Posted on 12/20/2015 9:18:09 AM PST by dayglored
Windows Phones are continuing to find solid footing in the market, even as Microsoft obtained the Lumia brand then turned things quiet around them.
It seems now is the perfect time to make some serious noise. The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is the best Windows Phone device - and we're not talking about small leaps. This one took the highest one that made a crater upon landing.
On the surface, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is a good-looking phone. It's not all-metal, sadly, but it's comfortable to hold and feels solid. The power and volume buttons are well spaced and wide enough for easy reach and Microsoft managed to style up the large rear camera as part of the 950 XL's aesthetics.
The 5.7-inch AMOLED screen features a 2560×1440 resolution. The colors are bright and rich. The screen is responsive, and of course, given it's a Windows phone, the tiles make a return. They are much more versatile and easier to customize ever than before, and all it takes is holding a tile. A new, small feature added to the
It features a Snapdragon 810 with quad-cores 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 and a 2GHz Cortex-A57. It ships out with a 3GB of RAM, and the combination with the processors gives the Lumia 950 XL all the firepower it needs to make one smooth mobile experience.
The 20MP rear camera isn't too shabby. I've mentioned in the past that a 20MP camera on a phone feels a bit overkill, and again, I'll it once more - the MP is a bit of an overkill. It does, however, take excellent images and the shutter speed is the one of the most impressive I've seen on a phone.
The Lumia 950 XL gets a now standard 32GB internal memory that is expandable up to 200GB via microSD. If that's not enough, then there's always the OneDrive - Microsoft's Cloud storage.
The 3340mAh battery is most welcome. In the past three years I have used for a long time, 3 other Windows devices: Lumia 610, 920, and an Ativ S. Now with the 950 XL, I can say the battery life of a phone with a Windows OS remained consistently awesome. Even when battery goes down, the 950 XL features fast charging. It also supports wireless charging.
In preparation for the future, the 950 XL has a USB Type C port. It's a reversible cable that connects to a device whichever side up, which also provides its fast charging feature.
And then of course there's Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant. I've never been a fan of it (or any of the other two virtual assistants) but it does have some interesting features to play around with.
Now that the specs sheet has been rounded up, we notice it's nothing as groundbreaking as the other flagship devices. Sure, Microsoft has put together one solid device - again, the best one they have managed to build since the Lumia 800 about three or so years ago. But for them to take a higher stance, would depend on its operating system, which runs on Windows 10 - the same one that can be used on desktops and laptops.
Microsoft's aim here, is to establish a single OS to link them all together. It sounds like a novel idea, and one that's actually quite interesting to see how far it will be able to go. For that to become a possibility, Microsoft introduces the Continuum.
For hybrids, Continuum allows the change of UI between laptop and tablet forms. For phones, Continuum basically turns a Windows 10 phone into a mini-desktop. You'll be able to connect a keyboard, a mouse, and even a monitor into a Windows 10 phone and use it as one would for laptops.
The idea here is to have all these PC components ready at home or at work. Users won't have to carry laptops or tablets, and instead, just have their Windows 10 phone ready.
For now, the most portable and most powerful Windows 10 phone is the Lumia 950 XL. With Continuum, one will be able to have the least amount of setup in their home and office desks. Mind you, even the 950 XL is not geared to run software that demands a lot of power - such as desktop versions of photo and video editing software, though the mobile versions are ample enough in some cases.
Continuum will turn a Lumia 950 XL or any Windows 10 phone into a touchpad for the Xbox One.
In a nutshell, the Microsoft has built a stronghold for a Windows 10 mobile experience with the Lumia 950 XL.
The phone is well-built and sports a slew of impressive specs sheet, and the Continuum feature is something that might come in handy for some people.
20MP is amazing. 20 years ago I saw digital backs for Mamiyas at 20MP going for $15,000.
Runs Windows 10? “Phoning home” is ironic. Windows 10 is spyware and send private information back to Microsoft. It is banned in secured and sensitive environments.
I don’t need my phone phoning home.
BTW, the Droid Turbo phone has had a 20MB camera in it. Great images, too.
You do realize that the 20 Meg’s, on a very small chip vs a much larger chip, is different?
They let you use that Droid phone in those “secure and sensitive environments”?
Will they make it exclusive to AT&T again?
No phones, but no Windows 10 on any desktop or laptop either.
Dunno, good question.
How long does it normally take them to get a new OS vetted, configured and approved for that environment?
So far, yes, unfortunately.
Only someone completely ignorant of security would recommend any Android phone as a secure alternative to a Windows phone.
“Only someone completely ignorant of security would recommend any Android phone as a secure alternative to a Windows phone.”
Yet, I didn’t, so if you were making that assumption then your reading comprehension skills are terrible.
“How long does it normally take them to get a new OS vetted, configured and approved for that environment? “
There isn’t such a thing as what you asked, but when the OS like Windows 10 transmits information without authorization it is a slam dunk to be denied.
We have a process where I work for exactly that.
Where are you getting your information on what it is that Windows 10 transmits, and under what conditions?
Just off the top of my head from the specs and internet back chatter..... This Windoze phone is better at a consumer friendly price than any iPhone out there. Never forget that Microsoft can be laughed at but still make 25% profits from their income which is very RESPECTABLE and enough $$$$ coming in to innovate past the debauched homos at Apples doughnut shaped mother ship. Did they move in yet?
I hear that an outpost of Reggie Loves favorite, Man’s Country (Chicago) will open there when the doughnut is habitable
Search for it. It is a HUGE topic. If you were in any position within IT I cannot imagine you have no idea what this is about.
Tiny tiny plastic lenses spoil the effect.
By how much?
I know there's a lot of hyperventilating out there.
I am in a position in IT where I have enough information and experience to want to see an authoritative source for an assertion that Microsoft has made it's desktop operating system functionally incompatible with and unusable in a secure environment.
Frankly, I don't believe you.
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