Microsoft has a powerful browser in MANGO. Its ability to load multiple pages in the background is very effective to those who visit many different sites. This definitely reduces overall waiting time. Microsoft, however, has chosen to remove the easy accessed “tabs” and “favorites” icon and bury it under the menu, thus making tabbed browsing two taps more difficult, and to some, more annoying. Many mango users have been irritated with this change, myself included.
The reason for this removal is that Microsoft has collected sufficient data to conclude that most users don’t use the “tab” and ‘favorites” feature often.
Do you think Microsoft made the right choice to bury the “tab” and “favorites” icons into Mango’s menu to provide a more “full-page-experience?” Would you have sacrificed easy tab browsing? What would you done differently? How can Microsoft push innovation for mobile browsing to the Next Level? Your thoughts are welcomed.
Obviously not, but Microsoft is not known for making good choices these days.
I dont mind the change. The only thing i would like to see is the address bar disappear after a minute or so to provide a larger viewing screen.
DJRedLine said:
I dont mind the change. The only thing i would like to see is the address bar disappear after a minute or so to provide a larger viewing screen.
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Click to collapse
I agree. They obviously deprioritized tabbed browsing but it's not that big of a deal. Fullscreen after a timeout would be a welcome addition.
The "Favorites" buttons were a waste of space.
I wonder what type of data they collected.
They should at least add a setting that gives users a choice on whether to bury it or leave it show.
Hopefully, they'll set things right in the future minor updates.
I personally don't miss these icons as I never used them. But I agree with the point, that the adress bar could disappear after a while, the question might be: How can we get the adress bar back, when we need it again
I dont particularly like it off the bat but I'll get used to it I'm sure.
i would like a "half button" like the paste button on the keyboard. when swiping the address bar this could reveal the button (again, exactly like the paste button) allowing access to the old tab interface.
I really miss quick tab access and the folders button in Outlook. Seems to me gesture based access to tabs would have been a better solution for tab access than deprecating tabs into the menu. They have their data from testing, but it doesn't make it any more palatable.
It's really all about how you use it, isn't it? In general, I like the fact that the majority of the chrome was moved to the bottom of the screen, but otherwise I'm finding that (personally) I have more clicks to get to what I need.
For instance, I don't tend to enter NEW urls very often (almost never), nor do I refresh the page I'm on very often. Now those controls are front and center, and I hardly ever use them. I would also like to see the URL box disappear after a short time. No need to see it so prominently. Also, when you flip up the bottom of the screen for more options, why does the top of the screen (time, cell reception, etc.) come down as well? Seems unnecessary.
Otherwise, I tend to open my browser, look through about 8 sites that I have in my "favorites", and then close it up. Now I have to perform an extra "flip up" action for each favorited site I visit. Annoying, but not the end of the world.
Certainly interesting changes to make.
I hate Microsoft's removal of the "tab" and "favorites" icon in the browser!
IMO the new solution is much better at least where tabbed browsing is concerned ..... try fast app switching while two or more apps are open .....you'll see what i mean.
in regards to favorites the solution is not as good as before but since i rarely use that feature.... and after all i could pin a website i frequently use to my home scree....
AdryJay said:
I hate Microsoft's removal of the "tab" and "favorites" icon in the browser!
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Click to collapse
I agree. I normally navigate from site to site using the bookmarks I keep saved. In WP7, without quick and simple access to the bookmarks, it makes things less desirable.
funnystar said:
I personally don't miss these icons as I never used them. But I agree with the point, that the adress bar could disappear after a while, the question might be: How can we get the adress bar back, when we need it again
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Maybe swiping from the top of the screen like in W8.
Sent from my Samsung Focus using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Can't answer the pollthe way it is worded. I do agree that it is more difficult but I would not say I hardly use tabs anyway. I used them all the time. I also use favorites a lot and only rarely type in address bar.
It isn't a huge problem but it's a step back.
I did use tabbed browsing but only because whenever I opend a link, I would have a new tab open and thus I had to close tabs. I was not browsing different pages at the same time very often, but from time to time.
I like it the way it is now, because otherwise the "Tabs" button would have taken up space I need.
Now it is two taps away instead of one tap and I don't think that is so much of a deal. If you look at the usage stats they shared its obvious this was the right decision.
Related
Like the one in SPB mobile shell, but for apps rather than avalible screens.
like this one http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/
mmmalas said:
Like the one in SPB mobile shell, but for apps rather than avalible screens.
like this one http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/
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Click to collapse
not sure about this.... what if only 2 open apps? or 20 apps? how to scroll? What seems more user friendly is something like coverflow/music tab, per app like one screenshot and can swipe between apps. It is however a very big load for the system i think....
mouki_9 said:
not sure about this.... what if only 2 open apps? or 20 apps? how to scroll? What seems more user friendly is something like coverflow/music tab, per app like one screenshot and can swipe between apps. It is however a very big load for the system i think....
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Click to collapse
if you open 2 apps, then you have 2 windows opposite to each others, with 20 windows then big carousel .
system usage not going to be much unless you are navigating the task switcher, but once it dissapear then no need for it to run with full memory
Hmm...
mmmalas said:
if you open 2 apps, then you have 2 windows opposite to each others, with 20 windows then big carousel .
system usage not going to be much unless you are navigating the task switcher, but once it dissapear then no need for it to run with full memory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having a look at this now... It is actually a little more complex than you think though. Even before we go anywhere near the carousel part (3D is well out of my league) you still have to think about how your going to get the screenshots to display on it:
Windows only actually performs paint operations on active windows therefore we need to take screenshots of that active window, how are we going to do that?
a) Use a timer taking screen shots at regular intervals (every few secs or so) of the currently active window using the last one taken as the screenshot when inactive - Obviously this still does require both memory and proc time to perform even when whatever UI you create is not actually active. This however is the most likely to work solution to the problem.
b) See if there is any way you can catch a window at the moment it is being minimized - This is potentially difficult but would probably be the most accurate. However this is may not actually possible (need to research a little more though) - i.e. can you actually catch the window before it actually minimizes or are you always going to be too late and end up capturing nothing. Kind of like trying to photograph a bullet from a gun using a handheld camera by listening for the sound of it firing (capturing the close event on the window and acting on it before the actual window it was sent to acts on that event) <---- Maybe a more experienced dev has some thought on this?
I also agree with mouki a little on this one in terms of usability. As much as your idea is much cooler to look at after about two days I would want to swap it for something where I could actually efficiently switch between tasks rather than rolling through an endless carousel trying to find that *bloody* app I wanted to switch too.
I'm going to see what I can come up with but I think it's going to end up being tile based as that is the most efficient as you'll be able to see more at one time but definitely like the idea of having thumbnails rather than just names for a switcher...
However I'm working on another project though at the mo (Leo as a fully customisable remote control for our PC's) so wont have much time just now to look at a switcher project, however will keep you posted on what I find out...
this will be more usable really in terms of switching, as you will have photo of what you are switching to rather than just a name.
it all depends on how your memeory works really.
remember how you switch windows in MS windows with alt tab, or win+tab.
its less usage on the brain that way.
as for closing, you dont care about closing, since once its closed then there is no need to display. what you care about is minimizing, or when win is inactive.
I can do this type of application on the PC very easily using AutoHotKey script. however I have no clue how PPC programing is done
A starter for ten
Fortunately my background in programming comes from the .net framework so it's reasonably easy to make the jump to .net compact framework ppc (even if I've got to get used to the reduced ammount of functions). I can see how this would be different for you... I've just taken a look at what AutoHotKey is probably the nearest equivelent for you would be MortScript (Pretty powerful)
Heres our starter for ten anyway in vb.net: http://anoriginalidea.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/getting-a-screenshot-using-vbnet-on-the-compact-framework-20/ <--- This shows the library that would be used to capture the screen shots.
The three "software" buttons in Android 4.0 seem a bit of residual lameness.
This doesn't really reflect how most of us interact... not every function or app needs a "back" button, nor a "recent apps." And nothing should appear on the screen that is not necessary. It is a waste of real estate, makes our phones bigger than they need to be, and complicates the interface.
If I have been using a calculator, go to my browser, then want to go back to my calculator (or vice versa, or anything similar) my brain doesn't say "recent app;" it says "calculator." Deciding whether to hit "recent apps/calculator," or just just hitting "home/calculator" introduces multiple pathways and a certain friction into the decision process.
Home button -- yeah, you bet. Always have to be able to come home, if only to start over. But two clicks -- "Home/calculator" every time, habitual, instant and automatic is preferable to two clicks after having to make a choice between two or more options "Home or Recent apps?" "Yeah I used it" "Recent apps/calculator."
Matter of legacy, I suppose, maybe a matter of choice. Never had an iPhone, waiting to decide between another Nexus or the Razer ... I need Verizon. Plenty of room for a difference of opinion.
You know there is a thread about this covered already right?
You could have easily searched and posted this on this thread without having to create this. Moderators should move this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1104451
I disagree ...
I don't really think they are the same topic. I am trying to highlight how we interact with Android, not so much whether the buttons themselves should be easy to use with gloves on. But maybe I didn't follow it far enough ...
So let me preface by saying Ive gone from iPhone to Android and have been watching WP since launch and plan on it being my next OS after I can get a hold of an off contract Verizon phone relatively cheaply or when my upgrade is up. I love how fluid it seems with its native apps and I want to get away from my buggy and laggy/stuttering Droid X (Which is the same for everyone I know with one).
But there's some things that you really don't take into account when you don't actually use the device everyday, so I figured Id ask here and see how WP stacks up.
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
I only know of TouchXplorer for HTC for file management but im sure there are others for the other brands. Not sure how you would go about storing files for re installation. Dont think anyone has figured out how to invoke the xap installer from files on the phone. Most of these apps are found here on XDA
Most apps are pretty smooth. Depends on the dev. Id say they are all smoother than android though.
Dont think you can download to the file system from IE
You can access Skydrive from the office hub. You can open media files and pdfs etc. Once again not sure about install files.
I havent had a problem with the volume. I use my phone for media and games. I just put it on vibrate when i need to which is easy to do on the lock screen.
Cant toggle from the homescreen yet, there are apps that are shortcuts to the setting though
There is a homebrew backup program here on XDA somewhere
I dont get annoyed by the animations. They make for a nice experience
The XDA app is a version of board express i believe and its not too bad. I Haven't tried any of the Reddit apps
There is a bit of panning. I find its just easier to find a good zoom level that you can read it on
Hope i helped
Mike415 said:
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
I've never used TouchXplorer, so I don't even know if it is compatible with Mango, but if it is it would be the only file explorer option I know of. WP is not designed as an open system, so file explorers are not officially supported.
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
I have around 175 third party apps installed on my phone, and at least half of them exhibit enough lag/stutter that it is noticeable, and some are quite annoying, even some of the major apps (such as Accuweather.com and USA Today). Generally, it seems that if an app is fetching data from the internet while it is also rendering to the display, you will probably notice some lag/stutter. I've never owned an Android, but from the videos I've seen on YouTube and also from what I've observed watching my son use his Samsung Captivate, the lag (at least in third party apps) is comparable.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
All apps are sandboxed on WP, so downloading to "the filesystem" is not supported.
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
Again, I don't know about homebrew, but generally speaking SkyDrive only supports photos and Office documents from your phone.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
This one is a bit tricky. As far as missing alarms due to turning the ringer on or off, that is probably not likely. Turning vibrate-only mode on or off is remarkably simple on WP. Just wake up the phone, press either volume control, and then tap the ringer icon to toggle it on or off.
However, that is the good news. The bad news is that the universal volume means that having the volume high enough to be able to hear the phone ring from your pocket also means that any app, game or media will also blast out of the phone at annoyingly loud levels. And conversely, if you turn the volume down far enough to play a game or listen to music at a comfortable level, but forget to turn it back up when you are done, you will miss calls, guaranteed. It has happened to me more times than I care to count.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
Quick setting toggles are not supported. You can, however, get a reasonably adequate shortcuts to the four main toggles (WiFI, 3G, Airplane mode, and Bluetooth) on your start screen. The unfortunate annoyance is that, depending on how you lay out your start screen, you may have a few button presses/scroll swipes necessary to complete the toggle of a setting). As for brightness, there is no toggle support for that.
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
There is no support for backup of app settings, game saves or SMS messages, period. None at all. You can (using a homebrew app) perform a complete device backup, but it cannot be transferred to another device.
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
Do the animations annoy me? Yes. Contrary to the apparently popular opinion here, I find much of the animation on the start screen to be gimmicky (the people hub, game hub, and "me" hub icons especially so). And many third party apps flip their icons for no reason at all, just for the sake of flipping it. For example Flixster flips the tile between a static photo of a currently-playing movie on one side (with the program icon in the corner), and the program icon filling the tile on the other side. It serves no purpose.
With that said, SOME of the app tiles are VERY useful, such as most weather apps, which usually flip between current conditions and forecast conditions. Being a weather junky, I love that feature.
Regarding the app list, it is more than just an annoyance, it is a major frustration for me, every single day. With no app grouping capabilities at all (I wouldn't care HOW it was implemented, I just want SOMETHING implemented), finding apps in a long list can be a real chore. I don't like it at all. If you only ever plan to have 20 or 30 apps, it might be OK. But if you need more than that, the number of taps and flicks and swipes needed to find and launch an app can be time-consuming.
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
I've only used the trial version of Board Express, and didn't like it at all. Most of the reports from people here are that it is painfully bad to use.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
That depends entirely on the layout of the web sites you visit. On some sites, the tap-to-zoom works very well, and makes the text fill the screen (without reflow, of course) at a nominally readable size. But on other sites, it just doesn't help at all, and I end up panning quite a bit.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
I've never owned either, so I can't say. However, unless things change I will most likely be moving to an iPhone within a couple of months. WP has a LOT going for it, but unfortunately (for me) it still has too many gaps in its features, and some of them are too annoying to just live with them and wait patiently on Microsoft.
I hope the features that I need do get added in future updates, because I'd be happy to switch back. But after reading the snarky attitude of many of the fans here, I can't help but wonder if that same attitude isn't prevalent at Microsoft, which would kind of imply that those features won't be coming any time soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My answers are in blue.
To be honest, from your questions, I would say you would be better off staying with android, don't get me wrong, i love wp7 and it does everthing i need it to do, but you may find some of the stuff you want is not available and get frustrated.
I just switched and am very happy! After two years on android, wp7 feels so smooth and coherent
IMHO, go to a store or carrier centre and request a WP7 and play with it, as from what I believe, everyone has their own preferences.
My advise would be to stay away if you're a tweaker, which is sounds like you are.
pillsburydoughman said:
My advise would be to stay away if you're a tweaker, which is sounds like you are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was though, but sometimes you get sick of constantly flashing roms, chaning things around, and want something that just works.
I'm happy that now it seems as if I have much more time since I'm not constantly fiddling with my phone 24/7.
I guess that is dependent on the person themselves though
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
*No, you will be stuck at your pc for deploying XAPs. However Dotcomp says there is a way to deploy XAPs from IE.
MS security is a complete joke, you can just download the XAPs from MS.
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
* Well get used to it, its the exact same on WP7. However there aren't many apps with long scroll list, most take advantage of Metro.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
*NO, and no
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
*Skydrive was a afterthought on this OS, my opinion. Works great for Office documents, OneNote, and pics. That's it.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
* Depends on you. I'm used to multiple volume settings, so its a pain to me.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
* If you can call a wifi icon on homesreen quick, then yes, other than that NO.
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
*If on the go, NO. If at your PC, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19341502#post19341502
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
* Actually the animations are what make this phone. They're pretty quick and elegant. I like the live tiles, but they ruin the glance and go concept, because I have to wait on it to flip.
The app list is horrid.
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
*Board Express made by Tapatalk, is nothing like Tapatalk on Android or IOS. It is like a sick joke. The browser is faster on WP.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
* Double tap usually makes the text readable, but if the site has text and pictures you want to see, you're SOL.
Also if you like to read comments, or deal with a HTML5 website, you will find yourself having to load the full website a lot. I can't even get the smartphone version of mobile sites, IE9 doesn't render some correctly.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
YES! GOOGLE APPS! GAMES!
Youtube on Android is the greatest, Lazytube comes close but you have to pay for it.
Im used to sitting on my couch and flinging websites and videos from my phone to the TV(google tv), impossible on WP7.
Custom SMS, ringtones, and email notifications. You can do custom ringtones but its a hassle.
I can say I like the Email on WP7, however its not instant like on IOS or Android.
Oh, there is no auto update option. If there is a app that needs updating you have to open the market and tell it to update.
---
All of that being sad, you could still be Happy using WP7. It just totally depends on what you use your phone for.
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my lady took over the vibrant, lol.
-------------
Another thing, some people say they get tired of flashing custom roms on Android. The exact same OPTION is avaliable on WP7. You don't HAVE to flash either.
there are no custom roms for my phone...
I was continually trying to get my phone smoother, and smoother on android.
I just don't feel the need to with this. Once again, just my own two cents. I never said that it would be the same for everyone
Thanks for the replies so far. It helped me get a better feeling for WP and it seems like I should really just wait for all the new OS updates like Ice Cream and iOS 5.x+/iPhone 5 before diving into WP. I am a slight tweaker of Android, but I don't actually want to do that very much anymore. I just want a phone that works and suits my needs. Android suits my needs, but doesn't really work great and it annoys me.
WP seems like it would be okay for me. Im not an app whore anymore since Ive been a smartphone user for several years now and I pretty much just like to be able to get the news, read some forums, text a lot, use yelp to find places to eat, and occasionally pass some time on leisure games. Android is pretty weak as far as finding decent games IMO and I think WP could actually be better in that regard (iPhone is the only one I would consider good for leisure games, but if Ive gotten by on Android this long I think WP could be okay, especially since I still would have an iPhone and Droid for those games). Right now, using Launcher 7 on Android I only use 2.5 screens of tiles so Im not going to have too much of an issue with the app list I think (Homebrew folders support will do me fine in that regard as I can toss all the leisure games in there also).
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
--
I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
Mike415 said:
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Mango both of these issues are addressed. You can put your ringer on vibrate and still listen to music, and even adjust the volume without affecting the "vibrate only" setting. However, when you turn the ringer back on, it will be on at the current volume setting, not what it was before.
Also, you can have the ringer on vibrate and still hear alarms. In fact, alarms are now treated as "special" by the OS, and they ignore both the volume and ringer (vibrate) settings. They start low, and get progressively louder until dismissed.
Mike415 said:
I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WP will eventually be fantastic, and the ecosystem will mature. But I have to be honest and say that for me it isn't there yet, and it is unclear how long it will take to get there. If your only option right now is to go off contract to get a WP device, I would have to suggest that you wait at least until Apollo is released (which, by all credible accounts will be Q4 of next year).
My reason for saying this is because each time Microsoft does fix a problem, they do an admirable job. But they need to (IMO) be more aggressive with their release schedule. Following the "one small release mid year and one major release annually" model isn't enough. There should be smaller patch releases to address issues, rather than making people suffer with them for 6+ months.
Mike415 said:
Thanks for the replies so far. It helped me get a better feeling for WP and it seems like I should really just wait for all the new OS updates like Ice Cream and iOS 5.x+/iPhone 5 before diving into WP. I am a slight tweaker of Android, but I don't actually want to do that very much anymore. I just want a phone that works and suits my needs. Android suits my needs, but doesn't really work great and it annoys me.
WP seems like it would be okay for me. Im not an app whore anymore since Ive been a smartphone user for several years now and I pretty much just like to be able to get the news, read some forums, text a lot, use yelp to find places to eat, and occasionally pass some time on leisure games. Android is pretty weak as far as finding decent games IMO and I think WP could actually be better in that regard (iPhone is the only one I would consider good for leisure games, but if Ive gotten by on Android this long I think WP could be okay, especially since I still would have an iPhone and Droid for those games). Right now, using Launcher 7 on Android I only use 2.5 screens of tiles so Im not going to have too much of an issue with the app list I think (Homebrew folders support will do me fine in that regard as I can toss all the leisure games in there also).
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
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I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
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Hi Mike,
Like you I mapped Skydrive as a network drive and simply drag/drop my pdf files there. PDFs are natively supported on wp7 once you download the official adobe pdf app.
The PDFs will show up on skydrive in the Office Hub. Infact if you use the Documents folder as the "root" of all your files and simple create folders within there, they will all show up in the office hub's skydrive folder. As you see I have a "PDF" folder with all my pdfs. You download them when you select it and it is saved to adobe's app storage locally on the phone.
Skydrive on the phone will also stream audio and video files! Sometimes my friends would share a video or some music with me and I'd be able to access it natively!
You can view any pdf or office document (provided it is in later version format i thnk office 2007 up) hosted on websites. It will download and open in adobe/office.
Also OneNote is absoulely terrific in the Office hub for syncing notes to the PC/web and phone. I use it extensively to manage my classes!
Hope this helped.
Mike415 said:
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
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Click to collapse
PDF's are just working fine. Just install Adobe's PDF app and IE will automatically hook them and forward them to the app. Same on SkyDrive, you can even zip those PDF's as WP is able to look into zips.
As for the sound it should work the way you described. Volume control is for everything on the device but the button for vibration is only for the ringer. So if you mute your device via volume rocker then everything will be muted. If you only press the vibrate button then only the ringer will be silenced.
Awesome, guys. Great replies. The volume issues and PDF issues seem like they would be fine for situations like mine. Loved the screenshots!
Really I dont see too many issues not to switch over eventually, as the replies here have quelled my main doubts. As more apps come and current apps are optimized theres very little reason to not switch for most people. Its just that damn app list!
Good thing there's homebrew folders now though!
Mike415 said:
Awesome, guys. Great replies. The volume issues and PDF issues seem like they would be fine for situations like mine. Loved the screenshots!
Really I dont see too many issues not to switch over eventually, as the replies here have quelled my main doubts. As more apps come and current apps are optimized theres very little reason to not switch for most people. Its just that damn app list!
Good thing there's homebrew folders now though!
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thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
scoobysnacks said:
thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
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and search too. I actually prefer the app list to iOS pages of icons. The applist I know exactly where to find it alphabectically using the jumplist. Need twitter? Tap a letter jump to T and its in that group. iOS its a "which page is it?' scenario.
The homebrew folders is also pretty nice. I use it for all my "News" apps and "Social" app but it doesnt have live tiles so it defeats the wp7 purpose of glance and go
scoobysnacks said:
thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
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Click to collapse
sayonical said:
and search too. I actually prefer the app list to iOS pages of icons. The applist I know exactly where to find it alphabectically using the jumplist. Need twitter? Tap a letter jump to T and its in that group. iOS its a "which page is it?' scenario.
The homebrew folders is also pretty nice. I use it for all my "News" apps and "Social" app but it doesnt have live tiles so it defeats the wp7 purpose of glance and go
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I was just planning on throwing all my leisure games (non-XBOX LIVE) in folders. Does the XBOX Live hub hold non-Live games too? I wouldn't really need folders if all my games were in the XBOX hub, but I was thinking that it was only for Live games.
Mike415 said:
I was just planning on throwing all my leisure games (non-XBOX LIVE) in folders. Does the XBOX Live hub hold non-Live games too? I wouldn't really need folders if all my games were in the XBOX hub, but I was thinking that it was only for Live games.
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the live hub holds all games!
It's a good thing too, I have a ton of games
scoobysnacks said:
the live hub holds all games!
It's a good thing too, I have a ton of games
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Click to collapse
The only drawback of the xbox live hub is that is missing the jump list. I'd really love to see it in there too.
On topic:
I'd really recommend you go into a mobile shop and try different devices. I for one came from Window Mobile 6.1 over 6.5 and Android (2.1 and 2.2) all the way to Windows Phone. First I was missing several things I know from my former mobile OSes. But once I got used to the limitations (which were a lot more before NoDo and Mango), I've never ever looked back. I'm a proud WP7 user. But it really depends on what you use your device for.
Hi all,
Thanks in advance for answering some questions I have.
I've watched a ton of vids, done a pretty good amount of research so far, but still have a few unanswered questions about WP7.5. I will be looking at getting a Lumia 800 as that's what my carrier is offering in Canada. I'm sick of Android being flaky due to the fragmented ecosystem and am looking forward to the 'closed' nature of WP7.5 - I just want it to work. Period.
So, on to the Qs:
Can you enable a number row over the QWERTY keys on the keyboard? Alternatively, can you long-press those keys to pop up the numbers, even if they don't show?
Can you go into the settings to force the phone app to start with the dialpad as opposed to the call log/history?
Like in Smart Keyboard on android, does the first suggested word in the suggestions when typing get auto-selected when you hit the spacebar?
Are there alternative apps for StumbleUpon or Feedly available? (I couldn't find them, but I use these 2 apps reasonably often) Suggestions for similar, if no?
Functionality of the phone in Canada vs US? (ie which functions don't work: Local Scout, Bing Vision, Music search, etc etc)
Is there any quick way to change settings without having to pin them all to your home screen?
Can you make the calendar app start with Agenda view?
Thanks, I'll add more if I think of them.
O
>> Can you enable a number row over the QWERTY keys on the keyboard? Alternatively, can you long-press those keys to pop up the numbers, even if they don't show?
There is a Key which shows up all the numbers and other characters but its not like a popup and no long press.
>>Can you go into the settings to force the phone app to start with the dialpad as opposed to the call log/history?
Nope but there are apps which are purely number pads you can use.
>>Like in Smart Keyboard on android, does the first suggested word in the suggestions when typing get auto-selected when you hit the spacebar?
No, You need to tap and select the word.
>>Are there alternative apps for StumbleUpon or Feedly available? (I couldn't find them, but I use these 2 apps reasonably often) Suggestions for similar, if no?
Functionality of the phone in Canada vs US? (ie which functions don't work: Local Scout, Bing Vision, Music search, etc etc)
No Idea on then but what do you use Feedly for ?
>> Is there any quick way to change settings without having to pin them all to your home screen?
You need to use the shortcut apps for that.
>> Can you make the calendar app start with Agenda view?
No
wpxbox said:
>
You need to use the shortcut apps for that.
>> Can you make the calendar app start with Agenda view?
No
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Click to collapse
WRONG!
It remember the last view you were in. if you leave in agenda view, when you go back, that is the view you will see 1st.
@ROCOAFZ Never Knew that so thanks a ton for that.
>>Like in Smart Keyboard on android, does the first suggested word in the suggestions when typing get auto-selected when you hit the spacebar?
No, You need to tap and select the word.
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Click to collapse
Thats not true, it does auto select and use it.
Been using WP from sometime but not sure how this works if at all possible.
Like when I type HAV it shows me Have but when I hit spacebar, it does not auto complete but adds a space.
nilsk123 said:
Thats not true, it does auto select and use it.
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Click to collapse
There are some words that it will auto fill in but they have to be the only possible thing you would be typing in context with the sentence. Most words have to be chosen from bar right above the text. (i like it this way)
No problem on the agenda view. Mine is always in that view so that's what i always see
1: To add to what others have said, you can tap-and-slide to add just a single number or punctuation in one motion. From the standard keyboard, put your finger down on the number/punctuation mode key, slide it to the number or punctuation you want (the keyboard will temporarily switch modes when you touch the key initially), and release. The key your finger was on (in the alternate mode) will be typed, but the keyboard will be in the original mode. Very handy.
Alternatively, you can add some registry values that will create press-and-hold options for the top keys to have numbers. I added a press-and-hold list to my comma key; sometimes it's a lot nicer than switching modes even briefly! (I use a lot of semicolons.)
3: For some reason, nobody has mentioned this yet. If the phone will auto-correct (including auto-complete), then the suggested word/completion will be bold. Pressing the Spacebar when there's a bolded suggestion will use that suggestion automatically.
If none of the suggestions are bold (because what you typed is already a valid word, or because it isn't sure what you meant to type), then you can tap on a suggestion to use it. The phone does have a setting to automatically add a space after you do this.
4: There's an app that comes up when you search for StumbleUpon, based on keyword match (it's not actually a stumbleupon app, but it targets the same kind of user). I haven't tried it (but then, I don't use SU either).
5: Vision and Music Search should both work just fine (they're not locale based at all, so far as I know). Scout... I think it works in Canada? I've never tried (I live close to the border, but not *that* close, and international data costs money so I always have it disabled). I assume Zune Pass and Directions both work as well, and those are the other two locale-sensitive features I can think of that might care.
6: Not really, but how often do you need to mess with settings? There are some apps that let you quickly reach the ones you use most often, or let you quickly reach ones that are normally a few levels deep, but no one-tap toggles yet that I'm aware of.
However, I really don't find it required to enter settings much at all. See a new WiFi network? The phone will prompt you. You'll only save a very small amount of power by leaving WiFi off when not in use; the phone is very good at putting it in a power-saving mode. I almost never need to touch any of the other settings.
Didn't notice the bold... good post ... i'm always learning something new in Windows phone
Just wrote about my time with the LTE One X today at AT&T. Posted it in another forum but wanted to share the link. Also included photos I snapped at the store.
I just spent 20 minutes with the One X at my local AT&T store. My second round. Some observations.
The screen just blows away the iPhone 4/4S. It's honestly absurd how sharp it is. Whites are significantly white and everything just looks incredible. (Pictures, video, text, backgrounds, etc.)
Wi-fi was enabled however the sales rep told me they were having an issue with the cellular connection (I didn't ask what exactly). The rep was nice enough to download Chrome Beta for me to mess with.
Chrome Beta over wi-fi was faster than Safari on my iP4. I was able to handle the unit somewhat easily with one hand. I have smallish hands but was able to reach the address bar with my thumb in portrait without too much discomfort. I think the light weight of the device and curved backing help a great deal with respect to using it with one hand.
There were seven levels with respect to increasing and decreasing the volume. I believe the iPhone has 16 levels.
The unit I was handed appeared to have full power. Because ICS does not have a battery percentage indicator by default, I was unable to notice how much battery I lost in my 20 minutes on wi-fi. When I returned the device it did not appear as if the battery icon changed much, or at all.
I do have one serious gripe, and it has to do with Chrome. In order to access your bookmarks, you need to tap 'Menu' and then 'Bookmarks'. On Safari I simply tap the dedicated bookmarks icon. So it's an additional step, and while it may not seem like a big deal, it most certainly is. At least for me it is. That extra tap is a pain in the arse. I spend a lot of time browsing on Safari with my iPhone and I can't get used to that additional step. I can't believe Chrome doesn't have a dedicated bookmark icon like Safari.
The stock browser also has no bookmarks icon. You need to tap 'Menu' then 'Bookmarks' just like Chrome. Puzzling.
Also the Chrome browser does not have a '.com' button on the keyboard. The stock browser on the One X (and Safari of course) do.
Out of curiosity, does anyone know of any Android browser that does have a bookmark icon? Dolphin perhaps? Opera? Perhaps Chrome will adopt this feature down the road.
Anyways, that serious gripe aside, I didn't walk away making a decision. I was banking on using Chrome if I jump ship, but this bookmarks issue really bothers me. I think I'm still going to wait till after WWDC to make a decision.
Lol. That sounds like a small insignificant problem to base your decision upon, don't you think?
Chrome's cloud syncing of the bookmarks with your desktop Chrome browser is better than anything else out there.
Accessing my desktop open tabs through the mobile chrome beta tops anything any other browser has ever done. Period.
We have a think called 'widgets'... there's a bookmark one that allows you to go straight to your bookmarked pages (without the browser even open in the first place)...
so that's a step less than the iphone technically. lol
VJKotts said:
Lol. That sounds like a small insignificant problem to base your decision upon, don't you think?
Chrome's cloud syncing of the bookmarks with your desktop Chrome browser is better than anything else out there.
Accessing my desktop open tabs through the mobile chrome beta tops anything any other browser has ever done. Period.
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Not at all. It's an unnecessary extra step.
I'm not saying that alone would stop me from getting the One X. But I could not transition to Chrome or any Android browser that requires that extra step.
JSLEnterprises said:
We have a think called 'widgets'... there's a bookmark one that allows you to go straight to your bookmarked pages (without the browser even open in the first place)...
so that's a step less than the iphone technically. lol
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How exactly would that work though? And could I use it with Chrome and not the stock browser?
You can try Dolphin browser's latest version (it may still be in beta), which you swipe in from the left side and you can access the bookmark directly. No clicks!
blairh said:
How exactly would that work though? And could I use it with Chrome and not the stock browser?
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Yes, the bookmarks widget asks you on your first use what browser you want to use, if you have more than one installed.
blairh said:
How exactly would that work though? And could I use it with Chrome and not the stock browser?
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isn't the stock browser chrome? anyways, you have the option when you download a new browser, or you can default your favorite one and it will automatically open when you go to any webpage.
as far as how widgets work, you have many options. from a simple text or tile that takes you two that page, to fully updated previews that simply go full screen. folders, menus, scrollables, man, it's limitless...that's android.
Well it appears there is a solution to my gripe. (Widget or another browser.) Even with that said I still think Chrome should have a dedicated icon for your bookmarks like Safari does. Makes more sense then having to tap 'Menu'.
Well if you use chrome on your pc and have a home page set up to where you have pinned tabs "basically bookmarks", then you can log into the chrome browser and it will basically have a home page identical to the pc.
Edit: Dont quote me on that I cant quite remember if you have to do any extra steps because I uninstalled chrome because Im waiting on the HOX, simply tired of the captivate.
UMGixxer said:
Well if you use chrome on your pc and have a home page set up to where you have pinned tabs "basically bookmarks", then you can log into the chrome browser and it will basically have a home page identical to the pc.
Edit: Dont quote me on that I cant quite remember if you have to do any extra steps because I uninstalled chrome because Im waiting on the HOX, simply tired of the captivate.
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Click to collapse
Does your Chrome have a little box next to the address bar? Isn't that essentially the same as the tabs? When I click on it and I have multiple pages open, it brings me to a view of all open tabs so I can choose the one I want...seems like tabs to me.
I am a little confused. Was this a review on the One X or on Chrome Beta?
^^^^ LOLOLOL +10000000
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Plus chrome is beta who knows it might have bookmark tab later
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
amswak said:
I am a little confused. Was this a review on the One X or on Chrome Beta?
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...it was an expected review by an iOS user.
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:28 PM ----------
DJsCrIBbLe said:
Plus chrome is beta who knows it might have bookmark tab later
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
...whole point of it having the 'beta' moniker still attatched to it.
The beauty of android is option. I agree with the lack of bookmark taking an extra step, so I use Quick ICS browser, it is based off of ICS default browser, downloaded from market. A simple swipe from either edge of phone brings up an awesome array of quick options. Take a look at the play store.. By far the best option out in my opinion.. You will fall in love with it I am sure. Also note this can be used in the default ICS browser, enabled under options.. Hope this helps.
Thanks for all the replies. This being Android, there are several options. Also Chrome is still in Beta. Maybe they'll bring a bookmarks button down the road. (Or not.)
[email protected] said:
The beauty of android is option. I agree with the lack of bookmark taking an extra step, so I use Quick ICS browser, it is based off of ICS default browser, downloaded from market. A simple swipe from either edge of phone brings up an awesome array of quick options. Take a look at the play store.. By far the best option out in my opinion.. You will fall in love with it I am sure. Also note this can be used in the default ICS browser, enabled under options.. Hope this helps.
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The sheer genious of Apple is their understanding that the majority of the population don't WANT options. I don't have data back this, but I would bet anything that the vast majority of Android owners are also Windows PC or Linux OS users. This is because we are the types who WANT options. I want the freedom to change my CPU or graphics card on a whim, and I want the option to change the code in my phone. Most people don't. This is why there will always be Apple products vs something else.
I didn't completely get this until I bought my parents iPhones. It was the only smartphone my parents could figure out and they fell in love with it immediately. When I asked why, my mom replied "because I dont feel like I can screw it up by changing something." They liked something that they felt was set in stone and didnt have too many options.
This fundamental difference in personality type is also why 90% of iPhone vs Android (or Mac vs PC) arguments are ridiculous - it is often a matter of taste, not a matter of fact.
amswak said:
The sheer genious of Apple is their understanding that the majority of the population don't WANT options.
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You're totally right, there are a lot of people out there that like being put into an environment where no matter what they do it will never be "wrong". They don't want to be scared to use their phone.
I love the choices android gives though. The funny part is that I'm a mac user, I just use my macbook as a hub, so I never tinker around with it (I like the box, lol) but when it comes to phones I love playing around with them.
And I'm sure chrome still has some tweaks left to do, like others have said, it's still in beta.