Planet Computers
Cosmo Communicator

Crowd-funded like its predecessor the Gemini, the Cosmo Communicator was Planet Computers' second attempt at creating a personal digital assistant (PDA) that could also be used as a phone. It featured the same keyboard and clamshell design as the Gemini, but added an external touch-screen display (powered by an Arm STM32 processor and FreeRTOS), an external camera and multifunction button and fingerprint reader. The Cosmo also gained backlighting for its keyboard and a proper SIM tray, which meant owners didn't have to remove the device casing using a special tool to access the SIM and microSD slots, as they did with the Gemini. Incremental bumps to memory, storage, processor and connectivity rounded out the Cosmo's spec sheet. Its similarity to the Gemini, and the lack of notable new features, meant its Indiegogo campaign attracted fewer backers, although it still raised more than £1.5 million. The device supported e-SIM technology, which allowed it connect to mobile networks without needing a SIM card. It also supported other operating systems, such as Linux and Sailfish, although their implementation was hampered by a reliance on community efforts, with most owners opting to run the stock Android firmware. In use, the device felt more polished than the Gemini. The external display gave access to the camera, audio and phone functions, making the device more usable when closed. But it was still a PDA with cellular functions, and the inability to use the display in portrait mode without turning the open clamshell sideways limited its appeal to a wider audience — something that Planet hopes to fix with the forthcoming Astro, which places the main display on the outside of the keyboard cover and can be used in portrait mode.