Day 3 of Windows Phone 8

So far, it's been a mixed bag with Windows Phone.  It synced my Google contacts with aplomb.  It even drew the photos taken on my Android into the new contacts. Granted, that has more to do with Google than Windows, but it's nice.

Another nice touch is that the mapping system allows you to download map packs for every state and numerous non-US regions/nations.

I have to admit that not having voice instructions, turn by turn, is lame.  I don't know why, when Nokia Drive (only on Nokia phones, but I've heard you can hack it onto other phones if you're a hacker) can do it and Bing Maps can track you live and give on-screen turn by turn (as opposed to spoken) directions.

One huge plus is that you can delete the bloatware that your carrier installs.  This is a huge boon to people that hate having to look at apps that are really advertisements to buy other crap from your carrier.  I was able to delete T-Mobile TV and 411 & More...stuff that I couldn't remove from Android until I rooted my device.

I miss Spotify and being able to sync my playlists.  I've been trying to use the free Xbox Music Pass to replace it, but that's been a nightmare.  It took me over a day to get their server to send me an acknowledgement code.  When I finally did, the service simply would not recognize that I had a Windows phone.  I called tech support and they told me that they had no idea about my problem and told me to search the Windows Phone forums.  Nice...not.  I did do so and found this is a common problem.  The solution? Factory reset your phone.  This results in a complete wipe.  Apparently, the service will not rescan to find your device.  One user said his phone had this problem and it was found by the service an hour later.  I let mine sit overnight with no luck.  This sounds like a serious bug. 

After resetting my phone to get Xbox Music to work, it looks like it might be a nice service.  Not sure others would give it thus much work.  On top of that, their app store was very confusing.  There is no on-phone "my apps" like on Google (there is online) so, when I tried to reinstall my purchased apps, it told me to buy the apps again.  This had me very upset until the phone told me (after I clicked to buy again) that I had already purchased the app and it asked me if I wanted to install again.  Not intuitive at all.

See you at the next update.

The Switch From Android to Windows Phone 8

Today I receive an HTC 8X, courtesy of the kind folks at HTC in Bellevue, WA (They are a Taiwanese company that has their US HQ in Bellevue, WA).  This is a really slick phone (you can see a review here).  The interface is undeniably slick and so is the overall look and feel of the phone.  One really neat feature that they are advertising is Kid's Corner which allows you to let your kids play with the phone without accessing any non-approved content or features.  The Metro interface (the old working name for the blocks all over the screen) is very pretty and customizable.  This isn't a review, per se, but an opportunity to see if I can switch over from Android to Windows Phone 8 without looking back.

I am committed to staying with this phone for at least a month.  I love my HTC One S which is easily my favorite phone.  I also use an Asus Transformer Pad so I have an Android backup that I can turn to.  Having been an Android fan for quite a while, I have grown quite accustomed to several of the convenient apps and, perhaps more importantly, the hacker community.  They have allowed me to root my phone and set up apps that backup the entire phone, work secretly, and provide wifi hotspot capability behind my carrier's back.  I'm not sure how much support there will be in the Windows Phone community for stuff like this, but I am convinced that forcing myself to use it exclusively will make my find the true potential of the phone.  I will provide updates as I go.

The big question is:  Can someone deeply entrenched in the Google universe escape and function on a Windows Phone?  Stay tuned.