Related
1st off this is not intended to be a flaming / bashing thread. If you want to do that please go elsewhere; I'm sure the vibrant forums will welcome you. If a MOD feels this belongs somewhere else, please move it.
I have been a long time WM user and recently switched to android for the past year. I am offering my take on WP7 on the pros on cons.
Interface - Finally something completely new and wonderful. Microsoft really did hit a homerun on trying to make information at a glance approach. Mail and search apps look beautiful. I thing missing, being able to quickly jump to apps in the app menu.
Lack of Landscape Support- For as great as the UI is I am shocked at the lack of landscape support. The start menu, app menu, nor Zune have lanscape support. You can not even refresh a webpage or type in a website if you are in landscape mode. Calling this anything other than an epic "FAIL" by microsoft is sugar coating it. Especially when the HD7 and Surround beg to be in landscape mode with their kick stands.
Browser - As expected from an IE browser it is pretty good. I already mentioned the lack of landscape support which is really frustrating but there is something else that gets under my skin more. Web pages do not resize to fit the screen when you zoom in. This was/is almost a deal breaking for me honestly. I love the organization of having all the buttons at the bottom and the interface is stunning but you lose way to many options in landscape mode. You can't even access favorites without first going back to portrait. MS, this NEEDS to be addressed soon. The browser is the main feature of smartphones now.
Zune - Wonderful if you have a Zune Pass. Honestly it was one of the main reasons why I bought this phone. I expected it to be awesome and it didn't disappoint. That being said they need to add a Play Now option to the market songs. When I'm browsing the market sometimes I want to queue songs and the Add to Playlist option makes sense but how could you leave out Play now? Seriously?
Another thing I don't like is I can not fast forward to a certain spot in a movie. Video files can be hours long, why should I have to hold the fast forward button to get to the point I'd like. Let me hit the progress bar and then use the rewind / fast forward buttons for getting to the exact point.
USB Storage Device- glaring admission, but I can kind of see why. It helps stop piracy, but I loved being able to hook my fuze / tilt 2 / nexus 1 / vibrant to my car stereo and play the music I had downloaded on my phone. I know I could get an audio cable and do the same, but while driving it is so much easier to use the radio head unit to control music rather than your phone. I knew this when getting in bed with WP7, but that doesnt mean I still can't miss it.
Bluetooth- for music works just like it should. however it will not play the audio from video files threw bluetooth. It keeps coming out of my phone's main speakers and there is no way to get into the bluetooth profiles to see if something is wrong. VERY ANNOYING MS. get to fixing it.
People- Wonderful. Could anyone ask anymore? I gave it my facebook and gmail accounts and I didn't have to worry about any contacts not showing up. Love the Facebook updates also.
Dailer- No smart dialer? This used to even be in my old wizard by default. How it get left out is completely beyond me.
Announced fixes- Flash, Copy & Paste, Turn by Turn navigation can't come soon enough but I am glad microsoft acknowledged they needed them.
Local Outlook Support- I knew this before hand, but I am in the crowd that says MS needs to add this ability.
Overall- I bought my HD7 without a contract and I am pretty sure i will NOT be returning it. I love my HD7 and WP7, however this OS isn't entirely complete. That being said was iOS and Android complete when they came out? To even suggest that is laughable. I can not wait for microsoft to release all the fixes for this OS because when it does it will be a powerhouse.
I will not buy that this phone is for dumbsmart phone users. I probably done more with my phones than 95% of android users who will do nothing by bash WP7 and i honestly see this for ALL users. It helps bring the powerhouse experience in an easier way without being tied down as much as iOS.
Why not just post in one of the other 50 threads? Now people will be copy-pasting replies from those into this one.
I did notice the lack of landscape mode in IE. I think that was the only thing that made me go WTF when I used the HD7.
However, the keyboard is so good that I don't think it even mattered that much.
I guess with a 3.7-8" screen it can be a bit annoying, but on anything 4" or bigger it didn't strike me as a big deal beyond the initial shock of it not being there.
Also, lots of people dont' seem to know the difference between an Operating System and an Application.
N8ter said:
Why not just post in one of the other 50 threads? Now people will be copy-pasting replies from those into this one.
I did notice the lack of landscape mode in IE. I think that was the only thing that made me go WTF when I used the HD7.
However, the keyboard is so good that I don't think it even mattered that much.
I guess with a 3.7-8" screen it can be a bit annoying, but on anything 4" or bigger it didn't strike me as a big deal beyond the initial shock of it not being there.
Also, lots of people dont' seem to know the difference between an Operating System and an Application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those threads became nothing but flaming / bashing threads. I thought it would be a good idea to try to get away from that.
Also a core application can be considered part of the OS. If you can not uninstall it, it is part of the OS.
I thought it was annoying not being able to get to the address bar with all that screen space.
I don't know about you guys but my Surround goes into landscape mode IE just fine...
The only thing I don't like is lack of landscape in marketplace and Zune...
also if you want a nice photo editor, Thumba photo editor for $.099 is awesome!
EDIT: Oh i see. I can't believe I have to switch to portrait to type a URL!! WTF microsoft!
jz9833 said:
Browser - As expected from an IE browser it is pretty good. I already mentioned the lack of landscape support which is really frustrating but there is something else that gets under my skin more. Web pages do not resize to fit the screen when you zoom in. This was/is almost a deal breaking for me honestly. I love the organization of having all the buttons at the bottom and the interface is stunning but you lose way to many options in landscape mode. You can't even access favorites without first going back to portrait. MS, this NEEDS to be addressed soon. The browser is the main feature of smartphones now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Overall I agree with just about everything you said. Regarding the browser, I've noticed that certain areas of webpages are zoomed in more than others. For instance, on xda, the text of people's posts is HUGE compared to the buttons such as User CP, etc. at the top of the page. What I've found is a double tap in my area of interest on a page will zoom the page so that ONLY my area of interest is approriately sized. Then, when I want to switch to another part of the page, I double tap there and the page will resize, and so on. The text does not dynamically reflow a la Android, but I think it's a pretty usable system.
-R
jz9833 said:
Dailer- No smart dialer? This used to even be in my old wizard by default. How it get left out is completely beyond me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is voice dialing in WP7 not sure what you mean by smart dialer???
rruffman said:
There is voice dialing in WP7 not sure what you mean by smart dialer???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By going to the dailer and being able to spell "MOM" for example on the keys and it would automatically come up with the number for that contact.
jz9833 said:
Also a core application can be considered part of the OS. If you can not uninstall it, it is part of the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, what? No, it's not. It's a stock application distributed with the OS. It is not part of the OS.
By the Logic people can say "Android is buggy because the GMail client is buggy." or "Windows Mobile is buggy because the Opera Browser HTC bundled with the HD2 is buggy." or "Linux is full of bugs because the KDE in that distro is buggy as hell."
Every OS comes with a set of stock applications, but they are just that, and are usually updatable independent of installing a new kernel or driver stack on the device.
In any case, I've already said I agree that the lack of landscape mode is an issue.
I just wanted to make that distinction, because lots of people on this forum are incapable of doing it themselves.
N8ter said:
Lol, what? No, it's not. It's a stock application distributed with the OS. It is not part of the OS.
By the Logic people can say "Android is buggy because the GMail client is buggy." or "Windows Mobile is buggy because the Opera Browser HTC bundled with the HD2 is buggy." or "Linux is full of bugs because the KDE in that distro is buggy as hell."
Every OS comes with a set of stock applications, but they are just that, and are usually updatable independent of installing a new kernel or driver stack on the device.
In any case, I've already said I agree that the lack of landscape mode is an issue.
I just wanted to make that distinction, because lots of people on this forum are incapable of doing it themselves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still completely disagree with you. Froyo for Android made plenty of browser updates so would you say that wasn't a OS update?
I like most people consider stock apps part of the OS
jz9833 said:
I still completely disagree with you. Froyo for Android made plenty of browser updates so would you say that wasn't a OS update?
I like most people consider stock apps part of the OS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. Basically system is made of apps.
If email app built into it is buggy, we can say OS is buggy.
jz9833 said:
I still completely disagree with you. Froyo for Android made plenty of browser updates so would you say that wasn't a OS update?
I like most people consider stock apps part of the OS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt meam ur right and most people are ignorant in os design and the diff between an os and an app distributed with said os.
Obviously...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
N8ter said:
Doesnt meam ur right and most people are ignorant in os design and the diff between an os and an app distributed with said os.
Obviously...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then you are going to have to disagree with almost all people. This isn't a techy vs jock debate. These are apps which are built into the os and therefore part of the os.
But anyway this thread is meant for objective evaluation of WP7. If you want to continue this debate we should continue it somewhere else.
jz9833 said:
By going to the dailer and being able to spell "MOM" for example on the keys and it would automatically come up with the number for that contact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use search in the people hub for something very similar. Admittedly not an exact substitute but it works well enough for me.
jz9833 said:
I have been a long time WM user and recently switched to android for the past year. I am offering my take on WP7 on the pros on cons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good post
jz9833 said:
USB Storage Device- glaring admission, but I can kind of see why. It helps stop piracy, but I loved being able to hook my fuze / tilt 2 / nexus 1 / vibrant to my car stereo and play the music I had downloaded on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does this increase piracy? If the files you buy on Zune are locked down they can still do this even if there is a common store of files accessible as usb mass storage. Either by drm or by using isolated storage for those files.
jz9833 said:
Local Outlook Support- I knew this before hand, but I am in the crowd that says MS needs to add this ability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do it this way, then you are working with two sets of data (email, calendar, tasks, contacts, etc.) neither of which is guaranteed to be up to date. I don't see why people think this is preferable to a server-based system.
jz9833 said:
I will not buy that this phone is for dumb smart phone users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully this will be true; I will keep my fingers crossed. Currently, as I see it, they are targeting people who don't understand what files are, and would be confused by files, and who believe that music consists of songs arranged by artists into albums. I.e. the dumb mass market.
CSMR said:
How does this increase piracy? If the files you buy on Zune are locked down they can still do this even if there is a common store of files accessible as usb mass storage. Either by drm or by using isolated storage for those files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cintent u purchase in zune have no drm..... The piracy statement is legit.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
though given you just purchased for your zune account, you can then access it on zune desktop, and burn discs from there. so no necessarily correct.
however, what i think of a common storage area is a good idea. just have it so that the pictures, videos, music, documents are in a folder view for when you plug the phone into your PC. it would really only require a bit of mapping within the OS to make it look like a storage unit. Even if it was just more restricted down to just the documents section, that's still something. better than nothing imo as i don't have access to skydrive at work. but aye, i can live with it, it's not going to make me want to return the phone.
The Gate Keeper said:
though given you just purchased for your zune account, you can then access it on zune desktop, and burn discs from there. so no necessarily correct.
however, what i think of a common storage area is a good idea. just have it so that the pictures, videos, music, documents are in a folder view for when you plug the phone into your PC. it would really only require a bit of mapping within the OS to make it look like a storage unit. Even if it was just more restricted down to just the documents section, that's still something. better than nothing imo as i don't have access to skydrive at work. but aye, i can live with it, it's not going to make me want to return the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its 2001, people pirate with digital media. Cd piracy may still be hip in the third world, but I haven't operated a cd player in years (or used my computer to play one), much less bought or burned one.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
N8ter said:
Its 2001, people pirate with digital media. Cd piracy may still be hip in the third world, but I haven't operated a cd player in years (or used my computer to play one), much less bought or burned one.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how about an MP3 cd? to play in your car? to lend to a friend? or your USB stick? as soon as it's available on zune desktop you have a copy of it... there is plenty ways around it. i'm not saying you should do it, i'm saying the possibilities are there.
N8ter said:
The cintent u purchase in zune have no drm..... The piracy statement is legit.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the files are not DRMed, and Microsoft wants to protect them, either it can DRM the files, or it can keep them in isolated storage. The existence of common storage doesn't exclude isolated storage.
Hi,
i am new in here and just interested in what the new wp7 platform is able to do. I do not want to have a finish solution for it, only to know if it is possibly in general or not. I first would like to focus on two aspects ( other questions are welcomed as well)
I read, that wp7 is based on 6.5 with a few bought in features and that wp7 is quite limited in its opportunities anyway. I am asking that moreover, because microsoft said they will update their system by their own ( so no providers or manufacturers ). Which makes it a very interesting system for me, when it will be supported on the devices for quite long time, and not like the producers do just for a year, so they can sell new phones.
So my questions:
1. will wp7 be able to support a proper offline text to speech function (like in the old voice command)with its new bought in speech recognition. Not online like vlingo or google voice
2. is it possible to integrate a good working mass storage system like on android ( Without registry hacking or something else and not only for music or photos. I mean real data)
I always was a faithfully ms user but with every product i got more and more disappointed and i really would like to give them one more chance, but the device till now is completely not useful. They kicked out everything what was good on windows mobile and brought in everything bad from android and ios. So please tell me that there is still a chance this system will be great one time.
Gesine22 said:
2. is it possible to integrate a good working mass storage system like on android ( Without registry hacking or something else and not only for music or photos. I mean real data)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not?
doministry said:
Probably not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could anybody confirm this.
Actually, I know I will not be able to deal without USB mass storage. I therefore made it a condition whether or not I will keep my WP7 phone.
I like WP7. Still, if I'm sure that it cannot have USB mass storage one day then I will probably move to Android.
arturobandini said:
Could anybody confirm this.
Actually, I know I will not be able to deal without USB mass storage. I therefore made it a condition whether or not I will keep my WP7 phone.
I like WP7. Still, if I'm sure that it cannot have USB mass storage one day then I will probably move to Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't count it out. iPods and other Apple products allow mass storage. I believe MS would too.
Cool. Thanks
It's all speculation, there is zilch of the detailed info from MS on the upcoming update.
They don't want you to fiddle with registry that's a given, so there might be a hack around it, but the recent events surrounding the USB storage registry hacks on the PC suggest MS does not want you to do that if you want to keep your internal system intact on the phone.
Someone posted this comment on Microsoft Answer regarding his Love/Hate relationship with WP7
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/thread/cf7a9cc1-47e0-46ca-9d7a-b3601d20f1e6
I am in the same state of mind and fully agree with what is said here.
Considering that none of us here work for Microsoft, we all really have no idea what's possible. So your question is... well... difficult to answer.
The only answer we could possible give to your question is: anything is possible.
Anything Microsoft and it's team decide to do, is certainly possible, and more. The same goes for Apple's team, and Google's team. They can do whatever they want, its their platform, and their money.
Considering that you seem to be missing things from the Windows Mobile platform, since Windows Phone 7 is by the same company that did that platform, then everything you want and suggested is definitely possible. That's the bottom line.
Gesine22 said:
Hi,
i am new in here and just interested in what the new wp7 platform is able to do. I do not want to have a finish solution for it, only to know if it is possibly in general or not. I first would like to focus on two aspects ( other questions are welcomed as well)
I read, that wp7 is based on 6.5 with a few bought in features and that wp7 is quite limited in its opportunities anyway. I am asking that moreover, because microsoft said they will update their system by their own ( so no providers or manufacturers ). Which makes it a very interesting system for me, when it will be supported on the devices for quite long time, and not like the producers do just for a year, so they can sell new phones.
So my questions:
1. will wp7 be able to support a proper offline text to speech function (like in the old voice command)with its new bought in speech recognition. Not online like vlingo or google voice
2. is it possible to integrate a good working mass storage system like on android ( Without registry hacking or something else and not only for music or photos. I mean real data)
I always was a faithfully ms user but with every product i got more and more disappointed and i really would like to give them one more chance, but the device till now is completely not useful. They kicked out everything what was good on windows mobile and brought in everything bad from android and ios. So please tell me that there is still a chance this system will be great one time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, wp7 is not built on 6.5, its new code.
1. Pretty sure the speech to text is built into the phone. Are you talking about something basic like "call Wife mobile" or something more profound like a college dissertation? I haven't tried to push it, but so far it hasn't failed me once.
2. I don't think you will see a real solution for this for quite a while. Microsoft is determined to have you use zune and skydrive for file transfers. I would be suprised to find a solution for this in the next year (other than a hack)
nrfitchett4 said:
2. I don't think you will see a real solution for this for quite a while. Microsoft is determined to have you use zune and skydrive for file transfers. I would be suprised to find a solution for this in the next year (other than a hack)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. They push you to use MS services even if you don't have to.
Just like Google. That's why it's hard to imagine any mass storage soon.
I'm in the same boat.
Why do people want to use their phones for mass storage?
In order to do so, you have to reserve enough space on the phone to carry the files. So if you have a 16GB phone, you may only be able to use 8GB of it for your photos, music, videos etc, in order to keep 8GB free just in case you might want to transport 8GB of data around? Doesn't make sense to me.
All you have to do is use the 32GB memory stick dangling from your keychain, and fill your phone up to the brim with lovely media.
Weirdos!
Every user is different.
Many users will need the USB mass storage.
Whether you use it or not, at least let this option.
It's a smartphone after all.
Jim Coleman said:
Why do people want to use their phones for mass storage?
In order to do so, you have to reserve enough space on the phone to carry the files. So if you have a 16GB phone, you may only be able to use 8GB of it for your photos, music, videos etc, in order to keep 8GB free just in case you might want to transport 8GB of data around? Doesn't make sense to me.
All you have to do is use the 32GB memory stick dangling from your keychain, and fill your phone up to the brim with lovely media.
Weirdos!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To easy and naturally transfer files between PC <> Phone.
And why do you ask this way? It's a personal thing "why". For some it was useful.
This whole mass storage issue is moot! MS have decided that the cloud is the way to go for syncing stuff, a method that I and my friends/ colleagues find very convenient, I do appreciate it might not suit everybody, in which case please do not buy a wp7 phone unless MS change their minds
@ nrfitchett4
Thanks for your answer. To point one i mean, not speech to text. I meant text to speech. I really miss that. I have to cycle or or to walk every day and with every weather. Therefore it is really useful when you phone read your text message or mails, or is saying to you who calls before you always have to get the device out of your pocket. For example when you are wearing gloves. So i have always just use a headset. The voice command for wm worked very well.
@ all others *g*
i think the mass storage problem ist not a problem about storage. I think people do not really understand how deep a software like zune or itunes attacks your personal rights. For the moment it is not that case. But microsoft, apple etc... and their partner companies lets say (sony, universal or what ever exactly know what is on your pc and that fact combined with a tight copyright policy could be quite dangerous for a lot of people. Moreover, they stick you on this way to their system. Its a different if you can not open a specific file on your mobile device because their is no app or whatever for or you even can not download to your device because ms or apple do not like the company who provides these kinds of files.
In addition i do not know where you live but i am travelling a lot by train or stay in urban areas, and than try get a proper internet connection with your phone. Its a disaster. So you can imagine how useful a skydrive is in such a situation.
Further can you imagine a business customer ( who ms wants to reach ) register for a windows live id to download their firm files to the device. I do not. No normal Business user wants to have a zune player to transfer their documents or whatever. Also, ms offers that sharepoint strategy. I really would prefer to have my confidential data on my computer and than on my device.
-------------
But thats all not my question. I just wanted to know if this platform has a real chance ( even most of it must be done by yourself, like on wm, anyway )All forums are full of missing parts on the platform and new ideas, but i would like to know if it will be possible to bring it in again?
So you perhaps should list all the things which will definitely not work (beside flying and cooking *g* )
Gesine22 said:
i think the mass storage problem ist not a problem about storage. I think people do not really understand how deep a software like zune or itunes attacks your personal rights. For the moment it is not that case. But microsoft, apple etc... and their partner companies lets say (sony, universal or what ever exactly know what is on your pc and that fact combined with a tight copyright policy could be quite dangerous for a lot of people. Moreover, they stick you on this way to their system. Its a different if you can not open a specific file on your mobile device because their is no app or whatever for or you even can not download to your device because ms or apple do not like the company who provides these kinds of files.
In addition i do not know where you live but i am travelling a lot by train or stay in urban areas, and than try get a proper internet connection with your phone. Its a disaster. So you can imagine how useful a skydrive is in such a situation.
Further can you imagine a business customer ( who ms wants to reach ) register for a windows live id to download their firm files to the device. I do not. No normal Business user wants to have a zune player to transfer their documents or whatever. Also, ms offers that sharepoint strategy. I really would prefer to have my confidential data on my computer and than on my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the point and I believe these things will be added.
Cloud is not solution for everything.
Gesine22 said:
@ nrfitchett4
Thanks for your answer. To point one i mean, not speech to text. I meant text to speech. I really miss that. I have to cycle or or to walk every day and with every weather. Therefore it is really useful when you phone read your text message or mails, or is saying to you who calls before you always have to get the device out of your pocket. For example when you are wearing gloves. So i have always just use a headset. The voice command for wm worked very well.
@ all others *g*
i think the mass storage problem ist not a problem about storage. I think people do not really understand how deep a software like zune or itunes attacks your personal rights. For the moment it is not that case. But microsoft, apple etc... and their partner companies lets say (sony, universal or what ever exactly know what is on your pc and that fact combined with a tight copyright policy could be quite dangerous for a lot of people. Moreover, they stick you on this way to their system. Its a different if you can not open a specific file on your mobile device because their is no app or whatever for or you even can not download to your device because ms or apple do not like the company who provides these kinds of files.
In addition i do not know where you live but i am travelling a lot by train or stay in urban areas, and than try get a proper internet connection with your phone. Its a disaster. So you can imagine how useful a skydrive is in such a situation.
Further can you imagine a business customer ( who ms wants to reach ) register for a windows live id to download their firm files to the device. I do not. No normal Business user wants to have a zune player to transfer their documents or whatever. Also, ms offers that sharepoint strategy. I really would prefer to have my confidential data on my computer and than on my device.
-------------
But thats all not my question. I just wanted to know if this platform has a real chance ( even most of it must be done by yourself, like on wm, anyway )All forums are full of missing parts on the platform and new ideas, but i would like to know if it will be possible to bring it in again?
So you perhaps should list all the things which will definitely not work (beside flying and cooking *g* )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree on the points, I could easily see the devices from MS pop-up running WP7 home edition and WP7 business edition if the platform takes off.
doministry said:
That is the point and I believe these things will be added.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going on statements from the head of WP7 development on why Zune syncing is the only supported scenario, you won't see this options added.
adesonic said:
This whole mass storage issue is moot! MS have decided that the cloud is the way to go for syncing stuff, a method that I and my friends/ colleagues find very convenient, I do appreciate it might not suit everybody, in which case please do not buy a wp7 phone unless MS change their minds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I suppose your company hasn't any policy forbidding to upload any confidential document to a server.
That's fine, but once again, let the choice to other users. It's also a question of freedom. Thanks for respecting this.
Gesine22 said:
In addition i do not know where you live but i am travelling a lot by train or stay in urban areas, and than try get a proper internet connection with your phone. Its a disaster. So you can imagine how useful a skydrive is in such a situation.
Further can you imagine a business customer (who ms wants to reach ) register for a windows live id to download their firm files to the device. I do not. No normal Business user wants to have a zune player to transfer their documents or whatever. Also, ms offers that sharepoint strategy. I really would prefer to have my confidential data on my computer and than on my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Could not agree more.
Dear Steve Ballmer & Microsoft,
Before I begin my rant, please allow me to say that I have used many many many PDA phones. And WP7 has without a doubt, some of the most GLARING problems I have ever seen in a mobile OS.
My phone history (in no [particular order]:
-T-mobile Pocket PC (the 1st one)
- SE P800, P900, P910I
- Xperia X1
- Many different WM 5.0, 6.0 6.5 phones (maybe 10 or more). If I were to list them all this would take all day. My most recent WM phone before this HD7 was the HTC TyTN II.
- Nokia N93i, N95, N900 (still got it)
- Nokia Communicators 9210 and E90
- Iphone 1st Gen
- Kyocera Palm OS phone
- Probably other stuff I forgot about along the way.
(Btw, all of these phones had address books which worked great)
I am in no way saying that I am some PDA expert, but I think its safe to say I've used alot of PDAs.
Good afternoon. I really hope somebody from Microsoft or Steve himself or some MS dev is reading this.
I recently bought a HTC HD7 and after using it for 1hr my initial impressions were very good....THEN i used it a bit longer and I started to realize something.
Cons:
1. The contact list function is really really bad. You guys replaced the standard address book function with the Facebook contact list. It is horribly bad. It is so bad that it leads me to believe that NONE OF YOU have actually used facebook in your life. If any of you developers were actually familiar with Facebook, you would have realized that most consumers definitely do not want 80% of their Facebook contacts cluttering/polluting their cell phones address book. Also, why am I not able to browse through my Facebook contacts photos? Am I missing something? Why cant I simply just tap the portrait of my facebook friend and look at his profile pictures?
2. The WP7's media playerss seek function needs to work like a STANDARD portable TOUCH SCREEN media player. Why am I not able skip to the part of the video I want to watch by simply sliding my finger along the time bar until I reach my target moment? Why am I forced to press a seek button instead? I thought this was a touch screen phone, not to mention the fact that Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2003, WM 5.0 WM 6.0 WM 6.5 all included this missing function. Do you guys even watch movies on your cell phones? Or are you guys still using Nokia 5200s?
3. Xbox Live is buggy as hell. I download a game through Xbox Live and it says I need to connect my phone to my computer or connect to wifi (It was already both) in order to complete the install. There is no easy way to check the progress of the installation of download unless I try to download another application. Is the ability to check the progress without downloading another app hidden somewhere? If so, why is it hidden?
4. When I try to visit a previous webpage and I press the hardware backwards arrow botton, it kicks me out of IE.
5. The hardware buttons have great sensitivity, but I am constantly pressing them by accident (with my palm), thus closing my active program unintentionally.
And let me tell you, I do not have large hands.
6. I dunno why it doesnt work as a USB drive natively. Perhaps this is some sort of piracy control measure or you are trying to mimic apple.
7. Cant copy and paste. I dunno why this is so hard for you guys. You guys could have some sort of hardware button, that when pushed activates a 2nd function to the screen pressing. Instead of clicking on a link, if the hardware button is pressed, it would allow the user to select the letters and highlight them. Then copy/paste somewhere else.
8. I cannot delete/hide my recently browsed youtube video history. I was looking at videos of girls shaking their butts and afterwards when I went to my zune application, I saw the video thumbnails there! I cant delete or hide them? Where is the privacy?
9. Doesnt support Divx codecs, which it should because this is a phone for a "mobile life style". Why would I want to sit at my computer for hrs waiting for my videos to convert? Why do you guys and apple insist on your own proprietary formats?
Sub-Score: -9
Pros:
1. Works fast, very smooth. Is this a result of the reduced interface .
2. Web browsing is pretty good, except I cant fast forward through youtube videos by sliding my finger on the time bar.
Sub-Score: +2
Total Score: -7
I do not believe this phone is beyond saving. Surely you guys must have noticed some of the things I mentioned. Why you did not remedy these issues before the release? I do not know. If you guys were unaware of the problems I mentioned, well now you know. Please fix these issues soon and FFS, please add a proper address book application and allow me to use my finger/time bar to seek through a video/song/youtube vid.
Currently, I would have to say this phone is nothing more than a portable media player with some phone functions built in. And you guys already screwed up with the media player part.
If I could go back in time (which was only yesterday) I would have bought a HTC Desire HD. But I cant so I can only pray that you guys fix some/most of these issues.
If I am sorely mistaken and some of these functions actually are included and hidden somewhere, why are they not intuitive?
Thanks.....for nothing.....
I always liked the N95 symbian address book that allowed me to create groups for my contacts and I liked all WM previous phone dialers which would cross reference all incoming and outgoing calls with the numbers I was pressing.
Microsoft should atleast make a dialer thats as good as their previous ones, and maybe learn a thing or 2 from Symbian.
Edit: I just read that it was possible to cut down the number of contacts from facebook that appear in your phone, but it still should not be this difficult. I should be able to simple long press the contact and select delete or hide.
Nice One Star thread repeating issues in about 20 other threads
One thing I'd like to agree with the OP about is the Capacitive buttons. They're a good idea in theory (the Vibrant has them as well), but they're practically terrible. They are very prone to hitting by accident.
Lots of OSes can learn from Symbian, but being the Jack of All Trades has not worked for any OS to date. Windows Mobile also supported a ton of stuff and it's marketshare in the US suffered a lot. Symbian has great marketshare overseas because the OS is used in low-end feature phones as well. They aren't strong in the mid-high end smartphone market.
And they would be, if they didn't put such small NANDs in the phones, skimp on the RAM in the phones (it uses a Virtual memory architechture, but the phones still need at least 348 MB RAM, IMO), and have such an embarassing user interface. I really like that it has the most flexible development environment of any smartphone OS, though (similar to [again] Windows Mobile on that front).
Blazerfan722 said:
Dear Steve Ballmer & Microsoft,
Before I begin my rant, please allow me to say that I have used many many many PDA phones. And WP7 has without a doubt, some of the most GLARING problems I have ever seen in a mobile OS.
My phone history (in no [particular order]:
-T-mobile Pocket PC (the 1st one)
- SE P800, P900, P910I
- Xperia X1
- Many different WM 5.0, 6.0 6.5 phones (maybe 10 or more). If I were to list them all this would take all day. My most recent WM phone before this HD7 was the HTC TyTN II.
- Nokia N93i, N95, N900 (still got it)
- Nokia Communicators 9210 and E90
- Iphone 1st Gen
- Kyocera Palm OS phone
- Probably other stuff I forgot about along the way.
(Btw, all of these phones had address books which worked great)
I am in no way saying that I am some PDA expert, but I think its safe to say I've used alot of PDAs.
Good afternoon. I really hope somebody from Microsoft or Steve himself or some MS dev is reading this.
I recently bought a HTC HD7 and after using it for 1hr my initial impressions were very good....THEN i used it a bit longer and I started to realize something.
Cons:
1. The contact list function is really really bad. You guys replaced the standard address book function with the Facebook contact list. It is horribly bad. It is so bad that it leads me to believe that NONE OF YOU have actually used facebook in your life. If any of you developers were actually familiar with Facebook, you would have realized that most consumers definitely do not want 80% of their Facebook contacts cluttering/polluting their cell phones address book. Also, why am I not able to browse through my Facebook contacts photos? Am I missing something? Why cant I simply just tap the portrait of my facebook friend and look at his profile pictures?
2. The WP7's media playerss seek function needs to work like a STANDARD portable TOUCH SCREEN media player. Why am I not able skip to the part of the video I want to watch by simply sliding my finger along the time bar until I reach my target moment? Why am I forced to press a seek button instead? I thought this was a touch screen phone, not to mention the fact that Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2003, WM 5.0 WM 6.0 WM 6.5 all included this missing function. Do you guys even watch movies on your cell phones? Or are you guys still using Nokia 5200s?
3. Xbox Live is buggy as hell. I download a game through Xbox Live and it says I need to connect my phone to my computer or connect to wifi (It was already both) in order to complete the install. There is no easy way to check the progress of the installation of download unless I try to download another application. Is the ability to check the progress without downloading another app hidden somewhere? If so, why is it hidden?
4. When I try to visit a previous webpage and I press the hardware backwards arrow botton, it kicks me out of IE.
5. The hardware buttons have great sensitivity, but I am constantly pressing them by accident (with my palm), thus closing my active program unintentionally.
And let me tell you, I do not have large hands.
6. I dunno why it doesnt work as a USB drive natively. Perhaps this is some sort of piracy control measure or you are trying to mimic apple.
7. Cant copy and paste. I dunno why this is so hard for you guys. You guys could have some sort of hardware button, that when pushed activates a 2nd function to the screen pressing. Instead of clicking on a link, if the hardware button is pressed, it would allow the user to select the letters and highlight them. Then copy/paste somewhere else.
8. I cannot delete/hide my recently browsed youtube video history. I was looking at videos of girls shaking their butts and afterwards when I went to my zune application, I saw the video thumbnails there! I cant delete or hide them? Where is the privacy?
9. Doesnt support Divx codecs, which it should because this is a phone for a "mobile life style". Why would I want to sit at my computer for hrs waiting for my videos to convert? Why do you guys and apple insist on your own proprietary formats?
Sub-Score: -9
Pros:
1. Works fast, very smooth. Is this a result of the reduced interface .
2. Web browsing is pretty good, except I cant fast forward through youtube videos by sliding my finger on the time bar.
Sub-Score: +2
Total Score: -7
I do not believe this phone is beyond saving. Surely you guys must have noticed some of the things I mentioned. Why you did not remedy these issues before the release? I do not know. If you guys were unaware of the problems I mentioned, well now you know. Please fix these issues soon and FFS, please add a proper address book application and allow me to use my finger/time bar to seek through a video/song/youtube vid.
Currently, I would have to say this phone is nothing more than a portable media player with some phone functions built in. And you guys already screwed up with the media player part.
If I could go back in time (which was only yesterday) I would have bought a HTC Desire HD. But I cant so I can only pray that you guys fix some/most of these issues.
If I am sorely mistaken and some of these functions actually are included and hidden somewhere, why are they not intuitive?
Thanks.....for nothing.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. There's a separate Facebook app in the marketplace. If you don't want to integrate everyone, get it.
2. Agree on this point.
3. Never happened to me. If you want to see the progress stay on that page. A little bar begins to fill up. So I don't know what you're talking about.
4. Only time that happens to me is when I exit IE and then try to come back in.
5. Sorry, but that's user error.
6. There's already a workaround. You can use it as a mass storage device.
7. Its coming in the update. Why is that so hard to get?
8. Don't browse inappropriate videos? Or play a few more things after to make it replace the history items.
9. Kinda agree, but its not unheard of at all. So why would they do it?
EDIT: Poster above was more succint.
The problem isn't DivX as far as I understand, it's avi. Divx is just an implementation of MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple Profile, which is supported. And the strange part here is that avi is Microsoft's own proprietary format, while mp4 is Apple's. Strange times.
Scrubbing is needed not only for long videos, I use it all the time for YouTube and music (especially podcasts, many of which aren't properly separated into chapters).
WOW, only the 20th "I hate WP7" thread for today so far? Hmmm, the trolls are slacking.
eternalemb said:
1. There's a separate Facebook app in the marketplace. If you don't want to integrate everyone, get it.
2. Agree on this point.
3. Never happened to me. If you want to see the progress stay on that page. A little bar begins to fill up. So I don't know what you're talking about.
4. Only time that happens to me is when I exit IE and then try to come back in.
5. Sorry, but that's user error.
6. There's already a workaround. You can use it as a mass storage device.
7. Its coming in the update. Why is that so hard to get?
8. Don't browse inappropriate videos? Or play a few more things after to make it replace the history items.
9. Kinda agree, but its not unheard of at all. So why would they do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He got the phone. It has many limitations he doesn't like.
So what's your problem?
"Coming in the update" means nothing. It may be month or 5 months.
Nobody buys a device to wait for update, well, maybe only tech geeks, but that's not the phone for them.
doministry said:
He got the phone. It has many limitations he doesn't like.
So what's your problem?
"Coming in the update" means nothing. It may be month or 5 months.
Nobody buys a device to wait for update, well, maybe only tech geeks, but that's not the phone for them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And he, like everyone else who bought one, should've known the deficiencies the devices carry atm. So, what's your problem?
You don't like the features a phone has or is lacking, you don't buy it. Simple, no?
And the update is expected in January.
f1restarter said:
WOW, only the 20th "I hate WP7" thread for today so far? Hmmm, the trolls are slacking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, no, I'm watching ....
Blazerfan722 said:
Dear Steve Ballmer & Microsoft,
1. The contact list function is really really bad. You guys replaced the standard address book function with the Facebook contact list. It is horribly bad. It is so bad that it leads me to believe that NONE OF YOU have actually used facebook in your life. If any of you developers were actually familiar with Facebook, you would have realized that most consumers definitely do not want 80% of their Facebook contacts cluttering/polluting their cell phones address book. Also, why am I not able to browse through my Facebook contacts photos? Am I missing something? Why cant I simply just tap the portrait of my facebook friend and look at his profile pictures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do know that you can disable Facebook friends as contacts in the settings, don't you?
CR1M1N4L said:
You do know that you can disable Facebook friends as contacts in the settings, don't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People these days expect the phone to pop up push messages from the microsoft servers for days after they buy it detailing every single detail of the device.
Reading, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking... These sorts of things are out the window these days.
N8ter said:
People these days expect the phone to pop up push messages from the microsoft servers for days after they buy it detailing every single detail of the device.
Reading, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking... These sorts of things are out the window these days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bet your house on that. Our society is getting dumber, lazier and more malleable by the minute. Though I digress...
LOL... This guy's not a troll!
He's genuinely disappointed with his purchase and has every right to complain about it. If you WP7 sympathisers were honest with yourselves, you would recognise that there are currently plenty of problems with this platform, and disaffected users have every right to complain.
There's no point pretending the problems don't exist.. it's obvious they, perhaps you only ever read Microsoft blogs and listen to Channel 9. If you want a true indication about how many users are feeling, just read the Microsoft questions and answers forum.
Guys,
This is still a new OS, it's been out for ONE month, many of these things gonna be replaced or added with updates. Just wait and see. The most important thing now is that's a fast and simple OS. Just remember what ****ty phone iPhone was, look what it became now... Time does miracles!
Alright guys, I'm leaving this open thread to know the answer, if it occurs.
And also for others to vent, but we will maintain an acceptable level before they start fighting funboys because of companies.
AceofSpades25 said:
LOL... This guy's not a troll!
He's genuinely disappointed with his purchase and has every right to complain about it. If you WP7 sympathisers were honest with yourselves, you would recognise that there are currently plenty of problems with this platform, and disaffected users have every right to complain.
There's no point pretending the problems don't exist.. it's obvious they, perhaps you only ever read Microsoft blogs and listen to Channel 9. If you want a true indication about how many users are feeling, just read the Microsoft questions and answers forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed,
Unfortunately I have the feeling that most people here now refuse to see the obvious problems with this platform (no USB, no DivX, and so many others...)
Seems like there is no right to judge and criticize the OS.
We shall not become like the iPhone fanboys. Seriously.
I also think that WP7 is a truly disappointing experience as I don't like to be forced to use all these external MS services (Zune, Skydrive, Marketplace, etc...) that just make me waste my time.
And I expect nothing from the so-called January update.
I love threads like this. Keep em coming lol jk. But man the pole jockers in here have fits when anyone say something about wp7. I dont know what everyones country rules are. But mine is freedom of speech. So if the dont like what the guy or troll have to say, dont feed him. Case Closed.
To the OP, I suggest you spill your mind on these boards http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
At least it gets some exposure for Microsoft.
lqaddict said:
To the OP, I suggest you spill your mind on these boards http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
At least it gets some exposure for Microsoft.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good tip, if OP find interesting; closure here, and this link is for future users to enjoy!
Thanks!
I am not the dev but there is a free GrooveShark client out in the MarketPlace so I thought it should get more exposure.
It's very functional and just needs a tiny bit more polish. The sound quality is great even through 3G.
MOD EDIT: Please post app recommendations in WP7 General, as the Apps and Games section is for app release's only as stated in the sticky I made.
THanks man. Been waiting for a GrooveShark client.
Awesome. Seems to work great over 3G though it needs a better way of adding multiple search results to playlists/queue.
Nice. And free !
The interface just needs to be more polished indeed.
Interesting. Too bad Grooveshark isn't going to support WP7. They are open to the idea so with enough support you never know. Keep bugging them via forums and twitter.
Where I can I download MusicShark.xap? I am aware that is not longer in the marketplace available
Raggi73 said:
Where I can I download MusicShark.xap? I am aware that is not longer in the marketplace available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I might have it at home. Pity I restored my phone to NoDo not realising I couldn't unlock it again.
bah, I hope GS isnt deliberately flagging these clients if they dont plan to produce their own. Methinks they made a deal with a competitor :/
Here's the xap
I installed the xap file on my windows phone (E900 7.10.7720.68), but it didn't work. Loading failed with a message, "An error was presented, you have internet conectivity?"
So, I decompile the xap and found out, the server to get the grooveshark data from grooveshark's server is no longer working.
Can anyone use this app?
For people who really love music,
I would recommend the "The Hype" app for WP7.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1145616
It gives access to all the Hype Machine catalog. Hypem.com is a great & free music blog aggregator.
You can make a search, select the songs you like, make a playlist (which will also be available on your PC).
for instance... Here's my playlist (indie, The Smiths, Mountain Goats, Josh Rouse, New Order, Wedding Presents, Balmhorea, etc...): http://hypem.com/#!/eric_sc2
All of my past devices (Siemens SX56 & SX66; HTC Kaiser; and presently HTC Rhodium - see ROM below) have been Windows Mobile, so I'm hoping to appeal to those of you who made the leap to Android from WM to answer several newbie questions...
A Little Background History About Me & My Mobile World
As device technologies are steadily and rapidly advancing faster than they ever have before, I am finding myself wishing that my current device was capable of many of the tasks/speed that the newer devices are. Unfortunately, my lack of knowledge of other OSes are keeping me from making an informed decision that I will be able to confidently live with.
Coming from Windows Mobile, I bought a used LG Quantum (Windows 7 Phone) cheap from Ebay hoping to play with it for a bit to help me understand the new Windows OS and enable me to transition more easily to it's newer technology and features. Unfortunately, the most critical aspect of transitioning to Windows Phone is the ability to seamlessly and accurately transfer my data (calendar, contacts, tasks, etc.) from Microsoft Outlook to the new device. I was appalled to learn that Microsoft has completely removed the ability to sync via USB as I have always done with ActiveSync all these years!
Sure for many, this isn't a major problem, but for me it is an absolute deal breaker! My data is tied to my work PC and my company (being a very large global company) is very serious about it's data security, so they have blocked access to all third-party email and file storage options, therefore syncing my data to the Quantum in the conventional manner is impossible. I've tried extracting/importing the various Outlook data files with Google, Hotmail, etc., but the data's integrity proved to be worthless, as many contacts were missing their contact names and all of my recurring appointments were broken out into separate events making future rescheduling a complete and utter nightmare. So, needless to say, I ran screaming back to my Rhodium in less than 2 days!
I am an AT&T customer and an avid fan of a 'real' hard keyboard (an absolute MUST for my next device!), so I am considering the Samsung Captivate Glide as an upgrade option, hence why I am posing my questions in this subforum.
My Questions/Concerns to Users Who Made the Transition from Windows Mobile to Android:
I've been searching the web looking for newbie guides to Android and am finding that many of them are tailored to those users who have no prior experience with smart phones at all, as it basically describes what a smart phone can do and what 'apps' can be found for various simple tasks. What I need to know from you all is:
What obstacles have you encountered switching from WM to Android and how did you overcome them?
What are the biggest pro/cons that you have come across and how have you managed them?
How are you managing your data? It appears to me that Android also utilizes OTA syncing, however, I have read that there are programs out there that will allow you to work around this and sync via USB. Is this correct and which applications do you find work the best?
My Device Needs:
I am not a 'gamer' by any sense of the word, so I have no use or interest of what Android is capable of in that aspect. My interests clearly lie in contact, calendar, notes, & task data management; email (multiple AOL accounts); GPS-guided navigation; Internet access; photo/video capturing capabilities; and, of course, as a reliable phone.
I do not typically listen to music on my Rhodium, as I have a 60GB Zen which can store far more music than my phone can, but I do enjoy the ability to listen to FM radio or whatever MP3s that I do choose to store on my Rhodium. I don't usually watch videos/movies on my current device, but may choose to more often, as I expect the experience to be much more pleasant on the newer technology anyway.
In Conclusion
First and foremost, I appreciate you reading my post, as I am sorry it has gotten so long, but I wanted those responding to know what my experience has been, what my needs are... Basically, where I'm coming from. If there are other scenarios that any of you have encountered in your transition from WM to Android that I haven't addressed, I would be most grateful if you would care to share them with me.
Given all of the above, is the Captivate Glide a smart choice? I understand that the Android 'Ice Cream Sandwich' update is expected later this year, as well, and that the Captivate Glide is rumored to be among the devices slated to receive the update. Is the SCG a solid device that will be able to make good use of this anticipated update? Are there rumors of any new Android devices coming to AT&T (with a hard keyboard) that I should look out for before I consider my transition?
Thank you all again for the time that you have taken out of your busy lives to read my post and for your consideration in taking even more time to respond to my questions. I've been a member of this community for a few years now and have the utmost respect for the collective knowledge and selfless assistance that I've received thus far, so please feel free to direct me to any outside forums/sites, which are better suited to my needs as I may have missed them in my initial searches on the subject. Of course, I am open to conducting my research/questions via private messages, if forum administrators think that my inquiry is too elementary for the forum.
Debbie
I have not own a Win Mobile before so I can't answer most of your questions. But I can tell you what my android device(s) do for me.
-It performs well and can do almost anything you need while you're mobile
-SMS, MMS, email, calls, calendar, etc are most (let's say 90%) used functionality for me, and my Glide (and previous android devices) never failed me on those. So pretty much, telephony and PDA features are awesome.
-Android supports auto sync, so your apps (like Calendar and contacts) will push all changes as long as you have data active. This feature can be disabled.
-Email: the stock Samsung Email app does the job for me and can hold about 10 emails or so.
-Contacts, is very rich, from first name to nickname, to organization , you can add many details in one. Contacts merging is also available.
-Virtual Keyboard, just make sure you turn off some features like "Quick Fixes" and XT9 if you don't want your Android to mess up you're text. Many 3rd party Virtual Keyboards are available, for different styles, functionality, and looks. For a hardware Keyboard of the glide, it's not that great, but not bad as hell for the reason that the keys are almost flat that there is a little to no tactile feedback on some keys.
-Web Browsing, I am having a very good experience in terms of web. Renders pages in reasonable speed, supports flash, and there are third party WEb browsers that supports HTML5 as well.
-Wireless tethering (Rogers), I use this quite a lot too, and connection is solid and pleasant. (You may need to Root to activate tethering on ATT ROMs/Versions)
-APPLICATIONS all-in-all, a ton of apps are available
-Battery life: in my case, battery is about 50% from the morning I wake up til the night I am about to sleep. This is fine with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're gonna ask me about the 10% of my usage:
-7% goes to hacking: I am no developer, but I do learn a lot of tweaks (like Rooting) to make the fast device faster. I admit, it's was not easy for me at first, screwed up my androids(s) lots but everything paid up. Learn from mistakes i guess.
-3% goes to games....
Thanks!
Your post is very much appreciated, gabby131!
I just revisited the local AT&T store and they indicate that this device is the only Android model offered by them that has a hard keyboard, with no ETA on when other keyboard/Android devices will appear on the horizon. Therefore, it's very good to know that you are having pleasant experiences with your SCG. I have a few more months before I am eligible for an upgrade, so I have that much more time to conduct my research.
I will continue to keep an eye on the forum for other members' experiences with the ICS OS update when it comes out. 'Til then, I will continue to read this and other devices' forums for additional information.
All the best,
Debbie
I had windows Mobile 6.1 for many years. I went from a Dell axim X51V to a Samsung Omnia and now to the Samsung Glide.
Windows mobile had many downfalls but for the people who got used to it, we were able to use it quite well. Web browsing was always a pain on Windows Mobile. Android does fix this and I find I surf on my phone quite well ,especially using the Dolphin browser with the gestures that I have created.
I love the Glide for its ease of use with Excel and word files. The ability to open those and modify them on the fly with a hardware keyboard is great I just wish the hardware keyboard had a dedicated Number row.
Active sync had its benefits and its downfall. I loved that I could sync my phone with outlook and do miss that. I have come to move all my information in my outlook contacts to Google contacts and I just sync in the cloud. I also switched to using Google Calendar instead of the Outlook Calendar. This way I can access my calendar anywhere from any computer or my phone.
The touch display is 1 million times better on my glide then my Omnia as now we are talking capacitive over resistive. I will never go back to resistive!
Funny thing is that on My Windows Mobile device the voice command I find was better than on my Android. I used to tell Windows mobile to play a song and it would with no issues. With Android I am still learning how to do this, and if the screen is locked Bluetooth can not be used for voice commands.
The Glide is a better phone then many out there and the Hardware keyboard is what drew me to it, I just hope you will as happy as I am with mine.
Thanks, dudejb!
Did you load Microsoft Office onto your Glide, or does it already come equipped with an application that will allow you to work with those files? I haven't had to use my device for MS Office files (outside of Outlook, Notes, Tasks, of course), but I really liked that I was able to, if the need ever arose.
Unfortunately, as all of my calendar/contact data is tied to my work PC, setting up this data on Google, etc. is really useless to me. Direct USB syncing is an absolute MUST for me, due to my company blocking other email services, so I have no choice. I'm hoping someone else who also syncs via USB on Android will chime in with suggestions on the best application to use.
I'll need to get used to the screen more. Looks fantastic, but I'm used to using my fingernails a lot and I noticed that the screen doesn't respond quite like my Rhodium does... Hey, I'll adjust! LOL
I used Voice Command a lot with my Kaiser and when I first got my Rhodium, but I've stopped using it after loading Jacko's ROMs, because his ROMs don't recognize/make use of the PTT button, which I always assigned to VC. Sure, I know that I could have used a 3rd-party software to assign the PTT button to that command, but I've just been too damned lazy.
I'm not totally sold on the keyboard, but even the Rhodium took some getting used to after coming from a Kaiser, as my fingers were used to the Kaiser's key layout. I gotta admit though, once I got accustomed to the layout, I determined that my Rhodium has one of the best keyboards out there and I will truly miss it. I played with the Glide on display at the AT&T store for quite some time the other day. To me, it felt that the keys on the Glide are spaced too far apart and didn't have a great feel to them. Shame it's the only keyboard Android model for AT&T right now. What I will truly miss that I never thought I would is the tilt screen of my Rhodium (and Kaiser)... I can't tell you how many times that thing came in handy and it would totally mesmerize my friends when they saw it in action! LMAO!
Again, thanks so much to the both of you for responding. I do believe that I may be taking the 'Android' plunge soon. I just gotta have a plan in place for USB syncing before I actually commit though.
Debbie
I had WinMo 5.x then 6.x devices for many years as well, still have the last one though (Touch Pro 2, runs great !).
But, I decided to move to Android because it had some great capabilities that WiMo 6.x didn't have:
- Managing Outlook sync OTA with more than one Exchange Server
- Managing / Merging Calendar Display (from different accounts : outlook, gmail, ...)
- Managing / Merging multiple contact lists (from different accounts : outlook, gmail, ...)
- User friendly Web browsing
- ...
Of course, I had to save some SMS/MMS and call logs in order to get exactly what I had when leaving WiMo world.
So over a year ago, I used (payed) for one of these migration apps from SPB (or any other) to migrate all my data. (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spb.migration&feature=search_result).
Migration worked great. All data were restored on the Android device.
My first WiMo device replacement was a HTC Desire Z .. with a keyboard. No the same keyboard experience than the touch Pro 2, but it worked.
I then switched to a far more powerful device : the Glide.
I rely mainly on OTA sync : Outlook, hotmail, gmail, yahoo mail.
No USB sync at all (used to do that with Desire Z, but IMO OTA is better).
The Glide lacks a few things (FM tuner, ...) but it has a great processor, a great display ... and huge software library ! (TomTom is still missing !)
Keyboard is nowhere near the Touch Pro 2 experience, but it does the trick and you get used to it.
So Glide (and Android) is my day to day phone. It runs great and is reliable.
I kept the Touch Pro 2 just in case ...
frav said:
I had WinMo 5.x then 6.x devices for many years as well, still have the last one though (Touch Pro 2, runs great !).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I am currently using on AT&T... OMG, I *so* love that device!
frav said:
But, I decided to move to Android because it had some great capabilities that WiMo 6.x didn't have:
- Managing Outlook sync OTA with more than one Exchange Server
- Managing / Merging Calendar Display (from different accounts : outlook, gmail, ...)
- Managing / Merging multiple contact lists (from different accounts : outlook, gmail, ...)
- User friendly Web browsing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm becoming more and more aware of how ancient my Tilt 2 is getting, although it's still an impressively performing phone with Jackos ROM below. The biggest reminder is when I use it's camera at only 3.2MP, no flash/zoom, and poor video quality. The SCG's camera doesn't zoom, from what I can tell either, does it?
frav said:
So over a year ago, I used (payed) for one of these migration apps from SPB (or any other) to migrate all my data. (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spb.migration&feature=search_result).
Migration worked great. All data were restored on the Android device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll look into that to see if it would help me out as well, thanks!
frav said:
My first WiMo device replacement was a HTC Desire Z .. with a keyboard. No the same keyboard experience than the touch Pro 2, but it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was initially looking at the Desire Z as well, but it never came to AT&T and I don't want to sacrifice my data speed or call quality by not being able to utilize all the bands that I should have access to on the AT&T network, so I thought it best to wait a bit for something else to pop up.
frav said:
I rely mainly on OTA sync : Outlook, hotmail, gmail, yahoo mail.
No USB sync at all (used to do that with Desire Z, but IMO OTA is better).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish that I could use OTA syncing (because that would make my life SO much easier & open up a whole ****load of options to me), but my company will not allow me to upload my Outlook data to any 3rd-party email/file storage repositories, so I am left with no choice but to find a suitable USB-syncing method.
frav said:
The Glide lacks a few things (FM tuner, ...) but it has a great processor, a great display ... and huge software library ! (TomTom is still missing !)
Keyboard is nowhere near the Touch Pro 2 experience, but it does the trick and you get used to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will actually miss the FM Tuner on my device, and I never thought that I would, because it sure came in handy sometimes! LOL Yeah, I adore the keyboard on my Tilt 2 and it will really suck to have to give it up, but as you say I'll adjust.
frav said:
So Glide (and Android) is my day to day phone. It runs great and is reliable.
I kept the Touch Pro 2 just in case ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, make no mistake... I will never totally give up my Rhodium! As a matter of fact, I've already got another one in reserve (but it's got an effed up USB port) in case I ever need it. Hell, I won't even give up my Kaiser (original AT&T Tilt), because that thing rocked, too!
Thanks so much for your feedback on the Captivate Glide... I'm feeling more and more confident that this is the device for me (until something better comes out, that is), so you may be seeing me around this forum more often.
Thanks again!
Debbie
@Debbie
i believe that if you set up your Office Email on the Glide, you will also get the events, tasks, appointments, etc. You can use the stock Samsung email or any 3rd party apps that support outlook and/or exchange servers. (Please disregard if this is not allowed by your company you're working). As in my case, I need to download TouchDown app, and because I am happy with it, i purchased the license (yes it's kinda pricy, about $20). It does the job very well.
gabby131 said:
i believe that if you set up your Office Email on the Glide, you will also get the events, tasks, appointments, etc. You can use the stock Samsung email or any 3rd party apps that support outlook and/or exchange servers. (Please disregard if this is not allowed by your company you're working).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, they got that locked up tight, too. There is no way that they will give me the Exchange server credentials to allow me to do that unless I am using a company-provided device, which would be a Blackberry... Yuk!
gabby131 said:
As in my case, I need to download TouchDown app, and because I am happy with it, i purchased the license (yes it's kinda pricy, about $20). It does the job very well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll look into that, but I suspect that it may not help me much, so I'll be researching USB-sync software. If I poke around here enough, I might find someone who can recommend a reliable one.
Thanks for responding again!
Debbie
I believe the Samsung synch application for windows will allow you to synch with outlook and your android/Samsung Phone. I just found the application to be buggy and a pain to install. I tried at work and it did not communicate with my glide, but at home it worked but I did not attempt on connecting with outlook so I can not tell you how well that works but have heard others mention that it works.
Many Sync Options Apparently, But Which Actually Work???
dudejb said:
I believe the Samsung synch application for windows will allow you to synch with outlook and your android/Samsung Phone. I just found the application to be buggy and a pain to install. I tried at work and it did not communicate with my glide, but at home it worked but I did not attempt on connecting with outlook so I can not tell you how well that works but have heard others mention that it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really??? Can it actually be *that* simple? LOL! Is the application that you speak of the one called "Kies" or something different?
My problem is a bit complex: I have Outlook 2003 at work and Outlook 2007 at home. My work PC is the one that contains all of my important data since that is where I get meeting requests, etc. My home PC's Outlook has never been accurate, since it is Vista and utilizes Device Center for syncing my WM Rhodium, which conflicts horrendously with MS ActiveSync on my work PC (which is NT), so I've ended up with tons of empty appointments and duplicate (even triplicate) contact entries. Back when both PCs were XP, I was able to sync both of them perfectly with ActiveSync and have my data agree at home *and* at work... I miss those days.
I've been giving the web search engines a work out on this one topic alone! Found this thread in the Android Software & Hacking General forum, which helped point me to SyncDroid.net. They have a listing of several sync applications (paid & free) that syncs various types of data using various methods of syncing. Out of that list, it appears that these softwares are the best for my particular problem and syncing needs:
- Android-Sync
- MyPhoneExplorer
- VCOrganizer Pro
- SyncRoid
Some are free, some not, and others have free trials or light versions. I'm not fussed with paying for an application if it actually works reliably. So, I'm hoping that others who share my scenario (which may be difficult to come by) can chime in on which are best. Even if I didn't have these limitations, I'd still be wary of putting my data out on the web. Are there others that I should be looking into, that I haven't come across yet?
Damn, why is something that should be so simple proving SO difficult?!
Many thanks!
Debbie
Did you try Kies first? I tried it again and it said it can synch with outlook contacts and Calenders.
Not yet, but will give that one a try first. Thanks!
dudejb said:
Did you try Kies first? I tried it again and it said it can synch with outlook contacts and Calenders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad I found this thread as I'm thinking about switching to android also.
My quick phone history
1. Samsung sph i330 (palm 3.0 or .5 don't remember)
2. ppc 6700
3. HTC touch pro 2 (current Phone)
All of these phones have been great, and as you can see once I find something I like I stick with it.
Okay Debbie, did you switch? What do you think of android?
For me my biggest concern is loosing my stylus, and other functions that come so natural to me like cut & paste. My wife has an Epic 4G (android) but I'm not yet sold the thing doesn't even have spell check!
The main reason for me to switch. I run a small business and want to accept credit card payments with Square (Android and I phone only), and I will never own anything made by Apple
Frav: do you miss the stylus?
If I do switch I'll be going with the galaxy S III
any input would be great!
If you are dead set on stylus you may want to look at the note as it also has a stylus. It is rather large but for businesses it may be worth it for you. A friend of mine has 1 and she loves it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927R using xda app-developers app
Thats a good point dudejb. I have thought of that, but i worried about the size. I'll have to give it a test run at the store
http://www.google.com/shopping/prod...tFbL02wWztsG1AQ&ved=0CGEQ8wIwAQ#hsec:overview
Stylus... $3
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app
Wow very cool thanks ajt1995. I didn't even know that existed! I guess I have been kind of sheltered with my Touch Pro 2.
you could always go with the Sausage Stylus:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/08/sausage-stylus-for-the-iphone-now-on-sale-in-the-us/
Though it sounds dumb and funny, but I hear it really works well.
84mopar said:
Wow very cool thanks ajt1995. I didn't even know that existed! I guess I have been kind of sheltered with my Touch Pro 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I could help.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app