Xperia X & Sailfish OS still unstable - about to quit
asked 2019-04-22 18:31:35 +0200
Hi Jolla team, hi all,
First sorry for the long post. I have tried to be really optimistic on the roadmap of Sailfish OS for 1 year now, and I can't find any improvements in Jolla communication nor updates. I'm really about to quit sailfish OS for Lineage OS after 2 years of daily usage. Note that I'm using it for pro usage as well as personal usage. I first bought a Jolla C, then switched to an Xperia X later. I'm currently on the latest version (3.0.2.8). Actually I don't want to switch to XA2 because I don't like the phone itself (it is so bulky!)
Recently I needed to do some urgent stuff while abroad. I was so upset to not being able to do a simple task like searching in my SMS I almost throw my phone in the room I was!
What I really liked when I switched to sailfish OS:
a nice SDK and wiki for making applications
running almost everything on Opensource software
nice UI design
Android support
active community
I have run into so many problems that I can't count the number of hours I lost to do a simple task with my smartphone or to find a solution on together. My friends are now joking on Sailfish OS regarding the number of bugs I have.
In general on UI:
EDIT 31/07/2019: fixed in 3.1.0.
Impossible to copy the phone number of a contact without editing it!(https://together.jolla.com/question/165598/feature-request-copy-contacts-number/)Impossible to search a text in SMS app! (https://together.jolla.com/question/1450/feature-request-search-in-messages-applicationlist/)
Email:
- Impossible to copy a text from an email! How could it be forgotten in the basic implementation? (https://together.jolla.com/question/832/system-wide-clipboard-copy-paste-capability/). This is killing so much time to open my browser and use my online webmail when I need to copy paste!
- Sometimes I need to set again the SMTP server as email application is failing to send an email.
- Some attached files are not showed in some emails.
On Sailfish OS:
Audio is stuttering randomly with my bluetooth headset, and many other bluetooth devices.
Multimedia keys not working from bluetooth devices (https://together.jolla.com/question/166546/regression-211-bluetooth-controls-in-other-media-players/)
Bluetooth devices does not auto-reconnect (https://together.jolla.com/question/129809/no-bluetooth-auto-connect-anymore/)
Exchange contact still not working properly while using 2 ways synchronization (I can't count the number of other post on this)
Have audio stuttering/choppy even when WLAN disabled (and why should I turn off WLan to use bluetooth btw?) https://together.jolla.com/question/170354/bluetooth-audiostream-is-choppy-when-wlan-is-on/
Even if some progress has been done on the camera, I still have some focus/quality issues.
While making a backup of messages, MMS are not saved!
Sometimes received SMS are mixed with a previous message (https://together.jolla.com/question/202446/sms-message-threads-are-mixed/)
Today I tried to transfer a bluetooth image from another device, but then this image is not recognized by any Android app (e.g whatsapp)
New bug, my WLan just disconnect and cannot scan again for wifi network when the carrier is synched. So I have to decide whether I need the carrier signal or the WLan.
EDIT 31/07/2019: fixed in 3.0.3
The native browser not updated for a while.
On Android stack:
I need sometime to restart completely my phone because some app are not starting anymore. Reboot generally fix the issues.
Being blocked in android 4.4 is a nightmare. My bank application is not running anymore on this version, and I have many issues while using it. Many other app just refuse to install/run. Edit 2019-08-13: For status see https://together.jolla.com/question/211347/please-upgrade-xperia-xs-android-support-from-44-to-81/
uG services are making my Jolla highly unstable, and many application still can't take an advantage of google services.
No options to keep the screen on!
Annoying dimming/increasing luminosity sometimes (https://together.jolla.com/question/151576/screen-auto-brightness-modulating-uncontrollably/)
Sometimes copy paste from native SailfishOS to Android does not work.
Picking a picture from the Jolla gallery won't work (similar to https://together.jolla.com/question/87883/facebook-app-or-messenger-cant-locateupdate-photos/). A restart is needed for the pictures to appear.
Apps intent seems to be mixed between them
Backspacing when on android in Firefox for example make the previous word appears again (https://together.jolla.com/question/159260/vkeyboard-backspace-and-some-special-characters-additionally-insert-predictive-text/)
Facebook messenger
- Sending a picture to my friend and/or group of friends (https://together.jolla.com/question/5652/send-pictures-with-facebook-messenger/)
- Messages not received/sent. Need to close the application then restart it to get the new messages.
So if I put everything in a nutshell today with Sailfish OS:
I can't improve my user experience by myself, like fixing bugs in Exchange stack or add SMS search because these are closed sources.
I can't use my phone as a multimedia device, because of bluetooth audio integration that's really sucks.
I can't use SailfishOS professionnally because of a bad email app, broken Exchange and some failures on carrier when abroad
I can't use SailfishOS properly with messenger.
Since I started to use Sailfish OS, I'm replacing one by one all Sailfish native applications with android ones (email client, etc)
Dev community still motivated?
About Jolla company
No roadmap!
No communication!
No public bug tracker!
So why use SailfishOS in 2019 if I don't have the control on my user experience anymore?
EDIT: I'm really sad of posting this message actually. I'm a developer in a small team as well and I really understand that you don't have the horse power of google. But still I think some main issues with your system are not adressed and these are important for the mass to get interest in your system...
EDIT2:
This morning I realized that I have been caught by Timezone calendar issue (https://together.jolla.com/question/81380/add-timezone-setting-when-creating-calendar-event/) so I was about to miss my flight!
No timezone support for the clock application
Great post! I agree with everything, except the Android stack which I don't use and don't even have installed and consequently can't comment on. I would also like to add that the browser is horribly outdated and makes the phone crash and reboot when visiting a veritable plethora of websites - and that basic functionality like different ringtones for different contacts is still not implemented!
Still, what choice do I have but to stick with Sailfish? I will never EVER become a good little sheeple to Android or Apple.
bocephus ( 2019-04-22 19:49:33 +0200 )editI'm in the same boat. Though I have a bit different subset of bugs that matter to me the general attitude is the same. It seems like LinageOS doesn't support Xperia X officially? There are some unofficial images available for Linage v15. If you do switch, please share how it went and maybe put some links to the firmware you've used.
butler ( 2019-04-22 20:53:41 +0200 )editAn old sailor here, I had it on XA2, also encountered similar bugs(same as on SFOS 2), features missing, in general agree with topic starter, I went from SFOS 3 back to Android with the help of emma, now using LIneage OS16, wich works wel on my Sony XA2 icw MicroG.
aQUICK1 ( 2019-04-22 21:03:15 +0200 )editHmm, strange to hear... Author seems to be the Best tester of product btw only shoetcomings are mentioned without any other advantages it has... Not a good practice. I'm really see some functional issues but realize it does reviewed&fixed by a little Jolla team as they have time and resources and clear comprehension what's going wrong and have no another way to get around for everyday usability... I agree it needs to be fixed a lot but disagree to quit it out.
AlexOm ( 2019-04-23 08:17:50 +0200 )editI am a Sailfish OS user and supporter since the release and the first announcement on twitter back in 2012 (irrc) and unfortunatelly I can confirm all the above issues on my Sony Xperia XA2 running SFOS 3.0.2.8. Just a fraction of the mentioned Android issues are not valid for the XA2 because of the new Android runtime.
I am really patient but I have to admit that I am getting more frustrated with every day I am hitting on a bug that exists for months and years...
The current situation that drives me crazy is that the device adaption is bad for the Sony devices and just the official outdated Jolla phone will give you the best experience (UX wise). So e.g. I am missing the double tap feaure on my Xperia, there are many issues with connections (losing network coverage, bluetooth issues etc.) and simple feauteres like turning on the display after plugging in the phone for charging...
Alex ( 2019-04-23 09:07:46 +0200 )edit