I second this vote... I loved my Windows phone and to this day it has been my favorite of them all. I STILL tell people that I want the Windows phone to return and enumerate the many reasons why I loved the phone to anyone who will listen.
Bring Back Windows Phone
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Anonymous
Before you dismiss this as another useless suggestion, I would like you to read this and think about it. I, like many others, enjoyed using windows phone and would love to see it come back however there undoubtedly were flaws, this suggestion addresses them and suggests ways to economically bring back windows phone
I will start by saying that although windows phone development is dead, the community most certainly is not. a simple TikTok search will reveal that many people still use windows phone devices because they are simply so nice to use. many key aspects of windows phone, like tiles, horizontal swiping, system-wide dark mode, and themes keep people coming back because it looks so nice and it is very easy to use. people liked windows phone as they bought key information together, like in the social center and the People app from the waterdrop sounds when unlocking your phone, or the charging sound, everything about windows phone was so well thought out that people loved it. and keep coming back to it even years later after it was discontinued. if windows phone were to come back, I'm sure people would switch back.
Now its time to address the elephant in the room, app support:
the main factor in WPs demise was the lack of app support; users couldn't download their favorite apps, and developers didn't want to make them, causing a cycle that was bound for failure. there is one solution for this, bring windows phones to android. now I am well aware this is no easy feat, the windows phone kernel and software were built entirely around its hardware and existing windows software. to try to switch windows phone to android would take days of coding but I do believe there really is a market for windows phone and with the right approach, this could really be a success.
Should windows phone return, here are some things that should remain as they were beforehand:
The start screen - one of the main reasons people loved windows phone was the metro UI start screen. it looked beautiful and most people really enjoyed using it, the app launch animations were lovely, and coming back to it every time was a pleasure, although it should be reworked to allow for android gestures.
system design theme - a lot of the system was built on horizontal swiping, which made windows phones remarkably easy to use with one hand, and changing across screens was easy and sleek, not to mention that the dark mode just made everything look so much more beautiful.
sounds - almost every windows phone sound was great to hear, if you moved to android and didn't keep those sounds it would be a mistake.
animations and optimization - what makes windows phone so usable to this day is the optimized system and UI. animations were snappy and beautiful to look at especially launching into Microsoft apps.
keyboard - I hate to say it but the swift key keyboard sucks, most people would rather opt for Samsung's or google's variant to swiftkey, however, the WP keyboard sounded lovely, used swipe typing ahead of its time, and looked great
some aspects of the system should change, like the notification center, which was quite bulky and looked quite harsh, but for its time Windows Phone got a lot of things right, especially compared to IOS and Android which were lacking behind. unfortunately, the one problem with the devices killed them off so there is no hope of having its own platform now.
moving to android would have a lot of benefits for windows phone, like being able to use Microsofts apps on the play store or tying in with other Google services like youtube, not to mention that all android features would automatically be added and accounted for in the windows UI.
To finish off I'm going to say that moving windows phone to android won't only be great for the consumer, but it will also be great for Microsoft, who can start to look at the mobile market again. with the right moves, I am sure that Microsoft will succeed on the Android platform and that this will benefit everyone. i look forward to reading your opinions on this topic and i am sure that atleast someone will agree with me
Windows for home | Other | Apps
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Anonymous
2023-12-01T03:40:54+00:00 -
Anonymous
2023-11-27T13:14:16+00:00 Microsoft has become google lol
Come on microsoft… it’s time. With ARM support for OS the time is bright to move once again…
3rd time is the charm?
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Anonymous
2023-11-26T11:41:27+00:00 Totally agree with that. Instead of designing the gazillionth office app that works with sh**point (how many more MS?), try to develop a vision for the future. I have the impression MS lost its ways and is now going into all different directions except the good one, namely designing an ecosystem where productivity can live. That includes a mobile OS. And do not kill the OS immediately because it's not making money.
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Anonymous
2023-11-23T06:45:14+00:00 Dont let this go as a time wasting suggestion. Lets be analytical here. Apple is doing great because of their Eco-System and yes I know Microsoft tried making phones but they failed. Yet there is a huge community that still loves them. The biggest problem with the Windows Phones (WP) was lack of software support and development. That was the only issue. Other than that everything about them was absolutely beautiful.
Now lets imagine a world where there are great performing Windows phone with great software support. As a business person it would be a dream come true. Having windows laptops in my organization, with microsoft 365 and dynamics 365 as ERP and amazing phones and tablets to complement them. Apple does not make great business applications like microsoft does. There is a huge market that uses windows computers. Having a Windows eco-system (Computers/laptops, phone/tablets and maybe smartwatch and audio devices too) will be a dream come true, if specially everything is well optimized and speaks well with each other.
I know it is no easy thing to create a phone line-up but c'mon, you guys are Microsoft, pioneers of technology and one of richest company in the world. You guys are tech geniuses with availability to the best talent in the world. I'm no software engineer or IT expert but I've heard now a days there are translators of coding like dart which can translate all coding for applications to another platform or language. Just do something about app support and everything is amazing,
I have used windows since childhood and want to keep using it, I and many more people wish there was another beautiful eco-system like apple but not apple. I believe Microsoft has the potential of being the next best exo-system. I want to use windows/surface laptop with microsoft 365 and dynamics 365 for work and not install those application in a macbook for work. I want stripped down version in these applications in my phone and tablets too. I want to use Outlook in a surface laptop and microsoft tablet and phone, I want to use microsoft edge and not safari or google chrome. I want to recieve calls on my microsoft phone but be able to attend them while my microsoft earbuds on my surface laptop without having to switch earbuds connection from phone to laptop like apple does. I want to able to reply to my RCS text messages in my windows laptop. We want something like AirDrop in microsoft. I want one eco-system for both, my personal and business use. With single click of button on my laptop or phone I want to be able to switch profiles from work to personal (like focus modes in apple). Now Arm processors are coming too, which will make widnows laptops and computers even better.
Just work on a good, reliable easy to use windows/microsoft phone with app support and you guys can create the next best eco-system. I would gladly pay for all devices and apps for all my employees and my family. And I'm sure there are so many more people who would as well. Just dont make another foldable, just a good upper mid-range or flagship phone.
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Anonymous
2023-11-19T19:13:24+00:00 I also agree, please bring back windows mobile but without the ugly metro menu.
I want to be able to access to whole operating system files when I plug in to USB port and to use the Phone as a real PC when I plugin to the monitor.
I would still use IPAQ with windows mobile 6 today if it worked.
Just add an android app emulation and store integration. Even it doesnt sell very much, Windows mobile should be alive so developers can also be ready, making sure they are compiled to mobile windows os until it gets a fair marketshare.