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I'm an iPhone user, and a regular Apple fan, but if I was starting from scratch would go for a Windows Phone - probably a Lumia.
I'm not sure how I would sum up the difference between the two, but all of the people I know who have switched to WP seem pretty happy with it.
I think the big problem with the iPhone is that the UI is now so mature it's starting to go a bit stale - and it's not easy for Apple to change the UI to something newer or fresher like you see on the Windows phones because it's too big a step, design wise.
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Are you into - or thinking about getting into - mobile app development? If so, I'd recommend Windows Phone, and here's why:
1) Xamarin. As an indie gamedev with an XNA background, the ability to continue using my XNA knowledge (with Monogame) for WP8 and port to Android and iOS while still coding in C# is absolutely amazing. I can't speak for apps, but the latest version of Xamarin (v3) looks very promising for making cross-platform apps in C#, right up to the interface level. Moreover, there are very encouraging signs between Microsoft and Xamarin at the moment, so while there is currently a licence fee, things may yet change.
2) Nokia. Here in the UK, Nokia have been incredibly supportive of the efforts of small developers like myself, to the extent of even helping out with test devices. They have also been great helping promote my games on the marketplace.
... plus, as expected, the basic WP8 SDK tools can be downloaded for free, and it's only $19/year to publish to the Microsoft marketplace. And if there's an app you need that's not on the store - just make it!
www.ledaentertainment.com
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Full disclosure, I've been using Windows Phone since v7 (it wasn't great) and I'm currently running the latest Dev Preview version of the OS so it's possible not all of the features I mention below will be immediately available. Also, I have a general dislike for Apple, though not as much as my growing hatred for Google.
You're really choosing an ecosystem. As somebody pointed out, if you have a Mac and an iPad it's really a no-brainer to get an iPhone. If you're pretty well invested in the Mircrosoft ecosystem, then Windows Phone is the clear winner.
If you are truly on the fence. The live tiles are great and if you get a Nokia the free Nokia apps are fantastic. I didn't think I'd really use Cortana that much, but I've found her very useful and she's really starting to grow on me. The downside is apps, there a few that I wish would port to Windows Phone, but no deal breakers for me.
The best feature has to be the WordFlow keyboard. That thing is one step away from reading my mind. It's to the point where if it doesn't get the word I was swiping the first time I assume I've done something wrong.
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I've been using the iPhone line for a few years now and it works fine. As a Windows developer I tried to go with Microsoft's solution back when it was Pocket PC, etc. but became frustrated because they kept changing the rules. I also didn't care for the Metro system so I quit trying to work with it. I simply decided that in the Microsoft ecosystem I'd remain a developer so far as Windows was concerned but for my mobile usage I became "just" a user. I feel like I chose correctly. The whole thing works fine. I'm not a fanboy of either ... just got used to Apple's mobile solution that's all. Microsoft is very strong in Enterprise level solutions, not so much in mobile. I see Apple the opposite way; strong in mobile, not so much in enterprise level. MS should stop trying to be "another Apple" and just keep doing what they do best which is not so much consumer level, IMHO.
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I have a Lumia 920, Wife as an iPhone 4s.. my view.
as other have said, stick with your chosen ecosystem. But if you're unsure,
the advantages I get for having Windows Phone
*Glance - see texts/emails/missed calls without actually turning screen on/off all the time
*Wordflow - the keyboard is WAY ahead of iPhone, many times I can just tap on the list of words at the top...
*Tiles - similar to glance, why do I want to open apps for every bit of info? I don't.
*OneDrive/One note syncing, I really really like this.
*Xbox integration/apps... these are almost always of very good quality, so saves a lot of time finding a game that's actually worth playing
Advantages she has for having iPhone
*App for our bank to check balances etc. I would really like this (they did a blackberry app FFS!!)
*siri everywhere... he's built into the keyboard, which is great if you can't spell something, he's there... the Win Phone mic isn't always shown/isn't on the keyboard. Maybe Cortana will address this.
*always first to get the latest apps.
*always first to get the latest apps. <- takes up 2 points!
And finally, don't believe what people say about a) iOS is simpler to use, or b) it just works.... I often need to figure stuff out for my wife and get emails etc. to work.
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Oh yeah, I forgot about Wordflow. It's amazing how intuitive it is at figuring out what I'm going to type, often without having to type even the first letter of the next word. I've created many a long text message by only typing in one or two letters of the next word before I can choose it from the suggestion list, and sometimes no typing is needed at all because the right word is already there in the suggestions.
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.
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As others have said, those aren't your only two choices. I got a Galaxy S4 when they came out and quite like it.
Disclaimer: this is the first smart phone I've ever owned, so I can't give a comparison review for you. I think I'm pretty unusual in that I helped develop a phone app at work before ever running one myself.
Also I'm not a heavy-duty user. Seems like it makes doing things like email, texting, calling, etc easy, and their store has the apps I need for banking, credit cards, etc, so it's quite sufficient for me.
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MehGerbil wrote: I'm not sure what type of phone to buy.
One that makes calls would be good... 
I own a Lumia 820 and I like Windows Phone, there are a few quirks that annoy me (like lack of access to the filesystem for apps), but overall, it's a pretty solid platform.
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Wait for iPhone 6 - many nice features + integration with OS X.
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I had the same thought about how the Windows UI was cleaner but I went for a Sony Xperia with Android because of the cheaper price than the Nokia phones
Then I found a great app called 'Launcher 8 free' which makes it look like a Windows phone.
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Yes I may be a bit biased as I am a software developer and am able to write WP8 apps.
I haven't written any apps that I have put in the store, but as a developer, whenever I do play around with the development tools, I am constantly blown away as easy and smooth the whole dev experience is and how easy it is to find code samples and help I need.
Apart from that, I have never owned an iPhone or android as my main phone, I have spent many hours using iTouch devices, iPads and my wifes Android smartphone, and based on that I would never consider anything other than a Windows 8 phone.
I have not ever had a single instance after over 2 years of using Windows 7 and 8 phones of things like- "why the heck is that happenning"? or "Why is this so slow" or "Thats not very intuitive". Time after time I am saying things like "Thats so easy" or "Thats cool"
Especially with the recent developer preview for the 8.1 version, so many awesome additions.
The only thing I can say that really erks me time and time again, has nothing to do with the operating system but with the Nokia Lumia 920 itself. The 3 touch buttons at the bottom of the phgone are so sensitive that if the side of my hand touches the very edge of that area next to the search button, and it is hard not to, the phone goes into Bing. That touch area is so sensitive that I put 15 layers of scotch tape over the buttons and it didn't make any noticeable difference.
Whenever I ask people what they think of Windows phones, the most common answer I hear is that there are not enough apps. Then I ask, OK what app does it not have and usually they answer with some dumb game that they like.
That tells me that when someone has it in their head that product X is the best, it is very easy to come up with reasons why product Y is not as good.
You hear a lot of negative comments from Non WP8 users but very few from WP8 users.
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I've had one Android, which I began to hate after 6 months, and my last two have been Windows Phones (7.5 and now 8). I love, Love, LOVE my Windows phone. My wife loves hers. It's easy and intuitive to configure and reconfigure, and to navigate--even for my wife, the tiles are informative for letting me know if there's a reason to open its app (number of notifications/emails/etc), and it fits well with the Windows ecosystem I'm already a part of. I do not like iTunes because it doesn't work the way I like it to, and like you I don't want to pay the Apple tax and move to their ecosystem.
That might sound fanboi-ish, but believe me, I'm getting tired of Microsoft's refusal to listen to its customers, and I'd like to move to Linux some day, so I don't think I'm so pro-MS to be biased. If stuff doesn't work well, I won't use it regardless who made it.
The one small bit of ugliness is the syncing application, the Windows Phone Application for Desktop that you need for Phone 8. It's simple, but not configurable enough, and doesn't give you enough info about the photos or music or photos you're seeing in its UI to know which ones you really want to sync if the file names aren't helpful. However, it's easier to use for syncing than Zune was, and not locked to the current Windows user account like Zune was.
Can't speak to the iPhone experience, 'cause I've never owned one.
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.
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I think Obama is an idiot.
That said, if he truly got us out of Iraq and if he stays out of affairs in the Middle East - and by OUT I do mean OUT and none of this clandestine interference and weapons sales and stupid stuff like that - if Obama does that then I'd be happy to help Obama hold Boehner down for a vicious TSA style butt raping.
I hope and pray for the day when we've absolutely no investment in the Middle East.
If Obama can get us there I'll have to award him +5 internets - despite the fact I think he's a clown.
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I agree, but my main point is that for Boehner to complain that Obama's not doing anything, when he brought the troops home from a pointless, Bush instigated, war in Iraq, is just moronic.
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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Well, I see Boehner's point in that if we have men there and we've already shed blood we should stay a few extra years and make sure it is stable. The problem with that approach is I don't see stability as an option when it comes to tribal religious fanatics/racists that enjoy killing each other.
It isn't that they've not had a chance for democracy - it's that they've no foundation to even begin to understand it and, perhaps more accurately, they don't want it.
We should open our borders to immigrants from these places so that enlightened decent folks can leave.
Let the kids who want to ride around in old pickup trucks with 50 caliber machine guns mounted on the back shoot each other in the head while rescuing those who'd like to join the rest of humanity in the 21st century.
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MehGerbil wrote: enlightened decent folks
MehGerbil wrote: the kids who want to ride around in old pickup trucks with 50 caliber machine guns mounted on the back
Trouble is telling the difference: the latter just get out of the truck, put on the shades and blend in with the former.
Or the latter convert the former (gawd knows how) and they are willing to become the latter.
I don't see a solution, until the people who are providing the fertile soil in which these fanatics are growing so happily wise up and stop it themselves. Any attempt to help them do it seems to just feed the animosity, and make the problem worse.
There are times when I do agree with DD on his assessment of religions... 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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I sort of agree... Except we DOBN'T have men there. Obama made it an election point to get the US out of Iraq, and he did.
Boehner seems to be saying that we should go back because of unrest.. but there will ALWAYS be unrest.
Time to wash our hands of this place.
My .02
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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MehGerbil wrote: We should open our borders to immigrants from these places so that enlightened decent folks can leave.
LOL, I love a good joke
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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MehGerbil wrote: we should stay a few extra years and make sure it is stable.
Not going to happen.
That requires "winning the hearts and minds" and you should remember how well that worked in Vietnam.
It didn't.
Best guess I've heard so far is that Iraq will disintegrate into sectarian segments forming new countries. Which unfortunately means part of Iraq may become Iran.
I'll stop now before it becomes a rant about "Bring'em on" George and the idiocy of fracturing a country enough to become ripe for takeover by elements we should have finished off in Afghanistan.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
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People of the Middle East don't have the same phlsophy that westerners do, so any presence on our part for any reason in that region is completely pointless. They're not interested in the democrative process, they don't have "christian values" (whatever that means), and they're not interested in our version of liberty and equality. Trying to talk them out of their religion-based belief system is a WASTE OF TIME, and is essentially insulting to them. If we hadn't started arming them, they would still be throwing rocks at each other instead of flying airplanes into buildings.
In essence, we're just as much at fault for the current state of affairs as the sand people are.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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They're all morons! I could say more but it wouldn't even be fit for the soapbox so I'll just keep quiet.
If first you don't succeed, hide all evidence you ever tried!
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At what point are we going to admit that Al Qaeda works for us?
To destroy a middle eastern government only to be surprised that Al Qaeda moves in and takes over once we leave works the fist time it happens but to be surprised after it's happened a dozen times is getting to be a bit ridiculous.
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