Anyone waiting on Windows 7 phones?

[gsaldivar]

i might be wrong, but wasn't one of the failing points of the kin, the stupidly expensive data plan you had to buy from verizon?

Yup. Apparently Microsoft didn't have much luck selling the Kin concept to the carriers either...

 

[Deeko]

Waiting? No. Likely getting Galaxy variant. However, I will likely still be getting one this year.

 

[Nebor]

Yup, I'm waiting. Have my SE X1a running WM 6.5 to hold me over for now. But I'll likely be buying the first WP7 phone to hit the market. HURRY UP!

 

[Fingolfin269]

It's upgrade time for me in December and I hope a Windows 7 phone is out in the wild by then for Sprint. However, I'm not going to wait around if a phone isn't available yet.

 

[notposting]

Interested but broke down and went Android this spring. Happy with my Droid for now--especially since it's been completely folded, spindled, and mutilated.

The Dells are nice looking...but on AT&T. WP7 looks damn good, and a further reading of the Kin debacle (both the Engadget and Ars pieces are pretty good reads) shows how NOT related they were to WP7.

Sounds like it will have multitasking like iOS4 has multitasking as well--limited but functional enough. Would love to see a nice Motorola version on Verizon with a good keyboard.

 

[finbarqs]

have a EVO 4G, and gotta say, I wasn't blown away by the interface. Sure I like the customizations you can do to the home screens, and the sheer amount of apps I have on the phone. However, the force closes, the constant restarting for no reason (did it to me about 5 times now, since I got it on June 8th) makes me think there's much to be worked on with this system. Keep in mind, I have not rooted the phone, but downloaded "official" apps in the market place.

I've had a Win Mobile 6.5 (800w) and a HTC Touch Diamond. The Palm 800W wasn't too bad, and the HTC Touch Diamond was a complete mess. Going from the Diamond to Palm Pre was like a breath of fresh air, where NONE of my apps crashed, and I rarely got that "too many cards" problem. The whole OS of WebOS just feels more polished than Android OS 2.1 (haven't tried out Froyo) but on initial reactions, it just feels like Android still needs some ways to go...

I will say this: I messed with a ZuneHD, and I was VERY impressed with the OS. Though the lack of a App Store (Market Place or whatever they call it) is quite a bit of a downer, the device was the smoothest/most responsive touch screen I've SEEN. Even more so than the iPhone 3G. About the same level as the 3GS. Can't help to think that the consistent 60FPS screen helps it out big time. When I got the EVO 4G, I was expecting the same "ZuneHD" smoothness, since everyone's been screaming about how awesome the the performance of the EVO 4G is. Well, when I finally got it... wasn't impressed by it at all... In fact, I was kind of disappointed, and kind of wished my Palm Pre didn't get hit by salt water! I really wanted to go back to WebOS. But alas, I'm stuck with the EVO 4G... Having the light leak didn't help it's case too! I didn't mind the light leak, but having dust get in the device is pretty bad...

 

[tatteredpotato]

I think the only area Android is only lacking (in regards to apps) compared to Apple would be in the gaming department. I haven't looked into too many games, but nothing looked as good as many of the games on the iPhone. Not sure if Google just has a bad graphics API or what but Android is definitely lacking in terms of games.

 

[Phobic9]

I think the only area Android is only lacking (in regards to apps) compared to Apple would be in the gaming department. I haven't looked into too many games, but nothing looked as good as many of the games on the iPhone. Not sure if Google just has a bad graphics API or what but Android is definitely lacking in terms of games.

I agree. Google is supposedly getting serious about gaming on Android but only time will tell.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

have a EVO 4G, and gotta say, I wasn't blown away by the interface. Sure I like the customizations you can do to the home screens, and the sheer amount of apps I have on the phone. However, the force closes, the constant restarting for no reason (did it to me about 5 times now, since I got it on June 8th) makes me think there's much to be worked on with this system. Keep in mind, I have not rooted the phone, but downloaded "official" apps in the market place.

I've heard a lot of people having these problems but luckily I haven't so far. I'm loving Android and the Sense UI in particular. It's the only reason I haven't flashed to 2.2, I don't want to lose Sense. It just seems like such a well thought-out interface to me.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'll keep my options open. I have an Android on Sprint and while I kind of like it, I'm not married to it. The EVO looks cool, but I'm not sure if it's worth an extra $10/mo over my regular phone and I'm really not keen on the apparently awful battery life. I'm interested to see how WP7 turns out by the time I get an upgrade.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The thing is all the devs flocked to Apple first. that was an established business and a very robust market. It's just like you have a pool of women free for the taking. The best ones get taken first. The leftovers aren't great. Well the leftover developers for Android... there's not many. Not to mention there's not many GREAT ones also.

Now the ones who want to do cross-platform? They put Apple #1, Android #2. So the Facebook Android app gets shafted. Who cares. They might have 1 guy working on it part time. 5 guys are working on the iPhone version. Same with games. They do the Apple version first and then com back to port an Android version. Ports also suck as the 3GS uses TI OMAP and only the Droid uses that. I don't know how they optimize for the iPhone 4 now, but I've seen games run terribly as iPhone ports on the N1 but run great on the Droid. Snapdragon and TI OMAP make a difference.

Everyone references fart apps and dumb stuff on the iPhone, but even if you look at functional apps like unit converters, IM apps, social networking, all of them blow away what Android has. Meebo and eBuddy are a JOKE compared to Beejive or IM+ on iPhone.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Look at Zune.

Inferior as a software to iTunes.

How is the phone going to be better?

Impossible.

I disagree. I love the Zune software compared to iTunes. How is Zune at all inferior?

Anyway, my one-year Sprint upgrade/discount thingy isn't until December or January. I'm definitely interested in what WP7 might offer. Since I have both a Zune (+ zunepass) and Xbox, I'm eager to see how it ties in to that ecosystem.

 

[Oyeve]

n/m

 

[Deeko]

Didnt MS just kill off their phone stuff?

They killed the Kin, not WP7.

 

[Oyeve]

They killed the Kin, not WP7.

Ah, that was it. Thanks!

 

[Tom]

I dont see anyone making a phone in the future that can do what winmo 6.5 can do now. It's too customizable and powerful for it's own good.

The micro transaction business model of the iphone is where all the development is heading; not because it's better for consumers, it's better for profits.

 

[gsaldivar]

I dont see anyone making a phone in the future that can do what winmo 6.5 can do now.

Specifically...?

 

[Nebor]

Specifically...?

Remote desktop to my Windows 7 PC from my phone?

 

[dwell]

Remote desktop to my Windows 7 PC from my phone?

Huh?

http://www.mochasoft.dk/iphone_rdp.htm

 

[Tom]

Specifically...?

an example of customizability..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCA5uYNwCj0

 

[hanoverphist]

Specifically...?

Remote desktop to my Windows 7 PC from my phone?

not only that, non-standard email attachments arent held hostage. the customization ability is huge as well. i hope they really dont lock the OS up like they are hinting tho, that would annoy me. they should also have the best exchange/ email capability as well, since its native to MS.

 

[aceO07]

Specifically...?

WM6/6.5 (with free software) can play almost any video/audio format. Why should you have to convert or have a proxy to play any files?

I gave up Android since it couldn't do it. iPhone can't do it. I doubt the new W7 phone will let you either.

They will all look nicer and more integrated than WM6, but they should since they're newer. However their goals seem to limit and focus.

 

[CTrain]

an example of customizability..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCA5uYNwCj0

The customizability is the one thing that kept me going with the HD2.
I hate the fact I can't go into an app market and find some cheap .99 game.
And the lagging issue with Sense sms is driving me bonker.
Still love my phone though.

 

[hanoverphist]

I hate the fact I can't go into an app market and find some cheap .99 game.

i love the fact that i can go online and find 12000 websites with winmo games on them for free and download/ install them directly to my phone

 

[tatteredpotato]

Everyone references fart apps and dumb stuff on the iPhone, but even if you look at functional apps like unit converters, IM apps, social networking, all of them blow away what Android has. Meebo and eBuddy are a JOKE compared to Beejive or IM+ on iPhone.

I think Apple has a better set of widgets OOB that make some of those apps look better, and same goes for gaming. Right now most of the apps on android look just fine for my tastes, but I'm sure it's one of those things that will keep evolving.

On a related note I think a big criticism of Android is lack of a solid "Look and Feel" across applications.