Week 43, Development and Testing Updates

Release Information

v1.16

Status: :green_circle: 24 Oct Release initiated

  • Release Notes will show up here once the release is initiated

  • Staggered release spread from 24 Oct to 7 Nov 2023

  • Build Feedback

Issues with the /e/OS T release in v1.15
  • Devices for which /e/OS T builds were released were missing recovery builds on v1.15.
  • This is important because additional partitions which were to be flashed before the actual flashing of the /e/OS T builds were to be included in the recovery zip files.
  • We regret this error on our part
  • The issue is to be resolved with the v1.16 release
An alternate method to get the partitions
  • Download latest release of payload-dumper-go (https://github.com/ssut/payload-dumper-go/releases) to the same directory (*) where you downloaded the /e/OS T build ZIP file

  • Open terminal and cd to (*) directory

  • Extract the zip file by running this command
    unzip e--s--dev-lemonadep.zip payload.bin

  • Here the example of the lemonadep file has been taken. Replace with the zip file of your zip

  • Extract payload-dumper-go by running this command tar xzvf payload-dumper-go_1.2.2_linux_amd64.tar.gz payload-dumper-go

  • now run ./payload-dumper-go -partitions -o dtbo,vendor_boot

  • Here the two partition files expected for this device dtbo and vendor_boot are mentioned

  • This method can be used as a temporary measure while the team resolves the issues with the builds and adds the partitions to the recovery zip file

FP5 sales and delivery started :new:

  • FP5 customers have started receiving the devices with /e/OS T starting from October 16, 2023
  • Sales in France started from October 16, 2023 mid day. Customers who are in the waitlist should get email notifications regarding this.

 

Upcoming milestones / Releases

Upcoming development :new:

Status : :green_circle: Testing and development

  • Updated version of the Bliss Launcher
    • Currently undergoing testing and code cleanup.
  • /e/OS browser will be updated to the latest chromium version. Team is working on adding some features to the interface
  • A tablet with /e/OS T. Tablet name will be shared once we have the go ahead from build team. The release is tied with the launch of the updated Bliss launcher. Release will be delayed and may not be in 2023
  • Easy Installer to be updated to flash /e/OS T builds.
  • GSI builds to be made to run on /e/OS T. As users may be aware the current GSI is on /e/OS Q.We will skip (Android 11) R and (Android 12) S and directly update the GSI to (Android 13) T.

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

v1.16 :new:

Status: :green_circle: Released

  • Download available here](https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/understand-and-use-gsi.html)
    • Sources available here
    • version is /e/OS Q (A10)
    • GSI OS version will next move to T or A13 skipping the R and S versions. Dates for development will be shared :new:
    • 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 …

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)
  • Teracube: emerald & zirconia : R (A11) to S (A12)
    • All OTA OS upgrades are on stable builds
Under Testing 🆕
  • Google Pixel ‘redfin’: S(A12) → T(A13) :new:
  • Samsung: Galaxy S9/9+ : Q (A10)→ R(A11)
  • Gigaset: GS290: R(A11) → S (A12)
    • 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

16 Likes

Can you tell us if the GSI integrates the OTA update function of the Phhuson GSIs, so that users can easily upgrade from release to release even on the GSI?

As I guess this was overlooked in the last threads, I’ll try again:

In Gael’s “roadmap 2023”-post we learned: “we are finally going to integrate the long-awaited voice recognition feature.”

Any news on that?

No immediate plans available. Would share details once I have some news to share.

2 Likes

OTA update is not integrated in the GSI to the best of my knowledge. Checking with the team if it is in the future plans.

3 Likes

Goot to know, thank you.

try sayboard (with florisboard)

1 Like

Thanks, will try that :slight_smile:

I plan to install /e/OS on Pixel 5 (redfin) with Android 13 (T) via Easy Installer.

Is the stable version of /e/OS (T) also coming this week ?
Is the update of the Easy Installer to be able to install /e/OS T close to completion ?

The stable builds should come along with v1.16
The development to upgrade EasyInstaller to flash /e/OS T is yet to start. Will share details as to when it is done.

5 Likes

I just now happened to notice that ota.ecloud.global/api/v1/FP3/dev has an e-1.15-t-20230917331436-dev-FP3.zip available … so, according to its date seemingly already built at the time of the comment.

Is this build there intentionally (= safe to install)?

1 Like

when I used this build a few weeks ago it force-rebooted quickly - not a build for the general public.

1 Like

It was mentioned that there would be vendor firmware included for T. I have a OnePlus 7T hotdogb and the /e/ OS install instructions say I need to flash to the latest vendor Android 12. Doesn’t 1.16 T include that? Also, the instructions say I need to unzip the Recovery file to get the dtbo and vbmeta files. How do I do that? Do I use payload dumper? If so, what are the instructions when using a Windows PC? Plus I didn’t think that payload dumper was needed once 1.16 T was released. Lastly does 1.16 T fix the touchscreen not working issue that has been reported many times on OnePlus devices?

The team broke up the issue we were facing into two

  • The recoveries which were missing for all the builds has been resolved. Now the correct recovery shows up for each build.

  • The part about the partitions required to show up for certain builds was fixed and merged, but due to the delay created in the builds these partitions would show up in the next release or v1.17 at present these builds are being tested

4 Likes

do you mean the * boot.img * dtbo.img should come out until v1.17? is there another way to get them? i am trying to install /e/ on a pixel 6a “bluejay” and i am getting stuck in fastboot, without those files i cant go into recovery mode

The partitions will not show up till v1.17 as per the updates from the build team. Exception to this are devices like the FP4 T build that now has the partitions required for its installation. The same will show up for the rest of the dev builds where required, by v1.17

2 Likes

Hi @Jiuik96 … you will see that the situation has rolled on from when I wrote this walkthrough last week. However you can try to use the method to collect boot.img | dtbo.img.
[Walkthrough] Extract eRecovery and boot images using payload-dumper-go

https://github.com/ssut/payload-dumper-go/#windows

2 Likes

An alternate method to get the partitions would be to download them from the LineageOS builds for the same device.
I know this is not the correct way but while we wait for the v1.17 to come out in 2 weeks, the partitions from LOS should be able to work for installing /e/OS T builds.

5 Likes

Does 1.16 T include the vendor firmware or will that be in 1.17 T as well? It’s been several weeks since that was originally mentioned so just asking for clarification.

1 Like

OK, so by way of clarification, currently even the manual installation of /e/OS (T) will not succeed without the additional steps described by @Jiuik96 and @aibd ?

The only thing that can be done is to wait for version 1.17 or downgrade the android version to 12 (S) and then install /e/OS (S) ?

Or Pixel 5 (redfin) as a stable device has the mentioned partitions just like FP4 ?