Adventures in WP8
his Saturday I was finally able to get my new phone, after much debate on color I ended up getting the black Lumia 920 and I’m pretty much in love.
As I expected, there’s a little bit of a learning curve coming off the iPhone but it’s pretty easy to get on board, and for all the talk of an underdeveloped app store, of the 20 some odd apps I use regularly only two weren’t available on the Windows Phone Market. (I’m not a big gamer so maybe that helps). The only app I could really ask for is an official Tumblr and Google Chrome, I don’t care for Internet Explorer, but I’ll use it for now.
Because I got it from AT&T (and they happen to be running a sale until the 21st) I got a free wireless charging dock, which has become seriously my new favorite thing ever. Why all phones don’t charge this way I will never know.
I had read from Nokia and WindowsPhone.com that there was a sort of Siri equivalent on the phone but I couldn’t figure out how to use it, and I’m pretty sure no blog I’d read mentioned it. Kind of like how it works on the iPhone, you press and hold (for a second) the Windows symbol on the phone and it comes up. Another thing I don’t really remember reading about is the Windows Phone’s ability for multitasking also similar to the iPhone. Press and hold the back arrow and it opens up all of your previously used apps.
The two biggest things I’m still having a little trouble getting used too (though it’s only two days in), is the lock screen button being on the side, and having to still press answer for when I’m receiving a call even after I’ve unlocked the screen.
It’s unfortunate that you can’t customize your text tone like you can in iOS 5/6 but maybe that’ll come in time. It may be a mixed blessing, after all, I used to have “Ooh gurrl you got a shemail” from RuPaul’s Drag Race as my tone for when I got a new email (still have it on my laptop) and I eventually had to take it off my phone because I’d get awoken at 3 am with a very loud OOOOH GUUURL YOU GOT A SHEMAIL… we are so not amused.
All in all though I’m loving it, and I think in spite of what tech blogs have said to the contrary Windows is a serious competitor against iOS and Android. I’m still a diehard Apple fan, but I really want the Windows Phone to go further. You’re already on ABC’s Scandal.
