Lumia 950
Image Courtesy: PocketNow

Windows 10 ARM project for Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL has given a new life to Windows phones and opened the door to new features that weren’t actually possible on Windows 10 Mobile.

More recently, Windows 10 on ARM project for Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL received a driver update that enabled support for WiFi, better battery backup and improved performance.

Independent developer has now managed to resolve one of the biggest drawbacks of Windows 10 on ARM for Lumia. The upcoming driver update for Windows 10 ARM on Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL will enable support for hardware sensors, allowing the device to use the accelerometer, compass, light, and other sensors.

Windows ARM on Lumia

“We first tried to make a driver from scratch for just the light sensor and proximity sensor, but then I’ve realized something about the old drivers we had, that needed a few patches to work properly, and now everything seems to work. Currently missing is activity and pedometer,” wrote Gustave, one of the lead developers for WoA project.

Windows 10 on ARM will support the following sensors on Lumia 950 and 950 XL:

  • Compass.
  • Accelerometer and Gyrometer: Accelerometer allows the device to detect the orientation and gyroscope tracks twist.
  • Inclinometer: This will allow the device to measure angles of slope and even elevation.
  • LightSensor: This sensor will sense the amount of light present around the device, and automatically dim the device’s screen to match it.
  • Barometer and Altimeter: You’ll be able to use your device to calibrate and display Barometer weather data.
  • Magnetometer: This sensor will help devices to find orientation in respect to Earth’s magnetic field and it would be useful when navigating with Windows Maps.
  • ProximitySensor – SimpleOrientationSensor – If you install Windows 10 May 2019 Update or older builds on Lumia with WoA, you’ll be able to make and receive calls. This sensor facilitates a feature that would turn off the display when the phone is held up to the ear.

Windows on ARM project for Lumia is almost finalized

After sensors, this project only lacks support for camera and proper USB C drivers.

“With sensors I think we pretty much came to an end anyhow about this project. What’s left is some sensors, cameras, and more work on USB C, all of this is not feasible for me, camera stack is custom all the way, USB C is weird, and the sensors missing uses LumiaSensorCore tech,” the developer said.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.