have hacked into your toaster to burn computer generated pictures on your Albert Einstein shaped frozen french toast that you pulled out of your freezer that you grafted a 52" LCD screen onto that has your favorite fish from Dream Aquarium on it as your "pets", Winmo is probably for you.
(I hope everyone understands this post was made in jest.)
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I think the explanation for how crappy and slow WM cannot be rooted in Microsoft dominance. That explanation makes sense when talking about Windows, but MS never had a large share of the smartphone market. It may have been one of the earliest smartphone OS'es, but RIM's Blackberry has dominated the business-end of the smartphone spectrum in the US, Canada and the UK for a few years now.
I don't know what big business in East Asia, Continental Europe and the Middle East use, but I'm guessing it's not WinMo.
aniym said:
I think the explanation for how crappy and slow WM cannot be rooted in Microsoft dominance. That explanation makes sense when talking about Windows, but MS never had a large share of the smartphone market. It may have been one of the earliest smartphone OS'es, but RIM's Blackberry has dominated the business-end of the smartphone spectrum in the US, Canada and the UK for a few years now.
I don't know what big business in East Asia, Continental Europe and the Middle East use, but I'm guessing it's not WinMo.
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Personally I think it is the way they designed the WM OS. The registry entries are similar to what Windows has always used, and I suspect that the multi tasking and other OS capabilities are modeled after Windows products. The OS multiasks OK, but lags in the operator interface and updating the screen.
While I feel that most of the main points have been hit, here's my view. A few people have already said that WinMo is NOT meant as a gaming/entertainment OS, and they are very right. I use my Touch Pro2 for mail, conference calling, calender etc, and gaming and entertainment when I'm bored or something. I like to think of it like a netbook: it excels at internet (Opera 10 beta is a ninja) and other things, and games as a secondary use only. If WinMo doesn't fit your needs in a phone, then maybe look somewhere else. I also love flashing new roms, trying out android and ubuntu, and personalizing the UI of my phone....
Sent from my HTC Touch Pro2 =)
Ivanstein said:
hmmm... I have long pondered this question myself.
But, as the eternal wisdom of Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie has shown us, "Every OS sucks."
So, it really comes down to a few deciding factors:
If you are a pompous **** that drives a BMW 3 series because you really can't afford a real Beamer, but you still want to catch diseases from women you don't know, you'd better get the iPhone.
If you question your own sexuality and you beg your mother to let you go to the $8 a cup coffee house to watch your favorite beatnick while wearing a $200 dollar Tshirt that looks like something from goodwill and you're 47, spend that extra $57 a month and get a droid.
If you're a pencilneck geek that probably hasn't had a sexual experience with someone else in a few years, but you have hacked into your toaster to burn computer generated pictures on your Albert Einstein shaped frozen french toast that you pulled out of your freezer that you grafted a 52" LCD screen onto that has your favorite fish from Dream Aquarium on it as your "pets", Winmo is probably for you.
(I hope everyone understands this post was made in jest.)
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For the record...I have had at least ONE sexual experience in the last few years and my twins are proof of THAT!! And my frozen French Toast is shaped like Tesla...and its not dream aquarium, it's Fish World!!
I use my WinMo to keep my life organized. It excels at BUSINESS...if I am waiting at an appointment, then maybe I'll listen to some music or play a game, but those abilities are not my NEEDS...my needs are keeping my life in order.
Like I said, I tried droid and even crackberry, and have enough friends with iPhones, for ME, sucky WinMo wins hands down...probably for the exact reason that the OP has given it a major Suck Factor!!
Said it before, I'll say it again, its like Timex!!
Another iPhony troll.
Please please please do get an iPhone, I'm sure you are a perfect match for it.

Windows Mobile on EVO 4G?

I'm thinking of switching from T-mobile to a CDMA network(due to poor GSM coverage in my area) but neither Sprint nor Verizion has any decent windows mobile phones like the HD2. So I was thinking since some people got the TP2 to run droid, shouldn't someone be able to get the EVO to run Winmobile since its hardware is so similar to the HD2?
Thanks guys,
-Beaver_2
This is certainly the first time I've heard of something like that. Why would you want Windows Mobile ruining such a great device anyway?
'cause it rocks. 'cause it has so much info and access on its main screen. I'm starting to wonder why we need 5 or 7 screens other than just to have 5 or 7 screens, but I must admit I would want 5 or 7 screens just to have 5 or 7 screens, but I want winmo's sense on the main screen.
The short answer.... No.
dwizzy130
wow, when did I become a senior member?
I'm just a dork drooling over a new phone. Can't wait! Android it is I guess.
Manicmobileaddict said:
I'm just a dork drooling over a new phone. Can't wait! Android it is I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
12 posts ago.lol And yea. Android it is. I hate to say it... but I may switch even after 4 years of WM awesomeness. I know I'm not going to WP7, and I'm sure not going to a dumbphone. Android is the only (good) alternative. I'm just waiting for an EVO with a physical keyboard.
dwizzy130
wp7
If nothing else it's just fugly.
Why WinMo
I too would like WinMo 6.5 on EVO for a few reasons:
1. Zune. Zune. Zune. I can sync up play lists DRM music etc with it via WMP11 to WinMo. It may not be pretty and beautiful, but it works. The Zune service on PC is much better than iTunes. Don't argue with me if you haven't used it, you just don't know.
2. 1GHz snapdragon. Touch Pro 2 only has 528 MHz processor and drags a little on WinMo 6.5.
3. Not huge on separated non-integrated applications. Zune, GPSnav (recently added bing turn-by-turn), web, phone, email, text and maybe tether/wifi router. I don't want to pay for software I don't really need.
4. Not so important, but worth mentioning...business focused integration. Ability to operate closely w/ cloud or on it's own.
Ideally, I'd have a QWERTY slider with the 1GHz or better, WinMo 6.5.x (skeptical about WP7, but looking forward to it), real GPS (not via cell tower), WiFi/AP capable w/ WPA(2). I can write little apps that I might need...because WinMo is open, not controlled like apple or android market.
That's why.
Well I don't see it happening because ..
1: Winmo is not open source and phone makers have to pay for the license (It's not open source like android *linux*)so anyone trying to port it to a non licensed device risk getting sued by MS this making it sorda warez'y and prob couldn't be discussed on this site or most.
2. winmo 6.x is getting killed by backwards compat of 7.x so most developers wouldn't put the effort
3. winmo is getting kinda old and this is coming from someone who used winmo since 2002. :/
RazorBlazE said:
3. winmo is getting kinda old...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Getting old? winmo is ancient, in tech time!!!!!
ANYONE, that has actually used WinMo (Any version) and then used an Android device should know better.
In fact there should be an IQ test for those people buying "Smart Phones." if you're not smarter than the phone you can't have it dummy..
Serioulsy, if you're still stuck on WinMo you shouldn't be allowed to own an Android device.
Windows Mobile is dead dude. It's a wasted effort and Android is gaining market share like crazy.
RIM is still competitive because there are so many Suits that are stuck on it, but eventually the'll face the same fate as Winmo Fanboys.
Lastly, if anyone EVER puts windows mobile on the Evo I'll find a way to report you for something, somewhere, it's just plain stupid.
The last winmo device I used was htc mogul. The device it's self was flawed, but winmo it's self has it's advantages. There is metric ton of software that hasn't yet or will never be ported to android. Winmo is more stylus friendly whereas android is more finger friendly. Seeing the evo has a capacitive touch screen, you'll be beating your head into a wall in more ways than one.
Although I hope to never see it ported honestly, the easiest solution is getting a hd2 it has winmo and is almost the exact same thing as the evo minus the wimax and hdmi.
my 2c
johnsongrantr said:
The last winmo device I used was htc mogul. The device it's self was flawed, but winmo it's self has it's advantages. There is metric ton of software that hasn't yet or will never be ported to android. Winmo is more stylus friendly whereas android is more finger friendly. Seeing the evo has a capacitive touch screen, you'll be beating your head into a wall in more ways than one.
Although I hope to never see it ported honestly, the easiest solution is getting a hd2 it has winmo and is almost the exact same thing as the evo minus the wimax and hdmi.
my 2c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and the 8MP camera, the front facing camera, 720p video recording, bigger battery
I need to use the Supra Ekey. that's the only reason I've been sticking with Windows Mobile
Does anyone know if they will be able to port Windows 3.1 to the Evo? I really want it, but I want to use a crappy outdated operating system that will ensure I won't be able to use half the hardware features.
Also, I know it's unrelated, but does anyone know how to replace the engine in my Ferrari with one from a lawn mower? I just really love the pull-start.
Thanks!
I was wondering the same thing, that is the possibility of running Windows Mobile on the phone. But I guess by the looks of it there wont be any chefs releasing any roms. Reason I need Windows Mobile is for my business. We run custom financial quoting software and the company recently spent a butt load of money porting the entire app from Palm to Windows Mobile... hopefully they port it to Android.
Bought a Hero, like Winmo better than Android
So my kid trashed his old Sanyo flip phone (probably because we had been talking about getting him a new phone for his birthday). Two days before his birthday he apparently tripped and dropped his phone and it shattered on a dirt road. Looks like he must have accidentally stepped on it also (accidentally about ten times).
So I've checked it out and have come to the conclusion that when I get my Evo I will greatly miss Winmo. I'm not saying Winmo is better or worse than Android. It is just a little different and it comes down to personal preference. There are some advantages to each. Froyo will catch up on somethings (storage card support).
I prefer Sense on Winmo because I like the dashboard like setup. Android is more like a desktop. I like getting lots of info on my home page without having to navigate anywhere and think Winmo has the advantage there.
I like how the Android screens allow you to place your shortcuts where you want, but it still has its limitations. I like full screen widgets (several Winmo Sense offers) and with Andoid I could only have 6. I tried setting up a lot of widgets on my kids phone and kept getting the message "there is not enough rooom" and those weren't even full screen widgets. If I wanted 6 full screen widgets there would be no more room for shortcuts or folders.
There is the all programs screen which is really just like Winmo's start screen.
I use a Winmo 6.5.x so the start button is in the same place the all programs button is on Android Sense. Winmo has the phone soft button just like Android, but I change it to something else since I already have a phone hard button. Can Android do that? Winmo also has another softkey that can be customized, Android has the + to add things to the home screen.
I think the slider (hideable) on Winmo Sense is the greatest invention on the touch phone yet. Andoid even uses it in some apps like in the people app. The Winmo Sense home screen has the clock and weather just like Andriod sense, but also has phone history and 1 to 3 rows links 3 wide and flicks up to expose a larger grid.
If you use Cookie's home tab editor the links grid (which handle any link not just app shortcuts) can be customized to 4 or 5 across with multiple pages to 80 links. I think it even flicks up further to expose just your background or down to no links giving more home page room for phone history or calendar. You can even display other counters like texts and emails.
If you use his advanced home tab you can switch between the calendar appointments and tasks by flicking left and right. If you add BattClock you can display even more info like some metrics digitally on the taks bar or even graphically in thin stripes/bars where you want it on the home screen. Use WKTask and now you have a task manager that shows you what's open on the task bar. Lots of info and one touch access as soon as you turn on your phone.
If I could have all this on the Android home screen and have the 7 screens I'd be in heaven. Again, I'm not saying one is better than the other and I'm sure there is lots of customization in Android I haven't learned about yet so if anyone knows how I can get the best of both worlds please advise.
What I really want to see is not WinMo, but let's get WebOS on here.
If only it was open source. lol
gthing said:
Does anyone know if they will be able to port Windows 3.1 to the Evo? I really want it, but I want to use a crappy outdated operating system that will ensure I won't be able to use half the hardware features.
Also, I know it's unrelated, but does anyone know how to replace the engine in my Ferrari with one from a lawn mower? I just really love the pull-start.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the best laugh I've had all day!!
I understand the Evo is the new phone to have, but if you love WinMo so much, go to the HD2. Same body type, comparable hardware, and the failsauce os you love. Have fun with 6.5

Goodbye Windows Mobile... Hello Android

Retiring my TP2 today. Just had to get that out of my system.
Signed,
Another unsatisfied customer.
Quitter.
You are darn right I am a quitter! And proud of it! I just can't believe I lasted this long.
lame. though i would love an android phone with the form factor of the tp2. the keyboard and tilty screen has made every iphone user i know impossibly jealous. but its not a phone i can recommend because of windows mobile. windows mobile works well, with a custom rom, registry hacks, and custom installed programs. android is just easier out of the box. i look forward to htc releasing an android phone with a good slide out keyboard.
Nobody can blame you for leaving this device. You're the third person who's posted a thread about abandoning the Rhodium, and I doubt you're the last. I'm personally holding out for the HTC Vision and it's beautiful looking QWERTY, but there are so many great options out there it's extremely tempting just to sell my Rhodium on eBay and buy a Desire or some other decent phone right now.
Yeah dude I was originally going to hold out for that HTC Vision also, but I just can't take it any longer. Flashing custom WM ROM's and installing certain cabs and reloading all my tweeks and stuff is just too time consuming. Holy cow do I waste a lot of time reading xda! When you see how fluid some other devices are out there, at some time you have to ask yourself what the point of all this is? There is nothing WM can do that Andoid can not do and better (for me that is). I have tremendous respect for the developers on this site but I think WM is a dying breed. The TP2 should not have been as crippled as it is either.
I dunno, I have to wonder if there's a big difference between your TP2 and my Tilt 2 because I am having very few issues with mine even after modding the hell out of the stock ROM (no compelling reason to go to a cooked one yet). Yeah, WinMo has its issues, but I've been using it since WM2003 on a Viewsonic PDA, so I'm pretty familiar with it. My Tilt 2 does everything I need it to, much like My Incite did. The only reason I upgraded was because I needed a larger screen for my failing eyes. Anyway, I was just ribbing you. I might go to an Android at some point, but for now, my Tilt 2 has me covered. The honeymoon isn't quite over just yet.
I left the party and went over to Android. For me, it was more of a preemptive thing -- WP7 is an abhorrent POS and while I probably would have stuck around if a 4.3" device with WinMo 6.5 was being released, it looks like the TP2 is all she wrote for WinMo.
XDA was absolutely crucial to my being able to use and enjoy my TP2. But I don't have to live with buggy software anymore (actually, the things I got from XDA were stable, but the commercial products were certainly not).
If anyone is interested, Sprint in coming out with the Samsung Epic, a 4" SAMOLED 4G Android device with a slide out keyboard. But I've moved on to the Evo. I've coveted the HD2 and its Snapdragon processor and 4.3" screen for ages.
In the end, MS finally killed whatever enthusiasm I had for the platform.
You know I tried everything. I too modded the stock and still this thing lagged. The best I could do was cooked ROMs but still it was one thing after another that just got me to the point where I was milliseconds away from shattering my phone into a thousand pieces for some gratitude. Talk about rage! I honestly think I have worn out the reset button. And as far as WP7, give me a break. I can't believe that Microsoft is so far behind the game and now they are trying to reinvent the wheel. Cell phones and cell phone technology are a crazy booming and growing business. It's sad when a technology company tries to reverse engineer something because in this day and age by this time it's just too late.
tbh ever since Android came out, i always wanted one but since it started hitting the market, every damn person i know has an Android and it ticks me off because it totally reminds me of how iPhone got all popular, now Android is in that stage, teens are having the Droid incredible, EVO 4Gs its insane because i bet you 95% of them dont even know how to operate it, thats why right now im sticking to my roots by staying with WM because no one knows what the heck it is(except XDA ), i rather have something different from the crowd.....i started with WM and ill hang on to WM until the whole WM thing just dies which probably wont happen for awhile you never know
man thats a tiny slide out keyboard on the vision. im not so sure about that one.
If different is what you are going for then I say stick to WM. Personally for me, I need function and ease of use. To me, Microsoft is their own worst enemy for not delivering without making us spend hours on xda fixing their mistakes. Although it can be fun here on xda, it can be really frustrating as well.
To me, WinMo seems designed by the same people that design the desktop platform and not by people who actually use it every day. Too many things that just don't make sense (but easily fixed by others, fortunately). I think M$ needs to hire a few XDA developers and put them into the development cycle for WinMo. If WinMo 7 isn't a significant improvement it will be the last WinMo version because once the phone manufacturers stop supporting it in favor of Droid and others, death will be imminent.
And when you see Microsoft developing apps for iPhone and Android yet still plug away at their own software ala "Kin the spectacular failure" I can't help but be embarassed to be a part of this. Playing catchup in the tech world is just plain silly to me. Here is an article about it posted 3 days ago:
http://mobile.venturebeat.com/2010/...developers-to-catch-up-to-iphone-and-android/
Don't know if everyone's already seen this:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/windows-phone-7-dont-bother-disaster-211
"The developers at Mobile Beat quickly recognized the labor-intensity of this UI method and one asked the Microsoft rep if anyone had bothered to test it with users. The answer was essentially "no" -- a scary thought indeed."
Sounds just like what I said earlier.
Hanson68 said:
Don't know if everyone's already seen this:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/windows-phone-7-dont-bother-disaster-211
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then, be sure to read this as well.
I dunno, maybe it's because I've been using WinMo since 2003 but I'm comfortable with it. The biggest problem is there are still remnants in the 6.x versions being used on phones from when it was ported from PDAs back with version 5. Too much stuff designed for a stylus and not a finger. Another problem is that WinMo is not designed for idiots like iPhone users who have no concept of the level of customization that WinMo allows. I like that I have to be more knowledgeable to get the most out of my WinMo phone. It means I can more readily identify when something doesn't work right and why and fix it myself. I also love that I can make my phone more personal and not look like anyone elses. Every iPhone I've ever played around on, with the exception of what apps were on it, was identical to every other one in looks and function. Maybe this is OK for those with limited ability to mod their own phone, but I'm a tinkerer by nature and it would drive me crazy. Been modding my phone since my first RAZR way back in 2006 and wouldn't have it any other way.
I also like that I'm not tied to any one company for apps. For all the complaints I hear about so few developers writing for WinMo I have yet to not find an app for my needs. In fact, there are usually about 4-5 apps that do the same thing and almost always at least one is free. Sure, some are crap, but choice is a good thing. Certainly much better than limits.
I love my Windows Mobile phone and if WP7 improves on it even just a little, I'll probably stick with it.
Personally, I am really liking my WinMo 6.5 tilt 2. Yes, it has a cooked ROM and a few other tweaks, but so did my iphone that I had before this Tilt2. IMHO, as far as useability, and business is concerned, the Tilt2 is all business and not so much a toy (which is what I look for in a phone, since I run a home business from it.).
Scott
I think anybody who has taken the time to flash a custom rom for themselves here can be considered a power user. Everybody on this board wants more than the next guy. But what do you do when you've been let down and this place just isn't enough anymore? I have had Windows CE devices since 2002 and as silly as this sounds, my favorite device was my old T-mobile MDA with WM 5.0. Why? Because it worked. Now I realize that we are trying to do a lot more with our devices, but even simple tasks like text messaging and the actual phone part seems to get worse with each new OS. When I watch the videos for WP7 I am very let down. Customization is key to the MS fanbase. So the things that I would like are either getting worse or going away. Why MS didn't just turn over the whole program to XDA is a real mystery isn't it? Since I honestly think that we are the only ones who really care.

Samsung Galaxy S2 Vs. Omnia 7

Hi,
I am tired of my current WP7, its almost 4 months now and their has been no major development in the APP market scene.. everyone just release initial app and than forget about it with no updates and no improvements.. the Gaming market scene of Xbox is pretty much dead too with no new fun game, I had pretty bad experience with Sonic which is practically unplayable and other boring games which have started coming out recently.. it seems Xbox is releasing games just for the heck of it.. ex: geodefence and tentacles.. boring not worth paying which are like free in android market..
I am really getting inclined to give up my WP7 and switch to Android now and buy Galaxy S2.. its has some plus points and some minus points:
Plus:
I can expand my memory.
Looks better.
Its Smoled 'Plus'.
It might have better battery? I am not sure about this.
Established Android market.
Minus:
Its too big for my pocket.
No ZUNE Pass like service.
I have to give up my Achievements Score and I dont know if they have anything similar to this.
I have never used Android and have never seen one ever before.. its completely new to me and I dont even know where is the settings option, I dont know if I will like it after using WM6.5 and now WP7 for last 7 years. I have seen Iphone before and used it for like a week, but never spend even 20 secs with an Android phone.
With all the hype surround MANGO which I am waiting for, I dont think Microsoft will release any major update after that for a really long time.. If this MANGO dosent work and the APP and GAMES Marketplace dosent become more vibrant than it is right now.. than I am thinking this WP7 could just become a device for people could not afford phones like Iphone and GALAXY S2, like a second option, a second choice market, which I am scared of.. I want to own the best and not the second choice.. and right now it seems GALAXY S2 with its ANDROID thing is the best phone in market.
Hmm. Not sure if I quite get where you're coming from with the apps and games thing. Over the last month, a ton of apps, big names and small, have come to the platform. A ton more coming and updated post-Mango. I mean, the market will most likely hit 30k apps soon. I don't have, nor do I use, 30k apps on my phone, not to mention the 100k+ or 400k+ of android and iphone, respectively.
Also, I'm pretty sure that every installed app, or almost every installed app, on my phone has seen an update... several at that. So, I missed you on the "no updates and no improvements" part. Are there specific apps that YOU are missing, or need that you can't find in the windows marketplace?
Games-wise, well that's a matter of preference. Games you find boring, others may find greatly exciting. For example, one recent game which has come to the platform that I like is Arcane Tower Defense. It's a fantasy version of the classic tower defense genre with some twists.
I also like little games like Vanessa Saint-Pierre Delacroix and her Nightmare. But, after Mango there will be many games including multiplayer fighting games, RPGs, you name it, real time and turn-based.
As to the GS2. I haven't used it personally. I do know you can't get xbox live benefits like achievments, however. I'm sure somebody else here is more informed on the phone than I. I hear it's a killer phone, though. And, there may also be a WP7 version of the phone as well.
But, dig around a bit and check out the apps that have hit the marketplace in the last month or so as well as the games. I think you may be pleasantly surprised. Then again...
Purple11 said:
With all the hype surround MANGO which I am waiting for, I dont think Microsoft will release any major update after that for a really long time..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are on a yearly cycle for major updates, like pretty much everyone else.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to do business with this phone, its been so long and yet their is no decent Calendar App like Pocket Informant. The built in calendar app is very basic, I want to create recurring appointment on every first Tuesday of a month which was possible on PI8 but not here.
I miss Apps like SPB Diary which let me scroll my entire contacts and entire days appointments right from the front screen, and SPB Pocket Plus which basically was what Android is right now, a choice of multiple home screens with one app, thats what SPB Pocket Plus was.
I want Resco Audio Recorder which auto recorded all my incoming and outgoing calls, not because I want to spy but because if someone tells me large reference number on phone I dont have to tap and write at that moment, I could just say go ahead i am writing it down, and later I would just play back that call and note down what was that number.
I want the missing file explorer which is their present in android right now.
Metratrader 4 app for real time live trading execution in currency and stocks right from your phone, nothing like that exists in WP7, I know we have it for Iphone I dont know about android..
We say we have so many number of apps and things like that, but look at the top 10 PAID apps in each of the categories..
Business:
6 are language learning, 3 are business cards, 2 are time tracker and one to tie knots...
Tools and Productivity:
2 flashlights, 1 night clock, 1 air horn, 1, dog whistle, 1 that saves pic in pdf format and calls itself 'scanner' (very poor scanning my direct camera photo is better than their PDF it include handy scan app too), 2 remote desktop (10 USD each)..
Personal Finance:
7 budget software (all exactly same, just store your spending, nothing else, useless, nothing like SPB Finance), remaninf 4 are market watch apps which all just does the same thing which is stream rates of top 10 cos from yahoo or google.. , no decent wallet app like CODEwallet Pro where we could create nice cards from desktop and sync it to wallet on phone, no actual trading app.. nothing..
Sounds like Android is a better fit for you.
PG2G said:
Sounds like Android is a better fit for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Agreed.
In this kind of needs and preferences better try Android. WP7 is not really meant for this type of usage. This is what I have found for myself and while WP7 started to be frustrating after few months, Android solved everything for me in every respect.
I also want to see Mango and keep my Optimus 7 however some things are still not in the pipeline, like file explorers, USB docs/email sync and some apps like Opera Mini... And I'm afraid there won't by alternatives for core apps of WP7 either.
I understand your points well. I would also suggest that
Android is the right choise.
Just another way to look at things i would like to mention is, maybe most of the things you miss is just ways you USED to work with your phone? What ever WP is, its a new way to interact with your phone. For a old WM user like me, it was very wierd in the start, and i felt naked. I got used to it thou and currently having a replacment Android phone, while my current device is in for service. And now i miss my WP. It's strange how you miss the cow's afterwards.
Im staying with WP.
Just some thoughts from another side.
um..
I was thinking the same thing about switching to android, but I wont abandon wp all together. I'll give it a good year to mature
We have omnia7 and galaxy s. Of course the galaxy s fits better to my hardcore needs because it has al lot more options and you have a lot of custom roms and so on. BUT sometimes I'm really jealous about Omnia 7 perfect materials. And android is never as perfect designed as wp7. Android and its tons of different launchers is looking like an evolution of symbian and iOS. WP7 is something fresh and easy. Its what a phone is ment to be: a very easy and fast (internet) communication device. Not an overfilled little laptop.
So it's your choice: easy to use and well designed Omnia7 or a powerful plastic (gaming-)device with childish looking interface.
By the way: mango is awesome!
The galaxy s II is one of the finest android phones available. If you're looking for a feature set more similar to the old windows mobile ( and it sounds like you are), then Android is truly your best option.
Microsoft doesn't want a "complicated" phone platform anymore. They want consumer-facing, easy to use, social media and entertainment oriented with the ability to handle corporate e-mail, calendar and document editing if you need it in a pinch.
I doubt we're going to see anything like file managers or similar anytime soon, if at all.
I owned a Galaxy s II before selling it to a friend who needed a new phone, and I would purchase the device again in a heartbeat if I decided I wanted to use android.
Andrmgic said:
I doubt we're going to see anything like file managers or similar anytime soon, if at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm pretty sure we won't. Hell, even desktop operating systems may be moving away from file managers.
PG2G said:
Yeah I'm pretty sure we won't. Hell, even desktop operating systems may be moving away from file managers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah maybe in 2050. You must be kidding. For any profi usage these are the basics.
I will give this phone a try till December, if nothing comes up in the APP scene better than what it is at present than I will switch to Android perm for good.. I am not the one who keeps two phones or keep migrating from one to another OS frequently.. I just choose the best and stay with it for a long time..
i desperately need a better calendar app for appointments.. this whole wide calendar tile is just a wasteful eye candy which i have come to realize.. auto call recording which i guess with the absence of file explorer will never come to wp7.. i want to make my phone a USB on the Go like thing, a pen drive... 16 GB of total storage is too small..
I dont know how microsoft thinks they make a 3 horse race with these features missing.. its basically a two horse race, racing in front and a 3rd horse limping behind to catch the bets by people made by error ...
Purple11 said:
I dont know how microsoft thinks they make a 3 horse race with these features missing.. its basically a two horse race, racing in front and a 3rd horse limping behind to catch the bets by people made by error ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have very specific requirements that the average user doesn't care about. Recording phone calls without consent isn't even legal in many states.
PG2G said:
You have very specific requirements that the average user doesn't care about. Recording phone calls without consent isn't even legal in many states.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Microsoft isn't gearing this phone toward the likes of the geeks and tech nerds that frequent this forum. The average user makes up the majority of users, thus the demographic Microsoft seeks to lure to WP7.
As far as what you need, you will find that some of these things will come to WP7 like various calendar apps due to the vast number of APIs made available by MS.
You may also find that some of these things may never come or may not come for quite some time. I, for one, hope to never see a file explorer on WP7.
The fact is, this isn't android and that's a good thing. Each has its own role to play and fits in where they fit in. If WP7 had been around back in 2008 as the alternative to ATT and the iphone, android would most likely be a niche device for the above geeks and tech nerds.
That being said, only Android will fully fill your present and perhaps future needs.
Good luck. Whichever direction ya go.
Wyn6 said:
As far as what you need, you will find that some of these things will come to WP7 like various calendar apps due to the vast number of APIs made available by MS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's one of the things that I was thinking about as I read what he wanted to do. Unfortunately, Mango only allows for read-only access to the Contacts and Appointments. The only way to create an app like that (that actually integrates with the existing calendar app) would be to make the changes in the cloud and let the phone sync like normal. I guess you could always have a 100% standalone calendar app though.
I also want to say that the inability to expand memory using SDHC card will restrict many companies to bring their larger good graphics game to WP7... I have 16GB but I know their are people with only 8GB memory and they cannot expand it..
Now checkout this game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CwSedSzckE&feature=relmfu
It looks a very heavy game by memory wise , if we want games like this on WP7 than 8GB device is a very small handset to have several of this kind of game.. I dont think gameloft can bring such games to WP7 with current restrictions on expandable memory..
****ty textures.. probably fits into the 400-500mb range.
The iphone version weighs in at 511MB..
You should probably get the SGS II and be done with it. You're not likely to find a better android device this year, and android will serve your purposes better than WP7.
It'll play 1080p h264 video in a mkv container without re-encoding.. and supports HDMI out using a MHL adapter.
Even with Mango's new APIs, you're not going to get the same level of functionality that you're looking for.
1. WP7 apps are not written using native code, they use silverlight, XNA or a combination of the two
2. There will never be a file manager or a task manager
3. There is no bluetooth file transfer
4. No Expandable storage
5. Small number of applications (this will be less of an issue as time goes by.. the marketplace is growing fairly rapidly)
6. Limited hardware options
7. No true multitasking (applications don't run constantly in the background until they are exited.. they do on android)
8. No Usb mass storage
I have both devices.
Maybe i can help you a bit.
I do have both devices (+ I have some more). It was part of the benefits of my last job and also part ( almost a requirement) of my actual one.
- If you switch to Android from Wp7 you feel like going back to WinMO a bit. Tons of Rom's,tons of walpapers but milligrams if you need help.
- The greatest benefit of WP7 is the unified platform. Maybe you don't realize it atm, but for 99% of people I've spoken to, it's a deal breaker.
- Not, I repeat, not my solely opinion: everything onscreen with Omnia7 looks better than on SGS2. People always want to tinker with the Omnia7 when I put both phones on the table (sometimes I carry the IPhone 4 with me also).
- SGS2 is literally bloated with redundant crapware. If you guys have ever bought a Sony Vaio in 2008-2010, this is worse.
- SGS2 takes mindblowing photos and FullHD videos (that they don't look like shot through a fishbowl).
-there are some neat tricks bundled on SGS2 but nothing you can't dl from market for free.
-battery is on par.
-voice commands are better on WP7.
-SGS2 feels like under development. 16bit graphics + wake up lag...for amoled+ and dual core? WTF?
- WP7 is more on the legal side, harder to sideload stolen/cracked apps. On android, on the other hand, you get hundreds of forums just for that.
If you have more questions I'd be happy to answer.

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