Devices discontinued?

stanwood

@domubpkm Officially the Nexus 5 will not be ported to Focal because it runs on Halium 5.
The minimum level for Focal is Halium 9.

Although there are unofficial ROMs for the Nexus 5, up to Android 13 (example with this LineageOS 20 ROM https://www.getdroidtips.com/android-13-nexus-5/), we would need a new build of the Halium 9 kernel layer, then patches for Focal.

Currently I have no idea if a porter has taken on this task, but I don't think so, as Nexus 5 is not a core device anymore now.

cliffcoggin

@stanwood said in Devices discontinued?:

@domubpkm Officially the Nexus 5 will not be ported to Focal because it runs on Halium 5.

That news has been expected for the best part of a year, but not confirmed until now. Sadly it marks the end of my UT experience as there is no small phone alternative to Nexus 5.

Goodbye folks, and good luck with Ubuntu Touch.

domubpkm

@cliffcoggin Nothing currently to replace the small formats of the BQ E5 HD, BQ 4.5 and NEXUS 5 for focal. It is indeed a lack, but out of the question to say goodbye to UT in my case for that.

MrT10001

@domubpkm Don't forget Nexus 4, Samsung S3 Neo+ and I have UT running sort of on A Motorola Moto E2 (XT1524). I like the smaller devices too, but the market dictates.....

lduboeuf

@cliffcoggin said in Devices discontinued?:

@stanwood said in Devices discontinued?:

@domubpkm Officially the Nexus 5 will not be ported to Focal because it runs on Halium 5.

That news has been expected for the best part of a year, but not confirmed until now. Sadly it marks the end of my UT experience as there is no small phone alternative to Nexus 5.

Goodbye folks, and good luck with Ubuntu Touch.

XperiaX is rather small compare to others and focal compatible

MrT10001

@lduboeuf It is and has a very nice display too. However a word of warning about Sony devices (UK), all the ones that have passed through my hands (and I have thought, I want to see the UT logo on that) have been ineligible for bootloader unlocking and there is no way round it (thanks Sony).

RayCulp

@Moem said in Devices discontinued?:

If anyone abandons the Nexus 5, or any other device, that's the port maintainer, not the UBports devs

I'm wondering, is there one device at any given time that is always guaranteed to be compatible with UT? Something like a reference device. Or is UT developed completely separate from any particular device, and then ported independently by individual port maintainers?

arubislander

@RayCulp For some devices a port is commissioned and/or sponsored by the vendors. This is the case with the Volla phones and the Fairphone 4.
For other devices it is much more the case of, someone with that device and the know-how wanting to see UT on running on it.

Moem

@RayCulp That's a great question and I don't know the answer!

domubpkm

@MrT10001 https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover_5-10718.php seems good.

RayCulp

@arubislander said in Devices discontinued?:

For some devices a port is commissioned and/or sponsored by the vendors. This is the case with the Volla phones and the Fairphone 4.
For other devices it is much more the case of, someone with that device and the know-how wanting to see UT on running on it.

Ok, but then it seems counterintuitive that the Google Pixel 3a is at 100% completion while none of the Volla phones are 100%. Why is this? I mean, they're close, but still.

arubislander

@RayCulp Because some devices are ~~easier~~ less intractable to port than others, for various reasons.

RayCulp

@arubislander said in Devices discontinued?:

less intractable

Ok, makes sense.

RayCulp

@arubislander So, here's a user story (I'm role-playing here, not asking for myself): As a user, I'd like to buy a device that has the highest likelihood of receiving updates for at least the next five years. Is there a recommendation?

Moem

@RayCulp said in Devices discontinued?:

it seems counterintuitive that the Google Pixel 3a is at 100% completion

That one was ported by one of the core devs. They have only two hands (each), but they do find the time to port some devices, sometimes. It typically results in rather good and complete ports.

arubislander

@RayCulp near impossible to recommend, as 5 years include 2 LTS releases by Canonical for Ubuntu. And much, or hardly anything, can change in that time.

I would be inclined to say: one of the vendor supported ones (Volla, or, soon(tm), Fairphone). But as you mentioned, non-vendor supported devices could have even better support at any given point in time.

Continued support for any device boils down to the porter's willingness or ability to keep up the the effort needed. (Positive) user feedback and contributions (time, finances, code) go a long way in helping make this more probable, but life sometimes happens. And even vendor supported devices might not get 5 years of support in the interest of promoting their newer devices.

It also depends on the continued availability of the device. I bought a JingPad, because the Pixel 3a porter also is the one working on that device. And it is the best spec'ed tablet with the best UX experience on UT right now. But as the devices are hard to get by, I wouldn't expect this level of support to remain for the next 5 years. Especially since the OnePlus Tab seems to be a thing.

The Pixel 3a, on the other hand, I have high expectation of that device!

domubpkm

Probably when we have a really stable and efficient focal OTA, we will see a little more clearly on smartphones. It's too early at this point. As it stands, I think you can only bet on the Volla (due to a partnership) and the Fairephone 4 (maybe a partnership but not sure).