I’d like to consolidate in this thread all the useful hints and tips for Android that I’ll find mentioned in various places. If you have any useful information that you’d like to be mentioned here, please reply here and I’ll update the list. Thanks to Mike Halsey, Ifanafi, jutleys, tnak, smapmap, Milan and FredL for the info collected here. I have pinned this thread for better visibility.
Last updated: 06/06/2018
Hardware hints• Supported hardware and functionalities on the USB ports:
- Left USB: Gemini USB-C hub, power, PC connectivity (including flashing), OTG connectivity
- Right USB: Gemini HDMI cable adapter, 1 slave OTG device (e.g. an USB key or a mouse)
• A warning to anyone messing with the keyboard (in case of tilted keys): make sure to lift the keys from the upper (screen-facing) side. Otherwise, the tiny overhang that prevents the keys from falling out can be teared off
• The cover removal tool is rather well hidden in the packaging, it's buried in the dark blue paper wrapper
• The back plate does not close the same way it opens. It opens from the back, and closes at the front. See the diagram in the printed quick start guide
Android hints• Remember to update the keyboard application from support.planetcom.co.uk to fix some keyboard issues
• As standard on any Android device, the apps can be found, added and uninstalled via the Play Store starting from the Settings > Apps menu
• To remove all the Google apps and download new apps from Google Store without using an account:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=285246• Don’t set the pop-up Planet toolbar to always on. What happens is that the toolbar's menu grabs the focus and can't then be dismissed. To disable the "always on" setting in case you have enabled it:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=286039• If you have two-factor authentication set up on your Google Account to send you an SMS message, leave your SIM in your current phone until you have performed the initial Gemini setup
• If the two-factor authentication requires a QR code to be scanned, this can't be done with the onboard camera. A workaround for this:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35034&• In case the physical keyboard stops working, you can access the on-screen soft keyboard via the Emoji key sequence Fn-? (function key then question mark key)
• The Agenda app isn't finished yet, it'll be available in the Play Store soon
• The alert LEDs app isn't finished yet either, so you can't currently map LEDs to contacts and apps, again it's coming soon
• Note that not all Android apps support some hardware keyboard functions like Ctrl-X, Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V
• With the PDA open, if you get a phone call, you can just close the case to answer the call by holding it to your ear. This does not cancel the call
• With the PDA closed, you can answer a call by pressing the silver Google Assist button
• Not all apps pinned to the Gemini App Bar are pre-installed, they are quick-links to the app in the Play Store
• If you find the DPI/fonts to be too big (by default set to 480 DPI under Android, Framework, Settings > Display > Display size), you can change the DPI in two ways:
- Go to Settings > About phone and enable the Developer options by tapping the Build Number 7 times. In the Developer options, set the Smallest Width to a bigger value (default is 423 dpi)
- using ADB from a remote computer, enter
adb shell wm density [dpi]. E.g. for 280 DPI:
adb shell wm density 280• To force the landscape rotation on all the apps: press the Planet key, then touch the Planet icon, the force rotation option is there. Pressing the Planet key will cancel
• Conversely, if you want to have automatic rotation when using the Gemini in portrait mode, both the
Force Landscape and
Force Portrait options must be set off in the App Bar setting
• If the screen brightness is set to 'automatic' then Fn-B and Fn-N don't do anything (screen brightness)
• There's a microphone mute combo (Fn-T) but no combo to silence the sound
• 1080p video streaming on Youtube works fine when you enable the Clearmotion setting under Display settings.
• In the Keyboard app, preferences like vibration feedback, sounds, etc. won't work or stick (take affect) until after rebooting the device immediately after applying keyboard preferences.
• If the layout is still wrong after setting it under the Keyboard app, use the Android config method instead.
• If you'd like to disable the Fn + space shortcut which brings up the Google Assistant, so that you won't accidentally trigger it while typing, uninstall the
Gemini Voice Assist:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34868&hl=• Some tips on how to make the battery to last as long as possible:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34885• For FM radio, there's a pre-installed app for it (
"FM Radio v2.0"). It is not available on Google Play (yet):
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35022Linux hints• Under Linux, the blue Caps Lock LED over the Tab/Caps Lock key is always turned on regardless of the Caps Lock status. To disable it:
echo "7 0 0 0 " > /proc/aw9120_operation . Source:
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=285197• To increase under Gnome the size of the text in the menubar and menus (especially helpful when you're poking at it with your finger):
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface scaling-factor 2[/] . Source: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=286450
PC connection/Flashing hints
• Only the left USB port can be used to connect it to a computer (including for flashing)
• When you plug the Gemini to a PC, check the pop-up on the Gemini, it should ask you if you want to charge it only or to transfer data too
• [Windows 8/10] Once connected, if the driver fails to install on the PC, follow these instructions: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34809
• [Windows] ADB installation tutorial: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=284992
• [Linux] In case of troubles in running Flashtool under Linux:
- Follow the flashing guides on Planet's Support page and on XDA
- If the above fails, try to compile Flashtool from the source code: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=285989
- Reference threads: http://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34921 https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35028
Useful shortcuts
• Press Esc on the keyboard to switch on, and Esc +Spacebar to switch off or reboot (there’s no physical Power button)
• Press Fn-C and Fn-V to adjust the volume (no physical Volume knob/keys)
• Press Fn + R to take a screenshot
• Press Fn + .? to open the emoji panel
• Press Fn + ,/ to open the symbol panel
• Press and hold a key to display international characters
• Press Fn + A to display the task switcher
• Press Planet + Tab to switch between open apps
• Press Fn + D to display the desktop
• You can press Fn + Planet to start a phone call
Additional tips:
- https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35038
- on Gemini Planet - https://geminiplanet.com/category/tips/
Varti