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PinePhone Review

drewdevault.com

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Re: PinePhone Review

#31

Post by userbinator »

livueta wrote: post #5

That's extremely exciting news! Working LTE? No blobs? "Holy shit!" is an understatement. Tangentially, what's an appropriate entry point for a reasonably capable C/C++/Unix systems programmer without prior mobile guts experience interested in working on software for this platform? I'm kind of assuming that'd be "grab a compatible device, clone postmarket, rtfm" but confirmation/pointers would be appreciated.

Note that unlike other typical smartphones, this one has the modem as a separate module, so "no blobs" really means more that the FW for it is not easily accessible; but it's obviously there and working.

Re: PinePhone Review

#32

Post by kop316 »

Avamander wrote: post #28
kop316 wrote: post #6

Drew (Or sircmpwn? Sorry I don't know how you prefer to be called) since I know you're on here, if I may ask: - What provider are you using? - Is it VoLTE that is working, or does it drop down to 3g for calls? - Does SMS work in LTE mode or do you have to drop it down to 3g? I have a Librem 5 birch, and from my experience in rolling my own Android AOSP version, that to get T-mobile to work with VoLTE, SMS/MMS with LT…

VoLTE requires carrier support unless some very clever hacks I'm unaware. I am pretty sure that's the case with PinePhone as well, meaning it will drop to 3G.

That's my assumption as well, I was just curious. Their latest post indicates that they are wokring on VoLTE:

https://www.pine64.org/2019/12/05/december-update-thank-you-...

Re: PinePhone Review

#33

Post by saagarjha »

monoideism wrote: post #15

"right now, there are very few people, perhaps only dozens, for whom this phone is the right phone, given the current level of software support." I think he greatly underestimates the number of people with the interest and ability to do this kind of work. If it's easily available, I'll probably get one and hack on it, and maybe contribute to some projects. And I'm far from something special or unusual.

Would you use it as your daily driver?

Re: PinePhone Review

#34

Post by swiley »

kop316 wrote: post #6

Drew (Or sircmpwn? Sorry I don't know how you prefer to be called) since I know you're on here, if I may ask: - What provider are you using? - Is it VoLTE that is working, or does it drop down to 3g for calls? - Does SMS work in LTE mode or do you have to drop it down to 3g? I have a Librem 5 birch, and from my experience in rolling my own Android AOSP version, that to get T-mobile to work with VoLTE, SMS/MMS with LT…

Honestly I'd be happy with just 2g and no mms at this point.

Re: PinePhone Review

#35

Post by swiley »

kop316 wrote: post #8
livueta wrote: post #5

That's extremely exciting news! Working LTE? No blobs? "Holy shit!" is an understatement. Tangentially, what's an appropriate entry point for a reasonably capable C/C++/Unix systems programmer without prior mobile guts experience interested in working on software for this platform? I'm kind of assuming that'd be "grab a compatible device, clone postmarket, rtfm" but confirmation/pointers would be appreciated.

I hate to temper your excitement a little bit (I am excited too!), but I am not a bit surprised that LTE data works. Calling and SMS/MMS over LTE (for T-Mobile USA) are two things that at least that as of today, you need proprietary libraries to have it function on Android, and likely don't work on the Pinephone. I strongly suspect that other USA carriers will have the same issue (I say that because there are additio…

Well screw T-Mobile then honestly. This in addition to their (from what I understand) abuse of the FCC TV white space database kind of undoes any goodwill they had in my mind.

Re: PinePhone Review

#38

Post by lern_too_spel »

pjmlp wrote: post #18
monoideism wrote: post #15

"right now, there are very few people, perhaps only dozens, for whom this phone is the right phone, given the current level of software support." I think he greatly underestimates the number of people with the interest and ability to do this kind of work. If it's easily available, I'll probably get one and hack on it, and maybe contribute to some projects. And I'm far from something special or unusual.

The countless commercial failures of such projects since OpenMoko proves otherwise.

Openmoko sold 13000 phones, which is much more than "dozens." Commercial failure does not necessarily mean you can fit all the customers in a room.

Re: PinePhone Review

#39

Post by kop316 »

swiley wrote: post #35
kop316 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate to temper your excitement a little bit (I am excited too!), but I am not a bit surprised that LTE data works. Calling and SMS/MMS over LTE (for T-Mobile USA) are two things that at least that as of today, you need proprietary libraries to have it function on Android, and likely don't work on the Pinephone. I strongly suspect that other USA carriers will have the same issue (I say that because there are additio…

Well screw T-Mobile then honestly. This in addition to their (from what I understand) abuse of the FCC TV white space database kind of undoes any goodwill they had in my mind.

I don't know if it's just T-Mobile doing that. I've never tried using AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint with a purely AOSP (only compiled using the instructions on Android's website, not also including other proprietary blobls) or with my Librem 5, so I don't know if this is a T-Mobile only thing, or if it's industry wide.

Re: PinePhone Review

#40

Post by kop316 »

swiley wrote: post #34
kop316 wrote: post #6

Drew (Or sircmpwn? Sorry I don't know how you prefer to be called) since I know you're on here, if I may ask: - What provider are you using? - Is it VoLTE that is working, or does it drop down to 3g for calls? - Does SMS work in LTE mode or do you have to drop it down to 3g? I have a Librem 5 birch, and from my experience in rolling my own Android AOSP version, that to get T-mobile to work with VoLTE, SMS/MMS with LT…

Honestly I'd be happy with just 2g and no mms at this point.

It doesn't bother me, don't get me wrong, I'm just curious. You have to start somewhere! I am really excited to see both this and the Librem 5 get off the ground.
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