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Posted by: ehem Sep 29 2019, 08:57 AM

According to the information currently out, "hybrid dual-SIM". Better description for such would be "hybrid not-really-dual-SIM". If you can only make use of either a SD-card or a second SIM, you're cutting off your right arm to become ambidextrous.

You can readily find information on how to make use of both features at the same time, remove the extra plastic on a SIM and then glue it to the bottom of the SD-card. The fact that this is so well circulated seems a strong recommendation that this is not a desirable feature. Make the base of the carrier 0.76mm thicker and both features work together without modification (minor modification required for the contacts, but I imagine that would be simple).

So a mere extra 83mm^3 for such a large improvement doesn't seem like a big deal. This isn't the original iPod where Steve Jobs demonstrated there was wasted space by dropping it in a bucket of water and observing that bubbles came out.


The other problem with the hybrid slot is there is a potential need to completely power the phone off to do anything. It depends upon the device, but both SIMs and SD-cards can be hot-swapped. Many phones are deliberately designed to prevent this, but the potential exists. Potentially one could have a full load of Debian on a SD-card, but when you want to hot-swap you're stuck.
The ideal phone I would create if I ruled the world would have two SD slots. One would be the OS card which the phone booted off of. There would be no potential to hot-swap this, but would allow upgrading the card Android is on to something larger than 128GB. Then have a dumb card for music collection or games/whatever.

Posted by: Varti Sep 29 2019, 11:46 PM

Didn't know about that story, not surprised though, that sounds very typical of Jobs:
https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-threw-ipod-prototype-into-an-aquarium-to-prove-a-point-2014-11?IR=T


I agree, I would have also preferred a second, external SD slot on the Gemini for hotswapping. After all, these devices are in fact little laptops, so it would have made sense to add something that's provided as standard on modern laptops. Now I'm wondering, will be an opening tool required to access the SIM/SD slot like on the Gemini?

Varti

Posted by: donc Sep 30 2019, 04:24 AM

Looks like the tray will need a standard tool (paperclip, etc.) to push open the tray, similar to an iPhone. I am sure I have seen an illustration of the SIM tray halfway out of the 'lid'/screen but can't find it. You can see the outline of the tray and the paperclip hole on the Planet Computers Cosmo page when looking at the left hand side of the unit though, particularly the picture with both sides shown at once. Would agree that a second external microSD Card slot would have been great but then 18 months ago a backlit keyboard was on most peoples wishlist... No-one will ever make a perfect device that satisfies everyone! Finding extra thickness behind the screen may be difficult (depending on how far the tray goes).

Posted by: Daniel W Oct 1 2019, 06:52 AM

You probably saw it as part of an animation on the Cosmo page https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator on the Planet Computers web site.

Not sure if Planet Computers wants the images circulated, so I won't copy them here, but here are links (that works for now anyway) should anyone want to take a closer look at the renderings:
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce2ef2_1c46e6cae84f412c9dcb654e6c66833b~mv2_d_2560_1381_s_2.png
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce2ef2_fc45fe33c89944d2ab652fe117246d73~mv2_d_2560_1381_s_2.png
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce2ef2_13ba279d18134d608fd73f02fe0501b0~mv2_d_2560_1381_s_2.png
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce2ef2_2914fd96aeed41d9a8c2171f3da8cf6f~mv2_d_2560_1381_s_2.png

Posted by: donc Oct 1 2019, 12:10 PM

Yes, that's it. Afraid I kept ending up at the pre-order page The animation and the links show the tray design very well, thanks for sharing.