History of Sailfish OS 1.0 by Jolla

November 2013 - July 2015

Since the initial version Sailfish OS 1.0.0.5 Kaajanlampi, released on November 2013, there are 17 updates to this gesture based mobile operating system by Jolla Ltd.

Most of them were released to everybody, and the branch is soon changing to Sailfish OS 2.0 - but look at the amount of work already done:

History of Sailfish OS 1.0 by Jolla

Sailfish OS is a Linux based mobile operating system, including developer mode with built-in terminal and unlockable bootloader. Usage is based on gestures, focusing on easy one finger user experience. It's planned to be open sourced, but at the moment it still includes a load of propietary components in the unique user interface developed by Jolla Ltd.

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November 27, 2013:
Sailfish OS 1.0.0.5 Kaajanlampi (initial release)

DNA, Finnish mobile operator, put up a funny colored tent in Narinkkatori, Helsinki, Finland to introduce a new smartphone to the world with Jolla Ltd, the company behind the phone and its operating system. The event was called "Maailman hauskin jono" (The world's funniest queue), and 400 first Jolla Phones were delivered to The First One customers there.

Sailfish OS was still in beta stage, basically a very raw fish at that time, but people loved its gestures, different and stylish user interface, and of course, the Jolla Phone on which Sailfish OS runs on.

December 9, 2013:
Sailfish OS 1.0.1.10 Laadunjärvi 

Even more improved with Sailfish OS 1.0.1.12 released on December 16th, this first update enabled changing WLAN hotspots on the fly, adding url links to SMS messages, and getting sound and video in sync when watching videos on YouTube.

Now can you believe that, looking at the operating system today!

December 27, 2013:
Sailfish OS 1.0.2.5 Maadajävri

Only 11 days after the previous hotfix, new features came to Android support. Jolla could now receive calendar events from Google, and users could make Skype video calls with the Skype Android app with either of the two cameras.

NFC bug was located a while earlier by the community, sucking the battery like a vacuum cleaner as its service daemon - recognizing The Other Half smartcover - had its on and off settings left wrong way around

January 31, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.0.3.8 Naamankajärvi

The NFC bug took a while to fix, delaying this update, but it got fixed bringing an extraordinary battery life of full week. Users were dancing, removing workarounds like tin foil on top of the detector.

This update brought also a major Linux like feature: Unlockable bootloader, easily switched using a new recovery menu. Three apps (camera, gallery and browser) got landscape support.

March 17, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.0.4.20 Ohijärvi

Jolla announced that this update brought the operating system to a ready stage for global commercial distribution, but  lot of users saw it still as a beta release.

Three more apps (Email, Messages, Notes) got a landscape support, several apps were improved, especially the camera with great new settings. WLAN tethering was introduced.

April 11, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.0.5.16 Paarlampi

Two way sync for Microsoft Exchange contacts, MMS messaging, selectable default Email account for sending mail, user interface visuals.

Improving, not that raw fish any more. MMS had some known issues, hotfixed with Sailfish OS 1.0.5.19 released on April 24th.

June 9, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.0.7.16 Saapunki

After a long wait, Jolla released a major update merging also Sailfish OS 1.0.6.x. Raatejärvi into this release. 4G / LTE support, folders in the app launcher view, tabs in browser, two way sync with Google contacts, experimental CalDAV support and a huge amount of security and bug fixes, this was the release that if not before, at least now brought Sailfish OS out of beta stage.

I've found this update as one of the best releases with great battery life and updating Android app cover (just one, showing the last used Android app on top). 1.0.7 is still running here, mostly for being able to study the battery life compared to later releases.

July 14, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.0.8.19 Tahkalampi

Each Android app got its own home screen cover, but with a snapshot only, in purpose to save some RAM in heavy multitasking.


Tutorial app was introduced. Browser bookmarks could be saved to app launcher view.


On October 6th, hotfix Sailfish OS 1.0.8.21 was released for an important security issue (Shellshock) and for eleven other reported security issues

October 22, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.1.0.38 Uitukka (opt-in)

And Sailfish OS 1.1.0.39 Uitukka released two days afterwards, both of these updates offered as optional releases for brave sailors. Huge update introducing Qt 5.2 was in test on this release, and additionally it introduced almost 250 bug fixes for other issues found.

Low memory killer was enabled on Android support, but not yet optimized, so sudden app crashes were reported a lot. Map got a night view, user interface didn't show line of dots on app pages any more, Settings app got some new maintenance tools.

December 18, 2014:
Sailfish OS 1.1.1.26 Vaarainjärvi

Put on hold on the same evening due to lock code issue, release Sailfish OS 1.1.1.27 Vaarainjärvi was pushed out to Uitukka users on the next day, and it was available to everyone on December 22nd.

ZRam was introduced among tuning up the Low memory killer, bringing expansion to the 1GB RAM on Jolla with using storage space. This had a slight impact on battery life, but brought great multitasking capabilities. New gesture, flipping the phone upside down, was introduced to silence incoming calls and alarm sound.

March 3, 2015:
Sailfish OS 1.1.2.16 Yliaavanlampi

From this update on, group of Early Adopters (option available in the web interface of Jolla account) got updates to test and to report back to Jolla before updates were released for everybody.

They received Sailfish OS 1.1.2.15 on February 19th, bugs were located, and this group got Sailfish OS 1.1.2.16 to test as well on February 25th. That release was found as stable enough.

This release brought weather option to Events view, new browser interface, adjustable ambience text colors, final tuning to Memory killer and swap space

Even more, Jolla added software support to a community built TOHKBD (hardware keyboard accessory)

May 4, 2015:
Sailfish OS 1.1.4.29 Äijänpäivänjärvi

The most difficult name to pronounce, right? Early Adopters received Sailfish OS 1.1.4.28 to test on April 15th, and few bugs were fixed. Sailfish OS 1.1.3.x Åkanttrasket was never released, it was told to be merged into this update.

BTRFS (file system) balancing, running automatic on Tuesday, 3AM (local time) if the phone is connected to charger on that time. Btrfs allocation space getting full, even that there's lots of space in storage, has been causing several issues on Jolla Phones. Also landscape support to Maps app and Android app access to images saved on memory card were welcomed.

June 15, 2015:
Sailfish OS 1.1.6.27 Aaslakkajärvi

Sailfish OS 1.1.5.x Österviken was never released, it's told to be dropped in early stage. 1.1.6 was tested by Early Adopters since June 8th, with no serious bugs located, and released a week later to everybody. This update brought:

Search into Email app, private Browser tabs, importing of VCF and iCAL files into Calendar, some of the Facebook functionality back (lost after Facebook API was updated) and, as always, several bug- and security fixes.

August ??, 2015: Sailfish OS 1.1.7.x Björnträsket 

Tested by Early Adopters with three versions:

• Sailfish OS 1.1.7.24, July 15th
• Sailfish OS 1.1.7.25, July 27th
• Sailfish OS 1.1.7.x, soon

This version of Sailfish OS 1.0 branch is focusing on Android support. Users can now allow Android apps to have access to contacts saved on Sailfish OS People app and grant them rights to run on background (useful for example for receiving notifications of Whatsapp messages). Also the whole Android support can be stopped and started now.

September ??, 2015: Sailfish OS 1.1.9.x

To be updated soon, welcome back

And then... New branch of Sailfish OS 2.0

Sailfish OS 2.0 is expected to be introduced during August 2015, bringing in a whole new user interface. Let's see if the future will be as active as the past. Thanks to each Sailor at Jolla, and to each and every Early Adopter reporting bugs, for bringing us stable and such feature full releases this often.

For statistics, Sailfish OS 1.0 had 14 releases, update every 1.5 months, each one with a huge amount of work by Sailors of startup company Jolla Ltd. None was minor even that some important features are still on hold.

WIP, but for Sailors on holidays, Sail Off for a while! Thanks for what you've done!

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By: Review Jolla
Published: 2015-07-23 6:00 UTC
Updated: 2015-08-10 18:40 UTC