Windows Phone - I'm not impressed!!!

Last week I went to a Microsoft store and played with a windows 8.1 phone. One word, though it has got impressive hardware specs, it never has a WOW feeling.

The phone uses a different UX pattern. All other operating system provides:

1. Horizontal navigation (multiple screens), the windows OS provides vertical navigation. 
2. No task bar, where a user can pin applications. As an example, I cannot create a quick short cut for phone, messaging applications. To make a phone call or to find the messaging applications, I have to search inside the UI application hell. Please don't give recommendations like  - create a folder, keep it on the  top of the screen. I call these recommendations a work around and not actual solutions.
3. Even if it offers a live tiles, it doesn't provide a one OS feeling (I have a windows PC)

What MSFT can do to improve Windows phone ecosystem:

1. Provide a unified user experience across all the devices (phone, tablets, XBox, PC)
2. Provide horizontal navigation (available in PC and Xbox)
3. Provide a fixed task bar on the metro screen which has a windows icon. On clicking this window icon button will open up the Applications (start up menu) window.
4. A user can pin apps to the the task bar (like window 8.1 )
5. Live tile folders (PC, tablet, phone and XBox)

I know, for the Microsoft engineers, the device form factor may be a big concern, if they move from vertical to horizontal layout. But, if you want to increase the customer base, you have to make a choice. Don't throw your choices to the users and make them suffer. 

MSFT CEO gives more focus to cloud services. Cloud may be today, but future is innovation. You guys need to provide a best in class products and services and support model to customers. For that, you have to change.  You need to marry your products with services. See, how apple is making revenue. Products, services and customer satisfaction.