There is still one month for Windows 10 Mobile announcement and possibly two months for general release, the insider builds do get much more stable in the last month just before RTM which should be a month away from now.
Mobile Insider is ok for enthusiasts, tinkerers and those who want to make suggestions and feedback but the amateurs or the uninterested should wait till the RTM build.
It's getting better, but IMO Windows 10 Mobile is just *worse* than Windows Phone 8.1. The introduction of hamburger menus everywhere is a particularly irksome insult.
That Hamburger UI ship has sailed a long back, most of the apps across the operating systems use that hamburger menu and even most of the mobile websites have shifted to hamburger menus.
They're doing the right thing with their UI in general, and the hamburger menu in particular. It's too late to have your own totally unique UX. When you're at 3% market share, you should avoid being too different from big boys, you want your potential users to feel at home when they decide to make the switch.
This is exactly wrong. If they don't remain differentiated then there is even less reason to use them than the competition that has more apps. I personally use Windows Phone *because* I like the UI better than the others. If it kinda sorta looked like Android or iOS but had all kinds of small differences once you got below the surface it wouldn't be familiar, just annoying. Linux eventually learned this lesson after years of trying to copy Windows.
I don't even mind the hamburgers, but there are some major losses in functionality that I'm not liking. Chief among them is the lack of a "History" page for contacts (where on 8.1 it combines emails, calls, and texts), though the unified inbox is a close second.
Still though, there is enough functionality gained in 10 Mobile that I can tolerate it.
I just hope they avoid the account issue that happened with Win10 that was upgraded from 8.1 or 7 when everything that required a login(mail, calendar, contacts) didn`t work until you did a clean install.
I'm very excited about Windows 10 Mobile. It should (at long last) provide the best of both worlds in regard to open vs closed ecosystems. Faster/smoother than Android, yet much more flexible and open than iOS.
I hope they reach feature parity with the Universal side of Windows 10 desktop, especially "default apps". Would be nice if users can customize their dialers, messaging app, keyboards, browsers, and other file associations just like Android but with stricter rules for privacy and security (should keep rogue apps in check, unlike Android where it's nearly impossible to know what's going if you have dozens of apps installed).
I also hope they build a more flexible driver stack so that OEMs can add more hardware/software features without having to wait for Microsoft to implement such features, like Cameras, DSPs, DACs, and different SoCs in general (like Exynos and Tegra, not only Snapdragons)...
What you said in the last paragraph is crucially needed to bring fresh hardware to the table. WP is starting to look very one-note lately.
Basically all phones are more or less the same. Even the performance isn't hugely different on S400 vs S800. I know they're going for mainstream success with WP10 but I think they should cater to the niche market. A 1020 successor, a Lumia for audiophiles, a Lumia with a huge battery (like Moto X Play), a Lumia variant of the S6. All those things would create major hype. WP devices are getting bland.
Exactly what I'm thinking. It's all about the "hype" nowadays. OEMs could announce a W10M version of their phones with each major flagship/midrange announcement, and blogs can put these same devices (running different OSs) to the test for direct comparisons; where UI performance/smoothness, apps, games and battery life are compared.
HTC did that with the M8, but the M8 (and HTC) itself wasn't all that popular. However, if the GS6/7, Note 5/6, Xperias and LGs had the same flagships with either Android or W10M, it'll create a HUGE stir of comparison videos and hype for the platform (those vloggers are good at that).
I just hope the app gap is minimized further by then, or at least the top 100-1000 most popular apps.
I hope Microsoft's management learned a good lesson. Instead of taking a plunge worth $8 Billion, they should have spent that money for advertising, working with OEMs to release all their flagships with Windows Phone, and PAYING developers to port their apps..........
They did a lot of wrong with 8.1... They have probably learned their lesson. They should have sped up development with more resources and launched W10M with W10PC, because the hype was HUGE around it then. Still, launching a SP4 with W10M devices alongside would create headlines, so there's hope for a good Christmas sales season. Hopefully the app gap with close with Islandwood now. I'm not holding my breath for Astoria. iOS apps are generally a better quality anyway, plus they will be UW apps!
Samsung's Ativ line was the bomb, actually. They shouldn't have renamed them "Ativ" though, it creates confusion. "Galaxy" is a lot more prominent in the eyes of consumers. I seriously wish they court OEMs this time. A Moto X Pure or Xperia Z5 with W10M would be an instabuy for me and a lot of others I'm sure :)
One missing feature which keeps me from upgrading to a modern Win Phone is the lack of public eMail API (or so). This means I have no way to synchronize my Thunderbird with Win Phone. BirdieSync, a commercial software which allowed this up to Win Mobile 6.5, can't program for the newer OS' if they don't know the API.
I mostly really like my Windows Phone 8.1. This is looking better and better, though like with 8, my biggest concern right now is how we get updates...
Updates should not be a concern for someone reading Anandtech, Just download the Insider app when the RTM version is released, this is a very good option for someone if they are not using Unlocked International phones.
Tried, but the option to do that is grayed out. I'm just using the mobile website for now, which I was surprised to find is actually better (more full-featured and faster) than the app...?
In case anyone else has the same issue -- was able to resolve it. The update was not working; after some combination of cancelling the update, restarting the update (by going to the Uber app page in the store) and restarting my phone, it finally updated properly and is now working.
And, incidentally, the m.uber.com site will refuse to accept requests on the phone, telling you to use the app instead.
From what I've seen with the Windows 10 launch, the OS will still be buggy for months after release even if they polish up the really flagrant errors in the next few weeks.
After the terrible Win 10 privacy issues on the PC, I gave up waiting for Win 10 mobile, expecting it to be no different, and dumped my Lumia 930 on flea-bay.
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BMNify - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
There is still one month for Windows 10 Mobile announcement and possibly two months for general release, the insider builds do get much more stable in the last month just before RTM which should be a month away from now.Mobile Insider is ok for enthusiasts, tinkerers and those who want to make suggestions and feedback but the amateurs or the uninterested should wait till the RTM build.
althaz - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
It's getting better, but IMO Windows 10 Mobile is just *worse* than Windows Phone 8.1. The introduction of hamburger menus everywhere is a particularly irksome insult.BMNify - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
That Hamburger UI ship has sailed a long back, most of the apps across the operating systems use that hamburger menu and even most of the mobile websites have shifted to hamburger menus.lilmoe - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
They're doing the right thing with their UI in general, and the hamburger menu in particular. It's too late to have your own totally unique UX. When you're at 3% market share, you should avoid being too different from big boys, you want your potential users to feel at home when they decide to make the switch.ABR - Monday, September 21, 2015 - link
This is exactly wrong. If they don't remain differentiated then there is even less reason to use them than the competition that has more apps. I personally use Windows Phone *because* I like the UI better than the others. If it kinda sorta looked like Android or iOS but had all kinds of small differences once you got below the surface it wouldn't be familiar, just annoying. Linux eventually learned this lesson after years of trying to copy Windows.jhoff80 - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
I don't even mind the hamburgers, but there are some major losses in functionality that I'm not liking. Chief among them is the lack of a "History" page for contacts (where on 8.1 it combines emails, calls, and texts), though the unified inbox is a close second.Still though, there is enough functionality gained in 10 Mobile that I can tolerate it.
Michael Bay - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
I just hope they avoid the account issue that happened with Win10 that was upgraded from 8.1 or 7 when everything that required a login(mail, calendar, contacts) didn`t work until you did a clean install.Wolfpup - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
I didn't see anything like that? I use a local account, never a Microsoft account, if that makes any difference.Michael Bay - Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - link
You shouldn`t be getting those services if you`re not using MSA in the first place.Anywya, with todays`s update it somehow fixed itself. :/
lilmoe - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
I'm very excited about Windows 10 Mobile. It should (at long last) provide the best of both worlds in regard to open vs closed ecosystems. Faster/smoother than Android, yet much more flexible and open than iOS.I hope they reach feature parity with the Universal side of Windows 10 desktop, especially "default apps". Would be nice if users can customize their dialers, messaging app, keyboards, browsers, and other file associations just like Android but with stricter rules for privacy and security (should keep rogue apps in check, unlike Android where it's nearly impossible to know what's going if you have dozens of apps installed).
I also hope they build a more flexible driver stack so that OEMs can add more hardware/software features without having to wait for Microsoft to implement such features, like Cameras, DSPs, DACs, and different SoCs in general (like Exynos and Tegra, not only Snapdragons)...
kspirit - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
What you said in the last paragraph is crucially needed to bring fresh hardware to the table. WP is starting to look very one-note lately.Basically all phones are more or less the same. Even the performance isn't hugely different on S400 vs S800. I know they're going for mainstream success with WP10 but I think they should cater to the niche market. A 1020 successor, a Lumia for audiophiles, a Lumia with a huge battery (like Moto X Play), a Lumia variant of the S6. All those things would create major hype. WP devices are getting bland.
lilmoe - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Exactly what I'm thinking. It's all about the "hype" nowadays. OEMs could announce a W10M version of their phones with each major flagship/midrange announcement, and blogs can put these same devices (running different OSs) to the test for direct comparisons; where UI performance/smoothness, apps, games and battery life are compared.HTC did that with the M8, but the M8 (and HTC) itself wasn't all that popular. However, if the GS6/7, Note 5/6, Xperias and LGs had the same flagships with either Android or W10M, it'll create a HUGE stir of comparison videos and hype for the platform (those vloggers are good at that).
I just hope the app gap is minimized further by then, or at least the top 100-1000 most popular apps.
I hope Microsoft's management learned a good lesson. Instead of taking a plunge worth $8 Billion, they should have spent that money for advertising, working with OEMs to release all their flagships with Windows Phone, and PAYING developers to port their apps..........
kspirit - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
They did a lot of wrong with 8.1... They have probably learned their lesson. They should have sped up development with more resources and launched W10M with W10PC, because the hype was HUGE around it then. Still, launching a SP4 with W10M devices alongside would create headlines, so there's hope for a good Christmas sales season. Hopefully the app gap with close with Islandwood now. I'm not holding my breath for Astoria. iOS apps are generally a better quality anyway, plus they will be UW apps!Samsung's Ativ line was the bomb, actually. They shouldn't have renamed them "Ativ" though, it creates confusion. "Galaxy" is a lot more prominent in the eyes of consumers. I seriously wish they court OEMs this time. A Moto X Pure or Xperia Z5 with W10M would be an instabuy for me and a lot of others I'm sure :)
MrSpadge - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
One missing feature which keeps me from upgrading to a modern Win Phone is the lack of public eMail API (or so). This means I have no way to synchronize my Thunderbird with Win Phone. BirdieSync, a commercial software which allowed this up to Win Mobile 6.5, can't program for the newer OS' if they don't know the API.Wolfpup - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
I mostly really like my Windows Phone 8.1. This is looking better and better, though like with 8, my biggest concern right now is how we get updates...BMNify - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Updates should not be a concern for someone reading Anandtech, Just download the Insider app when the RTM version is released, this is a very good option for someone if they are not using Unlocked International phones.rwei - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Did anyone else have Uber break after update? It's trying to update but always fails and now I can't open it.BMNify - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
This is a beta OS, just uninstall and then reinstall the app.rwei - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Tried, but the option to do that is grayed out. I'm just using the mobile website for now, which I was surprised to find is actually better (more full-featured and faster) than the app...?Yay Edge? Boo ecosystem?
Alexvrb - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Something broke in a fast-ring release? Gasp you should call and complain.BMNify - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
Why not roll-back to 8.1? It is easy and you will get back your ecosystem.rwei - Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - link
In case anyone else has the same issue -- was able to resolve it. The update was not working; after some combination of cancelling the update, restarting the update (by going to the Uber app page in the store) and restarting my phone, it finally updated properly and is now working.And, incidentally, the m.uber.com site will refuse to accept requests on the phone, telling you to use the app instead.
mkozakewich - Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - link
From what I've seen with the Windows 10 launch, the OS will still be buggy for months after release even if they polish up the really flagrant errors in the next few weeks.Notmyusualid - Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - link
After the terrible Win 10 privacy issues on the PC, I gave up waiting for Win 10 mobile, expecting it to be no different, and dumped my Lumia 930 on flea-bay.Surprised at how much I got for it too...
Michael Bay - Friday, September 18, 2015 - link
Enjoy your terrible privacy issues on any other OS of import then.