Week 25 2024: Development and Testing Updates

Summary of weekly development and testing activities by /e/OS developers and volunteers. Updated content has the :new: emoji.

Release

v2.2

Status: Testing in progress :green_circle:

Issues to be fixed

ETA: End of June or early July :crossed_fingers:

v2.1

Status :green_circle: Released :new:

Upcoming milestones information

Important Device support information

:point_right: /e/OS R support to be dropped with v2.2

:nerd_face: Reason why /e/OS R builds have been stopped:
Google has stopped security patches. LineageOS has also dropping support. For most of the older devices vendors would also have stopped vendor patches.We would not be able to continue support as it would require backporting security patches which will require dedicated resources and is not a viable long term solution. Users are advised to upgrade to newer OS and builds where available. We will be evaluating which of the devices currently on /e/OS R can be updated to S or T. The builds if released would require manual installation and data backup. Except for the s7/s7+ and s8/s8+ which would be getting OTA OS upgrade builds with v2.2

:point_right: Devices to be upgraded

  • Devices getting /e/OS T build (manual upgrade + may require stock to be flashed + data back to be taken )
    • bardock β€”already has a T build. R and Q will be removed.
    • bardockpro β€”already has a T build. R and Q will be removed.
    • chiron β€”already has a T build. R and Q will be removed.
  • Names of devices which will get a T build will be added to this list

:point_right: Device being evaluate for continued support (currently on /e/OS R)

FP2 , X00P , X01AD , X01BD , YTX703F , YTX703L , a5y17lte , a7y17lte , addison , ahannah , albus ,cedric , d800 ,d801 ,d802 , d803, d850 , d851, d852 , d855, dream2lte , dreamlte , ether , f400 , ginkgo , hannah , hero2lte , herolte , hlte , hltechn , hltekor , hltetmo , jactivelte , jasmine_sprout , jason ,jflteatt, jfltespr , jfltevzw , jfltexx , jfvelte , klte ,klteactivexx , klteaio, kltechn , kltechnduo , klteduos, kltedv , kltekdi , kltekor , lavender ,lithium , ls990 , montana , obiwan ,oneplus3, platina , rhannah , s3ve3gds , s3ve3gjv , s3ve3gxx ,scorpio ,shamu, sirius ,suzuran ,twolip ,victara ,vs985 , wayne ,whyred ,x2,
z3, z3c , zl1

  • Should have an update for these devices by end of this week.

:point_right: Official Support to dropped

The following LG devices will be dropped starting v2,2
h830, h850 , h870 ,h872 ,h910 ,h918 ,h990,ls997 ,rs988 ,us996,
us996d , us997 ,vs995

Update 18 Jun :new:
Good news! The LG devices mentioned in the above list will not be dropped. The build team was able to get the builds to complete succesfully. There were some changes upstream as well which also helped with the fix.

  • To check your device codename refer this table
  • The OS OTA build coming with v2.2 for S7/ 7+ and S8/ 8+ will upgrade these device from R to S
  • Devices we will not support will be marked as legacy in the documentation and not receive any more builds

:nerd_face: Reason for builds to be dropped include build failure, no dedicated maintainer to debug. /e/OS users with ROM Maintainer skills are welcome to take up the task of maintaining these devices.

Ongoing development tasks
- Easy Installer to be updated to flash /e/OS T builds. ETA to be planned

Murena 2 specific information

  • Back cover’s received from vendor. Sending out the same first to the crowdfunding backers.Back covers for users in France sent out. Out of France orders were sent starting on Thursday 30 May. The option to purchase the backcover to be added to the website.
  • User facing issues with the camera focus or device can send in the details to the helpdesk@e.email ID for a resolution. If not satisfied with the resolution, request for a refund.
  • The Murena 2 was in extremely high demand and is now fully sold out. We are working hard to create a new and even better model in our Murena line for our users.

Previous 5 releases & user feedback

Documentation :new:

:point_right: ASUS does not provide an official method to unlock their devices. We will be adding a note to the effect that the install guides are only for those who have devices which are already unlocked.

Recent updates
Official builds not available for
  • Official / Stable support dropped for these devices

    • Easy Installer will flash the community or previously known as dev build for these devices. The stable builds for any of these devices if still being released will be stopped. Users will then have to switch to the dev branch. They can do so by flashing using the EasyInstaller. This would include data loss so take backups if required.
      • Google Pixel 4a sunfish
      • Google Pixel 4a 5G bramble
      • Google Pixel 4 XL coral
      • Google Pixel 4 flame
      • OnePlus 7 Pro guacamole
      • OnePlus 7T hotdogb
      • OnePlus 8 instantnoodle
      • OnePlus 8 Pro instantnoodlep
Support dropped for
  • Galaxy M20 m20lte
  • Nothing Phone(1) Spacewar
  • Motorola Motorola Moto G7 Play channel
  • Google Pixel XL marlin
  • Google Pixel sailfish
  • Google Nexus 7 2013 flox
  • LG V30 (T-Mobile) h932
  • LG v30 `joan
  • Galaxy M20 m20lte
  • All Nokia devices
  • Huawei - no official unlocking method available
  • ASUS devices - builds for devices which are already unlocked. No official unlocking method available.

:point_right: We have added a warning on the install pages for these devices to warn our users before they try to attempt to flash /e/OS.

Devices with MINIMAL APPS builds
  • Moto E5 Plus ahannah
  • Moto E5 Plus hannah
  • Moto E5 Plus rhannah
  • Moto G5 cedric
  • Moto G5S montana
    All devices ran into out of space error while building. Issue was resolved using the MINIMAL_APPS build
What MINIMAL_APPS flag means

Minimal build is a setting in /e/OS build which removes the following default applications (LibreOffice viewer, PDFViewer, Maps and Weather)from the source code and builds a smaller version of the ROM. In the case of certain devices we are unable to build with even the minimal /e/OS build.

 

:warning: Posting information on test builds

  • Please do not post information or links to /e/OS test builds on the forum.
  • These builds are as yet untested and under development and may in some cases cause user devices to soft brick.
  • Such information can confuse other users who do not see these builds in the updater.
  • Remember not all users who come to this forum are experts in installing and formatting custom ROMs and can end up seriously damaging their devices by trying out these test builds
  • If you are genuinely interested in helping with the testing activities and also understand how to fix and do some minor level of testing on custom ROMS, you are welcome to join the testing team
  • As part of the testing team you can share your comments on the dedicated testing telegram channel.

 

Murena Cloud and Self hosting

Murena cloud NextCloud version upgraded

Murena cloud current version

:point_right: Murena cloud Next Cloud 27.1.8.3

Self Hosting current version

:point_right: Self hosting Murena cloud v 26.0.8

How to check the NextCloud version click here πŸ€“ You can find the complete documentation and current NC version under https://murena.io/settings/help >> NextCloud xx user documentation. The xx should show the latest version. - Another way to check the current version is to check the [NextCloud scan link](https://scan.nextcloud.com) and input https://murena.io this should display the current version number as well as the security level. > Please note if MurenaCloud patch number is not the same as the NC patch number, the rating would show up as bad 😐 This is not exactly a problem. We do not immediately jump to the next NC patch as soon as it is released. We first test it and then set out with the deployment.

GSI

Current GSI version click here
  • Download available here

    • Sources available here
    • version is /e/OS Q (A10)

    :point_right: The v1.17 GSI build is the last build and is on /e/OS Q
    :point_right: GSI OS version will next move to T or A13 skipping the R and S versions. Dates for development will be shared

 

OS OTA Related information :new:

Completed
  • Fairphone: FP4 : S (A12) β†’ T (A13) :fire:

  • Samsung: S9/9+ : R(A11) β†’ S(A12) :fire:

  • Gigaset: GS290 : Q (A10)β†’ Android 11 (R)

  • Oneplus: avicii : A12

  • OnePlus : avicii : Q ( A10) β†’ R (A11)

  • Fairphone: FP4 : R ( A11) β†’ S (A12)

  • Fairphone:FP3 : R (A11) β†’ S (A12)

  • Fairphone:FP3 : Q (A10) β†’ R (A11)

  • Samsung: s7 / s7+ : Nougat (A7) β†’ Q (A10)

  • Samsung: s9 / s9+ : Oreo (A8) β†’ Q (A10)

  • Samsung: Galaxy S9/9+ : Q (A10)β†’ R(A11)

  • Samsung: s8 / s8+ : Pie (A9) β†’ R (A11)

  • Teracube: 2e / zirconia: Q (A10) to R (A11)

  • Teracube: emerald & zirconia : R (A11) to S (A12)

  • Samsung: S7 β€˜herolte’ β€˜hero2lte’: Q ( A10) β†’ R (A11)

  • Google Pixel β€˜redfin’: S(A12) β†’ T(A13)

  • Gigaset: GS290: R(A11) β†’ S (A12)

  • Fairphone: FP3 : S (A12) β†’ T (A13)

    • All OTA OS upgrades are on stable builds
Testing πŸ†•
  • Samsung: S7/7+ : R(A11) β†’ S(A12)
    • ETA v2.2 :crossed_fingers:
  • Samsung: S8/8+ : R(A11) β†’ S(A12)
    • ETA v2.2 :crossed_fingers:
Our definition of an OS OTA upgrade

Usually for /e/OS ROMs to upgrade the OS you have to do the following

  • If available download the correct OS build from the supported device list
  • For some devices you also need to download the stock ROM from the vendor site.
  • Take a back up of your data
  • First install the Stock ROM
  • Next install the /e/OS ROM. Here you can take help of the install guides available on our documentation site.
  • If required apply the backups you downloaded before starting the whole process

An alternate to this tedious process is where we offer the user the option to upgrade the OS OTA. This option is available for stable device builds only.
This process is easy for the user but requires a lot of development and testing effort.

Different /e/OS build types

 

No more multiple OS versions
  • Support for /e/OS Q is being dropped for most of the devices.
  • Support of multiple OS versions on the same device has been stopped.
  • If you see multiple OS version builds on the download page, switch to the latest /e/OS version.
  • In most devices it would require a manual download and installation. Take a backup before proceeding.
  • We will add a text on the images server mentioning that older OS versions are no longer supported.
  • No longer supported will mean that build would not be made in the older OS.
  • It is always advised to switch to the newer OS versions as some of applications may not work correctly on older OS as application developer stop supporting older OS.

 

Misc information

Read Gael 's roadmap for 2024

End of official support for Nougat, Oreo and Pie 😞 Pie, Oreo and Nougat the official /e/OS support has ended.

Reasons for dropping official support are:

  • newly released applications like App Lounge, Advanced privacy code has not been customized for these OS versions.
  • lack of dedicated ROM Maintainers
  • no support upstream (Lineage dropped support for Pie sometime back)
  • device trees will continue to exist in the Gitlab and users with build skills can create custom ROMs on these builds
  • Security patches and vendor patches for the Pie, Oreo and Nougat code will be updated based on availability.

:nerd_face: Google stops security patches for OS after some time. Similarly, Vendors drop support for older models when they release newer models in the market. Then it depends on developers from various communities to backport the patches.

Device and Vendor specific Announcements

:loudspeaker: Gigaset GS290

  • We have stopped the sales of the Gigaset GS290 on the eSolutionsShop as the vendor has stopped production of the device. We will continue support for existing users.

:loudspeaker: Message being shared on the request of our vendor partners

  • Vendors whose phones we sell on our eSolutions Store do not directly sell /e/OS flashed devices.
  • The vendors only sell their devices with their own stock ROM.
  • To get pre flashed /e/OS phones, you have to purchase them from the eSolutions Shop.

:loudspeaker: /e/OS Pre flashed device sales

  • We sell directly in EU, US, Canada and Australia
  • Find details of what devices are available in which countries here Murena Shop.
/e/OS website and social media Links and Support

Support

  • Facing issues with devices you purchased from us ? For issues you would want support on from the /e/OS support team, send in the details using the contact form

Websites

Telegram Channel

Social Media

Newsletters

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/OS the deGoogled mobile OS and online servicesphone

15 Likes

Good news! I had mentioned in the initial post about a set of LG devices to be dropped. The build team was able to get the builds to complete successfully. There were some changes upstream as well, which also helped with the fix.
To summarize, these devices will continue receiving OTA updates as usual.

h830, h850 , h870 ,h872 ,h910 ,h918 ,h990,ls997 ,rs988 ,us996,us996d , us997 ,vs995

6 Likes

LG G5 h850 + /e/OS-T are a good combination. LineageOS and LineageOS-for-microG discontinued support in March 2024, when Google completely changed its way of developing and providing Android (and thus also AOSP) [topic Android 14 QPR2].

A smartphone with a 5.3" (1440x2560 px) display and a real removable battery is no longer built these days. Thanks to the d/e/v team for keeping it going :+1:

1 Like