So I've been a long time Windows phone user. A tech guy who promoted the platform and a developer who was involved in some pretty comprehensive Windows mobile app development. This week was the week that I switched my personal phone away from Windows and I thought I'd share some ramblings from my experience. I know others did this a long time ago, others still never want to do this. For me, this was my moving week.
1) Where did I go?
Ultimately I went to Apple. Android was close to receiving me but in the end I went the iOS way primarily due to two things: security and less Google. There is no doubt that iOS is updated more regularly and less malware makes it into the store apps. Even the authorities struggle to break into iOS devices and I like my personal info hard to steal. When I say less Google, that really means the phone forces less Apple on you than Google does on Android. On iOS it is trivial to turn off iCloud and then use the alternative apps like OneDrive and Outlook to manage your data. Almost every Apple related option of things like GPS tracking can be turned off. On Android I found it harder to do this and wasn't completely sure it was done. And then there is the element of trust... Apple tries to do things on the phone rather than in the cloud whereas Google provides arguably superior services but by crunching a lot of people's data out of their control. But for me, the simple fact that iOS devices get regular updates for years is a big factor.
2) How was it from a Microsoft Services perspective?
My simple answer is, this is how the Microsoft mobile experience should be. That may sound nuts as a Microsoft proponent coming from Windows, but the truth is that Windows has quite serious issues with Microsoft services. E.g. I find that Skype works in a clunky way on Windows Mobile... it can take 20 seconds to start and connect when taking a call. (On the desktop it rings for 10 seconds after you start talking in a call) Teams doesn't even support calling on mobile. On iOS, these are perfect and just work. An amazingly slick experience and a real example just how unrefined these apps are on Windows Mobile.
Two Factor authentication is another area that works very well. When you access Microsoft services (after installing the Authenticator app) the apps prompt for your fingerprint on first login and this all feels better than on Windows Mobile. I always had to type the texted number in which was all a bit manual.
Other apps run about the same: Mail (Outlook) is similar quality. OneDrive about the same. SharePoint, ToDo, OneNote, Office Lens. Groove.
3) What was bad from a Windows perspective?
Cortana doesn't fully replace Siri. You cannot reassign the home button. However you can add a Widget and use her for reminders etc. Also she cannot sync text messages to the desktop (something that rarely worked for me on WM anyway). Both are OS restrictions that I hope get relaxed in OS upgrades. Of course they may never be.
Outlook has a manual contact pull into the phone but no editing. Editing is coming in an update soon. You can optionally add the accounts in the OS and get more flexibility, but I went the Outlook app way for now.
News feels kind of rough on iOS. The WM version renders better and has some better personalization.
4) What else was good?
There are more apps. What was surprising to me is that they aren't massively better than the ones we have. Yes, there are a lot more. Yes they are more refined, but I had kind of got used to using the browser on Windows Mobile for a lot of things. Take Windows Central. The app reviews in the Apple store were so bad I didn't bother to install it. Reviewers said using the website was best which is kind of the best way on Windows Mobile too... the app here hangs often on loading, uses a lot of memory and forum support is not amazing. Sounds like websites are the future. Similarly my bank app while more fully featured on iOS, still just shows the balances, transactions and has a deposit. But I could load the Delta app which had been retired from Windows Mobile so it's good to get a few apps like that back. More apps that are current and maintained is good, but less of an improvement than I was expecting.
Battery life appears better. That could just be my phone battery being new vs 2 years old.
Wi-Fi calling. Super important for me and a driving factor in changing. Coverage in my home has got worse due to AT&T tower changes. I can now use Wi-Fi calling and that works great. I don't believe this is possible on any new Windows phone these days. Of course this is great for when travelling abroad too.
5) What do I miss?
Tiles a little. Most app updates come via notifications and you do feel a little spammed at first. Suggest restricting those a lot.
Double tap for sure. Although the phones wakes when you lift it which kind of balances that.
Consistent back button. Apps are a mix. Some swipe the screen, some have the top button. It's ok but I prefer a fixed button.
Voice recording. Liked using this when on calls to customer service.
Camera interface. The iOS one is fast and fluid but missing extended options. I think apps may help here a little.
My wife who also moved at the same time is a little less endeared to iOS. She almost moved to Android but decided to do the same move to iOS. I think some of her frustration are the time it takes to re-learn where things now are and re-do some setup. E.g. linking contact info from many accounts. Her phone also shows a bunch of unread Gmail emails when she believes they are read. So there are a few app bugs.
6) Summary
Overall I like the experience. For the most part it's a better Microsoft experience than on Windows Mobile, which is a bit sad for Microsoft. But it provides us with a good option.. You can do most of what you are used to, in a slightly different way on iOS. And gain more app choices too. I know from playing with Android that it is very comparable, and as it provides more customizations, people might be happier there. I'm just not convinced Google has good security. Phones get maybe a couple of upgrades before then being unsupported. When that is fixed, maybe I'll try it more. Or perhaps Microsoft will come back to the mobile market with some options at which time I'll evaluate things. But in the meantime sticking with Microsoft services on any mobile platform provides independence and choice. And from what we can see, is the current Microsoft mobile vision.
It's refreshing to get a new phone. The best Microsoft services experience isn't where you think it would be!
1) Where did I go?
Ultimately I went to Apple. Android was close to receiving me but in the end I went the iOS way primarily due to two things: security and less Google. There is no doubt that iOS is updated more regularly and less malware makes it into the store apps. Even the authorities struggle to break into iOS devices and I like my personal info hard to steal. When I say less Google, that really means the phone forces less Apple on you than Google does on Android. On iOS it is trivial to turn off iCloud and then use the alternative apps like OneDrive and Outlook to manage your data. Almost every Apple related option of things like GPS tracking can be turned off. On Android I found it harder to do this and wasn't completely sure it was done. And then there is the element of trust... Apple tries to do things on the phone rather than in the cloud whereas Google provides arguably superior services but by crunching a lot of people's data out of their control. But for me, the simple fact that iOS devices get regular updates for years is a big factor.
2) How was it from a Microsoft Services perspective?
My simple answer is, this is how the Microsoft mobile experience should be. That may sound nuts as a Microsoft proponent coming from Windows, but the truth is that Windows has quite serious issues with Microsoft services. E.g. I find that Skype works in a clunky way on Windows Mobile... it can take 20 seconds to start and connect when taking a call. (On the desktop it rings for 10 seconds after you start talking in a call) Teams doesn't even support calling on mobile. On iOS, these are perfect and just work. An amazingly slick experience and a real example just how unrefined these apps are on Windows Mobile.
Two Factor authentication is another area that works very well. When you access Microsoft services (after installing the Authenticator app) the apps prompt for your fingerprint on first login and this all feels better than on Windows Mobile. I always had to type the texted number in which was all a bit manual.
Other apps run about the same: Mail (Outlook) is similar quality. OneDrive about the same. SharePoint, ToDo, OneNote, Office Lens. Groove.
3) What was bad from a Windows perspective?
Cortana doesn't fully replace Siri. You cannot reassign the home button. However you can add a Widget and use her for reminders etc. Also she cannot sync text messages to the desktop (something that rarely worked for me on WM anyway). Both are OS restrictions that I hope get relaxed in OS upgrades. Of course they may never be.
Outlook has a manual contact pull into the phone but no editing. Editing is coming in an update soon. You can optionally add the accounts in the OS and get more flexibility, but I went the Outlook app way for now.
News feels kind of rough on iOS. The WM version renders better and has some better personalization.
4) What else was good?
There are more apps. What was surprising to me is that they aren't massively better than the ones we have. Yes, there are a lot more. Yes they are more refined, but I had kind of got used to using the browser on Windows Mobile for a lot of things. Take Windows Central. The app reviews in the Apple store were so bad I didn't bother to install it. Reviewers said using the website was best which is kind of the best way on Windows Mobile too... the app here hangs often on loading, uses a lot of memory and forum support is not amazing. Sounds like websites are the future. Similarly my bank app while more fully featured on iOS, still just shows the balances, transactions and has a deposit. But I could load the Delta app which had been retired from Windows Mobile so it's good to get a few apps like that back. More apps that are current and maintained is good, but less of an improvement than I was expecting.
Battery life appears better. That could just be my phone battery being new vs 2 years old.
Wi-Fi calling. Super important for me and a driving factor in changing. Coverage in my home has got worse due to AT&T tower changes. I can now use Wi-Fi calling and that works great. I don't believe this is possible on any new Windows phone these days. Of course this is great for when travelling abroad too.
5) What do I miss?
Tiles a little. Most app updates come via notifications and you do feel a little spammed at first. Suggest restricting those a lot.
Double tap for sure. Although the phones wakes when you lift it which kind of balances that.
Consistent back button. Apps are a mix. Some swipe the screen, some have the top button. It's ok but I prefer a fixed button.
Voice recording. Liked using this when on calls to customer service.
Camera interface. The iOS one is fast and fluid but missing extended options. I think apps may help here a little.
My wife who also moved at the same time is a little less endeared to iOS. She almost moved to Android but decided to do the same move to iOS. I think some of her frustration are the time it takes to re-learn where things now are and re-do some setup. E.g. linking contact info from many accounts. Her phone also shows a bunch of unread Gmail emails when she believes they are read. So there are a few app bugs.
6) Summary
Overall I like the experience. For the most part it's a better Microsoft experience than on Windows Mobile, which is a bit sad for Microsoft. But it provides us with a good option.. You can do most of what you are used to, in a slightly different way on iOS. And gain more app choices too. I know from playing with Android that it is very comparable, and as it provides more customizations, people might be happier there. I'm just not convinced Google has good security. Phones get maybe a couple of upgrades before then being unsupported. When that is fixed, maybe I'll try it more. Or perhaps Microsoft will come back to the mobile market with some options at which time I'll evaluate things. But in the meantime sticking with Microsoft services on any mobile platform provides independence and choice. And from what we can see, is the current Microsoft mobile vision.
It's refreshing to get a new phone. The best Microsoft services experience isn't where you think it would be!
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