2e Impressions and Thoughts with /e/ OS

Teracube 2e
#9

Just received my 2e from the eFoundation (e/OS - de-Googled!). And set it up last night.
I switched from and Apple iphone XR. I like the form factor of the 2e; slightly taller and narrower in the hand than the iphone. I switched because I’m very interested in alternatives, privacy/surveillance, etc. I also like to customize my interface and device to it is non-distracting, quiet and calm.

I use:

  • Microsoft Launcher

  • Outlook (for work and personal)

  • OKTA for work authentication.

So far all works great. Had some freezing when launching the camera app, but just did an OS update which may be the fix.

I installed the Aurora Store, which might have a greater variety of apps, in order to get:

  • LastPass (password manager)

  • Bench App (for my Hockey team, schedule, games and communication)

  • Mint Mobile App*

The only worrisome part was messaging when accessing Aurora “using a rooted phone poses potential security risks…” but I am assuming that is just for legal/CYA reasons and that the OS will withstand…

  • I switched from T-Mobile to Mint for the cheaper prices (I have a family of 5) and Mint runs off the T-Mobile networks. No hiccups there other than having to tell my people to SMS me instead of iMessage.
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#10

IMG_7601
IMG_76013024×4032 2.11 MB

Next I will order a matte screen protector because that is part of my minimal/non-distraction/calm setup

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#11

I’ll suggest the one from this post. All other glass screen protectors (including our official ones) have been having a side gap issue.

#12

Hey all,

I’m also a Mint customer who purchased the Tera 2e with /e/ os by default, I’m coming from the iPhone SE 2020 and here were my initial impressions:

PROS:

  • OS functions well, visually stunning app icons, really love this as an Apple user
  • Magic Earth: ran it side by side with google maps and turn by turn was spot on
    *Fingerprint scanner is very snappy/responsive, quickly unlocks phone
    *App store has a good selection of apps
  • It’s anti-Google, that’s awesome

CONS:

  • I live in a very rural area and Mint does not offer wifi calling/texting for this device, this was the biggest issue for me as I can hardly get any signal at my home at all.
  • Processor has some drag, I noticed it stuttering while playing Jurassic world and scrolling through the YouTube app
  • Camera: app had issues in low lighting and light streaking coming from windows where the sun was shining.
    *Camera: app has a lot of options, that’s fine and everything but coming from Apple, I’d like to be able to just point and shoot and use the extra features if I want, not because I need to in order to get the right shot.
  • Magic earths robot voice is pretty bad, we did get some laughs from it tho.
  • No default password manager??
  • Some apps in the store said they weren’t compatible with my device, only made for older devices.
    *Keyboard: I had to really slow myself down when typing as the keyboard only recognized one finger at a time, never realized I don’t fully remove one finger before pressing another down.

I realize some of the issues above were probably hardware related, but thought the were worth mentioning. I love what /e/ stands for and what they’re trying to accomplish.

#13

About the keyboard app: follow the directions in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/LineageOS/comments/gaf19n/gesture_typing_aosp_without_opengapps_oneplus_7/, also mentioned at https://community.e.foundation/t/swype-keyboard-for-e/9609 to enable keyboard swipe function. On my device, I didn’t have enough storage space on the partition, I found and deleted the libreoffice viewer apk (since I don’t use this on the phone).
For me, single-character typing is very annoying on the phone.

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#14

Ahh good to know about Mint and non-WiFi calling. I was visiting friends in upsate NY and had no coverage and no WiFi calling/text while my wife (also on Mint, but using an iphone) could get messages over Wifi…

#15

Wi-Fi calling is noted as an issue with the current release of the unofficial LineageOS build, which it sounds like /e/OS builds are based on. I’m hoping that’s the issue because I also have Mint and rely on Wi-Fi calling since I live in a house with poor T-Mobile coverage.

1 Like
#16

I’ve had some issues with the phone shutting itself down. I am using e/OS so I suspect that is where the issue might be from. I’ve updated to the latest release (0.18) so we will see. Anyone else using the 2e have similar issues?

#17

really was enjoying it… I noticed that when I ordered it the bootloader was locked and had eos on it. Sadly I wanted to mess about with teracubes rom and now put eos back on and I had to unlock the bootloader… locking it results in a error stating that I need a signed boot. is there a way I can do this?

#18

Hi @two - welcome to Teracube forums. Unfortunately - you will have to keep the bootloader unlocked to run /e/ OS. This is because the /e/ OS build is not signed by us.

#20

Thanks for the welcome, when the phone shipped to me with eos it seemed to me the bootloader was locked? or was I just having perception issues ? Also thanks for the work on the teracube I have already shown many colleagues a better path forward.

I am very interested in getting a signed image of e/os on a phone. I hope you can offer signing images for eos in the future.

1 Like
#21

We will definitely check what we can do about this thing as there is a sizable interest in /e/ OS.

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/e/ zip for SP flash?
#22

was the phone in fact shipped to me with a signed /e/os ?

#23

No - all /e/ OS phones would have bootloader unlocked and /e/ OS not signed by our keys. Otherwise it will not boot. However it does have the original /e/ OS build.

#24

Yes, please ! :pray:
It would be soooooo awesome ! :star_struck:

2 Likes
#25

I just got my 2e with /e/ preinstalled today, and while I was prepared not to be able to charge with USB C to USB C, I cannot seem charge the phone at all, either with Samsung or Apple USB A chargers and a USB A to USB C cable, or by plugging that cable into a (plugged in) laptop USB A port. Am I missing something? Is there any difference between USB A to USB C cables that would affect charging (the one I have is new, but not the specific one from this post). Does anyone have the exact voltage/current values of the Teracube charger that they can share? I’d buy one, but they’re all sold out.

I am currently using a Moto G4 Play that I rooted and installed /e/ on myself, and I am a big fan of the operating system and the partnership with Teracube. I think it’s great that Teracube doesn’t automatically inlcude a charger, except… this is like the one device I’ve gotten in the last decade that actually needed one, so I’m struck by the irony there.

#26

Hey @ecs. I’m using a Samsung EP-TA200 adapter that originally came with my Galaxy S9! The output values on the adapter are 9.0v/1.67A or 5.0v/2.0A. A real Samsung adapter (not compatible) can be had for around $12 on Amazon. Good luck!

Marc

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List of working chargers for Teracube 2e
#27

Thanks! So far, I have tried EP-TA12JWE and EP-TA50JWE Samsung chargers, and they do not work.

#28

5V/2A works flawlessly iirc.
I use a Xiaomi charging brick and it works great

#29

I can confirm.