This thread is dedictated strictly to specific advantages / disadvantages / differences / similarities of Mango compared to the iPhone 4S.
READ THIS ENTIRE POST BEFORE POSTING IN THIS THREAD
Both platforms have strengths. Both have weaknesses.
It will also be dedictated to differences in some core applications.
Some applications are not available to both platforms. Those will also be identified.
I will be reserving the first 5 posts to update specific differences.
I will also be reserving the next 5 posts, in case I want to expand to additional differences or comparisons.
I currently own an LG Quantum with Mango and an iPhone 4S. The Quantum is my personal phone. The iPhone was provided by work. I am not restricting the comparison to 1st generation Windows Phone hardware, but it is all I have to test with. Mango is Mango though, with few exceptions.
I actually really like both phones.
Post #2 dedicated to advatages of Windows Phone.
Post #3 dedicated to advatages of iPhone 4S
Post #4 dedicated to application differences.
Post #5 dedicated to application availability.
Please post replies with information you would like to see added to the posts.
Please post replies with other things you would like to see compared.
Keep all posts on topic. Be respectful. Do not bash other users or their posts.
I do not have an Android device. This thread is not a comparison to Android. Posts about android will be considered off topic and should not be responded to.
Keep in mind the forum rules and rule 15 regarding staying on topic.
As I discover information, I will update the 1st 10 posts as needed. Also, based on user posts, I will update the 1st 10 posts, if I am able to verify the information.
This thread is about specific advantages and disadvantages. So, when posting, please provide specific details. It is also intended to not be opinion based. Some opinion will be unavoidable, but facts should always be given. When posting for something to be added, it is also helpful if you can come up with the line to add to describe the advantage. I can usually do this, but copy and paste is alot easier.
Again:
This thread is about identifying specific advantages / disadvantages / differences / similarities between the two. Specific being the key.
General statements serve no purpose and only clutter the thread. There are 11000+ views of this thread. If everyone posted general opinions, the thread would quickly lose value and no longer be maintainable by me. I would be forced to close it or not maintain it.
I welcome and encourage posts that identify specific advantages / disadvantages / differences / similarities between the two platforms. Of course the first 10 posts should always be checked first to see if they have already been identified.
Thanks
JVH3
Mango Advantages
1. Pairing with blue tooth headsets and car stereos is more consistant. Although the iPhone 4S supports A2DP to play music. The iPhone 4S will not automatically pair to play audio through my Pioneer 7000BT. My Mango phone does. The iPhone does automatically pair to support phone calls through bluetooth. There are also some A2DP devices that the iPhone fully supports, but not all. Even when my iPhone 4S is paired with my car stereo for music, the car stereo controls do not work to control the track. This is because the iPhone 4S does not support AVCRP for many devices.
2. Large tiles make it easy to operate with one hand using your thumb. Live Tiles also have larger text making things easier to read. Clicking the icons on an iPhone is not as easily done in a one handed if you have big thumbs.
3. The people hub. A whole post could be dedicated to this. Post dedicated to the People Hub There was also a good write up on this at wpcentral WPCentral - People Hub Overview
4. A back button. Many screens on the iPhone put a back type button on it. It generally is in the upper left. It does not usually say back. And it is not always there. It is up to the app dev to put it in.
5. Many common tasks do not require a seperate app. See Post #23 for some examples. Most of these tasks have free apps available for iPhone, so it is not a huge advatage. But the integration of all this is very nice on Windows Phone 7. Facebook, Twitter, Linked In.
6. Choice of hardware. Some phones have a physical keyboard, such as the LG Quantum. No iPhone has a keyboard. The new Nokia 900 has a screen that is also good in sunlight like the iPhone.
7. Linked Inbox or multiple linked inboxes for selected accounts without linking all accounts. You can keep your work email in a seperate pinable account than all your personal accounts. This is very useful so the indicator will let you know if you have an email that is for work. And other non work emails will increment the indicator on the other tile or tiles.
8. Picture hub - Gives access to all you pics, including facebook pics and facebook contact pics. There was also a good write up on this at wpcentral WPCentral - Picture Hub Overview
9. Me hub - lets you update facebook status and see facebook updates that you care about.
10. (this was a duplicate, so I removed it, but left it in it's place rather than renumber)
11. Browser allows pinch to zoom when rendering a site usintg HTML5 and Canvas. (Tested with both using a site internally developed at the company I work for.) Ironically the web application was designed for the iPad. I can actually use it with Windows Phone 7, but everything is too small on the iPhone to be useful. I cannot share the URL. Work would not like that. Of course, since it is targetting the iPad, it works well on it.
12. Seperate list that shows unread mail. iPhone only gives and indicator by each unread message. This makes reading your unread mail easier.
13. Live Tile indicators for email and messages are not unread messages, but amount of new messages since you last pressed the tile to see the messages. (I don't need to mark 50 messages as read to get rid of the notification). Seeing the list is enough to clear the indicator. You can still see which ones have not been read.
Some advantage pointed out by sayonical here Post 31
14. Micorosoft Office is included at no extra charge.
15. Turn By Tap directions. Although you need to tap, it will recalculate if you deviate from the route after a tap.
Some OEMs such as HTC and Nokia provide applications built in to do tap free Turn by Turn directions. With the iPhone a 3rd party not built in app is always required to accomplish this.
Both HTC Locations and Nokia's app also provide offline navigation.
HTC Locations offline mode is free for 30 days, but Nokia's app is free with a Nokia phone.
HTC Locations online mode may be free after the 30 days. Someone that is using it for more than 30 days or can no longer use it after 30 days, please post so I can update this.
16. Bing integrates alot of functionality, such as barcode reading, music identification, applications for your search, local scout. (There is a Bing app for free for the iPhone by Microsoft, but it's included with Windows Phone)
17. Ability to edit meeting notes to meetings that you did not create. The edits are for you only, but do make the update in exchange. Post 41
18. SIP Keyboard (on screen) is bigger and changes the display to reflect the case A vs a, so you know what you are going to type. Useful when entering passwords.
19. Built in AM/FM Radio. Data is not needed to get music. Useful when at work on a company plan with data limits and WiFi Restrictions. Also useful an health clubs to listen to the audio for the TVs. Also, see Post 41
20. Automatic word suggestion when typing. Shows a list of words to pick. The iPhone automatically corrects words and suggests a single word.
21. Tell Me - It has similarities to Siri, but there are some things Siri does better, just like there are some things Tell Me does better. I am putting this as an advatage for both. I will use a post to outline some differences.
22. Zune Pass
23. Unlimited Sky Drive space for Photos for Free.
24. Ability to directly share a photo in Facebook, while viewing the photo and not first being in Facebook. details: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20815029&postcount=99
25. Ability to set the fetch frequency and enable or disable push email on a per-account basis. iPhone fetch frequency is a setting for all accounts. With the iPhone, you can have multiple push accounts and multiple poll accounts. But the poll accounts all poll at the same frequency. With Windows Phone, I can have one account poll every hour, another poll every 15 minutes, and another be a push account.
26. (For Windows users only) Pictures taken on a Mango phone display properly on Windows computer's default programs. Windows 7, Vista, and anything earlier do not properly support the rotational information in the EXIF information on jpegs. It does actually support EXIF, just not the rotational information when rendering. iPhone uses EXIF to set the rotation. Also, no web browser other than Safari supports EXIF for orientation. Although the fault lies with Microsoft for viewing in the OS, the result is extra work to make the pictures taken from an iPhone display with correct orientation on Windows machines. Other programs can be used to view the pictures and there are lossless ways to rotate them. Nonetheless, it is still additional work to view them on Windows computers. Less work for those you share with is an advantage.
27. Ability to use full website without being redirected to a mobile version. On the iPhone, some sites redirect you to the mobile version. And there is not a way to use the full version unless the site provides a link to it. Not all sites provide this. There are apps for the iPhone (JourneyLite and Mercury are 2) that allows full browsing after telling it to simulate IE9.
28. Multiple User Groups - link to post with details - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=21419216&postcount=153
29. Bing Maps can find some old established addresses correctly that the iPhone Maps cannot. (note Bing Maps is available for free on the iPhone, but Siri and most, in not all, integrations will not use it). (I will edit this if anyone can post a verifiable address that Bing incorrectly finds, but the iPhone maps correctly finds.) discusssions on this start here
30. Ability to snooze an appointment. With the iPhone, if you have a meeting scheduled for 2:00 PM and are set to be reminded 15 minutes before, you will get notified at 1:45 PM. But there is not way to snooze for 10 minutes and get notified again at 1:55 PM.
31. Rescheduled appointments from Exchange work properly. The iPhone asks if you want to rescheule the meeting or all meetings, even though the original rescheduler defined this when rescheduling.
...
more to come
iPhone Advantages
1. The 4 column grid lets you see more applications at once. The pages of apps to launch also makes it so it is easy to find the applications that you have.
2. Applications are very mature on this platform. Some include additional features or details not in the Windows Phone version.
3. There are more applications available. They are normally cheaper as well.
4. The physical switch to turn off the sound.
5. Battery life. With WiFi on and in use all day on my iPhone, I still have 75% charge. My Quantum has had WiFi and BlueTooth turned off and only has 50% power left. This may be a gen 1 vs gen 2 issue for Widows Phone 7 devices, but it is all I can compare. Maybe some new Titan users can comment.
6. iPhone allows any type of background process. This means that any app, such as Glympse can update send your location while in the background. It also means that features in some apps will not be present in the Windows Phone 7 version that do this, because Windows Phone does not allow this. See Post #142 for details.
Items 7 to 16 were identified by Vetvito here: Post #34
7. "Cut" - both have copy and paste.
8. Games: In game voice chat - able to trade game items with other players
9. browser has a forward button and find on page function (confirmed to not be in Win Phone 7)
10. Integration with all apple products including apple tv
11. Video MMS - iPhone can send and receive. Windows Phone 7 can receive them and play them, but it can not send them.
12. notification bar with widgets and unified notification access from the lock screen
13. Basic photo editting is built in.
14. iTunes Match - 14, 15, and 16 described here: Post #40
15. emoji icons
16. Safari Reader - removes distractions, such as ads and makes it mpore like a pdf.
17. Massive amounts of hardware made specifically for iPhones which ensures full compatiblity.
18. Compass is perfect on the iPhone. Often times, it is incorrect on my LG Quantum. Maybe someone can comment on a Gen 2 Windows Phone 7 or a different model to see if it is better.
19. Landscape support when playing music.
20. Siri - It has similarities to Tell Me, but there are some things Siri does better, just like there are some things Tell Me does better. I am putting this as an advatage for both. I will use a post to outline some differences.
21. Music - shake to shuffle - takes you to a different song if you don't want to listen to what is playing. (can't use back arrow to go back to the song though)
22. Better backup and restore system. (backs up more than just purchased apps and everything can be in iTunes or the iCloud by user choice).
23. On January 1st there will be no YouTube player for Mango that supports HD video.
24. Ability to enable and disable location services on a per-app basis in settings.
25. Setting up caldav and subscribed calendars in iOS is a snap, where that capability doesn't exist on WP7. CalDav link for those that don't know what this is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalDAV
26. Able to view Comcast video on demand through the xfinity.tv app. Although with a Blast Extra subscription many shows available on your laptop will not play through the app. More Details: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20830665&postcount=111
27. Able to Stream Dish Network video with an app from the DVR if the DVR receiver is new enough. Ability to use DirectTV Nomad app with $150 additional hardware to get direcTV videos onto the DirecTV DVR
28. Safari on the iPhone 4S renders some mobile sites with slightly incorrect HTML or CSS better for the user where some mobile sites are not usable in the mobile version by Windows Phone 7.
29. Ability to take screen captures, which is very useful when asking for help or illustrating steps.
30. Ability to group programs into folders
31. iMessage - this allows iPhone users to text message iPhone users without counting as text messages. This spans carriers. There are many free messaging programs available to all platforms, so this is not a huge advantage. Windows Phone 7 delivers free messaging through Facebook integration so long as the users are friends on Facebook. Pick your evil here. To text for free using the built in solutions, with the iPhone friends all have to support Apple or on Windows Phone friends all need to be friends on Facebook.
32. Outlook Syncronization through USB. This is not possible with Windows Phone. Windows Phone requires over the air syncronization, such as with an Exchange Server or gmail or Windows Live. Many don't consider this to be a huge issue, since there are plenty of free over the air solutions and the growing trend is to not tie devices to a PC. (the cloud is the future). But if you feel strongly that you need to tether to Outlook, Windows Phone will not do that.
33. iCloud syncronization with other devices - With Apple products, iCloud will automatically sync apps, music, video to all devices registered with the Apple Id.
34. Better pixel density and resolution.
35. FaceTime is built in - (Video Messaging for iPhone to iPhone or other Apple product such as an iPad). Advantage is not great since Skype and Tango are free and available on all major platforms. FaceTime is only available for Apple products.
36. PhotoStream - streams pictures from the phone over WiFi to your computer. Full resolution is preserved. With Windows Phone - Sky Drive, it syncs over the air and does not require WiFi, but it adjusts the pixel resolution (I need to verify whether this is configurable).
37. Ability to open links from a page in a new tab without navigating switching to the tab. (considering dedicating a post to browser advantages and disadvantages) Safari for iPhone vs IE for Mango
...
more to come
Application differences
Windows Phone 7 applications tend to use the Metro UI to be consistent with the platform.
The iPhone tends to be consitent with the way iPhone applications run.
Facebook
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both.
The iPhone app does give easier access to the features and might let you do more.
Twitter
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both.
Foursquare
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both.
Glympse
Windows Phone 7 does not update your location when the app is not the foreground application.
iHeart Radio
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both.
Tango
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both.
Angry Birds
Seemed to be pretty much the same on both. iPhone has more versions and levels.
Flashlight Apps
Both have Flashlight apps that work identically. See post #14 for a link to download the Windows Phone 7 app (Flashlight-X) that works just like iTorch4.
Note: This requires an LED flash. All iPhones have and LED flash. All Windows Phones have a flash, but LED is not required. If a flashlight app is required, make sure to get a phone with an LED flash.
LG Panorama Shot vs Dermandar - Both are free apps to create panoramic pictures.
On the iPhone, you can do a full 360, are just any interval in between. It will also create a 3D type viewing of the area. But both make excellent panoramic pics with no visible problems near the stitching.
Yelp (finds nearby businesses)
Seems very similar on both platforms. iPhone wanted alot more info on the start that can be skipped.
DirecTV (Not Nomad)
Both are pretty similar and let you do the same things.
Application Availability
This is not going to include all applications. There are almost 50,000 available for Windows Phone 7. There are more available for the iPhone. I am not going to include apps that are alternate interfaces to other services.
Available on iPhone, but not Windows Phone 7
Most versions of Angry Birds.
Available for Windows Phone 7, but not on iPhone
Availbable for both
Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Glympse, Shazam, Tango, You Tube, Angry Birds, Flixster, Fly Delta, Adobe Reader
Apps for Google Voice, Pandora, Skype
Games
There are games available only for Windows Phone 7, that are not available for iPhone.
There are games available for iPhone that are not available for Windows Phone 7.
I am not going to list them for either.
Updates:
Since MetroRadio works for Pandora on Mango, I removed Pandora from the list of unavailable apps.
Similarities
Positive
Both easily let you sync with an Exchange server. (Email, Appointments, Tasks, and Contacts)
Both let you easily find and install apps.
Both autmatically notify you of application updates.
Both let you text message by voice.
Both have ways of streaming music and video.
Both have built in maps with navigation.
Both will give you weather updates.
Both support HTML 5.
Both give fast access to the camera when the device is locked.
Both support and have multi player games.
Both have Google Voice Applications.
Negative
Using either Bing on Mango or Maps on the iPhone to find nearby locations often times does not find the closest option. Each is better or worse depending on the location. iPhone is better in some areas and Bing is better in others.
BOTH still lack the ability to create complex repeat patterns for appointments.
Differences
Swipe left on iPhone to get to search. On Windows Phone 7, there is a search button.
Live Tiles vs icons. It seems that some icons do update on the iPhone, such as the Calander, but the weather icon always says 73 degrees. On Windows Phone 7, the tile shows the temp.
iTunes verses Zune.
Press the button to then launch camera without unlocking verses pressing and holding the dedicated camera button.
iTunes vs Zune
iTunes
Create ringtone by converting to m3a and renaming to m3r. Then drag to Tones.
Backs up all apps to your computer from the phone.
File-Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library. No way to remove a folder. Must remove songs 1 at a time.
Zune
Create ringtone by setting genre to Ringtone.
All app purchases will automatically restore if you need a replacement phone or restore.
Backs up phone OS to computer when updating. Not sure about settings and accounts.
Easy to add and remove directories for Zune to automatically add to it's library while keeping the music in the original location
Both
Easy to make and manage playlists.
More to come.
Reserved for future comparisons 4
Reserved for future comparisons 4
Reserved for future comparisons 5
Reserved for future comparisons 5
The People Hub in Mango
This will be dedicated to the People Hub.
Nice to see you here on wp7
nice and clean thread for now.
lets hope it will stay like that, we don't want a war here.
do you need this post place to ?
if yes I can remove it for you.
ceesheim said:
Nice to see you here on wp7
nice and clean thread for now.
lets hope it will stay like that, we don't want a war here.
do you need this post place to ?
if yes I can remove it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to keep this thread objective and clean. So many are lopsided and become war zones.
I have enough posts reserved for anything else I may want to add
I've had my Quantum since the end of August. And work just gave me an iPhone 4S, so I figured I'd do a side by side comparison.
Coming from Windows Mobile and custom ROMs, I did not expect to like either, but have found both to be very good.
You can find, on MarketPlace, apps that not blinking the camera led flash.
One example : http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/2638b778-5eab-45f1-a511-a08e1dbde751
dada051 said:
You can find, on MarketPlace, apps that not blinking the camera led flash.
One example : http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/2638b778-5eab-45f1-a511-a08e1dbde751
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice tip. I am installing and testing it now.
Tested and verified. I am updating the post now.
I believe that it exists exclusive app in marketplace in the US.
Arcane's Tower Defense is an exclusive WP7 game.
Wp7 certainly feels smoother and the apps that aren't simply ports seem to run smoother on wp7. Words by post for instance is much smoother on wp7.
Nice objective comparison!
I own a quantum as well and I love it.
Perhaps one difference you can point out is that on wp7 you have choices of different hardware (like a physical keyboard if that's important to you)
I think Angry Birds on iOS/Android has significantly more levels.
Foursquare for iOS5 allows for the Radar feature (http://blog.foursquare.com/2011/10/12/the-real-world-now-in-real-time-say-hi-to-foursquare-radar/) which, like Glympse, won't be possible until Microsoft provides a background location service.
Other apps affected by the lack of background location services include GPS and the run tracker type apps.
Maybe you should include a section about multitasking in general.
great idea for a post it can help a lot of people who may or may not want to switch
Related
What are your top 3 third party applications that you would love to have on your Windows Phone 7 Series? Most used applications for your daily routines, works, entertainment, what not ... Top 3 applications that you have in mind when asked about mobile applications.
Interesting to know so we could see what users expect to have on WP7 in terms of application.
It does not have to be Windows Mobile 6.x applications. If you think certain iPhone / Android / BB / Symbian apps thats fine.
I start with my top 3:
1. Offline navigation software
- like TomTom, CoPilot, iGo.
2. Opera Mini
- I just love the speed, thats all.
3. Good Facebook client
- Microsoft has one for WM6, but I expect much better than that. I read that iPhone version is better.
I basically use my phone for calls, messages and development... being last one like the only reason why I didn't keep my cheap old Nokia phone. Sometimes I'm using weather, GPS, reading emails or google for this or that but that's all and I'm just happy that I just can do such things whenever I would need them. I'm not really a crazy apps freak....
Got to be iGo as one of them for me!
gogol said:
3. Good Facebook client
- Microsoft has one for WM6, but I expect much better than that. I read that iPhone version is better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OS comes with great facebook integration already built in, no need for an app!
My top apps are:
FPSeCE (Playstation Emulator)
Spacetime 4.0 (Graphing Calculator Software)
Pandora
I know that, but I have doubt with that Facebook integration.
Not that I am saying it is not good, but from what I saw ... the integration is split into 2 hubs ... People hub where you can see status update of your Facebook friends and Photo/Pictures hub where you can see Facebook photo albums of your friends.
With dedicated Facebook app, all those will come in the same flow of information.
Well, not a big deal really, because I am using http://touch.facebook.com via web browser (Opera Mini).
Kloc said:
The OS comes with great facebook integration already built in, no need for an app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gogol said:
Not that I am saying it is not good, but from what I saw ... the integration is split into 2 hubs ... People hub where you can see status update of your Facebook friends and Photo/Pictures hub where you can see Facebook photo albums of your friends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which, IMO, is the best approach possible. Heck, I might even start using Facebook this way. Why would I need that information in a separate application? Why would I want to view photos in anything but a photo viewing app? Or where else do I need contact information apart from the contact app?
Also, this approach theoretically should aggregate information from different networks in a way that makes sense. I mean, if you are a member of both Facebook and, say, Linked-In, would you really want two separate applications to handle data from these networks?
1.Opera Mobile 10
To read 3 different newspapers each morning on my Omnia II and have all my desktop bookmarks synced OTA to my phone. Been using Opera since v3.0 or so, love it.
2.GSPlayer
to listen to somafm.com !
3. Googlemaps
Works good enough, could be done much better (font size can not be set !) and leaks 2 DC's each time you start and stop it. Have to take another look at bing maps soon
Coreplayer!!!!!!!!
IGO
BattClock (used to display battery info)
For me, if I can reduce time spent then I will choose that way.
Instead of going into 2 hubs to read status updates AND photo updates, I would prefer to just go once to look them all
Like I said, this is not a big deal because there is facebook website itself which can be accessed via web browser.
Probably because I use facebook a lot
Oh yes, the idea of multiple social network integration is nice, dont get me wrong. Probably just because of that, I would start using Twitter! Atm I am only using FB.
vangrieg said:
Which, IMO, is the best approach possible. Heck, I might even start using Facebook this way. Why would I need that information in a separate application? Why would I want to view photos in anything but a photo viewing app? Or where else do I need contact information apart from the contact app?
Also, this approach theoretically should aggregate information from different networks in a way that makes sense. I mean, if you are a member of both Facebook and, say, Linked-In, would you really want two separate applications to handle data from these networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Top applications: 'Real' Map-reader/GPS, Ebook reader,
Well, I might not be a typical user (and actually one of the things I liked about 'Windows Mobile Classic' was that it had a diverse ecosystem, catering for non-typical users!) but these are the two apps I use most:
1) A GPS/map-reader that works with real maps (i.e. topographic maps such as, in the UK, the Ordinance Survey series)
- so ideally, Memory-Map will port their software to WP7
2) An ebook reader that can read EPUB and TXT formats
- actually this is such an important use-case for me that I wrote a program to do it (see this thread). I expect to start porting it to WP7 just as soon as the SDK becomes available.
Windows Phone 7 is a paradigm-shift in how phones operate. Apps will no longer be individual screens, but will be subsumed into the overall user interface. Facebook is the most obvious example of that. If you take Tomtom, for instance, it will be peppered all over the phone in any of the following ways;
People Hub: Select a person and then hit the menu option to navigate to their home or workplace
Calendar Hub: Select a Calendar Entry and then hit the menu option to navigate to the Location of that entry.
Bing Search: Hit a search result to be navigated to its location if it is a real world place like a pizza restaurant, for instance. Once Tomtom is installed, instead of just the one option to be directed there by Bing Maps, you'll have a second option as well to navigate there by Tomtom.
Only once you're actually on the road will you get the Tomtom screen up with the 3D view of the road. The rest of the Tomtom UI will be embedded into these hubs.
I'd expect Twitter, Google Maps, Flickr etc to all melt into the phone's UI as simply extra menu options.
I think this is largely why the App list accessible from the home screen is so basic - it won't be the usual way to start an app. Normally the app will be called from a menu in part of one of the hubs. In this way, apps will organically feel like just an extension of the phone's usual functionality. Heck, I can even see the Photos hub doing something like footprints and recording the GPS coordinates, so you can use the Tomtom menu item in there to navigate to the place in the photo!
This is going to be totally awesome. And I think it's partly why the question of "Does it multitask" isn't so clear-cut...
I use my phone as a phone and as a PDA so most of what I need is already there (calendar, alarm, agenda, Excel, etc)
1) But I have to have an ewallet. I use SPB at the moment and fully expect them to port it to WP7.
2) I also would like some ereader that handles most file types (EPUB mostly).
Could care less about the whole Facebook/Twitter thing. Just hope they don't get in the way of how I use my phone. Will have to wait to see how the interface can be changed. If I have to have Facebook/Twitter in the middle of my processes I will probably not get a WP7 phone.
donnaw said:
Could care less about the whole Facebook/Twitter thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that doesn't make sense? Do you mean you could NOT care less?
I would like to see all my apps on it I hope I will be able to port them!
I love opera and youtube
giggles33 said:
I love opera and youtube
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opera should be made redundant by the new version of IE contained in WP7S. Youtube will become a subsumed service as part of the Pictures & Videos hub in the UI, and will simply be another source of video from the cloud, in the same way that Facebook posted videos are. I would also imagine that the Bing search engine will return Youtube hits.
Basically, be prepared for apps to function in an entirely different way to what you're used to - they will become simply extensions of your phone's functionality - many apps will be able to avoid having their own screens at all and instead rely on the hubs to provide their input/output.
Jim Coleman said:
Opera should be made redundant by the new version of IE contained in WP7S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not likely that we'll see a version of Opera on WP7S as it's impossible to do a decent browser engine in managed code, because alternative browser makers will be the last to get access to native APIs (if ever), and probably IE will be much better than what we have now, but alternative browsers will not be made "redundant" by this. I can bet IE won't have text reflow, for example, which I personally love and severely miss when I try to use iPhone's Safari.
vangrieg said:
I can bet IE won't have text reflow, for example, which I personally love and severely miss when I try to use iPhone's Safari.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would lose that bet.
I would like to see Skype on Win Phone 7
Making competitors (Opera must earn a lot of money with their OEM deals) redundant is just plainly impossible nowadays without some sort of "deal" made. It's really very interesting what will happen soon.
Here is a list of the top 10 requested features for WP7, What would you add or remove?
1.Copy and paste.
2.Flash and HTML5
3.SkyDrive sync with Office Hub
4.Add a screen capture feature
5.A proper Youtube app, not the poor web version we have now
6.Allow search of Marketplace by individual categories (apps, games, etc.) as opposed to combining them.
7.Separate volume levels for headphones plugged in and not plugged in
8.The camera app should save any settings changes you make - it just resets them now
9.Add Compass API access, navigation apps are useless without it
10.Spotify App
rudigrobler.net/blog/vnext
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Top 10 according to whom exactly?
Half the items on that list are either just around the corner or confirmed for release later this year, the other half seems like they're just listed without any thought going into why they're not already there or how they should be implemented.
1.Copy and paste. - Coming in two weeks
2.Flash and HTML5 - coming later this year
3.SkyDrive sync with Office Hub - coming later this year
4.Add a screen capture feature - don't need this, myself
5.A proper Youtube app, not the poor web version we have now - HTC have produced one, it's very good
6.Allow search of Marketplace by individual categories (apps, games, etc.) as opposed to combining them. - coming in two weeks
7.Separate volume levels for headphones plugged in and not plugged in - don't need this, always use bluetooth
8.The camera app should save any settings changes you make - it just resets them now - Don't want this
9.Add Compass API access, navigation apps are useless without it - coming later this year
10.Spotify App - Don't want this, never stream to my phone, limited data plan
So I would remove all of those and add;
Turn by Turn navigation
Tethering
this thread is very much liked the pinned one here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=844117
please just follow this thread, rather than having this new one going.
Jim Coleman said:
1.Copy and paste. - Coming in two weeks
2.Flash and HTML5 - coming later this year
3.SkyDrive sync with Office Hub - coming later this year
4.Add a screen capture feature - don't need this, myself
5.A proper Youtube app, not the poor web version we have now - HTC have produced one, it's very good
6.Allow search of Marketplace by individual categories (apps, games, etc.) as opposed to combining them. - coming in two weeks
7.Separate volume levels for headphones plugged in and not plugged in - don't need this, always use bluetooth
8.The camera app should save any settings changes you make - it just resets them now - Don't want this
9.Add Compass API access, navigation apps are useless without it - coming later this year
10.Spotify App - Don't want this, never stream to my phone, limited data plan
So I would remove all of those and add;
Turn by Turn navigation
Tethering
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yep, coming.
2. Long time to wait. Flash is not good on mobiles. If flash comes baked into IE (can't uninstall), I'm going to iOS. That will be a showstopper.
3. They need to add the capability for Zune to transfer documents from a folder on yoru computer (subfolder of you Documents Library folder) to the phone. Without this, and bein tethered to the cloud... it's still a big weakness for WP7. SkyDrive integration is not a big thing, and arguably should have been there at release. There's no reason for this not being there already, IMO. It makes the office hub a bit useless if you aren't a SharePoint user.
4. I don't need this, but others may need it. People who do training or write applications and want to take screen shots on a device instead of in an emulator may want it.
5. HTC YouTube App is actually pretty terrible. Search only works 1% of the time, and without search it's borderline useless because you cannot log into you YouTube account with it and view you subscribed channels/favorites/your own channel. It's worse than the HD2 YouTube App. Google needs to develop these apps for WP7, but I doubt they will... The Android YouTube App is about 50x better than this piece of crap.
6. Yep, coming, and badly needed.
7. "I don't use it, therefore it's useless." God... Selfish attitudes are quite the FAD here...
8. "I don't want it, so therefor it's useless." How about this "if you don't want it, STFU and simply don't change the settings." Who seriously records VGA video these days...
9. It was a fail to not have this available at release.
10. "I'm too cheap to buy a high cap/unlimited data plan, so I don't care about this." not gonna comment.
Bing needs Navigation ASAP, and Tethering is needed, yes.
A first-party Windows Live Client is needed - integrated into people's hub with presence info and push notifications (iOS has a Microsoft-developed Messenger, WP7 doesn't... laughable).
Ability to transfer Documents through Zune to the phone. This is badly needed. SkyDrive isn't enough.
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).
I had some ideas for wp7 features ...i know I am not the only one with ideas so I was thinking we could compile a list:
Ability to set -
Alarm snooze duration
Controls like WiFi off data off etc from home screen
Forward button in browser? (options / settings menu in browser also would be nice)
Multitasking and app management tools ?
Customization-
Alternate UI
More status bar actions/ usability
Of course- ringtones, backgrounds...lockstyles?
More functionality like a way to pull up more in depth menus (long press something etc ...?)
More color options
Animation sets ?
Tile transparency?
Different keyboards (or fix the current one up a bit)
added from N8ter:
Bing Voice Navigation
Video MMS
Ability to Send Video in Emails
Ability to Sync Documents from Zune Desktop Software (from %USERDIR%\Documents\Mobile Documents)
IE to Phone
IE Bookmarks Synching (Mobile Subcategory in Favorites, similar to WM6.5)
Native DLNA functionality (Play to/from other devices)
Tasks support for Exchange (And Tasks in Windows Live)
Implement support for Exchange Policies
Add more features to Office Hub
SkyDrive Document Access (coming, Mango)
IE9 is desperately needed - they really should be trying to get this out before Mango, IMO
Better YouTube experience
Background Syncing for People Hub, Twitter Integration (Coming, Mango) and Push Notifications for DMs, Replies, RTs, and Facebook messages
1st Party WLM/Lync Client with VoIP and Video Calling (for future phones for FFC)
Requirements for Ad Placement in the UI guidelines for WP7
Better CODEC support
Make XBOX Live what it's supposed to be - add push notifications for XBL Messaging too
Flickr and Photobucket support in Pictures Hub
Allow Video Uploads to SkyDrive and add a Silverlight control to stream them from the website
Bluetooth file transfer from Hubs/apps
Tethering (Wired and/or Wireless)
from arturobandini
1. WiFi and USB tethering
2. Full integration of Skydrive in the Office Hub
3. Support for third party keyboards (e.g. SWYPE)
4. Multilanguage keyboard (e.g. French + English)
5. Ability to save camera settings
6. Volume: Separate ringer and music volume
7. Volume: Force silent text message alerts when using headphones
8. Volume: Remove camera-shutter sound
9. USB mass storage support (even limited)
10. Ability to delete multiple texts just as multiple emails (with the checkbox)
11. Ability to delete multiple pictures
12. Smart dial to make dialing faster
13. Option to set how wi-fi operates while in sleep/standby
14. Emails: Peak notification for emails (option to disable push notification at night)
15. Screen capture
16. Support for front-facing cameras and video chat
17. Turn by turn text-to-speech navigation with offline support
18. Sharing options for video (MMS, Facebook, Twitter, Skydrive, etc)
19. Add image and video results to Bing
20. Native DLNA and Bluetooth 3.0
21. File explorer
22. Emails: Solve the issue with embedded pictures that fail to download
23. Emails: Ability to edit the content of an email before you forward it
24. Zune: more Codecs
25. Zune: Improved search function in Zune: the Zune search function will only look for music into the Marketplace and not even browse into your own music collection if you search for a specific song
26. Zune: Scrubbing controls in the Zune player
27. Zune: Ability to create and save playlists directly on the device
28. Zune: Ability to download podcasts over the air
29. Zune: Ability to add or update podcasts directly from the phone
30. Zune: Scrobbling on Last.fm for ALL countries
31. Multitasking, multitasking, multitasking !!!
32. WiFi toggle button directly accessible from the Home Menu
33. A real YouTube application
34. native flashlight app (using LED flash) on ALL wp7 devices.
+ DECENT BING MAP for EUROPE
+ More generally, more freedom, more openness and more flexibility
Sorry if its unorganized ...its just a start...started typing all this on my dvp
So... turn it into windows mobile?
I'm sure there are several Android devices to choose from at your provider.
Alternate UI? why? if you dont like the UI then dont buy the phone.
erebusting said:
I had some ideas for wp7 features ...i know I am not the only one with ideas so I was thinking we could compile a list:
Ability to set -
Alarm snooze duration
Controls like WiFi off data off etc from home screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alarm Snooze Duration = Good Suggestion
Stuff on Home Screen You Mentioned: Pin Settings. Not like there is much in there, anyways. They need to add a LOT more settings. Sorry, but what's there is woefully inadequate. Even a casual consumer can get frustrated by the lack of common-sense exposed in the OS.
Multitasking and app management tools ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming in Mango.
Customization-
Alternate UI
More status bar actions/ usability
Of course- ringtones, backgrounds...lockstyles?
More functionality like a way to pull up more in depth menus (long press something etc ...?)
More color options
Animation sets ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. NO.
2. Desperately needed. Double tap for Notification cache, or maybe a Notifications Live Tile that you can click to get to the Notification Cache is needed.
3. Ringtones coming. Backgrounds are useless because on the homescreen you wouldn't see them, and in the app list they can potentially make the text unintelligible. There's no reason to want backgrounds, IMO. They're a waste due to the way the UI is designed. Lockstyles, like what? Pattern Lock? I believe Password and PIN code are there already, no?
4. Better menus are desperately needed. More functionality needs to be exposed, and it needs to be exposed cleanly. Android apps that have common functionality in the main menu with a "More" Option are a good example on how to implement decent menus (Google's Apps on Android do this).
5. Don't see a need, but I guess everyone has a favorite colors they want their tiles to be.
6. Don't understand what you mean by this, Lol. The OS already animates a bit too much IMO and it would be nice to have an option to turn the animations off in the system...
Different keyboards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. There are technically reasons why I say no, but I really don't wanna get into it. The default keyboard is really good and they should spend time trying to improve it in the ways that it can be improved instead of worrying about some third party keyboards (plus, we don't want 1000 of those cluttering the marketplace like Android - that goes for Alternative UIs as well).
To your list I'll add:
Bing Voice Navigation
Video MMS
Ability to Send Video in Emails
Ability to Sync Documents from Zune Desktop Software (from %USERDIR%\Documents\Mobile Documents)
IE to Phone
IE Bookmarks Synching (Mobile Subcategory in Favorites, similar to WM6.5)
Native DLNA functionality (Play to/from other devices)
Tasks support for Exchange (And Tasks in Windows Live)
Implement support for Exchange Policies
Add more features to Office Hub
SkyDrive Document Access (coming, Mango)
IE9 is desperately needed - they really should be trying to get this out before Mango, IMO
Better YouTube experience
Background Syncing for People Hub, Twitter Integration (Coming, Mango) and Push Notifications for DMs, Replies, RTs, and Facebook messages
1st Party WLM/Lync Client with VoIP and Video Calling (for future phones for FFC)
Requirements for Ad Placement in the UI guidelines for WP7
Better CODEC support
Make XBOX Live what it's supposed to be - add push notifications for XBL Messaging too
Flickr and Photobucket support in Pictures Hub
Allow Video Uploads to SkyDrive and add a Silverlight control to stream them from the website
Bluetooth file transfer from Hubs/apps
Tethering (Wired and/or Wireless)
There is more
Ignore the idiot about talking about making it Android.
comeradealexi said:
Alternate UI? why? if you dont like the UI then dont buy the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not? I like the UI, but why would you want to limit youself to one option -it would be nice to have more options. even an animations OFF option would be welcome....
stop thinking so closed minded comeradealexi and 'sure haven't'...
you guys seem to like having limited options...just because I want more functionality does not mean I want "ANDROID" or WM...I like WP7 and would like IT to have ITS own functionality EXPANDED....get the idea?
N8ter said:
Ignore the idiot about talking about making it Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to put down the crack pipe and re-read my post. I didn't say "let's turn it into Android", what I said was "well if you want all those options which bog down an OS, why don't you go to Android".
I'll type real simple for you in the future.
erebusting said:
why not? I like the UI, but why would you want to limit youself to one option -it would be nice to have more options. even an animations OFF option would be welcome....
stop thinking so closed minded comeradealexi and 'sure haven't'...
you guys seem to like having limited options...just because I want more functionality does not mean I want "ANDROID" or WM...I like WP7 and would like IT to have ITS own functionality EXPANDED....get the idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not thinking closed-minded. I'm thinking that right now, my wp7 works flawlessly (mostly). It's smooth as silk (and I maintain that a smooth UI is far and away the NUMBER ONE most important thing to have). What I'm thinking is adding all these options makes it a bloatfest like windows mobile was, and what Android is.
erebusting said:
why not? I like the UI, but why would you want to limit youself to one option -it would be nice to have more options. even an animations OFF option would be welcome....
stop thinking so closed minded comeradealexi and 'sure haven't'...
you guys seem to like having limited options...just because I want more functionality does not mean I want "ANDROID" or WM...I like WP7 and would like IT to have ITS own functionality EXPANDED....get the idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're missing the point. As Apple has done with iOS, Microsoft wants every Windows Phone to be instantly recognizable by its consistent Metro UI. I can see how some options to adjust the UI could be implemented, but the ability to replace the core appearance and behavior with an alternate will not happen.
That is what I think people are trying to say. Basically, if you are looking for an environment with a user-replaceable home screen/launcher, then WP7 is the wrong place to be looking.
sure haven't said:
I'm not thinking closed-minded. I'm thinking that right now, my wp7 works flawlessly (mostly). It's smooth as silk (and I maintain that a smooth UI is far and away the NUMBER ONE most important thing to have). What I'm thinking is adding all these options makes it a bloatfest like windows mobile was, and what Android is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My WP7 does work pretty smooth about it and that is one thing I like about it...so I see what you mean about bogging it down -but not ALL of those will bog it down, some are actualy good features/functions with nothing to do with looks...so there may have to be a middle ground, if that is the case...?
I believe if they are added in an efficient way then it should be fine...possibly by selecting a choice few... or on/off switches could be used (i.e. if you do not use all of the customizeable features which may slow down your phone - turn that whole section off etc...)
All in all...I believe there are definate changes which should be made to WP7 and there are some nice changes which could be made...
this is just meant to be about compiling a list of both...but your arguments for one or the other are welcome as well...
RoboDad said:
I think you're missing the point. As Apple has done with iOS, Microsoft wants every Windows Phone to be instantly recognizable by its consistent Metro UI. I can see how some options to adjust the UI could be implemented, but the ability to replace the core appearance and behavior with an alternate will not happen.
That is what I think people are trying to say. Basically, if you are looking for an environment with a user-replaceable home screen/launcher, then WP7 is the wrong place to be looking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get what you mean. That is a point (about the Metro UI being a core recognizable element)...but just denying the ability that users demand will amount to those users either constructing their own means or moving on....I do not intend to be part of the latter ...
so while MS may not be the ones to add the feature... the idea is up there for the possibility for someone to take on a project of such....
either way I think it fits this list well because it is an idea for a feature (whether you may think it is good/bad possible/ or not is an opinion...so don't mind if I still leave it up there anyways k? haha)
@'n8' ..... backgrounds while in your opinion may be useless...I believe it would be a nice addition instead of having a black or white background all the time -pleasing to the eye I guess you could say...?
any ways - a background is meant to be just that, an image in the background (i.e. behind ...behind things like documents and widgets...) so I think it would be a nice idea -then maybe they could add an option to change tile transparency etc....
I like N8ter suggested features.
Necessary and won't obsolete with WP7 ideology.
amtrakcn said:
I like N8ter suggested features.
Necessary and won't obsolete with WP7 ideology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah he was gearing toward some more technical stuff than what I was...
sure haven't said:
I think you need to put down the crack pipe and re-read my post. I didn't say "let's turn it into Android", what I said was "well if you want all those options which bog down an OS, why don't you go to Android".
I'll type real simple for you in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, basically, you spoke about Android in your post?
Thanks for agreeing with me.
You're not smoking crack. You're smoking something a magnitude stronger...
I didn't say you said that, I said you spoke about Android, which you did.
By telling him to get Android instead of making WP7 WM, you literally inferred that doing so would also make it [like] Android. Otherwise the Android suggestion would make little, if any, sense. It's like saying "So, turn it into Windows Mobile? Just get an iPhone." <- Does that make any sense whatsoever? Probably not
Perhaps my above-elementary reading comprehension skills have pummeled your below-elementary writing/communications skills...
It was still a pretty idiotic thing to say, BTW.
Ciao!
1. WiFi and USB tethering
2. Full integration of Skydrive in the Office Hub
3. Support for third party keyboards (e.g. SWYPE)
4. Multilanguage keyboard (e.g. French + English)
5. Ability to save camera settings
6. Volume: Separate ringer and music volume
7. Volume: Force silent text message alerts when using headphones
8. Volume: Remove camera-shutter sound
9. USB mass storage support (even limited)
10. Ability to delete multiple texts just as multiple emails (with the checkbox)
11. Ability to delete multiple pictures
12. Smart dial to make dialing faster
13. Option to set how wi-fi operates while in sleep/standby
14. Emails: Peak notification for emails (option to disable push notification at night)
15. Screen capture
16. Support for front-facing cameras and video chat
17. Turn by turn text-to-speech navigation with offline support
18. Sharing options for video (MMS, Facebook, Twitter, Skydrive, etc)
19. Add image and video results to Bing
20. Native DLNA and Bluetooth 3.0
21. File explorer
22. Emails: Solve the issue with embedded pictures that fail to download
23. Emails: Ability to edit the content of an email before you forward it
24. Zune: more Codecs
25. Zune: Improved search function in Zune: the Zune search function will only look for music into the Marketplace and not even browse into your own music collection if you search for a specific song
26. Zune: Scrubbing controls in the Zune player
27. Zune: Ability to create and save playlists directly on the device
28. Zune: Ability to download podcasts over the air
29. Zune: Ability to add or update podcasts directly from the phone
30. Zune: Scrobbling on Last.fm for ALL countries
31. Multitasking, multitasking, multitasking !!!
32. WiFi toggle button directly accessible from the Home Menu
33. A real YouTube application
34. native flashlight app (using LED flash) on ALL wp7 devices.
+ DECENT BING MAP for EUROPE
+ More generally, more freedom, more openness and more flexibility
arturobandini said:
1. WiFi and USB tethering - Agree. Phone is useless if you have to tether right now. Even some feature phones can tether in multiple ways.
2. Full integration of Skydrive in the Office Hub - MANGO
3. Support for third party keyboards (e.g. SWYPE) - NO THANKS
4. Multilanguage keyboard (e.g. French + English)
5. Ability to save camera settings - It's really only the video settings that are low and don't save, the picture defaults are fine.
6. Volume: Separate ringer and music volume
7. Volume: Force silent text message alerts when using headphones
8. Volume: Remove camera-shutter sound - Dunno why you'd wanna do that, but whatever
9. USB mass storage support (even limited) - It's 2011...
10. Ability to delete multiple texts just as multiple emails (with the checkbox)
11. Ability to delete multiple pictures
12. Smart dial to make dialing faster
13. Option to set how wi-fi operates while in sleep/standby - it operates just like most othe smartphones already
14. Emails: Peak notification for emails (option to disable push notification at night) - shouldn't your phone be plugged in anyways? Or are you concerned with data consumption?
15. Screen capture - Lol...
16. Support for front-facing cameras and video chat
17. Turn by turn text-to-speech navigation with offline support - Offline Support ur asking for a lot here... Lots of phones simply don't have the room for this.
18. Sharing options for video (MMS, Facebook, Twitter, Skydrive, etc) - Agree
19. Add image and video results to Bing
20. Native DLNA and Bluetooth 3.0 - DLNA Yes, BT 3.0 you probably need an updated hardware piece in the phone for...
21. File explorer - Not gonna happen.
22. Emails: Solve the issue with embedded pictures that fail to download - Never had this issue. Not saying anyone else hasn't...
23. Emails: Ability to edit the content of an email before you forward it
24. Zune: more Codecs
25. Zune: Improved search function in Zune: the Zune search function will only look for music into the Marketplace and not even browse into your own music collection if you search for a specific song
26. Zune: Scrubbing controls in the Zune player
27. Zune: Ability to create and save playlists directly on the device - MANGO
28. Zune: Ability to download podcasts over the air - MANGO
29. Zune: Ability to add or update podcasts directly from the phone - MANGO
30. Zune: Scrobbling on Last.fm for ALL countries - This is so low priority I'm surprised you mentioned it... Should have just put IE9 in there since you seem out of the loop in what's coming with Mango...
31. Multitasking, multitasking, multitasking !!! - It will never multi task 3rd party apps, it will simply do fast app switching similar to iOS.
32. WiFi toggle button directly accessible from the Home Menu - Agree, needed - GPS control as well. Most people actually have their GPS running all the time because of how location settings are hidden, which leads to more battery drain.
33. A real YouTube application - They say they have one, we'll see.
34. native flashlight app (using LED flash) on ALL wp7 devices. - Lol... Just use a free one from the market this is not an issue.
+ DECENT BING MAP for EUROPE
+ More generally, more freedom, more openness and more flexibility
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck on the openness and freedom. Some of your people really seem to reside in lala land asking for the same WinMo-type treatment that Microsoft has already seen fail colossally. That will never happen with Windows Phone-series OSes.
to suggest new features or vote on existing:
http://windowsphone7community.uservoice.com/forums/84435-feature-feedback
N8ter said:
So, basically, you spoke about Android in your post?
Thanks for agreeing with me.
You're not smoking crack. You're smoking something a magnitude stronger...
I didn't say you said that, I said you spoke about Android, which you did.
By telling him to get Android instead of making WP7 WM, you literally inferred that doing so would also make it [like] Android. Otherwise the Android suggestion would make little, if any, sense. It's like saying "So, turn it into Windows Mobile? Just get an iPhone." <- Does that make any sense whatsoever? Probably not
Perhaps my above-elementary reading comprehension skills have pummeled your below-elementary writing/communications skills...
It was still a pretty idiotic thing to say, BTW.
Ciao!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*sigh* What you said was this:
N8ter said:
Ignore the idiot about talking about making it Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never said, inferred, or inclinated that we should make wp7 into Android. Your immature response didn't make any sense. I didn't say we/him/anyone should "make" it Android. Please point out to me where I did say that.
I'm sorry if my adult-thinking-skills have confused your smoking-weed-in-mom's-basement-all-day skills.
sure haven't said:
*sigh* What you said was this:
I never said, inferred, or inclinated that we should make wp7 into Android. Your immature response didn't make any sense. I didn't say we/him/anyone should "make" it Android. Please point out to me where I did say that.
I'm sorry if my adult-thinking-skills have confused your smoking-weed-in-mom's-basement-all-day skills.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can we just keep all of this nonsense out of this thread -it just clutters it up
Thanks -tfouto for the link
I really would like to to be able to use the hardware search button to search not just online but within my phone for xample if I hut search an I want to listen to a song itd be nice to type the title and have that be one of the first things tha come up.
HD7 unlocked
Here's the thing...I am planning on making my next phone either the new Nokia or the Focus S pretty much whichever releases first. I came from a 3gs and now have a Captivate and I want WP7 users to tell me the top things they miss from their previous OS...whether it be Android or IPhone. I am pretty much trying to figure out what I am going to be giving up in the switch to WP7. Thanks for any replies and no trolls please lol.
I think in general you'll be gaining a very trouble free, polished, and well integrated experience, while giving up more customization and a giant marketplace. i think coming from ios and android the biggest things you'll miss are your apps, if you were a big app user.
Notifications. WP doesn't show your notifications in one place like Android or even a popup like ios. You have to have the app pinned the home screen. If you have a lot of apps this could get annoying
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Oh and no google apps on WP. No Gmail no maps no voice. Not official ones anyway
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Gurgs said:
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You see icons/numbers for missed calls, messages, emails on the lock screen and on the live tiles and there are notifications for all of them.
You can use GMail with the mail client (IMAP), also Google Calendar works fine. I am not sure about Bing Maps in the US but here in Austria it's useless. But there is a good (free) unofficial Google Maps app. Visual voicemail is only supported by some carriers.
Gurgs said:
Here's the thing...I am planning on making my next phone either the new Nokia or the Focus S pretty much whichever releases first. I came from a 3gs and now have a Captivate and I want WP7 users to tell me the top things they miss from their previous OS...whether it be Android or IPhone. I am pretty much trying to figure out what I am going to be giving up in the switch to WP7. Thanks for any replies and no trolls please lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
abysmal support for instant messaging apps. That's my only gripe.
Words by post is the alternate. Its superior to words with friends imo
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I came from WM6.5. I miss the bluetooth support. WP7 does not have SPP, so no external bluetooth devices will work, only bluetooth headsets etc. I can't use my bluetooth external GPS. Since my LG has a really poor GPS, this really bites.
Other than that, I really like the WP7 experience now that Mango is out.
Big issues for me compared to IOS.
- Lack of apps. The big ones like Facebook have been ported, but little ones (like language learning apps and dictionaries) - forget it.
- Lack of games. Always playing with my ipod touch, never play with my WP7 phone. Not enough good titles.
- No audio scrubbing in music player. Can't fast forward properly or jump around in tracks - makes it useless to for playing podcasts/audiobooks. Still have to use my ipod for listening to language CDs.
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
- No way to backup a WP7 phone. If you lose your phone or have to upgrade your firmware, wave goodbye to all your save data, settings and sms messages. You'll also have to manually re-install all of your apps.
karan1203 said:
Words by post is the alternate. Its superior to words with friends imo
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is words by post cross platform? WP7 -> iPhone? My wife has the 4s and that would be great...
Notifications, Swype (I like typing with one hand), screen orientation lock and LED flash light app.
Other than that, there are little limitations here and there that will probably be addressed in the future updates.
topkop said:
Notifications, Swype (I like typing with one hand), screen orientation lock and LED flash light app.
Other than that, there are little limitations here and there that will probably be addressed in the future updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there only one choice for keyboard in WP7? If so how does it compare to stock keyboards on other platforms?
Gurgs said:
Is there only one choice for keyboard in WP7? If so how does it compare to stock keyboards on other platforms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is just 1 keyboard with Windows Phone 7.
I used to use Swype with Windows Mobile.
The keyboard for Windows phone 7 does have autmatic corrections and word suggestions. It ends up being just as fast as swype.
I have a quantum, which also has a real physical keyboard, which is nice when typing a long email.
No issues with the on screen keyboard. It works very well.
Aphasaic2002 said:
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, podcast handling is one of the things I like in Windows Phone! I used to download podcasts using ITunes and using Zune to sync to the phone. There is an easier way.
Now I have the phone automatically download and manage the podcasts itself (without using a PC). The phone downloads podcasts automatically when it is plugged into power and connected to Wifi. I've set it to keep the last 5 episodes of each podcast - works great so far and less hassle than launching iTunes every day!
More details here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1286101
Gurgs said:
Is words by post cross platform? WP7 -> iPhone? My wife has the 4s and that would be great...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Words by Post is on WP, Android & iOS so yes.
Audio and Video Scrubbing. How this was missing in 2010 let alone 2011 just doesn't make sense.
Gurgs said:
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YouMail has an app called Magikmail that work as a Visual VM replacement unless AT&T gets its act together.
Bing Maps works very well for everything except a decent driving GPS, but a $5 app called Turn-by-Turn directions fixes that for me.
Missed calls and Messages- you'll have no problem at all with the very good notifications on the tiles for those, as well as the notifications on the lockscreen.
There are a few GV apps in the marketplace that work decently well.
Words with Friends alternatives- Alphajax and Words by Post
Other than that, I miss the LED notifications and being able to have a lastpass plugin for my browser. Overall, not really much that I miss from the other 2 options and a lot to like in WP7 over them.
---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 PM ----------
Aphasaic2002 said:
Big issues for me compared to IOS.
- Lack of apps. The big ones like Facebook have been ported, but little ones (like language learning apps and dictionaries) - forget it.
- Lack of games. Always playing with my ipod touch, never play with my WP7 phone. Not enough good titles.
- No audio scrubbing in music player. Can't fast forward properly or jump around in tracks - makes it useless to for playing podcasts/audiobooks. Still have to use my ipod for listening to language CDs.
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
- No way to backup a WP7 phone. If you lose your phone or have to upgrade your firmware, wave goodbye to all your save data, settings and sms messages. You'll also have to manually re-install all of your apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some good points here. I have only found 1-2 apps that I miss, but won't argue there are some things I'd like to have.
Haven't been upset by the audio issue- FF and REW work just fine for me. What am I missing that's so amazing?
Podcasts? No way- iTunes is horrible. Zune isn't that much better. Why use either? Just have the phone do it without needing to sync to either? Way past the iOS paradigm here.
Somewhat agree on the backup. Zune does do a backup when you do upgrades, but I think there's no way to do it otherwise. Annoying. And yes, until the Skydrive API is really more available, there aren't good methods for saving app data... but when it is, it'll be better than the other 2, assuming MS doesn't screw it up massively.
Well the Focus S coming out in two weeks pretty much answers which phone i'm getting. And this thread makes me realize i'm not giving up much of anything to leave Android, not to mention not having to flash a new ROM on my phone every week to keep up with the times lol
I think that the only things i miss from Android are...
•Tethering (new phones have it though, and possibly my HD7 via an update)
•TV Listings for Android (how is it that there is not a single app that can display all my US/Puerto Rico channel listings with shows and times? no... not a show tracker, i mean a full TV Guide)
•Adobe Flash (slow, buggy, laggy... but i could watch anything on the web )
•USB Mass storage (although i wonder why? come to think of it, i dont use it that much)
Still, the good FAR exceeds the bad here and my next phone will still be WP7 for sure!!! Titan or Focus S maybe (why TMO gets the crappy one???)