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Lumia 920–Best Smartphone I Have Owned

Lumia 920–Best Smartphone I Have Owned

Before I left on vacation I went and bought myself a late birthday present which was the Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone running Windows Phone 8.  It was a decision between the iPhone 5 and the Lumia 920.  I’ve mostly used iPhones over the past few years, but I did have a Windows Phone 7 device as well.  I liked it, but too many quirks made me return to the iPhone.

I’ve been watching closely the progress of Windows Phone 8, and between that and the hardware from Nokia, I decided to take another plunge into Windows Phone.  I’m certainly glad I did.

lumia920

Most of the quirks I had with Windows Phone 7 were resolved in WP8, and the hardware side is so much better than the iPhone at half the price (on contract).  The device is bigger than the iPhone with a beautiful 4.5” display.  Some reviewers like to point out the 920 is “big”, but that’s a plus in my book as the larger screen area is much easier on the eyes.

I’ll go into Windows Phone 8 in another article, but it’s no problem for me to say this is much better than the stale iOS platform.  Live Tiles are a great feature, integration with Office and SkyDrive is done right, and overall it’s a smooth experience.

I’ve only had it a short time, so I’ll keep writing about it, but if you are in the market for a new smartphone, give this one a look.

597,399 views 208 replies
Reply #151 Top

Quoting the_Monk, reply 150
Found this while browsing today...
End of the_Monk's quote

I don't care who you are, that's funny.  Thanks for the link.

Reply #152 Top

Windows 8 App Store really has slim pickings compared to the Android Market and Iphone Store. I'm sure the most needed programs are there yet the other platforms offer more. That might have an effect on sales.

Reply #153 Top

Yeah, the app store is a bit light on at present, but the more important items are there and the list is growing. It could also have an effect on sales if people are more concerned with a handful of apps than picking up a top shelf phone, I guess, but sales of the 820 are going really well according to sales assistants in the various phone shops I went into today.

I was hunting for one of the cordless charging pads [those are hard to come by just now] and me being an inquisitive bugger that I am, asked how sales were going with the Nokia Lumia's.  Yeah, the 820's are selling like hotcakes.  However, the 920 is selling slower due to limited carrier issues [only 2 currently] and possibly price.  A Nokia Lumia 920 unlocked will set you back around $700 here in Oz.

Oh yeah, the other question I asked as how well the iPhone is selling.  In 3 of the 5 stores I was in today, no iPhones had been sold all week; 1 store had sold 2 and the other just 1.  Also, the guy in the Vodaphone shop told me that Apple shares had dropped 4 points in early trading today [was still Friday in the US], and that it was the third drop in less than a month. 

Hmmm, maybe my prediction of Apple's gradual decline has already begun to take shape. :S

Reply #154 Top

Did you ask about Android sales?

Reply #155 Top

 

kona,

 

Not to make you feel 'picked-on' by me again but do you ever post anything in 'support' of anything at all?  Or are all of your posts just like that annoying little kid who can't seem to help wanting to continuously poke a stick at the beehive just to "see what happens"........I mean seriously....... :rolleyes:

 

 

Yes the MS store was light at WP8 launch, it isn't so light anymore.  Sure there are still substantially less windows phone apps than for the other markets......so?  All of the pertinent ones are there or coming.  Will that affect sales?  It may.......but what is the point in even debating that?  To see how many bees come out to sting you?   hehe  O:)

Reply #156 Top

My point is that other platforms would be a better choice.

Reply #157 Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 157
My point is that other platforms would be a better choice.
End of kona0197's quote

 

You actaully have no point.  Since unlike me (who has used ios, droid AND windows phone)......you haven't actually used any smartphone.  Remember?  They are "too rich for your blood"........

Reply #158 Top

kona also said win xp would be a bust years ago. just sayin' ......

Reply #159 Top

I never said that about XP. I've used XP for years. Even when I was skinning.

Reply #160 Top

no, kona. when xp was released you said it wouldn't run on machines built for 95 or 98 without slowing everything down to a point the machine almost stopped. you said there wouldn't be enough people upgrading their machines in order to use xp that it would be a bust by microsoft. you argued that for weeks, if not months, in the #stardock channel of irc. numerous times, you said you wouldn't use it because you couldn't afford to buy more ram for your rig.

Reply #161 Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 154
Did you ask about Android sales?
End of kona0197's quote

No need to, Android phones [Samsung; LG; Sony; Nokia, etc] sell well because of the large variety of brands and models, that every Oz carrier supports them, and there's a very well stocked app store.

Quoting kona0197, reply 156
My point is that other platforms would be a better choice.
End of kona0197's quote

kona, NO, it does not mean that.  The platform which supports those apps [IOS, Android, Windows] is the key element, not the other way around. Now the thing is, while the MS app store isn't as well appointed as the IOS and Android stores, WP8 is the superior platform and provides a cleaner, smoother and more intuitive user experience... no doubt. 

Like the_Monk, I have experienced all three platforms, and honestly, the Windows phone runs rings around the other two, for speed, accuracy and responsiveness.  You see, it's not just the Nokia Lumia that shines as a Windows phone, HTC has a couple of pretty decent Windows phones also, and they too beat the iPhone 5 and Android 4.2 in the user friendly department... and not just by a little bit.  I know because I sampled several phones before settling on the Lumia 820 for sure.  Of the two brands, the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 are clearly the better phones because they are more robust and durable than the HTC's... as in made of tougher stuff.

Reply #162 Top

Quoting MadDeez, reply 160
no, kona. when xp was released you said it wouldn't run on machines built for 95 or 98 without slowing everything down to a point the machine almost stopped. you said there wouldn't be enough people upgrading their machines in order to use xp that it would be a bust by microsoft. you argued that for weeks, if not months, in the #stardock channel of irc. numerous times, you said you wouldn't use it because you couldn't afford to buy more ram for your rig.
End of MadDeez's quote

When I signed up here I was using XP. Look at my join date. I doubt I said anything like that. If you feel a need to remember everything I say here I find that a bit creepy.

Starkers - Sales of Windows based phones will be the final say. So far they are not impressive. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been a lawsuit since the Nokia is only available from one carrier here. Apple got in trouble for that.

Reply #163 Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 162
Starkers - Sales of Windows based phones will be the final say. So far they are not impressive.
End of kona0197's quote

Who says?  According to one salesperson I spoke to yesterday, Australian demand for the Nokia Lumia 820 is beginning to outpace supply, which has slowed due to a busier than expected European market.  Besides, the Win 8 phone didn't have a handful of big selling big brothers to pave the way, unlike the iPhone 5.  Not only that, it's still early days.  They've only been on the market a couple of months, so it's to be expected when the WP8 is a relative newcomer to an already saturated mobile market.

Reply #164 Top

kona, it's very difficult to forget a guy bitching about something he knew nothing about and getting laughed at by everyone else in the room. hippy and chris lam-blasted you over your comments about xp that night. you were ALWAYS bitching about how slow your rig was with xp and you were going to run a linux distro instead.

anyway, you're commenting about an os and a phone you know absolutely zero, nothing, nada, and zilch about. it's like me talking about linux, which i know nothing about, but yet you've never seen me talking about how poor or great of an os it is.

Reply #165 Top

@Starker: Maybe it's that way in Oz. Up here Android sales are stronger than Windows 8 phone sales.

@MaddDeez: Whatever. I don't recall that conversation. As if I care what people think of me.

Reply #166 Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 166
Up here Android sales are stronger than Windows 8 phone sales.

 
End of kona0197's quote

 

You mean po-dunk-ville?  Oh ok......

Reply #167 Top

Excellent form. Call me a troll in one thread and make fun of my town in the next. You are showing your true colors.

Reply #168 Top

well, at&t has the nokia monster purity hd over-ear headphones for $100 instead of $200 so i grabbed a set this morning. even tho they're made by the same people who make the dr dre beats (monster), they sound nothing like the beats. the beats are way too bass heavy for my liking. these purity hd's sound great. the mid-range and voice are as clear as a beautiful spring day. the build quality of the purity phones are quite nice as well. i'm pretty well satisfied. i think i'll look into the purity in-ear earphones now. if they sound as nice as these do, i'll be a happy camper.

Reply #169 Top

I also received a free wireless charger as a promotion from AT&T.  It works, and it's real convenient to have just sitting on my desk.

 

Reply #170 Top

Quoting Island, reply 170
I also received a free wireless charger as a promotion from AT&T.  It works, and it's real convenient to have just sitting on my desk.

 
End of Island's quote

 

Yes, while some 'reviewers' on the internet referred to the wireless charging included with the lumia as not much more than a 'gimmick' I completey agree with how convenient it makes even something as simple as keeping your phone charged.

I actually went so far as to mount a charging plate against the underside of my office desk (all it took was me drilling a tiny hole at the back so the thin cable could be fed through).    Now I just place my phone down on my desk (within a certain area of course) and it starts charging.  Needless to say the act of charging my phone has become quite the attraction in my office.   B)

Reply #171 Top

i also received one of those charging pads. unless i'm transferring tunes or other files, i never use the usb cable that came with the phone. the charging pad is sweet. 

Reply #172 Top

Remind me to get a charging pad for my phone and Xbox controllers.

Reply #173 Top

 

Speaking of Xbox.  The xbox live integration with the lumia is pretty handy.  Using the Xbox smart-glass app to control your xbox (yes I know you can also use that app on the iphone etc.) and being able to message, game-invite etc. all from the phone is really neat.

 

EDIT:

My favourite apps (mostly for their 'coolness factor') are still the following (in no particular order):

Photobeamer - when in the same room with any internet-connected screen (ie. TV etc.) just navigate to www.photobeamer.com on said screen.  That screen will then display a QR code which when scanned by your Lumia enables immediate access to your photos.  Just swipe left-right to display your photos to the entire room!  

Smartshoot  -  One of Nokia's proprietary 'camera-lenses'.  This lens takes multiple shots in quick succession.  Immediately after taking the picture you can now choose the best overall picture, remove the dude who walked in front while you took the picture, swap each person's face with another instance/shot of their face to quickly and efficiently cobble together the 'smart'est shot!

City Lens - I use this app all the time.  Open the app, point your phone at the city around you and any points of interest you've asked to be shown will be superimposed over the city being displayed.  Click on a point of interest to get any contact info and directions to same.  You can then use Nokia's own turn-by-turn nav system to get you there!

 

Reply #174 Top

Quoting the_Monk, reply 173
Speaking of Xbox. The xbox live integration with the lumia is pretty handy. Using the Xbox smart-glass app to control your xbox (yes I know you can also use that app on the iphone etc.) and being able to message, game-invite etc. all from the phone is really neat.
End of the_Monk's quote

 

I don't own a Xbox and possibly never will as I'm not a big gamer and my other multimedia needs are taken care of with other devices, and while I can see the sense/value of live integration with WP8 phones, it is more the cross-platform situation that interests me at the moment.... how both Apple and Google seem to be suffering a case of sour grapes or something at the moment.

I don't know who else has been following the cross platform squabble between the above mentioned and Microsoft, but it seems to me that while Microsoft appears to be doing the right thing by its customers with IOS and/or Android devices, by providing access to products and services such as Skydrive from within those platforms, both Apple and Google have become MS unfriendly and appear to be making life difficult for the software giant and users alike. 

First we hear that Google will no longer develop or support apps to Microsoft products and services, and then that Apple is blocking the way to Skydrive being made available to its customers on OS-X and IOS.  Now while some may say that is is good business sense on the part of Google and Apple, I'm not so sure that the denial of products and services... the freedom of choice is a healthy business move.  I mean, really, it all seems so petty, like schoolboys bickering over who has the best project to show teacher. 

For mine, both companies should open the way to those MS products and services, if for no other reason than as a courtesy to all of their loyal customers.  I don't see that happening, though, not when both companies appear to have a stick up their arse over Microsoft.  Now is that because they can't stand the competition of a new player in the phone market and realise their products have gone stale, or is it because WP8 is the superior platform and they're afraid?  In either event or both, the consumer is the loser here.

Thoughts anyone?

Reply #175 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 175

.... how both Apple and Google seem to be suffering a case of sour grapes or something at the moment.
End of starkers's quote

Sure I can see how one would come to that conclusion.  Apple is after all still intent on riding the coat-tails of the first iPhone (with some 'enhancements' of course) and Google after making sure to firmly seat themselves in all areas of the consumer market seems content to just throw more and more apps at the world (many that do exactly the same thing as a thousand others already available but with so much clutter and so little 'standards' in the droid marketplace who would know?).  Both, Apple and Google have enjoyed free reign in their respective markets for a long time (too long in fact) as realisticly any user attracted to iOS and the "iWorld" would not even consider the "free-spirited" ideal of Android and Google as an alternative (same inverse). 

For the first time in a long time, there is it seems a real alternative to both, and that should be scary to the two (Apple and Google), and in my opinion just as the greater 'market' underwent an adjustment back in 2008 I sense the mobile/tablet world (ie. the new computing landscape) is in the process of undergoing an adjustment.  The 'winner' here will be the one who is most adaptable to the consumer and most innovative/forward thinking.  I think it is obvious which of the 3 might be occupying that seat at the moment.  Here's hoping MS doesn't drop the ball.......