PINE64 - PinePhone Software

Difficulty with openSUSE Tumbleweed Install PinePhone Beta

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:49:21 +0000

Hey everyone,

I am trying to install openSUSE on the PinePhone beta and cannot get the phone to boot the image that is provided on openSUSE as of 11-13-2025.

The links to KDE and GNOME on the main article page https://en.opensuse.org/HCL:PinePhone do not even work, and I found the only image fine in the directory which is less ideal since I wanted KDE.

Does anyone have any experience with getting the install to work? Or are we just dealing with a broken image on the openSUSE site.

My process has been to use Balena Etcher to flash this image:

https://download.opensuse.org/repositori...1.6.raw.xz

Sometimes etcher itself crashes on verification.

When I insert the microSD card to the phone, the screen remains blank and oscillates between a green and red light, which I guess means the image failed.

I tried this method using JumpDrive with the same result.

Does anyone know of a solution here? I appreciate it.

DM

baremetal via Zig on PinePhone - JumpDrive help please

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:33:03 +0000

background: 2 years ago, I was following along with great series of articles to get LVGL running on PinePhone. I was emulating the same journey but using Zig for all the hardware interfacing (and I got quite far). But at the time I was stuck on an old version of Zig and lost motivation. Now I finally have some hardware to run latest Zig, and I decided to port my project over to Zig 0.14 including it's new build system.

I've struggled for a few days to recreate the environment I had running (I also switched from macos to to Linux and still learning!). So I decided to go back to basics, and try to understand how NuttX interects with the JumpDrive image.

This is what I tried:

1. compiling some very simple Zig code, that should toggle the phone LEDs.
2. build the above as an elf file for arm freestanding with a target of cortex_a53
3. created a simple .ld linker file that ensure my entry point is at 0x40080000
4. using objCopy extract hex via the -O binary
5. gzip the resulting binary file into Image.gz

I was expecting that whatever the JumpDrive util does, it somehow jumps to executing the code directly from Image.gz. However now I suspect that this .gz might be a bit more complicated than straight arm machine code. But I have no idea what? and I struggle to follow the NuttX build (maybe something to do with a util called binfmt? but also I saw mention of nxflat).

Ultimately it would be nice to find a way to deploy to PinePhone as 'baremetal'. But for now the JumpDrive 'hack' would be enough, allowing me to hop between SDCards to compare/debug different images.

Does anyone have any idea how to wrap my baremetal code into something JumpDrive can recognize from the Image.gz file please.

Best Battery Life

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:34:56 +0000

Hello folks,

I am about to repair the broken screen on my Pinephone that has been sitting in a drawer for years.

I want to attempt to daily drive. Given that I haven't tested and distro-hopped this device in years, I thought I would appeal to you all for info.

What is currently the best distro and UI for battery life running phone calls, texts, and perhaps GPS.

For background, I have no issue with using a command line. I am looking for function over bells and whistles. Calls, text, working GPS is a plus but not required.

Also remind me, Wifi will drain more than cellular data?

Thanks for your time.

Movuan distribution for PinePhone

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:05:42 +0000

You may not know yet, but the Mobian Clone, which is without SystemD, has been released. It uses Devuan Linux as the basis.
Release v 0.0.0.2 comes with an attached image that can be burned to your bootable SD card straight for the PinePhone.

Code:
https://gitlab.com/l2385/movuan/movuan-recipes/-/releases

If you would like to test/use it in a VM, on a laptop, or on other compatible phones, you will however have to build it yourselves.

Code:
https://gitlab.com/l2385/movuan/movuan-recipes

.
.
.
On gitlab they have limited free storage space, hence providing a single image in a split zip archive. They also have free compute minutes monthly, that are almost enough to build one Movuan image monthly. Everything important is written on the project pages.
Yes, you can try it.

Touchscreen usability patches

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 08:35:36 +0000

Hi all,

I got my PinePhone a couple of months ago, and since then I have come up with a few small patches to some of the applications, mainly to improve usability on the touchscreen. These include:

Automatically add extensions to downloaded MMS attachments in Chatty
Track selection and touch scrolling in Audacious MP3 player
Quick switching between fullscreen and gallery view in Eye of GNOME image viewer
Fixed position tracking and added "track up" mode in Marble mapping app.

I have also documented some resolutions to a few other issues that I encountered. Further details are at http://loopgain.net/pinephone/

I hope that these patches and information are of some use. I'm planning on trying to contribute these patches back to the respective projects, though I'm not sure how well they will be received for the apps that are mainly used on desktop systems. Is there anyone from the Mobian project who is able to assist with integrating things upstream?

Regards,

johnwa

Pilotlight, a way to save power during long audio playback

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 19:51:22 +0000

keeping the pilotlight lit, normally when listening to an audiobook or music playlist the Pinephone locks it's screen after a minute and suspends the OS after a few more minutes as set by the user.
This suspend action makes it possible to carry a pinephone all day ready ro receive incoming telephone calls and still have battery if the phone is not used for more than 45min to an hour a day.
Every time the system suspends the audio stream is killed, even after wakeup most of the time the audio playback app needs to be killed and restarted for it to output audio.
I want a way to keep a tightly controlled and minimized audio app running while using minimal CPU waste power, and without the bloat of the system processes.
I only want the pilotlight lit, not the whole furnace.

I have several ideas that might be able to be implemented with only scripts, but I will need a LOT of help making this work if I run into bugs.
The idea works like this:
1- when an audio app is running we get the audio pause/skip controls on the lockscreen, there are already processes which load when audio is started
2- when audio mode is detected a special suspend mode is activated or enabled
   A- an exception is made to the suspend mode script, perhaps an alternate suspend mode
       a- the process running the audio is moved to one awake cpu core and the lowest voltage and mhz possible is engaged, only enough to allow for the audio stream to continue
       b- if possible audio is buffered into hardware audio acceleration chip and even the audio app CPU is suspended until 10-20 sec before the buffer runs out,
       c- buffer refills, suspend special audio process, repeating
    B- when system is taken out of suspend the audio app and special settings for single CPU are ended

An alternative would be to add an audio buffer playback system to the programs running on the modem module, perhaps a virtual serial audio device fed over the data connection line. The modem module has its own Android based no-GUI OS, memory, and CPU, it is always awake and waiting for incoming calls and texts, which results in it sending a de-suspend command to the Pinephone, as running its own OS processes.

Currently unless there is USB power in the Pinephone pro can get at most around two hours of audio playback even though the the screen is dark and locked as all processes continue to run at full power.

How-To: Remote Control Your Phone from Desktop via VNC

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:26:38 +0000

Do you wish there was an easy hands-free way to interact with your PP's touch GUI while sitting in front of your desktop system?
Would you like to compose, read, and send SMSs and IMs using your full size keyboard? Interact with your mobile apps using your desktop's mouse, and screen?
Is there a way to cut and paste between your phone and Desktop?
Maybe you would like to initiate and end hands-free or speakerphone calls without touching your phone?

These and more are all possible using VNC to remotely interact with the GUI of your Pinephone.

Let's start with your Pinephone; mine is running Mobian but the instructions should work for other distros; use your system's package installer. (this is for systems running Weyland for video, x11(and mir/surfaceflinger) uses a different VNC server)

Code:
sudo apt install wayvnc

once wayvnc is installed the way I run it is with a launch script I keep in my home directory, I named my script V (the 0.0.0.0 allows incoming connections from outside localhost)

Code:
#! /bin/bash

wayvnc 0.0.0.0

make our script V executable

Code:
chmod +x  V

launch manually on the pinephone's shell console like this

Code:
./V

The VNC server on your phone is now waiting for a client to connect, as configured is not secured and is unencrypted.

This setup when run on your Weyland video server Pinephone will let your login when the VNC server is running on your PP without any security or password config on either side. The VNC server script above is launched and killed manually so it is not running all of the time in this config, you save precious battery when mobile. If you wanted you could make a desktop entry to give you a GUI launcher for the sell script, just kill that shell window to kill the server.

Now install the VNC viewer GUI on your desktop Linux machine(other OSs also have VNC client software)

Code:
sudo apt instal tigervnc-viewer

Now in this insecure home LAN setup just run ./V on your Pinephone, then set the phone's LAN IP address in the tigervnc-viewer GUI running on your desktop system and click connect; a window with your PP's interactive GUI will appear on your desktop machine.

In options I recommend reviewing the cut/paste options in tigervnc-viewer Input tab, clicking the 'show dot when no cursor' in the also in Input tab so you have a way to see your mouse in some server configs, as well as ensuring that in the Security tab the encryption and authentication options including none as in my example are to your preference.

This is all you need to remote control your phone via desktop; it is a near perfect way to interact with your Weyland Pinephone. This setup also works if you are using the PP as your wifi(or USB cable or Bluetooth) tether hotspot just be sure to update the PP's IP address. This quick tryout setup is only viable in a situation where the phone and laptop are on a private WLAN with no possibility of other users, any other situation where the VNC server is running gives all users who can scan the network for open VNC port free GUI access to your PP with no barriers. It is easy to set a user name and password as well as encryption for the connection, a secure setup requires editing a .conf file on your PP with username and password as well as generating an RSA key. see https://github.com/any1/wayvnc

If you have trouble with cut/paste showing boxes rather than text it is a font matching problem and I have solved this by using the on-phone web browser for some non-English languages rather than my desktop's; there are better ways to solve the problem though.
VIew the wayvnc git for secure setup and running instructions https://github.com/any1/wayvnc

I find that if I am doing heavy interaction with my PP while in my office VNC, an SSH session, as well as Filezilla to move files around makes everything so easy I rarely need to touch my charging PP except to wake it up if it goes into standby mode and disconnects from the WLAN.

Office applications for the Pinephone

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 07:49:57 +0000

Jackfish is one of the view Office experts for the Pinephone. He installed Word 97 in a XBOX/Wine containter:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?...ght=word97

I Installed LibreOffice on the Pinephone, but I do not use it, altough I am still interested in it:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=16614

Then we have alaraajavamma who uses as far as I know Abiword and Gnumeric on the Pinephone:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?...614&page=3

Which means that I know only of three people who are interested in Office on the Pinephone. This is a pity, since for me personally Office is one of the applications which make the Pinephone interesting. The community for this application consists of 3 people, but every member is precious. My preferred option for Office on the Pinepehone would be this one:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=19342

But the Pinehone seems to be a typical Linux device, you can do anything with it, but you have to do it yourself.

8/24 status of JumpDrive

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:51:33 +0000

Hi Pinephone Geeks

I noticed the latest version of JumpDrive is 0.8 released May 31, 2021.

https://github.com/dreemurrs-embedded/Ju...e/releases

Is this software eventually discontinued? Is there a successor?

Bottom Line:

Is this still the only easy GUI way to install live Manjaro/Phosh onto pinephone's hard drive?

-----

Just asking before I do some works with JumpDrive.

Thank in advanced for your input.

Sheng-Chieh

Why does Pine64 sabotage office on the Pinephone?

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 07:03:48 +0000

- Does this table not show how great office applications would be on the Pinephone?

https://petergamma.org/selected-office-a...-zero-2-w/

- There is also a lot work behind this table of Peter Gamma from www.petergamma.org.

- But is pulling the Pinephone keyboard from the market not an act of sabotage against office applications on the Pinephone?

Samba share on the Pinephone?

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 04:26:37 +0000

As far as I know the shared folder option is only integrated in the later versions of Ubuntu to share one folder from one Ubuntu PC to another:

https://youtu.be/X-PSSd-U610

Or from a Ubuntu PC to a Windows 11 PC:

https://youtu.be/KV5fhoawNIo

But there is also the solution to share files with Samba.

I found hree a Guide - «Setting up a SMB(Windows) file server» on Rock 64 in the Pine64 forum:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=4983

Does this work also on the Pinephone?

Simple privacy office solution for the Pinepone

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:45:54 +0000

I have summarized the simplest privacy office solution for the Pinephone I know. I did not manage to get every detail to work yet, but everything should work in principle. Since all information is available from the Pine64 forum. I invite everybody to take over this instruction, update it and add more features:

https://petergamma.org/a-simple-privacy-...l-sd-card/

Possible Free Backup Carrier for PinePhone

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:45:54 +0000

A long running concern I've had about the PP is that at some point phone carriers can drop service at any time as has happened previously.

Is the following a solution for not just messaging, but audio calls to others who've loaded the same software?

--------------------------

There is a non-TCP internet project called Reticulum that has some similarities to the low signal messenger Meshtastic, but Reticulum is much more versatile.

One of the newest features includes allowing for VOIP phone calls through Reticulum Meshchat:

https://github.com/liamcottle/reticulum-webchat

Meshchat can make use of standard internet, wifi, and also the LORA Radio Nodes commonly used for Meshtastic.

PinePhone has a back plate accessory that comes with a built in LORA Radio Node:

https://pine64.com/product/pinephone-pin...d-on-case/

Can this provide another use case for the back plate accessory?

It theoretically solves for the cumbersome LilyGo T-Beam Radio Node that needs to be connected via USB chord to droid phones for similar mesh networks.

How difficult is it to code Reticulum-Meshchat for PinePhone (preferably Arch Phosh for personal testing)?

Note: I don't know Python and lack the free time to learn to attempt this on my own.

GloDroid (Android-14)

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:02:10 +0000

I've been running GloDroid, Android 14 2023w46, on the Pinetime beta for awhile now. Here are some of my discoveries in the hopes that they will help others. I hope we see more from the GloDroid team as this has been a fun build to play with.

Touch response is great/better than most Pinetime distrobutions I've played with.
Battery performance is really good, standby power consumption can get you 3–4 days before charging, which is impressive!
Headphones work!
The phone speaker works too!
F-droid takes a while to update the repositories, so be patient the mirrors can be busy.
The messages app can view messages but not create them. I've been using SMSdroid since then, with good success.
I love the sound effect when you hook up a charging source. The good old days of having a old Nokia are back. ;-)
Tapping 7 times on the build number in the settings->about gives you the developer options. Good for debugging.
I downloaded GadgetBridge from F-droid and was able to pair both of my Pinetime watches. Awesome!

Phone service is a little sketchy, 50/50 chance the phone will boot and recognize the SIM. When I get no service, a workaround I found is to plug the phone into a charging source and open the Messenger app. The phone will reboot on its own, and then the phone SIM is recognized, this may take a couple of reboots to take effect.

WiFi will not connect to my new T-Mobile router. Though if I bring up a hot-spot on my other phone, it will connect with no issues. Funny, because my very old iPod has the same issue.

I do get some random reboots every once in awhile, that's where I'll try to debug the cause so I'll keep playing and making new discoveries and sharing.

Have fun out there!

Gary

PINEPHONE not booting

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:30:23 +0000

Hello all,

I am not sure if I should introduce myself, if not: just ignore:

My name is Albert, I am from Denmark. I am an ethical hacker. The name Touchwood comes from the frog, the wizard Catweazle always has with him.

To the case:
I just received my Pinephone - Beta.
But it won't boot up. I put a USB charger stick into the USB-C port. The led at the top turned red, then green, while the phone is vibrating. I can see the display is lit, but nothing happens. Then the LED shuts, and the process continues several times, before it stops doing anything.

What could cause this problem?