A few questions before I pull the trigger on Windows Phone

[WPCentral Question]

I'm thinking of switching to a Windows phone, but I'm just not sure if its for me. My first smartphone was a Galaxy Nexus, and that's pretty much all I've ever used.

What kind of specs are required for a good experience? Is there the constant hardware upgrade push to get the latest software, like Android?

Is there anything like rooting and roming?

Would the Lumia 520 be a good phone to test the platform out before investing in a more expensive device? If not any recommendations?

 

[Legoboyii]

Try landing a 535 if you can, latest budget phone and best of the 5xx series
As for testing purposes, yeah I guess the Lumia 520 would be a good start
Just make sure you update it to the latest software of course as it is an older model.
And no rooting or romming needed
Great battery life, not open source, not loaded with unremovable bloatware

 

[crithon]

Hi. I just registered so I could ask some follow up questions. First is there a "system" behind the Lumia numbering? I would assume that the higher the number the better specs, but is there more to it?

Also I use an Android app called Tasker to do a lot of things automatically on my phone. Things like when my phone connects to my WiFi it uses http post to send a command to my Insteon hub to turn my entryway light on. Tasker also manages my WiFi and ringer volume based on things like time, location, and day of the week. Are there any apps or built in functions that would be able to do this?

 

[xandros9]

WP is generally more efficient, so lower-end devices don't suck too much in general. (they're still cheap)
While the cheapo phones'll work OK enough, getting at least 1 GB of RAM lets you experience more apps and keeps things running well.
currently, the cheapest, oldest WP8 Lumia is expected to get the next upgrade, Windows 10, so software updates aren't an issue yet. (but the WP7-8 break still is in people's minds)

there is no jailbreaking or rooting for the most part.
well, there is some on the Samsung ATIV phones, but what you can do with it isn't as expansive as iOS and Android, since WP isn't popular, and the ATIV's aren't popular in the WP population.
There is ROM'ing, but not in the sense you'd think. No custom ROMs for all intents and purposes. People sometimes flash a different variant, like flashing my AT&T 920 to think its a French model in order to get updates sooner and debrand the software.

The 520 is no speed demon, but considering the price can be as low as $20-40, (for the ATT-locked model) one can't go wrong.
Another model to consider is the 635, which is the successor to the 520.

 

[RumoredNow]

I'm thinking of switching to a Windows phone, but I'm just not sure if its for me. My first smartphone was a Galaxy Nexus, and that's pretty much all I've ever used.

What kind of specs are required for a good experience? Is there the constant hardware upgrade push to get the latest software, like Android?
As with any OS, getting the best equipment lets you in for more features and usability. I'd recommend testing your desire to move on a low level device to minimize your cost and bearing in mind throughout the test that the device has limits. There is not the constant need for new handsets seen under Android with WP. They do a great job of bringing them all along with the evolving OS. Almost akin to a Nexus level OS update/upgrade program applied universally.

Is there anything like rooting and roming?
As others have said, there is not. Modding on WP is very minimal.

Would the Lumia 520 be a good phone to test the platform out before investing in a more expensive device? If not any recommendations?
520 would get you in very reasonably, but a more modern chipset might be a better test. Your budget should be the guiding factor here.

Hi. I just registered so I could ask some follow up questions. First is there a "system" behind the Lumia numbering? I would assume that the higher the number the better specs, but is there more to it?
The first number is a grade lowest to highest. The last two are generational and side upgrades. A 930 is newer than a 920. A 735 is a slight improvement on a 730. An 830 is a better equipped model than a 530.

Also I use an Android app called Tasker to do a lot of things automatically on my phone. Things like when my phone connects to my WiFi it uses http post to send a command to my Insteon hub to turn my entryway light on. Tasker also manages my WiFi and ringer volume based on things like time, location, and day of the week. Are there any apps or built in functions that would be able to do this?
I'm not aware of any, but that does not mean they don't exist. Try scanning the Apps and Developer Forums

 

[horseybob]

Also I use an Android app called Tasker to do a lot of things automatically on my phone. Things like when my phone connects to my WiFi it uses http post to send a command to my Insteon hub to turn my entryway light on. Tasker also manages my WiFi and ringer volume based on things like time, location, and day of the week. Are there any apps or built in functions that would be able to do this?

Insteon has a native Windows app that is integrated with Cortana. Cortana, amongst other things, enables different things such as WiFi actions based on geo-fencing, reminders, quiet time and so on.

 

[zeref0016]

What kind of specs are required for a good experience? Is there the constant hardware upgrade push to get the latest software, like Android?

Is there anything like rooting and roming?

Would the Lumia 520 be a good phone to test the platform out before investing in a more expensive device? If not any recommendations?

1gb of ram with SD 200 or 400 is more than enough for a Windows Phone. There may be constant hardware upgrades to get the features from a specific software upgrade (eg: Hey Cortana, Glance etc) but MOST Windows Phones can be updated to the latest version unlike android in which you can only get the latest version unless you have a flagship phone (maximum of 3 yrs old i guess) or a new released phone.

No need to root.

Lumia 520 would be a good start but Lumia 535 would be better since it's still fresh any guaranteed that you will get W10 with this

 

[zeref0016]

Hi. I just registered so I could ask some follow up questions. First is there a "system" behind the Lumia numbering? I would assume that the higher the number the better specs, but is there more to it?

The first digit of the numbering defines what type of phone it is, 4xx,5xx,6xx=low ends, 7xx,8xx=midrange, 9xx,10xx,13xx,15xx=high ends...

The second digit stands for its OS version, 510,610,710 means they are running Windows Phone 7 (exception of 810 i guess)... 520,620,720,820,920,1020,1320,1520=WP8 and 430,530,630,730,830,930....1030(oops cancelled hahaha) runs WP8.1

The third digit = different variants, for example lumia 520 has a variant of lumia 521 and 525(having 1gb ram instead of 512mb)

 

[anon(9226130)]

Try first the WP emulator.

 

[xandros9]

Hi. I just registered so I could ask some follow up questions. First is there a "system" behind the Lumia numbering? I would assume that the higher the number the better specs, but is there more to it?

First digit is market placement.
4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx, 8xx, 9xx, 10xx, 13xx, 15xx, 25xx

4-6 are low-end models - generally cheaper, the lower the number, 7-8 and 13 are the midrange - 13 is the midrange phablet, 9, 10, 15 are the high end - 10 being camera-centric, 15 being the fancy phablet. The 2520 was a tablet, and in a class of its own.

Second digit is generation. (x0x, x1x phones were WP7 with one exception, x2x were initially WP8, x3x are WP8.1...)
The Lumia 510 was a Windows Phone 7.8 device.
The 520 was a Windows Phone 8.0 device.
The 530, 630 came after that and ran Windows Phone 8.1.
The 900 was the flagship for Windows Phone 7.
the 920's were the flagship series for the Windows Phone 8 run, partially superseded by the 1020, which brought the insane camera many have heard of.

The 710 ran 7.
The 720 ran 8. (upgradeable though, but still an older model)
The 730 (and variants) runs 8.1

Third digit is what variant of the model.
The 920 was the core high-end, last generation model. It spawned two variants, the 925 and 928. the 925 had a different set of compromises, including metal and whatnot. The 928 was exclusive to Verizon Wireless in the US.

The 520 was the core model for the premier budget phone of 2013 or so. The 521 was a variant made for T-Mobile US. The 525 was the same as the 520, except its RAM was doubled to 1 GB.

The 820 was the core mid-range model just under the 920.
It had the 822, which was the VZW exclusive, and the 810, which was the sole exception to the generation number. And exclusive to T-Mobile.
The 825 was a developer model I believe.

The 630 and 635 are core models, the former being 3G and dual-SIM, the latter being single-SIM and supporting LTE.
The variant duo, originally in China, the 636 and 638 are about the same, except for being upgraded to 1 GB of RAM, much like the 525 was, compared to the 520.

730 has dual-SIM, 735 doesn't and has LTE.

Regarding Tasker, there is some possible workarounds, but nothing to that extent, which is a shame I believe, but understandable since apps don't have direct access to system settings.

 

[crithon]

Thanks for all the info and replies. I have one last question. For those of you that have used onther mobile OSs, what is the main benefit that Windows Phone has over the others?

 

[Blkacesvf41]

Thanks for all the info and replies. I have one last question. For those of you that have used onther mobile OSs, what is the main benefit that Windows Phone has over the others?

To me really is the stability of the OS. I also enjoy the fresh look of it, its animations and user interface.

 

[RumoredNow]

For me... Live Tiles, Glance, Notifications, Start Screen customization.

The OS keeps the information and Apps I need closer to the surface than any other UX. It makes what I do more accessible and immediate.