Microsoft will be ending sales of all Lumia smartphones by end of this year!

Last weeks sad news is coming from many news sites. Because of bad selling of Microsoft Lumia devices, Microsoft will pull the plug and ending sales of all Lumia smartphones by the end of this year. That's not strange with 0,7% market share only in Q1 2016 (Gartner). Probably the Surface Phone fits better, but it will be no consumer device for sure. This news is killing for Lumia owners like me, where devices are half of price after release 9 months ago.

Where my Lumia 950 was €599 around 9 months ago, with another €99 for a Display Dock (which was included with 950XL only), price has now dropped down to €299 with a free Display Dock instead. That's a €399 price drop within a year, which is frankly outrageous if you ask me! Microsoft is abandon Windows Phone lovers that way really quick. No good residual value for the money here, and no one daring to buy Surface Phone at later time. My 2 cents..

Where promises were made on Continuum and Appstore support, on both Android (Project Astoria) and iOS (Project Islandwood), nothing has been released so far. Continuum was not as expected, without further app support and possibility to open a single app multiple times. Appstore support on both Android and iOS transfers has never been released, which was another reason for me to buy this flagship. No single reaction from Microsoft so far on this!

So yes, it's no secret, Microsoft is done with it's Lumia line of devices. Probably Surface Phone will be coming end of 2017, where current Lumia 950 (XL) owners will not try it again. Time will tell if Surface Phone (when released, because currently just a product that's in-development internally), is good value for money after all. Still a disappointment for me and many other Windows Phone lovers, and time to look for a new device and platform.

My personal experience on: Microsoft Lumia 950 experience after 9 months (pro's and cons)

Other news on Lumia smartphones:
-Goodbye, Microsoft Lumia. Hello New Surface Phone
-Should you wait for the Surface Phone or buy a Lumia 950 now?
-Top 4 Reasons The Microsoft Surface Phone Will Be The Best Phone To Enter The Market
-Microsoft’s rumoured ‘Surface Phone’ may not arrive until next Fall
-Microsoft Surface Phone To Replace Lumia 950 Line; Release Date Moved To 2017?

Windows Phone Apps cannot be deployed in ConfigMgr 2012 R2 SP1

Within ConfigMgr and Intune it's possible to import mobile apps for Microsoft, Apple and Google. When adding Windows Phone app packages from the Windows Phone Store however, you may have an issue as described below.

As an administrator, when you use ConfigMgr, you experience the following symptoms: When you click the Browse button in the Create Application Wizard to create a valid link in the Windows Phone app package browser, the link is not resolved and you cannot click OK. When you try to provide the location manually instead of by using the Browse button, you receive the following error message: Specify a valid link to a Windows Store app.

This occurs even when you use a valid link in the following format: https://www.microsoft.com/locale/store/type/AppName/AppID
You can still use the following old format in the Location field: https://www.windowsphone.com/locale/store/app/AppName/GUID

When you use ConfigMgr app compliance policies to try to create an Allowed Apps or Blocked Apps list for Windows Phone 8.1 devices, you cannot create the list. 

With Intune (standalone) no issue is seen when adding a LinkedIn URL (Dutch).

 

When doing the same in ConfigMgr, you get an error message mentioning the URL is invalid.

Lucky me Microsoft has released an hotfix for this. It can be applied on both ConfigMgr 2012 R2 SP1 (RTM) and CU1. Just have a look here: Hotfix Download Available. After installing the hotfix the issue is gone immediately :-)

Thanks to Peter van der Woude (@pvanderwoude) and Frans Oudendorp (@oudendorp) for support on this.

Windows 10 will be 'the last version of Windows' ever (or not)

On Microsoft Ignite in Chicago last month, people mentioned that Windows 10 will be 'the last version of Windows' for now. There will be no new version of Windows anymore in future, but instead of that Microsoft will constantly update the product with new features and security updates. Therefore Microsoft is calling it 'Windows as a service' from now on. This is no new version of Windows, this is a new generation of Windows! Their could be a Windows 11 or 12 release somewhere in future, but Microsoft may rename it to 'Windows' as well, so the version number is not that important anymore.

No Windows 9 because of multiple reasons..

Windows as a service
The Windows 10 upgrade path is limited to Windows 7 operating systems and later, so no luck for XP and Vista users here. It will be 'free for personal use', because Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.x operating systems, when upgrade within a year of its release. If customers have to pay after a year usage is not known at the moment. Expect some kind of subscription somewhere in future (but probably after a year). Because that's what 'Windows as a service' is all about, paying for new features and security updates, to optimize you operating system constantly.

Windows Update for Business
For business there's no free upgrade possible, but there are important changes to mention on software updates. Microsoft will end 'Patch Tuesday' in nearby future, because updates will be available as soon they are released, making operating systems more secure. Updates will be released in 'rings', given the choice between faster or regular update scenario's. This feature is called 'Windows Update for Business' and it will be free for both Windows Pro and Enterprise devices. You can still use programs like WSUS or SCCM, but as soon as you stay behind on updates, you're missing new features too!

Latest Windows 10 media
At every feature update, new Windows 10 media get's available with new functionality and security updates in it. Expect new media at least once a year! Therefore it's not necessary anymore to build an image with around 200 updates in it, like on Windows 7. Just use the 'latest Windows 10 media' and deploy that one to systems. Therefore Microsoft is mentioning imaging (building images and keep them up-to-date) will be less easier that way. When using SCCM or Intune, the operating system can be changed when needed. Building images with components and updates integrated is history for it seems!

Same look-and-feel on different devices

One Windows, One Store
Another thing to mention is using the same operating system on multiple devices. When having a high-end Windows Phone, you can make usage of 'Continuum' using the phone as your personal computer. The experience will be same on different types of devices, from small to large, it will be same! Expect a release this summer already. Windows 10 will not be final then, but it will never because of the updates coming constantly. Releases for Windows Phone, Xbox One and Thin Client (Kiosk devices) will be available later. It will be the same operating system, but with additional software running on it.

New features and strategy
With features like 'Azure Active Directory' join and 'Cortana' integrated in Windows 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Band and even more systems, it will be the best Microsoft operating system ever. Just start thinking about a implementing strategy for Azure AD, Windows 10, System Center Configuration Manager 2016 integrated with Microsoft Intune (Hybrid) to manage Windows 10 the best way possible. Microsoft has done an excellent job with Windows 10!

Microsoft is the productivity and platform company that will thrive in the mobile-first, cloud-first world. I'm very excited about it :-)

More blogposts about Windows 10:
Microsoft’s Mobile-first, Cloud-first vision (part 1)
Microsoft’s Mobile-first, Cloud-first vision (part 2)
My personal experience with Windows 10 Technical Preview
Windows 10 Technical Preview updated with 7,000 changes and fixes
New Microsoft System Center and Windows versions coming!
Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones is available now
Meet Windows 10: The New Generation of Windows

Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones is available now

Microsoft has announced the first build of Windows 10 Technical Preview for Phones. I used Windows 8.1 Technical Preview several months on my device. After using my Samsung Ativ S for almost 2 years now, i'm still very happy with my choice. My next Phone will run Windows 10 for sure, no doubt about that. The reason that multiple favorite apps are missing, is no obstacle for me. Microsoft rocks!

When you want to run Windows 10 Technical Preview, just make sure to follow the next steps:
-Join the Windows Insider Program
-Register your device to receive builds as over the air updates
-Builds will come to you automatically as they are ready, after being validated by engineers at Microsoft and used on their own phones
-Use the built-in Windows Feedback app to send us problem reports and suggestions
-Updates will continue all the way up to the final build that goes out to all customers
-You can roll your phone back to the previous OS any time you’d like

If you’re a Windows Phone customer and love to try the latest stuff before anyone else, or a Developer or IT Pro who works with Windows Phones, joining the Windows Insider program and trying out this build may be right for you. You’ll be getting an insider’s view and getting builds that normally would have only been available to Microsoft engineers in the past. Same as on Windows 10 Technical Preview.

There are a lot of known issues mentioned already. Just have a look at them to see what to expect. Still great to have the opportunity to try the earliest publicly available preview for Windows 10 Technical Preview. Do you take the risk or not, that's the question.

Source: Blogging Windows

Windows Phone 8.1 Preview experiences

Almost 2 months ago I did an upgrade from Windows Phone 8.0 to Windows Phone 8.1 Preview. More about that can be found HERE. At the moment there are multiple updates installed after the upgrade (which is 8.10.12397.895 now), but still there are issues left. In my case on a Samsung ATIV S device. Beside of the issues I'm still very satisfied with the new features. Let's have a look at issues solved already and issues left.

Issues solved:
-Battery drain, I'm doing over 30 hours per battery load now.
-Reboot when using Bing Music or Vision, seems to be working now.
-Share blogposts to Facebook, but Twitter cannot be found.

Issues left:
-When switching from camera to video and start video capture. Switch back to camera after that and the screen will be black. The device must be rebooted to have camera working again.
-Also camera is taken photos with Flash while disabled in photo settings. Oops!
-Multiple unexpected reboots when using my Phone in the car connected with bluetooth. Also during the day when not connected with bluetooth.
-Share blogposts to multiple apps like Twitter isn't working anymore.
-No Cortana can be used because I'm living outsite of US. (pity)

Overall experience
I really like the new start screen with way more Live Tiles then before. Also the Action Center, Notifications (per app), Agenda (advanced), and Background on start screen are all great. When using swiping for keyboard you can create messages way faster then typing it. No way I go back to Windows Phone 8.0 ever. Microsoft did a great job on new features in the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview!

How to upgrade Windows Phone 8.0 to Windows Phone 8.1 Preview

Since April 14 it's possible to upgrade Windows Phone 8.0 to Windows Phone Preview. In my case I want to do this on a Samsung ATIV S, which I'm using for over a year now. Windows Phone 8.0 is still working great, but I like to see new features in Windows Phone Preview also. Let's have a look.

Prerequisites are download the app (Preview for Developers) and register as a developer to use a "developer unlocked" phone. This can be done with payment (publish apps in the MS Store) of free usage (create apps to use on your own phone). In my case I'm using the free register. Just create a Empty App and you will be fine.

Register as a Windows Phone Developer – $19 USD, and publish apps in the Store
Register as a developer with App Studio – Free, and create apps to run on your own Windows Phones
Download the developer tools to register and "developer unlock" your phone

If you meet the prerequisites above, download the Windows Phone Preview for Developers app.

During the Windows Phone Preview installation the device will be installing 3 updates, with a reboot after every update. There will be multiple versions used after each update. In my case they were as follows:
-Microsoft Update 8.0.10521.155 (small update)
-Microsoft Update 8.0.10532.166 (big update)
-Microsoft Update 8.10.12359.845 (big update)

After almost 2 hours waiting all updates were installed. None off my files, apps or settings were lost. I'm happy with the new OS and functionality. Why wait? Just install the new killer OS :)

Experiences so far:
-Battery drain solved by soft reboot. Still using more battery then before, but way better then before the reboot. Reviews mentions that it will take a few days before battery behaves as normal.
-New features: Live Tiles, Agenda, Action Center, Battery Saver, Data Sense, Background on start screen, More apps on start screen, Big photo on screen when calling, are all great. No Cortana can be used because I'm living outsite of United States (pity).
-Strange thing is however I cannot share blogposts to Twitter and Facebook anymore? Miss that one most! Also camera is taken photos with Flash while disabled in photo settings!? Oops! When using Bing Music or Vision the device reboots. Who cares?
-Overall experience is great. Still love the device and Windows Phone. Next time it will be Nokia instead of Samsung, that's all :)

Update (1):
Battery behaves as normal after a few days. I can do 24-30 hours on a full battery load again. Another great thing is Notifications + Actions in Settings. You can decide notification banners, notification sound and vibrate per app now! No annoying vibrations on WhatsApp anymore when having 100 incoming messages a day, just turn it off for a single app. Furthermore I love the new start screen with way more Live Tiles them before. When using swiping for keyboard you can create messages way faster then typing it. Do I need to tell more? Just install the update! :) For questions use comments.