Develop Bugs

Why is 'our' Facebook app. so behind the iPhone Facebook app.?

Anyone got any ideas?
The iPhone Facebook app. is quick, slick, easy to use.
The one we've got is slow, jumpy, and just not as good in general!
You'd think by now SOMEBODY would have created atleast a mimic.

I got nothing to add except to say, yeah our app is crud.

I don't disagree that the Microsoft developed facebook app is behind the others. That said Opera loads facebook just fine, and it's the full site.
Then again I'll never understand the point of having dozens of apps that accomplish the same thing as loading up the already installed web browser and a bookmark.

I use the mobile Facebook pages at m.facebook.com via Opera 10, you can even choose between regular mobile and touch interface. It works for me!

Probably because the rest of the world buys into the hype put out by Apple.
It's like John Dillinger said when asked why he robbed banks...Because that is where the money is. Right or wrong, there are a TON of iPhones out there, and developers spend their time where "the money is".
I didn't buy into the iphone, simply because I've grown up with the WindowsCE
platform since the Dell Axim X5 days, so it was a natural transition to the Windows Moble/phone platform. That, and I want to customize the interface and functions the way I WANT TO, not how Steve Jobs says.

ditto man, I feel about the same.

mhurg said:
I use the mobile Facebook pages at m.facebook.com via Opera 10, you can even choose between regular mobile and touch interface. It works for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you switch to touch interface?

luke6283 said:
How do you switch to touch interface?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Touch Site", or just go to touch.facebook.com

Toleraen said:
I don't disagree that the Microsoft developed facebook app is behind the others. That said Opera loads facebook just fine, and it's the full site.
Then again I'll never understand the point of having dozens of apps that accomplish the same thing as loading up the already installed web browser and a bookmark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ditto, m.facebook.com is even better than iphone app IMO

p51d007 said:
Probably because the rest of the world buys into the hype put out by Apple.
It's like John Dillinger said when asked why he robbed banks...Because that is where the money is. Right or wrong, there are a TON of iPhones out there, and developers spend their time where "the money is".
I didn't buy into the iphone, simply because I've grown up with the WindowsCE
platform since the Dell Axim X5 days, so it was a natural transition to the Windows Moble/phone platform. That, and I want to customize the interface and functions the way I WANT TO, not how Steve Jobs says.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
daniel_lfc said:
Anyone got any ideas?
The iPhone Facebook app. is quick, slick, easy to use.
The one we've got is slow, jumpy, and just not as good in general!
You'd think by now SOMEBODY would have created atleast a mimic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you this, the app for WM phones is way awesome. It has the same functionality as the iPhone app and the online browsers too. I think it runs smooth, updates quickly, and isn't loaded down with settings. Most of those settings for the other pages is just a bit of overkill. It's always true that the simpler the plan, the better the plan. You can always add to something if you need just a simple extra. You'll just have to write xml codes, if you don't know how and ur a bright person, you can probably figure out how to change those codes to add what you want or remove what you don't want, in a matter of days.
Plus, knowledge is power, I started out in this group just downloading and installing cabs. Now I write my own and have written weather apps alongside NRG that apparently have been stolen by HTC and WM6.xxx. The nifty weather on your screen that's flashy and self updating with a forecast and pretty icons for the weather conditions was 1st integrated by NRG, then Showaco and I kicked it up a knotch and finally duked it out with NRG only to realize that we were both making the same app, everyone and their brother jumped on the bandwagon so much that Microsoft and HTC "took" the ideas and integrated it into their ROM's. No worries, though, that's what this process is all about, learning how to create what is not already available
So, my advice in closing is to spend some time learning how to read xml, and then changing small bits, running the app, and seeing if it loads and does what you want, then slowly bit by bit, you will have an app that is PERFECT for your needs. It my seem impossible at 1st, but where there is a will there is a way, plus, hell you might end up writing something people will pay for or maybe HTC or Microsoft might offer u money for. Give it a shot.

daniel_lfc said:
Anyone got any ideas?
The iPhone Facebook app. is quick, slick, easy to use.
The one we've got is slow, jumpy, and just not as good in general!
You'd think by now SOMEBODY would have created atleast a mimic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's not an iPhone, it doesn't exist.....
Well, that's the impression you'd get from all the companies that advertise on the TV,
"There's an app for that" - *&%%$%$£$$$T23312£"%!!!!!!!!!!

Toleraen said:
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Touch Site", or just go to touch.facebook.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or that yeah, thanks for pointing it out

I agree the app is rubbish, it's main problem is the speed. It spends way too long doing tasks that don't require much data transfer, and dosen't have a progress bar of any kind to explain it's slowness.
I don't like using opera because you have to log in every time and it has no integration with the rest of the system. Not to mention lack of fb chat. I'm not an iphone fanboy (TP2 ) but the iphone facebook is way better.

Where the hell is windows live messenger???

You would think Microsoft would create this application as a priority. Jesus, even my blackberry has WINDOWS LIVE!
What the hell!

Yes that was quite puzzling.
I would have thought that it would be on there before it launched.

I'll laugh if AOL sticks an AIM client on the marketplace before Microsoft gets an MSN Messenger client up there. It's boneheaded moves like this that have defined Microsoft lately and it's why they went from almost owning the smartphone market to being in a position where they may never be able to catch up.

Did ya'll look on the marketplace??? There is a live messenger there. The company that made isn't microsoft but they got paid by ms to do the app and it's the official messenger app...
Dont really get the confusion

BIG-Stan said:
Did ya'll look on the marketplace??? There is a live messenger there. The company that made isn't microsoft but they got paid by ms to do the app and it's the official messenger app...
Dont really get the confusion
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TRUST ME IF THAT POS APP WAS REMOTELY PRACTICAL I WOULD HAVE USED IT.
Pretty much the "in and out" phone is just keeping me out from using my phone! Seriously this OS has immense potential but the launch was seriously half-assed, I would have been happier if they had delayed the launch window to early next year.
This is going to give a bad impression to many early adopters, let's not forget the issues with supply.

ManicDVLN said:
TRUST ME IF THAT POS APP WAS REMOTELY PRACTICAL I WOULD HAVE USED IT.
Pretty much the "in and out" phone is just keeping me out from using my phone! Seriously this OS has immense potential but the launch was seriously half-assed, I would have been happier if they had delayed the launch window to early next year.
This is going to give a bad impression to many early adopters, let's not forget the issues with supply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know...I've played with the phones now quite a bit and really like the polish and features...yes, there are some glaring features missing but they will be added. I was told at an MS kickoff meeting earlier this week that they are going to have a ton of updates starting in January...they kept saying they are betting the farm on this so we'll see...
I would agree on the marketing front however...I don't understand how they can do such a good job with xbox360 marketing and do such a half assed attempt with the wp7 which is arguably more important to them in the long term.

They must be working on a native WLM. They make one for iPhone and Blackberry. They have produced a version for 3 on Android, which a third party coded.
It plugs into Yahoo Messenger too. Plus WLM now talks to Facebook Chat. They are rolling out that feature as we speak. But only a few people have it right now.
Maybe they will release WLM at CES. I can imagine Ballmer and Zuckerberg make an announcment together. Or at Mobile World Congress at the latest.

Maybe they were waiting for Microsoft Lync, which is apparently coming to Windows Phone in 2011. I just hope that, whatever it is, its a native app and ideally integrated into the OS.
Was just doing some reading about Microsoft Lync, sounds perfect...
Add Contacts and Share Presence and Instant Messages Users can add contacts on Windows Live, AOL, Yahoo!, and Google Talk networks to their contact list. With the Communicator “14” client, users can share presence status information and participate in instant messaging with colleagues and customers who use public IM connections.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://lync.microsoft.com/en-us/Product/Technologies/Pages/public-im-connectivity.aspx

you can go to live.com and use the web messenger from the menu-> messenger option
peace

The Zune HD Live Messenger only came out last month and had Facebook chat integrated. They're probably working on it.

What on earth are you talking about??? Messenger was available from day one and was one of the first apps I downloaded! its made by another company though. not microsoft. have a proper look or bing it in market place.

davidebanks said:
What on earth are you talking about???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no need to be like that when evidently you haven't read all the posts. We know there's a messenger but it's not an official one and as such it doesn't do the job for the OP and others.

But it wont get more official. I read somewhere that the company that made the current wlm was paid by ms to code the app as an official one.
I'm pretty sure though that it will get updated with more features. The current version certainly lacks some features compared to the ios version.
ps: here is the link to the article
http://www.liveside.net/2010/10/14/whos-building-the-official-messenger-app-for-wp7-not-microsoft/

Microsoft has often asked other developers to make app for them like the facebook one on winmo 6.5 but they would always mark it as an official MS app, so if that company is in charge I'm sure it would be a different version without their name on it.
That aside, I can't see Microsoft developing a WLM app for Zune HD and an awesome one for the iPhone and then not make one for their own platform. Doesn't make any sense.

Pretty sure we will see something soon enough that surpasses the cheesy app that is out now.

Why the hell would MS pay somebody to make the messenger and not provide them with the ability to have it run in the background?
I have read the same articles, and it smells rather off to me.
Personally, i cant wait for a better one. (or the existing one to get out of pre-alpha phase, coz that's how bad it is)

what dont you guys get? the official app is the one on the market. microsoft just paid another company to make it.

kiloah said:
what dont you guys get? the official app is the one on the market. microsoft just paid another company to make it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Messenger by Miyowa"? What don't we get? Well, for starters, how you managed to use it to message anyone. That thing is rubbish, I can't imagine Microsoft let anyone put that thing out in their name and, last I checked which was about 45 seconds ago it was the only IM app in the marketplace.
The app doesn't have to run in the background. Beejive and IM+ for iPhone worked quite well before iPhone supported background operation and it worked via push notification. I think they both support background execution now but why bother when push works so well? That's memory freed up to use for something else.
Finally, a really half-assed solution that works is the SMS / IM interface most carriers provide. Some only do AIM but some cover them all. Do a google search for your carrier. AT&T, for example, uses SMS numbers starting with 265000 to log in and so on. If you're really that hard up for IM it's better than nothing, but just barely.

People are funny in this world.
In theory this OS is a platform for the community to build on.
Too bad the community is a mob with pitchforks.
Who in their right mind will develop anything when the populous will undoubtedly attack their creation?
Microsoft can't fix people. Why does anyone need messenger when all they do is hate on everything new?

I read that news about this third party company and I have a strong feeling that it's false. There is no way, that MS which created official messenger app for every other platform would outsource something so native to an unknown third party company for the windows OS!
I have a feeling that was a fake news spread by that third party company.

Defy: my first Android. Very Dissapointed. Why is android so popular?

hi there,
the defy is my very first android-mobile device. I had windows mobile 4,5,6 in the past and i'm using palm pre (webos) since over a year now. I am dissapointed about the apps for webos, because they dont exist every app appears first on iphone.. somethimes for android... and never for webos. So, on amazon-cybermonday, i bought a cheap motorola defy.
But i am dissapointed.. not in the device but in the OS. This is Version 2.1 and feels like a buggy windows mobile 5 Nothing works really intuitively (?).
i installed all the cool apps in from the app-catalog, which first doesn't worked with my gmail-adress. i had to use googlemail.com adress (?). that took me about 2 hours then i installed the facebook app, which didn't told me that i have unred messages. I dont Like this app because i know the webos one.
so i tried google goggels.. cool app, indeed. But after 2 fotos, the device hangs and had to be restarted. there is no button to restart -.- ^^
ok, after the restarts, i tested other apps.. i downloaded very much apps.. there are very trashy apps in the store. Some japanese, chinese and other unreadble apps with no description.. hmm... until a message appears, that i dont have enogh memory and should close some apps. ...
and .. really.. how do you life with a OS without an ability to exit apps?? i had to download a taskmanager to kill open programs (to get 90% of the used memory back.. not 100%).. so after some opening and closing, i had no more memory and had to restart (pardon: shutdown and start) again.
my sum up: i have a mobile phone with has potential. it has a great camera (which an app had destroyed so i cannot use it anymore because blue color switched to red color, it was a filter in an crashed (or killed) app) and a good display, waterproof and long durability.. but the OS is not usable in my option. the apps are not designed well, they are mostly "ugly". i dont know what app is running without looking into another app, which is ugly too
so my question about one week of testing and finally returning to Webos. Why is android so.. unusable? i would call myself as a geek, but hey... that is too much Or.. maybe.. i am doing it wrong! what is possible with an android-phone? how many hours of customizing do you have to spend to have an android which is exactly like you want it? and where can i copy that

I think the problem with the Defy is that it's shipped with Motoblur which is by and large the cause of the "ugliness" and sluggishness of the phone.
Get Launcher Pro, I've only heard good things about it

Sounds like you have been installing a few too many apps my friend!
One of Android's stong points is it's ability for apps to customise the interface and modify the functions of the device. However, this can also be a weakness with poorly written applications bogging things down, or as you experienced with the camera app, stopping some features from working.
I would reset your device back to it's default state, and start again, choosing carefully what you install (tip: Check the reviews and comments in the market before you hit install).

LetoKynes said:
I think the problem with the Defy is that it's shipped with Motoblur which is by and large the cause of the "ugliness" and sluggishness of the phone.
Get Launcher Pro, I've only heard good things about it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think i like the motorola blur although i dont really know where this starts and ends The widgets are ok and the ability to have a connection from my pc zu the android-blur from the internet is good to know if i cannot find my device or want to upload something without moving..
But, like milesg suggested, i will reset the phone.. i have to anyway because of the camera-bug. maybe i can install this launcher.. i dont want to break the phone because it is proberbly a gift for christmas.
@milesg.. i have written the reviews on androit-pitt and have installed only the very good apps.. thats what dissapointed, too. ^^

I wouldn't worry about "breaking" the phone, as far as I know (at least from what I've read), LauncherPro is just a simple download and install app (doesn't involve any unrooting/unlocking/etc.) so I'd definitely give it a shot.

I'm surprised by the undertones of this thread. It's a phone! It's not a general computer, it's not a GameBoy, it's a portable communication device. I have not owned a smartphone before. Well, at least not for long. I tried the HD2 Pro and thought it was a device with the clunkiest interface I ever used. I tried a Blackberry (Bold 9700) and hated the walled-off ecosystem (a reason I will never use Apple devices), and now I got the Defy and after a week of playing and tinkering with the setup I'm happy as a clam. I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox. I have no Motoblur accounts, no Social services of any kind, only two home screens (one for e-mail, and one for weather/calendar/Reuters news, and a few shortcuts), and that's it! I've got a phone with good quality calls, great speakerphone, maps, navigation, e-mail, and IM on the go. I'm happy. Less (of good quality) is more.

prophil said:
Or.. maybe.. i am doing it wrong! what is possible with an android-phone? how many hours of customizing do you have to spend to have an android which is exactly like you want it? and where can i copy that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you to some extent. I just finished 2 days of getting my new phone to run, and I only persisted because I am a software developer and never give up on a computer, as small as it may be. In terms of immediate usability, my previous SonyEricsson P1 is still ahead.
just some examples: after importing my contacts through motoblur, I realized that birthdates were not mirrored in the calendar. I created a few test contacts, whose birthdates DID appear. I now decided to delete all contacts from MB and re-import through my google account. After that, the birthday events of the newly created entries were still in the calendar, even though the contacts proper were deleted. I had to root my device, install a database client app, and go directly to the Contacts/Events database to delete the entries.
This morning, the calendar widget insisted on showing yesterdays date. No way of convincing it that this was the 8th of December. Meanwhile (12:00 am) it has caught up, however.
Bottomline: if you feel this platform is still in its infancy, and it is questionable how it will ever become the platform of choice for your wife or for efficiency-oriented business purposes (in other words: non-geek usage), you have my sympathy.
chris

I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox. I have no Motoblur accounts, no Social services of any kind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sounds like you did the right things - i will investigate this for myself. But you really just confirm what has already been said. Unless one has a clear understanding of what does not work, and what alternatives are available, the DEFY (and probably any other Motorola phone, and most other brands as well) will cause a lot of frustration.

I say exchange/return it asap and get a diff andriod device before getting stuck in a 2 yr contract....but don't let that one phone give a bad rep to all android phones...get an android that doesn't come w motoblur
*Sent from my Tmobile MT4G*

I installed launcher pro as well. Phone runs supper smooth now. Also, this thing is way better than gameboy. I play nes and snes games all day

@prophil
Windows mobile (note not WP7) is the best OS ever, so i can understand you're disappointed.
But, be realistic, development is getting poor and WM will die soon.
All the OS available today are worst than WM but you have to chose one of them if you want to do more than calls with your phone. In my opinion Android is the best choice among those OS, that's the reason it is so popular.

MarSOnEarth said:
I installed LaucherPro (and paid for the plus version although the only widget I ended up using is the calendar) and PowerBar. Then I added Pure Messanger for my unified Gmail inbox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you please tell me where to find PowerBar? Cant find it in the AppStore

I felt the same way about my hero until i found xda!!
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly? Lmao ok. I've never used a winmo that i didn't wanna throw off the bridge.
Sent from my DEFY using XDA app

I love Android noobs
Sent from my defy using XDA App

disturkis4u said:
Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly? Lmao ok. I've never used a winmo that i didn't wanna throw off the bridge.
Sent from my DEFY using XDA app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. BB is too limited and win mo was probably the worst
System ever

disturkis4u said:
Lol you're coming from a winmo and saying that android isn't intuitive and that its ugly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i see that my poor englisch leads to a miss understanding. I'm not coming from Windows Mobile. I had owned a xda and and xda2i .. thats about 8 years ago i think?.. and i could get used to it. it was cool.. you could do a lot of things.. (while other phones still had monochrome displays).. but the feeling, that the OS and the Device were married like El and his wife in "married with children" is : that just doesn't work.. so i had putted it in my desk and forgot about it. for about 7 years or so. I thought things have changed.. but they haven't really.
I come from WebOS.. that was.. is.. my actual smartphone-OS. That is exactly like a OS should look und feel in my opinion.. <- that was my mind before i every tried iOS or Symbian or Android... i never will go to Apple, so my curiosity leads me to android. That should be the best, they all told me. (ok, like iOS is the best is what all the apple-people tells me). And.. its not
Have to ever had the chance to test webOS?
anyway, my work is done, im at home now and im just going to reset the device and try my luck again

Fact is Android might not be for you. But that doesn't mean it's a bad OS, just means it's not what you want in an OS.
Definitely need to take your time with downloading apps your first try out with the phone. Don't go app crazy. Download a few of them, test them out, uninstall those you don't like and go on, but don't do this with twenty apps at a time.
My first Android phone was a Cliq...believe me you are much better off with the Defy.

Its me again
I've been installing and testing.. configuring and uninstalling.. i think.. i made one mistake on my first run. i didn't installed the launcher Pro!
after i installed the launcher pro, the OS is becoming usable.. i can make folders instead of scrolling through a buggy endless list of apps. and if i want to scroll, it is smoothy
then, i have found very attraktiv apps, like a file-manager with bluetooth and smb support. and i can send everything from and to my dlna-devices. .. ok.. thats just funktionality, not more.. but.. i think, i just have to play some more days with the OS to get used to it..
or.. shouldn't I because i will give it away (gift^^)

I used my Samsung Soul for more than two years before I moved to Motorola Defy to increase my productivity. In 2000 I bought the HP Jornada 720 (WinCE) that I really liked but stop using it as it wasn't truly a portable device and I couldn't possibly have it with me everywhere. I kept it until 2008 as a secondary backup solution for important information such as contacts before threw it away.
Now that I own an Android OS based mobile phone for more than a week I can say that I'm kind of disappointed with the OS. Maybe I had too much expectations but I'm not disappointed enough to give up the OS just yet.
Android 2.1 out of box is hardly worth investing in my opinion when you have no use for social networking i.e. Facebook and twitter features. However, the prospect of checking emails on the road with availability of a wireless connection is very appealing to me but Android 2.1 is very poor in supporting multiple email accounts. I understand that Android 2.2 has a better email support but I have to wait up to six months for better support. It is beyond me how Google didn't see the demand of such feature in the first place. I think the lack of proper email support in Android 2.1 demonstrates that Google didn't target users like me originally.
The lack of Office Suite is another disappointing thing for me. Out-of-box I cannot even write/read a simple note in a text file. The sticky notes widget shipped with Motorola Defy does not serve my needs at all. I would have loved to be able to trasnfer a word document to my phone for later reading.
I'm sure there is an app on the market for whatever I want my smartphone to do but the cost and time I have to invest deters me even from trying.
I haven't found browsing internet on a 3.7" device a pleasant experience but having that feature in Android by default is assuring for urgent matters when a laptop or desktop PC is not available.
I'm also pleased that I can watch videos and listen to music when I left my Sony Walkman S series at home. Watching video on 3.7" device is certainly an advantage but the battery usage is always a concern on phone devices but not with PMP devices.
I was also surprised to find the lack of customisation compared to my Samsung Soul. Everything about Samsung Soul can be customised and one can build his own theme without any technical knowledge. In Android 2.1 only ring tones and wallpapers are customisable. I can't even change the background colour of system menus for instance. I'm sure there is an app for that.
Google's own services/apps are great if you have a use for them. For instance google's map comes handy for me very occasionally. I have lived without it so far while I was on the road. On the other hand, I will have a use for a proper GPS software such as CoPilot that I intend to purchase soon and I'm pleased it is available for Android platform.
Conclusion
I doubt it Motorola will upgrade Defy beyond Android 2.2 and I'm willing for the time being stick with Motorola Defy until end of 2012.
By no means I dislike Android but in terms of productivity I expected much more. All the features I use on my Motorola Defy can also be found on other mobile platforms so nothing to praise about when it come to Android. The initial ownership cost of my Motorola Defy which I like the hardware very much is much lower than equivalent/similar handsets on other mobile platforms.
In my opinion Android platform is not suited for very active business users nor power users like me out-of-box. Once out-of-box features are improved for business oriented users or power users then I do not see why I should consider what other mobile platforms are offering.

[Q] WP7 for non-facebook addicts

Ok like many of you I have been with microsoft for quite a bit. My first windows phone was the PDA2K, if you dont know what that is, then you havent been here long enough. I have 2 questions:
1. When Android and IOS came out I would argue with my friends about how customizable windows was and how we had things like wifi router, flash and multitasking for quite a while. While I know WP7 is at its infancy and will continue to grow. When I get my DVP I am going to get attacked with my own words. Please someone give me some ammunition about why stability is so important to me now. Because they are waiting for me!!
2. My real question is about WP7 and facebook. I see that it is very much integrated with facebook and that seems to be a selling point. But I do not use face at all, in fact the integration with facebook scares me, because I feel like there will be gaps and holes if I dont use facebook ( greyed out options and such). I use microsoft exchange heavily but dont use facebook at all. ANybody else in my boat, is windows phone 7 worth getting without facebook. Because lets face it, us old school rom flashing guys who know what a registry is are much closer to android then we are to WP7.
But WP7 just seems cool, but is it still cool without facebook.

MarcValme said:
Ok like many of you I have been with microsoft for quite a bit. My first windows phone was the PDA2K, if you dont know what that is, then you havent been here long enough. I have 2 questions:
1. When Android and IOS came out I would argue with my friends about how customizable windows was and how we had things like wifi router, flash and multitasking for quite a while. While I know WP7 is at its infancy and will continue to grow. When I get my DVP I am going to get attacked with my own words. Please someone give me some ammunition about why stability is so important to me now. Because they are waiting for me!!
2. My real question is about WP7 and facebook. I see that it is very much integrated with facebook and that seems to be a selling point. But I do not use face at all, in fact the integration with facebook scares me, because I feel like there will be gaps and holes if I dont use facebook ( greyed out options and such). I use microsoft exchange heavily but dont use facebook at all. ANybody else in my boat, is windows phone 7 worth getting without facebook. Because lets face it, us old school rom flashing guys who know what a registry is are much closer to android then we are to WP7.
But WP7 just seems cool, but is it still cool without facebook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just because facebook is integrated doesn't mean it's taken over the phone. That would be like asking if the phone wouldn't work if you didn't listen to zune.
Facebook is involved in the people hub (along with other contacts), but it's not the only thing there. Same thing with the me hub, you have 2 choices of where to post updates, facebook or wlm.
You'll like the phone, trust me. Not having to fix a phone out of the box has been a new and welcome experience for me.
But if you have to tweak, then android is probably your best bet.

I used WP7 today without integrating my facebook for half the day without noticing. It doesn't restrict anything except the ability to upload photos to facebook after you've taken them and look at the "what's new" feeds in people and photos. I doubt you'd notice it if you chose not to use them

agreed with above, it in no way is forced upon you and merely just enables you to centralise your data if you'd like. now is MS worked with the other socialites like twitter and four square... and had them at the same level of integration... it'd be over . but yea in saying all this, it's an option, not a requirement.
ammo... finger friendly... smarter/minimalistic UI (all my iPhone friends love how it looks and feels and just works), start screen (vs a sea of app icons or widgets you have to try and find the best for), people hub (with facebook integration as optional), photos (with dedicated camera button), office + sharepoint (smashes anything iPhone/Android offer), and xbox (game center has nothing on the xbox platform).

The Gate Keeper said:
agreed with above, it in no way is forced upon you and merely just enables you to centralise your data if you'd like. now is MS worked with the other socialites like twitter and four square... and had them at the same level of integration... it'd be over . but yea in saying all this, it's an option, not a requirement.
ammo... finger friendly... smarter/minimalistic UI (all my iPhone friends love how it looks and feels and just works), start screen (vs a sea of app icons or widgets you have to try and find the best for), people hub (with facebook integration as optional), photos (with dedicated camera button), office + sharepoint (smashes anything iPhone/Android offer), and xbox (game center has nothing on the xbox platform).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would leave office + sharepoint (smashes anything iPhone/Android offer) out, office experience on wp7 is laughable

If you don't have a fb account, then you are in good shape. If you have one, you can always cancel the account. Facebook will not integrate if you DO NOT have facebook account.

MarcValme said:
Ok like many of you I have been with microsoft for quite a bit. My first windows phone was the PDA2K, if you dont know what that is, then you havent been here long enough. I have 2 questions:
1. When Android and IOS came out I would argue with my friends about how customizable windows was and how we had things like wifi router, flash and multitasking for quite a while. While I know WP7 is at its infancy and will continue to grow. When I get my DVP I am going to get attacked with my own words. Please someone give me some ammunition about why stability is so important to me now. Because they are waiting for me!!
2. My real question is about WP7 and facebook. I see that it is very much integrated with facebook and that seems to be a selling point. But I do not use face at all, in fact the integration with facebook scares me, because I feel like there will be gaps and holes if I dont use facebook ( greyed out options and such). I use microsoft exchange heavily but dont use facebook at all. ANybody else in my boat, is windows phone 7 worth getting without facebook. Because lets face it, us old school rom flashing guys who know what a registry is are much closer to android then we are to WP7.
But WP7 just seems cool, but is it still cool without facebook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is!!!!! It's rather limitations which can question it's usability.

Mango is here... Where are the apps?

Remember when people were complaining about a lack of good apps and all they could hear was "There's no API for that, wait for Mango, bla bla bla...".
Developers have had the tools since when? May, June, July? Yet the only worthy app we've seen is WhatsApp. At a time when people are preordering the iPhone 4S like crazy, isn't it time WP crank it up a bit?
Why can't I have something as simple as Audible for instance (heck, there isn't even an Amazon app outside the US)? It's like the world stopped with Mango, I don't get it.
[Insert "you're to impatient", "buy an iPhone" comments here]

a good chat client. WhatsApp, IM+ DO NOT count as good chat clients. They are both broken, slow, buggy, laggy and half the time don't even work. If someone now says IM+ works then I'll ask them to use it on iOS or Android and see what 'works' REALLY means.

I must admit I was all excited about getting Mango and having Live tiles on the home screen.
Sadly there are hardly any good apps to use, And even fewer with live tiles.
{I would love Twitter to have a live tile}
The little things like no WiFi tethering and no decent Navigation app for WP7 is testing my patience as well. I am hoping Nokia will rectify these short comings as I really do love the windows software.
I just hope the hardware that this platform deserve is released soon.

TuneIn radio has been updated to Mango, and now supports background audio. That's the best update I've had - use that app all the time. Other than that a few of my map apps (Bingle Maps, GMaps) open quicker, but that's it really.
Yeh is a bit of a let down so far; still no augmented reality apps yet, or properly good WP7 exclusive games (could we have *one* FPS please?)

another complaining thread sighs....

sayonical said:
another complaining thread sighs....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well WP7 isn't a bed of roses as you might think it is. For those who paid through the roof have the right to complain if the platform doesn't meet their expectations.

agp64 said:
..... The little things like no WiFi tethering and no decent Navigation app for WP7 .....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe Navigon Navigator does'nt support your region but for 95% of the users Navigator IS a decent navigation app (and version 4 should to be released soon to the market i read somewhere).
There will never be an OS that will fully forfill YOUR needs but when it does what the majority of users want it's on the right way.

I dont get the "no good gps apps" argument. Is Garmin Streetpilot not available in the US or Europe?

How about this. Let's come up with a list of the apps that we really want and some of us can start to ping them (via twitter or email) to see whether or not they are working on a WP7 app and any idea when it's coming.

Im getting 5+ updates everyday and most are for mango. It takes time.
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

PG2G said:
How about this. Let's come up with a list of the apps that we really want and some of us can start to ping them (via twitter or email) to see whether or not they are working on a WP7 app and any idea when it's coming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an idea I can run with instead of countless posts moaning and groaning!
I'll start
Ereader.com (Back when I had my pocket pc, then android so I have a lot of books on there, would love to have this on wp7) However Barnes and Nobles own the company now and they have the nook so probably a hopeless cause....
A Barnes and Noble Nook app wouldn't hurt though...
sent the tweet: @BN_care will you be releasing a Nook app for Windows Phone 7? I'd also like to read my ereader.com books on my windows phone. Help!

the92playboy said:
I dont get the "no good gps apps" argument. Is Garmin Streetpilot not available in the US or Europe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Garmin is US only, Navigon so far is only available in Germany (?)
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Peew971 said:
Garmin is US only, Navigon so far is only available in Germany (?)
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Canada also has Garmin, and works awesome for those interested.

This is pretty much the reason I can't see myself switching. I have an iPhone. Why do I want to move to a platform where I can do less than I already can? I really want certain apps on WP7 before I move or I just cannot justify moving. It may be an unimportant app to most people, but an app like Grindr is something I don't want my platform without. Not to mention I have a free turn-by-turn app with iOS(which I believe Nokia is going to be addressing, and is most likely the hardware I'd be buying if I got a Windows Phone).
A lot of people on here(from what I've noticed) are saying that WP7 needs to get more unique apps. While that's nice and all, I want already existing apps. Most of my friends also have iPhones, and I don't want them to tell me to pull up an app and be unable to. I don't really care about the "look what my phone can do and yours can't." I care about being able to do all that they can at the very least.
Many people on here care about games and think that could be the main selling point of WP7. I just don't see it happening. While it's a small sample size, most people I've met pretty much only pick up simple games like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope(if that). I just don't feel that a large majority of smart phone owners want to play action-packed RPGs on their phones. We have computers and consoles for that. And while it might be a nice novelty to be able to once in a while, again, the only games people I know as well as myself play are the simple pick it up for a few minutes and put it back down games.
Next comes the photography apps. I almost never take pictures, but many, many people do. I don't have a WP7 to compare apps with, but I'm curious what the photo apps on there are like. I have Camera+, Hipstamatic, and Instagram on my phone. How do non-native apps(and I guess the native app) on WP7 stack up to those? I hope Nokia will save the day in terms of excellent camera quality, but the in-app editing is also a pretty important feature to me(when I do actually take pictures) and others.
The Windows Phone OS looks pretty amazing, but I just can't justify moving until it can do all that my iPhone can in terms of apps relevant to me. I'm hoping by WP8 it will be all I want and more, and just maybe it will be able to suck me out of the Apple ecosystem. The live tiles are a pretty excellent concept, and while it's compelling, I need more apps to be available. People almost always develop for iOS before they develop for Android or WP7, so it definitely leaves something to be desired in that department.
The only thing I'd be pleased with is the fact that Skype integration is coming. On that token, I already have a Skype app with video calling on the iPhone. So Microsoft has definitely got to step up their game, get existing apps on this platform at all costs, and make sure their own in-house apps completely blow the other platforms' alternatives away.

the92playboy said:
Canada also has Garmin, and works awesome for those interested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While iOS and Andorid have MapQuest for free with virtually all the features of Android's Google Maps and Navigation for free.
http://wireless.mapquest.com/
Uses Navteq map data, BTW. Guess they were better at negotiating a licensing deal than Microsoft...

whistler-nl said:
Maybe Navigon Navigator does'nt support your region but for 95% of the users Navigator IS a decent navigation app (and version 4 should to be released soon to the market i read somewhere).
There will never be an OS that will fully forfill YOUR needs but when it does what the majority of users want it's on the right way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's all well and dandy for those that have access to it. But there are many areas in Asia that still have no way to navigate offline.
It seems to me that a majority want WIFI tethering to avoid having 2 data plans, The same reason I want it.
My 4 year old Nokia had WIFI tethering and world GPS maps.
I do love this OS. I am hopping Nokia maps will make it our way soon.
---------- Post added at 10:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 AM ----------
Bl4ke said:
This is pretty much the reason I can't see myself switching. I have an iPhone. Why do I want to move to a platform where I can do less than I already can? I really want certain apps on WP7 before I move or I just cannot justify moving. It may be an unimportant app to most people, but an app like Grindr is something I don't want my platform without. Not to mention I have a free turn-by-turn app with iOS(which I believe Nokia is going to be addressing, and is most likely the hardware I'd be buying if I got a Windows Phone).
A lot of people on here(from what I've noticed) are saying that WP7 needs to get more unique apps. While that's nice and all, I want already existing apps. Most of my friends also have iPhones, and I don't want them to tell me to pull up an app and be unable to. I don't really care about the "look what my phone can do and yours can't." I care about being able to do all that they can at the very least.
Many people on here care about games and think that could be the main selling point of WP7. I just don't see it happening. While it's a small sample size, most people I've met pretty much only pick up simple games like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope(if that). I just don't feel that a large majority of smart phone owners want to play action-packed RPGs on their phones. We have computers and consoles for that. And while it might be a nice novelty to be able to once in a while, again, the only games people I know as well as myself play are the simple pick it up for a few minutes and put it back down games.
Next comes the photography apps. I almost never take pictures, but many, many people do. I don't have a WP7 to compare apps with, but I'm curious what the photo apps on there are like. I have Camera+, Hipstamatic, and Instagram on my phone. How do non-native apps(and I guess the native app) on WP7 stack up to those? I hope Nokia will save the day in terms of excellent camera quality, but the in-app editing is also a pretty important feature to me(when I do actually take pictures) and others.
The Windows Phone OS looks pretty amazing, but I just can't justify moving until it can do all that my iPhone can in terms of apps relevant to me. I'm hoping by WP8 it will be all I want and more, and just maybe it will be able to suck me out of the Apple ecosystem. The live tiles are a pretty excellent concept, and while it's compelling, I need more apps to be available. People almost always develop for iOS before they develop for Android or WP7, so it definitely leaves something to be desired in that department.
The only thing I'd be pleased with is the fact that Skype integration is coming. On that token, I already have a Skype app with video calling on the iPhone. So Microsoft has definitely got to step up their game, get existing apps on this platform at all costs, and make sure their own in-house apps completely blow the other platforms' alternatives away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post Bl4ke.
The cross platform apps are a must for WP7.
I still cannot believe Skype is not available for WP7. My friends laugh when I tell them I do not have Skype on my phone.

It is a disappointment ... coming to WP7 from Android ... I patiently heard the argument that the apps will come once mango is here ... and considering such quick deployment of the update, I was hoping the developers will take notice and flood the market with apps... instead all I see on the marketplace is the same set of apps being repeated in the featured section ...
1. There isnt a decent chat client for WP7
2. Youtube playback seems to be slow
3. No third party browsers ... IE9 does not support text reflow ... i see myself scrolling sideways and downwards ...
4. Bing navigation is so crippled ... thanks to their deal with Navteq
5. Facebook client looks ancient .. Twitter client is marginally better ... where are the live tiles though ?
I can continue ranting but honestly, I feel really sad about how slowly the new apps are coming in ... It was almost the same when I was with Symbian and the Ovi store basically did not grow ... I sometimes get so annoyed with WP7 that I wish to put my sim back in my LG Optimus One (a very midrange phone) ... but heck, I can do a lot more with it ...

k4ce said:
It is a disappointment ... coming to WP7 from Android ... I patiently heard the argument that the apps will come once mango is here ... and considering such quick deployment of the update, I was hoping the developers will take notice and flood the market with apps... instead all I see on the marketplace is the same set of apps being repeated in the featured section ...
1. There isnt a decent chat client for WP7
2. Youtube playback seems to be slow
3. No third party browsers ... IE9 does not support text reflow ... i see myself scrolling sideways and downwards ...
4. Bing navigation is so crippled ... thanks to their deal with Navteq
5. Facebook client looks ancient .. Twitter client is marginally better ... where are the live tiles though ?
I can continue ranting but honestly, I feel really sad about how slowly the new apps are coming in ... It was almost the same when I was with Symbian and the Ovi store basically did not grow ... I sometimes get so annoyed with WP7 that I wish to put my sim back in my LG Optimus One (a very midrange phone) ... but heck, I can do a lot more with it ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am coming from WM 6.5 and its an utter let down and nothing but regrets..
following are some apps which dosent need any further API release, nor any hardware shortcoming:
A 'decent' wallet app. (code wallet pro)
A decent agenda and appointments app (pocket informant)
A call monitoring app, calculating PEAK/offpeak/weekend minutes (phone dashboard) Basic call times is missing from call history.
An application to send SMS on particular time and date, like a SMS scheduler.
SMS backup application.
A Data monitor to calculate how much 3G/WIFI data I am using, weekly/daily/monthly/yearly.
A call/SMS blocker.
Audio recorder to record incoming/outgoing calls automatically. (resco audio recorder)
Last good game which lasted more than one day from start to finish was on 5/18/11: plant vs. zombies. You dont need APIs to make a good nor is their any hardware limitation. There were games in begining but now its just pathetic.. COLLAPSE? Burn the Rope? I mean seriously.. Why we still call it a 'smartphone' with dumb games like that?
All the apps right now are so basic.. and all the 'mango' updates have been equally basic. I guess mango was all about flipping that tile to show other side.. thats it.. we got the flipping tile.. NOW WHAT? WTF can I do more with this phone than just stare at that flipping tile??

Quality apps take time to make. MS did give a decent window to prepare apps, and Kinsoft apps was able to get their apps updated, but we only enabled fast resume - the easiest Mango feature to add. Some of these other features/API's take more time to add or even require a ground-up approach. So give it time.

Wp7 is new. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you bought into the platform.
WP7 won't be perfect overnight. Takes time. If you don't have the patience or certain features are as vital to you as oxygen then by all means sell your wp7 and jump to the flourishing app store of iOS or Android.
Sent from my HTC HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App