41–50 of 66 posts
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My WP7 Samsung Focus is incredibly snappy. I've never seen it hang or pause, even when dealing with poorly made apps. As mentioned, not everyone will like the interface. But I find the interface intuitive and really accessible. Everything I want to do is within one click or one swipe.
I have an HD7. What I quoted from you is not true.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>It's just that the general OS feels tired to me. What does this even mean?
The OSX look is pretty old at this point. They've managed to update it in spots but much of it is dreadfully ugly. Like this: http://admintell.napco.com/ee/images/uploads/appletell/bill-... Note that Metro is pretty old too, it started with Windows Media Center, but has changed a lot since then.
This is complete unadulterated bs. Thank you for a good laugh today.
I don't know why there complaints about the marketplace. The WP7 platform has been a huge hit with developers; just take a look at what's out on the marketplace: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps . From everything I know the review process is leagues better than the Apple's in that you get actual feedback about the issues whether or not your app is acceptable. Microsoft has put out a podcast from Redmond that co…
Er, because there are 10 times the apps in their competitors' marketplaces. Yes, wp7 has the low hanging fruit covered but there are many apps that cater to niches that are not present. It's like Excel vs OO Calc. Yes, Calc can do most of what Excel can do but it is the remaining few percent of functionality that makes a non-solution for people. And it is a different subset for different people. Just like with wp7 vs Android and iOS. What is so hard to understand here?
If I were buying a new phone today, it would really be a hard choice between the Lumia and the iPhone 4(s).
Retail sales of WP7 phones will be driven by the same factor which drove Android sales - handset manufacturers choosing to build phones running the OS. See Nokia.
The reason this is likely to happen is that WP7 offers a far more stable roadmap and sophisticated B2B relationship than Android. Not least among the benefits are Microsoft's deep pockets, patent portfolio, and consumers' 20+ years of familiarity with the Windows brand.
On the development side, Visual Studio for Windows Phone offers a much lower barrier to entry in terms of cost relative to the iPhone and a much lower barrier to entry in regards to technical knowledge relative to Android (i.e. cheaper development hardware relative to Apple and a more user friendly IDE and languages relative to Android (YMMV)).
Furthermore, TouchStudio provides an onboard IDE to allow scripting by users in a way analogous to bundled BASIC of the Commodore 64, IBM PC, or TRS-80. Because Microsoft is approaching the phone as a true computing device, WP7 is highly likely to gain traction in markets with low levels computing infrastructure by leveraging the higher levels of cellular infrastructure which is not uncommon in the developing worlds.
To put it another way, WP7 offers development opportunities in places without app stores to people of diverse stripes who are interested in solving meaningful computing problems and addressing acute needs without requiring the investment in additional resources (i.e. computers for development).
In other words, Microsoft's strategy appears to include a definition of developer in line with the early days of personal computers where every person may be their own developer - in opposition to a solely consumer centered model of the phone as primarily a media consumption device.
And that strategy truly offers handset makers the opportunity to radically expand the smartphone market in ways that are more difficult to achieve with Android.
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I have a love-hate relationship with WP7 development. On one hand, we have Visual Studio, a built in phone emulator, the .Net platform and excellent documentation/tutorials. It's almost stupid how easily you can create fairly advanced "form based" applications with WPF. Games are fairly straightforward with XNA. The build in emulator works with VS like a dream, dropping in and out of breakpoints, etc. I could gush al…
The app hub problems you describe are fixable. Did you relay your issues to Microsoft?
To be fair, they did a major overhaul of the App Hub just prior to Mango which corrected a number of other issues. It just seems to take them a long time to correct what should be obvious issues or usability problems.
I don't think apps have a major impact on purchasing factor for the general public. I would imagine that the most important web properties would already have Windows clients. I feel the real reason is that the hardware so far has been really bland and nothing catches your attention. The Lumia has a fresh design that could kickstart the 'wow' factor.
I have an investment in some of my apps -- even if they were available in WP7 (or had an equivalent), I need a migration tool for the data. Each app I install is a little bit more lock-in.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>It's just that the general OS feels tired to me. What does this even mean?
The OSX look is pretty old at this point. They've managed to update it in spots but much of it is dreadfully ugly. Like this: http://admintell.napco.com/ee/images/uploads/appletell/bill-... Note that Metro is pretty old too, it started with Windows Media Center, but has changed a lot since then.
Two months ago my contract was up with AT&T, so I decided "What the hell, I'm going to purchase an iPhone(4)!". So I did. Turns out, after all the hype I was completely underwhelmed by it. It's not that it's a bad phone, it's great. It's just that the general OS feels tired to me. The interface. I ended up playing with a Samsung Focus a few days later in the same AT&T store and swapped my iPhone for it. I'm incredibl…
I have a Windows Phone device and work in an office where most people use OS X and some have iPhones. I have yet to hear anyone prefer Andoid to Windows Phone with some actually preferring the WP interface to the one on their iPhone. If I were buying a new phone today, it would really be a hard choice between the Lumia and the iPhone 4(s).