Jolla releases major update Sailfish OS

By admin On Dec 22, 2014

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Jolla released a new version of its Sailfish operating system on Monday. The update, called Vaarainjärvi, contains several improvements and new features. For example, text can now also be copied and pasted within Sailfish and Android apps.

Since Jolla released its eponymous smartphone with Sailfish OS last year, the company regularly provides the software with new features, such as 4g. With the tenth update, the Finns say they will once again bring a wealth of new features to the operating system on Monday.

In addition to copying and pasting text within Sailfish and Android apps, the update includes a music library search feature. Furthermore, Vaarainjärvi comes with the ability to cancel incoming calls and alarm clocks by turning the phone upside down. Finally, there are new views for the Here navigation maps, such as a satellite and night view.

Jolla also says it has overhauled the Sailfish interface. One of the common criticisms from reviewers was that it was inconsistent. For example, the interface in apps showed various dots at the top showing which screen the user was looking at. A light dot represented an active screen, while dark dots represented the rest.

“In some apps, the hierarchy was just so deep that we couldn’t show the whole path. This caused inconsistency,” Jolla writes. That is why the company has placed a dot on both sides of the Sailfish screen, which would clarify the overview.

Finally, the Sailfish update should make the operating system and associated apps more responsive. Android apps also respond faster due to technical improvements, says Jolla, partly due to the addition of the Wayland display driver. Memory improvements could also allow more Sailfish apps to run side by side.

Sailfish OS is a Linux kernel operating system based on Nokia’s MeeGo. The operating system can handle Android apps and now only runs on smartphones, such as the Jolla of the same name. However, a tablet with a modified version of the software will also be available. It will be released mid next year.

The tenth update for Sailfish OS is available for download immediately. The software requires about 2GB of free space. A full list of improvements can be found in the release notes, according to Jolla.