Planet Computers : Gemini - Psion Returns

[NetBLOKS]

@Grench good and valid points.
At the moment, the touchscreen implementation is absolute, not relative.
They chose... poorly.
Because of the form factor, you will often block lightsources with your head and body, so the backlit keyboard is valid option, not that you declined it, I just want to point out more reason to implement it.
I like the sleep/ hibernate idea, that would be awesome!
For the SD Card:
NTFS works well on both... yeah, I know it sucks but every device can read and write it.

 

[Arctic20]

The lack of mouse input I also see as a potential problem and the keyboard doesn't flip all the way around so the Android side of things will have many problems arise since you are forced to use it in landscape and holding it by the screen for games would be awkward

 

[levi]

@Grench good and valid points.
At the moment, the touchscreen implementation is absolute, not relative.
They chose... poorly.

The touchscreen on the original psions was also absolute I think, and I didn't have much of a problem with it (although I did mainly use it with the included stylus, with it being a resistive touchscreen the stylus tip was fairly small, though not as small as say, Nintendo DS styluses). Plus of course it had keyboard shortcuts for almost everything - the only time I remember using it a lot was in a port/rewrite of missile command for it.

 

[Twiitcher]

Thanks a LOT!! I had to order one of these, looks pretty nice. Yeah, I got issues....I'm too quick to buy small form factor stuff, even if I don't have a use case for them.

Twiitcher

 

[Grench]

@Grench good and valid points.
At the moment, the touchscreen implementation is absolute, not relative.
They chose... poorly.
Because of the form factor, you will often block lightsources with your head and body, so the backlit keyboard is valid option, not that you declined it, I just want to point out more reason to implement it.
I like the sleep/ hibernate idea, that would be awesome!
For the SD Card:
NTFS works well on both... yeah, I know it sucks but every device can read and write it.

On the bright side - the potential issue with the touchscreen is on the Debian side - which, it being Linux, IF a community forms around this device, I could see something getting written up to 'do mouse touchpad mode' on it.

Yes, a back lit keyboard would have been better. But - the fact that this has actual keycaps (yes, small) might just make up for the lack of a backlight. We'll see - I'm in hopes of being able to at least quasi-semi-touch-type on this.

I hadn't thought of NTFS. That might actually be the way to go for the microSDXC card slot. There is something sad and broken in the idea that for Debian and Android - ostensibly Linux based, the 'common ground' for file systems is Windows NT 3.51's old NTFS. I get it - that doesn't stop it from feeling wrong.
[doublepost=1515448133,1515445138][/doublepost]Planet Computers sent an update to backers via Indiegogo. They're at CES and claim to have a few hot off the line production units in production packaging in hand that will be going to different markets for wireless/phone network testing.

No, I'm not one of the people receiving one at this stage. But, it's looking pretty good for them to be shipping units inside of the next month.

 

[vcoleiro1]

Janko showing of the Gemini PDA to Charbax

[doublepost=1515451234,1515450753][/doublepost]And here is a nother guy dong a closer look at it

 

[levi]

So they spent many revisions on that keyboard and in the end it looks almost identical to the old S5 keyboard, except it's potentially got worse fingerfeel? Good work there.

I guess this shows the nature of modern base ports provided by the CPU manufacturer - you used to get linux drivers, and had to reverse engineer those to build your android drivers or what have you, but these days you just get the android drivers it seems. I wonder if they still ship the source for those? But anyway, that shows in android being basically there (if a slightly old version at least), but debian requiring driver work to get stuff going.

 

[pmprog]

I dont' get the desire for back-lit keys, using computers in the dark isn't good for your eyes.

Somebody mentioned it didn't have a mouse, but he points out in that first vid there's a spare USB port for a mouse - sure it's not perm, but that's pretty good that you don't need a usb hub connected first, and of course, you could bluetooth one

Looks really good, but there's still a dearth of Linux information. Can you even receive and make calls when booted into Linux? I can't seem to find any information

 

[___]

@pmprog I want a backlit keyboard in a mobile device. On the go, environments are not equally lit. why would I want a mobile device that I can't use on the train/subway in flickering light? also when you are working at a place where light is sparse, even backlit laptop keyboards make sense (my thinkpad has a light on the screen that works well enough). for example on/behind stage at concerts or as a media operator in theatre etc.

 

[pmprog]

@xnopasaranx I guess I figure, if you're using the device frequently enough, you'll learn the key layout and thus not need to "see" the keys anyway. I suppose there's some keys you really don't press that often even on keyboards you use frequently though that you'd need to find.

 

[Grench]

Somebody mentioned it didn't have a mouse, but he points out in that first vid there's a spare USB port for a mouse - sure it's not perm, but that's pretty good that you don't need a usb hub connected first, and of course, you could bluetooth one

Looks really good, but there's still a dearth of Linux information. Can you even receive and make calls when booted into Linux? I can't seem to find any information

My unfounded prediction: Give it a few months with Linux devs going at it and that touch screen is going to get a 'relative positioning mode' that makes it act as a mouse-control trackpad that simply happens to overlay and be independent of a screen. Maybe even with mode switching via a hot key between absolute/direct positioning and touchpad modes.

I'm not sure why people are expecting 100% perfect Linux at 8 O'clock day 1 on this. It is a phone. It has a physical keyboard. It boots and is optimized as a phone/PDA for Android. It also boots Linux. The mere fact that a phone manufacturer has even bothered to make their device officially dual boot into Debian Linux is a freekin' miracle that needs to be celebrated loudly.

 

[pmprog]

I'm not sure why people are expecting 100% perfect Linux at 8 O'clock day 1 on this. It is a phone. It has a physical keyboard. It boots and is optimized as a phone/PDA for Android. It also boots Linux. The mere fact that a phone manufacturer has even bothered to make their device officially dual boot into Debian Linux is a freekin' miracle that needs to be celebrated loudly.

I wasn't asking about "100% perfect" (I presume your comment was a reference to my post?), I was just asking if you could use the phone functionality whilst booted in Linux. I don't see why the modem shouldn't be available inside Linux, but I was just asking, because I've seen very little information.

 

[Grench]

I wasn't asking about "100% perfect" (I presume your comment was a reference to my post?), I was just asking if you could use the phone functionality whilst booted in Linux. I don't see why the modem shouldn't be available inside Linux, but I was just asking, because I've seen very little information.

From what I can tell, the Linux functionality is very basic right now. I am not on their project team so this is what I'm piecing together from comments on Indiegogo and from the videos I've watched.
The device is optimized for Android
Linux boots.
There are no Linux drivers for 3D graphics. Yes there are Android drivers, but that isn't the same thing.
Although Linux probably has access to the radios and the phone chips, I don't think anyone has been too overanxious in getting telephony under Linux working before it ships. Niche product, small (<2500) quantity, small company. They clearly had to emphasize one or the other for launch, and their logical choice of OS was the one supported by their SoC (Mediatek), so, Android got priority.

It seems like all of the review comments I've seen spend a lot of time criticizing that Linux isn't 'fully functional' (no 3D, 'no mouse') and brushing over the fact that it is a phone, with a real-ish keyboard, a user replaceable battery, 64GB of storage AND a microSDXC, stereo speakers and microphones, that can dual boot Android and Debian and costs just over half of what a 'flagship phone' does.

I'm looking forward to this one nearly as much as I'm looking forward to the Pyra.

 

[Caine]

And here is a nother guy dong a closer look at it

I should have known better than to read youtube comments, though I am actually surprised how negative they are about this.

What is wrong with all those mainstream people today?

 

[Grench]

I should have known better than to read youtube comments, though I am actually surprised how negative they are about this.

What is wrong with all those mainstream people today?

Wow - what a parade of people who don't grok.

 

[rygD]

I haven't checked comments or reviews, but it is rather have that people are concerned about Linux support. That already points to the fact that these aren't mainstream types. The more I wait the more I want one of these (but Pyra first for me, unless I suddenly have a lot of extra money I need to do something with).

 

[pmprog]

Although Linux probably has access to the radios and the phone chips, I don't think anyone has been too overanxious in getting telephony under Linux working before it ships

Now, you see, to me, that's kind of important, because you're saying if you reboot it into Linux, you suddenly don't have a phone... that said...

...the fact that it is a phone...

One of those videos vcoleiro1 posted, I'm sure one of them said that it wasn't designed as a phone, they just gave it phone functionality. After all, they offer a WiFi only version; so they obviously picked 4G to allow it mobile data rather than making it as a phone.

 

[benoitb]

With these usb-C ports on each side, I could imagine 2 joycon like devices pluging in on each side to have gaming controls added

Did they share sample shots of the optional external camera ? I couldn't find any with a quick google search.

 

[sm0kew0n]

@Grench Do you know what the shipping charges are? I can't seem to find them, I just want to know the final cost for the wifi only variant. Cheers!

 

[Grench]

Now, you see, to me, that's kind of important, because you're saying if you reboot it into Linux, you suddenly don't have a phone... that said...


One of those videos vcoleiro1 posted, I'm sure one of them said that it wasn't designed as a phone, they just gave it phone functionality. After all, they offer a WiFi only version; so they obviously picked 4G to allow it mobile data rather than making it as a phone.

To my knowledge there is nothing preventing Linux from accessing the 4G modem. It will need development for Linux to be able to act like a phone. That is pretty much like the Pyra that way.

The guy with the camera said it wasn't designed as a phone. Planet put speakers and mics in both sides of the case so it could be used as a phone (while closed) regardless of which end you hold up to your ear. They also put in ringers, motors, LED lights on the case back AND a configuration tool in Android to show different flashing lights depending on who is calling or messaging or other. It's primary/default OS is a phone version of Android with the play store. It's SoC is built for phones. It is a phone with a big battery and a relatively big for a mobile device (but really kinda small) keyboard. But, at it's heart it is an Android phone.
[doublepost=1515602971,1515602796][/doublepost]

With these usb-C ports on each side, I could imagine 2 joycon like devices pluging in on each side to have gaming controls added

Did they share sample shots of the optional external camera ? I couldn't find any with a quick google search.

There is something odd going on with their responses about the two USB-C ports. The HDMI monitor cable can only seem to be used in the right one and the hub seems to be preferred for the left one. That may just be lost in translation though.

I have one on order. The camera modules aren't slated to ship until late spring though. They are supposed to come with a replacement back and stick out 1-2mm more than the stock back. No pictures of that setup yet - probably doesn't exist in a refined enough form.
[doublepost=1515603038][/doublepost]

@Grench Do you know what the shipping charges are? I can't seem to find them, I just want to know the final cost for the wifi only variant. Cheers!

No clue - I ordered a few months ago, so I don't recall shipping charges. They should show up on Indiegogo's order form at some point though.