Messages

31

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Bluetooth Watches

« on: November 25, 2019, 06:29:56 pm »

Actually, since with Duraspeed off the battery was going down too quickly, I was able to turn it back on and set GadgeBridge to an exception in Duraspeed, AND THEN REBOOT! Settings often don't take effect on the Gemini/Cosmo until you reboot, so I have just gotten used to restarting after a change.

What sort of battery drain do you see? I am at about 40% at the end of the day. Are you getting a lot better with duraspeed on?

32

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / First Impression (72 hour)

« on: November 25, 2019, 02:50:32 am »

I'm glad you are enjoying the cosmo. It is very different to anything else out there (except the gemini  ). It takes a while, but you will get used to the extra characters. The weird thing is then to go back to a normal keyboard.

33

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Camera

« on: November 23, 2019, 05:01:34 pm »

Did you have any luck saving RAW photos?  I tried but it pops up "Failed to save RAW" and the DNG files are 0B.

Same here - no go with raw. The best you can do is save 100% jpg or png from the jpg.

34

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Film on new cosmo screen

« on: November 23, 2019, 04:59:24 pm »

So here is the question to new cosmo owners - or maybe to manufacturer: is the film on main screen of new cosmo is supposed to be removed? Did any new owner already removed that film?

Gemini had the same thing. I emailed planet, and they said it was a screen protector mainly for transit. Half of them (planet staff using geminis) kept it on, half peeled it off. At the time I tried to peel it off and couldn't, so I left it for about a year. One corner started to lift, so I then peeled it off.

Check out the gemini forum - people were wondering the same thing with the gemini

35

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Camera

« on: November 23, 2019, 06:55:33 am »

I have been playing with the camera on the cosmo, and you know what? It isn't bad. I'm not comparing it against a phone twice to three times the price. Against the gemini, it is a wonder

I installed OpenCamera, which allows you to tweak a few settings and tried to push the limits. I took some night photos of stars and was surprised. These are hand held, no editing of any sort. I haven"t taken any daytime ones (that I can share) yet. the built in camera isn"t bad, but OpenCamera allows you to use API2, and a host of extra features. I am sure I could get better shots if I steadied the cosmo, but it is an example of what you can do.

Uploaded in full quality so you can have a look.

36

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Transferring texts and contacts to Android

« on: November 22, 2019, 07:42:26 am »

1) I went from sailfish to android, and just used scp (termux) to copy the file.

"Just copy the file"? Are you saying that Android uses same sqlite db structure that Maemo used? What file?

To clarify - I know how to get files off N900 (scp is easiest) - I was interested in the best method for getting the information converted into Android's messaging DB format. Just to be clear

Apologies. I should have realised that - n900 users are hard core

I exported my contacts as a VCF file, which imported straight into the android contacts app. It will also accept csv and a few other formats. On sailfish, a simple backup creates a tar file which contains all.vcf (which I copied across). Sailfish is maemo based, so maybe you could do the same thing. If it uses the same mechanism, back up the phone, tar tvf/xvf the backup file and look for all.vcf. Transfer that file to android. A bonus is that vcf keeps any image stored with contacts. You don't need to convert the information - the import process does that. Open contacts, press the hamburger menu (top left), go to settings, then scroll down and select import.

37

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Latest updates on Indiegogo

« on: November 22, 2019, 07:29:25 am »

OTOH, the Psion keyboard is a very high bar; the Gemini's still better than any other small keyboard I've seen!  And I gather Planet have made improvements, so I'm hopeful about the Cosmo.

I can report that the cosmo keyboard is close to perfect. A bit more "clicky" that the gemini, so it has the feeling of a mechanical keyboard rather than buttons. The space bar issues of the gemini are a long lost memory. I am touch typing this with my usual closest finger method and thumbs on the spacebar without missing a beat. Oh, and to rub it in, I am sitting outside in the cool air in near darkness typing this on the backlit keyboard

Seriously though, I've had the gemini for over 18 months, and can honestly say that the cosmo keyboard is better.

38

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Latest updates on Indiegogo

« on: November 22, 2019, 07:23:51 am »

is there a prize for the first person outside Japan to get their Cosmo?

I've been locked since Sunday - no cigar yet I'm afraid!

A Cosmo, most probably

I may well have inadvertantly won that one. Got mine last tuesday. Typing this outside (in the cool) at night in Brisbane. The backlight is amazing and I am still able to easily type this in near total darkness.

39

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / First impressions mini review

« on: November 21, 2019, 09:42:01 pm »

I haven't seen a review yet, so thought I'd write one for all those people waiting for their cosmos to get delivered. Firstly, I upgraded from the gemini to cosmo, so I can try to detail the improvements as well as new features.

The same
A strange thing to start with, but for those still using their geminis, this might be useful, and those who don't have one, this will be new. So the size is basically the same. On paper it is a little thicker, but the main difference is the top cover is a different shape. The cosmo weighs a bit more, but it is not heavy. If anything it feels more solid. The screen is basically the same, still good in my opinion. There are the same number of ports (2 USB-C, headphone). So all in all, roughly the same size,weight and shape. It fits nicely in trouser pockets, or jacket pockets. I wouldn't put it in your back pocket of your jeans.

Improvements
So everyone knows what the improvements were meant to be, but how much of an improvement are they? The keyboard is amazing. I got use to the gemini keyboard, but this one is much better. Nice action (clickey), and the keys have never been missed (the space bar on the gemini regularly doesn't work unles you press the middle). The hinge, which was the subject of many indiegogo comments is a big improvement as well. It is much firmer, doesn't wobble, and holds the cosmo firmly when on a table (as I am now typing). The unit feels far more responsive, but that could be a combination of faster CPU and more modern android. The camera - Oh the camera. The gemini had a camera (well as an extra). It was.....usable. You really only used it in an emergency. The front camera was good for skype/video chats, but that is about it. The cosmo camera is, well, good. It won't rock the world with its quality, but it takes more than acceptable photos. The flash is a welcome addition. The speakers are also nice and loud, and clear.

New features
The external screen. It works well. Maybe a bit slow, but it is really useful. You can read texts, accept calls. The selfie image is a bit delayed, but still usable. All in all a great addition. The other great improvement is the backlit keyboard. As well as being better all round, the backlight makes it usable in all conditions. It works surprisingly well - better than I thought it would. I also like that you can add a sim card/memory card without removing the back cover. It is more like other phones with a caddy which is reached via a thin pin like tool.

Summary
I can't think of any areas where the cosmo didn't improve on the gemini. I've only had it a few days, and I already love it. Once I worked out that DuraSpeed is broken (not cosmo's fault) and now my watch stays connected, I have no niggles. The battery easily lasts a day (83% half way through the day). The speakers are really loud if you turn them right up. So hopefully this gives people waiting something to look forward to. It is worth waiting for.

40

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Bluetooth Watches

« on: November 21, 2019, 06:49:47 am »

Duraspeed is broken on the cosmo.  Regardless of what apps you allow it will kill all of your apps eventually when the device is sleeping (which ODDLY isn't even what its supposed to do...).  Disable it entirely and the battery optimization whitelist is honored.  I've found no discernable difference in battery longevity with duraspeed on or off.  When they fix it in an update, it may become more useful.  Power management in general seems to be buggy to nonfunctional on the cosmo right now.  Looking forward to the first ota, which has been indicated will fix a number of day 1 issues.

shinkamui is right. I was just logging in to say that disabling duraspeed appears to fix the watch connection issue! So do everything in the previous post, except instead of setting the wearable app to on in the duraspeed settings, disable duraspeed. All seems good now.

41

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Transferring texts and contacts to Android

« on: November 20, 2019, 09:12:50 pm »

I have an N900 as my daily driver. It has SMS and MMS history from quite a long period. I can export the SMSes in CSV format easily (it's just an sqlite database).

What's the best method to transfer these to Android (preferably without some paid app).

I found this https://github.com/teleshoes/Android-SMS-DB-importer but not much else.

Same applies for contacts. I can always export them to the SIM card of course and import back in, but SIM card only allows you to have one phone number per contact and not ancillary info (company, etc). I can export them as VCFs from the N900.

I'd prefer to avoid syncing them via a Google account. In fact, I hope to run my Android with minimal interactions with google, except for Play store.

1) I went from sailfish to android, and just used scp (termux) to copy the file. Your N900 probably has an ssh server, so this should work fine. Make sure both devices are connected to the same WiFi AP.
2) Alternatively, on the N900 (I am assuming you have standard shell access). (install python and) Run the built in python web server with:

python -m http.server

or the correct library for your python version. This creates a web server at port 8000. Simply navigate to that page on the android and download the file.

3) bluetooth transfer
4) insert a USB stick in the OTG port of the n900, copy the file to the USB, then transfer to the android (I'm just trying to remember if the n900 had OTG.....)
5) (for proper pencil heads only) You can use USB networking, but that really is no different to using wifi, just faster. For a small file like the VCF, it won't make a difference.

I used method 1

42

Cosmo Communicator - Android / Bluetooth Watches

« on: November 20, 2019, 09:02:13 pm »

1. Is there anyway to keep the Bluetooth connection alive when the device sleeps so I can use the Pebble?

2. Is there anyway to keep the AmazFit app from being recycled?

3.Has anyone had success with a smartwatch staying connected and receiving notifications when the Cosmo sleeps? It all works as long as I keep the Cosmo plugged in, as I have developer options setup to prevent the device from sleeping when it is plugged in.

I've got a galaxy active 2, and have similar problems. I've researched it a bit and can hopefully answer your questions. Firstly, the watch worked perfectly with the gemini and android 8 - pie introduced some strict power monitoring which is not limited to the cosmo (even the galaxy s10 drops the galaxy watch in pie). I switched to the cosmo, and had problems. There are two problems, bluetooth and the watch app that runs on android. I have bluetooth staying up, so I can make/receive calls. The galaxy app, however, disconnects a few minutes after the device goes to sleep. I have tried adding it to the background apps, and removed it from battery optimisation with no success. The other annoying thing is that in pie, it doesn't scan bluetooth when in low power (sleep) mode, so that if you disconnect (go too far away), the bluetooth will disconnect and never reconnect. It is a simple matter to reconnect in the usual bluetooth way on the cosmo (ie. long hold bluetooth icon, and click on your device to connect). It is annoying, but neither the cosmo's or the watch's fault. Blame is on android pie.

So, to answer,

1) I went in and removed battery optimisation for the bluetooth app:
    a) select settings->Apps & Notifications
    b ) scroll down, and click on See all xx apps (xx is just the number you have installed)
    c) click on the three dots, top right and select Show System
    d) scroll to and click Bluetooth (and later your watch app)
    e) scroll down and select Advanced
    f) scroll down and select Battery
    g) scroll down and select Battery Optimization
    h) if you don't see your app (eg Bluetooth), click the dropdown (which says Not Optimised) and select All Apps
    i) Select your app (eg Bluetooth), then select Don't optimize from the popup, then click done.

** they made that easy, didn't they  **

    Allow the app to run in the background
    a) select settings->Dura Speed
    b ) find your app (eg Galaxy Wearable)
    c) turn the toggle on the right to on

This should allow your apps to run in the background. If I have left anything out, could someone add some steps - they may be what I am missing to get the wearable app working too!

Doing this allowed me to connect my watch by bluetooth and at least get calls working. The galaxy wearable app works until it goes to sleep, then the watch is disconnected from the app (but still stays connected via bluetooth). I've done a lot of reading and it is the number one complaint for galaxy watches at the moment. It is definitely not limited to the cosmo.

Hopefully, you will have better luck with your fitbit app than the galaxy wearable app.

43

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / The unofficial official my cosmo has arrived thread

« on: November 18, 2019, 10:40:09 pm »

I looked for one - I seem to remember we had a "My Gemini Has Arrived" thread. After the "scam" thread, and with so many waiting, maybe people can be more confident that theirs is on the way be seeing how many have been delivered.

So:

order 9xx, Japanese motherboard (for Australian LTE frequencies), US keyboard and power supply.

44

Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion / Latest updates on Indiegogo

« on: August 22, 2019, 06:25:04 pm »

'“Cosmo Communicator” is a product that is quite wacky but unbearable for those who sting.'

A non-google translator gives:

"Cosmo Communicator" is a rather quaint product, but it is not the only one who sits in the same way.If you like the gadget, check it, and you won't lose it.

Makes a bit more sense

45

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / External screen under sailfish

« on: July 02, 2019, 06:27:34 pm »

I'm looking for how to create a daemon / background service from an app on Sailfish OS

A lot of the functionality is dbus - might be easier to break in at that point. I'm a linux dev, so between us we should be able to work this out  I live in Oz, and was lucky to get one of the first units as we are close to where they were shipped from. I think mine was serial number 008 from the first production run of geminis.

Sailfish runs systemd, so that would be the logical place to start (I am not a fan of systemd, however it is what we have). Functionality can be extended via patches and are run by PatchManager at boot time, so that may be a better way to do it without messing with the low level stuff. For newbies to sailfish, check out together.jolla.com, or talk.maemo.org, and look at openrepos for patches. I actually do my sailfish development on the gemini. I have a full dev environment with IDE (or I just use vi from the terminal for quick stuff). At home, I just ssh into it so I can use a big screen/keyboard, or just go au naturale and use the device as is.