Microsoft Finally Rolls Out Windows 10 Mobile To Older Phones (engadget.com)

An anonymous reader writes: One year after Windows 10 Mobile was announced, Microsoft is finally rolling out their new OS to older mobile devices, specifically devices running Windows Phone 8.1. Here's the complete list of supported phones: Lumia 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, and the MCJ Madosma Q501. Depending on where you live and which carrier you have, the update will be handled differently. Microsoft has said "many older devices are not able to successfully upgrade without an impact on the customer experience." For an OS that continues to lose market share [to] iOS and Android, it makes sense for Microsoft to be so concerned about the user experience as it is crucial for the success of Windows 10 Mobile.

Comments

They're not concerned about user experience

[penguinoid]

For an OS that continues to lose market share [to] iOS and Android, it makes sense for Microsoft to be so concerned about the user experience as it is crucial for the success of Windows 10 Mobile.

A major factor in user experience is trust. Without trust, you can't use the software at all. With barely any trust, you have to verify that each update won't introduce nefarious anti-features, nor change your settings or other evil things -- and you have to verify it from someone other than the company. Makes it really hard, stressful, and time-consuming to use that software.

the punishment phone

[xeno]

I picked up a Win8 phone back while working at MSFT, in an effort to be a good corporate citizen. Never really used it much, so it stayed in pretty good clean shape. When one of my teen kids broke or screwed up their phone (all too often), it was handy to have a spare they could use. It was also handy to have around when they misbehaved by spending too much time or data using their phones; swapping this one in curtailed their usage just by being itself. Fewer apps, limited access because they aren't bought into the Live/msft account ecosystem, generally iffy UI, etc. I find it very useful. They don't appreciate that.

TL;DR: My kids refer to the spare Windows phone as "the punishment phone"

Re:the punishment phone

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

My kids refer to the spare Windows phone as "the punishment phone"

Lol, so true, so true.

I was speaking with my son the other night and he wants to replace his Galaxy S6.

I said, "What about a Windows phone?" and then we both just laughed and laughed. It was like I'd told the funniest dad-joke ever.