Jolla Releases Early Build of #SailfishForAndroid on Nexus 4

Earlier this weekend, I got an email that was sent to “early adopters” of Sailfish for Android. Currently, this in-development build is only for the Nexus 4, but a release will be coming soon for the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G.  Jolla will also publish a Hardware Adaptation Development Kit (HADK) in the next few weeks, that will allow Android devices supporting CyanogenMod 10.1 to have a Sailfish OS port created. (This is something I am really excited about, given I have a Nexus 5, with a Galaxy S5 on the way.)

Pre-production release watermark can be seen. Courtesy of @MarianoFlotron

As it is an early release, don’t do this unless you are happy to accept responsibility if something goes wrong.

Below is a copy from the email. Instructions are below that.

Dear early adopter of SailfishOS for Android devices.

We're kicking off today by publishing the first Early Adopter Release of 
SailfishOS (1.0.4.20) for Nexus 4 (mako) to early adopters. Please make 
sure to read this whole e-mail through.

Later we'll be publishing images for Samsung Galaxy S III LTE (i9305) 
and we'll be delivering updated images as we go along for each device as 
hardware support improves. This is just the beginning.

We are also working on the SailfishOS hardware adaptation development 
kit, which describes how to port SailfishOS to existing CyanogenMod 10.1 
devices. Later versions of CM will be supported eventually. We'll 
publish the HADK in the next few weeks if everything goes well.

This installation image is for early adopters only, meaning we know that 
some things are not functional or perhaps even broken -- please see 
release notes below. We think it's worth sharing already now to get all 
of you properly included in the early stages of the project.

We want to build a community around SailfishOS for Android devices that 
is based on mutual trust and respect for what we are all doing. Hence -- 
we ask that whenever you do screenshots, videos, forum or blog posts 
(and we're happy if you do!) or the like, you emphasise that this is an 
under-development snapshot and not a final product release.

It is important for Jolla that the correct expectations are set for 
those who might be users of the final product -- and that they 
understand what they see is not a released product.

WARNING: Modifying or replacing your device’s software may void your 
device’s warranty, lead to data loss, hearing loss, hair loss, financial 
loss, privacy loss, security breaches, or other damage, and therefore 
must be done entirely at your own risk. No one affiliated with this 
project is responsible for your actions but yourself. Good luck.

Installing Sailfish

To install this release of SailfishOS on a Nexus 4 device:

* Install adb and fastboot
a. Debian/Ubuntu: apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
b. Fedora: yum install android-tools
c. Mac OS X: Install Homebrew from http://brew.sh/, then: brew install 
android-platform-tools
d. Windows: See http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Doc:_fastboot_intro for 
instructions

* Install Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) to your Nexus 4
a. Instructions here: 
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#instructions
b. Download links can be found here: 
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occamjdq39

* Download CyanogenMod 10.1.3 for your Nexus 4
a. The file you want to download is cm-10.1.3-mako.zip
b. Download links can be found here: 
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_mako

* Download the SailfishOS for Android image for "mako"
a. The file you want to download is 
http://releases.sailfishos.org/sfa-ea/sailfishos-mako-release-1.0.4.20-EA1.zip

* Install CyanogenMod 10.1.3 on your Nexus 4
a. Follow the instructions at: 
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_mako

* After flashing the "cm-10.1.3-mako.zip" file, flash the SailfishOS 
.zip file in the same way ("on top of it")
* Reboot bootloader, SailfishOS should boot and be visible

Removing Sailfish

If you want to go back to normal CyanogenMod:
a. Boot into recovery mode
b. Choose "Wipe data / factory reset"
c. Flash cm-10.1.3-mako.zip (or a stock image)

Known Issues/Release Notes

* We have a subtle watermark underneath the UI at all times stating 
"SailfishOS development software" "This is not production quality". 
Developer mode is activated at all times.
* Modem and related functionality works, 3G data, SMS but no call audio 
(comes in next release). There has been no throughout testing of 
telephony related functionality (roaming, airplane mode, data counters, 
etc) and any use of this functionality is at your own risk.
* Sensors, Device clock/alarms, Reset device, Bluetooth, USB control + 
MTP, Bluetooth, WLAN hotspot, Camera (photography, video recording), and 
video playback is not supported in this release.
* Jolla account / Store is removed from the image due to problems with 
registering with Jolla infrastructure.
* The image SW is not currently upgradeable, nor is any typically 
licensed multimedia codecs (MP3, etc), HERE maps, Android application 
compatibility layer, or word prediction for virtual keyboard preinstalled.
* After returning from suspend, UI may be slow for a moment. It is not 
possible to double-tap to wake up the device. Power button may fail to 
wake device at times, check if you are covering the proximity sensor. 
Powering off device puts it into a state of deep slumber; possible to 
get out of by holding power button and volume down key with a bit of 
persistence.
* Fingerterm applications may fail to launch during first attempts.
* FPS drop while scrolling in homescreen due to non-batching when 
rendering of application icon grid
* Icons/graphics appear unproportionally small in browser toolbar, time 
select widget, and Settings favourite icons
* Multiboot / multirom is not supported currently

Photos courtesy of MarianoFlotron

Category: Android, Jolla, Linux, Nokia, Qt, Sailfish OS