XDA 2 Ready To Go?

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.xscale.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=370&mode=&order=0&thold=0">http://www.xscale.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=370&mode=&order=0&thold=0</a><br /><br />It looks like the successor tho the XDA, which is currently sold by T-Mobile, O2, AT&T Wireless and other carriers around the world, is nearing completion. <a href="http://www.xscale.de">XScale.de</a> has dug up this information and image.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030718-xda2.jpg" /><br /><br />Preliminary specs include:<br />• 16bit color screen<br />• Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition<br />• 640X480 camera (that is the little circle in the black section on the back)<br />• SDIO slot allowing WiFi or Bluetooth connections<br />• 400MHz X-Scale<br />• Improved battery life<br />• GSM/GPRS network

[Jeff Rutledge]

Any mention of the memory? I'm assuming 64MB.

I was hoping for one integrated wireless (assumed BT). There seems to be a real push for integrated cameras with phone devices. Personally I don't have a need for it, so I'd have preferred Bluetooth. Oh well, I'd mostly use WiFi in the house and BT on the road so I guess I could deal.

Still, the fact that this feature seems to be missing makes me a little more inclined to wait and see what the HP phone device looks like (fingers crossed that it actually happens).

[JoshB]

The specs that O2 announced last week included 64MB RAM and integrated Bluetooth.

That is a very slick looking device. I've been contemplating making the jump to PPCPE, but I'm spoiled by my iPAQ 1910, and the current XDA just doesn't cut it (12-bit color, 32MB RAM, etc.).

Looks like I'll be making the switch as soon as T-Mobile offers this in the US! :D

[Jeff Rutledge]

The specs that O2 announced last week included 64MB RAM and integrated Bluetooth.

I thought I had heard that. Now I am a happy camper again. :lol:

Now comes the painfully long wait for it to become available in Canada. :boohoo:

[Monty Gibson]

It seems to me the following:

It looks longer.

Look on the right side (right photograph) there are three buttons there. One for probably initiating the shutter on the camera, one for the volume control, and the final button; one can only assume being used for a recording button? That was originally left out of the first generation of XDA's.

It will have an SDIO slot. Does this mean it will have two slots? One for memory and one for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth? I think that would be a hassle to switch them in and out just to use the functionality of a wireless feature and then swapping it out to use it for storage.

I'm so excited :clap:

[Gremmie]

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3763.html

Here is an article about the O2:


Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz connectivity is also an improvement over the current dual-band capabilities of the XDA, but the XDA also features integrated Bluetooth as well as support for 802.11b expansion through its SDIO capable SD/MMC card expansion slot.

[DubWireless]

The specs that O2 announced last week included 64MB RAM and integrated Bluetooth

the mmO2 press release: O2 Announces Future Plans for XDA Platform
(http://www.mmo2.com/docs/media/pr_030701e.html) was a bit ambigious as to whether Bluetooth was integrated...

"It will also offer optional wLAN capability and Bluetooth for seamless connectivity"

but then later is lists the key features including:

Bluetooth and optional Wireless LAN capability

some reports have written up that Bluetooth is integrated, others that it's option (via SDIO), as there isn't a "published" tech sheet, just a press release so it's not 100% clear, would only make sense to have BT integrated though... can't waiting to see the published tech specs and some decent photos of the device...

BrianG

[Monty Gibson]

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3763.html

Here is an article about the O2:


Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz connectivity is also an improvement over the current dual-band capabilities of the XDA, but the XDA also features integrated Bluetooth as well as support for 802.11b expansion through its SDIO capable SD/MMC card expansion slot.



So, Bluetooth is integrated and Wi-Fi is optional by way of the SDIO slot. That's reasonable. I don't plan on using a Wi-Fi setup too often anyway, so it will work out fine.

Now even more excited :multi:

[rfischer]

The next PPC Phone I buy must have Wi-Fi & Bluetooth built in (WANDA?) so that the SD/SDIO slot is available for storage. If you have to switch between storage and BT/WiFi that means you have to carry very small (and expensive) cards around with you. And what if you have apps on the SD card that you need while you are using Wi-Fi?

No thanks.

[entropy1980]

Now this is an awesome device! Can hardly wait till it shows up on US shores!

[brntcrsp]

quite exciting indeed. We now (potentially) have a device that meets the minimum standards (IMO) for a Pocket PC device, coupled with the Phone OS. I've waffled between a Smartphone and a PPCPE device for some time, and now my choice is ever harder. I fear, though, that it will not reach US shores anytime soon, and if it does it will arrive at the same time Smartphone 2003 is announced making the choice even more difficult. Ah, the dangers of riding the bleeding edge...

[Gremmie]

Well, it's a Pocket PC Phone with a camera, which I think is a progressive step, real innovation comes with competition.

[Default]

Looks sweet... I don't know why I was attarcted to it but I think it was the camera.

[DubWireless]

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3763.html

Here is an article about the O2:


the XDA also features integrated Bluetooth as well as support for 802.11b expansion through its SDIO capable SD/MMC card expansion slot.



So, Bluetooth is integrated and Wi-Fi is optional by way of the SDIO slot. That's reasonable.

well that's infosync's interpretation of the press release (http://www.mmo2.com/docs/media/pr_030701e.html) which from it's contents doesn't make it 100% clear... does anyone have the published tech specs of the device to confirm if bluetooth is integrated or not?

BrianG

[Gremmie]

I'm sure InfoSync collaborated with other sources.

[Duncan]

Well the nice man at O2 pre-sales said the BT is definitely integrated (they have a spec sheet that says so).

[bblock]

Yeah - I really can't wait to switch to PPCPE, but I fear it will take *forever* to get into Canada. Here's seconding the wish to see HP's PPCPE device.

====
Bryan

[Paragon]

If you have to switch between storage and BT/WiFi that means you have to carry very small (and expensive) cards around with you. And what if you have apps on the SD card that you need while you are using Wi-Fi.

This issue will be helped along when the combo cards hit the market. Although delayed there should be SD WiFi/ 128mb, and 256mb combo cards out in a few weeks or months.

Dave

[NunoUFO]

have you considered that the picture ( not the specs ) could be a hoax?

Not sure, but if somenthing had to leak why should it be this low quality pic??

Anyways if it this is the real thing it looks ok


Nuno

[Jason Dunn]

Not sure, but if somenthing had to leak why should it be this low quality pic??

Unfortunately, it seems that whenever there are leaks, they're almost always low-quality photos, or computer renderings. I think this is legit.

[Paragon]

Are there any other GSM devices without an external antenna?

Dave

[Ed Hansberry]

Are there any other GSM devices without an external antenna?
The t68, and it has horrible reception.

[organon]

Are there any other GSM devices without an external antenna?
The t68, and it has horrible reception.

There are numerous others. I'd venture to say that most GSM phones/devices now have internal antennas. I agree, though, that most have poor reception. I've tried many from Ericsson, Nokia, and Motorola, all having notably poorer reception than my old reliable Ericsson T28 (with external antenna). The newer SonyEricsson models, though, do reportedly have very good reception. The P800 and the T610 are supposed to be very good, MUCH better than the piss-poor T68's. I would be skeptical of the XDA, though. The original had bad reception with an external antenna. Unless they've made significant advances, I'd hate to think how bad the reception will be with an internal one...

- Paul

[Jeff Rutledge]

Yeah - I really can't wait to switch to PPCPE, but I fear it will take *forever* to get into Canada. Here's seconding the wish to see HP's PPCPE device.

====
Bryan

Yeah, why is that (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15283&highlight=)?

[Paragon]

Maybe I should rephrase my question......Are there any GSM devices without an external antenna......that have good reception? :wink:

Dave

[Ed Hansberry]

Maybe I should rephrase my question......Are there any GSM devices without an external antenna......that have good reception?
My Nokia 3650 has good receptoin, but it is a long device and probably has an antenna running most of the length.

[Paragon]

I understand that some phones have an antenna that that goes completely around the device inside the casing. I wonder if HTC has done something like this with the XDA II? I can't see them giving away reception just to loose the antenna. Reception on the XDA has never been pegged as being great so I can't see them compromising it in any way.

I would easily upgrade to this, but like many others I would like to see what HP has up their sleeve for a converged device. If they could squeeze a cellular radio into something like the 2210 or the 1900 I would probably wet my pants. :)

Dave

[Ed Hansberry]

If they could squeeze a cellular radio into something like the 2210 or the 1900 I would probably wet my pants. :)

TMI :idontthinkso:

[Paragon]

OK, I'd be very satisfied. :)

Dave

[mangochutneyman]

According to quote from brighthand:

The xda II will run on GSM/GPRS wireless networks. It will be a triband device, capable of being used worldwide. Like its predecessor, it will offer both voice and data capabilities and have full multimedia messaging. Users will be able to make and receive calls while online.

http://www.brighthand.com/article/O2_Announces_xda_II

Does this mean the xda II will be a Class A smartphone?! :confused totally: Could someone please clarify this? If true, that woudl make this a truely unique and powerful device.

thanx

[danmanmayer]

I am almost in love... hehe i am verry close to it at least. Oh yeah i was gone to mexico for a week so hello to anyone that missed me. While i was gone I was able to check e-mail, update my blog, and entertain myself with my XDA.

[Thinkingman]

That is not a great looking ppc in my opinion. I wouldnt mind having something that was nicer looking. I like the idea of it being a tri band phone, and possibility of wi fi and bt. I would prefer more memory such as what is in the 5500, 128. Camera idea is great. I have been wanting that set up since I saw it in the Palm Zire 71. I wouldnt buy a palm but I was glad to see the idea and how others should be doing the same. U. S. availability????????

[Thinkingmandavid]

I want to know when I can get one. I want to try it out and see if it is going to live up to my expectations. If it already comes with the camera then it is that much less I would have to buy and carry around. Now I am wondering how much the things will weigh. I think we need a lot cooler looking ppcs to keep up with what sony is doing. They are kicking some butt with pda hardware. I dont like the palm OS but I do like the hard ware that sony is working with. I am talking about the new clam shell.

[DubWireless]

I'm sure InfoSync collaborated with other sources.

as they highlight 02 as their source, and the report is laid out in the same order as the mmO2 press release i'm not sure how you come to that conclusion... most infosync reports are spot on but some don't always hit the mark 100% - usually when it's an educated guess based on 3rd party info or press releases rather than based on an actual product spec sheet (which still hasn't apeared)

hopefully bluetooth is integrated - but i've seen about as many reports saying it's SDIO as there are saying it's integrated... all this based on a press release or marketing/sales people... i'd wait until someone technical from O2 or HTC can confirm it :D

[DubWireless]

Well the nice man at O2 pre-sales said the BT is definitely integrated (they have a spec sheet that says so).

sounds great - can you get a copy of the spec sheet? - would be great to have this cleared up - from all the various places reporting on it some say it is some say it isn't - mainly due to the press release making it a bit ambigious :|

[Duncan]

hopefully bluetooth is integrated - but i've seen about as many reports saying it's SDIO as there are saying it's integrated... all this based on a press release or marketing/sales people... i'd wait until someone technical from O2 or HTC can confirm it

As I posted above - ring O2 right now (as I did) and you to can get one of the pre-sales team to read from the internal spec sheets they have which say (and I quote) 'integrated Bluetooth'.

[DubWireless]

Not sure, but if somenthing had to leak why should it be this low quality pic??

think it appeared in a German newspaper and was scanned in from that - hence the low quality image

[DubWireless]

As I posted above - ring O2 right now (as I did) and you to can get one of the pre-sales team to read from the internal spec sheets they have which say (and I quote) 'integrated Bluetooth'.

yeah... that's why i was looking for the spec sheet :)

calling O2 here you get -the informaiton available so far is in the press release and we haven't been given any other information other than it is due for release in Q4

they are likely to put an slick online presentation / spec together like they did for the original XDA with all the details - hopefully they will have it available soon

[Duncan]

Try O2 UK - you should get a better response!

[cslaughtermd]

Sounds great, but any mention of a user-replaceable battery?
For me, that's a deal-breaker for a phone device. . . . must. . .have. . . more. . . . power! :wink:

[DubWireless]

My Nokia 3650 has good receptoin, but it is a long device and probably has an antenna running most of the length.

if it's of interest... the 3650's antenna modue is a rectangular shaped unit locate at the top (back half) of the handset, about the same width and going from the top of the handset to about as far as the top of the camera on the back...

[mangochutneyman]

According to quote from brighthand:

The xda II will run on GSM/GPRS wireless networks. It will be a triband device, capable of being used worldwide. Like its predecessor, it will offer both voice and data capabilities and have full multimedia messaging. Users will be able to make and receive calls while online.

http://www.brighthand.com/article/O2_Announces_xda_II

Does this mean the xda II will be a Class A smartphone?! :confused totally: Could someone please clarify this? If true, that woudl make this a truely unique and powerful device.

thanx

:?:

[beq]

^ That'd be great, especially w/ full BT implementation. So you could talk via a BT headset while simultaneously surfing the net. You could even do the latter on your laptop, say (w/ this XDA as BT modem)?

[JoshB]

Sounds great, but any mention of a user-replaceable battery?
For me, that's a deal-breaker for a phone device. . . . must. . .have. . . more. . . . power! :wink:
Since this is a feature of the current-generation XDA, it would be a surprising (and stupid, IMO) move if they did not include a user-replaceable/extended battery in the 2nd generation device.

That being said, stranger things have happened...

[Thinkingmandavid]

If you look on the first post whrere the pic of the device is at, you can it isnt a replaceable battery. Those are obvious to tel on a unit, unless they are planning on making the unit that way. The one shown doesnt appear to be replaceable. I agree it would be the way to go since the majority of cell phones have replaceable batteries.

[Ed Hansberry]

If you look on the first post whrere the pic of the device is at, you can it isnt a replaceable battery. Those are obvious to tel on a unit, unless they are planning on making the unit that way.
How can you tell? How do you know that the entire back below the camera doesn't slip off? It looks very much like the original XDA's backpack battery. They may have integrated that concept into the main unit.

[peterawest]

This would be great. One of my clients wants to evaluate a device like this for a few of their salesmen. So, this may be just the product to look at.

They already have several using Dell PPC's, and they would like to move further, so this might be the way to go.

[DubWireless]

PPCW.net has a much clearer picture on the site now in this article:
New and clearer O2 xda II picture available (http://www.ppcw.net/index.php?itemid=1417)