Windows 8 Phone: Minor Linkage

Although I ended up going with an iOS platform after-all, I have been able to finally get my hands on a Nokia Lumia 920 Windows 8 Phone that a co-worker picked up -- at least for a few minutes.

Tellingly, he hasn’t ditched his secondary non-Win8 smartphone just yet, but did find a special deal that allowed him to pick up two units for the standard price of one; gift one and get one!

While I didn’t have an opportunity to really take it for a full test-track session, I was impressed with the 920’s screen brightness and resolution. Popping between screens/apps was super-fast. The unit had a nice heft and the feel in the hand was comfortable.

One thing was very clear to me; the Metro Windows 8 app style format really shines on the smartphone platform where it doesn’t impress me one bit on a more traditional desktop/laptop/Surface platform. That’s one thing that seems to set (for now) the Windows 8 Phone app eco-system apart from iOS and Android; style consistency across apps. As I’ve spent more and more time in the Apple App store, I’ve come to learn there are some app designers who work very, very hard to reflect a polished and “modern” UI style…and others look like crap despite how awesome the app might actually be. That holds true regardless if they are paid or free.  Props for good design work and attention to detail.

I may have previously posted this but Scott Hanselman over at Computer Zen recently posted the process by which he updated a Windows 7 Phone app of his to Windows 8.

• Updating my Windows Phone App to Windows Phone 8 - Scott Hanselman

Scott provides a great review of the process a Windows 8 Phone app designer needs to go through to make a quality product…even from a GUI design and layout angle.

I’m probably not looking hard enough, but I’ve not yet found any good treatises yet on designing and implementing an iOS app from a modern-ui standpoint consistent with other Apple UI’s.  Can anyone suggest any links on the subject or if Apple even has any “standards” in GUI design for current iOS levels?

In the meantime, here is a smattering of Windows 8 Phone linkage.

General Discussion

• Google Nixes Apps For Windows 8, Windows Phone -  InformationWeek
• Two new reports says Windows Phone 8 still can't gain traction - Computerworld Blogs
• Apollo Plus: Microsoft's next Windows Phone update to include Wi-Fi, audio, and other fixes -The Verge
• Windows Phone 8: The Complete Review - MakeUseOf
• An update on Windows Phone 7.8 - Windows Phone Blog
• The secrets of the Windows Phone 8 keyboard - Windows Phone Blog
• Verizon slashes HTC Windows Phone 8X price, matches Lumia 822 and 920 - BetaNews
• Windows Phone 8 vs Windows Phone 7.8 – What’s the Difference & Should You Upgrade? - MakeUseOf

Windows 8 Phone Apps that Caught My Eye 

• Discover New & Top Rated Apps On Windows 8 Store With Great Windows Apps - AddictiveTips
• Essential apps and games for a new Windows Phone - Windows Phone Blog
• Windows 8 Apps for IT Professionals - WindowsNetworking
• Download Any File Or Media Stream On Windows Phone With GetThemAll - AddictiveTips
• Get Weather Updates By The Minute With SkyMotion For Windows Phone - AddictiveTips

Usage Tips

• How To Get Back Bing Maps On Windows Phone 8 - AddictiveTips
• How I set up my new Windows Phone—and what I learned that can help you - Windows Phone Blog

HTC Windows Phone 8X

• Review: HTC 8X is the best Windows Phone 8 handset out there - Ars Technica

Cheers.

--Claus V.

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Windows 8 Phone: Linkage Round-up

Back in early October, I was beginning to consider the move into the “smart-phone” world with an upgrade to a Windows 8 Phone.

Accordingly I have been watching Windows 8 Phone news, reviews, and tips like a hawk.

Here is a linkfest update of new material since the last post on the subject.

General Discussion

• Windows Phone 8 review: Microsoft lays a foundation for success - Ars Technica
• Windows Phone 8 review - The Verge
• Windows Phone 8 review - Engadget
• The Windows Blog - Microsoft’s new source for Windows 8 Phone news
• After Apple v. Samsung, the smartphone market will never be the same [Updated] - Dwight Silverman’s TechBlog
• How I Switched To Microsoft Windows Phone 8 - It Was Easy! - ReadWrite
• iOS 6 vs Android 4.2 vs Windows Phone 8 Feature Comparison Chart - Addictive Tips
• The smartphone decision: What about the Nokia Lumia 920? (Review) - Dwight Silverman’s TechBlog

Windows 8 Phone Apps

• Marketplace - Windows Phone - Microsoft
• Office Next - Introducing the new Office on Windows Phone 8 - Microsoft
• 5 Fullscreen News Apps For Windows 8 - MakeUseOf Blog
• New Windows Phone 8 OS packs in social, personalization features - Ars Technica
• Try Before You Buy: 6 Emulators For Test-Driving Mobile Phones - MakeUseOf Blog
• Windows Phone Emulator - Microsoft
• Windows Phone Demo - Microsoft

Usage Tips

• Windows Phone 8 guide - Know Your Cell
• A Look At What's New In Windows Phone 8 - Addictive Tips
• What's new in Windows Phone 8? - BetaNews
• Q&A: The new Windows Phone 8 lock screen - The Windows Blog
• The story behind the Windows Phone 8 Start screen - The Windows Blog
• What’s new in photos and video for Windows Phone 8 - The Windows Blog
• Verizon to sell Windows Phone 8 on Thursday. Plus: a cheat sheet for U.S. shoppers. - The Windows Blog

Windows 8 Phone Videos

• Windows Phone Videos - YouTube
• VIDEO: Meet Windows Phone 8… through Joe Belfiore - Kurt Shintaku's Blog
• What’s new with Windows Phone 8 - Next at Microsoft - TechNet Blog

Nokia Lumia 920

• Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone with PureView Camera - Nokia
• AT&T prices Windows Phone 8 to sell - BetaNews
• Lumia 920 vs. Galaxy S III (AT&T) vs. One X vs. Ativ S vs. iPhone 4S - The Verge
• Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X Are Great, and Yet - NYTimes.com

HTC Windows Phone 8X

• Windows Phone 8X by HTC Overview - HTC Smartphones
• INFO: Mary Jo Foley & Paul Thurrott on the HTC Windows Phone 8X - Kurt Shintaku's Blog
• Deboxing the HTC Windows Phone 8X - Ars Technica
• Hands on with HTC 8X and Windows Phone 8 – istartedsomething Blog

Samsung ATIV S

This is my biggest disappointment! I had hoped to have a lot more material here regarding the Samsung ATIV S phone that really caught my fancy. The design and features really impressed me and when I went into our mobile carrier’s area “corporate” store last week to look at the smart-phone choices and chat with the sales reps, they said they hadn’t heard much about it.

I really hadn’t expected it to be out until mid-December but was hoping for some more info.

Alas, information remains slim. And as of tonight, I still haven’t been able to confirm any pricing on our carrier’s network.

• Samsung ATIV S vs HTC Windows Phone 8X - PhoneArena
• Samsung ATIV S gets pushed back to December - Windows Phone Central
• Samsung Ativ S hands on: Samsung retains its Focus on Windows Phone 8 - Digital Trends
• Samsung Ativ S review: A fresh start - GSMArena

Going to the Dance

They did have section devoted to Windows 8 Phones out stocked with an HTC Win8 phone and some Nokia models.

Curiously, none were working and the staff didn’t seem to concerned. Some didn’t have any power at all. One was working but through an error message regarding the connection being “invalid” every time you flipped screens.

One was working, but the full experience was just thumbing through the basic apps. No live tiles were working and (again) the browser didn’t connect.

I was really shocked. As a fairly tech-savvy user shopping for a smart-phone, and showing interest in the Windows 8 Phone line offered, the entire experience was a major let-down. Rather than inspiring confidence in getting quality hands-on time with Microsoft Windows 8 Phone trying super-hard to crack the Apple iOS phone and Android grip, I was left disappointed and without confidence in the product and its offerings.

To be fair, that was probably not the fault of the Windows 8 Phone nor the HTC/Nokia products currently offered and more indicative of an official mobile carrier’s store and sales staff who seemed to be willing to treat the Win 8 Phone stock as an inconvenience. Different store and different staff and maybe things would be different.

However that was not the case and I was determined on walking out with a new smartphone.

And with that, I indeed did leave with a serious smartphone upgrade…and haven’t looked back since…

And to quote the sultry queen of bluegrass seduction Alison Krauss, I’ve got a New Favorite.

--Claus V.

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Future Mobile Phone Upgrade?

I’m in the process of planning for a mobile phone upgrade, maybe by the end of the year.

Currently I have a Samsung Mythic SGH-a897 on AT&T carrier. The standard 2-year contract has long since ended.

It is a “smart-phone” but I don’t carry a data-plan with it and only chose it because I am a frequent texter and the haptic virtual keyboard far outshined all the other available models with a full keyboard (virtual and actual) offering.  It still runs great and the battery usually lasts two or three days of talk-time, always-on standby, and my texting.  The camera is adequate, but not nearly a replacement for a digital camera which is why my Canon S95 is almost always EDC now. Not once have I missed not having a data plan or being able to tether it to my home WiFi. Nor do/can I really carry music files on it. Sure I’ve tried, but it really didn’t seem to work too well. So I also have a little iPod shuffle (clip model) with me as well for tunage.

I could continue to happily roll along this way for the next few years, however there has been a sea change around the Valca home and extended family.

• Both parental units now have iPhone 4’s.
• Both Alvis and Lavie now have iPhone 4’s.
• Bro has an iPhone 4s.

Providing tech-support (of sorts) for these devices has made me a bit more aware of the extended benefits of smart phones so it seems it’s time for me to move forward.

So…I guess that means I’m getting an iPhone 5. Right?

Probably not.

At work, a daily occurrence is the often heated discussion between the iPhone tech holders versus the Android phone holders; which is better, who rooted what, what latest confectionary OS has been downloaded and on what platform (and who is still waiting), etc.  Constantly.

And I’m tired of it.

In fact, it reminds me of the OS platform debates that the phone-platform wars supplanted; Windows vs. Apple vs. Linux.

I can see why the iPhone crowd is so passionate. I often borrow Lavie’s iPhone in bed and use it to look up the cable/TV schedule in Safari…or maybe a quick Wikipedia peek to scratch a mental itch. When I do use it the interface is very easy and intuitive to use. And the hardware is very polished (design wise) and just makes sense.

And I can also see the wide and expansive range of apps available on both the Android and iPhone platforms. Sure is lots of handy things there.

And being able to have one device for above average quick-picture snaps and carry a good collection of digital music and videos would be really, really nice.

But despite having regularly used the iPhone platforms, and dabbled with Android phones/apps, there is a good chance that I might take the path less traveled and plunk down for a Windows 8 Phone.

• After Apple v. Samsung, the smartphone market will never be the same [Updated] - Techblog
• Windows Phone - Microsoft
• Where oh where is Windows Phone 8? - Ars Technica
• Microsoft said to have finalized Windows Phone 8 OS - ZDNet
• My first week with iPhone 5: what I miss from Windows Phone 7 - istartedsomething
• Windows Phone Videos - YouTube channel

Funny thing is, not once, never-ever, at-all, have I actually seen one of these mythical “Windows Phones” out in the wild. They have only been seen my be in the cell-phone petting zoos. None of my family have one, none of my circle of friends, not even the chance-met stranger. Considering the very-small market-share Windows Phones are reported to hold, I guess that isn’t surprising.

So since I’ve not been able to get first-hand feedback from a real-world person I’ve had to read the Net and reviews and on-line feedback on the current Windows 7 Phone. Oh yeah, and watch Bones use one on TV.  Not having access to a real-world Windows Phone is the biggest concern that is holding me back a bit and preventing me from becoming a Windows 8 Phone “evangelist” among the Apple/Droid crowd I rub-shoulders with.

Online feedback usually falls along three lines;

1. The UI is really nice and refreshingly different.
2. The (Windows 7 Phone) hardware isn’t quite up to the task; it’s adequate, but could be better for the OS demands.
3. There just aren’t nearly as many Apps for the Windows Phone platform as iPhone or Android. Get a Windows Phone and you might starve to App death.

The first one appeals to me. Unlike the tiles under Windows 8 OS, active tiles and the blocking layout really appeal to me here on a phone device. I get it. Logical, orderly, strong & solid. The design really fits me.

The new Windows 8 Phone hardware and OS seem to be fully developed now and should resolve performance issues and expectations held under the second point.

The third item really doesn’t bother me. Can I surf the net? Can I listen to music, or videos, or connect to my email account?  Does it take good digital photos? SkyDrive support? Can I still text? Yes? I’m covered. And I continue to pop-in and check out the Windows Phone Marketplace.

So what hardware offerings and I considering?

Current leader: Samsung ATIV S

• ATIV S - Samsung ATIV - Samsung product page
• Samsung Ativ S officially announced: Windows Phone 8 with a 4.8-inch 720p display - The Verge
• Gallery: Samsung Ativ S images - The Verge
• This is the Samsung ATIV S, the first of many amazing Windows Phone 8 devices coming this year - Windows Phone Blog
• Samsung shows off first Windows Phone 8 handset, the ATIV S - Ars Technica

What I like about this model:

• The case design just rocks. While not steampunk, there is an air of industrial design to it. I particularly like the brushed aluminum back plate and the sliver of perforated grill on the back. There is something mechanical about the design. The front looks very similar (though wider and taller) to my Samsung Mystic in fact. The edges are rounded, but not too funky. It has a pretty square top-view and the bottom is more curvy and reminds me of retro Italian sport-car design from the sixties.
• Hardware specs are nice: 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8 MP camera (and front-facing camera as well), 16/32GB storage, and MicroSD slot support.
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n supported.
• 4.8” HD display.
• 3.5mm earjack.
• Looks like it will fit in my current Samsung holster.
• Want.
• Price? Still an unknown.

In Second Place: HTC Windows Phone 8X

From what I know, HTC is one of the top-tier manufacturers of Android phones. So they have clearly been in the business for a while and can deliver great hardware.

• Windows Phone 8X by HTC Overview - HTC Smartphones
• HTC, Microsoft announce two Windows Phone 8 devices - Ars Technica
• Announcing HTC’s new Windows Phone 8 lineup - Windows Phone Blog
• PHOTOS & VIDEO: The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC - Windows Phone Blog
• Hands-off hands-on: the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S - Ars Technica
• HTC 'Accord' Windows Phone 8 image leaked, reportedly includes 1.5 GHz dual-core processor -The Verge

Thoughts about  HTC Windows Phone(s)

• HTC is a mobile smartphone platform leader. HTC’s got back.
• I’m not as crazy about the case styling. I could accept the 8X model case, larger, more uniform, if I were to get it in black. The 8S being both smaller, and with that crazy Dairy Queen cone “dip” styling at the bottom leaves me unimpressed.
• 8X display is 4.3” HD, just a bit less than the ATIV.
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n supported.
• 3.5mm earjack.

Hardware-wise the 8X seems a close match for the ATIV, but the styling leaves me uncomfortable.

In Close Third: Nokia Lumina 920/82

• Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone with PureView Camera - Nokia
• Nokia Lumia 820 Windows Phone with Wireless Charging - Nokia
• A closer look at Nokia Lumia 920′s body and remarkable PureView camera - Ars Technica
• Will you buy Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone? - BetaNews
• Welcome Home to Windows Phone: Nokia makes the move - Caschy’s Blog (GTranslated)
• It’s official: The Nokia Lumia 920 & 820 are coming to AT&T - Windows Phone Blog
• Nokia’s Lumia 920 coming exclusively to AT&T in November - Ars Technica
• INFO: Nokia Lumia 920 vs Apple iPhone 5 - Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Initial impressions about Nokia Windows Phone(s)

• Sigh…I do like the “bold” color styling of the Nokia’s just a bit more than the HTC. Barely. But then the roundy horizontal cross section loses my interest.
• The way the screen glass rounds to the device is interesting.
• Is that inductive (cordless) charging I see? Hmm.
• 8.7 MP camera…largest of all contenders.
• 4.5” HD screen.
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n supported.
• 3.5mm earjack.
• Camera/video handling seems to be the major point to stand out this device from the rest.
• Turn-by-Turn voice navigation with Nokia Maps app.

Additional Viewpoints

And then there are the rumors and rumblings of a Microsoft-hardware released product down the road…

• Microsoft does indeed have their own Windows Phone in the works - wpcentral
• A Surface Smartphone From Microsoft? Yes, Please! - ReadWriteWeb
• A Microsoft Phone: the wrong move at the wrong time for the wrong reasons - Ars Technica
• Phone Designer - Designer Jonas Daehnert’s Facebook page for phone designs. 

Would I consider a Microsoft-provided Windows Phone? Sure..if the hardware matched and the price was competitive.  Will that possibility keep me from picking up a Windows 8 phone before the end of the year…certainly not…unless it was 100% confirmed that Jonas Daehnert’s outstanding MS phone design got picked up by Redmond.

A few basic How-To’s

• How to Play iTunes Music/Videos on Windows Phone 7 - Daniusoft Studio
• Preparing your iTunes Library for Windows Phone 7, from A(pple) to Z(une) - Windows Phone Concierge
• How To Setup Gmail Accounts On Windows Phone - MakeUseOf blog.

Now I need to work some numbers with AT&T to see if their "AT&T Shared Data” plan would provide a better value once a third smartphone/data sucker is added or if our current method of have a shared Family call plan with unlimited texting package for everyone + individual data plans for each phone would be cheaper.

Will keep you posted on any new Windows 8 phone goings-on and how my considerations are running.

And if any GSD followers are actually using a Windows 7 phone and would like to leave their own thoughts on “real-world” usage to counterpoint the iPhone/Droid fans, they would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Claus V.

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