The Critics Rave...For Microsoft? [Windows Phone article in NY Times]

**furball zen** · 01-18-2012, 09:17 PM

Talking to me or Chilly?

**Grez** · 01-18-2012, 10:13 PM

To Chilly...lol, that's an awesome nickname.

Hear that, Corey? You didn't like Hank, so Chilly it is. That's pretty damned cool, actually. :-)

**furball zen** · 01-18-2012, 10:53 PM

+Rep if you can guess where i got it from :)

**Grez** · 01-18-2012, 11:05 PM

Chilly Willy?

**furball zen** · 01-19-2012, 03:00 AM

Yup, one of the best classic 'toons.

**RcRon7** · 01-19-2012, 05:00 AM

I was recently looking at the Sprint Phones for an upgrade and I did not see a decent piece of equipment with Windows on it. I didn't upgrade yet so I hope to heck they come out with something soon. I really like the HTC and Samsung devices, not so much because of Android. I like the hardware. Good Mem, great screens, CPU's, all that normal BS.

**furball zen** · 01-19-2012, 05:11 AM

OH!!! Go get the Arrive, youll thank me for it. Only $99.99 out the door with a rebate.

**Grez** · 01-19-2012, 10:04 AM

Yeah, it's funny because the Samsung Galaxy 2 that everyone seems to be raving about appears to be based directly upon my more-than-a-year-old Samsung Focus WP7 phone. Looks like all they did was add 4G support (which they did on the newer version of my phone) and change up the buttons at the bottom to match up with Android stuff. Hilarious. People act like it's the savior (and it IS a good phone) when it's actually a phone that been around for well over a year that they overlooked. Pfffft.

C.Hill · 01-19-2012, 10:31 AM

Heh, I guess I can live with "Chilly". For the record, there's no 'e' in my name.

I'll hit up that link when I get home tonight, Grez. I really do like WP7, so if they can just do this one thing I ask of them, they'll definitely have my business!

department76 · 01-19-2012, 11:24 AM

I'm gonna do it. My upgrade is here and I can get the htc Trophy for $30. It'd be nice if Verizon had more WP7 options right now, but oh well I'm doing it!

**Grez** · 01-19-2012, 02:58 PM

Yeah, definitely. Verizon is a big issue. But, my boss has the Trophy and likes it. I wish the screen were a little bigger, but even on a smaller screen, it's just so much easier to read and navigate through this OS. I hope you like it.

My one big gripe with Mango is on the mapping part. Bing maps works great, but when you go with the turn-by-turn announcements, whenever you get to the next step, you have to tap it to get it to scroll up to the next one. Kind of a pain. I've already given my feedback on this...I just want it to work like a normal GPS and keep going. I shouldn't have to tap to make it scroll the text. Otherwise, though, it works really well, especially for the free built-in maps and turn-by-turn instructions. It'll keep getting better...it's already loads better than the 7.0 stuff (Mango is considered 7.5). Next version should theoretically smoke.

**RcRon7** · 01-19-2012, 03:18 PM

Well, the big screen, resolution, dual core cpu are some of the main reasons I was looking at the Samsung Galxy S II. But the big seller for me was HotSpot. The sad part is the only sprint wp7 phone is the Arrive, and it looks nice however it does not have hotspot. I need or want hotspot to use with my iPad.

**Grez** · 01-19-2012, 10:50 PM

Well, isn't hotspot just the ability to use your phone as an access point for a laptop or tablet? WP7.5 supports tethering, which is the non-brand-specific term for this. So, this should be completely possible.

Of course, we are talking about an Apple product here, so it may only work with one specific piece of software for all I know. [See all former snarky comments I've made about Apple on the site.

Hey, I don't talk crap about something unless I have a reason to. lol]

**furball zen** · 01-20-2012, 12:03 AM

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente..._surprise.html

**RcRon7** · 01-20-2012, 04:51 AM

@Grez
I know, I know, and yes I have heard of tethering. But as you say, it may not work with the iPad. Which is the main reason I want it. Still, that Samsung phone, if you only consider the hardware/device, is a good phone.
Even if it has Android on it. At least it's not an iPhone! I don't think I could handle having to iOS devices in this house. With iTunes, one is MORE than enough.

C.Hill · 01-20-2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furball zen

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente..._surprise.html
Messaging Threads: Within a messaging exchange between you and another party, you can switch the messaging platform on the fly. You can start off instant messaging, switch to SMS texting, then jump over to Facebook messaging all within one message thread.

This is highly relevant to my interests. I had no idea this feature existed!

**Grez** · 01-20-2012, 04:42 PM

@C.Hill: Yeah, I do this all of the time. Remember, the WP focus is on people, not apps. So, when Jen texts me from either of her @#$!ing phones (work requires separate phone...drives me crazy), it still only shows up in one thread. If she instant-messages me from FB or MS Messenger or anyplace else, it can all show up as part of the same message thread. When I respond, it should respond to the last active source (I believe that's how it works). But, you can always slide up the menu and pick any messaging platform you have associated with that person and redirect the destination for your message. Very cool.

@RCRon: Egad, one iTunes-tethered device is one too many for me. If anyone tries to install iTunes on anything in this house, I will set said device on fire. It's not even because it's the Apple tie-in...just that iTunes is the devil. It's bad software that amounts to a big security hole, and I refuse to deal with it. I actually think that the iPad itself is great hardware. But given that it only runs iPhone apps and requires iTunes, that automatically makes it a non-starter for me. I've considered getting a Win7 tablet, as some of them now are actually very nice. However, I think I'm going to wait on Win8 to come out and make the leap then. In the meantime, the only thing I need to tether are laptops, and my WP works great on those.

On a different note, have any of you guys seen XBox companion for Windows Phone? It turns your WP into a remote control for the XBox (I believe this works even if you don't have a Kinect, which is sweet). It's free and a very nice app. I find myself using it more than I thought I would.

department76 · 02-15-2012, 09:36 PM

Almost forgot to post back. Got my HTC trophy. I couldn't be happier. Crazy deal on upgrade price. I would recommend it to anyone who can deal with touch only.

department76 · 02-16-2012, 08:02 PM

Oh, I also got the xbox remote app. It's pretty cool and I see how it could be useful, but I will probably mostly still use my logitech harmony remote

Oh and it's true, WP7 is badass. Anyone on verizon should get a trophy while they still can. Mine was all of $30 at upgrade price... an absolute steal for such an impressive platform and capable phone (wifi, 16GB, 5MP, etc). Syncs and updates when plugged into my computer as if it were a zune. Couldn't be more perfect.

**furball zen** · 02-19-2012, 05:16 PM

Oh wow, come to papa!!

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/w...#disqus_thread