Smartphone geeks, pick one of these phones.

[Thai]

Explain to me how Siri is going to be able to provide Cortana and Google Now type services without knowing and cross-referencing user information and crunching it in the cloud. And when it comes to the cloud, Apple is well behind the other two.

I notice a long time Apple fan (and I presume MS hater) has named Outlook as the best email app for Apple watch. What are you going to do when some of the best apps for Apple devices come from Microsoft?

Why do you like MS? Because its phone loses value so much that you got one for $50? Is there more to it? If the world is like that, then we all be driving Pontiac Aztec and not 4runners!

If you understand privacy, then you should know that Siri will never be as "aware" as Google Now...because of limitations of Apple iOS and privacy. In iOS 9, Siri will read emails and try to help you....but NOTHING is sent back to Apple servers. So, Siri will be behind GN and Cortana in terms of self-awareness and going beyond the phone environment to seek info about/for you. Plus and minus of privacy I guess.

Cloud service? Again, does MS offer end-to-end encryption on cloud services? If it does not, then I don't give a rats ass if it is "better". Why would I want MS or Google have access to my documents, etc.? Why on earth would you think that is a good idea?

I am sure Outlook Apple Watch app is awesome...I have READ good things about it. But, I am NOT using it. Easy as pie, isn't it? I only use Outlook at work because I have to...but use it only for work-related stuff.

MS hater? I don't like it. Google hater? I don't like it. WHY? I like privacy and security. JB, we differ on this. You may paint me as such, but I have no interest in sharing my (and family) info with the world nor have an easy target for hackers.

So, yeah, glad that you think MS is "better" than Apple in certain things, but that is because we have differing priorities in regards to me and my family.

 

[JB.]

Why do you like MS? Because its phone loses value so much that you got one for $50? Is there more to it?

Again, It fills my current needs for next to nothing in price while doing a couple of key things better than iphone. What's not to love? (for me).

If you understand privacy......
...MS hater? I don't like it. Google hater? I don't like it. WHY? I like privacy and security. JB, we differ on this. I have no interest in sharing my (and family) info with the world nor have an easy target for hackers.

So, yeah, glad that you think MS is "better" than Apple in certain things, but that is because we have differing priorities in regards to me and my family.

I don't like Microsoft. I dislike them least. My MS preference vs Apple was formed a long time ago when I realized there was absolutely no way I could have ever cobbled together my unusual and effective work flow on a Mac the way I had on a PC. It is that personal desire to be able to fiddle and customize that I wish to maintain. As I understand it, android provides more of this on the phone itself, but as far as total ecosystem customization and my ability continue to run crucial legacy windows programs -- MS is it.

By a very large margin, the most useful software I have ever used is a third party file manager called Total Commander. It represents my Windows experience more than anything in Windows itself. I don't even understand how people manage to use PCs with the default MS file manager, but the point is that there never was a Total Commander for Mac solely because of Apple being Apple. The program works great on Win 8.1 and it had better on Win 10 or I'm outa there.

I intend for the vast majority of my data to never touch the cloud and will maintain a separate, legacy system/work flow for that purpose. I've cobbled together a very efficient system for storing and finding tens of thousands of photos stored on external hard drives. When the day comes (soon) that cloud photo services use AI to vastly outperform my personal system, I expect I'll get dragged kicking and screaming into succumbing to the new efficiency. It's not just software and services that are changing fast. It's the attitudes towards them, as well, and I don't presume to know with great certainty what mine will be in the future. If you know what yours will be, more power to ya, but I suspect time will reveal that that uncertainty model was more realistic.

I'm still not thrilled to use the cloud but am slowly acclimatizing to modern reality. It's part of why it took me so long to get a smart phone. You were happily using the cloud long before I was and long before Apple had the end to end encryption you keep touting. Did you not care about privacy then? It seems to be a rather recent interest of yours.

 

[Thai]

Again, It fills my current needs for next to nothing in price while doing a couple of key things better than iphone. What's not to love? (for me).

It is that personal desire to be able to fiddle and customize that I wish to maintain. As I understand it, android provides more of this on the phone itself, but as far as total ecosystem customization and my ability continue to run crucial legacy windows programs -- MS is it.

I'm still not thrilled to use the cloud but am slowly acclimatizing to modern reality. It's part of why it took me so long to get a smart phone. You were happily using the cloud long before I was and long before Apple had the end to end encryption you keep touting. Did you not care about privacy then? It seems to be a rather recent interest of yours.

Ahh, so, it was cheap and now you champion MS phones! BTW, your phone software is now not even top 3...even the Cyanogen software (heavily modded Android) has more users than MS (and Blackberry combined). No users = no support from developers.

Fiddling desire...hmm, correct me if I am wrong, but most reviewers feel that MS software on Windows phone is even MORE LOCK DOWN than iOS! Again, your fiddling desire and what you bought do not equate...other than you being cheap when it comes to phones.

I understand that MS can run legacy programs...fine. I understand. But that does not mean that its privacy invasion is perfectly OK!

Weird how you mention cloud services so much better with MS...yet, you have NOT used it! How do you know that it is better? Hell, according to you, you have not used iOS nor MS cloud services...yet make judgement?

Actually, I used iCloud ONLY after encryption...before that, the ONLY reason I used iCloud was to back up my game progress! True story. LIKE YOU, i have backup drives galore at my house!

I used GMAIL simply because it was all that was available (least spam). But, once iCloud started encryption (end-to-end), I made the BIG jump...a huge one as you can imagine who has used GMAIL for so long.

Same goes for PCs...I have PC at home (Sony VAIO; $1800 some 5 yrs ago)...but recently with all the big hacks and phishing, I am more aware. I am now aware that I can no longer trust big companies with my data...because they can be hacked too! Hell, Sony got hacked! Remember, I am NOT a computer guy by profession...so, these events in past few years were eye-openers for me! Call me gullible...I was. But, I am also good at learning...my philosophy in life is never make the same mistake twice.

(Of note, when Sony got hacked, all their employees PCs and phones were taken away...except those with Macs and iOS devices. What did Home Depot executives use AFTER being hacked? iPhones & Macs! )

Almost two yrs ago, I made the investment into buying a MacBook PRO. Now using it exclusively. My wife still surf net with the Sony VAIO though...but she is getting tired of it too with all the stuff MS is doing. (She is cheap like you and holding out on getting two Macs in the house)

So, yeah JB, I am increasingly aware of what is out there and what I need to do to protect my privacy. Is that wrong?

Remember two things:

1. MS looked into a person's EMAIL account because it suspected that he/she leaked info about Win10. MS did so without even winking an eyelash.

2. Google GMAIL got hacked by a 3rd party (China govt) some 5 yrs ago that resulted in several protestors being jailed/executed. (GMAIL till this day lacks end-to-end encryption.)

And you wonder why I care so much about end-to-end encryption? :faint2:

 

[Thai]

Slightly off-topic, but since you ask why I am paranoid...for the past 2 yrs, I have been getting mail for AARP and other senior benefits..............I am 37 yrs old! :twitch:

I am just pissed because somewhere out there, there is a clone that is getting senior discounts at restaurants and movie theaters!!!:hurt:

 

[njfastlife]

Nexus 5

 

[Thai]

Nexus 5

Why? Does that run Windows?

 

[NoDak]

update to your lumia phones...

Microsoft is reportedly planning to host a massive hardware-focused media event this fall in which it’ll introduce two new Lumia-branded smartphones, the Microsoft Band 2 wearable and the Surface Pro 4.

Chinese site WPDang was the first to report the details; The Verge has since confirmed there will be an event in October in which Microsoft plans to introduce multiple hardware products.


Rumors of a Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have been swirling for months. Could these be the newest additions to Microsoft’s mobile stable? With specs having already hit the web, the only thing really missing is what the devices will look like and how they’ll work with Windows 10 Mobile.

 

[KidVermicious]

Ended up going to AT&T with the Lumia 635 at JB's suggestion. I'm still getting used to the 8.1 interface - generally speaking, I don't like it. I use desktop mode exclusively on my tablet, but I don't have that option on the phone. I haven't upgraded anything to 10 yet, but I'm hoping the phone interface is better. Other than that, I haven't found much I really don't like other than the current sparsity of apps (no Google Earth for 8.1 mobile? Really?), I'm hoping that 10 will be a hit and more programmers will be writing apps.

I have found a couple things I really like, though - first off, Sprint wanted to charge extra to share your data connection with another device. I had a way around that, but AT&T doesn't mess around. Wanna be a hot spot? Sure, be a hot spot, no extra charge. I like that, because the tablet I use isn't cell enabled. I also love the battery life on the Lumia - when I bought the S3, I bought the extended battery pack because I knew I'd be flogging it. I'd get about a day of Bluetooth and GPS before I'd have to charge it, and if I fell behind on charging it took forever to catch up. The Lumia has had location, bluetooth, and wifi on for two and a half days now and I'm at 45% battery. That's outstanding.

Things I'm looking to find out how to do - I would love to be able to share the GPS signal with my tablet. I found an app to do that with the android, I haven't found one for the Windows phone yet. I'll buy a bluetooth GPS unit if I have to, but I don't want to. Failing that, I need a decent mapping app for 8.1 mobile. Might have to wait for 10 for that.

Things I'm going to miss - the flash. I didn't realize how much I used the light on the S3.

Overall I'm pleased so far. For $50 it's going to be a great phone I think, and if I find out I don't like it or Windows mobile down the road I'm not out several hundred bucks like I would be for any of the phones I was originally looking at.