Raphael Salgado
03-03-2006, 05:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom1.jpg" /> <br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Pocket PC Phone Edition<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.seemightyatom.com/">O2 Limited</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?code=126950">MobilePlanet / Expansys Website</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $804.95 USD<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> ActiveSync 4.0<br /><b>Specifications:</b> 416 MHz Intel processor, QVGA screen, Tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Radio<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Solid and sturdy construction;<br /><li>Integrated FM radio;<br /><li>Full-featured O2 applications;<br /><li>Strong cellular reception;<br /><li>Frequent ROM updates and decent support.<b>Cons:</b><li>Quirky behavior;<br /><li>Mediocre battery life;<br /><li>No 850MHz support;<br /><li>Slow and washed-out camera;<br /><li>Expensive!<b>Summary:</b><br />For those who fell in love with the HTC Magician and its tiny form-factor, the O2 XDA Atom could seem like a perfect successor (though not from the same company). However, with all that it has to offer, it does have its quirks that can make or break the deal. Will it be worth the effort?<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Introduction</b></span><br />Ever since HTC Magician owners were denied an upgrade path to Windows Mobile 5.0, I took it upon myself to find the next great compact Pocket PC Phone Edition (PPCPE) device that would try to last into the next generation of devices. A number of PPCPEs came out, and HTC finally released a successor, the Prophet. However, another device did make it out the door with wild initial speculation that it came from HTC. It was the XDA Atom, but was actually manufactured by Quanta and released by O2.<br /><br />I asked my good friend and reseller <a href="http://www.madmonkeyboy.com">MadMonkeyBoy</a> to obtain an Atom for me through his connections, and he practically did it with his eyes closed. When the box arrived, I discovered that the device's packaging was obviously designed with a little style, using a glossy finish and a magnetic flap.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom2.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: The box isn't the only thing that's shiny.</i><br /><br />Upon opening the box, you're immediately presented with the Atom in all its glory, along with the following accessories:<li>Manual & Quick Start Guide with CD (Outlook 2002);<br /><li>mini-USB cable;<br /><li>Extra stylus;<br /><li>AC charger with multiple adapters;<br /><li>Wired headset.<br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom12.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: The bare necessities included in the box.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>The Atom Up Close</b></span><br />One thing you'll notice right away is how shiny this device is. Not just because it's so new; the black finish of the hard plastic chassis is very smooth and glossy. Of course, the finish shows every fingerprint you'll ever place on the device - so if you're any bit obsessive compulsive, you'll rub the Atom on your shirt every 30 seconds to get it glossy and clean again. No case or holster is included, so if you want to keep that look, you'll be back online searching for protection in no time.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom3.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: It's a slick-looking device, as long as you maintain it (screen protector applied).</i><br /><br />The screen is 2.7" diagonal, just a bit smaller than the Magician, Prophet and Wizard at 2.8". I had to trim some old screen protectors to make it fit well on the Atom before I continued to play with it (yes, I'm that protective).<br /><br />There are four buttons on the front for Send/End, the Start Menu, and <i>O2 Media Plus</i>, along with the 5-way directional control next to some tiny but loud stereo speakers. Note that the <i>O2 Media Plus</i> button is the only one of these hardware buttons that are configurable in the Buttons applet.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom4.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: The Camera and Voice Speed Dial buttons sit next to the infrared (IrDA) port on the right side of the Atom.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom5.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 5: The Volume Up and Volume Down buttons sit high on the left side.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom6.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 6: From left to right - the stylus, Power button, mini-SD slot, and the lanyard eyelet.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom7.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 7: From left to right - the reset hole, mini-USB port, 2.5mm wired headset jack, and the microphone hole.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom8.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 8: People have complained about the battery cover sliding off their Atoms, but I did't seem to have that issue.</i><br /><br /><PAGEBREAK> <br />The device itself is very sturdy, feels quite solid in my hand and up against my face during phone calls.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom9.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 9: The battery is a 1530 mAh Lithium Polymer battery.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom10.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 10: My Cingular SIM card sits in a snap-flap holster immediately underneath.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom13.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 11: The dual-volt AC charger comes with multiple snap-in adapters for different outlets around the world.</i><br /><br />The wired headset doubles as the FM radio antenna and holds the fourth button (configurable in the Buttons applet in the Settings panel). However, the odd tube-like shape and its thin, rubbery ends would not stay in my ears. It didn't have a shirt clip either, which made it fall out even easier with the weight of the left-aligned microphone/button piece. Luckily, its 4-connector 2.5mm plug is compatible with the HTC Magician, so I was able to find and use a suitable replacement on eBay.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom11.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 12: This accessory went back in the box for storage.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Getting Up to Speed</b></span><br />Before I purchased the Atom, I read numerous reports on the Web that the initial firmware release was incredibly slow and buggy at best. I immediately visited O2's website and applied the latest version.<br /><br />Consequently, O2 has had a number of firmware updates in the last few months - which could be good and bad, depending on how you look at it. In contrast, HTC has their devices rebranded by a number of companies and wireless carriers, each sending out their customized firmware updates at different times and intervals. Since O2 is currently exclusive with the Atom, firmware updates seem to come in rather quickly. (As of this writing, a third firmware update is scheduled this month.)<br /><br /><span><b>Setting Up and Customizing</b></span><br />After powering up the Atom for the first time, you'll be prompted to personalize the device with your information, then select a carrier to which custom GPRS/MMS settings will be applied. Unfortunately, the only choices for locations are Australia and Southeast Asia, so I skipped that configuration page and entered the Cingular settings manually.<br /><br />There is one glaring bug that occurs when you skip that configuration screen: at every soft-reset, you are prompted with the question, <i>"Do you want to launch the auto configuration now?"</i> Regardless if you choose "Yes" or "No," that message will appear again at the next reboot. While I feel it's related to my SIM card or the Cingular network it detects, I've contacted O2 Support about this and await a possible firmware update to fix this (it's apparently hardcoded in the ROM and not in the StartUp folders/services or Registry).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_autocfg.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 13: This pop-up message at the beginning of every soft reset can get annoying.</i> <br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>O2's Additional Software</b></span><br />Since most Windows Mobile 5.0 devices will have nearly the same accessories and applications, I will concentrate on the additional software and components that O2 has thankfully added onto the core operating system. Third-party applications include Westtek's ClearVue PDF and Esmertec Java.<br /><br /><span><b>O2 Media Plus</b></span><br />This central application created by O2 gives you immediate access to the photos, music, and videos you have on your Atom, plus the FM radio. Its friendly interface is reminiscent of Windows XP Media Center Edition, and you can even stick your photo in the corner for sheer vanity. It features an integrated alarm clock with snooze feature that can play the FM radio, a music file, or buzzer sound. The music and videos are played using <i>Windows Media Player 10</i>, while the photos link up to <i>Pictures and Videos</i>, both supplied natively by Windows Mobile 5.0.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_o2mp.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 14: Have instant access to all your media from this program.</i><br /><br /><span><b>FM Radio</b></span><br />Probably the most obvious feature of the Atom is the integrated FM radio - a first for Pocket PC devices. Sure, there are CompactFlash and Secure Digital add-on cards, but none of them can route the audio output through the internal speakers or headset, let alone capture the audio.<br /><br />The FM Radio program can store eight groups of 20 FM radio stations each, good for times when you are in different cities or countries. It features an auto-scan function, but since it doesn't have RDS (Radio Data System) capability, you'll have to name the radio stations manually. Also, you can't reorder the stations to your preference, and there's no confirmation when deleting a station (which can happen in two clicks) - both of which are annoying quirks to the program.<br /><br />The audio output of the FM Radio appears to be independent of the Atom's normal system sounds, so you have to use the on-screen + and - buttons to modify the volume setting. Ironically, the + and - buttons on the directional keypad change the channels, while the back and forward buttons modify the volume. The FM radio automatically mutes for any phone call, but you can only stop the radio completely by either pulling the antenna or by exiting the program. <i>O2 Media Plus</i> has an icon on the bottom-left corner to activate the FM radio (see above), but unfortunately, the same button does not turn it off.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_fm.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 15: The FM radio comes in very handy when you're done with all your MP3s.</i><br /><br />One important note is that the FM radio requires the wired headset to be plugged in, since it doubles as the radio's antenna. Of course, the obvious downside is that the use of a Bluetooth stereo headset becomes a bit redundant (I didn't have one to test anyway). If you pull out the wired headset at any time, the application will warn you that the headset is required, then exit automatically. If you want to use the FM radio for the alarm clock, make sure you plug in the wired headset before you go to sleep. You don't have to wear them though, since sound will still come out through the internal speakers, and the icon on the bottom left-corner can toggle the headset or internal speakers during normal use.<br /><br />In most cases, the FM radio reception is pretty good. I take an hour-long train ride to work and only lose reception when I get into the tunnels. Also, the radio capture is a nice bonus: uncompressed WAV format sounds great, and compressed GSM format is available when capacity is a priority over quality.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Camera</b></span><br />While camera-equipped cell phones have usually been subpar, I wish O2/Quanta had done a little better than what they gave the Atom, especially for a device that praises itself on multimedia features.<br /><br />The Camera application can be used in portrait and landscape mode with icons all around the screen. The flash feature is not a constant light, but it's not an instantaneous flash either. The reason being is that the camera program is so slow to capture and save the image, that shooting inanimate objects and scenery is the only thing it's good at. From the time you press the button to the time it registers the shot could be upwards of five seconds, and everything in between can end up as a blur. If you do get a good shot, the image itself could look washed out.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_camera.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 16: I believe there's still hope for this 2.0 megapixel camera.</i><br /><br />I've been told that the previous ROM versions had even slower capture times and lesser image quality, and that the next firmware update does already make things better.<br /><br /><span><b>Equalizer</b></span><br />While third-party media players include some sort of software equalizer, it's nice to see that O2 included their own in the hardware. You can make your own setting or use the various presets to really hype up the audio output to your liking (the FM radio output is unaffected). The bottom slider can even boost the sound to make it incredibly loud out of the internal stereo speakers or your wired headset.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_o2eq.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 17: Now you can finally tweak the output on Windows Media Player.</i><br /><br /><span><b>O2 Connect</b></span><br />A much appreciated feature for someone who's on-the-go is the O2 Connect program. It provides an easy way to get the latest information and updates for your device. From this application, you can pick up programs such as <i>O2 Plus</i>, a full-featured task manager with bonuses such as automatic profiling, Today plug-ins, call diverting, battery and memory meters, and whole a lot more.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_o2c.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 18: Programs downloaded are in CAB format, ready to install.</i><br /><br /><span><b>O2 SMS Plus</b></span><br />If you're an avid text messager, you'll truly appreciate what O2 did with the SMS Plus program. It basically turns your SMS messaging into a chat-style format, with quick text and emoticons.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_o2sms.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 19: Long SMS conversations are handled better here than your Inbox.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Photo Album and Photo Editor</b></span><br />Even though Windows Mobile 5 includes <i>Pictures and Videos</i>, the Photo Album makes for a nice addition, and the Photo Editor has a suprising number of neat features that you can use before sending it out via MMS/email, or whatever.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_phvi.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 20: The Photo Album can handle the 3GP and MP4 videos you make, too.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_phed.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 21: The Photo Editor has morphing effects, internal clipart, and more.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Self-Diagnostics</b></span><br />This utility will quickly test out all the features of your Atom. The previous firmware update actually gave a failed result for the Checksum test, but was quickly remedied in a quiet February update.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_diag.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 22: Get some peace of mind knowing your Atom is working well.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Wi-Fi Utility</b></span><br />I was disappointed to see that O2 did NOT include a Wireless Manager to toggle Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If you decided not to use <i>O2 Plus</i>, you'd have to actually click Start > Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Utility > Menu > Turn Wi-Fi On. The Microsoft stack-based Bluetooth applet requires nearly the same number of clicks. Luckily, I'm told that the upcoming firmware update has a real Wireless Manager.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_wifi.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 23: The Wi-Fi Utility is several clicks away.</i> <br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Phone Usage</b></span><br />The Atom as a phone actually surprised me, since it had the strongest reception I've had in any PPCPE device. Even though it doesn't have 850MHz band support, it held strong to every 1900MHz Cingular tower, and when I came out of the subway tunnel, the signal strength indicator shot up very fast. I also have one area in my town that every previous phone that I owned temporarily lost the signal. With the Atom, not only did it keep a signal, but it maintained a clear conversation throughout that area. Now, that's a phone!<br /><br />Notably missing from the Phone applet is the Speakerphone feature. In the Call Status page, the "Call History" button is in place of the "Speaker On" button that I've seen on other Windows Mobile 5 phones, and the right soft menu doesn't even have it listed as an option. Of course, me being "Old School," I remembered that I could hold down the Send button for a few seconds to toggle the speakerphone feature. Why it's not a menu option is beyond me, since it works just fine as a speakerphone.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_phone1.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 24: The Call History button serves little purpose here.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_phone2.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 25: Where's the menu option for the Speakerphone?</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Performance</b></span><br />The Atom performs well as a Pocket PC, given the trusty Intel XScale processor at 416MHz that the HTC Magician used. Games and video files played just as well as previous devices such as the i-mate JAM and E-TEN M500, so I felt right at home. However, it is your usual XScale processor, so the typical drain of the battery life was expected. However, it has about 200 mAh more than the Magician, so with heavy usage of the radio and surfing/email via EDGE, I could wind down the battery in 10 to 12 hours.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_wm5.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 26: Every Windows Mobile 5 device seems to have a different build number.</i><br /><br />The usual 128MB Flash ROM and 64MB RAM provides ample space until you decide to pop in a mini-SD card for additional programs and data.<br /><br />Some third-party programs I've tested include <i><a href="http://www.softick.com/pocket-pc/cardexport2/">Softick Card Export II PPC</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=7325&associateid=204">ImmierSoft XCPUScalar</a></i>. <i>Card Export II</i> worked well, though I wished more manufacturers would use USB 2.0 for faster throughput, instead of 1.1. <i>XCPUScalar</i> allowed me to overclock to 624MHz with ease, and drop down to 104MHz to save a little more battery power - though it strangely made the screen look more washed out when it was active.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/atom_sysinfo.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 27: This is the only place you'll be able to find your firmware and radio stack version numbers.</i><br /><br />Some other quirks I found during my experience with the Atom included the fact that there was no true "button lock" feature in the Settings panel. So, if you tap on any of the hardware buttons, the device turns itself on, and that could end up with inadvertent program launches and initiated calls. Also, it sometimes takes two presses of the Power button in order to actually put the device in standby. Both of these issues are inconsistent, and with all that I've reported to O2 about these quirks, I'm hoping for the best when the next firmware update comes out.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />Given these few minor issues, the Atom still is a decent device. Add the fact that firmware updates are relatively quick and frequent, and that their support center actually acknowledges or addresses the issues thrown at them, you'll see why it can definitely be a keeper. Leaked images and information regarding the upcoming HP rw6828 reveal it to be a similar device to the Atom (with the addition of two soft buttons), and may be the "North American" answer to a device that many have paid over $800 to get now.<br /><br /><i>Raphael Salgado is a full-time Regulatory Affairs Associate for a pharmaceutical company with an extensive background in technical support services. When everything is quietly charging with their AC adapters, Raphael spends quality time with his wife Lila and their two children, Samantha and Tiffany. His hobbies include karate, karaoke, and bicycling.</i>