Windows Phone In 2022... Could I Use One?

I am having issues with my Android phone, audio in calls keeps cutting out, so I wanted a cheap phone to test if it was a network issue or a phone issue and I thought it would be a great opportunity to revisit Windows Phone, which I enjoyed a few years back, but the lack of app support became a bit of an issue.

However I have toyed with the idea of ditching the smartphone, so maybe going with one with a little less app support might be a happy medium. Windows Phone handsets have always been pretty decent and I thought the Metro UI was a unique take on a smartphone OS. 

So I ordered an HTC 8x which I had a few years back (a dual core with 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, 4.3” screen with Windows 8.1, released in 2012) It was a fantastic looking phone. However before it has even arrived I was looking in to what I wouldn't be able to use it for – I felt like I was already setting myself up for a fall.

My Motorola Moto G10 does everything. It really is - like for most people - a mini computer, key to everyday life.

So let's start with how my daily phone usage goes. First up is calls, obviously as it's a phone and a Windows Phone will do that as well as text messaging. 

In terms of social media most apps that did support Windows Phone now don't, with a few exceptions or third party tools, but don't expect a full experience. WhatsApp is definitely a no no and one that I use daily, Facebook and Messenger can be done as well as Telegram, via third party app and I think Instagram and Twitter can have web shortcuts.

Then it comes down to the app you wouldn’t think of straight away but you would miss not having. Not having my banking apps means I can't check my balances or manage my accounts.

There are some apps or services that can be accessed by a web interface, so you could use store cards, bonus cards and food delivery services that way, but it is a pain unless you can pin shortcuts to your home screen.

Although I am not sure how a Windows Phone browser can cope with modern browsing and services.

Gaming is not an issue for me. I don't game on my phone so the lack of mainstream games on Windows Phone isn’t an issue.

Taking pictures and shooting videos will be fine, just like any platform it all depends on the handsets as to the quality of the cameras, but even back in 2012, mobile phone cameras were pretty decent. It’s when you want to do something with those pictures – such as upload them to social media – or those videos – such as upload them to YouTube – that you will have issues, or just not find it as easy as a supported OS.

The lack of built in Google support – which I think was Google's deliberate way of stifling the growth of Windows Phone can be an issue. No native YouTube or Google Maps really was a hindrance for me back then – and having been invested in Android and the Google ecosystem the last few years, it wasn’t going to be easy.

I take a picture currently on my Android phone and it automatically uploads to Google Photos which I can access anywhere. I take a video and I can upload direct to YouTube.

You should be able to sync your Google account which should retrieve your Gmail and your Google contacts but that will be something I have to try.

As far as I can tell - as my phone hasn't arrived yet - the App Store is still up and running, but it's tricky finding items that will install and run on Windows Phone – especially one running Windows Phone 8 instead of Windows 10 Mobile.

I could have listed third party apps for some of the services I mentioned above, but I need to check them out before I recommend them.

There will be a part two to this article, where I have set up the phone and used it for a while. Depending how I get on with not having access to everything like I would on Android will depend how long I use it. Or I could surprise myself and it could be the break I need from having everything at my fingertips.

Watch this space.

Written by Simon Royal. Follow me at twitter.com/simonroyal

Is Silence Golden? Not For Me And My Phone

I am a slave to my smartphone. It rings, dings, pops and clicks constantly with each service or app having its own unique sound. With every Facebook comment and tweet my phone makes a noise, it buzzes and I feel the need to look at it instantly.

I've never been a fan of putting your phone on silent. It bugs me when you ring someone and they don't answer it and then get the excuse 'sorry my phone was on silent’ - or you send a message, which you know has been delivered but it takes them an hour to reply. Yes I am impatient.

But I have noticed I look at my phone a lot, probably too much. So I decided to try out putting it on silent. My wife has hers on silent all the time and doesn't feel the need to read every notification as soon as it appears. My phone would still vibrate, but no audible sound would come out.

I tried it. To start with I felt quite free. Liberated from whipping my phone out like I was in a showdown in the Wild West. I got all sorts done without looking at my phone every few minutes - cleaning, house work, watching TV but the best was listening to music without the sound dipping for each notification.

However the novelty of a quiet life soon wore off. When you have a different sound for every notification type you know when a WhatsApp message comes in, which is more important than the latest comment on a Facebook thread. Therefore if I was particularly busy I could ignore a Facebook pop, yet look at a text message. With my phone on silent, all notifications felt the same - so I would miss messages that needed looking at - I even had a habit of missing calls.

This was somewhat overcome by my Microsoft Band which shows notifications on my wrist and vibrates each time - but it just wasn't the same. The fact I own a wrist notification device compounds my need to see every notification as soon as it arrives. I don’t even need to take my phone out of my pocket.

So after less than 48 hours, I turned my phone off silent and am enjoying my usual array of sounds. I am making a conscious effort to not look at my phone for every Facebook and Twitter notification - which isn’t going too well - but I still pick it up for messages.

I will have to admit defeat and come to terms with the fact that my smartphone has taken over my life. Social media, instant messages and always being available to answer a call is what my day-to-day life has become.

Silence certainly isn’t golden for me. Ding!

The Instagram Android App is infuriating

For a long time now, going back several phones, Instagram has been a pain on Android. I post a lot of photos, mainly from my long walks. After a bunch of photos get posted, the app eventually ends up just making blank white images, like so.

The only way to fix this, at least temporarily, is to go into App Info (tap and hold the Instagram icon),

Tap Force Stop and OK

Then tap Storage and Clear Cache. Then instagram will be fine until it builds up another 50MB or so of cache. I know I should not be surprised that an app owned by Facebook is utter crap, but they could at least fix simple things like this.