Lumia 520 as a cheap portable media player

[Michael Alan Goff]

I was wondering if this would be a good use for one, or if I would be better off getting an actual PMP for my needs.

Also, where is it cheapest?

 

[faceless_el]

should work out as a decent pmp plus a GPS too when you download the off-line maps and use HERE Drive or HERE Maps

 

[ho0lee0h]

Check Slickdeals for the cheapest Lumia 520. I saw it for $77 on Amazon last week. I think it'd make a great PMP.

I'm planning to invest in one for use with Runtastic but am not sure if it'll work offline like my 920 does. I would use my 920 but it's just too big to carry on a run.

 

[Michael Alan Goff]

What's the audio quality like?

I'd be moving from a Galaxy Nexus to this, for reference.

 

[Mellifluous]

I'd certainly recommend the 520 (or the 620) as a PMP.

• When comparing the 520's screen to others reviewers always rate it down, but I find it perfectly fine and no huge difference to the 620.
• Audio is fine and probably comparable to any PMP out there, though this depends on your headphones really.
• Syncing wise, you can import music from your iTunes or Windows Media Player.
• You can save all your media to the internal 8GB (which is more like 5GB with the OS), and you could expand it to up to 32 or 64GB with a MicroSD card.
• You could pin all your albums to your start screen, which would look nice. Or you could set up Kid's Corner as a Music Corner, so when you swipe to Kid's Corner it's a screen full of all your albums.
• One thing you could also do is buy a couple more covers (e.g. red or yellow) to make it more vibrant.

 

[futpaul]

I've been thinking the same thing, just can't decide between 520 and 620.

My old iPod died (original white shuffle) and started looking at the newer iPod nanos, but for $100 I could get rid of the flip-phone in my pocket, and get GPS maps to boot!

Would I be able to use H2O wireless SIM in this phone, since they are an AT&T reseller?

(edited to fix my run-on questions

 

[Gurggles]

How well does the GPS work without an active SIM in the device? I have a friend who wants to use this while golfing to keep track of his shots.

 

[futpaul]

How well does the GPS work without an active SIM in the device? I have a friend who wants to use this while golfing to keep track of his shots.

Works fine for me using Runtastic. I don't have a SIM in the phone yet. I needed wifi of course to upload my workout data, which I did at home.

 

[Shawn Magm]

One issue I've had with two different 520's is that the headphone jack has given me problems. I can get the left channel fine, but the right channel is either muffled or not playing at all. If I wiggle the headphone jack and retract the plug in a certain position, I can get both channels. It happened with my first, and then I exchanged for a second 520 with the same problem. Maybe there was a bad batch. However, if one uses bluetooth headphones, it probably isn't much of an issue.

 

[benjamouth]

One issue I've had with two different 520's is that the headphone jack has given me problems. I can get the left channel fine, but the right channel is either muffled or not playing at all. If I wiggle the headphone jack and retract the plug in a certain position, I can get both channels. It happened with my first, and then I exchanged for a second 520 with the same problem. Maybe there was a bad batch. However, if one uses bluetooth headphones, it probably isn't much of an issue.

Had exactly the same problem with mine, looking to send it to Nokia for repair.

 

[Kurt8807]

I realize this is an old thread, but I've been having tons of problems getting this to work. It's constantly asking me for a SIM card, and it won't let me use my local maps without inserting a SIM card. Any suggestions?

 

[SSgt Bruskowiz]

Yea use a old simcart, a used prepaid.....i had the same thing on my Droid tablet....

 

[NYRbeezer]

Just insert the sim card that came with the phone and don't activate it. It still logs onto the att towers and it's also wise to use to keep the time.

 

[oditius]

Check Slickdeals for the cheapest Lumia 520. I saw it for $77 on Amazon last week. I think it'd make a great PMP.

I'm planning to invest in one for use with Runtastic but am not sure if it'll work offline like my 920 does. I would use my 920 but it's just too big to carry on a run.

Is this an option for you?

No Contract Nokia Lumia 520 for AT&T + Free Case - Microsoft Store

 

[nikhilr51]

I realize this is an old thread, but I've been having tons of problems getting this to work. It's constantly asking me for a SIM card, and it won't let me use my local maps without inserting a SIM card. Any suggestions?

It checks your sim card to determine location and then gives you maps accordingly. You just need the sim for this initial step, then you can stick it in airplane mode and turn on wifi.