Windows 8 Phone: Minor Linkage

Although I ended up going with an iOS platform after-all, I have been able to finally get my hands on a Nokia Lumia 920 Windows 8 Phone that a co-worker picked up -- at least for a few minutes.

Tellingly, he hasn’t ditched his secondary non-Win8 smartphone just yet, but did find a special deal that allowed him to pick up two units for the standard price of one; gift one and get one!

While I didn’t have an opportunity to really take it for a full test-track session, I was impressed with the 920’s screen brightness and resolution. Popping between screens/apps was super-fast. The unit had a nice heft and the feel in the hand was comfortable.

One thing was very clear to me; the Metro Windows 8 app style format really shines on the smartphone platform where it doesn’t impress me one bit on a more traditional desktop/laptop/Surface platform. That’s one thing that seems to set (for now) the Windows 8 Phone app eco-system apart from iOS and Android; style consistency across apps. As I’ve spent more and more time in the Apple App store, I’ve come to learn there are some app designers who work very, very hard to reflect a polished and “modern” UI style…and others look like crap despite how awesome the app might actually be. That holds true regardless if they are paid or free.  Props for good design work and attention to detail.

I may have previously posted this but Scott Hanselman over at Computer Zen recently posted the process by which he updated a Windows 7 Phone app of his to Windows 8.

• Updating my Windows Phone App to Windows Phone 8 - Scott Hanselman

Scott provides a great review of the process a Windows 8 Phone app designer needs to go through to make a quality product…even from a GUI design and layout angle.

I’m probably not looking hard enough, but I’ve not yet found any good treatises yet on designing and implementing an iOS app from a modern-ui standpoint consistent with other Apple UI’s.  Can anyone suggest any links on the subject or if Apple even has any “standards” in GUI design for current iOS levels?

In the meantime, here is a smattering of Windows 8 Phone linkage.

General Discussion

• Google Nixes Apps For Windows 8, Windows Phone -  InformationWeek
• Two new reports says Windows Phone 8 still can't gain traction - Computerworld Blogs
• Apollo Plus: Microsoft's next Windows Phone update to include Wi-Fi, audio, and other fixes -The Verge
• Windows Phone 8: The Complete Review - MakeUseOf
• An update on Windows Phone 7.8 - Windows Phone Blog
• The secrets of the Windows Phone 8 keyboard - Windows Phone Blog
• Verizon slashes HTC Windows Phone 8X price, matches Lumia 822 and 920 - BetaNews
• Windows Phone 8 vs Windows Phone 7.8 – What’s the Difference & Should You Upgrade? - MakeUseOf

Windows 8 Phone Apps that Caught My Eye 

• Discover New & Top Rated Apps On Windows 8 Store With Great Windows Apps - AddictiveTips
• Essential apps and games for a new Windows Phone - Windows Phone Blog
• Windows 8 Apps for IT Professionals - WindowsNetworking
• Download Any File Or Media Stream On Windows Phone With GetThemAll - AddictiveTips
• Get Weather Updates By The Minute With SkyMotion For Windows Phone - AddictiveTips

Usage Tips

• How To Get Back Bing Maps On Windows Phone 8 - AddictiveTips
• How I set up my new Windows Phone—and what I learned that can help you - Windows Phone Blog

HTC Windows Phone 8X

• Review: HTC 8X is the best Windows Phone 8 handset out there - Ars Technica

Cheers.

--Claus V.