""Tiny" in the USA connotes "toy-like", and people expect toys to be (a) cheap and (b) not suitable for doing real work. Not so in Japan, where "tiny" connotes "finely crafted" and "precious"."A very interesting and thoughtful insight on today's need of small devices with real keyboards, and some interesting information about the Gemini from the backers' meeting during the recent MWC America show in San Francisco.
https://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/002303.htmlSome interesting facts: the first 100 produced units will be used for testing to failure,
"(...) including drop and vibration testing, keyboard testing, and at least 10,000 opening and closing cycles of the clamshell hinge." 2.000 units will be produced for the backers, and other 8.000 for sale through other channels. The company will break even with those 10.000 units, but sales of at least 100.000 units will be required for profitability.
The main targets for the device are previous Psion owners (and I'd add Zaurus ones), the Japanese market (roughly 40% of the backers are Japanese) and writers.
The device will ship with a special tool to be used to pry off the cover to get access to the SIM card, eSIM and micro-SD card slots, possibly the battery too. Automatic adjustment of the screen brightness, depending on ambient light, is planned (I wonder if the GPD devices have this feature too). Neither a stylus nor a stylus holder will be included, but they are planned as an option at a later stage.
Varti
