Hi everyone!
As the title states, I just made the transition. Although I was kicking and screaming the whole time, the change was due to necessity (mostly).
I've been on the WP bandwagon since they transitioned from Windows Mobile (hated that OS). I was also on the Android bandwagon prior to that (started with the original Droid). I've always avoided the iPhone, mostly because I didn't like my perceived philosophy of the company (Another topic), but also because I don't like to have the same thing everyone else has. I've been a fan of the hardware, and I've owned Apple products (had a Macbook Pro for a while a few years back, and I have a 3rd Gen iPad). I'm fairly open minded about what gadgets I pick, and I'm a self-proclaimed tech junkie.
So, why did I make the jump? Well, I'm comfy with WP8 and love the Nokia hardware and their level of dedication to the platform. In my opinion, MS is taking the right approach with the WP platform mostly. They used some of Apple's practices of locking down the OS and not letting the carriers and OEM "skin" them, but the hardware is still produced by the various OEM companies, so you get multiple flavors. I can't stand the Android experience for this reason alone. Each OEM on that platform might pretty much run their own OS to some degree. Back to the question at hand, it all came down to one simple thing - Push Notifications. WP, from day one, has had issues with Push Notifications. Add to that the lack of ANY notification center - sans a third party one that VERY few devs take advantage of - and it's a recipe for disaster in my situation. I recently moved to Europe from the US due to an opening within my company. My primary means of communication with friends and family is using apps such as Viber, WhatsApp and Skype. With WP, I may get immediate notifications, or I may get them two days from now.....it varies from app to app and day to day. This problem has been persistent since WP7, but wasn't an issue for me until those apps became a necessity. Now that those apps are a necessity, I need to know when my family and friends are trying to get in touch....preferably not two days after the fact.
With WP8, I love some of the apps, the overall design language, and the fact that the OS runs buttery smooth without the need for cutting edge processors and loads of RAM. That was a contributing factor when choosing iOS over Android as well.
I must say that I'm actually impressed by the iPhone. The overall polish and refinement of the apps is noticeable almost immediately, including the fact that some apps have more functionality with iOS than with WP8. I don't use any apps on the iPhone that I didn't have on my Lumia (the only exception being some of the built in apps that changed - iTunes, Maps, etc.), so the app selection really isn't noticeable IMO. I'm certainly glad I chose the iPhone over Android.
What do I miss from my Lumia 928? First and foremost, the camera......that thing rocked! Mechanical OIS coupled with three noise cancelling mics cable of 130dB recording and playback - plus the low-light photo ability - is something great to have. I still have it available, but I don't see myself carrying it around just for the camera.
Second is the music app. I love my music, and find that the app on WP7/8 for listening to my music is better than anything else. Nothing wrong with the iOS music app, just a personal preference. I imagine I'll grow to like the iOS app eventually. I DO NOT MISS the Windows 8 music app - or how I had to sync my songs. What a clunky mess that was. I don't like iTunes, but at least it's easy, and there are other options if I want to go that route.
Finally, the size. Not the display, I'm fine with that, but the physical size. This will take time to adjust to, but it's so much narrower and lighter that it feels delicate. I actually want to put a case on it just to widen it a bit.
Overall, I'm enjoying the phone, and may very well end up an official "Convert" when all is said and done. For now though, the change was a means to an end.
For anyone out there considering the same jump, or going from iOS to WP, feel free to ask any questions.
As the title states, I just made the transition. Although I was kicking and screaming the whole time, the change was due to necessity (mostly).
I've been on the WP bandwagon since they transitioned from Windows Mobile (hated that OS). I was also on the Android bandwagon prior to that (started with the original Droid). I've always avoided the iPhone, mostly because I didn't like my perceived philosophy of the company (Another topic), but also because I don't like to have the same thing everyone else has. I've been a fan of the hardware, and I've owned Apple products (had a Macbook Pro for a while a few years back, and I have a 3rd Gen iPad). I'm fairly open minded about what gadgets I pick, and I'm a self-proclaimed tech junkie.
So, why did I make the jump? Well, I'm comfy with WP8 and love the Nokia hardware and their level of dedication to the platform. In my opinion, MS is taking the right approach with the WP platform mostly. They used some of Apple's practices of locking down the OS and not letting the carriers and OEM "skin" them, but the hardware is still produced by the various OEM companies, so you get multiple flavors. I can't stand the Android experience for this reason alone. Each OEM on that platform might pretty much run their own OS to some degree. Back to the question at hand, it all came down to one simple thing - Push Notifications. WP, from day one, has had issues with Push Notifications. Add to that the lack of ANY notification center - sans a third party one that VERY few devs take advantage of - and it's a recipe for disaster in my situation. I recently moved to Europe from the US due to an opening within my company. My primary means of communication with friends and family is using apps such as Viber, WhatsApp and Skype. With WP, I may get immediate notifications, or I may get them two days from now.....it varies from app to app and day to day. This problem has been persistent since WP7, but wasn't an issue for me until those apps became a necessity. Now that those apps are a necessity, I need to know when my family and friends are trying to get in touch....preferably not two days after the fact.
With WP8, I love some of the apps, the overall design language, and the fact that the OS runs buttery smooth without the need for cutting edge processors and loads of RAM. That was a contributing factor when choosing iOS over Android as well.
I must say that I'm actually impressed by the iPhone. The overall polish and refinement of the apps is noticeable almost immediately, including the fact that some apps have more functionality with iOS than with WP8. I don't use any apps on the iPhone that I didn't have on my Lumia (the only exception being some of the built in apps that changed - iTunes, Maps, etc.), so the app selection really isn't noticeable IMO. I'm certainly glad I chose the iPhone over Android.
What do I miss from my Lumia 928? First and foremost, the camera......that thing rocked! Mechanical OIS coupled with three noise cancelling mics cable of 130dB recording and playback - plus the low-light photo ability - is something great to have. I still have it available, but I don't see myself carrying it around just for the camera.
Second is the music app. I love my music, and find that the app on WP7/8 for listening to my music is better than anything else. Nothing wrong with the iOS music app, just a personal preference. I imagine I'll grow to like the iOS app eventually. I DO NOT MISS the Windows 8 music app - or how I had to sync my songs. What a clunky mess that was. I don't like iTunes, but at least it's easy, and there are other options if I want to go that route.
Finally, the size. Not the display, I'm fine with that, but the physical size. This will take time to adjust to, but it's so much narrower and lighter that it feels delicate. I actually want to put a case on it just to widen it a bit.
Overall, I'm enjoying the phone, and may very well end up an official "Convert" when all is said and done. For now though, the change was a means to an end.
For anyone out there considering the same jump, or going from iOS to WP, feel free to ask any questions.