Messages

16

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / £30 off Gemini with clove.co.uk

« on: November 14, 2018, 03:05:41 pm »

It is still uncertain (at least in some countries) what kind of rights/warranties you have as a "backer"

In one recent (less well-fated) Indiegogo project, a backer won a court claim for a refund; the judge ruled that there was ‘a direct contract of sale’ despite Indiegogo's terms and conditions.

While that doesn't guarantee the same would apply with a Cosmo, it's certainly a possibility, and does show that UK courts look at much more than just the small print.

And since then Indiegogo have changed the language on their website to avoid a repeat. In particular, the "order" has been replaced by "contribution".

17

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / The incredible extending Early Bird Special

« on: November 10, 2018, 02:25:05 am »

I am wondering if it is now safe to order and avoid the first production batch.

As a rule I try not to be,first, preferring to buy when production teething problems have been found and addressed..

Is it too soon or safe yet?

18

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 07, 2018, 03:02:59 am »

There must have been something said off the record that caused some people to get excited about a linux supported device. As I understood, Gemini has always been Android focused with Debian and other linux offered as a secondary boot option for hack-play. I think Planet hoped for a community uptake to enhance the compatibility with linux.

One thing I know is that developing low level accelerated video drivers is not child's play so I had no expectations of any serious linux based device - though I am faintly hopeful that Sailfish 3 will provide a direct boot single OS option that will allow me to remove the repulsive Android completely.

I have been using the Sailfish option since it was available, which is far from perfect but still infinitely preferable to Android. I hope that Jolla don't get sidetracked from Gemini to focus on Cosmo Smallpiece.

19

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 06, 2018, 07:32:31 am »

another MediaTek chipset is painful. It seems like it's "more because why not", which just increases the costs.

If the new SoC from Mediatek is more friendly to Linux then it will be worthwhile. I suspect that the situation won't change though.

20

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

« on: November 06, 2018, 07:25:31 am »

Gemini was never a phone replacement for me, I have a specific use for it and I use another phone for communications.

With the exception of keyboard backlight, the improvements that Cosmo brings are all concerned with improving the device as a primary phone, hence the name communicator.
So there is actually very little for me from Cosmo. I probably would have bitten if the screen was enlarged to fill the entire lid.

21

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 05, 2018, 09:00:57 am »

But if you were looking to get a Gemini, once the Cosmo is available, will there be any reason not to get a that instead?

Three Geminis have been backed on IndieGogo in the last week. I wonder if Planet will offer them an transfer to Cosmo. I would be vexed myself as they are about the same price.

Time to pull the Gemini campaign from IGG.

22

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 05, 2018, 04:33:02 am »

Looks like the $200K target is going to be achieved easily today, perhaps by noon GMT.

I think crowdfunders deliberately undersell the funding goal to make it feel more achievable. They must be expecting over $1 million because $200K doesn't go very far in manufacturing.

23

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 05, 2018, 04:09:16 am »

Hmmm,

Nothing on there that would make much of an improvement over Gemini for my use. Because my Gemini has a dedicated role and is not my main phone, Cosmo will be more appealing to people who want to use it as their main phone.
A better screen that used all of the the clamshell lid area might have sold me. However...

Some of the folk who delivered the Gemini are no longer at Planet. One person who failed to deliver Vega + is.
$200K is not enough, though I am sure they will raise far more anyway.
May 2019, no chance.
Still Android focused. I hope a new device doesn't mean neglected Gemini. Unfortunately I think my hope will be in vain.
Never go early bird and get the first off the production line....

So probably not for me. But on the positive side:

Good to see Planet still in the business
The device seems to be addressing a lot of things that people did ask for.
Android 9 Pie will please a lot of people.
Possibility P70 will support accelerated Debian.

24

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: November 05, 2018, 12:21:10 am »

It probably has something to do with this
http://igg.me/at/gogocosmo
link that appeared on their homepage now (haven't checked it lately, so it might have been there a while???)?

It redirects to:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cosmo-communicator

Which again gives this "error" currently:

Where did it go?

The page you are looking for is currently in "DRAFT" mode and hidden from the public. Please contact the campaign owner if you feel this is in error!

So probably "just" a new version???

A device called a Cosmo then... maybe. Going to be an interesting day.

25

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: October 31, 2018, 09:46:41 am »

Ummm....

Neither "next chapter" nor the almost giddy "... out of this world!" are Team Planet speak. They are, after all, a mostly BRITISH (typically reserved) group IMHO.

Stereotyping aside, I don't think Janko, Davide or Erkan are native British. They are typically London which is a city of the world and as international as you can get.

26

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: October 30, 2018, 03:22:24 pm »

Hadn't thought about a buyout... would probably be a shame, but you never know, the new owners might want to fund a new product.

My thought is it will be an announcement about Sailfish 3 or Android Oreo as they trailered previously (in fact they said there'd be an announcement about Sailfish soon in the last update).

If it is Sailfish 3 then I will be as happy as Larry (not Ellison).

27

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: October 30, 2018, 10:13:50 am »

So, what do you think is this big news? (Have they, perhaps, shipped my connectivity pack...)

I had a long wait for a connectivity pack, in the end I emailed them to remind them and received the items within a week.

28

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / RiscOS on Gemini?

« on: October 30, 2018, 09:47:43 am »

RiscOS runs nicely on one core of the Raspberry Pi, it cannot use the other three so it will be lost on the X27's 10 - but RISCOS is quite lightweight enough that it might run in an emulator on a Gemini linux.

Needs a middle mouse button though.

29

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Big announcement on 5th November

« on: October 30, 2018, 09:43:16 am »

I'm going to speculate a buyout of the product by a Chinese company who currently produce the phone innards. They may not get the appeal of the PSionesque keyboard and replace it with something cheaper and all hope will be lost.
A startup like Planet doesn't have the necessary mass to survive on its won.

30

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Official Gemini PDA User Guide

« on: September 20, 2018, 03:28:29 pm »

I was glad to read and learn about all the features of the Agenda app (pp 89..104 -- 14 whole pages!)...  So, umm,  where is it?  

In the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?...ripla.gemagenda

Released on July 9th with update #62: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gemini-p...35#/updates/all