Why Arent There Loads Of Free Apps Like Android & iPhone App Stores?

[laymanspc]

Originally Posted by kabuk1

Windows Mobile has stood the test of time. It has been around for 13 years now, versus iphone & android being, what- 2 years old?

This is the main reason people think apps for WinMo suck. They end up finding old apps that've been around forever. Old addage; if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it... Pointless to spend valuable time updating artwork on something you create and give away for free. Sure if it needs functionality fixed for some reason you may as well update it, but otherwise, pft...

WinMo as well as the apps have stood the test of time well. The fact that so many things, modifications and addons of all sorts, work across many WinMo versions just goes to show what a great platform it is.

Only advantages iPhone apps have over WinMo apps in all cases is the differences in the age of the artwork. If pretty colors and smooth/high res icons and artwork is what you need, naturally iPhone is better because it doesn't have the library of older software. Any new WinMo software doesn't have such issues.


I just got my first smartphone after much consideration. HTC TP2 with WinMo 6.5 took the cake hands down.

[WhiteBlazer01]

Guys, I gotta say... Unfortunately, the market is mainly iPhone (and soon to be Android) biased. Any place you go that is thinking of creating an app - iPhone will have it first (if not only). The apps made for the iPhone are just very well designed, they look great, and they're always coming out with apps for new and cool things. Windows Mobile is slow and not innovative (anymore).

Don't get me wrong. I'm a die-hard Winmo user, and will use any excuse to show our phones are better than iPhones (I tease my brother and friends saying they have a small screen and resolution - even though it's .1" smaller).

Also, there is an unfortunate problem with WinMo. It's too much work for the average user. Many people are just idiots, or lazy (no offense, but true). iPhone is an app phone. Not a modding mini computer (um.. Pocket PC??? Duh.). So for those people that really don't have the time or knowledge to spend searching for tweaks/hacks/regedits/roms/apps, they get an iPhone - and with good reason. It just works for them. No more, no less.

Like I say, everyone and their little sister has an iPhone. if you need it to do something, download an app. If you need WM to do something, you need a forum of seasoned experts. Sad, but true. And that's why I believe WinMo is struggling to climb to the top. It's not "easy" enough dor most people. For those capable of getting the most out of their phone, we meet here.

My $0.02

Luv ya guys!! Don't hate me for speaking the truth.

[guitardoc64]

Interesting read. I keep with WinMob because of the "apps" that I regularly use, such as Voice Command, 4Pockets RTA Pro, and others that are simply not available on Android (yet?) or iPhone. My phone does it's job, whether making calls or sending email or RTAing a stage monitor to locate feedback. Hell, I got a guitar tuner in there too. I have collected about 2,500-3,000 WinMob programs, and 90% are freeware.

[laymanspc]

TP2 is my first smartphone, I came from a basic plain jane Moto Razr V3M. I have friends with both iphones and android based phones, they're young and wanna be cool. The one person I know with a Windows phone has an original touch pro and could care less about anything beyond the stock offerings. I read everything I could and learned all I could about all the devices with actually owning each. What I learned was that I was waiting for my provider to release their WinMo6.5 TP2...

With very little effort (some reading, reg edits, and cab installs...) I've been able to do things without a ROM flash that are totally impossible without a "jailbroke" or "rooted" alternative.

I can't see it requiring a seasoned expert to be an informed shopper and do some reading when investing a couple hundred bucks on something you'll have throughout a contract that you could have thousands in by the contract's end. There are toys, and then there are tools. Anyone with some research can see that Microsoft has everything it needs to have a strong foothold in the field for many years to come. With implementations such as the ones from HTC, and the possibilities shown by ROM chefs and app developers, it's easy to see WinMo has a bright future. Apple is too concerned with keeping things on their terms, if anyone throws a fit over mods/flashing/jailbreaking/rooting a phone, it will end up being apple. Android has a chance to byte a chunk of marketshare if they're not sidetracked by the 50,000 different projects they (Google) are involved in. Blackberry is losing footing as their server software is sold at a a downright silly price and their devices are mostly impossible to dial a number with their tiny scrunched up qwerty dial pad (kicka** phone there), whereas MS has shown the commitment and continual improvement needed for the long term outlook as well as a proven standard for their app development. Something that can only be said of iphone or android after they have quite a bit more age with a few more generations of their respective OSs and hardware. You want to be able to change devices over time and keep the software familiar and easy. That hasn't yet shown to be the case with the alternatives. Until they pass some milestones, that's all they are, alternatives...

[KaliKilla]

I bought a Moto Droid for my fiance and myself the TP2. I was so close to trading out my phone for a droid because the apps are way better and the marketplace is so convenient. Then I tried using her phone as I would normally use my phone. For example, texting or emailing with the droids keyboards suck. I had a LG Dare before this and swore that I needed a good Keyboard. You just can't beat this one. Then I tried using her calendar and the TP2 is far superior, granted you can buy or get free calendars yet I have yet to see one that is of equal quality. overall, the droid and iphone are merely toys that you eventually get bored of eventually. The TP2 is damn near a portable computer that is practicalfor the long duration. Just my 2 cents...

[cdmoore74]

I personally find apps overrated. All I ask for is a damn good web browser, mp3 player, video player and most important a fully functional gps program. To many apps just clutter up a device. You end up with pages and pages of programs.

[kabuk1]

Originally Posted by WhiteBlazer01

Also, there is an unfortunate problem with WinMo. It's too much work for the average user. Many people are just idiots, or lazy (no offense, but true). iPhone is an app phone. Not a modding mini computer (um.. Pocket PC??? Duh.). So for those people that really don't have the time or knowledge to spend searching for tweaks/hacks/regedits/roms/apps, they get an iPhone - and with good reason. It just works for them. No more, no less.

You hit the nail on the head buddy. The reason iPhones & Blackberries & Android phones are so popular is that they just work, with little to no effort or thought required by the user. Back in '07 I worked for a 3rd party sprint store & one regular customer bought a Moto Q. She brought it back a week later, activated but still in the box. She said it was too hard to use, she didn't wanna read themanual, and it had been sitting in the box all week. She told us that her family was worried about her because she wasn't answering their calls. I took the phone back & set her up with the most basic, idiot-proof flip phone we had. Idiot.

I personally like the challenge of a PPC phone. It's fun to mod it & push it to its limits. Who the hell wants a generic, cookie-cutter phone with limited options? Not I.

[brownhornet]

Without this site or the ability to mod phones how many of us would even have these phones still...I know I wouldn't. Just look at how people were desperate and basically fiending toflash and get away from stock...preferring to deal with roms that have bugs than the original system.

O like my phone but windows mobile just hasn't shown me anything since the old mogul. And considering how far google and apple have come past it in not even a third of the time says a lot.

[redd214]

Originally Posted by kabuk1

I personally like the challenge of a PPC phone. It's fun to mod it & push it to its limits. Who the hell wants a generic, cookie-cutter phone with limited options? Not I.

i agree 100%! iphone to me is like driving an automatic car, idiot proof not much thinking or input required. i enjoy the fact that my phone is probably the only one in the world with the combination of apps/themes/tweaks that i have, makes me feel special haha

[lipidfats]

I'm a WM loyalist, but come on... a lot of you guys are in denial. WM may have tons of apps, but they're terribly outdated. Our favorite online stores and sites make iPhone apps to compliment their sites now (ebay, amazon, espn, nba.com, etc). How often can you go to one of your bookmarks and expect to see a WM app for it? iPhone games can be compared to standalone gaming devices. WM games are complete crap. Even if you compare apps found on all platforms, WM will probably be in last place. Today, it's not just about functionality anymore, they have to be polished as well or the experience is ruined. And you're lying to yourself if you haven't taken notice to how ugly a lot of WM apps are compared to iPhone and Android. You can't say it doesn't bother you, especially with how old the WM platform is...

If you want apps, you should really be looking at the iPhone or Android. These are app phones. All the creative apps and developers are going to those platforms first and even leaving WM for them. Most of us stick with WM because it's a business phone first and also because of the customizing aspect, not because of the apps. Another huge strength of WM is being able to change the UI easily and the selection we have. I don't really consider these apps though.

Hopefully we will see more love from developers when WM7 hits. I'm glad HTC is a big part Android's growth because if WM7 fails it'll make switching to it much easier.