Messages

1

Gemini PDA - Android / Firmware Update 2018-10-09

« on: October 24, 2018, 06:12:15 pm »

Hm, I've applied the update on my triple-boot x25 (following the instructions at http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/A...d_Manual_Update. Wifi is fine, but it cannot see the SIM. The SIM works, I can call from it in Sailfish, but not in Android.

I have tried going back to the June 2018 firmware, but the SIM still isn't recognised.   I'll have to take this up with Gemini next week.

2

Gemini PDA - Android / Firmware Update 2018-10-09

« on: October 23, 2018, 05:59:06 pm »

FWIW, I've had no issues with SIM cards, or with wifi — both work fine as they did before.

However, the upgrade replaced my custom /etc/hosts file.  Luckily, I have a backup, so was able to restore that once I spotted the problem.

Hm, I've applied the update on my triple-boot x25 (following the instructions at http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/A...d_Manual_Update. Wifi is fine, but it cannot see the SIM. The SIM works, I can call from it in Sailfish, but not in Android.

I have tried removing and re-inserrting the SIM, also wiping the cache from the recovery menu, but the SIM icon stayed grayed out with a line through it and everything in the settings menu relating to the SIM is deactivated.

Any ideas, anyone?

Edit: I cannot turn aeroplane mode off: the aeroplane icon in the pull-down status menu just blinks slowly if I tap it. I can turn both Wifi and Bluetooth on and off, and both work.

Under "SIM status" and "IEMI information", everything is either unknown or not available. However, I don't think that I have somehow lost the NVRAM. First, I can call from Sailfish. Second, I backed up the NVRAM partition according to http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/L...NVRAM_partition and the file I got is identical to the one that I got from when I originally backed it up before the first time I reflashed.

3

Gemini PDA - Sailfish OS / Sailfish article on Engadget

« on: April 17, 2018, 10:57:14 am »

I would pay 50 euros for Sailfish without even questioning the purchase. My old Nokia N900 (with Maemo) is the best phone I've ever had. Note that I have not got the Gemini yet  

The current version is rather rough around the edges, although it is usable of course (it is installed on my daily driver phone). I don't think that I would recommend it to a non-geek yet, but I have high hopes that as Sailfish 3 emerges during this year the major shortcomings will be dealt with.

4

Gemini PDA - Sailfish OS / Does Sailfish OS for Gemini currently exist?

« on: March 08, 2018, 06:20:43 pm »

And the community version shown no sign, at least on its webpage, of being available for anything except a Sony phone, and even then one is more or less invited to write it himself.

The more I look into the Sailfish OS, the more I like it.  But, talk about a niche of a niche.  They developed a whole OS around a single obscure smartphone.  The Gemini is only the 3rd planned device planned to use Sailfish.

None of these statements are accurate. First, community builds of Sailfish are not supported or promoted by Jolla. The developers that build them distribute them through their own preferred channels so you have to look in places other than Jolla-managed web sites for them, but they exist for a lot of devices. http://talk.maemo.org/ and https://forum.xda-developers.com/jolla-sailfish/general are good places to start if you are looking for builds to download. These community builds lack the features that Jolla licence from third parties for commercial builds, specifically Android support, MS Exchange support and predictive text input.

Even considering just the commercial builds, it is simply not true that the Gemini is only the third device planned for Sailfish. Other devices include the Jolla 1, the Intex Aquafish, the Jala Accione, the Turing Phone. The Jolla Tablet was definitely planned for Sailfish (what else   ), although very few were eventually shipped. Even the tablet, which was the final nail in the coffin of Jolla's hardware strategy, seems to be about to come back from the dead. Just look on Indiegogo  
 
"developed .. around a single obscure smartphone" is also not really correct. It is just that Jolla's early strategy was to ship their own smartphone as a showcase for the OS, but that strategy always involved licencing Sailfish for other devices too.

This is getting away from Gemini-specific issues, but I hope that it helps fill in some of the background.

5

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Charger?

« on: March 02, 2018, 04:01:38 am »

Just a question for those who have already got their Gemini.  Is the charger universal voltage?  I mean, the plug is different for different regions, but I'd expect that otherwise it would accept both 110 and 240 volt supplies.  (One advantage of my US plug -- I already have a 13-amp adapter!)

The UK charger I got says:

Code: [Select]

Input: 100-240V - 50/60Hz 0.6A
Output: 5V 2A/7V 1.67A/9V 1.67A/12V 1.25ALooks pretty flexible.

6

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Shipping email (I got my Gemini PDA)

« on: March 01, 2018, 04:48:04 pm »

Well, in a massive act of self-control I had the box unopened at my elbow all afternoon. and waited until I got home from work before opening it! It is a pretty nice device, I'm typing this on it right now. The keyboard will take a little getting used to, but it is already much faster than my old Zaurus. Now to update my sig 😀

7

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Shipping email (I got my Gemini PDA)

« on: March 01, 2018, 06:26:30 am »

Hermes have changed their mind and decided that today is a good day to deliver my Gemini.  I'm tempted to agree with them.  Unboxing photos on here if/when it arrives.

Rosie

Mine too: it is saying "with local courier" at the moment. The snow isn't particularly bad right now where I am, so I may get it today.

And it has just been delivered, but I'm at work so I'll have to control my impatience and wait until I get home before doing anything with it.

8

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Shipping email (I got my Gemini PDA)

« on: March 01, 2018, 05:29:59 am »

Hermes have changed their mind and decided that today is a good day to deliver my Gemini.  I'm tempted to agree with them.  Unboxing photos on here if/when it arrives.

Rosie

Mine too: it is saying "with local courier" at the moment. The snow isn't particularly bad right now where I am, so I may get it today.

9

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Shipping email (I got my Gemini PDA)

« on: February 22, 2018, 10:24:58 am »

No notification of shipping of mine yet (I'm order #48, and IGG still says "Order Locked").

I just got a shipping e-mail from Hermes (15:15 UK time): this must be it!   I haven't got any other deliveries pending

10

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Shipping email (I got my Gemini PDA)

« on: February 22, 2018, 08:40:50 am »

First tweets about deliveries in Europe at https://twitter.com/planetcom2017?lang=en

The current most recent tweets are:

 * https://twitter.com/MikeHalsey/status/965761481647247360
 * https://twitter.com/rey_k/status/966300827173371904

No notification of shipping of mine yet (I'm order #48, and IGG still says "Order Locked").

P.

11

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / The Register has a first-impressions review

« on: February 22, 2018, 07:07:48 am »

Not exactly glowing, but guardedly optimistic:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/21/pl...ction_hands_on/

Currently 4th in El Reg's "Most Read" list: this indicates significant interest.

P.

12

Gemini PDA - Linux / Planet says new Linux info today

« on: February 20, 2018, 09:21:22 am »

When I get my Gemini, I'll have to update my sig. I tried to start my old Zaurus up not long ago, but it doesn't boot any longer, I suspect some flash memory corruption. I may try to sell it for parts.

Might be also due to the battery, AFAIK if it can't hold anymore at least a bit of charge, a Zaurus won't boot even with the charger plugged in. If the unit still works, you should anyway be able to enter the diagnostics menu with just the charger plugged in: unplug the charger and battery, wait for 10 seconds, plug the charger in, press D and M together plus the switch on button, and keep pressing D+M until the menu appears (~ 5 seconds).

Varti

This is getting very off topic of course... I did manage to get into the diagnostics menu but there were some errors reported there already, and further exploration didn't get me to a bootable system.  . I got a new battery from Ebay, so I don't think that that is the problem.

P.

13

Gemini PDA - Linux / Planet says new Linux info today

« on: February 20, 2018, 08:19:01 am »

And welcome back pakman, you are now one of the oldest, still active users here
Varti

So I'm officially a greybeard now  

When I get my Gemini, I'll have to update my sig. I tried to start my old Zaurus up not long ago, but it doesn't boot any longer, I suspect some flash memory corruption. I may try to sell it for parts.

P.

14

Gemini PDA - Linux / Planet says new Linux info today

« on: February 20, 2018, 06:58:12 am »

I'd like to know what's the current status of both postmarketOS and Sailfish OS, i.e. what works and what doesn't. From what I have found so far,

...

I have not been able to find much recent info about the status of Sailfish OS, though. So far I have only found this thread, though it appears that many of the bugs listed there have not been reproduced by other users: https://together.jolla.com/question/167110/...-company-doing/

SailfishOS is a bit of a curate's egg at the moment, but is being actively worked on and improved and a new release is coming out right now, see https://blog.jolla.com/sailfish-os-2-1-4-no...e-early-access/ . For more information about what Jolla is planning for Sailfish this year, see their blog entry at https://blog.jolla.com/sailfish-x-whats-next/

It is not yet clear whether SailfishOS for the Gemini will be the "commercial" one with support for Android, MS exchange and predictive typing, or the "community" one that lacks these features. Android support has some serious shortcomings at the moment, it uses Alien Dalvik and targets Android 4. GAPPS is not supported. This means that some Android apps work and some don't. Some apps stop working when new versions are released, if the developers introduce new dependencies on Google Play Services or decide not to support Android 4 any longer. Jolla have promised improved Android support this year (see their blog entry that I linked to above). If anyone who tries out Sailfish on the Gemini wants to contribute to my Sailfish Android Wishlist for 2018, please feel free.

Having said all that, I use it as my main mobile phone platform now, and the telephony is fine.

15

General Discussion / Which Distro Do You Use?

« on: August 18, 2006, 01:04:38 pm »

Which "usability snags" are you thinking of in particular?
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Hi,

Getting a bit off-topic, now, but never mind. As I remember, they included:

(1) No volume control for audio playback

(2) No taskbar applet to eject SD cards

(3) Bluetooth setup via GUI didn't work - interface was confusing, and changes didn't 'take', i.e. when I went back into it, settings hadn't been saved. I had to edit the files directly in the end. (Is this one of the things that is better in Opie 1.2.2?)

(4) Couldn't figure out how to size some apps (e.g. xmms) correctly for the C760 screen (I might have persisted and found a way with this one if it hadn't been for the other stuff).

(5) I also was put off by the lack of a clear statement about the SharpROM binary compatability issue. OZ's FAQ contradicts itself over this. Opie's web site too, although in a more subtle way. I had to wade through a lot of old posts on the forums that are no longer correct or relevant before I reached some understanding of the issue.

(6) At an application level, I often view large numbers of pictures from a digicam card. IMHO tkcGallery is still better than any of the other applications that I have tried (e.g. faster at displaying pictures and thumbnails, not forced to display filenames in thumbnail view), and so I am reluctant to drop it.

Issues (1) and (2) have already been discussed on the forums, and the developers are aware of them AFAIK. Issue (3) might be sorted in the latest version of Opie. My plan was to try again when Opie 1.2.2 makes it into OZ, give it a more thorough road-test and then give some feedback (although I did put a note about the OZ FAQ contradition on the discussion of that topic at [a href=\"http://wiki.openzaurus.org/Talk:FAQ]http://wiki.openzaurus.org/Talk:FAQ[/url] ). Since the subject came up now though....

Regards,
P.