Initial details of the O2 Xda Mini Pro have arrived and its long list of features certainly raises the bar for converged PDA/phone manufacturers. Unlike the pen-only interface of the O2 Xda II Mini, the Pro ups the ante with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard on its left side, which puts the screen into landscape mode for typing. Weighing 150 grams and measuring approximately 108 x 58 x 23.7mm, the inclusion of the keyboard adds only about 6mm to the overall thickness of the device.
The Mini Pro runs Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, has a Texas Instruments OMAP 850 processor at is core, and 128MB of ROM providing system memory. For additional storage, the Xda Mini Pro has 64MB of user accessible RAM and also sports a mini-SD card slot at the top of its 2.8-inch touch-sensitive TFT screen (240 x 320 pixels).
Connectivity options are aplenty, with O2 including 802.11g Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, infrared and a quad-band antenna, making the Xda Mini Pro an excellent choice for frequent travellers looking for a "world phone".
Although we are still awaiting the final software list, O2 has stated that the Xda Mini Pro will include Microsoft Pocket Outlook, Windows Media Player, MSN Messenger, Pocket Internet Explorer, ActiveSync, Voice Notes and Photo Caller ID. For music fans, the Xda Mini Pro supports AMR, AAC, WAV, WMA and MP3 files.
Downside:
Some digging around on TI's Web site reveals that the OMAP 850 has a maximum clock speed of 200MHz. At face value, this may seem less than the Xda II Mini's 416MHz Intel chip, but the Mini Pro has double the system memory, which can affect performance greatly.
We doubt WLAN use has been included in O2's rated battery life, which states the Xda Mini Pro is good for 10 hours of multimedia/PDA use, 4-5 hours of talk, or 200 hours of standby. Of course, we'll have to wait for a review unit to fully test this theory.
The only other area where we can see an improvement could be made is with the built-in camera. Although the Xda Mini Pro's 1.3-megapixel camera is decent in terms of resolution, 2-megapixel cameras have surfaced this year on Sony Ericsson's K750i and W800i Walkman phones.
Outlook:
O2 expects the Xda Mini Pro to launch in Australia in November for AU$1,199 with the O2 Xda Atom soon after.
According to research company IDC, O2 stepped up to take the number two spot in the combined PDA and data-centric device market in Australia this month, with 16.1 per cent of the overall market. Research In Motion (makers of BlackBerry devices) came it at number one with a 17.9 per cent, while HP and Palm took third and fourth position, respectively.
Editor's Note: O2 provided CNET.com.au with a preliminary specifications list that is subject to change when the actual product released around November 21, 2005. We'll post any updates we recieve on the site. The device is also available in Germany, where it is known as the O2 Xda Mini S.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
jasew
22/12/2007, 05:31 PM
rating
8/10
i bought mine in taiwan and i am having trouble getting the phone to recognise my '3' sim card. can anyone give us a hand?
Report offensive comment
Andy UK
30/10/2006, 10:38 PM
rating
9/10
Cool Kit. Love it.
Pros: Great emailer on the run. Had tryed a Blackberry and this is so much better. Love all the Windows based apps. Attaching photos live with email is cool.
The pen and on screen key board very quick. Linking to my lap top with all applications is fantastic---never miss a trick now. Clips onto my belt and is OK to carry.
Cons: All thumbs on the key board, just too small for me.
Would of liked the unit to be slightly thinner.
Report offensive comment
24/10/2006, 04:24 AM
rating
6/10
Great phone but audio quality is very poor
Would get it if you're as email or texting nut. Great as a PDA and would recommend if you want to look cool.
Pros: Has all the features you would want if you're on the go. Sync's great with windows contacts and tasking, keyboard is even better. Wi-Fi works without a hassle and as a PDA i wouldn't think twice. Battery life also remarably good for a PDA.
Cons: Phone audio quality is shockingly bad. speaker phone is even worse. It bugged me so much that i had to get rid of it. Pitty that one small thing kills the whole thing. I know all of the XDA range has this problem.
Report offensive comment
JaneH
30/09/2006, 06:00 PM
rating
10/10
Fantastic all rounder
Highly recommended, couldn't live without mine now.
Pros: I can carry one device now instead of 3. This replaces my phone, my PDA and my satellite navigation as I have installed Tom Tom on my phone. I can access emails from anywhere write reports and access spreadsheets and keep my diary synchronised. FAB!
Cons: Getting to numbers on the keyboard drives me nuts although a small price to pay for such a versatile LITTLE machine.
Report offensive comment
23/09/2006, 05:32 AM
rating
10/10
Everything you could possibly want to do- now in one device.
Pros: Excellent mobile office, loads of features and plenty of extras available. Nice camera too. I personally didn't experience any crashes at all and it seems to be a speedy PDA.
Cons: Battery life not the best and the device gets a little fiddly sometimes. But these are very minor things.
Report offensive comment
jay
06/08/2006, 04:38 AM
rating
8/10
Simply gr8. Take my word, buy it!
Pros: perfect pda. has amazing features, esp handwriting recognition.
Not for students though.
Cons: None. Yet , for the value u get 1.3 mp cam..
but then u get the keyboard too! So decide bout the compramise.
Report offensive comment
05/04/2006, 03:13 PM
great but messaging slow to open
nice phone but WM5 is not a giant leap from WM3 Phone second edition. My old XDA II mini is still much quicker in all respects and I find when you try and open messaging application, it takes an eternity to load.
ok if your patient. im not.
Report offensive comment
Shah
28/03/2006, 09:49 PM
Looking For 2nd Hand
If Anyone here want to sell your O2. Please email me. I'm from Malaysia. Tell me your price and the shipment. Here in malaysia the price is to high for me. Thanks.
Report offensive comment
mattref
16/03/2006, 10:51 PM
Great Phone
Not a bad phone much quicker than N70, works ok, gets a little slow as win mobile dosnt shut programs (keeps them opened in background)....Great screen and keyboard and batery aint bad either.
Report offensive comment
Jamo77
01/03/2006, 11:37 AM
Awesome Phone! excellent Keyboard fro sms!
I've been using the I-mate version (K-Jam) same phone as far as I can tell, for the last 4 months. Syncs with my email server, outlook calendar contacts. Stereo Speaker phone! Does have 1.3MP camera with flash. Mini XD slot (i have 1GB cad excellent for starage). No GPS Built in but can interface with USB external GPS devices (for use in your car). Battery life is what you would expect, WI-Fi and Blutooth, Media player, Internet explorer and Terminal server. Nothing more to say!
Report offensive comment