First Steps VollaOS VollaLauncher VollaSpringboard

The Volla OS operating system and its specialized user interface are continuously being developed. An overview of the development status can be found on the GitHub platform, where we publish the source code of the operating system:

GitHub Volla

In the volla-os-beta-test repository, you will find this guide as well as the option to report bugs and track their resolution:

GitHub Issues

When you unlock a Volla Phone with the Volla OS operating system, you will access the Volla Launcher, which allows you to perform the device's basic functions, including opening apps.

You can also access the Volla Launcher via the Home button at the bottom of the display or through the corresponding swipe gesture from the bottom outer edge of the display toward the inner area.

To completely hide the Android navigation bar for the Volla Launcher, go to its settings under the “Display and Menus” group and tap on “Full-screen view”. You can access the Volla Launcher settings by swiping right twice, which will display the settings from the left side.

The Volla user interface is based on two core concepts:

• Springboard with:
  • Text field
  • Shortcuts
• Collections for:
  • Contacts
  • Conversations
  • Messages
  • Notes

Quick Guide

To the Springboard -> Input Line

The prerequisite for using the input line is that contacts are stored in the "DEVICE" storage and their contact details are properly labeled. To do this, open the respective contact in the Contacts app and ensure that the mobile number is labeled as "Mobile", all phone numbers are entered in a valid international format (e.g., for Germany +491...), and an email address is provided to use all Springboard functions.

Quick Guide to Importing Contacts

If the .vcf file to be imported contains contacts with customized ringtones or logos, an error message will appear during the import attempt, and the import will not be completed. Solution: Open the .vcf file on a PC in an editor and search for the strings SOUND;X-IRMC-N:;;;; or LOGO in the contacts and delete them everywhere. Save the file again and then import it to the Volla Phone as per the instructions.

There are several methods. Here are three options:

Using an Address Book File

1. Export the address book from your previously used smartphone or another computer to a file in vCard format with the .vcf extension. 2. Copy the address book file to your Volla Phone or an SD card, which you then insert into the Volla Phone. Use a PC or Mac as an intermediate step if necessary. 3. Open the Contacts app, select the menu via the three dots in the upper right corner, and then choose “Import contacts from .vcf file”. 4. Select your address book file in the File Manager and confirm the import. 5. Important: Specify “Phone” as the target contact source. To do this, in the import window, tap “Import contacts” -> “Target contact source” -> “Device storage” and select “DEVICE” from the selection menu, then confirm with OK. Do not select the entry “Device storage (not visible to other apps)”.

Online Address Book

1. Open the Sync app and tap the plus sign in the bottom right corner. If you are starting the app for the first time, it will display an introduction. 2. Choose one of three methods to connect your online address book. The prerequisite is that your online address book supports the CardDAV standard. In most cases, you will use “Log in with URL and username”. 3. After successfully logging in and connecting to the online address book, check the box for the address book of your account that you want to synchronize. 4. Tap the synchronization button in the bottom right corner of the view for your address book. Use the gear icon in the upper right corner to set the synchronization frequency.

SIM Card

1. Save your most important addresses from your old mobile phone to your SIM card, which can hold up to 250 contacts. 2. Insert your SIM card into the Volla Phone, and you will find your addresses in the Contacts app and the Springboard.

Input Step 1

@

Input Step 2

Name

With each letter entered, a matching contact list appears, from which you can select the desired contact by touch. Only properly created contacts are displayed.

Context Menu 1

• Call mobile
• Call private
• Call business
• Call alternative number

Depending on the number and labels of the phone numbers assigned to a contact, the context menu will display the corresponding entries, which can be used by touch. A connection is established via the Phone app.

Input Step 3

@"Name" is already in the input line, and after a space, you now enter free text.

At least one word/letter followed by a space is required. If you use a line break after the words, the system uses the first line as the subject of an email.

Context Menu 2

As soon as text input has started, the following menu should appear and can be used at any time to send the text in the desired message format.

• Send text message
• Send private email
• Send business email
• Send other email

Depending on the number and labels of the email addresses assigned to a contact, the context menu will display the corresponding entries, which can be used by touch and will open the default email app to potentially add attachments or formatting to the email. "Send text message" activates the SMS service.

The cross symbol at the end of the input line deletes the input and restores the initial state.

Explanations for the Quick Guide

Springboard

Whenever you open the Volla Launcher, it displays the Springboard. The idea is that you type something, and the system recognizes what you want. It provides suggestions to complete your input or appropriate functions for your input.

springboard.jpeg Springboard Screenshot

The Springboard supports the following use cases:

Contact Selection

If you start the input with the @ symbol, the system recognizes that you want to enter a name and suggests people from the address book, initially sorted by name. Tapping a name in the list adds it to the text field. The prerequisite for this function is that your address book contains entries.

By entering additional letters, you can filter the contact list. The Springboard displays names that contain the entered letter sequence anywhere.

You can synchronize contacts, for example, with the installed app for synchronizing address books and calendars via the CardDAV and CalDAV protocols.

@Claudia_Sommer

Call

The system then suggests calling that person. If you tap the suggestion for this function, the system initiates a call via the Phone app. Suggestions for functions are distinguished from completion suggestions by their red background color.

@Claudia_Sommer

Messages

If, instead of initiating a call, you enter additional words, the system suggests sending a text message or email to the entered contact. Tapping the suggestion currently opens the respective app with a pre-filled message that you only need to send.

@Claudia Sommer Are you joining us for lunch at the Italian restaurant?

If you use a line break after the words, the system uses the first line as the subject of an email. The prerequisite is that you have set up at least one email account.

@Claudia_Sommer Lunch break Would you like to join us for lunch at the Italian restaurant? Best regards, Petra

Depending on the data stored for a contact, the Volla Launcher suggests sending a message via SMS, email, or the Signal Messenger service.

Web Search

If you start the input with a word instead of a contact, the system suggests searching the internet with that word. The system starts the browser with the entered keyword. By default, the Volla Launcher uses the DuckDuckGo search engine. In the settings, under the “Search Engines” group, you can also select Startpage or Metager.

Volla

Note

If you enter multiple words, the system also suggests creating a note. You can later find it as an entry in the Notes collection via the red dot.

Volla Phone

You can also use line breaks.

Volla Phone New features: 1. Security mode 2. Multi Boot

Web Address

If you enter a valid internet address, the system suggests opening it in the browser.

volla.online

Phone Number

If you enter a phone number in the text field, the system suggests initiating a call. As with all inputs, a space at the end of a word or number sequence is necessary to trigger the evaluation of the input.

+491234567890

If you then enter one or more words, the system offers to send a text message, but not an email.

+491234567890 Hello Petra, how are you?

Email Address

If you enter an email address and text, the Volla Launcher suggests sending an email.

hello@volla.online Where can I buy a Volla Phone?

If you enter multiple lines, the first line is used as the subject of the email:

hello@volla.online Volla retailer Dear Volla team, Where can I buy a Volla Phone?

Calendar Event

The Volla Launcher recognizes various forms of calendar event descriptions, consisting of a date, optional time, title, and optional description.

12.08.2022 12 PM Lunch with Peter 12.08. 16:30 - 17:30 Training at the sports club 6 - 8 PM Dinner with Paula at Joe's Pizzeria

If the time is missing, the Volla Launcher plans an all-day event. If the second time is missing, only the first time is entered for the event. If the date is missing, the current day applies.

Instead of a date, you can also use weekdays or a short form:

Tomorrow 10 AM Video conference with Paula Thursday 2 - 6 PM Wine seminar at the Ratskeller

If you use a line break, the Volla Launcher uses the text after the first line break as the description of the calendar event.

If you tap the suggestion to add the event to the calendar, the system opens the Calendar app, where you can confirm the event to save it.

Additional use cases are planned.

Shortcuts

On the Springboard, you can see a red dot. With this, you can access shortcuts with just one gesture. Touch the dot to open the menu, slide your finger or stylus over the desired menu entry, and lift your finger or stylus:

Touch -> Slide -> Release

The default includes the following functions:

• Access recent and favorite contacts
• Access recent conversations
• Access recent messages
• Access notes
• Access the Phone app
• Access the Camera
• Access the Gallery
• Access the Calendar app

Unneeded functions can be deactivated. Additional apps can be added to the list of shortcuts.

You can manage shortcuts in the settings under the corresponding group of the Volla Launcher. Standard functions can be activated and deactivated, while custom shortcuts can also be deleted.

Adding New Shortcuts

You can add new shortcuts in three ways:

1. Tap and hold an app in the overview until a context menu appears, then select the option “Add to shortcuts”.

2. Swipe right twice from the Springboard to display the settings from the left. Tap the “Shortcuts” group and then the plus sign to open a context menu where you can select an app.

3. For advanced users: After creating a backup copy of the hidden file .shortcut.json (in the "Documents" folder) at a location of your choice, open the hidden file .shortcut.json in an editor. This can be done on the phone with the Markor Editor, or you can open, edit, and save the file directly from the phone connected via USB on a desktop and immediately check the result. Always ensure correct syntax!

A single entry looks like this, for example:

{"id":"org.fossify.calendar","name":"Calendar & Appointments","activated":true}

• Under "id": Enter the system address of the desired app, e.g., org.fossify.calendar.
• Under "name": Enter the desired short command phrase to be displayed in the Springboard, e.g., “Calendar & Appointments”.
• Under "activated": Use true or false to determine whether the command appears in the Springboard (also controlled via Volla Launcher -> swipe right twice -> Settings -> Shortcuts -> red dot before the relevant entry).

Red dot active: Command appears (true). Red dot inactive: Command does not appear in the Springboard (false).

You can also add internet addresses saved as bookmarks in the app overview to the shortcuts in this way.

Collections

Collections provide a quick overview of important information and relevant functions. After opening a collection, you will see an animation as the system slides in the collection from the right side.

You can navigate back to the Springboard with a swipe gesture, the Home button, or the Home gesture.

Each collection can be filtered using a text field below the heading.

Contacts

The system automatically compiles important contacts. In the beta version, the system considers all contacts marked as favorites in the address book or those with whom you recently interacted via a phone call, SMS, or MMS message.

In the contact overview, you will find the contact’s name, their organization, or the most recent unread message or missed call.

Tap and hold an entry briefly, and the system opens a context menu, offering the following functions depending on the address book entry:

• Open the address book entry
• Open the Signal profile
• Start a call
• Open the Messenger app to write and send a text message
• Open the Email app to write and send an email

The selection is made using the same gesture as for shortcuts.

If you tap an entry briefly, the system opens the conversation with the person, which currently includes calls, SMS, and MMS messages.

At the bottom of the view, you will find a text field to reply directly via SMS or MMS.

Integration of Signal messages is in preparation.

Conversations

Here, the system displays recent conversations with names or phone numbers and text, sorted by time and topic. The beta version considers SMS and MMS messages. Additional communication channels are planned.

Tapping a conversation briefly displays the conversation with all exchanged messages.

You can also reply directly via SMS, MMS, and in the future via the Signal Messenger service using the text field at the bottom.

Messages

Here, the system displays recent messages grouped by their source and sorted by time. This has the advantage that important messages from sources that publish less frequently do not get lost in the message stream.

If you tap the icon of the message channel, you will access all recent publications from that selected message channel.

If you tap the displayed message instead, you will see the full message, which the system prepares for optimal readability.

By default, the Volla Launcher displays the RSS feed of three message channels as an example. You can subscribe to your own RSS or Atom feeds from news portals and blogs in two ways:

• Tap and hold a link to an RSS or Atom news feed in the browser until a context menu appears. Select the option to share the link with the Volla Launcher.
• Write or copy the link to an RSS or Atom news feed into the Springboard’s text field. The Springboard will suggest subscribing to this feed.

In the Volla Launcher settings, you can deactivate and activate message feeds in the “Message Channels” group or completely delete them by tapping the cross on the right side.

Notes

In this collection, the Volla Launcher lists all notes created either via the Springboard or in the list view of this collection.

Tap a list entry to read the full note. In the detail view, you can edit, delete, or pin a note to the top of the list. Pinned notes can be unpinned in the same way.

The Volla Launcher automatically recognizes and formats links with and without protocol prefixes and lists.

A list:

1. Sorted lists - Unsorted lists * Different bullet points

Apps

If you swipe right from the Springboard, you will reach the overview of installed apps, listed in alphabetical order by name.

By default, the apps are divided into two groups: frequently used apps and other apps. In the Volla Launcher settings, you can choose to display apps ungrouped or in additional groups, one for each app category.

Regardless of the grouping, you can filter the displayed apps using the text field.

A red dot indicates whether you have missed a call or have an unread text message.

Settings

If you swipe right from the app grid, you will reach the app’s settings.

The first group is the selection of the design theme:

• Dark mode
• Light mode
• Transparent mode

The transparent mode uses the background image, which you can change in the system settings. Changing the design theme also defines the lock screen background image.

Default Apps

Volla OS comes without Google Apps and Play Services to protect user privacy. Therefore, it includes curated open-source alternatives. See the corresponding overview for details:

Curated Pre-Installed System Apps

The selection is not yet final.

Backup and Restore of the Volla Launcher

In the user directory in the “Documents” folder, you will find the following files (make sure to display hidden files if necessary):

• Feeds.json
• contacts.json
• shortcuts.json
• notes.json

These four files should be regularly copied to a secure storage location. In case of data loss, copy these files back to the “Documents” folder (confirm overwriting any existing files with the same name).

Restoring an Earlier Version of the Volla Launcher

1. Backup the Volla Launcher data (as described above). 2. Reset the Volla Launcher to factory settings: Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Volla 3-dot menu (top right) -> “Uninstall updates”

Datei:Screenshot 20250105-164144 Einstellungen.png

Screenshot Settings

3. F-Droid Store: Settings (bottom right gear) -> Manage installed apps -> Volla Launcher -> Versions (list) Tap the desired version and install it. 4. If necessary, copy the backups back to the Documents folder.