While (on AAWP) I've been concentrating more on the hardware side of things, plus specific software topics and tutorials, I was glad to see Michael Allison attempt a full review of the whole OS, i.e. Windows 10 Mobile, setting it in context and assessing each sub-system in the wider smartphone world. WMPU concludes that W10M falls short of a perfect '10', but there's plenty of bouquets (and brick-bats) along the way. Worth a read.

From the full review, Michael concludes:

Microsoft’s vision for Windows phones has changed in Windows 10. The OS has gone from being all about the mobile experience to being all about the mobile experience of a PC . It’s a slight difference, but it brings back vague memories of the PocketPC phase of Windows mobile. As a result of a shift in strategies and focus of a one Windows for all, Windows 10 Mobile has taken a hit in performance and battery life. Microsoft knows this, and they will be addressing this in builds being pushed out over the next few months, but until, then devices which are weaker may struggle a bit with Windows 10 Mobile as far as performance and battery life go.

WINDOWS 10 MOBILE IS BETTER THAN 8, BUT NOT QUITE A 10

Windows 10 Mobile overall is a good update, but it is still beset with the issues of the previous OS. The app gap remains ever so wide as spectres of Snapchat, YikYak and other apps beckon over to dissatisfied users. This looks set to change soon. Microsoft’s UWP program has been adopted by more and more developers at a faster pace since Windows 10 took off on desktop. Facebook and Twitter have promised to optimise their apps for Windows 10 Mobile soon, and the gap between Microsoft’s first party apps on Windows 10 and other platforms has been closed. There are also new party tricks like Continuum and Windows Hello to stand out from the crowd on newer devices like the Lumia 950, Neo NuAns, and Acer Jade Primo. Microsoft has made a good start with Windows 10, now all they need to work on is sanding out the rough edges.

You'll find yourself nodding along too at the multi-thousand word review, this is an objective assessment from someone who's already a Windows enthusiast and strikes many chords of common sense.

I'd never heard of YikYak, I've never used Snapchat, but I do accept that there are still some showstopper missing applications for many users. But as Michael points out, there's increasing momentum now behind big name universal (UWP) applications and January 2016 (with the first official availability of the UWP-compatible W10M to existing Windows Phone users) is looking like it could turn the ecosystem around.

Even Michael's scoring system makes sense - I stated on the podcast that Windows 10 Mobile and the 950/XL are 95% 'ready' for the primetime (i.e. not 100%). As frustrating though it is to admit it, we do have to wait just a little longer - it all goes to show just how much effort it takes to create and debug an entire operating system.