Why wont you try Windows Phone?

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#961325 4-Jan-2014 23:17

Does anyone know if there is a shared code base for IE in Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8? I've got a website (WHS) that is broken in both platforms, and it got me to thinking if there are some parts that are actually shared?

Benzin

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#961334 5-Jan-2014 00:16

lyonrouge: Does anyone know if there is a shared code base for IE in Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8? I've got a website (WHS) that is broken in both platforms, and it got me to thinking if there are some parts that are actually shared?

Yup! (ish)

Uses the same rendering engine as IE10. So Windows 8, but not Windows 8.1.
Furthermore a bit of code behind the scenes is shared between Windows 8, RT, Phone 8, and Xbox One (at least with one of the operating systems under the hypervisor) and Server 2012 (R2). It makes cross programming for these platforms quite a bit easier.

That said, even though they are based off the same kernel, Microsoft is trying to merge all these even closer together. (what that means, i'm not quite sure)

TinyTim

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#961397 5-Jan-2014 10:17

Something from ZDnet:

A year of living with Windows Phone: What I've learned so far

He was using a Lumia 920, and liked these benefits (compared to iPhone):

- camera and camera apps
- better deal contract than equivalent iPhone contract
- productivity and navigation apps

lyonrouge

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#961425 5-Jan-2014 10:58

TinyTim: Something from ZDnet:

A year of living with Windows Phone: What I've learned so far

He was using a Lumia 920, and liked these benefits (compared to iPhone):

- camera and camera apps
- better deal contract than equivalent iPhone contract
- productivity and navigation apps

"Productivity" appears to be applicable to the "freelance" lifestyle, I'm still to be convince for us corporate lifestylers. Skydrive Pro not supporting on site SharePoint is disappointing. Somewhat typical "cloud is the answer" mentality at the moment.

Edit: the camera is the only reason I'm on WP8, so agree there, and the navigation is good, with OotB downloadable maps a plus.

Technofreak

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#961523 5-Jan-2014 14:33

TinyTim: Something from ZDnet:

A year of living with Windows Phone: What I've learned so far

He was using a Lumia 920, and liked these benefits (compared to iPhone):

- camera and camera apps
- better deal contract than equivalent iPhone contract
- productivity and navigation apps

Gotta wonder how much he really knows about the 920.

He didn't even mention Here (Nokia) Maps and Drive yet mentioned Co-Pilot, you have to wonder why.

He claimed there was no "workable tool for copying music from PC to phone ". It not that hard. There's no special tool required, just connect the phone to your laptop, it shows up as a drive, and copy the music across.

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lyonrouge

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#961526 5-Jan-2014 14:50

I'm guessing Zune would also work? I'm using WMP currently and it works fine.

Technofreak

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#961537 5-Jan-2014 15:16

lyonrouge: I'm guessing Zune would also work? I'm using WMP currently and it works fine.

I don't think Zune works with WP8

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NzBeagle

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#961547 5-Jan-2014 15:42

I think you're right, I installed some other app, and then uninstalled as it didn't offer anything.

What are people using for WP? The 8x is getting on now, like the sound of the 925, first non HTC WP I would have, but it seems Nokia is the main producer these days.

lyonrouge

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#961603 5-Jan-2014 19:03

Technofreak:
lyonrouge: I'm guessing Zune would also work? I'm using WMP currently and it works fine.

I don't think Zune works with WP8

After a little bit of reading it appears Zune is dead, so I guess I'll stay with WMP (there doesn't seem to be a Metro equivalent).

DarthKermit

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#961606 5-Jan-2014 19:13

Why? Because I have no reason to want to try WinFones.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

lyonrouge

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#961610 5-Jan-2014 19:24

Is there something specific, anti Microsoft or other? I think that the Microsoft name may, in itself, be off-putting to some users..

alexx

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#961672 6-Jan-2014 00:43

NZtechfreak:
oxnsox: Currently Windows Phone is the only platform where you can buy a low end device (Lumia 520) working on the same OS platform as the entire OS product range. Similarly priced Android devices run OS versions generations old, and iOS really offers no low end lead in.

This kind of sentiment is getting a lot of play in this thread, it's no longer true though. Read some Moto G reviews...

I've also noticed a number of similar posts and I'm not sure what these have to do with the question:
- Why wont YOU try a Windows Phone?

Perhaps those people are attempting add an additional question... like, what phone has the best features/spec for under $200?

But the people that visit this site are geeks, which most often means:

1. They like to tinker - and Windows Phone is still pretty locked down.
2. They could be working in a role that requires a phone with more features/performance than a low end phone.
3. They could have a higher than average income, so their budget is more than $200, perhaps $400, $500 or $1000 for a smartphone.

It's interesting to note that over 25% of the WP world runs on Lumia 520.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Over-25-of-the-WP-world-runs-on-Nokias-Lumia-520-Lumia-1020-is-nowhere-in-sight_id49776

Perhaps the cheapest dual core phone with that display resolution? It makes me wonder if Nokia/Microsoft have been subsidising the cost of producing the 520, in order to buy market share. Microsoft have deep pockets, so it will interesting see how long they can continue this strategy and will others (other than the Moto G already discussed) follow into the same price range with decent hardware.

I'm wondering if the people that buy the low end phones even care about apps and ecosystems? Perhaps these are just being purchased as if they were a feature phone and 90% of the time they get used for Voice, SMS, Music and perhaps facebook and maps. Will that bring brand loyalty to Microsoft, or will the same people get confused when the replacement model is no longer a "Nokia" or a "Lumia" like the last one they had?

#include <standard.disclaimer>

lyonrouge

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#961733 6-Jan-2014 09:00

I first tried it because work gave me one for free (WP7).
I've tried it again (WP8) because it was on my camera phone and supported more than one Exchange account (my previous camera phone (Symbian^3 on Nokia N8) only allowed one.

networkn

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#961753 6-Jan-2014 09:40

Why won't I try it? Because what would it offer me ? Android meets my needs, Samsung makes nicer hardware in my opinion, and having to buy a third platforms apps is a pita! Also there is a MUCH smaller number of apps available compared to Android.

In Short.. No compelling reason to switch.

dclegg

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#961793 6-Jan-2014 11:01

I am keen on trying Windows Phone, and as such have bought Lumias (610 and 620) for my kids' latest smartphones. My oldest daughter had an Android (Huawei X5), but she was never very happy with it. For her birthday, I purchased her a Lumia 620 as an upgrade.

It was far from a smooth start to the Windows Phone ecosystem. For a couple of days we could not create a Windows Live account, or use an existing one that had been created via the Microsoft website. The error messages were at first obscure, and would also be followed by ones indicating the user name or password were incorrect. The obscure error messages returned the first time you tried to login with an existing account after a phone reboot. Second and subsequent login attempts would then be met with invalid user or password.

When the phone was in this state, Internet Explorer would also not work. It would remain stuck on trying to load any web page. Other web connected applications worked with no issue, so web connectivity was working in general.

After a bit of googling, I discovered that one of the error codes being thrown up during the account creation process (FFFFFE70) could be solved by performing a hard reset. Once I had done that, I was able to successfully create an account for my daughter. This also fixed the IE issues she had been experiencing.

Thankfully I'm not afraid of rolling up my sleeves and throwing a few things at problems like these. I know many less technically minded people wouldn't. And the support phone number I was directed to call (which wasn't listed or quoted when doing so; I used the Nokia NZ helpline), kept telling me to try the Nokia website for assistance. The website was of absolutely no use at all for this particular error, and I found the solution listed in an online forum hosted elsewhere.

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