07/05/2026

Mid 2026: staying alive!

Here’s a new J-D bulletin: this news is focused on the Store itself!
In a period like this, on a macro level, we’re facing various unexpected events, and one goal like moving forward and keeping the Store alive is a challenge!

The Xperia sales are gradually lowering the more the 10 III is ageing, not replaced by a newer Xperia. So it’s important to experiment with related section of the J-D Store.
Here are some highlights on alternative sections, other than the Xperia / Sailfish OS section:

Graphene OS is so back.

There seems to be some renewed momentum around Graphene OS, along with some excessive controversy on X (formerly Twitter). At the J-D Store, Pixel phones have shown signs of life after months of silence, in 2026.
The Google Pixel 9a, in particular, has dropped into the mid-range price range and is now available in very solid, near-new condition for under €500.

A price that may still seem a little high (if we consider the 2022-2024 pre-inflation scenario), but it’s below the prices of all the alternative “Community” phones recently released.

And the Pixel 9a’s hardware isn’t much to fear, even when directly compared to recent iPhone models: even without the software optimizations (removed with Graphene OS), photo and video quality is very solid. The display is excellent, and the body is water and dust resistant.

It’s probably not the most beautiful Pixel ever, but in obsidian gray it’s quite elegant.

In short, the Pixel 9a is the staff pick. It’s sad to say, but it’s the real Xperia 10 V, if only it had full support…

Check out the Pixel phones!

New section: Thinkpads!

Always searching for new directions to keep the Store alive and well, there’s a category of devices that has always been associated with alternative Linux phones, but until now, it hadn’t been tested: laptops with Linux onboard.

Over the years, I’ve noticed how almost all flashing and recovery procedures for phones with Sailfish OS and other ROMs are much more reliable (aka: it works) under Linux, Ubuntu in particular.

This is why the new “Computers” section was created, which could also be called “Thinkpads”. In fact, for now, the hardware selection is focused on rugged Lenovo models from the Thinkpad line: currently, it starts with the compact X280 and the more mature T480s. Both are available with Ubuntu 24 LTS installed.

Both are powered by 8th-generation i5 CPUs, natively compatible with Windows 11 (the Windows 10->11 license remains active in the event of a restore).

I won’t go into detail, but Thinkpad laptops are more durable, with a metal outer shell (and a different subframe for the T480s, which is more rigid and doesn’t flex at all around the keyboard) and have passed some “military” rugged tests, including resistance to water splashes, shock, and dust.

Finally, I am considering a configuration option for the buyer (let’s say a new QT Sailfish OS / Nemo developer?) to have a working SDK installed. Anyone who’s tried, he knows that setting up an on-site SDK development environment is at least as difficult as programming QT Quick/QML apps.

Check out the Computer section!

The Volla Phone Plinius is shipping.

The Volla Phone Plinius has officially started shipping to Europe by Hallo Welt, and so the new phone has been added to the J-D Store! (P.S. Due to internal policies, the J-D Store no longer displays upcoming or alpha-stage phones, so it’s only now been added, and the Plus version will appear later).

The Plinius is a mid‑range Android phone made by the German startup Hallo Welt, built with a focus on durability, privacy and a “no Google” setup. The base model (8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage) is now available in the Volla shop for €598. And also at the J-D Store, total price include italian VAT, and may vary a bit.

Design‑wise, the Plinius is thick and heavy (160 × 80 × 10.5 mm, 230 g), but it feels solid and rugged. It has an IP68 rating, a slim‑bezel OLED display and a user‑replaceable 6000 mAh battery, which fits the company’s repair‑friendly and modular approach. The phone runs the Volla OS which is a ROM based on AOSP with a focus on privacy and minimalistic user experience.

Key specs (Volla Phone Plinius):