Update (3 July): Calls now work 100% of the time.
So, this tweet turned out to be a teensy bit premature:
I can get the PinePhone to ring other phones – which is still a new accomplishment – but no voice comes through. Alas.
But, since this remains a new development, here’s how it came about:
1. Flash the latest available Pinephone System Image
Go to https://ci.ubports.com/job/rootfs/job/rootfs-pinephone-systemimage/ and download the latest image. (NB: this is a new URL. Any builds from the old site won’t work since they lack the code to self-update.)
Use BalenaEtcher (or dd if you’re grizzled) to flash the image to your SD card.
2. Switch to the Dev channel
This is where it gets new. Gone are the days of flashing each day’s image and losing your stuff. Now, UBPorts can auto-update (w00t).
Navigate to Settings | Updates | Update Settings (the last being cleverly hidden at the bottom of the screen) and change your channel to Development.
Give the phone some time to think, and it should load the latest Ubuntu image (at the time of writing, the latest is version 54).
Nota Bene: These version numbers are not updated daily, and as such have no correspondence to the build numbers on the CI page.
3. Reboot and Update
Once the update has been downloaded you will need to reboot so that it can load. When you reboot, make sure that you’re still on the dev channel since sometimes it reverts.
4. Place a call (prayer never hurt)
If you’re like me, you’ll now have a 1:5 (up from 0:5) chance of being able to successfully dial out.
(The title to this post said “nearly” for a reason.)
5. Stay Tuned
At this rate an actual, working voice call can’t be far off, right?
