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Windows Phone 7 |OT|

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Charred Greyface said:
It's especially troubling that they have no intention of bringing Metro to the Office suite.
Click to expand...

They HAVE to optimize Office for touch. HAVE TO. I have a Windows 7 tablet/laptop hybrid now, and Office is just not good enough for touch. Even on the phone, Excel can be tough to use. Not unusable by any means, but if they are serious about touch-only Windows, then certainly Office needs to be dragged into it. I want to be able to use Excel as I've always done, but if I'm ever in a situation where it has to be touch, they need to do a better interface for that.
 
infinityBCRT said:
When did they say they had no intention of bringing Metro to the Office suite?
Click to expand...
They haven't said that they are definitely bringing Metro to the Office suite either. I don't like Aero and I'm disappointed that it's still in there. I want the whole operating system to be revamped Metro style. *shrug* well obviously I'm not the target audience. I'll stick to my Mac thank you very much. That said I love the Zune more than iTunes and if every Windows app were in the same style I'd switch back in a heartbeat.

brotkasten said:
There will be a Metro version of Office, but it won't be a fullscreen app. Here's a screenshot of Outlook 15.

office15outlook.jpg


And lets not forget about that other touch-enabled Office 15 app, Moorea.
http://www.winrumors.com/office-15-moorea-tile-based-ui-screenshots-leak/
Click to expand...
Are you pulling my leg? I could have sworn those were fanmade mockups...
 
brotkasten said:
I highly doubt they'll change anything I mentioned.



There will be a Metro version of Office, but it won't be a fullscreen app. Here's a screenshot of Outlook 15.

office15outlook.jpg


And lets not forget about that other touch-enabled Office 15 app, Moorea.
http://www.winrumors.com/office-15-moorea-tile-based-ui-screenshots-leak/
Click to expand...

IE10 seemed to have a windowed version and full screen version, I wouldn't be surprised if Office 15 is the same.

ALSO-- if they turn all of the Desktop stuff into the same style as that Outlook shot... then Windows 8 will be attractive as a Desktop OS and not just as a tablet OS.
 
Charred Greyface said:
Are you pulling my leg? I could have sworn those were fanmade mockups...
Click to expand...
Nope, it's definitely from a leaked Office 15 build.
http://www.techvivid.com/2011/04/office-15-leaked-metro-ui-design-screenshot/

You're thinking of this: http://microsoft-news.com/windows-live-essentials-inspired-metro-design/


infinityBCRT said:
IE10 seemed to have a windowed version and full screen version, I wouldn't be surprised if Office 15 is the same.
Click to expand...
IE10 has a second interface, Office 15 doesn't have one.
 
infinityBCRT said:
How are you absolutely sure about that?
Click to expand...
Of course not, it's not like I work for the Office team. :lol But the "immersive UI" for IE10 was in the first leaked Windows 8 build (which is pretty old), while nothing like that could be found in the leaked Office 15 build. One would think that something important like a second UI must be there from day one, no?

Charred Greyface said:
Doesn't seem like the best source but there is some hope at least :)
Click to expand...
It's just a random blog I found while searching for the Office 15 image. I can give you a WinRumors link if it makes you feel better. ;)
 
So I downloaded the Zune software to get ready for the phone. The directwrite stuff (blurry fonts) is already bothering me, is there a way to turn it off?
 
brotkasten said:
Of course not, it's not like I work for the Office team. :lol But the "immersive UI" for IE10 was in the first leaked Windows 8 build (which is pretty old), while nothing like that could be found in the leaked Office 15 build. One would think that something important like a second UI must be there from day one, no?
Click to expand...

Remember that Office 2010 came out under a year ago. They are still in early development of Office. I'm sure they are working on a full screen version of it but its just too early to show it right now.

Also I'm pretty sure it was the winsupersite guys (Paul Thurrott & Rafael Rivera) who found the Metro UI stuff, and they said they had more info that they were holding on to but didn't disclose that info at all because they just wanted to show that there was a bunch of stuff in Windows 8 that hasn't even been seen yet. Its possible its there in Office as well but they never bothered to dig it up.
 
derFeef said:
So I downloaded the Zune software to get ready for the phone. The directwrite stuff (blurry fonts) is already bothering me, is there a way to turn it off?
Click to expand...
You can try to disable the hardware acceleration in the settings, but I don't think you want that. I'd rather wait few days to get used to it.

infinityBCRT said:
Remember that Office 2010 came out under a year ago. They are still in early development of Office. I'm sure they are working on a full screen version of it but its just too early to show it right now.

Also I'm pretty sure it was the winsupersite guys (Paul Thurrott & Rafael Rivera) who found the Metro UI stuff, and they said they had more info that they were holding on to but didn't disclose that info at all because they just wanted to show that there was a bunch of stuff in Windows 8 that hasn't even been seen yet. Its possible its there in Office as well but they never bothered to dig it up.
Click to expand...
I agree, maybe someone didn't bother to look for the immersive ui in the leaked build, but Office 15 is already in the milestone 2 stage, so it has to be there. It's not something you can add later on. Even Windows 7 M1 had a new taskbar hidden.
 
derFeef said:
So I downloaded the Zune software to get ready for the phone. The directwrite stuff (blurry fonts) is already bothering me, is there a way to turn it off?
Click to expand...
Tune it via Cleartype, perhaps?
 
MCD said:
Tune it via Cleartype, perhaps?
Click to expand...
I have that deactivated in Win7. I hate the blurry text so much. Whoever thinks that makes text easier to read should explain it to me because I don't get it.
 
derFeef said:
I have that deactivated in Win7. I hate the blurry text so much. Whoever thinks that makes text easier to read should explain it to me because I don't get it.
Click to expand...

Blurry text in Zune, wha? Screen?

I'm not going to make assumptions about the different tile colors or backgrounds--why wouldn't these be customizable, or to have Metro "themes"? I like the animated backgrounds. I would like a bigger emphasis on typography, but who knows? Windows 7 looked like Windows Vista early in it's development.
 
derFeef said:
I have that deactivated in Win7. I hate the blurry text so much. Whoever thinks that makes text easier to read should explain it to me because I don't get it.
Click to expand...
Its basically higher precision anti-aliasing because it uses sub-pixel rendering. only works on LCDs.
 
Mr. Snrub said:
Blurry text in Zune, wha? Screen?
Click to expand...

This is probably an issue where he is more sensitive to a certain type of font style than most people. Sort of like the Shantyman/pentile thing, where it just doesn't affect most everyone.
 
Does anyone know of any sort of 3rd-party app that can look at your music library and perhaps play back podcasts at 2x speed?

That's the one thing keeping me carrying around my iPod Touch everywhere. I've grown so accustomed to listening to most podcasts at 2x speed that it seems like I'm wasting so much time when I listen to them on my Focus.
 
dLMN8R said:
Does anyone know of any sort of 3rd-party app that can look at your music library and perhaps play back podcasts at 2x speed?

That's the one thing keeping me carrying around my iPod Touch everywhere. I've grown so accustomed to listening to most podcasts at 2x speed that it seems like I'm wasting so much time when I listen to them on my Focus.
Click to expand...

Don't know any, but I'd definitely say that's one feature that's poach worthy.
 
Commodore said:
Don't know any, but I'd definitely say that's one feature that's poach worthy.
Click to expand...
Does anyone know if it's even possible for a 3rd-party app to access the music library like this? If so, maybe it's time I load up the dev tools for myself :-)
 
Any Samsung Focus owners using a MicroSD card for memory expansion? I haven't found jackshit as far as any being "Certified", but I'll go with what GAF'ers who've had positive experiences have gone with. I don't want to get all crazy downloading apps/games and loading files etc until I get that card.
 
mm04 said:
Any Samsung Focus owners using a MicroSD card for memory expansion? I haven't found jackshit as far as any being "Certified", but I'll go with what GAF'ers who've had positive experiences have gone with. I don't want to get all crazy downloading apps/games and loading files etc until I get that card.
Click to expand...

I'd like to know for my omnia 7 too, starting to have space worries. :(
 
focussound.png


Boost Speaker Volume
  • Enter the dialer
  • ##634# --> Call
  • *#0002*28346#
  • Click Get under the Device Gain (max/min)
  • In the first box keep the number 7
  • In the second box put 16000
  • In the third box put 0
  • Click Set
  • Click Start
  • Click the home button
  • Restart your phone. To verify the setting took click the get button and it should show your values

Boost Headphone Volume
  • Plug in headphones
  • Enter the dialer
  • ##634# --> Call
  • *#0002*28346#
  • Click Get under the Device Gain (max/min)
  • in 'device gain' leave number 5, set 1100 (max) and -1100 (low)
  • Click Set
  • MAKE SURE AUDIENCE.CFG IS ON
  • Click Start
  • Click the home button
  • Restart your phone. To verify the setting took click the get button and it should show your values

http://www.wpcentral.com/boost-sound-samsung-focus-take-2

If you do either, you'll find a new app named Diagnosis that essentially allows you to skip the dialer step
 
mm04 said:
Any Samsung Focus owners using a MicroSD card for memory expansion? I haven't found jackshit as far as any being "Certified", but I'll go with what GAF'ers who've had positive experiences have gone with. I don't want to get all crazy downloading apps/games and loading files etc until I get that card.
Click to expand...

I had an 8gb SanDisk Class 2 put it and it works fine. Just need to follow the steps on the web. I also put it in when I first got it so there was no content already on the device.
 
what's the best type of case to get for a touchscreen phone?

I'm so paranoid I'm going to drop it or scratch the screen I just want something to protect it while it's in my pocket.

I found this case which I think I'm going to buy...

eV3mW.png


...but I'm open to suggestions. I've seen a lot of love for those slip on cases and silicon covers but I don't like the look of them (the ones I've seen anyway)
 
D4Danger said:
what's the best type of case to get for a touchscreen phone?

I'm so paranoid I'm going to drop it or scratch the screen I just want something to protect it while it's in my pocket.

I found this case which I think I'm going to buy...

eV3mW.png


...but I'm open to suggestions. I've seen a lot of love for those slip on cases and silicon covers but I don't like the look of them (the ones I've seen anyway)
Click to expand...

I've brought this. Been using it recently.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00498DGUU/

And ordered this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HGANNC/

I don't like ones that cover the screen; just too inconvenient.
 
venne said:
Elop's Keynote at Qualcom as covered by anandtech.

Some interesting points made. I can't wait to see what Nokia brings to the table.
Click to expand...


hell yea.... in and done.

Nokia will focus on and deliver the absolute best WP7 handsets since it will be its only focus, and as a result it feels it can easily differentiate itself from other hardware makers also creating WP7 devices.

Next up is that it must complete the WP7 ecosystem and compete as one against iOS and Android, rather than as a battle of handset versus handset. The goal is to work together with both Microsoft and carriers to flesh out all the required pieces for delivering a complete experience.
Click to expand...
 
Charred Greyface said:
I hope tethering is at the top of their list. unlocked device, tethering, $500 or less, and i'm sold.
Click to expand...

I think tethering will become a non-issue with all devices in the near future.

It seems that Verizon and AT&T are moving to make data use like voice use meaning one bucket of MBs or GBs to draw from per account rather than a per device model. It wouldn't surprise me to see this become the standard practice.
 
PG2G said:
You aren't expecting tethering to be free, are you?
Click to expand...
If I buy an unlocked, unbranded device then, yes, I expect tethering to be free. It used to be that way. Shame the phone platform folks are kowtowing to the carriers.

venne said:
I think tethering will become a non-issue with all devices in the near future.

It seems that Verizon and AT&T are moving to make data use like voice use meaning one bucket of MBs or GBs to draw from per account rather than a per device model. It wouldn't surprise me to see this become the standard practice.
Click to expand...
Even if Verizon and AT&T changed their backend operation so everything is one data stream, I'm sure they'll still charge for voice and text separately. It's a very easy lucrative swindle for them. Right now, many people would prefer to buy only a data plan for their mobile phone and make do with some combination of Skype and IM but AT&T and Verizon insist on bundling voice and text plans with any smartphone data plan (and then restricting Skype et al when they can). The carriers are going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming down any path that results in them ending up a 'dumb data pipes'.
 
mm04 said:
Any Samsung Focus owners using a MicroSD card for memory expansion? I haven't found jackshit as far as any being "Certified", but I'll go with what GAF'ers who've had positive experiences have gone with. I don't want to get all crazy downloading apps/games and loading files etc until I get that card.
Click to expand...

At&t sell a certified one and so far it works great. No random reboot, no resetting and I almost fill up the 16gb. Problem is the certified one is quite expensive. It's just a 8 gb Class 4 Sandisk so you can try to get one of those from another vendor and hope that it works.

I try one of the Class 2 16gb but the phone start reboot after a month or so. Some claim that No Do seems to fix this SD card problem but there really is not confirmation. So far some card work on one Focus might not work on another (probably have to do with Samsung chaning the memory and firmware from one production run to the next).
 
Charred Greyface said:
Even if Verizon and AT&T changed their backend operation so everything is one data stream, I'm sure they'll still charge for voice and text separately. It's a very easy lucrative swindle for them. Right now, many people would prefer to buy only a data plan for their mobile phone and make do with some combination of Skype and IM but AT&T and Verizon insist on bundling voice and text plans with any smartphone data plan (and then restricting Skype et al when they can). The carriers are going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming down any path that results in them ending up a 'dumb data pipes'.
Click to expand...

I'm speaking only from a data billing standpoint. Moving from a data per device to a data per account billing paradigm should ease up the restrictions on tethering.

Undoubtedly, they'll milk minutes and texts as long as possible.
 
venne said:
I'm speaking only from a data billing standpoint. Moving from a data per device to a data per account billing paradigm should ease up the restrictions on tethering.

Undoubtedly, they'll milk minutes and texts as long as possible.
Click to expand...
Nope, I don't see it. If data per account billing does happen it'll be attached to one individual's devices (your iPhone, iPad and Laptop). Tethering, on the other hand, can be shared with anybody, your friends, family, random friendly stranger on the bus. AT&T and Verizon will probably try to sell both tethering and a shared data plan hehe.
 
Charred Greyface said:
Tethering, on the other hand, can be shared with anybody, your friends, family, random friendly stranger on the bus. AT&T and Verizon will probably try to sell both tethering and a shared data plan hehe.
Click to expand...

I'll be happy with shared data on my family plan. I want to be able to use the data on my phone, laptop, and future tablet plus my wife's devices. If my friends want data, they should pay for it.
 
D4Danger said:
what's the best type of case to get for a touchscreen phone?

I'm so paranoid I'm going to drop it or scratch the screen I just want something to protect it while it's in my pocket.

I found this case which I think I'm going to buy...

eV3mW.png


...but I'm open to suggestions. I've seen a lot of love for those slip on cases and silicon covers but I don't like the look of them (the ones I've seen anyway)
Click to expand...

I'm more scared about scratching the back of my Omnia than the screen, Gorilla Glass <3
 
VanMardigan said:
I'll be happy with shared data on my family plan. I want to be able to use the data on my phone, laptop, and future tablet plus my wife's devices. If my friends want data, they should pay for it.
Click to expand...
What if you also have a nintendo 3ds, a playstation vita, an iPod touch or a nook touch? No mobile imternet on those devices because you can't put them to a shared data plan?
 
mm04 said:
Any Samsung Focus owners using a MicroSD card for memory expansion? I haven't found jackshit as far as any being "Certified", but I'll go with what GAF'ers who've had positive experiences have gone with. I don't want to get all crazy downloading apps/games and loading files etc until I get that card.
Click to expand...

Yup, I have a 16GB Samsung card. It's not Certified but the XDNA forums all had great experiences with it. I haven't had any issues yet, with 22GB used.
 
Charred Greyface said:
What if you also have a nintendo 3ds, a playstation vita, an iPod touch or a nook touch? No mobile imternet on those devices because you can't put them to a shared data plan?
Click to expand...

I have wi-fi at home, and I do see your point, but if you think about it, there is no need for a dedicated music player, a dedicated e-reader, or a dedicated portable games machine. I think this is increasingly true for more people. The device that has a Zune music player and Xbox Live on the go already has an internet connection, because it's also my phone.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm selling my N1 or anything, but a shared data plan that covers the phone, tablet, and laptop is really what I've been wanting for a long time, knowing that the nilly-willy tether-at-will days are slowly coming to an end.
 
Charred Greyface said:
Nope, I don't see it. If data per account billing does happen it'll be attached to one individual's devices (your iPhone, iPad and Laptop). Tethering, on the other hand, can be shared with anybody, your friends, family, random friendly stranger on the bus. AT&T and Verizon will probably try to sell both tethering and a shared data plan hehe.
Click to expand...

With the caps that AT&T has (2 GB with $10 per each GB you go over) and those incoming from Verizon, I don't think they'll care.

They'd be happy for you to share your data on the bus so you can get raped with overages.
 
venne said:
With the caps that AT&T has (2 GB with $10 per each GB you go over) and those incoming from Verizon, I don't think they'll care.

They'd be happy for you to share your data on the bus so you can get raped with overages.
Click to expand...
They'd still like to charge three times if they can help it. Charge for the data plan, charge for the tethering, and then charge for the overages. AT&T and Verizon love charging for every possible service possible.
 
Charred Greyface said:
They'd still like to charge three times if they can help it. Charge for the data plan, charge for the tethering, and then charge for the overages. AT&T and Verizon love charging for every possible service possible.
Click to expand...

Oh, they're money hungry whores without a doubt.

It will be interesting to see at what price point they put the shared data. Obviously it will come at a premium, the question becomes how much and what are the requirements?

When AT&T added an unlimited mobile to mobile option, they had a certain minute plan threshold and you needed to have unlimited text messaging. Not an issue for me since our family plan already cleared both hurdles (actually, we were able to drop our minutes).
 
Thanks for all the replies to those who answered my question about memory cards. I guess I better shop around and see what I can find for the least amount of money.
 
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