Handle9: Who do you view as having brand bias?

MikeB4:

Handle9: Who do you view as having brand bias?

Walk into Spark, Vodafone, Harvey Norman and you would think there are only two Brands on the market. Their web sites are also crafted to push two brands only. Even the third largest global cellphone maker has difficulty getting space.

MikeB4:

Handle9: Who do you view as having brand bias?

Walk into Spark, Vodafone, Harvey Norman and you would think there are only two Brands on the market. Their web sites are also crafted to push two brands only. Even the third largest global cellphone maker has difficulty getting space.

In our family we have Windows, iPhone and Android phones. All have their problems.

Windows phones biggest problem is lack of options to buy. Then the app issue. But they have been the easiest to use for new/basic users. I would continue to buy them. Even if Microsoft drops them they won't need to be replaced immediately.

Android has been the most problematic including too often not being upgradable or very slow to upgrade to newer versions of Android. Unless we buy high-end they allmost always have hardware issues.

iPhone preference is in decline. Those of us who have them are considering moving to Android.

grant_k:
Android Marshmallow (6.0) is such an advanced O/S compared even to Windows Mobile 10.  I can do everything I ever dreamed of and then some.  On WP 8.1 or WM 10 it was impossible to get SMS messages read out via the Bluetooth audio in my car.  The phone was muted and even though I tried every available app, none of them could do it.  On Android it was pretty simple to get this working so now I can hear incoming SMS messages read out as I drive along.

 

As someone that has just moved (around six months) from WP to Android 6, the one feature I miss is getting my texts read via bluetooth, the built in feature in WP worked extremely, but I can't find anywhere you set this up in Android.

The interface of WP is so advanced compared to Android, Google could learn something from Microsoft

jfanning:

 

grant_k:
Android Marshmallow (6.0) is such an advanced O/S compared even to Windows Mobile 10.  I can do everything I ever dreamed of and then some.  On WP 8.1 or WM 10 it was impossible to get SMS messages read out via the Bluetooth audio in my car.  The phone was muted and even though I tried every available app, none of them could do it.  On Android it was pretty simple to get this working so now I can hear incoming SMS messages read out as I drive along.

 

 

As someone that has just moved (around six months) from WP to Android 6, the one feature I miss is getting my texts read via bluetooth, the built in feature in WP worked extremely, but I can't find anywhere you set this up in Android.

 

Look in the Play Store for an app called 'Read It to Me'.  It works brilliantly!

Handle9:

MikeB4:

Handle9: Who do you view as having brand bias?

Walk into Spark, Vodafone, Harvey Norman and you would think there are only two Brands on the market. Their web sites are also crafted to push two brands only. Even the third largest global cellphone maker has difficulty getting space.

They used to have every brand under the sun, many of which were pretty awful. I can only presume they have stopped stocking products which don't sell or cause lots of support issues.

Calling that brand bias seems pretty narrow minded, for the retailer it seems more like good business sense.

Certain companies put strick rules where how who can sell their products, ask yourself why is Apple always separate. Some companies pay bonuses and rebates and insist on prime locations in order to allow sales.

Retail is not  pretty and not an even ground.

And to address you last line no I am NOT narrow minded and but thanks for the insult.

MikeB4:

 

Handle9:

MikeB4:

Handle9: Who do you view as having brand bias?

Walk into Spark, Vodafone, Harvey Norman and you would think there are only two Brands on the market. Their web sites are also crafted to push two brands only. Even the third largest global cellphone maker has difficulty getting space.

They used to have every brand under the sun, many of which were pretty awful. I can only presume they have stopped stocking products which don't sell or cause lots of support issues.

Calling that brand bias seems pretty narrow minded, for the retailer it seems more like good business sense.

 

 

 

Certain companies put strick rules where how who can sell their products, ask yourself why is Apple always separate. Some companies pay bonuses and rebates and insist on prime locations in order to allow sales.

 

Retail is not  pretty and not an even ground.

 

 

 

And to address you last line no I am NOT narrow minded and but thanks for the insult.

 

The type of thing you are describing is not bias. It's companies either paying to have their products promoted, or in the case of brands which are extremely popular like Apple, using the consumer demand for their products to force retailers to promote them further. In all cases it's good business. Businesses exist to make money, not promote minor brands (in the mobile context Windows is a fringe brand). Microsoft have previously used their PC market share to dominate that market (which is why the EU and the US Justice department pursued them for anti competitive behavior).

If Microsoft want to be in the game they need to pay to play, or make their products so compelling that there is demand. 

I wasn't intending to insult you however your passive aggressive response is clearly intended to insult me. I think that type of response is pretty rude.

 

The type of thing you are describing is not bias. It's companies either paying to have their products promoted, or in the case of brands which are extremely popular like Apple, using the consumer demand for their products to force retailers to promote them further. In all cases it's good business. Businesses exist to make money, not promote minor brands (in the mobile context Windows is a fringe brand). Microsoft have previously used their PC market share to dominate that market (which is why the EU and the US Justice department pursued them for anti competitive behavior).

 

If Microsoft want to be in the game they need to pay to play, or make their products so compelling that there is demand. 

 

I wasn't intending to insult you however your passive aggressive response is clearly intended to insult me. I think that type of response is pretty rude.

 

You have made this discussion personal for reasons I cannot fathom so I will leave you to it

TTFN

MikeB4, sadly, I don't think your enthusiasm for WP is enough to save the platform.

For several years now I have been keen to trial WP as I like the OS in principle. But I can't justify switching from android as the app void is just too great. And the sad thing is that as time passes, things don't get more encouraging for WP, they get more dim. Let's be honest, WP is dying a death of a thousand cuts.

I agree fully with an earlier post - WP Surface is last chance saloon (but I'm not holding my breath)!

MikeB4: 

I have been in and out of Adroid, I has always left it with the feeling that it is a mix up of inconsistent fragmented and poorly coded Apps and OS.

I am currently on iPhone but I am moving from an Apple base ecosystem to Windows. I have dumped my iMac, MacBook and iPad. Apple has consistency and so does Windows. That is way at I like and look for.

What is holding me back at present is the unavailability of the 950XL in NZ due to brand bias.

You could always buy it direct from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msnz/en_NZ/pdp/Microsoft-Lumia-950-XL--Unlocked/productID.327990800?icid=LumiaR_ModG_r10_2_950XL_21012016

Good long read of AMA done today with 3 journalists that mostly cover Microsoft tech. Good hints as to why and what Microsoft is currently and planning to do with Windows Mobile.

https://www.reddit.com/r/windowsphone/comments/4fx51z/hi_rwindowsphone_were_mary_jo_foley_brad_sams_and/

ps - I honestly don't know why people keep touting marketshare figures from articles that clearly covers US only. There is a massive world outside US. Perhaps next time look at market share figures for Windows 10 Mobile in Europe, Asia and Australasia.

dafman:

 

MikeB4, sadly, I don't think your enthusiasm for WP is enough to save the platform.

 

For several years now I have been keen to trial WP as I like the OS in principle. But I can't justify switching from android as the app void is just too great. And the sad thing is that as time passes, things don't get more encouraging for WP, they get more dim. Let's be honest, WP is dying a death of a thousand cuts.

 

I agree fully with an earlier post - WP Surface is last chance saloon (but I'm not holding my breath)!

 

Which apps are missing? I really don't notice anything beyond bank apps (except ASB).

This thread is turning out exactly like the one I made OVER 2 YEARS AGO.

Same stuff, different year. Some things never change...

Why wont you try windows phone