Support NeoGAF

[brotkasten]

I really want to know what is going on over there. Zune is dying, no doubt about that, but I'd like to read about the details, what exactly they're doing and how the future will look like.

MS Points for music should've been gone a year ago and I was sure they'd sack them at the 7.5 launch, but nothing. The only place you can buy music over Zune with your credit card, is over Bing (and only in the US, ofc). What the hell? I get that they're using the Xbox Live back-end, but come on. I'd never buy MS points to get an album from Zune.

 

[VanMardigan]

As would I.

Depending on what you focus on, mango may not matter. If you don't already love the OS, I don't think mango will make you love it. Dude has no data on his phone and is essentially using it like an iPod touch. Depending on what you value, the phone's advantages may not matter. Not everyone appreciates the UI simplicity, cohesiveness, and tight social integration. The hubs, the Zune Pass approach to music, the OS stability, these things are all weighted differently and barely register for some people. They approach it expecting an Android brute force style where raw specs and the ability to overclock your CPU matters. Or the iOS app grid and app silo approach is what they are used to.

When you look at what wp7 is NOT rather than what it is, it doesn't stand a chance. And considering how its still only one year old and still missing features, I can't blame anyone who just wants a more mature platform in terms of apps and feature set, which aren't the focus of the OS anyway. It was never envisioned as a feature for feature clone of the competition.

 

[Stinkles]

You have to be patient with it. At first, it wasn't very accurate at all and I stopped using it. But as I made a conscious effort to use it and regulate my speech patterns, I started nailing my messages in one shot. For example, my niece tried using my phone to send voice texts last week and the messages were laughably butchered, but I could repeat her same messages and have them dictated back to me with no problem. Don't give up on it. If Frankie can use this feature with his accent, you should be fine!

Hoots mon, it's troo.

 

[user_nat]

With Mango, can you set a Static IP/DNS?

Nope. Which is pretty stupid.

 

[Vanillalite]

Depending on what you focus on, mango may not matter. If you don't already love the OS, I don't think mango will make you love it. Dude has no data on his phone and is essentially using it like an iPod touch. Depending on what you value, the phone's advantages may not matter. Not everyone appreciates the UI simplicity, cohesiveness, and tight social integration. The hubs, the Zune Pass approach to music, the OS stability, these things are all weighted differently and barely register for some people. They approach it expecting an Android brute force style where raw specs and the ability to overclock your CPU matters. Or the iOS app grid and app silo approach is what they are used to.

When you look at what wp7 is NOT rather than what it is, it doesn't stand a chance. And considering how its still only one year old and still missing features, I can't blame anyone who just wants a more mature platform in terms of apps and feature set, which aren't the focus of the OS anyway. It was never envisioned as a feature for feature clone of the competition.

Very well put. You have to look at what WP7 is doing and doing well verses what it doesn't have because it's whole deal isn't trying to be that. I'll admit though with Mango it's MUCH closer to feature parity for at least what matters to the other platforms. My only current main gripes would just purely be in the app realm, and not the actual OS realm.

 

[Tuck]

Just started looking into Windows Phone 7. I must say, it looks really great. I do have a question though - can you change the colors of the tiles? In Windows 8 there was a really nice variety of colors. But in all the videos I have seen, the tiles are all the same color, except maybe two or three.

 

[strata8]

Just started looking into Windows Phone 7. I must say, it looks really great. I do have a question though - can you change the colors of the tiles? In Windows 8 there was a really nice variety of colors. But in all the videos I have seen, the tiles are all the same color, except maybe two or three.

Nope, but thank god you can't because brotkasten would be fuming

 

[Anno]

Nope, but thank god you can't because brotkasten would be fuming

Hmm? Maybe I misunderstand his question, but there are definitely 10 different color choices for (most) tiles. Some are more unique and/or have pictures or whatever on them.

Unless maybe Tuck meant changing them individually rather than as a whole?

 

[Damon Bennet]

Nope, but thank god you can't because brotkasten would be fuming

well you do have the option of 8 colours or something. but you cannot make your own one.

 

[strata8]

Unless maybe Tuck meant changing them individually rather than as a whole?

That's what it sounded like. In Windows 8 you can't even change the colours of the tiles, but each individual tile is a different colour.

 

[Joel Was Right]

Just started looking into Windows Phone 7. I must say, it looks really great. I do have a question though - can you change the colors of the tiles? In Windows 8 there was a really nice variety of colors. But in all the videos I have seen, the tiles are all the same color, except maybe two or three.

This is something I'd honestly like to see. There is an app called ConnectivityShortcuts that allows you to do this for the data settings (mobile internet, wifi etc). What I'd also like to see is a way to make a tile fit the entire width of the screen like the Calendar tile does; this way more information could be displayed e.g. RSS feed.

 

[Tuck]

Hmm? Maybe I misunderstand his question, but there are definitely 10 different color choices for (most) tiles. Some are more unique and/or have pictures or whatever on them.

Unless maybe Tuck meant changing them individually rather than as a whole?

That's what I meant. The home screen seems.. dull being only one color.

 

[Vanillalite]

That's what I meant. The home screen seems.. dull being only one color.

To be fair outside of the built in stuff like phone and messaging all of the apps have their own icons anyways. Plus a lot of stuff is all live tiles anyways so you get a lot of color on your main screen.

 

[Anno]

Yeah, Brettison pretty much covered it. There are so many crazy pictures and charts and everything else on my tiles that the colors barely even matter. I definitely get where you're coming from but I don't think it's a big deal. Certainly not a big enough deal to outweigh all of the great things about WP - even if it is monochromatic it's so much more attractive than any OS (in my opinion of course).

 

[Commodore]

Taking an eternity for these updates to come out... Honestly now, next time you announce something have a set stone date as to when you can actually deliver the product. Ugh.

There is no set date. There is only Zuul. (seriously, people having that assumption/expectation is one of the bigger communication errors on Microsoft's part. Microsoft updates on a roll out that coincides with the carriers own work on each phone. It happens in waves over a month or so for everyone, depending on the carrier you're on. It's not like iPhone land where there is one phone and 1-2 carriers, this is 10+ different phones across every carrier. Personally I'd rather them release the update at will when the carrier is finished instead of having to wait for everyone and THEN announce a set stone date. It's fragmented, and expectations get hairy but for the most part most will get the update quicker.)

 

[Commodore]

Depending on what you focus on, mango may not matter. If you don't already love the OS, I don't think mango will make you love it. Dude has no data on his phone and is essentially using it like an iPod touch. Depending on what you value, the phone's advantages may not matter. Not everyone appreciates the UI simplicity, cohesiveness, and tight social integration. The hubs, the Zune Pass approach to music, the OS stability, these things are all weighted differently and barely register for some people. They approach it expecting an Android brute force style where raw specs and the ability to overclock your CPU matters. Or the iOS app grid and app silo approach is what they are used to.

When you look at what wp7 is NOT rather than what it is, it doesn't stand a chance. And considering how its still only one year old and still missing features, I can't blame anyone who just wants a more mature platform in terms of apps and feature set, which aren't the focus of the OS anyway. It was never envisioned as a feature for feature clone of the competition.

Damn, that was well said. Nutshell'ed the intent behind so many varying opinions on the platform.

 

[Lesiroth]

Has there been any update on the lower end WP7 phones rumor? I'm interested in seeing how they'd tackle the interface with a lower resolution, and cheaper phones will definitely help it in my side of the world, where it's not doing that well.

 

[PG2G]

Has there been any update on the lower end WP7 phones rumor? I'm interested in seeing how they'd tackle the interface with a lower resolution, and cheaper phones will definitely help it in my side of the world, where it's not doing that well.

The "Tango" update (which is a non-major update for next year) appears to be geared towards lower end phones and expanding into markets that the phone isn't currently in. No real news though. As of now, the resolution is still fixed.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I ended up buying Glow Artisan because looking at the content it seemed like it'd be a lot. Seems like there are hundreds of puzzles. And at $2.99, if it went on sale it would have been $1.99, but the game was 500 points on DSiWare so regardless I was getting significant savings versus the alternative platform.

So far I'm enjoying the game a lot and I'll write a review here (sorry, the gaming side gaming-focused thread is dead). One problem, though; in the demo the puzzles are simply about trying to finish in as few moves as possible, but in the full game when you replay puzzles, there are medals for finishing speed.

Unfortunately, I'm having some finger obstruction problems going for the speed medals. I memorize how to do the puzzle and then just need to implement it properly to get them, but unless I use my pinky the game has trouble picking up me switching to another colour or erasing a line rapidly.

So putting the speed medals on hold for a while, I'm having a great time with the game and I'm about to unlock the "Apprentice" trophy which is basically the first quarter of the puzzles as far as I can tell.

Like I said, better review later.

 

[Vanillalite]

Still stand by my it shall release next Tuesday moniker. With Joe Belfiore linking to that MS post from twitter saying it's done and it'll be out within the next two weeks I'm definitely sensing Tueday!

 

[trinest]

I wonder if we do see different resolutions if bigger phones like the titan will update to the different resolution.

 

[D4Danger]

I wonder if we do see different resolutions if bigger phones like the titan will update to the different resolution.

The SDK is pretty strict about the 480x800 resolution. It's the only option and all the tools are built around it.

I think it's more likely that the next update/version will have more options.

 

[VanMardigan]

Unfortunately, I'm having some finger obstruction problems going for the speed medals. I memorize how to do the puzzle and then just need to implement it properly to get them, but unless I use my pinky the game has trouble picking up me switching to another colour or erasing a line rapidly.

Is this a finger obstruction problem or is it a problem with the game/phone not properly detecting your touch and gestures? Do you have any issues with the OS or 1st party apps detecting your touch and gestures?

 

[PG2G]

Super AMOLED Plus be damned, my next phone will not be a Samsung

Deutsche Telekom – Mango being rolled out next week, HTC first, Samsung later

 

[Anton Sugar]

Super AMOLED Plus be damned, my next phone will not be a Samsung

Deutsche Telekom – Mango being rolled out next week, HTC first, Samsung later

You'll be back. They always come back.

 

[Complex Shadow]

Super AMOLED Plus be damned, my next phone will not be a Samsung

Deutsche Telekom – Mango being rolled out next week, HTC first, Samsung later

oh yes it will >=[

 

[strata8]

I wish Samsung would just license out their SoCs and screens. They make decent components but they aren't very good at getting them to work well together.

 

[H3xum]

I was reading the updates on the Mango deployment and it says Focus 1.4

I only have 7390, which is not v1.4. Is there anyway to force my phone to grab that? I don't want to have to wait for some joint package update that has both that and Mango. It took me 4-5 months to get NoDo

 

[Milly79]

So, I am having a lot of problems regarding downgrading back to NoDo.

I still have the beta Zune installed, and my backup files. I go to restore via the batch file that mangoforall provided, and it's giving me an error regarding the Suport Tools not being on the same version number as my Zune. What is the fix for this?

 

[Blablurn]

any words on skype????

 

[Korey]

Super AMOLED Plus be damned, my next phone will not be a Samsung

Why?

 

[Windu]

any words on skype????

deal hasn't been approved yet

 

[thirty]

any words on skype????

there's a video chat app called tango that's with mango phones. it will probably be rebadged Skype down the road.

 

[Tomcat]

any words on skype????

Yeah where is Skype!!

 

[VanMardigan]

there's a video chat app called tango that's with mango phones. it will probably be rebadged Skype down the road.

Tango isn't a MS thing. It's on Android and probably iOS too.

 

[Joel Was Right]

Skype app is in development. I've used it

 

[Blablurn]

alright, i keep waiting

 

[mm04]

So, I am having a lot of problems regarding downgrading back to NoDo.

I still have the beta Zune installed, and my backup files. I go to restore via the batch file that mangoforall provided, and it's giving me an error regarding the Suport Tools not being on the same version number as my Zune. What is the fix for this?

I'm not sure if I got the same error message, but you need to manually move your restore folder into the correct location. Then my version of Zune, not the beta but updated to 4.8, saw it and I was able to restore. Bottom line, try to manually do it rather than rely on that batch file.

 

[Milly79]

I'm not sure if I got the same error message, but you need to manually move your restore folder into the correct location. Then my version of Zune, not the beta but updated to 4.8, saw it and I was able to restore. Bottom line, try to manually do it rather than rely on that batch file.

Problem is, I tried that. Zune doesn't even recgonize my phone anymore. It keeps giving me an error telling me to "disconnect and restart the phone - try again".

 

[brotkasten]

Why?

Samsung has a history of fucking updates up.

 

[mm04]

Problem is, I tried that. Zune doesn't even recgonize my phone anymore. It keeps giving me an error telling me to "disconnect and restart the phone - try again".

I updated Zune to the latest version. I too, used the Beta version prior and got some sort of version mismatch error when trying the restore batch file. If all else fails, update to Zune 4.8, manually place the restore folder into it's correct destination location and try again. Open Zune and go to Phone Update and if you're lucky, you'll see the dated restore file there. If that fails, you'll probably have to flash back to out of the box status, and you know what that means.

 

[Milly79]

I updated Zune to the latest version. I too, used the Beta version prior and got some sort of version mismatch error when trying the restore batch file. If all else fails, update to Zune 4.8, manually place the restore folder into it's correct destination location and try again. Open Zune and go to Phone Update and if you're lucky, you'll see the dated restore file there. If that fails, you'll probably have to flash back to out of the box status, and you know what that means.

I've tried a billion different methods. Beta 1, Beta 2 (haven't tried yet - but working on it), official release. Certificate deletion. Nothing works. Zune will not recognize my phone at all. I really don't care in what way this gets done, as long as it happens. I'm trying to sell the phone (switched carriers).

 

[mm04]

I've tried a billion different methods. Beta 1, Beta 2 (haven't tried yet - but working on it), official release. Certificate deletion. Nothing works. Zune will not recognize my phone at all. I really don't care in what way this gets done, as long as it happens. I'm trying to sell the phone (switched carriers).

If you're trying to sell the phone anyway, just hard reset it. You'll lose anything currently on the phone, but you'll be off the Mango Beta. Whoever owns the phone next can get the updates back to NoDo etc through the carrier. Anyway, sorry can't be of any more help than that. But it sounds like your options are limited.

 

[Damon Bennet]

and there is no VoiP calling app that is compatible to skype, right?

 

[Milly79]

Thanks for trying, but I went to my old laptop and it had my device information still on Zune. Older update (before NoDo), but oh well. I did reset the phone, but it didn't wipe the Mango off of it. I guess I didn't do the hard one. Its going good now, so no worries. Thanks again.

Edit: Nope, fail. Failed around 36%. Guess I'll try my NoDo backup.

Editx2: Awesome. Worked.

 

[Anno]

Tweet from a WPCentral editor:

malatesta77 Daniel Rubino
"Big news for AT&T users coming up soon regading (sic) Mango updates...stay tuned."

Edit: Article now up. Mango begins rolling out next Tuesday for Surround, Quantum and Focus 1.3 users. Focus 1.4 follows in October.

 

[bloodforge]

Damn why do i have to have a 1.4 Focus, gotta wait till October.

 

[Vanillalite]

Tweet from a WPCentral editor:

malatesta77 Daniel Rubino
"Big news for AT&T users coming up soon regading (sic) Mango updates...stay tuned."

Edit: Article now up. Mango begins rolling out next Tuesday for Surround, Quantum and Focus 1.3 users. Focus 1.4 follows in October.

Booyah! I told you it was gonna be next Tuesday!!!

 

[VanMardigan]

For those that don't know or don't remember: You check for your Focus revision by popping off the back cover, removing the battery and checking the sticker. It will say "Rev 1.3" or "Rev 1.4"

 

[Lebron]

Ah yeah, my Focus has been waiting. Tuesday it is.