Windows Phone 8. Like it? Buying it?


Windows Phone  

288 members have voted

  1. 1. Like it?

    • 5/5 Love it
      152
    • 4/5 Just a couple of things that are not according to my taste
      78
    • 3/5 There should've been more features
      20
    • 2/5 Still no
      28
    • What Windows Phone?
      10
  2. 2. Buying it?

    • You bet I am. Coming from Android
      32
    • Yup, tired of those icons of iOS (:p), Windows Phone, here I come
      28
    • I'll be upgrading from 7.5
      128
    • Yup, coming from another platform
      25
    • I think I'll just wait here. Happy with my Android
      51
    • Don't wanna give up on Apps. No way I'm leaving iOS
      18
    • Windows Phone, iOS and Android are overrated. My platform FTW
      6
  3. 3. Which device you like the most?

    • Lumia 920
      186
    • Windows Phone 8X
      38
    • Lumia 820/822
      14
    • Windows Phone 8S
      5
    • ATIV S
      8
    • They are all the same
      37


Recommended Posts

I've got a Windows Phone 7 smartphone (LG), so I won't be able to access any Windows Phone 8 whatsoever. Thanks, Microsoft, the next time I will need a phone (very far away in the future, that's it) I'll consider your kindness and respect for me as a long-time customer and I'll get a completely different product....

currently on HTC Mozart. the launch lineup is sad really version with

Nokia: 920 is chunky.

HTC 8X is almost the same dimensions has 920 without pureview and smaller screen

Ativ seems to be an afterthought but is the only phone with 32GB internal and SD card slot. camera from the reviews sucks compared to 8X and 920.

i think i'll wait for the Surface Phone :/

I must admit I do like the designs of Windows Phone's, but I could never buy a Windows Phone at the moment mainly because of its lack of apps at the moment. That, and I enjoy the huge customisation that I have available on my Android phone (and future Android phones as well). I won't be stuck with Android 4.0.4 because 4.3 won't support the hardware; I can find a ROM online and flash that to my device so I can have the latest features and with some of the bloatware removed so I get a faster experience too.

However, I think for parents Windows Phone is a good phone to have. It isn't overpriced like iPhones are (though Windows Phone 8's are hardly affordable either). It's good because of the Kid's Corner feature and its ease of use. But for me personally, it definitely isn't the phone to have - it would just limit me so much compared to what I can do on my Android phone.

I've got a Windows Phone 7 smartphone (LG), so I won't be able to access any Windows Phone 8 whatsoever. Thanks, Microsoft, the next time I will need a phone (very far away in the future, that's it) I'll consider your kindness and respect for me as a long-time customer and I'll get a completely different product....

Yeah, but they're giving you 7.8. WP8 introduced a completely different kernel.

I got mine today. To be clear though, I am still an Android user. I now just have two phones to keep on me.

I like it so far, though, the marketplace is really slim pickings.

Would really love a File Manager app.

Also, I notice a ton of games that are free on Android, are pay apps on the Windows marketplace... That is a shame. But I guess I am glad I am keeping my Android as well.

I received my Nokia 920 today! I was just wondering if there was a definitive list of apps that people should download. I remember seeing on great Connectiviy Shortcut app for WP8 that allowed them to be resized to smaller icons and whatnot. Anyone using this?

I'm getting one from work next week. Turning in my iPhone 4S. Woo hoo!

I wanna work where you do

I was just wondering if there was a definitive list of apps that people should download. I

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/949470-definitive-best-wp7-apps/

Sorry iOS and Android users, but the Start Screen on WP8 takes it all. Highly functional, and highly glamorous. Kudos to Microsoft for such a beautiful UI.

Agreed. It's the nearly non-existent app support, poor browsing experience and poor syncing options that drove me to iOS though. Who knows I'll return if and when the platform matured.

Agreed. It's the nearly non-existent app support, poor browsing experience and poor syncing options that drove me to iOS though. Who knows I'll return if and when the platform matured.

App support will come. Just takes time.

  • Like 1

Sorry iOS and Android users, but the Start Screen on WP8 takes it all. Highly functional, and highly glamorous. Kudos to Microsoft for such a beautiful UI.

Good lord, I knew who was writing that before I even looked at the username.

After being burned and left behind with WP7 and 7.5 I won't be giving Microsoft a second chance, especially with the p***poor selection of Apps available.

If you want a phone to look at and go yeah thats pretty then get WP8 phone, if you want a phone that can do more get Android or IOS.

Good lord, I knew who was writing that before I even looked at the username.

After being burned and left behind with WP7 and 7.5 I won't be giving Microsoft a second chance, especially with the p***poor selection of Apps available.

If you want a phone to look at and go yeah thats pretty then get WP8 phone, if you want a phone that can do more get Android or IOS.

Buy a tablet then? My phone is my phone. My WP7 handset does all that I need it to. Anything more and I switch to my laptop.

Proper little Microsoft apologist aren't you.

Why would I use a tablet as a mobile phone?

When the opposition has better and more varied apps it's clear that WP is the worse platform just by looking at the selection of apps available. Not only that but there are two tiers of apps now, ones that will only work on WP8 and ones that work on all, Windows will just be the same niche OS it always was on PDAs and early smartphones.

The apps argument is getting old. Ignoring the fact that WP does many of the things that require 3rd party apps on other platforms the reality is that you'll either find the app you want or a decent replacement in the WP Marketplace.

Also, comparing the number of apps on different platforms ignores the fact that WP will always have a lower count because the Marketplace isn't bloated with trial and full versions of apps. One of the benefits of the Marketplace is that developers can create one version of an app and give users the chance to try before they buy.

The app argument also typically ignores the fact that WP apps are generally of a very high quality, something that certainly can't be said of Android apps.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • U.S. partially reverses Anthropic AI ban for Mythos but keeps Fable 5 off the market by Karthik Mudaliar Anthropic says that the U.S. government has finally allowed it to restore Claude Mythos 5. But of course, there's a catch. The rollout is again for a limited set of U.S. organizations that operate and defend critical infrastructure. The company announced this in a post on X (formerly Twitter). This does not mean that Anthropic's latest frontier models are back to normal availability. Fable 5, which was a tuned version of Mythos 5 for public release, remains unavailable. Anthropic said that it is still working with the government to expand Mythos 5 access and make Fable 5 available again, but there's no timeline. Reports from Bloomberg and Reuters say that this decision actually came through a letter from the U.S. Commerce Department. According to Reuters, this would allow more than 100 companies and institutions access to Mythos 5. Reuters also reported that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s letter removes the need for export licenses for approved companies’ non-US citizen employees, as well as Anthropic’s own non-US citizen employees, while restrictions remain for organizations outside the approved list. Anthropic isn't alone with this kind of controlled rollout. OpenAI's newest model family, GPT 5.6, was announced just yesterday, but isn't available for everyone yet. In its announcement, OpenAI also said that access to these models is initially limited to a select group of trusted partners and organizations, with broader access planned later this year. Both of these cases show that frontier AI launches are no longer just ordinary product releases and more like slow and vetted deployments shaped heavily by the U.S. government.
    • Sol, Terra, Luna - aren't those the names of failed crypto coins? 🤣🤣🤣
    • Microsoft Weekly: 5 years of Windows 11, more support for Windows 10, and expensive Xbox by Taras Buria This week's news recap is here, with Microsoft giving Windows 10 one more year of support, Windows 11 getting new taskbar settings in preview updates, Steam Machine prices, higher XBOX prices, and many more. Quick links: Windows 10 and 11 Windows Insider Program Updates are available Reviews are in Gaming news Great deals to check Windows 11 and Windows 10 Here, we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And, of course, you may find a word or two about older versions. On June 24, 2026, Windows 11 turned five. The controversial operating system was released half a decade ago, and during these years, it received a fair share of criticism (such as poor Windows Search and its web results), which Microsoft is now actively addressing with regular preview updates that deliver missing, long-requested features. With Windows 12 nowhere to be seen on the horizon, it will be interesting to see if Windows 11 can stay on the market for as long as Windows 10 did. Speaking of Windows 10 and staying on the market, this week, Microsoft quietly prolonged the Extended Security Updates program for Windows 10, allowing users to get one more year of security updates if they do not want or cannot upgrade to Windows 11. Finally, Microsoft released this month's non-security update for Windows 11. KB5095093 arrived with a traditionally long list of new features, including point-in-time restore, new Windows Update settings, quieter Windows Widgets, new accessibility features, File Explorer updates and performance improvements, and more. Windows Insider Program Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week: Builds Canary Channel Build 29617.1000 and build 28120.2374 These builds bring new accessibility features, new Windows Update controls, audio improvements, and more. Dev Channel Build 26300.8758 This build includes redesigned taskbar settings, File Explorer improvements, and more. Beta Channel Build 26220.8754 and build 28020.2366 This small update fixes the OneDrive bug in File Explorer, tweaks system sounds in dark mode, and more. Updates are available This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties. If you use AI-powered browsing history search in Microsoft Edge, the company has bad news. A new update on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap revealed that Microsoft is discontinuing the feature. Despite using on-device models for natural search, some users found it creepy, claiming that Microsoft lacks trust in features like this. While the ability to find pages without using 100% precise words may sound cool, customers argued that it was nothing but another feature to bloat the browser with more AI. Good riddance? PowerToys received several updates this week. For one, Microsoft released version 0.100.1 with several improvements and bug fixes for the recently arrived version 0.100. A couple of days later, Microsoft dropped another update, this time fixing memory leaks in Command Palette Dock. In addition, the company is working on a new module that will make it easier to switch between windows within one application using the Alt + ` shortcut. The new module should make it to the stable release somewhere soon. Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting: New Ventoy update adds Windows 11's mandatory update support and more Microsoft updates Visual Studio Code with chat cost tracking and multi-agent chats Microsoft is building an AI datacenter that "uses less water than a fast food restaurant" Microsoft adds new AI study and teaching tools for free to Microsoft 365 Education Researchers claim Microsoft's quantum breakthrough is flawed by basic Python errors Microsoft is bringing a much-needed Recap app to Teams Microsoft's fast coding model, MAI-Code-1-Flash, comes to Copilot Business and Enterprise Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week: AMD Radeon Software 26.6.2 with FSR 4.1 support for RDNA 3 graphics card. However, the driver contained a bug, which prevented installations on Windows 10 PCs. AMD fixed that with a quick hotfix update. Reviews are in Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week This week, Steven Parker published several reviews. He shared his experience with the Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe, a high-quality sound card with a headphone amp, low-latency communications, great build quality, and DSD256. However, it is on the pricier side of the spectrum, and it lacks EMI shielding. Check out the full review here. The second review is about the TerraMaster F4-425 Pro, an octa-core Intel NAS with a stand-out feature: built-in AI (OpenClaw). We also published a few Hands On reviews, which you can view below: We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on Hands-on with BOOX Tappy: cute little reading accessory Hands on with the ProtoArc EM25 affordable ergonomic mouse On the gaming side Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more. If you plan to purchase a new Xbox, it's time to act now. This week, Microsoft announced yet another Xbox price increase. Starting August 1, 2026, all Xbox Series X|S models with 512 GB of storage will cost $100 more. As for the 1TB models, they are going up in price by a whopping $150. Finally, Microsoft is discontinuing the 2TB Xbox Series X. To make up for that, Microsoft announced a few programs to make its consoles more accessible. Those include BNPL, interest-free financing, pre-owned consoles, certified refurbished consoles, and more. Valve also shared some not-so-welcome news. The company has finally announced prices of the upcoming Steam Machine console, and if you plan to buy one, get ready to spend a whopping $1,049 on the 512GB configuration. The Steam Machine is now available for preorder, with shipments scheduled for June 29, 2026. Grand Theft Auto VI also received its official price tag. Rockstar Games announced that the long-anticipated game will launch at $79.99 for the base edition and $99.99 for the ultimate edition. The latter includes an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story." Those who preorder the game will get extra bonuses, including a Vintage Vice City Pack of cosmetic items as well as a free month of GTA+. NVIDIA announced new games for its GeForce NOW streaming service. Those include Dark Scrolls, SAND: Raiders of Sophie, Deer & Boy, EMPULSE, and more. Steam is running its annual Summer Sale, during which you can purchase plenty of various games with big discounts. It runs until July 9, so in case you missed it, you can still get some games at a lower price. Also, you can get two games for free in the Epic Games Store, plus more deals are available in this week's Weekend PC Game Deals issue. This link will take you to other issues of the Microsoft Weekly series. You can also support Neowin by registering for a free member account or subscribing for extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option.
    • Text extractor hasn't been working great on 0.99.1 but I am now updating to this version, hopefully it's better!
    • Yet you did exactly what they wanted you to do - is it better now without "Europrats"? BTW, UK had joined EU (EEC back then) and was one of the leading member states, it never joined Schengen Zone though 😉
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Woland13 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Woland13 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Year In
      bernmeister earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      502
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      226
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      156
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      75
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!