SailfishOS, Jolla C2, and random ramblings in 2024

3 minute read

I’ve been a loyal follower of Nokia’s mobile innovation journey for years, starting with the Nokia N800 and every subsequent device. Before Android fully established itself, Nokia’s Linux-based devices offered a genuinely geek-friendly alternative. I fondly recall a time in Tel Aviv when I used my N900 to SSH into a server and fix a config file while riding in a taxi—those were magical moments!

Over the years, I’ve kept up with the evolution of Nokia and Jolla devices, purchasing each new iteration. While I’m still waiting on my Jolla Tablet, I was excited to grab the Jolla C2 after its launch under Russian ownership. Living in the US meant shipping it to my EU office first, but I was eager to give it a try.

Quick Hits

Here are some thoughts I shared earlier on Mastodon about the device and SailfishOS:

App Support

The OS currently lacks many of the essential community apps SailfishOS users would expect. The associated Git repositories show minimal activity, so checking compatibility before diving in is necessary.

Captive Portal Issues

At my Hyatt hotel, the captive portal didn’t function properly. While it recognised the DNS captive redirect, it failed to bring up the login page. On another public Wi-Fi network, I managed to bypass this by switching the browser to Desktop Mode.

Wi-Fi Bugs

Apps occasionally crash and become buggy. During Wi-Fi testing, I encountered a race condition that required a reboot to clear and allow SSID changes.

Android Compatibility

Android support is impressively seamless and fast. SailfishOS offers out-of-the-box F-Droid and Aurora Store installations, which is a big win. More on that below, though.

Camera

While significantly improved compared to older Jolla phones, the camera still has room for improvement. Video recording, in particular, is unstable.

Keyboard

The OS’s keyboard design was one of my favourite features years ago. However, the lack of autocorrect and word prediction makes it hard to use daily. Collaborating with a team like Futo to bring a local-first keyboard to SailfishOS could address this gap.

No Fingerprint Reader

The absence of a fingerprint reader is noticeable. Entering a PIN repeatedly becomes tedious over time.

Performance

The OS initially struggled with memory issues but stabilised after a few hours. However, it’s still clunky because it runs a pre-release version of SailfishOS 5.

Design & Feel

While the C2 feels modern and substantial, it loses some of Jolla’s classic one-handed design principles. Interestingly, despite its age, the Jolla Phone 1 feels more cohesive and less prone to stuttering.

Evolution

The OS has come a long way in the last decade. Its lineage from Meego still makes me smile, reminding me of my excitement when booting the N800.

What Now?

Using the Jolla C2 raises an important question: What’s the value proposition in 2024? While SailfishOS retains its charm, it faces challenges that need addressing:

Open Source Credibility

SailfishOS is only partially open-source, which can be a dealbreaker for those in the PinePhone and postmarketOS communities. Jolla’s partial open-source model feels reminiscent of early GNOME vs. KDE battles over QT.

Native Apps

Running Android apps is great, but as with OS/2 and Proton/SteamOS, the absence of robust native apps remains an issue. SailfishOS could lean into its OSS roots by offering dedicated experiences for platforms like Lemmy, Mastodon, and Matrix. Catering to tech-savvy users would reinforce its anti-establishment appeal.

Privacy Focus

Security-conscious users represent an untapped segment. By embracing on-device models and privacy-first tools (e.g., Futo’s keyboard), Jolla could attract journalists and government workers needing robust defences against surveillance.

Hardware Innovation

The hardware space is challenging, but Jolla could offer unique features: smaller phones, expandable storage, replaceable batteries, and headphone jacks. Targeting the Pixel hardware platform would allow for better reach than the niche Sony Xperia line. I think embracing “Right to Repair” as a mantra with OSS would be a potent combo.

“Dumb Phone” Market

With the rise of minimalist e-ink phones and the decline of platforms like KaiOS, Jolla has an opportunity to offer simplified devices with smart features. This could appeal to users looking to escape the gamification of attention in modern smartphones.

Closing Thoughts

Jolla has the potential to carve out a meaningful niche, but it must evolve to stay relevant in today’s tech landscape. By focusing on privacy, open-source principles, and unique hardware, they could win over the segment of users who crave an alternative to mainstream options.