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diff --git a/_posts/2024-12-17-postmarketos-first-impressions.md b/_posts/2024-12-17-postmarketos-first-impressions.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38d5e9b --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2024-12-17-postmarketos-first-impressions.md @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +--- +layout: post +title: 'PostmarketOS: Some impressions (and solving a QMI Protocol Error)' +lang: en +categories: tech +date: 2024-12-17 18:00 +0100 +--- +During another day when I had nothing else to do, somemow "PostmarketOS" came +to my mind again. I checked the website and noticed in the "Supported Devices" +that I actually own one of them, an old OnePlus 6T. + +The web flasher didn't work under my Chromebook with Chromium under Puppy +Linux. Something along the lines of "unable to open device" in the developer +console. Maybe related to the fact that Chromium probably shouldn't be run as +root? (The device was *detected* anyway.) So I switched to my desktop PC to +flash it. That worked. (In the process the dtbo partition is deleted, so going +back to LineageOS requires a bit of an effort. Just a word of warning.) + +{% image +img="https://pics.uvokchee.de/_data/i/upload/2024/12/17/20241217164801-7c45d24e-me.jpg" +alt="A OnePlus 6T smartphone showing the PostmarketOS boot screen" %} + +One of the first things I noticed, I haven't been able to unlock my SIM card. +During the setup wizard, the UI was *simply crashing* when I tried. When I +tried unlocking the SIM card via the settings menu, I was always getting an +error + +> Couldn't verify PIN: QMI protocol error (3): 'Internal' + +Same as for the command line. In a [conversation with +@anderslund@expressional.social](https://furry.engineer/@uvok/113641361222749964) +I was actually able to solve the problem by swapping the SIM slot. Not sure if +it actually has to be done while the device is switched on, or if it would also +have worked if the device was turned off. However, mobile data doesn't work *at +all* (with 1und1 as a provider, in the network of Vodafone), although I set the +right APN, there's a red icon in the top bar over the mobile indicator, and I +get no network access whatsoever without WiFi. + +Anyway… For the UI, I tried out Phosh, Plasma Mobile and Sxmo. Of all these, I +liked Phosh best, but still, I don't like it *particularly*. I think I should +take a closer look into how to customize the keyboard. It seems kinda "cramped" +to me. But still, may daily driver smartphone is a Google Pixel with +GrapheneOS. So I actually have no real purpose for this, anyway. + +Right now, I'm listening to radio streams via "Shortwave". Previously, this +device was used for listening to Spotify. Kind of a "media device", if you will. + +Also, the rotate screen function appears way too sensitive. (There's probably a +setting for that). When I'm not careful, the UI sometimes fidgets back and +forth and is then "stuck" rotated by 90 or 270 degrees, and doesn't rotate back +when I hold the device upright, I have to rotate it to the other side first. +Very annoying. I think I'll simply switch off screen rotation. + +Overall, it's awesome such a project exist. I wouldn't trust it as a daily driver. +Yet. |