solilo guy @dirk@computerfairi.es

P.S.

If you feel like you'll never have the time or skills to flash a phone but crave an alternate, Google-free phone, you have the following three options (I'm aware of) atm:

1.) Sailfish OS: apart from the odd already flashed device on Ebay et al, you can go to the shop at https://jolla-devices.com and see what's in stock (not too much atm, but Xperia 10 is on the horizon and will be available through this page);

1/3

Well, it's done – I flashed my first phone!

Had some ups and downs, but these things always have.

(The Jolla documentation is actually pretty good and complements Sony's where it gets fuzzy.)

Bottom line: if I can do it, _you_ can do it!

Yasssss! 🎉

...

Oh-kayyy🎵
Something's _happening_🎶

I basically just repeated everything:

- entered my unlock code with fastboot -> error, already unlocked;

- ran the flashing script once more -> only this time: success! flashing is officially *in progress*🚀

Holy cow!

For some reason I turned on the Sony device - first it told me to lock the bootloader (good!), but then it remained in bootloop limbo for a veerry long time, until, after almost all curses I know, it finally reached some landing screen (whew!).

Now what?

Uh-oh!

Tried the flashing script again, now it says my device has NOT been unlocked yet.

Dear future phone: Could you please make up your mind whether you're unlocked or not?!

This is going to be a long night...😫

Tried it again with

sudo fastboot -i 0x0fce oem unlock etc.

and:

"...
FAILED (remote: Device already unlocked)
finished. total time: 0.017s"

– Good news, I guess!

No, damn, I'm stupid, I literally typed

sudo fastboot oem unlock 0x<my unlock code>

but I need to specify "oem"!
But what's the vendor ID? The Jolla instructions propose

-i 0x0fce

in their example.

Gonna have to investigate that...🕵️ 🔎

"...
OKAY [ 1.160s]
finished. total time: 1.160s"

Uh... yay? Could this mean I _did_ it?

Linux could be a little less elliptical here – how about integrating some fireworks or that Tetris rocket when someone unlocks a bootloader?!

Okay it appears I never actually unlocked, just prepared for it. Still have to enter my unlock key...
bit excited and too fast, gotta hold my horses...

minor setback: I ran the flashing script in terminal, but it tells me that my bootloader is not unlocked.
Do I have to unlock it again? Did that earlier today... gonna investigate... 🤔

And it's blue! 💙
(really had to push the volume up button _while_ plugging in the micro USB)

Hmm... Sony LED should be blue to continue, but it's orange... still, the screen says USB debugging is activated. What to do? 😕
Guess I'll go unpack something first...

Downloaded and unpacked vendor binary image – I went for version 16, Sailfish still seems to have problems with the newer version 17b (weaker WiFi in some instances).

Confusing Sony Open Devices instructions a little disheartening, but then I had to fill out a Google Captcha 👺 – ahh thanks, that little shot of anger is motivating af – and got my unlock code! 😤

#FuckOffGoogle

So here goes:

I already downloaded the free Sailfish Os version.

I'll be working from my Linux Thinkpad running #elementaryOS, so I'm installing fastboot tools for #Ubuntu.

So I'll be going through the step-by-step instructions by Jolla and Sony – if I succeed, I'll know how it's done an can help others in the future! 💪

Daughter will be getting my beloved Aqua Fish phone from #India for Christmas, so I'll be needing a new daily driver.

On the Aqua Fish, #SailfishOS was preinstalled (I'm fortunate enough to never have used Google or Apple phones), but now I will have to flash myself I want to keep using it.