After the positive feedback we received from last week’s edition of Windows Phone App Flow involving some of my favorite weather applications I received a ton of questions. Instead of doing the usual song and dance, I thought it would be more fun to answer them here for everyone to read and make fun of me for. Seriously, I jest –but I know a few of you are going to get a some laughs out of my pedestrian app needs.
Q. When you reset your phone, how are you able to your apps back. I know in 7.8 it’s pretty easy but you’ve been doing this since before Windows Phone 8. Are you using Windows Phone.com’s app history?
Unfortunately, having to download so many apps to use for the column means that WindowsPhone.com’s app download history is about as useful to me as an honest day’s paycheck. I’m very particular about which apps I keep on my device, so I ccan usually recall the ones I’m missing. It also helps that I’ve only had to reset a Windows Phone device twice.
Q. What is your favorite application for the platform so far?
Without a doubt my favorite application, has and very well may always be TVShow. It’s actually the first application I ever purchased. It’s completely featured packed. I’m talking Live Tiles, social network integration, reminders using toasts, and SkyDrive back. Also, it’s $.99. You can’t beat that price.
Q. You never talk about the apps you didn’t like, why is that?
Honestly, I don’t feel it’s necessary to shine a light in the eye of the developers whose applications haven’t reached maturity yet. In fact, I’d argue that would be a jerk move. For me, the column is more about focusing on the guys who are ready for the big leagues, not suiting up for batting practice.
All of that isn’t to say that I haven’t encountered a few applications I absolutely hate. If I ever have to see another application using an RSS feed to get information for just one site again, I’ll projective vomit uncontrollably.
Q. Are you one of those people who put every app on the Start Screen?
Absolutely not, both my Windows Phone and Windows 8 Start Screens are guarded jewels. Instead of distracting myself from some of the gorgeous Live Tiles that are provided by apps like Weave and Metro Tube, I let the odd stuff that I’m never going to touch each day sit in the app list.
Q. Do you have a list of apps that you use and recommend?
Unfortunately I don’t, but here’s the apps currently installed on my HTC 8X, -all of which are highly recommended: Amazon Kindle, Facebook, MetroTube, MeTweets, Netflix, Package Tracker, Rowi, SkyDrive, Skype, TuneIn Radio, TVShow, Thumba Photo Editor, Weather Flow, Weave News Reader, WordPress, &Yelp.
I’d also like to give a special shout out to SkyMotion which no less than three people recommended last week as well as AccuWeather. While I’ve tried both since last week and think they’re really decent –I still prefer WeatherLive and WeatherFlow. They just feel “right”, you know?
Thanks for all the questions everyone! We’re looking into a giant round of game emulators for our next edition of App Flow, so if you’ve got any favorites –send them my way via Twitter at http://twitter.com/enConnected. I know what you’re thinking. The idea to cover emulators did stem from my being overly excited that there’s a new and possibly of quality Pokemon game coming this fall. You laugh, but at least I’m honest.