Any Windows Phones Users Here?

[EarDemon]

I'm looking to possibly get the HP Elite X3, and have some questions about the Windows Phone platform, If anyone is willing to entertain them, let me know. I'd be really appreciative of it.

 

[Pepper]

My phone is a Microsoft Lumia 950XL and I am posting this from it with the Microsoft Edge browser.

Despite lack of "popular" apps, I still prefer it to anything running iOS or Android.

 

[harshness]

If you don't see the app you're looking for in the Windows Store now, don't expect it. This is especially true of the consumer-level apps as Microsoft is going forward with the platform as an enterprise-only option and any consumer products they offer (through the empty husk of what was once Nokia) run Android.

As PC World noted, the X3 "could be the last great Windows phone).

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They retired the windows phone today.

 

[Pepper]

The retired the windows phone today.

Who is "the"?

 

[navychop]

"They." You know, "THEM!"



I hear the Smithsonian has them. On display.

 

[navychop]

I'd expect any remaining stock to get Real Cheap, Real Soon.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They = Microsoft.
Microsoft officially ends support for Windows Phone

 

[Ronnie-]

I'm looking to possibly get the HP Elite X3, and have some questions about the Windows Phone platform, If anyone is willing to entertain them, let me know. I'd be really appreciative of it.

Personally, I think it was the best mobile OS on a phone, but unfortunately the app support just never got to even close to the level of Android or iOS, so it just lost any steam it once had.

 

[Ronnie-]

They = Microsoft.
Microsoft officially ends support for Windows Phone

To be clear, that is for windows phone 8.1

From now on, your WP8.1-toting device won't get software updates or technical help. This doesn't mark the end of Microsoft's mobile ambitions (Windows 10 Mobile is still hanging around), but it does finish a long, sad story in the company's history that reflects the tech giant's shifting priorities.

Windows 10 mobile is still alive, although it hasnt gained much traction in the marketplace.

 

[Hall]

I wouldn't suggest doing what everyone else is doing, but sometimes it's the wiser idea.... Just using Verizon as my example, they list (53) phones (and some tablets thrown in the mix) as available for regular purchase today. The OS breakdown is as follows:

iOS - 14
Android - 28
Windows - 3
Brew - 3

Hell, I'm sure some people still love Blackberry too !

 

[EarDemon]

Windows Phone didn't get retired. Windows Phone 8.1 became unsupported yesterday, that's all. I woke yesterday to a card at the very top of my stupid Google News feed titled 'Windows Phone Dies Today' from The Verge. I suppose Windows as a whole died a few months ago because Vista went EOL. Windows Mobile 10 is still being actively supported and there is ongoing development for it, so I'm not sure why this false headline, other then page views.

My question is mainly about apps or lack thereof. I know the Windows Store is anemic at best, but is there a way to find out what apps are available for Windows Mobile 10? Or can someone who has Windows Phone verify.

The main apps I use are:
- Sirius XM
- Slacker Radio
- Bank of America (check deposit feature is a must)
- Amazon
- eBay
- Fox News
- Sky News

Nice to have but not required are NASCAR, NHL, NFL, IMDB and maybe Yelp. Also being able to connect to my company VPN with with the SonicWall Mobile VPN Client app or manually set up the connection is a requirement. I need to be able to connect to the VPN and then have the ability to VNC and RDP into servers. And how robust is Bing Maps and the turn by turn GPS functionality compared to Google Maps? I rely on Google Maps heavily at times. Can I say 'Hey Cortana navigate to Burger King' and have it route me to the nearest one?

How are Notifications handled? I am beyond sick and tired about getting alerts for every little thing. I have notifications for most apps turned off as I don't want to be bothered.

I don't play any games, period. I don't do any social media period. Camera is not important me to me. I'm down to about 2 hours of battery life on my Nexus 6P, and don't think I can make it for the Pixel 2.

 

[Hall]

I used Android for years and have an iPhone now. On both platforms, I was able to reduce notifications down to whatever level I liked. I haven't done it, but I could set them to NONE if chose to.

 

[Pepper]

The main apps I use are:
- Sirius XM
- Slacker Radio
- Bank of America (check deposit feature is a must)
- Amazon
- eBay
- Fox News
- Sky News

Sirius XM has a Windows app but it is PC only for some reason. The next two I don't have any knowledge of because I don't use those.

The last four on your list and many others can be accomplished by navigating to the website in the very capable Edge browser, and pinning it to the start screen. People typically need apps for those because their phone doesn't have a robust web browser. Edge on Windows 10 Mobile works well, and even does a better job of remembering my logins and preferences than a standalone app. The Windows app for Starbucks is a prime example, it is always wanting me to login again, the main reason for having it as an app in the first place. I use Edge and have no such problem. If something has a usable website, you don't need an app for that.

I don't use VPN because I have a Remote Desktop Gateway on my network, and the RDP app works well with that. There are some VPN capabilities but I can't say whether they will work for your specific situation.

I just said "Hey Cortana, navigate to Burger King" and it showed five near me with a button for each to get directions. Maps is very capable, i use it all the time.

 

[harshness]

Windows Mobile 10 is still being actively supported and there is ongoing development for it, so I'm not sure why this false headline, other then page views.

Probably because Windows Phone is dead and Windows Mobile struggles on. It is important to remember that many versions of Windows Phone weren't backward compatible.

Using the term "actively supported" is a bit of a reach. Not EOLed yet or still having includes in Visual Studio isn't the same thing as actively supported.

The one advantage you have with Windows 10 apps is that most all development in a particular class of app is going into a single app because there is only one. This is not conducive to innovation. It is also not conducive to innovation that Microsoft holds the keys to many of the more important apps.

 

[harshness]

I don't use VPN because I have a Remote Desktop Gateway on my network, and the RDP app works well with that. There are some VPN capabilities but I can't say whether they will work for your specific situation.

Be on the lookout for problems with the Windows 10 Creator's Update not being compatible with RDG.

 

[Hall]

Sounds like Microsoft's focus is making their Edge browser into an app replacement as much as possible 'cause companies aren't creating or supporting the actual apps.... The platform is dead and from what you're saying, relatively unsupported. I get that you have a Windows phone but preaching it's value isn't going to bring it back ! Heh, there are still the 3DTV die-hards that won't admit it's dead either....

 

[lparsons21]

Personally, I think it was the best mobile OS on a phone, but unfortunately the app support just never got to even close to the level of Android or iOS, so it just lost any steam it once had.

I think it is miles better than Android and should have been in 2nd place. But MS sat on their collective thumbs with phones far too long to unseat Android.

 

[Hall]

Just saw an article about this that mentioned between Android and iOS, they hold 99.5% of the market....

 

[EarDemon]

Sirius XM has a Windows app but it is PC only for some reason. The next two I don't have any knowledge of because I don't use those.

The last four on your list and many others can be accomplished by navigating to the website in the very capable Edge browser, and pinning it to the start screen. People typically need apps for those because their phone doesn't have a robust web browser. Edge on Windows 10 Mobile works well, and even does a better job of remembering my logins and preferences than a standalone app. The Windows app for Starbucks is a prime example, it is always wanting me to login again, the main reason for having it as an app in the first place. I use Edge and have no such problem. If something has a usable website, you don't need an app for that.

I don't use VPN because I have a Remote Desktop Gateway on my network, and the RDP app works well with that. There are some VPN capabilities but I can't say whether they will work for your specific situation.

I just said "Hey Cortana, navigate to Burger King" and it showed five near me with a button for each to get directions. Maps is very capable, i use it all the time.

If going to the amazon.com in Edge, yields the same thing as an app that's cool I guess.

I took a look at the Windows Store on Windows 10 for the first time in a long time and noticed that it's noted if that app is available for Phones. And it looks like the Bank of America app can indeed do mobile check deposits. And SonicWall has an SSL VPN app. This may be looking favorable.

When Maps showed you five locations, could you then tab a button and then have it launch a driving mode, where you get real time turn by turn navigation to that particular location, or is it just a list of directions?