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Both Officesuite pro and Documents to go 3.0 are $14.99.
Suggestions on which on to purchase for permanent use?
Thanks
Want to know too....anyone have any feedback which one is better?
I have a Viewsonic G and Archos 101
I'm looking for the same info as well.
For relatively unimportant spreadsheets, google docs is great. I finally have Touchdown emulating outlook 2003 well enough to take on most of 90% of my work email. Having the rest of the office suite covered would mean I could stop the cumbersome process of using VNC to remote into my dektop for word and powerpoint.
I am waiting on a tablet-friendly office suite, something with toolbars to take advantage of the screen real estate. I expect we won't see this until Honeycomb makes an appearance.
all i know is that i have been using doc to go since i had a green screen palm and they have never disappointed me. im sure as they did with the iPad they will tablet out their software.
Office Suite Pro Vs Documents To Go
I've used "Documents to Go" on Palms, blackberrys, and now Android. I've got it on both my Evo as well as my G-Tab, and it has always performed as needed and Dataviz is always offering updates and enhancements to further their products...but I again state I have not used the other office suite... never had to ...
-Shaun
I now have the trial versions of both. Documents to go looks nice but its view only. Since I KNOW office pro suite is working in the way I want it to I might have to stick with that (don't want to buy BOTH)
Keep the feed back coming I have three weeks to decide.
Installed documents to go some time ago and everything was working fine. We i just purchased the unlock key for $14.99 and now my battery drains very quickly. I was getting 24 hours on one charge. So now i uninstalled the key which i suspect will greatly improve my battery life.
Quickoffice HD
What about the quickoffice rip from notion ink tablet that gojimi posted. I installed it and it is pretty nice but I haven't used many features in it. Syncing with Google docs is nice.
+1 for Docs to Go, been using it for years now and it handles anything I need it to.
Sent from my Viewsonic G Tablet running TnT Lite 4.2.2 w/ Pershoot's Kernel using Tapatalk Pro
I have been using OSP, and it works well for my text and spreadsheet applications, until I decided to buy it, and the key hasn't worked. I'm trying to get this resolved, but for now my data is locked.
hodad37 said:
Installed documents to go some time ago and everything was working fine. We i just purchased the unlock key for $14.99 and now my battery drains very quickly. I was getting 24 hours on one charge. So now i uninstalled the key which i suspect will greatly improve my battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use doc to go and don't notice a change in bat life. It sync via usb so should not do anything when not connected. Also with key it is not read only
i use the quick office that gojimi ported from the adam and it works very well! read edit and all!
I have both. i got docs to go first and like it except for the fact it will not show or let you edit headers or footers in a word type document and quick office will. I only use quick office now. It syncs with google docs and dropbox.
I have both Docs to Go and Quick Office HD (tablet version).
I have used DtG for a long time and it works really well. However I have some small issues around headers and footers, etc. But it does many of the other things quite well. Although by itself it does not sync with Dropbox, if you have the Dropbox app you can open the docs straight through there. Minor annoyance, but there it is.
I had a great deal for Quick Office HD for under $10 so I grabbed it to try it. It really is a great office system, but has some minor / major flaws. Now to be honest I have used DtG for many years so I may just be missing something. However it seems that QO can't do bullet list. I van not for the life of me figure out how to create a bulleted list. That to me is a major oversight as it is quite important when trying to put together a document you plan on handing off to a client. However it can do headers and footers and directly ties into many cloud based storage systems.
So right now I am using both depending on what I am doing. I am hoping one of them puts it all together. I would like to see a more desktop like layout for tablet versions. QO is headed that way with HD, but not quite yet. We have not see what DtG will do, but they are pretty good about putting out quality.
I am going back and forth between QuickOffice and OfficeSuitePro
I am a grad student and have replaced my laptop with my gtablet (for most things). I create/edit docs heavily (for notes, essays, group minutes, etc..).
I find that I like the OfficeSuitePro's ability to render different things a little better (more noticable for ppts). Also a huge plus is it supports standard keyboard shortcuts (select, copy, paste, save, cut, etc...) It does not have native dropbox support like Quickoffice does, but if you use the dropbox app to access your files, and save the file as is (instead of save as) then it uploads to DB automatically.
I've also lost a couple sets of notes wth QuickOffice because I forgot to save a file, or the save to dropbox failed and it didn't tell me before i closed/shut off the tablet - document gone. OfficeSuitePro has a built in recovery for most stuff like that when I've done it.
With OfficeSuitePro I seldom have to reach up to the screen to perform an action (save, edit, etc) because it supports keyboard shortcuts. THIS IS HUGE! I can't tell you how annoying it is to have to reach up to the screen every time I want to save, select, copy, or highlight anything. Not having to leave the keyboard is a big deal if you plan on doing some serious typing with a usb or wifi keyboard.
Lastly, OfficeSuitePro has a 30 day trial. I have 7 days left and I have to purchase it. I probably will, even thought I have quickoffice.
I still use them both kind of interchangeably as once in a while something renders funny on one and not the other (usually only a problem with ppts). I've noticed Quickoffice squeezes them, but OfficeSuite doesn't do a very good job rendering research poster presentations (usually I do these on ppt, and they're 3ft by 4 ft).
I like Office Suite Pro better. I use it to display music charts on my g-pad that are in .doc, .docx and .pdf format. Works better for me than Documents To Go. I have been using the trial but I am going to buy the full version.
My vote is for docs to go. I got it off the Dataviz site when it was $9.99 a bit ago. Handles big word docs and spreadsheets. Reviewing a draft 10-Q document on my G-Tab without an issue. Quickoffice from the Adam wouldn't even open it.
Vegan 7 ROM comes loaded with Quick Office Pro HD. It seems pretty nice.
I've been using QuickOffice since I got my gtab in November. It does, MS Office and PDF's. It works great for me. The only issue that I've found is that tables developed in Word, can't be edited in QuickOffice. I typically, move an adgenda to the gtab, add any notes during a meeting, move the file back to my desktop PC, format and email. I no longer take pen and paper to business meetings. I haven't found anything that I need it to do, that it can't but I will admit that I don't ask a lot of it. You can save documents to internal storage, USB or SD card or you can email them right from the app.
Just as a note, I'm running the gtab as it came, I haven't rooted it.
hi people,
I'm looking to switch to WinPhone.
I've got a few quite good features on Android that I'd like to make sure I can have/reproduce on WinPhone too. May you help me with those ?
- Have ringer/notifications volume to get adjusted to ambient noise and/or calendar events automatically
- have a car mode
- have an event/place actions system (like Tasker or OnX)
Many many thanks
Fabio
- for ambient no...
- all this (car mode, task manager with close X) is available with upcoming GDR3 update or today for developer or via WP AppStudio...
notice: car connection with BT for hands free calls and audio reproduction is available long time ago in WP but with upcoming GDR3 come additional settings
I'd say it depends on what type of android user you are. If you just user the phone, sms, browsing and occasional app then you're fine. If you're a power user then you'll just get annoyed and frustrated at simple things that you use yo be able to do but now can't.
As I've said in the windows 1520 thread, its undoubtedly a gorgeous piece of hardware and is the prime drive for me to keep looking into windows phone. Dare I say it and definitely not trying to be a troll, but if it did run android, I'm sure myself and others would buy it in a flash.
Sticking with realities though, I don't think WP8 is quite there yet for the advanced android user. I'm still very concerned that without DPI settings/apps with phablet UI, that the 1520 is just going to be running blown up phone apps, like first gen android tablets, which is not ideal.
File browser is key and offers so much flexibility. Copying and sharing photos off your DSLR, sending whatever file you want through gmail, deleting downloaded files etc. Skydrive is not a suitable replacement, especially if you're not always on wifi/limited 4G data plans.
Apps is becoming less of an issue with most of the core apps there in some shape and using 3rd party official apps is not something I worry about. It is still an issue however for niche apps. Eg Niche medical apps, a reliable CHM file reader (reference text books), advanced pdf reader/editor with the ability to underline/comment/draw in.... I can go on. Even office 365 functionality that is supposedly a huge selling point is largely replaceable with Kingsoft office which is superb sans the synching (you just need the extra step of google drive).
Then there are the core google services which have really exploded in functionality to become more than just gimmicks in the past 12 months. – Chrome browser with its desktop session synching, google now with its local contextual searches, automatic G+ photo uploader (full size backups with auto enhancement unlike dropbox).
Lets not mention 3rd party accessory compatibility with Windows Phone...ie. there APIs are so closed that no BT keyboards work with it for example.
There's a lot which is being fixed and is "promised" to be fixed in upcoming updates from MS – unfortunately thats always been the story with WP as they play catchup, which I understand being a new OS. However, 12 months on, even basic things like notification centre, screen rotation lock, separate notification ringtones, separate notification/system volumes are still yet to be fixed/only being patched now.
In terms of positives of the windows phone os, to be honest there isn't anything that appeals to me that I'm not already experiencing in android. Metro UI I don't mind but can be hit and miss with no notification centre and when you're relying on 3rd party live tiles which don't always update frequently enough for your liking (and wit no option to change). Simplicity is always touted as a windows phone advantage, but to be honest I find android simple enough if you know what you're doing and the appeal is more for perhaps people new to smartphones. As an android user, the simplicity actually feels limiting as I can't get things to work exactly how I want it to. In short it's a matter of how much I can compromise when coming from Android to wp on the software side unfortunately.
Having said all this I'd still keep looking at WP due to Nokia's hardware and their general nailing of the camera (which android hasn't accomplished fully yet), but there needs to be a lot of improvement on the software side from MS and 3rd party developers before I can fully see myself changing platforms. As good as the hardware and camera may be, my smartphone is my mobile computer replacement and the OS needs to be able to function like that.
Perhaps when RT merges with 8.1 and a few more MS and Nokia updates roll out it'll get more capable and phablet friendly. But until that time I'm keep jealously watching and admiring in awe at the camera and hardware but deep down knowing I just can't do what I want to do on it right now.
YMMV.
Good luck!
Something like Tasker or automatic volume adjustment will require homebrew, or at least an OEM app; third-party apps aren't allowed to run continuously in the background (it's bad for performance and battery life) on WP.
thank to you all so far
is it possible to have voice driving directions in car (thinking of Here Drive) AND listen to music from another app at the same time ? Or view a Youtube video ? Is WP8 really multitask these days ?
chareos12 said:
thank to you all so far
is it possible to have voice driving directions in car (thinking of Here Drive) AND listen to music from another app at the same time ? Or view a Youtube video ? Is WP8 really multitask these days ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes you can listen music and working here drive+ navigation in same time... music temporally get lower and pause when navigation give voice direction
dxdy said:
yes you can listen music and working here drive+ navigation in same time... music temporally get lower and pause when navigation give voice direction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youtube too ?
Man, I'm getting really impatient to make the switch
chareos12 said:
Youtube too ?
Man, I'm getting really impatient to make the switch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
youtube no, because when you switch to start screen or other app automatically stop playing (but only tried in official YT app and SuperTube)
Here Drive will run fully in the background (battery warning: don't forget to stop it if you take a break somewhere short of your destination!) and will override other audio playback to give directions. Start Here Drive, enter directions and start navigation, then hit Start (or press-and-hold Back) and go to your media player app. You should continue getting turn-by-turn prompts. It doesn't actually pause the audio, which is annoying - you'll miss bits of songs or audiobooks, for example - but it works.
Hi everyone, just got my N3 last night and I am pretty excited about it.
I am a long time Mac Rumors member and my past phones have been ...... JB 3g, JB 3gs, JB 4, JB 4s
I am very upset with the tiny screens on my iphones and I refuse to wait another year for the 6 to come out.
So now I am a 1st time Android user and what to really check out the Android scene.
What are the first things I should do with the phone, what should I install right away? (different keyboards, apps, etc)
Is there a thread around here with tutes instructing how to transfer my contacts etc?
I surely will appreciate all replies, so thanks in advance. I really wanna get the very MOST out of this device.
edit: does Google Play offer any rebates/coupons/freebies for newly purchased devices?
Hey I would use smart switch to get your things from iPhone to your new phone but that is after you have it activated
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app
XiphoneUzer said:
Hi everyone, just got my N3 last night and I am pretty excited about it.
I am a long time Mac Rumors member and my past phones have been ...... JB 3g, JB 3gs, JB 4, JB 4s
I am very upset with the tiny screens on my iphones and I refuse to wait another year for the 6 to come out.
So now I am a 1st time Android user and what to really check out the Android scene.
My N3 arrived Wednesday evening, and it's STILL not activated, (and its killing me).
The reason being, I wanna know if there is anything I should do BEFORE I call ATT and activate it.
(I do NOT want to close any windows, so is there is anything you folks recommend I do before I activate it)?
Once activated, what are the first things I should do with the phone, what should I install right away?
Is there a thread around here with tutes instructing how to transfer my contacts etc?
I surely will appreciate all replies, so thanks in advance. I really wanna get the very MOST out of this device.
edit: does Google Play offer any rebates/coupons/freebies for newly purchased devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by call ATT and activate it? All you have to do is put your SIM card in and it is ready to go with a few account setups. After that it is up to you except for rooting and modding. Cant be done right now without voiding your warranty.
First thing you do is scratch off the att emblem since they locked the bootloader
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
XiphoneUzer said:
Once activated, what are the first things I should do with the phone, what should I install right away?
Is there a thread around here with tutes instructing how to transfer my contacts etc?
I surely will appreciate all replies, so thanks in advance. I really wanna get the very MOST out of this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello?
Looking for some help here. This keyboard is way different than iphone, is it something you get used to, or should I install something else?
Please tell me what are some of the things I should change/install right away, (there's got to be some "must haves" no?)
XiphoneUzer said:
Hello?
Looking for some help here. This keyboard is way different than iphone, is it something you get used to, or should I install something else?
Please tell me what are some of the things I should change/install right away, (there's got to be some "must haves" no?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the keyboard, i prefer the google keyboard over the samsung one. It provides functionality similar to the iphone and is easy to switch between the iphone and android if you use them both in daily life.
As for apps, here is a small list of apps i like to have on all of my devices.
GOOGLE CHROME. Its much better than the built in browser and is able to synchronize with my desktop browsers favorites, etc.
Skype: Perfect for if you are travelling over seas at all with your device.
Google Hangouts: A good replacement for the built in SMS app.
Facebook & Twitter: If you need an explanation, you shouldn't be useing these apps.
Battery Doctor by KS Mobile: Simple app, but is helpful to save battery life and know exactly how much you have left.
Google Music: I have most of my library stored on google so it makes my life easy to have this.
Google Books: The book equivalent of my music library. Syncronizes what i have read across devices and browsers.
Kindle for Android: For the ebooks you buy on amazon.
Google Keep: Great for taking quick notes and having them on all your devices.
Dropbox: Great cloud file storage. Comes with free storage and you can pay to get more.
Google Drive: Google version of dropbox.
MX Player: This video player will play any video format you throw at it.
Google Maps: A must have for all smartphone users.
Zedge: While its quality has gone down a fair bit from what it once was, its still a great place to find ringtones and notification sounds for your android device.
GPS Status: Great for calibrating your devices sensors and ensuring that it works properly.
Now for the ROOT ONLY apps.
Titanium backup
SuperSU
Triangle Away
Hopefully this is a useful list to get you started. I have all these plus many more installed on my devices, and I find I use them all fairly regularly.
djdelusional said:
Skype: Perfect for if you are travelling over seas at all with your device.
Google Hangouts: A good replacement for the built in SMS app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer Hangouts to Skype because Hangouts features free video multi-chat.
But I use Google Voice for SMS because it provides free unlimited texting. Hangouts insists on using the phone's native number rather than your Google Voice number, so you have to pay extra for a text plan or for individual messages.
Doesn't anyone else have any advice for a first time Android user?
XiphoneUzer said:
Doesn't anyone else have any advice for a first time Android user?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your new to android I'd stay away from root for a while.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I467 using Tapatalk 4
XiphoneUzer said:
Hello?
Looking for some help here. This keyboard is way different than iphone, is it something you get used to, or should I install something else?
Please tell me what are some of the things I should change/install right away, (there's got to be some "must haves" no?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel like for every-day typical phone use cases, there aren't that many gaps that stand out as needing to be filled by a third party app. You'll probably need a new music player, the defaults are crapola - but I can't be much help here; I keep my music as folders full of MP3 files (like God intended!) and play with Music Folder Player, and shun the dirty S&M ("sync and manage") apps.
There's a big list of stuff that I did when I first got the phone to get it to where I'm happy with it, but all of this was root required stuff. There are apps that come pre-loaded on android devices and can't be removed or disabled without root. Also, customizing stuff that can't be customized without root. I couldn't abide by some of the not-changable-without-root defaults. Getting rid of the "screen turns on so you can unlock it when you hit the home key" behavior is probably the most glaring example for me; my ass* was unlocking it constantly - but coming from iPhone, you probably view that as the Right Thing for home button to do.
I think most people use a custom keyboard. Swiftkey and Swype are the most popular. The phone comes with Swype, but it's an ancient version with limited support for changing the dictionary, you want the newest one.
I use Hangouts for gchat, but not for SMS. I actually prefer default app for SMS..
Settings:
Pull down status bar, long press on wifi, WiFi -> menu -> advanced settings, uncheck auto connect to AT&T hotspots (unless they don't suck where you are. Around here, they often don't have internet behind them, and just break your connectivity for the 30 seconds or so it takes for the phone to connect to them, determine that the wifi is no good, and fall back to 4G. At least this phone does that; Original note would just sit there like a fool trying to use non-functional wifi... I've also yet to find a hotspot that performs better than the 4G does. But I live in a city, so the situation may be different elsewhere).
Pull down status bar, long press on GPS. Uncheck "Use wireless networks" - on newer versions of android, this drains battery while idle; the damned thing wakes the phone periodically to check the networks around it - if the phone is nearly idle, this can halve battery life (!!!)
Pull down status bar, swipe to the left along the options at the top (woah, did you know you could do that?), tap multiwindow to enable multiwindow (this was a headline feature for the note 3, but comes disabled by default). If I long-press back button, that makes the multiwindow tab hide or unhide (once it's enabled), but I don't remember if I had to do something to get this behavior.
General must-have things:
AppOps Starter (to kill permissions from apps that request permissions you don't want to give them)
Battery Monitor Widget (gives you a realtime readout of battery usage)
ES File Explorer
If you want to pretty-ize clock + weather widgets:
DigiClock
Eye in Sky
If you work in IT or have need of these (if you aren't sure what these mean, you don't need them ):
ConnectBot (telnet/ssh client)
AndFTP (ftp/sftp client, supports scp if you pay)
RDP Client (remote desktop and VNC client)
FEAT VPN (OpenVPN client)
Hacker's Keyboard (you'll tear your hair out trying to use swype/swiftkey for terminal sessions or RDP)
If you want to root the phone:
Root it, then immediately install titanium backup and "freeze" AT&T software update, so it won't update your phone (breaking root) while you're not looking
Titanium Backup - freeze all the useless bloatware that AT&T and Samsung included (there's a list of what apps you can freeze here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmzC8GFarItSdGpOZzBfWlR4MC03aDMyZ1BDUFNqU0E - not my work)
Root Explorer
Pen Window Manager for adding apps to the pen window feature
Xposed Framework
Wanam - general huge amount of customization, including selecting apps for multiwindow.
Keyboard Manager (almost a necessity if you use ConnectBot/RDP frequently - keyboards designed for messaging and such are garbage for doing administration of non-phone systems, while hacker's keyboard is garbage for messaging and everyday phone stuff)
Terminal Emulator (gives you a command prompt on phone. Doesn't require root, but there are very few use cases for terminal on android that don't also need root)
*Well, I keep it in my front pocket, so technically it wasn't my /ass/ unlocking the phone....
Please help me to decide. I have used android for long time. I want to try something different but I'm not sure . Any one here switched from the Note or an android phone?
argo1a said:
Please help me to decide. I have used android for long time. I want to try something different but I'm not sure . Any one here switched from the Note or an android phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, you're asking in the Windows Phone 8 General section, so you probably won't get an unbiased opinion, so be sure to check out other sources too, which should help you decide.
Honestly, I think I would go for the Note 3. I currently use both Windows Phone 8 and Android 4.4.2 (ATIV S and Nexus 4) and I think both of them are great devices. But I prefere using the ATIV S because of its camera, the keyboard and its performance.
But in case of a phablet, I think the Note 3 (with a good custom ROM) is a much better choice.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 has a great camera, a wonderful screen and Windows Phone 8 performs seemlessly on it. The Note 3 has a bit smaller screen than the Lumia 1520, does support input via stylus and can be used much more productively. If you need or want a stylus, you have no other choice.
The Lumia 1520 is a great phone though, but imho it is not a good phablet, because I simply expect stylus support from a smartphone with such a big screen. If you just want a phone that has a great battery, great camera, great screen, great performance, great built-quality all the advantages and disadvanteges of Windows Phone 8 and you want to try something different/new, you should totally get the Lumia.
Maybe take a look at some reviews, but I don't think that you are making a wrong decision when buying either of these devices.
If you want to change from ecosystem.......from Droid to WP8x
Then you should do a lot more than compare devices.
There is a upcomming update for wp8 ( wp8.1 ) so some of the stuf you read wil soon be obsolete.
Phablets is not only about stylus.
I got a 1320, the big little brother of the 1520.
And i like it better than the note I of my wife and the note II of my daugter.
The letterfonts are bigger, i dont need my glasses to work with it.
Its simply strait forward and does everything what it supose to do.
Battery life is a lot longer and also i find the gps a lot better.
Aspecialy with the Here maps and Here drive.
Also the Nokia camera-app is way better than the one on the Samsung.
But there is no possibility to change custom roms and root ( yet ),
but thats oke because it works great strait out of the box, no need for tinkering.
yeah, he should definitely take a look at Windows Phone 8.1.
The Lumia 1520 is great, but imho it is just another Nokia phone with a bigger screen. This is not bad at all, Nokia makes great phones, but it is not really a phablet like the Note 3.
If you want something that will work out-of the box for years, have a great performance as always and will just become better the more you use it, you should take the Lumia 1520. For everything else, like Custom-ROMs, stylus support, etc. you will have to get the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
1520
HI
i own a nokia 1520 and i like it very very much. everything goes smooth and the phablet is very handy , long battery life ...in my case 3 days... beautiful design...much quicker browsing !!
there are so many android devices on the market and allmost everybody has such a phone.
with the 1520 you have something special in your hand. all my friends want to have a nokia 1x20 or x20 ...
go for the NOKIA LUMIA 1520 !!!!
I like the 1520. I can live with windows phone limitations. Android is indeed a better OS without a doubt cz you can drop your PC for an android phone but with WP you can't do a lot of things.. But I love the windows phone, its faster, more secure, stylish and has a better look. Its a matter of taste and a subjective approach... I chose the Lumia 1520 and didn't buy the Note 3.
argo1a said:
Please help me to decide. I have used android for long time. I want to try something different but I'm not sure . Any one here switched from the Note or an android phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i switched android phone...
note 3 is more productive than nokia :good:
patraaas said:
note 3 is more productive than nokia :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wel nee, Nokia is more productive ..........
serious
How come that N3 is more productive than a 1520, care to explane?
I heard that a lot, but they never could explane.
I, too, wanted to leave android and get a windows phone.
Until I realized what I used primarily, and how windows phones didn't have it (officially, or yet)
I didn't want a clone of VLC - I wanted VLC. Or a subsitute of Chrome/Firefox - I wanted the real thing.
My bank didn't have an app - I could just use the mobile version, but then again, that's true for almost everything! Right???
Tethering wasn't available, or at least how I would tether. So those long trips w/me using my Verizon unlimited plan instead of those crappy hotel wifis....gone!
Shoot, even the price of the windows store seemed pitiful! Apps that were 99 cents on android were 2.99 on windows!
These are things you gotta take into account!!!!
I had the note 3 when it first came out for T-Mobile. I actually had every major galaxy phone S1, s2, s3, sIV,(I will be skipping S V, 1 because it didn't impress me, and 2 I'm so bored with Samsung phones), Note 2 and Note3, along with some HTC android phones and some Sony android phones. I recently switched to the unicorn model of the Lumia 1520. I say unicorn model because it's a very hard and rare phone to find. It actually supports the AWS band for T-Mobile along with the At&t bands and rest of the world bands.
I actually got bored with Android and wanted something different. Pretty much it comes down to the how much do you really care about apps/games. I don't game a lot on a phone that's why I have consoles, 3ds, vita, and a pc. I do a lot of productivity on my phone though. A lot of banking and emails. Not really into the social media stuff. As people always say, windows phone does not have a lot of apps. Some of my banks do not have apps on windows phone. But when you look at what an app does it is just a pretty UI that connects to your bank. In windows I can just pin the website to the home page and poof instant app for that bank or that website, etc. On the Lumia 1520, the screen is large enough where it's not hassle.
I can say that battery life between the two, are very good. Both will last all day with heavy usage. I normally am streaming music, checking emails, playing a game or two, viewing websites, and watch a little Netflix and I don't have to charge untill I go to bed. Normally the phone is off the charger about 6:00 am each day and I got bed around 11pm or 12am. Performance wise, I have to say the windows phone runs a little smoother.
When it comes to customization, Android wins hands down. I actually do miss the customization that Android allows. On windows phone you have the tiles you can put and you can resize them between small, medium, and large. Medium and large will show additional information, where as small tile just shows the app without any info.
Tethering works fine on both, although on the Lumia 1520 I did have to do a few extra steps to get it to work. Apparently the US carriers has some type of block on the built in tethering app. One last thing, if you heavily in with google services, pretty much none of those services are available on windows phone. So no google play, no google voice, no push service for gmail, no chrome, etc.
The things I don't like about windows phone:
1.) Unable to download large files - I tried to download a 2 GB map file for the nokia here and it said I had to switch to wifi. Android has no such restrictions.
2.) Lack of Customization
3.) Lack of Google services (Not sure if it's Google or MS)
The things I like:
1.) Very clean and simple interface,
2.) The Lumia 1520 has a great design
3.) Runs smooth and works
4.) Office intergration
5.) Native Email and Calendar apps are the best (much better than android or ios)
Things I like about android:
1.) Customization
2.) Tethering worked out the box
3.) No restrictions on file types to download or file size
4.) Multitasking with 2 apps on the screen at once.
Things I don't like about android:
1.) You have to root to really use the phone as you want
2.) A lot of bloatware
3.) You have to watch out for rogue apps (haven't heard of any in windows phone)
4.) You may or may not get the next version of the OS regardless of how new your phone may be.
This is just my thoughts. So far though I'm like the 1520. I have high hopes for the next update to windows phone and look forward to it improving. Windows phone is still young so still is playing catch-up, but I think it has a bright future.
Erm... there are plenty of third-party apps for Google Voice on WP8, and push for Gmail works fine for me and has been for years (since WP7). With that said, yeah, the integration with Google services other than Gmail and Calendar isn't great, and mostly relies on third-party apps.
GoodDayToDie said:
Erm... there are plenty of third-party apps for Google Voice on WP8, and push for Gmail works fine for me and has been for years (since WP7). With that said, yeah, the integration with Google services other than Gmail and Calendar isn't great, and mostly relies on third-party apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's actually fetch if you use the default email client on non Microsoft accounts. It only allows push on Microsoft accounts (.msn,.live,.hotmail,.outlook). For those accounts you have the option to receive mail as they arrive. But when you set up Gmail you have to select intervals and the shortest interval is every 15 minutes. At least when I set it up it did not give me the option of as mail arrives on the Gmail accounts.
Ah... I still have ActiveSync on my Gmail account, and therefore get push email plus calendar and contact sync. I've heard that new accounts may not get ActiveSync anymore, but it still works for me. Try setting up an Exchange/Outlook account with the following details and see if it works? May only work for accounts created before 2013 or something (mine's from way back when Gmail was invite-only beta...)
Username = <your Gmail address, including the @gmail.com or similar>
Password = <your Google password>
Server = m.google.com
Require SSL = Yes
Note 3 for sure... and I'm a Windows Phone user, really good OS. Note 3 is the best Android device ever, at least for me.
hotrock11 said:
I, too, wanted to leave android and get a windows phone.
Until I realized what I used primarily, and how windows phones didn't have it (officially, or yet)
I didn't want a clone of VLC - I wanted VLC. Or a subsitute of Chrome/Firefox - I wanted the real thing.
My bank didn't have an app - I could just use the mobile version, but then again, that's true for almost everything! Right???
Tethering wasn't available, or at least how I would tether. So those long trips w/me using my Verizon unlimited plan instead of those crappy hotel wifis....gone!
Shoot, even the price of the windows store seemed pitiful! Apps that were 99 cents on android were 2.99 on windows!
These are things you gotta take into account!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah you're 100% right, but after all, and I'm talking about myself - android guy- I threw away all "reason" and I did buy the Lumia cz its simply better than the note. Better in hand, better in screen, better in sound, camera, looks, touch sensitivity (or at least how I feel), build quality.....etc... its a Nokia !!!! Lol
I went from OG Droid -> Droid X -> Galaxy Nexus = 6 years of Android to a brand spanking new Nokia Lumia Icon (the slightly smaller version of the 1520 on Verizon).
I can say, in the end, I just got tired of tinkering with my Android phones. Root-wipe-backup-install rom-install kernel-backup, rinse and repeat - over and over again, every time a updated ROM was submitted to the site. I just got tired of it all. Windows phone has limitations, but you have to take it for what it is, after all, these are smart PHONES we are talking about here. They all do the same things, some differently, some the same. The Galaxy nexus was awesome when I first got it, but after about a year, it lagged like crazy, no matter what rom/kernel combo I had on it. The battery life was abysmal. The Note 3 is better on all accords, but from seeing my friends GS4 lag it up after a year, it seems that even new hardware cant keep up on Android. But I think this is also dependent on the user, if you have a lot of apps, and you tinker its bound to run like $hit after a year +.
If your debating between the Note and a Lumia phone, my recommendation is to go with the Lumia (unless you have a specific need for the stylus). I tried the Note 3 out for 2 weeks, and returned it. It was faster, and almost lag free, but touchwiz is just aweful, and trying to put 2 apps on screen lagged the thing to death. Its a good feature, that is really not ready for prime time. Maybe in a year or 2 Android and the chips will be ready for this feature, but its just not there yet, for me.
My reasons for choosing the Lumia are very simple. I looked at my Android device, and decided that there were really no apps that I couldn't live without. I looked through the windows phone store to see if I could do what I needed to, and haven't really missed a beat. The phone is highly customizable with apps like Custom Tile Maker, and Lockmix, and I find the live tiles refreshing and new. The things I miss, are reported coming to Windows phone 8.1 - VPN, Notification Center, and Cortana (Google Now replacement), and background images on the start screen. The Camera is better than my point and shoot camera, it gives me RAW .dng files, that I can open in Photoshop / Lightroom and edit. Add to it all, the fact that I use a Windows 8 PC, and the syncing between the devices is really pretty awesome. I forward all my GMAIL to my Outlook.com account, and I can say, outlook.com is soooooooo much better than gmail. The App gap is more media perceived than reality. The only apps I couldn't find a suitable replacement for were kids apps, and an HSBC banking app (which is supposedly coming soon).
To replace your Google services:
Here Maps/Drive is better than Google Maps Navigation. Only think I miss is street view.
MetroTube for Youtube (you can download audio or video for anything
Outlook > GMAIL (forward gmail to outlook.com, or just use built in mail app with fetch)
Onedrive > Google Drive
Office > Google Docs
No stupid requirement to use Google +. Windows Phone ME tile, allows you to connect to multiple social media apps, and integrates them into the experience. Its pretty great once you get into it.
Music: Cloudmuzik Beta - works for Google Music you have previously uploaded, but I find that XBOX music subscription blows everything out of the water. I like it better than Spotify. Nokia Mix Radio is better than Pandora too, and its free on Nokia devices.
Hangouts - I use IM+, works fine. I have a feeling Skype will be integrating google chat at some point, but until then, IM+ is suitable chat replacement.
Bing and Google.....difference is really subjective. if im not getting the results I want on Bing, just go to google.com, and do the same search
for File management, and multiple cloud storage integration, use Pocket File Manager app - I paid for it, its pretty awesome. Theres no Dropbox app, you can access your files via Pocket File Manager, or use Cloudsix for Dropbox app.
I don't know, I guess my opinion of Android just soured over time. The only thing that I "miss" is being able to steal wifi tethering through a rooted device. Take my opinion like a grain of salt, because that's what it is, my opinion, and just like everyone else, im entitled to my opinion.
Thanks
I had the note 2 since it came out,and before that the Captivate and all the others up to #3...Motorola,and a few Iphones..
Last Sunday..I traded it in on the 1520 along with my wife's original Captivate for her a 1020
I had both rooted and custom roms loaded..
As much as I used to enjoy flashing roms,radios,themes...it just became tiresome to me as well..
I did my comparison of all the new Sammy phones..and went with these because they did exactly what we wanted,and because for me there was no comparison of build quality or screen displays...no for my wife a better camera.
Also,as far as connectativity these connect better than any here at work and home..
Do I miss my Androids...no..not in the least and have run win 7/8 themes off and on for a couple of years anyway...and there isn't any apps I can't find I use in the wins app store
FWIW..I'm extremely pleased with my choices..
Mac
Sent from my Nokia 1520
I've had a Note1, Note2 and S4. An iphone 3g and 4. A lumia 920 and 1520. I like my 1520 much better than my note 2. The note3 isn't a significant upgrade as far as I'm concerned. Aside from missing a lot of games and not being able to tether for free, I love wp8 and the 1530. Wp8 is smoother than even ios. Btw, I also have an ipad3 and galaxy tab pro 8.4.
Looking at the Nokia 640 on metro PCs , what are you guys opinions on this phone?I had a Nokia 521 quiet awhile back but switched to android because of the lack of SD card use back then.
I can't speak to MetroPCS as a carrier, but the 640 is a great phone for its price. The biggest problem with it is the same problem every WP device will have - there aren't as many apps available for the platform as there are for Android and iOS (although there are a bunch nonetheless, and more every day) - but the phone itself is quite good unless you need high-end specs for some reason. The OS runs very smoothly on it. Also, it's upgradable to Windows 10 Mobile (yes, Microsoft changed the branding on their phone OS *again*...), so you've got a reasonably future-proof design and it'll even be able to run at least some Android apps in the future.
In my opinion windows phones are always better and safe than android phones. You can also read about technology public relations.
Play Apps?
GoodDayToDie said:
I can't speak to MetroPCS as a carrier, but the 640 is a great phone for its price. The biggest problem with it is the same problem every WP device will have - there aren't as many apps available for the platform as there are for Android and iOS (although there are a bunch nonetheless, and more every day) - but the phone itself is quite good unless you need high-end specs for some reason. The OS runs very smoothly on it. Also, it's upgradable to Windows 10 Mobile (yes, Microsoft changed the branding on their phone OS *again*...), so you've got a reasonably future-proof design and it'll even be able to run at least some Android apps in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where are these claims about Android apps to WP coming from? Isn't it still a rumour?
I can't seem to find any official substanciated news about this...
As I understand it MS currently have two problems regarding the app-gap;
1) if they open WP to Play-apps, then they risk losing interest from dev's to continue making apps specifically to WP, making WP more or less another version of Android.
2) making dev's keen on making apps for a third platform, which isn't futureproof yet (even tho it's been around for long enough). This "solution" will make WP it's own and keep MS in the mobilemarket as an real and actual alternative to the established platforms.
What is sure and what are rumours?
M
Metalbuddhist said:
Where are these claims about Android apps to WP coming from? Isn't it still a rumour?
I can't seem to find any official substanciated news about this...
As I understand it MS currently have two problems regarding the app-gap;
1) if they open WP to Play-apps, then they risk losing interest from dev's to continue making apps specifically to WP, making WP more or less another version of Android.
2) making dev's keen on making apps for a third platform, which isn't futureproof yet (even tho it's been around for long enough). This "solution" will make WP it's own and keep MS in the mobilemarket as an real and actual alternative to the established platforms.
What is sure and what are rumours?
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will not enable android apps to run directly on the phone like in an emulator, they developed a tool so android developers can recompile their existing app code so it can be used in windows, see the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qgajY4An1I
I'm really looking forward to making the switch from Android. I've always been a Windows PC enthusiast, and Windows 10 is shaping up nicely.
So, a phone to match will be nice. As for apps for phones, I hardly use any nowadays.
The biggest disadvantage of WP is the low market share of under 10% .
This means that most of the useful apps or games will not be available to WP.
But if as you say you dont use apps and you like the windows style you should go for it!
My experience switching over
I picked up a 640 on T-Mobile the other day as a new "daily driver" - my S4 went swimming once upon a time and reception was never quite the same after that, and I've been thinking about app development and the possible advantages of being a bigger fish in a smaller pond - particularly if MS manages to be successful going forward with Windows Phone. I'm sure I won't have anything available by the time Windows 10 Mobile comes out, so I'm not sure how that's going to work out in the end - perhaps Android development would be a better choice after all? But my experience with the phone overall hasn't been bad so far, particularly not for $100.
The one thing that I hate about the phone is that I can't put it on WiFi at home - something about the WiFi config puts it into a boot loop when it tries to kick in the voice over WiFi piece. Seems like it's similar to the "no iOS zone" problem that turned up for Apple back in April, except that since (relatively) nobody is using Windows Phone nobody really cares. The "fix" recommended is "reset your router to factory defaults" which might be an issue since I'm running OpenWRT..... I'm thinking about putting the Windows 10 preview on so this may go away - even if it's only due to lack of support for T-Mobile's WiFi calling. At least I have LTE coverage in most of my house and an "unlimited" data plan.
The main thing I'm really missing is browser choice - I REALLY miss having Firefox and Dolphin, because I do a lot of long-form reading in my browser and the readability view in FF is much more usable. LastPass in Dolphin is also nice to have, though it never worked for me in Firefox. I'm also missing the addon ecosystems of both browsers. Surfy is at least a nice addition, but browsers on WP seem to be at least 2-3 years behind what's on Android. Both IE and Surfy "feel" kind of like the built-in browser in Gingerbread (2.3) or maybe in the early days of Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) before Google started pushing Chrome as the default browser. Having relatively weak browser(s) is a problem because with the lack of apps at least I can use mobile websites..... when they don't simply crash out the IE tab/window/whatever since it's not a tabbed or windowed interface.
I'm also hoping that Pocket Casts will work correctly for me after their next update (currently it hangs if I turn on sync to pull in my podcasts, then dies on app startup), but I'll survive for a while. I'm also feeling the lack of good ebook readers, I've been spoiled by Cool Reader and Moon+ Reader Pro on the Android side.
The only things besides browsers that I'm really missing:
Things tied in with Google's ecosystem - I use Google Voice for my voicemail, I've been using Location History for a long time to help me track when I arrive at and leave customer locations, and there's a group of us that uses Google Hangouts for group chat. I can get Voice notifications in email with the transcriptions then listen to the messages via URL. The Location History bit I may be able to replace with Phone Tracker, but I'm not sure what to do about Hangouts yet.
Replacement keyboards! I've been a big Swiftkey user for years and would love to have it back even without the voice recognition link (which launches Google's service). I hate having to do 4-6 extra keystrokes to enter passwords because of the switches to get to numbers/punctuation and extended punctuation (via the numbers page). There are places where Hacker's Keyboard (a much more full keyboard nice for terminal emulations) was also nice to have.
A GOOD text editor (e.g. DroidEdit which has syntax highlighting, etc.) or really even an adequate text editor. Maybe a mediocre one? Please? I've seen mention of Code Editor but was unimpressed by the "Free" version (first thing it does is throw you to the store page for the paid version, free version can't even see the "advanced" editor that's the only reason to actually consider it). The only other option that at least looks good in screenshots ("HTML+JS+CSS IDE") hasn't been updated since 2013 and has a total of 3 reviews - and the two with text are both 1-star.
CallTrack (which adds all of my phone calls to my Google Calendar, tagged appropriately and with start and end times) and SMS Backup (which uploads my sent/received SMS to GMail, tagged appropriately). CallTrack is great for going back and "Who did I talk to that day?" and SMS Backup is great for tracking down things received in old messages. I WILL be working on finding replacements for these.
And a few less-important things that I can either do without or still need to find replacements for:
My auto mileage/service tracking app - if there's something comparable to aCar then I haven't seen it yet.
OpenVPN, though the VPN service I use allows IPSEC as well so I'll need to set that up.
Lyft, though I've not actually needed to use it. I know Uber's on there, I just like what I know of Lyft better (and there's one area where my wife may need it that's on the edge of the areas for both but Lyft covers it and Uber doesn't).
KeePass - I believe I saw one implementation in the Store, but I'd want to check into the background of it given the number of scam apps I've come across.
@fencepost: Good list of stuff, there. I don't really have a good solution to much of it - I mean, Microsoft has alternatives to a lot of Google's stuff, but they are mutually incompatible so everybody you hang out with would need to switch too - but those are some good problems to list. The problem with WiFi calling is probably a T-Mobile bug, sadly; I don't have it myself but WiFi Calling on WP8.x isn't really as good as it could be. My biggest personal complaint with WiFi is that the OS is too damn desperate to stay on (unusably weak) WiFi signals even when it has cellular data; if I'm actively using my phone when I leave the apartment (for example, checking a bus schedule) it's faster to manually disable WiFi than to rely on the phone to notice that the WiFi signal is much too weak to use and fail over to cellular. Ideally I'd be able to tell the phone to use cellular by *default* and only use WiFi for stuff that it can't get ont he WAN (LAN servers, etc.), but the OS wasn't really designed to provide an optimal experience for people with unlimited data plans.
The custom keyboard thing may be fixable soon - at least, I really hope so - but for now it is indeed a problem. WP8.1 has the best *built-in* keyboard of the three leading mobile OSes, IMO, but it's not better than all the Android options.
As for a text editor, I generally avoid writing anything longer than notes or minor document edits (or emails, but usually only plain text) on the phone, so I haven't really looked. You might be able to use SSH or Remote Desktop, though; there's a number of decent apps for each (including a MS-authored one for RDP) and with unlimited data they should work. You may even find them more useful than a local editor. It might be worth setting up a Remote App server (so you'd *just* get an editor, rather than a whole desktop) for this.
OpenVPN *should* be possible to port, but it needs a driver (TUN/TAP) and MS would need to approve or provide that even more than they would need to approve a new VPN app (which I think requires a capability not normally available to third-party devs). I'm tempted to say that they really *should* allow it, but I'm also painfully aware that OpenVPN on Windows (and, possibly, other platforms) is sort of crap. I can usually beat it into submission on a machine where I have admin, but on a phone it could simply just sit there being unusable until the phone gets rebooted or something.
WP8 in general seems to have a lower risk of scam apps than Android, but it's definitely a good idea to look into any password keeper utility's trustworthiness.
EDIT: As for browsers, as far as I know there's not actually any rule against third-party browsers. Opera Mini does exist for WP8, which is cool, but so far as I know nobody has ported a Gecko or WebKit/Blink-based browser. Ideally, somebody should fix this, although getting them to work within WP8's application model might mean rebuilding a lot of the browser as well as just porting the rendering engine.
Metalbuddhist said:
Where are these claims about Android apps to WP coming from? Isn't it still a rumour?
I can't seem to find any official substanciated news about this...
As I understand it MS currently have two problems regarding the app-gap;
1) if they open WP to Play-apps, then they risk losing interest from dev's to continue making apps specifically to WP, making WP more or less another version of Android.
2) making dev's keen on making apps for a third platform, which isn't futureproof yet (even tho it's been around for long enough). This "solution" will make WP it's own and keep MS in the mobilemarket as an real and actual alternative to the established platforms.
What is sure and what are rumours?
M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read an article on Flipboard some while ago that MS had ditched it because of Lack of security in Open-source and it wouldnt work directly from the file system.. only if they sideloaded Android apps. Why do we want android apps anyway.. It removes the love of WP. MS need to invest more money in their WP store to entice new devs.
Let ms make a toolkit for the android devs
A toolkit to one click port it to MS ecosystem
Then the threshold to port it would be lower and a real mony maker for the devs
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Free mobile app
NightOrchid said:
I read an article on Flipboard some while ago that MS had ditched it because of Lack of security in Open-source and it wouldnt work directly from the file system.. only if they sideloaded Android apps. Why do we want android apps anyway.. It removes the love of WP. MS need to invest more money in their WP store to entice new devs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want Android apps as such, but Android and IOS devs in the wp game.
I've had a lot of Apple and Andy devices the last eight years and have grown to like the variety of developers and want they put out for us.
WP is a good ecosystem, but the app gap is way bigger than I expected. There are just to many everyday apps I had on my other phones, which I cannot get in WP (yet).
I feel like I've walked into a grossery store and most of the shelfes are empty... I have to buy my oj and milk in another store, simply because MS can't get those dev's on board.
...And that's just a crying shame.
The 640 has a baked in WiFi calling feature rather than a separate app like almost every other Lumia device. I think it may be the only Lumia to have Wi-Fi calling baked into the SIM settings rather than running as a separate app.
Be careful if you are using any Google apps with it - Google is scared of Windows phone and they are doing everything they can to prevent app development. Any app they have taken over will never see another Windows phone release, and they are kind of crazy about it. For example Microsoft made their own YouTube app because Google wouldn't ,Google forced them to take it down. Now the YouTube app on the WP is just a link to YouTube - not because no one wants to make one for WP, but because Google won't let anyone make one.
---------- Post added at 08:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
I should add though - I have the 640 and it's awesome, extremely fast, well built, solid screen, expandable SD card slot, decent cameras for a phone and an ok flash. It's also neat the way the apps tie together with your windows 10 computer
NightOrchid said:
I read an article on Flipboard some while ago that MS had ditched it because of Lack of security in Open-source and it wouldnt work directly from the file system.. only if they sideloaded Android apps. Why do we want android apps anyway.. It removes the love of WP. MS need to invest more money in their WP store to entice new devs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried both Windows as well as Android Phone but everyone will agree that Android is anytime the best coz of features or benefits it has to offer. I used to be a Windows Mobile fan but now I love Android.
I would not switch to Windows again for now atleast