The Pro1 X Smartphone looks like an awesome Linux phone for tech fans

Just as a note: This runs the community version of Ubuntu Touch ( https://ubports.com/ ) via the Halium compatibility layer. It is a nice mobile phone OS and I use it on another former Android phone daily, but it is far from a "regular" GNU/Linux and requires quite some workarounds to run normal GNU/Linux desktop apps. If you are looking for an experience more like desktop Linux, better get a PinePhone. Although to be honest, as a phone OS Ubuntu Touch is actually better than desktop Linux.

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I'd still try to game on it.


I've been experimenting with running Linux on my android phones for a couple of years now. It's not exactly straightforward or easy stuff but a great learning experience. I managed to run normal desktop software such as firefox and such, maybe one day will get 3D acceleration working.

Looks nice, but since I got well and truly burnt by the Jolla Tablet scam, I won't be crowdfunding this. I do miss my old Nokia N900 though, so I am interested.

As cool as this is, I think in reality the Ubuntu version could only ever function as a 2nd phone unless it can also dual boot. At least for me. Even though I predominantly use mine to make calls over the cellular network, snap some pictures if I forget to bring my camera, chat with people using a messenger that has a desktop application running in Wine, and, very, very rarely visit a website or check my E-Mail, all of which would presumably work perfectly on a phone running Ubuntu, there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?). If it weren't for all of the latter, I'd be interested. But then again, in that case I'd likely still be running my trusty Blackberry ...

In their most recent update, they also appear to have Debian working on it (with a screenshot).

Looks nice, but since I got well and truly burnt by the Jolla Tablet scam, I won't be crowdfunding this.

You never got your refund?

[...] there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?)[...]

This is indeed an highly annoying problem. I do have ubports on my only phone, only because so far I was able to dodge mentioned apps.

But really, this "iOS/Android only" crap has to stop.

Looks like it will actually get worse 1.1.2021 in the EU. Some sort of new banking regulation coming into force that at least my current bank seems to interpret in a way that they have to use a broken Android app now :(
I am currently looking for options to switch my bank because of that... too many times that sh*t just didn't work and I was left in trouble :(

You never got your refund?

No. However, to be fair to Jolla (which they don't deserve, in my opinion) I do recall ticking the box that effectively meant that they should keep the money. I still had hopes that they could do good things with Linux. It wasn't so much the loss of the money, but the scandalous nature of their behaviour that annoyed me the most. Never again.

I picked this up for two reason. 1) High likely it can run a Linux distro. 2) Has the ability to fallback to Android. Need to replace existing that is no longer being supported by the manufacturer. This industry really needs a solid Linux phone that will have long term security updates. 2-3 year only security updates is just a lot of e-waste. Current phone works 100% but no more security = bad.

I also bought PinePhone and Librem 5 to help the jump start a foundation.

You never got your refund?

No. However, to be fair to Jolla (which they don't deserve, in my opinion) I do recall ticking the box that effectively meant that they should keep the money. I still had hopes that they could do good things with Linux. It wasn't so much the loss of the money, but the scandalous nature of their behaviour that annoyed me the most. Never again.

It's disappointing but maybe understandable that a small startup has trouble finding a foothold in this market ruled by a duopoly of giants. That said, I'm quite happy with Sailfish X on my current phone. Hopefully it'll still be an option the next time I need to buy one as well, or at least that there'll be a decent, supported Linux phone OS (with android app compatibility and a workable user interface) available for a reasonable price.

Although to be honest, as a phone OS Ubuntu Touch is actually better than desktop Linux.

This.

I used an "official" Ubuntu Touch smartphone (the bq Aquaris E5: Ubuntu Edition - which I still have on my desk) as my "daily driver" for about a year, and it was fantastic.

Was it as polished as Apple iOS or Google's Android? Admittedly, no - but it showed an awful lot of promise, well until Canonical abandoned it, anyway.

Had Canonical not abandoned the project though, I truly believe that Ubuntu Touch could have become a viable alternative to the iOS / Android duopoly... Not enough to break the duopoly, but enough to warrant further pursuit.

I also believe that certain major manufacturers missed the opportunity to jump on the Ubuntu Touch train do something with it, when they were struggling to differentiate themselves in the world of Android.

there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?).

I found the same thing (refer to comments above about using Ubuntu Touch) - that there were too many "critical" applications I couldn't go without, which were not able to run under Ubuntu Touch... For me, it would be certain work-related applications (staff portals, scheduling / rostering applications, etc...), drone applications (for operating my drone) and "smart" appliance applications (for controlling / updating my Philips "Hue" lights).

Unfortunately, it was always a "horse and cart" situation - developers won't come if there are no users, and users won't come if there are no developers.

But then again, in that case I'd likely still be running my trusty Blackberry ...

God I miss my BlackBerry... I spend half the day swearing at my iPhone, because I miss my physical keyboard (my wife and daughter think it's the funniest thing in the world)!

But I can't bring myself to make the jump to Google's Android (which is what is run on "modern" BlackBerry smartphones); with the level of privacy I would have to give up, I just cannot justify it (not to mention the lack of updates / upgrades for Google's Android).

This industry really needs a solid Linux phone that will have long term security updates. 2-3 year only security updates is just a lot of e-waste. Current phone works 100% but no more security = bad.

Aside from the laundry list of privacy concerns with regards to Google's Android, this its biggest problem... We've got a whole house full of Android devices (smartphones, tablets, TV set-top boxes and "smart" TVs), most of which are mid-range or high-end, mostly from major manufacturers (e.g. Samsung)... And probably 90% of those have seen not seen updates (e.g. 6.0 to 6.1) for more than 12 months; when it comes to upgrades (e.g. 6.x to 7.x), that number would easily be 99% of them.

In stark contrast, our Apple gear (which we've mostly changed over to) has seen update / upgrade after update / upgrade after update / upgrade.

And every 12 months or so, Google makes this big song and dance about how they're going to do this and do that to address this problem... Yet after 5+ years, nothing has changed (well, unless you buy one of Google's own devices).


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 24 November 2020 at 11:33 pm UTC

An alternative to F(x)tec devices are the devices from Planet Computers:
Gemini: https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/gemini-pda-1
Cosmo: https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/cosmo-communicator
Astro Slide: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/astro-slide-5g-transformer/x/3442310#/

All of them provide an excellent keyboard AND support multiple operating systems (including the option the install several systems in parallel): Android is shipped by default, but Debian is also available, as well as Sailfish OS and Kali Linux on the Gemini (but not Ubuntu Touch) - https://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Main_Page has all the details.

I'd be really interested the hear about the quality of Linux support for the F(x)tec devices, though: A friend of mine ordered the Livermorium extension for the Motorola Moto Z, and I ordered Planet Computers' Gemini when both companies were running their crowdfunding campaigns at almost the same time. Unfortunately Motorola then basically dropped support for the Moto Z, and he opted for the refund instead of getting the F(x)tec device developed from the shards of the Livermorium project - so I haven't seen any F(x)tec device in real live...

For those interested in the Planet Computers devices: Yes, Linux support is there, but it's a bit rough around the edges and progress is quite slow - though it's steadily getting better over time. In fact I've (exclusively) been using Sailfish OS on my Gemini for a few years now... And for the Cosmo telephony and SMS are possible from within Debian(!) :-)