(Official) What WP needs to succeed
We seam to get a lot of threads about why an Android/iPhone user doesn't like Windows Phone. From Windows Phone users that are messing features from their old OS. These threads have the same theme and the same content so here is the Official thread for these types of posts. Warning if you don't like the content of this thread please skip it. This thread will be monitored unnecessary content will be removed.
If you can't post in a civil manner or if you insist on making post that are in violation of the forum rules (arguing) don't bother to post in this thread. Infractions will be handed out when necessary.
It is my hope that this community can have a civil debate of the facts good and bad in WP8. Maybe if we show our common concern of missing features in Windows Phone 8 we can help give Microsoft a roadmap of the features this community wants.
Why PART 2? Because part one became a mess filled with unwanted content that did not represent the nature of the WPC community. We will do better this time.
Do you have some good things to say about WP8 join us in this thread to talk about those positives:
http://forums.wpcentral.com/windows-...ml#post1837562
Any confirmation on Gapless music playback and inline controls
My biggest gripes with Windows Phone is the lack of gapless music playback and the fact that (at least on the Lumia 900) inline headphone controls (stop/skip tracks) don't work (or work sporadically) when the screen is off.
Any news on these fronts?
Thanks
What WP8 Is Still Missing
Disclaimer: Emotions tend to get heated when comparing OS's for whatever reason. I am simply looking to compare features, or lack thereof, to give myself, and perhaps other users insight on whether or not to go with WP8 and what they may (but hopefully may NOT) be missing.
Let's face it. The informed shopper compares the OS first, then perhaps the hardware, and then makes a purchase. It is not uncommon to hear any one OS to be compared to another. There were a few features that I don't *think* WP8 has incorporated yet that I wanted to bring to light. Please feel free to confirm or correct me, and add to this too. Feel free, also, to add features that WP8 has that others might not.
Lacking:
SMS sound customization per contact (I don't believe the same is true with ringtones?)
Notification center: While live tiles are wonderful, there doesn't seem to be a way of notifying the user of a specific alert unless there is a live tile for it. Furthermore, even WITH said alert, the user still has to tap the live tile, effectively opening the app, to see what the alert was for. This is less than optimal in multiple cases, such as emails, texts, etc. Not only do I not know who is texting me (in the case that I am getting multiple texts "simultaneously"), I can't see the texts easily, to decide whether or not they are worth my time now, or later.
Call control - I can't block numbers, or simply make the device not pull alerts during certain hours. Android has had this for quite some time (through third party control) and iOS just got it with their "do not disturb" option.
Support - I didn't know what else to call it... but saying it lacks support is a gross overstatement. What I mean here is that WP7 was essentially "dropped". I am sure people here will argue that 7.8 is coming, etc., but 7.8 is not 8.0. While that may be an easy pill to swallow for those who got WP7 devices around launch, and have enjoyed many updates since, it's less easy for those who have picked up a WP7 device within the last year or less. The Lumia 900 is a good example of this. A flagship device with a virtual EOL in about half a year. Yes, I know, 7.8! But app development won't be nearly the same for those devices as it is for 8.x devices, and who knows if they will see much of anything past 7.8. o the question is, do we worry about Microsoft "reinventing" the OS every two years? I feel like that hurts the brand
Excelling:
Live Tiles - I know I just shared some gripes about notifications, but the info it does give you is very good.
Social Networking - Ties in with live tiles (a bit). But this is probably where WP excels the most over the rest. Why? Because it wasn't an afterthought, like it was with those other OS.
Desktop OS integration - This remains to be seen, but after using windows 8 for a little while, I am confident that WP8 will tie in extremely nicely. They were made for each other. No other OS can come anywhere close.
