Now that I have been entrenched in software upgrades and project phases throughout the week, I decided to take a side trip for some light weekend insight.
I have been a loyal, maybe sometimes diehard, Android user. I have the Original Galaxy S from AT&T along with an Asus Transformer TF101. I’ve spend endless hours customizing, downloading app after app and striving for some form of Fung Shui design that will never attain perfection.
As of late my problems with the platform itself have started to mount. The ever increasing time spent installing and uninstalling, playing games, cleaning it up just to make it messy again. I can honestly say for a phone I was plain bored with it. I cannot say the same for my tablet, but why? It’s simple, I am using it every waking minute of the day. Not looking at it for some mundane status update from the droves of social networks it connects too.During the lifespan of my Android phone I had used the Blackberry phones for work and developed a health disdain for a dying brand. The phones themselves are light years behind in design and fail to keep up with the software technology of tomorrow. Eventually they will either die or as it seems strike a deal with Microsoft and be assimilated into the Windows Phone. This in itself would cement Microsoft’s place in the corporate environment for security standards.
So why switch?
Aside for some of the reasons I mentioned earlier, there were a couple of nagging issues that kept me continually annoyed with my phone.
1. Every time I plug in the phone to charge it has to force close some form of tethering app that I have never used nor do I pay for on my cellular plan. Often times it would just go black and force a battery pull to recover.
2. Updates. Hmm, where do I start? Well first, the Galaxy S won’t be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. Second, when updates do manage to come around there is no set timeline to when they will get deployed.
Part of my displeasure of late even looking at new phones is the lack of standardization amongsths manufacturers and carriers. Everyone has a different flavor. While at first this was delightful, after awhile it just becomes cumbersome. Different update schedules for each, different launchers, different pre loaded apps you can’t remove, etc etc. It seems these phones are starting to suffer from bloatware as is so common in household computers. Not to mention the increasing virus landscape that is cropping up.
During this time we had ditched our Blackberry’s at work and plunged head first into the Windows Phone 7 platform. The integration with Microsoft Office 2010 and Exchange 2010 made it a perfect choice to start with. Once disgruntled Blackberry users were overjoyed at a phone that was easy to use and light years ahead of Blackberry.
Using one of these phones was a delight, I was able to see the transition from the 7.0 to 7.5 software and the notable advances that were being made. I found myself using my android less for phone-like activities and more for just catching up on my “Draw Something” games.
When I finally decided to take a really close look at the phone I was able to get down to the meat and potatoes. What would I have to trade off, and what would I gain?
Social Integration:
- Google+ along with many Google apps (Maps, Voice, etc) would go missing.
- Google+ has been confirmed in the next update along with more Google integration.
- Facebook has a much smoother app on Windows than any other platform.
- Almost all the major social networks are already integrated into Windows Phone.
Customization
- (Sarcasm on) Oh noes, i won’t spend hours customizing my phone? That’s why I have a tablet.
- While customization is not as granular on Windows Phone, it is available to an extent without compromising the standardization of the sleek Metro UI.
- Major bonus: All carriers/manufacturers will look the same thanks to Microsoft’s strict design guidelines.
Apps
- While Apple and Android still have the largest app markets there is a commonality missing in the multitudes of apps to be found.
- The Windows app market continues to grow while keeping apps within the same design standards of the phone itself. Instead of being just an app on the phone the flow seamlessly into the overall design.
- Apps are not the same on both markets and since it is a smaller market you will need to find 3rd party replacements if you want a like for like experience.
I ended up finding the best solution to get me out of my Android mindset. Costco. With a special on the Lumia 900 for $49.00 with a $49.00 rebate in new 2 year contracts it was the perfect opportunity to try it and lets the cards fall where they may. If I found I could not live without my Android induced madness I would be able to return it in 30 days.
The Nokia Lumia 900 I had actually seen at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas before it was released for public consumption. It took “Best of Show” in the mobility platforms. I was enamored with it since I first saw it. An innovative design wrapped up with a solid performance package.
It was a “Leap of Faith” literally. I must say so far that faith has been unshaken. This phone has surpassed my expectations in a very short period of time.
In “Part 2” I will highlight some of the likes and dislikes of the platform.
Is anyone else disgruntled with their Androids? Lack of updates?
The Whiteboard 