Microsoft: The smartphone is dead. You just don't know it

I have W10 phone (Lumia 640) and UWP integration is mainly on the level of lookalike APPs that can't be exactly same on both platforms. I don't know if there's any APP that can be download and run on both platforms.

CountMike said:

I have W10 phone (Lumia 640) and UWP integration is mainly on the level of lookalike APPs that can't be exactly same on both platforms. I don't know if there's any APP that can be download and run on both platforms.

Yes, but I don't think cross-platform compatibility is the goal, or the point. The problem with the "apps" on the desktop is they are primitive. For instance consider the email app in Windows 10. Windows Live Mail, which was last updated in 2012, is light years ahead of it, but Microsoft has designated it EOL. Even Outlook Express offered more functionality than the new app.

Victek said:

Yes, but I don't think cross-platform compatibility is the goal, or the point. The problem with the "apps" on the desktop is they primitive. For instance consider the email app in Windows 10. Windows Live Mail, which was last updated in 2012, is light years ahead of it, but Microsoft has designated it EOL. Even Outlook Express offered more functionality than the new app.

Personally, I like small programs that do only one thing at a time and don't need no flashy front end for them, but to tell you frankly most of the time I replace programs that come with Windows with other ones, mostly small freeware programs. I also have Office 2013 so I don't relay on windows supplied stuff.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

Try running PHOTOSHOP on a mobile phone - whatever power the CPU has. If you've got a nice 60 inch or bigger monitor (or a set of them) you don't need a mobile phone interface -- and have you ever tried cutting / pasting selective areas of text using a mobile phone when editing largish documents !!!!.

Some devices are fine the way they are - others will evolve as people need them --who ever uses Walkman's, portable CD players or even iPODS these days -- adding things like music playing on to a mobile phone was fine and even limited video for example some football when you are on a bus -- but could you really enjoy say watching all your video on a mobile phone screen as your main device for this stuff.

Mobile phones are best for short transactional things such as say hotel / flight booking, Internet shopping, some banking, quick Google searches, limited net surfing and social media. Even e-mail is a bit of a dogs dinner on a mobile phone --reading no problem - but composing it - with say attachments like a spreadsheet --forget it. !!

Cheers
jimbo

If they had stronger HW (comparable to laptops for instance) size wouldn't be a problem. Picture and tone could be projected to a larger device. So, display and input sizes are not main problem. Those other devices you mentioned are gone only because they got integrated in smart phones, not because their services and functions are not needed.

tomseys said:

I'm not going to buy a deluxe expensive windows phone continuum small device so I can then go out and buy a monitor and keyboard etc when I already have a perfectly functioning laptop at home (well, until the next windows 10 feature update) just so I can look like Dick Tracy. Some might argue why even get that deluxe windows phone continuum device when you likely already have a phone that does everything you need and more in the mobile context and windows phone doesn't even do that well due to app-lack.

When I already have something that fulfills my needs I don't go buying something just for a sake of it, that would be silly. But if I already need something, like a phone for instance than I'm going to buy what suits me best. A smart phone like this Lumia 640 has everything I need in lieu of "Extras" like GPS, music to play thru car radio, to see occasional news or to communicate by text or internet. Useful for many other things like finding nearby stores or restaurants. I'm certainly not going to lug whole laptop for that. Also have some APPs that help with everyday life, like compass, calculator, take pictures and short video, have a light in the dark etc. etc.
20 years ago I would need a truckfull of devices to do all that which I can put in a pocket now. Good part about it being a Windows phone is easy integration with my other devices, mainly my desktop computer which was a real pain to do with an Android phone. I got it for 100 bucks and that saved me bunch of money for buying separate devices for just a part of tasks I can do with this phone.

tomseys said:

I have a lumia 640 - its a great device. I think the OS could be improved in various ways but the phone itself, especially if got it at the go phone price of $29.99 like I did - is one of the best deals of all time.

I'm not going to go out and buy a laptop - I already have a laptop and have had one for many many years.I don't have a monitor lying around though. This laptop has a built in monitor and keyboard and a full version of windows 10 all conveniently in one device. I don't need a phone to provide that for me since I already have that. I do need the small phone device to be the best smartphone/small mobile device it can be.

I on other hand need no laptop because it can't do what either my phone or desktop computer can. To say that mobile, smart phone is dead is a bit too early, still room to upgrade and there's still no device of same size that can do all of that.