Windows Phone 7 Series

[bodogbodog]

Originally Posted by dcyloo

Telstra has finally released the 7740, 8107 and HTC firmware updates for phones on their network.

Got it offered up last night - its also meant to fix the forwarding of messages with content issue on Exchange 2003 but I'm not sure it has in my case

Be good not to have the dissapearing keyboard issue

Hey at least Helstra have released it - it could be worse - I'm still waiting for AT&T to release updates for Tethering support for my Samsung Focus

[Asteroid]

Yeah I would probably recommend any prospective purchasers get hold of an unbranded phone, as you get the updates immediately. Though I suspect it is possible to flash an unbranded rom over.

[stenchlord]

Hey guys, prospective Windows Phone 7 converter here. I'm on iOS at the moment (have been since the iPhone 3G release) but am rather bored with it, I've since bought an iPad so I don't lose access to all the apps I stupidly spent money on and am looking at moving to a new eco system and Windows Phone 7 just appeals to me more than Android.

I'm looking at picking up a Nokia Lumia 800 16GB when they get released in March since they're likely to be selling for $550-$650 (DSE is advertising $628 already) and selling my iPhone 4.

Does anyone have any evidence to support the release of the 900 at the same time though? Should I hold out for it? Also is there anyone here who moved from iOS to WP7 and not been happy with the experience? Main issue for me is that having been stuck on the one device (3G/4), preconceptions of how a mobile device has kinda seeped its way into my brain, I'd try to keep an open mind about it but I know there are likely to be things that will eventually get to me. I've tried WP7 in store but it's not the same as living with the device. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[dcyloo]

I can only give you my opinion that from having used iOS and WP7. Wife owns an iPhone and I have a greater preference towards WP7. Identical tasks can be achieved but the WP7 methods of achieving those tasks are summarily simple compared to what iOS needs.

Uploading or connecting to Facebook requires an application with iOS. Same for Twitter. For WP7, it's the People Hub, Me Hub, Picture Hub or directly from the camera interface.

Windows Phone promotions have recently been doing contests called "Smoked by Windows Phone" where simple everyday social media tasks are competed against. Things like taking a picture and uploading it with a caption to Facebook. You know with iOS, you need to take the photo, exit the camera application, enter Facebook, allow Facebook to load, swipe over to the Photos, then upload that photo and then add your caption. For WP7, you enter the camera, take a photo, use the menu to upload to Facebook and add your caption then post. They did a small tour and so far has scored a 37-0 win/loss rate.

iOS can definitely do heaps given the phenomenal number of applications available in its ecosystem. WP7 has relatively few (65,000's) but these are growing continuously.

No news on the Nokia Lumina 900 release date in Australia yet though. I have read stories of the 710 and 800 being released in many places but the 900 not yet. I don't think it's pre-order yet in many places that have already got the 710/800.

Personally I prefer a smaller screened phone so I'd go the 800 anyway.

[stenchlord]

Originally Posted by dcyloo

I can only give you my opinion that from having used iOS and WP7. Wife owns an iPhone and I have a greater preference towards WP7. Identical tasks can be achieved but the WP7 methods of achieving those tasks are summarily simple compared to what iOS needs.

Uploading or connecting to Facebook requires an application with iOS. Same for Twitter. For WP7, it's the People Hub, Me Hub, Picture Hub or directly from the camera interface.

Windows Phone promotions have recently been doing contests called "Smoked by Windows Phone" where simple everyday social media tasks are competed against. Things like taking a picture and uploading it with a caption to Facebook. You know with iOS, you need to take the photo, exit the camera application, enter Facebook, allow Facebook to load, swipe over to the Photos, then upload that photo and then add your caption. For WP7, you enter the camera, take a photo, use the menu to upload to Facebook and add your caption then post. They did a small tour and so far has scored a 37-0 win/loss rate.

iOS can definitely do heaps given the phenomenal number of applications available in its ecosystem. WP7 has relatively few (65,000's) but these are growing continuously.

No news on the Nokia Lumina 900 release date in Australia yet though. I have read stories of the 710 and 800 being released in many places but the 900 not yet. I don't think it's pre-order yet in many places that have already got the 710/800.

Personally I prefer a smaller screened phone so I'd go the 800 anyway.

Excellent stuff, thank you for going to the trouble of posting

Over the years my mobile usage has become more basic.
As long as the phone can make calls, play music, send texts/emails, access facebook/twitter, take half decent photos and has a decent battery life then I'm pretty happy.
I do however tether my iPhone to my iPad quite a bit since I've only got a WiFi model, do you have any experience in this area?
My iPad is where I do the majority of my browsing, game playing and eBook reading so I would very much like to know how pairing a WP7 phone to the iPad works.

Apps I use frequently on my iPhone:
Dropbox - I store photos and documents on there.
Flipboard - To keep tabs on any interesting posts made on Facebook or Twitter.
Facebook - For when I want to post mindless ramblings.
Maps - I get lost pretty easily.
Weather - I can't be bothered opening up the blinds.
Soundhound/Shazam - I'm bad at song names.
TuneIn Radio - For when I'm indecisive and can't choose what to listen to.
MPC Remote - This is an app that no longer exists in the App Store but I was lucky enough to get it before it was removed and I use it a lot to control Media Player Classic on the PCs when sitting in bed or on the couch.
Remote - I don't have an issue with iTunes as my primary music player so I use this to control it.
Crunchyroll - I watch anime and this lets me stream stuff while I'm out and about.

If WP7 can do the above with similar responsiveness in the UI as iOS then I'd be ecstatic.

[glimmerman]

lumia 800 should be coming in a couple of weeks to telstra. No news on the 900. Main problem with the 900 is that the LTE is not compatible with telstras, aka 4G won't work. they will have to create a localised version which will probably take a while..

[dcyloo]

Originally Posted by stenchlord

Excellent stuff, thank you for going to the trouble of posting

Over the years my mobile usage has become more basic.
As long as the phone can make calls, play music, send texts/emails, access facebook/twitter, take half decent photos and has a decent battery life then I'm pretty happy.
I do however tether my iPhone to my iPad quite a bit since I've only got a WiFi model, do you have any experience in this area?
My iPad is where I do the majority of my browsing, game playing and eBook reading so I would very much like to know how pairing a WP7 phone to the iPad works.

You'll find that WP7 can do exactly what you are asking for there. I can't give you any word on battery life given that my usage pattern is highly likely going to be different to your usage patterns. I am able to get about 36+ hours on a single charge on my phone generally.

Originally Posted by stenchlord

Apps I use frequently on my iPhone:
Dropbox - I store photos and documents on there.
Flipboard - To keep tabs on any interesting posts made on Facebook or Twitter.
Facebook - For when I want to post mindless ramblings.
Maps - I get lost pretty easily.
Weather - I can't be bothered opening up the blinds.
Soundhound/Shazam - I'm bad at song names.
TuneIn Radio - For when I'm indecisive and can't choose what to listen to.
MPC Remote - This is an app that no longer exists in the App Store but I was lucky enough to get it before it was removed and I use it a lot to control Media Player Classic on the PCs when sitting in bed or on the couch.
Remote - I don't have an issue with iTunes as my primary music player so I use this to control it.
Crunchyroll - I watch anime and this lets me stream stuff while I'm out and about.

If WP7 can do the above with similar responsiveness in the UI as iOS then I'd be ecstatic.

Dropbox - native application available on WP7.
Flipboard - don't know about this and don't know the functionality so can't provide a response toward this.
Facebook and Twitter - both have native WP7 applications however both also have built-in functions. You can enter your People Hub, swipe to the activities and it will bring you through a consolidated list of ALL data feeds from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Windows Live and I'm guessing that a future update will also provide Google+.
Maps - built in. Nokia phones will also come with Nokia Maps with turn by turn function.
Soundhound/Shazam - built in functionality of Bing. Enter Bing search, hit the music icon, and play the music.
TuneIn Radio - no idea about this.
MPC - suggest that this is not available, however it is known that in a future update to WP7, XBox Live, Kinect and XBox 360 integration is going to be built into the phone. Stick the phone into the WiFi network and you can control your XBox with your phone. This I am guessing would provide similar functionality if you are using your X360 as a media centre.
Crunchyroll - again, no idea about this software.

Go to http://wp7applist.com/ and have a browse of the applications made available within the Zune Marketplace. This is a consolidated application searching site that has a bit better search functionality than what's built into the Zune Marketplace.

General responsiveness of the UI of WP7 compared to iOS, I would suggest is on par to better depending on how you perceive things.

-edit-
Forgot about the tethering. Phone now has Tethering built into it. Shared as a WiFi hotspot. Just key in the SSID and key and away you go.
Weather - there's a great $3 application that's been written which draws the RSS data straight out of BOM. It's a great little application. Outside of that application, there's some relatively decent applications for weather like Weather Channel, AccuWeather and WeatherBug. All 3 are free.

[stenchlord]

Awesome stuff mate, I have a friend who's getting the Lumia 800 so will likely wait till he has it and probably borrow it for a day or two and see how the OS performs when under my general usage.

[scarecrow420]

Definitely a good idea to put one through a real world trial if you have the option...

Personally I find both - ios and wp7 too simple and lack customization for my "tweak happy" self which is why I'm on Android. But my wife has a Mozart and it's very good for what it is, and suits the right type of user just fine

Interesting thing I somehow missed is that WhatsApp messaging is now available on wp7, that was the one thing that we really missed my wife not having access to since it's on Android and ios. So that is sweet it's now out

[trevor68]

Exactly, I love my Defy, already put ICS on it, but my wifes Mozart is a brilliant phone for her as she is a facebook junkie, and the facebook intergration is just seemless.

I quite like it as a phone to use myself too.

[stenchlord]

Originally Posted by scarecrow420

Definitely a good idea to put one through a real world trial if you have the option...

Personally I find both - ios and wp7 too simple and lack customization for my "tweak happy" self which is why I'm on Android. But my wife has a Mozart and it's very good for what it is, and suits the right type of user just fine

Interesting thing I somehow missed is that WhatsApp messaging is now available on wp7, that was the one thing that we really missed my wife not having access to since it's on Android and ios. So that is sweet it's now out

Yeah, worst case secnario I don't mind buying and selling if it doesn't suit. Ideally I'd prefer not to have that happen but it's an option for me.

[bleAf!]

Just wondering if anyone on here who owns the HTC Titan suffer from the antenna reception problem and/or voice quality problems?

I'm looking to switch to WP7 from Android and HTC Titan fits the bill. Only those potential issues I mentioned is holding me back from now.

[Jobe]

anyone had any luck increasing the ringtone volume (via registry?). My ringtone is really quiet but it's annoying having volume set to max because then everything else is too loud. I tried increasing the gain on my ringtone file in audacity but it made no difference... i think zune might be normalising it when it copies it?

[Krinos]

Originally Posted by bleAf!

Just wondering if anyone on here who owns the HTC Titan suffer from the antenna reception problem and/or voice quality problems?

I'm looking to switch to WP7 from Android and HTC Titan fits the bill. Only those potential issues I mentioned is holding me back from now.

Couple of guys over on Whirlpool have reported the mic issue where it sounds like you're at the end of a long tunnel on calls. If you want a large sized WP7 handset you may want to wait for the Titan II.

[bleAf!]

Originally Posted by Krinos

Couple of guys over on Whirlpool have reported the mic issue where it sounds like you're at the end of a long tunnel on calls. If you want a large sized WP7 handset you may want to wait for the Titan II.

Yeah I did a quick read on the Titan thread on Whirlpool. It seems most people don't suffer from the mic issue so that is a good sign. However, the problem does exist so I'll research a bit more and think about it.

On the other hand, there is the Titan II you mentioned. It is worth considering though the LTE won't be of any use, it's a fair bit thicker than the Titan. I guess I'll look into it.

I'm really looking at 4.3"+ WP. So the Nokia 800/900 are other potential phones I'll be looking at as well. I believe Telstra will carry the Nokia 800 in March so I'll try it out then.