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[Walshicus]

Hasn't Microsoft already lost all credibility when it comes to WP7? I mean; when was the last time the major blogs have talked about anything really positive? Everything is just "Zune is shit here", "Feature X is missing there", etc.

I also just downloaded an App called "Chou". It's a chat program that puts you in a chat room with a random person who is also using the program. Sounds nice, but it doesn't really seem to work for me (or no one is using it).

That's somewhere between mildly and completely hyperbolic.

What's a "major blog"? I don't know, I mostly just keep up on Engadget or Arstechnica for this sort of thing, and they're not overly negative. In fact Arstechnica just put out a fairly positive "where we are now" article for WP7.

 

[shantyman]

MS is being fairly open about the updates.

However, if you look at the iPhone updates, notice that most of them early on were for terrible bugs (security, crashing, etc), ones that WP7 doesn't really have, so it's not an apples to apples comparison. MS does indeed have some crash bugs which will likely be fixed (marketplace!), but at least there are no bugs which allow hackers to take control of your phone.

That being said, don't forget that this is a minor update we're getting. Later on this year we're getting the major update, which will include IE9 as well as various other new things. Since MS doesn't have complete control over the updates, and the fact there's multiple devices on multiple carriers, each update is also more time-consuming and expensive to do than if MS was in a situation like Apple with basically complete control and one phone on one carrier, which is why we're not getting patches whenever minor issues are discovered.

Over 3 months and not a single update. The platform lacks major features all other mobile OSs have (multitasking being the main one). I honestly do not recall any bugs on iOS relating to security early on (that was a while ago), but if there were it was patched quite quickly. Contrast that with the WP7 data sucking bug (costing people actual money in data overages). The only response was to a columnist in the Seattle PI? Give me a break.

This is a company that regularly announces products months and even years before they really exists. Why would Windows Phone be any different?

The OS was received very well, but any momentum from the universally positive reviews is slipping away. That's why this is an issue.

 

[Raistlin]

Not anymore buggy than the HD7...

Yes, yes it was.

 

[Vestal]

Ok so ive had the phone for a few days and Im gona give out my early impressions.. As background I come from the 3GS to WP7.

The good:
1. The UI is absolutly silky smooth. Everything is extremely responsive and feels alot smoother than IOS.
2. Outlook... IMO best mobile Email APP. It kills the Iphone email app thats for sure.
3. Metro: I can't see myself going back to the wall of icons any time soon. It just makes alot more sense.
4. It generally feels more stylish.
5. Music hub is awesome.. Zune pass is a god send.
6. Wireless Sync FTW.. Nothing better than not worrying about connecting you phone to the PC to sync..
7. XBL: Its xbox live.. Nothing else to say.. No one has anything close to it.


The bad:
1. Lack of hidden wireless Connectivity. They really need to add this option.. Its just retarded that its not there.
2. Marketplace hang.... Its a shitty bug that needs fixing.. I shouldnt have to turn off my phone to get it fixed.
3. I need to be able to create my own Hubs to group applications. its retarded that I can end up with the huge list of apps.
4. Be able to group Mail applications under 1 live tile.

 

[VanMardigan]

No. 4 Is so true. Has MS said they would be providing a unified inbox at any point? I can't recall them mentioning that, but its definitely needed.

 

[shantyman]

1. The UI is absolutly silky smooth. Everything is extremely responsive and feels alot smoother than IOS.

This is one of the things that was most striking to me and what immediately made it outclass any Android Phone I have ever seen. I's wonderfully responsive.

 

[killertofu]

So does anyone have the Dell Venue Pro? My LCD screen broke on my iPhone 3Gs as I was trying to foolishly fix the home button...and looking up online, I saw that the Venue Pro was the same price if I bought a new screen/home button/digitizer.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Over 3 months and not a single update. The platform lacks major features all other mobile OSs have (multitasking being the main one). I honestly do not recall any bugs on iOS relating to security early on (that was a while ago), but if there were it was patched quite quickly. Contrast that with the WP7 data sucking bug (costing people actual money in data overages). The only response was to a columnist in the Seattle PI? Give me a break.

This is a company that regularly announces products months and even years before they really exists. Why would Windows Phone be any different?

The OS was received very well, but any momentum from the universally positive reviews is slipping away. That's why this is an issue.

The data sucking bug was NOT in WP7 itself. It was third party code (thought to be Yahoo mail) which is possibly already fixed. I have never experienced any crazy amount of data usage. Im staying well within my data plan and that's with lots of app and music downloads.

MS is already working on missing features. With tombstoning, which is currently in, it can fake multi tasking quite well without sucking up my battery life. If I'm in the middle of a game or writing this post and go to a different app, when i come back its exactly how i left it. One thing the platform does need is background apps, like Pandora, and its rumored MS is working on that already.

MS knows they have a lot to work on. Yes there aren't going to be weekly updates or anything, but it does help with developers since they don't have to continuously check if their app works in the new version.

I think most of this chatter will calm down once MS releases the first update and start talking about the major update. MS is absolutely not going to let this platform get bogged down by bugs and missing features.

Actually, out of curiosity, besides copy\paste and multitasking, what are the other major missing features wp7 needs? Keep in mind that flash, Silverlight plugin and ie9 with html5 is coming.

 

[MCD]

I just need Live Messenger from MS, Whatsapp and custom ring tones.

 

[Blackhead]

No. 4 Is so true. Has MS said they would be providing a unified inbox at any point? I can't recall them mentioning that, but its definitely needed.

I thought i'd miss a unified inbox when i had focus but it ended up not being a big deal for me.

 

[Everdred]

Ok so ive had the phone for a few days and Im gona give out my early impressions.. As background I come from the 3GS to WP7.

The good:
1. The UI is absolutly silky smooth. Everything is extremely responsive and feels alot smoother than IOS.
2. Outlook... IMO best mobile Email APP. It kills the Iphone email app thats for sure.
3. Metro: I can't see myself going back to the wall of icons any time soon. It just makes alot more sense.
4. It generally feels more stylish.
5. Music hub is awesome.. Zune pass is a god send.
6. Wireless Sync FTW.. Nothing better than not worrying about connecting you phone to the PC to sync..
7. XBL: Its xbox live.. Nothing else to say.. No one has anything close to it.


The bad:
1. Lack of hidden wireless Connectivity. They really need to add this option.. Its just retarded that its not there.
2. Marketplace hang.... Its a shitty bug that needs fixing.. I shouldnt have to turn off my phone to get it fixed.
3. I need to be able to create my own Hubs to group applications. its retarded that I can end up with the huge list of apps.
4. Be able to group Mail applications under 1 live tile.

I just linked every mail account I have (4) to my gmail. Now they all come in to the same box.

 

[bigswords]

The bad:
1. Lack of hidden wireless Connectivity. They really need to add this option.. Its just retarded that its not there.
2. Marketplace hang.... Its a shitty bug that needs fixing.. I shouldnt have to turn off my phone to get it fixed..

1. Yes that really sucks big time, it's the year 2009 and 2010 man, they really did a shit thing for that option.

2. There's a new firmware if you are using the Omnia 7 really recommend it.

 

[ralexand]

I just need flash movie support for porn sites mainly.

 

[Sikamikanico]

I just need flash movie support for porn sites mainly.

Brutal honesty.

 

[snap0212]

That's somewhere between mildly and completely hyperbolic.

What's a "major blog"? I don't know, I mostly just keep up on Engadget or Arstechnica for this sort of thing, and they're not overly negative. In fact Arstechnica just put out a fairly positive "where we are now" article for WP7.

A bit, maybe. However, even Ars said in their review for WP7 that it all depends on how well Microsoft will support Windows Phone 7 after its release. So far we've not seen any improvements and that's my main problem. Microsoft started last and a future with Microsoft on par with Android and iOS is just not possible if Microsoft doesn't get their stuff together.

I don't know what I would consider major Blog, but we've not seen much talk about WP7 at all, because there's just nothing to talk about. The next thing those sites will talk about is the disappointment about the upcoming update. They'll all (again) report about how Microsoft's WP7 is not on par with Android or iOS. Everything else would just be a lie. Do you think news reports like that make people buy a device? I don't think so.

 

[Treo360]

Actually, out of curiosity, besides copy\paste and multitasking, what are the other major missing features wp7 needs? Keep in mind that flash, Silverlight plugin and ie9 with html5 is coming.

IMFM

or

Instant Mother Fucking Messenger that's not that tripe called MsN Messenger From Miyowa.

Yes Flash for browsing so I can go to redtube, pornhub without being limited to the first video or two for free on the site just because I'm mobile. Spankwire works fine.

 

[shantyman]

The data sucking bug was NOT in WP7 itself. It was third party code (thought to be Yahoo mail) which is possibly already fixed. I have never experienced any crazy amount of data usage. Im staying well within my data plan and that's with lots of app and music downloads.

MS is already working on missing features. With tombstoning, which is currently in, it can fake multi tasking quite well without sucking up my battery life. If I'm in the middle of a game or writing this post and go to a different app, when i come back its exactly how i left it. One thing the platform does need is background apps, like Pandora, and its rumored MS is working on that already.

MS knows they have a lot to work on. Yes there aren't going to be weekly updates or anything, but it does help with developers since they don't have to continuously check if their app works in the new version.

I think most of this chatter will calm down once MS releases the first update and start talking about the major update. MS is absolutely not going to let this platform get bogged down by bugs and missing features.

Actually, out of curiosity, besides copy\paste and multitasking, what are the other major missing features wp7 needs? Keep in mind that flash, Silverlight plugin and ie9 with html5 is coming.

My point is they came out with a platform (consciously) that was missing little things so they could get the big things correct. They did in fact get the big things correct, but there are little things that need to be fixed. Some are bugs (Camera settings not being saved?), some are features (unified inbox).

I think you are right that the first update will quiet a lot of this talk. I wonder if they are fixing more bugs than originally planned in this initial update.

 

[snap0212]

nevermind, figured it out myself

 

[PG2G]

Here is a new MSN Messenger client "L’i’Messenger" that features support for Facebook chat.

http://wmpoweruser.com/limessengernew-msn-messenger-client-for-windows-phone-7/

No push though, unfortunately.

 

[brotkasten]

nevermind, figured it out myself

Tell us what happened. Maybe some of us have the same problem and we don't know how to fix this.

Here is a new MSN Messenger client "L’i’Messenger" that features support for Facebook chat.

http://wmpoweruser.com/limessengernew-msn-messenger-client-for-windows-phone-7/

No push though, unfortunately.

Sounds good, will post it in the app thread.

 

[Blackhead]

some are features (unified inbox).

I just linked every mail account I have (4) to my gmail. Now they all come in to the same box.

I have multiple mail accounts and I actually use them for different things. One is for family, the other is for work, another for 'junk mail' and so on. I like how WP7 treats those accounts as distinct with different icons, different alert sounds, different placement on my homescreen (or the ability to remove some accounts all together). I was pleasantly surprised how well the setup worked in practice. I can understand why some people insist on a unified inbox but I've actually made about turn and I'm now hoping that any upcoming unified mailbox feature doesn't detract from the separate inbox experience.

 

[Treo360]

Here is a new MSN Messenger client "L’i’Messenger" that features support for Facebook chat.

http://wmpoweruser.com/limessengernew-msn-messenger-client-for-windows-phone-7/

No push though, unfortunately.

Doesn't work for me, I get invalid file location error (or something like that) in the Zune Market place.

Edit: worked from the phone marketplace instead.

 

[Treo360]

I'm pleased with the messenger, FB integration works well, multi-site log in too. Today is a good day.

 

[VanMardigan]

I like having individualized notifications for email as well, but that doesn't have to go with a unified inbox. Main reason I want a unified inbox is the precious, precious home screen space. You get less apps than IOS and Android per look, so it limits scrolling with one inbox.

 

[antiquegamer]

I have multiple mail accounts and I actually use them for different things. One is for family, the other is for work, another for 'junk mail' and so on. I like how WP7 treats those accounts as distinct with different icons, different alert sounds, different placement on my homescreen (or the ability to remove some accounts all together). I was pleasantly surprised how well the setup worked in practice. I can understand why some people insist on a unified inbox but I've actually made about turn and I'm now hoping that any upcoming unified mailbox feature doesn't detract from the separate inbox experience.

This is how I have email account set up also. I can understand why some people would want unified in-box but for that would be quite confusing. I have one email for my social and other for on-line account, misc. purchase and one for message board. I only check my main email for the most part so I actually prefer them to be separate. Though I think option is always good.

My battery have been draining rather fast lately, I don't know what is causing it. (May be I just play more games lately on the phone, darn the Zombies!! game.)

 

[shantyman]

I have multiple mail accounts and I actually use them for different things. One is for family, the other is for work, another for 'junk mail' and so on. I like how WP7 treats those accounts as distinct with different icons, different alert sounds, different placement on my homescreen (or the ability to remove some accounts all together). I was pleasantly surprised how well the setup worked in practice. I can understand why some people insist on a unified inbox but I've actually made about turn and I'm now hoping that any upcoming unified mailbox feature doesn't detract from the separate inbox experience.

The solution using Gmail is a kludge at best (and you know it).

 

[snap0212]

Tell us what happened. Maybe some of us have the same problem and we don't know how to fix this.

Nothing big. I was just wondering how to get rid of the reserved space on my phone. I could simply disable it in the settings.

 

[Blackhead]

I like having individualized notifications for email as well, but that doesn't have to go with a unified inbox. Main reason I want a unified inbox is the precious, precious home screen space. You get less apps than IOS and Android per look, so it limits scrolling with one inbox.

Can you unpin the less important accounts from the homescreen and keep only one or two? IIRC you still be able to access those accounts from the app list screen, or with voice actions, and the notifications appear on the lock screen. Not the best solution but it might help. I put the less important accounts at the bottom of the homescreen...

The solution using Gmail is a kludge at best (and you know it).

Yeah, I know.

 

[NetMapel]

You click and hold on any of those home screen images and you should get the option of removing them.

 

[Raistlin]

The solution using Gmail is a kludge at best (and you know it).

True, but I'd rather have that than if the alternative is to only have a unified mailbox.

Obviously the best answer would be to support both.

 

[VanMardigan]

Nothing big. I was just wondering how to get rid of the reserved space on my phone. I could simply disable it in the settings.

How? I've been all over online and the best answer I got is that you basically cannot get rid of reserved space. I got like 2 gigs that I have no idea of its contents because its reserved. I don't want to do a full hardware reset, since the recovery process is a pain, unlike IOS.

Charred, all my accounts are about equally important and I don't want to bury them or keep them in the ever expanding and non sortable app list. I get important email on all of them every day.

 

[antiquegamer]

I think most of this chatter will calm down once MS releases the first update and start talking about the major update. MS is absolutely not going to let this platform get bogged down by bugs and missing features.

Actually, out of curiosity, besides copy\paste and multitasking, what are the other major missing features wp7 needs? Keep in mind that flash, Silverlight plugin and ie9 with html5 is coming.

While I would love to see more features, the thing I want more is the bug fix! I can live without copy and paste (though may be a time or two I wish I have it) and multitasking, but damm it if those little bugs and things are not ruining the phone experience.

Things that shoudl be fix already (and not wait until this silly first update)
1 zune marketplace crash
2 zune marketplace search (yes I know there is a work around)
3 random phone reboot, I thought this was unique to my Focus or because I add memory card but apparently this happen to all phone with or without the memory expansion. (just go browse windows phone answer forum there are plenty of people stating the issue). This is not the reboot problem with people using incompatible memory card but reboot that is random (may be once or twice a week)
4 slow boot of app
5 buch of minor little things like the keyboard stuck, lock screen not responsding etc...

 

[snap0212]

How? I've been all over online and the best answer I got is that you basically cannot get rid of reserved space. I got like 2 gigs that I have no idea of its contents because its reserved. I don't want to do a full hardware reset, since the recovery process is a pain, unlike IOS.

Connect your phone to your computer. Open Zune, go to settings and look for "reserved space". Now you should find the option to have 0% reserved. That's what I did.

 

[snap0212]

Microsoft: 'over 2 million' Windows Phone 7 licenses sold to manufacturers so far

Microsoft just dropped a few tidbits of knowledge on us regarding Windows Phone 7's performance in the marketplace so far. Here's what we've got:

- 'Early research' says 93 percent of WP7 customers are 'satisfied' and 90 percent would recommend the platform to others. We don't know details about the research, though -- number of customers polled, time frame, so on.

- Average of 100 new apps in the Marketplace per day, and over 6,500 total are available right now.

- Most importantly, "over 2 million" licenses have been sold to OEMs around the world.

More at Endadget

Also interesting:

Hack brings USB tethering to HTC Windows Phone 7 devices, Dell Venue Pro

Cutting through the back and forth surrounding Windows Phone 7 tethering are two new hacks, with one being markedly easier than the other to implement. After discovering the option in Samsung's Focus and Omnia 7 late last year, engineering minds over at xda-developers have now uncovered a method to allow USB internet tethering on HTC's smattering of Windows Phone 7 handsets. Unfortunately, you'll need to unlock your device before any of this will work, but the case is definitely different for Dell's Venue Pro. For that one, you'll simply need to modify the .INF file -- no unlock required. Hit the links below for the devilish details, and try not to set up a P2P farm using your phone's 3G connection. We hear carriers are none too fond of that foolhardiness.

Source: Endadget

 

[dream]

"2 million licenses sold" sounds uncomfortably similar to Sony's "we've shipped 90 billion PS3s!"

 

[snap0212]

"2 million licenses sold" sounds uncomfortably similar to Sony's "we've shipped 90 billion PS3s!"

Yeah, those are shipped numbers. Paul Thurrott also mentioned that "2 million is good, but compared to the 300,000 Android handset activations that Google sees every day, or the 180,000 Apple claims, you don’t have to be a math whiz to understand the gulf between the two platforms".

 

[dream]

For comparison's sake, do we have any idea how many Windows Mobile 6.5 licenses were sold in the same time frame?

 

[shantyman]

True, but I'd rather have that than if the alternative is to only have a unified mailbox.

Obviously the best answer would be to support both.

More likely you will be able to create tiles out of individual mailboxes or the unified one. That would make things slightly confusing though.

 

[CharminUltra]

2 million "licenses" sold to....................... manufacturers.

 

[Blackhead]

More likely you will be able to create tiles out of individual mailboxes or the unified one. That would make things slightly confusing though.

A double wide mail hub would be nice. It'd also be nice to tap on the lockscreen notification and be immediately sent to the proper mailbox.

 

[VanMardigan]

2 million "licenses" sold to....................... manufacturers.

Who else would they sell licenses to?

 

[dream]

I decided to hit up Google about WinMo sales figures while my DSL is still unlimited. Gartner reported 3.2 million units of Windows Mobile phones sold in Q3 2009. Crazy.

 

[Vestal]

A double wide mail hub would be nice. It'd also be nice to tap on the lockscreen notification and be immediately sent to the proper mailbox.

This would defeat the purpose of the lockscreen.

 

[VanMardigan]

I decided to hit up Google about WinMo sales figures while my DSL is still unlimited. Gartner reported 3.2 million units of Windows Mobile phones sold in Q3 2009. Crazy.

So Wp7 isn't doing so bad. They did 2 million their first quarter with less devices and less carriers, without the business support that winmo used to have and with a totally alien looking design aesthetic that didn't ape the wall of icons IOS design.

As long as MS is committed, they'll surpass those numbers easily by next year when they'll be on more carriers with more phones, and hopefully at least two update cycles to flesh out the platform some more.

 

[Raistlin]

More likely you will be able to create tiles out of individual mailboxes or the unified one.

Wait, isn't that what I said?

 

[VanMardigan]

So the first update is due late Feb/early march (dammit, I'll be on vacation and away from the PC I want this phone associated with, grrr). The reason it has been delayed is the cdma implementation. We will get a second update as well by June, which is sweet, though no idea what it will bring.

No copy/paste so I can't hook you guys up with a link, but the story is on wmpoweruser.

 

[PG2G]

That's pretty good news that we'll get 2 updates in the first half of the year though.

Edit: That just comes from another fansite (neowin) so who knows.

 

[clav]

So Wp7 isn't doing so bad. They did 2 million their first quarter with less devices and less carriers, without the business support that winmo used to have and with a totally alien looking design aesthetic that didn't ape the wall of icons IOS design.

As long as MS is committed, they'll surpass those numbers easily by next year when they'll be on more carriers with more phones, and hopefully at least two update cycles to flesh out the platform some more.

Just like the video game side of GAF, shipped != sold.

Depending on how WP7 launches and Sprint's selection of 3G phones (not interested in 4G until it matures) will determine if I'll go to Android or WP7. I might just hang on WM6.5.3 just another year.

 

[Let me in]

I decided to hit up Google about WinMo sales figures while my DSL is still unlimited. Gartner reported 3.2 million units of Windows Mobile phones sold in Q3 2009. Crazy.

Even when 6.5 isn't highly regarded or particularly well-known. But HTC was making quite a few devices that were known for their design/name/features and not what OS it was running. It's the same with many Android phones. Good initial figures, but WP7 needs a phone with renown to break out. For "normal" users, it won't sell on the OS alone.

 

[Treo360]

So the first update is due late Feb/early march (dammit, I'll be on vacation and away from the PC I want this phone associated with, grrr). The reason it has been delayed is the cdma implementation. We will get a second update as well by June, which is sweet, though no idea what it will bring.

No copy/paste so I can't hook you guys up with a link, but the story is on wmpoweruser.

here you go