markwill12

My Nokia 920 paired with Enform on my ES 300h immediately, the contacts lists downloaded fine, I can play music through Bluetooth, etc. It's all good.

But not for Apps (Bing, OpenTable, etc). None of the apps are available and I get some message about the phone needing to have apps running. What's the architecture of these services? Does everything running under Apps actually require a specific app to be run on the phone? Are there ANY (Enform) apps that don't require something running specifically on the phone?

If I am understanding this correctly, the Apps section is totally useless to me on my ES 300h, right?

I've linked my accounts to OpenTable, etc via the Enform web site by the way?

Thanks.

Mark

Mike728

You need to have the Enform app installed on your phone for it to work. I highly doubt that it's available on a Windows phone, though. At least not yet.

markwill12

Yes, I kind of thought that might be the case. Technically, there are a number of ways Lexus could have built this solution but I can understand how it's a richer experience with an app installed on the phone.

I kind of understand now why the Lexus "Technical Specialist" skipped completely over Apps when he ran through the features of Enform. I forgot to ask specifically but I'm pretty sure if he had seen me pull out an IPhone he would have gone through in glorious detail

I do hope Lexus have something on the way for the Windows Phone. Their use of Bing would at least suggest they are not completely adverse to Microsoft.

By the way, this is a real long shot on this forum (drivers, not developers ) but does anyone happen to know if Lexus have an API documented for Enform?

Thanks.

Mark

susm

Given the state of the iPhone app, where they haven't even updated it for the screen size of the iPhone 5 almost a year after it came out, I wouldn't hold your breath on windows mobile support.

Also not sure why there's an $8 a mo fee after the first year to use the app that just seems to interface with third party services. At least keep the app current if you're going to nickle and dime people.

markwill12

Wow - really? Yeah, I must admit that seems cheap and tacky to have a monthly fee to use an app, regardless of which phone/store it is for. A shame.

Mark

susm

Yeah, I thought it was pretty crappy, but ultimately, the functionality isn't great enough I care. Just seems if you are going to offer something for a fee other auto makers are giving you for free you should at least keep it up to date. The reviews on the current version of the app are pretty bad for iOS as well people pretty consistently complaining certain functions don't work at all etc.

Wasn't enough to stop me from ordering the car, but not nearly enough to convince me to pay another monthly fee.

markwill12

I contacted Lexus and received the following response...
Mark

txes

I think Windows phones are only at 3.2% market share.

Wouldn't make me jump up and down either.

John

HomerBrown

Actually 10% market share now ... and more than Blackberry, yet there is a Blackberry app ... just adding my voice to the desire to have the app for Windows Phone - or publish the API so someone can write it.

Mike728

Not quite 10%, yet.

In the United States, for example, the Windows Phone platform now commands a 4 percent smartphone market share, compared to 1.1 percent in the same period a year ago. For reference, Android is number one with 51.3 percent, well ahead of iOS in second place with 42.5 percent.


Source LINK

dejakvu

How can I include myself to the list of people wanting them to start developing windows phone apps? Is there a petition out there?

txes

Nowhere near 10% market share.

I'd say 20~25% might get them interested.

John

dejakvu

Not sure if interested is the right word. Have you looked at the app they wrote for iPhone?

txes

Microsoft put all their eggs in one basket by buying Nokia.

Their Windows Lumia phone is exclusive to AT&T. Nokia phones sell well globally, but
3.5% here in the U.S. is hardly stellar sales.

iOS and Android are warmly accepted. Especially Android for its open architecture.

My two cents is that Windows phones won't be accepted here.

John

oneor11

Off topic, but just for sake of discussion, I think the new Windows Phone has quite a bit of promise when looking at the long term. Microsoft commands the largest share of personal computer operating systems. It also commands the largest online gaming and entertainment service (XBOX) share. Now, all of the Windows devices are running on the same platform and they all integrate superbly (phone, OS, tablets, XBOX 360, the new XBOXOne launhing in 4Q, etc). Granted many are getting used to the new Windows 8, but I think once touch hardware continues to become more prevalent in desktop and laptop computing, it will be widely accepted. I have a Windows PHone for the XBOX integration and the integration with SharePoint and other networked office tools. I imagine that as folks embrace Windows 8 they'll begin making the move to Windows Phone 8 so they can have a more encompassing and integrated experience. Lastly, the development platform for Windows PHone 8 is Microsoft.NET, which is one of the most widely used development platforms in the world (client apps, web apps, web services, xbox indie games, etc.). A developer can use the platform to develop both Windows 8, and Windows Phone 8 apps. As folks jump on board in creating apps for the Windows Store, they will be pretty much 85% there in also having the phone version of it. It's that integrated and easy. I think the Microsoft strategy they have implemented in the past year or so is a good one. We'll see how it develops.

I think Apple has rested on its laurels a bit lately. I believe the long term future is a race between Android and Windows Phone.