Author Topic: Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers  (Read 6582 times)

Grench

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 110
    • View Profile
Since there isn't really a way for us to ask questions via Indiegogo that are more complex than a tweet, I started this thread for questions we wish we could ask if we had a good way to do so.  If at some point anyone from Planet Computers gets an account on www.oesf.org and is willing to provide answers to any of these - that would be awesome.

So, on with a few questions to get started:

We know that the Gemini has a 64GB eMMC and a microSDXC port.  We know that it is capable of booting Android and Linux.
Are Android and Linux both installed to the eMMC on all units?
  If so, can a user delete either OS to reclaim space on the eMMC for their preferred OS and still boot?

Is the microSDXC slot bootable? I.e. if I properly place a bootable image of my preferred Linux distribution onto a microSDXC card and put it in the slot, can I select it as bootable media?

Is the Android/Debian dual boot as seen in the CES videos done by having Android and only Android on the eMMC and Debian Linux and only Debian Linux on a card in the microSDXC slot?

Will the Gemini ship with both Android and Debian Linux factory installed  on the eMMC or will users who want to use Linux need to create their own bootable microSDXC?

Has telephony and messaging been tested under Linux?
  If so, what telephony and messaging software has been tested?

There have been concerns voiced over using the touchscreen as a mouse in Linux with a desktop OS.  Is it possible to use the touchscreen under Linux as a touch pad mouse (relative instead of absolute positioning)?

Has a 3D driver been sorted out for Linux?

The specifications for the Mediatek X27 appear to include an FM radio.  Will this be usable under Android?  Will this be usable under Linux?

From a comment at CES it sounds like there are plans to ship the Gemini with MS Office pre-installed.  Will pre-installed applications be user removable from the Android OS or locked?

It appears that the Gemini is shipping with Android 7.11.  How often can we expect OS updates?  How often can we expect security updates?  How long into the future will Planet support the Gemini with OS and security updates?

Grench

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 110
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2018, 02:30:13 pm »
Quote from: Grench
The specifications for the Mediatek X27 appear to include an FM radio.  Will this be usable under Android?  Will this be usable under Linux?

FM Radio presence confirmed:

Quote
Planet Computers
Campaigner
2 hours ago
Just confirming there is FM radio on the Gemini.

andrewl

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2018, 04:34:44 pm »
"Are Android and Linux both installed to the eMMC on all units?"

Janko was heard to say on a CES video that the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.



"Has a 3D driver been sorted out for Linux?

I think Janko was also heard to say that there has been some hardware acceleration seen. I think this means it's still a work in progress.
« Last Edit: January 17, 2018, 04:39:35 pm by andrewl »

Varti

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1274
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2018, 11:06:30 pm »
Thanks for your list! I have posted a link to this thread on the Indiegogo page, I hope they'll join us and post some comments.

Varti
Planet Gemini PDA WiFi/LTE with Mediatek x27
SL-C1000 running Arch Linux ARM May2017, K30225 Wi-Fi CF Card, 64GB SDXC card
and many other Zauruses!

bogomips

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 26
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2018, 04:56:41 pm »
Quote from: andrewl
the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.

WHAT?!
Ah jeesh. Feels like linux is very much an afterthought  
One of the CES reports said something like linux on the Gemini will be a good option when it matures... looks like they weren't very impressed with that OS on the Gemini...

I guess that does open the possibility that it might be possible to install Linux to the SD card... mmmmaybe.
How would that work? Either just dump an "installed" into into the SD card and there you go, or boot off of a USB stick with a live image, and then install onto the SD card?
Will booting from USB even be possible?
I don't think it would be possible to boot the installer from the SD card and then install onto that same SD card...

andrewl

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2018, 02:14:19 am »
Quote from: bogomips
Quote from: andrewl
the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.

WHAT?!
Ah jeesh. Feels like linux is very much an afterthought  
One of the CES reports said something like linux on the Gemini will be a good option when it matures... looks like they weren't very impressed with that OS on the Gemini...

Indeed, in the interviews with the Gemini people at CES (which are all on Youtube) they were quite candid about the linux being still a work in progress. Janko also said that they would be very happy to accept help from the open source community, so I thing the plan is to develop the linux in the wild.

Kiriririn

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2018, 05:38:22 am »
Quote from: Grench
There have been concerns voiced over using the touchscreen as a mouse in Linux with a desktop OS.  Is it possible to use the touchscreen under Linux as a touch pad mouse (relative instead of absolute positioning)?

Relative cursor is how I intend to use it, similar to the android TeamViewer and MS RDP apps. Not sure whether this will be a simple config change or if I'll have to whip up something more complex, but this will be the first thing I do when my Gemini shows up

speculatrix

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3707
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2018, 08:31:00 am »
I'd like to know if bluetooth audio on Android includes the AptX codec. I did ask on Mike Halsey's post here:
    https://geminiplanet.com/2018/01/17/using-t...etooth-handset/
but I don't think he saw the comment.
Gemini 4G/Wi-Fi owner, formerly zaurus C3100 and 860 owner; also owner of an HTC Doubleshot, a Zaurus-like phone.

bogomips

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 26
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2018, 04:01:14 pm »
Quote from: speculatrix
I'd like to know if bluetooth audio on Android includes the AptX codec. I did ask on Mike Halsey's post here:
    https://geminiplanet.com/2018/01/17/using-t...etooth-handset/
but I don't think he saw the comment.

AptX is some special tech, and I think it has to be licensed... doesn't look like there are any Mediatek systems that supports it - no surprises there.
More info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/6...vices_without_a

To be able to use that, I think both the phone and your speakers / headphones have to support it...

Also: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/01/does-...dio-still-suck/

speculatrix

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3707
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2018, 05:54:22 pm »
Thanks. AptX was a technology bought by Qualcom, and seems to be built-in to their Snapdragon 6xx and 8xx devices, just needs the firmware loading. People hacked the firmware from an LG V20 update so it could be used with other SD devices where they hadn't licensed it.
The link you provided suggest that there are specific devices based on Mediatek chips which have had AptX enabled. I'll have to do some research about that.
Gemini 4G/Wi-Fi owner, formerly zaurus C3100 and 860 owner; also owner of an HTC Doubleshot, a Zaurus-like phone.

depscribe

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 254
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2018, 08:27:50 pm »
Quote from: andrewl
Janko was heard to say on a CES video that the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.
Do you happen to remember which video? I have gone over the ones I can find and have not found him saying that.

Thanks.
dep

Atari Portfolio (yes, it still works and yes, I bought it new)
Libretto 110 CT (with docking station and all kinds of PCMCIA stuff)
And, now, a Gemini and, fortunately, a GPD Pocket

andrewl

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2018, 01:02:41 am »
Quote from: depscribe
Quote from: andrewl
Janko was heard to say on a CES video that the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.
Do you happen to remember which video? I have gone over the ones I can find and have not found him saying that.

Thanks.

https://youtu.be/zQLawxkYyug

Listen from 13:00, and particularly from 14:00

"and....people will be able to download it from the web and flash it in"
« Last Edit: January 22, 2018, 01:04:00 am by andrewl »

Phoxford

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 10
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2018, 04:56:12 am »
Quote from: andrewl
Quote from: depscribe
Quote from: andrewl
Janko was heard to say on a CES video that the Gemini will ship with Android only and the linux will be downloadable from the web for users to install.
Do you happen to remember which video? I have gone over the ones I can find and have not found him saying that.

Thanks.

https://youtu.be/zQLawxkYyug

Listen from 13:00, and particularly from 14:00

"and....people will be able to download it from the web and flash it in"

My take on what Janko was saying is that the Gemini will ship with Linux in ROM. However, the Debian build at ship time will be somewhat provisional, but users will be able to download updated versions from the web and "flash it in". If Debian was provided on MicroSD then it wouldn't make sense to talk about "flashing it in".

depscribe

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 254
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2018, 07:55:43 am »
Quote from: Phoxford
My take on what Janko was saying is that the Gemini will ship with Linux in ROM. However, the Debian build at ship time will be somewhat provisional, but users will be able to download updated versions from the web and "flash it in". If Debian was provided on MicroSD then it wouldn't make sense to talk about "flashing it in".
That was my take as well, along with the assurance that any tweaks done will be open source so they may be downloaded and examined, that they are committed, as he said, to open source. He also touched upon hardware acceleration here, leading me to think it might not be ready at ship time but will follow. Nowhere did I find support for the suggestion that Linux would not ship on the device at all.
dep

Atari Portfolio (yes, it still works and yes, I bought it new)
Libretto 110 CT (with docking station and all kinds of PCMCIA stuff)
And, now, a Gemini and, fortunately, a GPD Pocket

andrewl

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
    • View Profile
Questions about the Gemini that we wish we could ask Planet Computers
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2018, 08:05:57 am »
I believe it will ship without debian and be user installed.

Unless our Gemini distribution is not getting its own nice sudo apt-get update / upgrade method.