OESF Portables Forum
Model Specific Forums => Gemini PDA => Gemini PDA - Hardware => Topic started by: gidds on May 17, 2018, 03:59:08 pm
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I received my Gemini this morning (woo!), and knew roughly what to expect from reading some of the discussion hereabouts. But I'm concerned about two hardware issues, and wonder whether it's just me…
Firstly, the hinge position. The unit's very solid when closed, but it doesn't seem to have a fixed ‘open’ position. Instead, as I type, the pressure causes the hinge to flex and the screen to bounce up and down slightly. Similarly, when I tap or swipe the screen, it readily ‘gives’ 3–4mm. (This makes swiping awkward enough that I sometimes have to steady it with the other hand — not ideal.)
I was worried my unit might be faulty, but checking some videos suggests they're all like this. I'm surprised I haven't heard any complaints, though — for me it seems a bigger issue than the keys being a little more wobbly than the S5's. Does anyone else find it a problem?
It also makes me worry about the longevity of the hinge. (Always a weak spot for Psions!) Is tapping on the screen stressing the hinge? Am I forcing it too far back? (I even worry about snapping the unit shut.)
Secondly, the underside is so smooth that the unit slides around on my desk! The Psion 3 and 5 Series had tiny rubber feet anchoring them in place and giving a solid base on which to type; the Gemini is much more uncertain in that respect.
Anyone know if it's possible to get tiny stick-on rubber feet? If not, perhaps this is an opportunity for some enterprising accessory maker!
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I noticed the hinge and slippage situation you describe with Gemini sitting on a desktop.
Don't have a solution to the hinge situation. It hasn't really bothered me though.
Regarding the slippage situation, I have some clear little circle rubber (or vinyl?) bumpers that you can peel off slick paper on back and stick on a surface. Was planning on putting 4 on bottom to help avoid slippage. Think it will also avoid the metal casing on bottom of Gemini from getting finish scuffed up over time.
Here in US, you can get these a small package of these bumpers in various sizes at a hardware or building supply store. Very cheap.
HTH,
Mark
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In the UK, Homebase supply these little pads, under the name "protective pads". Theyre not very small though, about 9mm dia. I have seen them smaller. With some of the Raspberry Pi cases you get four of them, and smaller. One snag is that they have to be stuck on the spine of the clamshell and do rather detract from it's appearance. They do work, but I don't think they'd stay on long. The spine has a definite curve, and the pads are flat underneath.
Actually, there is a wear stripassociated with the hinge, which should obviate scratches marring the finish. But it could benefit from the tiny rubber inserts under the front corners of the Psion netBook.
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But it could benefit from the tiny rubber inserts under the front corners of the Psion (sic) netBook.
I've got some of those and the sheet has thin layer of rubber/silicone/whatever between the pads, I wonder if a square/strip/circle/(polygon of choice) of that on the front corners might work better being much thinner than the pads.
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Mine is absolutely firm, with no noticeable give in the hinge when typing, so I am guessing it comes down to build quality between units in a batch.
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I don't know about the hinge. but for the slippage I got a small piece of the nonslip shelf paper sold in rolls. It's a rubbery mesh and solves the problem while protecting the gadget from scratches. More useful than the scrap of cloth packaged with the device.
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Good idea.
I will cut strips from a kitchen shelf mat and glue it to the bottom.
Ifanafi
I don't know about the hinge. but for the slippage I got a small piece of the nonslip shelf paper sold in rolls. It's a rubbery mesh and solves the problem while protecting the gadget from scratches. More useful than the scrap of cloth packaged with the device.
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I've taken to using a mouse pad with a soft top as a platform for the Gemini on my desk.
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As for the hinge mine has popped off and keeps popping off after being put back on.
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But it could benefit from the tiny rubber inserts under the front corners of the Psion (sic) netBook.
I've got some of those and the sheet has thin layer of rubber/silicone/whatever between the pads, I wonder if a square/strip/circle/(polygon of choice) of that on the front corners might work better being much thinner than the pads.
Did what you suggested and cut off triangles off the corners of the thin sheet that holds the round bumper pads.
Works well on my Gemini and still fits in the Gemini leather sleeve case.
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As for the hinge mine has popped off and keeps popping off after being put back on.
I would send Planet Computer a photo of the hinge piece itself so they can see if some aspect of the hinge is not shaped correctly.
Other question is whether the hinge is put on correctly (not saying it isn't, but it is other variable...).
Hope you get it taken care of.
Mark
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Re. rubber feet:
I've had some luck with these Tiny Self-adhesive Rubber Feet Bumpers (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KVIHDSI) from Amazon US. (They're not available from Amazon UK, but they took only 8 days to arrive from the USA.)
That's a rubber mat with an 8x8 grid of rubber nodules. (They're smaller than that picture makes them appear. It's not obvious that they're separated; I carefully cut round a couple before discovering that they'd pop out individually!)
They sit rather nicely on the underside, near the corners. (I fitted four, about 5mm in, where they look like they belong.) When the unit is closed, they dissuade the metal/plastic sliding along the desk. (Not completely rigid, but far better.) Of course, when the unit is open, the expanding hinge lifts it off the two rear feet, but the two front ones still keep it fairly steady.
I don't know whether the Gemini's case wears easily (especially the grey coating/anodisation on the metal, which might be very obvious if it wears off to reveal the bright metal underneath) — can anyone with a first-batch Gemini confirm? In any case, feet such as these may help to avoid that.
I don't know how strong the adhesive is, but I've had the feet attached for a couple of days now, in and out of my pocket &c, and they've shown no signs of coming detached. (And if they do, that sheet provides 15 spare sets!)
(It's possible that something even thinner would do. If I get the chance, I might try cutting out short strips of rubber from the remainder of the mat, and seeing if they work as well.)
So that seems to address one of the concerns I raised in this topic!
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The other — the hinge — still worries me; even more so after seeing 1668880's [a href=\'index.php?act=findpost&pid=286245\']experience[/a]… I suggest we all try to take good care of our hinges and not open them too far!
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Unfortunately, the feet didn't last more than a week… I'll see if I can get strips to work.
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I'm now trying rubber strips.
I bought some 1MM Black Garage Door Weatherstrip Rubber Sealing Strip for Sliding Windows Sliding Doors (https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077ZZL9C3); 5 metres is overkill, of course, but it does give lots of room for experimentation.
This is a thin rubber strip, with a slight indentation running down the middle, and one half is self-adhesive; that half is very slightly wider than the plastic case at the side of the Gemini, so I simply stuck some on the underside and trimmed it to size. The black matches the plastic it covers, so it looks reasonably good, though the edge shows a little.
With that on, the Gemini is much more stable, both closed and open.
Time will tell if it remains attached longer than the rubber feet…
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Putting the leather pouch under the gemini also works quite well.
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On the thing you noticed with the hinge: I have the same.
Not sure if it is an issue.
We'll know in 2 years (or earlier than that).
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I'm now trying rubber strips.
These are working well. After two weeks, they're still firmly attached, with no sign of coming loose.
The rubber is starting to wear away very slightly, mostly at the two points near the front where it rests with the screen open. But at this rate, it won't wear through for a very long time. (And if it does, the roll's long enough for ~30 more sets!)
The Gemini is much more stable on a surface, whether open or closed. There's slightly more resistance when inserting or removing it from my trouser pocket, and the extra thickness is noticeable when you hold it, but neither of those are a problem at all.
So I'm going to call this a success!
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Hello,
I'm now trying rubber strips. (...)
This is a thin rubber strip, with a slight indentation running down the middle, and one half is self-adhesive; that half is very slightly wider than the plastic case at the side of the Gemini, so I simply stuck some on the underside and trimmed it to size. The black matches the plastic it covers, so it looks reasonably good, though the edge shows a little.(...)
Would it be possible to take and post a picture? I can't imagine what it looks like with the discription (no offense, english is not my native language ;-) )
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Here are some pictures which I hope will explain it!
I took these shortly after your request — sorry it's taken me so long to get around to tidying them up and posting them…
They're not very good, I'm afraid. I haven't worked out how to focus properly so close. And the rubber had picked up quite a bit of dust &c while I tried to find a suitable background; it usually looks a lot cleaner than in these photos. Anyway, I hope it illustrates what I meant.
It's been about 4 months since I fitted them, and they're still working well. The rubber hasn't eroded significantly. The adhesive is starting to soften, especially at the ends of each strip, so the rubber tends to slip sideways a bit. I'll probably have to replace them before too much longer. (But it's very easy to cut off new lengths, attach to the Gemini, and trim round the edges. And at this rate, the reel I bought will still provide 10 years' worth.)
The Gemini is far more stable with the rubber strips in place, both when closed and when open. It doesn't slip when using the keyboard or screen. It doesn't wobble on surfaces that aren't entirely flat (e.g. tables in trains). And the strips don't get in the way much when holding the Gemini or putting it in my pocket. Nor do they spoil the look of my beloved Gemini — in fact, they're not easy to see unless you look closely. I'll certainly continue using and recommending them!
Anyway, here are the photos. (Please ask if anything's still not clear.)
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As I mentioned in the review and tips in my blog, "Egrips" have worked well for me. They seemed a bit expensive and potentially fragile -- they are soft with a "gel" feel. But are still securely in place after several months. They are *very* high-friction, and soft an thick enough to hold the Gemeni stable even on a "pebbeled" and vibrating bus, train, or airplane tray table.
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Both the clear (https://egrips.com/#!/egrips-12-Piece-CLEAR-Anti-Slip-Grip-Sticker-Kit-Will-Not-Work-for-Sides-of-Mobile-Phones-Semi-Permanent-Adhesive/p/67241026/category=411410) and black egrips (https://egrips.com/#!/egrips-12-Piece-Black-Anti-Slip-Grip-Sticker-Kit-Will-Not-Work-for-Sides-of-Mobile-Phones/p/1457608/category=411410) say ‘Will Not Work for Sides of Mobile Phones’. Do they stick securely enough to the soft plastic of the Gemini?
(One advantage of the rubber I use is that it's much less obvious. My Gemini looks cool, and I don't want to spoil it. )
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Both the clear (https://egrips.com/#!/egrips-12-Piece-CLEAR-Anti-Slip-Grip-Sticker-Kit-Will-Not-Work-for-Sides-of-Mobile-Phones-Semi-Permanent-Adhesive/p/67241026/category=411410) and black egrips (https://egrips.com/#!/egrips-12-Piece-Black-Anti-Slip-Grip-Sticker-Kit-Will-Not-Work-for-Sides-of-Mobile-Phones/p/1457608/category=411410) say ‘Will Not Work for Sides of Mobile Phones’. Do they stick securely enough to the soft plastic of the Gemini?
I saw that line in the "Egrips" product description. I'm not sure what it is supposed to mean. Maybe it means that some mobile phones are so thin that the Egrips strips would be too narrow to adhere securely on the thin edges?
I was a little concerned when I received the Egrips that they would be too soft and not stick securely. But I have had them on my Gemini for several months, and they still seem secure. I have them stuck both on the metal parts of the Gemini case ansd the hard plastic parts (at the ends of the front and back). They are visible and a bit ugly. See photos in my Gemini review here:
https://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/002328.html#accessories (https://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/002328.html#accessories)
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They are visible and a bit ugly.
Yes, I noticed that… But I see that they have black and clear varieties, which I guess wouldn't look so bad, especially if used only under the side panels (like the rubber strips in my pictures).
BTW, I was going to comment on your review about its repeated claims that mobile calling, messaging, and data don't work on Android or Linux, when I'm happily using all three on Android. But I gather from later comments hereabouts that it's referring not to Android itself but to LineageOS or another free Android-based OSs. Could that be made clearer?
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BTW, I was going to comment on your review about its repeated claims that mobile calling, messaging, and data don't work on Android or Linux, when I'm happily using all three on Android. But I gather from later comments hereabouts that it's referring not to Android itself but to LineageOS or another free Android-based OSs. Could that be made clearer?
I tried to make as clear as possible the distinction between (open-source) Android and what I refer to as "Google OS", which is Android *bundled with* a blob of Google apps and services.
I quoted the distinction made by Google itself:
The Google OS shipped on the Gemini includes the open-source Android operating system plus a blob of proprietary Google software. Google itself is explicit that these apps are not part of Android, but are separate apps that run "on top of" Android: "Google Mobile Services (GMS) [is] Google's proprietary suite of apps (Google Play, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and more) that run on top of Android. GMS is not part of the Android Open Source Project and is available only through a license with Google."
I'm not sure how I could make that clearer. Would it help if I added this sentence to my review: "Cellular data, SMS, and calling currently only work with Android on the Gemini if you *also* install (or accept pre-installation of) a proprietary blob of Google apps and services"?
There's no good reason for Planetcom to require Gemini users to install or accept pre-installation of Google services and apps in order use their devices for cellular data, SMS, or voice.
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For better or for worse (and whatever Google's fine print says), most people understand the term ‘Android’ to mean the full Google stack, and not just the open-source parts (if they're even aware of the distinction).
Yes, there should probably be a separate name for the latter, but there doesn't yet seem to be a widely-understood one. So if you want to avoid confusion, I can't suggest anything better than ‘Android’ (or, if you want to be really clear, ‘full Android’) for the former, and a phrase like ‘a free Android-based OS’ (or ‘an open-source OS based on the free parts of Android’) for the latter.
(And while I have a lot of sympathy for the idea of sticking to open-source software, please remember that the vast majority of people are happy with the full Google stack, and so will find the Gemini's telephony all working fine. It would be a shame if misunderstanding your review put people off getting a Gemini unnecessarily.)
Also, FWIW, it is possible to use a Gemini as your only mobile phone; I've been doing it for months. I don't take very many voice calls, but I find it fine for those I do: it's no bigger or uglier than many other full-size phones, and the sound quality is plenty good enough. I also find it far better than any other phone for messaging, even while standing or walking: as a long-time Psion 5mx user, I'm very used to thumb-typing. Making calls is a little fiddly, but for me that's greatly outweighed by the convenience of having everything in one device, and no longer having to fill my trouser pockets with different devices. — Of course, other people will have different preferences, but I think it does the Gemini a disservice to say that you can't use it as your only phone.
Anyway, I've ordered some black eGrips. It could take several weeks for them to reach me in the UK, though, so don't hold your breath!
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For better or for worse (and whatever Google's fine print says), most people understand the term ‘Android’ to mean the full Google stack, and not just the open-source parts (if they're even aware of the distinction).
Yes, there should probably be a separate name for the latter, but there doesn't yet seem to be a widely-understood one. So if you want to avoid confusion, I can't suggest anything better than ‘Android’ (or, if you want to be really clear, ‘full Android’) for the former, and a phrase like ‘a free Android-based OS’ (or ‘an open-source OS based on the free parts of Android’) for the latter.
<snip>
There is a separate name: it is "Android Open Source Project" (AOSP) (https://source.android.com/)
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I'm thinking about some strategically placed hot glue dots. I've used hot glue for rugs before to keep them from slipping on hardwood floors. Maybe it will work for the Gemini. Has anybody tried this yet?
miked1541