It's not that we think Windows Phone 7 is broken. But with the first update due sometime in Januaryish of 2011 if you could bend the ear of Microsoft Developers on what needs fixing, what would you suggest?
WPCentral.com member Thanos911 has started a discussion on this very topic going in the WPCentral Forums. Just to highlight a few of the suggestions already tendered:
We all have our thoughts on how Windows Phone 7 could improve with the first update. Cut/Paste is probably the most common addition requested. Custom Ringtones or expand the list of what can be assigned an alert. We've also seen a few requests for screen captures to allow users to show off their new phone or application.
We've already asked you what your impressions are of Windows Phone 7 after having it for thirty days, but what do you think needs to be fixed? What's not working just right that could benefit from an update?
Head on over to the forums and share your thoughts on the subject in this discussion. We'll sticky it up to the top to make it more visible. Who knows who might see it.
Comments
This came from a post on XDA and I agree with most.
Visual Voicemail – Whoever decided to release the OS to the market without this should get fired right now! Come on Microsoft it is 2010 (almost 2011) this feature alone makes the phone look outdated. Please fix this a.s.a.p. I love to show off the telephone until someone asks to see the vm. This is inexcusable on this type of smartphone. Shame on you Microsoft!
• Global Address List - we have an Exchange Server 2003 (We have plans to upgrade to 2010 next year) in my company and it’s a pain to look for the contacts. Try to tell your boss about how awesome is the Windows Phone 7 OS and then tell him that in order to access the contacts on the GAL he has to put the address manually! This is something like the Visual Voice that has to be fixed now!
• HTML 5 – When I noticed that Microsoft put an already obsolete version of IE on the new Windows Phone 7 software without support for HTML 5 I said like in the WP7 ads, “Really?!” How come Microsoft that is telling everywhere that they are committed to HTML5 didn’t include it on the WP7 OS. Again, Microsoft, Really?!
• VPN Support - again come on!
• Marketplace Search – Hey Microsoft how about this, on the Marketplace put an option in Bing to filter what you want like apps, music etc. I hate to do a search for an app and get a bunch of other stuff like album, artist, song etc. The way you do it on the games hub is excellent please do the same in the Zune hub. I don’t go to the Zune hub to look for apps.
• Some kind of multi-tasking is much needed on this telephone Microsoft, get to work on this.
• SkyDrive Access I love the Skydrive concept but is completely ridiculous that I can put the files on the cloud but there is no way to access my documents directly on the phone. Something like Dropbox would be great.
• A favorite list for your contacts is a must, I really like the way this phone organize the contacts, but you always have that special list with contact you use more like family, friends etc. I don’t like to scroll to several work and business contacts to get what I need.
• Back Up/Restore – Please do something quick about this, there is no way to back up your settings, saved games, outlook configuration (certificates) downloaded apps etc. You have to re-download and re-configure everything every time that you reset your phone.
• Save Camera settings – It’s absurd to set everything every time that you use the camera. I feel like I have to put a flash bulb every time that I use the camera.
The things I want to see soon:
• I noticed that the telephone only vibrate once when you get a phone call. This is not good Microsoft. It should do both in case you have your telephone in the pocket or in a place with too much ambient noise.
• I’ll like to see the battery percentage on the notification bar. (I know the telephone already shows that information through one of the hacks but it will be great if I can see it easily.)
• Easier way to find the IP and MAC address. Again, (I know the telephone already shows that information through one of the hacks but it will be great if I can see it easily.)
• Add vibration to the Alarms
• Disable keys when playing games or at least pop a menu asking if you want to quit the app like the Facebook app.
• Run downloaded app directly from Marketplace
• Open file from any applications - example, open PDF files from Homepipe
• Unified Inbox or a mail Hub
• IE Address Bar in landscape mode
• Answer phone call when swipe up the lock screen
• Drop-Down notifications
• Outlook notifications (notification bar at the top, i.e. like receiving text messages)
• Volumes controls for Music, Notifications, Games, Alarms, etc.
• Market Place updates need to show what the update changes are.
I just find it dump that camera settings arent saving. I'm using a lot of the video recording featuring so each time have to go settings and change it to 720p takes quite a while when you want to quickly shoot something. really hope its gonna be fix
second thing: In the more email settings I would had the options of choosing a sender name and email.
"There is no way to configure advanced email settings such as ports. You can specify SSL, but no way to specify non-standard ports that I have been able to figure out."
Syncing to an exchange server "activesync" has no support for alternate ports, but you can use IMAP/POP3 and SMTP on alternate ports by putting the port after the server name i.e. "imap.myserver.com:1143" this is how WM6.5 worked as well.
Gotta fix some of the hubs stop working and requiring a reboot to fix.
A lil off, but I say they got to fix the issue with not having some basic apps. These live tiles are amazing!
Two things that bother me:
1. I think the font size on many items is inordinately too small for no good reason. The tiny font used for the status bar or some calendar items in certain views really looks to be pretty darn small, while other things like the tiles or hub top titles are huge and easy to see. Maybe just make the small text adjustable or slightly larger? No, I don't need reading glasses, so just a visual ergonomics issue that's stuck out to me since Metro came to light.
2. If you look at the front page or even on this page of WPCentral, look at the list of phones on the top right. How much better does the LG Quantum look in the "Shop Now" add below the individual phones with the tiles made larger and the arrow/wasted black bar on the right removed? This must be a photoshop on that image, but it looks pretty sweet using all of the home screen IMO.
3. I want to see a Touch Pro2 sliding mechanism and the exact same keyboard on a new device. I don't want the Desire Z hinge thing. The TP2 design is terrific and comfortable, but running a fast processor, WP7 and a large battery would be great.
wsantiagow has a pretty extensive list of changes, all of which would be useful improvements. But, IMO, there are things that developers can address (e.g. visual voicemail, flash support, etc.) and things MS must address as core OS/app issues. My seven wishes are:
1. Copy/cut & paste (not for too much longer!)
2. Task application that syncs to Exchange. This is critical!!
3. SkyDrive sync of ALL Office files directly through the hub
4. Significant upgrade to Bing maps allowing turn-by-turn navigation in 3D view (like Google maps on Android) as well as public transit directions
5. Email app upgrades: a) ability to delete senders text when replying to an email b) tap and hold to reply to an email from the list without having to open the email c) easy way to switch between email accounts. Unlike others I don't want a unified inbox, but if it's added it must be an option only, not mandatory
6. Different colors for recipient vs. sender in text message conversation view
7. Some sort of fast app switcher. I don't need multitasking, but a long press on the back button, for instance, could bring up a list of recently opened apps, again similar to Android, to allow me to jump from app to app
I'd like to see the option of changing the vibration pattern and strength for incoming phone calls and text messages.
This isn't really a beef with it, but I'd like to see more apps unlocking WP7's hub potential. When Windows Phone 7 was first announced I got the impression that apps would function less as standalone programs and more as extensions of hubs (like you install GVoice and the option to use Google Voice to SMS someone shows up in their People card). That's the promise I saw in it at the start, and while I'm aware there are a couple of apps that affect the Zune interface of the phone, I'd really like to see more software take advantage of the hub system and alter it; that's where the personalization comes from.
This! That is exactly what I want to see happen in the future. And while this is mostly left up to devs to program for, Microsoft should be shoving it down devs throats that it is one of their most unique features (which it is) and that they SHOULD use those APIs.
I would like to use my Microsoft Points to buy Apps & Games.
I really don't feel comfortable with attaching my credit card to a mobile device which I can lost or get robbed anytime, and prepaid cards such as Microsoft Points, are great to had a better control of little brothers and teenagers sons and daughters costs, and even to give as a gift.
I hope MS allow MSPoints as a payment method for Apps & Games soon.
I don't have a CC attached and I've bought three apps and three games. The charge will just appear on ur cellphone bill.
I'd also like to see a better battery reader. Something that gives percentages.
One feature I miss is the possibility to set a timeplan for sync of mail. I don't want mail beeping all night, but I need the phone to be on
Have MS and Samsung closed the SD card issue? It's been a month. Is everyone okay with their Focus with SD card in it? I'd be fine with 8GB but some people may be holding off their purchase until the SD card issue is clear.
My Phone freezes when certain apps are open for too long. Not sure if its an app or OS issue. Having the ability to kills apps that you dont need is something that rivals have for ages.
In my opinion its a must have
Sounds like it could be an app issue, unless, of course, this happens in several different apps. Have you tried holding down the "Start" button to kill the app?
Why isn't there a option to enter a web address while in landscape while using IE. It's crazy you have to go back to portrait to enter a web address.
I just got a new samsung focus and I would like to register to a forum regarding windows phone 7.
Bactrim
- Remove Music and Videos from the Apps Store Search! It is painful to find things
- Add SmartDJ to the Zune Music
- Custom Ringtones
- Turn by Turn Nav on Bing Maps
- Twitter integration into the People Hub
- GAL lookups on the Exchange Server
GAPLESS PLAYBACK in Zune! This is a must-have in 2010 (soon to be 2011).
And scrubbing for skipping through a song.
Sync through cable pretty please. I don't want to put my personal stuff into the cloud...
Great comments from the first two posters. Those are some major oversights. A few other suggestions:
- Utilize the alphabet tiles in the app list
It's amazing that they actually alphabetized all of the apps, and then chose not to incorporate the letter-touch navigation from the People app. Scrolling is not so bad for now, but as the list grows, we will need better navigation.
- Allow certain apps (i.e. Maps) to override screen-lock
I understand the idea behind it, but it's still maddening that the "Never" option is absent from the screen-lock time out list. That said, at least allowing certain apps to run — overriding the screen lock — would ease my pain. Even allowing for a 'fade-to-60-percent' type of thing wouldn't be bad in some cases.
- Sharpen up the Zune interface, just a bit
While I love the idea and aesthetic of the Zune player, I think it doesn't quite match the elegance of the desktop version at times. Some artist backgrounds are very low-resolution, and look awful on the high-res screen; some artists have no default image, and leave the background jarringly blank. Maintaining a certain standard would allow my desktop joy to transfer over to my mobile experience. Maybe a default 'album-art collage' (again, like the desktop version) background could be employed if no suitable artist background image is available?
- Allow trusted e-mail images to download automagically
It's a small nuisance, but it is still a nuisance. It doesn't seem too difficult to simply allow for an 'Always download images from this user' option. Really, it's just a pain as it stands, currently.
- Visual Voicemail
Seriously an embarrassment. Had to reiterate for emphasis.
- Saved camera options, maybe profiles
Again, for emphasis. It makes no sense to launch the camera in three seconds, and then spend five minutes readjusting your preferences.
All of this said, I do LOVE Windows Phone 7, and I am proud to be an earlier adopter/guinea pig.