Why wont you try Windows Phone?

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Ultimate Geek

#1156094 16-Oct-2014 13:38

Skype Qik, from the NZ store a day or so ago. I was a bit disappointed that they called it Skype Qik, as I was looking forward to getting a 'Q' app in my list :)

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#1156097 16-Oct-2014 13:42

GregV: Skype Qik, from the NZ store a day or so ago. I was a bit disappointed that they called it Skype Qik, as I was looking forward to getting a 'Q' app in my list :)

Where???

GregV

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Ultimate Geek

#1156099 16-Oct-2014 13:47

I found it on my Twitter feed, but like you, I can't find it in search
This link http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=e145af3f-2aab-4e78-8699-ce948e26d27f from this site http://www.skype.com/en/qik/ should get you there.

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#1156100 16-Oct-2014 13:47

freitasm:
Where??

Might be a regional thing? Doesn't show on my phone or nz app store either... found it here but pushing it didn't seem to work:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/skype-qik/e145af3f-2aab-4e78-8699-ce948e26d27f

Aha, though pushing it sent a link to my live account email, and clicking that has worked :)

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#1156132 16-Oct-2014 14:29

Thanks. Either way, it was available immediately after announcement on Google Play, but I still can't find it on Windows Phone store.

The links work but seriously, if not even Microsoft can make distribution work for their own platform...

lyonrouge

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#1156211 16-Oct-2014 15:57

I think I would list that as one of the reasons people may not want to try a windows phone, regional releasing, especially for those of us in NZ which is neglected.

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#1157566 18-Oct-2014 18:00

Posted a series of screenshots in my blog here.

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Master Geek

#1157998 19-Oct-2014 18:50

Here is what I posted on my facebook page in February 2013 and still holds true today.

"I have joined the 'smart-phone' generation finally. An IT guru/master taking this long to finally join what all and sundry are moving to now in mass, may seem surprising. I am certainly not a bleeding-edge person like I was in my younger days where I enjoyed having my PDA to stay organised in the 1990s.

However, what 30+ years in IT has taught me is that careful consideration and planning is required to chose to implement any IT systems into what you do. And it is not simply a Features versus Features comparison that any person can, but a full assessment of the overall requirement, longevity and reliability.

It is in this light that I selected what I believe is the best 'smart-phone', all things considered.

Now I suppose you now want to know know what I choose ... patience please - it is best I still explain my decision ;)

The iPhone was the very first 'smart-phone' that was a real game changer. The ones before that, like the Palm, Windows, Blackberry were essentially quirky feature phones. Then a few year later came Android. Here was an OS and Hardware system that was open and infinitely customisable. Each generation the OS got better especially after 2.3x (and now upto 4.1x).

HTC was effectively leading with their regular 'Halo' phones in the first stages of the 'Android' revolution. Samsung and Sony came along a bit later. Samsung then took the baton and raced ahead of all competitors with their Galaxy Series phones leading to their ultimate Galaxy S3 and monstrous Note/Note 2. Meanwhile Apple was effectively getting left behind as it simply evolved slowly but stayed essentially the same.

The features of the Android phones are phenomenal. Large screens, great resolutions, quad-core CPUs, expandable memory, great cameras, etc. Integration with google apps are seamless and their customisation options endless.

Nevertheless they had a flaw. Poor long-term manufacturer support. When you buy an Android phone, it is generally a few point releases behind the latest OS release. You then have to wait for the manufacturer to release a patch to upgrade to the next release. In addition, you then need to wait for the manufacturer's release to be approved and possibly tweaked by the carrier you use. This often means you can be many releases behind for security fixes if you stay on the Manufacturer/Carrier release cycle. (NOTE: You can bypass all this by patching your phone directly via the many tools available). In addition manufacturer support for the phone generally stops after about 18 months of a phone being released.

Apple on the other hand, while it simply evolves, its updates are sent directly to the phone, without requiring any carrier or manufacturer steps. This means you are effectively on the latest release much faster. This is especially important as 'hackers' are now targeting 'smart-phones', directly. In addition Apple generally supports its phones for at least 3-4 years.

I intend to use my phone for at a minimum of 3-4 years and want to have the most up to date security on it at all times.

It has been a carefully considered decision with only the colour and the storage been the final stages. So I suppose you can now guess what I have chosen -

An iPhone 5 - White - 64 GB version"

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#1158044 19-Oct-2014 20:13

freitasm: Posted a series of screenshots in my blog here.

Thanks for somewhat promoting the thread. I have a couple of pages to catch up on and your blog piece :)

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#1158059 19-Oct-2014 20:30

Because of that blog post and this thread Bill Bennett posted this piece today: "Why people won’t try Windows Phone"

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#1158063 19-Oct-2014 20:36

I surrendered on Windows phone today and purchased a Samsung Galaxy S5

savaii

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Master Geek

#1158286 20-Oct-2014 10:57

KiwiNZ: I surrendered on Windows phone today and purchased a Samsung Galaxy S5

You made a good choice, however picking the Sony Z3 would have been the great choice (imo)!

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#1158719 20-Oct-2014 18:31

From my perspective the issue has not really been with the hardware (although I do question why some phones don't have a camera both sides when that is a pretty popular feature). I think the issue for me is that I find the design principle behind 'tiles' flawed both in concept and in implementation (and I am also referring to the Xbox one, Windows 8 as well as Windows Phone) - at least, as a user, I find tiles difficult to use which is what I base my view on.

From a conceptual point of view, I get the feeling that tiles (and more specifically live tiles) increase cognitive loading for the end user making them have to think to use the device. Live tiles on the lock screen for signalling notifications I think are a good idea but not as a main screen option, my preference is for icons, where I can rely on size and position - a kind of pavlovian conditioning - to find and open an app. I also find the swipe to the right to see a list of apps (which I then have to spend time scrolling down to find the option I want) difficult. I don't need to do this on other platforms because I can organise all of the menus to how I want them to be.

I remember my Compaq IPAQ which used icons and I don't remember having an issue with regards to usability with it (except the need to use the stylus).

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Technofreak

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#1158858 20-Oct-2014 21:56

The Nokia Windows Phone experience tells a story. It doesn't explain why there is such a low uptake of Windows Phone, but it does show smartphone owners shying away from the opportunity to have a WP smartphone.

Elop bet the farm on Windows Phone and lost - Big time.

When the Nokia Windows Phone decision was announced, according the Gartner, Nokia had over 35% of the smartphone market. What is the total Windows Phone share today? Bill Bennett mentions a figure of less than 3%, remember this figure includes all manufacturers not just Nokia. One would have expected that a good proportion of the existing Nokia owners would have stayed with Nokia and taken up the Windows Phone OS. Nokia has a reputation for making good hardware and had a pretty loyal following. This didn't happen. It certainly begs the question as to why?

I guess the writing was on the wall when Nokia's "stillborn" OS, Meego, which wasn't released in many of Nokia's main markets, outsold Windows Phone.

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Snowflake

#1158895 20-Oct-2014 22:43

Technofreak: When the Nokia Windows Phone decision was announced, according the Gartner, Nokia had over 35% of the smartphone market. What is the total Windows Phone share today?

the smartphone market was pretty small then, compared to today, and they were getting killed by ios and android so they had to do something. Symbian wasn't winning, meego might have made a difference, but it never happened so you can't really quantify that.

Samsung is reportedly in a spin over falling smartphone profits (a 60% drop?) - that could be have been nokia today (or earlier) if they had gone down that path - or maybe neither would have dominated.

windows phone market share in some markets is significantly higher than the global share, and growing, so windows phone still has a chance :)

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