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diff --git a/posts/2017_09_a-new-replicant-6-0-release.md b/posts/2017_09_a-new-replicant-6-0-release.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a9424c --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2017_09_a-new-replicant-6-0-release.md @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ +date: 2017-09-17T21:45:58+00:00 +title: A new Replicant 6.0 release +authors: Wolfgang Wiedmeyer +tags: Replicant images release, Replicant news, Wolfgang Wiedmeyer +licenses: CC-BY-3.0 OR CC-BY-4.0 +--- +A few months have passed since [the initial Replicant 6.0 release][1] and it's +time for another one. This release more than doubles the number of supported +devices and contains a few important fixes and improvements. The latest +changes from LineageOS 13.0 are included. They are mostly security fixes, so +updating is recommended! + +## Up to 12 devices now supported by Replicant 6.0 + +This release makes Replicant 6.0 available to a lot more devices that were +already supported by Replicant 4.2. These include the [Galaxy Note][2], +[Galaxy Nexus][3], the [Galaxy Tab 2 7.0][4] and [Galaxy Tab 2 10.1][5] +models. + +There are also two new tablet models that weren't yet supported by Replicant: +the GSM and Wi-Fi-only version of the [Galaxy Note 8.0][6]. The hardware is +very similar to the Galaxy Note 2 and thus it was quite straightforward to add +them as new devices. Furthermore, the tablets are not known to have bad modem +isolation, as the other supported devices. And the working front and back +camera makes them the currently best supported tablets. + +Support for the [GTA04][7] was a goal for this release as well. Some work has +been done to achieve this goal, but it's unfortunately not yet ready. It will +hopefully be ready when the next release comes around. + +## Improvements and fixes + +### USSD + +You can now use USSD messages with Replicant (again). USSD messages are the +codes you enter to check your available balance, to refill it or to select a +certain data plan. Depending on your provider, there may be more codes for +other functionality available. Before Paul's rewrite of [Samsung-RIL][8] in +2014, this type of messages could be used, but support for them wasn't added +again after the rewrite, until now. The new implementation features improved +decoding, most notably for special characters. + +### USB Wi-Fi adapters + +The initial Replicant 6.0 release already included the RepWifi app that +provides a nice interface to use USB Wi-Fi adapters with libre firmware. The +app is developed by Fil Bergamo and he added quite a few new features and a +graphical restyling for the next version that is shipped with this release. It +is now possible to connect to hidden networks, to manually set DNS servers and +to auto-connect to a Wi-Fi network, once the adapter is plugged in. + +Fil also submitted a patch that provides a fix for a very annoying issue with +the Wi-Fi adapters or with [reverse tethering][9]. So far, network +connections, that were established using a Wi-Fi adapter or reverse tethering, +weren't properly reported to apps. For example, F-Droid wasn't usable because +of this. Thanks to Fil's patch, this issue is now fixed. + +It was possible to make all devices that are supported by Replicant 6.0, +including the newly added ones, usable with certain Wi-Fi adapters. Despite +the improvements that were made with this release, be advised that connection +issues or other instabilities are still possible. Their severity mostly +depends on the device you use and the level of battery charge (see the +[wiki][10] for more details). + +### Recovery + +Another goal for this release was to make the usage of the recovery less +error-prone and more intuitive. Devices with touch keys (like the Galaxy S 2 +and Galaxy S 3) now have the key backlight enabled at all times which makes it +easier to identify the back key. And the buttons are generally bigger to allow +better navigation via the touchscreen. Some previously failing installations +from internal or external storage (e.g. due to the file system used on the SD +card) should now work. + +A new Setup Wizard based on the Setup Wizard from LineageOS was added, too. +When the device is started for the first time, the Setup Wizard helps with the +configuration. + +See the [changelog][11] for a complete list of all the notable changes and +detailed support status of newly added devices. + + [1]: <https://blog.replicant.us/2017/05/replicant-6-0-released/> + + [2]: <https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyNoteN7000> + + [3]: +<https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyNexusI9250> + + [4]: +<https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab270P31xx> + + [5]: +<https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab2101P51xx> + + [6]: +<https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyNote80N51xx> + + [7]: <https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GTA04> + + [8]: <https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/Samsung-RIL> + + [9]: +<https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/ReplicantUSBNetworking> + + [10]: <https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/WifiAdapter> + + [11]: +<https://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/replicant/images/replicant-6.0/0002/metadata/changelog.txt> + + |