Smartphone geeks, pick one of these phones.

[JB.]

Great feedback, sounds like you're in the same place I am. Do you like the 635 ok? The 512MB of RAM and the crappy camera make me nervous. I use my phone's camera all the time.

The RAM is not a problem due to how well the OS is written. More would be better but 512 works fine. 512 would be nearly impossible on android from what I understand.

I prefer dedicated devices (camera, gps), so the camera is fine with me (and I use it plenty). Might be a problem for you but don't get faked out about what the issues really are. The reduction from 8 to 5 megapixels doesn't seem like much to me. It still more than fills a big desktop monitor. Probably the lack of a flash means more to you. Focusing, color balance, etc are presumably not top notch but they may match your S3 or at least be close. Have no idea. Oh yeah, you'll have to forget about that selfie stick you were so looking forward to buying (gag). Actually, I understand there's software that makes selfies easy even without the front camera if you happen to care.

Currently, the Lumia 640 and 640 XL are the low cost replacements for the 635 and have much better cameras, 8 and 13 megapixels respectively, along with 1GB RAM. I notice AT&T is currently supporting the 640 XL and I would expect 640 support shortly/eventually. Since they're current, though, they can't be obtained for anywhere near the price the 635 can. I'm on a friend's business plan at no cost to me, so unlike the way phones are sold to most people in the US, I'm directly aware of the purchase price and the price/performance ratio of the 635 really blows me away. Hidden inside a subsidized phone plan, the price of the phone probably seems a bit silly.

I guess you're aware of what's called the app gap in windows phone. That's really an individual thing but it hasn't come up much for me. One of my biggest uses of the phone is podcasts and while there are far fewer podcast apps available in windows phone, I have a good one that works very well. Web surfing seems ok to me, although I understand it's currently limited a bit compared to the other platforms. Between IE and Opera, I'm pretty satisfied and that situation will change a lot when 10 comes out with the new browser. Google won't make an official youtube app, but there are good ones available. But if there's a particular phone app you're currently really relying on, you'd better look into that. Here's a forum at Windows Central that's called "ask a question". Nobody will bite your head off for asking anything you like. Don't even need to register.

It's so dependent on how you use the phone, but for me the throw away price and good core functionality plus the desire to experience windows phone for myself made it a good choice.

If windows phone survives, I intend to stick with the platform. If not, the 635 was a cheap experiment and a good education. Microsoft will have a presence in smart phones one way or another. It's just a little uncertain what form it will take.

 

[Thai]

Sketchy stuff there. I'll read it again later, but it looks like most of that applies to people who are getting early upgrades to 10 through their insider program. I won't be doing that, so I'll get to wait and see what the real EULA says once it's released.

I'll probably go to a Windows phone no matter what though. I like the integration, and the privacy intrusions could hardly be worse than Google's.

Windows 10 and privacy: Windows 10? Here are privacy issues you should consider

Lots of data collection by MS servers on you. It also collects data of your friends/family (even though they are not using MS products) because their info is on your device. Encryption key is in the cloud...so, can be recovered by someone else (MS, police, hackers, etc.).

But this takes the cake...

"We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to protect our customers or enforce the terms governing the use of the services."

From where i am sitting, this is no better than Google's privacy (or lack of) policies. And b/w prevention of hacking and security, i probably trust Google more than MS.

 

[Thai]

More: How to stop Windows 10 from sharing your WiFi password | ExtremeTech

Hmmm...this is worst than Google! :frusty:

BTW, if you disable location tracking, then you lose Cortana.

 

[JB.]

The Wi-Fi issue seems to be nothing but pretty inexcusable FUD.

"It used to be that competitors were the one responsible for sowing FUD. These days, it's the tech press."

Windows 10's Wi-Fi Sense is not a security risk. Here's why | ZDNet

--

EULAs are complex and can contain language for all sorts of reasons, usually legal. Currently, Microsoft is legally challenging the US governments reach in demanding access to certain electronic information. In the meantime, they must also protect themselves from potential customer litigation. It's not hard to imagine the eula changing in the future in response to the legal environment. MS states point blank that they think users own their own data. That doesn't guarantee they'll always act that way but in the age of information everywhere, it makes it a pretty hard statement to blatantly flout. They have exited the web ad business. Google is still the king of questions about privacy (as if any significant number of people actually care).

Home - Digital Constitution -- MS blog

 

[Thai]

The Wi-Fi issue seems to be nothing but pretty inexcusable FUD.

"It used to be that competitors were the one responsible for sowing FUD. These days, it's the tech press."

Windows 10's Wi-Fi Sense is not a security risk. Here's why | ZDNet

--

EULAs are complex and can contain language for all sorts of reasons, usually legal. Currently, Microsoft is legally challenging the US governments reach in demanding access to certain electronic information. In the meantime, they must also protect themselves from potential customer litigation. It's not hard to imagine the eula changing in the future in response to the legal environment. MS states point blank that they think users own their own data. That doesn't guarantee they'll always act that way but in the age of information everywhere, it makes it a pretty hard statement to blatantly flout. They have exited the web ad business. Google is still the king of questions about privacy (as if any significant number of people actually care).

Home - Digital Constitution -- MS blog

JB...but can you choose the contacts that you want to share? That's the question...can you just share with just some friends, instead of the whole Facebook contacts? Disclaimer: i have NOT used Win 10. Is the sharing all or none type option?

Google is challenging the US govt too...but does that mean that they will protect your privacy? No. China can challenge US govt too but does it mean anything?

Users own their data? How? Everything is up in the cloud or at MS servers...and the KEY for encryption is where again?

They can state point blank all they want...but MS has violated their policies many times...hell...no so long ago (LAST YEAR): Microsoft just exposed email's ugliest secret | The Verge

ASK YOURSELF this question: which of the services available offer END-TO-END encryption?

If they do, then we're good. Hotmail for damn sure does not offer it! Neither does Gmail.

JB, i have never taken you as naive, but dude, there is no defending MS in all this....

BTW, Apple offers end-to-end encryption on ALL their services (email, texts, etc). So, even IF Apple wanted to (e.g. requested by government), they cannot have access to your emails, texts, pics, attachments, etc..

 

[Thai]

BTW, slightly off-topic, but if you guys want to pick a messaging app that values privacy, then take a look here: https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard

 

[Thai]

They have exited the web ad business.

The European digital rights organisation (EDRi) sums up the company’s 45 pages of terms and conditions by saying: “Microsoft basically grants itself very broad rights to collect everything you do, say and write with and on your devices in order to sell more targeted advertising or to sell your data to third parties.”

 

[JB.]

JB...but can you choose the contacts that you want to share? That's the question...can you just share with just some friends, instead of the whole Facebook contacts? Disclaimer: i have NOT used Win 10

No, currently it's all facebook friends or not, but it seems like a stretch to consider that a big security issue rather than a feature issue. Users choose preferred level of risk/reward and use it or not as they wish and it's easy to set. (Upon closer reading, your Wi-fi sense article link was not one of the FUDs that were making the rounds which my Cnet link addressed.)

Btw, Wi-Fi sense settings don't conflict with the use of Cortana. (Based on my use of Win 8.1 and reading about Win 10)

But on a broader level, the discussion is somewhat moot and warnings unnecessary for an operating system that is now updated on the fly, had an astonishing level of user input in its development, and comes from a company that has to compete for trust and mind share on a level playing field in an environment of ubiquitous communication. Features change, EULAs change. The concerns of the moment fade to irrelevance as the market makes its choices and influences corporate behavior. Currently, there's not an overly dominant, monopolistic player to impede the market doing its work. If Microsoft were to become that impediment my tune would change but as things are now, of the big three, Microsoft is the least likely to invite antitrust scrutiny and all indications are that it represents the best hope for an open, cross-platform computing future. Three players are better than two.

If Apple's total solution is deemed better, including security, the market will eventually let us know as long as it stays relatively undistorted. If that doesn't happen, it may be time to admit that there might be more to know than can be absorbed via tech blogs.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I have the Nexus 6 and its great.

 

[KidVermicious]

If Microsoft were to become that impediment my tune would change but as things are now, of the big three, Microsoft is the least likely to invite antitrust scrutiny and all indications are that it represents the best hope for an open, cross-platform computing future. Three players are better than two.

This is my feeling as well. Google has made it clear that "do no evil" was a marketing ploy (that worked very very well), and Apple has already demonstrated time and again that things like "open source" and "level playing field" aren't in their vocabulary. Microsoft is no saint, but I'm calling them the lesser of three evils at this point.

 

[Thai]

This is my feeling as well. Google has made it clear that "do no evil" was a marketing ploy (that worked very very well), and Apple has already demonstrated time and again that things like "open source" and "level playing field" aren't in their vocabulary. Microsoft is no saint, but I'm calling them the lesser of three evils at this point.

Apple is mostly closed-source...true, but isn't that what you want in privacy and security? You think that "level playing field" is really level? Or that Google is THAT open? If you have not notice, Google is pretty closed source these days. (Link: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013...rolling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/1/)

Win10 is free because everyone else is free...and it collects tons of info to sell. Just last year, MS looked into someone's email files because it suspected something...........think about that for a second.

Sorry, from where i stand (no interest in Google nor MS), i much rather trust Google over MS in both privacy AND security. You're making the jump because you don't trust Google and favor privacy (to some extent)...yet you turn the other way when MS does the same and in some extent, does a lot more invasion than Google.

Sorry to rain on MS...but what you wrote and what you are doing just does not make sense to me. I am not your mother either...so, don't take what i wrote the wrong way. Enjoy your MS devices!

 

[Thai]

I have the Nexus 6 and its great.

??? Huh ?? Hope you feel the same way in 6 mos........every phone (mid to high end) nowadays are based on ARMv8.

 

[Thai]

No, currently it's all facebook friends or not, but it seems like a stretch to consider that a big security issue rather than a feature issue. Users choose preferred level of risk/reward and use it or not as they wish and it's easy to set. (Upon closer reading, your Wi-fi sense article link was not one of the FUDs that were making the rounds which my Cnet link addressed.)

Btw, Wi-Fi sense settings don't conflict with the use of Cortana. (Based on my use of Win 8.1 and reading about Win 10)

If Apple's total solution is deemed better, including security, the market will eventually let us know as long as it stays relatively undistorted. If that doesn't happen, it may be time to admit that there might be more to know than can be absorbed via tech blogs.

That's the problem...all or none. That is stupid.

My Cortana comment earlier was not about Wifi Sense. If you disable location services, Cortana goes into the coffin.

Have i not provided you enough links? Search end-to-end encryption and ask if your MS stuff has it. Apple does on everything that is related to consumers. That is pretty much it for the lazy consumers such as myself.

 

[Thai]

Lenovo used Windows anti-theft feature to install persistent crapware | Ars Technica

Oh yeah privacy at its best!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Still not happy with Apple's products and I'm still suspect of their so called inability to play with information on their servers, I find it hard to believe that they have no way to duplicate, intercept, decrypt information on their technology (I mean it's not a quantum bit encryption here...) Then again, while I am really intrigued by Windows 10's performance offerings, I'm waiting until the bugs are worked out and some of the privacy stuff is a bit better fleshed out/understood (not that I really want or need Cortana anyways; I'd probably just turn that stuff off.)

I've actually been really happy with my Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, I got it begrudgingly because my S4 got lost somewhere on Mt. Bachelor earlier this year and the S6 hadn't come out yet (in the end I guess that's a good thing as I'm still on the fence for an S6 Active.) It's been a tough little phone and held up great in the shop (god knows how many times I've dropped the damn thing and nary a scratch,) it's decently powerful also which is good because I do like watching videos and playing games/apps on the phone. Though one area that I am slightly disappointed in compared to my S4 (which is really the bane of all modern smartphones currently) is battery life; it barely lasts a day with minor use compared to almost a day and a half with my old S4 (this is mostly due to beefier components that suck up more power and a quest to make phones thinner; look at reviews for the Galaxy S6 to understand what I am getting at.) Again, not a deal breaker as I can charge it up at work and when driving; but just something I noticed.

Just throwing that out there if you're looking for a slightly more sturdy phone.

 

[Thai]

(not that I really want or need Cortana anyways; I'd probably just turn that stuff off.)

Even when switched off, "she" still sends info: Even when told not to, Windows 10 just can?t stop talking to Microsoft | Ars Technica

"...if Web searching and Cortana are disabled, we suspect that the inference that most people would make is that searching the Start menu wouldn't hit the Internet at all. But it does. The traffic could be innocuous, but the inclusion of a machine ID gives it a suspicious appearance."

That Cortana gal knows more than one way go behind your back!

 

[KidVermicious]

Still not happy with Apple's products and I'm still suspect of their so called inability to play with information on their servers, I find it hard to believe that they have no way to duplicate, intercept, decrypt information on their technology (I mean it's not a quantum bit encryption here...) Then again, while I am really intrigued by Windows 10's performance offerings, I'm waiting until the bugs are worked out and some of the privacy stuff is a bit better fleshed out/understood (not that I really want or need Cortana anyways; I'd probably just turn that stuff off.)

Yup, I'm going to wait too. I don't have anything important at all on my tablet, so I may convert it to 10 just to fiddle with it, but I'm leaving the desktop on 7 and the phone on 8.1 for a while yet.

And yeah, Cortana can take a long walk off a short pier. I don't need that crap.

 

[Thai]

And yeah, Cortana can take a long walk off a short pier. I don't need that crap.

Hell, if she is still sending off info about your machine even after taping her mouth, then might as well open your arms to her and let her pleasure you in her own way.... :whoo:

 

[JB.]

Even when switched off, "she" still sends info...

Cortana is probably part of why I get superior notifications on a $50 phone.

Microsoft is just joining the mobile party that apple and google started (you know, that wonderful world where selfie-seeking noobs are requiring outdoor rescue in record numbers from predicaments my son would have avoided when he was 10) and understands, as surely you must also, that usefulness and capability will absolutely crush any notions of privacy for most users going forward. Example? All anyone concerned about all this stuff has to do when setting up Windows 10 is not use express settings. Which of the three systems is the most useful when used without a personal account or internet connection?

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?

 

[cfranck1]

Cortana is probably part of why I get superior notifications on a $50 phone.

Microsoft is just joining mobile party that apple and google started (you know, that wonderful world where selfie-seeking noobs are requiring outdoor rescue in record numbers from predicaments my son would have avoided when he was 10) and understands, as surely you must also, that usefulness and capability will absolutely crush any notions of privacy for most users going forward. Example? All anyone concerned about all this stuff has to do when setting up Windows 10 is not use express settings. Which of the three systems is the most useful when used without a personal account or internet connection?

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?

This is going to get good! :snacker: