Database Develop

Request/Ideas for Apps Go Here!!!!

It would be awesome if there was an application to use the MBW-150 bluetooth watch on the G1. Is anyone developing one?
-Tyler

I'll bite. I'd buy one if I didn't have to use a sony ericson phone to use it.

[IDEA]A new contact app(2 preview screenshots)
Does anybody think the built-in contact app is not easy to use?
I'm working on a new contact app called aContact which provides a new UI to access to contact data and some more features.
So,anybody has any idea about this new app or found the disadvantages of the built-in contact app??
THANKS
I will post the scrrenshots after I finished the first version.
Thanks again for your advices!
---------------------------21th December added---------------------------
There are two screenshots.Any advice?

The best contact manager I've used was the one built into SPB Mobile Shell for Winmo.

thefoss said:
The best contact manager I've used was the one built into SPB Mobile Shell for Winmo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK.I'm now using the htc touch diamond.I will try SPB Mobile Shell.
Thanks for your advice

nice idea even though i dont mind the g1's contact app i know it can be better.
some things i think you should add:
-ability to view contacts in groups or categories
- if possible assign ringtones to group
- have the number/letter show up when scrolling like the icontact for wm
- integrate it so that when someone send you a number you can long press and add number to you contact manager or you can make it retrieve contacts through google.
- have birthday

haitiankid4lyf said:
nice idea even though i dont mind the g1's contact app i know it can be better.
some things i think you should add:
-ability to view contacts in groups or categories
- if possible assign ringtones to group
- have the number/letter show up when scrolling like the icontact for wm
- integrate it so that when someone send you a number you can long press and add number to you contact manager or you can make it retrieve contacts through google.
- have birthday
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes!I am strongly agree with you!
The built-in contact has no birthday records!
BTW,I think iContact is a nice app on WM.

[REQ] Android App Ideas
hello android users,
I am a developer on the windows mobile side of things (see the M2DC thread for an example of my work) and I am thinking I might like to move over to developing for android.
I have a few problems, first, I don't have a device, this is not a huge deal at the moment because I can just use the SDK emulator for now, but I will be purchasing a device later on if I like developing for this platform. The second problem is that I need help with ideas for some simple apps... since I do not have a G1 to handle on a daily basis I don't really get the chance to feel things out and discover where an app might come in useful.
So my request is this. Does anyone have any ideas for "simple" android applications? Anything they wish the phone did better? Or a simple functionality that they wish the phone had? Reading through this forum it looks like there is a demand for OCR and possibly something to make applying new themes/skins easier? Or the TextTwist Game?
Of these 3 the game sounds the most interesting, the theme changer sounds good too because that is what my current development in windows mobile does, and the OCR is most likely out of my league at the moment.
I am open to any app ideas, I'm just looking for something to get me started and get me interested in the platform.

A few apps i would like to see as follows
1. A reboot option in shut down menu "if possible".
2. Digital Clock for homescreen
3. Screen Capture
4. Camera Zoom option
5. Checkers
Hope this helps a bit, good luck!

An application that kills tasks running in the background (although most folks say it's not possible right now), video recorder, night mode for camera, or Sirius/XM internet streamer similar to SiriusWM5 (I'm not sure that one is possible at the moment either...). Of course, you could create widgets (something more simple) but the source code won't be available to next year allegedly.

- Office suite (word and excel file editor)
- Youtube downloader from phone (like iphone mxtube)
- Super Mario Chronicles !!!!!
- FlightGear portable
- compiz fusion !! (not important but just tto test phone power to my friend that have an Iphone)
- More widget

haitiankid4lyf said:
nice idea even though i dont mind the g1's contact app i know it can be better.
some things i think you should add:
-ability to view contacts in groups or categories
- if possible assign ringtones to group
- have the number/letter show up when scrolling like the icontact for wm
- integrate it so that when someone send you a number you can long press and add number to you contact manager or you can make it retrieve contacts through google.
- have birthday
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can view contacts in groups - Contacts - Menu - Display Group (created on GMAIL page).
Ringtones to groups would be nice, but for now you may just display a group and assign them all a ringtone
The long press to dial/save numbers in SMS has been addressed and should be in the final version of Android 1.0.
A birthday? Ehrmm.... Would personally prefer that to stay where it is (in my calendar).

I would like it to integrate the Dialer and searching for contacts, so i can just start typing a name or a number and it would show me the matching contacts. (I think SpellDial does this but is not very robust).
Thanks

Need view sort by last name, company, etc.

jhales said:
Need view sort by last name, company, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK.I'm working on this.

ye11ow said:
OK.I'm working on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is tougher because the gmail contacts (web) only has one field for the name...
--M

Thank you very much for the input guys, I really appreciate it. These lists are definitely getting the creative juices flowing... I will see what I can put together.
If possible I will open source the beta version of my first program and post the beta packages here on xda for everyone to use without charge... I am still learning the whole process so we will see what happens in the end
Thank you for the suggestions, and I am still open to hearing more

I guess "simple" is also relative to your level of proficiency in Java and mobile development. As far as holes in the shipped operating system that could use fixing, there are many points to attack. Some could be done in the JVM, others would have to be done in native c. Examples include:
An office suite
Video recording
Touchscreen text input (API will expose this in 09Q1)
A simple but high-quality word or puzzle game would be great tho.
Edit: welcome aboard the Android side too ;-)

jashsu said:
I guess "simple" is also relative to your level of proficiency in Java and mobile development. As far as holes in the shipped operating system that could use fixing, there are many points to attack. Some could be done in the JVM, others would have to be done in native c. Examples include:
An office suite
Video recording
Touchscreen text input (API will expose this in 09Q1)
A simple but high-quality word or puzzle game would be great tho.
Edit: welcome aboard the Android side too ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you 100%, the system stuff sounds good, but of the posted ideas and from what I have seen there is a small demand for "simple" games, and this is the direction I plan on going initially, games are fun to make and they should give me a decent overview of what is involved in throwing together an app.
As far as my java proficiency... I can definitely get by. I have a few websites that rely completely on the google web toolkit, and my bachelors degree was typical of an early 2008 CS curriculum, 2 years of java to learn what OO programming is, and then 2 years of C to learn about the fun stuff (pointers, threads, compilers, OS's, etc...). but like I said before I am just looking to make a traditional application, and I think that it is going to end up being a game of some sort,
I don't have a device yet, if I get one it would be pretty much a development only device, so I am trying to get my feet wet with an app or 2 before I decide to get one. I did manage to get a few minutes with a G1 today and I must say that the device feels so much better than my Titan, that capacitive touchscreen is awesome.
Once I get something going I will startup a new project on google code so I can take advantage of the free svn server and start posting my progress

fun stuff (pointers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to admit that might be the first time i've seen the word "fun" and "pointers" so close together ;-)
I did manage to get a few minutes with a G1 today and I must say that the device feels so much better than my Titan, that capacitive touchscreen is awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Capacitive touch screens feel great and and quite responsive but they do have their caveats too. The main one is that accuracy of input is lower than with a stylus. You'll have to keep that in mind when you design the UI. You can scale the size of the emulator on screen to match an actual G1's physical screen size (emulated pixels might be mangled though).
Once I get something going I will startup a new project on google code so I can take advantage of the free svn server and start posting my progress
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking forward to it There are some specific android development communities you can check out too for more relevant talk on android java programming. anddev.org I think is a popular site.

GPS & Walking in my shoes

Hi gang,
I've made the switch from a HTC S730 to a Tytn II, and i'm enjoying the phone more & more, but there are still some gaps i need to fill.
One of the things i'd like to do is use the GPS together with a note-taking (or dictating) application to make small notes of things i encounter on my walks, has anyone ever heard of such an application?
Another thing i've yet to find is a nice site with themes for this phone, i'd love a theme that has a (much) smaller HTC Home plugin, the watch alone takes up way too much space, any pointers?

the only thing the comes close to your first request is GPS2Clipboard

GPS Tuner is a very good offroad GPS app, you can save a waypoint in 2 clicks and write a description when saving. The description should be passed on when you export to Google Earth and such, but I've never tried. You might want to download the trial and see if it suits you.

Try NoniGPSplot? Thats a nicely featured tracking application which plots your travels on a self-imported map, which in turn you can export to eg, Google Earth -gives a great effect of zooming into your track. Freeware but I liked it so much I made a donation.
Anyways, re voice notes: yes, NoniGPSplot can record record voice memos attached to a GPS location. I havent used that feature yet though.

Thx for the tips, i'll try them out

Best Paid Software for PPC?

Whats the best software you can buy for the pocket pc especially for the fuze / touch pro / diamond.
Freeware is awesome there is a ton of cool stuff out there but unfortunately not many people talk about the things you have to pay for.
Any advice? Price is not an issue, quality is the importance. I am more interested in things that take advantage of the built in gsensor and light sensor but in general I am just wondering what you spend your money on as far as PPC applications go to spruce up your phone.

FlexMail, BeeLineGPS, WMWifiRouter, AEButton Plus, abcTaskMan.
Very good thread to start btw.

I like pretty much everything that has come out of SPB Softwarehouse.

I am very impressed with PocketArtist. Oh and how could we forget CorePlayer?

Coreplayer is very good. Also a lot of people talk about Tom Tom (GPS Software) One of the few programs where you can store the maps on your storage card instead of downloading while you go.

thumbs up for thumbcal! i recommend it...

Thanks for the recommendations I might add one or two of my own:
TomTom 7 is a great program
iGO8 is fantastic with a very sleak GUI
Resco Bubbles is a good game that takes advantage of the g-sensor.
Wifirouter for those times I need to uhm.. Not Tether to my Notebook?
Coreplayer is one of the best fully released media players for PPC.

phoneAlarm - it controls how the phone behaves (profiles), gives you a weather panel, quick launcher, photo dialer and more (top half of screen shot) - all finger friendly
SBSH Pocket Breeze and Pocket weather - because they fit well together (see the bottom half of the screen shot below) - again - finger friendly
Core Player
Pocket Informant - use it as my agenda and contacts application
TouchPal keyboard
List Pro
eWallet

I have always used Pocket Informant
They always update and support their product

Is it safe to assume that some of these programs you all are listing here don't work with the TF3D interface? Or will they work with TF3D?
Since that's basically the point of having the Diamond or the TP/Fuze, etc., then I wouldn't want to give up TF3D. lol

mark72501 said:
Is it safe to assume that some of these programs you all are listing here don't work with the TF3D interface? Or will they work with TF3D?
Since that's basically the point of having the Diamond or the TP/Fuze, etc., then I wouldn't want to give up TF3D. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PI can incorporate with the calendar from the home tab to replace the built in calendar,

mark72501 said:
Is it safe to assume that some of these programs you all are listing here don't work with the TF3D interface? Or will they work with TF3D?
Since that's basically the point of having the Diamond or the TP/Fuze, etc., then I wouldn't want to give up TF3D. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use secondtoday, TF3D on one today screen and whatever you want on the other.
http://www.chi-tai.info/cs_wm_tools_im_cs.htm

software that I've paid for and use on a regular basis -
Pocketshield
spb mobile shell
slingplayer mobile
kinomi play
resco media suite
aebutton plus
tomtom
spb backup
flexwallet

I like memmaid/sktools, tomtom 7, slingbox, and or anything spb. All worth the $ in my opinion.
dschoenike

BabyMonitor
I'm using the trail version for burglar alarm, and it rocks!
http://www.babymonitor-mobile.com/index.htm
BabyMonitor for Windows Mobile is a software, which allows you to use your smartphone like a burglar alarm. This way, you’ll receive a call if there is a noise in the guarded object.
BabyMonitor comes with noise suppression technology, that can ignore environmental sounds and focuses on the defined noises . This software also silences the phone’s ringer, in order to avoid detecting the smartphone when you get a phone call. Once sound are made, the handset will call a preset number.
Key features of BabyMonitor burglar alarm
1.
Mobility, cheapness, reliability
2.
Unlimited radius of action
3.
Radio noise insensibility
Example
When we leave home for holidays we usually feel nervous about abandoned property. Just place your smartphone in the car or house and if unwanted sounds are detected the handset will call a preset number and you’ll be able to hear what is happening in the guarded object. Remember to turn on power supply to your smartphone when you leave home for a long time.

Sounds interesting but my phone NEVER leaves my side.
Anyone else have a list of programs that you've purchased and rely on to get through your day that have good synergy with the Fuze/Touch Pro. Keep 'em coming it's good to know what programs are good to buy.

b
My list...
WMWiFiRouter...best money ever spent on PPC software
SOTI Pocket Controller...I tried MyMobiler, but this just seems to work better. When in my office, it's nice to be able to access my phone right from my PC
Salling Clicker...kind of a remote control of my laptop from my Fuze...works great when presenting a PowerPoint as I can use my Fuze to step through slides...
SPB Offerings...with the Fuze, I'm using SPB Imageer, Insight (RSSHub is comparable but needs link to download images for offline viewing), Backup and Time (like the snooze on the alarm)...some are better suited for non-TF3D, so considering SecondToday as I miss the standard Mobile screen sometimes...Weather, SPBPocketPlus, etc...all their stuff seems great.
acbTaskManager, SKTools...for diagnostics/troubleshooting, just in case

My best are SKTools, Pocket Breeze & SPB Backup...
Greetz
Boris

xhypnotik said:
BabyMonitor
I'm using the trail version for burglar alarm, and it rocks!
http://www.babymonitor-mobile.com/index.htm
BabyMonitor for Windows Mobile is a software, which allows you to use your smartphone like a burglar alarm. This way, you’ll receive a call if there is a noise in the guarded object.
BabyMonitor comes with noise suppression technology, that can ignore environmental sounds and focuses on the defined noises . This software also silences the phone’s ringer, in order to avoid detecting the smartphone when you get a phone call. Once sound are made, the handset will call a preset number.
Key features of BabyMonitor burglar alarm
1.
Mobility, cheapness, reliability
2.
Unlimited radius of action
3.
Radio noise insensibility
Example
When we leave home for holidays we usually feel nervous about abandoned property. Just place your smartphone in the car or house and if unwanted sounds are detected the handset will call a preset number and you’ll be able to hear what is happening in the guarded object. Remember to turn on power supply to your smartphone when you leave home for a long time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what??? sounds like a good idea, but i don't want my baby to be exposed to harmful radio waves at such a young age. but using it as a housealarm is a good idea, but who wants to leave their phone at home... maybe a spare set i suppose...

Could you guys give brief descriptions of the apps and if possible, links to a reputable seller? Thanks!

Searching for applications

Hello. I have been searching the internet, without any luck though of finding the programs i want.
First, i want a program, like ShopSavvy is for the Android, where i can use it on my touch pro to scan barcodes of products and find the best price.
Second, i am wondering if there is a way to have Google Street View on the touch pro. I have already seen KDKobes Google Maps Street View 2.3.1, from our forum. I was wondering though if there is an "official" or "fully working" program, as in KDJobes program unfortunately, location-data support and GPS integration aren’t working with this version of Google Maps.
Third, i want a program, like I-phone has, for Drinks (bartender?), same cool skins and graphics environment maybe?
Fourth, again like I-phone has a program where you record a song on the phone and then it goes through the internet and finds you possible matches.
Please, bare with me, as i a m new and maybe i didn't have enough luck or "easiness" finding these type of programs i want. Yes maybe i saw some "looking like them but weren't afterwards the programs i wanted, cause their functionality wasn't after all what i was searching for and was mislead by their Title Name.
So if you please know any "freeware/ or have to buy" programs that are exaclty as the one's i have described please feel free to post and tell me.
Thank you very much in advance,
Chris

let's see
1. barcode readers:
i-nigma barcode reader
QuickMark 3.3
Aura - but donno if this still works.....
2. Street view is officially supported by the latest Google Maps
http://www.google.com/mobile/default/maps.html
3. didn't heard of such a program for wm
4. i know a program it's called Music ID
hope that helps try to search harder next time

search diamond beer for a drink app that turns your phone into a glass of alcohol , if you mean a bartender then just do more searching also the site Fuzemobility.com is now your best friend go there all the time look at everything there . if you still haven changed ROMS on your phone i suggest you go get NRG's new winmo6.5 build 3.0 ROM . it has alot of improvements over the stock ROM , anymore questions just ask me

Is there an app that uses the GPS to track how much you've cycled and your speed etc? I think such apps exist for the iPhone but I'm looking for something for windows mobile.

gotta love fuzemobility lol
slick69 said:
Is there an app that uses the GPS to track how much you've cycled and your speed etc? I think such apps exist for the iPhone but I'm looking for something for windows mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
theres an app called track my run floating somewhere between here and fuzemobility.com

Just giving you a heads up don't go looking for everything that the Iphone has for your phone. Most of the time it will not be there. on to you questions
Shop savvy is a great program. Our closest thing is "Barcoroma"
Google street view. I use google maps from NRG'z Rom and I can get street view on it.
Drinks IDK your on you own for this one
Song recognition. Well try out Music ID works great for me.

Repository
Where does everyone go to get there the PPC software?
I go to http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php, although its not complete list and new releaase of an application can take a couple of days to make it to thier site. I find the site easy to navigate and search. The catagories and rating system help for filtering.

about the drink mix
i suggest watching this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=496880&highlight=drinks
perhaps something will be done.

[Q] Several questions about WP8 and Nokia 920

Hello every one,
I just acquired a Nokia 920 yesterday. So far the handset is about the finest thing I have ever held, It just begs to be used when its in your hand. All is not perfect though, I have some questions. Any recommendations for solutions are greatly appreciated.
I started using PDA's in the early 90's, my first smart phone was a Blackberry, I switch to Android when they dropped the ball. I am of the opinion that the win8 ecosystem is the future for enterprise and productivity. Basically I expect a lot from a smart phone, I expect it to be a top notch PDA, a phone, and a good device for killing time.
1) How do you turn off the haptic feedback on the three hard buttons? I can't overstate how much I hate haptic feedback, this has me on the edge of returning the phone. I want to throw the phone across the room every time I feel it.
2) How do I turn off the touch points on the keyboard? I find having a little flag pop up with the letter I just pressed is annoying. Better yet, where can I get a decent keyboard? The installed keyboard is as bad as the iPhone one - crap. I can span 13 keys on a piano, I want my keyboard to span the screen, I want it to have alternate symbols accessible by long pressing, and it would be cool if it was skinnable, though the built in skin is nice for me. I tried the market place and all I could find was foreign alphabet keyboards.
3) Color coded emails. I did figure out how to merge both my calendars and my email accounts to a single tile. It would be nice to have some kind of color coding for the inbox so I don't have to open the email to see what account it is from.
4) recommend a good calendar. The default one only shows events for the same day. It would be nice to have the live tile show upcoming events in the future. The app must be able to let me make appointments as well. Did not find anything nice in the store.
5) A decent music player. As near as I can tell, Nokia music is just MS music re-skinned. When I hit the music tile, I want to see what I am currently listening too with buttons to skip/pause/etc. and a link to my library to change artists. Nokia Music is pure bloat, I have to navigate past market place stuff, then navigate around to find a pause button. Pretty much sucks to use. The mixer is buried inside the setting menu, so when I change music styles, I have to navigate down through the settings to change the mixer, then navigate back around to the music player. This whole set-up is about as crappy as anything I have ever seen. To make matters worse, the mixer is not pin able. I would love to have something comparable to PowerAmp.
Thanks in advance. I've used XDA for years, and always found my answers buried somewhere in these forums.
P.S. anyone who can get the sexy Samsung voice ported over to Nokia Drive deserves a special prize

joshua43214 said:
Hello every one,
1) How do you turn off the haptic feedback on the three hard buttons? I can't overstate how much I hate haptic feedback, this has me on the edge of returning the phone. I want to throw the phone across the room every time I feel it.
2) How do I turn off the touch points on the keyboard? I find having a little flag pop up with the letter I just pressed is annoying. Better yet, where can I get a decent keyboard? The installed keyboard is as bad as the iPhone one - crap. I can span 13 keys on a piano, I want my keyboard to span the screen, I want it to have alternate symbols accessible by long pressing, and it would be cool if it was skinnable, though the built in skin is nice for me. I tried the market place and all I could find was foreign alphabet keyboards.
3) Color coded emails. I did figure out how to merge both my calendars and my email accounts to a single tile. It would be nice to have some kind of color coding for the inbox so I don't have to open the email to see what account it is from.
4) recommend a good calendar. The default one only shows events for the same day. It would be nice to have the live tile show upcoming events in the future. The app must be able to let me make appointments as well. Did not find anything nice in the store.
5) A decent music player. As near as I can tell, Nokia music is just MS music re-skinned. When I hit the music tile, I want to see what I am currently listening too with buttons to skip/pause/etc. and a link to my library to change artists. Nokia Music is pure bloat, I have to navigate past market place stuff, then navigate around to find a pause button. Pretty much sucks to use. The mixer is buried inside the setting menu, so when I change music styles, I have to navigate down through the settings to change the mixer, then navigate back around to the music player. This whole set-up is about as crappy as anything I have ever seen. To make matters worse, the mixer is not pin able. I would love to have something comparable to PowerAmp.
Thanks in advance. I've used XDA for years, and always found my answers buried somewhere in these forums.
P.S. anyone who can get the sexy Samsung voice ported over to Nokia Drive deserves a special prize
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I have not yet seen a Nokia 920 yet, but in Samsung Omnia W/Samsung Flash, you can go to Settings->Extra Settings and remove it from there, check if you have a similar setting, you can request Nokia to add such a setting as its possible in Samsung and should be possible in Nokia too. If they get similar requests they may add it soon
2) AFAIK you cannot install another keyboard, but long pressing many keys you can have alternate symbols coming up. Did you try long pressing some keys? You can change the language of they keyboards via settings.
3) Dont merge the emails and have 2 separate very small tiles instead. Should solve your problem.
4) & 5) not sure yet. But since the SDK is updated with calender access soon you should get many apps with calender.

my question
does the lumia 920 or any win phone 8 device have FM radio??? if it doesnt, is it supported in win phone 8??

monotheist said:
1) I have not yet seen a Nokia 920 yet, but in Samsung Omnia W/Samsung Flash, you can go to Settings->Extra Settings and remove it from there, check if you have a similar setting, you can request Nokia to add such a setting as its possible in Samsung and should be possible in Nokia too. If they get similar requests they may add it soon
2) AFAIK you cannot install another keyboard, but long pressing many keys you can have alternate symbols coming up. Did you try long pressing some keys? You can change the language of they keyboards via settings.
3) Dont merge the emails and have 2 separate very small tiles instead. Should solve your problem.
4) & 5) not sure yet. But since the SDK is updated with calender access soon you should get many apps with calender.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply
Only thing in the Nokia extra settings is phone info, no actual settings at all.
Long pressing gives some alternate letter forms like hats, or umlauts. It does not work on all the letters, and you don't know what the long press gives you until you try it. Stuff like beta is on the lower case s, not the upper case. Like I said its a crap keyboard
I actually use 5 email accounts, though only 3 feed my calendar. Thanks for the suggestion though.

All devices support it as far as I know, but the software didn't made it to RTM. It will be in a upcoming update.

It's widely heralded as one of the best and most responsive keyboards ever...

- There is no built-in option to turn off haptic feedback on those keys. Manufacturer needs to develop an app (with interop level or higher access) to disable it, Microsoft needs to update the OS to add such an option, or someone has to hack the thing to turn it off. Considering that the first two probably won't happen in a timely fashion, and that WP8 has yet to be "hacked", don't expect this to change anytime soon.
- Keyboard cannot be changed. As someone mentioned, its actually heralded as one of the best keyboards on the market, and I agree. Once you get used to it, its a joy to use and is tons better than anything on Android, and as good as, if not better than the iOS keyboard. Seeing as how you said this is your first time in Windows Phone land, it may take some time for you to adjust to it, but it really is a wonderful keyboard. I do understand that it isn't for everyone, and unfortunately there is no way to change it if you happen to hate it. You also cannot disable the letter flags that appear on the screen when you tap on the keyboard.
- No color-coding for a combined inbox... yet. Not sure if this is something they are considering, and I don't think I've ever read someone suggesting it, but it makes sense, and I'd love to see this happen.
- Considering developers only really just got Calendar access with the WP8 SDK, I doubt there will be anything useful in the Store just yet. This a brand new platform that just launched, so its gonna take some time for people to figure out what they can or cannot do, and then put it on the Store for us to use.
- Xbox Music or Nokia Music will be as decent as it gets currently. Apps are able to pull from your media collection (like Nokia Music does), but I have not seen anything mind-blowing yet. I'm more than happy with Xbox Music, as it fulfills all my needs. I don't watch videos aside from stuff on YouTube though, so while I don't care for video codec support, I can understand not having total codec flexibility like you can on more open platforms or on apps like VLC.
It really sounds like that you, coming from Android, are expecting a lot more than Windows Phone 7/8 was designed to do. Windows Phone 8 can do a lot, but this OS was built from the ground up to be rather different than your typical PDA operating system. You will not get the same kind of flexibility on Windows Phone 8 that you would with Android.
For comparison:
- Windows Phone 7/8 is more like iOS. Relatively stable/reliable, curated store, locked down, relatively consistent.
- Android is more like old Windows Mobile. Infinitely more customizable and flexible, open market, relatively nonrestrictive, not very consistent, not completely reliable/stable.