First, a little about me. I used to work for an Apple developer. I have been using Macs since 1985 and enjoy them. I am not anti-any other platform, but if I am being honest, it would take an awful big shift to get me to move away from Macs at home. I don't get into mine is better than yours, and I am always willing to look at new things. I have had an iPhone in pocket since the first day of the first iPhone and have seen no reason to switch. I used an Android in there for a bit along side the iPhone although I am much more well versed with the iOS.
This is my first thread here. I know there are a few other iPhone to Windows Phone threads, but I figured a new review might deserve a new thread. Feel free to move it as necessary and go easy on me if I committed a faux pas here.
Okay, for those interested, after a full day with the Windows 8 phone here are my impressions:
First of all, AT&T moved my data from the iPhone to the Nokia. No issues at all. iCal hasn't fared so well but Google Calendars and contacts made the move without issue.
The Nokia 920 is a solid phone. It feels solid and I like that, but it comes with a bit more heft than my iPhone. However, for some peopel the weight is an issue. I thought about the HTC phone (and Best Buy has them for $1 right now!) but the Nokia comes with 32 GB of memory.
The OS itself is slick, but it feels a little bit like it is still unpolished. Considering that Android and Apple have a huge headstart, it is not too bad, but it is rough around the edges.
I find Windows 8 to be somewhere between the Android and iOS in terms of customizability. It is a closed ecosystem like Apple so it should prove reasonably safe, but there are many options available to customize your experience. Microsoft has to continue working on how to allow users to customize the interface while keeping clean. A few times I felt lost within apps because buttons and menu selctions didn't always act as expected.
That said, the Live Tiles are amazing. The ideas seems simple and gimicky, but after a day I have the sizes and placements the way I like them - very much "me" and different than anyone else's phone. I also love the real time updating within tiles. Great to be able to see messages, the last Facebook postings of my VIP's with tiles, real time radar while golfing all without opening an app. Really, I think the Live Tilesare going to be a bigger deal than they appear. They offer a really different way of seeing information. Not revolutionary - many will prefer their current way of looking at things, but a meaningful alternative.
Still, all is not perfect.
I would really like a better way to organize my app list that you swipe to from the Tile screen. A long list is not the best way to display your apps.
I would like to see the row of icons above the tiles that show signal strength, battery life, WiFi status etc. to remain visible. Or at least an option to turn them on.
It is almost worth the cost of switching just to get native Office software on the phone. I use Word and Excel extensively at work, so this is a much cleaner solution than Apple's very good but less robust Pages and Numbers software.
I already mentioned this, but coming from iOS it is really troubling. Windows 8 really must find a way to create a more consistent experience from app to app and even menu to menu. My 5 year old son picked up an iPhone and was working it without instruction or difficulty; the same kiddo, now 9 has trouble using the Windows Phone. That should be telling.
The hardware itself is great. I love the wireless charging. AT&T included a charging pad with the phone and so far it works as advertised. It is a little slower than plugging the phone into the wall, but not by much.
I am already having difficulty with the buttons. The button that brings up the lock screen is really far too small and I do not like it on the side. Maybe I am too attached to the Home button on my iPhone, but the Nokia button is tough to find without stopping to look at the phone.
It is also easy to mix up the unlock button and camera button, and the camera button brings up the camera bringing whatever you were trying to do to a halt while you shut down the camera.
Finally, with the row of buttons along the right hand side of the phone, it is very easy to accidentally key one while simply holding the phone in use.
I am still not ready to give up - in fact I am really starting to like this phone. I'll report back in a few more days. Still need to sort out how I am going to get my music from the iMac to the phone, and how well it is going to work with my iCloud. I am enjoying using it with my (okay, Christopher's) xBox and Microsoft has their own SkyDrive system that I have been using.
This is my first thread here. I know there are a few other iPhone to Windows Phone threads, but I figured a new review might deserve a new thread. Feel free to move it as necessary and go easy on me if I committed a faux pas here.
Okay, for those interested, after a full day with the Windows 8 phone here are my impressions:
First of all, AT&T moved my data from the iPhone to the Nokia. No issues at all. iCal hasn't fared so well but Google Calendars and contacts made the move without issue.
The Nokia 920 is a solid phone. It feels solid and I like that, but it comes with a bit more heft than my iPhone. However, for some peopel the weight is an issue. I thought about the HTC phone (and Best Buy has them for $1 right now!) but the Nokia comes with 32 GB of memory.
The OS itself is slick, but it feels a little bit like it is still unpolished. Considering that Android and Apple have a huge headstart, it is not too bad, but it is rough around the edges.
I find Windows 8 to be somewhere between the Android and iOS in terms of customizability. It is a closed ecosystem like Apple so it should prove reasonably safe, but there are many options available to customize your experience. Microsoft has to continue working on how to allow users to customize the interface while keeping clean. A few times I felt lost within apps because buttons and menu selctions didn't always act as expected.
That said, the Live Tiles are amazing. The ideas seems simple and gimicky, but after a day I have the sizes and placements the way I like them - very much "me" and different than anyone else's phone. I also love the real time updating within tiles. Great to be able to see messages, the last Facebook postings of my VIP's with tiles, real time radar while golfing all without opening an app. Really, I think the Live Tilesare going to be a bigger deal than they appear. They offer a really different way of seeing information. Not revolutionary - many will prefer their current way of looking at things, but a meaningful alternative.
Still, all is not perfect.
I would really like a better way to organize my app list that you swipe to from the Tile screen. A long list is not the best way to display your apps.
I would like to see the row of icons above the tiles that show signal strength, battery life, WiFi status etc. to remain visible. Or at least an option to turn them on.
It is almost worth the cost of switching just to get native Office software on the phone. I use Word and Excel extensively at work, so this is a much cleaner solution than Apple's very good but less robust Pages and Numbers software.
I already mentioned this, but coming from iOS it is really troubling. Windows 8 really must find a way to create a more consistent experience from app to app and even menu to menu. My 5 year old son picked up an iPhone and was working it without instruction or difficulty; the same kiddo, now 9 has trouble using the Windows Phone. That should be telling.
The hardware itself is great. I love the wireless charging. AT&T included a charging pad with the phone and so far it works as advertised. It is a little slower than plugging the phone into the wall, but not by much.
I am already having difficulty with the buttons. The button that brings up the lock screen is really far too small and I do not like it on the side. Maybe I am too attached to the Home button on my iPhone, but the Nokia button is tough to find without stopping to look at the phone.
It is also easy to mix up the unlock button and camera button, and the camera button brings up the camera bringing whatever you were trying to do to a halt while you shut down the camera.
Finally, with the row of buttons along the right hand side of the phone, it is very easy to accidentally key one while simply holding the phone in use.
I am still not ready to give up - in fact I am really starting to like this phone. I'll report back in a few more days. Still need to sort out how I am going to get my music from the iMac to the phone, and how well it is going to work with my iCloud. I am enjoying using it with my (okay, Christopher's) xBox and Microsoft has their own SkyDrive system that I have been using.
Last edited:
Yes that is a typo.
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