LINux on MOBile - GNOME AppsLINMOB.net is a blog about LINux on MOBile devices. With the PinePhone (Pro) and Librem 5 shipping it is back to report on GNU+Linux on mobile devices.Zola2020-09-25T00:30:00+00:00https://linmob.net/tags/gnome-apps/feed.xmlGNOME 3.38 and what it brings Linux Smartphones2020-09-25T00:30:00+00:002020-09-25T00:30:00+00:00https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/<p><em>There is one more item I forgot to add while writing LinBits 11:</em> <a href="https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.38/">The release notes of GNOME 3.38 "Orbis"</a>. I tried to have a look at it on <a href="https://github.com/dreemurrs-embedded/Pine64-Arch/releases">Arch Linux ARM/Huong Tram Linux by danct12</a>, and I am going to share the progress here, hopefully allowing you to follow along.</p>
<span id="continue-reading"></span><h2 id="preparations">Preparations</h2>
<p>Please follow the <a href="https://linmob.net/2020/09/05/pinephone-building-plasma-mobile-apps-from-the-aur.html#preparations">preparations section of my recent post on building software from the AUR</a>.</p>
<h2 id="installing-software-from-the-aur">Installing software from the AUR</h2>
<h3 id="gnome-web-epiphany">GNOME Web/Epiphany</h3>
<p>I thought about building the full browser here, my attempt at building <code>epiphany-git</code> eventually failed miserably, and building <code>webkit2gtk</code> before is a necessity — which takes forever. If you want to, you can try the new release of Epiphany via flatpak. Most of it scales properly, but the Settings screen is not phone friendly yet (it can made somewhat usable with <code>scale-to-fit epiphany on</code>).</p>
<p><img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h25m03s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Web: Web page with menu" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h25m13s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Web: Tab menu" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h29m34s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Web: Settings after scale-to-fit" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h30m03s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Web: Shortcuts after scale-to-fit" /></p>
<h3 id="gnome-games">GNOME Games</h3>
<p>Let's try out GNOME Games. First, we will have to install <code>retro-gtk-git</code>, which is an unnamed dependency of <code>gnome-games-git</code>. If you are brave, you may do both installs at once: <code>yay -S retro-gtk-git gnome-games-git</code>.</p>
<p>It fits the screen quite nicely, but I did not want to download ROMs from dodgy sites so I could not really try it.</p>
<p><img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h39m24s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Games: Start screen with menu" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h49m47s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Games: Preferences: Video" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h49m54s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Games: Preferences: Platforms" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h50m02s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Games: Event Overview" /></p>
<h3 id="gnome-maps">GNOME Maps</h3>
<p>GNOME Maps is said to have "received initial work making the app adaptive for phone use." Let's install it by running <code>yay -S gnome-maps-git</code>. </p>
<p>The main screen is a lot better now, but the Routing menu still needs further adjustment, which, if I understand the <a href="https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-maps/-/commits/master">commit history</a> correctly, might have had at some point during the development of the release.</p>
<p><img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h17m58s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Maps: Map View" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h14m28s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Maps: Dark Mode satellite view" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h16m54s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Maps: Shortcuts" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h18m37s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Maps: Routing view" /></p>
<h3 id="gnome-calculator">GNOME Calculator</h3>
<p>It's <code>yay -S gnome-calculator-git</code>, and there does not seem to be much difference except for a new icon, that well, is different. <code>scale-to-fit gnome-calculator on</code> helps with the advanced modes.</p>
<p><img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h10m26s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Calculator: Icon" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h10m37s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Calculator: Basic Mode" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h11m21s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Calculator: Programming Mode" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200925_00h25m44s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Calculator: Programming Mode with scale-to-fit" /></p>
<h3 id="gnome-clocks">GNOME Clocks</h3>
<p>Clocks has received an overhaul. It's a quick build away with <code>yay -S gnome-clocks-git</code>. I did not really notice a difference in features, but the redesign certainly improves it.</p>
<p><img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h33m32s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Clocks: Start screen" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h33m46s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Clocks: Adding a world clock" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h34m05s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Clocks: Add an Alarm" />
<img src="https://linmob.net/gnome-3-38-and-linux-smartphones/20200924_22h37m09s_grim.jpg" alt="GNOME Clocks: Timer" /></p>
<h2 id="caveats-and-conclusion">Caveats and Conclusion</h2>
<p>GNOME 3.38 brings a few improvements. Maps, while it does not scale properly in every part of the application, is a lot better now. I did not really try games, because I did not feel like pirating games and installing emulators. </p>
<p>For GNOME Maps, Clocks and Image Viewer (eog), you can also have a look at my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VefFyTF3c-I">recent Manjaro video on YouTube</a>.</p>