Planet Cosmo Communicator

jon

I was very interested in the first decide Planet Computers made, the Planet Gemini. Now they follow up with their second device, the Planet Cosmo Communicator:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cosmo-communicator/x/17349743#/

The Planet Gemini was great, but there were a few things that could be improved, for my usage, and it looks like they got it covered. I want to have a mobile device that I can use as a small computer. I am not a fan of writing messages on a screen, so having the ability to use a real keyboard is just very helpful. With a 2nd screen on the outside, the device can function better as a phone, but still function as a mini computer, when needed.

I am very much looking forward to the new device, which I fully expect to become my default mobile device.

Cheers,
Jon.

Catweazle

Nice device, Idodn't know this, and yes, it is not very comfortable to write on a screen of a smartphone. For the same reason a friend has a virtual laser keyboard, which also works quite well with a keyboard almost normal size.
Similar to this one (Bluetooth)

jon

@Catweazle I just like a keyboard that has travel. I want to feel when I press a key instead of having to look at the keyboard all the time. Thus I have been waiting for a phone with a keyboard for a while now as they all went away when all phones were supposed to become just screens. Also, external keyboards and the like do not really work either as they also add to the bulk and having to spend seconds to get everything up and running just feels like a waste of time.

The Gemini, that I have, is pretty nice as you can run it with Android or Linux and really use it as a tool. It is very much a modern time Psion 5 and with the apps they are making, it is getting better each day. Personally I still wanted it to work better as a phone, so I only need to keep one device and this is where the Cosmo comes in as it is more of a communicator kind of device. It also adds a second SIM, which is nice as I tend to have at least two SIMs at any one time and the wireless should work better.

Catweazle

To write the current smartphones are obviously less apt without keyboard in conditions. I remember that some years ago there were still smartphones with a keyboard, I do not know why they disappeared from the market. I suppose design things, since they were somewhat more bulky, although I quite liked the Nokia N900 that I had (they want reissued it as Neo900)

sgunhouse

Of course Blackberry comes with a keyboard of sorts, but I don't like those little tiny buttons ...

ForumFan77

This post is deleted!

ivanpetit

@jon I have also ordered mine some few days ago I was knowing about the gemini, but I discovered the Cosmo by chance when cleaning/sorting all of my bookmarks, I was looking for some news on the Jolla website
I will be really pleased to be see Vivaldi running on the Cosmo.

As I am working in IT job (currently as servicenow admin) I will be pleased to help for something if I can.

Regards,

Ivan

jon

I met with Janko, the CEO of Planet yesterday, and I was lucky enough to get my first Cosmo. Interestingly the one I got was a Japanese version, but I was just happy to get my hands on it. It is great!

I have had the Gemini for quite some time, but the Cosmo is a big step up. The screen on the outside means it functions a lot more like a Communicator and I can use it both as a phone and for other tasks.

There are many big improvements for me here:

The sounds is great!
Dual SIM. I always carry at least 2 SIMs, as I have a US SIM, an Icelandic SIM and a Norwegian SIM.
The screen on the outside just makes a massive difference for using it as a phone. There are many neat details there and I am impressed with how they did it, using a separate processor and OS.

Overall this is a massive improvement over the Gemini and will clearly be my phone device of choice.

kahukura

@jon It looks pretty nice too.

jon

@kahukura , it does indeed.

Pesala

Wouldn't it be more convenient if a mobile device had voice input? I have never used this, but it seems like a more workable method when on the go. Even a mobile with a decent tactile keyboard needs to be used on a desk.

jon

@Pesala , I am not a fan of speaking to my device myself. I prefer to use a keyboard. There are a lot of tasks that become hard with voice. Have you tried filling out a spreadsheet that way? With formulas even? Writing code? There are a lot of things you can do faster with a keyboard today.

Pesala

@jon I have no money, so I don't need spreadsheets however, I often have a lot to say.

Speaking is faster than typing. The question is, is current voice technology accurate enough to be easy to use for dictating text.

Pikkuiikka

Wau. I'm waiting for the Cosmo, too. Jon, can you tell what is the image quality of the main camera?

-iikka

kurai

@jon It's fantastic!

jon

@Pesala , my point was less about it being a spreadsheet, but more about the actions you want to do. You need to move around in the spreadsheet with cursor keys. You then want to enter formulas. The point is that with speech, certain things work relatively well now, while others less so.

I use keyboard shortcuts on my computer a lot. I want to do the same on my phone.

jon

@Pikkuiikka , it seems quite good. It is 24 megapixel, but the images just look great! I am sure it is not as good as my Huawei Mate 10 Pro, but it is good enough. I prefer real cameras anyway for taking photos, but for casual phone photos, it is good.

Pikkuiikka

@jon Thank you, that is nice to hear. I prefer real cameras, too, but have been spoiled somewhat with the brilliant images of my Galaxy Note 8. Cosmo does not have to match those, but a decent quality would really be a good thing - so that I can pass the Note 8 forward.

-iikka

jolt

Actually I installed Vivaldi for Android on my Gemini (precursor to Cosmo) ... It works reasonably well and a lot better than other apps esp with the default landscape display... I passed on getting the Cosmo since I had quite a few regrets from the Gemini.. I like it.. But I also got one of the earlier ones with a slighty ldifferent CPU and was hoping that they would have put a bit more work into the version of android that finally was released for it...

Crimsonshade

This is currently top of my "money no object desires" list. It's way out of my price range though