giving up

Kamili · 08-12-2016 10:20am

Oh man I just can't iphone, had an iphone 4s - never again, nothing worked then!

bobbyss · 14-12-2016 12:03am

Well, I know next to nothing about mobile phones. I got a Lumia 525 (or something like that) when i got my first smart phone a few back. Didn't even know that it was s WP ! Didn't really care. It was all new to me. So compared to most other posters here, I am out of my depth.

It seems to me that 99% of the time there is no app for windows. It is so frustrating. I just don't understand if Microsoft is such a big company why this can't be sorted. Any suggestions for a non WP, let's say one step up from Lumia 525 (or whatever it is)

MJohnston · 14-12-2016 12:29am

Microsoft don't make the apps is the problem, other companies do. And they only do it where they can make the most money (compared to the amount that they put into development). This is why even though Android phones are hugely popular, that OS still has a significant shortfall of apps compared to Apple's iOS. Windows Phone/Windows 10 Mobile/Windows 10 for phones is way behind the curve where that is concerned unfortunately. Microsoft have now moved to betting on a big evolutionary change in mobile computing, ie. the thing that comes after smartphones. I guess they're hoping it'll be combination phone-PC devices (with Continuum), but there's no indication that this will solve the app problem. It might make the problem just go away in a sense because we'll be living in a web app world, but who knows.

You're probably better off asking in the Android forum if you want Android handset recommendations.

beauf · 14-12-2016 1:11am

Microsoft made apps on android and IOS that never came to WP and they also made the apps they did have on WP better on Android and IOS.

All the while not fixing bugs on the OS.

InTheTrees · 14-12-2016 1:39am

I'm sticking with it. I went through a period of investigating other phones but nothing really stands out. I've done iphones in the past. My better half has a samsung S6, which is as dull as an iphone.

I dont need a lot of Apps. The meagre selection doesnt bother me at all. And the camera on the 950 is still a selling point for me.

I got a Mozo replacement back cover and its transformed the feel of it.

MJohnston · 14-12-2016 1:40am

Not really sure that's accurate, though they definitely launched a few apps for iOS/Android *before* WP. But bobbyss was obviously referring to third-party apps, not Microsoft ones.

beauf · 14-12-2016 2:17am

They effectively killed HERE apps and Maps on WP used to be by far the best, it came from Nokia Maps. But they managed to make it worse then fall far behind Google maps.

You don't need loads of apps. I dunno why people keep rolling that line out. But I want a luas app. I want my three account app, my train app, my library app. Etc. If I don't then I need the browser to be able to handle the website. Edge just isn't up to it.

Great OS but MS has only itself to blame for abysmal neglect.

The hardware also was slightly low rent for the price. Poor speakers, poor build quality and bizarre hard omissions. Glance, no glance.

MJohnston · 14-12-2016 11:24am

beauf wrote: »

They effectively killed HERE apps and Maps on WP used to be by far the best, it came from Nokia Maps. But they managed to make it worse then fall far behind Google maps.

You don't need loads of apps. I dunno why people keep rolling that line out. But I want a luas app. I want my three account app, my train app, my library app. Etc. If I don't then I need the browser to be able to handle the website. Edge just isn't up to it.

Great OS but MS has only itself to blame for abysmal neglect.

The hardware also was slightly low rent for the price. Poor speakers, poor build quality and bizarre hard omissions. Glance, no glance.

I'm curious, you've been pretty negative about WP on this forum for a couple of years now, are you still using it?

beauf · 14-12-2016 11:30am

I've been dual phoning for a while one Android, Main sim in WP. Only in the the last couple of weeks have stopped using the WP. I much prefer the WP OS to Android, actually I really dislike Android. So it was a reluctant change. I've been using WP for probably 3yrs or more. Waiting for it to mature.

I suspect the Lumia 950 has a bit more oompf to make performance issues, not as noticeable.

Mickeroo · 14-12-2016 11:34am

I'll probably switch to android in the new year. I have absolutely no issue with the lack of apps, what's killing me is how unreliable the phone is. I can't rely on little things like being able to take a photo or open watsapp without the phone ****ting itlself on occasion.

Yggr of Asgard · 14-12-2016 11:42am

I also used my Windows and Android phones side by side for a while.

I just like the ease of Windows, the home screen, live tiles and the smooth multiple mail/calendar experience (as I'm using caldav/carddav next to office365) but the lack of consumer apps really made it hard to continue using the device. And carrying two devices was just not practical.

I now have migrated to an Android phone (could not convince myself to join the church of apple) and with the excellent Microsoft apps available for Android, I have an easier experience transitioning. In fact some of the Microsoft Garage Apps are superior to their Windows Counterparts.

Yes I still don't have a great live tile homescreen and outlook does not allow caldav/carddav (unlike Windows Mail/Calendar) but otherwise my work life (Microsoft centric) and my consumer life (gadget driven) is now balanced on the same device. And I can even pay with my phone.

Do I miss the ease of Windows Phone Home Screen, absolutely. Would I go back if more consumer apps were available? In a heart beat.

But it came down to the lack of consumer apps for me, I'm now getting used to the Blackberry Hub which just has simplified my life so much by giving me everything in one view.

beauf · 14-12-2016 12:10pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

I'll probably switch to android in the new year. I have absolutely no issue with the lack of apps, what's killing me is how unreliable the phone is. I can't rely on little things like being able to take a photo or open watsapp without the phone ****ting itlself on occasion.

I use the camera quite a bit. It had become completely unreliable on my WP. Kept crashing, would work one moment, not the next. A reset would fix it for a while then it would start again. Its a pity because the camera on the 640 punched well above its weight. I was very tempted to get a 950 just for the camera.

Mickeroo · 14-12-2016 12:16pm

beauf wrote: »

I use the camera quite a bit. It had become completely unreliable on my WP. Kept crashing, would work one moment, not the next. A reset would fix it for a while then it would start again. Its a pity because the camera on the 640 punched well above its weight. I was very tempted to get a 950 just for the camera.

Every time it crashes I had to yank the battery out of the phone as it wouldn't shut down otherwise. Same issue with watsapp though much rarer, the camera would crash every day if i was using it a lot.

beauf · 14-12-2016 12:19pm

Never had an issue with Whatsapp.

beauf · 14-12-2016 12:21pm

MJohnston wrote: »

I'm curious, you've been pretty negative about WP on this forum for a couple of years now, are you still using it?

Incidentally we still use old WP8/10 phones as media players. Cheaper than getting a MP3 player even if the interface is a bit weird and they never fixed the popup media control issues.

unkel · 14-12-2016 12:30pm

I'm back too.

Switched to Android 6 months ago after being on WP for 4 years. Using a OnePlus One phone that I rooted and installed Oxygen OS on. Probably about the cleanest Android you can get on a very decent spec Android phone. It was good for what Android is good on. Apps & customisation. Had hoped to go x86 Phone (a full on PC running full W10) once that was available from MS but it looks like that won't happen for at least another year

So when I could buy a brand new 950XL from Microsoft (via Amazon.de) for €279, I jumped at the chance. And for that kinda money, it's a superb phone. Running W10 in the fast ring and since earlier this year, it has come on a lot. No crashes yet, Edge is extremely quick, the screen is superb and the phone stays cool (unlike any other high end phone that you work real hard). And the camera must be up there with the Samsung and Apple flagships which cost 3 times as much :eek:

Obviously there are apps now that I miss and can't get on WP. Viewranger the most important one for me.

What's the story on the iOS bridge to WP10? I believe it is still in progress? Unlike the Android bridge which has been killed by MS.

beauf · 14-12-2016 12:38pm

unkel wrote: »

...So when I could buy a brand new 950XL from Microsoft (via Amazon.de) for €279, I jumped at the chance. And for that kinda money, it's a superb phone. Running W10 in the fast ring and since earlier this year, it has come on a lot. No crashes yet, Edge is extremely quick...

I have heard the same from other 950 owners I know. I don't think that performance, and stability is true of the other WP10 phones unfortunately.

unkel · 14-12-2016 12:47pm

For that money I can't really lose. There are very few 950 / 950XL on adverts.ie and when they come up, they sell for very strong money. I could sell mine for very close to what I paid for it easily enough should I decide to do that.

I'm holding onto my OnePlus One (that I got cheap second hand for just €130) for the moment anyway. If only for using it as a GPS for going hiking (using ViewRanger)

The one thing I forgot to say is that the wireless charging was something I really couldn't live without. Going Android felt like going 5 years back in time. I know you can get wireless on Samsung and Apple flagships now, but the prices of these phones are extremely high - very far out of budget for me. And yes I did have a wireless charging receiving module for the OnePlus One and it worked for a few months. Until it became very finicky how you put the phone on the charger. It became easier to just plug the damn thing in.

beauf · 14-12-2016 1:13pm

I like the idea of wireless charging. But I think with bigger batteries, quick charging is going to replace it.

unkel · 14-12-2016 1:33pm

You haven't had wireless charging? :eek:

All my Windows phones have had it, starting with my humble 820 back 4 years ago!

Once you go wireless, it is an extreme pain in the neck to go back to having your phone plugged in. Samsung and even backwards Apple have come to see the light in this regard in more recent times

MJohnston · 14-12-2016 2:12pm

Unkel you might be interested in the info on this thread http://touch.boards.ie/thread/post/101918870

fits · 14-02-2017 7:59pm

I finally took the plunge and got an iPhone. I'm very happy with it so far. No going back to Windows phone.

jahalpin · 19-02-2017 7:21pm

I've had a number of windows phones over the years and have always liked the OS, however, due to lack of apps I have had to move back to Android

I've decided to give Windows one last chance and I have just ordered a Lumia 950 xl, the hardware is great for the price and the OS seems to be quite stable now.

unkel · 19-02-2017 11:58pm

The 950XL is an incredible phone for the money (paid €279 for mine last year), but I admit I held on to my Android phone as a device for running some apps that aren't available on Windows phone. OS is fine these days, I'm on the fast loop too and no problems.

MJohnston · 20-02-2017 12:56am

I have an iPad mini now that does me for all the apps that don't have a Windows version, which solves the whole conundrum for me. That means my Lumia 950XL happily chugs along as my messenger, phone, pocket camera, and music device. That's all I really want from a phone these days tbh.

Sidenote - I was surprised by the fact that iOS has plenty of those ****ty apps I used to think were a Windows issue (RTE Player and MyHome.ie I'm looking your way), also surprised by how much I prefer the Windows version of Facebook Messenger - the iOS one is a mess of irrelevant features, the Windows one is just a pure and simple Messenger!

smallgarden · 26-02-2017 7:36pm

My lumia 520 is still going but getting very temperamental of late

unkel · 26-02-2017 10:50pm

smallgarden wrote: »

My lumia 520 is still going but getting very temperamental of late

It's about 5 years old and cost you, what, €50 when new?

It owes you nothing

MJohnston · 26-02-2017 11:12pm

Ironically too, that €50 phone can run the latest versions of Windows 10. Try that with an iDevice or an Android

unkel · 26-02-2017 11:24pm

Indeed. And I don't think there was ever an iPhone for even €500, let alone for €50

beauf · 26-02-2017 11:49pm

In fairness w10 runs terrible on the 520. Which is why its no longer on the update list Mine is used as a mp3 and media player for the kids.

It's a bit buggy tbh. Though it doesn't fill up with updates and bloatware like an Android phone would have. Which makes it still usable.

MJohnston · 26-02-2017 11:50pm

beauf wrote: »

Though it doesn't fill up with updates and bloatware like an Android phone would have. Which makes it still usable.

Heh, well you don't have to worry about Android phones filling up with updates after a while

beauf · 27-02-2017 12:02am

Unfortunately you do. It might not update the OS. But all the bloat and apps constantly update.. which is why an old android phone with limited internal memory is unusable.

Windows phone is light years ahead of Android and IOS in memory management when it comes to this kina stuff.

Keplar240B · 10-03-2017 1:39am

Around 3 million Americans still hanging on to their Windows Phones
There was a time when Windows Phones held around 45% market share in USA. That was obviously a long time ago, and since Comscore stopped publishing their numbers in April last year it has been difficult to know just how many Windows Phones were still in use in the USA.
Now in a surprise data drop Comscore has published a new update on the US smartphone installed base, and it is no surprise that the number of Windows Phone users have dropped dramatically since last year.

https://mspoweruser.com/around-3-million-americans-still-hanging-windows-phones/

TheDriver · 07-05-2017 11:42am

I'm giving up too. OH has already given up and we have been using WP since 520. I have a 640XL but I had to downgrade to W8 as W10 was full of issues, bluetooth kept disconnecting, battery life was crap etc. I also kep getting the dreaded outlook error so some things don't sync, the only solution is to reset the phone which is a pain.
The final nail for me was facebook messenger app no longer supported (and no longer working) on w8.
Android, here we come.

TBi · 07-05-2017 6:22pm

TheDriver wrote: »

Android, here we come.

I dislike android but to be fair it's a lot better than it was when WP8 was rocking!

unkel · 07-05-2017 10:57pm

TheDriver wrote: »

I'm giving up too. OH has already given up and we have been using WP since 520. I have a 640XL but I had to downgrade to W8 as W10 was full of issues, bluetooth kept disconnecting, battery life was crap etc. I also kep getting the dreaded outlook error so some things don't sync, the only solution is to reset the phone which is a pain.

:eek:

You on the fast insider ring? Probably not. My 950XL has been pretty good I have to say. Everybody around me knows my phone (€279) takes the best pictures even compared to their own €1000+ phones.

Kamili · 07-05-2017 11:13pm

My 640XL won't upgrade to wp10 at all. Just gives me error after error after error. I gave up and still on wp8 too

TheDriver · 08-05-2017 4:51pm

Don't bother with w10 on xl, nothing but trouble. My work 640 works well on w10 though.
I tried fast insider but didn't do me any favours

InTheTrees · 08-05-2017 5:00pm

unkel wrote: »

Everybody around me knows my phone (€279) takes the best pictures even compared to their own €1000+ phones.

For me the camera on my 950 is a major reason I'm sticking with the windows phone.
However... Sony has an even higher res camera so I'm almost ready to abandon windows.

Kamili · 08-05-2017 5:18pm

TheDriver wrote: »

Don't bother with w10 on xl, nothing but trouble. My work 640 works well on w10 though.
I tried fast insider but didn't do me any favours

I know a few in MS and they say the same thing! don't bother.

The thing that is annoying me though is that support for apps on WP8 is dropping like flies. So its basically a surf the web phablet.

InTheTrees wrote: »

For me the camera on my 950 is a major reason I'm sticking with the windows phone.
However... Sony has an even higher res camera so I'm almost ready to abandon windows.

Which Sony has the higher res camera? Might look into it.

I did get a Redmi Note 4 Pro - however the camera is appalling - better on my 1mp Nokia brick from years back. So I am reluctant to change over to using it full time.

TheDriver · 08-05-2017 6:53pm

I was thinking of trying the oukitel k6000 plus instead. Was the camera that bad on the note as specs looked very good? My 640xl is slow at grabbing photos

TBi · 08-05-2017 9:38pm

unkel wrote: »

Indeed. And I don't think there was ever an iPhone for even €500, let alone for €50

Bit late replying but my first iphone was around 300 euro (very first generation). Although unlocking it was a bit of a chore

unkel · 07-06-2017 2:12pm

Broke the screen in my 950XL. Can repair it myself but the part is not cheap (€130) and has to come from the far east

So..

..I've given up too. Maybe if we ever get a surface phone (x86) will I return. But for now I've switched to a Samsung S7 (and installed a custom ROM as you do

)

MJohnston · 07-06-2017 2:37pm

unkel wrote: »

Broke the screen in my 950XL. Can repair it myself but the part is not cheap (€130) and has to come from the far east

So..

..I've given up too. Maybe if we ever get a surface phone (x86) will I return. But for now I've switched to a Samsung S7 (and installed a custom ROM as you do )

Seems like we'll be waiting til 2018 anyway, but there has been quite a bit of talk this week of MS apparently working on a brand new mobile OS, one that'll ditch Silverlight compatibility, be based on CShell, be able to run real desktop apps via Continuum.p, etc.

The Rape of Lucretia · 18-07-2017 10:49pm

Rate of decline in Windows phone seems to have stabilised, and is now flat. Increase likely in Q2 2017 figures virtually certain I would say.

http://www.gsmarena.com/idc_windows_phone_falls_to_01_market_share_android_up_to_85_in_q1_this_year-news-26255.php

MJohnston · 18-07-2017 10:56pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Rate of decline in Windows phone seems to have stabilised, and is now flat. Increase likely in Q2 2017 figures virtually certain I would say.

http://www.gsmarena.com/idc_windows_phone_falls_to_01_market_share_android_up_to_85_in_q1_this_year-news-26255.php

Doubt it, there'll be little to no movement until whatever comes next arrives.

beauf · 18-07-2017 11:11pm

That's a bit like saying the ground broke your fall.

Real shame. Great OS.

MJohnston · 18-07-2017 11:22pm

Spent half an hour today trying to figure out how to set a custom notification sound for an app on iOS (an iPad, still rocking my 950XL). Amazingly not actually possible! It's the small things that I miss.

Down South · 19-07-2017 10:58am

Changed over to a Samsung S7 last week. Final straw was it stopped synching with my garmin due to an upgrade. I dont think either party were overly concerned on sorting it. Liked the OS but so far no regrets with what I have.

ablelocks · 19-07-2017 7:48pm

We are the 0.1% - woohoo!

giving up

Comments