(Official) What WP needs to succeed

[Dazzi]

The issue with this one is the lock screen is there to keep the phone buttons from being activated in your pocket. So you can't really make any of the icons do anything.

-E

I get what you mean, but the screen is locked with the middle button (Nokia). What I think he/she means, is when you unlock it with the middle button, the lock screen is there doing nothing -- it's basically acting as a wallpaper/screen saver, with info that can't be used.

However, what he/she doesn't understand is the lock screen is there incase, the middle button is accidentally pressed in your pocket -- you're correct, this is why 2) wouldn't work.

 

[E Lizzle]

I agree completely and I'd personally just like to be able to turn the lockscreen off. The hardware button is enough.

-E

 

[phasar]

Better quality control on their flagship devices, and more OS stability.

 

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

Furthering the VoIP integration to allow even more stuff to happen. So when your Skype or Viber call etc comes in and you answer it, it shows the bog standard call screen, and can allow for toasts too along the top.

See in the top right where it says "T-Mobile"? Say it was a Skype call, the T-Mobile would be replaced with the Skype logo instead, just as it does in where the phone call is being received. Compare the two images below.

Can you see the subtle difference between the two? This is the integration thus far? Why stop there? Why not have the active call screen replicated for apps like so? Why not have messages go to messaging hub instead of a separate app? All people would have the app for then is to provide the virtual handshake required.to allow this data transfer to happen. Perhaps it could be done such that the app asks you to sign in, and then it removes itself from the app list and becomes integrated with the email + accounts section of Settings. Suddenly, the VoIP app becomes very well integrated into the OS. And you're not faffing around with apps to contact people. You just hit dial and you phone them, plain and simple.

 

[Chris_King88]

I get what you mean, but the screen is locked with the middle button (Nokia). What I think he/she means, is when you unlock it with the middle button, the lock screen is there doing nothing -- it's basically acting as a wallpaper/screen saver, with info that can't be used.

However, what he/she doesn't understand is the lock screen is there incase, the middle button is accidentally pressed in your pocket -- you're correct, this is why 2) wouldn't work.

@Dazzi & @ E Lizzle

Hold on, hold on, hold on...how can you both not get how it would work when this feature already exists on other OS's and practically exists on WP8 already? And I do understand how the lock screen works, are you sure you do?

When you get a message come through on WP8, the status bar on the top of the screen becomes a coloured panel and shows a notification. This awakens the lock screen weather its in your pocket or not. And when you 'tap' that notification bar it takes you straight to the message. So adding that function to the icons on the lock screen is clearly no different or difficult to do.

So that's how it would work. Simple.

 

[phasar]

What would you need a notification center for? really? I personally don't really NEED (I don't rely too much on the notifications, plus I only use a few apps that provides notifications anyways) it but there is a significant use for it.
Tiles are kind of a half assed method, double wide is like a notification center for ONE app only. Plus you'd have to unlock the phone and see which tile is giving you notifications. Also, the smaller tiles gives you just a number, no content that it refers to. so if you missed the notification on the top of the screen, you don't know what the hell that info is, other than you have it from that app.
If swiping to one side of the lock screen gives kids corner, swiping the other way should give you the notification center. Those notification icons on the bottom of the lockscreen again does the same thing as the live tiles, except you DONT have to unlock. but again its the same as the small tiles, just tells you how many you have.

Screen rotation lock would be handy, but then they should make the start screen orient accordingly too, which it doesn't do for landscape mode.

File manager...would be useful. Those phantom apps that the OS doesn't support...how do you get to them to delete? They shouldn't restrict downloads, but you'd need to be able to access them. They shouldn't be unavailable, but should be movable. They should just make it like similar to the skydrive app (call it the file hub or something). Every file would be in its own specific folder (I believe SD card users have a pictures, videos, music, apps, and an other folder?) Each folder you'd have to give permission to each app individually to access them (or have a second option where all apps can access), kind of like a firewall.

The reason you need a notification center is because the lock screen and live tiles consistently fail to update!

 

[Dazzi]

@Dazzi & @ E Lizzle

Hold on, hold on, hold on...how can you both not get how it would work when this feature already exists on other OS's and practically exists on WP8 already? And I do understand how the lock screen works, are you sure you do?

When you get a message come through on WP8, the status bar on the top of the screen becomes a coloured panel and shows a notification. This awakens the lock screen weather its in your pocket or not. And when you 'tap' that notification bar it takes you straight to the message. So adding that function to the icons on the lock screen is clearly no different or difficult to do.

So that's how it would work. Simple.

Chill out mate, you're going on like we were mocking you -- we were only saying jheeze!

The toasts (not notification bar) are there for few seconds, and the icons are there all the time!

Therefore, there could be a chance that the icons could be pressed by accident, if you didn't use the lock button.

Furthermore, when I say I get what you mean, I was on about it's a good idea. I then asked you how it would work? Your answer is, other OS's have it, and it practically exists on WP8 (because of toasts) -- eh?

So my question to you is: Do you know how the phone works?

 

[dawindbag]

Lots of good stuff in the 10 or so pages I read of this thread. I won't detail all the things that I want to see improved in WP8, most have been mentioned dozens and dozens of times. But I'm going to talk about one; really the only one that matters to me and the one thing that will drive me to Android when I buy my next phone if its still missing.

Notification Center.

Instead of explaining what I want it to do and how it should work, I want to describe my use case for it. Hopefully this will quiet the people who have the inexplicable reflex to argue against it because it doesn't fit their experience.

My use case is simple. I want to passively receive breaking news updates from my CNN app and I want news and score updates from ESPN. The contrarians who inhabit this forum will argue that live tiles serve the same purpose as a notification center, but they are wrong and this use case demonstrates why.

1. ESPN uses its live tile to show the scores of current games for just 1 "favorite" team and the start time of the next game
2. CNN uses it to show the top story cover photo

Both are valid and useful jobs for the live tile, neither allows me to use the live tile for what I want. Both provide toasts, but those toasts are not adequate because:

1. Toasts only show for a few seconds and are easy to miss
2. Toasts don't show up on the live tiles
3. Toasts don't side scroll so they are cut off and can't be read past the first 35 or so characters
4. Clicking a toast opens the app without allowing you to see the full content of the app and they aren't contextual so you don't get taken to the update
5. When multiple games are happening at the same time I will get several toasts in quick succession and there's no way to see the ones I missed

This is just the justification for a notification center for these 2 apps. There are other issues that apply to all apps.

1. Toasts from unpinned apps or small tile apps wouldn't have a live tile to show on.
2. Apps with multiple notifications would only show the most recent on a enabled live tile.

MS absolutely has to fix this deficiency and it becoming embarrassing that its missing. We're now on the 3rd or 4th major iteration of this UX and its still missing which scares me since it possible that MS dogmatically agrees with the naysayers and mistakenly believes that live tiles are adequate. Time to get moving on this MS, the Blue update had better have it.

 

[Dazzi]

Lots of good stuff in the 10 or so pages I read of this thread. I won't detail all the things that I want to see improved in WP8, most have been mentioned dozens and dozens of times. But I'm going to talk about one; really the only one that matters to me and the one thing that will drive me to Android when I buy my next phone if its still missing.

Notification Center.
I totally agree, it would be a welcome addition to live tiles and toasts -- a simple swipe from the left would be nice

 

[baaahthesheep]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but I would love to see more themes or even custom themes. Perhaps we can choose a secondary theme color from a colorpicker. I am using steel on dark, but I really like the looks of the high contrast theme, except when using it, the lock screen is either black or white.

Edit: well, I wasn't really paying attention to the thread name. I don't think it's absolutely necessary. But like most everyone has said here, it needs a notification center, and a way to close apps directly from the multitasking view. Another thing that I read somewhere and do want, but isn't necessary is a horizontal home screen layout.

 

[TAB1360]

My main problem is not enough good and official apps and games

 

[haikallp]

Simply put, more recognized apps, especially games. Many of my friends have hesitated on using WP because of the lack of apps. I, personally find it quite alright since most of the apps I need are in the windows phone store but there are still a number of well-known apps that are yet to be seen. Official Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps and many games like NOVA, Subway Surfers etc.

Here's a list of what I hope to see in Windows Phone soon.
1) Some sort of notification hub
2) Ability to create folder in the Photos Hub
3) Gapless music playback
4) Ability to manually close running apps in the multitasking menu
4) Add burst and timer mode in the native camera app
5) 'Reader' mode in internet explorer
6) Remove the contents in the 'other storage' section in settings
7) Change the ugly grey bg in the Music+Videos Hub
8) Abilty to group apps into a folder on the Start Screen
9) Smart-dialing in the native call app
10) Screen rotation lock
11) Wider keyboard in landscape orientation (currently there's unused spaces on the sides)
12) Separate volume profiles for system sounds and music/app sounds.
13) Quick settings for switching on WiFi, Data and Bluetooth.

 

[Spirited]

these saying no need for a notification system are not really using the phone much....you do not really need such an expensive smartphone...

the live tiles are not always live...and it does not make sense to put all apps into the home screen....then....how can you be aware of all the messages & notifications.........

are you checking apps one by one......? OMG..it is just so stupid!

 

[Kuldeep Singh Chauhan]

Nokia Lumia 820 : Lacks imp things, Again android seems to be better Option

I Purchase Nokia Lumia 820 last month (3 May 2013) with Rupees 23500/- after that I found below issues :

1. when i opened the cover to check SD card and fixed it back, volume (increase) stopped working, I opened the cover again and saw small copper things came out so i had to fixed it back,
but really felt bed that after two days this had ware issue has arrived, now I am afraid of opening the cover again...!!
2. Connectivity with PC is horrible, Zune or Windows phone app for desktop doesnot show any contents of windows phone (+sd card) on PC.. this is very frustrating. <infect plug and play should work here - but forget it>..
3.You cannot record incoming / out going call, even the app, which is paid one, is not working at all. I used to record my daughter (5 years old) voice when i talk to her to listen when i miss her. but this Lumia 820 has barred me from that as well. (common Nokia this is a very basic function..!!)
4. FM radio, do not hardware to run it - what a crap...!!.. there are app for FM but on internet the buffering sucks ..!!! but don't you think Nokia, that this should be there.
5. We cannot change Font style or size while typing text (email or sms)
6.We cannot change the colour of Tiles, only we are forced to use the default tiles colour.
7.Application are very very limited.
8.Bing photo of the day do not change automatically on the locked screen.
------------------------
I have spent Rupees 23500/- and got this phone which lacks basic functions..really a bed experience ..but i cannot tell my family and friends about my bed expriences with phone other wise they will be angry and laugh at the same time.. because i went against all of them to buy this phone..not i feel i should not have bought this phone at all.
Camera is good , but for camera only I have not bought this expensive phone
I had Nokia x3 phone earlier, that phone has every feature i needed but didn't have the big screen that's why i purchase this phone..but not very happy with the decision.

NOKIA, PLS UPGRADE YOUR PRODUCTS, EVEN I HAD BEEN IN FINLAND IN YOUR COOPERATE OFFICE IN KARAKAARI ESPOO, I WAS IMPRESSED THAT PEOPLE HAS TRUST ON YOUR CELL PHONE... BUT WHAT I GOT IS REALLY PISSING ME OFF..

 

[Kevin Rush]

Kuldeep Singh Chauhan;2001395,
I think you should exchange the phone for a different windows phone. Was it "used" or refurbished? Was the seller reputable?
I have never had any of the problems you list, or any other problem . . (Well, except for MS breaking Zune PC software/ and Xbox Music syncing.)

Please don't give up. Try a new / different Windows Phone.
- Best Wishes.

 

[Kuldeep Singh Chauhan]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for reply. I purchased brand new phone and seller was also have good reputation in market. I will go to check with him, if he can exchange it.

I have questions for you if you can answer those pls
1. How is windows phone connection with PC - when you connect USB cable, does it show all the folder of the phone (is usb connection plug and play ?)
2. can you record incoming /outgoing call ?
3. can you change Font style or size while typing text (email or sms) ?
4. can you change the Tiles color ?

 

[broar94]

1. How is windows phone connection with PC - when you connect USB cable, does it show all the folder of the phone (is usb connection plug and play ?) :: Usb connection is plug and play.
2. can you record incoming /outgoing call ? - With Voice Recorder or similar software we can record but I havent personally checked with the same.
3. can you change Font style or size while typing text (email or sms) ? - size can be modified(in Accessibility menu)
4. can you change the Tiles color ? - There are 20 default colours for Wp8 which we can change at any time . Also there are some Wp8 theme changer(WizTiles , wp themes) which can change icons, or set a particular color to icons(tile) if you like. Also u can have a particular row of tiles displaying a single picture of your liking, we can add more such tiles, if you prefer this. I am not sure about the name of the software but u can check Wp Store.

All the best!

 

[OberstDanjeje]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for reply. I purchased brand new phone and seller was also have good reputation in market. I will go to check with him, if he can exchange it.

I have questions for you if you can answer those pls
1. How is windows phone connection with PC - when you connect USB cable, does it show all the folder of the phone (is usb connection plug and play ?)
2. can you record incoming /outgoing call ?
3. can you change Font style or size while typing text (email or sms) ?
4. can you change the Tiles color ?

2. on WP8 you can't even if with WP7 you can, maybe will be introduced later (incidentally I read about it Yesterday )

 

[pengfoong]

When you hold the back button and goes to the app cards like thing, there are huge amounts of space at the top and at the bottom.
Seems wasted at the moment.

I would like it if some of the space is used for like eg:

top : a bar for notification center. swipe down to reveal notifications or go to the notification center.
bottom : a bar for common settings (wifi, bt, gps, data). Quick turning on and off.

Maybe not both but something would be nice.

 

[abel920]

Now that they showed the early designs on Windows Phone, I really wish it could have stayed that way.

I think Windows tried too hard with this whole Metro, and it made the whole experience dull and monochromatic. I really wish they could have just stayed back with WinMo and just enhanced it more instead of these tiles that we have now.

My eyes would die from this "minimalistic" view, when in fact it's hideous, and I don't say hideous that often. I just wish people would see that WP is just as limited as iOS in terms of customization. I didn't pay $600 for tiles. I want to have a real phone. No, I'm not switching to Android, I am staying with Windows because I am a Windows person.

For all the people that hate changes, you got what you want. For all the people who hates the slightest thought of giving more features and customizations, I hope you're happy with this minimalistic red eye gouging screen. It's so painful to look at.

People hated that there will be backgrounds in Windows 8.1, but as soon as they saw the beauty and harmony of true colours and blending of the backgrounds with the tiles, it just made the start screen so much beautiful, and people agreed to that.

Sighs... if only WP8 have these basic features:
Notification, Background, MORE customizations...

Yes, even with Wiztiles and Skinery, I am admitting I am getting very tired and bored with Windows Phone. Same colours same tiles, same blocks of tiles and shapes every day. ..

I mean is it really that big of a deal for me and other people to ask colour?