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Android 4.4 support is only an issue for the Xperia X. The Xperia XA2, 10 and 10II have updated support, first at Android 8, I think it is now at Android 9. Th

by mpol 5y ago

Android 4.4 support is only an issue for the Xperia X. The Xperia XA2, 10 and 10II have updated support, first at Android 8, I think it is now at Android 9. The Xperia X is somewhat tricky in this regard. It uses the "old" way of Android support. Android 8 and 9 is supported with an LXC container. Bringing that to the Xperia X would mean reflashing. Then you end up in the situation where some users reflash, and some stay on the old flash-image. Which needs another choice; support both groups, or drop all users of the old 4.4 image. I do understand the disappointment if you have an Xperia X and see all other devices get updated Android support. But Jolla here is between a rock and a hard place.

usr1106 5y ago
The problem is not reflashing, we all have flashed the first time, we could do it again. The problem is kernel support. There is no new enough kernel for Xperia X hardware. For obvious reasons Sailfish does not have resources to port a kernel for a 3-4 year old device. Not sure whether source is even available from Sony for all drivers. https://source.android.com/devices/architecture/kernel/core-kernel-reqs https://source.android.com/devices/architecture/kernel/core-... A 4.4 kernel would be required, but there is only 3.10.
- m4rtink 5y ago
  That's incorrect - Sailfish OS uses the Sony Open Device program kermel and blobs as a base and there is up to kernel 4.9 available for the Xperia X: https://developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-started/supported-devices-and-functionality https://developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-started/...
  - usr1106 5y ago
    Thanks for correcting me. I wish all vendors would provide such clear and easy to read information. I was just repeating what I had heard elsewhere. So is it just one of those management decisions that we don't put any work into an old device? It annoys me mostly because the X is the last device of a reasonable size. I would not even pay for a new one because I am entitled to a new work phone. But I don't like the huge devices you get these days.
    - m4rtink 5y ago
      Yep, IMHO it's a management/resource decision - the choose to only support one base port stream, not two. Still if you manly use native Sailfish OS apps, you will be getting all support and updates on Xperia X for years to come. It's unfortunate but at least the newer devices should hopefully be in better shape. And as for size, Xperia10 II does not feel so much bigger than X as its the same width, just a bit longer. Feels quite subtleactually.

by mpol 5y ago

usr1106 5y ago

The problem is not reflashing, we all have flashed the first time, we could do it again. The problem is kernel support. There is no new enough kernel for Xperia X hardware. For obvious reasons Sailfish does not have resources to port a kernel for a 3-4 year old device. Not sure whether source is even available from Sony for all drivers. https://source.android.com/devices/architecture/kernel/core-kernel-reqs https://source.android.com/devices/architecture/kernel/core-... A 4.4 kernel would be required, but there is only 3.10.

m4rtink 5y ago
That's incorrect - Sailfish OS uses the Sony Open Device program kermel and blobs as a base and there is up to kernel 4.9 available for the Xperia X: https://developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-started/supported-devices-and-functionality https://developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-started/...
- usr1106 5y ago
  Thanks for correcting me. I wish all vendors would provide such clear and easy to read information. I was just repeating what I had heard elsewhere. So is it just one of those management decisions that we don't put any work into an old device? It annoys me mostly because the X is the last device of a reasonable size. I would not even pay for a new one because I am entitled to a new work phone. But I don't like the huge devices you get these days.
  - m4rtink 5y ago
    Yep, IMHO it's a management/resource decision - the choose to only support one base port stream, not two. Still if you manly use native Sailfish OS apps, you will be getting all support and updates on Xperia X for years to come. It's unfortunate but at least the newer devices should hopefully be in better shape. And as for size, Xperia10 II does not feel so much bigger than X as its the same width, just a bit longer. Feels quite subtleactually.