coming from android

[sdwp]

Just got a lumia 521. I am coming from android and all my stuff is heavily integrated with my gmail account. I'm not interested in discussing which is better google of windows, I just I want to keep as much as possible on gmail so I don't have to do a lot of work. So what can and can't I do?

1. I read I can use my gmail account as my live ID. That is still true?
2. I read Microsoft is supporting CARDVAL or something so I can still get emails from my gmail account? What do I have to do to make gmail my main email service on the phone?
3. How do I sync my contacts from gmail?
4. How do I view my starred google places? Is that an app like google maps?
5. Can I use google navigation? If not, will my my contacts from gmail appear on nokias driving app?
6. Does nokias driving app work offline? I have a 16 gig sdcard. Can I download all or a few states to sdcard?

What else should I know?

 

[WanderingTraveler]

1. Still true.
2. Set it up on startup or via settings>email+accounts
3. It should automatically sync when you set up your GMail account
4. Hmm. I don't know how. As for a Google Maps app, may I recommend GMaps?
5. No and no.
6. You can download maps then move to microSD via storage check.

That's all I know, and good luck!

 

[N_LaRUE]

Just got a lumia 521. I am coming from android and all my stuff is heavily integrated with my gmail account. I'm not interested in discussing which is better google of windows, I just I want to keep as much as possible on gmail so I don't have to do a lot of work. So what can and can't I do?

1. I read I can use my gmail account as my live ID. That is still true?
2. I read Microsoft is supporting CARDVAL or something so I can still get emails from my gmail account? What do I have to do to make gmail my main email service on the phone?
3. How do I sync my contacts from gmail?
4. How do I view my starred google places? Is that an app like google maps?
5. Can I use google navigation? If not, will my my contacts from gmail appear on nokias driving app?
6. Does nokias driving app work offline? I have a 16 gig sdcard. Can I download all or a few states to sdcard?

What else should I know?

4 - You can use the browser version of Google Maps which will show your starred places once you sign into Google.
5 - Again, browser version works for directions as well. No, there is no transferring between Google Maps and Nokia HERE.
6 - You can download the whole of the US or by state. This is true of other parts of the world as well. You need to have the maps on your phone to work offline obviously.

What you should know is this, anything Google is pretty much a waste of time on WP and probably won't be fixed any time soon. Yes, you can use your email but that's as far as I would go with it. I'd give up the idea of using Google anything. Learn to use the WP as a WP and you'll be happier for it.

Other things I would point out is managing files, get used to using Skydrive. You can't download unsupported files on WP. There's no bluetooth HID support (no mouse or keyboard). There's some issues with bluetooth in general, especially with some in car systems. Get the 'battery app' it will allow for easy access to Wifi etc, very handy.

Lastly, be patient and wait for MS to fix all the other annoyances, hopefully.

 

[nikhilr51]

Learn to use the WP as a WP and you'll be happier for it.

Nothing wrong with using Google services on your Windows Phone.

I sync my email/contacts/calendar via google between my phone and mac because microsofts services doesn't allow me to do that.
Much happier using google (considering it actually works).

 

[sdwp]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

7. Is there a google gchat app? I see third party ones. What do people use?
8. is there an adaway app?
9. Is there a dlna viewer? I use bubbleupnp+mobo viewer on android.
10. Is sugarsync good for file browsing? I didn't use google drive, I used sugarsync.
11. whats the prefered web broswer aside from IE? I looked for chrome or maxthon and didnt find it on the app store.
12. I think I forgot to uncheck a few things that allowed microsoft to email me or get data. Where in the setting do I change all that stuff? Is it under a unified place? Pretty much I want microsoft to know nothing about me and to contact me when hell freezes over.

 

[N_LaRUE]

Nothing wrong with using Google services on your Windows Phone.

I sync my email/contacts/calendar via google between my phone and mac because microsofts services doesn't allow me to do that.
Much happier using google (considering it actually works).

Why not just use an Outlook.com account? It syncs everything and is web based. What MS services are missing? If you use MS Outlook on your computer you can sync to an Outlook.com address easily.

As well the OP was referring to maps/directions mostly so going by that, changing over to WP systems makes more sense.

 

[N_LaRUE]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

7. Is there a google gchat app? I see third party ones. What do people use?
8. is there an adaway app?
9. Is there a dlna viewer? I use bubbleupnp+mobo viewer on android.
10. Is sugarsync good for file browsing? I didn't use google drive, I used sugarsync.
11. whats the prefered web broswer aside from IE? I looked for chrome or maxthon and didnt find it on the app store.
12. I think I forgot to uncheck a few things that allowed microsoft to email me or get data. Where in the setting do I change all that stuff? Is it under a unified place? Pretty much I want microsoft to know nothing about me and to contact me when hell freezes over.

7. Go here: Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) do a search and see what comes up
8. Not that I know of try same as above
9. DLNA is here: Play To for WP8 | Nokia Beta Labs it doesn't work on everything
10. Skydrive would be best as it's integrated. No file browsing otherwise on the phone.
11. IE is default and can't be changed but there are others you can download. Chrome isn't one of them.
12. Check your email + accounts under Settings. Otherwise suggest you search for it.

WP is a closed system so it's more like iPhone than Android. There are many 'missing' features that you are probably used to on Android that you will not find on WP.

Again, like I already stated. Change to WP systems and you'll be happier. If you can't let go of Google you'll not be happy.

 

[sdwp]

10. I setup skydrive. I can go to skydrive app and view pictures I have there. I'd also like to see those pictures on the "Photos" app. How do I do that? Or is skydrive integration just a gimmick?

 

[sdwp]

there are lots of posts 2+ months old complaining baotu skydrive photos not showing up on photos hub. I tried some of the suggested fixes but none worked. Is this still an issue?

 

[sinime]

5. Can I use google navigation? If not, will my my contacts from gmail appear on nokias driving app?

If your google contacts contain an address, I believe that will sync to your contacts. (my contacts have addresses from Facebook, etc...) anyhow, if the addresses sync from Gmail (not sure as I don't use GMail), you can go to a contact in the people hub and then click on their address to open up a map showing the location... you can then hit a button and get directions.

 

[pottyvick]

10. I setup skydrive. I can go to skydrive app and view pictures I have there. I'd also like to see those pictures on the "Photos" app. How do I do that? Or is skydrive integration just a gimmick?

Skydrive is in the photos app. Takes a bit to sync... I have all my photos backed up to skydrive and that shows in the photos app....

 

[pottyvick]

there are lots of posts 2+ months old complaining baotu skydrive photos not showing up on photos hub. I tried some of the suggested fixes but none worked. Is this still an issue?

I have not had an issue with photos not syncing from skydrive. Even old photos i had in there are in the photos app on my 8x...

 

[N_LaRUE]

10. I setup skydrive. I can go to skydrive app and view pictures I have there. I'd also like to see those pictures on the "Photos" app. How do I do that? Or is skydrive integration just a gimmick?

I haven't looked at those threads because I've had no issues with this so you'll have to excuse my ignorance.

From the Photo app you can only upload to Skydrive. However, if you have pictures on Skydrive and view them in Skydrive -> Pictures they should download and be displayed in the Photo app as that's where the pictures get saved. When dealing with Photos it's recommended to use WiFi and as it's already been stated that it takes some time to sync everything the first time. I would also recommend using the WP app, if you have Win 7 or Win 8 as it allows you to sync things faster.

So, no Skydrive integration is not a gimmick, it works just fine but WiFi works best with it.

 

[sinime]

IDK, maybe I don't use my SkyDrive to the fullest, but yeah, the squares are grey amongst my camera roll, saved pictures, and various Facebook tiles in the Photos hub... Never really noticed, always thought I was just in and out to fast for it to sync and update the tile.

 

[N_LaRUE]

IDK, maybe I don't use my SkyDrive to the fullest, but yeah, the squares are grey amongst my camera roll, saved pictures, and various Facebook tiles in the Photos hub... Never really noticed, always thought I was just in and out to fast for it to sync and update the tile.

Strange. I wonder if it's a issue with certain phones or an issue with a corrupt OS install. I had a few issues before my phone bricked (did a reset) but ever since I've gotten it back it works very well. I really hope they sort out their mess with all this little issues, it doesn't look good for the platform. They should really figure out some way for people reinstall the OS themselves as it may prevent the constant returning of phones. I would have been very happy to plug my phone in via USB and reinstall the OS myself, would have saved me the 11 days without my phone.