14 DAY TRIAL // While Windows phones as we know them no longer seem to have a future, pretty much because Microsoft itself abandoned the platform completely, Lumia models keep making the headlines thanks to the developer community that’s looking into alternative ways of breathing life into them.
Several skilled developers have tried lately to install either Windows RT or Windows 10 ARM on Lumia phones, and while these projects have until now hit several roadblocks, most of them advanced nicely.
Up to the point where Windows RT appears to be running quite smoothly on Lumia phones, that is, with Twitter user @gus33000 showing that it’s possible to install the operating system on several models with the right tweaks.
Microsoft and Windows 10 ARM
Photos showing Windows RT running on Lumia phones indicate the installing the operating system is indeed possible, though it’s not yet clear if all features work correctly. The developer, however, says reading PDFs works fine on Windows RT, and the two rows of tiles on the Start screen in landscape mode should be good enough for the majority of users, at least for experimental projects.
As for how useful all these projects are, it’s hard to believe that installing Windows RT or Windows 10 ARM on a Lumia phone would keep them alive for too long, as the lack of driver and full feature support can’t turn them into daily drivers. It remains to be seen, however, how much these projects would advance and how reliable they can become in terms of battery life.
On the other hand, Microsoft itself is working on a new mobile device, but there’s a good chance it won’t be a phone per se, but more of a tablet powered by Windows 10 ARM.
This means that while the company could remain part of the mobile business, it won’t compete in smartphones, so projects like these are pretty much the only way to continue keeping Windows phones around.
