Any word on whether Google's working on a WP7 Google Maps app?
There's this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html, but of course, Google's TOS won't allow that to become useful.
There's also a suggestion in Google Mobile's product ideas page: http://productideas.appspot.com/#9/e=cf&t=windows+phone+7+maps
Bing is fine in parts of the U.S., but I'm sometimes in Mumbai and other cities around the world, where Bing Maps is atrociously poor.
I am hoping that either Microsoft improve their map service or Google brings their maps service to WP7.
so it's impossible to go to m.google.com/maps on a wp7 device and download google maps?
Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.
paulrockliffe said:
Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it doesn't because Microsoft has nowhere near the marketshare on smartphones that Windows has on desktops. And I think it's possible for Google to write and submit a Google Maps application for WP7 and in my opinion Microsoft will allow the application in the marketplace (because otherwise there will be a long discussion online that may affect the image of WP7 negatively).
paulrockliffe said:
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the most likely scenario.
I am expecting Google Maps on WP7 a lot, because I can't deal with Bing Maps.
In France and some european countries Bing Maps is just crap.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823953
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
There are 2 things I want from Google:
1. IE search to be changed from Yahoo! to Google (on the HTC HD7 in the UK), with search as you type and image search.
2. And of course, a fully featured YouTube app.
Bing is a decent mapping platform. The only feature it lacks is streetview.
kenikh said:
Google just announced it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If true, it's great
Bing Maps is slow, terribly slow outside the US
Bing Maps has no Street View
Bing search is inaccurate and uncomplete outside the US. It misses most of the things I'm looking for, and Google finds it immediately.
Google includes images search.
Why doesn't Bing have image search on WP7?
well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/
kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for Europe, Poland, Bing is worse than Gooogle, especially in searching streets etc.
Where are you ppl coming up with Bing Maps for WP7? I have looked and looked all over the web and cannot find where Bing Maps (turn by turn nav) is. It isn't built into the Bing search app on my new HD7 nor is it available at the Market.
Press the Search button at the bottom right of your phone??? Works fine for me...BTW, wanna sell that HD7 you are sending back? Sux AT&T has crap hardware.
scroll to the right (the app list)... do you not have a "Maps" application there? It was built into my phone, it should be there for yours.
Bing would be alright, if they had public transportation built into their maps. That's why i love google maps lets me know when the next bus comes.
f1restarter said:
well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great that Google search comes to WP7 . At least we will have the option to search for some images (Bing doesn't even include this basic feature).
Hope Google Maps will come soon.
kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Google maps yet (just a general Google search app).
As for why-- because Google Maps has vastly superior map and point of interest data in many, if not most, parts of the world than Bing Maps.
Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.
day2die said:
Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my phone at the moment (and of course WP7 can't do anything with files), but I'd guess that's probably the same deal as this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html
If so, that's just pulling map tiles from Google-- not enough to actually do anything useful, and Google's TOS doesn't allow it anyway.
So I've finally joined the club and boy am I stoked. So, what are the first things one should do e.g. apps to get, slight customisation, games etc, help your fellow comrade.
I don't know if this thread has been done before, if not, maybe it could be a sticky?
the first advice i could give to you is: read the forums
That's the beauty of WP7. There's no real customization to be done and no real apps to get. You're good to go!
Sent from my GT-I9000M
APPS?
download OEM apps.
download what you need. Marketplace got almost everything
customization? you mean changing the color of the tiles? LOL
radeon_x said:
That's the beauty of WP7. There's no real customization to be done and no real apps to get. You're good to go!
Sent from my GT-I9000M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How adorable, another android troll. There's also no lag, a good music player, no fragmentation (It's good to know I can't buy a new phone and have it be outdated next week) and hell, gaming has already about caught up with Android. You guys have more, we have better.
z33dev33l said:
How adorable, another android troll. There's also no lag, a good music player, no fragmentation (It's good to know I can't buy a new phone and have it be outdated next week) and hell, gaming has already about caught up with Android. You guys have more, we have better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the problem is that the more you feed the trolls , they keep coming back for more.
i just realize that he is using a sgs...
eww.
saldawop said:
I guess the problem is that the more you feed the trolls , they keep coming back for more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it's pretty much a greek tragedy how incompetent these android users are "LOL my phone OS is better than yours *tap 3 times before an app finally pulls up then swipe left or right and watch the lag roll in* Yup, totally better, I troll you."
Ha. That wasn't really a troll. I just meant there's no setup or critical apps you need to get the phone running. Just grab whatever catches your eye from the market and you're golden. I like that aspect of the platform compared to Android. Until you want your phone to do something a specific way, it's bliss.
Sent from my GT-I9000M
kappo78 said:
So I've finally joined the club and boy am I stoked. So, what are the first things one should do e.g. apps to get, slight customisation, games etc, help your fellow comrade.
I don't know if this thread has been done before, if not, maybe it could be a sticky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the world of WP7. Care to share which device you acquired?
MartyLK said:
Welcome to the world of WP7. Care to share which device you acquired?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get it, aren't you the one who was pushing the WebOS users to outvote everything on that poll?
If you only get two games, get...
Ilomilo
Aphajax
Both will blow your mind into little wobbly pieces of grey blancmange and raspberry sauce. And all will be well in the world.
Wait! Someone's just put QUORUM down on a TW! Bastard!
radeon_x said:
That's the beauty of WP7. There's no real customization to be done and no real apps to get. You're good to go!
Sent from my GT-I9000M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on how you look at it.
Lacking the need for customization at a low level is good (Rooting to uninstall bloatware, etc.), but there are tons of instances where you have to hack the system up just to achieve trivial tasks. Adding Ringtons to you phone, accessing Camera Shutter options, changing the default Search Engine in the Browser (T-Mobile sets it to Google, and some Euro Carrier sets it to Yahoo!). Things like that. You can't even set a home page in the browser (so even though I can't stand searching through Google, there's no way to Set Bing as the home page and just open a new tab and search from there). The OS is literally devoid of options/settings that matter. Can't even toggle between EDGE and 3G to save battery without hacking the phone (and that hack doesn't even work for some phones).
These aren't deep customizations on any other smartphone platform, but for WP7 it requires going beyond rooting or jailbreaking an Android phone. It makes Android a bit easier to use than WP7 when you factor in OneClick Root apps and the ability to sideload applications without scouring threads/the internet for information to get this done (and installing a ridiculously big SDK on your computer - nevermind the fact that it requires a Windows PC as well).
Microsoft got it wrong.
The issue with Android settigs is not that there were too many. It's the way they are presented to the user. They're generally (especially in third party applications from independent devs) just thrown in the user face on one huge page. Decently organized options in groups or tabs... there's nothing wrong with that. They need to add tons of options for the system and stock applications, because making even trivial changes to some behaviors is impossible without going through more work than loading a custom ROM on an Android phone is right now.
Minimalistic is good if you do it right (iOS). Microsoft took it to the extreme and all it does is create a ton of usability faux pas.
z33dev33l said:
How adorable, another android troll. There's also no lag, a good music player, no fragmentation (It's good to know I can't buy a new phone and have it be outdated next week) and hell, gaming has already about caught up with Android. You guys have more, we have better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, you're trolling him.
He means that the stock functionality in the WP7 system is above and beyond Android and iOS. And it is. Everything comes from Microsoft, integrates nicely, and performs well. Aside from Microsoft and Manufacturer Apps (i.e. HTC, LG, Samsung Apps), there aren't that many apps that you need on a WP7 device to be functional - besides games. Twitter is missing in the People Hub, so that's a biggie, and the Facebook integration doesn't include all functionality, so you need that.
I suggest Twitter, Seesmic, Facebook (Seesmic because it includes both and is a nice hub to use when you don't need heavy duty FB/Twitter functionality). Microsoft has a ton of free apps that are useful. Your manufacturer (especially if HTC) will fill in many of the other gaps. Foursquare is in the Market.
Adobe Reader is in the market. Amazon and Amazon Kindle is there. eBay has a very nice App in the market. Messenger by Miyowa sadly I have to recommend it because it's the best of any Messenger app in the market at the moment.
If you have an HTC phone you don't need a weather app. The HTC Hub Tile is Live for Weather. If not, I recommend Weather bug or Microsoft's little weather app. Weather Channel is a 9MB app and I can't see how that ridiculous size is justified given how WeatherBug and Microsoft's weather app are both < 2MB (if not 1 or below).
Microsoft has a few free games to try out. AlphaJacks is like Words With Friends for Windows Mobile ("Try It" version is free forever, but Ad Supported). Haypi Kingdom is a nice strategy game that is multi-player (also available for iOS and Android, so there is no shortage of people to play with/against).
Office Apps aren't needed (Office Mobile)
NoteTaking Apps aren't needed (OneNote Mobile)
Exchange Clients aren't needed (In-Built Functionality)
Music Players aren't needed (Zune)
Radio Apps aren't needed (Zune)
Slacker and Last.FM exist for Internet Radio.
Shazam is available with Unlimited Tagging.
Microsoft has a List App in the market (and HTC has one in their Marketplace).
Poynt, AP Mobile, IMDb, Fandango are all there.
But there aren't many needed apps, TBQH. Most apps are slower to use than the web browser because they tend to take excessive amounts of time "Updating..." Loading a web browser or performing a voice search often outperforms them, IME.
I'd get the biggies. Personally I'd avoid crap that you don't necessarily need and use the space for stuff that matters (Music, Pictures, Documents, etc.).
You can save documents from SkyDrive to your computer by opening them up from the Office.Live.com website and saving them to your Office Hub in Office Mobile. OneNote Mobile Syncs perfectly. There is an option to keep your Camera Roll in Sync with SkyDrive (this can use a lot of data if you take lots of pictures).
N8ter said:
Actually, you're trolling him.
He means that the stock functionality in the WP7 system is above and beyond Android and iOS. And it is. Everything comes from Microsoft, integrates nicely, and performs well. Aside from Microsoft and Manufacturer Apps (i.e. HTC, LG, Samsung Apps), there aren't that many apps that you need on a WP7 device to be functional - besides games. Twitter is missing in the People Hub, so that's a biggie, and the Facebook integration doesn't include all functionality, so you need that.
I suggest Twitter, Seesmic, Facebook (Seesmic because it includes both and is a nice hub to use when you don't need heavy duty FB/Twitter functionality). Microsoft has a ton of free apps that are useful. Your manufacturer (especially if HTC) will fill in many of the other gaps. Foursquare is in the Market.
Adobe Reader is in the market. Amazon and Amazon Kindle is there. eBay has a very nice App in the market. Messenger by Miyowa sadly I have to recommend it because it's the best of any Messenger app in the market at the moment.
If you have an HTC phone you don't need a weather app. The HTC Hub Tile is Live for Weather. If not, I recommend Weather bug or Microsoft's little weather app. Weather Channel is a 9MB app and I can't see how that ridiculous size is justified given how WeatherBug and Microsoft's weather app are both < 2MB (if not 1 or below).
Microsoft has a few free games to try out. AlphaJacks is like Words With Friends for Windows Mobile ("Try It" version is free forever, but Ad Supported). Haypi Kingdom is a nice strategy game that is multi-player (also available for iOS and Android, so there is no shortage of people to play with/against).
Office Apps aren't needed (Office Mobile)
NoteTaking Apps aren't needed (OneNote Mobile)
Exchange Clients aren't needed (In-Built Functionality)
Music Players aren't needed (Zune)
Radio Apps aren't needed (Zune)
Slacker and Last.FM exist for Internet Radio.
Shazam is available with Unlimited Tagging.
Microsoft has a List App in the market (and HTC has one in their Marketplace).
Poynt, AP Mobile, IMDb, Fandango are all there.
But there aren't many needed apps, TBQH. Most apps are slower to use than the web browser because they tend to take excessive amounts of time "Updating..." Loading a web browser or performing a voice search often outperforms them, IME.
I'd get the biggies. Personally I'd avoid crap that you don't necessarily need and use the space for stuff that matters (Music, Pictures, Documents, etc.).
You can save documents from SkyDrive to your computer by opening them up from the Office.Live.com website and saving them to your Office Hub in Office Mobile. OneNote Mobile Syncs perfectly. There is an option to keep your Camera Roll in Sync with SkyDrive (this can use a lot of data if you take lots of pictures).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, no real apps to get doesn't exactly sound right. It makes it sound like anything released on this platform is bad.
To OP though, Ilomilo and Twin Blades are the only games I have that live up to my XBL expectations (and sadly I have most of them) there are other good games but Ilomilo overall. other than that Netflix is the only other one I'd deem necessary.
I knew exactly what he means when I read the post. Perhaps English isn't his first language, but it wasn't a hard statement to decipher...
Netflix is useless if you're not a subscriber, so I wouldn't deem it necessary at all. No one is going to subscribe to Netflix just to watch movies on a phone. Just doesn't make sense, IMO. If you're a subscriber, though, have it's nice to have...
The only necessary apps are those for social networking, and XBox Live Extras.
The Manufacturer Hub Apps (some/most of them) are a given.
TBQH, most smartphone OSes are like this. If the platform is missing something, like Android is, the Manufacturers usually add it in (ThinkFree Office, Amazon MP3, MobiTV, Exchange support, etc.).
One thing most of us forgot is Navigation Software. At this point if you want decent navigation with Turn-By-Turn directions, you're basically required to pay a subscription fee for TeleNav or whatever the phone comes with.
I've tried A-to-B Navigation. It's useless for all practical purposes.
Social Networking and Navigation Software are the only ones I'd say are necessary.
Also the Carriers are allowed to change the default search provider in Internet Explorer, so if you're a Bing user like me the usability of in-browser search is... terrible. T-Mobile Maps the Search button (and address bar search) in IE to Google and some Euro Carriers change it to Yahoo. Severely inconsistent and bad considering most people use the address bar to perform searches.
There is no option to change the default search provider. And performing that hack requires more manual labor than rooting and installing a custom ROM on an Android computer (and involves making registry changes, etc. on your Windows PC).
N8ter said:
I knew exactly what he means when I read the post. Perhaps English isn't his first language, but it wasn't a hard statement to decipher...
Netflix is useless if you're not a subscriber, so I wouldn't deem it necessary at all. No one is going to subscribe to Netflix just to watch movies on a phone. Just doesn't make sense, IMO. If you're a subscriber, though, have it's nice to have...
The only necessary apps are those for social networking, and XBox Live Extras.
The Manufacturer Hub Apps (some/most of them) are a given.
TBQH, most smartphone OSes are like this. If the platform is missing something, like Android is, the Manufacturers usually add it in (ThinkFree Office, Amazon MP3, MobiTV, Exchange support, etc.).
One thing most of us forgot is Navigation Software. At this point if you want decent navigation with Turn-By-Turn directions, you're basically required to pay a subscription fee for TeleNav or whatever the phone comes with.
I've tried A-to-B Navigation. It's useless for all practical purposes.
Social Networking and Navigation Software are the only ones I'd say are necessary.
Also the Carriers are allowed to change the default search provider in Internet Explorer, so if you're a Bing user like me the usability of in-browser search is... terrible. T-Mobile Maps the Search button (and address bar search) in IE to Google and some Euro Carriers change it to Yahoo. Severely inconsistent and bad considering most people use the address bar to perform searches.
There is no option to change the default search provider. And performing that hack requires more manual labor than rooting and installing a custom ROM on an Android computer (and involves making registry changes, etc. on your Windows PC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not only that, but I wouldn't subscribe to any version of Netflix because of the cost. I watch maybe 2 to 4 rented movies a month. And some months, none. To have to pay a fee just to use Netflix is wasteful. Yet that's how NF works. I would, however, subscribe to NF if there was no fee. The only cost would be the rental charge.
I have to say the best game for Xbox Live is the Harvest. Feels like diablo with a sci fi twist. The bad thing though is if your a typical Xbox console gamer, you won't find much that will interest you on WP7.
I swear its a new puzzle or tower defense game ever week.
you can of course customise your lock screen, you could also install "pin to start" which apparently offers customised live tile (don't have it myself, not my type of thing". Apps wise, get the HTC You tube app if you have an HTC device, would also recommend pdf reader and the amazon kindle app (if you like books) beyond that, there are nearly 9000 apps to choose from - I think there are even a couple of "fart" apps if that floats your boat...........
I've already mentioned Adobe Acrobat Reader X and Amazon Kindle.
Not all applications have Live Tiles, and TBH without a Live Tile an app would have to be very important to merit a spot on you home screen (no one wants a home screen that scrolls for miles). I have issues keeping Seesmic/Twitter/Facebook on the Home Screen, for example, without a Live Tile. Games like AlphaJax are good cause the Tile is Live (tells you when it's your turn and how many games you have waiting on you, for example).
The HTC YouTube app is good, but it's only for HTC devices (I already said the Manufacturer apps were a given since they fill in obvious gaps in functionality i.e. YouTube, NotePad/List App, Flashlight, Attentive Phone, Live Weather Tile (HTC), Sound Enhancer, etc.).
The customization that I say is missing isn't really "customization" in the XDA-Developers sense.
Setting a Home Page in the Browser, Setting the Default Search Engine in the Browser, and Options for things like how long you want Toast Notifications to stay on the screen aren't any type of deep customization. It's simply a trivial setting that Microsoft needs to add. These things are missing all over the OS and need to be added in ASAP. It acually makes the OS a chore to use in many instances.
They also need to make carriers unable to alter the default search engine. It sucks for people who use a certain search engine, and makes it take 3x longer to perform searches if you don't want to go through Google. There just need to be an option for the three biggies (Bing, Yahoo, Google) or the ability to allow the bing homepage to set itself as the default search engine (or Yahoo, or Google).
Hi All,
Just got my SGS2 few days ago and spent days on this forum, for it rooted and learnt heaps from here, this is fantastic! Thank you all.
I spent almost the whole night searching for a couple of apps and could not find the answer, please don't shoot me if there is already an existing thread, I just could not find it.
I am looking for an app or function in the SGS2 that allows you to search for installed apps, similar to the 'Search page' on ipad, instead of scrolling through pages of installed apps. I have already installed the 'AppZorter Lite' which allows me to sort them in order, but not search for an app.
Second of all, is there any apps that allows you to sort apps in alpha order page by page instead of all pages?
Thanks in advance.
gnv said:
Hi All,
Just got my SGS2 few days ago and spent days on this forum, for it rooted and learnt heaps from here, this is fantastic! Thank you all.
I spent almost the whole night searching for a couple of apps and could not find the answer, please don't shoot me if there is already an existing thread, I just could not find it.
I am looking for an app or function in the SGS2 that allows you to search for installed apps, similar to the 'Search page' on ipad, instead of scrolling through pages of installed apps. I have already installed the 'AppZorter Lite' which allows me to sort them in order, but not search for an app.
Second of all, is there any apps that allows you to sort apps in alpha order page by page instead of all pages?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use google search(integrated into you sgs2) for searching the apps installed in.
Open google search and click on the google icon then it will shows the content type(All, web, etc....) it is searching currently. there you can see a small settings icon at the right top corner click on it, and you can include apps or music whatever you want.
Hope this will help you....Let me know if you need more information.
Thank you very much.
Didn't know it is already there
How about, do you know any apps that allows you to sort apps in alpha order page by page instead of all pages?
Actually the Google Search integrated in Android is quite smart
3rd party applications can be linked to Google Search bar. So, apps like imbdb, google docs, music, etc can be integrated into Google Search, allowing multiple search in parallel.
Also, you don't need to have the widget in your homescreen, just long tap menu buton (that acts as a search button in some apps that implements this function) in any homescreen.