Windows Phone 7/8 Catch All

EvilHomer3k wrote:

While it isn't spotify, XBox Music is pretty damn awesome. It is well integrated into the system and I absolutely love it.

Did you get one of the free wireless charging pads?

I probably would go for Xbox Music if I didn't already have a Spotify subscription. As it is, I'm not going to pay for another subscription, as Spotify still works (better) on all my other devices around the house and the selection is superior. I did get a free charging pad - also yellow.

The best news of all - I already have a buyer for my iPhone 4S.

Does anyone know somewhere that has those chargers in stock? We didn't get the free FatBoy charger promo in Canada (as usual) and I wanted to get my girlfriend one for Christmas but everywhere I look lists them as "unavailable". There's an Energizer Qi charger available too but it's got poor reviews.

Hey guys, I'm planning on diving into WP8 probably later this week with the Nokia 920. My girlfriend is also up for a new phone, so I'll be adding her to my plan. I've had trouble finding out any information about this, and I'm slightly worried since so many features of WP8 are so tightly integrated.

I'm already pretty invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Xbox, Outlook.com, SkyDrive, hell I even have an old Zune) while my girlfriend would basically be starting from scratch (her first smartphone, aww). Is it possible for two phones to be on the same Microsoft account, but only to make purchases (App store, Xbox Music)? My concern is that she'll input my login information and she'll suddenly be logged into my Email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I already ran into this issue once on my iPhone - my sister, who had an iPod touch on my Apple account, recently upgraded to an iPhone herself but using my Apple account. Her photos started showing up in my iCloud photo stream. Luckily we figured that one out before anything awkward occurred!

This cloud stuff gets really messy with shared users :-/

So what do you all think of Google's move to prevent WP8 users from accessing Gmail? How badly will this hurt WP8 sales, and will Microsoft be able to fix the issue?

Google drops a Gmail-shaped bomb on Windows Phone

The company announced it's removing support for Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol for new devices from January 30th, 2013. Google Apps for business accounts will be unaffected and existing devices that are setup to sync mail, calendar, and contacts will work fine, but new devices will not be able to use the Exchange ActiveSync protocol with Gmail. It's a big blow to Windows Phone and part of a bigger feud between the companies over the past few months.

Personally, I don't use much of the Google ecosystem at all. And my plan have been to move back towards Microsoft's from Apple when I get a WP8 phone in January. But I have to believe this is going to affect a lot of people.

My girlfriend is concerned about how this change will impact her experience on her 920 as she uses GMail. I also have two Google Apps accounts that I absolutely have to have on my phone and if it's going to be a bad experience getting them to work on WP8, that might keep me away from the platform which is a shame. Google has been making some very nasty decisions regarding the Google Apps service lately though and I am considering porting my data out of their system to something else. I think it was only a matter of time until the competition between Apple, Google and Microsoft on who could become the most anti-competitive company started to ramp up. I find it funny that Google seems to have a much cozier relationship with Apple given that company's intent to destroy Android at all costs. I think Google is showing more and more that they are not the feel good, consumer loving company that they acted like for a long time.

T-Prime wrote:

Hey guys, I'm planning on diving into WP8 probably later this week with the Nokia 920. My girlfriend is also up for a new phone, so I'll be adding her to my plan. I've had trouble finding out any information about this, and I'm slightly worried since so many features of WP8 are so tightly integrated.

I'm already pretty invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Xbox, Outlook.com, SkyDrive, hell I even have an old Zune) while my girlfriend would basically be starting from scratch (her first smartphone, aww). Is it possible for two phones to be on the same Microsoft account, but only to make purchases (App store, Xbox Music)? My concern is that she'll input my login information and she'll suddenly be logged into my Email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I already ran into this issue once on my iPhone - my sister, who had an iPod touch on my Apple account, recently upgraded to an iPhone herself but using my Apple account. Her photos started showing up in my iCloud photo stream. Luckily we figured that one out before anything awkward occurred!

This cloud stuff gets really messy with shared users :-/

I haven't tried it but I believe you will have the issues you fear. With the exception that I believe you can keep twitter and facebook decoupled from your microsoft account if you wish and just sign into them with separated logins. But she will have access to the email, xbox live, skydrive, etc. associated with that login.

What you could do is create a new Microsoft account that is specifically for you and the gf to share with, but then you lose any existing connectivity with your current xbox, zune etc account.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

My girlfriend is concerned about how this change will impact her experience on her 920 as she uses GMail.

Jayhawker wrote:
...existing devices that are setup to sync mail, calendar, and contacts will work fine, but new devices will not be able to use the Exchange ActiveSync protocol with Gmail.

Personally, I don't use much of the Google ecosystem at all. And my plan have been to move back towards Microsoft's from Apple when I get a WP8 phone in January. But I have to believe this is going to affect a lot of people.

Current devices should be unaffected - just new ones. Also, there's apparently some bug right now with GMail push notifications that can drain your battery. Not sure if this is fixed in the latest WP8 updates.

But yeah, the bickering of the giants usually means consumers get stepped on.

T-Prime wrote:

...Shared Account...

As far as I can see, you can put the same account on two phones, but only one 'Microsoft Account' per phone where all the purchases get tied to. You can, and probably have, tied your Facebook and twitter logins to that Microsoft Account as well, although these can can be added separetly on the phone. You can also add extra mail/facebook, etc. accounts. So... in theory it could work, but not very elegantly.

To be perfectly honest though... you're willing to pay $30+/month/phone but not willing to spend a few dollars here and there to support app developers?

Jayhawker wrote:

So what do you all think of Google's move to prevent WP8 users from accessing Gmail? How badly will this hurt WP8 sales, and will Microsoft be able to fix the issue?

Google drops a Gmail-shaped bomb on Windows Phone

The company announced it's removing support for Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol for new devices from January 30th, 2013. Google Apps for business accounts will be unaffected and existing devices that are setup to sync mail, calendar, and contacts will work fine, but new devices will not be able to use the Exchange ActiveSync protocol with Gmail. It's a big blow to Windows Phone and part of a bigger feud between the companies over the past few months.

Personally, I don't use much of the Google ecosystem at all. And my plan have been to move back towards Microsoft's from Apple when I get a WP8 phone in January. But I have to believe this is going to affect a lot of people.

To use Xbox, Skydrive, etc.. .you need a Live account. Just forward your Gmail over to the Live account and you can still read your Gmail on your Win phone device. I recently flipped all my forwarded accounts back to my Live account away from Gmail.

Hemidal wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

So what do you all think of Google's move to prevent WP8 users from accessing Gmail? How badly will this hurt WP8 sales, and will Microsoft be able to fix the issue?

Google drops a Gmail-shaped bomb on Windows Phone

The company announced it's removing support for Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol for new devices from January 30th, 2013. Google Apps for business accounts will be unaffected and existing devices that are setup to sync mail, calendar, and contacts will work fine, but new devices will not be able to use the Exchange ActiveSync protocol with Gmail. It's a big blow to Windows Phone and part of a bigger feud between the companies over the past few months.

Personally, I don't use much of the Google ecosystem at all. And my plan have been to move back towards Microsoft's from Apple when I get a WP8 phone in January. But I have to believe this is going to affect a lot of people.

To use Xbox, Skydrive, etc.. .you need a Live account. Just forward your Gmail over to the Live account and you can still read your Gmail on your Win phone device. I recently flipped all my forwarded accounts back to my Live account away from Gmail.

From reading the article it looks like emails them selves will still work as that uses IMAP. Its the syncing of calanders and contacts etc that will no longer work.

What I read was that current devices will work just fine but any new setup is going to be broken. MS has just over a month to get a fix out. If they don't I am sure that a third party app will show up that works.

I use Google for my calendar that I share with others. My google calendar is more important than the email so I am a little worried about it but I think it will be fixed pretty soon. The calendaring doesn't work great as it is (no access to shared calendars) so it may be time to get my wife to switch to something else. She has to use Outlook at work now so it may be time to switch her to outlook.com. It shouldn't matter too much for her since she has (and likely will continue to have) an iPhone.

On another note I found this service mentioned by someone on WPCentral. It allows you to search for an app on your system that is like an app on another system. Using it I found out that Zombies, Run is available on WP. Should help with some people who are new to WP7/8.

One other item. There is a thread on WPCentral on how to switch from gmail to outlook.com. Seems to be pretty comprehensive.

Pirate Bob wrote:

To be perfectly honest though... you're willing to pay $30+/month/phone but not willing to spend a few dollars here and there to support app developers?

Oh don't get me wrong, I work with developers on a daily basis, I was just looking for a tiny bit of convenience. I'm happy to spend money if it goes back to the right people.

I was looking into terminating my AT&T contract early. I have a Lumia 900. According to this blurb, I would only be out $325 less $10 for every month I've been in the contract (maybe 6 or so). At under $300, I'm very seriously considering quitting. Has anyone tried this? I'm wondering what other fees they are gonna stick me with if I try. I really don't want to have to call them (the only way to find information about this directly).

So, with some of the issues I have with WP7 and Subsonic/IE barely working, I really don't use the phone all that much. Also, I get no reception in my building at work. To get me by, I would just set up a Skype account and use that as my main thing, depending on WiFi.

I'm so sick of phone companies. Especially after reading this.

Ultimately, I would love to just have a tablet running Skype that I could keep in my living room and bring with me to work. I don't need a phone for anything else, really.

This is what you're looking for - the official statement from AT&T:

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/ret...

Symbiotic wrote:

This is what you're looking for - the official statement from AT&T:

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/ret...

Could you summarize on what the costs are according to them? The link doesn't seem to work. Also, when I try to email AT&T, they tell me I have to call them, not email them. I'd rather not do that if they are going to charge me a thousand dollars or something ridiculous for early termination of a contract.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
Symbiotic wrote:

This is what you're looking for - the official statement from AT&T:

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/ret...

Could you summarize on what the costs are according to them? The link doesn't seem to work. Also, when I try to email AT&T, they tell me I have to call them, not email them. I'd rather not do that if they are going to charge me a thousand dollars or something ridiculous for early termination of a contract.

You were accurate about the $325 minus $10 for every month you been under contract. That's what the link says.

But your still gonna have to call them to cancel.

Cancelled! Set up Skype with a number and a premium account for $120 a year. Cool stuff.

More questions! My girlfriends' sister is also in the market for a new phone, possibly Windows Phone. She almost "bought" a Lumia 710 with WP7 (free w/ contract) but luckily I talked her out of it. Are the HTC 8X and Lumia 810 the only WP8 phones on T-Mobile?

The 820 is available on t-mobile. The 810 is the WP7 model. But, yeah, the 8x and 820 are the only WP8 phones available. Both are very nice phones, though. The 820 has expandable storage, nokia apps, and changeable back plates (you can get a wireless charging back for it). The 8x has a nicer design, higher rez screen, better camera, and likely better audio. The 820 is really only mid-range in the screen. The processor is the same as in the 920.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Cancelled! Set up Skype with a number and a premium account for $120 a year. Cool stuff.

Let us know how you get on. I'm considering doing the same thing in a year's time - dropping voice+data plan from AT&T and just getting a pay-as-you-go SIM and using WIFI most of the time (and voice for emergencies only). Doing so would save me a TON of money...

Symbiotic wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Cancelled! Set up Skype with a number and a premium account for $120 a year. Cool stuff.

Let us know how you get on. I'm considering doing the same thing in a year's time - dropping voice+data plan from AT&T and just getting a pay-as-you-go SIM and using WIFI most of the time (and voice for emergencies only). Doing so would save me a TON of money...

I will! I'm actually gonna sell the Lumia 900 because Skype on WP7 won't wake the phone to ring (who thought that would be a good idea?). WP8 fixed that problem. At any rate, Skype on the PS Vita is great, so I'm using that and my laptop/desktop for now. I'll just use email for messaging.

After being so used to having a mobile all the time that I have the phantom vibrate problem, it's strangely liberating. I still go to grab my phone all the time and feel strange without it in my pocket. Ultimately, I'll get a Surface RT to keep handy at all times. I don't really have the money for it right now, though. I will probably get a prepaid phone with a few minutes for emergencies, too. Maybe I'll start a thread about it one of these days. Actually, there probably is a thread floating around somewhere. I know there is the cutting the (cable) cord thread.

The other option is to just go with tracphones for all calling and messaging. My brother and sister in law do that. They spend about $40 a month between the both of them. They do not limit themselves all that much to using them, either. You can keep your phone number, too, if you go that route.

Edit: Misread the thread title. Moving to the right one.

Has anyone had an issue with the Nokia wireless charger just not working? Mine worked for a week or two and now no longer works, even though the indicator light on the charging plate indicates it's on -- the phone doesn't charge.

By the way, I was planning on selling my Lumia 900 on Ebay once WP 7.8 gets released. Anyone on here interested in buying it? I'd probably put it up for $150 on Ebay but if anyone on here wants it, I'd drop that to $100 and free shipping. I could take pictures of it. It's in good condition. The chrome plate around the camera lens has light scratches and the ring around the screen has a tiny ding or two. I will take pictures eventually. Anyways, I figured I would ask here just in case.

The Nokia 822 is currently a penny with 2-year contract from Amazon Wireless (Free at Target Online Only).
Technically I'm eligible, but I'm on a very limited voice-plan and the Unlimited Data, which means I have to select a new plan during the order. I mocked up some orders through Verizon, Amazon, Target, and visited a physical store and (while requesting what I thought were the exact same features) ended up with three different contracts. Verizon is pushing their "share-everything" plan, and there is no evidence of any other options that aren't "no-contract" if you go through the normal upgrade steps.
So I dug in for some research. After several calls to support (and the stop in a physical store) I was finally connected with the mythical support Angel. Amanda. Amanda pulled up my account information and immediately suggested switching me to a 'Loyalty' plan. Apparently I average only 38 minutes of calls a month while paying for 450. The Loyalty plan is almost $20 cheaper and still provides 200 minutes. My depreciated Unlimited data plan is being rolled to a 2GB a month plan for a penny more then I'm paying now. All these changes are dated to take effect once my new cycle starts (4 days).
So now I'm anxiously awaiting the new cycle (and cautiously optimistic). IF Amanda is correct and all these changes take effect as described then I SHOULD be able to upgrade my phone and simply extend my current contract.
Fingers crossed the promotion hangs around for a few more days.

Well, I finally bought a WP8 phone. I went ahead and got the Lumia 920. So far it is everything I hoped WP8 would be.

I do miss the pull out keyboard of my Quantum, as I got really use to a lot more screen while typing. But I'm finding the on screen keyboard to work really well, as I am posting this from the 920 now.

I was happy to see that all of my paid apps and games downloaded for free. I was bummed that Full House Poker is not available in WP8. But that's all I've noticed missing so far.

SmartGlass works better in WP8, but it still isn't perfect. I plan on giving Forizon some time to see if the map works better than it does on the iPad. But using it surf the web is not bad, but not great.

it seems like it cuts out the mic when you plug into the headphone jack. That kind of sucks, as I really use that to talk on the phone in the car, using the car speakers. It did such a good job of fading out of and back into my music or podcast when I get a call in WP7.

of course, that brings up my biggest bummer so far. I used the Windows Phone Connector app to transfer photos and music to and from my iMac. But the app for WP8 requires Lion, which my iMac can't run. The Mac SkyDrive app also requires Lion, so I'm screwed there, too. I think I can run Lion on my Macbook if I add some RAM. But it's mostly time to upgrade my computers, so Windows 8 desktop and a Macbook Air are the direction I am leaning, as though I am made out of money. For now I will go back to rocking my old black 30 gig iPod for music. WP8 still handles podcasts perfectly for me.

Have you tried parallels or bootcamp? You could probably install Windows 7 on your mac.

Jayhawker wrote:

it seems like it cuts out the mic when you plug into the headphone jack.

Could it be that it expects the headphones to be a proper headset with its own mic?

Kurrelgyre wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

it seems like it cuts out the mic when you plug into the headphone jack.

Could it be that it expects the headphones to be a proper headset with its own mic?

Could be. I'm just plugging into an AUX jack in my my Jeep. My WP7 phone worked perfectly this way.

EvilHomer3k wrote:

Have you tried parallels or bootcamp? You could probably install Windows 7 on your mac.

I might consider that. I recently pulled XP off to get hard drive space back. Mostly, I just need to spend some $$$ on a new computer.

So I nailed down the mic issue, and it was a combination of poor design and me not understanding what it was. the mic on the 920 is on the bottom of the phone, which is squared off. So when it sits in the slot where I normally keep my phone in the car, the mic is completely muffled. The mic was on the bottom front of the phone on my Quantum. This is annoying, but at least it can be easily worked around.

Otherwise, I am loving the hell out of this phone.