Thank you for the release!

Given that a lot of the bugs with QPR2 are related to Mainline/APEX modules, are there any plans for GrapheneOS to update APEX modules more often (from the stock Pixel OS somehow or upstream source releases?)

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    • Post #5
    • Edited

    matchboxbananasynergy We would appreciate feedback, especially for Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5.

    Thank you very much for working on a release for Pixel 5 too - I do understand it can never be a priority for the project due to the lack of security patches for firmware and drivers.

    I have a Pixel 5, it is on Build 2024030300 (double checked in settings > 'About Phone'). Until now, I have only ever had the update settings on the 'Stable' Release channel - so this will be a new adventure for me...

    Has the Alpha been withdrawn? I am trying to update to Alpha for you, but no luck so far.

    I see at https://grapheneos.org/releases#redfin-beta that Pixel5/Beta is still 2024030300 so I have switched my Pixel 5 to the Alpha channel. I then push settings > system-update > check updates. The System Updater notification then tells me "Latest Alpha channel release is already installed" ; but that is the 2024030300 when I check.

    I think I have followed / read all the info at:
    https://grapheneos.org/usage#updates
    https://grapheneos.org/releases#about-the-releases

    and with a search string: "alpha site:https://grapheneos.org" I don't find any foo I might have missed - any advice gratefully received.

        doodle The modules we're using are now newer than the stock OS, not older, because Mainline fell behind QPR2. Moving to the mainline modules would actually be downgrading versions overall, but they have fixes applied there that are not applied in the QPR2 branch and vice versa. The way they're doing things is a mess.

          [deleted] It's in the Alpha channel now. We couldn't find people to test it prior to Alpha so it moved to Alpha without that.

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              • Post #8
              • Edited

              GrapheneOS Thank you. I have very slow internet, but when it is all downloaded and updated I will report here. I have banking apps, travel apps and Garmin & Polar apps syncing with bluetooth devices. Hopefully I will be able to give some useful feedback.

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                • Post #9

                GrapheneOS

                Pixel 5 tested on 2024032100 alpha release, no problems encountered. Thank you very much indeed. I didn't know you had problems finding Pixel 5 testers until matchboxbananasynergy posted the request. I hope more here can join in after reading below that I have no problems.

                The following all worked fine on Pixel 5:

                wifi
                vpn = mullvad (in playstore enabled banking profile)

                location-GNSS in separate outdoor profile
                offline mapping app with GNSS/location fix

                garmin connect with bluetooth sync to garmin watch
                garmin explore

                polar flow app with bluetooth sync to recent polar watch
                polar flow app with bluetooth sync to 9 year old polar bicycle computer

                fingerprint reader OK for main profile switching and authentication in banking apps

                banking apps x3 (and only one requires play services, others fine without)
                one further financial app
                wise money transfer app

                google playstore update of banking apps on dedicated banking profile

                opensource voip app = linphone
                commercial voip app = localphone

                travel / bus / train /ticketing apps x3

                fastmail web app
                fairemail app (installed from fdroid-basic)

                      It's now in the Stable channel for non-extended-support devices but will remain in the Beta channel for the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 for a while since it's the first QPR2 release for them due to us needing to port them to it combined with end-of-life devices being a low priority. We'll move it to Stable for the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 after we get a lot of feedback.

                      [deleted] fingerprint reader OK for main profile switching

                      I read few other comments also where people have mentioned that this issue of putting passcode always when switching from profile to another has solved for them, am I the only one who is still being asked for passcode every time I switch profiles? Sometimes, the UI glitches out and screen becomes irresponsive - I have to press power button to turn of the screen and then I am able to enter the passcode (I am using different alphanumeric passwords for each profile).

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                          • Post #12
                          • Edited

                          dsjvhjdjhgvcjhsdc My intent was to convey that I had tested the fingerprint reader in a few different ways. With regards to your issues with profile switching, I am not a source of expertise. I can only give a few suggestions in reply.

                          I'm not sure we should be cluttering up this testing feedback thread but I will reply.

                          If your system behaves differently to others', then the cause is most likely to be found in: settings/configuration; a 'buggy' interaction between an app you have installed and GOS/AOSP; hardware; or the 'view' of the fscrypt/filesystem for a particular user-profile 'namespace'. I'm suggesting everything else is a constant we all share. I say this because, for a given release, unlike with most Linux/BSD distributions, my understanding is we all have an identical GOS/AOSP binary distribution sat on the primary partitions.

                          • In system > multiple users, there is an 'allow running in background' toggle. If this is off, then you will always need to enter a PIN for that profile after switching profiles.
                          • In security > fingerprint there is a toggle 'use for screen unlocking' - I am sure you have been there already but I have to mention for others who read this.
                          • Set up a new, blank profile with none of your own apps and see if you have the same profile switching issue there too.
                          • Do you have faulty hardware? Can you test the fpr with an app?
                          • I do recall sometimes having a slower profile switch. I had assumed a process wasn't quickly getting the priority it required, or something was delaying fscrypt from unlocking the profile's key.

                          Hope this helps a bit.

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                            • Post #14

                            graph01 Can I simply switch from the beta channel back to the stable channel?

                            Sort of, yes ... if you switch system update > Release channel back to Stable , then you will be back on Stable releases when the Beta you have now is promoted to Stable.

                            Until the request for Pixel 5 testers came, I had thought there were lots of 'cutting edge' users out there and I had just assumed I was a dinosaur on stable. I think somewhere in https://app.element.io/#/room/#testing:grapheneos.org I read a remark that implied the devs had had to put a lot of effort into porting QPR2 to the low priority Pixel 5. This is because Google have abandoned Pixel 5 in QPR2 and hence GOS has no port to build upon. After all that effort, it was then frustrating that no one was showing any interest in testing (but perhaps just because we didn't know there was an issue). So I think many more of us will need to start using the alpha/beta release channels to make this feel worthwhile for the devs.

                                Version 2024032100 is working fine on the Pixel 4a (5G) (updated via Beta release channel), thanks. No new issues observed so far. That said:

                                A few notes:

                                1. System Settings > About Phone > Android Version > Android Security Update still shows "December 1, 2023". According to the Release Notes, it should show "March 5, 2024" though?
                                2. System Settings > About Phone > Android Version > Kernel Version still shows 2024-02-05 as the build date. Should the build date not be more recent?
                                3. The issue with the low Android system UI framerate when playing back 30 fps videos (AOSP issue #303693361) still exists, even though the issue tracker seems to indicate that it should be fixed with Android 14 QPR2?

                                And a general question:

                                Considering that the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a use the same SoC and same kernel and considering that the Pixel 5a is not EOL yet (unlike the other two models), would it be possible to install the firmware and drivers from the Pixel 5a on the Pixel 4a (5G) and/or Pixel 5 to get the Pixel 4a (5G) and/or Pixel 5 fully supported again?

                                  DeletedUser130 System Settings > About Phone > Android Version > Android Security Update still shows "December 1, 2023". According to the Release Notes, it should show "March 5, 2024" though?

                                  No, that wouldn't be accurate. Your device is EOL and can't receive firmware updates past that. The patch level reflects the last time it could get complete patches.

                                    Thank you GrapheneOS and all the people behind it! I didn't expect my app compatibility issue is solved so fast! Infact the only reason I bought a Pixel is GrapheneOS. Your work matters and it means a lot to many people.

                                    "December 2023" would not be entirely accurate either though? Because:

                                    1. The Pixel 4a (5G) stock OS shows "November 2023" (not "December 2023"), does it not? Or is there a December 2023 update available for the Pixel 4a (5G) that is applied to GOS but not to the stock OS?
                                    2. The "Android Security Update" date is not necessarily tied to firmware and drivers but to the core OS? Maybe an additional/separate field could be added for the firmware/drivers date?
                                    3. Considering that the Pixel 4a (5G) uses the same SoC and kernel as the Pixel 5a (which is not EOL yet), the drivers for the Pixel 4a (5G) should still be up-to-date (the release notes page indicates that both firmware and driver updates would be missing)?
                                    4. Could the firmware of the Pixel 5a not perhaps be installed on the Pixel 4a (5G)? If it could, was it just not tried yet due to no Pixel 4a (5G) user be willing to try it yet (due to a potential risk of the device becoming bricked in the process)?

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                                      • Post #20

                                      dsjvhjdjhgvcjhsdc I wish I could delete my previous reply. I found this: https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/2847 Prompted for PIN when switching profiles when biometric available which might describe your issue. I don't think I thought through the differences between dedicated fpr and an on screen fpr; and I was probably responding to your remark suggesting only you had an issue. Sorry. All the same, the good news is, it says 'completed 2 weeks ago'.