Nokia with WP7 is out, just not in U.S.

[EightySix Four]

This x 100.

You'd think Microsoft would be pushing hard with either the Apple strategy of one (or a few) awesome handsets or the Google strategy of getting WP7 on as many handsets that meet their hardware requirements as possible from as many manufacturers as possible. Instead they don't seem to be doing much of anything which is just mind-boggling.

I personally feel like their Nokia move was a shift away from the Google strategy to the Apple strategy, it's just taking some time. Nokia pumps out a few good devices really quickly, and then over the next few years gives us 3-6 devices a year with a high build quality.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

The phone arena is really quite different from the desktop space that Microsoft does well in.

People looking at smartphones want an end-to-end solution. They don't necessarily want something that can be hacked every which way and is infinitely customizeable. They just want something that works, is easy to use, reliable, and integrated all across the board with the services they want. Apple is able to do this with their tightly integrated ecosystem in a way that nobody has matched to date. Google is actually much further behind than Microsoft in this regard, and I am skeptical that they will ever really figure it out.

 

[EightySix Four]

The phone arena is really quite different from the desktop space that Microsoft does well in.

People looking at smartphones want an end-to-end solution. They don't necessarily want something that can be hacked every which way and is infinitely customizeable. They just want something that works, is easy to use, reliable, and integrated all across the board with the services they want. Apple is able to do this with their tightly integrated ecosystem in a way that nobody has matched to date. Google is actually much further behind than Microsoft in this regard, and I am skeptical that they will ever really figure it out.

Microsoft's end-to-end solution is fantastic between Live and Office 365 (for business) if people would give it a shot as a whole. I've been nothing but impressed.

 

[Red Storm]

The phone arena is really quite different from the desktop space that Microsoft does well in.

People looking at smartphones want an end-to-end solution. They don't necessarily want something that can be hacked every which way and is infinitely customizeable. They just want something that works, is easy to use, reliable, and integrated all across the board with the services they want. Apple is able to do this with their tightly integrated ecosystem in a way that nobody has matched to date. Google is actually much further behind than Microsoft in this regard, and I am skeptical that they will ever really figure it out.

And yet, Android has the most users. Go figure. (and no, it isn't because "Android is cheaper". There are plenty of Android tablets nearly 1/4 the price of the iPad, but they aren't leading in sales).

I think Microsoft's problem is a combination of poor marketing as well as a general "stigma" with the Microsoft name when it comes to "cool gadgets."

That, and they need to do a better job of releasing high end, appealing phones with high end features (and maybe Nokia can finally help them with that).

 

[pantsaregood]

And yet, Android has the most users. Go figure. (and no, it isn't because "Android is cheaper". There are plenty of Android tablets nearly 1/4 the price of the iPad, but they aren't leading in sales).

I think Microsoft's problem is a combination of poor marketing as well as a general "stigma" with the Microsoft name when it comes to "cool gadgets."

That, and they need to do a better job of releasing high end, appealing phones with high end features (and maybe Nokia can finally help them with that).

The issue with high end hardware is that it offers little to no practical benefit for the Windows Phone OS. Android is known for being able to eat CPU time and RAM. The only discernable performance difference from the first generation WP7 devices to the second is in application load times; actual application performance is essentially identical. By extension, web rendering may be slightly faster on newer devices, but the difference is minimal.

There are good Android phones and there are poor Android phones that choke on the OS. Every Windows Phone runs the OS smoothly; some just have different screens, or perhaps a slide-out keyboard.

The Samsung Focus S looks to be the best second-generation Windows Phone device unless Nokia releases a high-end product.

 

[Red Storm]

Well I meant things like LTE, and the ability to play any type of video file (having to convert for Zune software - actually, even having to use Zune software to begin with - is a big downside compared to the options on Android and iOS.

 

[arod]

Well I meant things like LTE, and the ability to play any type of video file (having to convert for Zune software - actually, even having to use Zune software to begin with - is a big downside compared to the options on Android and iOS.

They already said lte is coming once the hardware and software mature to a point where they can include it and still give you good battery life.... same with ios. I actually kind of like that approach.

To me having software like zune (and ios is just as dependent on itunes) is not a bad thing.... what I don't want to do is have to manage my phone manually. If a video will not play let the computer convert it to something designed for the phone (again battery life) and not waste resources on the phone. That said I really don't see a huge need to store video locally.... Whenever I want to watch something I just load up netflix (it does have the plane/no singal issue but I expect that to be solved somewhat soon when they allow offline viewing). The only video content I am putting on my phone these days is video podcasts and those I want re-encoded if its going to drain my battery quicker because the producer used odd settings to encode.

You are dead on about the marketing.... they have small pockets of good stuff (the wp7 challenges) but everything about the overall marketing campaign flat out sucks.... it even starts with the windows name (its really quite laughable the phone is called windows and does not have a single "window" in it). I saw this suggestion a few months ago that imo would work far better.... tiles 1.0. They could then market it from the beginning as something new (split off the win8 tablet os from the desktop os and call it tiles as well).

Back to the original topic.... really hope we see more than just these two phones.... I don't see either of these being the big "hero" device windows phone 7 desperately needs.

 

[quest55720]

What I am looking for in my next W7 phone is a screen 4 inches or bigger and better battery life. My focus is fast enough and smooth enough for what I do. I don't need or want LTE just a battery sucker and my area will be last to get it I don't 3D game on my phone. Just want better battery life than the focus with same size or bigger screen. I would love to see a 4 inch high efficiency screen with a 28nm 1ghz snapdragon for long lasting battery life.

 

[Deeko]

What I am looking for in my next W7 phone is a screen 4 inches or bigger and better battery life. My focus is fast enough and smooth enough for what I do. I don't need or want LTE just a battery sucker and my area will be last to get it I don't 3D game on my phone. Just want better battery life than the focus with same size or bigger screen. I would love to see a 4 inch high efficiency screen with a 28nm 1ghz snapdragon for long lasting battery life.

The Focus S might do the job for you then.

 

[crisscross]

Nokia Lumia 710 and 800 launched US launch early 2012. Looks like the rumours and leaks were spot on.

 

[MrX8503]

I think WP7's problem is the lack of apps moreso than hardware. Also, btw, this new Nokia phone is pitiful. Nokia basically rehashed the same design and internals.

 

[Slick5150]

I think WP7's problem is the lack of apps moreso than hardware. Also, btw, this new Nokia phone is pitiful. Nokia basically rehashed the same design and internals.

It's the same basic design as the N9 (which several reviews called the most beautiful phone they've ever seen) but has completely different internals (which of course follow Microsoft's specs).

Not really sure what you're issue is here.

 

[notposting]

WTF.....complete fail here. No ffc, no storage options, no US release...here I am still stuck with this shitball Trophy offered on VZW.

Somewhat related...Ballmer needs to go.

 

[zokudu]

So where is the Lumina 800 releasing in the US if at all? If they are on AT&T I will buy in a second.

 

[Deeko]

WTF.....complete fail here. No ffc, no storage options, no US release...here I am still stuck with this shitball Trophy offered on VZW.

Somewhat related...Ballmer needs to go.

Yea...quarter after quarter of record breaking profits, even in a down economy, is definitely not what you want out of your CEO.

 

[pantsaregood]

I think WP7's problem is the lack of apps moreso than hardware. Also, btw, this new Nokia phone is pitiful. Nokia basically rehashed the same design and internals.

Lack of apps? The marketplace is pushing 40,000 now. The big name apps are on WP7. You're pretty set for apps now unless you need 160,000 more fart machines and tip calculators.

 

[EightySix Four]

I think WP7's problem is the lack of apps moreso than hardware. Also, btw, this new Nokia phone is pitiful. Nokia basically rehashed the same design and internals.

other than missing Pandora, I am not really sure what else you could want from the marketplace. The game selection is fantastic, productivity apps are numerous, and all the social networks are represented. I think it's app store broke 50k apps? Or maybe it was 100k?

 

[Red Storm]

other than missing Pandora, I am not really sure what else you could want from the marketplace. The game selection is fantastic, productivity apps are numerous, and all the social networks are represented. I think it's app store broke 50k apps? Or maybe it was 100k?

Are there decent IM apps yet (or better yet, a an actual GTalk app?)? I had WP7 before Mango and the only one that really worked was IM+, and it was a pretty bad experience (very long load times to get into app, settings never properly saved, etc.).

And I think the problem with Ballmer is that sometimes he just says the most idiotic things. I don't know how good of a CEO he is or isn't, but if he kept his mouth shut more often it most certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

[darkewaffle]

I think the big barrier won't so much be getting a US release, but getting it onto the US carriers. Otherwise I think it looks great, I don't want a phone that doubles as a computer. I want a phone that feels good and looks good. Dual core for the sake of putting a "dual core" sticker on the box is retarded.

 

[MrX8503]

Lack of apps? The marketplace is pushing 40,000 now. The big name apps are on WP7. You're pretty set for apps now unless you need 160,000 more fart machines and tip calculators.

40,000 apps? lol thats barely anything at all. Do people really still use the fart machine argument?

other than missing Pandora, I am not really sure what else you could want from the marketplace. The game selection is fantastic, productivity apps are numerous, and all the social networks are represented. I think it's app store broke 50k apps? Or maybe it was 100k?

I haven't gone through the marketplace, but are the apps any good? I can live with 50k-100k apps if they're actually good. Android has a lot of apps, but the apps are so shitty.

I think talking about apps is an old discussion, but people still care a lot about apps.

 

[s44]

Nokia Lumia 710 and 800 launched US launch early 2012. Looks like the rumours and leaks were spot on.

And neither really looks like a winner. Why would you buy either of these instead of the Focus S, which, you know, will actually be out soon?

 

[TheStu]

40,000 apps? lol thats barely anything at all. Do people really still use the fart machine argument?



I haven't gone through the marketplace, but are the apps any good? I can live with 50k-100k apps if they're actually good. Android has a lot of apps, but the apps are so shitty.

I think talking about apps is an old discussion, but people still care a lot about apps.

For the most part, yes the apps are good. I don't have too many since the built in features of the phone take care of so much, and do it well enough.

 

[EightySix Four]

40,000 apps? lol thats barely anything at all. Do people really still use the fart machine argument?



I haven't gone through the marketplace, but are the apps any good? I can live with 50k-100k apps if they're actually good. Android has a lot of apps, but the apps are so shitty.

I think talking about apps is an old discussion, but people still care a lot about apps.

The WP7 apps are generally high quality IMO and the number of "fart machines" are tiny compared to the other app stores.

And neither really looks like a winner. Why would you buy either of these instead of the Focus S, which, you know, will actually be out soon?

The 800 has been described as one of the best pieces of hardware they've ever seen by a number of gadget sites. Also, some of us hate Samsung.

 

[preslove]

The 800 looks beautiful and isn't idiotically made of all glass and metal.

I'm wary about WM7 for lack of free tethering and gtalk apps. I'm upgrading summer of next year & if there is a workaround for tethering & Nokia actually releases something like it in the US, I'll probably pick it up.

 

[EightySix Four]

The 800 looks beautiful and isn't idiotically made of all glass and metal.

I'm wary about WM7 for lack of free tethering and gtalk apps. I'm upgrading summer of next year & if there is a workaround for tethering & Nokia actually releases something like it in the US, I'll probably pick it up.

There's a workaround for tethering for a few handsets, just not all of them. There will most likely be more workarounds in the future for the newer handsets with the better wifi chipsets.