Few days ago customer asked if we can ship our Open Source hardware DIY Hacker friendly laptop TERES-I with /e/ pre-installed.
For these who has not clue what /e/ is: The /e/ ROM is a fork of Android with focus on privacy. It’s open source pro privacy compatible with most existing Android applications. The /e/ is alternative to the Apple/Google duopoly on the smartphone.
I have seen Mr. Gael Duval tweet about the /e/ support for TERES-I from March this year, but shame on me I wasn’t try it yet, so I though it’s good time to give it a try.
The install instructions here and are very clear. Unfortunately when I followed them there was no result other than displaying this spash screen for Pine64.
After waiting some minutes I decided that something is wrong and decided to write the image instead with dd command with balenaEtcher.
The image written with balena had same splash for a while then show /e/ install screen:
Be prepared to wait few minutes then the setup screen is shown, it’s same as first Android installation even you can choose Bulgarian language:
After setting up the date/time, your WiFi connection etc you got the home screen:
Settings show that TERES-I now run Android 7 (Nougat):
If you setup account you can go to app store:
Overall /e/ is running fine on A64 TERES-I and people who are used to Android environment, but do not want to be spy by Google service.
olimex 
May 11, 2020 @ 17:23:24
This is great! Hey, do you guys plan to make a DIY phone? You could re-use a lot of the TERES-I hardware for such a device.
May 11, 2020 @ 17:39:12
actually if one want to make DIY phone we have all the components available even in this moment:
1. A64-OLinuXino https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/A64/A64-OLinuXino/open-source-hardware
2. LCD with touchscreen like LCD-OLinuXino-5TS https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/LCD/LCD-OLinuXino-5CTS/
3. USB-gLINK for LTE connectivity https://www.olimex.com/Products/IoT/LTE/USB-gLINK-ANT/open-source-hardware
May 11, 2020 @ 22:56:28
Very true! Sure would be nice as a kit with a case, like you did for TERES-I, but I do see you have all the parts needed. Also, integrating some of the boards would help it stay smaller. 😀
May 12, 2020 @ 18:27:37
This is so promising!