I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290

flohack

@Tellina It might need a wipe of all partitions with TWRP before you try, maybe the installer hit smth it could not understand. But good that you tried a 2nd time lol

jojumaxx

@Tellina

Could you list the single steps you did to get UT installed on the GS 290? I got one, too and would love to run UT on it.

Unlock bootloader
Go with the installer
If it comes to "Yikes" you did exactly what?
4 ...?

Could you give the commands you used?

What kind of code is "GS290000000521"?

Is it necessary to initially delete partitions (did that on the Meizu Pro 5, wasn't fun though)?

Thank you!

A Former User

@jojumaxx

Hi, long time ago and I was totally stressed.

With Android I enabled developer mode & allowed USB debugging. Connected the phone via USB to my PC.

I unlocked bootloader in adb, (./fastboot flashing unlock).
Started the UT installer
Choose manually the device "VollaPhone"
When it came to "Yikes"
I had the options on the phone to: reboot, take ubuntu actions or android actions.
-> This was an endless loop, because even to reboot ended up always here.
Not sure I think I made a factory reset. (But I think this is not necessary.)
Started again on my PC : ./adb reboot bootloader
Started again the UT installer (phone connected with usb cable to the PC, selected manually the VollaPhone).
And the processing went fine.

"GS290000000521"? I assume it is the serial number of my phone or do you have the same?

Ok?

jojumaxx

@Tellina Thanks! I'm gonna try that!

Happy_Penguin

Hi everybody,

I am glad I just found this thread, because I happen to know a GS290 that would like to switch to UT.
So how are things - did the installation via the installer work for you, and how "complete" is the port to the GS290? Anything serious missing, or already suitable as a daily driver?
Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks a lot in advance for sharing your advice and experiences.

A Former User

@Happy_Penguin said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

Hi,
please define:

Anything serious missing?
Suitable as a daily driver?

I´m using it as daily driver & I like it. Check out this for the current issues:
https://github.com/HelloVolla/ubuntu-touch-beta-tests/issues

Cheers,
T.

Happy_Penguin

@Tellina said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

@Happy_Penguin said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

Hi and thank you for your reply.

please define:

Oops, sorry, you are right ... that was a little generic.

Anything serious missing?

(If my GS290 is indeed the same beast as the Volla phone, my questions have already been answered elsewhere and no reply is necessary, but for completeness sake bear with me ...)

... like

reliably working phone calls in acceptable quality
internet via mobile data and Wifi
camera (photo / video)
browser
GPS navigation
multimedia support (MP3, MP4, MKV, ...)
push messages via any of Whatsapp (in Anbox), Signal (Axolotl or in Anbox), Fluffy (for Matrix), TELEports (for Telegram)
audio / video calls using messengers (or Jitsi)
ssh
...

Suitable as a daily driver?

As in e.g.:

no spontaneous reboots
no hang-ups that require reboot (at the most inconvenient moments, naturally )
battery lifetime of at least a day for normal use

I´m using it as daily driver & I like it.

Glad to hear that - and hoping I will be saying the same, soon.

Check out this for the current issues:
https://github.com/HelloVolla/ubuntu-touch-beta-tests/issues

Does that imply the GS290 is the same hardware as the Volla phone (other than the larger battery of the latter)?
If so: Has anyone tested dual-booting on the GS290, which seems to work for the Volla?

And (first things last ) : Has somebody else been successfull installing UT on the GS290 using the UT installer and the steps you outlined?

A Former User

@Happy_Penguin
Hello, hm can´t make statements about hardware details. Core is surely the same, otherwise major issues would exist, maybe the battery differs or color. But honestly IDK.

You can ask jojumaxx about the experience, maybe I was just lucky.

Your points:
This is working (more or less) see issue link to get the latest status
reliably working phone calls in acceptable quality
internet via mobile data and Wifi
camera (photo / video)
browser
multimedia support (MP3, UT Q&A)

No experience/ interested in:
GPS navigation
push messages via any of Whatsapp (in Anbox), Signal (Axolotl or in Anbox), Fluffy (for Matrix), TELEports (for Telegram)
audio / video calls using messengers (or Jitsi)
ssh

Haven´t seen this during the last 8 weeks:
spontaneous reboots
hang-ups that require reboot
battery lifetime of at least a day for normal use

Battery depends on how the phone is used. Checking frequently mails, with or without WiFi, Data, BT, ... I think they improved the power management.

No clue about dual boot, pls tell us more.

But bear in mind, even camera, phone etc is working, it will take some more time to fix the issues in the details. You do not have a zoom, you do not have reliable carrier registration nor international roaming & can´t adjust the volume while calling.
UT is on a very good way but still not there yet.

Update: (version 2020-10-14/2, dev channel)

Flashlight is working with camera.
Zoom function is now available.
Carrier registration national and international has been fixed.

Happy_Penguin

@Tellina said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

@Happy_Penguin

Tellina,

thank you very much for your response and all the details.

Hello, hm can´t make statements about hardware details. Core is surely the same, otherwise major issues would exist, maybe the battery differs or color. But honestly IDK.

Since the UT version for the VP seems to be running OK on the GS290 (from what I read here), I would expect they cannot be too different.
Or, the other way round: As long as the VP-UT-version makes my GS290 happy, I don't care.

You can ask jojumaxx about the experience, maybe I was just lucky.

Yes, I hope he will tell us about how it went for him.

Your points:
This is working (more or less) see issue link to get the latest status

Impressive.

No experience/ interested in:

Some of these things need to work (if not all), if UT is going to be used as an "official" OS on the VP, I think. So, as you say below: WIP.

Haven´t seen this during the last 8 weeks:

That's very good news.

Battery depends on how the phone is used. Checking frequently mails, with or without WiFi, Data, BT, ... I think they improved the power management.

Well, I carry a power cord with me most of the time (or a powerpack) anyway. And since I don't play resource-heavy games on the phone ...

No clue about dual boot, pls tell us more.

Don't know details either, only read somewhere that there is someone working on dual booting the VP. There seems to be a working alpha out even ... I think it was the "Android-Boot-Manager" from
[edit]
Had a URL here and got "Error Post content was flagged as spam by Akismet.com" - are URL not allowed in postings? Well, a decent search engine should find it on github.
[/edit]

But bear in mind, even camera, phone etc is working, it will take some more time to fix the issues in the details. You do not have a zoom, you do not have reliable carrier registration nor international roaming & can´t adjust the volume while calling.

So for a while I would continue carrying a second phone as my primary dd. I am quite used to that by now.

UT is on a very good way but still not there yet.

I have experienced its beginnings in 2013/14, gave it up when Canonical did and am glad to see that it is still alive, kicking and growing with UBports now. So maybe it is time to jump aboard again, and my GS290 seems to be a good candidate for testing.
And this community here seems nice and supportive, so I think I will give it a try.

Happy_Penguin

@Flohack said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

@Tellina It might need a wipe of all partitions with TWRP before you try, maybe the installer hit smth it could not understand. But good that you tried a 2nd time lol

Is there a TWRP for GS290?
Could not find one on https://twrp.me/Devices/ ...
Would be nice to have before installing UT on my phone to backup the current system and configuration first, in case I want to go back to it later for some reason.
Or how did you backup before UT-install ... if at all?
How would you go back to stock Android (did not find a LineageOS for GS290 either)?

A Former User

@Happy_Penguin
Well, I never had a desire to go back to Android. So I did not cared for a backup at all.
I don´t have much knowledge about porting but I think there must be a LineageOS for GS as per my incompetence it is the source for ports. And there are many ports with status WIP these days for GS290, one from postmarketOS and /e/ as well.
Nope, never used TWRP. Like I said, maybe I made factory reset, but I think this was just for the wolf.

Happy_Penguin

@Tellina said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

Well, I never had a desire to go back to Android.

I would like to keep the Android around for dual booting. Just in case and for things like bank TAN generator apps ... while trying to keep the beast in check with firewall, Shelter etc.
Maybe even focus on understanding how to get the dual booting first and then keep UT as the secondary OS on a SD card?

So I did not cared for a backup at all.

With regard to backups I am more conservative, thinking it can never hurt to have one at hand.

I don´t have much knowledge about porting but I think there must be a LineageOS for GS as per my incompetence it is the source for ports.

I thought the ports are based on stock Android or AOSP?
Could not find a LOS for GS290 at their official site or elsewhere.

And there are many ports with status WIP these days for GS290

Could you please help me with a link or two? My search engine did not show me any.

one from postmarketOS

Could not find it there (https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices) ....

and /e/ as well.

...nor any GS290 on https://doc.e.foundation/devices/.
Any hint where you have seen these would be appreciated.

Or are you referring to the build for the Volla phone, since this has the same hardware as the GS290? Found mention of that for pmOS ... might be interesting as a tertiary multi-boot, as it gets a lot of work now due to the Pinephone.

Nope, never used TWRP.

Having that would solve my backup issue. Don't know if I want to try doing a dd.

Like I said, maybe I made factory reset, but I think this was just for the wolf.

If impatience wins I might yet follow in your steps ...

Thanks again and have a nice evening.

libremax

@happy_penguin said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

Could not find a LOS for GS290 at their official site or elsewhere.
Could not find it there (https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices) ....

and /e/ as well.

...nor any GS290 on https://doc.e.foundation/devices/.
Any hint where you have seen these would be appreciated.

/e/ for GS290 is available here: https://doc.e.foundation/devices/GS290/

Mattweickh

Hello Flohback

I have already tried to flash a Sony Xperia with Ubuntu Touch . I wored however GPS does not seam to work.
As a challenge I also purchased a Gigaset GS 290 for 129 Euro.
Now I would like to try the same with this Phone.
Does any one of you have a detailed description how to
-root
-back up via adb
-flash the G290 with UT
I would be very happy for your support
Thank you in advance for your support
Mattweickh

Mattweickh

@mattweickh said in I asekd at VollaPhone to purchase an image for GigaSet GS290:

Hello Flohback

I have already tried to flash a Sony Xperia with Ubuntu Touch . I wored however GPS does not seam to work.
As a challenge I also purchased a Gigaset GS 290 for 129 Euro.
Now I would like to try the same with this Phone.
Does any one of you have a detailed description how to
-root
-back up via adb
-flash the G290 with UT
I would be very happy for your support
Thank you in advance for your support
Mattweickh
By the way I do not use Windows nor Apple , only Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
so it should be taken into consideration, when replying

flohack

It was been already mentioned on this thread that we do not officially support flashing UT on the GS 290, the installer and the systemimage etc was only tested with the Vollaphone variant, and you can read this thread where I tried to make our point: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/4556/volla-phone-identical-to-gigaset-gs290/23?_=1623089223846 - Basically saying that we did not test the installer with GS 290, and you are on your own basically with that.

If we would start supporting that we also would be kinda liable for potentially broken devices, and also we do want Hallo Welt Systeme to support us in the future and not undermine their mission of creating a new phone experience.

So, yes, its possible, but please find the information from elsewhere but the official sources. Thanks.

BR Florian

Keneda

@mattweickh
You don't need to quote yourself, it will not make answer come faster.
If you read this thread carefully you'll get answer to your question.

Lakotaubp

This topic is done now and I for one do not want to rerun the discussion again. @Flohack last comment above closes the topic so I will now lock this thread. It will still be here for reference. Thanks in advance for your understanding.