OESF Portables Forum

Model Specific Forums => Gemini PDA => Gemini PDA - Android => Topic started by: FredL on March 08, 2018, 04:47:29 am

Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: FredL on March 08, 2018, 04:47:29 am
Hello all, first post here. Early backer in the UK, and have had the device for a week. What a machine!

To my question - does anyone know a quick way to unlock the device?

I'd like to unlock my Gemini via the keyboard, without having to touch the screen. Currently I  open the Gemini, swipe up on the screen, enter a keycode, tap the "tick" icon, and then I'm in.

Any ideas?
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: smapmap on March 08, 2018, 05:23:46 am
Same here - it's a tad frustrating. I think it's stock Android behaviour unfortunately.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: joe on March 08, 2018, 05:30:06 am
If you use the PIN code, just press the space bar, enter the number, press enter.

(If, like me, your space bar and enter key are faulty, you might mistakenly think this doesn't work!)
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: FredL on March 08, 2018, 05:39:39 am
Quote from: joe
If you use the PIN code, just press the space bar, enter the number, press enter.

(If, like me, your space bar and enter key are faulty, you might mistakenly think this doesn't work!)

Thanks Joe - for me space bar > key code > space bar works (pressing the enter key worked sometimes, not sure why).
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: LittleHouse75 on March 08, 2018, 09:45:20 pm
Quote from: FredL
Quote from: joe
If you use the PIN code, just press the space bar, enter the number, press enter.

(If, like me, your space bar and enter key are faulty, you might mistakenly think this doesn't work!)

Thanks Joe - for me space bar > key code > space bar works (pressing the enter key worked sometimes, not sure why).

A tip someone gave me on FaceBook -- when the enter key doesn't work at login, hit ESC.  That works for me every time, and now I hit ESC either before or  after I  type my password to guarantee enter will work.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: PJS on March 10, 2018, 02:05:16 pm
I'll second the suggestion of doing <spacebar> <code> <spacebar>.  No idea
why the enter key is as spotty as it is.

Thanks,

PJS
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: 1668880 on March 12, 2018, 08:09:55 am
Other option is to use the smart lock found in Setting->Security->Smart Lock it has the option of using a bluetooth device to unlock the screen when it is near. You can also set a trusted place that while you are in that space the Gemeni stays unlocked. I tried setting up the face recognition but after setting it up it has not worked to unlock it.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: Steve Goodey on March 15, 2018, 03:57:26 pm
Quote from: 1668880
Other option is to use the smart lock found in Setting->Security->Smart Lock it has the option of using a bluetooth device to unlock the screen when it is near. You can also set a trusted place that while you are in that space the Gemeni stays unlocked. I tried setting up the face recognition but after setting it up it has not worked to unlock it.

Thanks for the Trusted Place option, I'd missed that when setting up Trusted Devices, places is a better option for me.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: Yev on June 05, 2018, 08:15:06 am
Thanks for the info.

I use a password not PIN.

I found that pressing Esc simply locked it again, sometimes it worked but often it just locked it.

However pressing the Spacebar enabled me to then enter my password, in case it helps anyone else.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: gidds on June 05, 2018, 10:24:16 am
There's the ‘nuclear option’ of having no lock screen at all!

(Settings –> Security –> Screen lock: None.)

Although my Psion 5mx can have a lock screen, I've never used it (and, over 20 years, never regretted that): the 5mx was always in my pocket, in my hands, or on the desk next to me, so there was no opportunity for anyone else to grab it unseen.  (And any really sensitive info's password-protected.)  The advantage of being able to open it and have it instantly ready for action was more important.

Initially, I had my Gemini set to swipe-to-unlock; but even that has been annoying me, so yesterday I removed the unlock screen, and prefer that.

(I'm aware that notifications might not be so obvious.  Are there any mitigations — or any other possible down-sides?)
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: mads on June 07, 2018, 03:36:30 am
Just received my Gemini yesterday, and everything works perfectly, except the unlock screen. I use a password, and entering it quickly works nicely when pressing spacebar first, but to get it to register me pressing the enter key seems totally random. Sometimes it just works, other times I can try it seven times and it still doesn't register... quite annoying, unfortunately!

I hope there's a way to get a bugfix in upstream that the enter key should always register, because this just seems like a normal software bug to me...

(Also, is there a way to get SMS messages to send themselves when pressing enter too?)
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: FredL on June 08, 2018, 09:29:51 am
I've been using the space > passcode > space technique so far, but annoyingly the initial 'space' keypress sometimes brings up the settings options, which I then dismiss, before entering the passcode. I can't see the pattern of what causes it, quite annoying.

I like @gidds suggestion of keeping the device unlocked, but would worry if I lost the device, or it was stolen (access to email, etc).

The Psion unlocking mechanism on my 3mx was great - a couple of characters, and I was in. The ideal process on the Gemini would be to open the lid, enter the passcode, and press enter - no thinking, and straight into the device.
Title: Gemini fast unlock?
Post by: deadbarney on June 08, 2018, 11:22:09 am
Yesterday I set up a couple of trusted places in the security settings and it worked great. Until today, where it doesn't work at all. Not sure if this is a Gemini thing or an Android thing, but it's not reassuring either way. As much as I love my Gemini, I will be sticking with my iPhone as my main device for the time being