The state of Windows 10 Mobile

[Ian S.]

I commented over at Windows Central, and I thought I'd like to hear your opinions.

Here's my review:

I like it , but no new features is extremely disappointing. Look at iOS 9 alone, and search for 50 hidden featrues. So many refined polishes and touches, and what are we left with? Nothing. Literally just design changes. This is not good for Windows 10 Mobile. I love the animations, I love the UI style, but I hate the lack of the integrated Skype/Messaging app, especially when it was promised to be able to do SMS on desktop and have it sync with W10M

I wish Microsoft moved faster with the phone builds. I want to be able to access the root of the phone and use it like a USB (like Android). I want to be able to show off cool new features to my friends.

Windows 10 Mobile must be convincing for anyone to switch, and for current users to stay on Windows for phones. It really doesn't matter if people like Windows 10, that really won't increase the marketshare of Windows phones.

There are tons of new features in Android M and many new refinements to iOS 9 (including those 100 or so hidden ones). Why can't we have nice things? Thoughts?

I would expect that they show off at least a few new features. And what's the point of having the Insider Program if they don't eventually show off all new features? We're supposed to test them right?

 

Here's a comment I replied to:

 

TheMoonbeam

 

If you're refereing to the differences between iOS8 & 9, or Android L & M, that is a TOTALLY different story. This is a new build of Windows 10 Mobile's initial version. A more accurate comparison is Windows 8.1 to this build (Which there are many differences). Not a previous build to this one.

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ians18

 

W10M is nearing completion within the next 2 months. Don't expect any ground-shattering new features except continuum and hello (which current phones cannot take advantage of).

Stop denying yourself the reality that W10M should be compared to iOS 9 and Android M they are all OSs released in 2015. Windows 10 mobile is no longer in the initial version stage this is not really a brand new operating system, it still runs the same apps, has the same features and 8.1 and is built off of Windows 10. BTW Windows 8.1 is a desktop OS. If you mean Windows Phone 8.1, then it is still not up to par with iOS 8 in terms of features.

To compete, MS must have nearly, if not all, the features iOS and Android have to date... and more.

Maybe this should be in the Soapbox thread, mods you can move it if you want. 

Edited August 13, 2015 by Ian S.

[Son_Of_Dad]

Not only is their zero "wow factor" from W10m they've dismantled the OS that many selected as an alternative. I hate the UI changes, I'd rather the sweeping animations (which the Windows logo is based off of remember" than zoom in/out that is swiped from iOS/Android. Microsoft think they're going to capture users by saying "hey we do the same thing over here and are hoping devs will port apps to our OS as we keep making it easier to do so". Meanwhile Windows 10 is less tablet friendly than 8.1 and desktop users are still to see reasons to use (unified) apps over legacy applications.

I completely agree with your statement that the launch date is drawing close at that point MS can't be saying "yeah it's out but it's brand new so we're working on things and taking baby steps." They are going to need to sprint to catch the competition!

[Ian S.]

Here's more of what I think:

W10M is nearing completion within the next 2 months. Don't expect any ground-shattering new features except continuum and hello (which current phones cannot take advantage of).

W10M should be compared to iOS 9 and Android M they are all OSs released in 2015. Windows 10 mobile is no longer in the initial version stage this is not really a brand new operating system, it still runs the same apps, has the same features and 8.1 and is built off of Windows 10.

To compete, MS must have nearly, if not all, the features iOS and Android have to date... and more.

[Studio384]

I think "Yes" or "No" is to black/white here. Obviously, it isn't ready yet, there are still some bugs that need to be addressed, some are rather serious. On the other hand, the current builds, especially 10512, feel very solid.

[Osiris]

Unfortunately I agree, MS seem to be pinning a lot of hopes on Universal apps and the ability to turn your phone into a desktop.  Neither of which I think the mass market will care about. 

Don't get me wrong, universal apps will hopefully alleviate or start to fix the app problem but that's not a reason for consumers to go to WM when other platforms have apps already have and probably continue to get new apps and updates first.  Likewise the phone as a desktop is quite cool but I just don't think its a killer feature for the every day smart phone consumer.

If you're refereing to the differences between iOS8 & 9, or Android L & M, that is a TOTALLY different story. This is a new build of Windows 10 Mobile's initial version

That only matters on a forum like this or WC, to the consumer they are going to compare it to Android and IOS so its a perfectly valid opinion. 

In the long run migrating to the W10 framework may be great but this WM10 release is just feature poor and completely disappointing for existing users.  Not good enough for MS rhetoric which is they are committed to WM; the lack lustre features and constantly slow ass update releases, actual actions you can judge the company by, paint a starkly different picture. 

It's not a great sign for a platform when its trailing the competition by a massive margin and even people who were fans of the platform originally are disappointed and at a loss with the direction taken.

[BajiRav]

Universal apps are not going to help Microsoft. They promised one unified OS for PCs and Phones (let's ignore Xbox etc. for now) tailored to each form factor and have failed to deliver on it so far. The current state of Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile clearly shows that it is not a unified OS but two different OSs with a common runtime. This is nothing new than say Windows 8.1/Phone 8.1 and in their attempts to put lipstick on a pig (i.e. Windows 8.x) they converted a swan (Windows Phone 7/8) into a pig.

[Son_Of_Dad]

there are still some bugs that need to be addressed

Forget bugs FFS, below are two base functions contacts and the phone itself. Why aren't they using a similar layout. Ludicrous!

 

Both manage to look extremely dull if that's a plus!

[Ian S.]

I think "Yes" or "No" is to black/white here. Obviously, it isn't ready yet, there are still some bugs that need to be addressed, some are rather serious. On the other hand, the current builds, especially 10512, feel very solid.

Added a "Too early to tell" option.

[rfirth]

It's way WAY too early to tell.

[Ian S.]

It's way WAY too early to tell.

How so? Microsoft has rewritten the OS multiple times now, and they have stated no big new features would be coming for this release. Many sites have stated W10M is feature complete now.

[rfirth]

How so? Microsoft has rewritten the OS multiple times now, and they have stated no big new features would be coming for this release. Many sites have stated W10M is feature complete now.

 

For one, I don't think it's feature complete. The feature set is decided. But I don't think it's fully implemented yet. That said, I'm not expecting any major features to be added. But I am expecting a lot of small UI changes to fix it up before release.

 

And second, I think we're probably 2 months from RTM. If it was ready for prime time, they wouldn't be spending another 2 months on it. They be releasing it today. But they aren't. So it clearly isn't ready for prime time.

Windows 10 Mobile is on the Threshold 2 branch now. If they were aiming for an imminent release, and it was feature complete, we'd be on the Threshold 1 branch with RTM code. It sounds like they are going to release it in conjunction with TH2. That's also when we should be getting a number of Windows 10 features that got delayed.

Plus, we're still waiting for the universal Messaging app. That should be pretty exciting. Universal apps themselves are exciting... the prospect of more apps! And of course, the fact that more and more apps will only require 1 purchase instead of one for phone and one for desktop/tablet. Windows 10 should be a huge draw for developers. It's going to be on so many more machines than 8/8.1 was.

Phone continuum is awesome and amazing. It's exactly what I've been predicting for many many years. It might not be big with consumers, but it's a feature that Microsoft can brag about. And it might be a big draw for businesses. Who knows... you might be able to replace desktop computers with tiny Windows 10 Mobile devices strapped to the back of monitors. That would be good enough for many workers who only need access to the internet and Office. Sound familiar? Like a Chromebook?

In any case... it might not be ready for prime time now. But I'm confident it will be when it reaches RTM. I'm confident that Microsoft has a very potent strategy, and that they are in their strongest position in years.

 

[Ian S.]

The universal app is great, but it's kinda a lot like iMessage is to iPhones. Also, what I mean to say is there should be a ton of incremental feature updates, but there aren't. Continuum is useless to me, I don't have a Cityman or Talkman phone (obviously) and I don't plan on getting one.

The video I was referring to was:

 

[Osiris]

Plus, we're still waiting for the universal Messaging app. That should be pretty exciting.

I admire your enthusiasm but if the most exciting thing to look forward to is a messaging app...well I think that in itself says it all.

[Ian S.]

I admire your enthusiasm but if the most exciting thing to look forward to is a messaging app...well I think that in itself says it all.

Yea, I don't know when Microsoft will stop redoing and start iterating.