poll Windows Phone 8. Like it? Buying it?

[BajiRav]

You quoted me but I'm not exactly sure what your argument is? That people who know better shouldn't accept or recommend unfinished products that don't work to a degree of being more frustrating that usable? When alternatives are available?

Or that some people don't like the direction Microsoft is going in? They are two different things.

I personally like Windows 8/RT but think it's criminal the state the whole Windows 8 ecosystem has been released in. And most general "Best Buy" type consumers don't know any better. I absolutely do not recommend general consumers upgrade. They will get Windows 8 with a new PC and I'm not sure I would go so far as to recommend a downgrade. But upgrade for what? A headache, let Microsoft actually fix the thing and all the core apps and services.

The State Windows 8 is in "right" now, I have no problem saying @$^$ Microsoft, because everyetime I can't click a link in a metro app and launch a browser, a metro app quits, or I try to do anything with Xbox music, or try to sync my Windows 8 Phone (Lumia 920) I feel like Microsoft said @#%$ me. Well no, @##% you (Microsoft)!

Music, Video and Photos app on Windows 8 are truly horrible. They haven't improved in places where they need to be. Just a big mess.

Really want to go Windows Phone but the apps aren't their (particularly for my Bank) and there isn't a device with enough storage (I need at least 64GB).

Windows Phone is worth the trouble of changing your bank

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:p

[MorganX]

Music, Video and Photos app on Windows 8 are truly horrible. They haven't improved in places where they need to be. Just a big mess.

Haven't improved?! I don't need improvement. They're not even as good as what Windows 7 has to offer. On second thought, that's not true. Windows Media Player in Windows 8 is as good as Windows 7's Windows Media Player. :)

[+Fahim S. MVC]

Windows Phone is worth the trouble of changing your bank

As far as I know, not a single bank in the UK offers a Windows Phone app... they all pretty much do for iOS and Android, some for Blackberry.

[BajiRav]

Haven't improved?! I don't need improvement. They're not even as good as what Windows 7 has to offer. On second thought, that's not true. Windows Media Player in Windows 8 is as good as Windows 7's Windows Media Player. :)

well I mean they haven't improved much since RTM. These are apps and they should be updating them rapidly to catch up with WMP/Zune.

[MorganX]

well I mean they haven't improved much since RTM. These are apps and they should be updating them rapidly to catch up with WMP/Zune.

I'll believe it when I see it. If they're still in the current shape after Christmas, it's probably not going to get any better.

As far as I know, not a single bank in the UK offers a Windows Phone app... they all pretty much do for iOS and Android, some for Blackberry.

You're not alone. I'm still waiting for US IngDirect and USBank. Both of which have apps for Android.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

I'll be getting 620, when it hits the market.

Yaaaay

[George P Global Moderator]

I heard the 620 might not be coming to the US. It could be a EU, Asia and so on only model. If true I guess it seems that Nokia thinks the US just wants bigger 4.3+ screen devices and not something small like the 620 with it's 3.8"' screen. Actually I think this could be exactly it since even HTC isn't going to release their own low end 8S in the US either.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

620 and the likes will mainly be aimed at Asian markets, to gain momentum for the platform. Which is great in my opinion, because these markets need these kind of phones before the likes of 920.

I can't wait :woot:

[ATLien_0]

Well Im hooked, I just got the Lumia 810 from T-Mobile. This is my first smart phone and its everything I need, easy to customize and very streamlined. App wise, there are only a few I am waiting for, but whats great is that I really don't need to download many. This phone is a little bigger than the iPhone 5, but its also incredibly light.

[BajiRav]

Well Im hooked, I just got the Lumia 810 from T-Mobile. This is my first smart phone and its everything I need, easy to customize and very streamlined. App wise, there are only a few I am waiting for, but whats great is that I really don't need to download many. This phone is a little bigger than the iPhone 5, but its also incredibly light.

If you are new to WP and use multiple email accounts, don't forget to try out Linked inbox.

[Twiddle]

Ok, wow. I found out what's utterly destroying my battery life. Everything has been good the past couple weeks. But yesterday I needed the AT&T data network, so I turned it on and forgot I left it on.

I charged my phone overnight, and it was at 100% this morning around 8AM. Right now at this moment, my battery is at 28% with light to medium usage, no talking, just checking e-mails and such. 4 hours and my battery is almost completely dead. I am not for certain, but the only thing that has changed was leaving the data network on.

That is quite ridiculous. I turned my data off and put my phone back on the charger. Hopefully the issue isn't persistent, but that is a major pain in the butt.

[tsupersonic]

Ok, wow. I found out what's utterly destroying my battery life. Everything has been good the past couple weeks. But yesterday I needed the AT&T data network, so I turned it on and forgot I left it on.

I charged my phone overnight, and it was at 100% this morning around 8AM. Right now at this moment, my battery is at 28% with light to medium usage, no talking, just checking e-mails and such. 4 hours and my battery is almost completely dead. I am not for certain, but the only thing that has changed was leaving the data network on.

That is quite ridiculous. I turned my data off and put my phone back on the charger. Hopefully the issue isn't persistent, but that is a major pain in the butt.

Something doesn't sound right. Did you have sync on - aka push emails, facebook/twitter, etc? Even then, I haven't had a smartphone where I left the mobile data on, and have had that kind of battery drain in such a short period of time. Turning off mobile data shouldn't even be something you have to do...Also, if you had WiFi on with data on, it would most likely use WiFi for your internet browsing, emails, etc. Use WiFi for lower battery power usage, and also if you don't have unlimited data.

[Twiddle]

Something doesn't sound right. Did you have sync on - aka push emails, facebook/twitter, etc? Even then, I haven't had a smartphone where I left the mobile data on, and have had that kind of battery drain in such a short period of time. Turning off mobile data shouldn't even be something you have to do...Also, if you had WiFi on with data on, it would most likely use WiFi for your internet browsing, emails, etc. Use WiFi for lower battery power usage, and also if you don't have unlimited data.

Well, I only have the 200MB data plan. So I would easily go over if I didn't keep it off. The only time I use the data connection is when I am not around WiFi. I keep WiFi on at all times, but keep data network off unless it is a dire need.

No settings have been changed, I don't use facebook or twitter. The only thing synced is my Gmail account. The only setting I messed with between yesterday and today was the data network. I tried remembering if I did anything else, but I haven't.

[TurboShrimp]

I had a Windows 7.5 phone and hated it got rid of it in 2 months , the app store was full of Garbage apps and ripp off apps/games from china and should have never even made it into the store in the first place.

the lack of Good polished apps drove me back the the Iphone 5 .

I will take a smaller screen any day as long as my app store and apps/games look as good as they do on IOS

[SionicIon]

I like my Lumia 920, I do...but I've always had reservations with how the phone operates, it has quirks... Like coming from iOS, my brother didn't understand why IE doesn't have back and forward button, the physical back button works...but when you go to another app, and come back to IE, the back button goes back to the start screen, not the last page you were on...and there is no option in the menu to go back or forward... There is no way to close apps running in the background even though the battery will die quickly sometimes...you have to press back a hundred times... For me, coming from Android after leaving Windows Phone 7.5, I don't feel like enough was improved and there is a spot in my heart that wants to keep craving the Galaxy S III running CM10.1.

No notifications also really annoys me, not because I need notifications, but a place to manage basic settings quickly like toggling screen brightness or WiFi. I also dislike the lack of color that Windows 8/RT have...black screens bore me. White screens burn my eyes out... The Ativ S, the only phone with an AMOLED screen isn't even available yet...that's the only phone that could benefit with black backgrounds by looking very vivid and saving battery life. So they should allow backgrounds of some sort. Maybe a tinted blue hue background in the Messaging app.

Oh and what really bothers me is the multitasking and notifications, like lets say somebody messaged me right after pressing the start button. I could in theory press the back button and resume the app where I left off, or long press the back button, choose the app, and it will resume where I left off, OR I could tap on the notification and it will start the app from the splash screen until it loads back up...why?!

Basic functionality is missing and with the 720p and 768p displays...you would imagine the screen would be able to fit more than a refresh or tabs button next to the address bar. Hell they just added back the find on page functionality. My brother also pointed out if you are on long page, on iOS he could tap the status bar to scroll to top so you can use the navigation bar quickly without having to scroll and scroll to the top, He also said the scrolling never gets faster, that it stays at a consistent pace, so you could be scrolling up to the top forever no matter how fast you flick your finger... I'm sorry but Windows Phones need more functionality, less is not always more, add back some chrome to your UI to add more features Microsoft...

[Dashel]

I will take a smaller screen any day as long as my app store and apps/games look as good as they do on IOS

Examples? Sounds like a pretty petty complaint as most WP users aren't app junkies and really don't feel that compulsion. I have much better devices available for those areas.

When you go to another app, and come back to IE, the back button goes back to the start screen, not the last page you were on...and there is no option in the menu to go back or forward...

There is no way to close apps running in the background even though the battery will die quickly sometimes...you have to press back a hundred times...

No notifications also really annoys me, not because I need notifications, but a place to manage basic settings quickly like toggling screen brightness or WiFi.

Oh and what really bothers me is the multitasking and notifications, like lets say somebody messaged me right after pressing the start button. I could in theory press the back button and resume the app where I left off, or long press the back button, choose the app, and it will resume where I left off, OR I could tap on the notification and it will start the app from the splash screen until it loads back up...why?!

I'm sorry but Windows Phones need more functionality, less is not always more, add back some chrome to your UI to add more features Microsoft...

No thanks, I prefer MS's perspective on all those points. You must use the browser way more than I because those have never bugged me. What you call functionality really isn't to me.

-Back works fine, why do you need a forward?

-Pin Settings, basic settings are quite easy to access without dorking up the UI with infrequent information (how often do you really change brightness or WiFi? Rarely)

-I have no idea what your tasking issue is.you have three paths and unless it was closed, its still waiting for you to come back. Messenger has a splash screen? I assume you are using a crappy 3rd party chat app of some kind per the 'load' screen complaint. If there was criticism in the rest I surely missed it.

You can always add more functionality but to say its woefully lacking is simply an exaggeration. If anything, you are under the delusion that having more to click on or look at is 'more' and not less.

[primexx]

incomplete choices. I'm probably not going to upgrade from WP7 because of the costs involved to get a new retail, unbranded, & unlocked phone only a year after I got my current one. I also don't know of anyone that actually sells that where I am so I'd probably have to import it from elsewhere... damn inconvenient.

[SionicIon]

Examples? Sounds like a pretty petty complaint as most WP users aren't app junkies and really don't feel that compulsion. I have much better devices available for those areas.

No thanks, I prefer MS's perspective on all those points. You must use the browser way more than I because those have never bugged me. What you call functionality really isn't to me.

-Back works fine, why do you need a forward?

-Pin Settings, basic settings are quite easy to access without dorking up the UI with infrequent information (how often do you really change brightness or WiFi? Rarely)

-I have no idea what your tasking issue is.you have three paths and unless it was closed, its still waiting for you to come back. Messenger has a splash screen? I assume you are using a crappy 3rd party chat app of some kind per the 'load' screen complaint. If there was criticism in the rest I surely missed it.

You can always add more functionality but to say its woefully lacking is simply an exaggeration. If anything, you are under the delusion that having more to click on or look at is 'more' and not less.

Ok so really I should've stopped reading right when you assumed what works for you works for everyone... I have to look up things quite frequently, and I am texting people constantly... When I switch back and forth between the two, that back button is rendered useless because it doesn't go back a webpage, it goes back to the messaging hub! How is that in anyway functional? I didn't say to go back to my conversation, I said to go back to the webpage I was on, how the hell do I go back, why can't I do something as simple as going back! And why do I need a forward button? Well see, when you are browsing the Internet with a working back button and you go back, you can go forward in case you didn't need to go back. It's really wrong you think just because it works for you the way it is, that is fine for everybody else.

And here you go again judging how frequently it occurs that I change WiFi or brightness settings! What is your problem... Ok when I'm doing something and the auto brightness decides to dim the screen to death do us part, I can't see the damn screen to change it back, so I'd like to pull down something wherever I am and push a button and boom the brightness is 100%. Or if I'm at my workplace and my Internet somehow slows down to a crawl and I wonder why and I think oh that's because I'm at work and my phone connects to the attwifi network because it's an at&t phone and even if I forget the network, it still connects to it automatically and slows the whole phone down because that WiFI is slower than their LTE network that I get 5 bars when I'm at work. Nonetheless, I tap settings on my start screen, go to WiFi, and turn it off, and then I have to do that again to turn it back on when I get home to get on my home WiFi network. Why not pull down something wherever I am and push a button and boom my phone is connecting to my home's Internet automatically...

Also when did I say Messenger? I said if somebody messaged me in an app.. Does Kik ring a bell? How about Skype? I guess you don't use apps. When somebody messages you, the notification that pops up reloads the app from the beginning, so I see Kik or Skype and then it takes me to the IM even though I could technically press the back button to resume the app where I was messaging someone. It takes longer using the push notification...because it starts the app up without resuming it's previous state, and unless the app is actually running a background task like music streaming or live tiles, etc, it just pauses, it doesn't run in the background in most cases.

I think you are the exact type of person Microsoft expects the average Joe to behave. Somebody who accepts Microsoft's mobile OS as a work of art and that what they did is perfect the way it is. People who come from iOS or Android feel like they are sorely lacking functionality they had either Android or iOS. It might work for some, but a lot of people will feel something is missing. They need to build in more functionality for the fast browser IE10 is. Even Messenger needs more functionality...what happened to knowing when somebody is typing? Kik does it. iMessage, Facebook, and Kik all have read receipts.

And how do I add someone to my Messenger contact list? When my brother had his Lumia 920, he couldn't add me to his Messenger so he appeared offline to me, and I appeared offline to him. We tried inviting each other using Outlook, that didn't work either. My brother pointed out how difficult that would be for somebody who had no idea what was wrong, I mean even iMessage automatically detects when you're using an iOS device and switches over. We could've used Facebook but Facebook doesn't work well when it always shows somebody as offline...

Microsoft does indeed need to add more functionality to WP8, and I'm not going to lie and say they don't. Android is the better choice, they had lag stopping them before, but Google got rid of that lag, so what's stopping them? Nothing. I just can't stand up for Windows Phones when they are sorely lacking in functionality and apps. :(

Another thing is how Google improves what they have. I was furious that Microsoft dumped Zune. That was upsetting. They could've added a new wave of functionality to Zune such as uploading music to the cloud like Google Play allows, instead they rebrand and talk about integration. Most of the time on the Xbox Music app on my PCs, it says it can't connect to the Xbox Music cloud... It only syncs music from your music pass, no option to upload your own music and the Windows Store app is slow and sorely lacking in functionality compared to the Zune desktop software they had before... Very, very upsetting, but all I can do is pretend is was for the better and that Xbox Music is a better service...

[Joseph Noble]

My Lumia 920's screen shattered on it's first drop, form only about 20cm. I have still not been able to get it fixed, 2 weeks later.

I would not recommend this as a Handphone to buy. I am a 15 year plus,user of Nokia and have always been a fan of theirs,which is why I am so ****ed off that I was sold a bill of,goods and paid $700 dollars for this device.

[Twiddle]

Ok, well. I think I am done sticking up for Nokia and Microsoft. This phone is a gigantic piece of **** (Lumia 920). I woke up this morning and my phone is dead. I have tried every known option to try and get it to turn on and it simply will not power on. I had my Android (Samsung Captivate) for two years and I had never had any issue out of it, even after I wrecked my motorcycle and landed non it, and dropped it countless times.

I have never dropped this phone but I slipped and fell on ice this morning. The brunt of my weight did not even fall on the pocket my phone was in, but it slipped out of the side of the other side pocket and barely fell 4 inches from my pocket onto the ground. I mean this is in a complete literal sense when I say it fell from a height of less than 4 inches, with no body weight onto it. It will not turn on for the life of me, and I have had it up to here with the freezing issues, and bluetooth issues of the phone. I have tried sticking up for Nokia and Microsoft when it came to this phone.

Simply put, the thing is a piece of crap and so fragile a piece of glass apparently cannot touch it. I had dropped my Samsung Galaxy phone so many times, and literally wrecked my motorcycle onto it and it was 100% perfectly fine. But this phone apparently has died after a slight slip and from less than half a foot from the ground.;...

And to top it off. AT&T is not open this morning, so I am stuck without a phone or customer service. My anger is rising and I am in such a bad mood.

Excuse my language but f**k Microsoft, f**k Nokia and f**ki WP8. I am tired of being a fanboy of a s**t product.

[Twiddle]

Just punched the everliving f*** out of the phone a few times. Might have bruised my knuckles in doing so but the piece of crap turned on finally. Can;t wait to get ahold of AT&T tomorrow and trade this junk in for a SIII.

Advice: Don't get any form of Nokia product... ever.

[Kyang]

Just punched the everliving f*** out of the phone a few times. Might have bruised my knuckles in doing so but the piece of crap turned on finally. Can;t wait to get ahold of AT&T tomorrow and trade this junk in for a SIII.

Advice: Don't get any form of Nokia product... ever.

That sounds terrible. I have a 920 myself, but I have never dropped my phone before. From other reports, it sounds like your case of a super fragile 920 is the exception rather than the rule.

Hope you have better luck with your S3.

[Scorbing]

If Samsung came out with a Galaxy Note phone with Windows 8, I would consider it.

[guru]

i got myself the Nokia 820. loving it so far..

good stuff from WP7 such as the design, speed,Email,Calendar are there but in 2013 WP8 is missing some stuff such as the wifi, Bluetooth battery controls on screen but luckily there are bunch of apps that put them all on the start screen. so no biggie

forwarding a contact is still not there :/ hopefully in the next update..

[AlexMagik]

i'm still waiting to find a 920T (with new GPU), it's a hard to catch handset... there are 4 or 5 each store each week, and stores that have it are like 10 in a city of 22M people...

has been a week i'm looking around, but they come and go too fast for me to get my hands on one...