101 uses for an abandoned Windows Mobile Device:

[NeilPeart]

I recently cleaned house and sold my last remaining Windows mobile devices, except my main phone (Alcatel IDOL 4S) and music player (Lumia 640). Eventually I will move onto Android full time when the OnePlus 5T is released and its software is mature; I am currently testing Android Oreo with my OnePlus 3T. :crying:

I will give my Lumia 640 to my nephew (who is still using my Lumia 520), and keep the Alcatel IDOL 4S for music; it can accept a 512GB microSD and runs W10M much better than the 640. I still have an iPhone 6S Plus from my job, which works well and is still supported (I use it for developing). When iOS stops supporting the 6S Plus they will upgrade it. The lack of customization and slow upgrade cycle through my job means I cannot use an Apple device as my main personal device (it is still useful for Swift development). Below is a list of my current and former Windows mobile devices:

Alacatel IDOL 4S - Current phone (W10M Build 10.0.15254.1); will eventually replace my Lumia 640 as a music player when I fully migrate to Android with OnePlus 5T. I can't believe I got this phone for under $200.

Lumia 640 - Still use for music due to its large microSD capability and low cost ($40 and unlocked for free); reverted from W10M (Build 10.0.15254.1) to Window Phone 8.1 (Build 8.10.15148.160) for performance reasons. It runs Windows 8.1 much better than 10 and the app limitations of 8.1 don’t affect my usage of this device (music player, web browser, videos, etc.) - I will replace it with the IDOL 4S and donate it to my nephew.

HP Elite x3 - Sold (W10M Build 10.0.15254.1) - great build quality & solid performance, but camera lacking
HTC Trophy - Sold (WP7.8 Build 7.10.8862.144) - my first windows phone device; had to use SevenEighter to upgrade...
HTC 8X - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.14219.341) - perhaps the best-looking windows phone; wife loved it
HTC One M8 - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15143.154) - fast performer and fun case; should have had official path to W10M
Lumia 520 - Gave to nephew (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - great intro to Windows
Lumia 635 - Gave to nephew (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - needed a camera flash & 1GB RAM
Lumia 900 - Sold (WP7.8 Build 7.10.8862.144) - stuck on 7.8
Lumia 920 - Sold (WP8.0 Build 8.0.10532.166) - favorite Lumia design
Lumia 928 - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - great device
Lumia 929 (Icon) - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - favorite Lumia device overall
Lumia 950XL - Sold (W10M Build 10.0.15254.1) - ok but disappointing for the price
Lumia 1020 - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - favorite Lumia camera
Lumia 1520 - Sold (WP8.1 Build 8.10.15116.125) - 2nd favorite lumia

 

[venom5150]

What can you do with your MS abandoned 950xl or other W10M device?

1. Spoonrest
2. Door Stopper
3. Projector Leveler
4. Drink Coaster

What other ways can we use these bricks?

 

[montera]

I've tuned my Lumia 930 and 1520 to BBC Radio4 and Radio4Ex

 

[TKAtlanta]

I had mine in the Halloween candy bucket, but unfortunately no kid took it.

 

[Randy Pearson1]

You just love to stir the pot, or poke the wound don't you?!
Still using it! Kind of have to since I still OWE on it. After that, who knows...
It could do Continuum but not sure that would be worth trying (and would need the adapter).

Anyone load Linux on one???

 

[Ahy Nonimous]

I have a Lumia Icon (929). It has wireless charging. I have a Nokia upright charging pad. I have the fabulous "Realarm" app (my favorite of all Windows Phone apps). I use it at my bedside as my alarm clock. I have the color set to red at the lowest setting. The light is thus not intrusive at all. Best alarm clock I've ever had, though it was a tad pricey at $500 ;-)

 

[fpena911]

I had to trade my 950 in to get my LG V30.

I still have my 920 in a box and still running 8.1 if I ever need to use it again.

I really didn't want to give up my 950 but I also didn't think it was worth the $150 fee I would have had to pay to keep it.

 

[daveb673]

What can you do with your MS abandoned 950xl or other W10M device?

1. Spoonrest
2. Door Stopper
3. Projector Leveler
4. Drink Coaster

What other ways can we use these bricks?

- My AT&T Tilt 2 is my backup phone still.
- My AT&T Titan needs an LCD. Might make it an electronic photo frame.
- HTC has a trade-in program, but I stopped looking when I got to $35 per phone and my M8 for Windows didn't appear on the list yet.
- GPS. Maps are probably not going to update, but it's cheaper than buying one.
- Automobile digital gauges. There are some apps on the Windows Store that with a bluetooth adapter, will let you read some parameters and even read and clear DTC codes. With a micro-sd card, you could store lots of data-logging stuff.
- Alarm clock.

That's all I can think of. Still pretty disappointing I don't get to upgrade to a Surface Phone or an HTC U11 for Windows.

 

[vEEP pEEP]

I still use mine...will get back to you as MS zigzags some more

 

[MichaelBanning]

I swapped by hp x3 for a samsung s8+ at the microsoft store (they are the best) when the usb port failed.

I donated by 950xl to a local high school they use it as a student wifi-camera.

my 1520 (favorite phone ever) sits on my desk as a painful reminder of what could have been. I power it up every once and a while just to remember how good it was.

As an aside, how do you like the S8+? My 1520's battery is diminishing and a brief look at Android phones suggests the 8+ is the natural successor.

 

[MichaelBanning]

- My AT&T Tilt 2 is my backup phone still.

OH MAN DO I MISS PHYSICAL KEYBOARDS. Of course it would probably be better if so many apps on my 1520 don't have a landscape mode, but as far as I'm concerned the tilt 2 screen and keyboard were the peak of what phones should be.

 

[KK Saw]

What can you do with your MS abandoned 950xl or other W10M device?

1. Spoonrest
2. Door Stopper
3. Projector Leveler
4. Drink Coaster

What other ways can we use these bricks?

 

[KK Saw]

I am still using my Lumia 920 as my daily hand phone and find all iphone and andriod phone interface not to my liking will wait for Microsoft next Winodw10 in smartphone or mibile device

 

[pkcable]

I got a good deal on my 950 (with Dock). I use it sort of as a mini computer always attached to the dock. I also use it for testing and for reference when answering questions from Windows 10 Mobile users. As some of you may know I run a team of volunteers that answer questions around these parts.

 

[naddy6969]

I sold mine on eBay (1520.3, Icon and 950 XL dual sim) to help pay for iOS devices. This was around 6 months ago when Windows phones were still worth something. I also sold a couple of Samsung android tablets.

I still have another 1520, and a 920 on 8.1, just for nostalgia. But I - along with 99% of the planet - am done with Microsoft's "mobile strategy". Which - lets face it - was embarrassingly inept.

 

[anon(10304916)]

My 1520 is now used as my main navigation and entertainment device. Its still a beast and can run for 2 days before charging is needed. As long as CoPilot, Pandora and iHeart continues to work I'll keep using it. Fall edition has made it even better, sad to see the best platform and phone I ever used fade away.

 

[anon(10304916)]

As an aside, how do you like the S8+? My 1520's battery is diminishing and a brief look at Android phones suggests the 8+ is the natural successor.

feeling the 1520, it was a phenomenal phone. Fortunately I changed the battery a year agoe so my 1520 should give me another 3 years at least.

 

[anon(10304916)]

I'm on my 4th Windows Phone now. My first was HTC Touch Dual with Windows Mobile 6.1, then I had an HTC 8X, both are now gathering dust in a drawer.

My third was a Lumia 830, I gave it to my dad when I bought my Lumia 950xl which is still my daily driver. My dad was impressed by the Lumia 830 and thought why aren't these phones the most popular with the nice interface and ease of use... Sadly for the same reason my dad had never considered it before, Microsoft is horrible at marketing so people didn't hear about them...

you brought back memories of my HTC touch and then my Touch Diamond 2. Awesome phones.

 

[Nigel Perrymond]

What can you do with your MS abandoned 950xl or other W10M device?

1. Spoonrest
2. Door Stopper
3. Projector Leveler
4. Drink Coaster

What other ways can we use these bricks?

 

[Nigel Perrymond]

I figured my 1020, 1520, 950 are all still great phones.. And now that Microsoft is warming up to Bitcoin. I'd use my devices to mine Bitcoin and collect dust. Hope that will not be the case for my current HP Elite x3...p.s. The Nokia 1520 mines the best