spb mobile shell? - Windows Phone 7 Software Development

anybody know if they may make a version for wp7? im not sold on metro but if spb gets into the game then im buying a windows phone.
come on microsoft let us customize these phones dammit!

Not going to happen.

Won't happen, but if you're sold on SPB's interface over Metro, get an HD2 with WM6.5 and throw Mobile Shell on it ... same hardware, essentially ...
Personally, I just switched from a WM6.5 phone running SPB Mobile Shell to a WP7 phone, and I'm very pleased overall. The three things I miss are: favorite contacts (within people, not pinned to start screen), phone profiles (I loved that with SPBMS my phone would automatically go silent when in meetings, etc.; now I just tend to leave it on vibrate all the time so I don't have to worry about it), and the SPB Finance app to sync with MS Money on my desktop PC. The last one is really the biggest downside of having switched for me, but overall the new Metro UI is so good that it's worth it even so. Someone'll come out with a finance app that syncs with Money/Quicken eventually, I'm sure.

??
Don't think you are getting what WP 7 is. Metro is the backbone of 7. Don't even bother with 7 if you don't like it.

Related

Windows Mobile - I officially am fed up with it

I am over all of the things it CAN do.
All of it's stupid retarded quirks, bugs, and glitches have worn me thin in the patience department for this stupid phone.
The final straw that broke the camels back:
Now for absolutely NO reason on every reboot the WiFi is switched on. Yet it doesn't do anything. The WiFi light blinks and the icon appears but that is it. After around 3 minutes of the phone being on, it switches off by itself.
I have NEVER had this problem before and I haven't changed ANYTHING on my phone for a solid few months.
This is the type of **** I'm talking about. Windows Mobile just breaks itself for no friggin reason other than it is poorly written.
If they had a "Trade your Windows Mobile device for an iPhone" promotion, I would be the first damn person in line.
I am over Windows Mobile and Microsoft in general.
</rant>
You are not Alone
GldRush98 said:
I am over all of the things it CAN do.
All of it's stupid retarded quirks, bugs, and glitches have worn me thin in the patience department for this stupid phone.
The final straw that broke the camels back:
Now for absolutely NO reason on every reboot the WiFi is switched on. Yet it doesn't do anything. The WiFi light blinks and the icon appears but that is it. After around 3 minutes of the phone being on, it switches off by itself.
I have NEVER had this problem before and I haven't changed ANYTHING on my phone for a solid few months.
This is the type of **** I'm talking about. Windows Mobile just breaks itself for no friggin reason other than it is poorly written.
If they had a "Trade your Windows Mobile device for an iPhone" promotion, I would be the first damn person in line.
I am over Windows Mobile and Microsoft in general.
</rant>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been looking into getting a blackberry probably a curve. as long as I can find a device that let me ssh and telnet into the servers I support I'm good.
I have gotten over all the things you can do with it...I actually did a hardreset and really do not have plans on putting too many custom apps onit ...I just want the device to work as intended...the hell with the pizazz
try a symbian based phone. i use one as my second phone. i never reflashed it just works all the time.
Chris
I believe the 3G iPhone is coming out this year. They need one like the touch slide or something. I text too much to consider the iPhone's keyboard.
LOL @ Symbian based phone... A few of us have tried it with "smart" phones - I, for example, tried it with a Nokia E61. All I can say is - good luck... The software you can get for the symbian pretty much all sucks and looks like it was written for Windows 3.1 (and as a software developer I know why - the way software is written for Symbian OS couldn't possibly be more quirky); the menu system looks and feels like win 3.1, and the OS itself has EVERY BIT as many quirks. Oh - and outlook push? Good luck - they'll say it can do it - have fun with that (haha). Blackberry push? Same there. Office documents? Sure - open them... Have fun editing and then trying to re-open desktop side. The *only* thing symbian does better, in my opinion, is allow syncing with more than one PC - but since I have outlook push to my 8525, that's not an issue for me anyway
I tried and tried to love my symbian. In the end, I unloaded that turd for less than $100 US on eBay and bought my 8525 - which SMOKES the symbian based E61.
Thats my 2.5 cents worth -
mybikegoes200 said:
LOL @ Symbian based phone... A few of us have tried it with "smart" phones - I, for example, tried it with a Nokia E61. All I can say is - good luck... The software you can get for the symbian pretty much all sucks and looks like it was written for Windows 3.1 (and as a software developer I know why - the way software is written for Symbian OS couldn't possibly be more quirky); the menu system looks and feels like win 3.1, and the OS itself has EVERY BIT as many quirks. Oh - and outlook push? Good luck - they'll say it can do it - have fun with that (haha). Blackberry push? Same there. Office documents? Sure - open them... Have fun editing and then trying to re-open desktop side. The *only* thing symbian does better, in my opinion, is allow syncing with more than one PC - but since I have outlook push to my 8525, that's not an issue for me anyway
I tried and tried to love my symbian. In the end, I unloaded that turd for less than $100 US on eBay and bought my 8525 - which SMOKES the symbian based E61.
Thats my 2.5 cents worth -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said it's a second phone (actually my wife's) it takes good pictures and can do more than the average phone. I actually like the camera better, when you click the button it actually takes the picture. MP3 ringtones actually work flawlessly from the sd card. I wish MS and HTC could get those 2 issues right. Otherwise, I really enjoy tweaking my phone and installing ton's of useless stuff to waste my time....LOL... I started with my MPX200 and after my backlight broke for the 10th time I grabbed the symbian phone, only to end up back with a MS based phone. MS is just too big to avoid. Could be better, but I still like the fact that I can customize till my heart is content....even with the bugs..keeps my adrenaline flowing....lol
Chris
Gotta agree.... symbian no way. Lived with it for ages on my SE P900 and it did rock but the support was garbage!
Moved on to the TyTN as a gamble and it was totally worth it.
Funny you guys mention that, I'm looking to get a Nokia E51 as my going out phone. I need something "smart" and small. Despite what you say, I love the navigation compared to Windows Mobile Smartphone (WM 6 Standard). You're telling me 5 different "more" pushes to get through settings? Screw that.
irockash said:
Funny you guys mention that, I'm looking to get a Nokia E51 as my going out phone. I need something "smart" and small. Despite what you say, I love the navigation compared to Windows Mobile Smartphone (WM 6 Standard). You're telling me 5 different "more" pushes to get through settings? Screw that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick question...what do you expect from a forum dedicated to WM devices??
mrvanx said:
Quick question...what do you expect from a forum dedicated to WM devices??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
=) There are different followings. I love Windows Mobile... as long as it has a touch screen. I've played with many of the WM Standard (and by standard, I mean non-touchscreen devices) devices released in the states, and they all seem cumbersome as hell. Recently played with a Blackjack II and it had literally 7 pages in settings. In my opinion, Symbian (S60) and BlackBerry have the non touchscreen OS market on lock. Whats the point of functionality if it takes too long to find it?
irockash I just bought an E51. It is one of the best and most capable phones I have ever had - for it's size especially. I am originally a Symbian fan, but once I was introduced to Windows Mobile 2 and a half years ago I bought little else but HTCs. I have to say, that every once in a while I go back to Symbian for a try - namely the latest Nokias - N82, E51 etc, and they are really trouble-free compared to WM. They don't freeze up, they work flawlessly, and generally run faster than MW phones. Unfortunately there's no Skype for Symbian - you have to use 3rd party apps like Fring, and they work alright. I have to say however that at the end of the day I would have to choose WM over Symbian if I want to have a SERIOUS phone with loads of functionality - the Nokias like the N82 are super because of the 5mega-pixel camera and very good video recording, but give me my WM anyday - and I mean HTC ONLY! I guess each of us has our preferences.
I have both a symbian (SE W950i) and wm phone (hermes)...
Simply put, Symbian is no where near WM as far as customization, flexibility, and support is concerned. Symbian is just too plain and bland, and the W950i freezes way more than my hermes, not to mention that occasionally I can't even pick up phone calls. What's worse....I cannot do anything about since I can't mess with the firmware.
OTOH, cooking WM is easy if you spend some time studying it. I can do almost whatever I want with it. Most "problems" people encounter has to deal with the Rom's stability + application installed.
I would never go back since using my WM touch screen phones. My wife can't figure it out though. Her 6682 runs without reboot though for about 2 weeks when the battery dies...lol. Then I find it in the car and charge it so I can call her sometimes....lol. It's simpler for her to use, but it's not near as capable as my phone. It's better than the free phones most people typically have. So if I was techno dyslexic I would go for the symbian phones.
MS squashed the competition and will keep it that way. Even the IPhone 2 is promising, but MS will squash them too. Thanks to Apple for reving up the competition though! (Bill Gates owns half of them anyway)
So if I had to give up WM, I'd be bored for awhile........ I would suggest loading a good reliable rom & don't load anything else. yeah right....
Agreed! Well said! I had an N82 for 3 days - I mean the camera IS on par with a DEDICATED digital camera - even for night photos - but the functionality and flexibility of WM phones are UNBELIEVABLE and that's what I'd go for if I had to choose only ONE of the two OSs and have it for the rest of my life. Regardless of the little idiosyncracies - Windows Mobile ROCKS!
Also, as a serious audiophile, I really really urge that people think TWICE, or TRICE, before jumping on WALKMAN phone. I bought the w950i as I only paid a little over $200 for it new, and it has 4gb built-in. I'd expected the sound quality to be at least as good as some MP3 players....boy was I wrong..my Hermes + SRS WOW with Stock earbuds beat the crap out of the walkmanphone with whatever EQ on it, even if I amped the phone and use it along with my Sennheiser HD600, there's still no match at all. I immediately felt stupid for buying that phone. Fortunately, the phone was for my GF so it didn't bother me too much and she didn't seem to care too much about Sound Quality, convenience was all that matters to her. As for me, WM, hands down. I wouldn't mind playing with an iphone after it gets matured. ATM, there's just so many things that's lacking on it...undeniably, the UI is great...Apple's always good with UI and design..a very innovative company indeed. And TBH, I thought HTC's Apps played a great deal of a role in keeping the competition up. If WM looks like WM5/Stock WM6....I wouldn't be surprised that WM would slowly get crushed by Apple in the future.
I will probably jump ship to when an 3G Iphone is available and I see that you can actually install 3d party apps on it.
I did however see the new Samsung I780 and it looks very nice, small formfactgor, localised proper keyboard, 3G, Wifi, bt, GPS and touchpad like on a notebook to control stuff..
I've been a WM user for a long time. I used to lurk on the forums waiting for all of the new roms waiting to install them all. I also used to try out EVERY new 3rd party app that hit the market. I've been a long time member here, in fact my registration here is the longest standing for any website I'm actually active on.
It pains me to leave it all though. I'm buying an iPhone in the next couple of weeks. When it first came out, I still had my "Well who cares, I've got my good old HTC" mindset but have seen it perform better for the purposes I have reduced to using my phone for.
I want to be clear on what those purposes are, I listen to alot of podcasts and audio books. I also do alot of email and text messaging. Thats pretty much it. I don't need a great camera or fast Internet. with that said, the iPhone handles the audio that has become such a big part of my phone usage over the past year better than any WM device ever built.
How can you go wrong with a 160dpi 3.5" multi-touch screen anyways?
ljinsane said:
I've been looking into getting a blackberry probably a curve. as long as I can find a device that let me ssh and telnet into the servers I support I'm good.
I have gotten over all the things you can do with it...I actually did a hardreset and really do not have plans on putting too many custom apps onit ...I just want the device to work as intended...the hell with the pizazz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My girlfriend got a blackberry curve a few months ago and I am amazed by how FAST and how WELL it works. Makes me jealous I'm stuck with this bloated troll known as Windows Mobile.
I definetly sympathize with you on this topic - many of times lately I've scoured the AT&T website debating to get a phone that I CAN'T flash 30 frigging times a day - just so I can lead a normal life again.
I think it boils down to what you want it to do. I like to have the flexibility to shape it any and every way I can, and try to find a way around something that doesn't work well. Some people prefer simple and reliable.
'Tis a rough blade edge to manuver, but here we dance on it every day
mattk_r said:
I definetly sympathize with you on this topic - many of times lately I've scoured the AT&T website debating to get a phone that I CAN'T flash 30 frigging times a day - just so I can lead a normal life again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Japan, home of some really slick phones that never make it to Europe or the states. Most people look at my Tytn and say things like, "its so clunky!" and "what?! it doesn't have a TV tuner?!"
But recently I sent my Tytn away for servicing (HTC refused me by the way, caught me out with a different bootloader) and it was away for a week. They gave me one of those slick phones as a replacement and I totally went into withdrawal. It felt like when I was quitting smoking and the replacement phone was like that nicorette gum - necessary and yet sooo unsatisfying. For me Matt, there is no more "normal life" to go back to.
Iphone is really, really nice. But in the end it is going to be just like Mac computers. With WM and with Windows, I can do what I want, how I want, when I want (and usually for free). Iphone and OSX trade these freedoms for a smoother, cleaner and more stable system. It is a fair trade-off and may fit some people's needs, but I'll take the former any day.

Are first time WinMo users generally satisfied with this phone?

This is my first WinMo phone. Regrettably, I jumped on a phone not knowing anything about WinMo at all. Other than the flashy overlay provided by HTC along with nice apps they made (like youtube), there is nothing nice for this phone, and it really.. sucks.
Every single app I've downloaded so far either lacks polish or just flat out doesn't work. I regret not getting an android phone soo much, where I could just go to one centralized place, download an app and have it work perfectly. Instead, I troll the internet looking for nice apps. Some, like Palringo, work pretty well, but still aren't really "made" for this phone. After 10 minutes of talking, the scrolling stops working on messages and I wind up having to drag my hand along the bar along the side that is near impossible to touch. Or I'll download a game/app and have it just spazz out when I run it. So god damn frustrating!
I guess I'm just upset that I have a phone with more potential than I've ever seen. Amazing keyboard, awesome screen, but WinMo just ruins it. I've yet to find an app that works perfectly AND looks nice other than what is provided by HTC with the phone. Why?!
vin5cent0 said:
This is my first WinMo phone. Regrettably, I jumped on a phone not knowing anything about WinMo at all. Other than the flashy overlay provided by HTC along with nice apps they made (like youtube), there is nothing nice for this phone, and it really.. sucks.
Every single app I've downloaded so far either lacks polish or just flat out doesn't work. I regret not getting an android phone soo much, where I could just go to one centralized place, download an app and have it work perfectly. Instead, I troll the internet looking for nice apps. Some, like Palringo, work pretty well, but still aren't really "made" for this phone. After 10 minutes of talking, the scrolling stops working on messages and I wind up having to drag my hand along the bar along the side that is near impossible to touch. Or I'll download a game/app and have it just spazz out when I run it. So god damn frustrating!
I guess I'm just upset that I have a phone with more potential than I've ever seen. Amazing keyboard, awesome screen, but WinMo just ruins it. I've yet to find an app that works perfectly AND looks nice other than what is provided by HTC with the phone. Why?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry you're not happy but there is so much more for Win Mobile and that you can do to win mobile than any other phone. Look around a little bit in the Development & Hacking section here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=260
BTW the Marketplace for WinMo is a joke. It's still pretty new and needs MUCH improvements. I usually download my cab files online then either bluetooth them to my phone or stick them on my microsd card.
Best of luck.
I played around with one in the store, and I generally like it just fine. If I paid $349 (T-Mobile) for this thing I'd have to say, NO! But if I can tether through 3G just like I plan to, it'll be worth it. The keyboard is big and nice for typing and I already have an iPhone and I use barely use the apps on it, so I won't be missing much, I'm keeping it though.
Here is to hoping ANDROID gets ported over..
This is my 3rd windows mobile phone, and in my personal opinion, I think Windows mobile 6.1 is an improvement, along with 6.5, but Windows Mobile and windows mobile applications is just a fail, a pure epic fail.
My list of Windows Mobile devices are, T-Mobile MDA, T-Mobile WING and now T-Mobile Touch Pro 2.
My next phone will more than likely be a Windows Mobile phone too Even though it sucks, it is what I'm used to in my mobile devices.
I used to use Psion machines which had excellent built-in applications and, out of misguided loyalty, I stuck to Symbian-based mobiles. After a year and a half with UIQ-3 with its lack of applications I jumped ship to WM/Kaiser and haven't looked back since. The integration with my desktop PC is so much easier and there is plenty of very high quality software around. There is a lot of lesser quality software as well, but that is partly due to the fact that it is easier for people to start out developing software for WM than some of the other platforms.
the thing about winmo phones is that you gotta customize it to make it perfect.. sucks that it doesn't come that way out of the box.. but yea... i have the tilt 2 and i absoultely love it.. but i've been flashing roms on my fuze so i'm not a newb.. but actually the stock rom is very decent compared to other stock winmo phone interfaces.
glcK23 said:
My next phone will more than likely be a Windows Mobile phone too Even though it sucks, it is what I'm used to in my mobile devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL!!! This is how i feel. Winmo has ruined cell phones for me! Ones you learn how to use one of these things, youll never be satisfied with not tweaking every thing about your cell ever again!
I really wanted to jump to another type of device, but that tasty freedom winmo gives me is just too good
gobmonster said:
LOL!!! This is how i feel. Winmo has ruined cell phones for me! Ones you learn how to use one of these things, youll never be satisfied with not tweaking every thing about your cell ever again!
I really wanted to jump to another type of device, but that tasty freedom winmo gives me is just too good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, I've had all three sliding keyboard phones from T-Mobile, I really like them, the MDA was the best, it was like a rock, dropped it so many times and it never broke.
The Touch Pro 2 fell twice already and doesn't even have a scuff mark, I'm impressed.
Overall, the OS is addicting, kind of like using Windows 7 but asked to use MacOS or a linux distro, just don't want to take the time to switch over to a new OS.
I can only hope Windows Mobile 7 will be better.
I agree, it is fun customizing. I'm just upset that there simply seems to lack "nice" apps. Nothing is completely polished or utilizes the phone since there are so many different kinds of winmo phones out there. Argh, if only I could develop my own apps.. or somehow get android on here
I'm happy with WM, never had a WM device before. Sure it has its limitations (Which are well documented) but for what it is, I find it useful and generally, enjoyable.
I just received my VZW TP2 two days ago and have already gotten to where I can use most of its features, or at least the ones I will be using. This is the fourth WMO device I've had, including two Ipaq PDA's (no phone) and my last a TMO MDA. Like Glck23 said it is a rock, and still works fine after 3½ years of use. I still don't like the cases available for the TP2 and would like to stick with Krusell since I have quite a bit of Multi-Adapt accessories for it, but they don't have a case available that allows plugging in a set of earphones while in the case--or if they do I'm not aware of it. Having two types of TP2's makes this choice more confusing, and although some other cases use the knob-and-clip type of belt-clip system it is never clear if any of them are compatible with Krusell accessories. Piel Frama cases are generally compatible but I'm not paying $100 or more for a phone case.
I build and maintain several computers including my own and am accustomed to M$ Win, so I feel at home with WMO even though it does seem clunky at times. I do think the TP2 is a big improvement, and what rough edges it has, like no camera flash, these don't bother me much.
I haven't gotten into much tweaking yet, but have downloaded a registry editor, a necessity IMO, and am ready to make some meaningful changes. I didn't try any custom ROM's in the MDA and probably won't here unless 6.1 becomes unstable or slow, which it hasn't yet. I would like to find out how to make the TP2 a GPS without GPS software, but I already have iGuidance v3 that I bought for the MDA and iNav says it should work in the TP2. I have a BT GPS that has always worked well to use with iGuidance. Does anyone have any advise on this, as I would like to get GPS functionality working here.
For those that think the WM phone(s) are junk, I'm on my 3rd HTC phone.
Tilt, Touch Pro, Tilt2. I've been using either windows mobile or the windows PPC since the first Dell Axium X5 PDA. If I were to switch to say an iPhone, I would probably have the same reaction to it, as say someone new to a WM phone.
I wouldn't go to another OS on a phone, just for the simple reason that I have spent so much time on them, I know how to tweak, hack & adjust my phone the way I want it.
I think it is a personal thing. If you want to turn on a phone, and have it do what you want, without any input from you, to customize or personalize it to your needs, then get an iphone or something similar. But, when I buy something, I consider it MINE to do with as I please.
I don't understand these people. Don't they realize it isn't what they want BEFORE 30 days is up so that they can return it and get something else?

Help me to get rid of the idea of jumping over to Nexus One...

well, an idea of getting a Nexus One has bitten me, and it won't let go.
The explanation is the sluggishness of WinMo and the half-Gz processor in my Tilt2. The problem is that I know ATTs Nexus One has it's problems as well, like the color offset, etc..
The main selling point for me (and maybe Nexus' owners can persuade me otherwise) is the interface responsiveness.. Delays of 500ms+ are unacceptable for me.. I'm ashamed to admit it, but iPhone still has the best responsiveness for me. It's just so damn fast to respond to every to.
How is Nexus One in that department? Hopefully some owners can chime in...
P.S: don't tell me to try other ROMs, I tried them all. A week of syncing with exchange and gmail make any rom too slow for me. If it takes 1second+ to load an email - thats way too slow for me.
Only other thing I've heard of with the nexus one is the screen issues. Basically google has now stated that the nexus one is not a pocket phone due to issues with the screen when placed in your pocket (or constant pressure i'd assume).
You should give this a try to help you decide.
Response times are pretty impressive. Plus, you have to consider that it's running on an emulator on a device with half the specs of the Nexus One.
If you like Android and you want a reason not to get the Nexus One, that reason would be the HTC Desire. More RAM, Sense, optical pad, hardware buttons.
my friend got one days after I got my TP2. It all comes down to OS preference in the end..he does admit that he hates typing on the screen, but insisted he would never need a 'physical keyboard' lol..
I really don't see anything that phone does better (except for speed) than the TP2. I'm always 1-upping him w/ apps and what not..oh and you ever use or plan to use MSFT exchange, its an absolute nightmare on android. have to pay $20 for an app called touchdown. Want office? that'll be another $20 for a program by dataviz. add that to the cost of the Nexus One..
My advice to anyone will be tough it out with what you have now, save for a WP7S phone, b/c that is going to be revolutionary!!
I honestly can't blame you, I've personally considered "jumping ships" to Android, or just waiting for WM7 device to come out and buying that. The Rhodium's a beautiful device, but the Crapcomm MSM7xxx that powers it is piss poor, and not worth the money I paid for this device. It's rather disappointing to wait for things to load on my ~5 month old device, while my ~2 year old iPod touch and iPhone seem to load things just fine. If I had the money, I would play around with the idea of getting a nicer device, but I'm stuck until I get enough cash. If I were you and I had the money, I would at least consider the options of a faster/newer/better device.
@ohyeahar: Android isn't running in an emulator, HaRET restarts the device into Android after unloading Windows Mobile from RAM. While some performance enhancements may still be made, since it's not running emulated, the speed isn't as impressive as it seems.
DaveTheTytnIIGuy said:
...
@ohyeahar: Android isn't running in an emulator, HaRET restarts the device into Android after unloading Windows Mobile from RAM. While some performance enhancements may still be made, since it's not running emulated, the speed isn't as impressive as it seems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for correcting me. I'm quite clueless as to how you genius developers make Android run on a WinMo device...
i just get a hands on of nexus one from my friend. and its so so much faster than tp2. go get it now! i'm gonna receive my att version tomorrow and will use it as my primary phone and use tp2 for e-mails.
token2k6 said:
my friend got one days after I got my TP2. It all comes down to OS preference in the end..he does admit that he hates typing on the screen, but insisted he would never need a 'physical keyboard' lol..
I really don't see anything that phone does better (except for speed) than the TP2. I'm always 1-upping him w/ apps and what not..oh and you ever use or plan to use MSFT exchange, its an absolute nightmare on android. have to pay $20 for an app called touchdown. Want office? that'll be another $20 for a program by dataviz. add that to the cost of the Nexus One..
My advice to anyone will be tough it out with what you have now, save for a WP7S phone, b/c that is going to be revolutionary!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the good breakdown there.. problem is I see no good option for me in the future, besides, maybe, HTC Desire. WM7's interface, in my opinion, is f***king horrible. It barely covers 80% of the screen, hideous blue squares, pieces of titles... and I don't care for social networks or XBOX, as I use neither.
So WM7, so far, has put me in depression.
spirit32 said:
i just get a hands on of nexus one from my friend. and its so so much faster than tp2. go get it now! i'm gonna receive my att version tomorrow and will use it as my primary phone and use tp2 for e-mails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good, but emails for me are even more important than the phone itself. I live by emails and syncing with work's exchange server.
One of the main reasons I'm considering switching to android is how awesome gmail looks like.
In WM6.5 emails are horrific - any more or less formatter email, like a newsletter, will load 6-10 seconds, then lag like a dead donkey and will only display a small portion of the email. I still wonder how MS's email viewer even passed QC.
ohyeahar said:
Cool, thanks for correcting me. I'm quite clueless as to how you genius developers make Android run on a WinMo device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I do have xdandroid on my tilt2. It's sluggish and not fast enough for 100% use, although I agree that it's amazing how they managed to make it work so well on a device it was never even intended for.
Just one word why not jumping over Nexus:
Keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!
The keyboard would be a big reason for me not too as well, that coupled with the fact that there are problems with screen not being true multi-touch, as you can see at the following locations
Code:
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/03/03/nexus-one-multi-touch-bugs/
Code:
http://phandroid.com/2010/03/03/nexus-one-multi-touch-severely-flawed/
From the info you've given so far, lack of keyboard issue aside, why not the HD2?
Well I asked myself about switching to Android as well. Biggest reason for me for not switching to android is synchronization. I refuse to use Google stuff and have my contacts and emails scanned by them. But not using Google brings up serious issues with synchronizing contacts and calendar from a Mac to your Android phone (i am not sure if Windows -> Android is any better). Other thoughts are that I already bought a lot of software for my WinMo phone and I'd have to buy it again for Android.
Another thing is KEYBOARD. There is no Android device with a nice keyboard out. I tried the Android port for the TP2, which is great, but the issues with synching remain.... So all in all, it's not going to be Android, as synching is killer for me.
I have tried the latest XDAndroid on my TP2 and it was easy configuring it to synch with my Exchange server. I just used the built-in Mail client.
Loconinja said:
I have tried the latest XDAndroid on my TP2 and it was easy configuring it to synch with my Exchange server. I just used the built-in Mail client.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah same here actually.. i havent seen any problems with syncing with Exchange... unless someone has specific reasons why it's bad - I think it works just fine..
orb3000 said:
Just one word why not jumping over Nexus:
Keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meh... keyboard is not a huge issue for me..
DarkDvr said:
Sounds good, but emails for me are even more important than the phone itself. I live by emails and syncing with work's exchange server.
One of the main reasons I'm considering switching to android is how awesome gmail looks like.
In WM6.5 emails are horrific - any more or less formatter email, like a newsletter, will load 6-10 seconds, then lag like a dead donkey and will only display a small portion of the email. I still wonder how MS's email viewer even passed QC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you - I needed that laugh!
The Nexus One looks sweet and I'm sure it runs smooth and the OS is stable. I just don't like how you would have to pay for certain apps and the fact that it costs around 500+ dollars.
I was getting tired of my TP2 because I was constantly searching for a fast but stable ROM. I finally found it! It's the latest Energy ROM (21xxx) with sense 2.1. It's fast, leaves me with a lot of available ram and very stable! I've yet to encounter a bug/issue. I've also installed a few cabs to make it look nice and fresh. Why not try out the ROM and customize it to make it look the way you want it to look?
Almost forgot, gotta love the keyboard and tilt screen feature. Always amazes everyone I show.
tp2 to n1 to tp2 and going back to n1
i originally started out with the tp2, then got the nexus one to review. i didnt like the n1 for one reason no desktop syncing. wm did that so i switched back to the tp2. but i got a taste of a really good os in that short review. it was weird to use a phone that for the most part (not 100% but in comparison to wm may as well be) worked with little to no tweaking. for one month i had no issues with the damn thing. i thought i would miss the keyboard of the tp2 but i could actually type faster with the onscreen kb of the n1. the apps were nice and clean and the one time i did have a force close was due to the program being a beta build. anyway i came back to the tp2 because of the many programs i sync with on my desktop but in the back of my mind i was missing the smoothness, speed, and problem free os of the n1. i went through just about every damn rom on this forum trying toreplicate the feeling i had with the n1, and would always fall short. in the end, as of last thursday, i have placed my order for a new n1. after reading how wm7 has addoped this lock it down phylosphy i have finally lost all interest in wm and wp7. desktop syncing is no longer enough of an anchor for me after having experiencing a newer and refined os. I of course will keep an eye on wp7 when its released, but i just need a smooth, fast, and problem free phone without the need to do the developers job of tweaking it to work the way it should.
your basically looking for a desktop to fit in your pocket...my nexus one is nothing to brag about ,i can do the same things on my tp2...i just happen to fall in the trap with the hype...now i need my money back ...i just wasted my money on two phones

This is the End (move to Android, WP7, or iphh... I can't even say it)

It is now 2nd half of 2010. Apple has released the 4th version of the iPhone. Blackberry has released it's best touch screen device to date, the BB Torch. Android is poised to move into 2nd place and can possibly become market share leader in the coming months. Windows Phone 7 is being polished and will launch within the next 2-3 months.
So where does this leave us Touch Pro 2 owners? Our processors, even when overclocked are not even close to what newer smartphones have under the hood. As much as I've enjoyed using WM 6.5 with HTC Sense and MaxManilla and Cookies HomeTab and MaxSense, I'm beginning to feel like no amount of tweaking and ROM flashing can save our devices. App support for WM 6.1 and 6.5 has come to a grinding halt in my opinion. No one can argue with the fact that all the best apps are now on iPhone and Android.
So I ask my fellow Rhodium owners... when are you going to switch, and what are you going to switch to?
im moving to android...next year when i get my upgrade...windows mobile...is dead...and it kinda hurts...because when it runs right...its so smooth, but alot of the consumer market wants apps, which WINMO does have...but we dont have the novelty apps like iphones and androids...to me android is like...iphone on steriods with a touch of windows mobile productivity
my contract will be expiring until aug of 2011 so I still got like a year to go until I can upgrade. Based on what I have seen so far, I think I will be moving to android or possibly to iphone 4 because now ATT requires everyone to get a data plan, I am possibly will move to iphone 4 becasue the price will be the same regardless it's a smartphone or iphone.
So far, I am looking at captivate, iphone 4, or xperia. I am leaning toward captivate and ihpone 4 but still have not yet made up my mind.
I like HTC's sense but to be honest, I am pretty much given up on any of the WinMo phones so it's most likely going to be either android or iphone.
The good news I guess for me is that I still got a year to go so I can wait and keep looking around and shopping.
yea, its almost the end for my Rhodium. Im looking at either the Blackberry Torch or any of the WP7 phone. Might try the torch first and let the WP7 matured out first.
But its been nice using the Rhodium, surely its not the quickest but it gets the job done. Im still gonna keep it, one of the best phone that i've use.
ill be switching to android, ive never liked the iphone OS and WP7 is just a clone
as for when, i dont know, im not under a contract ATM so ill switch whenever i see an android phone with a nice TP2-like keyboard, preferably on sprint
android on a htc device most likely. love winmo tho. if they get their act right ill remain loyal.
iphone??? lol, maybe if i get over originality.... new iphone looks like **** compared to my rhod. and i expect it will never be able to catch my attention.
unfortunately I'll stay on wm 6.5! because UpToDate (a medical reference program) which is MUST TO HAVE for me, is not released for android!
If I could pass this limitation, I'll go for android (probably galaxy s i9000) for sure.
I'm tired of changing rom, searching for tweaks,testing new home screens and themes,etc... to feel like having a 2010-11 smart phone!
I'll be staying with my Tilt2 for now. Its not even a year old, and I can't justify a switch at this time. Maybe when/if ATT offers a subsidized flagship Android handset, then I'll think of switching. Especially a device with a slider QWERTY keyboard. Or if an unlocked Android phone really piques my interest (enough to justify paying full price).
Android seems to be carrying on in the spirit of Windows Mobile, offering customization and freedom, completely in contrast to Apple's walled garden. Its still not quite as slick and streamlined as the iPhone, but I have high hopes for Android in the next year or so.
As fluid, user-friendly, and popular as the iPhone may be, I still can't stand its closed architecture. Its annoying that Steve Jobs and Apple fanboys claim the iPhone is "the best" when they are still making big updates to add features which WM has had for years. Everything from tethering to multitask, icon folders, and on previous updates: cut&paste, stereo bluetooth, and so much more. And its still outrageous to me that you can't even activate an iPhone without installing Apple's bloated software package on your home computer.
I had big expectations for the Blackberry Torch and Blackberry OS 6, since there (for some time now) has been the possibility of my work forcing me to switch to a BB device. But it appears the phone has fallen far short of RIMs promises and hype. Blackberry 6 is still years behind Android and Apple. A pretty home page, with most things underlying basically the same as the old Blackberry, and tons of other issues. RIM has proven that they are out of touch with the new smartphone landscape, and will continue to lose market share to the competition. Too bad, with their dominance in the enterprise arena, and reputation for security, they could have stayed THE major player, if they had played their cards right.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Blackberry-Torch,review-1573.html
I've already moved on from the TP2 to the Evo, and Android, not WP7 is the real successor to WinMo. For all the tweaks I made to get my TP2 working smoothly, the Evo trumped it in almost every way out of the box. Aside from voice dial, there isn't anything from WinMo that Android doesn't do better. Much better. I had been using WinMo since the Mogul, and while Android 1.6 isn't all that hot, 2.2 with Sense is both familiar and superior.
And the hardware just smokes the TP2.
android is really catching my eye right now. i got a tilt 2 off ebay a couple of months ago and its been fun using it. i also have a pure from at&t as well and i keep switching between the 2 devices. my wife has iphone and as great as it is its not for me. i love to custimise and tweak otherwise i might as well just have a crappy flip phone if i just wanted a phone. i keep eye balling the samsung captivate but im a big htc fan. i keep seeing leaked upcoming phones from htc but not sure if when at&t will get any of those. i am intrigued with wp7 as well. both i and my wife are eligible for upgrades and i use her line to upgrade phones for me as well. i dont want to jump the gun and get the captivate but its getting very tempting to since at&t suck at getting any new smartphones.
Buying a WM Rhodium phone was a big, big mistake in my opinion. I had no idea that a phone could be so slow and unresponsive. As someone who works in manufacturing, I was shocked that a product like this would even be marketed (I consider 5 soft resets a day and slow response as "defective".) I really wish I had gotten Android instead, but I'm stuck with this phone for the next year at the very least. I got burned!
having to do 5 resets a day is defective.
I am not sure what I will be moving over to yet. Im on Sprint so I may look toward the Samsung Epic. That phone is Android but it does have an actual keyboard. I am sad too because I have become so accustomed to winmo. I love the file explorer, the freedom, the cutting and pasting. Perhaps I will wait to see what windows Phone 7 has to offer, but I think having the keyboard and the freedom to customize is most important.
redpoint73 said:
I'll be staying with my Tilt2 for now. Its not even a year old, and I can't justify a switch at this time. Maybe when/if ATT offers a subsidized flagship Android handset, then I'll think of switching. Especially a device with a slider QWERTY keyboard. Or if an unlocked Android phone really piques my interest (enough to justify paying full price).
Android seems to be carrying on in the spirit of Windows Mobile, offering customization and freedom, completely in contrast to Apple's walled garden. Its still not quite as slick and streamlined as the iPhone, but I have high hopes for Android in the next year or so.
As fluid, user-friendly, and popular as the iPhone may be, I still can't stand its closed architecture. Its annoying that Steve Jobs and Apple fanboys claim the iPhone is "the best" when they are still making big updates to add features which WM has had for years. Everything from tethering to multitask, icon folders, and on previous updates: cut&paste, stereo bluetooth, and so much more. And its still outrageous to me that you can't even activate an iPhone without installing Apple's bloated software package on your home computer.
I had big expectations for the Blackberry Torch and Blackberry OS 6, since there (for some time now) has been the possibility of my work forcing me to switch to a BB device. But it appears the phone has fallen far short of RIMs promises and hype. Blackberry 6 is still years behind Android and Apple. A pretty home page, with most things underlying basically the same as the old Blackberry, and tons of other issues. RIM has proven that they are out of touch with the new smartphone landscape, and will continue to lose market share to the competition. Too bad, with their dominance in the enterprise arena, and reputation for security, they could have stayed THE major player, if they had played their cards right.
<snipped outside link>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You hit the nail squarely on the head here. I considered (and still am) an Android based phone but I like the "easy button" convenience of ActiveSync. I've owned all three iterations of the Blackjack and this is my first HTC product and I have to say that I am enjoying it completely. The price disparity between the Jack and the Tilt 2 was the only thing that kept me from buying it right off the bat. Having said that, some of the features that got broken with the WM6.5 update are unacceptable. Threaded messaging worked perfectly before I updated my Jack, not so much afterward, and I hope the new official ROM update for the Tilt 2 addresses this and other issues. It was a relief to find out that it was either a Microsoft or ATT software engineer that effed things up, and not a Samsung issue as I originally assumed.
I also considered the iphone, as when i got the Jack the 3GS model was coming out so I could've gotten a 3G for a song, but I feel the same about that crappy itunes garbage software. Absolute ****e, IMO. I had to fix my daughter's desktop so many times a few years back because of that crapware and I'm not willing to go there again.
I also considered a crackberry, but nothing really interested me at the time except for the Bold and that was just as expensive as the Tilt 2.
gromky said:
Buying a WM Rhodium phone was a big, big mistake in my opinion. I had no idea that a phone could be so slow and unresponsive. As someone who works in manufacturing, I was shocked that a product like this would even be marketed (I consider 5 soft resets a day and slow response as "defective".) I really wish I had gotten Android instead, but I'm stuck with this phone for the next year at the very least. I got burned!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say don't blame the phone, blame the software. While the Rhodium hardware may not spec out like the bleeding edge stuff that has been released in the last few months, it is more than up to the task of handling a properly polished WM6.x ROM. I really would have liked to see this phone with 6.1 on it. As I implied in my above reply, 6.1 worked pretty flawless for me but 6.5 has been just this side of an unmitigated disaster. Throw in all the bloat and crap that ATT wants to put on their WM smartphones and you have what we got.
Again, my hope is that the new official ROM update will address all the issues that WM6.5 created.
I have had no problems and very rarely have to reset..
I'll be waiting until a good phone has all the hardware features I like in the TP2, either android or WM7 I don't care, I'll judge in a year.
The TP2 was the best phone out for me needs when I got it, and it'll be a year or so probably before something comes out that'll make me switch. It does all I want, and more, now. Higher res and faster speed would be nice, HDMI out and a few other hardware goodies would rock, but it isn't required.
I went thru the gambit of HTC/at&t phones over the last few years. I still even have a 3125 & 8525 in my desk. I got the first Tilt, and after I got it tweaked the way I wanted it, (eventually stayed with stock rom too), it has been a work horse for almost THREE YEARS! The last two years I had it, never had to hard reset it!!!
Now I have the Tilt2...all I can say is.... WOW... I am looking forward to the next three years.
One thing folks should understand about WinMo.. or Windows in general. A lot of the 'bugginess' can be attributed to third party apps, just like your desk/laptop.
I am worried about WinMo 7. I hear the new platforms are essentially a
Zune versus a pocket pc. My phone needs to be an extension of my desk/laptops, can a Zune platform fill the bill?
going down with the ship, why switch when my phone does everything I need and want it to.
I think I could well be going to Android as I'm more swayed by the full qwerty keyboard than an operating system.
The new HTC G2 or Vision will be the way forward and I suspect I'll just take whatever OS is offered with it.
Even got a gmail account set up in readiness for the switch. It's a shame as I have no issues with WinMo but if they cannot provide the correct hardware then I'm off.
the touch pro 2 has been the best phone i've ever had. yes it was glitchy at the beginning and it froze daily, but with the right setup, its perfect. Im running the Energy Rom right now, with Spb Mobile Shell 3.5 and a custom Spb skin. Its so customizable its sickening. I've had it in this configuration for the last 3 months, and I have not had to reset my phone for that whole period of time. on top of that, my battery life is longer. I hope they will make an updated version of the Rhodium with the slide out keyboard. I really don't want to upgrade to a phone without it.
gromky said:
Buying a WM Rhodium phone was a big, big mistake in my opinion. I had no idea that a phone could be so slow and unresponsive. As someone who works in manufacturing, I was shocked that a product like this would even be marketed (I consider 5 soft resets a day and slow response as "defective".) I really wish I had gotten Android instead, but I'm stuck with this phone for the next year at the very least. I got burned!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
working in manufacturing, you shoudl have known to try out any technology before you buy it. i have tilt2 and i mess with it everyday, flashing and tweaking, and within the year or so ive had the fone ive only had 2 times where ive had to SOFT reset. never had a problem that needed a hard reset.
even now i have it oc'd at 768 and no freezing never lags, no errors.
a lot of times its just that you need to match the technology u buy. some people are windows peeps, some are google peeps, some are apple peeps.
if your constantly getting lags, needing to reset... blah blah blah... then u probably need a more simple form of tech like iphone.
if you like to tweak and customize (and know a lil something about computers) go for windows.
if you want a phone thats psp/computer, go with android.
you want a weak version of psp, go with iphone.
doug3673 said:
So I ask my fellow Rhodium owners... when are you going to switch, and what are you going to switch to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to stay with the Tilt2 until sometime next year. I really do not care about the speed of the processor or much else as long as the phone does what I want it to do. However, support of applications is the main issue. More and more applications are getting released for the iPhone and Android only and there are a number I would like to have. MS has abandoned WinMo (which makes little sense to me, but anyway), so moving to a new platform is essential to obtain newer applications.
So, the choice is the iPhone or Android. I dislike Apple's closed system so this brings us to Android. Unfortunately, there is no Android device that I find compelling right now. What I want is an HTC device running Sense with a keyboard and at least a 4'' screen. Hopefully. such device would be released soon (it has to be GSM because of travel requirements).

Considering Windows Phone 7

I currently own an iPhone 4 32GB on AT&T and I am considering a Windows Phone 7 device. Should I go ahead and sell my iPhone and purchase a device? I currently own a Zune (which I am selling) with a Zune Subscription (which I plan on keeping) and I am looking into selling my PS3 for an XBOX 360.
I have a lot of music, so that's what I do most. I also text and use the internet a lot, as well as check email. I also use Pandora quite a bit too (though with the Zune marketplace on the phone, probably not as much). I play games, but not often. I love the battery life of my iPhone. I also have an Otterbox to protect it's beauty. I am also a big fan of its screen and resolution. I use my phone as a camera too. Also, I want better navigation than what I currently get on my iPhone, which is MapQuest 4 (since the iPhone Maps sucks for navigation).
I have been considering the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and the LG Quantum. Are there more for AT&T I should consider? I really like the Dell Venue Pro, but it seems like it's not offered for AT&T.
So, what do you guys think? Should I jump ship? By the way, I LOVED the Zune and it's interface, if that helps.
Well really the only one who can decide is you. I'd head to a mobile store and just play with one until they kick you out. I have an LG Quantum, here are some thoughts:
-the software keyboard is. a-may-zing. I can type almost as fast on it as i can with two hands on a desktop. Bar none, the best I've ever used. If you text, this will blow you away. It just knows what you meant to type
-the zune player leaves a LOT to be desired, sound quality wise. wp7 needs an eq app soon. It'll get one, but for now, expect a flat sound. Very dissappointing.
-I don't know why I'm reading bad things about it, but the new IE is so fast it's overwhelming. It renders things very very quickly. Better than my wife's iPhone.
-the interface and UI is awesome. It's honestly the next step in smartphone software. Very impressive especially once you get used to it
-great Facebook integration. It adds all your Facebook/SIM contacts/hotmail contacts to one "contacts" app. Which at first sounds like too much. But after using it, I never want to go back. If I want to get a hold of anyone I've ever met, no matter from where, they're in my contacts hub. I can then choose to email them, post on their wall, text them, or call them. It's so quick and easy
sure haven't said:
Well really the only one who can decide is you. I'd head to a mobile store and just play with one until they kick you out. I have an LG Quantum, here are some thoughts:
-the software keyboard is. a-may-zing. I can type almost as fast on it as i can with two hands on a desktop. Bar none, the best I've ever used. If you text, this will blow you away. It just knows what you meant to type
-the zune player leaves a LOT to be desired, sound quality wise. wp7 needs an eq app soon. It'll get one, but for now, expect a flat sound. Very dissappointing.
-I don't know why I'm reading bad things about it, but the new IE is so fast it's overwhelming. It renders things very very quickly. Better than my wife's iPhone.
-the interface and UI is awesome. It's honestly the next step in smartphone software. Very impressive especially once you get used to it
-great Facebook integration. It adds all your Facebook/SIM contacts/hotmail contacts to one "contacts" app. Which at first sounds like too much. But after using it, I never want to go back. If I want to get a hold of anyone I've ever met, no matter from where, they're in my contacts hub. I can then choose to email them, post on their wall, text them, or call them. It's so quick and easy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a question on the sound. Is it comparable to the Zune, better or worse? What about in comparison to the iPhone?
I want to play with it but work and college kind of get in the way.
Like said above, go into a store and play with one. I'm gonna have to agree to everything sure said, windows phone 7 is amazing..the user interface is incredible. I've only had my HD7 for 4 days and I can't put it down. It's so smooth, the social integration with Facebook and your contacts is genius. Go play with one I doubt you'll be dissapointed
mariolopezjr said:
I currently own an iPhone 4 32GB on AT&T and I am considering a Windows Phone 7 device. Should I go ahead and sell my iPhone and purchase a device? I currently own a Zune (which I am selling) with a Zune Subscription (which I plan on keeping) and I am looking into selling my PS3 for an XBOX 360.
I have a lot of music, so that's what I do most. I also text and use the internet a lot, as well as check email. I also use Pandora quite a bit too (though with the Zune marketplace on the phone, probably not as much). I play games, but not often. I love the battery life of my iPhone. I also have an Otterbox to protect it's beauty. I am also a big fan of its screen and resolution. I use my phone as a camera too. Also, I want better navigation than what I currently get on my iPhone, which is MapQuest 4 (since the iPhone Maps sucks for navigation).
I have been considering the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and the LG Quantum. Are there more for AT&T I should consider? I really like the Dell Venue Pro, but it seems like it's not offered for AT&T.
So, what do you guys think? Should I jump ship? By the way, I LOVED the Zune and it's interface, if that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With that list. Go for it. Now your decision boils down to which one.
Zune player sounds just fine. He must have really bad headphones or something. But it's at the very least on par with the iPhone if not better.
However, OP, I recommend you stick with the iPhone 4 for now. Several reasons.
WP7 is currently bug infested. You should probably wait and see how and if Microsoft is going to deal with it. You also should generally wait until Mango to see whether WP7 will take off or not. It's a bit of a gamble as of right now.
If you insist on taking the chance with WP7, I recommend you wait for Nokia's WP7 phones. The current hardware is pretty good but Nokia phones will probably have nice exclusives and, if they base them on the concepts, will be the sexiest phones out there.
All signals essentially point to 'wait.'
Based on friends of mine who have made the jump, I'd say go for it. They all love the UX on Phone 7 and while the platform does miss some functionality today it's not something that you will notice on a daily basis.
In the end though, it's a question only you can answer, so I'll agree with most others here and tell you to go have a play with it in store.
I have been a long term Windows phone user (version 5, 6.1 and 6.5). Unfortunately my current MDA Vario has developed a speaker problem and I'm forced to get a new phone (T Mobile have previously 'fixed' the problem which has now returned)
What you tend to forget is that you shouldn't buy an operating system - you purchese functionality. The key thing is whether the phone can satisfy all your requirements.
As for me, Windows 7 doesn't currently satisfy 3 key requirements:
1. No internet tethering out of the box (you have to really delve down to make this work)
2. No turn by turn navigation
4. No decent ebook reader which can read either lit or mobi format (although the Kindle application has been issued, there is no easy way to load my old books which I haven't purchased from Amazon). All in all I'm very disappointed that MS Reader has not been upgraded
As a mainly business user, I'm not really too interested in Zune or Games and am a bit unhappy about syncronisation via the cloud. As a haooy Napster user (supported in 6.5), I would have to swop to Zune
So what have I decided. I have gone ahead and purchased a used HTC Diamon Pro 2 running 6.5. This will do everything I want and I will wait until Windows 7 finally catches up.
sandravale said:
1. No internet tethering out of the box (you have to really delve down to make this work)
2. No turn by turn navigation
4. No decent ebook reader which can read either lit or mobi format (although the Kindle application has been issued, there is no easy way to load my old books which I haven't purchased from Amazon). All in all I'm very disappointed that MS Reader has not been upgraded
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. While I understand what you're saying it really doesn't ring true with me. If you own a Samsung you can enable tethering in 15 or so taps (including entering all the numbers).
2. Really? I have turn-by-turn on my Omnia7. Works great too. AT&T also seem to be offering some sort of navigational package, as does several other carriers around the world.
I can't comment on the ebook reader situation as I find the phone too small to read large chunks of text on anyway, but your point seems valid enough.
sandravale said:
As a mainly business user, I'm ... a bit unhappy about syncronisation via the cloud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? What's your problem with the cloud exactly? Not being confrontational here, just wondering what, if any, gripes you have about using a secure always available filestore. I can understand some people not wanting to store their confidential documents on a random SkyDrive, but as a business you can run a locked down Sharepoint server locally.
I moved from a 32gb iPhone 4 to a Samsung Focus on the basis of the strength of the Zune platform. There have been drawbacks to moving over to such a new platform (marketplace bug being one main one, lack of apps being another) but also benefits such as the close facebook integration, UI, live tiles and above all, the zune integration.
I've had no sense that the zune player quality is worse (nor better) than the iphone. The desktop client and zunepass blow iTunes away. There really is no comparison.
I would play around with current phones, but as someone above said, you may want to wait and see if they announce any Nokia phones in the April timeframe (MIX 11). Although I guess the resale value of the iP4 will decline after the iP4s/5 gets released this summer.
mKTank said:
Zune player sounds just fine. He must have really bad headphones or something. But it's at the very least on par with the iPhone if not better.
However, OP, I recommend you stick with the iPhone 4 for now. Several reasons.
WP7 is currently bug infested. You should probably wait and see how and if Microsoft is going to deal with it. You also should generally wait until Mango to see whether WP7 will take off or not. It's a bit of a gamble as of right now.
If you insist on taking the chance with WP7, I recommend you wait for Nokia's WP7 phones. The current hardware is pretty good but Nokia phones will probably have nice exclusives and, if they base them on the concepts, will be the sexiest phones out there.
All signals essentially point to 'wait.'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A) No, my headphones are good quality. The PSP (generation ONE), and Samsung Omnia 2 blow it out of the water. They sound EQ'd, with presence and body. My Quantum just sounds flat.
B) After reading your post, you sound like a hater. So OP, please disregard his comments. Wp7 is not "bug ridden", it works just fine. Not sure why you insist on claiming getting a wp7 is "taking a chance". I think that description would be more apt to an Android phone, as the fragmentation has assured no one can tell which device will actually be good. As for wp7, there are hardware minimums across the board, and the software is smoother than silk. Haters gonna hate I suppose.
mariolopezjr said:
I currently own an iPhone 4 32GB on AT&T and I am considering a Windows Phone 7 device. Should I go ahead and sell my iPhone and purchase a device? I currently own a Zune (which I am selling) with a Zune Subscription (which I plan on keeping) and I am looking into selling my PS3 for an XBOX 360.
I have a lot of music, so that's what I do most. I also text and use the internet a lot, as well as check email. I also use Pandora quite a bit too (though with the Zune marketplace on the phone, probably not as much). I play games, but not often. I love the battery life of my iPhone. I also have an Otterbox to protect it's beauty. I am also a big fan of its screen and resolution. I use my phone as a camera too. Also, I want better navigation than what I currently get on my iPhone, which is MapQuest 4 (since the iPhone Maps sucks for navigation).
I have been considering the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and the LG Quantum. Are there more for AT&T I should consider? I really like the Dell Venue Pro, but it seems like it's not offered for AT&T.
So, what do you guys think? Should I jump ship? By the way, I LOVED the Zune and it's interface, if that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You shouldn't, especially if you already have a Zune.
That's just my opinion.
I had almost the same exact decision to make a few weeks ago. I was going to upgrade and it was either the iPhone 4 or the Samsung Focus. I went with the Samsung Focus because I already have an iPad, but it truly is a great device. Theres some bug's with it, but I'm counting on Microsoft to fix them.
Things I like:
1. Camera button
2. Interface (duh)
3. Facebook integration (I like being able to add a contact and have it automatically pull in all that users information for me)
4. Nice keyboard (like it better than the iPhones, but it still has its gripes)
5. Zune Software instead of iTunes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. Bigger screen (Focus has a 4 inch screen and it is a big difference from the iPhone's small 3.5 inch screen)
7. Bing voice search (this is something I show all my friends. I can just say "hamburger" and it finds all the local hamburger joints around me wicked fast)
8. Flash support is coming (http://wmpoweruser.com/flash-10-2-incoming-but-no-wp7-date-announced/)
Things I don't like:
1. Marketplace is very slow, laggy, and unstable
2. Battery life isn't quite as good as the iPhone 4
3. Camera settings reset (this is not a feature Microsoft...)
4. Not as good browser (no html 5, different format that isn't quite as mobile friendly, no reordering of bookmarks).
5. Apps need PERMISSION to run under the lockscreen. If they don't even have this option they must be relaunched after you unlock your screen (why?!?!?!)
6. Less API support
7. No multitasking (will be coming this year though)
All in all make the jump as you have a 30 day period to return it (I'm still debating). If you keep it and you end up not liking it after awhile you will be just in time to upgrade to the iPhone 6 when it comes out in 2013 (possible benefit?)!
mariolopezjr said:
I have a question on the sound. Is it comparable to the Zune, better or worse? What about in comparison to the iPhone?
I want to play with it but work and college kind of get in the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never used a Zune so I can't comment, but see my other post about comparing it to other devices. My wife has an iPhone, but I've never tested them side by side (that would include hooking each one up to itunes/zune and transferring the same song, etc... I'm just way too lazy for that, sorry, at least I'm being honest)
ErikWithNoC said:
4. Not as good browser (no html 5, different format that isn't quite as mobile friendly, no reordering of bookmarks).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, there it is. I've been surfing on my phone since I got it... never had a problem rendering any site. Unless you're going to some flash-laden bloatfest, I don't understand how you can't think that this IE is fantastic.
emigrating said:
1. While I understand what you're saying it really doesn't ring true with me. If you own a Samsung you can enable tethering in 15 or so taps (including entering all the numbers).
2. Really? I have turn-by-turn on my Omnia7. Works great too. AT&T also seem to be offering some sort of navigational package, as does several other carriers around the world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. That's one phone on one carrier. That doesn't work. If you have T-Mobile the Samsung hack will not work. It's an outliar, and non-factor in the grand scheme of things.
2. No one in their right mind pays for Turn by Turn on a smartphone unless they need offline maps. Why pay $10 a month for Navigation when an HD2 can do it for free in Windows Mobile with the Bing App? Or an Android phone with Google Maps? $10 a month is a lot to pay just for Navigation.
The only carrier that makes sense for is Sprint, since they give away their Navigation features for free if you have their $69 (soon 79) plan. But Sprint currently has no WP7 devices.
I can't comment on the ebook reader situation as I find the phone too small to read large chunks of text on anyway, but your point seems valid enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's your opinion, but you have pinch to zoom and automatic text restructuring in these apps that make it trivial to read. This wouldn't be a big issue if Microsoft had decent Skydrive integration in the phone. In that case you'd just need to upload them to you skydrive and find an app that can read that file format. But that isn't coming for over 6 months...
Really? What's your problem with the cloud exactly? Not being confrontational here, just wondering what, if any, gripes you have about using a secure always available filestore. I can understand some people not wanting to store their confidential documents on a random SkyDrive, but as a business you can run a locked down Sharepoint server locally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people just like to have better control over their stuff. There's nothing wrong with it and he doesn't have to have a problem to have this specific qualm with any smartphone platform. They are all a bit too cloud-centric, IMO.
sure haven't said:
See, there it is. I've been surfing on my phone since I got it... never had a problem rendering any site. Unless you're going to some flash-laden bloatfest, I don't understand how you can't think that this IE is fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are HTML5 Mobile websites that are much better to use than their desktop (or WAP) counterparts on a smartphone browser.
touch.facebook.com >>> facebook.com or m.facebook.com on a mobile browser - by far. That is just one example. There are dozens if not more. HTML5 support being missing is a strike. NOt saying they need to implement the entire HTML5 Draft Spec tomorrow, but launching with basically no support for it was not a good idea, IMO.
With Multi-Tasking and third party browsers this would not be an issue, though, since we'd probably have Opera or some other Mobile Browser (probably WebKit) ported to it. If Microsoft had implemented a dual (Trident + WebKit) rendering engine, that would have been a killer feature... With the ability to set defaults on a site by site basis, of course.
N8ter said:
1. That's one phone on one carrier. That doesn't work. If you have T-Mobile the Samsung hack will not work. It's an outliar, and non-factor in the grand scheme of things.
2. No one in their right mind pays for Turn by Turn on a smartphone unless they need offline maps. Why pay $10 a month for Navigation when an HD2 can do it for free in Windows Mobile with the Bing App? Or an Android phone with Google Maps? $10 a month is a lot to pay just for Navigation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I disagree as it's not only achievable on the Samsung handsets (of which there are actually 2 available), the LG ones are just as easy. HTC handsets can also tether but IIRC, yes, you do have to dwelwe a little deeper. Point is, out of the 9 launch handsets, 4 can tether by entering a few numbers onto the phone - so do what people did way back when, chose a device based on functionality rather than looks. Also, as a business user, get yourself an off contract device - it costs the same (or in many cases less) in the long run, but gives you more choice. Also, don't forget the world is a lot larger than the US, the Omnia7 can be had on pretty much any network you like in Europe - on-contract if you so please.
2. I don't pay. Navigon came free with my off-contract Omnia7. Sure, I had to spoof the Navigon http server for map downloads other than Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, but there is no monthly fee. I realize some of the other carriers do charge you (ATT being one), but the point here is that there are options available to you. Regarding paying for navigation, as much as I love Bing (or even Google) maps due to its satellite imagery it's not, IMO, a replacement for a dedicated navigational tool ... yet, and looking at the sales statistics for these apps on the iPhone, most people seem to agree with me.
I'm not condoning the fact Bing did not have turn-by-turn out of the box, far from it, but to broadly say "No turn-by-turn" available and use that as one of three reasons for dropping the OS is just wrong.
N8ter said:
That's your opinion, but you have pinch to zoom and automatic text restructuring in these apps that make it trivial to read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it's my opinion. Pinch to zoom or text reflow makes no difference to me, I still don't like reading books on a 4" display. That's what tablets are for IMO. Like I said though, I wasn't really commenting on it and agreed that his point was valid.
N8ter said:
Some people just like to have better control over their stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better control? How can you have better control than a correctly configured and secured Sharepoint server hosted by yourself? Sure, you could live in the old days and manually copy files on and off your phone, forever wondering if that really was the final version or the second to last draft or whether your colleague had amended it between your last sync and the presentation, but really. Are you serious?
Using your phone as a mass storage device was never a good idea - it was a stop-gap measure because at the time it was invented/popular we didn't have S3 or properly configured corporate networks that allowed users access on-the-go.
sure haven't said:
See, there it is. I've been surfing on my phone since I got it... never had a problem rendering any site. Unless you're going to some flash-laden bloatfest, I don't understand how you can't think that this IE is fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not saying its a bad browser, it is in fact very good, but not quite as polished as iOS's Safari browser. I like to organize my bookmarks from most used -> least used, but WP7 only organizes them alphabetically. iOS use's WebKit for its browser which is more supported than IE's rendering engine (what is it?). If you go to gmail for example you will get a hampered down dump phone mobile view (this is simply for example, other sites do this as well).
Yeah, ironically IE renders mobile sites way worse than Android or iPhone. The websites are partly to blame because of course they have had lots of time to optimize for those platforms. I don't mind the rendering of full sites... sometimes the font sizes are way off, but overall not bad and at least it's quick.
All in all the browsing experience is not as good as the other mobile platforms. I've got high hopes that IE9 fixes that.
Sent from my GT-I9000M

Categories

Resources