Mecha Comet - Modular Linux Handheld Computer
mecha.so
A handheld Linux computer powered by open-source software. Modular, programmable, and truly yours to own, build and mod.

The kickstarter for the Mecha Comet just launched the other day and I am seriously considering backing it as I love the idea of the device as a whole.

Originally when I heard about the project a couple of years back I thought it would be good to have to try and replace my phone for the most part but still have a phone handset setup solely to run as a hotspot for the Comet to run through. Now with the launch of the kickstarter I see that there is actually a physical sim card slot and an LTE modem available so maybe it could be used outright as a phone without needing a second device to use as a modem!

Is anyone familiar with this device beyond the info detailed in the kickstarter? I’d be interested to hear further details if anyone has any, maybe someone here has had hands on experience with some of the units that were shown at CES (I think it was there)

Do you guys think it would be viable to use as your only handset?

I guess I’m mostly looking for more knowledgeable peoples opinions on it but also make people aware of it if they hadn’t heard of it to hopefully get some more people interested as on the face of it it seems like a really interesting project!

  • Shatur@lemmy.ml
    0·
    2 days ago

    What is your experience with the Pixel 3a and Linux? I’m mainly curious about calls. The last time I tried a Linux phone, only the PinePhone could reliably receive calls, because the modem is a separate board that wakes the main one on an incoming call.

    And the battery life was atrocious 😥

    • erebion@news.erebion.euEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      It mostly works fine.

      Note what doesn’t work well…yet:

      • camera: There are some wip patches, so that should improve in the next weeks. Currently photos do not look very good.
      • phone calls: Only through the phone, speakers and headphone jack, but not yet via Bluetooth
      • battery life: I think it’s better than on Android
      • phone calls on standby: That’s wip and will come, but for now you’d have to disable standby. Battery life is still what I’d describe as “good”, especially considering the age of the Pixel 3a

      The issue with waking up for calls is that you need to tell the modem what events you want to wake up for. Currently it is either “everything” or “nothing” and waking up from everything means constantly waking up as the modem reports the signal strength. That “filter” is currently being built, but I haven’t followed it closely so no idea whether it is ready now.

      If it is, I’d make sure this gets into Mobian, but not sure who’s working on it and who to ask.

        • erebion@news.erebion.euEnglish
          0·
          2 days ago

          Hey, great to see you here, flamingradian.

          For the others: The one that did sooo much work getting the kernel running well on the Pixel 3a :D

          Maybe you can elaborate a bit on the camera and what’s missing there to take full advantage of the camera and what’s missing for Bluetooth calls.

          I haven’t really followed those topics.

          And for sensors, I have another question: When I start hexagonrpcd on Mobian, the whole device seems to completely lock up. The screen just will be stuck until the battery runs out. Is that a Mobian issue or a kernel thing that also happens on pmOS?