Support NeoGAF

[close to the edge]

My grandparents bought a HTC Trophy 7 a week ago and I got to play around with it a bit and I have to say, I really like WP7. The tile layout is pretty nifty and I like how consistent the apps feel (and also look). It's pretty fast and responsive too. For some reason buying apps in the marketplace wasn't working, so I can't say much about that.

 

[PG2G]

That has got to be bullshit on his part. There are over 3,000 applications on the phone; what specialist applications could someone not tech savvy enough to research the availability on that platform need? If he's concerned with application availability, why wouldn't he push them to iOS rather than the disjointed and inconsistent Android ecosystem?

Lack of IM clients really is a deal breaker for people. I have people that ask for my advice on phones and even I can't recommend WP7 based on their usage.

 

[PG2G]

I need some gamertags for friending people to make Project Sunburst more fun. There's an achievement for helping 10 friends and no one I know other than my girlfriend (who switched from WinMo 6.0 to WP7) has a phone.

Gamertag: kazinova

I'm also pretty active on my Xbox on NFS-HP, CoDBlOps and Reach.

I'll add you. I'm BiqMara.

 

[Walshicus]

Lack of IM clients really is a deal breaker for people. I have people that ask for my advice on phones and even I can't recommend WP7 based on their usage.

It's a phone... it's got messaging built in? It's not like people pay for text messages any more.

 

[giga]

It's a phone... it's got messaging built in? It's not like people pay for text messages any more.

Not sure if serious.

 

[Walshicus]

Not sure if serious.

Pretty serious. I mean functionally what's the difference?

 

[giga]

Pretty serious. I mean functionally what's the difference?

IM is free, sms/mms isn’t?

 

[ElNino]

It's a phone... it's got messaging built in? It's not like people pay for text messages any more.

Not all plans have that. I have been using a BB Bold for the past 2+ years and my corporate cell plan did not include any text messages... they were $0.15 each incoming and outgoing. Since I was on the BB I could use BBM and emails (and IM as well) instead of SMS and not worry about the occasional message from non-smartphone contacts I have.

Now that I'm using the Focus, I have added a $5/month SMS plan as I will be sending a lot more text messages with this. Not that I'm complaining, I do like the phone, but not everyone uses text messages.

 

[Walshicus]

Not all plans have that. I have been using a BB Bold for the past 2+ years and my corporate cell plan did not include any text messages... they were $0.15 each incoming and outgoing. Since I was on the BB I could use BBM and emails (and IM as well) instead of SMS and not worry about the occasional message from non-smartphone contacts I have.

Now that I'm using the Focus, I have added a $5/month SMS plan as I will be sending a lot more text messages with this. Not that I'm complaining, I do like the phone, but not everyone uses text messages.

Fair do, must be a regional thing. Haven't paid for text messages on a contract in five years here.

 

[ElNino]

I need some gamertags for friending people to make Project Sunburst more fun. There's an achievement for helping 10 friends and no one I know other than my girlfriend (who switched from WinMo 6.0 to WP7) has a phone.

Gamertag: kazinova

I'm also pretty active on my Xbox on NFS-HP, CoDBlOps and Reach.

I added you. Tag is ElNino77.

Not sure when I'll get a chance to try this out, but the more people to potentially connect with the better.

 

[kazinova]

As fast as the servers went up for Project Sunburst, they went crashing back down, really wanted to try garrisoning friends and seeing other bases, but that's okay. I'm glad they don't display roads names and stuff so you can't see where I live.

Not that I don't trust people from NeoGAF...

At any rate, you don't have to worry when you make your home your home base.

Can't wait till the servers pull a lazarus.

 

[Magni]

Not all plans have that. I have been using a BB Bold for the past 2+ years and my corporate cell plan did not include any text messages... they were $0.15 each incoming and outgoing. Since I was on the BB I could use BBM and emails (and IM as well) instead of SMS and not worry about the occasional message from non-smartphone contacts I have.

Now that I'm using the Focus, I have added a $5/month SMS plan as I will be sending a lot more text messages with this. Not that I'm complaining, I do like the phone, but not everyone uses text messages.

Paying for incoming.. one of the things I'll hate when I return to the US. But yeah, in France like in the UK, SMS is free for almost everyone, so no need for a BB-like IM app here.

 

[numble]

It's a phone... it's got messaging built in? It's not like people pay for text messages any more.

The 2nd largest carrier in the US, AT&T charges $60/year for 200 messages a month, $240/year for unlimited.

Verizon is about the same, except there is no unlimited option ($240/year nets you 5000 texts/month).

 

[Treo360]

Lack of IM clients really is a deal breaker for people. I have people that ask for my advice on phones and even I can't recommend WP7 based on their usage.

This! This is what put my wife off to it. I've emailed, tweeted and left negative reviews on the Miyowa Messenger app. There's almost no excuse. MS fucked this up badly, I mean, shit, the ios app supports mpop and push notification, instead the WP7 team left us with a buggy incomplete 3rd party app.

 

[brotkasten]

Ah, yes. Cell phone plans and the US. I love it. Seriously, paying for incoming SMS is just ridiculous.

Mary Jo-Foley got new rumors about the first big WP7 update and that's supposed to come in Fall 2011.

In recent weeks, there have been rumors of both January and February “minor” Windows Phone 7 updates. I’m also hearing talk of a major fall update (codenamed “Mango”), which will precede Windows Phone 8 (codenamed “Apollo”), slated for late 2012.

The Mango update is supposedly bigger than the January and/or February update, according to my sources. Mango is more like a Windows Phone OS 7.5 — and may even be named that when it debuts.

...
Mango, according to tipsters, will add Silverlight run-time and HTML 5 support to Windows Phone 7, Far Eastern language support and other features and functionality.

Tipsters: Windows Phone 7 'Mango' release to add HTML 5 support

Looks like Microsoft will keep their traditional update schedule for the E&D Division.

 

[MasterLeePhD]

do we know when that will be?

http://wp7applist.com/browse/games/xboxlive/

Also sent some people friend requests.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Updated App thread with info on WordPress, Beezz, and the Paramount Digital apps: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24931820

 

[Earl Cazone]

Oh, I didnt expect they would call the second wave of the OS Windows Phone 8. I thought they would stickt to the windows phone 7 brand and just add a word for the next minimum hardware specs.

 

[Walshicus]

Oh, I didnt expect they would call the second wave of the OS Windows Phone 8. I thought they would stickt to the windows phone 7 brand and just add a word for the next minimum hardware specs.

Hey, it'll be three more than iOS 5!

If WP8 is released in late 2012, it'll be launching pretty close to Windows 8, so there's some strong synergies to exploit there.

Now excuse me whilst I vomit for using "synergy" without irony.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I hope they show off some of these major updates and talk more about their strategy at CES or MWC! Glad to see that MS ig going to be pretty aggressive with the updates!

 

[user_nat]

If anyone wants an extra friend for Crackdown, add me.

GT: nanaw

edit: can anyone else not connect to the servers?

 

[Anton Sugar]

Is there any way to upload/send multiple images at a time? I can only do one.

 

[thirty]

Loggin into the servers is a bitch but once you're in, hot damn. Already set up bases on the Vegas strip in front of Bellagio and Copacabana Beach in Rio. I need to find an Egyptian pyramid and the Effiel Tower on Bing next.

 

[Treo360]

Is crackdown a tower defense game?

 

[Walshicus]

Is crackdown a tower defense game?

Yup, uses Bing maps for the levels. Pretty nifty!

 

[PG2G]

Damn, HTC released a native YouTube app with HQ support -_-

http://www.wpcentral.com/htc-releases-youtube-app-windows-phone-7-supports-hq-playback

Come on Samsung, step your game up! LG and HTC are both doing pretty cool things when it comes to releasing apps.

 

[VanMardigan]

The YouTube situation on wp7 pisses me off. It will be especially difficult coming from the amazing android version. Even Apple understood the importance of YouTube at launch, it's a default app. The fact that I won't get this on my focus really bugs me. How could ms screw up something so basic?

 

[venne]

Damn, HTC released a native YouTube app with HQ support -_-

http://www.wpcentral.com/htc-releases-youtube-app-windows-phone-7-supports-hq-playback

Come on Samsung, step your game up! LG and HTC are both doing pretty cool things when it comes to releasing apps.

If I was a manufacturer, I'd release the apps in the general marketplace as well for a high price. Say $9.99.

Reward the people who bought your device and attempt to make money off those that didn't. I really don't see the importance of something being manufacturer exclusive. I don't think anyone is going to buy a specific device simply because LG/Samsung/HTC released an app for it. It's a nice bonus to be sure, but not a deal breaker/maker.

 

[brotkasten]

Damn, HTC released a native YouTube app with HQ support -_-

http://www.wpcentral.com/htc-releases-youtube-app-windows-phone-7-supports-hq-playback

Come on Samsung, step your game up! LG and HTC are both doing pretty cool things when it comes to releasing apps.

Too bad I don't like one single HTC WP7 handset.

The YouTube situation on wp7 pisses me off. It will be especially difficult coming from the amazing android version. Even Apple understood the importance of YouTube at launch, it's a default app. The fact that I won't get this on my focus really bugs me. How could ms screw up something so basic?

I thought there was an app in the marketplace that makes the YouTube experience on WP7 (much) better?
e: It was "YouTube by Lazyworm".

 

[digita1alchemy]

Got an update for Xbox Live Extras this morning. No idea what it did.

 

[Robobandit]

If I was a manufacturer, I'd release the apps in the general marketplace as well for a high price. Say $9.99.

Reward the people who bought your device and attempt to make money off those that didn't. I really don't see the importance of something being manufacturer exclusive. I don't think anyone is going to buy a specific device simply because LG/Samsung/HTC released an app for it. It's a nice bonus to be sure, but not a deal breaker/maker.

Signed..

I'd pay for LG's "Play To" app, for example..

 

[VanMardigan]

I'd pay for that YouTube app.

 

[kazinova]

Got an update for Xbox Live Extras this morning. No idea what it did.

It must have added some new avatar items that weren't yet licensed on the device, all of the sudden my Dragon Age shirt shows up after the update. It used to pop up and error saying one of my avatar items "wasn't yet on this device" and it would give me a default blue shirt.

Hopefully they made it faster so it's not such a dog. Number one disappointment about the Live integration is the lackluster speed of the Live Extras.

 

[thirty]

So now that I have the YouTube app from HTC, can I uninstall the YouTube app from MS or will I still need that for browser support.

BTW, the YouTube Lazy Worm app is every bit as good as the HTC app so those who don't have an HTC phone aren't missin much.

 

[brotkasten]

Hopefully they made it faster so it's not such a dog. Number one disappointment about the Live integration is the lackluster speed of the Live Extras.

Be glad you have access to that app. People in other countries are still waiting for Xbox Live Extras on their WP7.

 

[VanMardigan]

So now that I have the YouTube app from HTC, can I uninstall the YouTube app from MS or will I still need that for browser support.

BTW, the YouTube Lazy Worm app is every bit as good as the HTC app so those who don't have an HTC phone aren't missin much.

Aren't we still missing hq video? Is the ability to log in to your account available on either one?

 

[tootthekazoo]

The manufacturers are making their own apps exclusive because they need a way to convince people to buy their device over another. Since Microsoft dictates the hardware and won't allow a manufacturer to "re-skin" the phone (HTC Sense) they need to find a way to make their devices stand out from the competition. Like all the rest of you, I'd probably pay for some of LG's and HTC's apps (I have a Focus) but I do at least understand why the manufacturers are doing it

 

[brotkasten]

It seems that Microsoft supports the iOS platform better than their own and new WP7 platform. At least when it comes to apps. iOS has a native WLM app, Bing for iOS just got a huge update with a very nice change log:

What’s New in Version 2.0
Quickly find the perfect restaurant based on your price range, cuisine, atmosphere, or location.
Easily find great movies by name, location, or theater.
Use the Plans feature to plan a night out, a dinner and a movie, or any event you want. See what plans your Facebook friends like and read their comments.
More transit directions to help you plan your commute. Real-time transit updates for Boston, San Francisco and Seattle (more cities to come), show you if a bus is on time, early, or delayed, with predictions for arrival times. Standard transit routes for 11 cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, and Vancouver BC, with more to come.
Familiarize yourself with a location before you go, using Bing Streetside. Streetside, a new mapping feature, gives you a multi-street level panorama of a location so you can take a virtual walk through the streets with a view of a location and its landmarks. Slide the street level imagery sideways, and the view of the sidewalk is seamlessly constructed, including an overlay of business listings, street names and store fronts.
Use reminders to get a notification when you’re nearby a business or location where you have an errand. Add a reminder and you’ll stop forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning.
Check in to Facebook, Foursquare, and Windows Live Messenger, without leaving Bing.
Improved homepage layout and design for easier navigation and discoverability.

While WP7 gets copy and paste and CDMA support in January.

How do you feel about that?

 

[tootthekazoo]

It seems that Microsoft supports the iOS platform better than their own and new WP7 platform. At least when it comes to apps. iOS has a native WLM app, Bing for iOS just got a huge update with a very nice change log:



While WP7 gets copy and paste and CDMA support in January.

How do you feel about that?

At this point I'm withholding judgment until CES next month. If CES passes without any kind of additional info about the platform and updates then I will feel pretty lousy about it. All of the different rumors have me thinking that we'll be seeing some kind of an announcement at CES with at least some kind of roadmap for updates

 

[VanMardigan]

The iOS team is probably separate, and google also updates their iOS apps regularly. Though they do keep the best versions of gmail and YouTube on android. Still, ms has kept what are arguably the best apps: office, zune and xbox, exclusive. Bing on the wp7 phones is solid, as well. I'm ok with this, provided that we see some big updates soon, which we probably will.

 

[brotkasten]

The iOS team is probably separate, and google also updates their iOS apps regularly. Though they do keep the best versions of gmail and YouTube on android. Still, ms has kept what are arguably the best apps: office, zune and xbox, exclusive. Bing on the wp7 phones is solid, as well. I'm ok with this, provided that we see some big updates soon, which we probably will.

I heard the Exchange support is actually better on iOS than it is on WP7 right now. Is it true?

 

[VanMardigan]

My phone hasn't come in yet, but my company doesn't do anything fancy with exchange anyway, so I doubt I'll see a difference.

 

[besiktas1]

I'm having some problems; 30 days in.

Marketplace keeps giving me errors and asks for updates for apps even though I keep pressing update.

My gamertag can't sync with my phone email and has been like this for 2 months. My latest dealings are with offcom, I am filing a complaint as after all this time and around 5 calls, still nothing....

Other than that I'm still in love. That is all. The phone is great.

 

[Blackhead]

The iOS team is probably separate, and google also updates their iOS apps regularly. Though they do keep the best versions of gmail and YouTube on android. Still, ms has kept what are arguably the best apps: office, zune and xbox, exclusive. Bing on the wp7 phones is solid, as well. I'm ok with this, provided that we see some big updates soon, which we probably will.

That's not Google's fault as the youtube and google maps app on iOS are developed by Apple. There is no native gmail app but the same gmail web app is available through the iOS and Android webbrowser (sometimes for iOS first).

I agree with the rest. WP7 has some decent exclusive Microsoft apps and the Bing hardware button probably trumps opening a Bing app. Or is that Bing update for the embedded search engine?

 

[giga]

I heard the Exchange support is actually better on iOS than it is on WP7 right now. Is it true?

WP7: http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2010/12/10/windows-phone-7-and-exchange-active-sync/

Password Required
Minimum Password Length
Idle Timeout Frequency Value
Device Wipe Threshold
Allow Simple Password
Password Expiration
Password History
Disable Removable Storage
Disable IrDA
Disable Desktop Sync
Block Remote Desktop
Block Internet Sharing

iOS: http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/docs/iPhone_EAS.pdf

Remote wipe
Enforce password on device
Minimum password length
Maximum failed password attempts (before local wipe)
Require both numbers and letters
Inactivity time in minutes (1 to 60 minutes)

Allow or prohibit simple password
Password expiration
Password history
Policy refresh interval
Minimum number of complex characters in password
Require manual syncing while roaming
Allow camera
Allow web browsing

Global Address List lookup
Accept and create calendar invitations
Sync Reply and Forward flags with Exchange Server 2010
Mail search on Exchange Server 2007 and 2010
Support for multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts
Certificate-based authentication
Email push to selected folders
Autodiscover

 

[Anton Sugar]

I'm having some problems; 30 days in.

Marketplace keeps giving me errors and asks for updates for apps even though I keep pressing update.

My gamertag can't sync with my phone email and has been like this for 2 months. My latest dealings are with offcom, I am filing a complaint as after all this time and around 5 calls, still nothing....

Other than that I'm still in love. That is all. The phone is great.

The update issue is (for me, at least) because it's a paid app that you're trying out. If you're running a trial, it won't update. Might be able to reinstall to get the most recent version, but it seems to be related to having a trial version.

Do you get some sort of error when syncing your gamer tag?

 

[PG2G]

It seems that Microsoft supports the iOS platform better than their own and new WP7 platform. At least when it comes to apps. iOS has a native WLM app, Bing for iOS just got a huge update with a very nice change log:



While WP7 gets copy and paste and CDMA support in January.

How do you feel about that?

http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-researchs-street-slide-now-live-in-bing-maps-for-mobile/

Bing is not a downloadable application in Windows Phone 7 platform as it is in other mobile platforms, so it cant be updated as other platforms. So when is this update coming to Windows Phone 7? The answer is ‘soon’. When you get the next Windows Phone 7 OS update( probably in the month of Jan-feb) , Bing will be updated with new features.

 

[VanMardigan]

That's not Google's fault as the youtube and google maps app on iOS are developed by Apple. There is no native gmail app but the same gmail web app is available through the iOS and Android webbrowser (sometimes for iOS first).

I agree with the rest. WP7 has some decent exclusive Microsoft apps and the Bing hardware button probably trumps opening a Bing app. Or is that Bing update for the embedded search engine?

They could always put a YouTube app and gmail app on the market, those are the best versions and they are only on android. Ditto for maps. I think if any iOS app is better, it is likely due to a longer lead time and more mature tools than bad resource allocation by Microsoft.

Edit: in response to the ms quote above, thats another area where they should take a cue from google and decouple the app from the os. I remember when you needed froyo to get the latest gmail, YouTube etc., and it sparked the debate about fragmentation. Google's response was to decouple the apps from os updates, so that these updates didn't have to wait until other major os updates were ready. Google search can be updated without an os update.

 

[venne]

The manufacturers are making their own apps exclusive because they need a way to convince people to buy their device over another. Since Microsoft dictates the hardware and won't allow a manufacturer to "re-skin" the phone (HTC Sense) they need to find a way to make their devices stand out from the competition. Like all the rest of you, I'd probably pay for some of LG's and HTC's apps (I have a Focus) but I do at least understand why the manufacturers are doing it

I can't see why they wouldn't sell them too. I'd say right in the description that this app is free for HTC/LG/Samsung owners. It increases the value proposition of the brand's device. It advertises to other people who may in turn recommend your phone because of it to others. Plus, they might be able to double dip and get some idiots to buy it on the general marketplace rather than getting it free on the manufacturer's section.

These manufacturers should be competing on storage space, battery life, screen quality, build quality, and hardware specs. Apps should be the cherry on top. It's not like the average consumer will even know what apps are available from each manufacturer. If I didn't follow tech blogs that cover this minutia, I'd have no idea what LG and HTC were offering.

 

[brotkasten]

http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-researchs-street-slide-now-live-in-bing-maps-for-mobile/

Since I don't have a WP7 yet, I can't say how integrated Bing really is, but from what I saw it looked like the dedicated search button is just a launcher for the Bing app on the phone. Is this correct? If that's the case, than it's a pretty lame excuse.