Slow Death of Windows Phone: How Microsoft lost the battle for smartphones. Wi-Fi and wireless networks

Phones S. Windows Phone Create your market share, so let's see which models are available and whether they should be bought.

Phones with Windows Phone gain popular among buyers. Currently, one of the five phones sold on WP8. For this reason, we decided to see what he represents, and how different from old windows Phone 7.8.

Why Windows Phone 8?

The phone with Windows Phone 8 is an interesting offer for several reasons. First of all, it is a system that works fine with Xbox 360, with cloud Skydrive. and Windows 8, which comes with new tablets and PCs. Although still Windows 8 is not very popular, but during the year or two, it must become the most popular system in the market and will displace favorite Windows 7. In addition, WP8 is safe, because it has a closed architecture, each created application passes Microsoft control. Phones are fixed specificationsThat Microsoft requires manufacturers, means providing good consistency with equipment, and all this works smoothly and almost without any problems that cannot be said for smartphones with Android, especially the cheapest.

A big plus is also a built-in package. Microsoft Office.which is the only software available on mobile devices Fully compatible S. complete versionthat is the most popular office package in the world.

Or maybe not?

Windows Phone 8 system is not devastable. First of all, it is a minimalistic tiled interface that is characterized by very small setup capabilities. Allows you to change only the size and color of the tile, there are no classic wallpaper here. In addition to Windows Phone, much less applications than for mobile applications With Android and iOS. Although this difference decreases, and will decrease the year from the year, but still can be considered noticeable. It is also worth noting that Windows Phone has many restrictions, such as lack of support uSB keyboard And mouse, and you cannot install another web browser. The only available internet Explorer, or based on it, such as Nokia Xpress.

What is common between phones with Windows Phone?

As we mentioned, smartphones with the Windows Phone operating system have a specification mounted Microsoft. All telephones with the Windows Phone 8 operating system must have processors Qualcomm Snapdragon. S4. The Windows Phone 7 operating system was also equipped with Qualcomm processors, but the previous generation. Also, Microsoft found that cheap phones with Windows Phone 8 should have 512 MB of RAM, and on more efficient 1 GB. Top models with Windows Phone 7 had 512 MB, in turn, less powerful was set only in 256 MB of RAM.

Because of this, many applications such as Angry Birds or Skype did not want to produce cheap phones. FROM launching Windows Phone 8, Microsoft immediately stated that the phones will be available in two versions, so developers are ready for this, and this situation will no longer repeat, and all applications will work on WP8.

With the launch of smartphones with Windows Phone 8, Microsoft decided to update the old software, and Windows Phone 7.8 has become available. The main change in the system is adding the ability to change the size of the tile so that the system becomes similar to Windows 8. However, the updates did not touch Wi-Fi, NFC connections (exception Nokia Lumia. 610 NFC), support for memory cards and full multithreading. It is also important that while Windows Phone 8 can run applications intended for previous version operating systemIn the opposite direction it is impossible. Moreover, latest version Internet Explorer. Mobile with number 10 is not available for Windows Phone 7. In the older version of mobile windows, there is also no way to support multi-core processors, Screen with a resolution is different from 800 x 480.

Is it worth buying a phone with Windows Phone 7?

Obviously, smartphones with Windows Phone 8 are better than equipped with old version Software, but not everyone can afford to buy a phone for 8 thousand rubles. It is so much that the cheapest smartphone on Windows Phone 8 is on the market, i.e. Nokia Lumia 520. If the amount that can be spent on the phone is significantly less, it is definitely worth paying attention to smartphones with Windows Phone 7.8.

This means that it is necessary to make a compromise and choose whether you want to have a very smooth operation of the phone, with a not very large number of programs, without the possibilities of fine configuration of the interface. Any decision will find its followers, however, I think it is better to have a little less functional, but smartly. Although characteristics mobile phones With Windows Phone, will be worse than on Android.

How to choose a phone with Windows Phone?

This can be done very easily, namely, analyzing only the specifications of the phone. This is possible because all smartphones are very close, almost identical software. In case of smartphones with Android operating system software Significantly different from the manufacturer to the manufacturer. It is because of poorly written and overloaded excessive additional software, your smartphone with best characteristics On paper, it may be less efficient and slower in reality. It is also important to the quality of the hull and its appearance. In the end, no one wants to have an ugly apparatus, which will fall apart after a few months. And here there is a moment, all the phone on WP8 is very designed.

Conclusion

I hope it became clear what advantages and disadvantages have smartphones running Windows Phone 8. They are not perfect equipment, better or worse than Android or iOS. They are just different. Any equipment is intended for different types users. For comparison, Android software, more approximate for advanced users awaiting the presence of many functions and tools. But iOS users like Windows Phone holders, but with different equipment. It should be noted that iPhones are expensive phonesBut the android and windows are presented in all price versions. After all, the cost of the device is a very important criterion when buying.

When choosing a smartphone, we look at different factors, and one of the main is the operating system with which it will have to deal. Google Android, Apple iPhone. or Microsoft Windows. Phone? Many buyers believe that the main competition is conducted between the first two, and Windows Phone is so, it is not serious. But we will try to debunk this myth.

10 advantages of Windows Phone

Plus the first: this is not an iPhone

From the point of view of "apples, it looks like an undoubted disadvantage, but non-tee products Cupertino clearly look at this fact with interest.

In fact, in many ways the ideology of operating systems IOS and WP8 is similar: the closeness of both from "external influences", the hard selection of applications is a rather narrow selection of gadgets. But if Apple has a deal only with the gadgets of Apple itself, then Microsoft in this plan is much better: smartphones on Windows Phone produce many dear manufacturers, from Microsoft itself to HTC and Samsung (the latter - even despite promoting a competitor WP - OC Tizen).

If you summarize and discard technical details, then Windows Phone can be called "iOS without Apple". The latter, as you know, love to exhibit completely incurred prices for your components, whereas with the gadgets on Windows Phone there are no such problems that the components here are the most than any "ordinary". In general, if you like the ideology of Apple devices, but do not like the price (or what other) the company "Apple" company, take a look at smartphones on WP and tablets on Windows.

Plus the second: Yes, it is Windows

In view of the upcoming unification of Microsoft operating systems for all mobile and desktop devices this advantage It looks especially attractive. Now the smartphone on Windows Phone 8.1 is also synchronized without any problems with Windows 8.1, but when Windows 10 will be released - it will be Windows 10 for everyone, without the phone console. By the way, the release for developers has already come out, which hints.

Such unification means at least the lack of problems of synchronization of gadgets (and now they are in small things, but are found), and the convenience of work on all devices in theory should be similar.

In principle, approximately the same can be said about different versions Apple iOS.But it is impossible about Google Android. Yes, there are chrombus, but on this variety of types of Android devices is exhausted.

Plus Three: There is no problem shortage of RAM

This is the Beach of Android devices: once grabbed 512 MB of RAM, now 2 GB is considered minimally admissible for comfortable work. While the Lumia 720 on Windows Phone 8 copes with the same 512 megabytes of RAM, and even allows you to comfortably work with the navigation system (which is checked by the author personally a couple of years ago), not to mention about HTC Mozart. 2010 release with its 576 megabytes of memory: Despite the outdoority of Windows Phone 7.8, and the actual termination of the support of this version of Microsoft, you can still work with comfort on this unit (if, of course, not to put "hard" games). Moreover, it does not have to turn off different "beautifulness" like the animation of menu transitions. Of course, there are already top WP devices with 2 gigabytes of RAM.

But the Android-smartphone three-year limitations with one gigabyte in memory on the fourth version of the operating system today is braking safely, and the devices with three gigabytes of RAM actually cause more sadness than joy, because the trends "more, more, more!" It fully complies.

By the way, Apple iPhone has a similar problem, too, is also not that the presence of the "old" iPhones of the third dash of the fifth generation in ads and on quite visited auctions, where they fly away like hot cakes. And this is not only because IOS is a well-thought-out and simple operating system by itself, but also because IOS also has no problems with rAMlike Windows Phone.

Unlike Android. An increase in RAM in "Android phones" is only proven.

Plus Fourth: default applications

Since smartphones on Android are not saw in the basement only lazy (enough to look at any Chinese online store for their number, calculated by tens of thousands), they usually do not have a rich configuration. Of course, various major vendors like SAMSUNG or HTC will drink in his android version Many of all of what can and cannot, but the overwhelming majority of Android smartphones on the market do not possess anything, in addition to the stock firmware. Someone generous can, except, pour free shell and a couple of free applications. But in a common denominator, we have something that a small amount (4% of the plus-minus market, if you believe the analytics) of smartphones on Windows Phone, give your users quite a lot of useful brand applications, and the Android mega-diversity leads to what you have to finish All independently. Even with an excellent shell of HTC Sense.

By the way, a pleasant bonus can be called a swipe keyboard in complete Windows Phone 8.1: While in Google Android, such an innovation has appeared only some time ago (somewhere in the area of \u200b\u200bversions 4.2-4.3), and before that it was necessary to use a paid SWype application or analogs, free versions which were far from so good, possessing, among other things, extremely scarce dictionaries by default.

True, for Windows Phone no Google Chrome. (And also hangouts), but there is everything else. And even synchronization google account It runs on a par with a HOTMAIL default account. There are clouds microsoft app ONEDRIVE - similar functionality in Android wears google name Drive, places in both clouds provide the same: 15 GB.

Plus Fifth: Little can be configured (and broke, respectively)

Probably, many at first decide to put this plus in the minus, but if you look from the point of view of the average user, what does he want? Only one thing: so that everything is necessary, and so that it all worked as it should. Without the "doping", "root", "customization" and other terrible words. Bought - you use.

With Windows Phone, this is exactly what: pulled out of the box and everything works. You can change the color of the "tiles", to make the ringtone, streamline the desktop at your discretion, but you do not need to unlock the smartphone to obtain the superuser's rights, put cunning applications for cleaning and reorganizing memory both operational and constant ... Because everything works fine and without it. .

By the way, this plus can be attributed to Apple - again.

Plus Sixth: Easy

But since we have already remembered the iPhone, so the operating system from Microsoft can give the user the same simplicity. Yes, applications are not very much (for now), but their number increases. Yes, customization is strongly limited (see above) - but it is not necessary to shaman with a tambourine so that something earned.

Simplicity - the dominant principle not only from the iPhone, but also smartphones on windows database Phone. You will simply do not allow something to spoil in the system (applications including), ways to get something necessary too easy, and you can even figure out the child even a child (especially since there is a very simple and efficient children's regime called "Children's Corner "(Kid's Corner)." Usability ", in general, at the height.

Plus the seventh: OS update, regardless of the manufacturer and device class

Everyone is familiar with the model of distribution Android: the new version of the OS is coming out, appears on the newest "nexus", then the manufacturers of smartphones are slowly starting to swing and integrate a very slow OS into their firmware. Sometimes take place months, and in some cases, it seems to be actual devices, new Android And at all does not reach.

With Windows Phone 8, everything is easier: updates appear for all devices about the same time, both for the weak Lumia 520 and for powerful HTC 8x all functions are available equally, except toys on weak WP smartphones will be brazed. There are no "doping" of your own shells: firmware different manufacturers They differ, except that, the number of branded software, which is also not very much.

Plus Eighth: Security

In fact, the roots of this grow not from the fact that in the mobile OS from Microsoft, in principle there are no viruses (as in a joke about the elusive Joe), unlike a desktop relative, and from the fact that, due to the small prevalence, they simply have not yet begun to write.

Second reason - closeness source codewhich makes the OS almost invulnerable to hacking, at least - so far. And the antivirus for Android today is an almost obligatory must-have application for all "droids".

Plus Ninth: Xbox Live

It is rather plus for gamers, but it's still worth saying: the Xbox Live system is integrated into Windows Phone, so you can use your profile in this system for all games, gaining glasses and "pumping" your character, and there are common Ratings tables where you can compete with other players not in some game individually, but in general in all at once.

Plus Tenth: Full Navigation System

In the period, as in the "Internet", there are still disputes about what is better, Microsoft quietly embeds into its smartphones Lumia is a full-fledged offline HERE navigation system and has no problems with it. The system is really very powerful, there are updated maps of all countries of the world, there is indeed a full driving mode (offline!) In the HERE DRIVE application with voice prompts, there is an application with the nearest places (from cafes to shopping centers) in the overlay mode on a three-dimensional card with positioning in space.

The minus has a HERE card, perhaps one: cards are downloaded only in the built-in memory and categorically do not want to live on a flash drive. Well, no one is perfect.

As for offline navigators on Android, then a small lyrical retreat in the topic can be allowed. A few days ago, the author of this article looked at the video of one popular autobangger, in which he argued to us that a separate navigator where better smartphone. At the same time, the role of the smartphone was quite ancient samsung, and in the role navigation system - Cursed by many Navitel. That is, it turns out: if you have old smartphone Samsung, and you bought a navid navitel - then better buy a separate navigator.

The main thing, here you will not argue with anything. Everything is just like that. And also think so many owners of old Android devices.

Output

Of course, the Windows Phone operating system has both minuses (remember - no one is ideal), but hopefully, we visually demonstrated to you that this OS is quite competitively. For simplicity, it is not inferior to iOS, and smartphones are cheaper on it. As, for example, or, about which we recently told.

Desktop

Windows Phone 8.1 simplifies work with a smartphone. By putting the swipe to the right, you immediately get into the list of applications. Swile left returns back to the desktop.

The desktop itself allows you to fix anything on the screen. These can be applications, sites, individual letters from mail, contacts, which makes the desktop very visual and easy to use.

Navigation is carried out by three touch buttons, which are located at the bottom of the screen.

The horizontal arrow allows you to return, as well as cancel any action. If you hold your finger on the button, a list of all open applications will appear.

The Windows button is a button that returns to the desktop screen.

The Search button - opens the browser. If you hold your finger some time on the search button, opens voice assistant Cortana.

This is virtual voice assistantdesigned to replace the standard search engine. In essence, it combines many features. Cortana reproduces music, creates notes, displays reminders, even sends SMS messages.

App storeWindows Phone

If the basic functions and applications existing on the smartphone will be not enough, you can visit the store windows Applications Phone and download what is needed.

KeyboardWorld Flow.

The keyboard allows you to type the text without taking the finger from the keyboard, with the auto-playing function.

Center notifications

Standard for all mobile operating systems, "curtain" that unifies notifications from various applications, calls, SMS, and so on.

Separate slider volume

Separate volume slider allows you to distinguish between calls and notifications from multimedia and applications.

Branded applications OT.Microsoft..

MICROSOFT company branded applications make OS even more relevant. Windows Phone 8.1 will offer many, already pre-installed, useful programs:

Office - a set of office programs.

Health and fitness - a unique application for those who lead a healthy lifestyle. The application contains a list of workouts, with detailed description exercises; allows you to draw up a diet; Contains the database of medical symptoms for self-diagnosis.

Travel is an application that allows you to plan trips in advance. The application contains information about different cities of the world, with photos of attractions, and information about hotels, restaurants, flight flights, and so on.

Games - an application that is synchronized with Xbox Games. The application shows the results, as well as a list of achievements.

Sports - an application accumulates an innovative event base from various sports, with a selection of photos.

OneNote is the creator of notes that can easily be fixed on the desktop.

Internet Explorer.

Data control - allows you to monitor Internet traffic.

Outlook is an email client.

Basic settingsWindows Phone 8.1

Here are described, the most interesting, from the user's point of view, the settings of the smartphone.

Desktop setup

If you go to the Settings section, then you can see how it is not rich in caustization items. This in turn is associated with the "Tiley" style of the design of the desktop in WP 8.1: after all, it is impossible to customize and nothing. However, quite lyrics.

By and large, the setting of the desktop consists of 4 points:

There are two options: either white or light background. Depending on the selected background, naturally changes the color of the font. The dark background of the screen of the smartphone will correspond to a white font, light - black.

2. The color of the elements ("tiles").

Here you can choose any color.

3. Background of the desktop.

Here is an option to install your own desktop background, which was absent in Windows Phone 8. In this case, the tiles will look transparent - the background of the previously installed image or photography will be shown through them. At the same time, the selection of photographs is carried out not only from photos and pictures located in the device, but also from the network cloud storage Onedrive data. However, the minus is that, unfortunately, not all tiles become transparent, which makes the background of the desktop not very harmonious.

4. Adding a third strip of tiles.

This is done in order to be able to fix how much more applications tiles.

Accounts

This menu configures Microsoft Accounts, Mail, Social Networks.

Lock screen

The lock screen allows you to configure the background, applications for output notifications, applications for short notifications, as well as disabling the lock screen and password.

Notifications

The notification menu allows you to configure notifications for individual applications and settings.

Children's

In the smartphone there is an opportunity to customize the "children's room". By activating the children's room, parents can choose a list of applications, music, games and videos that will be available in the nursery. After that, a password is put on the standard lock screen so that the child can not get access to the smartphone. The next time the child falls into the hands of the phone, only those applications that have been chosen by their parents will be available.

Saving charge

A function is also available in the smartphone that allows you to save a charge. As soon as the level of charge falls to a critical mark, as a rule, it is 10-20% of the remaining charge, the cost saving function is activated. The "saving charge" menu also shows the time of the remaining charge, and the time of the last charging device. Having done the swipe to the right, you can get information about using the battery with separate applications.

Proector of Screen

A function that makes it possible to show the contents of the smartphone on the TV screen, monitor or projector.

Backups

The function allows you to create backups Applications, settings, SMS, as well as pictures stored on a smartphone and video.

Synchronization

This feature makes it possible to synchronize in the cloud settings, applications, Internet Explorer and passwords.

In car

Mode in the machine allows you to configure your smartphone so that notifications, calls, SMS are not distracted by the driver from the road.

Device information

Displays information about the phone: the name, model of the smartphone, the version of the OS, and so on.

Spam filter

Allows you to block calls and SMS from unwanted contacts.

Additionally

Shows the version of the software product.

Output:

Microsoft has released an excellent software product that is suitable for different categories of people, as if students, businessmen or children. Of course, compared to competitors, the share of devices under windows control Phone 8.1 is small, but it grows steadily. Very simple and visual design, as well as the quality of pre-installed applications, make interaction with the smartphone even more comfortable and enjoyable.

Microsoft officially announced Windows Phone 8 in San Francisco. Navigating Windows Phone 8 The system will offer a changing tile size, custom colors, and updates, and even more. This Windows phone release will have a Windows kernel. It will be based on the solid core of the operating system Windows 8.

This will mean that Windows Phone 8 will have as it were for general network capabilities, security issues, media and web browser technology, a shared file system, transfer to higher performance, more opportunities, and new opportunities for App developers and hardware manufacturers in Fast innovations.

Windows Phone 8 will support encryption, Secure Boot, control devices, and also deploying applications. This will be especially interesting to business users.Windows Phone 8 will also support NFC and offers the most full functions On any smartphone.

A new start-up screen offers a new color palette and three tile sizes, all of them can be customized.

Other features:

1. Support Multi-core processors
2. More, sharper screen.one will support two new screen resolutions - 1280? 768 and 1280 x 720?.
3. Also supports replaceable microSd memory cards
4. NFC Wireless Exchange. This is new technologies cordless phones Allow to share things for short distances.
5. Support Internet Explorer 10.
6. Windows Phone 8 has a new Digital wallet. It can be kept debit and credit cards, coupons, landing coupons and another important information right in your hands. And in combination with a safe SIM card From your operator, you can also pay for something with one touch of your phone you hit the compatible cashier.
7. Better cards and directions with built-in Nokia Mapping..
8. Windows Phone MarketPlace has already 100 000 applications and games.

Look at the screenshots below Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone 8 is expected in 2012 Q4 - probably only after officially operating windows system 8.

Whether Windows Phone 7 will receive windows Update Phone 8, and Elsi will be how to update? Answer - no. ButWindows Phone 7. Looks too neat! If you like this post, you can leave a comment in the form below.

P.P.S. If you have any problems or you need additional help, feel free to ask. We have a special, dedicated stream installed on our website to combat any questions that you can have.

Android is an unconditional leader in the mobile operating system market. At the end of last year, the share of devices running green Robot. exceeded 80 percent. Despite such meaningful results, Android is still where to grow. Moreover, some features to improve the ease of use and development of the system as a whole can be borrowed from competitors. For example, with Windows Phone. What parts of the Microsoft system can look like the adherents of our favorite operating system? Let's find out.

Our foreign colleague from his opinion on this issue shared phonearena. Adam Doud (Adam Doud). Adam is a big fan of the system, well-known "alive" plates.

Before moving to the listing of interesting windows functions Phone, it should be noted that Android L is still in the test stages by developers. Accordingly, an option is not excluded the appearance of some below the listed features to the final release of the novelty, which will take place in the fall of this year.

Hey, where is my update?

The overwhelming majority of owners of devices on Android at the end set as a single question: "Will there be an update for my smartphone"? Unfortunately, in the world of the green robot, the situation is still not rare when one of the leaders of last year's line does not receive an update.

In the ideal situation, the question should sound somewhat differently. When exactly can I install an update? How do many owners of devices with Windows Phone inside.

Naturally, manufacturers with this system are much smaller, but what prevents Google to oblige creators of smartphones is guaranteed to produce updates during a certain period? For example, you make the Android devices with the recent generation processor inside, be kind to maintain it at least two years.

Is the graphical interface or something useful?

What differences between Android devices of various manufacturers? Of course, external species Menu, desktops and icons, which in their totality is called a graphical interface. It is curious that despite the huge differences between the latter, the ideal for most users remains stock android.

Why not shift the focus of differentiation to all sorts useful servicesHow did this do Nokia with her cards at one time?

Order in everything

This disadvantage is difficult to be called significant, but sometimes it still makes itself felt. We are talking about organizing applications in the menu, find the desired in which sometimes it is incredibly difficult.

In some branded shells, it is still impossible to place applications at their discretion. As compensation in Windows Phone serves a separate list of programs ordered in alphabetical order.

... and in widgets too

We all love Android For his personalization, the basis of which are widgets. Adam believes that Google time to introduce mandatory norms for their developers. According to his opinion, the widgets must have three varieties, namely small, medium and large.

Today, this situation resembles the jungle and is determined only by the mood of the developers.

Less variety

What is the difference between owners hTC Smartphones and samsung? No, it's not in preferences with one or another case materials. The difference is in the details of the navigation. HTC owners for step back, you must press the left key, and to call context menu - right. Samsung adherents have to do exactly the opposite. Is it convenient?

And what do you think is missing new version Operational android systems? Share your opinion in the comments.