Longtime Windows Mobile user switched to Galaxy S7
I?ve had my Samsung Galaxy S7 for a few days now. I traded both mine and my wife?s Lumia 950?s back to AT&T. Both of those phones had lots of issues ? random reboots, app crashes, weird syncing issues, phantom calendar reminders and lots more ? that was too much.
I?ve never used Android before, so it?s a new learning experience for me.
As for the Galaxy S7 itself, I?m pretty pleased with it. I swapped my 128GB card from the 950 to the S7 with no issues. The screen is fantastic and one of the brightest I?ve ever seen. The capacitive buttons at the bottom and a standard physical button in the middle that also doubles as a fingerprint reader. I do miss a dedicated camera button though. I prefer that on my phones.
Headphone jack is at the bottom although, I would prefer it at the top. However, I?ve pretty much switched to Bluetooth sound so it?s not any issue for me. I will rarely use it anyway. USB Micro port? Yeah, that sucks. I?m spoiled by USB-C easy to use, because no matter how you grab that micro USB cable it?s ALWAYS oriented the wrong way. But, wireless charging works great, so it?s a diminishing issue. I?m going to put wireless cradles in my car and that?s that.
Haven?t used the camera much but from other online reviews it seems to do a good job. I think the camera wars are over. Nokia 1020 stormed onto the scene, but Microsoft didn?t push the advantage, so other manufacturers aren?t really worried anymore.
Battery life is very good. Better than my 950 and that?s with a lot of usage these first few days. Very impressed. All of my wireless chargers work great.
Now for Android. Yep. It takes a while to get used to. Live tiles are just awesome! Nothing comes close. Widgets are decent but spotty support and limited size and placement issues don?t come near what live tiles deliver (when they work that is). Google Now launcher is definitely better than TouchWiz, and I switched both our phones to it. The main app list is now vertically scrolling with a search bar at the top very similar to Windows Mobile style. It works good.
Settings are scattered all over the place and some don?t even tell you what it may do. Notifications? What kind? Pop ups, sounds, rings, etc.? Microsoft?s notifications center is easier and more intuitive in one place. You know what you?re turning off or on. Android is not there yet (unless I'm missing it).
And the main thing is the apps! Yes, I can now get a Google Voice number. My home phone is now an app on my S7. I can contact anyone and use whichever number I want. Really nice. Skype works great and is definitely better than the Windows Mobile version which I?ve had nothing but issues for the longest. Microsoft makes a ton of apps for Android. I love their Sunrise Calendar which I made as my default. It syncs with my personal Outlook great since I use the Outlook app for my work account. I have all my banking and credit union apps, travel apps, and more. I do like Windows 10 Facebook a lot better than the Android. Seems cleaner and more modern. Cortana is installed and immediately synced all of my reminders. She?s worked flawlessly so far ? I don?t use voice entry though so I can?t comment on that.
I?ve only had one issue so far, and it?s the AMC Theatres app. It refuses to install on my phone with a 505 error. No other problems except that. Using a PC, I can easily install apps to my phone straight from the PC web browser. While Microsoft did have that in the 8.0 Phone store, it was very unreliable (worked less than 20% of the time and then not at all).
I?m still learning about the audio players. Although Microsoft has a Groove app, it won?t play locally stored music. What?s up with that? I?ll have to check around for a decent audio app. Same thing with the video app too. Both seem to want you view and buy online stuff.
It's taking my wife awhile to learn it, so I definitely think Windows Mobile is easier to use.
Overall, very happy with my purchase. I love Windows Mobile versions over the years, but Microsoft has a lot of work to do. The 950?s issues were too much for such an expensive flagship. If they do release another flagship or Surface phone, all 950 users should get a hefty discount as an apology.
One last thing. If you are switching from Windows Phone to Android, Paul Thurrott?s guide ?Android for the Windows Guy? is invaluable on making Outlook, Calendar, and other stuff work properly. I definitely wouldn?t have figured some of that stuff out on my own.
Anyway, that?s my take so far.
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