The GPS-Issue should be resolved in the next update (1.7). Until then, you can use this app from F-Droid: FP1-EPO-Autoupdate (Automatically updates the EPO.DAT on the Fairphone) - https://f-droid.org/app/de.b0nk.fp1_epo_autoupdate
There’s a balance to be struck here. Fairphone shipping with a well known and recognised Operating System (i.e. Android) is something that is attractice to people who are interested in Fairphone and are not so tech savvy (or are, but do not have strong views on Google). However I totally recognise the genuine concerns that some have, and the wish to run their phones with a different OS. I also love the fact that my FP shiped rooted and with super user access, to give me control and options.
I’d suggest FP therefore ships with a plan vanilla android, for those who want to use it, but with the option of another OS (e.g. Firefox etc) for those who choose it (either at shipping or later). I don’t know if that is technically possible, but it could be a way forward.
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I voted for “2”, but it is obviously a necessity to keep android-compliance. I use my FP1U without a google-account, that is perfectly possible, and this freedom ist the main factor in my opinion. This is the main point for a FP2, and so FP2 should open a path for both tracks.
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With Jolla/Sailfish would be nice.
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I used CM a lot on my former devices and would like to do so on my Fairphone. But Jolla, Firefox OS oder Ubuntu Touch would be great alternatives as well!
I can see it is not easy for the Fairphone Team to provide some solution for this. So I appreciate all efforts to achieve continued software support.
@Bjoern There is an unofficial port of Cyanogen Mod provided by chrmhoffmann over at xda-developers. Have you seen this? This port is to be used with care!
Thank you for the hint 
Yes I saw this just before writing my post here. As I use my Fairphone as my primary device I need to have bluetooth working. So that is currently not an option for daily use. Although if he can get that working it will definitely be something I will give a try.
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This thread is geared more towards future software development (future device) but of course many of you are current Fairphone owners.
I just wanted to update you that our blog post talking about our current software support on FP1/U will hopefully be published next week (first week of December). Thanks for your patience, all.
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My heart here is divided. I need the latest Android version. But I’d love to use Ubuntu for Android on my phone.
I guess it’s time to close this poll. All users like to have software updates as long as possible. An optional choice (which would also increase the amount of possible customers) would be the freedom to install other (linux based) OSes (CM, ubuntu, Tizen, whatever).
As a poweruser with some experience in installing “foreign” OSes I like to add that we really can’t have the choice with the current HW. All boils down to Linux kernel support of the SoC (CPU/GPU) and the board (documentation/schematics). Even if Mediatek started to slowly upstream SoC support, it’s still a long way to get this complete. For the GPU (PowerVR which is known to be the worst supported GPU on the market - regarding docs/source code) it is likely that we will never get a working code for future OS releases. While the board docs may be fetched from the released kernel source, the opening of the board schematics would speed up things. On the other hand, without proper GPU support there is no need to invest resources.
I hope that FP gets the message and plan for a more open source friendly HW (e.g. snapdragon) for the next phone.
Finally, we should not forget that FP wasn’t meant to be fair to the customers (as all other vendors), but to the people who produce it. Of course that doesn’t mean that FP can’t change this. The chances are quite good for FP2 given that it will be an own design. Let’s hope the best.
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To sum it up: Next Fairphone should be open hardware.
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I agree concerning Android as the primary OS. Being an open-source user myself (switching my Desktop back to Windows would feel like dying a little death), I would probably not by a smartphone with an open-source OS. Why? Simply because a smartphone for me is all about the apps. Effectively this means iOS oder Android as for now. I am not talking about a good media player, a mailing program or things like that. This is fine on all OSes. I love using Amarok, Kontact and Firefox on my desktop computer. However, LibreOffice is a compromise. I am okay with this compromise because I am not sharing many documents and also Microsoft Office is more advances (I use it at work) I am fine with LibreOffice at home.
However, my Smartphone is a different story. I bought it because of apps. My local public transport company only supplies its app for iOS or Android. Same goes for our local car sharing company. Many of these nice modern communication apps for which you have to sell your privacy (WhatsApp, etc) won’t supply an open-source version. I remember when I decided to go for Jabber quite some years ago. Well, I was open-source, but communication was limited to me and some other nerds I knew. I use WhatsApp&Co not because I like it or its business model, but because of relationships. And yes, if you are globally connected, WhatsApp, WeChat and other can help a lot. The point is: When it comes to apps I am way more dependent on its creator to provide a version for my platform. The choice is not so much about the OS. Most people I talk to do not know that their smartphone has an OS or its name. They know that they can run the apps they want. Therefore I am limited (as for now) to Android or iOS.
The question is, which values I want to fight for. For me, having fair working conditions for the producers of my products and reducing the ecological impact of my life (e.g. repairability as is case for the fairphone) are way more important. I talked to some people at work about the fairphone (sales, secretary etc). There are quite a lot who share these values. But they do not really understand open-source or its values. They all have a smartphone and quite some apps they like. When I showed them by fairphone and they saw that it has the play store and all the apps they like but is fairer, they got really interested. Some consider buying one. Taking all this, I think Android is a good choice, People will not have any constraints when they use the phone while making a difference.
At the same time, I’d like to see a true difference, which means a smartphone running a fully open system. Best option in my opinion would be to provide and support Android as the default operating system for all those who simply want to buy a fairer phone while supporting pro users who want to port and run a fully open OS to fairphone. Logitech is doing something similar. While they do not provide drivers for Linux they support others in creating these drivers. I think HP is going the same track (luckily for me, as I do have a logitech webcam and an HP printer).
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Yeah, that’s (mostly) wrong. Mozilla introduced the Web APIs as it still needs to provide access for to the devices hardware and services for the apps. Otherwise no app on Firefox OS would have access to the mic, the camera, wifi, bluetooth, battery and what not. See the full list in the link above.
Fun fact: when they started outlining the Web APIs there was the Vibrator API … it got fairly quickly renamed to Vibration API 
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I’m in two minds about this: on one hand the extensive use of Android and Android phones results in a lot of third party support however I don’t agree with some of my pre-conceived notions about Google utilizing my data. On the other hand OS’s like Sailfish and Firefox OS are great but are still early in earlier development and lack direct third party support even if they are potentially much better operation systems.
Has anyone voiced an opinion about a custom FP launcher on top of Android 5.0 if FP chose to stay with Android? The Nokia Z launcher was quite cool after all.
Overall I think I’d rather have an OS that was open source and reflected my personal desire for privacy where I want it.
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I hope this changes in the future. Most mobile apps from local transport for example a effectivly secret web-apps or add least provide a service that would work equally well on a mobile web page. However, most mobile web pages are not that well developed, because they are not really invested in that much anymore with all resources going to apps… sad story.
I would agree that it is important to choose the values to fight for and not fight on to many at once.
I have high hopes for Firefox OS. I watch there development closely and i think for the next or the Fairphone after that, they might be ready for a consumer device priced at Fairphone level. It still misses essential apps for many, for example good Offline Maps, WhatsApp (i hate them for not providing and API like Telegram does!) and more. For, local transport with DB Navigator and Mobile Tickets is one of the thinks i would miss.
You can use Android without installing Google Apps. This somehow cuts you away from a large part of the Android Ecosystem, but still leaves you with a lot more options for third party apps compared to Jolla and Firefox OS.
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I believe the Firefox OS with free (like freedom) drivers is better!
Currently, I prefer choose to support an OS which respects my private life than a mobile phone which contributes the sustainable development. I have bought the ZTE Open C in France under Firefox OS and unfortunately not the Fairphone under Android.
But if have both in the same device, that would be wonderful!
Thanks a lot!
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I moved 5 posts to an existing topic: “Insufficient memory”, though there is 12gb on the phone memory
An open OS would be fine. However, it should be compatible with the largest number of apps. Therefore, IMO the best solution would be something like CyanogenMod.
Have y’all heard about Always Innovating OS?
It’s an open source operating system that runs on a beaglebone black (open source hardware) and gives you the option to switch between different operating systems (AIOS, Android, Ubuntu and Chrome OS)
My dream for the Fairphone would be to have the option to switch between Replicant, Firefox OS, Ubuntu and Sailfish.
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While I voted for the development of an Open Source OS like Firefox here, I’d originally wanted to ask about Windows 8 (or 9 or 10 for that matter). Would it be possible to let the user/buyer choose, which OS he or she wants? I’d quite like a Windows Fairphone … Then again, if FF or the like were GOOD options, I’m sure I’d like them, too, or prefer them. I’m just not too happy with Android.