Any new windows 8 phones on the horizon?

[SpatiallyAware]

I have cycled through a couple of lumia 920s and have not been happy with the quality, see thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2297240&highlight=

I need to replace it with something else, but I'm not sure what to get. I really need the high quality camera like the 920, generally for daylight pictures. It is also extremely important that the phone is built well as my phone gets used a lot, and I need it to work for me. These crashes and problems I've had with both the 900 and 920 lumia are unacceptable.

Any thoughts? Someone from the other thread recommended the htc 8x, but I have an aversion to HTC due to numerous issues we've had with their phones in the past.

 

[jacktesterson]

Why does it need to be Win 8?

The Samsung Ativ S is probably your best bet.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Windows 8 is by far the best corporate phone OS. We've tried android a number of times and they are always a huge pain... Difficult to keep employees from screwing them up, and they all have required oddball memory or file management apps which requires IT to help the end user. It's just not a good platform for business use.

And yes, these were 'current' fast android phones, but please let's not turn this into a win8 versus thread.

 

[openwheel]

Verizon is rumored to be looking into the 920 replacement. It will be a thinner and lighter 920 with aluminum construction. Not sure about the date though. They have the 8X which is a very nice design as well.

 

[lopri]

They've just come out.. ? has it be a month? Or two?

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Windows 8 is by far the best corporate phone OS. We've tried android a number of times and they are always a huge pain... Difficult to keep employees from screwing them up, and they all have required oddball memory or file management apps which requires IT to help the end user. It's just not a good platform for business use.

And yes, these were 'current' fast android phones, but please let's not turn this into a win8 versus thread.

What Android phones are you using? I've used plenty of Android devices over the years and every version of the OS since Eclair and never had issues like that.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Why does it need to be Win 8?

The Samsung Ativ S is probably your best bet.

Thanks but I won't buy anything that has a fake aluminum 'plastic' body... I'm ok with plastic and composites, but not when it's made to look like brushed aluminum.

 

[Red Storm]

Thanks but I won't buy anything that has a fake aluminum 'plastic' body... I'm ok with plastic and composites, but not when it's made to look like brushed aluminum.

... because?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

... because?

Because it looks extremely cheap and gaudy. Personal preference, I don't want a chintzy looking phone.

 

[Red Storm]

Because it looks extremely cheap and gaudy. Personal preference, I don't want a chintzy looking phone.

Okay, but I thought this was for employees? Or is it just you?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Okay, but I thought this was for employees? Or is it just you?

This particular phone is just for me, but I wouldn't buy an employee a gaudy looking phone either.

 

[jacktesterson]

Thanks but I won't buy anything that has a fake aluminum 'plastic' body... I'm ok with plastic and composites, but not when it's made to look like brushed aluminum.

You don't have much choice then

The 8X is really your only option if you don't mind the color, other wise the 820/920 or Samsung I mentioned above.

I wouldn't worry about HTC, I've loved my One S phone and My wife also loves her Raider LTE. HTC also has improved camera quality greatly to be top tier in my opinion.

I'd avoid the HTC 8S phone though due to only having 512MB Ram. Win8 doesn't have the best memory management in my opinion.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Wow, just realized that the 8x doesn't come in black for ATT. That is stupid.

 

[dlock13]

Wow, just realized that the 8x doesn't come in black for ATT. That is stupid.

Verizon exclusive.

They are unlocked on VZW though so you could buy one and use your ATT sim card with it. Only problem is that you won't have LTE speeds if it's even up in your area.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I guess I could port my number to verizon, but bleh.

I think I'm going to try sending my 920 to nokia (rather than ATT) to see if I get a better quality refurb.

 

[BladeVenom]

Windows 8 is by far the best corporate phone OS.

LOL! Are you serious?

Have you considered BB10?

 

[InfiniteLurker]

That's a good idea about sending to Nokia rather than ATT.

Good luck with it - I must have been fortunate, my launch day 920 has been perfect for me. I seriously sometimes can't believe how good the battery life is.

 

[dlock13]

I guess I could port my number to verizon, but bleh.

I think I'm going to try sending my 920 to nokia (rather than ATT) to see if I get a better quality refurb.

I've heard really good stories of people getting a brand new phone from Nokia. Check the WPcentral forums and look around there.

Also, look on Craigslist for an 8X so you could just buy that outright for however much. I've seen them low as 300 in my area. Then you can just toss your ATT sim in and you don't have to worry about porting. It's just a thought. I don't know how set you are of course.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

LOL! Are you serious?

Have you considered BB10?

Is it even out yet?

We have a bes server and have used blackberry forever. We tested their full screen devices numerous times and all were terrible. The bolds and curves are ok, but with the type of business I do we need to have full screen devices. We've basically decided to move away from BB as it doesn't offer anything for us that windows phone doesn't. I also think it's ridiculous that they don't support activesync. The latest versions of BES have been ok, but in the past it has been a huge PITA.

Also historically speaking, anyone who does any sort of marketing complains about how they meet with people and essentially get made fun of for still having a BB. It's great for email, contacts, calendar, but anything else and it's terrible.

Past that, after using windows phone for the past year or so I see no downsides to windows whatsoever, other than the recent batch of lumia 900/920 hardware. The 800 series have been rock solid. We can set them up through activesync, then hand the device to a user and have them setup their own live account for apps. They have the kid zone thing so users don't have to worry about access to email etc. The OS supports cloud backups so wiping means nothing needs backed up other than pics.



Just overall the windows phone OS software has been absolutely foolproof for business use. We don't need the security of bes/BB.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've heard really good stories of people getting a brand new phone from Nokia. Check the WPcentral forums and look around there.

Also, look on Craigslist for an 8X so you could just buy that outright for however much. I've seen them low as 300 in my area. Then you can just toss your ATT sim in and you don't have to worry about porting. It's just a thought. I don't know how set you are of course.

My ATT rep offered to send me an 8x, but it doesn't come in black which is unacceptable. It's not really worth it to me to port to the verizon account just for an 8x..

 

[dlock13]

My ATT rep offered to send me an 8x, but it doesn't come in black which is unacceptable. It's not really worth it to me to port to the verizon account just for an 8x..

So does the company have to buy the WP for you? If that's the case, then scratch my idea altogether just because you'd be out the warranty and wouldn't even get support from the carriers if you bought it that way.

Also, yeah the colors for that device are ridiculous. I can't believe they didn't do a standard spectrum across the carriers, but I understand that money wins over logic every time. :l

 

[s44]

What Android phones are you using? I've used plenty of Android devices over the years and every version of the OS since Eclair and never had issues like that.

I think he's saying it's not idiot-proof. WP8 definitely is.

Anyway, I don't think there's a US device that meets requirements. Limp along until the Nokia refresh hits VZ or AT&T, I guess... As far as crashes and stuff -- that's the OS.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I think he's saying it's not idiot-proof. WP8 definitely is.

Anyway, I don't think there's a US device that meets requirements. Limp along until the Nokia refresh hits VZ or AT&T, I guess... As far as crashes and stuff -- that's the OS.

For what it's worth, just about the only crashing we've experienced have been from ATT refurbs. The new devices have a rattling vibrate and soft screen coating, but that's not the fault of the OS.

Basically I think most of my issues revolve around poor quality refurbs from ATT rather than the device itself. I'm going to rma it with nokia and will report back.

 

[lopri]

I just saw this @engadget but I doubt you'll like it. lol.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/31/nokia-lumia-620-pricing/

Edit: Oops, nevermind. It's not even Windows Phone 8. It's 7.8. Didn't know that existed. I thought Windows phone went from 7.5 to 8.0?

 

[blurredvision]

I just saw this @engadget but I doubt you'll like it. lol.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/31/nokia-lumia-620-pricing/

Edit: Oops, nevermind. It's not even Windows Phone 8. It's 7.8. Didn't know that existed. I thought Windows phone went from 7.5 to 8.0?

Since no WP7.5 phones are upgradable to WP8, Microsoft created 7.8 to include a couple of WP8 features, most notably the new start screen with re-sizable tiles. They are essentially throwing a bone to WP7.5 users who are unable or unwilling to upgrade.