Why wont you try Windows Phone?

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#1154098 15-Oct-2014 08:44

nathan:
old3eyes:
nathan:
old3eyes: I succumbed and went and bought a Spark Nokia Lumia 520 off Trademe for $70.. Comments. Easy to set up with Spark SIM. Also tested with 2Degrees SIM . APNs populated OK.. Google and Outlook accounts setup and downloaded OK etc.. Considering that this is a bottom end phone it was quite quick.. Things I liked.

Double tap to wake up screen,
Camera button (all phones should have one)
Dialing keypad nice.

Things I didn’t like.

That keyboard. After using Swiftkey for the past year or so I find the Windows one somewhat lacking. Mainly no long press second function keys, always having to go to the numeric pad to enter say one number. Microsoft needs to do what Apple has done and open up this part of the OS.
No Spark app in the app store. Used the web shortcut method that seems to work.
The 2Degrees app needs a bit of work..

Generally a nice interface and could like with it but will give it another week. One thing. When I go to change the ring tones is there any way of previewing what they sound like?? Will run it passed the wife acceptance factor tonite..

Keyboard, it doesn't sound like you have Windows Phone 8.1 installed?

1. Could you describe the long press second function key. What I do to hit numbers, is touch the &123 button then drag my finger up to number in one swipe
2. try My Telecom app

ringtones do have a preview, just hit the play button to the left of the name

Hi Nathan.

About Phone says "Software Windows Phone 8.1

Thanx for tip on the ring tones. I should have seen that :-)

Long press is when the keypad has a second layer of numbers or symbols under the letter keys. When you hold down the letter key the number etc appears instead. A short press give the letter..

I couldn't find a "My Telecom" or "My Spark" app in the app store..

try the drag finger thing I suggested, it works well if you only have to enter 1 number

I have "My Telecom" and "Your Telecom" installed, not sure why you can't find them, maybe they rebranded them or something

Can't see anything in the app store with the name Telecom and the only Spark one is Spark Roaming app. Maybe the old ones were windows 7 only. I did find that the app WhatsApp complained about not being compatible but did install and works..

Regards,

Old3eyes

MackinNZ

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#1154127 15-Oct-2014 09:14

I really like Windows phones but I do find it annoying that apps are constantly released in iOS and Android versions only.

BNZ is a good example of this. Even the Ingram Micro app is not available for Windows phone. My Yamaha receiver amp has a great Android and iOS app but no Windows Phone version.

Why is this?

Wade

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#1154134 15-Oct-2014 09:21

Windows phone is an emotive topic for me, I really want to like it, it does so much right but it still seems to fall flat in part, while 8.1 is a good improvement over 8.0, the change is not incremental enough to keep up or even closely lag behind the other two major OS's. I think one of its strong points is its suitability for businesses, you can provide staff a relatively low cost handset that performs well while covering most daily demands such as email/calendar/interwebs etc

My HTC One packed a sad so I started using a Nokia 520 and i only managed a week before I went and bought a replacement Android, Android is maturing so fast these days that it is hard to fault

nathan

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#1154139 15-Oct-2014 09:24

MackinNZ: I really like Windows phones but I do find it annoying that apps are constantly released in iOS and Android versions only.

BNZ is a good example of this. Even the Ingram Micro app is not available for Windows phone. My Yamaha receiver amp has a great Android and iOS app but no Windows Phone version.

Why is this?

because the developers choose not to release them, mainly due to market share

nathan

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#1154140 15-Oct-2014 09:25

Wade: Windows phone is an emotive topic for me, I really want to like it, it does so much right but it still seems to fall flat in part, while 8.1 is a good improvement over 8.0, the change is not incremental enough to keep up or even closely lag behind the other two major OS's. I think one of its strong points is its suitability for businesses, you can provide staff a relatively low cost handset that performs well while covering most daily demands such as email/calendar/interwebs etc

My HTC One packed a sad so I started using a Nokia 520 and i only managed a week before I went and bought a replacement Android, Android is maturing so fast these days that it is hard to fault

would be good to understand what you think is missing in 8.1 vs Android and iOS from an OS point of view

nathan

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#1154141 15-Oct-2014 09:26

old3eyes:
nathan:
old3eyes:
nathan:
old3eyes: I succumbed and went and bought a Spark Nokia Lumia 520 off Trademe for $70.. Comments. Easy to set up with Spark SIM. Also tested with 2Degrees SIM . APNs populated OK.. Google and Outlook accounts setup and downloaded OK etc.. Considering that this is a bottom end phone it was quite quick.. Things I liked.

Double tap to wake up screen,
Camera button (all phones should have one)
Dialing keypad nice.

Things I didn’t like.

That keyboard. After using Swiftkey for the past year or so I find the Windows one somewhat lacking. Mainly no long press second function keys, always having to go to the numeric pad to enter say one number. Microsoft needs to do what Apple has done and open up this part of the OS.
No Spark app in the app store. Used the web shortcut method that seems to work.
The 2Degrees app needs a bit of work..

Generally a nice interface and could like with it but will give it another week. One thing. When I go to change the ring tones is there any way of previewing what they sound like?? Will run it passed the wife acceptance factor tonite..

Keyboard, it doesn't sound like you have Windows Phone 8.1 installed?

1. Could you describe the long press second function key. What I do to hit numbers, is touch the &123 button then drag my finger up to number in one swipe
2. try My Telecom app

ringtones do have a preview, just hit the play button to the left of the name

Hi Nathan.

About Phone says "Software Windows Phone 8.1

Thanx for tip on the ring tones. I should have seen that :-)

Long press is when the keypad has a second layer of numbers or symbols under the letter keys. When you hold down the letter key the number etc appears instead. A short press give the letter..

I couldn't find a "My Telecom" or "My Spark" app in the app store..

try the drag finger thing I suggested, it works well if you only have to enter 1 number

I have "My Telecom" and "Your Telecom" installed, not sure why you can't find them, maybe they rebranded them or something

Can't see anything in the app store with the name Telecom and the only Spark one is Spark Roaming app. Maybe the old ones were windows 7 only. I did find that the app WhatsApp complained about not being compatible but did install and works..

maybe tweet them and ask where it is or what happened to it

I'm using the My Telecom app on my WP8.1 phone right now

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#1154142 15-Oct-2014 09:27

I have used Blackberry, Android, IOS and Windows Phone, with my disabilities I have found that WP is the best one handed phone OS I have used, the frustrations I have due to apps is pushing the change on me. A shame as I really like WP especially 8.1 and the hardware is very nice.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

freitasm

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#1154143 15-Oct-2014 09:28

nathan:
Wade: Windows phone is an emotive topic for me, I really want to like it, it does so much right but it still seems to fall flat in part, while 8.1 is a good improvement over 8.0, the change is not incremental enough to keep up or even closely lag behind the other two major OS's. I think one of its strong points is its suitability for businesses, you can provide staff a relatively low cost handset that performs well while covering most daily demands such as email/calendar/interwebs etc

My HTC One packed a sad so I started using a Nokia 520 and i only managed a week before I went and bought a replacement Android, Android is maturing so fast these days that it is hard to fault

would be good to understand what you think is missing in 8.1 vs Android and iOS from an OS point of view

Small things. For example Share doesn't have Twitter as an option - because the new social API replaced the old integration and Twitter didn't bother update their app. So that's a bummer right there.

On the other hand if you only need email, browser, maps, Facebook and SMS then it's great - my wife got a new Windows Phone to replace an old one who was broken. I gave her an Android HTC One for a while but she didn't like it at all - but she doesn't use anything else.

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#1154144 15-Oct-2014 09:28

nathan:
old3eyes:
nathan:
old3eyes:
nathan:
old3eyes: I succumbed and went and bought a Spark Nokia Lumia 520 off Trademe for $70.. Comments. Easy to set up with Spark SIM. Also tested with 2Degrees SIM . APNs populated OK.. Google and Outlook accounts setup and downloaded OK etc.. Considering that this is a bottom end phone it was quite quick.. Things I liked.

Double tap to wake up screen,
Camera button (all phones should have one)
Dialing keypad nice.

Things I didn’t like.

That keyboard. After using Swiftkey for the past year or so I find the Windows one somewhat lacking. Mainly no long press second function keys, always having to go to the numeric pad to enter say one number. Microsoft needs to do what Apple has done and open up this part of the OS.
No Spark app in the app store. Used the web shortcut method that seems to work.
The 2Degrees app needs a bit of work..

Generally a nice interface and could like with it but will give it another week. One thing. When I go to change the ring tones is there any way of previewing what they sound like?? Will run it passed the wife acceptance factor tonite..

Keyboard, it doesn't sound like you have Windows Phone 8.1 installed?

1. Could you describe the long press second function key. What I do to hit numbers, is touch the &123 button then drag my finger up to number in one swipe
2. try My Telecom app

ringtones do have a preview, just hit the play button to the left of the name

Hi Nathan.

About Phone says "Software Windows Phone 8.1

Thanx for tip on the ring tones. I should have seen that :-)

Long press is when the keypad has a second layer of numbers or symbols under the letter keys. When you hold down the letter key the number etc appears instead. A short press give the letter..

I couldn't find a "My Telecom" or "My Spark" app in the app store..

try the drag finger thing I suggested, it works well if you only have to enter 1 number

I have "My Telecom" and "Your Telecom" installed, not sure why you can't find them, maybe they rebranded them or something

Can't see anything in the app store with the name Telecom and the only Spark one is Spark Roaming app. Maybe the old ones were windows 7 only. I did find that the app WhatsApp complained about not being compatible but did install and works..

maybe tweet them and ask where it is or what happened to it

I'm using the My Telecom app on my WP8.1 phone right now

TCL App or are you using a Shortcut to the Web access?

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

nathan

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#1154187 15-Oct-2014 10:06

freitasm:
nathan:
Wade: Windows phone is an emotive topic for me, I really want to like it, it does so much right but it still seems to fall flat in part, while 8.1 is a good improvement over 8.0, the change is not incremental enough to keep up or even closely lag behind the other two major OS's. I think one of its strong points is its suitability for businesses, you can provide staff a relatively low cost handset that performs well while covering most daily demands such as email/calendar/interwebs etc

My HTC One packed a sad so I started using a Nokia 520 and i only managed a week before I went and bought a replacement Android, Android is maturing so fast these days that it is hard to fault

would be good to understand what you think is missing in 8.1 vs Android and iOS from an OS point of view

Small things. For example Share doesn't have Twitter as an option - because the new social API replaced the old integration and Twitter didn't bother update their app. So that's a bummer right there.

On the other hand if you only need email, browser, maps, Facebook and SMS then it's great - my wife got a new Windows Phone to replace an old one who was broken. I gave her an Android HTC One for a while but she didn't like it at all - but she doesn't use anything else.

In the mean time I'm using app called MultiShare for that

Be good to understand more that is no keeping up or even closely lagging behind in WP vs iOS/Android

Wade

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#1154204 15-Oct-2014 10:32

nathan:
Wade: Windows phone is an emotive topic for me, I really want to like it, it does so much right but it still seems to fall flat in part, while 8.1 is a good improvement over 8.0, the change is not incremental enough to keep up or even closely lag behind the other two major OS's. I think one of its strong points is its suitability for businesses, you can provide staff a relatively low cost handset that performs well while covering most daily demands such as email/calendar/interwebs etc

My HTC One packed a sad so I started using a Nokia 520 and i only managed a week before I went and bought a replacement Android, Android is maturing so fast these days that it is hard to fault

would be good to understand what you think is missing in 8.1 vs Android and iOS from an OS point of view

There are a number of small things that any one or two you would overlook but collectively they compound

One minor issue that is probably a feature as much as a problem is when on Bluetooth audible notifications only route through BT, in the car I have a BT receiver wired in through aux in so if using radio or CD i don't hear notifications or phone ringing, android gives me notifications via BT and the inbuilt speaker. The app store while hugely better than it was a year ago is still very limited. Not being able to select downloadable notifications for SMS/email etc is another thing that bugs me, i can have ringtones but not notifications? Another problem i encountered was the IE browser wouldn't play nice with McDonald's monopoly website. Right now i can't remember some of hte other little things that bugged me and given perspective they are not major issues or dealbreakers but means as user I am not going to further reconsider WP until maybe the next major update but even then i would hold little hope of it swaying me away from Android despite me being or wanting to be a WP believer

I always thought WP had a potential niche in the low to mid end sector with a great cost/performance offering but Android are finally beginning to address the fragmentation issue head on and when you can buy a phone such as a moto g for $300 locally which has an up to date OS, guaranteed OS upgrade path, and does all and more that a year old top of the line windows phone its hard to argue a case against Android

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#1154213 15-Oct-2014 10:41

nathan: Be good to understand more that is no keeping up or even closely lagging behind in WP vs iOS/Android

Things that matter to me that prevent WP from being a daily driver:

Lack of micro SD in flagships

Lack of wired TV out option

Lack of USB host and bluetooth gamepad facilities (I understand USB host is coming in 8.1, but a quick look online suggests it isn't working for anyone)

Lack of FLAC audio support

Not sure if still a current thing, but previously no good video players with wide codec capabilities

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GregV

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#1154286 15-Oct-2014 11:11

For me, the big things that are missing are the 'local' NZ apps. 2Degrees and Powershop are notable exclusions, where I have to use a website pinned to my home screen. Companies cite market share, but the market share won't grow with the lack of apps. I'd like to thank the NZ businesses that do provide WP apps, in particular ASB Bank, AirNZ and MetService

nathan

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#1154301 15-Oct-2014 11:29

Market share isn't those companies problem

I guess they are betting on the fact you will change phone OS before you'd leave them as a customer and switch Telco or power company or bank

The Developer team here in NZ is working with all of this brands and we are getting much more traction now we have universal apps that go across phone, tablet, desktop

old3eyes

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#1154384 15-Oct-2014 12:52

Anyone know on Lumia 520 how to stop it powering back on again when you plug in the charger??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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