Call for testing FP3 (also for FP3+) config for UBports-installer

Oden · 7 Aug 2021, 21:27

I tried downloading the file you linked in your original post but for me, it only opens a new tab with text? Given my inexperience, I might not be the best to test this but I want to!

Luksus · 7 Aug 2021, 21:46

@oden just hit Ctrl+S to save that text file (FP3.yml) to a place at your computer. Then you "downloaded" it.

But I think you have an FP3+, no? In this case, just be warned, that camera modules (and also audio afaik) will not work with this version.

Oden · 7 Aug 2021, 23:15

@luksus Ah, fair enough. In that case, I'll wait. I do like taking pics after all.

Luke · 9 Aug 2021, 21:41

@luksus I would love to test the installer, but I truly need to keep my /e/ os installation working, because it's my main phone. Is it possible to "install" or "test" ubports beside /e/ os? Thanks in advance!

Luksus · 10 Aug 2021, 18:18

@luke perhaps you know that the FP3 is an A/B device. This means, it has two slots, where the same os is installed twice.

So you could use the installer to install UT with the android9 vendor img at the current slot, withiut wiping data. And maybe UT starts and works.
Then you could boot into fastboot/bootloader mode and switch to the other slot and boot eOS again.

But:
I don't know if UT works with eOS as base.
I don't know if UT works without wiping userdata.

The fastboot commands to get current slot and switch slot are:

fastboot getvar current-slot
fastboot --set-active=a
// or
fastboot --set-active=b

Then reboot. fastboot reboot.

Oden · 10 Aug 2021, 20:19

@luksus This is interesting. If you dont mind the question but why does it have/needs 2 slots and why does an OS need to be installed twice? Could this mean we could have a dual boot phone in the future?

Luksus · 8 Oct 2021, 22:16

@oden I think, this article describes it very well: https://source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/ab

And in theory, you could use it as an dual boot option.
But you may have issues with userdata partition, which exists only once, and maybe is encrypted, or each os need another format. For example, if you flash android on a phone, which was running UT before, it refuses to boot without reformatting userdata partition in most cases.

Keneda · 8 Nov 2021, 08:34

@Luksus
It is possible to dual boot, there is work out there and tutos on xda i believe.
There is even a native uTouch app to switch to alternative os directly from uTouch, available on the OpenStore : Switch My Slot.

https://open-store.io/app/switch-my-slot.shouko

Oden · 11 Aug 2021, 09:18

@keneda Thats really cool! I will look into it once I am back home. A dual boot would be a great advantage for those who are reliant on android apps.

Keneda · 8 Nov 2021, 18:51

@oden
As i don't own an a/b device i never went deep on how it works, so i would advice you to search and read about how it works and how to install, if possible on your device.

You should try to contact app dev too as he must know the how to quite perfectly.

There is high risk of messing it up, so be care

Oden · 11 Aug 2021, 10:33

@keneda Oh, absolutely. I will most likely just read about it. I just got to the point where I can use my FP3+ with UT daily and dont want to mess things up (just yet ).

As much as I am enjoying UT, I still need to use my work phone to use the Swedish ID app for a ton of things daily. A dual boot would mitigate such issues until Waydroid is fully working.

Krille · 12 Aug 2021, 07:15

Hey there. I can confirm that the installer works quiet well But the graphics seemed to be quiet sluggish for me on my FP3.

Oden · 12 Aug 2021, 08:18

@krille Hi there! If by sluggish you mean that there are "hiccups" or screen tearing, @Luksus mentioned to me in another post somewhere here in the Fairphone3 section where he explains why. Unless you have a different issue, of course.

Krille · 17 Aug 2021, 17:37

@oden Yes thats exactly the issue. Sorry I didnt knew the correct word for the problem I have searched for screen tearing and hiccups but havent found the problem in this forum

Luksus · 31 Aug 2021, 13:25

I updated the installer config.
Now it is needed to upgrade to Android 10 before installing Ubuntu Touch. (Or the other way around: it is no longer needed to downgrade to Android 9)

I will stop to maintain the Halium9 version in the near future.

unlink2 · 31 Aug 2021, 13:57

Am I correct in assuming that with Android10 being required we can test this on a FP3+ now?

Luksus · 31 Aug 2021, 14:26

@unlink2 yes, you are right

Kjetil · 17 Sept 2021, 20:01

I just tried the installer on a FP3+ tonight, and it worked
Before my install with the UBports-installer, I had tried to install using this guide: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/5373/fairphone-3-fp3-port
That was not successful, and left the phone without any working OS. In this state, I tried the new Ubports-installer, and all my troubles was gone ! Great work ! Thanks !

Luksus · 17 Sept 2021, 22:14

@kjetil great that it works now.
I assume, you did forget to flash the android 9 vendor image before?

Kjetil · 18 Sept 2021, 09:21

@luksus You are right: no flashing. I booted the vendor image to put the device in developer mode. Then I tried to install without the UBports-installer, but failed. The phone would not boot any image. Finally I tried the UBports-installer, and it installed, and worked !