Week 35, 2023 : Development and Testing Updates

Release Information

v1.14

Status: :green_circle: Released :new:

ETA: All builds will be released by 28 Aug

Devices missing on previous builds

  • Devices that missed previous builds are to be released in v1.14
  • While we will be monitoring for any devices that missed v1.14, please do let us know if your device did not receive the build.

Upcoming milestones / Releases

/e/OS T builds

Status : :green_circle: Build and testing

Team is working on adding firmware along with the T builds. This will make it easier for users to flash the builds without having to flash the stock ROM first.

  • First list of devices getting the /e/OS T build.
  • Builds will require manual download and installation by users. It is advisable to take a complete backup of data before any OS upgrade.

ETA : Mid Sep :crossed_fingers:

 

Photos taken on /e/OS

A post on the forum invites users to share photos taken using camera apps on /e/OS. The idea while encouraging the community to unleash their creative side also gives us opportunity to judge the performance of the camera apps.
Judging from the response the post has received, the chances of it becoming a regular post seems to be quite bright :smile:

 

Upcoming releases

Status : :green_circle: Testing and development

  • Updated version of the Bliss Launcher
  • A tablet with /e/OS T. Tablet name will be shared once we have the go ahead from build team.

ETA: To be announced

:nerd_face: ETA: Estimated time of arrival - term used in software development to denote the estimated time when a product can be expected to be released.

 

Previous 5 releases & user feedback

 

: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 updated to NC 25.0.8.19

Status : :green_circle: Released

Self hosting Murena cloud v 25.0.8.19

Status : :green_circle: Released

 

How to check the NextCloud version 🤓 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

v1.14 :new:

Status: :green_circle: Released

  • Download here
    • Sources available here
    • version is /e/OS Q (A10)
    • S (A12) and R (A11) version of GSI yet to be planned. Awaiting developer availability
    • Frequently we see users complain about the GSI OS versions not being in sync with the ROM OS versions. As mentioned we do have developer bandwidth issues. If there are users who have development skills we welcome them to share their expertise and help speed up the process in the true spirit of an Open Source project.

 

Roadmap for 2023 and beyond

Read this post where Gaël shares his vision on the Murena and /e/OS roadmap into 2023 and beyond

This is just a sneak peek into exciting news we would be sharing in the days to come.
For example …

  • The release of Fairphone FP4 in the US through the Murena Store was one
  • … ???

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the news first hand. All links available below.

 

OS OTA upgrades

What OS OTA upgrade means

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

Completed
  • Gigaset: GS290 : Q (A10)→ Android 11 (R)
  • Oneplus: avicii : A12
  • OnePlus : avicii : Q ( A10) → R (A11)
  • Fairphone: FP4 : R ( A11) → S (A12)
  • Fairphone:FP3 : R (A11) → S (A12)
  • Fairphone:FP3 : Q (A10) → R (A11)
  • Samsung: s7 / s7+ : Nougat (A7) → Q (A10)
  • Samsung: s9 / s9+ : Oreo (A8) → Q (A10)
  • Samsung: s8 / s8+ : Pie (A9) → R (A11)
  • Teracube: 2e / zirconia: Q (A10) to R (A11)
    • All OTA OS upgrades are on stable builds
Under development
  • Samsung: Galaxy S9/S9+ : Q (A10)→ Android 11 (R)
    • All OTA OS upgrades are on stable builds

 

Support dropped

Only one OS version per device

  • Support of multiple OS versions on the same device has been stopped
  • Upgrade your device to the latest OS version available.
    • For example, if /e/OS R (Android 11) builds are available for your /e/OS Q (Android 10) build, upgrade to the latest version which in this case would be A11.

Nokia devices

  • All Nokia devices

    • It is not possible to officially unlock Nokia bootloaders + lack of dedicated maintainer
  • Google

    • Google Nexus 7 2013 flox
    • Device has partition size issues. Not able to build /e/OS ROMs for this device even with minimal build

    :nerd_face: 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.

 

Check real time availability of /e/OS and related services websites
OS upgrade info specific to the FP3
  • The FP3 OTA OS update from Pie to Q/R is not possible as encryption method changed on FP3 between Pie and Q/R. It is not possible to change the method while updating.
  • The team spent a great deal of time on this, but has not been able to resolve this problem. For now, the manual process is the only way to upgrade the FP3 from pie to other OS versions.
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.
  • Find details of what devices are available in which countries here eSolutions Shop.
  • In Australia we do not sell directly. You can purchase preflashed /e/OS devices from this site

:loudspeaker: Murena One released
A phone from Murena with /e/OS installed has been launched and is available for purchase. Check the device specs here

Expect more device releases from Murena in future :grinning:

:nerd_face: Murena is the brand name and /e/OS is the operating system.

Different /e/OS build types

Check out this guide to understand differences between build types on /e/OS

/e/OS website and social media Links

Support

  • Facing issues with devices you purchased from us ? Send a mail with details to helpdesk@e.email

Websites

Telegram Channel

Social Media

Newsletters

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

10 Likes

Latest one for ginkgo is still 1.11

Hi @Manoj,

What’s the update of Bliss Launcher ? Possibility to create widget on the homescreen ? Moving app in folders ? Other things ?

Thanks

A link to the 1.14 feedback topic somewhere prominent would be useful, too, I think.

1 Like

Hello @Manoj

For Gauguin, the latest stable update is 1.11.
The latest beta is 1.12. No beta available yet for 1.14.
Thanks for the follow-up.

Good point. Added a link in the initial post.

4 Likes

Same thing for lisa - still on 1.11

1 Like

Miatoll is also still on 1.11

2 Likes

These devices are also in the same situation : alioth, oneplus3, ginkgo.
Thanks

As there was no answer to this: Week 34, 2023: Development and Testing Updates - #5 by Undertaker

Could you please answer whether this can or will be addressed?

Guess I will have to try building it for ginkgo. Although all my attempts failed so far.

Let me check with the development team and get back on this.

1 Like

As of now these devices have been identified as having missed v1.14 and a few previous builds
lisa , gauguin , miatoll, alioth , oneplus3 , ginkgo , apollon
The team identified an issue with the a _variant issue as coming in from lineage. We are working on resolving it and releasing these builds.

Update: Expect the resolution to come with v1.15
Team has identified 14 devices which have this issue and are missing post v1.11 was released

Mi439 Mi8917 alioth apollon gauguin haydn kane kiev lisa lmi miatoll nairo nio onclite

7 Likes

Not on the original list but apollon was mentioned.

Added to the above list

Fix for the issue some FP4 users are facing with the updater crash post the v1.14 update

Through the console on an adb enabled PC

To clear updater storage

adb shell pm clear org.lineageos.updater
  1. open updater
  2. tap on refresh button

After clearing the updater cache storage the service should work again

or

settings > apps&notifications > see all xxx apps > (enable system apps from options) > Updater > storage & cache > clear storage > OK

The issue has been reported by a few users. At the same time the testing team was not able to reproduce it. This fix was tested on a user who reported this issue.

1 Like

Hi @Manoj,

Release notes for v1.14 seem incomplete:

  • Teracube 2e - emerald has received a S (Android 12) major upgrade (IMG-e-1.14.2-s-20230825321006-stable-emerald.zip). This shall be mentioned in the OS OTA upgrades paragraph.
    Something like Teracube: 2e / emerald: R(A11) → S(A12).

  • On top of that, Gael has posted on Mastodon a significant improvement on compatibility with most Android apps, which is also not listed.

Thanks for the feedback @christophe14 …shared the same with the team

Point #1 has been updated in the release notes
Point #2 the team is running some more tests on different devices and will have this incorporated in the release notes for v1.15

2 Likes

Hi. The last eOS version for the ginkgo (Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T) has been 1.11. Im wondering if support has been dropped.

Cheers, Volker

1 Like