The German company B1 Systems celebrates its 30th anniversary by giving away 30,000 Euro to social and open source projects. You can vote for UBports!
https://linux30.b1-systems.de
(Site in German language. After voting, you will receive an email. By clicking on the link you confirm.)
You can vote until 19th of October. That is upcoming Wednesday, so...
@CiberSheep said in Why no global BACK button/swipe motion?:
@cliffcoggin the tutorial shoould have started after selecting time zone, language, etc on the first run. If not, that's a bug: could you fill an issue here?:
https://github.com/ubports/unity8/issues
@CiberSheep & @NeoTheThird : there is a 'UT app' or Welcome app which, I believe, is installed by default. It has a menu with some useful links, but none of these point to a beginner tutorial. Could this be added?
@gt :
How to migrate all Axolotl messages to a new phone.
First a dummy guide which presumes a working screen and USB on the old phone as well.
Then a terminal guide (which I haven't tried, but more knowledgable people have).
Hope it helps! Kind regards, Alter
DUMMY GUIDE (NO TERMINAL)
Turn on flight mode
a. Put your old phone to Flight mode (switching all network off) by
clicking on the Network icon and pulling the Flight Mode slider;
b. Never put network on again, as only one instance of Axolotl can run
at any one time and it can mess up migration.
Backup the Axolotl-backup folder (and everything else you want to
keep) to your PC:
b. Attach the USB cord and connect it to your PC, preferably a USB2 port
as this works best;
c. Make sure your phone's screen is active so the PC can see the phone
(if not, enter your passphrase on the phone to unlock the screen);
d. From your PC, you can now see and copy the Axoltl-backup folder and
all its contents to your PC.
e. Same goes for all other items you'd like to keep, like any other
backupped hidden folders and Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos
Install Axolotl on new phone
a. Install Axolotl app on new phone without opening it to do setup;
Copy backup to new phone in flightmode
a. Put the Axolotl-backup folder in the Documents folder on your new phone;
b. Copy each old textsecure folder in there to the appropriate hidden
folder it was in;
c. Once done, open Axolotl on new phone and everything should be there
again.
Delete contents of old phone
a. Once migration is succesful, you can use System Settings > Reset
feature on the old phone to delete all contents.
TERMINAL GUIDE
Apparently (I haven't tried it) you can achieve same in Terminal. Short
explanation:
Hello everyone,
I am Alter, and I would describe myself as a regular user. Although I do not have any programming skills, I do have an interest in open source technology (I have been using Linux for over 10 years on my PCs now as my sole OS), security and privacy.
I do not like the duopoly of Android and iOS, and the fact that big tech companies all use data mining technologies to spy on their users to build profile databases. I also regret the fact that it is hard to break out of this, as the mobile world is very app centric and standard apps are only available for the Big Two. I want change!
Especially because of the spying issue of the Big Two, I did not own a smartphone until recently, when I acquired a Nexus 5 on which I installed Ubuntu Touch. The available apps are sufficient for my daily use. There is still room for improvement, but considering that this comes from a (I guess) smaller community: I'm amazed!
I can use contact list, calling, text, Axolotl (end-to-end encrypted messaging via signal protocol), Morph webbrowser, photo app, galery, file manager, pdf, rotation lock, flight mode (and even choose wifi on), and there is more that I haven't tried yet. The installer is great (really smooth for me) and on RC you get weekly updates.
I am also very excited about the Linux Phone hardware developments that are currently going on: Librem Phone, Pinephone and Volla. I have ordered a Pinephone UBports Community Edition and am eagerly anticipating its arrival, and I hope that it will soon be daily driver ready! OTA updates already work, so that is a big step forward.
Although I do not have any programming skills, and don't have much time now to get involved in other ways, I did make a donation to UBports and plan to do so regularly.
Also, I will contribute to Ubuntu Touch by participating in this forum, if I feel my input can be of help.
In any case, I wish this endeavor great succes!
Kind regards,
Alter
Happy Holidays everyone and have a good 2021! Let's hope we can say goodbye to Covid-19 soon, and people can meet again without fear.
Also, I wish Ubuntu Touch a successful new year! Thanks to all developers for their hard work in 2020: Keep it up, your work is appreciated!
One way to maybe get more donations:
Promoting an option of recurring (monthly) donations prominently on the site and forum. Recurring donations only need one action from the supporter and from then on generate steady incoming cash flow (as long as not actively cancelled by the donor).
The site already has a Donate page, but it could be mentioned more prominently. Perhaps with a total monthly goal and status bar? I think it would help if there is some explanation why donations are needed, what kind of things are funded with the money. The recent thread about our adblocker app is an example of what things cost to keep running, and response also shows that not everyone is aware. Maybe also specific projects could be highlighted for people to donate to, just like was done with Waydroid where funding was succesful.
@007fred50 : I will give my feedback here.
If your intentions are only good, things have to be presented better! The voting link looks creepy, so I won't click on it. But also the app's name, page on OpenStore and what you tell here is vague. And also information doesn't match.
From your explanation on this thread, your app (which is actually more than an app) is intended for large companies like Whatsapp. Those companies don't want to share source code of their apps, but they might want to publish closed versions.
If this is your goal, OpenStore already covers that. Although it promotes use of open source, it already accepts proprietary apps. Why create a new store and add fragmentation to the UT landscape?
Those companies don't even publish on the OpenStore, so why would they do this on a smaller store with only one maintainer, who also says he needs to approve every app first, and therefore needs to look at the source code? Doesn't make sense.
If companies won't use your new app store, it is only relevant for people with coding skills, who don't want to reveal the source code of their home-made app to users. Now, why would a home coder want to hide their code? In my opinion, your new store will then become a tool to create and spread malware.
As I do not see any sane purpose for this app, I would prefer to not have it on OpenStore anymore.
@flohack : I understand that the move to 20.04 is a number 1 priority, and that there are no volunteers with dev skills who can work on VoLTE support now. But VoLTE support seems to qualify for a shared number 1 prio. If UT doesn't offer VoLTE soon, at least part of its users will have to leave UT because of their network providers switching off 2 & 3G (and sooner or later this will be the case everywhere). I guess all alternative mobile OS'es are facing the same challenge and need to find a solution a.s.a.p. Wouldn't it be possible to set up a 'consortium of alternative mobile OS'es' to work on a solution (for VoLTE, and maybe e-sim and other challenges too) together? And if there are no volunteer devs, perhaps start a funding campaign to hire devs. I saw that Redhat also offers software solutions to providers to offer VoLTE. Maybe such a company would be a good partner? Also, a 'consortium' could perhaps persuade phone manufacturers to cooperate in development, because the combined OS'es together represent a bigger user group than they would alone.
I am very much hoping for more development of Axolotl (Signal client).
It is my most used app.
Sending and receiving one photo per message goes fine, text too.
I cannot however send multiple photos in one message.
I cannot receive multiple photos in one message, it then only shows 1 photo of the batch multiple times.
I cannot save/export received photos/messages.
Some messages are not delivered to me, if it contains other content.
This may sound very negative, but it's not intended to be.
I understand development takes a lot of time, but Axolotl is an important app for me. Hopefully it will get more development soon.
@ubportsnews On the new devices page https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/ (which is very nice by the way!) the Nexus 5 and One Plus One are still labeled as Promoted. In the last Q&A, they were mentioned as devices which may be left behind when the move to 20.04 is made. Is it still wise to encourage newcomers to buy these devices? And which future-proof devices are the most mature and daily driver ready? Pinephone is still in early development from what I understand, and not for sale atm anyway.
@lakotaubp : what @Mario-CH is saying is that if we want an open source OS and fill it to the brim with closed source apps, it becomes again like the rest of the OS'es that we try to escape from and it defeats the whole point of having UT. That doesn't mean that a closed source banking app shouldn't be welcomed (if a bank would make it), but we should in general not promote closed source. Especially if made by home developers. Big companies (like a bank) have lots of payed developers to ensure safety of their proprietary apps. You decide if you want to use the app based on trust you have in the company. A home developer doesn't have a team of coders, and their app will benefit from being open source, so others can check & correct code. Also, mal/spyware will be prevented.
@totalsonic : sad to hear that 3G is nearing its end in the US very soon, and you might have to temporarily leave UT as daily driver because of currently still missing VoLTE support in UT. I can understand you don't want to leave, and hope you won't have to!
SIP sounds like a possible workaround. I couldn't find the UT Linphone app you mentioned in OpenStore, though. Where did you find it? And how would you set up? Do you connect your IP landline telephone number? But Linphone app needs to get UDP.
I guess other mobile Linux OS'es will also have same issue with ending 3G support in the US. If that is the case, maybe a team across different OS'es could work on VoLTE or a (temp) SIP based workaround together? Or perhaps this is already happening.
Maybe you can ask a UT core dev about it.
Even though I'm not living in your part of the world, and am currently in the fortunate situation to have 2-5G in my country, I feel your pain and would be glad to donate for the development of VoLTE or an alternative for UT that keeps US users aboard!
If I would have dev skills myself, I'd love to contribute. Alas, that is not something I can offer 
@mariogrip : I noticed a new font color scheme on the forum today. Standard text appears greyed-out and topics and banners/buttons are red. Is this the new look from now on? I must say I find the old font colors easier on the eye and better legible. Is it possible to get back the old style? The old style was also more similar (if not the same as) Ubuntu's.
@Charly : Volla/Hallo Welt do not operate this forum, this is done by volunteers from the Ubuntu Touch community. It may be that your question just escaped the attention of one of the forum wizards.
@bolly I'm writing this on my new Volla Phone. I decided to go for it and order one with the 5% discount 
@opolork : I believe you can combine 1 mobile and 1 desktop Signal instance. You cannot combine several mobile instances, as starting 1 would deactivate the other.
If you want to communicate with Signal users, Axolotl on your UT phone is enough. You don't need another phone app or desktop app for that.
Axolotl is not as feature-rich as the official Signal app yet, but I am happy with it.
Best place to ask Signal / Axolotl related questions is on the official Axolotl-dev Telegram group, link is on the Axolotl.chat website.
@quget : which channel are you on? If RC,
I have a Volla Phone on RC and have noticed more problems since about the start of this month (last 3 OS updates, although I just installed latest version and haven't tested that one properly). There is already a thread on the issue. Freezes, restarts are what I see. It is annoying, but not to a point that it's unusable.
Will try the lock - unlock screen to check if it works when I have a freeze (until now, I closed-opened app)
@bolly : Sorry, I thought you were involved with that. Missed the part about it being tribute to Dalton, which was in the original blog post, thanks for the link! Of course, Dalton deserves a tribute for all he has done for Ubuntu Touch, and I have huge respect for him, and I'm sure he is better with words than me. I will therefore not open a new thread. The community will choose a campaign. I hope it will be a great success!
I have a Nexus 5 with UB Touch and have had no problems with the OS or core apps since I started using it about 6 months ago. Sure, there are always things that can be improved. But, in my experience it runs very stable. I think the post title “nexus 5 not stable” is not correct. On my phone, camera switches flawlessly from photo to video and back. I don't see any flaws there. I do see YT videos stutter when played in a higher definition, I don't know why, but if it's browser/ OS related I'm sure it will improve over time. I think developers are doing a great job.
@Bramble Thanks for your reply, good to know it isn't software related! Hope replacing battery will be easy and your Nexus 5 will be good as new!