Re: Is the 950XL the last Windows Phone you buy
Coming from Nokia's Symbian (5800, N8, 808) to Windows Phone/ 10 Mobile (920, 1520, 950XL) this is how I feel. (I posted this comment in AAWP and edited it for this forum. Please pardon the reference)
With the current launch of Note 7, I am really tempted. The only reason that is holding me back from jumping straight away is that my 950 XL is less than 1 year old. I bought it with about the same price as a Note 7 less than a year ago.
I agree that the camera is amazing and is still is. Tri-color flash, Dynamic flash, living images are just a few that I very much love. However, I do feel that the Lumia imaging DNA has very much been diluted under Microsoft in W10M. There's the missing action shot (in Lumia Moments). There are also Lumia Refocus, Dolby 5.1 that is missing on 950 XL, Pure Motion Display. And I love the Lumia Storyteller app that can make short 30s videos of photos that we have taken with some background music, almost automatically. Those are some cool Lumia DNA that I missed very much (sob, sob) - apart from vibrant colourful, well-built phone. I have a Mozo case on my 950 XL. It does make the phone look a little premium with those metallic frame but it made look it generic. Nothing like those good old Lumias and nothing like the sexy curved glass-metal Note 7 that is IP68 rated
.
Following Steve's (in AAWP) coverage on the comparison between 950XL and S7 Edge camera, yes 950 XL still have an edge (pun intended) but a very narrow one. And as a father of 2 young kids, I mostly shoot them. Pictures of them. The fast focusing and low light performance of the Samsung would be a benefit but the long press hold 4k video helped too - with occasional focus hunting in low light :-(.
When Nokia first showed off the over-sampling technology, it was mind blowing. I still have my 808 as a pure camera but the lack of OIS is a problem for Mr. Shaky-hands like me. However, as we progressed from L1520 to 950 XL, the over-sampling seems to worked a little less, now. Not as good as the 808. And with my 950 XL, I am suspecting if there is actually over-sampling at all. Last time there is an option to capture both 8MP+19MP JPEG but not we can only choose either. With this we no longer have "capture now, zoom later" capability. I loved how Juha Alarkahu said it. And we can reframe multiple times with the hi-res photo. Another missing Lumia DNA.
These are all the innovations that were built by Nokia and the Lumia brand name that has been removed silently under W10M. These were the DNA that I would show off to my friends (only very few Malaysian knows about Windows Phone/ W10M). Back in the days when I was using my 1520, I had somebody that came up to me and said, "I didn't know Nokia had smart phone!" And when I tell somebody that I am now rocking a Microsoft phone, most of my friends would have their eyes opened in disbelief. Marketing is rather poor and with those cool DNA removed, "how to sell lah?" I do not think that these DNA will be injected in again by Microsoft now that they focusing more on enterprise customers.
So that lands me here. Wait another year and switch to Note 8, maybe. I guess that in the coming one year period, there will be more news of app leaving W10M (not that I use them anyway). There will be not much device that will be made compatible with W10M - like my car head unit that only support Android and iOS. The camera edge has become so narrow that sacrificing practicality and convenience for it no longer seem viable.
Even if the rumored Surface Phone is true, it's just going to be a another high tech W10M phone. What would make it stand out among Android and iOS "sea of slabs"? If hardware specs is almost identical, with the current state of the OS, apps, developers support, will it attract new customers? I don't think so. Yes, maybe they can throw in a snapdragon 830 or maybe 840 or whatever latest and greatest chip. Glass metal design, IP68. I think what customers like us look for is not only hardware but a good ecosystem. An all rounder piece of tech that has the least compromise. Good camera (maybe not the best but ranked 2nd
), plenty apps, convenience, compatibility (something that'll work with my car head unit, OBD dongle, TPMS, dash cam), supported by many third parties.
With Microsoft gearing towards enterprise, I don't think they will develop anything ground breaking. No wow factor.
Well, I still have a year to observe before my 950XL ages and nags for me to replace it. No hurry. I'll just keep enjoying every moment of its great imaging tech for now. It's still priceless to see others expression when I show them dynamic flash.
Symbian>Windows Phone 8>Windows Phone 8.1>Windows 10 Mobile>?
Tbh windows mobile would be absolutely fine if only it had google services and youTube.
i will own...my first one was L1020 followed by L730,L535,L640,L930(special edition) present L950xl with display dock...i got Fed up by MS treatment their garage team releasing n number of apps for ios and android but none for windows...they are not even using their tools to port or create uwp apps why should other developers must care about windows? They doesn't have interest in windows mobile thanks to god atleast they are developing software....they are always slow to update new features compare to google and apple...many people are suffering with volte issues on L950xl as it is not default enabled..apple done it from ios8 google from lollipop 
...
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