Hello Everyone, thinking about switching to Windows Phone 8...

[minhzy]

What'sup Everyone,

My name is Minhzy and I'm thinking about switching to Windows Phone 8. Currently, I'm on Verizon and have had a Galaxy Nexus for a long time. I'm looking to change to either At&t or T-Mobile and getting either an iPhone or Lumia Phone (maybe 920, 925, or 1020). I've used everything from Windows 8 on my computer to my ipad (ios).

Long story short, I'm checking out this site to find more information on Lumia phones and to see whether or not I should go with one!

Best,
Minhzy

 

[Sayyid Shoaib]

Hi minhzy,

I'm newbie to windows phone 8 coming from Android 3 years. I've also owned the Galaxy nexus (at the time the best pure Android experience that was available). If you were like me a purist who likes the phones OS without OEM custom skins and bloatware then the Lumia range is a good bet for you. I'm into a week on my black Lumia 920 and loving the experience. I wanted something refreshing and more easy to use. if you looking for full updates as well that will be provided until at least 2016 then also Windows Phone 8 is your best bet. Iphones are good but with each iteration of iOS the previous model always has some lacking features exclusive to the new flagship its as if Apple want you upgrade every year.

If you think your going to miss the customization of Android then check out this thread which shows you how unique and personalised WP8 experience can be:

http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-phone-8/201935-post-your-home-screen-color-theme.html

it took me some time to change camp, take your time read some reviews on the Lumia range phones, read up the how tos on WP8 operating system and important of all go to your local phone store and try it out yourself on a demo unit.

Good luck in your quest.

Hope that helps!

:smile:

 

[Fade_z]

What are the things about android you don't want to lose at any cost?

My experience with wp8 is great, its a little getting used to but I'm loving it (came from iOS)

I advise you to visit a store and feel how wp8 works
Its smooth, beautiful and has lots of core features.
When you buy any Lumia you get:

Free satnav
Free music-streaming (Nokia music)
A sturdy device that will take a fall without damage
Nice design
Live tiles
Office and OneNote
Great camera (high end devices)
Etc

Lack of apps:
Not as bad anymore, some apps still missing but have unofficial apps
And gameloft is supporting wp8 with games

Also with the "blue" update a overhaul of the OS will be done so we get features like screen orientation lock and alot more

Hope you choose wp8

 

[minhzy]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the fast responses! I have tried out the Lumias at the At&t store and I loved the build quality as well as interface; however, I'm not going to lie, I do have some reservations.

I used to be a person really into customization -and modded my previous Windows 7 computer and flashed roms on my first smartphone the Droid X- but now I don't really care. I just want something that works well! I also have a small list of essential apps, and that's probably the greatest reservations I have about Windows Phone 8. These are the only ones

Must Have:
-Foxfi: tethers my phone to my computer for free. Is there something similar on WP8?
-E-Mail: An e-mail client that can integrate g-mail. I heard that stopped. Is this true?
-Reading Apps: Pulse, Flipboard, Bleacher Report, Amazon Kindle, New York Times.
-Resources: All Recipes, Fly Delta.
-File Sharing: Dropbox, Evernote
-GPS Navigation: Something reliable and accurate.
-Pandora

What I would like:
-Netflix, Youtube, Redbox
-Instagram (I know there are Instagram clients, but I have no idea how good they are. Can anyone comment? I need it for work).
-Songza

Other than that, I've read mixed reviews regarding battery life about the 920 and 925. The battery life on my Galaxy Nexus is atrocious, as you probably know Sayyid, but I did like the removable battery. Good quality reception and calling, fast and non-lag texting... Yes, pretty much everything anyone would want in a smartphone.

Thanks everyone!
Minhzy

 

[Sayyid Shoaib]

Hi minhzy,

doing some research for you

You have following apps in Windows Phone marketplace:

Tether-X | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (wifi tethering with pc)

Weave News Reader | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (similar but not as good as Flipboard)

NYTimes | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

Amazon Kindle | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (was a must have for me as well)

Allrecipes | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

Fly Delta | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

BoxFiles for Dropbox | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

Evernote | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

Instance | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (similar to instragram says has al features)

Netflix | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (I need that as well)

Metrotube | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (just like Youtube maybe not as fully functional)

How to Watch | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom) (similar to redbox)

Songza | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United Kingdom)

apart from that since the Amber update there is fully integrated support for googlemail in the native email client, very easy to set up.

also Nokia Here and Nokia drive are good alternatives to what we had on Google maps (one advantage being you can download full offline maps of whole area in Nokia Here where Google maps was limited).

Nokia Music now has a radio and streaming music on the Lumia devices the free version you can create 6 mixes of songs every hour or so and on the paid app unlimited streaming music on the go.

Yeh Galaxy Nexus downfall was battery life I remember worst for web browsing 3 hours max lol :winktongue:

Hope ive covered all minhzy

:smile:

 

[crash1989]

You can also directly share your phone's internet connection from Settings> Internet Sharing.

 

[crash1989]

and songza is not official right now , we are expecting it this week

Report: Official Songza app due next week for Windows Phone 8 | Windows Phone Central

Official Songza app sneaks onto the Windows Store and wins our hearts | Windows Phone Central

 

[DBDev]

Welcome to WPCentral and hopefully soon windows phone! Unfortunately I only know answers to the questions someone already has answered, but I'll welcome you anyway

 

[Chief_Adu]

and songza is not official right now , we are expecting it this week

Report: Official Songza app due next week for Windows Phone 8 | Windows Phone Central

Official Songza app sneaks onto the Windows Store and wins our hearts | Windows Phone Central

Songza is online! (see: Songza | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)). It works like a charm!

Welcome on the forums, Minzhy!

 

[rdubmu]

Must Have:
-Foxfi: tethers my phone to my computer for free. Is there something similar on WP8?

My Lumia 920 can tether if you have the have the thethering plan with At&t, I believe it is $50 a month and includes 5gigs as well.

-E-Mail: An e-mail client that can integrate g-mail. I heard that stopped. Is this true?

I believe you can still set it up as a POP3 account, they ended both IMAP and EAS support. They were trying to criple Windows Phone and it didn't work as Outlook.com has become a superior email service.

-Reading Apps: Pulse, Flipboard, Bleacher Report, Amazon Kindle, New York Times.

Some of the third party apps for Windows Phones are the better than 1st party on other platforms.

-Resources: All Recipes, Fly Delta.

I would check out The Smartphone Reinvented Around You | Windows Phone (United States) and take a look at apps.

-File Sharing: Dropbox, Evernote

Once you start using Onenote, you don't go back and it is fully integrated with Skydrive. Also Skydrive is a superior service than Drop except for when you want to maintain a share folder. Lastly, you can access your dropbox files via box files. It is a paid app or you can download the free one.

-GPS Navigation: Something reliable and accurate.

Navagon has had high remarks, but the built in Here maps I find to be great.

-Pandora

yes it is available

What I would like:
-Netflix, Youtube, Redbox
-Instagram (I know there are Instagram clients, but I have no idea how good they are. Can anyone comment? I need it for work).
-Songza

Netflix: yes, Redbox: yes, and instagram, 6tag I find to be the best, better than the first party apps. seriously it is that good.

Other than that, I've read mixed reviews regarding battery life about the 920 and 925. The battery life on my Galaxy Nexus is atrocious, as you probably know Sayyid, but I did like the removable battery. Good quality reception and calling, fast and non-lag texting... Yes, pretty much everything anyone would want in a smartphone.

I find that 920 is still a flagship device, it was released a year ago, and the 925 has limited memory.
The 920 also has built in wireless charging, a LCD Screen instead of AMoLED screen, and 32 gigs, if you want the 920, I would opt for the 1020 instead.

BTW: Welcome to the forums!

 

[Lumis90]

6tag | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)
6tag is way better

 

[minhzy]

Thanks for the help Sayyid! Rdubmu, ahhh no imap for gmail? Oooh, that may be a deal breaker for me. It's too difficult for me to switch over. Also, I'm not going to pay that much for tethering per month when I get it for free. Ahh, this sucks.