[Q] Google play developer fee (any way around it?) OR alternative - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Ok so i recently switched from my s4 to a nokia lumia 735 (it was a cheaper contract)
I have been working on a universal app (thats windows and windows phone) love visual studio (not saying its the best ide or anything like that just good for me) most of my friends still have andriod phones, hell my s4 is still about (cracked screen but works) and i discovered i can add an android project to my app, so then my app would target windows /windows phone and android, with a little more work involved ofcourse but not a complete re-write.
MY apps are free, i cant stand advert panels in apps and therefore i do not use them in mine, i do have a donate button that i think works.... i mean its coded to work and all but no one has yet to try it.
I am in a very low paid job with big bills. $25 is a fair bit of cash to me
To become a windows developer i had to go via the benifits system where you promise to release an app within 3 months and your developer licences is free.
Does anyone know of a system like that for google play
OR
Does anyone know a reliable place to share my app that wont get it stolen, marketed under another name, sold as a paid app etc etc?

Related

[Q] What's the Difference between Appslib and gappsmarket?

STill a little new to this But I'm pretty sure there aren't any threads on this.
BUT My question is what is the difference between gappsmarket and appslib?
One of my reasons for asking is because there are some apps for instance like K-9 Mail that are o nboth markets but different versions. The one I have from Gapsmarket is version 3.4 and the one in appslib is Version 2.403.
So if anyone has any reasons or explanations for the differences It would be very much appreciated.
P.S. This is for the Archos 101
gapps market delivers the "real" android apps market hosted by Google. Odds are, it is going to have the most current versions of apps, since it is used by 99% of android users.
Appslib (along withGetJar, AndroLib, etc.) are secondary markets that were set up by independent 3rd party's to deliver apps to:
a. people who can't access the official market (like non-hacked tablet owners)
b. people who want apps not found in the official market (like porn & questionably legal stuff)
c. people who bought an android device from a manufacturer that wants to limit what the user can have access to.
The 3rd party markets are usually updated slower & have less selection b/c the app developer so where most of the customers are first, and some may decide that the 3rd party market support is too much trouble.
It is like the delivery truck rolls into a small town & drops off 100 cases of batteries to WalMart. Then they have to hunt down the one mom-and-pop store in town, set up an account, do the paperwork , and then sell them 1 case (because that is all they can use/sell). Who would you deal with first?!?
Thanks
strongergravity said:
gapps market delivers the "real" android apps market hosted by Google. Odds are, it is going to have the most current versions of apps, since it is used by 99% of android users.
Appslib (along withGetJar, AndroLib, etc.) are secondary markets that were set up by independent 3rd party's to deliver apps to:
a. people who can't access the official market (like non-hacked tablet owners)
b. people who want apps not found in the official market (like porn & questionably legal stuff)
c. people who bought an android device from a manufacturer that wants to limit what the user can have access to.
The 3rd party markets are usually updated slower & have less selection b/c the app developer so where most of the customers are first, and some may decide that the 3rd party market support is too much trouble.
It is like the delivery truck rolls into a small town & drops off 100 cases of batteries to WalMart. Then they have to hunt down the one mom-and-pop store in town, set up an account, do the paperwork , and then sell them 1 case (because that is all they can use/sell). Who would you deal with first?!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Man appreciate it. Was just curious but that clears things up a lot.
That's why i'm here...to learn for myself & pass it on to others. That's what XDA is all about.
Yeah I know this site has helped a lot with everything. I joined when I got the HTC hd 2 then switched to the evo. Very helpful.
Its made my Eris a much nicer device, too!
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Moved to general as not android development
There is another reason why certain tablet manufacturers like Archos do not provide Google apps like Android Market. I was told by an Archos tech support specialist that the A101 is not Android certified. It does not have all the required hardware features like a compass in order to pass certification and thus access officially to the Google Android marketplace. The A101 also does not have Adobe Flash Player certification yet.

Why android?

Why did you choose an android device?why not ios device?
I have an android device and except from the open system and maybe the widgets (I'm not using but still...)why android is better from ios?I'm really asking because I want to buy a phone and I'm in dilemma.(forget about the hardware lets say I choose a phone with specs exactly like the iphone)
Here is why I think that ios is better:
1.the system works very fast and smooth and its very easy to use.
2.the "multi tasking" works pretty well even that its not a real multitasking because I can quit from numbers of apps and return to my stop point in these apps (in android the system can close it.
3.in ios when I close an app it won't restart itself after few seconds(in android apps like facebook,whatsapp google maps tap tap 4 etc restart after few seconds)
4.ios got more apps and all the popular apps will be first on the iphone.
5.I wont get a message that says that the app isnt compatible with my device.
6.I already have an good system and I wont need to change the rom(I know that ios dosent have roms but u got my point)
7.apps run more smoothly on ios device than on an android device.
I'm really asking why android is better because as I said before I want to buy a new phone so its or an iphone or android phone.
Thanks for all the helpers.
P.S
don't say that android is an open system because I already know that
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
I am an "hacker" (I don't find correct word, in Italian is "smanettone"), I enjoy flashing, I enjoy change look often, and again, and again...I love possibilities that android give us..upple device can be a great hardware, ok, but android give us more customization. Apps are in porting, now we have Jetpack too
Is normal, if that u have an small devices, like Galaxy Gio or similar you are limited..
And other: android is for all...did u see an apple device not expansive (not excist less than 500€ in italy)..and we have android phone that costs 80€...
And finally...ANDROID IS OPEN!!
Inviato dal mio BioPlus con Tapatalk 2
kfirbep said:
Why did you choose an android device?why not ios device?
I have an android device and except from the open system and maybe the widgets (I'm not using but still...)why android is better from ios?I'm really asking because I want to buy a phone and I'm in dilemma.(forget about the hardware lets say I choose a phone with specs exactly like the iphone)
Here is why I think that ios is better:
1.the system works very fast and smooth and its very easy to use.
2.the "multi tasking" works pretty well even that its not a real multitasking because I can quit from numbers of apps and return to my stop point in these apps (in android the system can close it.
3.in ios when I close an app it won't restart itself after few seconds(in android apps like facebook,whatsapp google maps tap tap 4 etc restart after few seconds)
4.ios got more apps and all the popular apps will be first on the iphone.
5.I wont get a message that says that the app isnt compatible with my device.
6.I already have an good system and I wont need to change the rom(I know that ios dosent have roms but u got my point)
7.apps run more smoothly on ios device than on an android device.
I'm really asking why android is better because as I said before I want to buy a new phone so its or an iphone or android phone.
Thanks for all the helpers.
P.S
don't say that android is an open system because I already know that
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL smh.. Just get an iPhone and be done with it. If you need to ask then it's better to be in the walled garden.. LOL next thing he's gonna ask why have root? Da appz still not smooth as iPhonez why do I needz rootz?
Sent from my HTC One X
When ever a friend tells me that his Iphone is superior I always set them a simple task
My pc in the corner has a shared folder with music on it. Quickly brows the folder and copy a song to your device, then set it as a ring tone, all over wifi, no cables no itunes just you your device and the network share. They are quick to say sure let me just download this server software to your pc and add this app to my phone yada yada yada
While he is trying to explain his way out of this I grab the song trim it convert it and email it to his Iphone all from me S3, I love the look on his face when In mid explanation he gets my mail, Just save the attachment I say, and play it for us! Oh you can't? Shame
Such fun the iSheep are to play with
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
ChongoDroid said:
LOL smh.. Just get an iPhone and be done with it. If you need to ask then it's better to be in the walled garden.. LOL next thing he's gonna ask why have root? Da appz still not smooth as iPhonez why do I needz rootz?
Sent from my HTC One X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100%, why do you want us to convince you to do something you don't seem inclined towards? Buy the iPhone, solid choice, if that is your desire and it fills your needs. I find these posts kind of pointless, are people really looking for others to justify their purchases, or just trying to start another Android vs. IOS war....
daveid said:
I agree 100%, why do you want us to convince you to do something you don't seem inclined towards? Buy the iPhone, solid choice, if that is your desire and it fills your needs. I find these posts kind of pointless, are people really looking for others to justify their purchases, or just trying to start another Android vs. IOS war....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1.
Just to show few examples of why is Android better and why this is called open os, watch out the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiY1kSTHZw&sns=em
Jellybean is smooth like butter and has better features than iOS. Crappy iTunes took up >50GB for its app backups on my PC.
Almost all apps are available on both os. In fact I find more useful ones like Tasker, Timeriffic.. etc in Android. Tell us few apps which are only available for iOS without which you can't live with Android.
It's individual perception but I think Android is best os for hundreds of reasons..
Edit: Forgot to mention Google Music(20000 songs storage) , Google Now (much much better than crappy Siri), Google Navigation, Google Maps and last but not the least XDA and the community
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2
After actually having used an iPad, I can tell you the biggest reason I would never go IOS: NO FILE MANAGER! I guess I just took it for granted on android, but I cannot survive without being able to manage the files on my device either while on the device itself, or even a PC! I am not just talking songs and pictures, I mean being able to download any file type, than transferring it onto any PC without iTunes having to bog it down.
Sent using Tapatalk
Because a Galaxy Nexus cost half of what an iPhone cost.
ZaJules said:
When ever a friend tells me that his Iphone is superior I always set them a simple task
My pc in the corner has a shared folder with music on it. Quickly brows the folder and copy a song to your device, then set it as a ring tone, all over wifi, no cables no itunes just you your device and the network share. They are quick to say sure let me just download this server software to your pc and add this app to my phone yada yada yada
While he is trying to explain his way out of this I grab the song trim it convert it and email it to his Iphone all from me S3, I love the look on his face when In mid explanation he gets my mail, Just save the attachment I say, and play it for us! Oh you can't? Shame
Such fun the iSheep are to play with
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha awesome way to show them how LIMITED is iOS.
OP if you really want my opinion ill tell you this way, if you want to spend alot for a fancy glittered phone that gets apps first and you don't care about customization/functionality then go with the iPhone.
But if you want the full freedom of customization + ALOT more functionality in core itself then get an Android like Galaxy S3 or HTC One X.
By the way i recommend you to watch series of 5 videos explaining why is Android better than iOS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiY1kSTHZw
Having used both, i went with Android, all reasons summed up in the next paragraph, but feel free to read all the post:
With Android you adapt the device to your needs. With iOS you adapt yourself to the device's needs.
-budget
-ui customization: switch wifi, data, playlists, firewalls, or any adjustable feature with a single tap. No need to go to adjustments or browse trough menus.
-app integration: no more juggling between apps to do simple tasks. Browse a file, and you can alter it with any app that supports the file.
-file formats support: you cannot simply share a mp3 in iOS. You cannot download and edit any file in iOS.
-You cannot use your device as usb in iOS (having to set itunes and syncing for just adding a couple of songs or pics is retarded). No usb cable? Use wifi, 3g tethering or Bluetooth.
-copy and paste: files, folders, text, contacts, entire web pages or just selected content.
That's just the stock features, if you root your device then everything goes. Rooted android > jailbroken iphone by a million miles.
The more shady stuff:
-backup your system, switch phones, restore your system, just like nothing changed (not even game saved data)
-decide what information the apps can access. This includes contact data, imei, sim number, imsi number, 3g, wifi, and any personal info.
-like a song? Download it directly with your phone, for free. Same with youtube videos.
-piracy, yup, good piracy on android, wouldn't recommend it, but its there, like everything else Android is about choice.
-speaking of piracy, torrent downloads.
-ported apps. Good luck trying to get your iphone3 run some apps (mostly games) for the iphone5 or iphone4s. I own a galaxy mini, that can run games for galaxy s3 because someone ported them.
-emulators: nintendo, play station, dos.
-terminal emulator: speak directly to the OS, tell it what to do, watch the magic happen.
-wifikill: nuff said.
Finally hardware:
-i just gave my old android to my cousin, he openned it, changed sims, and that was it, in less than 2 minutes. No warranty lost, no need for screwdrivers, no specially shaped sim cards, no need to get a contract or activate or any of that crap.
-battery sucks cuz its old? Same as above, open it, put new battery in, close it.
-the best for the last. Take that cheap plastic android phone, drop it, all parts go flying out, so just put it back together, maybe the plastic chipped. Drop that metal and glass iphone, cry at the cracked screen and chipped edges.
That being said, if you want a solid phone that just works get the new iphone, you won't regret it, but chances are you paid 500 bucks for beastly hardware you'll never get to use at its fullest (how many processors do you really need if all you do is change the wallpaper, browse fb and play some games!?)
Android is best simply because it does everything Apple does and more.
You have to void your warranty just to install an app that didn't come from the market to your phone - YOUR PHONE!
You never truly own an iPhone, you simply LEASE IT and in doing so you must follow the terms
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
ChongoDroid said:
LOL smh.. Just get an iPhone and be done with it. If you need to ask then it's better to be in the walled garden.. LOL next thing he's gonna ask why have root? Da appz still not smooth as iPhonez why do I needz rootz?
Sent from my HTC One X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
daveid said:
I agree 100%, why do you want us to convince you to do something you don't seem inclined towards? Buy the iPhone, solid choice, if that is your desire and it fills your needs. I find these posts kind of pointless, are people really looking for others to justify their purchases, or just trying to start another Android vs. IOS war....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
scorpio09 said:
+1.
Just to show few examples of why is Android better and why this is called open os, watch out the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiY1kSTHZw&sns=em
Jellybean is smooth like butter and has better features than iOS. Crappy iTunes took up >50GB for its app backups on my PC.
Almost all apps are available on both os. In fact I find more useful ones like Tasker, Timeriffic.. etc in Android. Tell us few apps which are only available for iOS without which you can't live with Android.
It's individual perception but I think Android is best os for hundreds of reasons..
Edit: Forgot to mention Google Music(20000 songs storage) , Google Now (much much better than crappy Siri), Google Navigation, Google Maps and last but not the least XDA and the community
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason that I'm asking is because everyone around me tells me that android is better but than I use one of my friends iphone(that think iphone is better)and I see how easy it is to use,for example ig I quit from an app and want return
to the app I just click twice on home button and there all the apps that runing found so I don't need to search in the menu for my apps.in android there is somthing like that but it does it with recently apps and not open apps(and it has a limit place in the recent apps).
I don't want to buy a phone that I will sorry I for buying it,this is why I asked not because I want to cause an iphone vs android war..
Thanks for everyone who answered and helped
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
kfirbep said:
to the app I just click twice on home button and there all the apps that runing found so I don't need to search in the menu for my apps.in android there is somthing like that but it does it with recently apps and not open apps(and it has a limit place in the recent apps).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps you tried an older version of android. As of 4.0, there is no more limit to the number of recent apps.
The "open apps" in iOS is, in fact, a misnomer. It's similarly a list of recent apps. Indeed, most iOS apps aren't even allowed to be "open" for more than 5 seconds before being forced into suspension. Android, on the other hand, has more flexible multitasking abilities. See the following article for details on both:
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/112013-how-multitasking-works-on-android-and-ios
Did you said apple has more apps than android huh??
we should polite enough to press thanks for everyone helped uS..
you are dead when you stop learning new things..
Customization. Anything you don't like about your Android device you can change. You can even make it look like an iphone if you wish. That's really why I can't use an ios device
Sent from my locked down carrier phone piece of crap HTC Vivid using Tapatalk 2
Android - true flexibilty with any data sync, user modification to ur own hearts content, unlimited storage capacity through sdcards and cloud syncing and much much more. Iphone doesnt even come close to androids capabilities, plain and simple.
Sent from my DROIDX using xda premium
Let's just put it this way. My android device looks 100 times better then any iPhone that has ever come out(because every iPhone looks the same). My android phone acts like a phone and has never had 1 problem since it came out (not like the iPhone where they failed to admit to their antenna problems). IOS looks like **** compared to the UI of android.
In short, this is why cry babies of apple want to sue android, because all in all they know that android is superior in every way
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

First Day With Lumia 920 and WP8

I bought a new Lumia 920 yesterday and after one day im loving it. The lumia is not my first Windows Phone device. I previously had an HD2 with WP7, HD7 with 7.5 also a Samsung Focus Flash. I always liked the look of WP but could never stick around with it because lack of features (multitasking, front cam, lack of quality apps.)
So far im really enjoying the phone, its one of the best i have owned and i have owned every major OS and flagship phone in the last 5 yrs. The camera easily beats my old 4S and One X for best camera i have had on a phone and i really love the build quilty and weight to the phone.
The only problem I have with the phone is the same one that has been repeated over and over...Apps. While I have pretty much found replacements for the main ones i use on my Galaxy Nexus, there are others I miss. Namely Instagram (great camera like this needs instagram.) And all my google apps. Im a hardcore google user, from mail to G+. i have a shortcut for G+ pinned to my start screen but its not the same.
Pros:
Great Camera
Great Screen and Sensetivity
Good Sound
WP is coming along nicely
Cons:
Google Apps (For Me)
While i have returned every Windows Phone i have had in the past I plan on sticking with the Lumia and see what comes of Windows Phone.
I was also happy with my Purchase experiance at my local AT&T store. I had my usual rep help me who has sold me and took returns of phones i have bought over the years and he was actually pretty good and knew a lot about the 920. I was also happy to receive my wireless charger because i believe i read somewhere that they were sold out.
I, too, just got a Lumia 920 alongside my Galaxy S 3. I like it a lot.
The integration with my work Outlook and Lync is top-notch.
The Skydrive integration is a lot nicer than the detached feeling I get with Google Drive.
In my tests so far, the camera is stellar! I am truly impressed with the clarity of photos even in a dark room.
I echo the lack of Google Apps. The lack of a native Google Music, most notably. Also, I've been an OLED screen user going on about 4 years now (ever since the Zune HD) so the lack of rich blacks on this screen is taking some getting used to, but that's not that big of a deal.
Will it help? I doubt it but here's a petition you can sign to get Google to add their popular apps to Windows Phone.
http://www.change.org/petitions/goo...utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
I've had the phone for a day now as well and my verdict is exactly the same. It's a shame there's no native support for Google Apps, specifically Google Talk and Google Voice, apps I use a lot. The transition will be hard but I think it'll be worthwhile.
This is one of the device i am aiming, one thing bothered me is the battery life.
Google, Apple and Microsoft are all competitors. The best thing you can do is stick to standards. You can get a domain and email package for a small fee and be totally independent of all these petty morons.
afx55 said:
I've had the phone for a day now as well and my verdict is exactly the same. It's a shame there's no native support for Google Apps, specifically Google Talk and Google Voice, apps I use a lot. The transition will be hard but I think it'll be worthwhile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MetroTalk is a great app for Google Voice. Worth a buck or so.
I have it on good authority that Instagram is going to be baked into the OS at some stage and I hope it's true, even though I currently no longer have a WP.
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Sent via something that can't finish it's sentan...
ReventonX said:
This is one of the device i am aiming, one thing bothered me is the battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My battery life is stellar. It's as good as the One X and S3 I previously owned. The only other device I've owned with better battery life is the Note 2.
Gona get flamed... Here
Yes the hardware is howsome
Yes WP8 seems great and I feel it become soon the leading OS somehow a very credible alternative.
But I feel sad it is totally in locked in syndrome
Got it for few bucks but locked to orange FR
No carrier unlock joy so far... Not big deal for me as I got it mainly for development toying... Left windows phone 6 and currently on android and thought it be open I mean just develop and debug on device directly... But nop... Need to have good HW and worth hyper-v conflict with virtual box on my main machine .... Debug on a VM machine.. Yea right...
I don't under that one that buy phone cannot put what he/she wish on it(not taking pirate soft here) but start develop and debug on device directly...and when ready publish.. Instead need to pay $99 that is not the issue really it's just to be forced to do it is not right IMO...
This stuff needs get out of jail else its just be a nice phone and camera plus nice music player nothing as special and open as android is right now. BTW no decent dlna for the moment.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
questionmark said:
Gona get flamed... Here
Yes the hardware is howsome
Yes WP8 seems great and I feel it become soon the leading OS somehow a very credible alternative.
But I feel sad it is totally in locked in syndrome
Got it for few bucks but locked to orange FR
No carrier unlock joy so far... Not big deal for me as I got it mainly for development toying... Left windows phone 6 and currently on android and thought it be open I mean just develop and debug on device directly... But nop... Need to have good HW and worth hyper-v conflict with virtual box on my main machine .... Debug on a VM machine.. Yea right...
I don't under that one that buy phone cannot put what he/she wish on it(not taking pirate soft here) but start develop and debug on device directly...and when ready publish.. Instead need to pay $99 that is not the issue really it's just to be forced to do it is not right IMO...
This stuff needs get out of jail else its just be a nice phone and camera plus nice music player nothing as special and open as android is right now. BTW no decent dlna for the moment.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is amazing, but a completely different animal to android. I defected to jelly bean on the s3 but I really love WP
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[Q] Switch from S3 to lumia 920?

im really debating on whether i should switch from an GS3 to a lumia 920? i just worry about the app store. are the apps really that limited on lumia 920?
it depends....
If you're talking about applications I would say that the ones that are there are as good or better than Android and for those few that are missing, there are alternatives or 3rd party apps that do the job and in some cases exceed those original apps still missing. So if you're talking about functionality with respect to apps, I would say you'll be perfectly fine with making the switch.
However, if you are a heavy phone gamer and want the latest games and have them for free with ads etc, Google Play is much more ahead of Windows Phone. If you just want light gaming like Angry Birds Star War's, Cut The Rope etc.....you'll be perfectly satisfied.
I made the switch to Windows Phone. I'm not a big gamer, don't really care about gaming on the phone (I prefer a tablet even for light gaming). What I would argue though is that the functionality out of the box, the consistency of the UI1 and the consistency of the apps, and the speed of Windows Phone seriously makes it a better phone than either Android or iPhone.
If you want to drive your car with your phone, or are a heavy gamer and love to tweak your phone over and over and over I would say get Android. If you want a dumb but safe OS with a phone that has a high resale value and you don't mind paying through your nose for an overpriced product which has serious limitations like small screen and proprietary accessories etc, iPhone is for you.
I chose the Lumia 920 and have no regrets whatsoever. Seriously, if you use Google services and you switch to Windows Phone, just get gMaps & Metrotube and that covers pretty much everything (Skydrive is better than Google's offering anyways). I had gMail and switched to Outlook and only use my Google account for Youtube when I'm on the PC. People who say "But with an Android I can get Google Services" are seriously not realizing that there is really not much there, if anything, compared to Windows Phone. Hope this helps you make your choice.
I've contemplated switching myself. My wife has a new lumia 920 and it's a beautiful phone. She's been a Windows phone user for a year and a half now and absolutely loves it. We also picked up a new lumia 920 for my 19yr. old son for Christmas and being an avid xbox guy, he was extremely happy. At least for the twelve hours he had the phone before it got knocked off the table onto our tile floor and cracked the screen. It should be back from the repair shop next week.
I do have to admit that with Windows 8 on all our computers, the integration with my wifes Lumia 920 and her LIVE account is pretty cool. To a large extent, google has the same sort of integration, but it seems quite a bit more scattered with multiple different google apps for different things, where WP8 just seems to sync/integrate everything quietly in the background.
I've always enjoyed "tweaking" my phone. Started with a Nokia e71 and Symbian, moved to an iPhone 3GS and Jailbreaking, then finally to Android where pretty much anything is possible. I'm worried that moving to WP8 would feel a little too restrictive.
That being said, my contract is up for renewal in a couple months and I'm actually thinking of going with a Lumia 920 just to see how I like it. I figure I can always sell it and go back to my i9300 SG3 if things don't workout.
so this is the thing
bigkahuna111 said:
If you're talking about applications I would say that the ones that are there are as good or better than Android and for those few that are missing, there are alternatives or 3rd party apps that do the job and in some cases exceed those original apps still missing. So if you're talking about functionality with respect to apps, I would say you'll be perfectly fine with making the switch.
However, if you are a heavy phone gamer and want the latest games and have them for free with ads etc, Google Play is much more ahead of Windows Phone. If you just want light gaming like Angry Birds Star War's, Cut The Rope etc.....you'll be perfectly satisfied.
I made the switch to Windows Phone. I'm not a big gamer, don't really care about gaming on the phone (I prefer a tablet even for light gaming). What I would argue though is that the functionality out of the box, the consistency of the UI1 and the consistency of the apps, and the speed of Windows Phone seriously makes it a better phone than either Android or iPhone.
If you want to drive your car with your phone, or are a heavy gamer and love to tweak your phone over and over and over I would say get Android. If you want a dumb but safe OS with a phone that has a high resale value and you don't mind paying through your nose for an overpriced product which has serious limitations like small screen and proprietary accessories etc, iPhone is for you.
I chose the Lumia 920 and have no regrets whatsoever. Seriously, if you use Google services and you switch to Windows Phone, just get gMaps & Metrotube and that covers pretty much everything (Skydrive is better than Google's offering anyways). I had gMail and switched to Outlook and only use my Google account for Youtube when I'm on the PC. People who say "But with an Android I can get Google Services" are seriously not realizing that there is really not much there, if anything, compared to Windows Phone. Hope this helps you make your choice.
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I have been a windows phone user for two years now and I will say this much, if you are looking for customizability and playing with the look of your phone, windows phone will bore you to tears. The truth is that once you setup your layout on the homescreen, there isn't much else you can do or will do since it is already setup to your needs and how you use the phone. Like I add tracking packages to the bottom of the screen and once they get delivered I delete them, same goes for games once I finish playing them. So once the screen is setup I would argue that you do get bored after a while and go through different colours depending on your mood or even depending on the Bing wallpaper which is showing that day (if you use that lockscreen feature) etc. There really isn't any other customizability you can do or really will do after a bit because the phone is perfect for a lack of a better term, its perfectly setup for your needs.
I would argue that's a good thing, even though I do wish I can see some animations on the lockscreen etc. At the end of the day the added functionality I get with a Windows Phone and the way it integrates with everything I use, is just too good to give up to get some more freedom with respect to tweaking icons, text, wallpapers, animations etc.
Hope this helps you in your decision....
If you can live with the out of the box WP functionality & experience for the majority of your needs then you will be happy. If the stock apps don't cover the majority of your needs then stick with Android. Of course WP has some great 3rd party apps that add functionality/fill in the gaps, but you may not be able to count on them always working or the program being around in the future. A good example are YouTube apps which may stop working because Google has made a change, until the developers make the necessary changes.
For the best WP experience you are basically going to use Microsoft services Outlook.com/Hotmail/Live. If you have all your info in GMail,Google Docs etc. then you should decide if your willing to migrate it to the MS ecosystem, before moving to WP IMO
Hi. Coming from SGS3, I wanted to know if i could find an apk like Gstrings and Musical lite?
acruxksa said:
I've contemplated switching myself. My wife has a new lumia 920 and it's a beautiful phone. She's been a Windows phone user for a year and a half now and absolutely loves it. We also picked up a new lumia 920 for my 19yr. old son for Christmas and being an avid xbox guy, he was extremely happy. At least for the twelve hours he had the phone before it got knocked off the table onto our tile floor and cracked the screen. It should be back from the repair shop next week.
I do have to admit that with Windows 8 on all our computers, the integration with my wifes Lumia 920 and her LIVE account is pretty cool. To a large extent, google has the same sort of integration, but it seems quite a bit more scattered with multiple different google apps for different things, where WP8 just seems to sync/integrate everything quietly in the background.
I've always enjoyed "tweaking" my phone. Started with a Nokia e71 and Symbian, moved to an iPhone 3GS and Jailbreaking, then finally to Android where pretty much anything is possible. I'm worried that moving to WP8 would feel a little too restrictive.
That being said, my contract is up for renewal in a couple months and I'm actually thinking of going with a Lumia 920 just to see how I like it. I figure I can always sell it and go back to my i9300 SG3 if things don't workout.
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+1 same thoughts here....
Haha you'll suffer
Sent From My Galaxy S3
I did a switch and am unhapppy.
Its just been 18 hrs since i switched from S3 to 920 and am already missing it very much. Its nothing to do with the phone as such. The major thing am missing is the android. If you happen to be an android user for over a year and if you like to play (Not just games but roms etc etc.) then i seriously suggest you NOT to switch.
kaladhar.r said:
Its just been 18 hrs since i switched from S3 to 920 and am already missing it very much. Its nothing to do with the phone as such. The major thing am missing is the android. If you happen to be an android user for over a year and if you like to play (Not just games but roms etc etc.) then i seriously suggest you NOT to switch.
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Agreed.
I had a Lumia 920 for 2 weeks. Fantastic little machine, but I just found myself constantly looking on enviously at my friends' Android phones. Once I got the Nexus 4 it felt like I was back home.
For me, WP8 is too limited and has too many things that drove me up the wall. Type quickly? Forget about the auto-correct working properly, it couldn't keep up (and I'm by no means the quickest typist on a touch screen). Just little things such as the time not being displayed in certain screens at the top, and connectivity icons always being hidden used to irritate me. No notification was another irritant. Yes OK, the tiles would display unread texts etc, but I found sometimes I wouldn't notice them. The Android solution is so much better.
Overall, I just felt like I didn't have the same level of control as I do on Android. If I want to kill a task, how do you do that on Windows?
This can be a good or a bad thing, but I suspect many on XDA will not like it, being that most XDA members are very technically able people.
I thought I would enjoy having less choices and just getting on and using it, but you know what, it had the opposite effect.
exactly my same thoughts..^^^^^.
I switched to 920 at Christmas time. I love my new phone, Windows phone 8 is great, i can modify the home screen as much as I want and I love the live tiles. the only bug bear I had was the wifi switching of when asleep, but that has been fixed in the update I just received
one of the major reasons I switched was the slow uptake of Samsung to update it's phones, if I had not manually updated the firmware my s11 would still be sitting on gingerbread, the fragmentation of Android is hopeless. I only hope the same thing does not happen with Windows.
can you download files from the internet like you can with an android? I download a ton of torrents while i'm at work.
squarebobspongepants said:
can you download files from the internet like you can with an android? I download a ton of torrents while i'm at work.
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maybe nobody here downloads file ?
I not used torrent application myself but I did a search to see what apps in the store from my Lumia 920. I found a dozen so apps that manage and control torrent server software that you would have on your home computer. Some are free and some are paid .99 to 1.99. So at least you can control and manage your torrent server. I would suspect if you had a router based on tomato firmware that has torrent you could control/manage that as well in theory as well.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
tameracingdriver said:
Agreed.
I had a Lumia 920 for 2 weeks. Fantastic little machine, but I just found myself constantly looking on enviously at my friends' Android phones. Once I got the Nexus 4 it felt like I was back home.
For me, WP8 is too limited and has too many things that drove me up the wall. Type quickly? Forget about the auto-correct working properly, it couldn't keep up (and I'm by no means the quickest typist on a touch screen). Just little things such as the time not being displayed in certain screens at the top, and connectivity icons always being hidden used to irritate me. No notification was another irritant. Yes OK, the tiles would display unread texts etc, but I found sometimes I wouldn't notice them. The Android solution is so much better.
Overall, I just felt like I didn't have the same level of control as I do on Android. If I want to kill a task, how do you do that on Windows?
This can be a good or a bad thing, but I suspect many on XDA will not like it, being that most XDA members are very technically able people.
I thought I would enjoy having less choices and just getting on and using it, but you know what, it had the opposite effect.
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Click to collapse
My experience is the opposite many of yours. I have had Android phones since T-Mobiles G1 (I still have it) and I loved all the tinkering I could do with them. I've had Moto, HTC and Samsung. But there was always 'something' that didn't work quite right. Maybe the bluetooth stack wasn't that great or the GPS would show me blocks from where I am. Even the compass on one of them would have me twirling in circles as I sat at a traffic light. Some hardware issues, some software. An update would occur to fix something then another thing would suffer. Many ROMs built here were phenomenal pieces of work and way beyond my skill set. However a fgreat deal of the time even they were not quite done 'baking', for lack of a better term.
I saw the demo of my 920 while shopping for a new phone for my girlfriend. I had my One X for about 8 months. I HAD to have this phone. I've been using it for about 6 weeks now and it just works. That's all I can say. Everything on mine just simply works. GPS, compass, BT, mail services, WiFi...even phone calls! I've embraced the UI so much that I bought a windows 8 tablet and sold my iPad. (I sold the iPad for more reasons than just Windows 8 but that's for a different forum)
The seamless integration between the two is great and, for my purposes, I couldn't be happier with my decision to make this move. Is the app store lacking? Absolutely. But not to the point that I miss my Android phone(s). Don't misunderstand. I really do get why you would miss the flexibility of that OS. If I had time I'd keep one just for messing with. But it's so much easier now that when I want to do something I just do it and the phone cooperates completely.
My 920 from my perspective. Thanks for listening. Now back to your regularly scheduled browsing already in progress.

[Q] iphone 6 or blackberry passport

I'm faithful android user. No idea of changing from android, as a primary phone.
Currently using Blackberry Bold 9790 for office use ( not heavy on office email). would like to replace it with iphone 6 or bb passport ( or future bb phones as per MWC 2015).
Which one should i get. Based on some sites they recommend passport rather than iphone ; but my friends pushing me for iphone. My criteria:
1) I prefer to do a bit of customisation on the device i own; hardly stick with 100% factory settings (i.e themes, icon pack, interface etc) .
2) good user experience
3) fair app supports.
pls help....
Both devices are terrible with customizaions, except if you were to jailbreak the iPhone you could customise it a bit more.
The user experience on the iPhone is as expected,( locked down version of android but no where near as good ) but for something different the passport is the best as it is a square phone and may take a bit of getting used to.
App supports- the iPhone has the advantage of amount of apps over bb but alot of these will cost money and more than on the play store. But now bb has Amazon app store support so there will now be free app of the day and these apps are also on android but there are not as many as there are on the play store.
The iPhone is more of a status riser as most people think of apple as high quality goods makers and alot of people have them because their friends have them and they do not want to feel left out or different whereas BlackBerry are now falling out of the market so I would go for one of those if you want to be different or follow the android motto: “Be together, not the same”.
So I would pick the passport just to be different and stand out from the crowd.
The passport is awesome. Being able to get Amazon store apps and Android apps on it is a major bonus. The build quality is really solid and the keyboard is my favorite for a qwerty keyboard mobile device so far.
That being said, the iPhone has the status that comes with Apple devices and has a great camera. The user experience is also a lot better.
As an avid Android user, I would pick the Passport over the iPhone due to the huge amount of apps available for it if you use something like snap apk downloader.
thanks guys... keep your suggestions & justification pouring...:good:
anymore feedback?

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