Strange behaviour of FreeNow app on GrapheneOS

MmadkissTM · 2025-03-29T06:00:01+00:00

Folks,

I have just switched to GrapheneOS on a Google Pixel 9 Pro from an iPhone 16 Pro Max and am very happy with it -- thanks to everyone for the great work. I do have an issue with an app though that I don't know how to debug effectively. The affected app is FreeNow, a ride-booking app I mainly use in Berlin to book cab rides. Something is very strange with that app on GrapheneOS.

If I do give the app access to the current location, it will start but show a blank page where otherwise the map would be displayed. If I remove access to location for the app, the app comes up but I cannot book a ride (app tells me 'the current payment method is unavailable' even when choosing cash payment). I had a glimpse at adb logcat but didn't see anything obvious.

I tend to see problematic behaviour with other apps that try to use the location feature, too. Google Maps will often just hang, taxi.eu will correctly show my location on the map but still claim "unknown address" (at least I can correct it there, though). taxi.berlin, which is from the same manufacturer as taxi.eu, will show exactly the same symptoms but not allow me to manually set my address. And clues on what could be wrong? Thank you very much in advance.

Sandboxed Play Services are installed.

teezeh · 2025-03-29T09:53:09+00:00

Same here.for FreeNow. No map, just a blank page. Haven't tried taxi.eu yet.

Most of my micromobility apps (except for dott) work fine, just like OsmAnd~ and HERE We Go.

matchboxbananasynergy · 2025-03-29T10:11:15+00:00

Are you using the network location feature? If not, please try that.

Info: https://grapheneos.org/features#network-location
Steps to enable: https://grapheneos.org/usage#network-location

Mmoss · 2025-03-29T10:21:15+00:00

Same problem here: I don't see the message about the payment method probably because I'm using a freenow account that was created on a different (stock android) phone and the payment method is already configured.
If I try to disable the location permission, after asking me to re-enable it, the home page brings up the form to request a new ride instead of freezing, but it doesn't really let me choose the pick-up and destination locations.
Have been messing around with settings like exploit protection and permissions, including network location, but haven't found a combination that works.

teezeh · 2025-03-29T12:48:55+00:00

madkissTM For taxi hailing, I have used the Taxi Deutschland app before switching to GOS. Right now, it shows the map with the correct location, but does not name the address and rather says "Unbekannte Adresse". Editing it manually is possible. I was also able to add PayPal as a payment method. I have not tried ordering a cab oder paying yet.

MmadkissTM · 2025-03-29T16:47:14+00:00

matchboxbananasynergy tried it, no difference unfortunately.

Mmoss · 2025-04-02T07:56:47+00:00

Not sure if it's relevant but this is what I spotted in the logcat captured when running the freenow app:

04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService: system location request with no attribution tag
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.location.LocationManagerService.registerLocationListener(LocationManagerService.java:870)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.location.LocationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.java:1620)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.location.fused.FusedLocationProvider$ChildLocationListener.resetProviderRequest(FusedLocationProvider.java:310)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.location.fused.FusedLocationProvider$ChildLocationListener.-$$Nest$mresetProviderRequest(FusedLocationProvider.java:0)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.location.fused.FusedLocationProvider.updateRequirementsLocked(FusedLocationProvider.java:174)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.location.fused.FusedLocationProvider.onSetRequest(FusedLocationProvider.java:123)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.location.provider.LocationProviderBase$Service.setRequest(LocationProviderBase.java:331)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.location.provider.proxy.ProxyLocationProvider.$r8$lambda$7VMdFID5UKJaFx-7qHYncL9kLJk(ProxyLocationProvider.java:184)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.location.provider.proxy.ProxyLocationProvider$$ExternalSyntheticLambda1.run(R8$$SyntheticClass:0)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.servicewatcher.ServiceWatcherImpl$MyServiceConnection.runOnBinder(ServiceWatcherImpl.java:255)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.servicewatcher.ServiceWatcherImpl.lambda$runOnBinder$0(ServiceWatcherImpl.java:124)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.servicewatcher.ServiceWatcherImpl$$ExternalSyntheticLambda1.run(D8$$SyntheticClass:0)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:991)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:232)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:317)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at android.os.HandlerThread.run(HandlerThread.java:85)
04-02 08:34:23.795  1272  1459 W LocationManagerService:        at com.android.server.ServiceThread.run(ServiceThread.java:49)