Messages

1

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

« on: January 13, 2021, 09:04:35 am »

In terms of future proofing, I was very pleased to see the 8GB upgrade. The rest doesn't concern me much.

2

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Remote File Location

« on: July 01, 2020, 01:02:29 pm »

The particular point is that since on creating a database, the user is given no choice as to where and what is the file that is holding the data. Even Windows (At leastwhen I did actually use Windows, a good few years ago) offered to locate the saved files in a directory (folder) of your choice. If Planet Data had this facility, it could be located remotely, such that any Android device which could access for read and write, could use a single data set. As it stands, you have to have identical databases on every device that you want to use, with no way of syncronising any of them. So a single exta piece of data has to be entered by hand on every device. Which is totally unworkable.
I did create  a test database, both on an Android phone, and on the Cosmo, and then searched for where the data file might be. I did, eventually find a file structure in >Android>data>com.prpla.gemini.data.file, bu it only records an empty folder. I even ran (on the Cosmo) as rooted Android but that too showed an empty folder. Always assuming that the machine was actually running rooted, since there seems no obvious way of establishing the fact. I am aware that the user functions in Android are quite capable of telling you that a directory is empty, when in fact it does hold files. But I would have expected them to show in the rooted version.
The import of database using .CSV (Comma Separated Values), does not work either. .CSV does not actually import a database, it simply imports the data. To use it, you have to creatte a new, empty database on the new device, with the same field structure. Then use the import facility to populate the database. But this does not work, either. It is quite legitimate to have a database with empty fields. Perhaps for that item the field does not apply, or that item of data is not known. But what does happen on import, is that the data which should be entered in the next field, is, in fact, put in the field which should be empty. Then all subsequent data in that entry is in the wrong place. On my Psion netBook, I have seventeen databases, some of them I'd love to have on the Cosmo, Even if they were nowhere else, but the required multiple correction make it not worth the effort. particularly since they cannot easily be kept in sync

Yeah, I think you are having an issue with Android itself. App can't just read and write anywhere they want due to Android security. App are restricted by Android as to the folder they can write to. That is standard android behavior.

As for apps on several devices at the same time - you are really looking for a web-service at that point. No way is an Android Database going to have permissions to write out to network folders like in the Windows Desktop world. Instead, you would replace that functionality by using an app that has a server, and writes are made to the server via a web-service. That is a totally different animal and requires hosting a server somewhere. For instance, Evernote does this because your data is hosted in the Evernote cloud - their servers. All of your apps are communicating with the Evernote server. This is way out of the realm of anything Planet should be doing with their applications.

So this is not a Planet Computer's issue.

3

Cosmo Communicator - Linux / Debian/KDE - Display Won't Wake Up

« on: June 25, 2020, 02:32:36 pm »

Thank you for all your input.

Seems like a lot of effort to get a working system....

Oh well....

A little clarification. when I close the lid, and then open it, I get the desktop background, just no way to do anthing - no login, no way to click anything, etc.

What does work for me is using the menu to sleep. Then resume does work. So basically, the LID CLOSE EVENT needs to do the same thing as the menu for sleep. So it is close to working.

So for now,

1. Change the power settings to not let it go to sleep automatically.
2. Don't close the lid unless you have manually put the device to sleep first.

4

Cosmo Communicator - Android / V22 is out.

« on: June 25, 2020, 11:43:35 am »

Similarly I've still got the random reboots with new firmware v22 and CODI V1.1.1.14 when CODI is switched on.
The reboots are mostly when opening the phone, closing the phone, plugging in or removing the cable for charging using the opposite side from silver button.

previously it would reboot during phone or zoom calls with or without video, on all the cases listed above and also without any interaction.

It appears slightly more stable, but not reliable yet.

So I'm going to run it with Cover Display off and Switch OFF cover display on Power down also off.

My battery percentage always shows -1% no matter the charge level. I have let the phone fuly charge, fully discharge (well until auto power off) and run for a few hours.
At all points it still shows -1% battery.
Regards
Chris

Yes, I've turned off CODI and things are much more stable. I'm not using it as a phone, so CODI doesn't add much anyway. That's one of the reasons I went and backed the slider - it looks like it may easier to use it as a phone.

5

Cosmo Communicator - Android / V22 is out.

« on: June 24, 2020, 09:31:32 am »

I can confirm that the random locking issue is still there. I entered my pin and started going through my gmail, reading and deleting items, frequent input every 1 or 2 seconds, and then it just locked the screen out of no where.

It's not a big issue, but is very annoying and wouldn't think it would be that hard to fix. My guess is it is again some issue with CODI. Me no like CODI!

And yes, latest V22 and latest CODI, and after a few reboots later.

6

Cosmo Communicator - Android / V22 is out.

« on: June 22, 2020, 09:25:52 pm »

Updated Android and Codi, booted inti Linux and updated it. Still no resume from sleep unless you manually select sleep from the menu. If you time out and go to sleep, or if you close the Lid you are dead.

I'll check out android to see if the Codi is more well behaved.

7

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Cosmo Reboots during Long Phone Call

« on: June 03, 2020, 10:26:44 am »

I long ago determined the Cosmo wasn't suitable as a phone. It is a nice mini Linux laptop, but only after suspend/resume works. Right now, it is on my nightstand waiting for Linux to work.

And, yes I backed the Astro. In this case, though, it looks like it may actually work as a phone, and still provide a physical keyboard. Here's hoping!

8

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Mute/CoDi Issue

« on: June 01, 2020, 12:48:26 pm »

Can't reproduce this issue.

Not that I want to, but I can and do reproduce this once in a while. The root cause is that the CoDi stays on when holding the Cosmo to the ear, making it very likely that some part of the face will touch something on the CoDi. Exactly what gets touched probably depends on how the Cosmo is held and the precise shape of the users face. In my case, some part of my face seems to fit the mute icon just spot on.

Now, there IS an icon on the in-call CoDi screen to turn off the CoDi, but it only makes the CoDi go dark. As soon as you touch it, it wakes up again, ready to be face-tapped. I'm hoping some future CoDi update will improve on that, say, by requiring a swipe on the CoDi to wake it up again. That should be pretty face-proof.

This is the main reason I cannot use the Cosmo as a phone, and hence, not as my main device.

As soon as suspend and resume gets sorted out in Linux, I will use it as a mini-Linux laptop. Right now, if you remember to Suspend To Ram manually before closing the screen, it will resume. But if you forget and close the lid you are doomed. That should be simple to fix, just do what you do with the manual "Suspend to Ram" when the lid closes.

9

Cosmo Communicator - Android / V21 firmware

« on: March 30, 2020, 11:51:35 am »

@PNuT Did you upgrade via v20?

I've just tried restarting, then turning off and back on; no joy.  Tapping the button in quick settings gets the tap acknowlegment but no colour change. In settings there's a Mobile data is off prompt; tapping turn on makes it disappear for a few seconds, when it returns.  I've emailled hello@planetcom.co.uk to ask about it; it would probably help if others with the same problem did the same.

Sorted now.  Switch the phone off, pop the SIM out, switch the phone on, switch the phone off, pop the SIM back in, switch the phone on.  Let your Cosmo pick up the settings from the 'new' SIM.

Rosie

A common "feature" of the Cosmo is that often you need to restart the phone if you have made a setting change.

10

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Hotspot turns off

« on: February 05, 2020, 12:27:14 pm »

The Hotspot on the Cosmo keeps turning itself off even though I have set it to NOT do that.

1. Does anyone have a work-around for this? Even with Duraspeed turned off it keeps happening.
2. Would Tasker help?

11

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Keys getting stuck

« on: January 16, 2020, 09:16:51 am »

The one area I have noticed this from the time I received the Cosmo is in the top row keys. Numbers either don't work or type double. It makes entering passwords challenging. I've gotten used to it, as I use a very slow, deliberate quick, forceful press and release on these keys and it works most of the time. It does slow me down, but I'm hoping that the keys (or whatever) will settle over time and become more reliable.

Do you get this everywhere or just in certain apps? I have noticed that certain input fields give me double inputs on numbers, but it seems like a software issue as most fields handle them properly.

Everywhere. the worst are the center number keys - 4-6.

12

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Auto-rotate.

« on: January 07, 2020, 12:56:07 pm »

The Cosmo doesn't support auto-rotate. The intention is to force apps to Landscape so you can use it like a mini-laptop.

I use Rotation Control Pro, which lets me select rotation on an App-specific basis. I set apps that perform better (or at all) in Portrait to automatically open in Portrait. It's a little clunky but works for me.

13

Cosmo Communicator - CoDi / Not another Cover Display Thread!

« on: December 31, 2019, 02:49:53 pm »

My mum also reported the issue with airplane mode randomly activating. Let's hope PC fixes this issue in the next update

Btw, is this a CoDi issue or Android issue? 'Cause on my current phone (still waiting for my Cosmo), the BlackBerry KEY2 with Android 8.1, I experience something similar: sometimes Bluetooth enables itself out of the blue. So that leads me to think the Flight Mode issue might be an Android issue instead.

Nope, it's the cover. I actually caught it once by accidentally looking at the external screen. It happily keeps on receiving taps while the device is open. If you hold the device so you can type with your thumbs (i.e., no flat surface nearby) this is inevitable. Poor design, I assume there will be an option at some point to disable this behavior.

14

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / USB-C

« on: December 19, 2019, 02:36:42 pm »

Assuming the Cosmo's motherboard is similar to the Gemini's, it was a well know fact that the motherboard did not support HDMI out. The proprietary adapter for the Gemini (which I have also used with the Cosmo) does the magic of converting the USB to HDMI. So a normal USB-C to HDMI adapter will not work,

15

Cosmo Communicator - CoDi / Not another Cover Display Thread!

« on: December 16, 2019, 03:24:01 pm »

Anyone notice how easy it is to alter settings, make calls, turn on flashlight, etc from the cover display shortly after opening the cover? My index finger seems to be at home right over the screen when holding the Cosmo open.

@Planet, maybe I don't know, make the cover screen unresponsive when the cover is open on your next update? I mean, heck, you did a good job making it pretty unresponsive with the cover closed.

That explains a lot.
I went to make a call and found my device was in Airplane Mode the other day.  I didn't command that, but maybe this is why.

Another time, I found Location services was turned off.

Another time, the thing got really warm and power was draining fast, turns out the camera was running on the cover display.  (Thanks to GSam battery monitor for finding that)
@Planet, perhaps an option to turn off the front display when the cover is open?

Yes, I've turned off the cover display for now because the phone kept going into Airplane Mode when the device was open. The cover should not be responding to taps while the device is open. Or at least make that an option!