How To Make S8 Plus A Microsoft Phone

Microsoft's new mobile effort revolves around bringing the best of Windows ten to Android and iOS. Now that Windows 10 Mobile is all just dead, it's time to kickoff embracing Microsoft's new goal; making Android and iOS meliorate for Windows users. Timeline, Cloud Clipboard and Continue on PC are all Windows x features that aim to tie your Android or iOS device to your PC further, and vice versa.

I recently went out and purchased a Samsung Galaxy S8 (opens in new tab) with the intention of turning it into my new Windows phone. Now, calling it a Windows phone isn't entirely accurate since it's not running Windows; so I like to telephone call it a Microsoft telephone. Information technology'southward a smartphone that's loaded up with Microsoft software and services, and exterior of alive tiles and UWP apps, information technology has everything my Lumia Windows phone had, and that's fantastic.

See Samsung Galaxy S8 at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Microsoft has made switching from Windows telephone to Android or iOS incredibly easy, so much so my Android telephone feels fifty-fifty more continued to my Windows x PC than my Windows x Mobile device ever did. Things such as Microsoft's own Android Launcher (opens in new tab), Border (opens in new tab), Cortana (opens in new tab), Outlook (opens in new tab) and OneDrive (opens in new tab) bring all the features and functions I need out of the Windows experience on my telephone.

I've fifty-fifty reprogrammed the dedicated Bixby button to launch Cortana instead, using an app called bxActions (opens in new tab). When I press the defended push button, it launches the Cortana app. If I hold the button down, information technology takes me immediately to phonation fashion where I can say commands and have Cortana do things. It'due south super handy having a dedicated Cortana button on the side, as it makes adding things similar reminders or checking the weather super user-friendly.

Using Border on Android is a nice improver, as it syncs your bookmarks and form data across your PC and telephone. I don't care that information technology'southward using the Chrome engine underneath, because I don't accept an issue with Chrome's engine. I use Edge because it uses my Microsoft account to sync information, not because of the underlying engine. Being able to keep files and web pages on my PC from my phone is as well super user-friendly, more so than I was originally expecting.

More to come

This will better over time, too. With Timeline and Cloud Clipboard in Redstone 4, apps and things you lot copy volition also be transferable across devices. Near Share is a new characteristic in the works for Windows 10 correct at present too, which will undoubtedly be coming to Android phones; assuasive you to share files, photos and more instantly between your PC and telephone direct from the Share UI on Windows 10.

The only things I need from Microsoft to complete my Microsoft feel is a dedicated Phone and SMS app. Once I'grand able to make cellular calls or transport SMS texts from a defended app on my PC and phone that sync that data beyond devices, my Microsoft smartphone feel will be consummate. It'd also be nice to see a Movies & TV app on Android or iOS, but that's not a priority for me.

The dazzler of Android is that it's an open up platform. Sure, near Android phones come bundled with Google services, which isn't platonic if yous're someone who isn't into Google'due south ecosystem; but the expert news is you tin substantially replace all of that with Microsoft's own offerings. You tin gear up Edge every bit your default web browser, Microsoft'due south Launcher as your default home experience, OneDrive as your photos cloud backup solution, Outlook equally your default email and agenda client, and more than.

You can also download package disablers, which I don't actually recommend unless you know what you're doing. Parcel disablers allow you to disable some software and services that Google and OEMs packet onto Android devices. For instance, I used a package disabler to disable some of the things Samsung includes on the Galaxy S8, including Samsung Cloud, TouchWiz, Bixby and fifty-fifty Samsung's built-in keyboard. I don't want or utilise Samsung'south services. Of grade, about people, even Microsoft users, won't want to disable these.

I besides personally like to disable pretty much everything Google on my Android, exterior of Google Play Services and the Play Shop. I disabled everything from Chrome to the Google Assistant, as Microsoft offers alternatives in that regard. If Microsoft has an app that does something Google or Samsung offers, then I'k absolutely going to be disabling the Google and Samsung offering in favor of Microsoft's.

Windows 10 Mobile is no longer the best selection for Microsoft fans

If you're still using Windows 10 Mobile because you call up Windows phone still offers the optimal "Microsoft" experience, it'southward time to re-evaluate that thought process. Microsoft has put so much work into making Android and iOS 'the' platforms for Microsoft software and services on mobile that Windows 10 Mobile just doesn't hold a candle to the integrations and features Microsoft apps have on other platforms anymore.

Redstone 4 will see this trend go on. Microsoft is building features into Windows 10 on PC that necktie directly into the apps and services bachelor on iOS and Android. This is not something that is happening on Windows 10 Mobile. As we accept reported in the by, Microsoft is leaving Windows ten Mobile behind with feature2, with no new features in development. Windows 10 Mobile doesn't have an ecosystem to support it anymore.

Sure, Windows 10 Mobile still works today, and it volition continue to work for a long time. However, Microsoft isn't going to be building experiences that do good Windows 10 Mobile and PC integration anymore. That focus is now on Android and iOS, and that'due south incredibly heady. If you lot've decided to remain on Windows phone, only know that your tight integration between your PC and phone is at present matched on rival platforms, and will quickly find that over time, Android and iOS phones will take better integration compared to what Windows ten Mobile tin offer.

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Key. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the globe of Windows ten on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft epitome devices! Keep in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.