WinMo, or Android - which one is better?

[Cristatus]

*disclaimer* I'm not trying to start a flame war!*/disclaimer*

I am currently using a RIM Blackberry 9900, and wanted to use a device from the WinMo universe, or an Android device. I have been using a Blackberry since 3 years, and before that I was using an iPhone, before which I was using a Sony Ericcson P990i and P900i.

I am NOT up for using a iPhone, because I didn't like it.

Now, I wanted to know the main differences between Android and WinMo, and what the advantages and disadvantages are of each one.

Just as an aside, I was considering the HTC One X, or the Samsung Galaxy S III, for an Android phone, but I have no idea what are the similar alternatives in the WinMo camp.

Ideally I would have like a phone with a physical keyboard, but since all of them are old, I am willing to try these new crop of phones again.

TIA

(C)

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Android is more open, has more powerful hardware and higher resolution displays. It also has far more apps and better free apps compared to Windows Phone 7. Most of the new high end Android phones have 1280x720 displays and all have dual core or quad core processors. Android also offers better battery life than WP7 however that will naturally vary based on the device you are considering. High end Samsung models ( Galaxy S2, S3, Note) have the best out of the box media support you can get.

Windows Phone 7 is limited to 800x480 screens, has a much smaller app market, and is very locked down when it comes to customization and multitasking. WP7 offers a smooth user interface but it's limited to single core processors so it can't record or playback 1080P video. The WP7 user interface can be polarizing, people tend to love it or hate it. Most of the top WP7 devices are on At&t so you may have trouble finding a good one on other carriers.

In my opinion WP7 doesn't have anything close to the One X or Galaxy S3. The Lumia 900 is the best WP7 device out there but even it only has a single core processor, the same display as the Galaxy S2, and average battery life.

 

[AstroManLuca]

WP7 is a lot like iOS in that it is a locked down ecosystem. There are plenty of upsides and downsides to that - it's smoother in general but the phones have limited features because of the older hardware, and there aren't many apps. On the plus side, unlike iOS, WP7 does run on many different devices so if you want a larger screen, or a hardware keyboard, you can get that.

 

[Red Storm]

First thing you should do is go take a look at them in the store. You'll get a basic feel for how they work, and we can help explain things in more detail.

 

[IamDavid]

Nokia 9000 is an amazing phone along with the Titan2 and Focus S. After using my Titan for the first time everything else seems like a toy. I live on my phone for both work and play. Its built in Office is priceless for me. Excel is a 100% must for any geek.
I liked the Samsung G3 and Note but it just doesn't handle all my emails and spreadsheets like I needed it to.

I wish MS would just buy BB and design a killer phone with a physical keyboard.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

For a WP7 device the Lumia 900 is decent but I don't get the appeal of the Titan at all. 800x480 is absolutely unacceptable on a 4.7" display and on any other platform reviewers would have ripped it to shreds. Heck, they did just that to the 5" 800x480 Dell Streak over two years ago.

 

[Cristatus]

I have tried a colleagues Samsung Omnia W with WinMo, and I thought it was pretty nice, but as mentioned earlier, the device feels rather locked down, which is like an iPhone guess.

Also, I like high-res screens, so I guess that rules out WinMo devices, unfortunately, since I did really like the phone. That along with no new devices being available that compare to the HTC and Samsung Android flagships, I guess I will not be looking for a WinMo phone, but rather an Android phone.

Now to go and discuss "which flagship Android phone to get" in another thred.

Thanks guys!

 

[TuxDave]

I am NOT up for using a iPhone, because I didn't like it.

This isn't a defensive question but what do you not like the iPhone. I ask this because if the aspects you don't like about it is shared among Android or WinMo, that would help us decide for you.

Edit: I guess I'm late to the thread. >_>

 

[Sheep]

Android also offers better battery life than WP7 however that will naturally vary based on the device you are considering.

Is this accurate? I'm an Android user but I thought that as a whole, Android devices were the worst in terms of battery life (unless you count stinkers like the Pre which was significantly worse than my old Evo 4G, which I know is one of the poorer performers in terms of battery life in the Android family). I know there are variations depending on the device like you noted, but if WP7 devices generally have worse battery life than Android ones, then WOW.

 

[Baenwort]

Is this accurate? I'm an Android user but I thought that as a whole, Android devices were the worst in terms of battery life (unless you count stinkers like the Pre which was significantly worse than my old Evo 4G, which I know is one of the poorer performers in terms of battery life in the Android family). I know there are variations depending on the device like you noted, but if WP7 devices generally have worse battery life than Android ones, then WOW.

Well, I can only offer anecdotal evidence from my phone which can run both WM6.5, Android 4.0, and WP7.5 and from my experience on the HTC HD2. I currently run WM6.5 due to it having the best battery life and the most stable bluetooth tether.

WM 6.5 (Best battery life) >> Android >> WP7 (Worst battery life)

WP7 runs constantly at 998 Mhz (One of the reason for worse battery life) where as 6.5 and Android can dynamically vary from low CPU consumption to High as required. Now this isn't all the time. Just when the screen is active. So depending on how you use your phone it will have a greater or lesser impact.

I don't know if this is the case for all Windows Phones but it is the case for me.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Well, I can only offer anecdotal evidence from my phone which can run both WM6.5, Android 4.0, and WP7.5 and from my experience on the HTC HD2. I currently run WM6.5 due to it having the best battery life and the most stable bluetooth tether.

WM 6.5 (Best battery life) >> Android >> WP7 (Worst battery life)

WP7 runs constantly at 998 Mhz (One of the reason for worse battery life) where as 6.5 and Android can dynamically vary from low CPU consumption to High as required. Now this isn't all the time. Just when the screen is active. So depending on how you use your phone it will have a greater or lesser impact.

I don't know if this is the case for all Windows Phones but it is the case for me.

Couldn't that be because WP7.5 isn't officially supported on the HD2? It just seems crazy that they wouldn't incorporate CPU stepping into the OS.

 

[RedRooster]

I have now spent a year on each of the three OSes, and I still think WP7 is the superior OS but the other two have the superior ecosystems.
The integration in WP7(Office as mentioned, XBox, social media, Zune, etc) is really really good and not something to dismiss lightly.
Having said that, I'm now of the opinion that Android(ICS) is the safest bet if you want good to excellent everything(hardware variations, app selection, availability).
WP7 is an HD display and large app store away from being the #1 OS. Too bad the rest of the world doesn't agree with me.

 

[dagamer34]

Well, I can only offer anecdotal evidence from my phone which can run both WM6.5, Android 4.0, and WP7.5 and from my experience on the HTC HD2. I currently run WM6.5 due to it having the best battery life and the most stable bluetooth tether.

WM 6.5 (Best battery life) >> Android >> WP7 (Worst battery life)

WP7 runs constantly at 998 Mhz (One of the reason for worse battery life) where as 6.5 and Android can dynamically vary from low CPU consumption to High as required. Now this isn't all the time. Just when the screen is active. So depending on how you use your phone it will have a greater or lesser impact.

I don't know if this is the case for all Windows Phones but it is the case for me.

Let me get this straight. You are basing your wide reaching statements on a device that did not initially ship with Windows Phone 7 as an OS? Don't you think there is a tiny problem with that? It's like complaining to Microsoft about poor battery life when installing Windows 7 on a Mac when it is clear that drivers have a huge impact (and Apple writes them).

 

[Binky]

You just missed the free phone promo from Microsoft...! I grabbed (err, "won") an HTC Trophy on Verizon (Windows Phone 7.5) and hooked my GF up on it. The OS is very slick and very easy to use. Apps seem to be very good, if you can find one. The app selection is worse than terrible.

The worst disappointment on the WP7 phone has been navigation. I'm an android user, so I'm spoiled with an excellent navigation system for free. I've tried just about every nav app on WP7 and I can't find anything that does good turn-by-turn navigation. We must be doing something wrong. It's just so bad that I must be configuring something wrong.

My understanding is that Nokia bundles their own maps package on their phones. It's probably a very strong reason to consider a Nokia phone if you go the WP7 route.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Do you have a carrier preference?

 

[smartpatrol]

Android has a better selection of apps, including great free Google Maps Navigation. It also has multiple devices with great 1280x720 screens.

WP7, on the other hand, is IMO just a lot more pleasant to use. It's amazingly fast and fluid. It has Zune Pass support, and you can play games that give you Xbox Live achievements.

If I were buying today and I had to choose either Android or WP7, I would probably go with a Lumia 900 or Titan II.

 

[Eug]

I wouldn't buy any WP7 phone. I'd personally wait for WP8 myself. WP7 is almost like a beta, except that any current WP7 phone (including the latest and greatest) will not likely be able to get upgraded to WP8, if there is any truth to the rumours.

BTW, for some reason I just don't like the OS style of WP7. But who knows, maybe if I used one full-time for a few days I'd like it better, I dunno.

P.S. I don't use social media and I don't use Xbox Live either. I have no interest in Zune Music Pass.

 

[Yuriman]

Android devices have the potential for phenominal battery life, but a lot of times you don't get that out of the box. Some Samsung devices, for instance, had a driver problem that prevented them from going into deep sleep when idle. Just sitting in your pocket unused, it would go dead in a day. I dont consider 24 hours of screen-off battery life to be good.

Running a custom rom fixes this, but not everyone wants to tweak and modify their phone - some want it to work right out of the box. For those, I'd recommend an iPhone.

After loading a new rom on my Samsung Galaxy S2, I had a 3x improvement in browser performance, a 20-80% improvement in gaming performance, and a six-fold improvement in idle battery life - all without over clocking. Apple devices are already optimised to this extent, but with Android you have better hardware to work with, and I personally like the UI more.

 

[finbarqs]

I think it's all up to the user in my honest opinion. One common thing I see amongst the android community is the discussion about what "ROM" their running. If you're heavily into customizing, hacking, and messing with your phone, no question. Android. If you just want your phone to be good out of the box, iOS or WP7. I had an EVO 4G, and I just got sick of the constant customizing, rooting, un-rooting, changing out my home screen, getting a different launcher for better performance, etc.

Hence, now I have an iPhone. A phone that just "works" and you don't have to think too much about it! But that's just me. Other people do different things, or like different aspects of the mobile environment.

 

[TheStu]

I have now spent a year on each of the three OSes, and I still think WP7 is the superior OS but the other two have the superior ecosystems.
The integration in WP7(Office as mentioned, XBox, social media, Zune, etc) is really really good and not something to dismiss lightly.
Having said that, I'm now of the opinion that Android(ICS) is the safest bet if you want good to excellent everything(hardware variations, app selection, availability).
WP7 is an HD display and large app store away from being the #1 OS. Too bad the rest of the world doesn't agree with me.

There are a lot of things that I loved about WinPho7 vs iOS, integration wasn't one of them.

Yes, there is Office built in, whoop-i-dee-doo.
I can view my cheevos and avatar for XBox Live on my phone!? Sign me up! (disclaimer: I do not own an XBox, but I connected it to my old roommate's and was left wanting).
Social Media, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Being able to go into the People's hub to see updates, and quickly get at people's photo albums from facebook from their contact info was awesome, and the biggest thing that I miss.


Zune: Ok, I mean, in terms of 'integration' it falls flat on its face compared to iOS and iTunes. I'm talking about iTunes Match, AirPlay, Remote, Home Sharing. The features that turns your digital house into your digital home. Being able to take a video I am watching and put it onto my AppleTV is awesome, and very convenient.

The Zune software itself on the PC is underwhelming, underperforming, and in places just plain baffling. It was easier and more direct for me to buy music on my phone compared to the Zune software.

The music player on teh phone though? AWESOME. Swiping between tracks, little preview list of what is coming next, quick and easy way to create playlists on the fly, and any number of other nice little touches that the iPod app needs desperately. Also, ZunePass is amazing (especially if you were like me and had the old $15/mo version). I would say that ZunePass equals iTunes Match, but they are different services. One is a subscription where you own nothing, and the other is about owning everything and making it available anywhere. (also, ZunePass is >$100/yr, iTunes Match is $25).

Like I said, I miss WinPho7, a lot. The app disparity doesn't bother me that much, and Mango addressed a lot of the shortcomings of the OS. All that said, I hated the hardware I had (HTC Surround), didn't want to lock myself into a contract further, and got an iPhone 4 off a co-worker for $75.

 

[Eug]

I think it's all up to the user in my honest opinion. One common thing I see amongst the android community is the discussion about what "ROM" their running. If you're heavily into customizing, hacking, and messing with your phone, no question. Android. If you just want your phone to be good out of the box, iOS or WP7. I had an EVO 4G, and I just got sick of the constant customizing, rooting, un-rooting, changing out my home screen, getting a different launcher for better performance, etc.

Hence, now I have an iPhone. A phone that just "works" and you don't have to think too much about it! But that's just me. Other people do different things, or like different aspects of the mobile environment.

Actually, I don't know any Android user personally that has a custom ROM. I just come across them here.

Ironically, I know several iPhone users who have jailbroken their iPhones... although that was because they bought the original iPhone to run in Canada. (The iPhone didn't come to Canada until the 3G.)

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Is this accurate? I'm an Android user but I thought that as a whole, Android devices were the worst in terms of battery life (unless you count stinkers like the Pre which was significantly worse than my old Evo 4G, which I know is one of the poorer performers in terms of battery life in the Android family). I know there are variations depending on the device like you noted, but if WP7 devices generally have worse battery life than Android ones, then WOW.

The Lumia 900 never tops the charts and in several cases is beaten by numerous more powerful Android devices.

 

[N4g4rok]

I do use a Lumia 900, but i only recommend it hands down if:

- You use windows live services, or office applications on a regular basis
- You use Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter often, and prefer not to use a third party application.
- Utilize Skydrive services in any way

if you apply to those three, i think WP7 is the best option. outside of that, it's based on user preference. Some people like the UI, others hate it.

Although it's true that WP7's hardware is on the lower end of the spectrum, the fluidity of the operating systems is definitely not directly comparable between WP and Android on the same hardware. Single core android platforms would not run quite so well with modern updates, whereas the single core WP system runs fine. so, be wary of a strictly hardware biased argument, the best way to tell is to play with one for yourself.

Zune is more-or-less required. It works well, to the point that i don't miss iTunes much at all. The market place is relatively DRM free, with the exception that it's a little complicated to re-download songs you've already purchased.

However, if you desire a phone with HD resolution, it probably won't be what you're looking for. The other complaint is the App Martekplace. It's still very new, and there isn't a vast selection of options available in comparison to iTunes or Android's marketplace. The pricing on some popular games is also kind of wonky.

 

[dguy6789]

One thing I am noticing people overlook often when it comes to specs is that the OS is only one factor. Specs determine app and game performance as well. A lower spec Windows phone might run Windows Phone OS fine but it will always run a given cross platform app or game slower than a higher spec'd Android phone or iPhone. No amount of coding can make an S2 Snapdragon handle 3D games or just really processor intensive apps as well as the chips in the iPhone or high end Androids.

 

[AstroManLuca]

One thing I am noticing people overlook often when it comes to specs is that the OS is only one factor. Specs determine app and game performance as well. A lower spec Windows phone might run Windows Phone OS fine but it will always run a given cross platform app or game slower than a higher spec'd Android phone or iPhone. No amount of coding can make an S2 Snapdragon handle 3D games or just really processor intensive apps as well as the chips in the iPhone or high end Androids.

Right. Which is why every time I think of maybe trying out Windows Phone, I hesitate because the hardware is so far behind similarly priced Android phones. Not only that but Windows phones probably suck for gaming anyway, if not for the hardware, then because games are less available and cost more. Basically the same problem Android had a couple years ago.