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How do you like the Lumia? How do you mitigate the app store issue or does it not matter to you?

What app store issue?

No seriously, I have every app I need. So for me it boils down to Battery, durability , camera, size and cost. If you follow Nokia/Microsoft products they are every bit as good as Apple if not better. I love the 20MP Zeiss camera. I love the dedicated camera button and quick charge, I love the OS Windows 10 on a phone rocks and is buttery smooth, Cortana rocks. My old phone my 640 I used to chuck across the room for people to demonstrate how tough it was (only $29). Literally chuck it at way and put it back together...no scratches. They drop Lumias from space and they survive.

My 950 was $298 added a $40 Mozo Leather back, no screen protector as it has GG4. Its perfect today just like I got it ..keep it in a sand free pocket. Log in with my IRIS in under 1 sec.

Apps... Like I said I have all I need, I don't bank on a phone even though I could (WF and BofA have money in both) , even though W10M is bay far most secure, nor use NFC even though I can , nor use Qi even though I can because I'm in security and don't NEED any of that. What I need are offline maps with voice directions...because I have an SD card I can load the entire planet offline and get voice nav. I can download tracks off Groove which has 40,000,000 songs more than Apl Music or Spotify.

I have roughly 200 apps on my 950, of all sorts of uses. Great apps many apps the same as on IOS in fact some from IOS like SCAN and Monument Valley or Fallout Shelter. I rarely if ever care about and app I don't have. Just to be sure I do have an iPad 3 and I check that AppStore...mainly fluff IMO.

The average person uses maybe 12 apps...I have my 12. Plus 188 more just in case. My main apps are Chronos Calendar + (love the live tile) , Outlook Mail and Calendar (Gmail), Grover Pro (podcasts) ,NextGen (Rss), Authenticator, #Slack, Viether (weather-love the live tile), Accuweather ( another forecast), Continuum (turn into a PC) , Disqus, Office 365 (full version), GPS calculator Pro , Groove, KiK, MyAppFree, North, Office Lens, Poki for Pocket, ProShot....can go on and on.

So for me the Hardware, OS, security, Capabilities far outway a larger app store. I have had four Lumias total cost ? Around $400 for all four Lumia's (520, 635,640, 950).

So for me the app store is a non issue and actually on Windows Store you pay once and get 10 installs for your family (Things like Adobe Elements etc.) and much cheaper Movies, Groove rocks.
 
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Coming in 2018:

A wireless router that you have to rest your PC on in order to maintain a connection

and in 2019:

A remote control that you have to touch to your TV in order to change the channel

Coming in 2020: Your joke
[doublepost=1487154734][/doublepost]
That ball looks sweet. BUT. What exactly are the benefits of wireless charging? A ball that is plugged into the power, as opposed to a cable plugged into the power. Both still need cables.

So what are the benefits or is wireless charging just a lame marketing exercise, a chance to make extra cash from yet another accessory?

Not having to find the cable and plug it in? Duh
 
What app store issue?

No seriously, I have every app I need. So for me it boils down to Battery, durability , camera, size and cost. If you follow Nokia/Microsoft products they are every bit as good as Apple if not better. I love the 20MP Zeiss camera. I love the dedicated camera button and quick charge, I love the OS Windows 10 on a phone rocks and is buttery smooth, Cortana rocks. My old phone my 640 I used to chuck across the room for people to demonstrate how tough it was (only $29). Literally chuck it at way and put it back together...no scratches. They drop Lumias from space and they survive.

My 950 was $298 added a $40 Mozo Leather back, no screen protector as it has GG4. Its perfect today just like I got it ..keep it in a sand free pocket. Log in with my IRIS in under 1 sec.

Apps... Like I said I have all I need, I don't bank on a phone even though I could (WF and BofA have money in both) , even though W10M is bay far most secure, nor use NFC even though I can , nor use Qi even though I can because I'm in security and don't NEED any of that. What I need are offline maps with voice directions...because I have an SD card I can load the entire planet offline and get voice nav. I can download tracks off Groove which has 40,000,000 songs more than Apl Music or Spotify.

I have roughly 200 apps on my 950, of all sorts of uses. Great apps many apps the same as on IOS in fact some from IOS like SCAN and Monument Valley or Fallout Shelter. I rarely if ever care about and app I don't have. Just to be sure I do have an iPad 3 and I check that AppStore...mainly fluff IMO.

The average person uses maybe 12 apps...I have my 12. Plus 188 more just in case. My main apps are Chronos Calendar + (love the live tile) , Outlook Mail and Calendar (Gmail), Grover Pro (podcasts) ,NextGen (Rss), Authenticator, #Slack, Viether (weather-love the live tile), Accuweather ( another forecast), Continuum (turn into a PC) , Disqus, Office 365 (full version), GPS calculator Pro , Groove, KiK, MyAppFree, North, Office Lens, Poki for Pocket, ProShot....can go on and on.

So for me the Hardware, OS, security, Capabilities far outway a larger app store. I have had four Lumias total cost ? Around $400 for all four Lumia's (520, 635,640, 950).

So for me the app store is a non issue and actually on Windows Store you pay once and get 10 installs for your family (Things like Adobe Elements etc.) and much cheaper Movies.

Thanks for a detailed response. I have been tempted to try the phone again. I did a while back and too many day-to-day use apps were missing. But I have been using Windows 10 a lot more. There are many things I can do via the browser that would eliminate the need for apps. Some other things would simply need to change. I may give it a shot again, especially at the price. I really like the UI and miss the camera a lot.
 
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Thanks for a detailed response. I have been tempted to try the phone again. I did a while back and too many day-to-day use apps were missing. But I have been using Windows 10 a lot more. There are many things I can do via the browser that would eliminate the need for apps. Some other things would simply need to change. I may give it a shot again, especially at the price. I really like the UI and miss the camera a lot.

Its not for everyone, but the integration with 10 is very similar to the handoff in Apl eco. Being a late SmartPhone adopter I had a chance to survey all three ecos (my family has Androids, we have two iPads)... I went cheap $39 and took a chance on my 520. That got me hooked for $39 I got a really great small tough and extremely capable $200 phone.

Its hard for many WP users because they look at the Apl/Android newness and get jelly, MSFT retrenched and killed Lumia "by design". Many are frustrated but as you said once you get beyond that...its a great phone an the eco is fine for many. Hands down no doubt..best mobile OS. Windows on Phone ARM is coming (full x64 windows running x86 on a Snapdragon 835) and that will replace Lumia so will Surface...so things will continue to reach parity. WoA will use compostable shell to offer mobile shell on a phone and full computer on larger.

The Windows Holographic subsystem coming in Creators update (March 2017) will continue to drive 3D/AR/VR and all those apps port to 2D. So the eco will continue to grow. Its almost like Christmas daily since the eco grows everyday. I love my 950 and my SP4. I sell a lot of them just being in the same room with users of other.
 
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Its not for everyone, but the integration with 10 is very similar to the handoff in Apl eco. Being a late SmartPhone adopter I had a chance to survey all three ecos (my family has Androids, we have two iPads)... I went cheap $39 and took a chance on my 520. That got me hooked for $39 I got a really great small tough and extremely capable $200 phone.

Its hard for many WP users because they look at the Apl/Android newness and get jelly, MSFT retrenched and killed Lumia "by design". Many are frustrated but as you said once you get beyond that...its a great phone an the eco is fine for many. Hands down no doubt..best mobile OS. Windows on Phone ARM is coming (full x64 windows running x86 on a Snapdragon 835) and that will replace Lumia so will Surface...so things will continue to reach parity. WoA will use compostable shell to offer mobile shell on a phone and full computer on larger.

The Windows Holographic subsystem coming in Creators update (March 2017) will continue to drive 3D/AR/VR and all those apps port to 2D. So the eco will continue to grow. Its almost like Christmas daily since the eco grows everyday. I love my 950 and my SP4. I sell a lot of them just being in the same room with users of other.

I am seeing W10 and OSX converging as well. I just made a comment the other day that soon we'll reach complete OS parity. Both platforms will be equally stable and capable. It seems that more and more people are becoming OS agnostic, too. I am personally getting tired of the "ecosystem" concept. Let's take Apple, for example. We have iMacs, Macbooks, iPads, iPhone and Apple Watch, plus several Apple TVs. All is good and everything works together really well.

Here's the problem. Apple seems to have already decided to focus less on desktop users and to some extend laptop users. Their hardware is outdated and limited as of late. This is pushing me to Windows hardware as PC makers are stepping up their game. I love the Surface Pro 4 as well and just ordered a Windows desktop for the office. Of course the whole integration with the Apple ecosystem goes out the Windows (pun intended) and things don't work so well together anymore. That's expected I guess, but I hate it. All of a sudden the entire ecosystem starts to feel like a digital prison. If you want everything to work together well, stay within the walled garden that is Apple. When I tried switching before, it was a nightmare. Well, I want out.

Now what happens if Apple decides to ditch the Apple TV because it doesn't bring in billions in revenue as they would have liked? What happens to the hundreds of movies we "own." And I write it this way because the truth is that you don't really "own" digital content. Can I migrate it to another platform? No... of course not. It's stuck here. What happens when five years from now Apple discontinues Apple TV for good.

Same with software. This is where I think Windows and Adobe, for example, have been dialing in an alternative approach. SaaS makes more sense. You pay monthly only for the software you need and for as long as you need it. Can use it across platforms and when needs change, the subscription changes with you. You always have the latest version. Several years ago when I was in grad school, we talked about the "ownership" economy largely going away someday. People will start to pay for experiences and usage. If you think about it, it's a much more logical thing to do. We're seeing it now.

Anyway, I may try the Lumia again. Or maybe I'll wait for the Surface phone. The next iPhone is when I am due for an upgrade and to be honest it doesn't sound very promising. Wireless charging only? Will not include cables in the box? Hmm... I don't know about this. Plus, I want to have a headphone jack. Have you noticed how the "outdated, obsolete technology" as Apple described it during the presentation somehow still made its way into the brand new Macbook Pro released months after the iPhone? Seems a little contradictory.
 
I am seeing W10 and OSX converging as well. I just made a comment the other day that soon we'll reach complete OS parity. Both platforms will be equally stable and capable. It seems that more and more people are becoming OS agnostic, too. I am personally getting tired of the "ecosystem" concept. Let's take Apple, for example. We have iMacs, Macbooks, iPads, iPhone and Apple Watch, plus several Apple TVs. All is good and everything works together really well.

Here's the problem. Apple seems to have already decided to focus less on desktop users and to some extend laptop users. Their hardware is outdated and limited as of late. This is pushing me to Windows hardware as PC makers are stepping up their game. I love the Surface Pro 4 as well and just ordered a Windows desktop for the office. Of course the whole integration with the Apple ecosystem goes out the Windows (pun intended) and things don't work so well together anymore. That's expected I guess, but I hate it. All of a sudden the entire ecosystem starts to feel like a digital prison. If you want everything to work together well, stay within the walled garden that is Apple. When I tried switching before, it was a nightmare. Well, I want out.

Now what happens if Apple decides to ditch the Apple TV because it doesn't bring in billions in revenue as they would have liked? What happens to the hundreds of movies we "own." And I write it this way because the truth is that you don't really "own" digital content. Can I migrate it to another platform? No... of course not. It's stuck here. What happens when five years from now Apple discontinues Apple TV for good.

Same with software. This is where I think Windows and Adobe, for example, have been dialing in an alternative approach. SaaS makes more sense. You pay monthly only for the software you need and for as long as you need it. Can use it across platforms and when needs change, the subscription changes with you. You always have the latest version. Several years ago when I was in grad school, we talked about the "ownership" economy largely going away someday. People will start to pay for experiences and usage. If you think about it, it's a much more logical thing to do. We're seeing it now.

Anyway, I may try the Lumia again. Or maybe I'll wait for the Surface phone. The next iPhone is when I am due for an upgrade and to be honest it doesn't sound very promising. Wireless charging only? Will not include cables in the box? Hmm... I don't know about this. Plus, I want to have a headphone jack. Have you noticed how the "outdated, obsolete technology" as Apple described it during the presentation somehow still made its way into the brand new Macbook Pro released months after the iPhone? Seems a little contradictory.

Nice to hear your insight,

Its true for the past decade Apl has provided at a very high cost ...bliss. As you stated though you are starting to see parts of the eco die out. That is not because Apl wanted that to happen, innovation from others surpassed Apl. Apl has always at its core, a world class premium niche hardware vendor. Apl was not able to conquer Windows with Mac , nor were they able to conquer Android with iPhone. They play in the "lust " realm and only attract a subset of humanity. They make tons of cash , they also make the highest margins on sales, by design. Marketing they are pretty good and buy a lot of ads.

Apl is a modern AOL + Nokia/BB.... we know how that went.

I think the "walled garden" in the cloud era is ridiculous. So something will change. In the cloud era your cloud presence follows you to any device anywhere, so devices themselves become less critical. Its the experience. Long time Apl users are going have to at some point decide...do they cut bait from Apl due to their lack of innovation and lock in to join the greater world. People who subscribed to AOL when Internet got going know that feeling.

Apl soared when tech was "meh" and they provided better/easier.... today that no longer is the case . That is why new at-risk apl users are created daily. Going to be a very interesting next few years. The competitors caught up and surpassed them. People still like the Apl story; start in a garage /Steve Jobs... yada yada...story only goes so far after FIVE WWDC yawn fests, pipeline??? Ya Tim.

Wireless charging ..."meh" I have it never use it , hope for quick charge and OLED, perhaps a price cut /s
 
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As far as the "you can't use your phone while it is charging on a Qi pad"...

1. I use an angled wireless charging stand such as this one (allows portrait and landscape charging):
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Charger-Itian-Multi-coil-Charging/dp/B00XEP2IUS

2. Even if I pick up the phone to do something, it goes right back onto that stand when I'm done. In the end, the phone is getting charged while otherwise sitting idle or displaying my whole house audio control app.

A downside of Qi charging as currently implemented in many phones is that sometimes the aftermarket cases are too thick and add too much distance between the phone and the charging coil. A better solution is integration of case with phone sort of like the Moto Z series, or some battery cases that include Qi charging ability.
 
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You place your phone on a flat surface and it starts to charge. The end...
How is this the same as wearing silly glasses that give you a headache to watch the same programme.. give over fella, you are making yourself look silly now.

I said it's a gimmick and not practical. It requires another device and another step in the charging process people arn't already familiar with. Now wireless, removes a step, but also requires hardware. People are more willing to remove a process if it requires an extra piece of hardware.

Getting up to change the channel...boom we have remotes
Compact disc player....then we got multi cd changers, and viola MP3's.

Im sure you can find some analogy for your argument. I am just saying...people want wireless charging, as in over the air charging, not pad charging. The tech is here, the problem is very few are inking deals because companies don't like to to take risks and prefer a more linear evolution. Thats all.
 
I agree this kind of wireless is not the best BUT

Most people seem to not grasp the potential. Apple has A LOT OF USERS, once they adopt this standard it will be popular instantly (remember Apple Pay?).
Imagine going to the coffee shop/restaurant/train put your phone on the table and it just charges.


PS: Ideally we'll all want to walk home/office and our phone will charge but the technology doesn't seem ready yet unfortunately.
 
I agree this kind of wireless is not the best BUT

Most people seem to not grasp the potential. Apple has A LOT OF USERS, once they adopt this standard it will be popular instantly (remember Apple Pay?).
Imagine going to the coffee shop/restaurant/train put your phone on the table and it just charges.


PS: Ideally we'll all want to walk home/office and our phone will charge but the technology doesn't seem ready yet unfortunately.

This is exactly what I am saying. The tech is there...it is. I've seen it, waiting to be designed in. The whole backend is amazing too. It's there. Why this is coming to us and not the actual wireless tech is probably based on timing. I am sure customers would wait 3 more extra months to actually get the wireless tech versus this. My guess is the S version or the 9 will have it.
 
Imagine going to the coffee shop/restaurant/train put your phone on the table and it just charges.
.
And BOOM!! Apple reinvents the world again.

One small problem, it already exists!!! Furniture makers are building items with Qi charging plates in the arm rests, on table tops etc. A discreet hidden wire plugs the unit to the wall. And hey presto, you sit down, phone on the side. Charging away...

Shall we pretend Apple invented it tho if it makes you feel better.
 
And BOOM!! Apple reinvents the world again.

One small problem, it already exists!!! Furniture makers are building items with Qi charging plates in the arm rests, on table tops etc. A discreet hidden wire plugs the unit to the wall. And hey presto, you sit down, phone on the side. Charging away...

Shall we pretend Apple invented it tho if it makes you feel better.

We shall, but I'll need more soapy water for my eyes. It makes it easier not to look at other tech solutions.
 
Personally, I find this really nice since you just have to put it on the socle to launch the recharge instead of having to look for the cable and plug it in. And when you want to use it at the same time as the recharge then you can take the cable. So there are two possibilities, it is always better than one.


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galaxy s10 samsung galaxy s8
 
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