Re: Software
Unfortunately, the software is the Achilles heel of Planet's offerings. The hardware Gremlins have been resolved but firmware updates are few and far between and long-standing bugs just haven't been fixed. The device itself is immensely practical. You really need a table to use it properly but it does then let you do a lot of stuff: I was able to demonstrate PyDroid on it recently, albeit without using the native HDMI out, which for some reason refused to work. USB-C on one side is charging only, on the other output only. Sound is tinny but bearable. I only got a replacement Germay keyboard after Andrew Orlowski intervened. This is all okay for a device that you can always takes with you and works.
But the software side is poor:
- Android 8.1.0 from Decemeber 2018
- if WLAN is dropped, it will not reconnect but drain the battery in a couple of hours
- keyboard will randomly go into CAPS
- quite a few apps (IPlayer Radio) just crash
- the custom version of K9 is quite frankly awful
Basically, looks like Gemini users have been frozen out so that the Cosmo can happen. I knew what I was getting into when I signed up, but still disappointing to see the after-sales service fail so badly.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
