Windows Phone 8 queries from an Android user

[HippsieGypsie]

I've found Android to be pretty friendly with Windows 8. As far as a Windows 8 Phone, my only concern would be Store Apps. I do know that VLC Remote has a Windows 8 version now, but as far as Office, I think the only Office apps, and especially the new Word app, at least on iOS which I use, all require an Office 365 account. I use Pages and I import them into Office 2013, and that is free which beats a 99 buck a year subscription. I also store docs in my OneNote and Onedrive, so I can open em up on all of my devices and computers.

I think your best bet would be the Windows 8 phone with OneNote, and OneDrive, and you'll be able to move Docs around - But there is no free Word editor like there is with Pages for iOS. Pages is not Word, but I've gotten used to it. Or you an splurge and get an Office 365 account and then you'll be able to edit docs from anywhere, I think it would be a valid business expense.

Office comes prebuilt into Windows Phone and is free unlike ios.

Yes, I like free! :thumb:

I use OneNote a lot and Office quite frequently.

 

[whs]

I've found Android to be pretty friendly with Windows 8. As far as a Windows 8 Phone, my only concern would be Store Apps. I do know that VLC Remote has a Windows 8 version now, but as far as Office, I think the only Office apps, and especially the new Word app, at least on iOS which I use, all require an Office 365 account. I use Pages and I import them into Office 2013, and that is free which beats a 99 buck a year subscription. I also store docs in my OneNote and Onedrive, so I can open em up on all of my devices and computers.

I think your best bet would be the Windows 8 phone with OneNote, and OneDrive, and you'll be able to move Docs around - But there is no free Word editor like there is with Pages for iOS. Pages is not Word, but I've gotten used to it. Or you an splurge and get an Office 365 account and then you'll be able to edit docs from anywhere, I think it would be a valid business expense.

Office comes prebuilt into Windows Phone and is free unlike ios.

And it works pretty nicely. I run my PowerPoint shows all the time.

 

[Tepid]

I am also an Android user for many years now and I am also thinking of jumping to a Windows based phone maybe the new Nokia 930 when it comes on sale in the UK.
So maybe you should do the same and wait see what a the new Nokia 930 is like.

I have the Icon which is exactly the same specs.
You will not be disappointed at all. The system is fast and fluid.
Takes amazing pictures. And if you are into Post Processing you can have it take a Raw picture at the same time.
Raw is only viewable through USB, so you would save them off that way and work on them in your favorite editor.
DNG file extension for RAW pics.

The speaker does leave a lot to be desired for Music. I have had better sounding phones in the past.
But, you can get those little bluetooth speakers and then it sounds great.
Headphones sound great also and with the EQ can be even better.

Nokia's are extremely solid phones, very well built hardware.

Get the 930 or Icon or equiv, you won't be disappointed.

8.1 is well worth the upgrade.

Miracast over WIFI for the Icon, 1520 and others will make things even better.
Date TBD, but is coming this year.

 

[whs]

I think Google cut my VoIP on the phone. I think they had announced that they would do that for the Windows phones. I got Viber and that seems to work - costs money though.

I hope they did not screw up my phone account on my Android tablet. But that I can only check when I am back in Germany because that's where I left it.

 

[XweAponX]

Office comes prebuilt into Windows Phone and is free unlike ios.

You mean, the Windows Phone comes with a free Office 365 account? Or do the Office apps run without one? The Apple Pages/Numbers/Keynote apps used to be 10 bucks apiece, but starting with iOS 7, maybe iOS 6, they are free.

If Windows 8 Devices come with a fully working set of Office apps, that would be a high incentive, at least for me, to eventually get one. The thing that irks me is that I paid a bunch for the full Office 2013 pro suite, I gotta pay another 99 to use the iOS Word app for just one year. It won't accept Office 365 PI Licences either.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Office comes prebuilt into Windows Phone and is free unlike ios.

You mean, the Windows Phone comes with a free Office 365 account? Or do the Office apps run without one? The Apple Pages/Numbers/Keynote apps used to be 10 bucks apiece, but starting with iOS 7, maybe iOS 6, they are free.

If Windows 8 Devices come with a fully working set of Office apps, that would be a high incentive, at least for me, to eventually get one. The thing that irks me is that I paid a bunch for the full Office 2013 pro suite, I gotta pay another 99 to use the iOS Word app for just one year.

It is limited in that it can only open and edit items, not create them. It does come with OneNote.

 

[XweAponX]

Well, that sucks, but I can import from my PC or other devices or from OneDrive/OneNote right? Does that limitation go away if you Subscribe?

All I know is, if they unlocked Word from 365 and made it a paid app, it would fare better in other platforms.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Yes, import from anywhere.

Not sure what you mean by subscribe. To Office 365? If so, no and why would it stop?

I have Office Pro 2013 on my tower. Great to have Office on the phone.

BTW, not sure with the upcoming 8.1 update if it will be possible to run a full Office.

 

[Tepid]

No it is not full office. And you don't get a subscription to office 365. Every WP comes with, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.


Yes, you can create documents, not just open and edit.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I toyed with the idea of a Windows phone but stuck with Samsung - just upgraded to Samsung S5.

The Deal breaker for me was that I could not find any sensible Screen Mirroring software for the windows phone --I access video files remotely from my server / desktop and then Wi-Fi these to my TV for watching movies via the phone's screen mirroring. Accessing the remote files via SMB is a doddle and I have the Wi-Fi dongle which allows me to mirror the screen output to the TV screen in full HD.

I can also stream music FROM a remote server to the phone (or the other way around too)

The Nokia windows phone is a great device but I just couldn't get the sort of apps I am using -- I don't need things like a full office suite on a mobile phone -- but things like local bus times / train times etc are very useful and I just couldn't get the same type of apps on Windows -- although most of them are there for the iPhone which I looked at too -- screen size of the S5 was the winner here by far.

(Kingsoft Office --Free - can read ms format documents and create some simple EXCEL worksheets for example - FREE and perfectly OK for what I need on a phone).

That I think will be the main problem with Windows phones - the current range of apps for Android I simply enormous.

If you find all the apps you need are available on Windows it's a good choice - nice phone, reasonably priced.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[HippsieGypsie]

No it is not full office. And you don't get a subscription to office 365. Every WP comes with, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

Yes, you can create documents, not just open and edit.

Thanks for the clarification on creating docs. Perhaps I spoke too soon on other models.

First WP so I’m trying to get things sorted out. My 1520 did in fact come with Office 365, but I have Office Pro 2013 on my tower. Not sure if I need to set up an O/365 account since I have O Pro on my tower and signing both devices in with my MS Live account? I can start and open Docs and Excel spreadsheets. It also has some templates for those on the phone.

Seems I can’t create a PP presentation, but has one demo that cannot be edited. Would creating an O/365 account get me even more options to start a PPP? Would it get me other templates overall? Confused as to how O/365 works. I can do all it is stating on this screen.

 

[whs]

I would think that creating a PP presentation or a spreadsheet on the phone would be extremely finagle. Even if it were possible, I would not attempt to do that.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Yes, I would imagine creating a PP presentation would be a B, but I can create and edit Docs and spreadsheets with ease on this 1520. Remember this is a phablet in size, whs.

The only reason I was reluctant to buy my 1520 was the fact of no HDMI. Does anyone know of a way to USB video to a monitor or projector yet with WP8 yet? I’ve scoured the Net to no avail. Will it be possible with 8.1 I wonder?

 

[whs]

I don't think USB to video would work. Those are completely different interfaces.

You are spoiled with yout big screen. Try that on my 4" cutie. LOL

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I don't think USB to video would work. Those are completely different interfaces.

It seems to be possible with a special USB-to-HDMI cable or MHL adapter and software. It’s simply not implemented yet.

WP7 USB Video Out Demonstration - YouTube
USB Video Out from Windows Phone 8 - Microsoft Community

You are spoiled with yout big screen. Try that on my 4" cutie. LOL

I paid $32.84 per square inch for this 18 sq. in. beauty so as to have the ability to work with Office items.


I found this during my Net surfing today. You all may be interested. Once signed in, you can vote. You get 20 votes to your account. Feature Suggestions: Hot (49467 ideas) ? Feature Suggestions for Windows Phone

 

[gino76ph]

I totally agree. Here in the UK (where we all know everything is just sky-high compared to the rest of Europe in general) these OEM's with (again as you said) having this cozy-cozy relationship with the top networks just overprice everything.

If you look for example the latest Galaxy S5 and check the 24-month plan who could afford a monthly tariffs of £33 & above with you having to pay for the handset the lower the tariff. Its unacceptable & unrealistic. Inflation going up, utilities going up, salaries remain the same. Do the math

This is why people are going for those "other" networks (GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Lebara/Lyca, etc.) that do plans that are cheaper including the increasingly popular SIM-only (which is a monthly rolling) plan. Just buy the SIM, get a phone of your own choice and that's it.

 

[Coke Robot]

Office comes prebuilt into Windows Phone and is free unlike ios.

You mean, the Windows Phone comes with a free Office 365 account? Or do the Office apps run without one? The Apple Pages/Numbers/Keynote apps used to be 10 bucks apiece, but starting with iOS 7, maybe iOS 6, they are free.

If Windows 8 Devices come with a fully working set of Office apps, that would be a high incentive, at least for me, to eventually get one. The thing that irks me is that I paid a bunch for the full Office 2013 pro suite, I gotta pay another 99 to use the iOS Word app for just one year. It won't accept Office 365 PI Licences either.

They don't come with a free Office 365 account, they come with Office Mobile 15, which is version Office 2013 basically. It's a simple Office suite for Word document creation/light editing/viewing, PowerPoint creation/light editing/viewing, and Excel creation, you get the gist.

If you bought the standalone 2013 Office suite, you will need to buy 365 for ios. Those are two different SKUs.

But Office on Windows Phone is baked in, free to use without subscriptions or anything. Think of it as how Microsoft bundles in Office Home and Student for baby sized tablets.

 

[Coke Robot]

Yes, I would imagine creating a PP presentation would be a B, but I can create and edit Docs and spreadsheets with ease on this 1520. Remember this is a phablet in size, whs.

The only reason I was reluctant to buy my 1520 was the fact of no HDMI. Does anyone know of a way to USB video to a monitor or projector yet with WP8 yet? I’ve scoured the Net to no avail. Will it be possible with 8.1 I wonder?

Yep! Windows Phone 8.1 has USB video output! I have yet to try it!

 

[gino76ph]

I'm getting a Windows Phone not for PP presentation or mirroring my files to my 5-year old full HD Sony TV.

If i could send any file from my WP8 to other non-WP devices via bluetooth then i'm happy.

If i could connect my WP8 to a wireless speaker via bluetooth then i'm happy.

I just wish everything could be faster though. I have seen/read/heard that there is still slowness with: downloading/installing an app, starting the camera and (the most painful of them all) updating the OS.

Agree?

 

[Tepid]

No. Mine is very fluid except a couple of places. The Nokia camera app is a little slow to start, but it's a high-end app. Lots of features baked in.
App download and install can sometimes be a bit slow but not always. I have 50M down so it's not slow for me. Install depends on size of app.