My first days with a Windows 8 phone

[Coke Robot]

Apparently the 8.1 update has been poorly safeguarded as there are videos showing off the Nokia Lumia 630 with what appears to be for sure, custom image backgrounds that can skin your tiles. Neat thing about that, the tiles are actually more transparent in that mode as it uses parallex motion like in Windows 8.1 when you scroll.

But anyways... FEATURES!! FEATURES!! FEATURES!! WOW!

Windows Phone 8.1 Features | Windows Phone Central

LOTS of goodies expected in 8.1. This will definitely take the platform being solidly between android and ios in terms of capabilities. It's not over the top like android, but it's not so lower end like ios. It's definitely enough I'd imagine to pull over android users (those especially on lower end handsets to new lower end 8.1 phones) as it has a swipe keyboard equivalent (never would have imagined that one happening), more fine grained controls, and I'd assume the picture backgrounds will be a huge plus.

So far, no new accent colors...

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks again for posting, Cokie.

Wow! Lots being added. It'll take me a while to get through the list.

 

[whs]

I am not sure whether I share the enthusiasm that you guys have. I think the beauty of the W8P is that it is simple. It took me 10% of the time to set it up compared to my Android tablet. I hope they don't destroy that simplicity because more function is also more complexity.

There is really nothing new I can think of that I need on my W8P. It does a perfect job for what I use it for. Note - since I got it, I only made 2 phone calls with it, just for testing, LOL.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I understand what you're saying, whs, but I on the other hand use my phone for a lot of communication mediums. This is a phablet size device also. No land line, so all phone calls. Texting, emailing, Skype, and messenger apps. Then browsing, navigation, Office, TapaTalk, calendar, contacts, etc. Facebook, Twitter, or other social apps if or when I did/do that.

As I was telling that new member, I feel one is no more difficult than the other, but it does have to do with the entrance level of any OS and/or device. A lot of us have been using cell phones for years.

 

[whs]

Yeah, you are the pro's. None of the stuff you listed I am using on the W8P - except navigation and once in a while I look into my Gmail because that is my mailbox. But only 2 people know the number. So there is not a lot of traffic and I can also look at the Gmail with the PC or the tablet.

My main apps are navigation, my very nice on-line music app, Tom and Jerry, the Flintstones, weather, the Michelin maps and then playing all the stuff I have on my MicroSD card. Everything else I can do better on the PC. And I am not a big 'communicator'. I don't even use my landline phone very much.

 

[LittleJay]

And I am not a big 'communicator'. I don't even use my landline phone very much.

Had to laugh when I read this, cuz I personally hate phones.

 

[whs]

And I am not a big 'communicator'. I don't even use my landline phone very much.

Had to laugh when I read this, cuz I personally hate phones.

Yeah right. I think they made them for women. When my MIL is in the house, I think I am in a call center. What a pain - especially since they really have nothing to say. Just wasting time.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

LOL on call center.

I'm not a phone guy either, but I was in construction/building business and raised/have 6 children so a cell phone was a great tool in my life. I'm old enough to know what it's like without them, but I really don't know how I would have made it without one in later life.

 

[whs]

If you are in business the cell phones make sense. But for a retiree there is hardly ever 'essential communication'. Those that have something to tell me can always write a letter - although with USPS you never know whether you will get it, LOL.

 

[LittleJay]

If you are in business the cell phones make sense. But for a retiree there is hardly ever 'essential communication'. Those that have something to tell me can always write a letter - although with USPS you never know whether you will get it, LOL.

How about e-mail? I like it because I can read and/or reply at my leisure. Unlike the phone where it always rings at the most inopportune times.

 

[whs]

Email is fine. But I have some an old aunt and cousins that don't know how to deal with that, LOL.

 

[Tepid]

WP8.1 will release Thursday April 10 to Dev Preview

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks, Tepid. :thumb:

When do you think final release will be?

 

[whs]

I only hope it will not mess things up. My W8P is so nicely setup. Is there a way to wait with the updare so that I can first see how you guys are doing.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Yes. You can deny the update, whs, but you may not want to, for if I read it correctly there's some kind of file manager with it. Don't quote me on that, though.

 

[Tepid]

You can go to this site

Windows Phone Dev Center

Click on the link for Register as a developer with App Studio – Free, and create apps to run on your own Windows Phones

Then install the Preview for Developers App for your phone

Preview for Developers | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)

What is released here is the final bits that will be pushed out by Service Providers later this year (Summer probably)
Unless they get on the ball and release for OTA Update around May.

If you have a Lumia, Nokia will be releasing whatever they will call it when released (Bitter Sweet Shimmer) Cherry Sunday,, who knows
That will be later this summer or sooner maybe. Unknown.
This is Firmware updates and Features.

Not having that should not affect WP8.1 from running properly.

But again,, the Dev Preview is the exact same WP8.1 Update that will go out when SP's decide to release it.
Just like GDR3.

There will be no difference between the 2.

It is already RTM, so new phones are slated for end of April into May.
We will know more this week from the Build Conference.

 

[whs]

Thanks guys for the info. There is no rush for me and as far as the file manager goes, I am happy with the Pocket File Manager.

 

[Tepid]

There is a ton more to the update beyond that
This is a huge update.

 

[whs]

You get me all excited. My requirements are pretty modest. I am happy if the thing works as is. But I am always happy to learn new stuff. Else I would not have 7 operating systems.

 

[Coke Robot]

Yep, you can check for updates and it will say there is a new one available and tell it to sod off for the time being. I wouldn't expect it to have any upgrade issues since we're dealing with through and through WinRT (or at least WinPRT) and won't be afflicted by things that Win32 does.

But as someone that has used Windows Phone since 7.1, this is a lot of wow.

I'm still not sure about the image backgrounds, but I'll get used to it.

Also, the developer preview of it is RUMORED to be released April 10th, this is not very certain but very certain. The official release of 8.1 will come most likely the end of April/beginning of May to coincide with the 8.1 handsets being released by Nokia and probably Samsung along with everyone else. As usual, carriers will be the pain the crotch (looking at you att) for the upgrade. Nokia's firmware update (no one knows the name of it yet) will also be released with the official update.

I'm glad, however, that you're glad with Windows Phone. It's truly its own experience and one that I find is superior and well executed compared to Windows. It's drop dead easy and simple to learn especially for first timers. And with more handsets like the Lumia 520 to be released with 8.1, more people will get that message and that to me is why I'm so stoked for it!