Windows Phone 8.1 - The Good, The Great and The What Were They Thinking
Full Disclosure - I no longer work for Microsoft. I left May 2012. I'm not sure what the policy is for non-employees writing TechNet Blogs, but I figure this is the best place since I'm discussing a Microsoft product.
Let's start with the Good.....
Action Center
People with iPhones and/or iPads will immediately recognize this feature because it is similar to the Notification Center. Android devices have the same feature as well. Just swipe down from the top to see all of your notifications and alerts in one location. You can also configure Quick Actions such as Camera, Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. Quick Actions are only available on Windows Phone. The Action Center is also accessible when the device is locked.
App Folders
Another familiar iPhone/iPad feature has finally arrived to the Windows Phone. Just like with the iPhone you create a folder by dropping an app – actually a live tile – onto another. It’s a great way to group similar apps and maximize real estate on the Start Screen.
Shape Writing
Android users have had Swype for over a year now. I have to say this new feature to Windows Phone is pretty slick. Just drag you finger across the keyboard to type. I’ve been playing with it for a few days and so far so good. Don’t confuse this with Word Flow which suggests words as you type and really isn’t new.
Battery Saver & Background Tasks
Microsoft has smartly combined these to one Battery Saver app. Users now have a more intuitive way to understand how apps they use affect battery life and adjust accordingly.
Apps
The number one complaint about Windows Phone is apps or the lack thereof. I have to say though that Microsoft is quickly and quietly closing the gap. Most major financial institutions have a Windows Phone app as well as the most popular social media platforms. There are still some challenges with feature richness in some apps but for the apps I use most, I’m very happy with the progress that has been made.
And now the Great…..
A little history because I’m a nerd – the name Cortana comes to us as a character from Halo. She was first introduced in the Halo novels and then in the video games. Cortana was just a codename for the Windows Phone digital assistant, but the positive response prompted Microsoft to keep the name. Cortana is being marketed as competition for Apple’s Siri, but it’s really an answer to Google Now. Both blow Siri away.
Some features of Cortana are not new. Voice command and visual search have been features since the launch of Windows Phone 7. Windows Phone 7.5 eliminated the need for 3rd party apps to identify music playing in the background (you may still want those apps if you want to do more than identify a song and/or buy it). Turn by turn directions leveraging Bing Maps optimized for walking or driving were already there as well. What Cortana does is take those features and add a ton of intelligence. The voice is better too.
You can teach Cortana how to correctly pronounce your name which is important to me since people have been butchering my name since birth. You also must give Cortana information about yourself, such as your interests and access to your location when you first set it up. Cortana groups your interests into a hub and uses your location in some very smart ways. Cortana even provides weather updates.
I tested out some of the features of Cortana that I’ve seen in commercials such at setting a reminder to buy bread next time I go to Mariano’s (local supermarket chain in Chicago). It worked well. I also noticed how well traffic alerts work for appointments on your calendar. This past week I was on my way to visit a customer. I noticed that I was about 45 minutes early so I stopped for a quick lunch. Cortana noticed that I had lingered in the restaurant a little long and opened a reminder and traffic alert to make sure I wasn’t late. I’m still playing with Cortana, but I’m loving the functionality so far.
Quiet Hours
I have two Windows Phones, one for work and one for business. Some people think it’s insane to have two phones but I prefer to keep work and business separate, especially since my employer can review the websites I visit and access text messages I send. Being a former Microsoft employee, current employees don’t think twice about calling me after business hours and before 7:00 AM. I’ve received calls as early as 6:30 AM and as late as 11:30 PM. I work as a software reseller now and Microsoft makes up a significant portion of my sales and I know all too well what it’s like at the end of a quarter or the fiscal year when everyone is scrambling to close deals. That being said, I love being able to set Quiet Hours on my work phone. This feature allows Cortana to handle calls and text messages during certain times. I can also create an ‘Inner Circle’ to allow important people to break through.
Business Features
Despite its robust consumer business, Microsoft still generates the bulk of its revenue from business customers and business users will find much to love with Windows Phone 8.1. Office is still on the phone as well as SharePoint and Office 365 integration. Microsoft has now added VPN support. Remote workers using bigger phones (phablets as some people call them) will truly be able to do all of their work from one device. File folders are new as well as the ability to project your screen onto a TV, monitor or projector. Download the free Office Lens and Office Remote apps to enhance your experience.
Device Synchronization
If Microsoft doesn’t do anything else well, it makes sure that all of its software and devices are integrated and work together. When I was an employee I remember well my days of telling the “Better Together” story when new products launched. This is a no brainer for Microsoft and totally second nature. I’m loving the fact the no matter what Windows 8.1 device I use, my apps, data and settings follow me. Microsoft has gotten very smart about how Windows Live ID is leveraged to provide a seamless experience.
Advertising ID
Microsoft doesn’t talk about much about how your activity is used to deliver ads within apps on your phone. If you are like me and don’t want personalized ads based on your activities delivered to your phone, you can simply turn this feature off or reset it. It won’t stop you from receiving ads, but they will be generic and not tied to your behavior. Thumbs up to Microsoft for giving users some control over how their information is used.
And now, What We’re They Thinking?
Before Windows Phone 7 launched I refused to get a Windows Mobile phone. One, because I refused to pay more than $150 for a phone and two, no one liked Windows Mobile 6.5 and those that had one went running to Blackberry when it launched and then to iPhone. Then Android came in and took over. It’s no secret that I believe that Microsoft should have dominated the mobile market, but we all see what happens when you are and early entrant but fail to innovate. Microsoft has been playing catch up ever since.
I’ve been a loyal Windows Phone user for years now. iPhone users tease me mercilessly, but I don’t care. The feature I love the most is the People Hub. The reason I love it is because for Windows Phone 8.0 and below you can sign directly into your Facebook account from the ‘email + accounts’ settings on your phone. With this direct integration, you can view, like and comment of Facebook posts from friend and pages you have liked. You can also post your own updates, tag people and check in. You can also combine contact cards for people you connect with across multiple platforms (Outlook, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) into one and interact with them there. All of this from the People Hub. Windows Phone 8.1 has eliminated this feature. What the…..?
When you upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1 the People Hub integration with Facebook is still there, but Microsoft has rendered it useless. You are now forced to install and connect the Facebook Windows Phone app on your phone. Any time you want to interact a Facebook update in the People Hub or post your own update, you are forced to launch the Facebook app. This wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except the app is in need of a major update and doesn’t seem to be on its way anytime time soon. The app doesn’t allow users to modify how the News Feed is presented. It doesn’t present every update from friends and pages. It often leaves hours of time between statues that you’ve reviewed. In short Microsoft took something that worked really well and ruined the experience in two interfaces. If you look at the reviews for the app you’ll see that I’m not the only person who feels that way. Don’t get me wrong the app used to work and work very well. Now it doesn’t and Microsoft needs to do something soon.
In Summary.....
Windows Phone 8.1 is a great operating system, upgrading was fast and easy and the new features make it worth it. I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg of the new features. Please make your way over to www.windowsphone.com to see the rest. iPhone and Android users will find many familiar features that should make transitioning easier. Apps still lag the competition, but the apps I use the most frequently for entertainment, social media, travel and productivity are available and work quite well. I just need Microsoft to fix the Facebook app and fix the People Hub integration and I’ll be a totally satisfied customer.