It appears Google has stopped publishing device-specific source code for Pixel phones
It appears Google has stopped publishing device-specific source code for Pixel phones
As noted by the news release from CalyxOS and Mastodon thread from GrapheneOS, Google did not release the Pixel device-specific source code alongside their Android 16 AOSP release like they usually do. I think many of us, including myself, are hoping this will be published in the near future, but considering they moved AOSP development behind closed doors earlier this year, it's more likely Google has stopped publishing this section or their code altogether, making development of custom ROMs for Pixel devices significantly more difficult. Sad news for the Android ecosystem, and for open source in general.
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the silver lining to all this - devs & users might start turning their attention to linux phones:
Are they ready for prime time? Because I'd love a Linux phone but it's sounds like it's be such a step back in usability. But perhaps that's a feature
Not even close from what I've seen, basic stuff doesn't work right.
Replying from Sailfish.
It's a mixed bag. VoLTE is required in Australia (no 2G or 3G anymore) and SFOS does support it so that's good, but for some reason calls are stuck on speakerphone as the earpiece speaker doesn't work. The GPS lock is quite slow. I also don't have working cameras, and every time I unplug the charger the phone reboots.
On the plus side, the Android app support is really good (though I still use native SFOS apps wherever possible, but for banking etc. its handy). I have no stability problems, its pretty rock solid bar for the charger issue. I've daily driven it since about October last year, and honestly if I could make private phone calls it would be perfectly fine for me.
I will note that community developed ports are available for other devices with potentially better hardware compatibility, but the Android app support is not included as it's proprietary (though Waydroid exists as an alternative) and VoLTE support is touch and go on other devices.
In regards to the slow GPS lock, is it possible to switch the location provider to beacondb?
Yeah I'm in AU so that isn't an amazing review. Hopefully they get there in a few years, I run Linux on desktop, servers and ebook reader and love it.
from my research these 3 are the most polished. (you also have mobian & postmarketos)
If you want something set up out of the box, I would buy the FLX or maybe sailfish.
(Ubuntu touch does not support encryption yet)
I believe both have android app support, but it does drain a bit more battery as its using waydroid.
Sailfish has Aliendalvik for android app support, it's proprietary. I've read good things about it: https://blogs.gnome.org/jdressler/2023/12/20/a-dive-into-jolla-appsupport/
Isn't SailFish a Russian outfit? Also, every time I've looked at their phones, they were either sold out or somehow unavailable. Are they still active?
No, AuroraOS is the Russian fork of Sailfish.
Sailfish was in kahoots with the developers of Aurora, but they split ties when Putin spat the dummy at Ukraine.
Personally I wouldn't buy a Jolla C2, but if you can get your hands on an Xperia 10 (working features vary by version, my 10 IV is not too bad but the 10 III is more polished) or a device supported by one of the better community ports, it's worth a go.