Messages

1

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: Holy Downgrade, Batman!

« on: February 06, 2021, 12:44:01 am »

It bears repeating that, per their video Q&A, Planet works with an ODM -- a Chinese factory -- who only work with Mediatek chipsets. They built the two previous Planet smartphones. If they ditched Mediatek they'd have to find a new manufacturer

Yep. Understood. That question was made BEFORE the Q&A / videos came out.

Sad for PC in any case to have their hands tied with no other options but to accept whatever Mediatek chooses to provide. I guess they should try to develop other ODM partners with less restrictions for future projects if possible.

In the end its PC's image and trust that gets eroded by not delivering what they promised, not Mediatek's or the ODM's.
The amount of public requests for refunds and negative comments surprised me.

I do want them to do very well, although now the price seems a tad high for mid-tier specs for a phone to be launched mid 2021.

2

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: Holy Downgrade, Batman!

« on: January 13, 2021, 04:22:25 pm »

CPU
The question is why MediaTek seems to be the only CPU vendor under consideration and PC cannot source from Qualcomm for example.
Could it be that volume / scale is a factor? Or maybe the manufacturing partners only work with MediaTek for some reason?

Battery
There is no constrain for them to include a bigger battery. Just loosing the feet to offset the camera bump and expand the internal space would help. Nobody will complain about thickness. This sounds more out of design stubbornness, than a true technical reason.

As I became unemployed a few months ago I asked for (and obtained) a refund for the Astro then. I was considering backing it once again as the "Early Bird" pricing is still available, when all this came out.

Surprised by the number of negative comments and number of backers requesting refunds.

If I were PC I would issue a statement saying that given recent feedback the team will analyze further options and promise to get back to backers at a future date.

But the response kind of baffled me: promoting the live demo and participation in the Q&A...This is more than a couple disgruntled backers complaining. Their own crowdfunding future is in jeopardy if they loose the backers trust.

It might not be their decision to switch CPUs, but it IS their decision to move forward regardless with the MTK 800 and smaller battery despite all the complaints.

3

For Sale / Wanted / Cosmo Communicator for Sale

« on: May 17, 2020, 07:57:26 pm »

Hi, what is the condition and price? I am in Atlanta GA

4

For Sale / Wanted / Cosmo Communicator for Sale

« on: May 17, 2020, 06:31:40 pm »

Hello,
I got my Cosmo Communicator in December 2019. I used it for a couple of weeks and then put it back in the box. I just ordered an FXtec Pro 1 and now I have this Cosmo collecting dust.
I'm open to trades and offers.
I'm in the Indiana area of United States.
Cosmo has English keyboard and is GSM ready. No Verizon.

Hi, what is the price, condition and why did you choose to go to  pro 1 after such a short time if you don't mind me asking?

5

For Sale / Wanted / For Sale Gemini 4G + Wi-Fi - Atlanta, US.

« on: February 09, 2019, 06:02:47 pm »

I am not using my Gemini as much as I thought I would.
Ships from Atlanta, US. Free UPS Ground shipping to any US location. U$S 380

If interested, please contact me so we can discuss / happy to share pictures.

Lightly used - In superb condition ! - Still has original screen protector.
With original packaging, manuals, opening tool, fast charger power adapter and cable.

Includes additional LG fast charger with US Plug (original Planet Computer's has European plug).
Also includes optional  External Camera Module.

Wow. Sold in minutes through eBay ...

6

For Sale / Wanted / For Sale Gemini 4G + Wi-Fi - Atlanta, US.

« on: February 09, 2019, 04:49:35 pm »

I am not using my Gemini as much as I thought I would.
Ships from Atlanta, US. Free UPS Ground shipping to any US location. U$S 380

If interested, please contact me so we can discuss / happy to share pictures.

Lightly used - In superb condition ! - Still has original screen protector.
With original packaging, manuals, opening tool, fast charger power adapter and cable.

Includes additional LG fast charger with US Plug (original Planet Computer's has European plug).
Also includes optional  External Camera Module.

7

Gemini PDA - Android / Gemini multiboot - Boot problems

« on: January 29, 2019, 06:25:32 pm »

Cannot see the multiboot file.

What is your boot order? boot? boot2? boot3?

Hi, Thanks for the help.

Here uploaded the file.
Boot order is Android, Recovery, Debian Linux.

After flashing last time (always with the same scatter file and firmware), things operate normally except for copying files with Solid Explorer as mentioned.

Rebooted several times into Android and Debian and had no issues.

8

Gemini PDA - Android / Gemini multiboot - Boot problems

« on: January 28, 2019, 10:26:08 am »

it is known that mounting the android partitions rw from other OS's is enough to cause android to stick its middle finger up at you* so if you want to nose about you need to just mount ro.

Thank you Adam. I have no clue either. First time around I was for sure NOT trying to mount any Android partition, the second time I was actually trying to copy files from a USB drive (but Linux could not read it), so perhaps moments before I tried to mount the android partition by mistake...perhaps.

As you said "LVM does sound like it might be a nice solution". I need to investigate that further. Any pointers ?

Side note:
Now, after re-flashing both OSs work ok, but on Android copying files between the SDCard and Internal Memory does sometimes give me errors or it just hangs and I need to cancel and try 3 or 4 times until successful (small text script files). Specially if I use Solid Explorer. The included File Manager seems more reliable. On Linux things are MUCH more reliable and error free.

Is that known ? or something might not be quite right with the formatting of Android partition on my Gemini ?

9

Gemini PDA - Android / Gemini multiboot - Boot problems

« on: January 27, 2019, 11:24:24 am »

Yes, I could use just Android - I use it now as my primary OS on my Note 9, but part of the reason of getting the Gemini was to tinker on Linux and code on the go with that awesome keyboard.

ie: running same Python/Ruby scripts and C/Julia programs on Android/Termux and also on Linux Debian so see which was faster / most efficient.
So necessarily would boot into both a few times.(*)

I enjoy the power of having a full fledged linux OS on a tiny computer, even if it was just to use a full fledged browser such as Chrome for example.

I can use only Android just fine but would not be that much fun. I would prefer to be able to tinker and switch when needed.


(*) On a side note: Interestingly, with a prime number script I found python performance between the 2 (Android / Debian) the same, but Ruby was much faster on Linux Debian than Android. Still pending to run comparatively same benchmark in C, Java, C++, Kotlin, BASIC!, and Julia. (As I also run the same in all my devices slowly building a small database of comparative benchmark speeds between devices and languages).

10

Gemini PDA - Android / Gemini multiboot - Boot problems

« on: January 26, 2019, 05:28:39 pm »

I recently got my Gemini 4G and flashed multiboot Android 41GB and Linux 15GB (Please see Multiboot file attached).

Got Debian and Linux running ok but I experienced a few freezes and crashes on Debian as mentioned elsewhere.
After a few times it did not boot anymore into anything.
As I had very little data, I just re-flashed the Gemini again and it started to work fine.
I used it in Linux and Android with no problems. Rebooted it into Linux and Android several times to test it with no issues for a few days.

After that I started downloading apps, data and configuring it.

All of a sudden and with no apparent cause, it did not boot into Android any longer. It continued to be able to boot perfectly well into Linux and into Recovery mode.
But when I tried to boot into Android it just stayed stuck in the Planet image forever. (Did not get to the part that says “Powered by Android”, nor the spinning Planets).

In Recovery Mode I did a "Root integrity check” and everything was fine. Also through recovery Mode rebooted the system, and rebooted into boot loader with the same results.
(I could always boot into Linux perfectly fine but not into Android)

While trying to fix it, I tried using the Flash Tool set to “Download Only” instead of “Firmware Upgrade”, but nevertheless it erased everything (I had hoped it would preserve the data).

I cannot point to any evident cause to generate this. The only thing I can mention is that right before it started to happen I tried to copy files on Linux from a MicroSD card I had used with another Android phone before (using a USBC Adapter that worked fine with Note 9 and Mac - The card is separate from the one on the Gemini). Linux said it could not read it, so that is why I decided to boot into Android to have it reformat the card to avoid issues. It never rebooted into Android.
(This seems completely unrelated though)

I fear it might continue to happen again and again after investing a lot of time setting everything up just to erase it all again.

I just emailed Planet Computers support but in the meantime is this a known issue ?
Seems something to do with the boot loader. I am sure the underlying data was fine. Had anyone else experienced this?

If I only used Android would this potentially happen too ? Or that is much more reliable ?

11

Gemini PDA - Linux / Debian beginner - Simple way to see full window ?

« on: January 26, 2019, 12:47:18 pm »

TLDR: Alt-drag or maximise your window with a double tap on the title bar.

Thank you Adam !
I had tried maximizing the window but the lower portion never showed up. Very strange / infuriating.
Alt-drag would have done the trick. If I had only known !

Now that I reflashed the Gemini, Debian works properly / as it should, and had no more crashes or freezes or hiccups.
Perhaps something was not quite right the first time I flashed the Gemini and I was wrongly blaming Debian...

Thank you for the time and effort you put to make Debian stable !

12

Gemini PDA - Linux / Debian beginner - Simple way to see full window ?

« on: January 24, 2019, 10:29:18 pm »

Thanks. Will try with Ubuntu.

Reflashed firmware and now everything is more stable. No crashes or freezes so far, so I will try some more with Debian too.

I agree with your assessment of Linux not being a priority on the Gemini. A shame as Linux could make it to have a cult following.
Not easy perhaps with Mediatek instead of Qualcomm chips.

Even the Android Planet Apps on the Gemini need some work too. Specially evident if you remember how rock solid the Psion apps were and how good the Psion EPOC overall experience was.

Perhaps they will improve the software side of things. After all the Gemini did well and the Cosmo have exceeded expectations too.

The Gemini so far reminded me how much I still miss my Psion 5.

13

Gemini PDA - Linux / Debian beginner - Simple way to see full window ?

« on: January 23, 2019, 11:00:23 am »

Just solved it.
As I suspected there was an "OK" button in the 2nd panel were wifi password was saved but could not reach it. Just moved the top and bottom panels to the sides (after figuring out you could / should do that) and voila!

In any case the remaining questions are:

1- Needing to do this to see whole windows seems a bit cumbersome and not very friendly. Is there a way to modify screen resolution / scale desktop ? Or at least let new users know they should do this to enable basic freaking usability ?

2-Debian on the Gemini seems slow. Also the Gemini has crashed often while shutting down / rebooting. Are Ubuntu or Mint usable ?

3- Or I should just use Android and Termux and be done with it ?

Without disrespect, up to now Linux on the Gemini seems more like a proof of concept than a real usable fully featured OS. It seems to need a lot of tinkering

So far, after so much expectation, the Gemini has disappointed me on the software side, stuck so far on 7.1 on Android and Linux Debian on Gemini seems not very polished. (I know 8.1 should be available shortly and in the future 9 will be available at least on the Cosmo)

14

Gemini PDA - Linux / Debian beginner - Simple way to see full window ?

« on: January 23, 2019, 12:12:51 am »

Hello, just got my Gemini and flashed Debian on it. It is my first time using Debian ever.
Read the guides / forum posts but my issues must be easy to solve, so I have not found mentions of them. Much less relatively recent ones tied to the newest firmware.

1- Could not connect to wifi using connman. Turned on wifi, selected right network, added password in 2nd tab but could not connect.
Could it be tied to not being able to see the full window because of height or the screen and perhaps there is an "OK" or "Connect" or "Save" button I have not found by scrolling or by tabbing (Or pressing "Enter" or clicking or closing the 2nd window)
Cannot say that I found Debian to be user friendly for somebody new to it...
Pressing "Connect" after highlighting the right network, only opens 2nd window, which never saves the info entered into it.

2- Most windows are taller than the screen and sometimes it seems you are not able to scroll to see the bottom of it.
Is there an easy way to shrink the desktop so windows can be seen fully ? So far I only managed to reduce or increase icon sizes and fonts.
Or is there a better solution ?

Infuriating as hell...

Last question. I am more familiar with Ubuntu and Mint. Are they usable without needing to be an expert hacker having to know it all ?
Mostly intend to use the Gemini as a small computer. Not interested in the telephony functionality at all.

Thanks for the advice guys

15

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Trying out an active capacitive pen with my Gemini

« on: January 07, 2019, 10:30:12 am »

Thank you for the super comprehensive answer.

Good advice. Yes, I was planning to use both Note+Gemini for a while before pulling my support of the Cosmo.

The reason I thought them complementary is because my intended use case for the Gemini seems very distinct to the Note usage:
- To tackle the things I am not really comfortable doing on my phone such as writing email, writing notes that might evolve into short stories on the PC.
- As a laptop replacement for short 1-2 day trips so I do not go around with a 15" laptop during the day leaving it at home or in the hotel.
- On the go coding (for fun)
- Tinker around with Linux just for the heck of it
- Play some old dos games better suited for keyboard (text adventures) without needing a full laptop to do so (using the Note & pen for the maps, ha)
- Limited web browsing

So at this moment I do not think I want the Gemini to take pictures, use it as a phone or SMS. Also, I do read a lot using my Note and I imagine the Gemini to be a bit cumbersome for that with the keyboard kind of in the way to be able to hold it with one had in a vertical orientation.

In the past I tried the Blackberry KeyOne and I loved it but was not comfortable because of the smaller screen and my eyesight is not as good as it was, so that is why I bought the phone with biggest and best quality screen I could (always forget to have the reading glasses at hand - now trying contacts so perhaps less of an issue now). I imagined that in the future I would replace my Note 9 with a Key 2 as the keyboard seems awesome for a phone (or future Key 3).

But I asked because nothing beats real world usage. For example I had not though about some of the things you mentioned: forum posts, needing to carry separate chargers, backlight keyboard - that one seems key (pun unintended).

Thanks for the info. I will try what you suggested. Thank you again.