Crimson image testing thread II - July 2025

Software PureOS
1

New testing thread for the new versions of the PureOS images for Librem 5 (old/previous testing thread from Janyary). This is supposed to be an updated wiki table of PureOS Crimson version on Librem 5 phone for the community to give/get an overview what works (and what still need work) and what has been tested. Almost organized group effort to get to know the new features and peculiarities of future Librem 5.

Remember to also give feedback of non-working issues (bugs) to PureOS-project - Purism Mailing Lists

This time we have two images available - with LUKS encryption and without - but I was thinking we’ll treat those as one and the same and only make separate notes if we find any differences between them (assuming both work). Any bugs should be reported to the mailing list.

And note all, that these are not classified even as alpha releases yet, so there is no guarantee that you can keep using these or even be able to upgrade these to normal eventually - so prepare to reinstall (my strong suggestion is to take a disc image before starting, so you can always return back to that). For installation instructions, check community wiki’s tips&tricks or look for threads about jumpdrive etc.

This is a wiki’d post and table that anyone can update. Add lines and apps and features. You can check the old table for pointers, how to make notes. Try to keep the format and be concise - your updates may also be updated and corrected.

App / Feature   Hardware combination (normal/liberty, modem, wlan-card) Crimson image type (LUKS/-) Status indicator Version of app Notes (behavior, workaround…) (extracolumn)
Example normal, BM818E, Redpine LUKS :warning: :arrow_forward: 0.0.1 Example line and a note what to put here. You can describe scenario at length in a linked thread posts. (bonus column in case we need it for something)
Phosh normal, 8202g, Sparklan LUKS :white_check_mark: :previous_track_button: 0.34 Oooold phosh. Still works as well as it did.
Notificatinos / popouts
Microphone
Audio/speakers
Chats/SMS
Chats/MMS
WLAN normal, 8202g, SparkLAN LUKS :white_check_mark: Just works.
WLAN , , Redpine
Bluetooth , , SparkLAN
Bluetooth , , Redpine
Gnome Calls
4G Internet
GNOME browser (Epiphany)
FireFox ESR normal, 8202g, SparkLAN LUKS :white_check_mark: :previous_track_button: 128.12esr Can get online but not not advisable with so old browser.
Millipixels (Camera App) / libcamera normal, 8202g, SparkLAN LUKS :white_check_mark: :previous_track_button: The old phone is there, works
PureOS Store
GNOME normal, 8202g, SparkLAN LUKS :white_check_mark: :previous_track_button: 43
LUKS normal, 8202g, SparkLAN LUKS :white_check_mark: :previous_track_button: Takes about 5-7mins.
Displays
Mobile Settings
Convergence (external display, mouse, kb)
HW kill switches
Language & Region ? ? :warning: ? Although I set Italian both as system language and region, I’m still in English language and region
(add here)
(add here)
(add here)

Legend:
Everything ok, works mostly perfect: :white_check_mark:
Broken partly, but testable:
So broken, it’s not even testable: :x:
Unknown: :question: or just ?
Newer than in Byzantium: :arrow_forward:
The latest version: :next_track_button:
Very old (Byzantium): :previous_track_button:

(Wikified table - edit respectfully)

7 Likes
2

I got the LUKS version. Encryption takes about 5-7mins at first startup. After first login there is the welcome and basic setting (language etc.) but it’s not fitting the screen. Probably because phosh is old 0.34. and GNOME 43. Old packages are to be expected at this point - FF is 128.12esr etc. No updates are available for this test image, so don’t expect it.

4 Likes
3

If you want to toy around, it’s possible to add the unofficial Crimson backports to the sources list and get a few updates (see: Crimson backports unofficial - #51 by JR-Fi)

3 Likes
4

Testdate 2025-07-24

Device
Librem5v4

Image
LUKS Crimson downloaded on 2025-07-24

Updates
No updates can be installed

Language
How to reproduce
Use the startup language selection to German

Expected
Language actually be German

Observed
Language in the UI still English

WLAN
Works

Installing via Store
Works, however basic applications like fractal or nextcloud need an additional store

Setup ssh-remote-access
Works (installing via apt)

Notifications
Work, also with notification sound

Speakers
work

Camera
Making a photo:
Works
Making a video:
Works - playback not very mobile friendly

Receiving SMS
works

4G internet
AP needs to be manually set up - no pre-selection, but then works

Firefox
General: works
One has to remove google as standard search, and set to not sell the date etc.

LUKS-setup
worked - however the disk showed as too small on first boot

Speaker
Work

HW-Kill-Switches
Work

2 Likes
5

Yes translation is not working in last build crimson. @dos

1 Like
6

It’s very likely that there are no localization files included in the test image, so it defaults to English.

You can do all the notes, edits to the table in the first message directly, for easier comparison.

2 Likes
7

No, the patches for locale generation on demand aren’t ported yet to versions of g-i-s and gnome-desktop in crimson. You can generate them manually (dpkg-reconfigure locales).

2 Likes
8

I upgraded to crimson to see if it would fix some issues I’ve been having with calls and sms, unfortunately it didn’t. So here’s a list of mostly issues I have:

  • Calls
    • incoming calls usually unavailable, even if the screen is on and unlocked, sometimes but rarely they come in (usually if first placing an outgoing call or receiving/sending sms)
    • outgoing calls work
    • modem randomly deregisters when sitting with screen off requiring me to enter the pin again (sometimes several times a day, sometimes it’s fine for multiple days)
  • Proximity sensor
    • doesn’t work, neither in Calls nor in Mobile Settings (worked in byzantium)
  • SMS
  • MMS
    • haven’t tested in crimson yet, in byzantium the same message multiplication happened as with sms
  • Camera:
    • Auto white balance rapid switching from cold to warm (A to F11) in indoor light conditions
    • auto focus doesn’t focus on close objects <1m away, turning auto off and back on will make it focus up close once, then not any more, it randomly stops autofocusing until disabled and enabled again, on close objects sometimes it completely misfocuses requiring manual focus
    • taking images works
  • UI
    • switching between apps still takes several seconds (for example clicking the button to open Calls or SMS from the Contacts app, or long pressing a button from the pull-down menu to get into mobile network or wifi settings), usually it’s faster to go to the app switcher and manually switch to it
    • I did notice an improvement in UI responsiveness and smoothness after the upgrade which is good.
  • Hardware (off-topic but want to mention it anyway)
    • the handset speaker stopped working, I took it apart and found metal shavings stuck to the membrane inside, sticking it hard to the magnet, had to carefully clean them off with blu-tak and reassemble the entire phone, now it works again (I guess don’t use the grinder in the workshop with the phone in your pocket!)
    • the plastic cover over the modems started cracking around the screws even though they aren’t overtightened, seems like the plastic is becoming brittle

I mostly use it for calling and SMS since the battery life isn’t really good to use as a primary unless you have it on charge all the time or carry spare batteries (charging them is a pain since there’s no external charger).

I’d really like if the call and sms issues were prioritized. What good is a phone with such big call and sms issues?

Modem FW:
M100E_YCSN0_1.0.0_220926
YCSN0_M100E-1BAD_3118_V1.0.0.2_20220930
M100E_1.0.4_200715
1 Like