Messages

1

Gemini PDA - Android / Android 8.1 for the Gemini to be available later this week

« on: May 18, 2019, 02:19:04 am »

OTA update, took a while to get moving (a few days) but eventually downloaded and installed successfully.
No user interaction at all, actually, opened it up and the update was up and running.
 

2

Gemini PDA - Android / Planet Sync Adapter

« on: January 09, 2019, 10:03:35 pm »

I sync my contacts and calendars with NextCloud (my own hosted) using an app called DAVdroid.
I don't use Google Calendar or contacts at all.

3

Gemini PDA - Android / Planet's Agenda app released

« on: July 09, 2018, 12:32:30 am »

Installed without problems.

Looks good.

Checked settings for syncing using Davdroid to my NextCloud, looks good, the PC and Google accounts unchecked, good.

As a long time Revo user, the first thing I did was attempt to create a calendar entry for today titled 'test'.

In the Revo Agenda, if you started typing, it automatically created a calendar entry, in this version, I start typing 'test' and Agenda simply crashed upon pressing the 't'.  

This is on one of the original Geminis, bog standard Android, everything that I am aware of, up to date. No Rooting or dual booting done. Also no SIM installed, but WiFi enabled.

The calendar app I was using was 'Calendar 7.1.1'

4

Gemini PDA - Android / Going back to my old iPhone

« on: May 14, 2018, 03:40:37 am »

My bluetooth headset (prime listening device), is a skull candy with volume and 'play/pause' in the middle. None work whilst the Gemini is closed.
As an additional note, the Gemini, by default, does not remember volume for a bluetooth device, requiring me to use an app.

Settings -> Bluetooth on/off, after reboot, it's always off.

Still have the Gemini, just won't be using it as my primary phone, till my iPhone wears out.

After being in the first batch to receive my Gemini, I am going back to my old iPhone 5s as my primary phone.
My reasons are, using out of the box Android
1. Bluetooth controls do not work if the gemini is closed - this was the main one
2. In the dark, because of the nerve damage of my fingers from cancer treatments, I have difficulty locating the correct key, particularly the Fn key to turn off the display
3. Gemini randomly totally reboots during a phone call, with no cause that I have been able to determine (holding Gemini to ear, Gemini in speaker mode sitting on a table) - only 6 times so far...
4. Bluetooth disabled after reboot, regardless of settings prior.

If point one is fixed, I may re-try moving to the Gemini as my primary phone.
Point 2 could be solved, at least for me, with keyboard backlight, or as a minimum, identified keys being backlit, preferably by a preferences app
Points 3 and 4 minor irritants that I could put up with if I could overcome 1 and 2.

Other than this, I managed to get all the functionality I wanted migrated from the iPhone with only a little effort. (calendar/contact sync to NextCloud being the prime one). It's a shame but I will continue to support the Gemini, it being a great idea from an old Psion Revo user.

Sad to see you go. Just a few questions though....

1. For bluetooth, you mean bluetooth navigation when listening to songs etc? My car controls work fine when the phone is shut. When listening through headphones, I use vanilla music player which allows you to shake for the next song.
2. Hmmm. Got me there - maybe fluorescent paint/die carefully applied to the keys.
3. Only help I have here is disable VoLTE. I had problems at first, now I am rock solid without VoLTE
4. Again, quite wierd. I reboot very occaisionally, however I've never had to restart bluetooth. I rebooted last night as android was getting a bit slow, and my car connected this morning. Is there an android setting which controls this?

5

Gemini PDA - Android / Going back to my old iPhone

« on: May 14, 2018, 03:37:20 am »

<snip>
Other than this, I managed to get all the functionality I wanted migrated from the iPhone with only a little effort. (calendar/contact sync to NextCloud being the prime one).

As a matter of interest, which app did you use for the contacts and calendar sync? I use CardDAV-Sync free and CalDAV-Sync from dmfs.org on my main phone, and DavDroid on the backup. I am wondering what to use when my Gemini arrives

I use davdroid.

6

Gemini PDA - Android / Going back to my old iPhone

« on: May 13, 2018, 05:02:48 am »

After being in the first batch to receive my Gemini, I am going back to my old iPhone 5s as my primary phone.
My reasons are, using out of the box Android
1. Bluetooth controls do not work if the gemini is closed - this was the main one
2. In the dark, because of the nerve damage of my fingers from cancer treatments, I have difficulty locating the correct key, particularly the Fn key to turn off the display
3. Gemini randomly totally reboots during a phone call, with no cause that I have been able to determine (holding Gemini to ear, Gemini in speaker mode sitting on a table) - only 6 times so far...
4. Bluetooth disabled after reboot, regardless of settings prior.

If point one is fixed, I may re-try moving to the Gemini as my primary phone.
Point 2 could be solved, at least for me, with keyboard backlight, or as a minimum, identified keys being backlit, preferably by a preferences app
Points 3 and 4 minor irritants that I could put up with if I could overcome 1 and 2.

Other than this, I managed to get all the functionality I wanted migrated from the iPhone with only a little effort. (calendar/contact sync to NextCloud being the prime one). It's a shame but I will continue to support the Gemini, it being a great idea from an old Psion Revo user.

7

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Gemini (First batch) aroma

« on: April 30, 2018, 07:43:06 pm »

When my Gemini is open, I've noticed quite a strong aroma - somewhere between plastic and chemical. Quite similar to the smell of a firelighter. Possibly from the layer beneath the keys.

I've had lots of gadgets over the years - this is a stronger smell that I've ever noticed before.

If you have a Gemini, do you notice the same?

Mine was in the first batch and does not have any odour.

8

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Gemini reboots during phone call

« on: April 09, 2018, 07:35:48 am »

I should note that I am a very light user.

• SMS
• Email
• Occasional phone call. Typically < 3 per day.
• Sync Calendar/Tasks to my NextCloud using DAVdroid
• Sync Contacts to my NextCloud using DAVdroid
• Listen to podcasts that are downloaded to the Gemini using Podcast Addict
• Listen to Audible books, downloaded to Gemini, using Audible app
• No browsing, videos nor social media of any kind

The second reboot in 5 minutes would seem to preclude any apps as none where started after the reboot except the phone (and DAVDroid I assume).

9

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Gemini reboots during phone call

« on: April 09, 2018, 03:42:39 am »

Out-of-the-Box Gemini, twice now, been in the middle of a conversation and the phone goes black and shows the android boot screen about 30 seconds later.

Oops, there it goes again, third time in as many days, twice in 15 minutes, whilst I was typing this message I was on a phone call and the phone goes black, rebooting about 30 seconds later.

This is immediately after the previous reboot, I received a call from the person who was disconnected and we resumed our conversation.

The phone App does not record the fact that either of the two calls have been made (no buffers flushed I guess).

The first phone call was under 10 minutes, with the second less than 3 minutes before reboot.

I tend to keep phone calls short, as in a few minutes. Not a big fan of long phone calls.

Battery at 75% (after both reboots) with performance and power saving in 'Normal'.
I am in Australia, using 4G VoLTE, with Telstra as my carrier.

Suggestions?

10

Gemini PDA - Hardware / [Solved maybe]Does not remember volume for bluetooth devices

« on: April 03, 2018, 11:32:18 pm »

Maybe this could help? (Never tried it, so I don't know how well it works)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?...arken.bluemusic

Varti

Looks good, giving it a try, will report back.

11

Gemini PDA - Hardware / [Solved maybe]Does not remember volume for bluetooth devices

« on: April 03, 2018, 07:36:59 am »

I find that when I connect via bluetooth to my car (3rd party device), the Gemini always sets the volume to somewhere near 40%
I have to turn the car volume way up, which is a problem if something else plays on the car system as it's volume is then set really loud.
So, rather than turning the car volume up, I have to turn up the Gemini volume, which involves opening the Gemini.
Then, I don't need the car volume so loud.
My problem is that the Gemini doesn't seem to remember volume settings for a bluetooth device.
It would be nice if it did.
Not sure if this is hardware or software, if software, I am out of the box Android.

12

Gemini PDA - Android / [Solved] Existing contacts phone numbers not working

« on: April 01, 2018, 10:42:42 pm »

Interestingly, having sync'd my contacts with my NextCloud, I have found a couple of contacts whose number does not want to work with Messages.
All my contact numbers have international prefixes, eg. +61 x xxxx xxxx.
It appears that if I go into Contacts, edit the phone number, delete the leading +, which causes the number to compact down to consecutive digits, and re-insert the +, which causes the phone number to resume it's nicely formatted appearance, IMHO, all of a sudden, the phone number is now 'fixed' and works with Messages.
Not the ideal fix, but I do get told by Messages that the contact phone number won't work, up front, it's just a pain to have to edit the contact to 'fix' it.

13

Gemini PDA - Android / Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps

« on: March 27, 2018, 08:01:52 pm »

If you want to de google, you can do the following:
....

Hmm, a little more effort than I was expecting, I simply wanted to disable the stuff, not replace it.
Well, down the track I plan to go Linux, that should do it quite nicely, would prefer to do a Gentoo build, so I am consistent with my desktop but will see.
Thanks.

14

Gemini PDA - Android / Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps

« on: March 27, 2018, 02:45:17 am »

What do I need to do to disable anything Google except the App store?
I have my own hosted email and NextCloud services.
I am currently using BlueMail for email. Calendar,  Contacts (with DavDroid to sync), Messages,
I only want the App store to keep things up to date, everything else can go.
I have no interest in Google Assistant, docs, drive, gmail, etc.
Any pointers to an Android noob (ex IOS, at this stage).

15

Gemini PDA - Android / Change 'hostname' so nice name appears in WiFi

« on: March 26, 2018, 01:26:49 am »

Can I change the hostname of my Gemini, it is currently 'android-???' where I have obsfucated the actual numbers.