User Manual
31
Picking a Phone
USB connection: 3 While all Windows Phones will need to provide some way to
charge the device, Microsoft does not specify the type of connection that will
be used. The result is that different Windows Phones unfortunately will use
different power/charge connections, most of which are some variation of USB.
In conjunction with a compatible cable, you can charge your phone via a PC,
or with a USB power adapter, via a standard wall receptacle.
NOTE One useful feature that Microsoft is not supporting, let alone requir-
ing, is the Zune dock connector that the company previously used on its line
of Zune portable media players. This connector worked exactly like Apple’s
popular dock connector, which provides iPod, iPad, and iPhone users with a
standard connector type. You will not nd a Windows Phone with a Zune dock
connector.
You get the idea: Microsoft species some of the more important Windows Phone
hardware features in order to provide a consistent experience for users. But Windows
Phone also leaves a lot up to the device makers, so there will still be some varia-
tion between Windows Phones and, unfortunately, even some areas where Windows
Phones simply fall short, at least until Microsoft adds support for certain missing
functionality.
More suBtle CrapWare
With Microsoft’s previous mobile platform, Windows Mobile, device makers
and wireless carriers were able to further differentiate their wares by adding
custom software solutions or by actually replacing the tired Windows Mobile
user interface with a UI “shell” such as HTC Sense. Microsoft does not al-
low this level of customization in Windows Phone, part of its effort to exert
more control over the platform and ensure that customers have a consistent
experience, regardless of which device they get. However, device makers
and wireless carriers are allowed to offer far more subtle customizations via
software applications, or apps, which run under Windows Phone. Except in
rare instances, these apps should not be considered true differentiators, and
can instead be ignored.
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