giving up

I'm going to wait and see how the new iphone is and then decide.

Annoying. I never expected MS to screw it up so badly.

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I am loath to go back to Android but I will have to eventually. I would never use a iPhone though. I'd go back to a dumb phone before doing that.

All platforms are pretty similar now, both Windows 10 mobile and iPhones are similar in that they don't allow too much user choice (especially where it comprises the security of the user).

I think the choice (as it has been for a few years now) comes down to apps and services - does it have what you need to get things done on a daily bases.

Half their own apps don't function properly on WP, so they were forced to move away.

I had to send my Moto G for repairs, so I was stuck for a week with my backup Lumia 640 that I bought just out of curiosity but never actually used for extended time.

I have say, I liked the OS. I really did.

It desperately lacks the functionality (no third party keyboards, need home location unlocking), needs more refinements (selecting text is cumbersome (when you tap on a checkbox, a caret might appear next to it instead of selecting it), can't use the Share option the same way you can on Android and iOS to Share stuff between apps, etc...) and the applications available for Android and iOS, but the core itself, the tiles, the UI, I actually liked quite a bit. It is also quite smooth.

Here's a thing though, after a few days, I noticed that when you scrolled slowly, holding down your finger on the screen (dragging), the page or whatever you were scrolling would erratically jump around. Googled it and turns out many people have this issue with Windows 10 (something with drivers). But again just out of curiosity, I googled Microsoft's warranty. And my goodness, what a mess! I couldn't find how to send the phone for repairs, if need be.

First Microsoft's page asks you to register the device, but when you pick "Ireland" as your country, the subsequent selection box gets narrowed down to "Surface" only, phone option is gone. So basically, I can't register it. I couldn't find anything so I just gave up.

http://i.imgur.com/lJW4FEo.png

http://i.imgur.com/24fnhgc.png

So, even if you like the core OS and want to give it a try and use it. Everything works against you instead for you, being inviting and welcoming. Microsoft definitely failed big time with mobile revolution, they were not ready, then they were arrogant (remember Ballmer?), then they had multiple "restarts" and at each restart, customers jumped to either iOS or Android. Now with employees leaving or being let go and as Down South linked, the Lumia line being potentially killed off, I don't know if it's a good time to try Windows Phone. Even if they come out with a premium Surface phone, their employees are leaving, their main camera guy from Nokia is gone. And it's not like Apple or Google are slowing down to let Microsoft catch up, in fact they are advancing faster.

Well I finally bailed this week after years with Nokias (incl WP). N95 8GB --> N97 --> N8 --> L800 --> L920 --> L930. My wife moved first from a 640 to a Moto G 3rd Gen and I picked up a SIM Free Nexus 5X for € 220 in Argos. My move was triggered by a broken screen. It's such bliss to finally be able to get apps that work. Yeah you can load website for some of them on WP but it's just not the same.

Finally I can get
1) Get onto AIB easily
2) Manage Meteor via App
3) Get utility/household apps like Eir, Tesco, Airtricity
4) Kids stuff like rtéjr for the kids
5) A Strava app that works well and let's you add photos etc easily

That's just a few random ones off the top of my head!

I do really miss being able to keep contacts together easily - seems nearly impossible to get updating Facebook profile pics on Android without downloading some app that has mixed reviews. I also miss the nice tailored home screen with live tiles. Lastly the most annoying thing is having to start moving my "world" to USB-C!!!

If anyone wants to give Windows Phone a go still then check out my Adverts!

That's it, I'm out.
Facebook app stopped working properly, doesn't update, so had been using the browser. That now wont work, takes ages to load and when it does its cut half the screen out.
Ebay app no longer supported. In fact aps are dropping out or not updating all over the shop.
Browsing has gone super slow, probably because I'm now having WiFi connectivity issues, wont connect unless the WiFi signal is super strong. Stupid pop ups won't close, instead by tapping the x button the screen just jumps all over the place rendering websites unusable and not closing the stupid pop up.

I'm done with this...

If the big hitters are no longer updating and withdrawing apps there's no point. Bought an android phone so just waiting on delivery. I need a phone that functions, not one that works one minute the doesn't the next

Chinese ones seem good, I followed the thread over in the mobiles forum on them.

The Xiaomi phones look fab and are cheap. Well specced too. I got a 64g redmi note 4 for 205 including delivery. Has a fingerprint scanner too

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057438440

I didn't realise Cortana worked on Android, that is super news. Can't wait to make the change now.

WP is really dying a death.. which is a pity as its easier to use.

After having an apple phone many years ago I'd never touch one again, so I hear ya on that front.

CatInABox wrote: »

For a couple of years now, Microsoft have been putting more effort into their iPhone and Android apps than into their Windows Mobile apps. They just never announced that this was the case.

Was aware of this, as most of MS employees have actually jumped ship themselves (says a lot) and moved to Android.

Wasn't aware that cortana worked seeing as its abysmal on their own platform though.

Also making the move to Android after about 4/5 years. My Lumia 920 has given up the ghost and for not much more than the repair cost, I bought a Wileyfox Swift. I was quite tempted to stick with Windows Phone but figured that although it does a lot of things well, that probably wasn't worth the lack of some apps.

Now to figure out how to transfer my contacts etc over!

I think that the Windows Mobile Phone especially with the new UPW makes great sense for the commercial market and I loved my Windows phone for the easy way it was integrated into my Microsoft Ecosystem and the outstanding customization of the home screen. All my business apps were available, its just the consumer apps that are not available.

Now being on the Android platform I have all of the consumer apps I need next to the business apps, thanks to the Microsoft products all being available on Android too, I have yet to discover a challenge for work beside the fact that now I have loads of google data collection too.

With the consumer market no longer in focus more end users are going to go to android / apple but some business users are going to stay, especially if you look at the new HP or Alcatel phones.

beauf wrote: »

WP never had much of a market share or apps. I think whats changed is people got tired of all the bugs.

Its dropped significantly though, I do remember it being a good few points higher.

I'm back after briefly dipping my toes into the Android (Marshmallow) world and I have to admit that there were a good few things that I missed from Windows Phone / 10 Mobile.

Things that were better in Android

• Outlook: Yep, Microsoft's Outlook is much better on Android. Focused inbox really helps filter out the bumpf and show you the mostly important stuff. Apparently it's coming to Windows 10 ... "Soon (TM)"
• Fingerprint authentication: It was a middle of the road Android Phone that I was using, but the fingerprint sensor was zippy and almost instant. It was definitely quicker than the time it would take to slide up to unlock my Lumia 950 (and a million times faster than the Iris Scanner).
• Variety of Apps: There were many more apps to choose from, but a large chunk of them were either naff or knock-off apps. The main thing was that you didn't have to question "Would there be an app for that?" ... but perhaps "Is the app for that legit?".
• Customisation: Almost everything within the Android User Experience could be tweaked, not always to the benefit of the user experience and sometimes to the frustration that other parts could not be customised or reverting customisations could take a bit of work

Things that I missed from Windows 10:

• Live Tiles: They really make the phone personal and are handy for a quick update without opening the app (if they're done right). It's much more consistent than whack-a-mole pages of flat icons and widgets that "sort of, but don't really do the same thing as live tiles"
• Notifications: Maybe it was just the Android distro on the phone, MIUI, but notifications were next to useless and were not actionable.
• Cortana: Cortana is so well integrated into Windows 10 that it all works well together. Google is a much better search engine than Bing, but it was easier to get things done with Cortana and I didn't have to repeat myself as much to be understood as I did with "OK Google"
• Security: Maybe it's just because there are fewer apps on Windows that this never happened, but without installing any dodgy apps (mainly Office, Skype, Wunderlist, etc.) within one week using the phone I had an unexpected logon attempt to my Microsoft account from a distant country.

For now, I'm back to Windows 10 Mobile and all it's foibles until something better comes along.

I actually took a foray into the android world too and had a very similar experience to you.

I'm back using the old 640XL but I am on WP 8.

Debating trying to upgrade to WP10...

I really missed the live tiles on the android.
I too have strong worries about security for a similar reason which is why I think I might stay on WP for the moment. I didn't install any dodgy apps either. Camera on the android phone I had was pretty crappy too, the lumia camera is way better.

I'm starting to think I will stick with WP too

Fingleberries wrote: »

Cortana on Android I found to be a second-class citizen. It was generally ok, but really didn't sit right and many of the useful context awareness appeared to be missing.

All right, maybe I just use her differently than you, I find her doing what I expect.

After using my 950 for about a year now, and looking at alternatives and being pretty unimpressed (exploding samsungs or dated iphones) i think ill just sit it out until next year and see what the state of phones is then.