[runam0k]

Well after reading this thread a few times I guess I missed the point - the "app gap" isn't the problem, the problem is people not doing their research and buying into the Windows Phone platform without realizing its missing half the apps they use.

If you use HBO Go, the KOBO reader app, the US Bank app, Spotify, and Instagram, then why are you here? Why are you on Windows Phone? You knew it didn't have those apps, or discovered that quickly after you bought your phone, so why didn't you return it and get an iPhone 5 or an Android device?

If the answer is "well I like the UI of Windows Phone", then you made a choice. You chose a UI interface over app abundance and you have no room to complain. If you want all your apps, you should've stuck with iOS or Android. Its really a simple decision.

You're right, of course: I chose to stick with WP because I like it, despite it's faults*. That won't stop me complaining about the app gap though, because guess what? If nothing is done to address the app gap, WP IS GOING NOWHERE. It will die. I know it, I think you know it, and MS knows it too. So fingers crossed WP gets the dev attention it needs and deserves.

*WP8 with it's lack of podcast support, even bigger app gap (still a bunch of WP7 apps that don't work on WP8) and generally poor Xbox Music implementation is testing my resolve though. I no longer recommend WP to anyone, sadly.

[jwinch2]

Well after reading this thread a few times I guess I missed the point - the "app gap" isn't the problem, the problem is people not doing their research and buying into the Windows Phone platform without realizing its missing half the apps they use.

If you use HBO Go, the KOBO reader app, the US Bank app, Spotify, and Instagram, then why are you here? Why are you on Windows Phone? You knew it didn't have those apps, or discovered that quickly after you bought your phone, so why didn't you return it and get an iPhone 5 or an Android device?

If the answer is "well I like the UI of Windows Phone", then you made a choice. You chose a UI interface over app abundance and you have no room to complain. If you want all your apps, you should've stuck with iOS or Android. Its really a simple decision.

You might recall that this thread was not started by people complaining about a lack of apps. It was started with the premise that there really is not an app gap worth mentioning in the first place. If someone disagrees with that statement as says so, that does not mean they are complaining or did not do their research.

For example, I have highlighted several apps which I used on Android that I cannot get now on WP. That is fine, disappointing, but fine. I researched it ahead of time and yes, as you put it, I made a decision. However, that does not negate the the fact that those apps are not here, and it would be nice to have them. So, when someone comes along and tries to pull a Jedi Mind Trick on me and say that there are no apps I am looking for, I am going to disagree. That does not mean I don't like WP or wish it to succeed, or even that I regret switching. It is a simple acknowledgement of what I perceive to be important issues that I hope Microsoft will address going forward based on a conversation that someone else started, not me.

Finally, if you like WP and want it to succeed, you had better hope that you do see many people coming over from those platforms and complaining about those things. If they do not, then WP will be gaining no market share at all, and it will be doomed to failure.

[mpelti]

Well after reading this thread a few times I guess I missed the point - the "app gap" isn't the problem, the problem is people not doing their research and buying into the Windows Phone platform without realizing its missing half the apps they use.

If you use HBO Go, the KOBO reader app, the US Bank app, Spotify, and Instagram, then why are you here? Why are you on Windows Phone? You knew it didn't have those apps, or discovered that quickly after you bought your phone, so why didn't you return it and get an iPhone 5 or an Android device?

If the answer is "well I like the UI of Windows Phone", then you made a choice. You chose a UI interface over app abundance and you have no room to complain. If you want all your apps, you should've stuck with iOS or Android. Its really a simple decision.

The point isn't that people didn't do research. I knew about the app gap, but I wanted a change, and I accepted that compromise. But the point is that you have to admit you have a problem before you can fix the problem. The app gap is a problem, MS knows it, and they are pushing to fix it. It's a legitimate complaint about WP8, just like it was a legit complaint in the early days of android, and just like it was a legit complaint when the iphone first came out (didn't even do apps, blackberry and winmo6.5 did).

Microsoft messed up. They should have had the SDK in the hands of major devs months ago, so more apps would be ready for lunch. It's got a very good chance of catching up, but right now, it does suck.

Wait, are you saying that you want 8 or 10 versions of backgammon?

Yes.

Because I want the version of backgammon that my friends play, or that supports another language, or that i can pay for so it's ad free. More choices are a good thing.

[brmiller1976]

I'm sorry, but Windows Phone just isn't a viable competitor without key iOS apps like iFart, Paris Hilton News, Justin Bieber Gossip, Flip-Me, and Ping Pong.

[pavvento]

I think the main question to answer is: when someone asks you if they should switch to WP8, do you feel the need to mention apps? I love showing off my phone, but I also feel the need to tell people that it is missing apps that they might use a lot on their iPhone/Android phone. Until that conversation no longer needs to happen the app question will remain a sticking point for converts.

[FredW3]

Wait, are you saying that you want 8 or 10 versions of backgammon?

Just being sarcastic. Just saying that I don't think the number of apps is as important as what functionality is provided.

[ammarmalik2011]

I'm sorry, but Windows Phone just isn't a viable competitor without key iOS apps like iFart, Paris Hilton News, Justin Bieber Gossip, Flip-Me, and Ping Pong.

Justin Beiber has more than 20 million Twitter followers. That's more than 7-8 times the number of Lumia's sold last quarter. You might think it's a joke, but if the biggest teen star doesn't have an app on WP8, then you loose a lot of potential young buyers. It's the little things like this that matter.

[jdawgnoonan]

I am contemplating Windows Phone but currently am disappointed by the lack of full featured podcast catching apps. On Android I use BeyondPod and I have all kinds of options set up: I download podcasts on a schedule and only over wifi when my device is plugged into a power source. I find that desirable mainly because I do not want to waste my data plan to download large podcasts so they download while I sleep and the phone is charging.

In two months I will make up my mind when I move back to the USA and sign up for AT&T. I have high hopes that the app situation will change fast since the are a huge number of .NET developers out there (which I incidentally is my profession too). Currently I use an international SIM unlocked Galaxy S 3 and would continue using this phone if it had LTE but I am very interested in the Lumia 920 and in Windows Phone 8. I have had three iPhones, three Android phones, and am interested in WP8.

[tmccaghren]

I made the switch from Android to WP8 recently and there are literally dozens of apps that I used on a regular basis that I have not found a comparable replacement for on Windows Phone. Its not even close. I am hopeful that WP will start improving in this area through the steps they have taken with the platform and hopefully providing strong incentives for developers to write for WP, but that remains to be seen.

However, only someone who had not used Android or iOS would make the claims that the gap is not really that large. Combine the current difference with the fact that both iOS and Android are still gaining apps at a faster rate than WP, and this premise becomes even more incorrect.

I have been a Droid user ever since I got a smartphone (with the notable exception of a Samsung SCH-i730 running Windows Mobile Professional 2003 2nd edition--had that for about a month before going back to my LG EnV feature phone), and I am about to make the switch to WP8. I have been comparing apps between what I have on the DroidX and what is in the marketplace, and I have found maybe 2 apps that I use that aren't there. One, Kid Mode, is not needed on WP8 because of Kid's Corner. Mostly, I am not able to find many of the same kids apps to put into Kid's Corner, but there are others that pick up the slack.

UPDATE: There are several other apps missing, but most are productivity apps or resource optimization apps. I don't need quickoffice as the WP8 devices come with Office installed...and the apps like Advanced Task Killer and Fast Reboot don't seem to be needed either.

iOS and Android are gaining apps at a faster rate than WP due partially to the fact that their OS's are more entrenched in our mobile society, and partially due to the process involved in publishing the apps in those markets.

Others have stated that many of the apps on Android and iOS are duplicates in that they perform the same exact functions in a slightly different manner. Don't get me wrong, there are many, many unique apps on both OS's, but there are a huge number of duplicates as well. That reduces the number of uniquely different apps, thus reducing the gap. Spouting off the actual number in each market, therefore, is at least slightly misleading.

[RyanR47]

The problem is not only with the app gap, but also with feature and update cycle of apps available. I feel like on windows phone developer don't bother updating or adding feature to apps.

Facebook for instance, was updated 4 times in less than a month in iOS. Where as in WP the experience didn't improve and its still crap. Update rates are horrible!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1354266727.422195.jpg

[Padmasali]

Yes it is true... But if you provide best product for first try... than, why you want to update it without any reason?
i saw some best looking apps on windows phone compare to other os... so, i suggest windows store to add 2 type of rating... 1 for looks and 2nd for ability...

[ammarmalik2011]

The problem is not only with the app gap, but also with feature and update cycle of apps available. I feel like on windows phone developer don't bother updating or adding feature to apps.

Facebook for instance, was updated 4 times in less than a month in iOS. Where as in WP the experience didn't improve and its still crap. Update rates are horrible!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1354266727.422195.jpg

You think that's bad? Even Skype has received two big updates in the past few weeks on iOS making the app in its current state just fabulous

[kcovert]

You have some new WP users coming from other platforms telling us they haven't found some equivalent. I'd like to keep hearing from them as to what they are so we know what to build.

[Covfam]

I have been a Droid user ever since I got a smartphone (with the notable exception of a Samsung SCH-i730 running Windows Mobile Professional 2003 2nd edition--had that for about a month before going back to my LG EnV feature phone), and I am about to make the switch to WP8. I have been comparing apps between what I have on the DroidX and what is in the marketplace, and I have found maybe 2 apps that I use that aren't there. One, Kid Mode, is not needed on WP8 because of Kid's Corner. Mostly, I am not able to find many of the same kids apps to put into Kid's Corner, but there are others that pick up the slack.

UPDATE: There are several other apps missing, but most are productivity apps or resource optimization apps. I don't need quickoffice as the WP8 devices come with Office installed...and the apps like Advanced Task Killer and Fast Reboot don't seem to be needed either.

iOS and Android are gaining apps at a faster rate than WP due partially to the fact that their OS's are more entrenched in our mobile society, and partially due to the process involved in publishing the apps in those markets.

Others have stated that many of the apps on Android and iOS are duplicates in that they perform the same exact functions in a slightly different manner. Don't get me wrong, there are many, many unique apps on both OS's, but there are a huge number of duplicates as well. That reduces the number of uniquely different apps, thus reducing the gap. Spouting off the actual number in each market, therefore, is at least slightly misleading.

you have to be carefull, the list of phone apps on the microsoft windows phone pages is very misleading, what it doesnt show you is that mosr all of those aps shown are for windows 7 and 7.5 and while alot work on windows 8 phones there are alot that do not work with windows 8 phones, and many of those that i tried on my lumia 822 havent been updated since 2011. even WPC has a list of 25 or so conformed games alone that dont work and have recently been removed from the market. ive had my lumia 822 a full week and intentionaly have tried hundreds of apps and the majority of them have not been updated in a year and dont officially support windows phone 8. and alot of the big apps are missing major features, like slacker is missing all the premium members functions, the kindle reader app is missing 2/3rds of the features on ios and android version, and the cnn app is missing alot of functions vs the ios/android cnn app, the IMDB app is missing many features that the android and ios app version hass, the fox news app is missing alot of features available on ios and android vesion of the apps. so dont just look at the website and see listings for apps and expect that those apps are actuall full apps. alot of the "official" big apps feel like placeholders for a later date. it disapoints me because i absolutly LOVE the lumia 822 and its live tiles and how smooth the windows phone 8 operating system is. the app exosystem isnt about quantity but lack of quality currently

[tmccaghren]

Going by what you said, agreed. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know too much about it; I am currently a newbie to the MS app ecosystem. I know a lot about the Android apps, though. I was hard-pressed to find apps that did what I wanted and weren't funnels for malware (a lot of optimization apps, especially, were guilty of this).

I only mean to say--and I think you agree, or at least seem to--that the number of apps shouldnt b the determining factor in how good a market is. This style of OS for MS is still in its infancy, so numbers of apps, as well as quality of some key ones, will take a hit until production/development hits its full stride.

[wbdillworth]

I'm not a heavy app pusher. I use a handful and rarely go looking for a "specific" app. The big apps everybody complains about not being on WP are apps I probably won't use to begin with.

Now serious question or two. How many of you that complain about the lack of specific apps, actually go to that developer and ask them to dev for WP?

How many times have you gone to a developer and asked them to dev their app for WP, even though you know you won't use or need that app? I have a few times. Even though I won't use the app or need the app, I want the ecosystem to expand, I want my fellow users to have an app that might help them. I want WP to succeed and it won't unless you stop complaining here, and take it to the devs directly. Do you not get ticked to see the "XYZ" app available on BB? I do by gosh. If the dev can make an app for a dying platform like BB, then they sure as heck can make an app for a growing platform like WP. But the devs will not know we want their app unless we tell them.

[Covfam]

I'm not a heavy app pusher. I use a handful and rarely go looking for a "specific" app. The big apps everybody complains about not being on WP are apps I probably won't use to begin with.

Now serious question or two. How many of you that complain about the lack of specific apps, actually go to that developer and ask them to dev for WP?

How many times have you gone to a developer and asked them to dev their app for WP, even though you know you won't use or need that app? I have a few times. Even though I won't use the app or need the app, I want the ecosystem to expand, I want my fellow users to have an app that might help them. I want WP to succeed and it won't unless you stop complaining here, and take it to the devs directly. Do you not get ticked to see the "XYZ" app available on BB? I do by gosh. If the dev can make an app for a dying platform like BB, then they sure as heck can make an app for a growing platform like WP. But the devs will not know we want their app unless we tell them.

i agree. ive already made a request with Amazon for thier kindle app, send an email to CNN and Fox news, and one to Slacker, hadnt had the time to write to everyone yet but will get them covered eventually. im less annoyed by missing apps than the half assed pseudo apps from the majors like CNN,Foxnews,Slacker,Kindle,IMDB. i find it insulting that they released an app with 1 or two features and leave out the other 10-20 functions for later/if at all. id rather have a full complete app out than "placeholder" type apps from alot of the majors who have come to the wp8 platform.

[jwinch2]

I'm not a heavy app pusher. I use a handful and rarely go looking for a "specific" app. The big apps everybody complains about not being on WP are apps I probably won't use to begin with.

Now serious question or two. How many of you that complain about the lack of specific apps, actually go to that developer and ask them to dev for WP?

How many times have you gone to a developer and asked them to dev their app for WP, even though you know you won't use or need that app? I have a few times. Even though I won't use the app or need the app, I want the ecosystem to expand, I want my fellow users to have an app that might help them. I want WP to succeed and it won't unless you stop complaining here, and take it to the devs directly. Do you not get ticked to see the "XYZ" app available on BB? I do by gosh. If the dev can make an app for a dying platform like BB, then they sure as heck can make an app for a growing platform like WP. But the devs will not know we want their app unless we tell them.

Fair questions. I e-mailed several developers for the apps I used on Android frequently, and asked them to consider developing for WP. About half of them responded with the majority saying that at this time, they have no plans to produce an app for WP, the rest were cautious in saying that they were looking into it, but would not go further then that.

[Coffee]

I am contemplating Windows Phone but currently am disappointed by the lack of full featured podcast catching apps. On Android I use BeyondPod and I have all kinds of options set up: I download podcasts on a schedule and only over wifi when my device is plugged into a power source. I find that desirable mainly because I do not want to waste my data plan to download large podcasts so they download while I sleep and the phone is charging.

When you subscribe to a podcast, it always defaults to 'download while phone is charging' and 'only use WiFi'. You have to manually change the settings to do it otherwise.

[johaas]

I'm a new user to Windows Phone (was under the oppressive thumb of Verizon for two long years with a terrible Samsung Galaxy S) and when I was with Android I found that there were less than a dozen apps that I actually used on a regular basis. It doesn't take much to make me happy, and there are no apps that I am missing from my Android days. Give me podcasts, twitter, and youtube and I am a happy man :)

[hopmedic]

When you subscribe to a podcast, it always defaults to 'download while phone is charging' and 'only use WiFi'. You have to manually change the settings to do it otherwise.

Half-correct. There is no "download while charging" setting.

[Itachi_Uchiha]

Could'nt have put it better myself...

It's not about quantity, it's about quality. Things will likely get better, but right now, the app ecosystem is a big downside to this platform. Take a look at the "top free" lists for each platform:

iPhone
Android
Windows Phone 8

Which one has the most fluff and garbage on those lists? Many apps show up on each list, but plenty are missing from WP8, and instead there are 3rd party knockoffs and lots of free wallpaper/ringtone fluff.

Where are the official apps from major sports leagues? MLS has one, but no NFL, MLB, or NHL?

Where are the streaming video apps? Crackle, Netflix, and Crunchyroll are all good, but where's Hulu, HBO Go, ABC/CBS/Fox/NBC, Xfinity, BBC iPlayer, WatchESPN, MLB.tv, or NHL Gamecenter?

Official banking apps, only a few so far. Official airline apps, ditto.

Also, how many of the apps are just placeholders? I still consider Yelp to be a missing app, because even though it is in the store, it has almost no features.

So this is a problem, and it does need to improve.

[tobygwinn]

Even though I listen to music all the time, I removed all the streaming radio stuff from my phone. I can see how this would be nice, but I think I prefer Pandora Radio. Is there another option to just listening to music? I feel as though we have invented ways to use the data bandwidth on our phones to do the same tasks we did before with FM/AM radios or CDs or MP3s. Is music that much different if you stream it over the internet vs playing it from the device? If everyone tuned into the FM radio station isn't that the same social listening as Spotify? Maybe I'm just crazy for not using the phone that way.



Other

I use radio streaming apps because the area I live in doesn't have a radio station of the type of music that I enjoy. Also, spotify allows you to build custom playlists such as an "80's" playlist of only single songs that you add to that playlist. So, you can go through and pick the top 100 or however many songs you want in that genre and add them to that playlist so when you click on the list, it plays only the songs that you put in that list...much better to me than listening to the radio and having to hear 5 songs I don't like to hear the 1 song I do.

[mpelti]

The problem is not only with the app gap, but also with feature and update cycle of apps available. I feel like on windows phone developer don't bother updating or adding feature to apps.

Facebook for instance, was updated 4 times in less than a month in iOS. Where as in WP the experience didn't improve and its still crap. Update rates are horrible!

Very true. My android phone would frequently get 10+ app updates a day, my wp8 barely has any.

[snowmutt]

So, My wife is starting her own business with a friend. She needs a credit card reader to process payments. If WP does not step up or a developer does not step up, she will leave WP for Android. She doesn't want to, she NEEDS to. We need to streamline costs- a smart phone needs to do both. We will not add a tablet to the mix.

My friend just re-upped at work. He really, really liked my Focus S. He stayed with iOS. Know why? Me not selling him on WP? Nope, I worked hard on him as he had shown tons of interest. But, he banks and uses an app he would not do without. No app for him. No WP for him.

My son's friend also crossed off WP on his list when his family goes for a new contract. Why? No Marvel Comics app. (He also hated the lack of games.)

My friend at Church crossed off WP as soon as he realized there was no Barnes and Noble app. (Also no credit union app locally.)

I love my WP. But we are getting good numbers in WP 8 sales. If that continues, developers will come. MS will push for it. I believe it will change. But we need to keep alive this conversation. It is a problem. That iOS and Android has tons of crap on their app selections DOES NOT MATTER. That they have better selections does. Period, end of story.