LTE 4G seen on Jolla smartphone UPDATED

This image was shared in Twitter

Jonni hacked wireless charging to his other half. He promised to post details to TMO later. pic.twitter.com/D9xXFckW6G
— Vesku Hartikainen (@veskuh) December 16, 2013

Zooming in a bit we see a nice detail: 4G LTE in use on the screen of Jolla smartphone

About 4G LTE on Jolla (UPDATED 1-Jan-2014)

Jolla's Hardware supports 4G LTE, but the feature has not been activated, as the connection is not found stable enough yet. 4G LTE supported frequencies on Jolla have been told: Jolla will support channels 3 (1800 MHz), 7 (2600 MHz) and 20 (800 MHz).

You can already check if there are operators in your area having 4G/LTE networks using a frequency mentioned above. Just tne of the three supported frequencies is enough for Jolla to work in that network. 

Via developer mode, some experienced users have already been testing their Jolla with 4G/LTE

About wireless charging on Jolla

Like 4G/LTE, wireless charging is neither officially supported by Jolla, and there is no equipment on sale for that yet. However, what we see in this shared image is not the only DIY project going on. This was AFAIK the first project. Later on I've seen other builds inside The Other Half enabling e.g. this charging plate: Maybe I write another article about these projects later, "Stay tuned" :D

Tracfone - 2013 in Review

A Look Back at some big Things that Happened with Tracfone in 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

2014 is here and there is a lot to be excited about. But lets take a quick look back at some of the things that came out in 2013 for Tracfone. It was a very exciting year, and you might have missed some of the big news and phones that showed up.

Plus, many of the things that happened in 2013 may have a big affect on what's in store for 2014 from Tracfone, so here we go!

Beginning of 2013 - LG 840G Gains Popularity

While the LG 840G was actually released in 2012, it saw a huge rise to Tracfone'a most popular cell phone in the first half of 2013. The touchscreen combined with WiFi, Triple Minutes for Life, access to Google Maps and many other nice features made it a great phone to upgrade to for many longtime Tracfone users.

It was a step up from most other basic flip phones and allowed Tracfone customers to get a taste of the potential a smartphone could have. But the LG 840G wasn't quite a smartphone, with no access to popular apps like Apple or Android phones had.

But the phone's success may have helped encourage Tracfone towards what became one of the biggest news stories for Tracfone in 2013.

Two Words: Android Smartphone

Tracfone's Current Smartphones

By far, the biggest news for Tracfone in 2013 was the release of Android Smartphones for use on the Tracfone prepaid wireless network.

Rumors started filtering in around early summer, about the possibility of four Android powered phones coming to Tracfone. Many held their breath to see if this would actually become a reality, because the lack of a Tracfone smartphone had long been one of its disadvantages.

Around mid 2013, the rumors became truth as the Samsung Galaxy Centura and ZTE Valet were the first Android Smartphones to show up in stores on on the Tracfone website for use on their prepaid network.

Not long after this, two more smartphones also showed up, the LG Optimus Dynamic, and the Huawei Glory. While these phones are not the newest smartphones on the market, they are all Android smartphones, offering access to Android apps and features that Tracfone users had never had access to before.

Something of a 'new age' was ushered in with these smartphones, because up until this point, Tracfone was really only seen as a no frills, budget cell phone service provider. But now, they still have the prepaid, wallet-friendly cell phone service but with feature-rich smartphones that leave the consumer with no sacrifices made.

While using a smartphone with Tracfone prepaid service isn't for everyone, and not all Tracfone customers were jumping at the chance to buy one of these new phones, it was a great step forward and a big change for Tracfone in 2013.

A Piece of News that May Have Flown in Under the Radar

One bit of news that came out at the end of 2013 may have one of the biggest impacts on consumers going forward.

Tracfone announced that anyone can now bring their own cell phone to use with Tracfone prepaid service. So instead of being forced to use one of the phones Tracfone sells, you can choose your own, and then sign up for Tracfone service.

There are some limitations at this time. Only CDMA cell phones are being accepted at this time, and no iPhones. You will want to check and make sure you can bring your phone to Tracfone before actually making the switch. You can do that on their website. Visit the link above if you need more information.

2013 has been fun, and we've seen some big things happening. But 2014 may prove to be even more eventful, with the high possibility of more smartphones coming to Tracfone.

What to Expect from TracfoneReviewer in 2014

We are excited for 2014, and we are making plans to provide more information and better resources for you, our valued visitors. We will also be working hard at keeping the Tracfone Promo Codes that everyone loves updated for each month.

What do you want to know more about? Now is your chance, leave a comment with what questions you want to see answered, or what articles you would want to read!

We are going to continue providing reviews of Tracfone cell phones as they come out, and other informative articles that will help you save money, learn more, and get the most out of Tracfone.

We will also try to keep you posted on the latest news and updates from Tracfone as we learn more about many new and exciting possibilities. So stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting, and for making 2013 a great year for TracfoneReviewer blog, stick around, because 2014 will be even better! Happy New Year!

Unlike New Year - Jolla video recording and html5 test

reviewjolla wishes
Unlike New Year 2014 !

Mobile view

Jolla camera takes mp4 videos - which need to be converted to mp4 for showing in the web

For testing the supported video formats in Sailfish Browser, I made a Short HD video clip with Jolla Smartphone at New Year's Eve. Let's see which is/are the working way(s) to add a video and see it on Jolla Sailfish Browser:

1A. Original video (mp4mov) and audio, embedded with html5 code:


1B. Converted video (mp4/h264 codec), audio removed. Embedded with html5 code:


3. Youtube embedded video (auto converted by Youtube uploader)

RESULTS (Please comment if have other findings )  

HTML5 video embedding, watched in Sailfish Browser

- Video's from the phone must be converted (If Jolla should be able to show its own videos in its own browser)
- Framerate in dark surrounding was only 12 frames per second. Phone should be able to do FullHD recording with better frame rate (15fps or 30fps)
- When converting videos, it might show up upside down. Workaround: Turn your phone to the left (anticlockwise) when recording in landscape.
- The way to succeed: Convert the video with codec h264 (capsulation staying as mp4).

Embedded Youtube, watched in Sailfish Browser

- Video doesn't show in total (this 11 seconds video stops around 7 seconds, while the sound is still going on)
- Comparing the output between Jolla and Computer screen, the Youtube video format (automatic converting when uploaded) is laggy on Jolla
- However, the video starts and isn't upside down. This is the easiest way to show at least something.

HTML5 video, watched in other browsers

- All the biggest browsers heve their own support for HTML5 video formats. For full visibility, two converted versions are needed. In the good side, html5 code doesn't use iframes or Java. Supported formats:

• Firefox: mp4, webM, ogg
• Chrome:  mp4, webM, ogg
• Internet Explorer: mp4
• Safari:  mp4
• Opera: webM, ogg

Other notes

Other formats but the phone's own (mp4v), and converted mp4a (codec h264)  were not tested in Sailfish Browser, so I can only say that Jolla Browser does not support Jolla's camcorder, but it does support h264 codec and html5 video.

Security update: Online with Sailfish, Android browsers and apps

Just a few common Android Browsers. Famous Firefox missing

Google DNS usage located on Jolla

It's been found out that Myriad Alien Dalvik, service on which all Android applications run on Jolla, sets Jolla to use Google's DNS server 8.8.8.8 in Android environment. This DNS is in use for all Android applications connecting to the internet, including Browsers, SoMe Apps (fb, twitter, whatsapp etc...) and any other applications. This means that every URL you send via an Android app is first sent to Google. This doesn't happen only on Alien Dalvik - It's normal in all Android environments. Android is Google's property.

A lot of Jolla users have installed Android support (myself included) without knowing this - but here we have another great example of the OpenSource ideology: This was discovered, and now the info is spreading fast through the community.

Those who don't want to send their every "net step" via Google have exactly two options: Use Sailfish Browser (in a network not using Google's DNS) or hack the Alien Dalvik (to use a different DNS, in a network likewise). Personally I'm using a lot of Google's services, knowing that they are profiling me all the time to show me the most attractive commercials. The world is full of people like me - 81% of all the smartphones in the world are Androids. Among Jolla owners, however, the percentage might be a lot smaller. Some people care. Knowledge is Power, and we can only hope for Google to use their huge "property" wisely.

DNS - Short basics

DNS server is always the first place connected when enterin the net. It offers the directions to the required content. A simple example:

• You enter http://together.jolla.com into your browser
• that text is sent to the DNS server, normally one defined by your network provided
• DNS server returns a numeric address where the named site locates (54.194.54.215, Ireland)
• Your phone builds a connection to that server (via several servers on the way)
• Content is transferred to your phone

Sailfish Browser

The biggest reason for people using Android browsers on their Jolla is that Sailfish browser looks like an alpha version so far. It has 5 virtual buttons (back/forward/refresh/favourite/tabs) and 3 more pulley menu items behind tabs (new tab, close all tabs, share). Sharing opens a simple link share with adding your own writing - nothing more. The browser also include a few bugs, crashing sometimes with no explanations. However, there's someting good: Gecko based user agent is modern, and scores very well in for example html5 test (You can try by opening html5test.com with your Jolla browser)

Updates wanted and expected

Users have been patient while waiting for new features to be released, but this finding in Alien Dalvik could cause some wishes for faster browser app updates - remains to be seen. New features are promised during Q1/2014, but nobody knows what they are. Other important updates are 4G/LTE support, NFC bug fix (should be available in couple of weeks) and Store related bugs (downloading / connection problems), just to name a few. So far, Jolla has released two larger updates (1st for bug fixes, 2nd for some features and more bugfixes) with unexpected speed. Jolla has managed to keep their community quite happy, considering the amount of things needed to be done. Most whining has been seen in Jolla's policy in informing their customers and a slow care response in common.

HowTo: Install and setup Go Launcher EX on Jolla

GO Launcher EX: Changing the Home Screen with a swipe gesture

Included HowTo: Photo tweet with Jolla

1. warning: There are too many images of my sofa. And too many images.

2.: This is not an Android advertisement - the launcher is just an app. And it looks better than an Android UI

(It's actually pretty - but just think about Sailfish after years of development)

Some important basics

• Go Launcher EX is a FULL launcher for Android apps. It actually looks like an Operating System UI (User Interface) in your eyes. But looking at it from the Sailfish point of view, it's just one Android app running on our nice Alien Dalvik surface. 
• Go launcher EX can run on the baackground like any other Android App - in an active cover.
• In use, Go Launcer EX feels like an OS, but it can handle only the Android related content installed to your phone. For example it can't use Sailfish camera app - it needs an Android one.
• App uses alien dalvik pointed folders for saving stuff like images and music. It has access to some Sailfish folders too (the ones shared by Sailfish). Not all alien dalvik folders are accessible via Sailfish or computer (Beta?)
• GO Launcer EX is a big app, so it uses some memory. During my tests it crashed the Aalien Dalvik several times, closing all my running Android apps - but I'm quite a heavy tester. Anyway, recommended to use simple preferences and minimum amount of screens / widgets etc...But in my overall experience, I'm about to hold on to this as long as Sailfish is in Beta stage.

pre-requisites:

1. Android support installed
2. Aptoide store installed
(or any other store with GO stuff available)

Both are instructed in a previous post HowTo: Flash Player for Jolla 

Installing:

Open store, search for "Go Launcher EX". Install

 Go back, search for "GO " <-- note the space, it's a nice filter for this:

Install some widgets you might like.

(Not all widgets work, but those can be removed later.)

Opening:

Close the store, go down to your Sailfish launcher screen. Tap the App "Go Launcher EX"

Setting up

First, get rid of stuff that doesn't work. Icons like Go Store and Market leads you to Google Play, so if you haven't hacked one to your phone, these are all trash. Remove them from both the home screen and the footer menu by HOLD & DRAG (garbage is at top, and top turns out red when it's time to drop). Here, another working App (TuneIn radio) is beeing dragged:

Setting up your own home screen

In GO Launcer EX the amount of home screens is not much restricted, but I recommend to use only 1-3 for memory reasons. HOLD on your empty home screen to open the edit view showing the grid (grid is customizable, more about that later):

Desired home screen can be selected with swipe gesture. Icons and widgets are selected from the footer menu. They fly to the selected home screen when tapped. Here, an 4x2 sized clock widget (downloaded from Aptoide earlier) is flying to the first free grid space:

Clock is placed and another widget, Go Power Master selected:

Second widget placed, time to move on:

I didn't want any icons here, so I just pressed the virtual back button to return to my home screen. Next, I selected my wanted footer menu icons (HOLD on icon to move/throw away, HOLD on empty space between icons to add a new one).

The footer menu is scrollable with swipes to left and right like the home screens, and the footer can hold a nice amount of icons (customizable)

 Above, I'm scrolling to another home screen on right. In there I have set a couple of weather widgets and one great GO App (included to the Launceh) called Custom Gesture (returning to that later):

 Ok, two home screens are ready. Time to get rid of the rest, the next view opens via "Menu" (3 dots down right) --> "Edit":

Home screens are moved to garbage just like any widget or icon. HOLD+DRAG&DROP

Ok, back home - time to study some gestures (right, this is Jolla). I've tapped "+" and saved this gesture earlier, so now I just draw it again. It should...

Open my Twitter App. Yes! Clicking the camera icon won't open your Sailfish Camera, but I happen to have another: HDR Camera for Android (Zoom camera is another great camera app). Taking a boring photo of my sofa surface:

Some cropping, maybe adding a nice filter from below?

 Nope. Original is nice. After Save I'm back in Twitter, and there seems to be some more editing options.

Wow, another set of filters in Twitter:

Cropping more, just to test it:

Time to send. Adding text:

And there it flies in bits, from my Jolla, via WLAN to my router, via Cables and satellites all the way to the Twitter servers in US. That didn't take long:

Tweeting from Jolla, with camera pic.twitter.com/JGeY8Dv0xe
— Simo Ruoho (@SimoRuoho) December 29, 2013

Oh sorry folks... I got a way out of line. Wasn't I suppose to present GO Launcher EX, not sending my sofa bits to US... Above, pressing the Android App menu opens a list of active Android Apps and leaves Twitter to run on the backgound. Back to the GO Launcher, and next, entering Settings:

 Oops, NONE of these works. Unfortunately, Go Launcher EX has not direct access to Jolla Hardware. So let's move to the Preferences. There are plenty, so I'm selecting a view most Unlike:

Multi finger gestrures... No change to get those, at least not yet (requires paid version). Well, check the rest of the preferences yourself, these images were just about as boring as my sofa. Let's hit the Go Launcher Gallery (included App):

Interesting... There are my Sailfish photos too. And in the camera folder, the 187 seems like amount of all my photos taken with both Sailfish Camera App and HDR Camera App. Let's see what we can do with these images...

Additional to a nice dia show possibilty (Sorry folks, not showing all those girls to you), there seems to be a share option like in Sailfish. And yes, I've tested it to work with all the apps above - if you have other social media apps, I suppose they work as well. Returning home now and tapping my weather widget:

This one has a nice backround image. The clouds are moving (what? You don't see?) City can be changed with swipe (if you have selected more then one, see menu on top corner). This looks like something I'd like to see on Sailfish. The unlike OverSideSwipe does the trick again: The last active Android screen is snapshotted as an active cover:

But wait... Those cloud are still moving (What? You still can't see?) Could this app be up to date in a cover? Can't tell, as I don't have time to wait for the forecast to change. (EDIT: No, it isn't). Now visiting back at that app, changing the city and adding some more sailfish covers to not to look like an Android fan:

Screen Shot is a must have - from Jolla Store! CSD Tool is an app ment for Developer testing (included, but hidden). My terminal is showing some action too. Now this screen is more unlike :)

Additional Notes:

• Free GO widgets include annoying adds. I don't advertise on this blog so far, so you didn't see any :)
• I recommend installing some Android Camera for full benefit of the GO Launcher EX Gallery. However, you don't need the whole launcher for sending photos to Twitter - for that, just the camera app is enough.
• All Android Apps using a clock seems to show UTC time. I've tweaked my alien to the correct time zone, and both my navi + these widgets showed correct time when opened - but the time in widgets isn't updated until opened again. Beta - hopefully not worse.
• Facebook is not fully functional with the camera. Photos shared must be moved via gallery.
• Skype can use your camera, and it doesn't need either camera app. Even the image rotation is right with the front camera there - unlike in many other apps. Beta again.
• Sorry for the sofa images... Maybe I'll ask my wife to pose next time. Beta photographer...
• Important: Aptoide is not officially supported... own responsibilty... etc... you know.

Unlike New Year!

Glad to be back :)

Closed - Jolla missing OpenSource policy

 Edit 31-Jan-2014: Thanks Jolla, on behalf of the whole community! With Sailfish OS update 1.0.3.8 Naamankajärvi, Jolla has delivered the solution. It's now possible to remove the OEM lock  via updated recovery menu. OpenSource policy is coming back :)

A pick from the changelog:

• Improved recovery mode functionality introducing new features such as bootloader unlocking, shell and filesystem recovery options

Earlier Marc Dillon already tweeded this promise, now (only a month later) carried out:

@JollaUSA @JollaHQ It was a temporary patch by an engineer followed by a massive overreaction, It will be reversed when better fix is made.
— Marc Dillon (@MarcDillonDotFi) December 31, 2013

Original article 29-Dec-2013:

Due to an unexpected turn that Jolla has locked their phone from OpenSource developers without warning them or discussing with them in advance, I'm stopping my contributing to the community. My contributing was done without benefits in a believe for having the most OpenSource favoured phone in the market.

Besides that this is the last article I write, I'm pulling out of my ongoing bug tracking projects: One conserning location services, 2 conserning memory handling, one possibly related to i2c/NFC (the project wasn't started yet).

My phone went OEM locked after Sailfish update (version 1.0.2.5) was installed. I'm ready to join the community again only after OpenSource policy is back, and I see a decent explanation of why the act was done the way it was (sudden, silent way and not e.g. offering a separate, OpenSource solution for those who would have liked it at the same time).

For information:

• OEM lock enables the manufacturer and 3rd parties to enter hidden code into system. For example in China, where the government has a strict policy to the community, phones sold there are usually OEM locked.
• No phone in the market is true OpenSource, and I didn't expect Jolla to be one either. There's always some closed, copyrighted code included, especially from the hardware part manufacturers, and this is somewhat acceptable. So far, Jolla was doing a great job having as much OpenSource code in their phone as possible.
• Sailfish OS itself remains as OpenSource - Jolla has included some of their own, copyrighted code into the phone, so the phone's operating system is partially OpenSource, partially closed.

Thank's to all my readers, thanks to all Jolla owners contributing with me, and thanks for sharing the information (iltalehti.fi, talouselama.fi, mpc.fi, jollatides.com, jollasuomi.fi, taskumuro.com  and all the other great forums). In my opinion, the best way to return the company to the desired level of OpenSource policy is to pause until it's seen again. Hope to see you soon.

YIS

Simo Ruoho

Edit 29-Dec at 20:35 UTC: Workaround was not only published quick by @bencord0, but it was also shared quickly by Harri Hakulinen, chief engineer at Jolla. Jolla's phone stays OEM locked until the official solution for developers is presented, but booting the phone with your own images is possible again Not tested, so please confirm by comment when you've tried. In conclusion, I hope this brings some talented brains back to #jolla2gether. I'm not counting myself to this group, but I'll contribute again - mostly thanks to Jolla's fast reaction.

@SimoRuoho Wellcome back ;) RT @bencord0 http://t.co/wHLU8kacuZ … Tinkerability: On recent the #Jolla Update #Maadajävri
— Harri Hakulinen (@HarriHakulinen) December 29, 2013

User Report Tool: Jolla and external devices

Reported devices (filtered result)

This result table is filtered to show only app name, rating and comments shared to users. For more detailed results, or sharing the report tool, please contact (see DIT)