Comment by limeblack
8 years ago
> that at no point had even a single feature that wasn't available better on iOS and Android
According to the dates[0] I found online says Windows was the first to have a feature that would automatically connect to your cellular connection if the Wifi didn't work. Most consumers don't care but it is something I was surprised iPhones[1] and Android[2] didn't have at least at the time. In addition continuum is unique/better in many ways although that is more recent. It has been a while since I have used a Windows Phone.
[0] Windows 8.1 definitely had it in 2014 according to this https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10652/windows-phone... I'm pretty sure Windows Phones predating this also had it although documentation seems lacking.
[1] Wi-fi assist was introduced in iOS 9(2015). https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205296
[2] There are apps for Android that do this but at least this one is 3rd party. No sources says it predates 2015. I have not experimented with this on Android. https://www.guidingtech.com/54831/get-ios-like-wi-fi-assist-...
> first to have a feature that would automatically connect to your cellular connection if the Wifi didn't work.
Huh? Maybe my memory if failing me, but that's how networking on iOS always worked.
Previously to iOS 9 if you had a solid WiFi connection but were stuck in the LAN for some reason (broken DNS or captive portal, no WAN connection, broken route or whatever not affecting the LAN segment) you were toast and had to turn WiFi off. WiFi Assist solves that.
Perhaps he is referring to the long-standing habit of iOS to NOT drop the wifi until way out of range which would lead to an awkward hang. I think they fixed that in the last year or two, but it was pretty damn annoying.
> According to the dates[0] I found online says Windows was the first to have a feature that would automatically connect to your cellular connection if the Wifi didn't work.
This is the most infuriating feature ever. Google implemented it in 2014 in Android, and you couldn't properly disable it. Not even today.
I frequently need to connect to intranets where Google services are blocked for security reasons, and it's infuriating to fight hundreds of times with the settings so you can get the WiFi to work.
Then in my opinion it sounds like it is still not "properly implemented" with a toggle. Thank you. I have always been curious about Android. I do agree it's probably better not to have this feature by default then to have without a toggle. Just depends on use case.
Oh, they have a toggle. They've just changed it every time, and broken it in subtle ways every time.
Now they've introduced this "Mobile data has run out" which stops me from accessing my telco's app to check my prepaid balance, because it completely cuts off all mobile data. Just as annoying.
> If I recall correctly Windows was the first to have a feature that would automatically connect to your cellular connection if the Wifi didn't work. Most consumers don't care but it is something I was surprised iPhones and Android didn't have at least at the time.
I remember having an app on android that did that long before windows phone had it. It was able to turn on/off your wifi based on your location. Great battery saver.
> In addition continuum is unique/better in many ways although that is more recent. It has been a while since I have used a Windows Phone.
Samsung cloned it for their S8 Series and it seems to be actually usable from the start compared to windows continuum. Though by the time continuum was available, wp was dead.
> I remember having an app on android that did that long before windows phone had it. It was able to turn on/off your wifi based on your location. Great battery saver.
That is technically different although similar. I have updated with dates. Windows Phone definitely appears to have been first in this scenario unless you count rooted devices which may have something I don't know about.
> I found online says Windows was the first to have a feature that would automatically connect to your cellular connection if the Wifi didn't work.
If the wifi doesn't work, no phone will use it. If the wifi is BAD, that is completely different.
I am implying an inconsistent wifi with speed or LAN issues. The wifi goes down all the time at my house because of Spectrum/time warner cable issues. My iPhone prior to Wifi Assist will use the network at my house if it has a good wifi connection regardless if was broken or just slow.