Popcorn Computer’s Pocket P.C. Open Sourced • Hacker News Board

Re: Popcorn Computer’s Pocket P.C. Open Sourced

#61

Post by hinkley » Sat, Aug 08, 2020, 7:42 PM UTC

walterbell wrote: post #42

hinkley wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect if someone were ready to pounce on the Oxide source code when it comes out, that one might make a go of a properly open portable handheld device by adding some drivers and snipping a few bits off. Radios might be the hardest things to sort out, since people seem to like to keep those as proprietary as hell, and WiFi is merely okay now. Sounds like starlink antennae won’t be small enough for a long time, so…

Oxide?

Brian Cantrell is off trying to build server hardware based on Open firmware. Which likely means they’ll have to write a lot of it themselves.

Re: Popcorn Computer’s Pocket P.C. Open Sourced

#62

Post by kristopolous » Sat, Aug 08, 2020, 9:39 PM UTC

Multicomp wrote: post #46

kristopolous wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some hyphy SBC that's all flash and style. It's got a basic SDR and a few common SPI/i²c devices. It's 99% a marketing play. All off the shelf and any engineering team could clone it in a few days while substantially undercutting their price. I'd place bets someone already has. The cheaper clones will probably beat their flashy device to market and work better. But they'll do fine regardless because branding matters…

TL:DR; Flipper Zero has at least some purchasers who are only going to be users of the U2F or NFC features, not hacking on or with it much. The fact that it has useful applications out of the box separates it from some of the SBCs etc that need many more parts and code to have a useful application IRL. > All off the shelf and any engineering team could clone it in a few days while substantially undercutting their pri…

It's far simpler. Flipper is closer to a custom built PC, where you buy the parts online and then assemble them.

They got someone to probably use solidworks for the case design and they have some brilliant artists but beyond that you can buy all of these components online and basically snap them together, read some short documentation and be on your way.

Their initial goal was $60k, which would have covered 500 units which they probably presumed they'd be manually involved with each of them so it was basically set up for exactly what I described. They just had some runaway success, which is the problem because they still only have a cheap project that takes no special talent or time

I'm mostly jealous how much of success is just pure luck like this

Re: Popcorn Computer’s Pocket P.C. Open Sourced

#63

Post by terrycody » Sun, Aug 09, 2020, 1:45 AM UTC

theon144 wrote: post #43

newsbinator wrote: post #38

What are some interesting use-cases for this? I can imagine sys admins would like this for remote admin. I can't think off the top of my head why general hackers would keep this in their pockets most of the time.

It's got integrated LoRa, so I assume they're targeting a lot of hackers or people working on IOT stuff "in the field", as it were. Well and I'm not one of those, but I'm still seriously considering getting it - or rather, the cheaper version without LoRa. I can't really tell you anything from the top of my head, but back when I had my N900, it found so many unexpected uses constantly. Having a full-blown Linux machi…

I guess you can try librism 5 linux phone, or pinephone.

Re: Popcorn Computer’s Pocket P.C. Open Sourced

#64

Post by isr » Sun, Aug 09, 2020, 11:57 PM UTC

noir_lord wrote: post #47

theon144 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's got integrated LoRa, so I assume they're targeting a lot of hackers or people working on IOT stuff "in the field", as it were. Well and I'm not one of those, but I'm still seriously considering getting it - or rather, the cheaper version without LoRa. I can't really tell you anything from the top of my head, but back when I had my N900, it found so many unexpected uses constantly. Having a full-blown Linux machi…

I just want someone to take this form factor[1] (and crucially build quality ) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psion_Series_5#/media/File:200... and shove modern hardware/screen into it running stock gnu/linux.

As others have mentioned, Planet Computers "Gemini" is what you're looking for.

Truth be told, its only really usable when running android. BUT:

* its easily rooted (the bootloader is open, and Planet provide a rooted android image)

* with Termux (or a full chroot of your choice), you do get most of the way towards "the linux experience"

Early batches may have been hit or miss. Mine was from the 2nd indiegogo batch, and all I can say is, hardware-wise, its really good.

I've used it HEAVILY over the last couple of years. Dropped it a few times. They keyboard is good. It does have genuine tactile feedback. Given the size limitations, its brilliant.

And yes, I did have more than 1 Psion back in the day (from the calculator-style model, all the way to the famed Psion 5).

And as far as keyboard feel is concerned, on my desktop, I use ergonomic mechanical keyboards (ergodox & atreus62) with various switch types - which means that yes - I am a bit picky when it comes to keyboards.

And I have to say that, given the size limitations, the Gemini keyboard is a marvel. Its genuinely usable. I also have a GPD Pocket. Thats significantly larger, with a chiclet style keyboard.

The Gemini keyboard blows it out of the water.

I have no qualms over opening up termux, and neovim or joe, switching between multiple tabs, buffers and embedded terminals, and banging out some code.

(although I do wish they had used an ortholinear layout for the keyboard, and I wish I could properly remap the layout a la qmk)

As a phone, it has its limitations. But, if you pair it with a smartwatch, many of those limitations can be overcome. Its been my only phone for over a year.

On a final note, nothing beats being able to sit in front of a large screen android-enabled tv, pull out my phone/pda/psion-remake, connect via miracast, and just bang away ....

Its a hoot :)