[MyL5] Librem 5 Evergreen: first impressions

We have had a look. Like I said a keyboard is already packaged.

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Just to clarify, is the virtual numpad going to be replaced with a proper virtual keyboard so a proper password can be used instead of a number pin? Or is there some separation, where there is password for some stuff and a pin for lockscreen, or the like?

I don’t know if there are plans for something like that, but so far it seems to be just the regular password for the “purism” user that has is initially set to “123456”. I used the passwd command to change it to some other digits and then that became my pin that I needed to enter at the lockscreen. If the password is changed to something that is not only digits, I think it will not be possible to unlock the lockscreen anymore (would need to login using ssh to set the password to something with only digits).

In the GUI (in Setting --> Details --> Users) you can change password but you are then protected from that mistake because the edit box where you enter your new password will only accept digits as input, so it is not possible to set any non-digit password that way. So for a user who only uses the GUI, it just behaves like a pin, no problem. But for someone who changes the password using passwd in the terminal, it is possible to get locked out if you set new password that is not only digits, I think.

Ay, I see that from the QEMU image. Hence the question to @joao.azevedo about the change. It would be nice to know what the long term plans are - if there are such - but for now, any clarification is good. There are several possibilities here. Even one, where user could select which type/level to use (numbers only pin, a proper password, both for convenience, a forced 2FA at every turn etc. … and then there is always Malform type advanced multitude of choices). Steps.

Don’t be disappointed. This is a great achievement, but currently it just is not ready for mass-market, which is fine. However, it will become better and better with each software release, so eventually it might become ready for your family and friends.

Anybody can give me some hint how to build your own image? I would like to learn how to do this. I found a page how to reflash (Reflashing the Phone), but I have never build my own image.

If general Carddav and Caldav support might be available in some time that would be great, because my current e-mail provider provides perfect Caldav and Carddav functionality, and I do not like to switch to another provider (with Nextcloud support).

I tried multiple times, notifications are still very unreliable. Unfortunately, this is not a working solutions.

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You can still use evolution to setup generic *-dav calendars/tasks/notes/contacts. Gnome-calendar and gnome-contacts are both using EDS (evolution data server) for accessing them so once you added them there (eg using external desktop or scaling) you can use them with other apps.

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for this in a 5 inch screen, you would likely have to use syncevolution to do that. Or plug it to a monitor and Keyboard and mouse and use Evolution proper, to import them

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Already tried the Surface USB-C to ethernet and USB 3.0 adapter which works fine.

Today also tested Cable Matters USB-C Multiport Adapter with 8K DisplayPort and PD. Everything seems to work: DisplayPort with external screen, fast ethernet, USB connected to an USB memory stick, USB connected to Startech USB Switch which is connected to my Microsoft Lifecam Cinema webcam and also is connected to my USB-hub on my external screen. On this USB hub on my external screen my wireless adapters for mouse and Logitech MX Keys keyboard are connected. Everything is working! Rather fun and also very easy to work this way.

Only thing not working is PD (power delivery): when connecting the power adapter to the Cable Matters Adapter the external screen seems to disconnect. This is too bad, because when connected to this set-up battery is going empty very fast.

Anybody knows why Power Delivery is not working?

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Is your camera working?
In your screen shot attached, in the lower left corner it looks like camera is working. That is why I am asking.

He said his webcam is connected.

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Yes, it is not the camera of the phone, it’s an external webcam. Clarified this in my post.

Also attached a Wacom Intuos S tablet by USB on Cable Matters. Tablet seems to work fine, but only on the screen of the Librem 5, not on the external screen.

I will update the Wiki Tested Accessories page with my findings another day.

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Because it’s not yet correctly handled in the kernel - should get enabled soonish with kernel updates.

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That sounds good! Looking forward to these kernel improvements. There are also some other nice USB-C hubs on the market, such as DIGITUS 11-Port USB-C™ Docking Station with SSD Enclosure. This one does come with is own Power Supply AC adapter (12 V / 3 A), but can also be attached to an USB-C Power Delivery with up to 100W (max).

Do you know if the Librem 5 be protected for “too” much power delivery (or will it automatically adjust)?
In other words: would it be safe to connect the Librem 5 to an USB-C hub with its own Power Adapter which is able to deliver much more than Power Adapter included with the Librem 5?

Also tested a much simpler setup, with only an older Rapoo E6700 Bluetooth Touch Keyboard. It really works fine, both keyboard and touch-pad, but when not using it for some minutes it losses connection and it is not really easy to reconnect. Using the hardware kill-switch for WiFi and Bluetooth seems the most effective way to reconnect.
EDIT: rebooting the phone after first connection also seems to make it much more stable now.

Would also love to see that pressing the Super Key (or Windows Key) gives immediately focus to search apps box (just like on regular Gnome).

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As ppl say
“The best camera is the one you have on you/in your pocket.” :slight_smile:
Phones are the cameras we carry all the time. Standalone cameras, not so much.

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Wonder whether this works…

Very sleek design. Lots of connections.

In my understanding, power is drawn, not pushed, so using a charger rated at higher wattage than what a device’s draw is just means that that charger will provide the required power, not fry the device by pushing too much electricity.

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Correct, it’s the load that draws the power, not the source. Otherwise your house would literally burst into flames when you turned everything on in your house…lol.

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I received my Evergreen today. My first impressions:

  • Shipping: Unlike the OP I never got a direct communication from DHL, only the tracking link from Purism’s shipping notification email. So I never had any information about the taxes I had to pay until the DHL person arrived and demanded 130 EUR in cash. This was not optimal.

  • BUG: My home wifi doesn’t work (the L5 disconnects after a few tens of seconds and doesn’t manage to reconnect), possibly due to the same 40MHz vs. 20 MHz problem discussed at [MyL5] Received my Librem 5, WiFi doesn't work :-(. A different wifi network works flawlessly, so it’s not a hardware issue but something related to that specific network. There’s nothing special about its configuration, and we have lots of other devices using it without problems though, so I would rather not change its configuration to please the misbehaving L5. I haven’t tried https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/linux-next/-/merge_requests/258 yet, if that’s the fix I hope it lands in the standard repository soon.

  • The keyboard settings are confusing. The “German (Austria)” keyboard has no umlaut keys at all. The “German” keyboard does, but in a way that is different from iOS, Android, Sailfish OS, and actual physical German keyboards: On German keyboards the Ö key is on the home row just to the right of L (in place of the US keyboard’s semicolon). All other software keyboards have it in the same place, on the “normal” keyboard screen. The L5’s German keyboard requires one to first enter the umlaut menu to get this key.
    I’m puzzled by the whole approach of the software keyboard. My understanding is that it requires some modifications to the source code to set up new keyboard variants. But clearly it seems to import some information from the XKB symbols database, since I can select an “English (intl, with AltGr dead keys)” keyboard, which comes from there. Needless to say, it has neither an AltGr key nor any dead keys, nor any “international” keys. If the keyboard actually imported the XKB keyboard definitions, not just some names, all the many keyboard variants would be set up correctly automatically.

  • I’m confused by the UI concept. I thought the idea was to make desktop applications adapt to the L5 screen size and orientation, but not even the default applications work nicely in portrait mode. The most egregious offender might be the the email client, which in portrait mode only shows a list of mail folders without any indication that mail bodies are hidden to the right of the folder list but only visible in portrait mode.

  • On the topic of email, it took me a while to figure out that “Geary” was the email client. The icon doesn’t evoke email to me. I would appreciate a more explicit name.

  • I would prefer it if the L5 didn’t vibrate on keyboard key presses and certain (but far from all!) other taps on UI elements. I didn’t find any setting to turn this off.

  • This is minor, but I would like to change my lock code to a 5-digit one, but at least 6 digits are required. I’ll just note that the keychain password has no problem being 5 digits.

  • Small UI things, for example: The lock screen requires that I swipe the upwards arrow, tapping doesn’t work. The bottom-of-the-screen menu requires that I tap the upwards arrow, swiping doesn’t work. The notification screen only goes away by tapping into it, not outside it.

That’s a lot of complaints, I know! I hope they are understood as the constructive criticism that I am trying to give. Thanks to the Purism team for their hard work so far, and thanks for all the improvements that are sure to come!

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Just a suggestion, but it might be a good idea to copy your post to a new thread, for discussion without blending into this thread, especially if you think you might be adding to it, asking questions, etc. Your call, though.

Congratulations!

Edit: We’ve also started prefacing each new L5 recipient post with the tag [MyL5] so we can collect them together when needed.

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