Gemini PDA (re:RPoD)
====================
I just read the RPoD Phlog [1] about his Gemini PDA device. I also have
this thing but I use it very infrequently. In general it is better than
the old PSION geeks think but it is not as good as I need. The screen
is excellent and the keyboard is not bad but the hinges are terrible
(the whole thing moves when I type on the keyboard and I am not able to
accustom to it). Also the original Gemini PDA (especially my WiFi-only
model) is long abandoned by the producer. Yes, they still sell it but
they don't update nor patch its Android system. In theory I can replace
it by the SailFish OS but it would mean loss of ability to run Android
program (the SailFish for the Gemini PDA does not have this feature).
Also the rear camera is terrible. It produces ugly pictures and it has
problems with QR code reading (the QR codes are the main reason why I
have installed such thing on my Gemini - it looks much better without
the rear camera).
Anyway, I have been slowly increasing its usage. It's the newest
Android device we have at home and as such it's used for tasks which
require Android - to rent shared bikes, to store discount applications
for some stores (which refuse to issue traditional plastic cards) and
(which is the most important these days) for the CovidPass application
(it is nice that the Czech CovidPass application can store unlimited
amount of these COVID passes so the same device can be used by me and
by mi wife). Of course I always carry a paper version of the CovidPass
as a backup.
Anyway, a new open-source application for dealing with CovidPasses have
emerged. It runs on the Ubuntu Touch and it is already available in the
Open Store [2]. It seems to work well but I have not tested it in any
real-life situation, yet. It would be preferable to carry a small old
Ubuntu Touch phone (the BQ Aquaris E4.5 in my case) than the bulkier
and more fragile Gemini PDA, I think.
Still, the Gemini PDA is a good thing when I need relatively small
device to write/edit texts or to connect to some SSH servers. These
situations are rare for me now (I have not used ANY mean of public
transport for more than 12 months - I only move on foot, on a bike or
by car now), however.
References:
[1]
gopher://1436.ninja/0/Phlog/20210722.post
[2]
https://open-store.io