Windows 8 Phone - Early Observations

As I finish up my first full week of using a Windows 8 Phone I wanted to note some early observations here. Once I got past the limitations of the app store and music player I started to get comfortable with the phone otherwise. The integration of Microsoft Office, SkyDrive, Lync and Sharepoint are truly the strengths of the Windows phone. Accessing, reviewing and even editing documents on the phone are easier and faster than any other smartphone I have ever used.

The interface of the Windows Phone does takes a little time to get used to but after a day or 2 I quickly mastered its use and customization. I will give Microsoft this. Apple and Android phones use icons to display applications and multiple screens to organize the program flow. Microsoft actually innovated with their Windows 8 operating system. The “metro style” tiles only flow vertically. The tiles can be sized from small to medium and large. Many of the tiles are live which means that “live” information is displayed as opposed to the same old “icon”.

Technical Information – Nokia 8202Windows 8 Phone

Here are some technical specifications, which are all very acceptable. The Windows Phone I am using is the Lumia 820. The phone has a 4.3 inch screen.  The phone is 10mm thick and comes in at 160g, which is a little heaver then the Iphone5.  It has a dual core 1.5Ghz processor with 1GB of ram and a 8mp camera on the back. There is 16gb of internal storage and an expandable micro-SD slot. 

From it's easier to get at buttons; its wireless charging shells, expandable memory, to its exclusive apps the Lumia 822 is a fine smartphone. 

Final Thoughts After Week 1

In many ways, the Windows 8 smartphone operating system is superior to both Android and the iPhone, notably for the way it delivers information to you without you having to go out and grab it. Windows Phone 8 deserves the chance it appears to be finally getting.  I look forward to the continued evaluation of this phone.