Updates: A quick check in

Ya think maybe before Christmas?

Will these delays carry over to the new Focus S?

when "Tethering on Samsung Omnia 7" update will be distributed?

eric,

how can i get it exchanged for 1.3

We need more CDMA phones, hopefully for Sprint and hopefully Nokia.

@ tsrblke

I heard somewhere that you could have only  50 vertical rows of tiles. I just wanted to know if that's true.

@ Eric Hautala  Can you give me some information on this? Is it dependent on memory?

I want Internet Sharing on WP7... that is possible on iOS (built in) and on Android, why not in WP7??!!

windowsphone.uservoice.com/.../2377028-where-is-mango-samsung-for-focus-1-4

comment and vote here for focus 1.4 issue

sorry to all the 1.4s out there... you have my sympathy

!! I went into my local AT&T store today !!

Guess what happened? Well, I walked in and told the guy that I wasn't sure what phone to get, but I have been researching some of the differences. I then told him that I heard att had 4 new smartphones come out this week. He said "yes the Galaxy S2 skyrocket, the HTC Vivid".. pause.. "Oh, and also the Focus S". He didn't bother to complete his list. I let him tell me about both Android phones, which by the way were really,really impressive on the hardware side. He pulled his own personal Android device out his pocket to show me what it could do. So, after being thrilled by his HTC Vivid's Hardware, but bored by the WinMo 6.5 looking UI. I said "what else do you have"? He said that he really recommended the two Android devices. So, to break it up a bit I said " Man those iPhones sure do have solid hardware" At that point he started to completely demolish the iPhone, but he did say it was easy to use and has the less amount of complaints of any phone.

Now..., I said " Ive been looking at those new windows phones and they seem pretty interesting" He didn't say they were bad but he was still on the Android tip. I listened to him go on and on about the customization on android compared to other phones. After awhile I said "Yeah but doesn't that New WP have a cool looking start screen?. He said "yes, actually it has the most modern and functional start screen out of anything in the store" I asked "Why have you not shown me any of those devices? He said " well to be honest I forgot all about them'' My reply was "but I asked about them twice. he said well we can look at them if you want to. :(

OK...., I'm getting a little frustrated, but something about this guy I liked, so I stayed patient. I asked him what was special about WP. He says "well, it's got the coolest UI, and...and, it comes with a real version of MS Office, and, and...and. He needed help so I asked "I heard its got IE9 with full HTML support and Hardware acceleration? He said "no it doesn't! It has a mobile version of IE, which is not very fast. I don't like it." Might I add he's aware of Mango being on the new phones. So he said "Androids better because you can choose your browser"... OK, so since he had zero knowledge about any other features I asked him about Xbox integration. "Oh yeah it has that" he says. He told me "there's the start screen, then you slide to the app menu and that's it. it's a really simple device". He DID say that WP does NOT need a dual core processor and is very fast and stable.

I told him that it was hard to choose between androids hardware and WPs software. He actually agree with me on that point. He gave me a story about all the secret things he has to do to get his Android phone to run smoothly with no issues, "but it would void your warranty". He said that he carried a Samsung Focus for a few months and he liked it. "I would get a WP device if the hardware was up to par, I mean how am I supposed to suggest the focus S to someone when Its the same price as the Galaxy S2, but no dual core, only 16gig, no expansion slot, less ram?""" I had to agree with him on that one. He says "I tell the customers about how easy either the iPhone or WP is to use, but they want those specs, even if they don't know what they translate into, they think it sounds cool" This guys not to bad I thought. I talked to him for awhile, agreed with his approach sometimes, and disagreed with it in some areas. He told me that they had basically no training on the devices, not any devices, and they don't "usually get incentives for selling certain devices. Usually?

Now this guy thinks I got my old Samsung Epix WM6.5 in my pocket. He wants to sell a phone. Sorry, but I can't type anymore so my opinion is this. The guy is open minded. He's definitely a android boy, but he admitted that in the future he would use WP because its cool and when the hardware catches up it's going to be killer. I still had to agree with him on that one. I honestly think that he is trying to do the right thing, and he's the most knowledgeable sales person so far, which was amazing. But, MS has some work to do, at retail, that still has not been taken care of.

Did I mention this was a corporate store?

@REJ (I'm tried of typing the whole thing out!)

I can't keep up with these posts across multiple threads.  What were we talking about, right Livetiles.  50 verticle rows is a lot, and like I said "a big upper limit" ;).

That being said, I could see how you could fill the 100 slots that gives you, especially with pinnable deep links in apps.

Which reminds me, you know what would be cool, if you could set your phone to unpin the deep links after there event time had expired (i.e. flight time, dinner researvation, etc.)  The phone could then just shift everything up one.

This 'quick check in' is nothing but platitudes. I purchased a Windows phone partly because it promised a standardized approach to hardware and software and supposedly allowed me to escape the problems of apps, features, etc not being compatible with my phone... a problem I previously experienced with Android. My phone, a v1.4 Samsung focus purchased only 6 months ago has now been lacking the new operating system (and the mango only apps) for almost 2 months. This is now a significant portion of the lifetime of the phone and contract (usually ~2 years). I fall into the 'early adopter' category of consumer and since purchasing my windows phone I've made an effort to promote the platform to friends in the smartphone market. Now, friends ask me how the new 'mango' update is and I have to answer 'well, my phone model is not compatible with it yet'. This is a HUGE turnoff for people looking for a straightforward phone and platform, as I was when I switched. I like Windows Phone, but this is a very frustrating experience. Is v1.4 defective? Should there be a recall? Should we be offered a switch to v1.3? Hard to know because there is little useful communication from Microsoft.

@ greenwave23

Hang in there. I really feel for you guys, and I think that MS knows what the problem is and should come straightforward to you guys and give it up. Personally I think that Samsung has been to busy testing all of those new phones coming out for the holiday season. This has left no time to iron out V1.4 issues, so it's taking longer than usual. Unfortunately, I don't think Samsung is going to hold off on selling new devices in order to get your update out the door. Amazingly, it may be Android that's holding you guys up.

But, Eric actually did give you some hard information about the update. He said "We’re intent on delivering remaining Windows Phone 7.5 updates as soon as we’re able and have already made focused preparations for doing just that"

That lets you guys know that it is coming, and the 1.4 phones are not going to be skipped over. You will get the update! It's just unfortunate for you guys that you have to wait so long. You know WP is the OS that you want to run, so just hang in there. One day you will have a new device and most likely not be in this situation again. I would blame Samsung not MS. Or you can blame both. Just don't blame WP! Right now WP is small potatoes, and the team aint got no pull yet.... Politics man, politics.

@ tsrblke

Oh S%$T, that's a good idea! Expiring Live Tiles? Man at first glance the tile system seams to be so one dimensional and option-less, but amazingly, it's actually very modular.

I really want the tiles to rotate into landscape mode. This is a absolute must! It would be similar to Windows 8.

Did you read the post about my store visit?

Again, no real information. Loved the platform, but glad I switched to the 4S.

@Rodney - Wow, some post Rodney... :) I'd been off the net for a while, trying (like you) to see if there's any excitement about WP in stores here in India. Disappointingly, hardly anybody here is aware that Nokia has launched a WP, and that it is arriving in India by November end. Mentioning HTC Radar gives me blank stares in stores.

@Eric - Please, please, please MS.. do more on marketing WP... We guys (obviously) love the platform... A friend of mine keeps trying to show off his Android and I just showed him some WP videos and am trying to convert him to WP! He's impressed, but keeps moaning about the hardware.

But, seriously in India especially, people are hardly aware of WP7, forget Mango. Nokia ads about WP are coming up on TV now (NOW, it's like they shoudl've started a month earlier). Please hear us (not that you aren't) but do more please.

@tsrblke - Expiring/Time restricted live tiles...wow, now that's some idea! This would really be awesome! That would be damn intelligent.. it would give any and all smartphone OS's a run for their money! A phone that 'knows' what's important to you w.r.t. time, wow...!  You've got some imagination.. cool!

Thank You for some news/update, at least now it seems they are still trying to deliver the update to v 1.4...

@Eric: if you read this, PLEASE, PLEASE, make tethering for the Omnia 7 available. We are waiting for it so badly.  We have non-branded Omnia 7 phones and our carrier supports Internet Sharing.  But still no firmware update to enable this so very important feature.  I am checking for a firmware update at least 20 times a day :)  Tethering works perfectly with our (non-branded) iPhone 4s so I am sure that you guys can also make it work on Mango.

My UK Omnia 7 ( T Mob) has tethering support. The firmware is out on the net. You could just flash it yourself to that rom.

I am sure I read somewhere it had been hacked for all networks anyway.

Here in Italy seems that NO BRAN phones aren't receiving wifi tethering updates.

My Omnia 7 (H3G operator) and the one of a friend of mine (VODAFONE operator) not for sure.

Can we hope ? :p

@mre15: Thank you.  Yes, I know that the T-Mobile firmware supports it.  But there seems to be problems with the loader (under certain circumstances) if you make use of the it on non-T-Mobile branded phones.  And to be honest, I don't want to flash our company phones with such an unofficial hack.  Who knows what negative side effects this will have in the future <g>.  Omnia 7 is such a cool cell phone and Mango is fantastic.  But this update fiasco is killing me.  I have an Omnia 7 and an iPhone 4s here and you know what?  iPhone 4s is great and I am impressed.  I never, ever would have considered buying an iPhone (the dark side <g>).  I only came to iPhone 4s because of the WP7 update fiasco.  BTW, there will be an iOS 5.0.1 update soon and it's so cool that you'll have access to it a few minutes after its launch.  Worldwide!  It doesn't matter what carrier, branded or non-branded phone, etc.  Cool.  Yes, I am still a WP fan but I am also an Apple fanboy now.  I hope that's not the beginning of the end.

Thanks for the update - it's good to know people haven't been forgotten about.

Please try to keep in mind that WP is a platform that has to compete with two very dominant players - Android and iPhone.  The update picture on Android is awful, so you're obviously doing much better, however you're not quite as good as the iPhone yet.

Users who have found themselves in the 'majority' and have received Mango updates in a timely fashion will no doubt be pretty pleased.  However those still waiting will be getting increasingly frustrated, and will naturally be longing for a more 'iPhone like' experience when it comes to upgrades.

Many of the people who read these forums are people who don't just own a Windows Phone - they have an active interest in the platform, and many of them are likely to be your best ambassadors for the product.  Getting the update story right is going to be a major component that could drive the long term success of the platform.

@Linder, it's not Microsoft who will make tethering available on a device.  It's the OEM and the carrier.  For example, a hack is out there that allows the Samsung Focus to do tethering.  So, clearly, the OEM has put the right bits in to support the function on the hardware side.  But AT&T has NOT acknowledged whether they will enable that feature on first gen phones or not....it's available on the new devices.  But it will require an update pushed from AT&T to open it up without a hack on devices like my Focus.

Oh, my, @Eric.  I'm afraid you still don't get it.  By "you", I mean Microsoft in general.  When you come on and say "there's no news yet, but we'll let you know as soon as something changes" is guaranteed to be interpreted as "Samsung and AT&T are sitting there scratching their heads and their bums, no doing much about this because, quite frankly, they have new devices out there to support and you 1.4 Focus users are such a small lot they feel their resources are better applied elsewhere".   I'm sorry, but that's how it gets interpreted.  Every process has a flow.  There's a trigger and a done point.  Even in testing.  Every action has a reaction, even if that reaction is essentially "nothing" (e.g., well, that didn't work).  As a person who's done my fair share of hardware & software troubleshooting, and as someone who examines processes for a living, you can't convince me that there is NOTHING to report about what is actually going on with the testing.  I doubt that the people who are supposedly assigned to this issue at AT&T and/or Samsung are going day in, day out, without some sort of a status report to their supervisors.  I'd bet real money that most of the Focus 1.4 users would actually love to know the real status of the testing, even if it's incredibly technical.  Even if it involves some "trade secrets" as to how their updating process or Microsoft's updating process works, there has to be a way to redact the sensitive bits and get some sort of status report to the users.  It's simply dishonest to indicate anything else.  You guys know I'm a big fan, and I'll always try to give the benefit of the doubt and to push others to assign responsibility to the proper entities.  Since you folks are the de facto conduit for info, you're not doing yourselves any favors by being this quiet on the problem.  I'm calling it as I see it.

This isn't easy for me to say, but it was time for a new phone. Considering what was available to me, I had a hard choice to make.

In the end, hardware specs won, and I have up my lovely Focus v1.3 for a Galaxy S II. What's really sad is that I was so excited about the new Windows Phones, only to be so sorely disappointed.

While the software is the best on the market, hardware specs left much to be desired. My phone is not only a phone, but also my portable media center. The HTC Titan and Focus S were my two  of choice, and both were more our less a let down. In the age of retina display, to have a large screen but horrible resolution is simply not acceptable. (And don't get me started on the fact that some of the new phones don't even allow for micro SD expansion.....)

Add that to the fact that there still doesn't seem to be a lot of advertisement, and I simply could not bring myself to spending my money on a phone that may our may not survive.

I was at the corporate AT&T store for close to an hour, chatting with sales reps as well as managers. Only one person uses WP as their primary phone. And when I asked why, the answer across the board was 'with such little advertisement done, most of our costumers aren't even aware of Windows Phone, so why go with a phone that may not be around in a year.'.

And they're right.

Now, will I forego WP forever? Absolutely not. Chances are I'll own another within the next year. But MS and OEMs have to prove to me first that they care about their product as passionately as we do. Give me a 4.3 inch our higher with a resolution that makes my eyeballs pop. Give me micro SD to fill my phone with pictures and movies.

Basically give me a device that makes the competition scramble.

And for crying out loud, ADVERTISE!!!

To say that I am sad over giving up my WP is an understatement. But hey, my 13 year old is a happy camper. He made of with my Focus!

Pardon the typos. It's still too early!

I'm just a 1.3 owner, but I am wondering what the heck is going on here.

I confess, I'm not great with the understanding of hardware sometimes (more specifically I'm not any type of a programmer, so the understanding of how X hardware can cause Y programming problem is beyond me) but we were told months ago that the 1.3 and 1.4 phones only differed in the type of memory.  How could that possibly cause so many problems trying to make it work?

Perhaps more importantly, have you guys reeled samsung in a bit to prevent this from happening with the Gen 2 phones.  They've fudged the specs a few times now and caused problems (the MicroSD slots, while a welcome surprise were just that a surprise! And egg on the face of WP7 when people had to figure out what cards worked themselves). I am a bit leery about buying another samsung device because they may have "pushed the envelope" again (potentially causing problems).

@Conny, I guess you do what you gotta do.  No disrespect intended, but if you made your purchase solely on hardware specs, then I'm of the opinion your swayed by a flash in the pan.  I never understood when someone says "it's time for a new phone".  Exactly what time IS that?  What, just because your contract is up?  Where is it written one has to get a new phone just because their contract is up?  To me, that's just buying into the brainwashing carriers try to do.  My contract was up for a full year before I bought a new phone (and I was on a flip phone!)  Sure, at first I felt really pressured to get SOME sort of a smartphone.  But the user experience that WP7 represented was enough for me to wait an entire year for.  I was definitely rewarded for waiting.  Some of the things you mentioned as factors have me dumbfounded, I have to admit.  You mentioned a retina display, which only the iPhone has...yet you went with an Android.  The resolution on it is no different than any of the Windows phones.  So, that's a fail based on your own criteria.  The other hardware issue you detailed was the microSDHC slot.  I'll give you that the Android devices have that.  iPhones do not.  Your Focus did.  I contend that nobody need a slot if the device itself has plenty of storage.  Which is why the iPhone comes in multiple storage versions.  I still maintain it's a huge mistake for OEMs not to do the same with their devices on the WP platform.  And that's why I'm happily STICKING with my Focus.  You and I are probably in the minority of folks who actually store a LOT of media on our devices.  So, that's why, as attractive as some of the new phones are, namely the Focus S, I can't see changing devices yet.  My Focus still outperforms the iPhone and Android devices in every way that matters to me.  At this point, the only actual feature that attracts me to newer phones is the front facing camera.  Everything else on the Focus and WP7.5 is so wonderful that I just laugh at anyone who even suggests that Android or iPhone would be a better choice.  I don't feel pressure to get a new device just because a contract is up or newer devices are out.  I CAN wait until an OEM comes out with a WP7 (or WP8) device with 32GB or, better, 64GB on it.  I just find it preposterous that people complain about "dated hardware".  DOES THE DEVICE DO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO BETTER THAN COMPETING DEVICES?  If so, then cutting edge specs don't mean dung.  So, as I started with, we all do what we feel we have to.  But I just don't see that your reasons backed up your choice, with the exception of storage....but just BARELY.

@Scuba,

The point about MS potentially abandoning the WP7 is possibly valid. It's a fear lurking in the back of my head.  I don't think they'd do it in a year, maybe 3 or so. Hopefully not for some time.

Although that being said, I think it fails to take into account that MS has been in the phone OS business for pretty much longer than anyone. (Windows Mobile goes back to 2000).  But the nightmare of the "Kin" lives on I suppose.

There was (at least somewhat) a valid reason for axing the KIN, namely that so much of the features were just imported directly into WP7, but it still left a bad taste in many people's mouths. (FWIW, back when WP7 was still all rumors and no substance, E-rewards sent me a "smartphone survey" to fill out and it was ad mocks up for WP7. For one of the questions I actually answered "wait, this looks a lot like the kin...?"

COME ON RELEASE MANGO FOR 1.4 ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man I used to defend WP all the time when my friends praised Iphone. I pretty much told everybody around me to get a Windows Phone. But now I don't think I can do that anymore. Microsoft, you say "People First"  as the WP Motto. Well are you living up to it? Trust me, this delay is doing much more damage than you think. The least you can do is satisfy your small user base (compared to other platforms) and you are failing at it.

Do you really want to lose customers who had faith in your platform?

@ScubaDog2011: Yes, I fear you are right.  Okay, because we have non-branded Omnia 7 phones, the carrier can't do anything for us. As a test, I am using a T-Mobile SIM card in one of the non-branded phones and no firmware update arrived.  That means only branded cell phones can retrieve it.  So what I need is an official firmware update from Samsung.  We have contacted Samsung in the past (with regard to Internet Sharing) and they said that this is a Microsoft thing.  I fear there are "too many cooks" involved and that's why all this does not work "as expected" :-(

No update this week too? :-(  

I think it's not going to be in 2011 considering how busy ATT and Samsung is busy with new phones for holiday season. May be the same NoDo fiasco again.

Honestly Eric, if you want to succeed in this competitive market, your customers should've never known there were 2 versions of Samsung Focus. Customers never care about technical differences. All I get is a blank stare when I explain to someone why my phone don't have 7.5 yet.

blaksnar is absolutely correct. I did not go to the store and purchase a v1.4 Samsung Focus. I purchased a Samsung Focus. There was never any indication at all that there were two different 'versions' of the phone. I feel that they are only calling them different 'versions' to legitimize a manufacturing defect. If a manufacturer starts making a piece of equipment with parts that make it unable to function as intended, this is a defective product, not a new 'version'. The message from Microsoft re Mango and updates at that time was that all the existing phones would get this update. I am more and more falling into the camp that these handsets should be recalled or exchanged.

@tsrblke, I forgot to address a similar statement earlier, so here it goes.  I don't think there's any chance of Microsoft abandoning Windows Phone.  My reason?  Windows 8 and XBox.  I think Microsoft stumbled upon how really remarkable the Metro UI has turned out to be, even if most out there can't get their collective heads out of the up-and-locked positions to notice the UI.  The interface is coming to XBox.  The interface is already there, along with the Hub concept, in Windows Developer Preview (which I love, love, love after having worked with it for a few weeks now).  Now, I suspect there will be those who refuse to accept the new meme and they'll hold onto Windows 7 or go to Linux of Mac because they're just too "short-bus" to grab a hold of a smarter way to operate, but I believe most will quickly see, as different as it is, that Windows 8 (or whatever it ends up being called) is something to behold.  Which means the Metro UI (or "immersive apps") on the desktop and on tablets (I cannot wait for THOSE to come out!) will be what the overwhelming majority of people live with.  The Windows Phone (which will likely be WP8 at that point) will make MUCH more sense as an extension.  If people truly are able to move seamlessly from desktop to tablet to phone as if they never actually left the ecosystem I think that will be hugely attractive.  That's where I see this going and that's why I have confidence in the end game.  The only way this falls apart is if Microsoft acquiesces to the typical, tired desktop users and doesn't force the Metro UI and the world of immersive apps on consumers.  

Remember, Steve Jobs, by his own admission, didn't ask what consumers wanted----he TOLD them what they wanted.  And they've been buying his crap ever since.

@blaksnar, I believe I'm correct in saying that Microsoft didn't KNOW there was a 1.4 Focus until people started reporting issues.  From what I've read, Samsung made changes down the road and started shipping the 1.4 version to AT&T, who blindly sold them without a thought.  Once issues started cropping up Microsoft was probably all "wait, what?  Samsung, you did WHAT?"  After which, the scramble began to address the issues...which appear to be quite many.  As for consumers, it was a luck of the draw on whether you purchased a 1.3 or 1.4 version (depending on when and where you bought it).  Microsoft has no way of knowing that.

Again, people, I implore you to place the blame where it belongs---quit assuming that every single thing that happens with WP7 devices is Microsoft's fault.  There's enough blame for them as it is.  Microsoft doesn't make the phones---HTC, LG, Samsung, Nokia, etc. do.

Which brings me to a question to all you fine folks:  is anyone getting sync errors with hotmail right now?  Starting about three hours ago I stopped getting email on my device.  I can login to live.com and I see that email is accumulating there.  I got notifications for everything else and data seems to be moving nicely.  But when I try to force sync my email it tries, only to pop up error code 86000108 "we're having a problem syncing with m.hotmail.com".  Just curious if it's just me or not.

@ ScubaDog,

Regarding 1.4 version, consumers don't care whose fault it is. It's a Win Phone, right? Well guess who's going to be blamed.  Ultimately Microsoft IS responsible--they cut the deals with the carriers, they cut the deals with the manufacturers. They decided they'd try to split the difference between Apple's total control over hard/software and Android's fractured ecosystem. And now they're dealing with the fallout from such a decision.

I doubt very much that MS had no idea of a 1.4 version of the Focus. And if they truly didn't, then that's a massive breakdown of communication between these two business partners that would rightfully scare any consumer into thinking that these guys simply don't have their stuff together.

Which clearly they don't. There was no contract signed about making hardware changes without consent or knowledge from Microsoft? Really?

I would like to know what exactly is going on with the Samsung Focus 1.4 update. As far as I know the ONLY difference between the 1.3 and 1.4 is the RAM branding. I've been patient, but c'mon - what good is having a device that refuses to download HALF the apps on the Market?!? I've been to Samsung, AT&T, Microsoft and BestBuy - NOBODY was a CLUE to what the hell is going on! I left Android because they couldn't get their updates straight and now this?!?

Unfortunately, @linder, you are running into the same frustration I normally do in dealing with AT&T.  Samsung has to work the issue at the device level and then work with AT&T to figure out exactly how it would be deployed.  Some things can come out as simply a "Samsung Zone" app, but others need to go out as an actual firmware update.  If we think getting a complete answer out of Microsoft is difficult, try doing it with AT&T or Samsung.  They will almost always (moreso AT&T) simply respond with "you have the latest available updates on your device".  Technically true, of course, but they're using word tense to avoid answering the real question.  That's that love/hate I have with AT&T.  I've had nothing but great service as far as actually using their network.  I don't live in NY or San Fancisco, so I don't run into the issues they do.  But heaven forbid any problems pop up!  At that point it's a black hole.

Then, @Thrashee, I insist that you are dead wrong.  Complain all you want.  But I insist you are wrong.  I get quite angry at people like you, tending to ascribe evil motives to the "big, bad corporations".  I actually DO think this was a massive communication problem (something that I think has been indemic to Microsoft for some time, as well as AT&T and Samsung).  I have no problem believing that Samsung probably thought "this is not really a substantive change to the device, and our direct-load of WP7 worked fine, so let's just start sending these things out".  This happens in industry all the time.  Heck, we sent a multi-million dollar probe to Mars which ultimately got lost or crashed because the European team built parts of the probe and coded it in metric while our parts were built and coded in imperial standard.  You'd think that a LOT more care would have been taken in the communication piece, wouldn't you?  So, it's not surprising that something similar might have happened here.  So, I'll stand right up to your face and shout you down on this issue.  I'm sorry, but this is one of my soapboxes.  Now, where I WILL back you up is in pushing Microsoft to be a LOT more helpful in providing details, details, details on what's actually going on (as I posted earlier in this thread).  But I believe it's intellectually dishonest to make Microsoft the lone scapegoat in this one.  That's all I'm going to say on the matter, since I know you are going to be as immovable as me on this.

And, as a follow-up to my question about email issues, I cleared it up.  Methinks that spam-handling in Hotmail isn't quite where they need it to be, because I apparently had an email come in that choked my account on the server.  I had to go online and delete some garbage before the floodgates finally opened.  I truly hate spam.  And hackers.  And snow.  But I digress.

@ ScubaDog Microsoft didn't know that there was a v1.4 Focus phone on large not now but 8 months before. Are you even going to support MS with saying that they were not able to work with Samsung on issues for v1.4 phones for past 8 months?

And they glossed over the issue during the NoDo update saying that the memory module was the only difference between 1.3 and 1.4 and they were caught off guard at that time. Everyone believed then and gave MS a chance. Not again. I honestly believe the hardware issues on v1.4 are deeper than it was communicated and Microsoft does not have enough clout (at mobile marketfield) to put the blame on it's much needed partner Samsung.

Also, ATT has a fair share of blame here if we believe what's floating around the web. Some here and other forums has mentioned that unbranded Focus v1.4 phones (not sure even they exist outside ATT) already recieved the Mango update. If so, Microsoft and Samsung have nothing to do with the problem but ATT. Again with an assumption, as Microsoft is dependent on ATT and not the other way, they are not able to really push ATT on testing and delivering the update.

@ ScubaDog,

I'm not sure what, exactly, you're disagreeing with. I never said squat about "big, bad corporations". I said ultimately--in the eyes of consumers--it IS Microsoft's fault. That's a fact. You already acknowledged this much when you vocalized your frustration that everyone tends to blame Microsoft for Samsung or carrier issues. And can you really blame them? Back when I had my Focus and the NoDo fiasco was going on, I called AT&T. I called Samsung. I called Microsoft. All to find out where the hell the update was. And I got the run-around and finger-pointing from every single one of them. The truth is, consumers don't care WHO is at fault, they just want SOMEONE from this partnership to take responsibility and provide answers. And all 3 of them failed.

Shout all you'd like. At the end of the day, this is Microsoft's product, not Samsung's and not the carriers. That's why Microsoft is hosting these silly launch events with dancing zombies and "impromptu" marriage proposals instead of AT&T and Samsung. At the end of the day, it won't matter who was to blame when the consumer, like me, says to hell with it and chooses Android or Apple instead.

I really don't care who's fault it is. Enough with the finger pointing. I want it fixed and i want it fixed now. All of these companies have had ample time to work on this problem.  There is absolutely no reason this should not have been fixed.

Many of us check the blog everyday to see if there's any new info. We get no responses from inquiries and recently these brief updates (more like shut up and wait) only mention the Focus 1.4 with passing innuendos.

It doesn't feel good when you're excluded from all the fun you see every one else having. Everytime i see an article about how great mango is i regret buying this phone.

AT&T and Samsung should let the people with the 1.4 that have recently bought it and are on a 2 year contract, exchange it for a focus S with a minimal up charge. Just an option.. hell i would even renew my 2 year contract.. but some kind of option for the people that are into the phone updates, and upset.. Olive branch.. this is were apple shines.. every time i  had an issue with apple.. it was taken care of, i even got an early upgrade when the 3Gs came out shortly after my purchase of the 3G.. Metro is WIN, lets just get the hardware and support to back it up please.

Why do we (1.4 owners) have to suffer from Samsung's mistakes???? Either recall 1.4 or offer trade-ins. We CANNOT stand these delays anymore.

At least give us a date so we know when we can expect the update. Sounds to me like 1.4 update won't be here until December. And I won't be here either.

There are more comments about this post than the big NYC launch event. Clearly, this is a significant issue for Windows Phone's most vocal supporters yet it remains unresolved and v1.4 owners are just as much in the dark. It really doesn't matter if we're talking about Microsoft, or Samsung, or ATT... all companies should be concerned (and in my opinion, particularly Microsoft) that the initial base of customers (a small but dedicated group) is already growing dissatisfied. You won't win over the public at large without other users promoting the phone to others. This is a distraction from what should be us users helping to promote the new phones and the mango launch.

!!  @ Microsoft  !!

This is the most depressing blog so far!

Something needs to be fix quick. I could understand how someone looking in at this blog would be turned away instantly from WP. Almost every comment is negative. Users are crying out this week in a big way, and in to many ways, about to many issues. These weeks are supposed to be WP at it's best. The launch at ATT made zero impact, infact it hurt our reputation in a way. The two Android devices launched the same day as the Focus's and demolished them. The only way to sell the FS is to lower the price, and it's only the first week. Users are jumping ship and moral is low, low, low! Although it may not be the case in some peoples opinion others feel this launch has been another failure, and not to mention the update issues.

We need some feedback from you guys letting us know that you are aware of all the issues that are concerning users. No less than a promise that the future of Windows Phone will be what we expect will do.

Once again, if I was someone looking to buy a smartphone, and came across this blog, I would knock WP off my list permanently! I can't believe that it's only been one year and people are already switching to other platforms. If WP can't hold onto users, and has the lowest market share, does that mean we are winning or loosing? To be honest, it really seems like a simple fix. I am a small business owner and if I can keep my customers coming back year after year, with less than .01% of your resources, then I expect more from WP. Wow the customer and they will stay loyal and bring you more clients. Might I add that I do not have a business degree, but I have learned that greed always gets in the way of logical thinking.

No mater how anybody tries to justify, or adjust the situation, the words I wrote above are the reality, and current state of the WP community.

It shattered me to hear that Connie "moved on" to a Andriod device. What is going to change? Also, I speek for everyone when I say that someone from MS needs to reply directly to this comment by tomorrow.

Users who agree, please comment with "MS please respond with the state of WP" or use a # followed by this reply in Twitter.

@ Connie

The reason why I agree with your decision is because you are the one who worked hard for your money. You had to make the most logical and cost effective decision towards buying a new phone. You are a adult and have the right to buy a device based on hardware, OS, timing, color or whatever. I was in att yesterday and did see how hard it would be for a salesperson to suggest a device with less features, or lower specs that isn't priced competively. I hope that WP can move into the high end smartphone arena before you get to attached to Android.

By the way, yesterday the Galaxy skyrocket was running LTE at 15 mbs, according to the speedtest.net app, which WP still doesn't have. And, the new HTC device has a QHD display and a true 16/9 aspect ratio. These two devices are only $50 more than the Focus S, and you can have LTE now not whenever WP gets it later next year. Connie, you should return your phone and get one of these, for now.

I want to be winner, don't you guys?

@ Rodney

I couldn't agree more. This blog shows that MS is horrible at handling situations like this. When will they understand? The less the customers know, the more irritated they get. Samsung and ATT have been quiet about this (no surprise) but Microsoft should step up and take care of this themselves. Let your customers know what's going on. It seems as if MS does not even care much at this point. I own a focus 1.4 and it is frustrating to know that we have been left behind.

We gave WP a chance when there are other options. Don't forget that!

@ mountain

Exactly! "We gave WP a chance while there are other options" So true. Ya know, it's not that I'm panicking over here. I love WP. I just want to secure the idea that in the future WP will be more competitive. One day I will be looking for a new device and I don't want to choose WP because of loyalty, but because I'm getting a state of the art device, that's worth the price. Also, I don't want this update fiasco to affect me the next time around. I can deal with the wait, it's the secretive, government BS style of communication that would tic me off.

Oh, goodness, @Rodney, that all sounds good, except so-called 4G or LTE is hardly deployed anywhere.  I live in west Texas.  We just got 3G and it's spotty at best.  We probably won't see 4G for 2-3 years.  So, why on earth should I get excited over getting phones that have a capability I will never use?  I'd rather focus on features I can actually take advantage of.  Not everyone lives in a megalopolis, which is where the faster networds are deployed.  Most of us live in the real world, LOL.

@ scuba

4g LTE is up and working great here in Dallas Fort Worth. This is a huge market, and I could get a Samsung Skyrocket and be enjoying speeds up to or morethan more than 15mbs. Remember, it's not what I think should be or what interest you, but what the majority wants, for whatever reason. That's how you stay competive. I realize that as soon as the WP community stops just trying to defy everything, and we be less prideful, then we will see better devices.

A reminder for everyone that if your device has a manufacturing defect it should be covered by warranty.  In most jurisdictions this protects the consumer from being abandoned from support.  Not being able to update due to some error(s) that the OEM and or the OEM's operating system vendor have created is a defect.  Take your phone to the service centre and tell them to a) fix it; or if they are unwilling or unable to fix it then b) replace it with an equivalent non-defective product; or c) refund or compensate the purchase cost.

To be honest Microsoft is mishandling this.  They should be offering every user of devices that cannot update to swap their device for a new one (creates goodwill) providing the existing device is working normally under pre-Mango state, then fix the swapped-in devices once the fix is available and use these for testing, development, loan, refurbished free gifts for employees' families, etc.  It's just good business to keep your customers happy while minimising the cost of doing so.

@Rodney, I've seriously been considering it  however lte is still quite a bit in the future for my town  and by the time we get it, Windows lte Phones will hopefully be available.

Personally, and this should clear up why I bought a new phone months after getting my Focus, is that I'm a tech addict. I love buying new phones especially, and thankfully have three lines available to me that I can upgrade. One of the reasons for me personally was the fact that when I purchased my refurbished Sammy, I had no idea that there where two versions. When I found out a short while later, I immediately checked under my battery, paying I had a 1.3.

I upgraded to mango the day of release, by cutting in line. I read every available tech blog, and what bothers me a lot is how little the 1.4 owners are even acknowledged. Not just here, but everywhere. It simply is time for MS and Sammy to admit that something is wrong.

It's time for either MS or Sammy to take the reigns and fix it, either by upgrading 1.4 owners to the Focus S (I'm looking at you Sammy) or by sending out vouchers for up to x amount toward a new phone (ya know, up to 200.- Microsoft).

WP and Metro are the future of phones, the next iPhone. But several things that are still severely lacking need to be addressed first before its true potential is reached. Advertisements, training for carrier sales reps are the two most obvious.

This blog is all well and good, but how many WP owners actually come here? I may not post as much as scuba, Rodney or tsrblke, but I'm here all the time. Even now..lol.. We may be somewhat informed, but I bet the majority is not.

When I went to get my new phone, I asked my sales rep about the new phones, as I always do. In no time I was spouting off specs, and several reps admitted that they neither new as much about these phones, not when they were going to hit their shelves. they had less then a week, and knew absolutely nothing. But every single one could tell me about the Vivid and Skyrocket.

I'm still horribly tempted to go back and exchange this phone for the Titan or Focus S, but who here from Microsoft can give me some sort of guarantee that I won't regret it?

@Rodney, and get attached to Android? Never. I do like the fact that I haven't come across a single video yet that wouldn't play though.

Like I said, I have until the end of the month to change my mind.

Microsoft, you have my email address. Here's a challenge for you: change my mind for me!!

Will there be any new windows phones going to sprint? We have 1 and that's about it. I'm looking forward to the Nokia but I'm sure that will probbaly go to At&t or t-mobile plus it has no front facing camera. Why the lack of CDMA phones? I heard it was because of no support for 4G LTE...is that true? I just wish sprint would have as many options as At&t or even T-mobile. We basically have 1 choice for windows phone.

Nice post. No offense, but why are you part of the 'Customer Experience Engineering' group?

Oh, allow me to point just a few small things out....

First and foremost, thank you Eric  & everyone from MS who's been writing on this blog, keeping us WP fans updated. You guys deserve a 'thank you'. We fans/customers have ranted and raved on these blogs and none of us have been kicked out! (so far :P)

Second, I personally have complained a couple of times about the lack of marketing. I'm not (yet) a customer of WP, but want to be one. Now, maybe we could all do more individually to get the word out about how cool WP is. I'm sure a lot of us are doing it already, but it's just a suggestion. Instead of complaining, this might just help us start our own friends comprised community of WP users.

@Rodney - Don't want to pick any issues/fights with you or anything, but the blog's tone seems neutral, even a bit positive. It is the comments we have added that makes it negative & depressing. Let's take a long breather  (six months?) and see if these 'issues' are ironed out by subsequent releases. Any new shoe initially pinches. Maybe once porcesses/implementations smooth out we'll see the best of WP.

#optimist :)

This is so frustrating. Just connected my iPhone 4s with the PC and it said: "A new iPhone software version (5.0.1) is available for the iPhone "XYZ".  Would you like to download it and update your iPhone now"?

A colleague with an iPhone 3GS and my niece with an iPod touch (4t gen.) received the same message.  That's how it should work.  And two of our Omnia 7 (non-branded) company phones are still on WP7 with no Mango update notification available.  Argh!  But to be on the safe side, I'll check again for the Mango updates after I have updated my iPhone... <g>

www.bell.ca  I only wish I could actually own a Windows Phone so that I could wait for the update!  Nevermind the update, when can Canada expect some of the phones!  Microsoft and OEMs really need to advertise more, its nice that there is a big phone in NYC, but at least start spreading rumors as to when Canada will see the new phones.   The carrier I use doesnt even offer a Windows Phone and I have been waiting patiently for 2 months

Definetly MS is not taking WP7 seriously it's obvious that the carrier testing system doesn't work at any point just think of other ways as most of carriers aren't sufficiently equiped to do a useful testing process (as an obvious example Telefonica Spain). And if something it's not working don't stop everything (I.E.: previous MS apps & games update to mango, teethering updates for unlocked devices, skype application, an MS copass application as theorically all WP7 handsets have this built-in sensor to make use of it) with the resources MS has and a PROPER MANAGEMENT this issues can be easily adressed simultaneously in a very short period if time. Considering the effort is taking for MS to manage this tiny marketshare how they intend to expand it more widely without a better management???

Also the most important question which has been bugging me for some time - Why that Apple can bypass the carrier testing and directly deliver to customer meanwhile Microsoft cannot?

Apple delivered the iOS 5.01 update through iTunes on a single day worldwide to 5 devices. On a single day!!!!

The system of updates through carrier is absolutely broken and that's the reason Android is suffering. I see the same problem with WP too. The best decision Microsoft could take is bypassing carriers for long term benefit instead of bending over to carriers like AT&T.

@blaksnar

I think it's a misconception that apple bypasses carrier testing.  They only have 2 carriers to test with and a few devices to test.  It's likely they just don't announce anything until it's already completed testing.  Notice that the official dates for release of any iOS are only given a few weeks before it happens.  It's just better PR management. (Not that WP couldn't use some of that reality distortion field right now!)

Meanwhile, my wife is giving the Focus S a try over her iPhone.  Her initial concers are all strange from my perspective (She doesn't like the white on black text but doesn't like having to have white on the start screen either.)  I'll let you know how that turns out.

@tsrblke Again, it's a misconception that they have only 2 carriers. They do updates worldwide and iPhones are sold by many carriers across the world. Definitely more than WP. But they own their devices and so no need to work with multiple partners on testing and bug fixes.

IF you own a focus 1.4 vote here:

windowsphone.uservoice.com/.../2377028-where-is-mango-samsung-for-focus-1-4

Even if your not, please vote. Thanks.

It's great to keep the users informed, so thanks.  I don't know where else to get in touch with people with influence at Microsoft, so I'm digressing going to put a few off topic ideas out here for you.

I gather from much searching all over the net, that my unlocked LG Quantum, on Telus in Canada may or may not get the update to allow wifi tethering and that, although Telus allows tethering, it may be the responsibility of LG to provide the update. I've wasted many hours trying to figure this out and I'm still not sure that I have it right.  I think Microsoft should be able to use their power to ensure all phones to get such updates.  I expect my WP to make my life more efficient, not to have me wasting time managing the phone itself.  Although the flow of info seems to be improving, there's still room for improvement.  I should be able to find the answer to my questions at an easily searchable website, and though it may be a lot of work, Microsoft should be able to let me know what to expect for my specific phone regarding all updates.  No matter what the manufacturer or carrier is, the constant is Microsoft in the public's eyes and confusion with one brand or  model will effect the confidence in the brand as a whole.

I couldn't get my teens interested in WP7.5, regardless of the tie ins with our xBox, because they don't have creditcards to buy apps, and their xBox Live points can't be used.  How can I argue with them, when they can buy iTunes gift cards for their ipod touches, without ever risking anyone's credit card security.  They'd rather have an iphone for that reason alone.  I, too,  want to buy apps, but refuse because I won't risk my creditcard.  I believe the success of marketplace and profits for your developers should  be considered mandatory for the survival of this platform.

Please make WP7.5 Word more powerful from an editing/viewing perspective.  I find all the emphasis on cloud-type features to be annoying.  When I first started up Word, expecting something fabulous, in keeping with the year 2012, I was shocked to find that as far as editing goes, it's little more than a way to enter text into a Word format document.  It's not designed for the user to actually create a more or less finished document on the phone.  When I'm writing a Word doc at an airport, etc.. to send out to a client in a rush, there's no way to preview the doc in a page view, to see how it will appear to the client.  Automatic wordwrap limits the ability to zoom out and see the layout.  Of course, there's little control over fonts and font sizes either.  I've received travel memos, etc. which I've been unable to read due to this automatic wordwrap. (phone numbers, names, and flight numbers are impossible to connect to each other once they're wordwapped to death)

The Calendar has some infuriating peculiarities.  The live tile takes up a lot of space, but I find no controls for what is in that space.  It seems to only show appointments for the current or next day.   I always want to see what's next in my agenda, no matter how far off it is.  There's no week display and the month view is ugly and unreadable as far as appointments go. It reminds me of something from an old commodore 64 or something.  I can see faint little bits of writing where appointments are, but honestly, I was shocked when I first started using it.

I've listed these things because I want WP7 to succeed.  I may sound sound negative, but I actually love using my Windows phone.  I just know that it is a few frustratingly small steps away from true greatness.  Help us to brag about our phones to those who are unfamiliar with them.

I recently exchanged my Focus under warranty and went from a wonderful 7.5 phone to a cruddy 7.0 phone that I can't update!  What a bunch of crap. I really dislike having to use 7.0.  Had I known there would be an issue upgrading I would have kept the "broken" phone.

So who do I blame?  ATT?  Samsung?  Microsoft?

You can say what you want about Apple but at least there's a single choke-point.  When problems arise with Apple you don't get the run-around, finger-pointing BS you get with Microsoft.  The carriers kiss Apples ass; people line up down the block and around the corner to buy those miserable iPhones.  No - Apple isn't perfect; I hate Apple, but the BS with Microsoft is endless and insane and avoidable.

In the end I guess I blame myself.  Fooled again.  Yes I'm bitter.

@ williamsjm I agree with you. Microsoft needs more control over their devices. This way, There won't be any hardware surprises when it comes to updating. Microsoft should ask the manufactures to let them evaluate the phone thoroughly before putting it on the market. This way every phone will be able get the updates in the same time period.

<a href="http://www.1smartphone.ru">IOS. Android. Symbian. Windows Phone. Все операционные системы для смартфонов и коммуникаторов.</a>

the problem is that we're the true evangelist out here in the field and when we cant show new features of the phone and update we look like idiots and you get hit with ...how is this different from android? You would think that after nodo we would have this taken care of and the fact that we have to cry for you all to finally answer is disheartening.

@ nickhill

Welcome to the blog Nickhill, and thanks for the optimism.

guess what.... I went into att today and they put the phone all the way in the back of the storewith screens off sitting beside the iPhone 3gs and iPhone 4 with the iPhone 4 screen on showing the phones features I had to turn on the phones adjust the screen brightness to high on all phone and the time out to 5 mins, then put one on xbox and the others on picture and people, but here's the problem microsoft needs to make sure that all demo phones have a active account for the people hub so that customers can see how the people hub works because you can't tell by just looking at the phone, when you look at the new vivid android phone the HTC copy of te people hub show you live people pictures but when you turn on the focus S all you see is set up a account.... so please get someone out there to the stores and make sure we get this corrected. also the store HD7S phone would not even turn on, this is bad I know microsoft can do better.

I recently went into Best Buy to trade in my old BB, and three of the associates in the wireless department had Windows Phones.  One had the Sprint one, the other two had HD7s on TMobile.  All three were very enthusiastic about Mango.  When I mentioned that I didn't have Mango, they all seemed shocked that I hadn't updated yet.  I explained about the Focus 1.4 issue, and none had even heard of it.  When I finally convinced them of the update issue, they expressed sympathy, but one girl responded along the lines of "if they screw up updates for my phone, I'm going right back to the iPhone".  This tells me that people absolutely LOVE their Mango phones.  (One girl even said that.)  But Microsoft is one step away from losing all these converts if they cannot keep their head in the game.  Microsoft (and the handset manufacturers) need to be examining every little thing to make sure this sort of debacle doesn't happen again.    All I know is that unless I can get an awesome WP experience when it's time to renew my contract, I'm going to jump ship.  It's up to you, MS...

@ Otaku83 Me too. I am strongly considering getting an Iphone. Spotify was released on WP and I can't even install the app because My focus 1.4 doesn't have mango. I sometimes ask my self why I ever bought a WP. I guess I just had faith. And I was wrong. Microsoft, you keep spending money on marketing (building the largest WP phone) but your time is better spent by dedicating your your resources on the current customers.

I am probably not going to wait much longer. Just remember that you are just losing your "original" customers that jump started your platform.

@ mountain,

I drew a line in the sand and decided when my upgrade cycle came around that if Mango didn't address the separate volume control issue that should have been included since day 1, I'd go back to the iPhone. I gave an entire list of things in this blog that Mango needed to include and Mr. Stroh responded with "I LOVE your ideas and will make sure they get communicated", but, not surprisingly, Mango didn't include them. So back to the iPhone I went.

I'll tell you--I do miss the Metro UI but I absolutely love having a mature phone that I don't have to keep giving slack because it didn't have this or that or the other. I'm not paying my hard earned money to give something a chance when a year later we're expected to keep on having patience and keep on giving the benefit of the doubt.

And you know what the best part is? I just upgraded iOS today and I didn't need to consult a chart with vague time lines marked by a slew of asterisks to get it.

Didn't know the silent treatment was an official corporate stance that needed to be taken whenever faced with a group of customers who have doggedly stuck by you and who are now tired of getting nothing in return for their patronage.

My customer experience has been crap by the way.  Why don't you focus on it a little more.

So my wife loved the focus S enough that she decided to go in and have her iPhone SIM swapped for the WP7.  The Guy at AT&T actually told her to stick with the iPhone.  Let's be clear here, we had the phone in our hand (since we owned it already), he didn't have to sell us anything, we didn't ask for his opinion, we said "Turn this on for us" and he felt the need to tell us "Mango wasn't impressive, you'll regret this."

MS, you have a problem.  Get AT&T in line, or you're screwed, that's that.  I had to show the rep flipping live tiles (on my Original Focus).

Maybe he had a Focus 1.4, who knows.  Either way, bad form, and bad news.

@ thrashee Exactly. No wonder Apple is so appealing to many. They do things right. This is why MS always lose the game and end up with dead projects.

@ xerto73 Well the silent treatment is definitely not working out for them. Bad communication always leads to problems.

also please vote for this: windowsphone.uservoice.com/.../2377028-where-is-mango-samsung-for-focus-1-4

I just saw a WindowsPhone commercial for the HTC Radar, here in Dallas. It's sad that this is news, but I'm glad to see it on tv. I also heard about the Mango food truck in New York going to ATT stores. Keep it coming boys!

@ scuba...Are you going to the Dallas party?

Just to lighten the mood a bit....can MS hurry up and get Words With Friends on board? Granted, I have the game on my iPod. But I carry my Focus everywhere. So it would make it much more convenient :)

@tony - you should check out words by post - its available for all platforms and you can play against iPhone, android and windows users.

I would gladly check out other word games.....if all of my friends and family would as well. As it stands, my mother in law, wife and almost every Facebook friend plays Words With Friends. Especially now that its on Facebook. Again, I would love to try out new games. However, its one of those things were a huge user base and sort of comfort level has been established..

I contacted Brian Seitz after I saw he posted his email address in the comments on one of the blog posts (looks like it's since been removed) telling a couple of people to contact him regarding the v1.4. Definitely got my hopes up. Now that I've been ignored again, I have no qualms with posting this here. I told him I was switching back to iPhone this weekend, but before I dropped money on an out-of-contract iPhone, I asked if he had any info on the v1.4. Almost immediately I got a reply back saying, "Hey *my real name*. Can I send you a working focus?" I responded that that would be awesome. That I really like WP7. I then asked what info he needed from me. It's been 3 days, and I haven't heard anything back since. I'm getting a 4S tomorrow.  You guys might want to contact him too, maybe you'll have better luck than I did. <bseitz@microsoft.com>

@Gooch

We know he's doing a lot of traveling for this show, I'd give him at least a fair break on that (Rather than moaning and complaining he's going to do you a huge favor.) I know from past experience, Brian's a man of his word.

@Gooch seems shady to me. Why is it they are not offering a "working focus" to the rest of us? This whole situation is full of conspiracy theories, if you will.

If you are not going to update the 1.4s then we should all be receiving this deal. I know that I cannot afford to buy another phone out of contract and I shouldn't have to since I was told that my rev of the Samsung Focus would get the Mango update with no problems.

PS I did copy and paste that email address into OneNote before they could remove it again ;)

Is MS's idea of customer support having someone in their company randomly post a vague 'email me' on a blog so that users can then be offered some unofficial swap of their merchandise? Weird stuff. There should be an official policy on this piece of defective equipment (v1.4). I don't care if it is Microsoft or Samsung, but both should offer the necessary info to get it taken care of. Microsoft certainly has the most to lose here as this is their platform and the frustrated users on this blog are their best marketers (especially given customers' reports of the in store experience). Hey Eric, aren't you a 'Customer Experience Engineer'? Surely you can do better than once weekly blog post saying 'no news'.

Version 1.4 owners

I think they are having a issue with data transmiting or reception with your devices and the update The posting of Brian's email could have been a way to get radon devices to transmit data to MS/Samsung so they could get needed data to test the update. This may be a sign that the update is coming. Trying to contact Brian is a waste because they already said the updates still in the works and that's the only possible answer you could get now anyways. The update will only be available when they say it is, just like they have done with every update. Again, this is just speculation on my part.

Also, has anyone with version 1.4 tried the Zune software update trick LATELY? Who knows it might be in there right now as we speak. They just might be waiting to send the message to your phones. Will someone try it and please and post what happens?

I've had my windows phone for almost a year now and I am not waiting for my upgrade through AT&T. I cannot stand this phone. The last time I updated my phone it took over an hour! With all of my previous phones I could swap out my memory cards...oh but that is a huge no no with the windows phone?! Are you serious? It's bad enough that I'm using up good free space on my computer for the Zune software (which I detest) but I can't use my old memory card and I haven't been able to download any apps similar to my old apps. For me it's the small simple things in life that bring me most pleasure. LIke, Bings Top 100s by year!!! Loved it! Had it on my EVO and it was FREE but oh no can't have it on the Windows phone. WTH?! And I can't transfer the music downloaded from my memory card to my phone, Zune doesn't allow it. Well it's a good darn thing that I didn't subscribe to Zune. I have to put up with crap but I am in no mood to be told by another pain in my side miscrosoft software that I can't transfer my own media to my own phone. I REFUSE to pay for something I already have!!!!. I think that AT&T just adds fuel to my fireball of frustration with this stupid phone. To be quite honest I only got the Windows phone because AT&T gave it to me for free because they didn't have the phone I wanted in store. That should've told me something right then and there. Microsoft, I'm going to have to let you go. You will no longer be getting anymore of my hard earned money EVER!!!!!

@ anw

What phone did you want from AT&T in the first place?

@anw

To be entirely fair, anytime you switch ecosystems there's a potential for some DRM to screw you over somewhere. My wife just swapped from the iPhone to the Windows phone, and guess what we have to repay for some of the apps she bought.  However, if she had gone in the opposite direction she'd have the same problem.  I'm just glad she doesn't have any DRM protected music. If the music on your memory card is some DRM protected mess, that may explain the problem (otherwise I don't understand what you mean, but we'd be happy to help.)

As for the Bing 100 App, I can actually understand them not making it for WP7.  First it'd compete with Zune. Second, the point of it was probably to drive awareness and traffic to Bing, not so much a problem on a phone with Bing integration.

Frankly I'm surprised AT&T forced a windows phone onto you, seeing as how they seem to actively try to discourage people from buying them. I'd probably not like my phone either (WP7, Android, or otherwise) if it wasn't want I wanted in the first place.

I really hate to add yet another pessimistic note to the Focus 1.4 "Mango-gate" issue but having come from a corporate background and familiar with ongoing customer service issues to which there is no apparent answer, I suspect that someone with the lofty title of "General Manager, Customer Experience Engineering" wil not sink so low as to deal with the commoners directly. Rather, the "concerned comments" have been assigned as the weekly duty of an administrative assistant or staffer - hence the placating, non-substantive updates. After all, if you were the CEO of Microsoft would you pay a significant salary to any manager who addressed the public on a subject he was accountable for overseeing with a comment like "Hi everyone.  No news about updates this week" over and over again? I think not.

In short fellow 1.4 owners, I suspect we are just keeping this controversy and issue alive amongst ourselves - I personally have not seen any Microsoft personnel interacting here and I read these comments daily. HOWEVER...

Rebuttal to this theory is welcome "Eric", LOL, who knows, maybe cows will fly this week.

I will preface this by saying I <3 windows phone and that I empathise with all you Focus 1.4 owners out there :(

What does iOS 5.0 have in common with Mango WP7.5?

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They BOTH won't install on a Samsung Focus H/ware version 1.4 :(

Samsung and MS.....time to offer some FREE upgrades to FOcus Flash or discounted upgrade path to the Focus S guys!

The version 1.4 update will come this week.

I think a t shirt with the "pin" symbol on the front would be cool. :)

@Rodney Where did you hear that 1.4 is getting mango this week?

@Rodney

Comments like make you sound like you're trolling.

What sources do you have for that tidbit of info?