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A few days ago I was prompted to update Live Search. I love this application and was hoping the new version would increase the microscopic street name font size, so I installed 4.0.12158.1. Unfortunately the only difference I have noted is the addition of a "Locate Me" function based on cell tower location. But now half of my searches don't work. With the prior version of Live Search I was able to search for just about anything and quickly find it. Now even my own address cannot be found, which I frequently used in the old version. I can't even find most of my contacts - when I select a contact it searches for the address, then states "We couldn't find any result for blah blah." This is ridiculous. Has anyone upgraded to Live Search 4.0.12158.1 and noticed this horrible problem? Thanks for your assistance.
Same here dude I loved it till I updated a few days ago. Now it lags and is mostly unusable. I think I am going to try to revert back. I used the GPS well in my first version. In the new one, the gps rarely works for me.
I've had the same thing. First time I try to access any of the services, I generally get a connection failed message -- even if I have Opera running in the background. If I wait a few seconds and try again, it then works and I can access all services. Definitely annoying.
I too am having the same issue. I've quit using it until they get this fixed. I thought I was the only one with this problem. Google Maps it is.
Live Search 4.1.2029.1 now available - font size increase?
I am the OP. I Was prompted yesterday to install new version 4.1.2029.1. The street names are now a larger font. Compare the two pics attached. The first was version 3.x, the second is version 4.1.2029.1.
Unfortunately the search problems have not been resolved. I still cannot find my own house even when typing in the address. And 90% of my contacts cannot be found even though they have perfect addresses. Arghhh.
Just saw this on another site. Microsoft has released a new version of Bing that includes real time navigation, with voice directions, along with the other Bing search stuff.
Works great on the HD2 here in US.
Download latest at Microsoft Bing site
or here for CAB.
PocketNow has a video showing BingNav in action on HD2.
Pros:
Voice Prompts with street names
Walking and Driving Navigation
Full screen graphic of next turn
Voice control for search
Cons:
No pinch-to-zoom (zoom buttons work well)
Data plan required (bad for some)
US only (Possibly) [CONFIRMED - NAV in US only]
Maps are slow to load without 3G.
Note: Yes, just like Google Nav for Android, it uses data plan for getting maps or for search features. I dont think it can pre-load maps off wifi before trip.
Note2: This wont affect US HD2 users, but looks like Microsoft disabled Nav features on Verizon network so as to not kill off Verizon Nav App sales.
Cheers Pingu!
Works a treat here in Limeyland also.
Shabba!
it requires data plan for navigation to work.
Navigation doesnt work in Germany
Good stuff - it looks MUCH better than the ****ty Google-apps if you ask me.
works great but there is no pinch to zoom on the map
Looks good, navigation is only for the US though ... really hope it comes to the UK, it cant be hard, it knows where the roads are and can give directions.
wooooooooot
I don't expect it too soon here in Europe - our BING-websearch is still marked 'beta' here in Germany - it's kinda ridiculous.
This is much better than Google Map, I'm glad to see Microsoft catching up so seriously.
Honestly I don't see standalone navigation device garmin
lasting too much longer, if you have a company like microsoft or google offering free voice guided maps for free, and no matter how you slice it the majority of cellular/mobile devices have a data plan or way to access data almost anytime. I mean if 2 of your friends don't have data they probably have a wifi enabled phone and with android, winmo, and hate to say apple being a wifi router we all have connection. I think this is going to help the providers push the tier internet usage system. (sorry for long post was itching to post on this)
Thanks for posting the cab.
Navigation unfortunately doesn't work in the UK (says "all or part of your route is not in the United States. We are sorry, but navigation is not available outside the United States").
I find the voice recognition in the latest google maps better than 'Tell me' in bing - for the UK anyway. And google maps has pinch to zoom, and latitude which I think is good for keeping a beady eye on your gf
Eek. Not a fan. I think Microsoft can do better.
Thanks for the cab! I read about this earlier and it said to go to m.bing.com/download on my phone but when I did that, site said my phone (TMOUS HTC HD2) is not supported. However, I still downloaded a cab which did not do anything. So really thanks for this! I just tried it and it works! I love awesome free apps!
Works great!
Trick/tip: be sure you are using Internet Explorer to browse to m.bing.com/download. The site does not recognize Opera and it thinks you have an unsupported device. Using IE, it recognizes the device and offers the correct version of the bing cab.
I was using the wrong version of Bing for a while and getting frustrated that I wasn't seeing the latest features etc, until I figured this simple thing out.
otherworld said:
Thanks for posting the cab.
Navigation unfortunately doesn't work in the UK (says "all or part of your route is not in the United States. We are sorry, but navigation is not available outside the United States").
I find the voice recognition in the latest google maps better than 'Tell me' in bing - for the UK anyway. And google maps has pinch to zoom, and latitude which I think is good for keeping a beady eye on your gf
Eek. Not a fan. I think Microsoft can do better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto - The voice search seemed to think that I lived in a "tattoo parlour"!
nonpaq said:
Note2: This wont affect US HD2 users, but looks like Microsoft disabled Nav features on Verizon network so as to not kill off Verizon Nav App sales.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If people try to download from Marketplace, it says that version was released on 4/27/10 and the voice directions don't seem to work for some Verizon phones. Download from m.bing.com and the voice directions work properly on stock Verizon ROMs.
how does it compared with Google Navigate... does this got audio control?
Is anyone using this on the AT&T Tilt2 (Touch Pro 2, Rhodium)? The last version of Bing that would locate me is V4.6.6. Every update since then has failed to both get a GPS lock and locate with cell towers. I've checked all the GPS com ports and everything looks as if it's fine, but it just won't lock on. Every other app that uses tower location and/or GPS works just fine.
I set up my Tilt2 as a dual boot; I actually have Android running on it now. Guess what? Google Navigation works just fine on it yet Android isn't even the native OS!
Why can't Microsoft get anything right??? Why does a Microsoft app not work on a (stock non-cooked) Microsoft ROM???
Anyone have any ideas on why the latest versions of Bing won't work on my device?
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App from Android 2.1 on HTC Rhodium
Can it preload full maps for the route over WiFi?
Have had HTC7Pro for a few days now and generally impressed.
However;
How exactly are the pushpins in Maps supposed to work?
This site from Microsofts Windows Phone area, http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-GB/howto/wp7/web/use-maps-to-find-a-place.aspx seems to be the only thing that I can find, here or out on the Web, that isn't related to Developers.
In Google Maps of old, I had around 100 pins stored locally (on the phone rather than up in the cloud or on the wider web) for places all over the UK.
I need this to hand as my work often finds me traveling from and to various repeated locations such as Building Sites, Suppliers and (especially) Guest Houses.
It appears that the only way to have a location stored "on the phone" is to pin it to the Start Screen as a link to Maps. As you can imagine, this is going to be very impractical with that many potential places to store.
Is this the case? I don't really want to have to resort to downloading address information for Hotels (which could be stored in Contacts, I know) and other places of Interest every time I want to get directions in Maps. Building Sites are not generally even available through the Internet due to there very nature. The address for them could be stored as a note in One Note I suppose.
Whatever, all these work arounds are just that. Long Winded and unintuitive. Hopefully I am doing something wrong with the Maps application and some one can point me right. If not, bugger!
Just wanted to say thanks. I didnt even know we had pins in bing maps.
Your welcome, Stillriza, even thoughthe pins are no where near as functional as I would like.
That page you linked is basically the extent of the functionality of Maps at the moment. I don't think there is much more.
I'm waiting for the day when it sync's pins to the cloud, so I can look up stuff online, and jump on my phone and have my saved pines or favorites show up on the map.
Otherwise at the moment, Maps is very basic.
That's what I figured prjkthack.
Basic, however is not an issue for me. I despise "turn by turn" sat nav totally. A 2D map is, in my opinion the way to go. I find that when I arrive at my destination I have some idea in my mind as to where I actually am. This is unlike using turn by turn which, find to be akin to driving down some anonymous "pipe", oblivious to my surroundings.
I do think that Maps looks and generally behaves far better than Google Maps on my Blackstone did, although I admit that this may be largely down to hardware limitations on the older handset.
I just wish the pins were more functional.
Ah well, maybe for the update.
Of possible interest to Orange customers in UK. Their "Orange Maps" app, free from Marketplace but subscription required on most tariffs, addresses the Push Pin issue.
It does have issues of it's own however, when compared to Bing Maps. Not least, as a third party app, it switches itself off when the phone "sleeps" or takes a call, or anything else, and has to go through the start up procedure again to relaunch it. It does offer to recall any ongoing routes however which at least means that you don't have to reset the route every time.
Also, it appears, so far, that it does not allow the phone to go to sleep when it is actually following a route. This is better than Bing maps can manage at the moment.
Hey all,
I’m thinking of switching from my Galaxy SII to a Windows Phone 7 based phone. As of now, the switch is temporary till SIII comes out but maybe who knows if I like it, I might just stick to WP7 after all.
Major usage of my phone is in Emailing, Messaging, VOIP, Calls, Navigation, Music, Browsing and News reading. I’m dependant on the following apps on the Android :
Swype
Google Reader
Gmail
Google Docs
Google Maps
Google Talk
YouTube
Any.do (Task management Application)
Dropbox
Polaris Office (Full fledged document editor)
IMO (Multi-messenger)
Skype
Teamviewer (Remote desktop)
My Data Manager (App to keep a track on bandwidth consumption)
and some less frequently used :
Zedge (just an easy to use source for wallpapers and ringtones)
SoundHound
Facebook
So given the above usage pattern and apps that I’m on dependant on, do you think I could switch to WP7 painlessly ? Are there any alternatives available for my apps ? (Swype or something similar is a must)
Couple of more queries..
Also, I’m thinking of getting the Samsung Focus so if I get an unclocked device would there be a possible scare of getting it locked again once I update the firmware (either officially or custom) ?
How is the battery life on the Focus ?
I am not much aware of Sideloading/Jailbreaking of a WP7 device and the Custom ROM scene , is it similar to Android ?
Can I debrand Focus or should I consider Omnia 7 instead ? (I’d prefer Focus as its thinner than Omnia)
What is the best ROM out there and when updating to a newer ROM does it wipes all the data ?
Is there any lag in the phone ? Maybe after installing too many apps (like how some Android phones lag)
Is multi-tasking experience (apps/services running in the background) similar to Android ?
are there any other limitations worth mentioning on WP7 / Samsung Focus?
and what about the plus side of WP7 when comparing to iOS and Android ?
Thanks
There is currently nothing remotely similar to Swype on WP7.
WP7, currently being a closed OS, does not have the option of swapping the native keypad for a Swype version. There's an app called Slyde that attempts to be like Swype, but it cannot until the ecosystem changes.
You will have access to document editing for Word and Excel docs via Office. It's quite handy, especially being able to pin files to your home screen.
Dropbox isn't so dandy yet, IIRC, but you will have access to 25GB of SkyDrive storage.
With what you've mentioned, I'm not sure WP7 will be a smooth transition for you. It's definitely worth a shot to see if you might like it, but will take some getting used to. See what you can live with and what would be a deal breaker.
The WP7 software keyboard is much nicer than I expected, expecially on a largish phone (I have an HD7) but it's true that there's currently no Swype or equivalent available.
There are lots of Google Reader apps available, some quite good.
Gmail integrates pretty well with the phone when you add a Google account. My phone is the primary way I access my Gmail now.
You might be able to access Google Docs through the web browser; I haven't tried. For actually reading and editing Microsoft Office documents, Office Mobile wors very well indeed.
Google Maps is available (via apps, or somewhat awkwardly via the web); Bing Maps is built into the phone and works well for me.
There are IM clients that support GTalk on the phone, but the only messenger network currently built into the phone is Live. That said, IM+ handles my GTalk-using friends very well.
There are a multitude of YouTube apps. You can also use HTML5 on YouTube via the browser just fine.
I don't know Any.do. There are a lot of task management apps on WP7, but I don't know how they compare.
Not sure how good Dropbox access is on the phone (obviously, you can download via the browser, and there are apps which use it as a way to transfer data, but I've never looked for a real DropBox client).
I would be quite shocked if Polaris Office is more full-fledged than Office on WP7. It's not impossible, but for a phone-based office suite it would be very impressive.
I don't know IMO, but there are a number of multi-network IM clients on WP7. My preferred choice is IM+ but that's just personal preference.
Skype is (finally) coming to WP7. The current app is actually pretty good, and it's still in beta. Considering MS now owns Skype, the future for Skype on WP7 should be very good.
I don't know if TeamViewer is available for WP7 yet. Remote Desktop (as in, Terminal Services Client, the built-in Windows feature) is, though... Also, SSH clients.
T-Mobile provides an app for tracking usage for my phone. I don't know what's availble for whatever carrier you'd be on.
There are a couple of cool apps that provide wallpapers and ringtones, with frequent updates (weekly or more). Never heard of Zedge, though.
There's a SoundHound-like feature built into WP7. Shazam is also available. SoundHound might be; I'm not sure.
Facebook is definitely available (both as OS integration, and through a now very good app).
Responses to a few select questions:
3. The homebrew and custom ROM scene is smaller than Android (though growing) but the Focus (gen1 phone, not the Focus S or Focus Flash) does support "interop-unlock" hacks through WindowBreak, can run WP7 Root Tools (run any app with full privileges, under your control though), and has custom ROMs.
4. If for some reason you get a branded Focus, yes, it can be de-branded. I'm not convinced that it's a good idea to do so (without just installing a custom ROM or some such anyhow) but it's possible. The update story on WP7 is generally much better than on Android, and you can force updates anyhow if the carrier is taking too long. Not many other reasons to debrand are coming to mind...
5. I can't answer the first part, but as for the second, yes you will completely erase the phone when installing a custom ROM. If you want to do so, I suggest making it one of the first things you do (this will save on trying to back up and later restore things, which - aside from contacts and media files - sadly is not automatic on WP7).
6. No. There are a number of technical reasons, but the simple fact is that a single-core 1GHz WP7 device has a significantly smoother UI than a (for example) 1.5GHz Android device. Since apps are *extremely* limited on what they can do in the background (by default), there's no risk of them slowing the phone's UI down no matter how many you install.
7. Not really. It's much closer to Apple's approach. The advantages are better battery life and no lag. The disadvantages are that apps pretty much can't do anything real-time while backgrounded, and need to resume (although it's very fast on apps built for Mango or later) when returned to the foreground. You can switch between apps quickly, though.
8. SD cards don't work the same as on Android. They are used for permanent increases to device storage. You can't use them to transfer data onto or off of the phone, and if you want to add or remove/replace one, you'll need to hard-reset the phone. That's the main thing not already mentioned that an Android user might find odd. Oh, and stock ROMs don't allow replacing things like the dialer and such (you can install alternates, you just can't replace the built-in one completely).
9. Faster, and smoother UI (even with theoretically slower hardware). Essentially no risk of malware from the Marketplace (apps are checked before approval). Timely updates, even for older phones (of course, "older" for WP7 only means about 18 months so far). Xbox Live games. Zune Pass streaming (costs money but it's awesome). Great integration with Facebook (pretty good with Twitter and can pull LinkedIn contacts, too). Excellent email and calendar, especially if you use any Exchange servers. Hardware-accelerated rendering in the browser. Consistent UI style in apps. All phones have very similar hardware specs, so fragmentation is not a problem. Live Tiles are great for at-a-glance info, and the app list is (for me) much clearer to use than the "grid of icons". Dedicated double-action camera button and dedicated rocker buttons. Local Scout is a pretty cool built-in feature. Really good developer tools make writing apps very easy and quick.
I'm sure there's a lot more, but it's 5AM and I need to sleep.
Swype -None, WP7 native keyboard prediction works impressively!
Google Reader - 6 or more apps available. Fuse seems to be popular.
Gmail - Syncs natively without any glitch.
Google Docs - You might have to save your docs onto Skydrive which integrates natively on the WP7 (free 25GB storage too!)
Google Maps - GMaps Pro or Bingle maps. But Bing works fine, integrated too.
Google Talk - IM+
YouTube - YouTube Pro or Prime Tube.
Any.do (Task management Application) - don't know this app's functionality.
Dropbox - BoxShot for Dropbox, 3rd party client, works without any issues for me.
Polaris Office (Full fledged document editor) - I've heard of this one. But Office built-in won't make you feel the need of Polaris. However, what sort of editing do you normally do?
IMO (Multi-messenger) - again IM+ (?)
Skype - there is a beta that won't run in background, but otherwise very much working, excellent call quality. It should come as an app in a month or two and hopefully integrated with Apollo (rumour).
Teamviewer (Remote desktop) - RemoteDesktop7
My Data Manager (App to keep a track on bandwidth consumption)- Very limited apps, one that might work is - Call Credits, but never tried it. Only read a review.
Zedge (just an easy to use source for wallpapers and ringtones) - Plenty of these sort of apps and can easily sync other websites too other than Zedge. Ringtones is an app that uses 3 different clients in a single app.
SoundHound - Yes, you won't need it though, music search is inbuilt.
Facebook - Yes inbuilt and there is an app.
Plus side of any windows phone in my opinion is, it's rapidly developing new platform which is a fresh UI, security is top-notch, integration works well, it's never frozen on me, I did not have to restart my phone once in last 7 months of using it, Zune and Xbox integration is amazing if you are a music freak or a gamer, 25GB of Skydrive access from your phone for documents, pics, music streaming - will only get better once you start using it. Integrated Bing maps, local scout, music discovery and search, accessing camera without unlocking the phone, search from lockscreen etc.
"You don't need an app for this or that and it just works!"
GoodDayToDie said:
Responses to a few select questions:
The disadvantages are that apps pretty much can't do anything real-time while backgrounded, and need to resume (although it's very fast on apps built for Mango or later) when returned to the foreground. You can switch between apps quickly, though.
I'm sure there's a lot more, but it's 5AM and I need to sleep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the indepth response, it cleared a lot.
When you say that apps can't do pretty much anything, I hope at least apps like IM+ and Whatsapp can retrieve and send messages in the background.
drupad2drupad said:
Polaris Office (Full fledged document editor) - I've heard of this one. But Office built-in won't make you feel the need of Polaris. However, what sort of editing do you normally do?
Plus side of any windows phone in my opinion is, it's rapidly developing new platform which is a fresh UI, security is top-notch, integration works well, it's never frozen on me, I did not have to restart my phone once in last 7 months of using it, Zune and Xbox integration is amazing if you are a music freak or a gamer, 25GB of Skydrive access from your phone for documents, pics, music streaming - will only get better once you start using it. Integrated Bing maps, local scout, music discovery and search, accessing camera without unlocking the phone, search from lockscreen etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sometimes edit Word and PPTs on the move.
Not much but basic formatting in word and the ability to edit the layout and slide design is what I need.
Yeah thats the most exciting part of WP7. Its a rapidly developing platform and on top there's gonna be a unification of the mobile and desktop OS. I hope they build a deep seamless integration between the two and they play well with each other.
anseio said:
There's an app called Slyde that attempts to be like Swype, but it cannot until the ecosystem changes.
With what you've mentioned, I'm not sure WP7 will be a smooth transition for you. It's definitely worth a shot to see if you might like it, but will take some getting used to. See what you can live with and what would be a deal breaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't find any info on Slyde app ?
Well, the responses here have cleared a lot for me. I m definitely gonna give it a shot. Now my only gripe is Swype, I'm far too dependent on that. I hope there is something out there in the homebrew community.
Btw, is there a possibility that the current generation phones would get the WP8 update ? Well there are rumors that it wouldn't but then Windows Tango is primarily being released to make sure WP7 can run on lower spec devices.
It is confirmed all WP models will get Apollo update will pretty much be like with iOS some features will not be available. The next major update is no promise but that is over 2 years so if you have not updated your phone by then not much can be said.
tricurious said:
I couldn't find any info on Slyde app ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad. It's called Slydr, not Slyde.
It is NOTHING like Swype. Since it cannot replace the native keyboard, in order to use it you have launch the app, type what you want, put it on the clipboard or choose an option to send it as sms or email.
It does not work from within SMS or email, so replying while using slydr will mean that you have to leave the message, open the app, type what you what, copy it, return to the email using back arrow long press and then paste.
Looking forward to the options that WP8 may make for.
IM+ and Whatsapp and the like can use Push Notifications to receive messages while the app is not in the the foreground. Technically it's not the app doing the receiving (it's not running); instead the app tells the OS to listen for messages from a specific server, and to mark them as being intended for that app. When the messages arrive, the phone will display a notification and, if the app's tile is pinned to the Start screen, can also show a number of waiting notifications (typically, the number of messages received). When the app is run again (either resumed, or launched anew, or launched directly by tapping on a notification "toast" popup) the app will check with its server for all the messages that arrived while it was "out".
The overall effect is very much like the app continuing to receive messages in the background, except in weird edge cases (for example, if you try to resume the app while there's no data connection available, it won't be able to retrieve the messages that arrived earlier). On the plus side, the push notification system is much easier on the battery than almost any third-party app running in the background would be. It is technically possible to have apps actually run in the background (there are a couple ways, with varying degrees of official support and different limitations) but the battery hit for doing so tends to be pretty harsh (one reason why Android has a reputation for awful battery life).
Everybody is welcome to post their opinions but flame is against the forum rules.
PLEASE USE REPORT BUTTON.
Does anyone know if Google Now only fully works on a stock JB rom? I am running CM10 on a Sprint Galaxy SIII and I'm finding that it has very limited functionality. I wasn't sure if its just because Google Now is in its infancy, being a such a new release or if its having trouble communicating with a custom rom. What I'm finding is whenever I try using it to perform local searches for apps or files from my phone it only searches the web. I can set alarms no problem but unable to set appointments or calendar events with Google Now. I'm not sure if this is just the limitation of the program itself or if it has something to do with Samsung removing the Local Search functionality with the LG2 update. I know that there may be endless reasons for this but I really love the potential of using this feature. Any thoughts or assistance would be very appreciated. Thanks!
It sounds like yours is good. It is just the limitations of the software right now. No calendar appointments yet. If voice is working at all for you, and obviously it is if you can set alarms, then you are good to go. To test it try saying something like "weather" or "who won the yankees game"...