Messages

106

Gemini PDA - Hardware / microSD size

« on: January 11, 2018, 05:15:34 pm »

I'm pretty certain exFAT is only usable as a FUSE file system, probably due to patent encumbrances.

I have a DSLR with a 64GB card and it has to be formatted exFAT for the camera to recognise it (can't even partition it down to 32GB and use FAT32), and I had to install FUSE utils and other things for it to be mountable on Linux.

Me, too (re. DSLR with big card and what needs to be done to mount it). My concern now is what file system might be used for big MicroSD cards that would be happily recognized by both Linux and Android. Is there one?

We discussed this over on the Pyra boards and someone came up with a solid but in some ways ironic and sad solution.

Format the partition as NTFS and both Android and Linux as well as Windows should be able to read it native.  Cameras are out of luck though.  exFAT makes the cameras, Windows and Android happy but not Linux...  BUT...  On the Pandora (Pyra forums) a community member was able to incorporate the exFAT system in.

In theory, Android devices are native EXT4.  I haven't tried that.

We're in for all sorts of entertainment with cards, card speeds, partitioning, formats, etc...  It's going to be fun.

107

Gemini PDA - General Discussion / Has mass production started?

« on: January 11, 2018, 01:48:26 pm »

@BSTM
The battery is said to be replaceable, so there's hope Planet or some 3rd party might come up with a larger replacement battery that fits the form factor. Same for the external camera, since it's an add-on; the choice of 5MP might have been dictated by space constraints, which in turn might have been due to the last-minute changes done in the PCB layout. If the inclusion of the camera would have been planned from the start, a higher quality one might have been used instead.

Varti

Yep - some hope for a bigger battery. But I dont think that will help sell the device to those who will review it properly over the coming weeks or 'average users' comparing specs. Unless Planet actualy say soemthing on the subject. The reason they havnt, I think, is because thickning the underside of the case would destroy the current keyboard tilting geometry.  So it's not easy, but nothing is impossible one would hope.

I would rather have a 3/4lb Gemini in my pocket and a 1lb battery in my travel bag than to have a 1.75lb Gemini.   I think they got the balance right.  4000mAh is still a lot of battery.

108

Gemini PDA - Hardware / microSD size

« on: January 10, 2018, 12:15:07 pm »

Thanks. Reputable brand SDHC card now ordered in anticipation.

Cheers

Thanks a bunch! However, I am now confused by microSD standards. I see that one can have SD, SDHC or SDXC. Any thoughts as to which the Gemini will support or which is best?

Cheers

The long answer would entail a history of TransFlash, MMC, SD,  SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I and UHS-II.

The short answer is:  Anything labeled microSDHC or labeled microSDXC UHS-I should work fine.

Normal caveats for purchasing flash media apply - reputable brand from a reputable source.  There are still a lot of fakes out there.

I hope you mean microSDHC.  An SDHC card isn't going to physically fit in the microSD slot.

109

Gemini PDA - Hardware / microSD size

« on: January 09, 2018, 02:57:14 pm »

Thanks a bunch! However, I am now confused by microSD standards. I see that one can have SD, SDHC or SDXC. Any thoughts as to which the Gemini will support or which is best?

Cheers

The long answer would entail a history of TransFlash, MMC, SD,  SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I and UHS-II.

The short answer is:  Anything labeled microSDHC or labeled microSDXC UHS-I should work fine.

Normal caveats for purchasing flash media apply - reputable brand from a reputable source.  There are still a lot of fakes out there.

110

Gemini PDA - Android / Helio X27 Root and removing GAPPS ?

« on: January 09, 2018, 01:44:11 pm »

The strange aspect of this is that they are shipping with Linux support out of the box. This almost by definition requires rooting does it not?

I have an outlandish theory on how they might be handling the Android Vs Linux boot.
Android is installed as the primary/only OS on the 64GB eMMC.
A special button-hold during boot forces the device to boot from microSD.
Linux will be user-downloadable and writable to a microSDXC via an ISO image.

I.e. to my theory, you will need to have Linux installed on the primary/boot partition of the user supplied microSDXC card.  I suspect that the device will not actually ship with Linux installed.

Which, if you're into Linux and think about it - that's actually a pretty good solution.