Messages

1

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Random Turn-off when battery is less than 50%

« on: July 03, 2019, 06:48:16 am »

Hi,

just posting new update. Since it belongs in this thread, I post it here.

On this monday I returned to my Gemini as a daily driver. It was again my replacement of computer and phone in one device. From monday, it was OK, until today. Expect one thing - periodically disappearing SD card from the system (reboot always solved that) - which keeps happening since update to Android 8.1.

Today (Wednesday) I was on a way to another city. I accept that I am probably putting more load than avarage user on Gemini. But I believe good device should handle it (other phones does).
My gemini was with microSD card inserted. Bluetooth connected to my car. 4G LTE connected to carriers network.
I arrived in area where was poor reception of wireless network, so Gemini falled to 2G network (EDGE data connection). I fired up firefox browser, and suddenly before page loaded, gemini just turned off like before.
After I tried to turn it on (3 times), it did not even loaded - power-off happened on android loading screen with rotating planets.
I let gemini turned off about 10 minutes to rest. Then it powered on like nothing ever happened with 59% battery.

So issue is definitely not resolved.

2

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Hinge cracks

« on: July 02, 2019, 10:59:18 am »

Repair took about 3 weeks including shipping from central Europe to Britain and back. Which is faster that avarage warranty repair in our country (which is kind a sad I would say). So no complaints about that. Buy I believe opening mechanism is still a weakness - since hinges are made of plastic (with metal stick inside).

Since that I did not used Gemini as hard as before, cause I got a Pocophone at work. No unexpected shutdowns so far, but usage is much lower. But now after update to 8.1 I am going back to use it as daily driver.


UPDATE:
I found some old image of that cracked hinge. Posting here for reference. When that happened, right side of display was loose and there was danger that display could fall away from gemini keyboard (if the other hinge will crack too).

3

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Hinge cracks

« on: June 30, 2019, 11:35:34 am »

Hi,

mine plastic hinge broke after 4 or 5 months of using device. No drops or anything, just opening and closing. I had to sent it back to UK for repair: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=35533.msg290410#msg290410
Since the repair, it seems to be OK for now.

4

Gemini PDA - Android / 8.1 observations

« on: May 18, 2019, 09:16:37 am »

Well, I am ptertty disappointed with 8.1. It does not comes with 8.1 features like possibility for better battery management (https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-limit-app-background-activity-in-android-oreo/)

I stopped using Gemini after more than 6 months with it. Battery life was pretty trerrible with 7.1 (cannot get more than 1 day). So I was looking forward to better battery management in 8.1 and ability to disable background running for apps which does not need it (most apps does not need to run in background, it makes sense basically only for IM/mail app and VPN Client). I do not get why is Gemini missing this feature introduced in android 8. I have two other phones at home - Pocophone F1 and old OnePlus 3, both have it.

In case of Pocophone F1 i made adjustments of background running to enable it only for apps where it makes sense. With mild usage I can get 3-4 days of battery life (original before adjustments were about 1-1,5 days), which is very good. But PocoPhone has even smaller battery capacity compared to Gemini.

I did not tested Gemini as main phone after update to 8.1 yet. I will, but I am skeptical... That's my reason why I did not backed Cosmo yet...

5

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / The Cosmo is the Gemini we wanted - and Planet heard us

« on: November 06, 2018, 02:49:20 am »

As I am enthusiastic about Planet Computers work. I am also skeptical about Cosmo communicator.

I think it is too soon for next-gen device. And apparently cannot Cosmo address some some design flaws which will be discovered by long-term using of Gemini.

Sure, external display is very nice touch (solves problem with incoming SMS and phone call). But it also means Android had to be heavily modified for this device => Much less probability of upgrading OS to newer version, because it is lot of work of poeple (and they cannot work for free). Also you can't use something community-made (like LineageOS) for same reason.

Fingerprint reader also great. Makes using secured device less irritating.

Camera and backlight keyboard are sure nice touches, but not so much of killer features (at least for me).

If I count it up, I think they should wait. Gemini is good enough to replace my cellphone (fully) and my laptop (in ~95%). But time is revealing some design flaws.
For example - less than month ago I had to send my Gemini to service. I used it as daily driver and one of hinges below screen did not make it and started cracking. When problem came up, I noticed that hinges are just small metal sticks pressed into plastic frame around keyboard. Well, that solution can't bear long term using and many openings everyday for sure.
Would be nice if new device address those issues first, and then adding some more features. Of course there could be much more design flaws which will be revealed by long-term using. But Cosmo looks more like exactly same as Gemini.

I would like something more different. Opening design like TyTN II (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_TyTN_II) would solve some of problems (BTW, I have this device still working, which proves it's opening mechanism is well designed...) and it does not need secondary display...

BTW, that Cosmo top plate design is... Really weird.

6

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Random Turn-off when battery is less than 50%

« on: October 27, 2018, 04:56:34 am »

Well, I am not sure what the problem is. Not a pro in this industry. Just a curious user.

But do you remember Apple was doing some precautions to prevent those unexpected turn-offs by reducing performance of the device?
Can be same issue here. I can imagine some firmware could limit that issue. Since Gemini is not a gaming device (but it can handle GZDoom  ), I do not see problem here. I believe power management firmware should not allow more energy consumption than battery is able to supply.

I am not mad at Planet Computers. I signed up for this (being a beta tester for this product) when i backed it on Indiegogo. Since this device is still far more superior for me than any other phone I had in last years (I was probably so much satisfied only with my Treo 680, nothing since then was that good), I hope issues will be resolved. Or I hope this will be lesson to learn what was wrong and it will be improved in 2nd gen device.

7

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Random Turn-off when battery is less than 50%

« on: October 26, 2018, 06:51:08 am »

Hi,

since I started this thread, I would like to post a update about mine case.

After discussion with Planet Computers support and another issue I ran into (right hinge below screen cracked on one side when opening device), I had to sent my Gemini back to UK.
They promised they will look at both issues.
Now, Gemini is on way back to me, so I will see if they fixed both things. They say, they replaced bottom body.

From mine side of view that random turnoff issue looked like battery was unable to supply enough power to electronics. This is just mine guessing, since this turnoff occurred only on high power/energy demanding activities (phone calls, running multiple power consuming applications). Planet Computers probably know best, because they designed that device.

8

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Random Turn-off when battery is less than 50%

« on: September 21, 2018, 08:36:15 am »

Hi guys,

I am using mi Gemini as my daily driver. I use Android, because it seems to be only full featured OS so far.
Recently I noticed strange behavior.

My Gemini is sometimes randomly turning off. It happens when battery is about 38%. But it happened about 30% too. But never when batter was full.
If device is in idle mode, it is OK. But when I am doing something - browsing in Firefox for example, or in the middle of call with someone - Gemini screen just turns black. Then I must turn it on by long pressing "On" button. It boots up Android. And if I do same thing (run Firefox) right after boot, it mostly crashes to black screen again. If I wait for few minutes after boot it is in most cases OK (for some time), sometimes I must charge battery and then it is OK.

Anyone with same issues? Or any thougts? From mine point of view it seems to be some problem with battery or with Gemini itself. Because it happens only on energy-intensive activities (which I suppose having phone call or running big app like Firefox is).

9

Gemini PDA - Android / Why would I install Rooted Android

« on: July 06, 2018, 03:06:52 pm »

For me only thing I need rooting is backing up whole device with Titanium Backup.
Unfortunately android does not have some usable backup system as I know. So root seems to be only option when you want to backup and be able to restore apps including their data...

10

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Gemini PDA - Accessories - Pouches/Covers

« on: June 21, 2018, 07:45:34 am »

Hi,

when I received my Gemini, I started to use it as daily driver. And it is truly amazing. I am carrying it in my backpack in "glasses" pocket. But I want to protect it somehow more when I am not using it. So I decided to buy some pouch/cover for it.
I did not ordered original one, because I do not like that look of it. I preffer something synthetic/textile rather than leather one (actually I had cover made from wood on my OnePlus 3 which I had before and it looked cool).

So please share your tips, or info which cover do you use. Maybe you found something amazing which I did not.

My tips which should work - not tested yet

1) Subsonic iStart pouch for PS Vita - https://www.subsonic.com/fr/pour-psp-ps-vit...0192200912.html
I used this pouch in past for my PS Vita and for my ireadygo Much i5. It worked for them. I found my Much i5 in a drawer, and it is actually slightly larger than Gemini. Infortunately I cannot find that pouch now. But it must fit Gemini nicely.

2) Chinese Wool-like pouch - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Mobile-Phon...2851493696.html
I am probably going to order this one. It should fit Gemini nicely and it looks nice.

3) Chinese pouch with belt clip - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Cowboy-Clot...2698854236.html
Looks nice too. Gemini will definitely fit in. It has a belt clip and a carabiner (so you can attach it to your backpack or something). It can also hold few more things that just phone. But it will be much bigger than pouch just for phone.

11

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Request: sample photos with rear camera

« on: June 08, 2018, 12:55:37 pm »

Wow, seems nice. Photos are better than I expected.

Any photos how Gemini looks with camera addon installed? I did not bought camera addon because I did not want to ruin clean design of Gemini. But this camera seems to be good enough to take "documentation" photos (just inserting photos to some project documentation). Now is seems interesting.

12

Gemini PDA - Android / Android update - Beware!

« on: June 04, 2018, 09:36:10 am »

This is concerning.

Any quick tips on how to disable Over-The-Air updates so we don't get bricked? (Or can you simply refuse to install it?)

Appreciate any replies on this.

Not much concerning. In the end it is your choice if you will apply the update or not. And there all at least 2 warning screens before you apply that OTA. Well but in my case curiosity was stronger...

Just wait till there will be some info from Planet. They might have some solution whithout need to reflash. (I can imagine update.zip on sdcard might solve this - I can still boot into recovery and select to apply update from sdcard)



Just for info. I have X27 Gemini. Anyone with working OTA can tell if he has X25 or X27?

13

Gemini PDA - Android / Android update - Beware!

« on: June 04, 2018, 09:18:01 am »

Any advice on few backup options? Cloud-based, App-based? Other? Thank you :-)

Unfortunately I do not know any way on Android how to do proper backup (for me that means system and apps settings) if you do not have root.
Maybe this: http://www.titaniumtrack.com/kb/titanium-b...up-without-root
But you need rooted Android to make restore...

If you have rooted image, then TitaniumBackup is definitely a way to go.

14

Gemini PDA - Android / Android update - Beware!

« on: June 04, 2018, 08:51:12 am »

Hi,

I just received an OTA update on my Gemini. So tried to install it and it failed somehow.
Beware and do some proper backup before that! In my case it killed my Gemini unit! It is now stucked on boot animation.

I just wrote to Planet for info and will try probably reflash few hours later. (Which will be pain, because I will have to set whole android and all apps again)

Just wanted to warn other users. That's why I am posting this.

15

Gemini PDA - Android / Google search bar on homepage - 5 icons wide. (1x5 widget)

« on: May 29, 2018, 11:19:48 am »

Hi,

how did you maneged to remove that search bar?
I would like to remove that too. But no luck so far. It is apparently not widget.
Disabling Google app does not help (I want to disable it anyway) - After that search bar remains in position, but it is broken - does nothing.

I found this: https://forums.androidcentral.com/moto-z-mo...3-launcher.html
But it does not work for Gemini. The settings option is not here.

I would like to stick with stock launcher just because simplicity and not drain system resources by running two launchers (I know Apex is good, but I do not use it's advanced features anyway).