Windows Phone Has Me Thinking Like an iPhone User

[jakem1]

As far as app count goes, every app that has a try or buy option in the WP7 marketplace should be counted twice - then we would have a better comparison with app count on iOS and Android. Many iPhone apps have both a Lite and Pro version - and that's a bug, not a feature.

That's a really good point and a real problem for other app stores (including the old WinMo 6.x Marketplace). I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple and co copy this feature pretty quickly.

[Elliott]

That's a really good point and a real problem for other app stores (including the old WinMo 6.x Marketplace). I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple and co copy this feature pretty quickly.

I would love a feature like that on the App Store. Then again, lite apps aren't really trial apps. They never expire, and sometimes, the lite app is all you need.

[rfirth]

I would love a feature like that on the App Store. Then again, lite apps aren't really trial apps. They never expire, and sometimes, the lite app is all you need.

I think trial apps on WP7 are the equivalent of lite apps (but with all the obvious benefits)... although it depends on how the developer chose to implement it. I don't think they expire.

[evo_spook]

I think it's a bit short sighted to assume that as the 'only reason' people would buy WP7 is brand loyalty. With or without these arguable 'basic features', it still provides an extremely unique, fluid, and compelling experience, and I firmly believe this is what has driven the bulk of sales to date.

I would agree with you, but then I get sick of people who come and claim anyone who buys a iPhone is a sheep, its idiotic, lazy and insulting.

Its a bit of a strange article, first slaming iphone users for forgiving its flaws, but then admiting he does the same with his own phone, erm, why start of with a bash then. As he says its his phone, he likes it, don't try to tell me anothers better, maybe he should follow his own rules then.

I actually think the W7P is very interesting, nothing wrong with Android either, what spoils it all is the god dam fanboys who see it as their mission to prove theirs is the best, why? they're happy with, so just let it be.

[BajiRav]

I would love a feature like that on the App Store. Then again, lite apps aren't really trial apps. They never expire, and sometimes, the lite app is all you need.

I think trial apps can behave exactly like lite apps but it's up to the developer.

[Mr aldo]

I would agree with you, but then I get sick of people who come and claim anyone who buys a iPhone is a sheep, its idiotic, lazy and insulting.

Its a bit of a strange article, first slaming iphone users for forgiving its flaws, but then admiting he does the same with his own phone, erm, why start of with a bash then. As he says its his phone, he likes it, don't try to tell me anothers better, maybe he should follow his own rules then.

I actually think the W7P is very interesting, nothing wrong with Android either, what spoils it all is the god dam fanboys who see it as their mission to prove theirs is the best, why? they're happy with, so just let it be.

I think that is what the articles author is getting at, he now understands why iPhone lovers just ignore features one would expect.

At least, that's what I took from it.

[Elliott]

I think trial apps can behave exactly like lite apps but it's up to the developer.

If that's the case, that's perfect.

[evo_spook]

I think that is what the articles author is getting at, he now understands why iPhone lovers just ignore features one would expect.

At least, that's what I took from it.

I agree with you. And maybe he has written it correct, in that he gives a bash and then turns the tables.

Out of Android and WP7, the windows phone interests me the most, but got over another year on my contract and loads of apps.

[Mr aldo]

I think trial apps can behave exactly like lite apps but it's up to the developer.

I am no WP7 developer, but from what it sounds like, there is a flag that the developer can check to see whether the app is in trial mode or not. The developer can remove whatever features they want, or allow full access to the app and once the trial is up, it could just have a message saying it is time to buy the app.

So I don't actually think Lite apps are the same as trial apps, as the trials expire. Unless a developer can specify the length of the trial.

[~Johnny]

I am no WP7 developer, but from what it sounds like, there is a flag that the developer can check to see whether the app is in trial mode or not. The developer can remove whatever features they want, or allow full access to the app and once the trial is up, it could just have a message saying it is time to buy the app.

So I don't actually think Lite apps are the same as trial apps, as the trials expire. Unless a developer can specify the length of the trial.

The trial app API doesn't provide any method for timed trials in Windows Phone 7- so they don't expire :p

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[Shadrack]

Ultimately it is a phone. Although there are some features we have in some sense come to expect, it is still just a phone and so long as it provides good phone functionality it will serve its purpose. Sure, there are other things like Email, and good SMS facilities. Everything else is just icing on the cake, I'd say. Even Web Browsing is just icing on the cake. The thing is, we all want our cake to be yummy. That's what we're paying the smartphone premium in hardware and data plans for.

But I understand the apologist sentiment that the guy in the article is describing (being an iPhone user :p). My point is, even if it doesn't have all those things, if it serves its purpose it serves its purpose.

[Mr aldo]

The trial app API doesn't provide any method for timed trials in Windows Phone 7- so they don't expire :p

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Ah, now I know. I would think they would rename that, because when one thinks of a trial, they think it will expire.

[Calum Veteran]

Having been an original iPhone user, I know what it's like to be missing the basics, and I forgave iOS back then. I can forgive Windows Phone 7 now. If there are other exceptional facets of the experience that easily make up for the lack of some features, I'm willing to overlook those features.

Those are my thoughts exactly.

There are only 3 features I really wish Windows Phone 7 had: Support built-in (either into the OS or the Facebook app) for Facebook Places; support for subscribed calendars; support for multiple calendars per account.

I don't care about copy/paste or anything else, I'd just like those features; however, due to how awesome the operating system is, as a whole, I will continue to use it; plus, I'm pretty sure those features will all eventually arrive, especially as there is already Foursquare app for Windows Phone 7.

[BajiRav]

Those are my thoughts exactly.

There are only 3 features I really wish Windows Phone 7 had: Support built-in (either into the OS or the Facebook app) for Facebook Places; support for subscribed calendars; support for multiple calendars per account.

I don't care about copy/paste or anything else, I'd just like those features; however, due to how awesome the operating system is, as a whole, I will continue to use it; plus, I'm pretty sure those features will all eventually arrive, especially as there is already Foursquare app for Windows Phone 7.

I am surprised facebook still doesn't have their own app yet and that probably explains lack of features such as groups and places. Just as you mentioned, I am loving how well everything works. I am very curious to what the first update brings to the table besides copy/paste.

[George P Global Moderator]

I am surprised facebook still doesn't have their own app yet and that probably explains lack of features such as groups and places. Just as you mentioned, I am loving how well everything works. I am very curious to what the first update brings to the table besides copy/paste.

I'm pretty sure there is a FaceBook app up on the marketplace already. Unless we're talking something else here?

[Calum Veteran]

I am surprised facebook still doesn't have their own app yet and that probably explains lack of features such as groups and places. Just as you mentioned, I am loving how well everything works. I am very curious to what the first update brings to the table besides copy/paste.

I am also surprised, especially since Microsoft and Facebook are partnering more and more, lately. At the recent Facebook mobile event, they hardly mentioned Windows Phone and didn't mention it at all in terms of updates. I love how the Facebook application functions and looks, I just wish it had Places and Groups implemented; also, it could be faster (for me). I really do hope there will be an update very soon, either from Microsoft or Facebook.

I'm also eager to find out what Microsoft have planned for the 2011 Q1 Windows Phone 7 update.

I'm pretty sure there is a FaceBook app up on the marketplace already. Unless we're talking something else here?

That application is developed by Microsoft. We were expressing our surprise that it's not developed by Facebook, like the iPhone and Android apps. I believe the first Android application was started by a contractor Facebook employed, but there was trouble with them finishing it, so Facebook started developing that in-house, as they do with the iPhone application; I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

[bob_c_b]

iPhone will keep improving too ...

As a former iPhone owner I think it's safe to say that Apple has been applying their incrmental updates at a snails pace since the 3G launched, let's not pretend there have been leaps and bounds of new ideas coming from Cupertino the last couple summers. No doubt they are sitting on something, but they'll keep milking cash out of minor features and bumps until the market brings enough pressure for them to actually upgrade the iPhone again.

I don't know if your previous account got banned Pezzovante, or whether you are just trying to be cute, either way you haven't done a great job of disguising yourself. Also, the fact that WP7 sales are slow suggests to me that you are wrong.

Takes time for new ideas to catch on to the mainstream, the main reason I wanted a WP7 device was to not have to buy an app for every web site I go to.

I'm pretty sure there is a FaceBook app up on the marketplace already. Unless we're talking something else here?

There is one in the US, it's about 1 rev behind the latest straight from FB, have not bothered to see when they will reach parity since I really like the FB feed integration with the People hub.

[Elliott]

Takes time for new ideas to catch on to the mainstream, the main reason I wanted a WP7 device was to not have to buy an app for every web site I go to.

Now explain this one to me: how does WP7 solve this "problem" (not sure why you feel the need to buy an app for every website you visit, but I'll bite for now). Surely its browser isn't solving that problem. It has the worst rendering engine out of all three major players.

[~Johnny]

I am also surprised, especially since Microsoft and Facebook are partnering more and more, lately. At the recent Facebook mobile event, they hardly mentioned Windows Phone and didn't mention it at all in terms of updates. I love how the Facebook application functions and looks, I just wish it had Places and Groups implemented; also, it could be faster (for me). I really do hope there will be an update very soon, either from Microsoft or Facebook.

I'm also eager to find out what Microsoft have planned for the 2011 Q1 Windows Phone 7 update.

That application is developed by Microsoft. We were expressing our surprise that it's not developed by Facebook, like the iPhone and Android apps. I believe the first Android application was started by a contractor Facebook employed, but there was trouble with them finishing it, so Facebook started developing that in-house, as they do with the iPhone application; I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

It's due to Microsoft's & Facebook's special relationship / partnering that Microsoft handles the apps on their own platform (as they have with Windows Mobile and Zune) - though the app isn't actually made by Microsoft themselves, they commissioned Clarity Consulting to make it for them, who they've got to do other Facebook projects for them (coincidentally my personal opinion is that none of those projects turned out particularly well, they were promising but ultimately half finished and fell short.) I'd prefer that either Microsoft made it themselves, or even better - just let Facebook handle it. That way they'll ensure it's top notch, and always on parity with the latest Facebook features.

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[Subject Delta]

It's due to Microsoft's & Facebook's special relationship / partnering that Microsoft handles the apps on their own platform (as they have with Windows Mobile and Zune) - though the app isn't actually made by Microsoft themselves, they commissioned Clarity Consulting to make it for them, who they've got to do other Facebook projects for them (coincidentally my personal opinion is that none of those projects turned out particularly well, they were promising but ultimately half finished and fell short.) I'd prefer that either Microsoft made it themselves, or even better - just let Facebook handle it. That way they'll ensure it's top notch, and always on parity with the latest Facebook features.

Not quite the case, the official Android app for facebook was developed extremely slowly, and is still lacking some features present on the iPhone app. Although the iPhone app is generally pretty good, their development record for Android is poor, so it's hard to say for sure whether getting Facebook to develop the app would make it better or not.

[Raa]

A lot of the things WP7 doesn't have, I actually require therefore, I can't get a new Windows Phone.

[bob_c_b]

Now explain this one to me: how does WP7 solve this "problem" (not sure why you feel the need to buy an app for every website you visit, but I'll bite for now). Surely its browser isn't solving that problem. It has the worst rendering engine out of all three major players.

It might be the "worst" according to something like Acid but I get far better results with it than I ever did with mobile Safari, and it's mildy better than the Android browser as well, at least where I surf in general. Of coure nothing is perfect, but I expect it will only improve.

[bigbas]

at least some of the users are happy.

I wrote a topic this morning about my wife's LG Quantum experience and this was basically the whole point. I got the Focus and she has the Quantum and both of us are happy enough to not just overlook the flaws but the phone experience hides them pretty well. I coming from an Iphone 3gs and her from the Lg Vue. So really her first Smartphone. Two happy customers!

[George P Global Moderator]

Well, this just in but HTC 7 Trophy confirmed for Verizon in early 2011. It seems that the early 2011 (most people say sometime in January) that will bring Copy and Paste is also looking like it'll bring CDMA support as well, so who knows what other stuff MS will toss in there? I think 2 months after release for a big update is a very quick turn around, don't know if they'll stick to this type of cycle speed but they did talk about having "update cycles" when talking about the whole update system.

Only time will tell, but if it's 2-4month cycles that should make lots of people happy I'd say.