I am a Windows Phone convert

TheTruth1983 · 05-01-2016, 22:44

Last year I grew bored with Android and it's bland and boring rows of apps and lack of any real innovation from one release to the next. I ended up getting a Nokia Lumia 930 when my contract renewal came up and I can't see myself going back. I never thought I'd go for a Windows phone but here we are.

The basics are all there - phone calls, texts, email, IM - all covered and working superbly.
Twitter and Facebook also covered.
Battery life is on par with what I got out of my One M8, maybe even a tad better.
The camera is fantastic, much better than any phone I've had before.
Here maps/drive has replaced my dedicated sat nav for navigation.
My Feedly is catered for as well so I can get the news easily.

The biggest attraction for me though is the live tiles. It's a fantastic feature. No more battery draining widgets for calendar and weather, I can get a 5 day synopsis of the weather on the app's live tile, and a round up of what appointments I have on the calendar tile. The data and storage sense tiles keep me informed there and I can resize and move tiles around when I get bored.

The people app integrates brilliantly with your social media accounts and you can get updates from the app when you are too lazy to open the dedicated apps.

All in all I am very pleased with my Windows phone experience so far and very glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to give it a try.

gomezz · 05-01-2016, 22:57

Mind the gap!

Seriously though, that is why I have a cheap Android tablet to complement my Windows phone to fill the app gap, which for me includes BT Sport and a version of BBC iPlayer which supports downloads.

TV3 · 07-01-2016, 22:13

A very good summary TheTuth1983 highlighting the pros of the current windows phone platform. I too am a convert and loving everything about the current 640 and 640XL. I only stopped short of buying a 950 as I want to see how W10 runs first.

As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there?

Minardi · 07-01-2016, 22:27

Used WP since the days of the Lumia 920 being launched. Always got on well with it. Keeping my 1020 going now, until W10 is stable. Everything I need is there, I run my business from it.

finbaar · 08-01-2016, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV3

A very good summary TheTuth1983 highlighting the pros of the current windows phone platform. I too am a convert and loving everything about the current 640 and 640XL. I only stopped short of buying a 950 as I want to see how W10 runs first.

As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there?

I used WP exclusively for about 8 months in 2014 and have had a few as my second device as well although I haven’t had one since June when I sold my L930. The only WP device in the house now is a L530. It certainly has some good points and for some people it is a viable option. But don’t say there is no app gap and don’t put it down to loads of “calculator and weather” apps on iOS and Android. The app gap is real and growing and while the basics like Facebook and Twitter are covered very few new apps come out for Windows. Even when an app is there it will generally be missing features and never get updated. Of course if that doesn’t bother you then great. Missing Google services (particularly the lack of a decent G+ app and Photos support) was a killer for me, whereas with Android Microsoft have a great suite of apps and as an Office 360 subscriber I am missing nothing. One particular problem for the platform is just how bad the app store is – so many scam apps. Microsoft should be ashamed, it is much worse than any other platform.

gomezz · 08-01-2016, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV3

As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there?

You didn't read my post then?

d123 · 08-01-2016, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

You didn't read my post then?

You forgot to mention the missing Sky and Virgin apps and YouTube and most banks only having mobile websites wrapped in a pretend app wrapper

.

seatmad · 08-01-2016, 14:06

I've been given a windows phone for my work phone and whilst they seem quite good and the title layout is OK the lack of Google apps is a big problem.

Whilst you can get round with most things not having true Google maps is a deal breaker for me.

shaddler · 08-01-2016, 15:46

I ditched my Windows phone when I realised you can't even use a browser with an adblocker.

05-01-2016, 22:44	#1
TheTruth1983 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Crapville Posts: 13,162	I am a Windows Phone convert Last year I grew bored with Android and it's bland and boring rows of apps and lack of any real innovation from one release to the next. I ended up getting a Nokia Lumia 930 when my contract renewal came up and I can't see myself going back. I never thought I'd go for a Windows phone but here we are. The basics are all there - phone calls, texts, email, IM - all covered and working superbly. Twitter and Facebook also covered. Battery life is on par with what I got out of my One M8, maybe even a tad better. The camera is fantastic, much better than any phone I've had before. Here maps/drive has replaced my dedicated sat nav for navigation. My Feedly is catered for as well so I can get the news easily. The biggest attraction for me though is the live tiles. It's a fantastic feature. No more battery draining widgets for calendar and weather, I can get a 5 day synopsis of the weather on the app's live tile, and a round up of what appointments I have on the calendar tile. The data and storage sense tiles keep me informed there and I can resize and move tiles around when I get bored. The people app integrates brilliantly with your social media accounts and you can get updates from the app when you are too lazy to open the dedicated apps. All in all I am very pleased with my Windows phone experience so far and very glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to give it a try.

05-01-2016, 22:57	#2
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Mind the gap! Seriously though, that is why I have a cheap Android tablet to complement my Windows phone to fill the app gap, which for me includes BT Sport and a version of BBC iPlayer which supports downloads.

07-01-2016, 22:13	#3
TV3 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 13	A very good summary TheTuth1983 highlighting the pros of the current windows phone platform. I too am a convert and loving everything about the current 640 and 640XL. I only stopped short of buying a 950 as I want to see how W10 runs first. As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there?

07-01-2016, 22:27	#4
Minardi Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 502	Used WP since the days of the Lumia 920 being launched. Always got on well with it. Keeping my 1020 going now, until W10 is stable. Everything I need is there, I run my business from it.

08-01-2016, 07:31	#5
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	Quote: Originally Posted by TV3 A very good summary TheTuth1983 highlighting the pros of the current windows phone platform. I too am a convert and loving everything about the current 640 and 640XL. I only stopped short of buying a 950 as I want to see how W10 runs first. As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there? I used WP exclusively for about 8 months in 2014 and have had a few as my second device as well although I haven’t had one since June when I sold my L930. The only WP device in the house now is a L530. It certainly has some good points and for some people it is a viable option. But don’t say there is no app gap and don’t put it down to loads of “calculator and weather” apps on iOS and Android. The app gap is real and growing and while the basics like Facebook and Twitter are covered very few new apps come out for Windows. Even when an app is there it will generally be missing features and never get updated. Of course if that doesn’t bother you then great. Missing Google services (particularly the lack of a decent G+ app and Photos support) was a killer for me, whereas with Android Microsoft have a great suite of apps and as an Office 360 subscriber I am missing nothing. One particular problem for the platform is just how bad the app store is – so many scam apps. Microsoft should be ashamed, it is much worse than any other platform.

08-01-2016, 12:21	#6
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Quote: Originally Posted by TV3 As for the "appgap" if you take out the 20,000 versions of a calculator and 30,000 versions of a weather forecast the gap isn't there? You didn't read my post then?

08-01-2016, 13:22	#7
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz You didn't read my post then? You forgot to mention the missing Sky and Virgin apps and YouTube and most banks only having mobile websites wrapped in a pretend app wrapper .

08-01-2016, 14:06	#8
seatmad Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 35	I've been given a windows phone for my work phone and whilst they seem quite good and the title layout is OK the lack of Google apps is a big problem. Whilst you can get round with most things not having true Google maps is a deal breaker for me.

08-01-2016, 15:46	#9
shaddler Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Station Eleven Posts: 3,489	I ditched my Windows phone when I realised you can't even use a browser with an adblocker.

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I am a Windows Phone convert