01-20-2021, 11:41 AM
I suppose it's probably a bit late for my ideas to affect much, but I still think there are important things to keep in mind if you want this to see widespread use.
I think people generally seem to have notions of this, but the PineCom doesn't sound like a device you want for day to day use. If you're depending on a PineCom, or any LoRA mesh net, things have either already gotten really, really, REALLY bad...or you work in a State Park or something.
There's this project, CellSol, that's about replacing cell towers with a zillion solar powered LoRA Pylons. Which is again, all about preparing for cell phones ceasing to be an option for you and others. But If pine64's only concern is moving units, I suggest also selling complete CellSol Pylons with solar panels in a waterproof case that can easily be put on a stick. Or anything like that that's got more development/potential. Although realistically, I can't expect some corporation to not simply make a zillion pylons themselves but with embedded tracking software if and when that ever gets popular.
Trouble is, I'm not aware of any Linux software that can to send images, text, or an audio stream to specific persons connected to a LoRA mesh net. (I found Meshenger by guessing that the name might be used in that kinda context, but that's an android app for wifi meshes.)
Availability of infrastructure and protocol is a prerequisite for people starting to strategize around a PineCom, which is a prerequisite for bulk sales.
With that kinda use case in mind...
No you don't need a front camera. You do need a back camera so you can ask someone if this thing you're looking at is edible or if it'll explode. You'll also need it to take photos of documents and scan QR codes on the screens of other people's devices/phones. And having a spare flashlight is helpful. But maybe you should put a front camera on anyway so you look like you're trying to reach students in developing nations instead of [insert people you're supposed to oppose here].
A PineCom doesn't need a proximity or ambient light sensor. An accelerometer/gyroscope can be used for inertial navigation during occasional lapses in GPS connectivity but isn't strictly necessary especially if no software uses it. A magnetometer is important out in the field and yes, it needs GPS.
With regards to wifi I gotta tell you man, the wifi reception on my pinephone is pretty terrible. I can't move farther than 20 feet from my router if I want acceptable connection speeds. Considering that this is supposed to be a post-internet meshnet device, if you can think of a means of extending that, do it! But try for rearranging the antennae first.
When it comes to SPI flash, you'll want you and your buddies to all be on the same operating system in case someone gets confused, and I think the ability of the device to write OS images onto SD cards (or it's own EMMC) by itself is important for this.
The edge of the case should protrude in front of the screen very slightly (like 1/2 of a mm) to improve drop resistance, and there should be enough bezel on the edges for a waterproof case to go over the PineCom without obscuring the screen. I'd like the device to be waterproof by itself, but I don't think you'll be able to do that and meet your $100 price point.
The headphone jack is more important than the speaker.
Making the device somewhat thicker, with a bigger battery, makes sense for this kinda thing. This will let you put the camera module on top of the PCB and cut down on overall length.
Whatever you do to the screen size, ensure that the device is short enough for shorter people to place in their pants pockets and run without causing excessive strain on the device. If the top of the device presses into your hip when you crouch, crawl, or go up a ladder, it's too tall. Keeping the same width but using a 16X9 panel should work.
And if you're still open to suggestions, I'd like a killswitch that shuts down all RF except GPS. On the outside of the device. Just that one though.
I think people generally seem to have notions of this, but the PineCom doesn't sound like a device you want for day to day use. If you're depending on a PineCom, or any LoRA mesh net, things have either already gotten really, really, REALLY bad...or you work in a State Park or something.
There's this project, CellSol, that's about replacing cell towers with a zillion solar powered LoRA Pylons. Which is again, all about preparing for cell phones ceasing to be an option for you and others. But If pine64's only concern is moving units, I suggest also selling complete CellSol Pylons with solar panels in a waterproof case that can easily be put on a stick. Or anything like that that's got more development/potential. Although realistically, I can't expect some corporation to not simply make a zillion pylons themselves but with embedded tracking software if and when that ever gets popular.
Trouble is, I'm not aware of any Linux software that can to send images, text, or an audio stream to specific persons connected to a LoRA mesh net. (I found Meshenger by guessing that the name might be used in that kinda context, but that's an android app for wifi meshes.)
Availability of infrastructure and protocol is a prerequisite for people starting to strategize around a PineCom, which is a prerequisite for bulk sales.
With that kinda use case in mind...
No you don't need a front camera. You do need a back camera so you can ask someone if this thing you're looking at is edible or if it'll explode. You'll also need it to take photos of documents and scan QR codes on the screens of other people's devices/phones. And having a spare flashlight is helpful. But maybe you should put a front camera on anyway so you look like you're trying to reach students in developing nations instead of [insert people you're supposed to oppose here].
A PineCom doesn't need a proximity or ambient light sensor. An accelerometer/gyroscope can be used for inertial navigation during occasional lapses in GPS connectivity but isn't strictly necessary especially if no software uses it. A magnetometer is important out in the field and yes, it needs GPS.
With regards to wifi I gotta tell you man, the wifi reception on my pinephone is pretty terrible. I can't move farther than 20 feet from my router if I want acceptable connection speeds. Considering that this is supposed to be a post-internet meshnet device, if you can think of a means of extending that, do it! But try for rearranging the antennae first.
When it comes to SPI flash, you'll want you and your buddies to all be on the same operating system in case someone gets confused, and I think the ability of the device to write OS images onto SD cards (or it's own EMMC) by itself is important for this.
The edge of the case should protrude in front of the screen very slightly (like 1/2 of a mm) to improve drop resistance, and there should be enough bezel on the edges for a waterproof case to go over the PineCom without obscuring the screen. I'd like the device to be waterproof by itself, but I don't think you'll be able to do that and meet your $100 price point.
The headphone jack is more important than the speaker.
Making the device somewhat thicker, with a bigger battery, makes sense for this kinda thing. This will let you put the camera module on top of the PCB and cut down on overall length.
Whatever you do to the screen size, ensure that the device is short enough for shorter people to place in their pants pockets and run without causing excessive strain on the device. If the top of the device presses into your hip when you crouch, crawl, or go up a ladder, it's too tall. Keeping the same width but using a 16X9 panel should work.
And if you're still open to suggestions, I'd like a killswitch that shuts down all RF except GPS. On the outside of the device. Just that one though.