Mango vs iPhone 4S

[RoboDad]

WP7 does not restore every app after a hard reset or phone replacement. The Zune desktop software will restore some of the apps that were purchased through it, but even then it doesn't restore all of them. I don't know what the exact threshold is, but there is a definite limit (either time-based, count-based, or both) on the apps it will automatically restore.

Also, apps that were purchased via the phone itself are not automatically restored, and although I haven't needed to try this yet, I would bet that apps purchased via the web-based marketplace are also not automatically restored.

 

[JVH3]

@jvh3 are you sure WinPhone restores everything? How? As I've switched phones, hard reset, and flashed custom roms. None have ever restored anything. I have to go into the market press the "buy" button, it will then say "oops its looks like you've already purchased this item. Would you like to reinstall it?".

I've never flashed custom Windows 7 ROMs, which maybe the difference.

My original Quantum was replaced after 1 month through warranty.

It actually was kind of annoying, because it reinstalled everything I had ever installed, even if I had uninstalled it.

Originally, I had installed a bunch of alarm programs, because I was hoping to control the snooze time or have different options. Of courcse Mango was not out yet so all of them had to be the running app before locking the screen. I had uninstalled all of them. After restoring the replacement, I needed to uninstall all of them again. There was not a way to select specifically which apps to restore.

Maybe this is different now, since that was around the end of September.

Or Maybe it was because I was restoring to a new phone where after a flash it is still the same phone.

As I was typing this, RoboDad posted above. Since I had only had it a month when I restored, I did not have a ton of apps yet. So, in my case it restored everything, but if there is a threshold, then it makes sense that for others, it would not. It also makes sense that apps purchased through the phone or website won't restore, since Zune doesn't know about them. I have only needed to restore the 1 time and had not installed anything through the website. I don't think that option was available yet.

----

iTunes Syncs all this with your phone after it is installed on your phone. And you can completely set up where you want all the icons using your PC, instead of doing it on the phone.

 

[vetvito]

I made my purchases through the phone, so maybe that is why there is no restoration.

 

[JVH3]

I made my purchases through the phone, so maybe that is why there is no restoration.

Makes sense. Hopefully Apollo will do something like the iPhone regarding the backup up purchased software, no matter how it was purcased. For now it is definately an iPhone advantage.

 

[drupad2drupad]

Makes sense. Hopefully Apollo will do something like the iPhone regarding the backup up purchased software, no matter how it was purcased. For now it is definately an iPhone advantage.

Weren't there rumours around them hiring new staff for full-back up in next OS version? Probably Apollo might bring superior back because some blogs claimed it might also be capable to back sms, call logs and games data/achievements etc!

 

[ROCOAFZ]

If your apps don't restore via automatic (like if you bought them from the web based app) go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/features/

Choose my phone and sign in

Choose account

Choose each app and hit reinstall (you have to do it individually and the list starts from last one you downloaded rather from phone or online to first)

Use download via messaging.

App will show up on phone.

 

[JVH3]

If your apps don't restore via automatic (like if you bought them from the web based app) go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/features/

Choose my phone and sign in

Choose account

Choose each app and hit reinstall (you have to do it individually and the list starts from last one you downloaded rather from phone or online to first)

Use download via messaging.

App will show up on phone.

I still think the advantage is for iPhone, but I am going to change it be

Better backup and restore system. (backs up more than just purchased apps and everything can be in iTunes or the iCloud by user choice)

 

[ohgood]

I still think the advantage is for iPhone, but I am going to change it be

Better backup and restore system. (backs up more than just purchased apps and everything can be in iTunes or the iCloud by user choice)

I'm not really sure if/why people don't see the benefits of full phone (system and user space, plus apps) to the sdcard and/or computer as a requirement microsoft -needs- to do yesterday.

I have trouble believing microsoft didn't have a "Plan B" for if/when people starting asking for full-phone backups to the sdcard. The same sdcard that we've been told will only work in the original phone without completely wiping out the contents of the card when placed into another phone.

Any ideas ?

 

[geekladyemjay]

WP7 text messages won't send if you go over character limit.

 

[drupad2drupad]

WP7 text messages won't send if you go over character limit.

Thats not true!

I send essays in some of my texts!

 

[JVH3]

I'm not really sure if/why people don't see the benefits of full phone (system and user space, plus apps) to the sdcard and/or computer as a requirement microsoft -needs- to do yesterday.

I have trouble believing microsoft didn't have a "Plan B" for if/when people starting asking for full-phone backups to the sdcard. The same sdcard that we've been told will only work in the original phone without completely wiping out the contents of the card when placed into another phone.

Any ideas ?

Although an SD card backup would probably be a good idea and many do see the benefit...

That discussion is not what this thread is about. A new thread or an existing thread on that topic is where it belongs. If you find one or make one, feel free to update your post with a link to it.

This thread is about the comparisons advantages / disadvantages / differences between Windows Phone 7 with Mango and iPhone 4S.

Neither have SD card backup and restore so it's not an advantage, disadvantage, or difference for either.

 

[JVH3]

WP7 text messages won't send if you go over character limit.

If you are going to make statements about the limitations of a platform, please verify it. If you are unable to verify because you do not have that type of phone, consider wording it differently in a way that you can verify.

Such as: The iPhone 4S will send text messages, even if the length is greater than 160 characters.

If there is a larger limit that you know (not read somewhere) does not work with Windows Phone 7, include that number.

Such as: Windows Phone 7 with Mango does not send text messages where the length is greater than 32768 characters.

Also, it is possible that there is a geographic limitation. In User CP, you can set your country and carrier so others know this information.

In the United States with AT&T, I never encountered any text message size limitatation with my LG Quantum using Mango.

 

[weijoon]

WP7 text messages won't send if you go over character limit.

Never happen to me. Did you send the sms to multiple recipients? If yes, please check your messaging setting if you enabled group text, disable it, or it will send multiple recipients sms by using data. But if you turn off your data connection with group text enabled, sure it will failed to send the text out.

 

[CADude]

Mango can't quite compete yet but Apollo along with a slew of Nokia devices and over 100k apps will finally make it a three horse race between iOS, Android and WP.

 

[Maric]

The entire post below was a little before the iPhone 4S release and the time was rocking a Samsung Focus. Here what my issue was a few months back.

I am coming from an iPhone 1 and then 4 and for the most part love the new slick user interface. I did a post about my experience on here at this post:

Honest Critique of Samsung Focus Coming From iPhone 4

However the deal-breaker for me that might get me to get another iPhone 5(before I knew it was iPhone 4S) is the lack of a solid Map App. I understand it's up to Google Maps to put out an application which will most likely never happen. However if Microsoft is seriously taking a run for the Search/Advertising market it desperately needs to ramp up its Bing Maps. Bing Maps is pretty atrocious as it stands now.

Just doing basic searches for gas station will a yield results miles away from your location when there is clearly one less than a mile away. I understand that ads are their business model, however don't completely remove results from searches especially when oriented in a small map location.

This become clear when I was low on gas and was in the Pasadena/Altadena area which is not a rural area in Los Angeles. I manage to get a result from Bing Maps however on my way to the gas station result I manage to find a gas station right off the freeway. The result was still pointing me further down another mile. I even tried searching for "gas station" while fueling, and still Bing Maps promptly pointed me to another gas station a mile away. This is unacceptable. I tested out the Garmin App which yielded even more gas stations much closer what Bing Maps was given me, including the gas station I was fueling.

Also use Yelp a ton for searching new places since I'm constantly driving around new areas. I also travel about every four months to new cities around the states. Yelp and Google Maps were crucial to me. Yelp was probably more important to me since it provided user reviews, and photos. I could live without the Google Maps if the Yelp app at least was up to par with iPhone and Android offering. Again I understand it's up to Yelp developers to put out a solid application, however this is probably the most important 3rd party app that needs to be supported.

I am taking a trip to NYC(not my first time) around Halloween which I will be out there for about a week. The fact that Bing Maps has performed so poorly just around Los Angeles has me nervous enough to consider going back to iPhone. Also the lack of MTA directions on Bing Maps might be just enough for me to switch back. Seriously Bing Maps is probably Windows Phone 7 biggest issue in my opinion, even more so than multitasking, and all the other features coming with Mango.

 

[CADude]

Apple is developing its own mapping solution, so that won't be a problem next year I imagine. Bing maps need to step it up too.

 

[Maric]

Apple is developing its own mapping solution, so that won't be a problem next year I imagine. Bing maps need to step it up too.

It has become a battle of services. It's clear that Google understand this and refuses to support Windows Phone 7 platform. I am sure if they somehow could remove Google Maps from iOS they would have done this a long time ago. I'm sure the backlash would be tremendous.

This is why supporting Microsoft services on iOS goes against the interest of WP7 platform. It's as though Microsoft doesn't really believe WP7 platform will ever gain competitive market share relative to iOS and Android.

I know that both Microsoft and Google tried to acquire Yelp. Thankfully Yelp refused Google given their anti-competitive practices. Just look at the Metrotube and HTC Youtube fiasco. I believe Yelp has become an even more vital acquisition for Microsoft given its deplorable Bing services.

I think it's time for Microsoft to start their own video hosting services given Google's practices. I do believe that Apple and Microsoft are missing a huge opportunity in the video hosting service.

 

[JVH3]

Last 4 posts and general thread information

Maps (Bing and iPhone Maps) in general for both platforms do not always give good results. My iPhone 4S could not find some stores or gas stations with in miles of where I live. My Quantum with Mango and Bing maps could not find some within miles of work. Both platforms excel and fail depending on the location.

I expect that both will improve with time. Speculation of this and any other developments for other apps or OS improvements are for a different thread.

This thread is not about Android in any way. It is also not about business practices. There are other threads for that. I agree with some of the points brought up. They are just better discussed in another thread.

Why do I care so much that things remain on topic?

I receive email notifications with each post by choice. Why? So that I can take time to evaluate and update the 1st 10 posts as needed. If the thread gets too many off topic posts or off topic info, then this becomes more difficult.

Thus far, it has been pretty managable. But, the thread is not a catch all for all discussion related to iPhones, Mango, Android, Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

It could be considered an advantage to iPhone that on January 1st there will be no YouTube player for Mango that supports HD video. Although that is in the future and therefore speculative, both MetroTube and Microsoft have both stated this. Links to the discussion threads for this would be good and appropriate.

So, from the last 4 posts I will add to iPhones advantages:

On January 1st there will be no YouTube player for Mango that supports HD video.

I will add to the similarities section:
Using either Bing on Mango or Maps on the iPhone to find nearby locations often times does not find the closest option. Each is better or worse depending on the location.

I did also learn of an app from the posts. Yelp. I had never used it before. I just installed it on my LG Quantum (Mango) and my iPhone 4S. Works great on both. Adding it to the apps post.

 

[JVH3]

Mango advantage

I just added this.

Ability to directly share a photo in Facebook, while viewing the photo and not first being in Facebook.

iPhone otions from a photo are Email, Message, Assign to Contact, Use as Wallpaper, Tweet, and Print.

Mango options are Share which brings another menu, share on Facebook, use as wallpaper, delete, apps, add to favorites, auto-fix
Share lets you message, email, post to facebook, SkyDrive, abd SmartShare.

I think you can tweet as well, if you set that up. (Please someone please confirm.)

apps will list any apps where they are meant to work with photos.

 

[RoboDad]

I just wanted to (again) thank you for maintaining this thread. Santa was very good to me this Christmas, and I received both an iPad 2 and an iPhone 4S. I've been spending a bit of time comparing the two OSes, and I am surprised to find more similarities than differences. To be sure, there are differences (some favor iOS, and some favor WP7), the overall OS design philosophies (not the UI design philosophies) are very similar.

One thing I have found that could be considered a plus for iOS (although I'm not sure, since GPS isn't allowed yet as a background task on WP7), is the ability to enable and disable location services on a per-app basis in settings.

The same capability for enabling and disabling push notifications on a per-app basis is a plus on iOS (for me).

Email settings, on the other hand, are much more flexible on WP7 than on iOS in some areas. Multiple selectable linked in-boxes are supported (as already noted), but there is also the ability to set the fetch frequency and enable or disable push email on a per-account basis, where on iOS it is a system-wide setting.

However, setting up caldav and subscribed calendars in iOS is a snap, where that capability doesn't even exist on WP7 that I can find (someone please correct me if I am wrong). And the calendar app on iOS is far superior to the one on WP7, although BOTH still lack the ability to create complex repeat patterns for appointments.

I'll try to add more observations as I encounter them. What I will say though is that, for now at least, my iPhone is going to be my daily driver. There are things I want/need to be able to do with my phone (such as check my work calendar) that are not possible with WP7 at this time.