6 ms·

By what metric is Windows one of "the two best Phone Operating Systems"?

freehunter 15y ago
WP7 is constantly and consistently reviewed as the most user-friendly and best looking mobile OS. Android is frequently said to be slow and unstable on all but the flagship, high end phones (on which it does run nicely, though). Android is also plagued with vendor customization for the worse, whereas WP7 and iOS (I assume that was the other best OS he thought of) keep control of the OS core features away from the carriers and vendors. There's really only one complaint constantly leveled against WP7 when compared to Android, and that's the app control from MS. This has been changed now to allow you to install your own apps through a Microsoft-sanctioned jailbreak procedure. The best OS is not always the most popular (WP7 and WebOS both fall in that category). In comparison, Android is a modern Windows Mobile.
- gergles 15y ago
  A Microsoft-sanctioned jailbreak you inexplicably have to pay for that still only enables 10 apps. On your phone. That you bought and, at least theoretically, own. No, I think Android is "plagued with" the ability to run the apps you want when you want. That's not a bug.
  - freehunter 15y ago
    >On your phone. That you bought and, at least theoretically, own. No, there's no theoretically about it. You own the phone, you do not own the software. There are unofficial jailbreaks out there if that's more your persuasion. >No, I think Android is "plagued with" the ability to run the apps you want when you want. I said it was plagued with baked-in vendor customizations that cannot be removed without installing a new ROM. I never once said sideloading is a bug. Get your panties out of your ass. If you want to have a discussion on it, stop twisting my words. I didn't insult your precious, I criticized it. If you think this criticism is invalid, there are ways of getting your point across without restorting to ignoratio elenchi or setting up strawmen.
- BvS 15y ago
  Could you point to some of the reviews claiming that WP7 is "the most user-friendly and best looking OS"?
  - freehunter 15y ago
    Sure. >With Mango, Microsoft has got the smartphone operating system right. It's fast, it's fun, it's easy to use, it does everything you need, and it looks great... As a piece of software, it's a triumph, and it's more than good enough to take on Android and iOS. [1] >If you’re unfamiliar with Windows Phone, it offers one of the most intuitive user interfaces available on a mobile phone today. [2] >With Mango, WP7 has caught up with Android and iOS in nearly every way, and in some areas it's even surpassed the other two in functionality.[3] [1] http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/reviews/2011/10/real-competition-from-redmond-windows-phone-7-mango-reviewed.ars/4 http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/reviews/2011/10/real-compet... [2] http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/21/nokia-lumia-800-review/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/21/nokia-lumia-800-review/ [3] http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-review/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-r...
    - BvS 15y ago
      For me [1] and [3] sound more like WP7 is on par with IOS and Android and even [2] only refers to user who haven't used a smartphone before. Besides these articles did not take ICS into account which has received stellar reviews so far. The Verge for example rated the software (not the phone) for the Lumia 800 (WP7 - Mango) 8/10 and ICS on the Nexus Galaxy 10/10.
      - freehunter 15y ago
        [2] refers to people who have not use Windows Phone or are not familiar with it. BGR said nothing about "if you're unfamiliar with smartphones..." The wording makes it seem like the author is implying that if you've used WP7 before, you won't need to be told this. [1] and [3] show the opinion that the system is at _least_ on par with Android and iOS, but they even go on to say that it exceeds them in some cases. ICS was not taken into account in these reviews because ICS was not released when these were written. Hardly a fair comparison to say that OSX is worlds better than Windows 95. I'll be the first to say WP7 is not perfect, but at least it's original and it's well-executed. It strikes a great balance between iOS and Android, while still being nothing like them.
nirvana 15y ago
"Best" is pretty subjective, and thus the metric at work here is my personal opinion. I found Windows 7 to have several problematic UI choices that imply that it could use some more polish. (another difference between Apple and microsoft, apple ships less features but more polish, and micriosoft the reverse.) I've not found any other phone OS that really compares, with Windows 6.5 being probably the worst ever. (I'm talking smartphones here, of course.)

WP7 is constantly and consistently reviewed as the most user-friendly and best looking mobile OS. Android is frequently said to be slow and unstable on all but the flagship, high end phones (on which it does run nicely, though). Android is also plagued with vendor customization for the worse, whereas WP7 and iOS (I assume that was the other best OS he thought of) keep control of the OS core features away from the carriers and vendors. There's really only one complaint constantly leveled against WP7 when compared to Android, and that's the app control from MS. This has been changed now to allow you to install your own apps through a Microsoft-sanctioned jailbreak procedure. The best OS is not always the most popular (WP7 and WebOS both fall in that category). In comparison, Android is a modern Windows Mobile.

gergles 15y ago
A Microsoft-sanctioned jailbreak you inexplicably have to pay for that still only enables 10 apps. On your phone. That you bought and, at least theoretically, own. No, I think Android is "plagued with" the ability to run the apps you want when you want. That's not a bug.
- freehunter 15y ago
  >On your phone. That you bought and, at least theoretically, own. No, there's no theoretically about it. You own the phone, you do not own the software. There are unofficial jailbreaks out there if that's more your persuasion. >No, I think Android is "plagued with" the ability to run the apps you want when you want. I said it was plagued with baked-in vendor customizations that cannot be removed without installing a new ROM. I never once said sideloading is a bug. Get your panties out of your ass. If you want to have a discussion on it, stop twisting my words. I didn't insult your precious, I criticized it. If you think this criticism is invalid, there are ways of getting your point across without restorting to ignoratio elenchi or setting up strawmen.
BvS 15y ago
Could you point to some of the reviews claiming that WP7 is "the most user-friendly and best looking OS"?
- freehunter 15y ago
  Sure. >With Mango, Microsoft has got the smartphone operating system right. It's fast, it's fun, it's easy to use, it does everything you need, and it looks great... As a piece of software, it's a triumph, and it's more than good enough to take on Android and iOS. [1] >If you’re unfamiliar with Windows Phone, it offers one of the most intuitive user interfaces available on a mobile phone today. [2] >With Mango, WP7 has caught up with Android and iOS in nearly every way, and in some areas it's even surpassed the other two in functionality.[3] [1] http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/reviews/2011/10/real-competition-from-redmond-windows-phone-7-mango-reviewed.ars/4 http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/reviews/2011/10/real-compet... [2] http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/21/nokia-lumia-800-review/ http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/21/nokia-lumia-800-review/ [3] http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-review/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-r...
  - BvS 15y ago
    For me [1] and [3] sound more like WP7 is on par with IOS and Android and even [2] only refers to user who haven't used a smartphone before. Besides these articles did not take ICS into account which has received stellar reviews so far. The Verge for example rated the software (not the phone) for the Lumia 800 (WP7 - Mango) 8/10 and ICS on the Nexus Galaxy 10/10.
    - freehunter 15y ago
      [2] refers to people who have not use Windows Phone or are not familiar with it. BGR said nothing about "if you're unfamiliar with smartphones..." The wording makes it seem like the author is implying that if you've used WP7 before, you won't need to be told this. [1] and [3] show the opinion that the system is at _least_ on par with Android and iOS, but they even go on to say that it exceeds them in some cases. ICS was not taken into account in these reviews because ICS was not released when these were written. Hardly a fair comparison to say that OSX is worlds better than Windows 95. I'll be the first to say WP7 is not perfect, but at least it's original and it's well-executed. It strikes a great balance between iOS and Android, while still being nothing like them.

nirvana 15y ago

"Best" is pretty subjective, and thus the metric at work here is my personal opinion. I found Windows 7 to have several problematic UI choices that imply that it could use some more polish. (another difference between Apple and microsoft, apple ships less features but more polish, and micriosoft the reverse.) I've not found any other phone OS that really compares, with Windows 6.5 being probably the worst ever. (I'm talking smartphones here, of course.)