• Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Groups
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login
UBports Robot Logo UBports Forum
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Groups
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login

Pinephone as a daily driver: test report

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved OS
testingcrashesbugspinephone
41 Posts 7 Posters 10.7k Views 6 Watching
Loading More Posts
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • ? Offline
      A Former User
      last edited by 26 Sept 2020, 18:25

      Booting: from eMMC
      version 217 (development)

      This update seems to have fixed the issue of initiating calls with the Wifi on that I have experienced before. The phone is able to receive and initiate calls, even though the APN settings data is still inactive, but it does the job and it connects automatically, it restarts mobile data connection when Wifi its turned off, Morph browser is a lot more snapy to the point that I don't use webapps anymore since the browser does the text scaling hole better. The notifications works from Fluffychat and Teleports, led lights up during charging when screen turned off and shuts down when screen is on.
      I must say that Morph is amazing right now. You can watch a video on youtube and skip within an instant. Not the same on Lbry and Odysee though, but that's their problem.
      I must say that I'm delighted with this latest update that brings Pinephone closer to the average user. Until then, I'm still running it as a daily driver and continue so.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ? Offline
        A Former User
        last edited by 28 Sept 2020, 10:22

        Booting: eMMC
        version/channel: all

        After almost a week of switching channels and countless reboots, I can say that Pinephone is not ready to be used on a daily basis at this moment.
        The biggest issue, in my opinion, is the unreliable radio management, especially the calls handling.
        It cannot be used, even as a dumb phone, since that will leave the user unreachable via calling and he'll have no clue about this.
        The phone showed some promising results with the versions 217-218 (development), but is really hard to say exactly if it was just a coincidence or not. As with the version 219 and 220, the issue seems to have reappeared (if it was ever gone in the first place).
        If the other bugs are more or less important (from my point of view), the calling problem is a critical one.
        Unfortunately, I'll have to wait with my test until at least this problem is solved.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • G Offline
          Giiba
          last edited by 28 Sept 2020, 17:03

          I think part of the problem here is that the hardware side of things is largely not up to the UBports team.

          There is separate development happening on kernel and drivers; for example as I understand it, most of the power savings between the BraveHeart shipping and now have been down to developmets in the CRUST firmware, which is not being done by the UBports folk.

          The other trouble is that just because the development channel updates daily, doesn't mean that there are actually changes daily. When investigating the CI it seems there is only meaningful updates every few days (not to complian in any way) which seems to build a false expectation that something should be changing in the user experience daily. This just isn't true (I think).

          I've been using the Pinephone as a daily driver for a few months now (quirks and all) since I crushed my OPO. Things aren't perfect, but the changes since I started are significant.

          These daily test threads are bound to produce disapointment; however I remain very optimistic about the future of the Pinephone knowing progress is what it is.

          ? 1 Reply Last reply 28 Sept 2020, 17:22 Reply Quote 0
          • ? Offline
            A Former User @Giiba
            last edited by A Former User 28 Sept 2020, 17:22

            @Giiba Far from me to create false expectations. I just wanted to create a thread where we can share our daily experience with Pinephone. I'm not disappointed about it, quite the opposite. I'm sure that in a very short time the things will look far-far better, is just too much interest for this phone, from all sides. I just can wait for its success!

            G 1 Reply Last reply 29 Sept 2020, 22:45 Reply Quote 1
            • ? Offline
              A Former User
              last edited by 29 Sept 2020, 11:31

              As I didn't liked seeing my beloved Pinephone gathering dust on the table, I decided to give it a shot, who knows...and I'm glad I did.
              I have updated to the version 222 (development), tried with another SIM from another carrier (T-mobile). I was able to setup the APN in the cellular settings and what do you know: lo and behold! My baby is back and kicking. Wifi and mobile data works, switching between them doesn't crash the carrier.
              The small update 223 erased the previous APN settings and now I have 2: the "internet" APN that I set up before, and "default" (which came with the 223 update was now selected). I just deselect the "default" and selected "internet" instead, put the right info (APN, proxy, port etc. if needed), save, done!
              The phone is stable and reliable. Hope it remains so :smiling_face_with_heart-eyes:

              scrat.jpg

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • G Offline
                Giiba @Guest
                last edited by 29 Sept 2020, 22:45

                @C0n57an71n I didn't mean to imply you were spreading disapointment, and appologize it seemed that way. More that in trying to do a daily test, when we have no idea if there has been meaningful changes, will result in the back and forth on results like you experienced. My track record is all over the place; some days the phone works flawessly, other not at all, some I swear it is being spitefull and failing only when I need it t work 😝.

                ? 1 Reply Last reply 30 Sept 2020, 08:38 Reply Quote 0
                • ? Offline
                  A Former User @Giiba
                  last edited by A Former User 30 Sept 2020, 08:38

                  @Giiba For some reason, the cellular settings keeps changing my APN from LTE to Internet and that's what is crashing the mobile data and cell connection. I decided to run on 2G/3G only and see how it goes. I have data and calls, the question is how stable it is. The other good thing is that this workaround will solve the + and 00 issue (on 3G, calling a number that starts with + works normal).

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • D Offline
                    domubpkm
                    last edited by domubpkm 10 Jan 2020, 06:27 1 Oct 2020, 06:24

                    @C0n57an71n is the screenshot button in the power menu in dev? I didn't see it in the last RC. If so, have you tested it?

                    https://github.com/ubports/unity8/pull/329

                    ? 2 Replies Last reply 1 Oct 2020, 07:01 Reply Quote 0
                    • ? Offline
                      A Former User @domubpkm
                      last edited by 1 Oct 2020, 07:01

                      @domubpkm I haven't seen it and now I'm on stable. I will switch the channel and have a look.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • ? Offline
                        A Former User @domubpkm
                        last edited by 1 Oct 2020, 07:18

                        @domubpkm It's not implemented, yet (latest dev version 226).

                        D 2 Replies Last reply 1 Oct 2020, 07:21 Reply Quote 0
                        • D Offline
                          domubpkm @Guest
                          last edited by 1 Oct 2020, 07:21

                          @C0n57an71n ok. Thank you. And sorry for the switch : i thought you was always in dev !

                          ? 1 Reply Last reply 1 Oct 2020, 07:22 Reply Quote 0
                          • ? Offline
                            A Former User @domubpkm
                            last edited by 1 Oct 2020, 07:22

                            @domubpkm Nothing to be sorry, I am back-and-forth with switching channels anyways 🙂

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • O Offline
                              OhneZ
                              last edited by 16 Oct 2020, 21:42

                              Hello, are there any news about stability ?
                              I have read the camera is now GPU accelerated.
                              Is there a stable channel or should I stay in the dev channel ? Ok it takes some time until my Pinephone arrives and I hope that the development will progress until then.

                              With kind regards
                              Steffen

                              ? 1 Reply Last reply 17 Oct 2020, 08:36 Reply Quote 0
                              • D Offline
                                domubpkm @Guest
                                last edited by 17 Oct 2020, 08:23

                                @C0n57an71n !
                                https://github.com/ubports/unity8/pull/329

                                screenshot20201017_101629125.png

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • ? Offline
                                  A Former User @OhneZ
                                  last edited by 17 Oct 2020, 08:36

                                  @OhneZ No, there is no improvement, on any channel.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • D Offline
                                    domubpkm
                                    last edited by 8 Jan 2021, 14:40

                                    It is the first time i try to test pinephone with a SIM card (only wifi before).

                                    BUT my SIM card is not detected at all. Yes my pinephone must be updated. I will do

                                    BUT i want to be sure how the SIM card must be in its slot. tips for getting in and out the sim card ?
                                    could I have one or two photos of the SIM card correctly positioned in its slot. Thank you in advance.

                                    ? 2 Replies Last reply 8 Jan 2021, 14:43 Reply Quote 0
                                    • ? Offline
                                      A Former User @domubpkm
                                      last edited by A Former User 1 Aug 2021, 14:44 8 Jan 2021, 14:43

                                      @domubpkm Lower slot, contacts facing down.
                                      Edit: you need a Mini SIM Adapter,

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • ? Offline
                                        A Former User @domubpkm
                                        last edited by 8 Jan 2021, 14:49

                                        @domubpkm photo_2021-01-08_15-48-55.jpg

                                        D 1 Reply Last reply 8 Jan 2021, 15:37 Reply Quote 1
                                        • D Offline
                                          domubpkm @Guest
                                          last edited by 8 Jan 2021, 15:37

                                          @c0n57an71n Thanks it's ok for the SIM. Detected.
                                          As it must be 4 months since I haven't done an update, what is the best conf at the moment?

                                          ? 1 Reply Last reply 8 Jan 2021, 16:18 Reply Quote 0
                                          • ? Offline
                                            A Former User @domubpkm
                                            last edited by 8 Jan 2021, 16:18

                                            @domubpkm Each one has it's downsides, but I think the stable might be close to the daily driver as in this case the camera works. In the case of the kernel upgrade channel it seems more snappy, but the camera doesn't work. Calling (the modem more exactly) is the biggest issue right now and not just with UT. All the other distros seems to have this issue with calling.

                                            D 1 Reply Last reply 8 Jan 2021, 16:34 Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post