Switching to a Windows Phone Today

You are going to find a definite decrease in your choice of apps with a windows phone as apposed to Android or Apple. It hasn't bothered me since I'm not a huge app person. I have all the ones I want.

My biggest suggestion is 'Cal': http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/cal/352d9174-fd31-4b50-8861-212f4fa1bc3c

I love my Windows phone, but the built in calendar is a disgrace.

All the rest I have are typical apps: Amazon, Imdb, Kindle, Pandora, etc.

Oh, I also got Ringtones Pro because I hate the built in ringtones: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/ringtones-pro/7a32dd8f-9ba3-4a3c-8a8c-93cbb4ba8300

 

lol. Okay..well, then you shouldn't have a problem. I haven't found it anemic myself since I don't need 10,000 apps, but I know it's been a complaint for people.

 

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store

http://windowsphoneapplist.com/en/

 

I am a HUGE believer that no phone OS is bad. It's a personal preference that does not make one better than the other. What one person thinks is the best phone in the world could be the worst for someone else.

I clicked on your link and have to say I agree with at least the first few reply posts I read (I didn't read any further, was just curious as to what the response to the post was). Of course, they posted their rant on a Windows phone forum and you would not expect much support. LOL

No phone is perfect (and that includes iphones). They all have their idiosyncrasies and their things that some people don't like. I listed a couple of mine about the Windows phone in my first post in this thread.

I had an iPhone for 3 years. My contract was up after 2, but I chose to keep the iphone just so I could wait for the Windows 8 phones to come out because I was sick of some aspects of my iPhone and wanted to give the windows phone a try. I've had my Windows phone now for almost 2 years. When my contract is up, I'll be getting another one (probably a Nokia instead of a HTC). I love the way it works and I much much prefer the highly customizable metro setup of it to the icon view of the iPhone. Not that this even matters, but I even find it much more attractive than the iPhone.

Camera-wise...as long as I'm outside, it takes much better pictures than my iphone did. Indoors, it pretty much sucks. That being said, I don't care about cell phone pictures because I'm very much into photography and have a professional Nikon DSLR camera. I can not imagine wanting to take cell phone pictures...again, a very personal preference.

Anyway...none of this was to tell you your view or opinion were wrong, because for you they weren't. Just a post to say I've had my phone since Win 8 phones came out and will be getting another one.

Oh, and as far as security goes. I do not have any on my phone and have never had any issues. I'm sure someone else can speak of this more, but I don't believe windows cell phones have issues with that yet. (from Kaspersky's website: http://blog.kaspersky.com/windows-8-security-apps/)

 

Very nice Jeremy, now I've never been one for "apps" per-say as having 100k's of apps that are naff, does not make a phone.

iPhones great starter for users but Android and Windows are basically caught up now in usability (not apps for the reason I mentioned), I've had 3 Windows Phones so far and on a Nokia 920 now, updates unlike iOS have been ok, no issues.

Now apps, to be honest a lot of the default apps are superb and I know a few have been mentioned already like OneDrive, Skype but even down to Office Mobile (ok basic but you can easily work on non complex docs.

Here Drive+ (awesome sat nav if you don't have one or want a mobile one, don't think its for non Nokia's though)


Does it have Windows 8.1 update on it? if so then again some of the built in additions are good Battery Manager is one, and others 3rd party or built in ones I have are:


Blink
Files
Office Lens

Built in Internet Sharing (have an ok data account, so I use this a lot with my Surface)

 

Cool

Some of the inbuilt apps for WP8.1 are handy, Data Sense, Storage Sense is much better now, guessing a MSFT theme there with the word Sense, Device Hub is handy.

 

Yeah OneDrive integration has gotten me out of a few problems, when I forget documents for work when traveling, do also check out OfficeLens as its a great scan tool for whiteboard and docs etc and sends to OneNote.

 

OneDrive access time, don't know the actual time, but for me its quick on my 4G connection, but definitely more convenient as if you have OneDrive on at desktops or tablets the files sync so your pretty much up to date always.

Great for using the Desktop app in Windows 8 and downloadable for Windows 7 and using Explorer to move files in and out of the OneDrive file listing. 15GB currently free is not too bad, you can get extra 8GB with using Windows Phone (or just enabling once) Camera Roll Backup = 3GB and more for inviting friends to a max of 10 = 500MB each so max 5GB

Currently I have 27GB due to being part of beta etc gained extra that way.

 

Nice review Jeremy, I found the same with my Nokia it beat the iPhone hands down and with larger screen to boot. Think the app and battery management helps alot.

Not tried the beta lockscreen as UK users cannot download it yet.

I agree with you on smooth quick responsiveness. Also agree IE mobile is naff, not the best they could have done.

The integration with BT and some cars is fantastic, Fiat's or majority of them (spec option on others) has Blue and Me which is a tie in with Microsoft, so runs a Windows Mobile OS, this makes using Windows Phones superb and adds more options like SMS voice control and reading of SMS, not all phones have this ability and not all Nokia's do either.

Cortana we don't have in the UK yet, comes in a months time IIRC.


Glad you like it Jeremy, WPs are very underestimated and the press/reviewers latch onto the amount of apps over usability/security etc

 

Do you still like your phone, Adryn?

I have the HTC 8X and I like it a lot, but there is a major glitch with the texting that is a deal breaker for me if it's happening with your model. (On search, this is a big issue for a lot of people that was obviously never addressed)

Basically, the phone will randomly (regardless of signal strength) give you a 'Can't Send, Try again' error message while trying to text. Sometimes it takes 3 attempts to go through, sometimes it requires a reboot of the phone.

Are you having any notable issues with your phone?

 

Did you have the HTC 8X, dy?

Looks like the one you got has some good ratings. Not a lot of storage though. I'm with Verizon and they have the M8. My contract is up for renewal in Nov. This phone I have now works perfectly and is a 5 out of 5 if it weren't for the texting issue...which is a big deal now days.

I was thinking about going with a Nokia.