[GNU/LINUX][3.4.0.24] Sailfish OS for Xperia Tama devices

[rinigus]

(as common on XDA, see below. work is released under MIT license)

#include <std_disclaimer.h>
/*
*
* We are not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
* before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at us for messing up your device, we will laugh at you.
*
*/

I am happy to announce a port of Sailfish OS to Sony Xperia XZ2. It is expected that this port would allow us to add support to XZ2 compact and XZ3 in a rather simple manner. As I have a single-sim device, that's the model its ported to first. To cover all six devices in Tama family, I may need some assistance from the owners. Please open an issue in the project's main repo to discuss specific model and what's needed to make it possible.

As this announcement is made at TMO and XDA, I will keep it short and avoid repetition.

Current features, state, download links: https://github.com/sailfishos-sony-tama/main/blob/master/README.md

The port was made possible thanks to the help from Sailfish porters (mal, piggz, deathmist, Mister_Magister,*vknecht, spiiroin) as well as Sony AOSP community (MartinX3, jerpelea, oshmoun,*Marijn,*kholk). And I suspect that I forgot someone, as very many contributed. Thank you very much!

I will be following on XDA and TMO. Please file issues centrally, at Github.

Sailfish OS, ROM for the Xperia XZ2

Contributors
rinigus Thaodan
ROM OS Version: 9.x Pie
ROM Kernel: Linux 4.x
Based On: AOSP

Version Information
Status: Stable
Current Stable Version: 3.4.0.24
Stable Release Date: 2020-12-03

Created 2019-11-24
Last Updated 2020-12-03

 

[MartinX3]

Holy ****, thank you!

Edit:
First!

Edit0:
Will you open redirection threads to this project in the XZ3 and XZ2 compact sections in XDA like I did, since it is for every tama device?
Otherwise the XZ3 and XZ2C users may not see it.

 

[rinigus]

Will do, its a good idea.

 

[ozamyatin]

XZ3 are here. Not bootable at the moment however. Just black screen after unlocked bootloader message. No sign of sony logo. Not sure if it even should be displayed btw

 

[rinigus]

XZ3 are here. Not bootable at the moment however. Just black screen after unlocked bootloader message. No sign of sony logo. Not sure if it even should be displayed btw

Great to hear that someone tried, thanks!

I have not made any images for XZ3 yet. So, which image did you flash?

To make XZ3 image, I need to know how partitions are organized on XZ3. As I don't have XZ3, interested user has to provide such list. Please upload list either here or at https://github.com/sailfishos-sony-tama/main/issues/41 - its expected that its the same for dual and single sim variants.

Command to generate the list is given at with example result

https://github.com/sailfishos-sony-tama/main/issues/38#issuecomment-558017361

You could run it via adb (Android full OS or TWRP). As soon as I have that list, I will need to compile base AOSP for XZ3, kernel, few other packages and will be able to make images (XZ3 single/dual).

Meanwhile I set up CI and other build envs. Soon, images for XZ2 dual and XZ2c (single/dual) are coming for testing. But that's a separate post later a bit.

 

[rinigus]

development builds for XZ2 and XZ2c variants

I am expanding a raster of devices with the images from Tama family. As mentioned above, XZ3 is
still missing mount points, hence its builds are not ready. However, as large fraction of the build if offloaded to the build servers, including generation of the images, it will be 'easy' to extend it to XZ3.

Currently, there are development builds for

- XZ2 single sim - release build is available as well and better use that
- XZ2 dual sim
- XZ2 compact single and dual

The images are available at https://thaodan.de/public/sailfishos/community/images/sony/tama/ (select appropriate device image, as based on its code https://developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-started/supported-devices-and-functionality). Thanks to Thaodan for providing server space!

I have not tested those images as mine is from earlier days. In particular, I am looking for feedback regarding

- whether images work on any of the devices. They do share the same vbmeta (see flashing instructions) which maybe a wrong assumption of mine.
- whether dual sim support works on dual-sim devices

In short, if you flashed it, please do report back. Even if its just report all is OK.

Boot sequence is as follows:

- screen regarding unlocked bootloader
- SONY logo
- white brighter led while on SONY logo
- white dimmer led while on SONY logo
- blank screen
- Sailfish greeting

Please note these are development images. If all works as intended (boots and functionality is as for XZ2 single sim), we will make new release images. The difference is in over-the-air update support - this is available to release images only.

 

[bartys]

Hi you did great job with this port. I installed it without problems and everything is working fine. Sailfish is beautiful and smooth but without android apps support i can't use it as daily driver.

 

[rinigus]

Hi you did great job with this port. I installed it without problems and everything is working fine. Sailfish is beautiful and smooth but without android apps support i can't use it as daily driver.

Thanks! Yes, Android support is missing. For myself, I found that live without Android apps is fine. For banking apps, and that's all what I have to use once in a while, I use another device. But your mileage may vary.

Would you mind telling which device did you test it on and which build did you use?

 

[bartys]

Thanks! Yes, Android support is missing. For myself, I found that live without Android apps is fine. For banking apps, and that's all what I have to use once in a while, I use another device. But your mileage may vary.

Would you mind telling which device did you test it on and which build did you use?

I used build from github on xperia xz2 h8216

 

[ozamyatin]

Great to hear that someone tried, thanks!

I have not made any images for XZ3 yet. So, which image did you flash?

To make XZ3 image, I need to know how partitions are organized on XZ3. As I don't have XZ3, interested user has to provide such list. Please upload list either here or at https://github.com/sailfishos-sony-tama/main/issues/41 - its expected that its the same for dual and single sim variants.

Command to generate the list is given at with example result

https://github.com/sailfishos-sony-tama/main/issues/38#issuecomment-558017361

You could run it via adb (Android full OS or TWRP). As soon as I have that list, I will need to compile base AOSP for XZ3, kernel, few other packages and will be able to make images (XZ3 single/dual).

Meanwhile I set up CI and other build envs. Soon, images for XZ2 dual and XZ2c (single/dual) are coming for testing. But that's a separate post later a bit.

Thank you for your great effort in making things clear. :good:
I tried to flash XZ2 version. Naive maybe
Followed your request to upload the partition scheme for XZ3. You might check it out on GitHub. Just in case, my hardware is XZ3 4GB/64GB Dual Sim akatsuki 9436.

 

[rinigus]

Thank you for your great effort in making things clear. :good:
I tried to flash XZ2 version. Naive maybe
Followed your request to upload the partition scheme for XZ3. You might check it out on GitHub. Just in case, my hardware is XZ3 4GB/64GB Dual Sim akatsuki 9436.

Thanks! Looks like mount points are the same as for other devices in Tama family. Now I will have to build AOSP and Sailfish components for XZ3. After that, images will be generated using CI and uploaded to the same server as development builds above. Give me couple of days and it will be ready for testing.

 

[rinigus]

New development builds are out covering all Tama variants. See https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=81060529&postcount=6 for instructions.

 

[ozamyatin]

New development builds are out covering all Tama variants. See https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=81060529&postcount=6 for instructions.

Ironically enough, after reflashing the right image files according to the instruction, the boot sequence for me is as follows:
- screen regarding unlocked bootloader
- SONY logo
- white brighter led while on SONY logo
- white dimmer led while on SONY logo
- no led while on SONY logo
- SONY LOGO for a lot of time
Stuck. What can be done for debugging such case on Sailfish?

 

[rinigus]

Ironically enough, after reflashing the right image files according to the instruction, the boot sequence for me is as follows:
- screen regarding unlocked bootloader
- SONY logo
- white brighter led while on SONY logo
- white dimmer led while on SONY logo
- no led while on SONY logo
- SONY LOGO for a lot of time
Stuck. What can be done for debugging such case on Sailfish?

Thanks a lot for reporting. There are ways to debug it, just will require some patience. Looks like Sailfish as such boots, just it cannot start GUI for one or another reason.

First, let's see if we get lucky. Hold power button for some time. Led should turn red and device will shut down. Try to start again. Do you have the same issue or GUI starts?

If we are not lucky, let me check if recovery image is fine. For speeding up debugging - do you have Linux PC or something else?

Its late over here, I am off for tonight. Will be able to continue tomorrow evening.

 

[Guangd]

There is no Android app support
So can't I download any apps？:crying:

 

[rinigus]

There is no Android app support
So can't I download any apps？:crying:

No, there is no Android support. It also doesn't support iOS apps, Windows apps, Playstation games, and programs compiled for VAX.

Yes, you can download apps written for Sailfish OS.

On constructive note: all devices that are not XZ2 single sim will have to be tested first with few commands to get access to Jolla Store. If you happen to have such device, get in touch with me and I will ask you to make these tests. You could open an issue at Github for it (Jolla Store access for HYYYY) or ask here.

 

[MartinX3]

No, there is no Android support. It also doesn't support iOS apps, Windows apps, Playstation games, and programs compiled for VAX.



Yes, you can download apps written for Sailfish OS.



On constructive note: all devices that are not XZ2 single sim will have to be tested first with few commands to get access to Jolla Store. If you happen to have such device, get in touch with me and I will ask you to make these tests. You could open an issue at Github for it (Jolla Store access for HYYYY) or ask here.

What is needed to add the android support?
A bought license from sailfish?
Because on their website there is a payable version with android support for specific phones.

"Sailfish licensing customers choose if they wish to use, or not to use, the Android application compatibility part in the OS."

 

[rinigus]

What is needed to add the android support?
A bought license from sailfish?
Because on their website there is a payable version with android support for specific phones.

"Sailfish licensing customers choose if they wish to use, or not to use, the Android application compatibility part in the OS."

In practice, there are two ways to get Android support:

- get an officially supported device (xperia x, xa2, 10) and buy license. That will allow you to use their Aliendalvik software which provides Android support. Not perfect support, but works for decent amount of apps.

- develop open-source Android compatibility stack, for example Anbox. I don't know much about Anbox development, though. From the outsider perspective, such as mine, it looks rather slow.

At this moment, none will work on Xperia Tama. As mentioned earlier in the thread, look what you really need and, if it is missing, develop it. Obviously, it will not work for closed-protocols apps. But then you have to choose, whether to stay on Android, get dumb phone for few Android apps that you need, or ditch the closed-protocol apps. In some respect, trying to emulate Android on other platforms seems to me unproductive, but that's my personal opinion.

 

[rinigus]

@ozamyatin: we are starting to debug xz3 issue with ljo at TMO thread (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=100877 ). I hope it will get resolved soon. Right now we have to get logs and then proceed from there

 

[rinigus]

XZ3 dual/single and XZ2 dual released

XZ3 dual has been yesterday fixed together with ljo. Turned out that the touchscreen device had a different name and I forgot to adjust boot cmd line. I have uploaded XZ3 dual/single and XZ2 dual to the released images.

If you get any issues with Jolla Store access, please let me know

XZ2c is expected to be released in a week or so. Device has been ordered by one of Sailfish users and I think we will be able to finalize its release soon.