4 ms·

I don't understand the allure of WP7. It's the worst of both worlds. If you want long term updates and a simple interface, plus the biggest mobile app-store wit

I don't understand the allure of WP7. It's the worst of both worlds. If you want long term updates and a simple interface, plus the biggest mobile app-store with all the latest and hottest apps - get an iPhone. If you want to pick whatever hardware you want, and through many variations, with software that gives you maximum control over it, especially if you root it - get an Android phone. What does WP7 offer? Much weaker ecosystem, more expensive applications, less visually appealing games, the hardware is pretty much the same on all the phones (which makes me wonder why they even bother having multiple models), the technology is at least 1 year behind, sometimes 2, and it doesn't even get updates in the long term like the iPhone. If Nokia didn't happen to make a nicely designed phone, we probably wouldn't even be talking about WP7 at all right now, which also leads me to think what a strategically poor decision Samsung and HTC took when they decided to support WP7. Because Microsoft is now only helping Nokia and Nokia gets all the credit for WP7. If they didn't support WP7 for a year, they could've gotten rid of one of their largest competitors (Nokia) for good by now.

clarky07 15y ago
I've developed apps for iPhone, Android, and WP7. While I use and prefer iPhone myself, I find WP7 to be vastly superior to the Android devices I've used. I'd recommend iPhone to people asking me, but for the people who just don't like Apple I'd recommend WP7 over Android. As for whether or not they give an upgrade to 8 frankly it doesn't matter from a business standpoint. There just aren't enough people with WP7 phones at this point. It's not the same as comparing Android 2.2 when WP7 only has 1% of the smartphone market.
- fpgeek 15y ago
  I don't think it is that simple. Yes, there aren't that many people using WP7, but that also means that the user base they do have is mostly a core of diehard fans, evangelists and developers. Pissing them off by not even upgrading your brand-new, heavily-promoted flagship device isn't exactly getting WP8 started off on the right foot now is it?
  - clarky07 15y ago
    Oh don't get me wrong I absolutely think they should be upgrading the WP7 phones to WP8. The fragmentation in Android is such a huge pain. Building apps for 2.2 because I have to sucks when 4+ is out. I was just suggesting the magnitude of the problem isn't as big as it is on Android, assuming they don't make a habit of it and WP8 upgrades for a long time.
    - fpgeek 15y ago
      True, it is less of an issue for developers (especially since they're promising forward compatibility for apps). I'm just saying from the broader perspective of surprising and pissing of core fans, not updating to WP8 probably hurts WP more than the continuing update woes hurt Android (since at least some devices are getting updates and the overall situation isn't a surprise).
azylman 15y ago
If you just think in terms of updates and hardware, WP7 has the worst of both worlds. But think of it in terms of software. But iOS and Android share a very similar UI, while WP7 is very different. I've never owned a Windows Phone, but from what I've heard from people who have owned them (these are people who have owned iPhones, Android phones, Windows phones, and sometimes Blackberries - they've run the gambit) it is the most intuitive, easy, and fun interface on the market right now.
- gouranga 15y ago
  I'll back you up. I've owned 2 HTC Android handsets and 2 iPhones. I'm currently using a Nokia Lumia 710. Impression: it's orders of magnitude better. Everything just works - can't find a single bug, it integrates nicely with everything, its fast, it only cost 139 GBP (~$220) on pay as you go (no contract!), it's pleasant to write software (no GC hell like on iOS or painful toolchain like Android), battery life is pretty good for a smartphone, Office comes with it, Fully offline Nokia maps/drive come with it. As for apps. I genuinely haven't needed any. It's just awesomeness for the money!
fpgeek 15y ago
I'm pretty sure the strategy HTC and Samsung were thinking about when deciding to keep supporting WP7 wasn't OS, device or competitor strategy... it was legal strategy. On that front, making a token WP7 effort in order to help avoid an expensive and distracting lawsuit seems to have worked well for them.

clarky07 15y ago

I've developed apps for iPhone, Android, and WP7. While I use and prefer iPhone myself, I find WP7 to be vastly superior to the Android devices I've used. I'd recommend iPhone to people asking me, but for the people who just don't like Apple I'd recommend WP7 over Android. As for whether or not they give an upgrade to 8 frankly it doesn't matter from a business standpoint. There just aren't enough people with WP7 phones at this point. It's not the same as comparing Android 2.2 when WP7 only has 1% of the smartphone market.

fpgeek 15y ago
I don't think it is that simple. Yes, there aren't that many people using WP7, but that also means that the user base they do have is mostly a core of diehard fans, evangelists and developers. Pissing them off by not even upgrading your brand-new, heavily-promoted flagship device isn't exactly getting WP8 started off on the right foot now is it?
- clarky07 15y ago
  Oh don't get me wrong I absolutely think they should be upgrading the WP7 phones to WP8. The fragmentation in Android is such a huge pain. Building apps for 2.2 because I have to sucks when 4+ is out. I was just suggesting the magnitude of the problem isn't as big as it is on Android, assuming they don't make a habit of it and WP8 upgrades for a long time.
  - fpgeek 15y ago
    True, it is less of an issue for developers (especially since they're promising forward compatibility for apps). I'm just saying from the broader perspective of surprising and pissing of core fans, not updating to WP8 probably hurts WP more than the continuing update woes hurt Android (since at least some devices are getting updates and the overall situation isn't a surprise).

azylman 15y ago

If you just think in terms of updates and hardware, WP7 has the worst of both worlds. But think of it in terms of software. But iOS and Android share a very similar UI, while WP7 is very different. I've never owned a Windows Phone, but from what I've heard from people who have owned them (these are people who have owned iPhones, Android phones, Windows phones, and sometimes Blackberries - they've run the gambit) it is the most intuitive, easy, and fun interface on the market right now.

gouranga 15y ago
I'll back you up. I've owned 2 HTC Android handsets and 2 iPhones. I'm currently using a Nokia Lumia 710. Impression: it's orders of magnitude better. Everything just works - can't find a single bug, it integrates nicely with everything, its fast, it only cost 139 GBP (~$220) on pay as you go (no contract!), it's pleasant to write software (no GC hell like on iOS or painful toolchain like Android), battery life is pretty good for a smartphone, Office comes with it, Fully offline Nokia maps/drive come with it. As for apps. I genuinely haven't needed any. It's just awesomeness for the money!

fpgeek 15y ago

I'm pretty sure the strategy HTC and Samsung were thinking about when deciding to keep supporting WP7 wasn't OS, device or competitor strategy... it was legal strategy. On that front, making a token WP7 effort in order to help avoid an expensive and distracting lawsuit seems to have worked well for them.