Convince me to switch to an HTC One from Windows Phone!

[RobCRD]

I know, I know, that actually sounds crazy, but hear me out.

I have been using Windows Phones for a couple years now and like the platform. But through the generosity of a friend, I have access to an HTC One M8 that I can test drive for a while and I want to give Android and the M8 the absolute best chance at convincing me to make the switch. And so I'm turning to the good people here at AC for some advice. I promise, I'm not trolling, or trying to start an argument or anything like that. I'm genuinely looking for ideas on how I can be using this phone so I get the most out of the experience.

I typically use my Windows Phone to check email, catch up on news with a few apps (WP Central, Bing News, CNN, AP and few others), listen to podcasts and some streaming music (Slacker and Pandora), as a GPS (using Nokia's Drive), checking FB and Twitter, checking my accounts with Mint and playing a couple of games (I just can't stop playing Angry Birds Go lately). I've also been playing around with Cortana (I have the WP 8.1 developer preview loaded up) and like what I see, though it looks like Google Now is much more polished.

I've basically replicated that experience on the M8 and so far haven't found many compelling reasons to switch. The biggest problem, which I fully admit, is that I'm simply more comfortable navigating WP than Android, so that colors the experience in favor of WP. What I'm looking for now is the next step. What can I do on the M8 that just absolutely isn't possible on Windows Phone. Because that's the selling point. That next-level capability is what is going to get me out of a platform that I like and force me to make the switch.

One thing that I already have played with is Blink Feed, which sometimes I love, but sometimes I'm worried that I'm missing things. Also, I have no desire to take the M8 out while I run -- I have a MotoACTV that I love for that!

So let me have it. What's the stuff that you do with your M8 that I've just completely missed?

Thanks!

 

[alyled]

I really liked the lumia 1020. One of the best cameras I'd experienced on a phone. I played with it while my husband was still on AT&T. But I ultimately stayed with Verizon, and they don't have a Windows phone that I like.
Customizability and a much larger selection of apps is what you're missing with the Windows platform. That said, I like the Windows UI.

 

[ChrisGonzales90]

There are a few launchers that will give your home screen and the windows phone look.

Posted via Android Central App on the HTC One M8

 

[AussieAndroid]

Well it seems you've managed to recreate your experience on the M8 which is a good start. I don't know what apps are missing in the windows store so maybe try looking up all the top android apps at the moment and see if there's anything there that interests you? I know friends of mine using windows seem to constantly miss out on some apps (eg. Instagram).

One thing I assume you can't do is use Google music? I don't know how I could live without it now. I have too much music to store locally on a device so I have it all up in Google music. I then create pinned playlists on my device (so I'm not constantly streaming). Makes it really easy to keep my music managed across devices and I can do this without having to tend to each device individually.

Have you played with the gallery highlights? A lot of my friends are jealous at how easy I can create a little video clip of an event.

 

[FaisDogg]

I dare you to get an M8.. I bet you won't be able to handle it's powers

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[spawndoodling]

Had a WP before switching to Android and I have to say as much as I miss the design of WP and Nokia's suite of apps, I'm so happy I did. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to trust WP because of what Microsoft did with WP7 users, stripping backwards compatibility when they moved on to WP8 and rendering my Lumia useless. At least with Android you know this is not the case. For me, that's a big selling point. I don't mind having all of the latest and greatest apps first - because early iterations are always glitchy and lack features - but Android flagships get updates, far more frequently than WP and phones like the One M8 will last you two years.

I do not have an M8 so I will leave that part up to owners but I have to say that for me especially since I'm always locked into a two year contract, longevity is key. I don't want to know that my phone is not going to be supported or that MSFT might change their mind and start from scratch in the near future.

Not at all hating on Microsoft or Windows Phone, love WP and so glad it's finally getting love from top apps, but Microsoft's history frightens me, especially since I pay subsidized prices for phones and take two year contracts every time I switch.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[callihan_44]

I want windows on the M8!!!! I have the 1020 but switched to the m8 due to screen size mainly and the sheer greatness of htc. I will say that if windows phone had a 5 inch screen phone on At&t I would've stayed but 4-1/2 is too small for me but I don't want a 6 inch one either. I like the live tiles on windows phone much more than boring icons on android/ ios. Windows phone (other than games) had everything I needed though now office is also on android and ios too. Overall I love the m8 but android still feels like the same ol same ol stuff

 

[csleverette]

My experiences with Windows phone is with Verizon's lumia 928 and icon(929). I had been android for years and had an itch to try out the Windows phone experience. Now I'm back to android with the M8.

Core experiences are very comparable and will be even closer with wp 8.1. True you can't customize them like you can android but still.

The difference for me is with the apps. The android versions are just more polished and support more features fit each app. Both have Facebook but the android experience is the better of the two with Facebook's latest features always bring supported. My bank is on both but again the android version of the app is better polished and supports more banking features. I could go on but I think you are catching my point.

So after a while of being frustrated with having the apps I wanted but not all the features, I had to call it quits.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using AC Forums mobile app

 

[law2010]

I know, I know, that actually sounds crazy, but hear me out.

I have been using Windows Phones for a couple years now and like the platform. But through the generosity of a friend, I have access to an HTC One M8 that I can test drive for a while and I want to give Android and the M8 the absolute best chance at convincing me to make the switch. And so I'm turning to the good people here at AC for some advice. I promise, I'm not trolling, or trying to start an argument or anything like that. I'm genuinely looking for ideas on how I can be using this phone so I get the most out of the experience.

I typically use my Windows Phone to check email, catch up on news with a few apps (WP Central, Bing News, CNN, AP and few others), listen to podcasts and some streaming music (Slacker and Pandora), as a GPS (using Nokia's Drive), checking FB and Twitter, checking my accounts with Mint and playing a couple of games (I just can't stop playing Angry Birds Go lately). I've also been playing around with Cortana (I have the WP 8.1 developer preview loaded up) and like what I see, though it looks like Google Now is much more polished.

I've basically replicated that experience on the M8 and so far haven't found many compelling reasons to switch. The biggest problem, which I fully admit, is that I'm simply more comfortable navigating WP than Android, so that colors the experience in favor of WP. What I'm looking for now is the next step. What can I do on the M8 that just absolutely isn't possible on Windows Phone. Because that's the selling point. That next-level capability is what is going to get me out of a platform that I like and force me to make the switch.

One thing that I already have played with is Blink Feed, which sometimes I love, but sometimes I'm worried that I'm missing things. Also, I have no desire to take the M8 out while I run -- I have a MotoACTV that I love for that!

So let me have it. What's the stuff that you do with your M8 that I've just completely missed?

Thanks!

Google services is the best reason to switch. Google Now is getting more awesome every month. My phone seems to anticipate what I want to do now because Google Now has learned what I like very well.

The Google Now widget should be on your main screen or use the Google Now launcher.

The main reason I stopped using my iPhone and never went to Windows phone is because the systems are fairly closed and customization is not nearly as in-depth as Android. Paranoid Android is pretty awesome and so are pie menus.

Either way, smartphones have gotten so good that as long as you are using a flagship phone for Android, Apple, or Windows Phone, you are going to do very well managing the things you stated in your original post.

 

[anon(153966)]

I will admit I don't like these, "Convince me to do X..." threads. Alas, I will say, buy the device, try it, you have 14 days and if it doesn't work for you, return it. I do it all the time. My missus laughs at me. But, in doing so, I've learned a lot about various devices. And your experience with your/a device will be TOTALLY different to someone else's.

 

[Lonestaroc]

try it out for yourself.. thats all. bye. there is no need to convince once you tryi s5 then one m8 for a week each

 

[anon(92475)]

Have you looked at HTC Advantage? That's a huge selling point from my perspective. You are guaranteed at least one update (it might be two) and have one free screen replacement.

Another feature that I love on my One (M7) is Boom Sound.

Posted via Android Central App