I've read for the last two weeks on this forum learning tons about Windows Phone and I decided to write up my review on the new HTC One Windows phone.
First off I have an Apple IPhone 5S as well for my other business and upgraded from an M7 HTC Android phone to the new Windows phone. I do have a bias against Google and their business habits. I loved the HTC One M7 and thought it was the best Android phone I had ever used.
I don't have a problem whatsoever with the camera on the M8. I am a photographer, (Canon 50D, w/ Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM, plus lots of other lenses), so I am a bit amused at the attacks on the camera. For what I use a phone camera for, pictures of model numbers in low light and normal light, equipment pictures before and after a repair, etc. this camera rocks. It wouldn't take much money to out do a phone camera of any brand. I am happy with the camera.
I have what I need to run both of my businesses on this phone. I am a Microsoft desktop user running 8.1, 64 bit system at home. The nicest thing that happened was coming home with the phone having signed in with my MS ID to find out it already shook hands with my WiFi network and had the password already. I also can pull up Office anywhere to do a quick bid using Excel and with the screen size as large as it is on the new phone it's not hard for me to use it even more then I used to prefer to. It's a comfortable phone to use and it just seems to be growing on me more all the time. My new truck interfaced with it seamlessly, sharing contact list and Bluetooth worked flawlessly with it. (Silverado, Chevrolet My Link)
On to the battery. It's got the best battery life of any smartphone I've ever had. Not even close. I have a Mophie on the IPhone and it needs it. I had a battery case on the M7 also. (I still keep it in the truck at all times in case I need to WiFi it to life for a credit card swipe since the IPhone is on TMobile which can have spotty coverage at times.) I just picked up an I-Blason black case off of Amazon and the glass protection shield from Verizon. (It does have about 1/120 of an inch overlap onto the speaker but it looks like it belongs although I can see the micro air gap at the end now that I know to look for it.) No bubbles anywhere on the screen probably speaks more to the Verizon employee who took the time to get it right.
On APPs I have found most of what I needed with a few holes that need to be filled. I use Bank of America and they're there. I am wondering why they haven't made a credit card reader app yet since they took the first step. Maybe some calls to them. Other apps such as Gas Buddy are there but as some have said they seem to have a few things missing in the Windows app. (They don't store the towns you normally visit like the IOs app does making you type the city or zip code in each time you use it.)
Some of my news apps are the most pleasurable to read on a phone I've ever had. Not sure why the quantum leap unless it's just a natural occurrence of the larger screen availability.
Charging is a breeze since there is no proprietary cable for the phone. I have the micro USB cables everywhere.
Running my TV, the Dish whether at my camper or home is just another thing the phone can do when you don't see the always missing remote controls.
The biggest thing that allowed me to drop the IPhone as my primary was Cortana. I really like the voice assistant. I prefer it hands down to Siri. I am almost shocked at how well MS did with this. I presume the new IOS due out will have to address this. Just a guess.
(Watching Ram/Vikings football game at this very moment spiced with commercials comparing the mismatch between Cortana and Siri, featuring the new HTC One for Windows.)
The speakers have rocked since the M7 and the M8 is no different. Just the best sounding phone ever in my opinion.
The down side is the APPS but it isn't the game stopper it once was. I wanted off the Android ecosystem and I really couldn't have done much better at this point and time. I do have a problem with the volume knobs being activated when the phone comes alive in the belt carrying case. I have had that before.
I didn't do any research on the Icon, just because I liked the M7 build and knew it was coming out in the M8 version. The guys on this forum are also really helpful and I have high hopes on getting more apps. I feel I forgot some things here but I can answer back.
First off I have an Apple IPhone 5S as well for my other business and upgraded from an M7 HTC Android phone to the new Windows phone. I do have a bias against Google and their business habits. I loved the HTC One M7 and thought it was the best Android phone I had ever used.
I don't have a problem whatsoever with the camera on the M8. I am a photographer, (Canon 50D, w/ Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM, plus lots of other lenses), so I am a bit amused at the attacks on the camera. For what I use a phone camera for, pictures of model numbers in low light and normal light, equipment pictures before and after a repair, etc. this camera rocks. It wouldn't take much money to out do a phone camera of any brand. I am happy with the camera.
I have what I need to run both of my businesses on this phone. I am a Microsoft desktop user running 8.1, 64 bit system at home. The nicest thing that happened was coming home with the phone having signed in with my MS ID to find out it already shook hands with my WiFi network and had the password already. I also can pull up Office anywhere to do a quick bid using Excel and with the screen size as large as it is on the new phone it's not hard for me to use it even more then I used to prefer to. It's a comfortable phone to use and it just seems to be growing on me more all the time. My new truck interfaced with it seamlessly, sharing contact list and Bluetooth worked flawlessly with it. (Silverado, Chevrolet My Link)
On to the battery. It's got the best battery life of any smartphone I've ever had. Not even close. I have a Mophie on the IPhone and it needs it. I had a battery case on the M7 also. (I still keep it in the truck at all times in case I need to WiFi it to life for a credit card swipe since the IPhone is on TMobile which can have spotty coverage at times.) I just picked up an I-Blason black case off of Amazon and the glass protection shield from Verizon. (It does have about 1/120 of an inch overlap onto the speaker but it looks like it belongs although I can see the micro air gap at the end now that I know to look for it.) No bubbles anywhere on the screen probably speaks more to the Verizon employee who took the time to get it right.
On APPs I have found most of what I needed with a few holes that need to be filled. I use Bank of America and they're there. I am wondering why they haven't made a credit card reader app yet since they took the first step. Maybe some calls to them. Other apps such as Gas Buddy are there but as some have said they seem to have a few things missing in the Windows app. (They don't store the towns you normally visit like the IOs app does making you type the city or zip code in each time you use it.)
Some of my news apps are the most pleasurable to read on a phone I've ever had. Not sure why the quantum leap unless it's just a natural occurrence of the larger screen availability.
Charging is a breeze since there is no proprietary cable for the phone. I have the micro USB cables everywhere.
Running my TV, the Dish whether at my camper or home is just another thing the phone can do when you don't see the always missing remote controls.
The biggest thing that allowed me to drop the IPhone as my primary was Cortana. I really like the voice assistant. I prefer it hands down to Siri. I am almost shocked at how well MS did with this. I presume the new IOS due out will have to address this. Just a guess.
(Watching Ram/Vikings football game at this very moment spiced with commercials comparing the mismatch between Cortana and Siri, featuring the new HTC One for Windows.)
The speakers have rocked since the M7 and the M8 is no different. Just the best sounding phone ever in my opinion.
The down side is the APPS but it isn't the game stopper it once was. I wanted off the Android ecosystem and I really couldn't have done much better at this point and time. I do have a problem with the volume knobs being activated when the phone comes alive in the belt carrying case. I have had that before.
I didn't do any research on the Icon, just because I liked the M7 build and knew it was coming out in the M8 version. The guys on this forum are also really helpful and I have high hopes on getting more apps. I feel I forgot some things here but I can answer back.
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) and enjoy the debates over the cameras inside a smartphone. There is nothing wrong with the M8's camera for what it is. Anyway, I am on 13 days with this phone and glad I made the purchase.
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