For instance, it comes with a modified version of K-9 Mail, an open source email application. Did you try out kdeactive? The amazing pictures you see taken with some smartphone cameras are simply photos where the scene and lighting has been carefully chosen to fall well within the sweet spot of the camera. Ive been using a Planet Gemini for about a year now, and while Id definitely call it quirky, I really love using it.
I cant say much about the Cosmo; I cant afford it, but its not likely to have the staying power of a Psion in 20 years time the device will be stuck on a useless version of Android, but we can hope people will still be producing Linux builds for it. Thankfully, it comes with stereo speakers, which I think is a must for a device in this form factor, a regular headphone jack, and not one, but two USB-C ports. If you are more interested in a smartphone-first kind of design, you should probably take a look at Planets upcoming Astro Slide. It allows you to perform basic smartphone tasks while the device is closed, and shows things like notifications, system toggles, and more. Im still *pissed* at them for their lousy support on the Gemini.
Granted, I am a very light typist who applies relatively little force to each key press, but I found that my key presses would often not register unless I applied what I would consider too much force. My unit came preinstalled not only with Android and desktop Linux, but also Ubuntu Touch. The use of more metals instead of just plastic like on the old Psion models gives it a much sturdier feel, too. Theres always going to be compromises with a device in this form factor, since its impossible to design something within such constraints that is perfectly suited for every possible typing style, hand size, and so on. I wouldnt necessarily have a problem using Debian Buster either, but Im not a fan of being dependent on an older kernel, especially an android kernel, which is probably not going to get updates. To this day I have absolutely no use for 14MP digital photos anyways. Picture quality and dynamic range and resolution are the three main points. But for those who prioritize getting work done, its likely worth it.
The companys chief designer, Martin Riddiford, worked at Psion in the 90s and aided in the design of the Psion Series 5s keyboard, and that design has formed the basis for the companys first two devices: the Gemini PDA and the Cosmo Communicator.
To maintain quality you need a larger sensor size which is why digital SLRs or larger are valued by many. The square screen makes certain apps like Instagram load weirdly, but Unihertz has developed a clever three-finger gesture to force the screen to go into display at a rectangular aspect ratio (with digital letterboxing).
Its still good enough today. The price is a bit of a problem too. Planet Computers is a small company in a sector dominated by a small number of heavyweights, and much like with the Blackbird Secure Desktop we reviewed earlier this year, custom, niche hardware simply comes at a price. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The problem is you need to be careful when taking the picture and be a bit choosy along with using a light meter or lights depending on the scene.
My biggest want would be aesthetics. The Titan is a rugged phone with a keyboard. Back in the day you could print a photo in a magazine with a 5mpx camera or advertising billboard.
If the Cosmo Communicator was a clear tribute to the Psion PDA, then the Titan, from Shenzhen-based Unihertz can be called a tribute to the classic BlackBerry devices. Digital doesnt look as aesthetically pleasing as film when it comes to handling brightness or low light so you have very little wiggle room. That is by design: Planet Computers hired some of the now-defunct Psion designers to help design the machine.
Unfortunately Im fairly price sensitive, which is why I cant always have nice things, haha.
As far as ports and connectivity goes, the Cosmo comes as fully packed as can be. Again, though, my hands are small, and if you have more average-sized hands, you might be able to thumb-type just fine. Lets start with the Cosmo Communicator: as can be seen from photos, its form and function behaves more like a mini-sized laptop than a smartphone, but it can still make calls and do smartphone things like go on Instagram. Back in the day you could print a photo in a magazine with a 5mpx camera or advertising billboard. Its still good enough today. Apparently, what Ive always wanted was a handheld device that would do all my mobile computing/phone stuff but would also legitimately play Amiga games. Android 9 was released on 6 August 2018, making it almost three years old at this point, and for a device that isnt cheap by any stretch of the imagination, Cosmo needs to do better. But still, in terms of pure speed it doesnt come close to what I can achieve on the Cosmo Communicator. Full disclosure: Slimbook sent us the Executive as a loan, and it will be returned to them. Things like external mice and keyboard work just fine, though.
For newer packages, enable the backports repository.
The specs here are also modest: The same MediaTek Helio P60 chip with 6GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch LCD screen in an unusual 1:1 aspect ratio, and 128GB of storage.
Although in this case, a copycat job may be the better word since no one at BlackBerry was involved. Ive given up data entry on a phone. The desktop Linux support is a major selling point for the Cosmo, and if it supported a more up-to-date distribution, Id seriously consider this as its main operating system. The main display of the phone is a 5.99 21601080 16:9 LCD which looks just fine.
Its just too tedious and time consuming. Warranty (Grey), Nokia E66 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, International 3G, Wi-Fi, Media Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Gray), Unihertz Tick Tock, 5G Rugged Smart Phone with Dual Screen Android 11, 2021 Unlocked IsatPhone 2.1 Satellite Phone - Voice, SMS, GPS Tracking, SOS Global Coverage - Water Resistant - Sim Card Included (No Airtime) - Prepaid and Monthly Plans Available. I just got my Psion 5mx professionally repaired last week since the screen ribbon had failed. In fact, I cant imagine any other form factor being better suited to that particular rather niche use case. My suggestion would to mark these as regular applications, so users can more easily uninstall them, without having to resort to adb. One of the major and most interesting alternatives to Android is traditional Linux. A seven stop range means you can take a passably good photo. The layout of the keys feels natural, and for me, there are no cases where I wouldve opted for keys in different positions. First and foremost, the Cosmo is an Android device, and anyone who is familiar with Android will feel right at home on the Cosmo. In fact, its entirely usable, and I had a total blast playing around with it.
This would make touchscreen keyboards far better to use. I do wish the hinge had more positions than just fully open, though.
LG, too, is set to release a swivel screen phone that gives more screen space to a keyboard.
The keyboards are individually spaced and offer good travel. One gripe I have with the Titans keyboard layout is that it uses hardware navigation buttons for its Android UI, and the back button is located on the right side, which is opposite of where Android puts the button (on left side) and also against human cognitive logic: we read from left to right, so going back is going left.
Ill just keep lugging my dell xps around for now while waiting for M2 or some non mac with decent arm processor.
Ive never spent so much on a phone though.
I would rather today have a thin and light laptop. A seven stop range means you can take a passably good photo. If they can get Android 11 for the Cosmo out soon thatd be great, but never buy something on the promise of future updates. Lack of originality aside, the Titan has a lot to like: Its the first keyboard phone of this type to also be a certified rugged phone, meaning its rated IP67 for water and dust resistance, its built of stainless steel and rubber so its shock and scratch proof, and its got a huge 6,000 mAh battery that can go two full days even for heavy users.
This is nifty and reminds me of the Psion 5. The Android experience is generic thats a good thing and does exactly what youd expect from Android on a smartphone, and desktop Linux with KDE is just desktop Linux with KDE, albeit running on a pocketable mini-laptop without any compromises to what makes desktop Linux desktop Linux.
One downside of the Linux image is that its based on Debian Buster, which means some of the packages are going to feel a bit outdated because Buster favours stability over bleeding edge.
It sounds like the Cosmo addresses that, as well as adding backlit keys and a camera. Lets take a look.
This problem increases the farther away from the home row I am, and its downright annoying.
I do like it ish. Standby battery drain is also problematic, as Id leave the phone at half about charged sitting on a desk over night and wake up to see the battery at 25%. Dynamic range is effectively how well it handles light to dark. For the price, I could play with a mac air M1 thats more tempting at this point. However, for now, youre stuck with a three year old version of Android.
Caveat emptor; dont expect anything different this time around. A ten stop range removes a lot of these problems and you can take pictures in a wider variety of scenes and low light and blacks will look a lot better. But the keyboard Id want with keys I use more for cli work without crazy modifiers. The Cosmo Communicator is unlike any other Android device on the market today. There are a few companies left still making smartphones with keyboards, and the British company Planet Computers is one of them. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? The official Linux image for Cosmo also makes some special affordances for the device.
Slightly dramatised, sure, but the reality of smartphones today is that all of them look and feel the same. Id think it would be very annoying to have a keyboard in the way if you use the phone as a camera? My unit came with this version of Buster preinstalled, booting straight into KDE. Then the iPad Pro came along with the Pencil, and I was almost there (except writing on a slick screen is terrible, so Ive barely used the Pencil), but still something was missing I simply have no use for one.
That makes it a non deal for me. All in all, sounds very nice. Maybe its getting slow, it might be damaged, or your devices OEM refuses to update your version of Android. While you can technically opt for one of the new folding phones, the reality is that they still suffer from early adopter problems, and their prices are far beyond what most of us would want to pay for a smartphone. With interesting hardware comes interesting software, and here, the Cosmo does not disappoint. I wanted a mini-laptop that was a real computer for the longest timethen the iPad came along and it satisfied a lot of that jones, but not all. Its 2021, and its time to upgrade your smartphone.
The layout will take some getting used to, but thats to be expected with any new keyboard, especially one in such an exotic form factor. As to be expected due to its pedigree, the device resembles a Psion Series 5, or perhaps a Nokia Communicator if youre more familiar with that line of devices.
I was able to find an app that forces orientation changes and got the feature to work.
Lastly, theres a button on the side to open up the voice assistant, and it has support for dual SIM, e-SIM, and microSD cards. Another example is a small application to customise the notification light patterns for incoming notifications, and the aforementioned application to manage the cover display. Youre seeing this ad based on the products relevance to your search query. Using the Cosmo over the past few weeks, made me realise just how much of a pure OSNews bait this device really is. If there is one audience that can appreciate and enjoy the unique features the Cosmo offers, its the OSNews audience. The difference between mid range and high end have shrunk over the years, and while there are still small differences here and there, the general experience is going to be the same from device to device. You can set up your own desktop the same way you would set up any KDE installation on a regular PC or laptop, and other than the smaller display, theres really nothing special or extraordinary about it.
Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. Well exposed and blacks are black. You might wonder if you can use the keyboard when thumb-typing. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. For instance, if you want to lie down on the couch or in bed late at night, theres really no way to position the device for optimal video viewing.
The secondary display Cosmo calls it the cover display ensures you dont have to open the phone to make calls or perform basic tasks, which makes it a more than worthwhile addition.
I wish the fingerprint reader was placed in a slightly more convenient location, since reaching around the back to use it when the device is opened is not always easy, but its not a huge deal.
If you need characters not on the keyboard already installed, then I guess the answer depends on which OS youre running.
Maybe it was the novelty? Even though in practice its far more likely that low light and motion blur will ruin a shot. Getting used to a new keyboard layout and smaller keys is one thing unless you have truly gigantic hands, it wont take you more than a few days but having to change how hard you press down on a key is very, very hard to learn. After using both of these phones for a few weeks, my conclusion is that a physical keyboard is better than current smartphone touchscreen keyboard, and so anyone who needs a device for typing will benefit from owning one. Youre paying this price just for the ability to type faster on the go, as this devices screen, speakers, battery, cameras are not on par with even a $300 Chinese Android in 2020. My hands are definitely too small for thumb-typing, as reaching the centre-most keys requires an uncomfortable amount of stretching and grip adjustments. Aside from the cramped size, it comes very close to offering all the functionality of a regular keyboard, and while my personal typing style doesnt mesh well with it, the Planet team has done a great job given the constraints they were working in. If that distinction matters to you, and youre looking for that convergence between your smartphone and your laptop, theres really not much on the market today to choose from. Fortunately, this machines runs Android (the outdate version 9, however), and everything in Android is customizable. It pretty much supports every band under the sun, and obviously comes with WiFi (a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth (5.0), GPS, NFC, and the usual complement of sensors. As a whole, I like the hardware of the Cosmo. Rare niche x86 systems from decades ago tend to be better supported by mainline linux than ARM boards. Yea I think many consumers got caught up in the megapixel wars. Of course, if an older version of Android does not bother you, this entire point becomes moot. My favorite keyboard on a phone was the Danger/Tmobile Sidekick I fixed production database issues from a pub. Luckily for us OSNews readers, though, the Cosmo supports more than just Android. Best of all, the keyboard, while smaller than a traditional keyboard, is still large enough (about 7 inches diagonally) that touch typers on real keyboards should be able to adjust and type without needing to look down and hunt for keys. 10mpx is the bottom end of equivalent to film (its really about 14 but the 10-14 range is because of the difference between square pixels and the shape of film grain). The pleasing curve at the top of the brightness is lacking and darks look muddy or have lots of digital noise.
But there are three major shortcomings users need to know: the built-in cameras are badslow to focus, lacking in details, and suffers from over- or under-exposure almost every shot. Im slightly less happy about the actual typing experience, though. For lighter users, three to four days on a single charge is possible. In theory any camera which has a seven stop range and five megapixels resolution is good enough although ten stops and ten or above is better. It runs perfectly well on the Cosmo, but Ubuntu Touch is clearly still in flux with pretty much no application support, and on top of that, it doesnt seem very well-suited for the form factor of the Cosmo it wants to be on generic glass slab phone, not on a tiny laptop. Follow this author to improve your content experience. Sadly, when I tried to connect the device to an external monitor with my own USB-C-to-DP or USB-C-to-HDMI cables, it did not work.
The area where the software sadly falls flat is that its outdated, which is especially cause for concern on the Android side. Digital doesnt look as aesthetically pleasing as film when it comes to handling brightness or low light so you have very little wiggle room. None of them are intrusive, but since they are set as system applications, they cannot be easily uninstalled either. I obviously didnt hesitate to say yes, and after a few weeks of delay due to our first child being born, I can finally give you my thoughts and insights on this device that fills a unique niche in the current mobile landscape.
December 8, 2020
If its not mainline linux, what inevitably happens is you end up having to write off long term kernel updates, and that sucks. It comes with a phone and SMS application, so you can make phone calls and send text messages right from within Linux. Sadly, this version was released a few days before my fiancee and I had to go to the hospital to deliver our child, so I havent been able to test it quite yet. The problem is there wasnt enough screen space to make keyboards any larger. Of course, if you come in expecting the performance of a big gaming laptop youre going to be disappointed, but if you have reasonable expectations, you wont be disappointed. The thing is sitting useless in my cabinet upstairs, because it is thoroughly unusable.
Its solid, feels satisfying, and props up the device a tiny bit when opened. You can also make calls from this screen, use a pincode to log in, and so on. It lives up to its promises, doesnt drop any major balls other than the Android version, and enables use cases no other device on the market today can offer you. Its form factor and design are closer to a small laptop than a traditional smartphone, and many of the compromises youll run into stem from this design decision. I think these are awesome devices, but more often than not they become permanently tethered to an older & unsupported kernel.
The better the specification of the camera the more forgiving the camera is and the less skill required to take a well exposed photograph.
A leaked render of the Fold 2 smartphone from Samsung. Its definitely not in the same category as what youd find on top of the line Android phones, but its more than good enough. The company told me that their next device, the Astro Slide, will come with Android 11, and much of that work can be replicated on the Cosmo, meaning Android 11 for the Cosmo should be released later this year. And the 16-bit graphics lend themselves to a small screen ), but the only games Ive ever truly loved were Amiga games. Anybody who has ever handled a Psion Series device from the 90s will recognise the look and feel of the hinge right away, and the design has held up incredibly well. Picture quality needs a calibrated scene. Your positive review notwithstanding, they wont be getting another picocent of my money, because I was burned the first time I gave them some.
What makes these two devices intriguing to me is because they may both have the same selling pointa real keyboardbut have completely different approaches.
The main display has two giant black pillars next to it, but this never bothered me. The cameras on the Titan are far better than the Cosmo Communicators, but still nothing to write home about.
or just the fact that I had mobile data connection in a pub back in 2002 with a ssh client?
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Performance of the Linux image was great, and I did not notice any serious shortcomings. I think Cosmo managed to strike a pretty good balance here, though, but I want to stress that the Cosmo is not merely a smartphone. Meh, even that was subpar because android apps arent as good as desktop apps. It turns out you need to buy Cosmos own specific dongle to enable external display functionality, which is a bit of a nuisance. Id prefer that to regular kde. It offers a set of very unique features that few if any other devices can offer, and youre either willing to pay for those, or not. However, as said, if you apply more force for each key press than I do, this might not be much of an issue at all for you. The keyboard will be familiar to anyone whos used a BlackBerry, meaning its more intended for two thumb typing with the device held up rather than real ten-finger touch typing with the device laying on a desk like the Cosmo Communicator.
Overall, I like the machine, and just the ability to let me type much faster and accurately is a major selling point. The aspect ratio particularly annoys me, as a taller (vertically) 3:2 aspect ratio makes more sense on a work machine.
That I can reach almost 80% of my best typing efficiency on a mobile device is a major benefit for someone who writes long emails on the go like me. In conclusion, the strength of the software on the Cosmo does not necessarily lie in any one of the operating systems specifically, but more in the fact that its so versatile and open to whatever you want to use. I want to dive straight into that keyboard, since its by far the devices most defining feature.
Its not something I would buy. Do keyboard phones make sense in late 2020? The keyboard is backlit, and comes in a variety of keyboard layouts to choose from upon purchase. The Android installation comes with an app to manage and update the cover display, and during my time with the phone I received one or two updates. I wonder how one would type letters outside of English alphabet. Its good for is digital zooming in devices that lack optical zooming I suppose.
This is a giant missed opportunity. Performance overall is fine: there is a small outside screen that allows the user to see notifications and make calls on the dial pad, a great touch that reduces the need to flip open the device every single time you need to do a task. The software powering the display is managed and updated independently from Android itself, so it can also be used in other operating systems such as Linux. But considering the Titan is priced at around $450, that makes the average cameras a lot easier to accept.
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Of course, an external USB or Bluetooth mouse easily solves the lack of a mouse, at which point it really feels like using a tiny laptop. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Back on the nexus tablet it worked kinda well, when the keyboard was working. It also comes with a few notification lights that you can configure yourself from within Android. Theres the F(x)tec Pro1 X, but it has tiny rubber keys instead of the more traditional full keys of the Cosmo, and costs 700 and is only in the pre-order phase at the moment. Its not a smartphone its a small pocketable laptop with smartphone functionality built-in. Modern phones use a lot more digital processing to clean things up, but personally I still feel the megapixel war is optimizing the wrong aspects of photography. It has a 24MP main camera, and a 5MP selfie camera on the inside of the device, and photos taken with the main camera look fine to my untrained eyes.
10mpx is very tight but gives you a little cropping room.
Those of a certain age may notice that the Cosmo Communicator bear a clear resemblance to the Psion PDA (personal digital assistant), the 1997 device with a cult following among business travelers. They did not read this review before publication, and placed zero restrictions on anything I could write about. The KDE version, for instance, is three years old, which is perfectly fine and working well, but you will miss out on more recent features and improvements. With all phones looking the same, its hard to find a company willing to stand out in a crowd of black rectangles. Despite this shortcoming, the Comsos Linux support is excellent, and it can easily serve as a small Linux laptop assuming you bring a mouse with you, since it isnt suited for touch input at all. You can also set up the cover display as an external touchpad, but while an interesting gimmick, I did not find this particularly useful.
It comes very close to a regular laptop, with only the lack of an integrated pointing device being a real issue.
The hinge is sturdy but only stays open at one angle.
This British company does not just focus on building Android smartphones with keyboards they take the concept a step further and gun for the iconic Psion devices from the 90s.
Perhaps the Cosmo Communicator from U.K.-based Planet Computers and Unihertz Titan from Shenzhen arent throwbacks to a bygone era, but rather a signal of a comeback for late 90s/early 2000s power device? PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending.
The Communicator has just modest specsMediaTek P60, 6GB of RAM, 6-inch LCD 60Hz displaybut the hardware is excellent. I think my wifes phone actually has 20 megapixels, haha. I salute you for programming with the keyboard, I would really get frustrated soon these days. Id prefer a low megapixel camera with better light sensitivity and raw data that doesnt require much digital processing to clean it up.
The remainder of the device is a fairly standard mid-range Android smartphone. Are Android and desktop Linux not enough for you, or do you want something even more exotic?
Planet actually provide an impressive set of keyboard options:
Id like to play with one.
However a device like this would interesting since it could run the real deal. Im not exactly a camera expert, so I honestly dont know what to say about the two cameras on the device. The machine flips open and closes with satisfying force, and the keyboard features individually spaced scissor-switch keys with surprising amount of travel. To remedy this, you are supposed to be able to turn the machine sideways to use the screen in vertical portrait mode, but the Cosmo Communicators UI refused to switch orientation no matter how many times I twist it.
I cant say much about the Cosmo; I cant afford it, but its not likely to have the staying power of a Psion in 20 years time the device will be stuck on a useless version of Android, but we can hope people will still be producing Linux builds for it. Thankfully, it comes with stereo speakers, which I think is a must for a device in this form factor, a regular headphone jack, and not one, but two USB-C ports. If you are more interested in a smartphone-first kind of design, you should probably take a look at Planets upcoming Astro Slide. It allows you to perform basic smartphone tasks while the device is closed, and shows things like notifications, system toggles, and more. Im still *pissed* at them for their lousy support on the Gemini.
Granted, I am a very light typist who applies relatively little force to each key press, but I found that my key presses would often not register unless I applied what I would consider too much force. My unit came preinstalled not only with Android and desktop Linux, but also Ubuntu Touch. The use of more metals instead of just plastic like on the old Psion models gives it a much sturdier feel, too. Theres always going to be compromises with a device in this form factor, since its impossible to design something within such constraints that is perfectly suited for every possible typing style, hand size, and so on. I wouldnt necessarily have a problem using Debian Buster either, but Im not a fan of being dependent on an older kernel, especially an android kernel, which is probably not going to get updates. To this day I have absolutely no use for 14MP digital photos anyways. Picture quality and dynamic range and resolution are the three main points. But for those who prioritize getting work done, its likely worth it.
The companys chief designer, Martin Riddiford, worked at Psion in the 90s and aided in the design of the Psion Series 5s keyboard, and that design has formed the basis for the companys first two devices: the Gemini PDA and the Cosmo Communicator.
To maintain quality you need a larger sensor size which is why digital SLRs or larger are valued by many. The square screen makes certain apps like Instagram load weirdly, but Unihertz has developed a clever three-finger gesture to force the screen to go into display at a rectangular aspect ratio (with digital letterboxing).
Its still good enough today. The price is a bit of a problem too. Planet Computers is a small company in a sector dominated by a small number of heavyweights, and much like with the Blackbird Secure Desktop we reviewed earlier this year, custom, niche hardware simply comes at a price. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The problem is you need to be careful when taking the picture and be a bit choosy along with using a light meter or lights depending on the scene.
My biggest want would be aesthetics. The Titan is a rugged phone with a keyboard. Back in the day you could print a photo in a magazine with a 5mpx camera or advertising billboard. If the Cosmo Communicator was a clear tribute to the Psion PDA, then the Titan, from Shenzhen-based Unihertz can be called a tribute to the classic BlackBerry devices. Digital doesnt look as aesthetically pleasing as film when it comes to handling brightness or low light so you have very little wiggle room. That is by design: Planet Computers hired some of the now-defunct Psion designers to help design the machine.
Unfortunately Im fairly price sensitive, which is why I cant always have nice things, haha.
As far as ports and connectivity goes, the Cosmo comes as fully packed as can be. Again, though, my hands are small, and if you have more average-sized hands, you might be able to thumb-type just fine. Lets start with the Cosmo Communicator: as can be seen from photos, its form and function behaves more like a mini-sized laptop than a smartphone, but it can still make calls and do smartphone things like go on Instagram. Back in the day you could print a photo in a magazine with a 5mpx camera or advertising billboard. Its still good enough today. Apparently, what Ive always wanted was a handheld device that would do all my mobile computing/phone stuff but would also legitimately play Amiga games. Android 9 was released on 6 August 2018, making it almost three years old at this point, and for a device that isnt cheap by any stretch of the imagination, Cosmo needs to do better. But still, in terms of pure speed it doesnt come close to what I can achieve on the Cosmo Communicator. Full disclosure: Slimbook sent us the Executive as a loan, and it will be returned to them. Things like external mice and keyboard work just fine, though.
For newer packages, enable the backports repository.
The specs here are also modest: The same MediaTek Helio P60 chip with 6GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch LCD screen in an unusual 1:1 aspect ratio, and 128GB of storage.
Although in this case, a copycat job may be the better word since no one at BlackBerry was involved. Ive given up data entry on a phone. The desktop Linux support is a major selling point for the Cosmo, and if it supported a more up-to-date distribution, Id seriously consider this as its main operating system. The main display of the phone is a 5.99 21601080 16:9 LCD which looks just fine.
Its just too tedious and time consuming. Warranty (Grey), Nokia E66 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, International 3G, Wi-Fi, Media Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Gray), Unihertz Tick Tock, 5G Rugged Smart Phone with Dual Screen Android 11, 2021 Unlocked IsatPhone 2.1 Satellite Phone - Voice, SMS, GPS Tracking, SOS Global Coverage - Water Resistant - Sim Card Included (No Airtime) - Prepaid and Monthly Plans Available. I just got my Psion 5mx professionally repaired last week since the screen ribbon had failed. In fact, I cant imagine any other form factor being better suited to that particular rather niche use case. My suggestion would to mark these as regular applications, so users can more easily uninstall them, without having to resort to adb. One of the major and most interesting alternatives to Android is traditional Linux. A seven stop range means you can take a passably good photo. The layout of the keys feels natural, and for me, there are no cases where I wouldve opted for keys in different positions. First and foremost, the Cosmo is an Android device, and anyone who is familiar with Android will feel right at home on the Cosmo. In fact, its entirely usable, and I had a total blast playing around with it.
This would make touchscreen keyboards far better to use. I do wish the hinge had more positions than just fully open, though.
LG, too, is set to release a swivel screen phone that gives more screen space to a keyboard.
The keyboards are individually spaced and offer good travel. One gripe I have with the Titans keyboard layout is that it uses hardware navigation buttons for its Android UI, and the back button is located on the right side, which is opposite of where Android puts the button (on left side) and also against human cognitive logic: we read from left to right, so going back is going left.
Ill just keep lugging my dell xps around for now while waiting for M2 or some non mac with decent arm processor.
Ive never spent so much on a phone though.
I would rather today have a thin and light laptop. A seven stop range means you can take a passably good photo. If they can get Android 11 for the Cosmo out soon thatd be great, but never buy something on the promise of future updates. Lack of originality aside, the Titan has a lot to like: Its the first keyboard phone of this type to also be a certified rugged phone, meaning its rated IP67 for water and dust resistance, its built of stainless steel and rubber so its shock and scratch proof, and its got a huge 6,000 mAh battery that can go two full days even for heavy users.
This is nifty and reminds me of the Psion 5. The Android experience is generic thats a good thing and does exactly what youd expect from Android on a smartphone, and desktop Linux with KDE is just desktop Linux with KDE, albeit running on a pocketable mini-laptop without any compromises to what makes desktop Linux desktop Linux.
One downside of the Linux image is that its based on Debian Buster, which means some of the packages are going to feel a bit outdated because Buster favours stability over bleeding edge.
It sounds like the Cosmo addresses that, as well as adding backlit keys and a camera. Lets take a look.
This problem increases the farther away from the home row I am, and its downright annoying.
I do like it ish. Standby battery drain is also problematic, as Id leave the phone at half about charged sitting on a desk over night and wake up to see the battery at 25%. Dynamic range is effectively how well it handles light to dark. For the price, I could play with a mac air M1 thats more tempting at this point. However, for now, youre stuck with a three year old version of Android.
Caveat emptor; dont expect anything different this time around. A ten stop range removes a lot of these problems and you can take pictures in a wider variety of scenes and low light and blacks will look a lot better. But the keyboard Id want with keys I use more for cli work without crazy modifiers. The Cosmo Communicator is unlike any other Android device on the market today. There are a few companies left still making smartphones with keyboards, and the British company Planet Computers is one of them. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? The official Linux image for Cosmo also makes some special affordances for the device.
Slightly dramatised, sure, but the reality of smartphones today is that all of them look and feel the same. Id think it would be very annoying to have a keyboard in the way if you use the phone as a camera? My unit came with this version of Buster preinstalled, booting straight into KDE. Then the iPad Pro came along with the Pencil, and I was almost there (except writing on a slick screen is terrible, so Ive barely used the Pencil), but still something was missing I simply have no use for one.
That makes it a non deal for me. All in all, sounds very nice. Maybe its getting slow, it might be damaged, or your devices OEM refuses to update your version of Android. While you can technically opt for one of the new folding phones, the reality is that they still suffer from early adopter problems, and their prices are far beyond what most of us would want to pay for a smartphone. With interesting hardware comes interesting software, and here, the Cosmo does not disappoint. I wanted a mini-laptop that was a real computer for the longest timethen the iPad came along and it satisfied a lot of that jones, but not all. Its 2021, and its time to upgrade your smartphone.
The layout will take some getting used to, but thats to be expected with any new keyboard, especially one in such an exotic form factor. As to be expected due to its pedigree, the device resembles a Psion Series 5, or perhaps a Nokia Communicator if youre more familiar with that line of devices.
I was able to find an app that forces orientation changes and got the feature to work.
Lastly, theres a button on the side to open up the voice assistant, and it has support for dual SIM, e-SIM, and microSD cards. Another example is a small application to customise the notification light patterns for incoming notifications, and the aforementioned application to manage the cover display. Youre seeing this ad based on the products relevance to your search query. Using the Cosmo over the past few weeks, made me realise just how much of a pure OSNews bait this device really is. If there is one audience that can appreciate and enjoy the unique features the Cosmo offers, its the OSNews audience. The difference between mid range and high end have shrunk over the years, and while there are still small differences here and there, the general experience is going to be the same from device to device. You can set up your own desktop the same way you would set up any KDE installation on a regular PC or laptop, and other than the smaller display, theres really nothing special or extraordinary about it.
Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. Well exposed and blacks are black. You might wonder if you can use the keyboard when thumb-typing. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. For instance, if you want to lie down on the couch or in bed late at night, theres really no way to position the device for optimal video viewing.
The secondary display Cosmo calls it the cover display ensures you dont have to open the phone to make calls or perform basic tasks, which makes it a more than worthwhile addition.
I wish the fingerprint reader was placed in a slightly more convenient location, since reaching around the back to use it when the device is opened is not always easy, but its not a huge deal.
If you need characters not on the keyboard already installed, then I guess the answer depends on which OS youre running.
Maybe it was the novelty? Even though in practice its far more likely that low light and motion blur will ruin a shot. Getting used to a new keyboard layout and smaller keys is one thing unless you have truly gigantic hands, it wont take you more than a few days but having to change how hard you press down on a key is very, very hard to learn. After using both of these phones for a few weeks, my conclusion is that a physical keyboard is better than current smartphone touchscreen keyboard, and so anyone who needs a device for typing will benefit from owning one. Youre paying this price just for the ability to type faster on the go, as this devices screen, speakers, battery, cameras are not on par with even a $300 Chinese Android in 2020. My hands are definitely too small for thumb-typing, as reaching the centre-most keys requires an uncomfortable amount of stretching and grip adjustments. Aside from the cramped size, it comes very close to offering all the functionality of a regular keyboard, and while my personal typing style doesnt mesh well with it, the Planet team has done a great job given the constraints they were working in. If that distinction matters to you, and youre looking for that convergence between your smartphone and your laptop, theres really not much on the market today to choose from. Fortunately, this machines runs Android (the outdate version 9, however), and everything in Android is customizable. It pretty much supports every band under the sun, and obviously comes with WiFi (a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth (5.0), GPS, NFC, and the usual complement of sensors. As a whole, I like the hardware of the Cosmo. Rare niche x86 systems from decades ago tend to be better supported by mainline linux than ARM boards. Yea I think many consumers got caught up in the megapixel wars. Of course, if an older version of Android does not bother you, this entire point becomes moot. My favorite keyboard on a phone was the Danger/Tmobile Sidekick I fixed production database issues from a pub. Luckily for us OSNews readers, though, the Cosmo supports more than just Android. Best of all, the keyboard, while smaller than a traditional keyboard, is still large enough (about 7 inches diagonally) that touch typers on real keyboards should be able to adjust and type without needing to look down and hunt for keys. 10mpx is the bottom end of equivalent to film (its really about 14 but the 10-14 range is because of the difference between square pixels and the shape of film grain). The pleasing curve at the top of the brightness is lacking and darks look muddy or have lots of digital noise.
But there are three major shortcomings users need to know: the built-in cameras are badslow to focus, lacking in details, and suffers from over- or under-exposure almost every shot. Im slightly less happy about the actual typing experience, though. For lighter users, three to four days on a single charge is possible. In theory any camera which has a seven stop range and five megapixels resolution is good enough although ten stops and ten or above is better. It runs perfectly well on the Cosmo, but Ubuntu Touch is clearly still in flux with pretty much no application support, and on top of that, it doesnt seem very well-suited for the form factor of the Cosmo it wants to be on generic glass slab phone, not on a tiny laptop. Follow this author to improve your content experience. Sadly, when I tried to connect the device to an external monitor with my own USB-C-to-DP or USB-C-to-HDMI cables, it did not work.
The area where the software sadly falls flat is that its outdated, which is especially cause for concern on the Android side. Digital doesnt look as aesthetically pleasing as film when it comes to handling brightness or low light so you have very little wiggle room. None of them are intrusive, but since they are set as system applications, they cannot be easily uninstalled either. I obviously didnt hesitate to say yes, and after a few weeks of delay due to our first child being born, I can finally give you my thoughts and insights on this device that fills a unique niche in the current mobile landscape.
December 8, 2020
If its not mainline linux, what inevitably happens is you end up having to write off long term kernel updates, and that sucks. It comes with a phone and SMS application, so you can make phone calls and send text messages right from within Linux. Sadly, this version was released a few days before my fiancee and I had to go to the hospital to deliver our child, so I havent been able to test it quite yet. The problem is there wasnt enough screen space to make keyboards any larger. Of course, if you come in expecting the performance of a big gaming laptop youre going to be disappointed, but if you have reasonable expectations, you wont be disappointed. The thing is sitting useless in my cabinet upstairs, because it is thoroughly unusable.
Its solid, feels satisfying, and props up the device a tiny bit when opened. You can also make calls from this screen, use a pincode to log in, and so on. It lives up to its promises, doesnt drop any major balls other than the Android version, and enables use cases no other device on the market today can offer you. Its form factor and design are closer to a small laptop than a traditional smartphone, and many of the compromises youll run into stem from this design decision. I think these are awesome devices, but more often than not they become permanently tethered to an older & unsupported kernel.
The better the specification of the camera the more forgiving the camera is and the less skill required to take a well exposed photograph.
A leaked render of the Fold 2 smartphone from Samsung. Its definitely not in the same category as what youd find on top of the line Android phones, but its more than good enough. The company told me that their next device, the Astro Slide, will come with Android 11, and much of that work can be replicated on the Cosmo, meaning Android 11 for the Cosmo should be released later this year. And the 16-bit graphics lend themselves to a small screen ), but the only games Ive ever truly loved were Amiga games. Anybody who has ever handled a Psion Series device from the 90s will recognise the look and feel of the hinge right away, and the design has held up incredibly well. Picture quality needs a calibrated scene. Your positive review notwithstanding, they wont be getting another picocent of my money, because I was burned the first time I gave them some.
What makes these two devices intriguing to me is because they may both have the same selling pointa real keyboardbut have completely different approaches.
The main display has two giant black pillars next to it, but this never bothered me. The cameras on the Titan are far better than the Cosmo Communicators, but still nothing to write home about.
or just the fact that I had mobile data connection in a pub back in 2002 with a ssh client?
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Performance of the Linux image was great, and I did not notice any serious shortcomings. I think Cosmo managed to strike a pretty good balance here, though, but I want to stress that the Cosmo is not merely a smartphone. Meh, even that was subpar because android apps arent as good as desktop apps. It turns out you need to buy Cosmos own specific dongle to enable external display functionality, which is a bit of a nuisance. Id prefer that to regular kde. It offers a set of very unique features that few if any other devices can offer, and youre either willing to pay for those, or not. However, as said, if you apply more force for each key press than I do, this might not be much of an issue at all for you. The keyboard will be familiar to anyone whos used a BlackBerry, meaning its more intended for two thumb typing with the device held up rather than real ten-finger touch typing with the device laying on a desk like the Cosmo Communicator.
Overall, I like the machine, and just the ability to let me type much faster and accurately is a major selling point. The aspect ratio particularly annoys me, as a taller (vertically) 3:2 aspect ratio makes more sense on a work machine.
That I can reach almost 80% of my best typing efficiency on a mobile device is a major benefit for someone who writes long emails on the go like me. In conclusion, the strength of the software on the Cosmo does not necessarily lie in any one of the operating systems specifically, but more in the fact that its so versatile and open to whatever you want to use. I want to dive straight into that keyboard, since its by far the devices most defining feature.
Its not something I would buy. Do keyboard phones make sense in late 2020? The keyboard is backlit, and comes in a variety of keyboard layouts to choose from upon purchase. The Android installation comes with an app to manage and update the cover display, and during my time with the phone I received one or two updates. I wonder how one would type letters outside of English alphabet. Its good for is digital zooming in devices that lack optical zooming I suppose.
This is a giant missed opportunity. Performance overall is fine: there is a small outside screen that allows the user to see notifications and make calls on the dial pad, a great touch that reduces the need to flip open the device every single time you need to do a task. The software powering the display is managed and updated independently from Android itself, so it can also be used in other operating systems such as Linux. But considering the Titan is priced at around $450, that makes the average cameras a lot easier to accept.
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Of course, an external USB or Bluetooth mouse easily solves the lack of a mouse, at which point it really feels like using a tiny laptop. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Back on the nexus tablet it worked kinda well, when the keyboard was working. It also comes with a few notification lights that you can configure yourself from within Android. Theres the F(x)tec Pro1 X, but it has tiny rubber keys instead of the more traditional full keys of the Cosmo, and costs 700 and is only in the pre-order phase at the moment. Its not a smartphone its a small pocketable laptop with smartphone functionality built-in. Modern phones use a lot more digital processing to clean things up, but personally I still feel the megapixel war is optimizing the wrong aspects of photography. It has a 24MP main camera, and a 5MP selfie camera on the inside of the device, and photos taken with the main camera look fine to my untrained eyes.
10mpx is very tight but gives you a little cropping room.
Those of a certain age may notice that the Cosmo Communicator bear a clear resemblance to the Psion PDA (personal digital assistant), the 1997 device with a cult following among business travelers. They did not read this review before publication, and placed zero restrictions on anything I could write about. The KDE version, for instance, is three years old, which is perfectly fine and working well, but you will miss out on more recent features and improvements. With all phones looking the same, its hard to find a company willing to stand out in a crowd of black rectangles. Despite this shortcoming, the Comsos Linux support is excellent, and it can easily serve as a small Linux laptop assuming you bring a mouse with you, since it isnt suited for touch input at all. You can also set up the cover display as an external touchpad, but while an interesting gimmick, I did not find this particularly useful.
It comes very close to a regular laptop, with only the lack of an integrated pointing device being a real issue.
The hinge is sturdy but only stays open at one angle.
This British company does not just focus on building Android smartphones with keyboards they take the concept a step further and gun for the iconic Psion devices from the 90s.
Perhaps the Cosmo Communicator from U.K.-based Planet Computers and Unihertz Titan from Shenzhen arent throwbacks to a bygone era, but rather a signal of a comeback for late 90s/early 2000s power device? PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending.
The Communicator has just modest specsMediaTek P60, 6GB of RAM, 6-inch LCD 60Hz displaybut the hardware is excellent. I think my wifes phone actually has 20 megapixels, haha. I salute you for programming with the keyboard, I would really get frustrated soon these days. Id prefer a low megapixel camera with better light sensitivity and raw data that doesnt require much digital processing to clean it up.
The remainder of the device is a fairly standard mid-range Android smartphone. Are Android and desktop Linux not enough for you, or do you want something even more exotic?
Planet actually provide an impressive set of keyboard options:
Id like to play with one.
However a device like this would interesting since it could run the real deal. Im not exactly a camera expert, so I honestly dont know what to say about the two cameras on the device. The machine flips open and closes with satisfying force, and the keyboard features individually spaced scissor-switch keys with surprising amount of travel. To remedy this, you are supposed to be able to turn the machine sideways to use the screen in vertical portrait mode, but the Cosmo Communicators UI refused to switch orientation no matter how many times I twist it.