from the forums

What's the best thing about the Surface Laptop?

By Al Sacco, Monday, May 15, 2017 at 10:31 am EDT

Earlier this month, Microsoft introduced the latest member of the Surface family: the Surface Laptop. We want to know what you think is the new Surface’s stand-out feature, or the “ultimate reason” to buy one.

Should Windows 10 S ship with ALL Windows laptops?

By Al Sacco, Monday, May 8, 2017 at 10:33 am EDT

Microsoft unveiled a new 'flavor' of its popular Windows OS, called Windows 10 S, that’s locked to the Windows Store. Should the new OS ship with all new Windows laptops? At least one Windows Central forum user thinks so.

Share your personal path on the Windows phone platform!

By Al Sacco, Monday, May 1, 2017 at 10:30 am EDT

At Windows Central, we’ve used and reviewed a ton of different Windows-powered mobile devices. Today, we want to hear all about your Windows phone history.

Windows Phones

By Zac Bowden, Tuesday, Apr 25, 2017 at 10:30 am EDT

Windows phone appears to be suffering quite a lot right now, but why is that?

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Humorous videos reveal 'the perks' of owning a Nokia Lumia 1520

By Daniel Rubino, Thursday, Sep 18, 2014 at 12:08 pm EDT

The Lumia 1520, nearly ten months after release, is still wooing fans around the world. Partially due to its forward-thinking hardware and its unapologetic size, owners of the six-inch phablet tend to be very proud of the gargantuan Windows Phone.

Although full of pride, many Lumia 1520 users also have a sense of humor in regards to wielding such a massive device in public. Take, for instance, the following two videos made by WPCentral Forum member nickniko, which shows some humorous benefits in owning a coveted Lumia 1520.

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What do you do with a cracked Windows Phone screen?

Community

By George Ponder, Sunday, Aug 31, 2014 at 3:09 pm EDT

It is a situation none of us wants to go through. We lose our grip and find our Windows Phone bouncing down the sidewalk or we find ourselves in another nightmare situation that sends our Windows Phone into harm's way. The end result often finds our screen cracked or shattered.

Windows Phone Central forums member coip has started a discussion asking what to do with a cracked screen. His wife dropped her Nokia Lumia 928 and cracked the screen. With 9 months left on the contract, the options they are considering include living with the cracked screen, buy a used Windows Phone to make it to the end of the contract or upgrade early to either the HTC One M8 or Lumia Icon.

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HTC One W8, can it get HTC back in the Windows Phone game?

Community

By George Ponder, Saturday, Aug 9, 2014 at 4:56 pm EDT

HTC has sent out press invites for an August 19th event where many are expecting to see the HTC One M8 running Windows Phone. Otherwise known as the HTC One W8.

While all of this is still speculation, some are seeing the possibilities of a 5-inch Super LCD3 Windows Phone with Gorilla Glass 3 and an aluminum house as rather enticing. But is it enough to lure you away from the sleek build of the Lumia line of Windows Phones?

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What made you buy Windows Phone in the first place?

Community

By Sam Sabri, Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 8:35 pm EDT

My first Windows Phone? That would have to be the Dell Venue Pro. That sliding portrait-QWERTY keyboard? Swoon. It was a little chunky, but I loved that phone. The screen went into a billion pieces when I dropped it on some ice in Park City after slaying the mountain. That was my first Windows Phone, but it wasn't the hardware that really drew me into the mix - it was the software. What made you first buy Windows Phone?

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Do you really use the Windows Phone 8.1 Notification Center?

Community

By George Ponder, Friday, Jul 4, 2014 at 12:46 pm EDT

Some may think this is a rhetorical question but there is a discussion going on in the Windows Phone Central Forums asking how much others are using the Notification Center with Windows Phone 8.1.

WPCentral Reader Blake Seaman presents the question and, not being not a social media user, found the Live Tiles were more than enough notification. Even pinning settings tiles to the Start Menu seemed to meet his needs.

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Is it fair to consider the size of the Lumia 1520 as a con?

Community

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014 at 3:12 pm EDT

There is very little debate on the Nokia Lumia 1520 being a large Windows Phone. Its 6 inch screen is massive compared to other Windows Phones. But is it fair to consider the largeness of the Lumia 1520 a "con" (as in pros and cons)?

WPCentral Forums member Rawliglat x poses the question in a recent forums discussion taking the position that the Lumia 1520 is simply designed for consumers looking for a bigger screen. The larger size of the 1520 should not be considered a con any more than the smaller size of other Windows Phone should be considered a con.

Mobile Nations Fitness Month: Help Sam get #MobileFit

Community

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jun 3, 2014 at 8:50 am EDT

As you may have noticed, June is Fitness Month

With June being Fitness Month around these parts, we are tapping into Connectedly.com's forums to chat things up. One discussion is from our own Managing Editor Sam Sabri where he is discussing how he plans on spending the month getting back on the fitness bandwagon.

From charging up his Fitbit Force to dusting off his running shoes, Sam hopes to get on the road to fitness recovery and plans on sharing all his highlights in the Connectedly.com forum discussion.

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Does your Windows Phone need a case? Join our discussion

Community

By George Ponder, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 12:21 pm EDT

There are a few questions that stand the test of time such as, "Ford or Chevy?", "Boxers or Briefs?", "Blondes or Brunettes?" and with Windows Phones it seems that "Case or no Case?" is that one question that never seems to go away.

Windows Phone Central forums member Qais Abu-Hasan is the latest to pose the question. Qais is planning to get a Lumia 930 and has concerns that a case will ruin the amazing design of the Windows Phone. However, there is also concern that the aluminum trim will be prone to scratching and needs the protection.

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What are your top five most wanted Windows Phone 8.1 apps?

Community

By George Ponder, Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:07 am EDT

While we have seen the selection in the Windows Phone Store grow by leaps and bounds, there still may be a few apps out there that are missing in action.

A recent WPCentral Forums discussion asks the simple question, "What is your top five most wanted apps for Windows Phone 8.1?" The discussion was started by WPCentral Forum member burnabite who would like to see TED talks, NHL Gamecenter, Mozilla Firefox, Dropbox and BBM developed for Windows Phone.

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How often do you change your Windows Phone Start Screen?

Community

By George Ponder, Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 2:36 pm EDT

Our Windows Phone Start Screen is an easy way to make our phones our own. Even before Windows Phone 8.1 introduced transparent Live Tiles and Start Screen background images, through third party apps and in-house settings you could customize things quite a bit.

There is a Windows Phone Central Forums discussion, started by Forum Member Sir William Wiener that asks how often do you change your Start Screen background images and accent colors? Sir William finds himself tweaking the Start Screen a lot while the habits range from daily changes to weekly to "every once in a while".

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Does Cortana sound less robotic today?

By Sam Sabri, Friday, May 9, 2014 at 9:49 pm EDT

Cortana is a really fun and useful feature on Windows Phone 8.1. She’s still a few centuries away from being conversational like in the Halo video games, but we’re big fans! Cortana is currently in beta for those in the United States, though many of you are using her globally after changing your region. And as a beta, Cortana will continue to improve and get better. Today we're getting a lot comments that Cortana sounds different. Does she?

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What would be your 'perfect' Windows Phone?

Community

By George Ponder, Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 2:32 pm EDT

While the current Windows Phone device lineup has plenty of quality choices, if you could design your own Windows Phone, what would it be?

WPCentral reader elliot436 has started a discussion over in the WPCentral Forums asking what your perfect devices would be. So far, the responses range from combining existing devices to more specific requirements.

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Cortana, still feeling the Windows Phone 8.1 love?

Community

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Apr 29, 2014 at 2:49 pm EDT

The Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers has been in the public's hands for just over two weeks now. One of the more anticipated features of Windows Phone 8.1 is Cortana.

For those just joining us, Cortana is Windows Phone 8.1's intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator. Think of it as Siri's better looking cousin. And while released in Beta form and only in the U.S. Market (officially) many were eager to start asking Cortana everything from "will you marry me?" to "what's the temperature in Kelvin?"

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Do you swipe with your Windows Phone 8.1 keyboard?

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Apr 22, 2014 at 11:48 am EDT

Word Flow is the new name for the keyboard in Windows Phone 8.1. That keyboard includes a Shape writing feature where you swipe letters on the keyboard as opposed to the traditional touch-typing method. You slide your finger across the keyboard, pausing ever so slightly on the keys you want used and the software does the rest to create the words (here's our hands-on video).

While many will swear by Shape writing (it even set the World Record for typing speed), some aren’t yet sold on this new keyboard feature. WPCentral reader, PxuLL, has started this discussion over in the Forums asking if you use Shape writing.

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Are the features in Windows Phone 8.1 enough to put it on par with iOS and Android?

Community

By Seth Brodeur, Tuesday, Apr 8, 2014 at 1:46 pm EDT

There’s no other way to put it: Windows Phone 8.1 is jam-packed with new features. Some of these new additions, like the new notification center, are features that both critics and fans of Windows Phone have been clamoring for.

Explore a city of robots in Machinarium for Windows Phone [Updated]

By Paul Acevedo, Saturday, Mar 22, 2014 at 12:21 am EDT

We’ve written about our “Newly Discovered Windows Phone Games” forum thread before. That’s where I learned about Pocket Avenger, a game that starts out fun but gets evil really fast. Still, our forum users are great at ferreting out new games for everyone to try. The latest game I discovered within the thread is Machinarium from Czech developer Amanita Design.

Windows Phone already hosts a variety of Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) games from publishers like Artifex Mundi. Those titles borrow elements from traditional PC adventure games, but dilute them a bit in order to maintain casual appeal. Machinarium is a full-blown adventure game that made its name on Steam before migrating to Windows Phone. If you enjoy the adventure genre, prepare to be amazed by Amanita’s first Windows Phone title.

Should you buy Microsoft's Surface Pro or Surface Laptop?

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Is Microsoft's Fluent Design a clone of Google's Material Design?

Surface Pro beats iPad Pro in a tech spec comparison — by a mile

Will you buy Microsoft's new Surface Pro? (poll)

Why isn't the new Surface Pro named 'Surface Pro 5?'

Introducing the new Windows Central 'Colors T-Shirt,' now ready to order!

Why Microsoft's new Surface Pro doesn't have a USB Type-C port

Meet the new Microsoft Surface Pro!

New Microsoft Surface Pen: Everything you need to know

Which is the best? Surface Laptop vs. Spectre x360 vs. XPS 13

What to expect from Microsoft's hardware event in China this week

This $500 laptop from Acer is a great alternative to the best Chromebook

There's now a fix for 'WannaCry,' but it's fairly limited

Microsoft WILL release a Surface 'phone' — but it could take a while

Try NordVPN for as little as $3.29 a month

Want to win a Surface Laptop? Here’s how to increase your chances.

Microsoft's 'Surface Pro 5' leaks ahead of official announcement

All the changes found in Windows 10 builds 16199 and 16193

4 things Microsoft needs to do to make Xbox Live more social

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