Save me from going iPhone? Future of Windows phone, etc.

[Mad Cabbie]

The various OS have their own pros and cons. It depends on what compromises you are willing to put up with.

As mentioned previously, I used to tinker with android roms, mainly for the note 3. Samsungs TW is appalling! The amount of bloatware they ship is incredible! Some of the apps they install have become defunct due to Samsung ceasing the product support.

The note 3 became incredibly 'laggy' after a period of activity, and as they got older, the heat generation became worrying. The only way to improve the phablet, and other a droid devices was custom roms with the crap removed. Doing this enabled me to port a note 4 rom, and run it as quick as it would on a note 4. Other devices also showed lag issues. Luckily I got to play with a one+one, an android device made for stock android and Cyanagen roms. Yay!

As for iOS, the devices are nice, apart from the 6plus 'bending', but they are horrifically expensive to replace / repair. In the UK the contracts for iPhones are ridiculously expensive, along with the plethora of android flagships. The saving grace is that Apple, unlike Samsung, don't release a 'new' device whenever it rains!!! How many times can you re-invent the wheel???
iOS seems to treat you like an idiotic 2 year old. The interface is a little dull. I find the iOS bland, despite the fact I use iMacs at home, and a Macbook air when mobile.

I left Android as I never felt the OS was developed to it's full potential, with many bugs under the hood JB4.4.3 was very good. Lollipop is a different animal, still full of bugs and the material design is 'odd' in my eyes.

I like WP, and despite it's own drawbacks, I find it more user friendly. I am not overly concerned about app availability, although it would be nice if that would be addressed in win10, but it's not a deal breaker for me. If I want to game, I'll use my tablet. I also like the price of the devices, although, as mentioned in a previous post, the catalogue needs slimming. My whole house is WP now! 930, 640, 635, 535 and a 435 (?20.00!! to buy!!), and no one complains of lag. I've had a go at asphalt 8 on the 435 and NO lag. I was surprised to say the least.

What you buy, is up to the individual, no matter what OS you choose, there are issues. You've got to go for what suits you. As a cab driver, the 930 suits me, and I'm not likely to be mugged for a windows phone. When I had an S5 I got robbed in the car, bye bye phone!!

 

[MikeSo]

If Nadella is serious about wanting Windows delighting it's users, then he's going to have to find some way of stopping OEMs putting their greasy fingers into the pie

THIS, x 100!!! EVERY single time, and I mean EVERY time, in the last decade or so that I've heard people complain about "Windows" or having problems with "Windows" it has been because of the awful bloatware that is preinstalled. All these unnecessary things like "network manager" or "photo editor" that start up every time the computer is turned on, or the crappy "anti-virus" trial software etc... EVERY TIME. And that's what people think is "Windows". I know Microsoft gets paid for those abominations, but they have done more harm to Microsoft's reputation than anything else. Personally, I have bought separate Windows licenses for my computers and done clean installs. Most people are not willing to pay extra for that or do that work, however. I hope that with Windows 10, Microsoft is a lot more selective and restrictive about what bloatware the manufacturers put on there.

Sorry for the off-topic rant.

 

[MikeSo]

I can't imagine ever being able to tap and pay natively with my WP on a card reader or at an oyster reader despite the NFC hardware built in.

Well, here in the US, it did actually work, at least briefly, a little while ago. Then Gogole bought the company that provided the service, and WP was left in the cold again.

iPhones get so much free advertising because the non-tech celebrities and journalists use it.

 

[Mindi B]

You are making bigger drama than it actually is. There are apps, there are developers delivering to the platform, Microsoft doesn't ditch the platform and will continue on it as one of the standpoint of ecosystem. Personally, I don't care if there is 5 or 10 milion apps in store as far as I am covered for all my needs, which at this moment is true. I don't feel any dramatical lack of apps. If I don't need a service why should I need an app for that service? I dont care if some Australian private bus company has iPhone app. It's not a criteria for me to choose the mobile platform I will use on daily basis.

Hardly. It's a VERY big deal. With no ecosystem, there's nothing that WP can offer as a mobile OS. There are developers delivering, but none of the services are of significance in comparison to what standards are being set by iOS and Android.

The proof is in the pudding - were this factor incorrect, this discussion would not be taking place. MS would not need to constantly reinvent their mobile strategy so that they can find ways for it to succeed. It's that clear and simple.

You and many other users of WP *have* to care about this. Whether or not you use many apps is of no importance, many other people out there, who want equivalent app selection / availability, WOULD jump onto WP if it had an ecosystem worth committing to. However, it doesn't. Third party apps are simply not good enough. It needs to be the real thing to matter enough to the public who would consider moving over and thus helping this platform grow.

One day you're going to be in another country and need a service which is available on iOS and Android, and has no presence on Windows Phone. See how you feel then. If you haven't already.

No developer support = no ecosystem. And it's MS who is to blame for it all.

 

[Steve Adams]

Agreed, the "app gap" is real, and its bad! I just hope with the new OS we get some love from MS to level the playing field, or im outta here too. I cannot stand being on my android phone, thinking, this app needs to be on WP so I can use my awesome 1020. Drives me nuts. I think with the new OS, they have code in place where developers just take their already developed app, toss it into a program, and it converts for windows phone. Did I understand that right from an event from a few months back?

 

[Slovenix]

All I want is a working smooth Windows mobile that looks better than any other thing available yet.

 

[OttawaMan]

Good question! As I am asking myself the same now with the way windows mobile is shaping up.
I'm not basing on news, but from experience. On a personal note I quite enjoyed the news, will it bear fruits, well here's to a big hope.
Anyhow, yes I've become embedded on the Microsoft ecosystem also, an have always had a strong few of "buying into the ecosystem". An guess what Microsoft has made it so easy to streamline between ecosystems, so thx I guess.
If windows 10 for mobile does not pan out at launch software/hardware front, yes I will switch to an iPhone an I've never owned one, always loathed apple as a whole, but hey by iPhone 6 they got the hardware right, software blah boring but works for the end user, an that's what my wants an needs are as of today.
Laptop/PC.....that will be a tough one to move to, but in time m

Dude. 'and' has a 'd' at then end of it.