Surface phone

[dmanna]

So the rumors suggest Microsoft will release a Surface phone in 2017, I am not sure this is going to happen or not.

But I also heard a rumor that MS and windows 10 will now support ARM CPU's that can run on fully fledged 32 bit windows 10. I am not sure if it can run on 64 bit Windows 10 or not.

This could be great for Nvidia with there Tegra x2 model SOC to maybe partner up with MS and make a great phone.

I have little hope that even if the Surface phone was a great phone that it would even make any dent in the smart phone market. I don't think MS can break into the smart phone Market at least not in the US. I guess they have to try.


Edit: I am not even sure the Tegra x2 SOC is even relevant seeing as apparently Windows 10 is cross compatible across its Phone, PC, and Xbox apps.

[guest]

I thought there was no love between Nvidia and Microsoft that started with the original Xbox?

[Destroy]

Meh. Show me the features to improve my productivity then I'll 'start' to get interested.

[Sazar]

Originally Posted by Destroy

Meh. Show me the features to improve my productivity then I'll 'start' to get interested.

The Windows Phone OS is very good overall. Fast, lots of information at a glance, customizable, etc. etc.

App support is lacking, and MS has had a very disjointed plan with how to integrate services and features, but the foundation is pretty solid.

[dmanna]

Originally Posted by guest

I thought there was no love between Nvidia and Microsoft that started with the original Xbox?

Well if they had a business deal that would make money for both of them, I am sure past squabbles would be forgotten.

MS mindshare is so low for smart phones and so uncool to kids.. and adults are inundated with Apple and Google phones, people that don't know anything or have little knowledge of tech, have to actually go out of there way to look for a Windows based smart phone... which never happens. And to be honest I am not sure MS is even giving regular joes a reason to look in there direction.

[lviz]

Originally Posted by Sazar

The Windows Phone OS is very good overall. Fast, lots of information at a glance, customizable, etc. etc.

App support is lacking, and MS has had a very disjointed plan with how to integrate services and features, but the foundation is pretty solid.

IMO that only applies to the main screen, though. One swipe to the other menu, and things go messy. Windows Phone OS basically has two fully different user experiences one swipe from each other. The UI on the other menu has only been optimized for a language like English where words are shortish. The user experience in languages where typical words are long is a mess outside the main screen. That needs quite a lot of work which I think they are not going to do.

[dmanna]

Originally Posted by lviz

IMO that only applies to the main screen, though. One swipe to the other menu, and things go messy. Windows Phone OS basically has two fully different user experiences one swipe from each other. The UI on the other menu has only been optimized for a language like English where words are shortish. The user experience in languages where typical words are long is a mess outside the main screen. That needs quite a lot of work which I think they are not going to do.

I can't speak for other languages but the Lumia 950 is fast and smooth for english. I am a basic smart phone user though. Web browsing, youtube app, GPS.. all seem about as fast as can be.

[SD-[Inc]]

Love my Windows phone but the sad fact is Microsoft is probably bailing out of this market. All their software and services are already aligning to support IOS and Android. I doubt there will be a Surface phone.

[Rakeesh]

Originally Posted by dmanna

This could be great for Nvidia with there Tegra x2 model SOC to maybe partner up with MS and make a great phone.

I highly doubt it. Microsoft is very firmly married to Qualcomm for their phones.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...dows_10_mobile

[MangaSpawn64]

Originally Posted by SD-[Inc]

Love my Windows phone but the sad fact is Microsoft is probably bailing out of this market. All their software and services are already aligning to support IOS and Android. I doubt there will be a Surface phone.

Man they missed the boat, and it makes me sad cause I love my 1020.

2 years ago, they should've come out with continuum and a dock for the phone... I feel like it's too late now

[Rakeesh]

Originally Posted by MangaSpawn64

Man they missed the boat, and it makes me sad cause I love my 1020.

2 years ago, they should've come out with continuum and a dock for the phone... I feel like it's too late now

Continuum feels like a gimmick. Are you really going to carry around all of those dock accessories and/or a keyboard with you on the off chance that you'll have an unused monitor to sit down at? Assuming of course, that it's convenient to disconnect whatever might be connected to it.

At that point, you're much better off carrying around a laptop.

Continuum is one of those things that sounds nice but ends up being too impractical to bother with.

[Sasquach]

Originally Posted by Rakeesh

Continuum feels like a gimmick. Are you really going to carry around all of those dock accessories and/or a keyboard with you on the off chance that you'll have an unused monitor to sit down at? Assuming of course, that it's convenient to disconnect whatever might be connected to it.

At that point, you're much better off carrying around a laptop.

Continuum is one of those things that sounds nice but ends up being too impractical to bother with.

I don't see it as a gimmick as I think its pretty cool, but I do see difficulty in how to implement and utilize it in the way its intended to work.
-Low cost laptop replacement is good if you just have the keyboard/mouse/dock sitting on the desk ready to have the phone plug into it.
-as a replacement for laptop portability its harder to say. There are accessories that would be useful spacewise (like I think MS has a foldable keyboard and the arc mouse can fold half it). MS' own dock is a pig though compared to what HP and Acer designed.....
-Now if the destination has a continuum setup pre-laid out then it would definitely have portability advantage over a laptop as all you do is bring the phone around.

[Trunks0]

I can only see Continuum working as a really nice feature add vs an complete game changer. I mean honestly, if I really wanted to put in some effort, I can mimic much of it using remote desktop though my current android phone provided I have an internet connection.

[Mahjik]

I am curious to see what the next Microsoft mobile platform brings to the table. I do think Continuum is a nifty idea. I'm using my phone less and less for the apps so I'd consider a "Surface Phone" for my next phone.

The main feature I use/love currently is being able to Google search a location on a PC/laptop and then to send directions to phone. I would miss that as it's very handy.

[SD-[Inc]]

I wouldn't get your hopes up. I don't see how MS can make something attractive enough to have a decent ecosystem grow out from it. The only hope is that mobile browsers become as full function as desktop browsers and companies build more browser apps instead of native ones. That would be attractive to everyone but Apple.

[Bladedog]

The OS has been implemented well in my opinion, it works well and as said before it's very customisable. The early phones were great (for their time), the later ones are competent rather than "world-beating".

In terms of productivity, the calendar and e-mail integration is superb, and Cortana wins hands down for working while travelling. Continuum is half a gimic and half good productivity. If you have a bluetooth keyboard and a modern projector that allows wireless connectivity then it's fantastic, especially for showing slideshows or Word docs or spreadsheets.

Where it falls down is apps and its such a shame. The apps that were created are great but they are not updated. When you only use Windows phone you don't really notice the lack of apps unless you see a TV advert for something and then browse the app store, already set for the disappointment.

Then you do what I did. Broke my Windows Phone so borrowed my daughters old iPhone 5S. Hateful little device, tiny screen, slow, etc. etc. But then you realise your bank has updated the mobile banking app you've been using and what you thought was good is now actually great. And then you realise your Credit Card also has an online app and you can keep track of your spending. And home automation .... and this ... and that ..... and ... and .... and .....

And suddenly you struggle to go back to a Windows Phone.

[jimmt]

Originally Posted by Bladedog

The OS has been implemented well in my opinion, it works well and as said before it's very customisable. The early phones were great (for their time), the later ones are competent rather than "world-beating".

In terms of productivity, the calendar and e-mail integration is superb, and Cortana wins hands down for working while travelling. Continuum is half a gimic and half good productivity. If you have a bluetooth keyboard and a modern projector that allows wireless connectivity then it's fantastic, especially for showing slideshows or Word docs or spreadsheets.

Where it falls down is apps and its such a shame. The apps that were created are great but they are not updated. When you only use Windows phone you don't really notice the lack of apps unless you see a TV advert for something and then browse the app store, already set for the disappointment.

Then you do what I did. Broke my Windows Phone so borrowed my daughters old iPhone 5S. Hateful little device, tiny screen, slow, etc. etc. But then you realise your bank has updated the mobile banking app you've been using and what you thought was good is now actually great. And then you realise your Credit Card also has an online app and you can keep track of your spending. And home automation .... and this ... and that ..... and ... and .... and .....

And suddenly you struggle to go back to a Windows Phone.

Agree 100%. I loved Windows mobile, but missing apps; especially productivity social apps like banking and credit cards, is the reason I too left the platform.

[SD-[Inc]]

I still have mine because it is still just too nice of a phone to chuck in the garbage. My wife has an iPhone 6 so if I really need one of those types of apps I borrow hers. This happens about once every 2 months. It would be nice not to have this restriction. But, my HTC M8 shows no sign of aging and is protected by a nice case so Ill probably end up being the last person on the planet using Windows phone.

[dmanna]

Originally Posted by Bladedog

The OS has been implemented well in my opinion, it works well and as said before it's very customisable. The early phones were great (for their time), the later ones are competent rather than "world-beating".

In terms of productivity, the calendar and e-mail integration is superb, and Cortana wins hands down for working while travelling. Continuum is half a gimic and half good productivity. If you have a bluetooth keyboard and a modern projector that allows wireless connectivity then it's fantastic, especially for showing slideshows or Word docs or spreadsheets.

Where it falls down is apps and its such a shame. The apps that were created are great but they are not updated. When you only use Windows phone you don't really notice the lack of apps unless you see a TV advert for something and then browse the app store, already set for the disappointment.

Then you do what I did. Broke my Windows Phone so borrowed my daughters old iPhone 5S. Hateful little device, tiny screen, slow, etc. etc. But then you realise your bank has updated the mobile banking app you've been using and what you thought was good is now actually great. And then you realise your Credit Card also has an online app and you can keep track of your spending. And home automation .... and this ... and that ..... and ... and .... and .....

And suddenly you struggle to go back to a Windows Phone.

I can understand that, i see alot of people handing over there phones for scanning when paying for stuff.. but honestly that just seems like a security issue just waiting to happen. And I don't mind carrying around my wallet.

But obviously Win phone 7 8 and 10 just didn't get enough market share. They seemed to be growing when they were at about 4% but then it died. I only use GPS, Youtube and Audible mainly... and a few easy stupid apps like flashlight app. And I really think MS needs to change groove music and make it more like spotify or Pandora.

MS did a great job with the Zune HD thats what got me excited for Windows Phone back in the day.

[Sasquach]

Originally Posted by Bladedog

The OS has been implemented well in my opinion, it works well and as said before it's very customisable. The early phones were great (for their time), the later ones are competent rather than "world-beating".

In terms of productivity, the calendar and e-mail integration is superb, and Cortana wins hands down for working while travelling. Continuum is half a gimic and half good productivity. If you have a bluetooth keyboard and a modern projector that allows wireless connectivity then it's fantastic, especially for showing slideshows or Word docs or spreadsheets.

Where it falls down is apps and its such a shame. The apps that were created are great but they are not updated. When you only use Windows phone you don't really notice the lack of apps unless you see a TV advert for something and then browse the app store, already set for the disappointment.

Then you do what I did. Broke my Windows Phone so borrowed my daughters old iPhone 5S. Hateful little device, tiny screen, slow, etc. etc. But then you realise your bank has updated the mobile banking app you've been using and what you thought was good is now actually great. And then you realise your Credit Card also has an online app and you can keep track of your spending. And home automation .... and this ... and that ..... and ... and .... and .....

And suddenly you struggle to go back to a Windows Phone.

I agree with this post.
I still have my Lumia 930 because I just don't have the money nor the need to upgrade to an iPhone at this time. The phone still works as a phone, it still does internet, it still does games and still does stuff that smartphones do when all the 'super shiny apps' or whatever flavor of the month stuff dies out.

I'm OK with the web substitute for the apps as long as the websites work well (mobile versions of websites usually suck pretty bad compared to the full versions I find.....).
Where the app situation does come in handy though are local apps (which are almost nonexistent on windows mobile) and where the apps provide a far more convenient interface suitable for a small screen than a web browser. (banking apps mainly). I find that the lack of apps has become more and more detrimental with more and more exposure and not just because of lack of apps in general, its also due to sub-par alternative apps (when there are 3rd party alternatives) and just plain bad official apps that never get updated and eventually just get discontinued.

[Jkmetal23]

I'll hop in as a satisfied windows phone owner. It does what I ask of it, which is web browsing, email, text and the occasional app use. Even when I used to commute via train it held up well. There are some great e book and e comic apps available. It never failed me as a GPS and it's my steam confirmation device. It has very nice skype integration.

It was also only $30. For a brand new smartphone. I couldn't lose at that price. (or have to buy insurance for it lol) Plus I just upgraded to Windows 10 mobile and it is great.