[Sina Falaki]

Hey,

Is there a huge benefit into having a w8 phone with Microsoft's ecosystem? I was thinking of getting an android phone to complement my PC/Surface pro! Thanks a lot guys.

[Jonas Jonsson]

At this point, not really.

[rockstarzzz]

You can currently:

Access your Skydrive across both devices.
Access your music collection across both devices.
Access your documents - office and notes, across both devices.
Control Xbox using Xbox Smartglass on WP and/or Surface.
Access awesome UI across both devices.
Sync games across both devices e.g. WordFeud - I play from laptop sometimes, sometimes from phone.

[Talal Al Reyami]

Also, you can add the Contacts, Email, calendar, messaging, Social Network, etc.. (People Hub)

[Sina Falaki]

thanks guys!

[jhguth]

All of those things you can also do with other phone ecosystems, so they are not really WIndows Phone benefits. Out of those things, smartglass would be the only "benefit" because it works a little better on WP8 than iOS (haven't tried android), but not by much.

There really are not any significant benefits for the MS ecosystem from WP8, if you like android get an android phone.

[RuleOfSines]

The only real benefit I see that I believe is limited to MS devices, is Xbox music if you are a subscriber. The WP8 to W8 syncing really offers nothing, besides buggy music transfer. I still have hope though that they'll smooth things out across the various platforms.

[rockstarzzz]

All of those things you can also do with other phone ecosystems, so they are not really WIndows Phone benefits. Out of those things, smartglass would be the only "benefit" because it works a little better on WP8 than iOS (haven't tried android), but not by much.

There really are not any significant benefits for the MS ecosystem from WP8, if you like android get an android phone.

Oh please tell me how can you:

Access your Skydrive across both devices - auto upload photos, documents etc using an android?

Access your music collection across both devices - download a song on Xbox music on Windows 8 and have it ready and waiting for you on your android?

Access your documents - office and notes, across both devices - edit a note on your android and have it ready waiting for you to pick up on your OneNote on Windows 8?

Control Xbox using Xbox Smartglass on WP and/or Surface. - this you know already how you can't do on android.

Access awesome UI across both devices - dont tell me you consider Launcher 8 anything closer to live tiles and UI of Windows Phone!

Sync games across both devices e.g. WordFeud - I play from laptop sometimes, sometimes from phone. - please tell me how this wordfeud scenario works between an android and Windows 8, seriously.

[RuleOfSines]

Some useful apps for android users who also are part of the Microsoft environment:

Xbox Smartglass:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...1hcnRnbGFzcyJd

My Xbox Live:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...c29mdC54bGUiXQ..

Skydrive:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...5za3lkcml2ZSJd

OneNote:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...Uub25lbm90ZSJd

It may not be all as Integrated as on the WP, but it is there. If you don't want a windows phone, you aren't missing out on anything that prevents you from getting things done.

[rockstarzzz]

Some useful apps for android users who also are part of the Microsoft environment:

Xbox Smartglass:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...1hcnRnbGFzcyJd

My Xbox Live:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...c29mdC54bGUiXQ..

Skydrive:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...5za3lkcml2ZSJd

OneNote:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...Uub25lbm90ZSJd

It may not be all as Integrated as on the WP, but it is there. If you don't want a windows phone, you aren't missing out on anything that prevents you from getting things done.

So same as Fhotoroom is same as Instagram or People’s hub is same as Facebook app?

If you don't have a Windows Phone you miss out on the integration same way as if you don't have a calculator you can still count, but you miss out not counting using fingers.

[rdubmu]

So same as Fhotoroom is same as Instagram or People’s hub is same as Facebook app?

If you don't have a Windows Phone you miss out on the integration same way as if you don't have a calculator you can still count, but you miss out not counting using fingers.

Most items can be done on iOS and Android. Microsoft has made it easier with Onenote, Skydrive apps for both platforms. They even have two xbox apps for each platform.

So yes you can use Android or iOS and not really loose any benefit. One huge benefit is that iOS can sync to Outlook, while Windows Phone can not.
Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express Pro

[RuleOfSines]

So same as Fhotoroom is same as Instagram or People’s hub is same as Facebook app?

If you don't have a Windows Phone you miss out on the integration same way as if you don't have a calculator you can still count, but you miss out not counting using fingers.

I was thinking more like Microsoft SkyDrive is the same as Microsoft SkyDrive, and Microsoft Smartglass is the same as Microsoft Smartglass.

[KoukiFC3S]

The SkyDrive integration is really good. I save a lot of pics from my PC to SkyDrive. Then I can mms them directly from the message app. With android or ios I have to open SkyDrive, save the pic and then send it.

[eric12341]

There are alot of benefits which the other users have listed plus: on WP you can do some things with the native OS that would otherwise require an app on android. The people hub also is top notch compared to anything on android.

[Ben Lehtovaara]

I'd have to say your biggest loss would be the people app and outlook/skydrive integration. Gmail contact management is atrocious and google docs has no allure anymore now that the real thing has its own free offering.

[rockstarzzz]

I was thinking more like Microsoft SkyDrive is the same as Microsoft SkyDrive, and Microsoft Smartglass is the same as Microsoft Smartglass.

Of course it is not unless you are telling me when you click a photo on Android in next 10 seconds it is on your Skydrive that your wife can access using your password about 20 countries away, without you doing anything extra other than taking a photo!

[rockstarzzz]

Most items can be done on iOS and Android. Microsoft has made it easier with Onenote, Skydrive apps for both platforms. They even have two xbox apps for each platform.

So yes you can use Android or iOS and not really loose any benefit. One huge benefit is that iOS can sync to Outlook, while Windows Phone can not.
Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express Pro

So if you edit a document on android, it automatically is synced to your Windows 8?

[BHFH]

So if you edit a document on android, it automatically is synced to your Windows 8?

With Documents To Go, you can edit Google Docs files and can sync with the desktop with Google Drive. Inelegant, DocsToGo cost extra, but similar features.

Smartglass would have been a killer feature, if not so limited. If only MSFT extended that to PCs and tablets. Imagine using your phone as a remote for your Win8 media center. Or as a controller for PC and tablet games when the xbox controller isn't available. Or make the phone a secondary screen for your computer, maybe for notifications or something.

[Villain]

MS and it's ecosystem is a tricky one. On one had you can understand the business side with microsofts decisions to put all its apps/services on IOS and Android and on the other it seems counter productive in making it's own Mobile OS needed or wanted over the others.


personally I think they should release watered down version of they're apps/services on IOS/Android and have premium versions on WP.

[justinm001]

Windows phones have autoupload to SkyDrive. So pics I take on my phone are on my surface, surface pro, and desktop within 30 seconds automatically. This is amazing when doing things like taking pics for a Craigslist or eBay add and no need to wait or email or plug in and transfer.

OneNote also but other phones do it, just not as well. My girlfriend and I share a OneNote notebook and it instantly syncs across our windows phones and computers. She can write me a shopping list while I'm at the store or what she wants me to order when picking up food, etc. We use it a ton for part numbers for car parts, its easier and faster than texting since we can type the part number and copy paste the website or receipt for it.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

[justinm001]

I'd say Xbox music but I don't think you can add a song on the phone and have it download to both phone and surface pro
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

[jhguth]

Oh please tell me how can you:

Access your Skydrive across both devices - auto upload photos, documents etc using an android?

Access your music collection across both devices - download a song on Xbox music on Windows 8 and have it ready and waiting for you on your android?

Access your documents - office and notes, across both devices - edit a note on your android and have it ready waiting for you to pick up on your OneNote on Windows 8?

Control Xbox using Xbox Smartglass on WP and/or Surface. - this you know already how you can't do on android.

Access awesome UI across both devices - dont tell me you consider Launcher 8 anything closer to live tiles and UI of Windows Phone!

Sync games across both devices e.g. WordFeud - I play from laptop sometimes, sometimes from phone. - please tell me how this wordfeud scenario works between an android and Windows 8, seriously.

come on now, lets not be naive fan boys
-You can get the Skydrive App for Android if you want skydrive, if you want seemless syncing you can use numerous other options in the Android ecosystem. There are literally multiple ways to do this, dropbox probably being the most popular.

-Xbox music I guess is a benefit if you really want it, but you don't really need it. Unless you really want to use your Xbox for music, there isn't much advantage to Xbox music right now.

-OneNote on Android works well, and there are multiple good options to open and edit other office documents on Android.

-Smartglass is on Android (and iOS), and this thread made me actually try it. Its comparable to the iOS experience, so just barely less useful than WP8. But lets be honest, the smartglass experience hasn't exploded, we haven't seen a ton of companion apps. Its only kinda useful, and if you are sitting in front of a WIndows 8 device, just use smartglass on that. So like I said before, barely slightly a benefit.

-You're the first person I've ever met who tried to tell me the gaming experience on WP8 is a benefit, but if you really want you can play words with friends on both your laptop and android.


There just isn't a huge advantage to using WP8 if you are in the microsoft ecosystem right now. There are a few things that work marginally easier if you have WP8, but most of these things can be done with third party apps just as well with Android. The majority of Android users also use the Windows ecosystem, so you better believe that developers have created ways for them to work well together. If you like WP8 and want to switch, go for it, in my opinion the benefits outweigh the tradeoffs. But if you are happy with Android and just curious if there is advantage with going all Microsoft everything, the fact that WP8 is by the same company that made your computer OS and productivity software suite isn't reason enough to switch right now.

[rdubmu]

So if you edit a document on android, it automatically is synced to your Windows 8?

yes you can do this.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

[rdubmu]

There are alot of benefits which the other users have listed plus: on WP you can do some things with the native OS that would otherwise require an app on android. The people hub also is top notch compared to anything on android.

I agree with you except the people hub could be considered an app, and I find it to be top notch as well. The biggest thing with the other platform, there are a lot of solutions to any issue especially how customizable android is. With iOS "there's an app for that" I personally use windowsphone as I find the operating system a joy to use. I also like the SkyDrive integration. I wish we had a speed dial similar to IOS, that would make people/phone hub even better instead of most recent.

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

[eric12341]

come on now, lets not be naive fan boys
-You can get the Skydrive App for Android if you want skydrive, if you want seemless syncing you can use numerous other options in the Android ecosystem. There are literally multiple ways to do this, dropbox probably being the most popular.

-Xbox music I guess is a benefit if you really want it, but you don't really need it. Unless you really want to use your Xbox for music, there isn't much advantage to Xbox music right now.

-OneNote on Android works well, and there are multiple good options to open and edit other office documents on Android.

-Smartglass is on Android (and iOS), and this thread made me actually try it. Its comparable to the iOS experience, so just barely less useful than WP8. But lets be honest, the smartglass experience hasn't exploded, we haven't seen a ton of companion apps. Its only kinda useful, and if you are sitting in front of a WIndows 8 device, just use smartglass on that. So like I said before, barely slightly a benefit.

-You're the first person I've ever met who tried to tell me the gaming experience on WP8 is a benefit, but if you really want you can play words with friends on both your laptop and android.


There just isn't a huge advantage to using WP8 if you are in the microsoft ecosystem right now. There are a few things that work marginally easier if you have WP8, but most of these things can be done with third party apps just as well with Android. The majority of Android users also use the Windows ecosystem, so you better believe that developers have created ways for them to work well together. If you like WP8 and want to switch, go for it, in my opinion the benefits outweigh the tradeoffs. But if you are happy with Android and just curious if there is advantage with going all Microsoft everything, the fact that WP8 is by the same company that made your computer OS and productivity software suite isn't reason enough to switch right now.

Xbox music is a huge benefit, you can stream music on WP,W8 and Xbox with the same subscription and can download as many songs as you want in one place and have them show up in the cloud music collection on the others. With iTunes or google play music you have to purchase each song separately. In addition you can also stream music videos in HD on Xbox and W8, something that currently isn't possible with anything else without having to buy each video.

OneNote on Android only allows a certain amount of notes to be created in the free version then you have to purchase it. In WP it's unlimited.

With SkyDrive on android you can't take pictures or videos and have them uploaded automatically, also cannot seamlessly access all office files and edit them.