Design
Are PDA-style smartphones just tools for the business set? O2 doesn't appear to think so. It's latest smartphone, the Xda Atom Life attempts to bridge that gap between people who need a business tool, and those who want something with just a smidgen more "fun" appeal -- O2's marketing spiel refers to them as "life warriors", a term you won't see in this review again.
A more cynical reviewer might comment that O2's presumably trying to get in on the market before the lifestyle crowd shifts over to the Apple iPhone -- but then, you can buy an Atom Life right now, whereas the iPhone is conspicuous by its absence from 2007-era Australian store shelves. Or any stores shelves right now, come to think of it.
The Atom Life has a carrying weight of 145 grams and dimensions of 106 by 58 by 18mm; that's a touch smaller than the Xda Atom or Atom Exec, although only in one dimension. Aside from minimal dialling buttons and a five-way selector, the Atom is entirely touchscreen-driven, either via the stylus that sits at the top right hand side of the phone, or a grubby digit in an emergency. More on digit-related issues later.
Features
The Atom Life is an HSDPA-enabled phone running Windows Mobile 5.0, which gives you access to the usual Windows-centric office applications -- Word and its ilk -- but then that's hardly a "fun" set of utilities, and moreover, the same things can be had on considerably cheaper PDA/smartphones than the Atom Life. Where the Atom Life differentiates itself is in a few key hardware and software features with less of an enterprise bent. On the hardware side, it packs a 2-megapixel external camera (along with a front-mounted VGA model for video calls) and SRS WOW HD Stereo speakers, with the claim of offering a surround sound "experience" for your multimedia files. It's also equipped with an FM radio, if "wacky" morning DJs are your kind of thing.
On the software side, O2 provides a bevy of its own applications. Many of these are still business-centric, but on the "fun" side is O2 MediaPlus. MediaPlus is a catch-all wrapper for the Atom Life's multimedia prowess, covering your photo, video and musical collections, as well as activating the radio.
For those who drool over technical specifications, the Atom Life is running an Intel XScale PXA 270 -- that'll give you 624MHz of computing power -- with 64MB of RAM and 1GB of flash ROM. Networking connectivity is provided via integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 1.2 and infrared for talking to phones from the Jurassic age.
Performance
If you're pondering a smartphone purchase, it's well worth the time to play around with a couple in a store, especially if you're looking at models with a touchscreen interface such as the Atom Life. Some users love the minimalist approach of touchscreens. Others find them incessantly fiddly, and the need to pop out the stylus to make calls and perform onscreen selections can become tiresome. It's such an individual preference thing, however, that we normally wouldn't mention it -- except that it's a particularly relevant point with the Atom Life, as the main splash screen is packed with information, and above all tiny icons. That's great for getting across plenty of onscreen information, but virtually mandates the use of the stylus. We lost track of the number of times that an errant finger jab led to the wrong selection being made. Thankfully, a spare stylus is included in the box.
The observant among you may have noticed that we've put an entry for loud stereo speakers in both the good and bad column for the Atom Life. While the speakers are undoubtedly good for a mobile phone, and they are loud enough to annoy everyone within your immediate vicinity, they don't entirely live up to the hype of offering a surround sound experience. It's largely that old trick of dodgy hi-fi stores everywhere -- turn up the volume loud enough to convince the customers it's "good", when it's merely passable. While we're covering off audio, it's functionally annoying that for a phone of the Atom Exec's size, the audio jack is of the 2.5mm variety, making it harder to connect up a normal set of headphones. A2DP Bluetooth audio is supported if you've got stereo Bluetooth headphones.
The Atom Life is a decent expansion upon the existing Atom and Atom Exec models, but there are areas where it's a backwards step, especially in battery life. The standby time of 200 hours is essentially unremarkable, and it's understandable that the addition of lots of battery sapping features will lead to higher power consumption. Still, with a claimed battery talk time of only four hours on GSM and two hours for UMTS -- and in our testing these figures proved all too accurate -- you're likely to be recharging the Atom Life every single night, lest it become the Atom Death.
On the application front, the Atom Life shone, thanks no doubt to the improved processor running the whole show. We rarely had to wait for applications to start up, even when really pushing the phone with heavy tasks. This does make the Atom Life a good choice for exactly the market it's not aiming at -- business types who need large files open and will really test the phone's productivity mettle, rather than its fun aspects.
al-krueger
03/05/2008, 11:49 AM
rating
6/10
just bought this phone few days back-1st try-the phone occasionally hangs, almost made me want to resell the phone-battery also drains out quickly. anyway, after some full drains and full charging of the battery, the O2 regains strength and performed much better-browsing the net is so much quicker. the battery can be prolonged by setting the CPU profile to "best power" (got this tip from a user of this review-many thanks!)..and also, please keep the wireless and bluetooth off when not in use.
Pros: good, sleak and compact pda (i have been using the HP ipaq 2210 before and it doesn't fit nicely into my trouser pocket). good internet capability.
Cons: some freezing problems, but can become better with age..
wish for a longer lasting battery life
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Matt
12/04/2008, 01:41 AM
rating
10/10
This phone is awesome.
Period. Had it for over a year, and with latest wm6 its amazing... and i love watching youtube on it :)
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Franklin Beale
25/03/2008, 05:08 PM
rating
9/10
I got the o2 XDA atom life on the last day of 2007 and think it is awesome! It is better than any other phone ive ever seen except for the T-phone sidekick {and im not sure if thats actually any good!} the o2 xda atom life is an awesome phone and im not sure why people dont like it, it has a few slowness issues but that's it! the camera is a bit confusing to work out, that could be why people say that it is bad. you know, its just a normal 2 megapixel camera. you dont really use the camera that much anyway. The Iphone doesnt have a camera, and thats meant to be awesome!!! and seriously, to be worked up on a camera is kind of childish. A phone should mainly be used to send texts, call people and thats really about it, although phones these days have got the internet {the o2 has it}, email sending[the o2 has it} and not may phones have a touchscreen {which the o2 obviously has. I love this phone and i plan to keep it for the next year or so.
Pros: the o2 xda atom life has a cool touchscreen, has a great shape, lots of memory, a cool calculator, great internet acess, voice speed dial!, a fun game {bubble breaker}, a great recording system, great different ways to write like smart text where u can text with your fingers instead of the stylus, transcriber where you just write on the screen and it changes the writing into words on the screen and a great visual keyboard.
Cons: the phone has a few slowness issues and requires a few taps to get it to work and the volume doesnt go that loud compared to other phones. PS the battery lie is quite short but other than that, this is my favourite phone so far!
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ArchDyeu
23/03/2008, 01:49 PM
rating
10/10
I cannot believe what i'm reading. Before i bought this phone, i was going through the net for reviews, and opinions. I was really hoping for an answer, which can make me decide on to buy or not this atom life. 50% of this ppl say its bad, 50% said its the best.
It is the best phone i've ever had...!!! I had to buy a 3G phone for an assignment overseas, and this phone had never failed me. I do not understand why ppl say it has short battery life, cause i've tested this and my xda till this moment have gone one week without recharge (6 and half days since i've writing this on a sunday afternoon), and the battery life is at 43%. Ofcourse, its the standby time, but yet, one week standby is awesome.... And i know it works cause i've jus got off the phone with someone, and i'm on roaming as well.
Believe me, its an awesome phone. I've never had a phone like this ever before. I believe the biggest problem with the phone was WM5, and the proper upgrade to WM6 solves everythin and makes this phone what i have right now.
Will not trade this xda for anythin. I'm so glad i bought it, cause other options do not come close.
And i've never had problems speaking long durations, the person on the other side have never complained on not hearing well, no restart needed, and my phone had never restarted on its own nor do i have to hard reset it.
I dont really write reviews, but my xda is worth it, and i'm disappointed with all the bad reviews. Its trully an amazing phone and worth buying. Just upgrade to WM6 with proper installation
Thank you.
Pros: The phone is just so sleek, by far the coolest. The dial option is not bad at all cause big buttons appear on the screen, and you can just dial a number with your thumb. And my so far fav, the battery standby time of one week.
Trully a nicely designed phone, very nice.
Cons: I dont really like the speakers, its not loud enough for max volume (the ringtone speakers, not the one for hearing while speaking). And higher desibles will mess the speakers up.
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Hoppo
14/03/2008, 11:56 PM
rating
3/10
It's interesting reading these reviews. I have owned my Atom Life for a little over a year now, and although I consider it to be a very "sexy" phone you certainly can't rely on it. My wife has threatened to drown it several times, because the phone will either not ring, or it will reset itself while we're on the phone. I'm actually browsing the net at the moment looking for yet another ROM upgrade to hopefully fix some of the problems. I think a large part of the problem is the operating system (Windows Mobile), you need a solid operating system for these devices and Windows Mobile doesn't cut it... I'd love to go back to the Palm operating system, but I don't like any of the hardware at the moment.
Pros: A sexy looking phone,
Cons: Short battery life, unreliable, poor speaker volume. Randomly locks up or reboots (usually when you need it most). ROM upgrade descriptions that give you little idea of what has been fixed - if they're an improvement then you got lucky.
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N.A
13/03/2008, 07:41 PM
rating
2/10
July '07, I bought a O2 phone and it was working properly initially. Soon I had some problem receiving calls. The phone will always reset when I received incoming calls or I was approaching an area with wireless network coverage. About December '07, the problem got worst. The phone cannot be activated without power socket connected to it.
I sent in the phone for repair which then I realized that O2 has ceased its operation and MWG has taken over. A few days later, I received a call from MWG saying that they are not going to honor my warranty because due to some battery pins fallen off. And in addition, they also want to charge me for $450++ for parts and labour (amazing isn't it, they charge for labour cost even if you are under warranty) replacement.
Pros: Is there any?
Cons: Everything else on the phone and the customer service that is supporting it
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bythediggings
06/03/2008, 11:27 PM
rating
2/10
A great PDA with poor battery life, but a TERRIBLE UNRELIABLE phone. NO MATTER HOW CHEAP, DO NOT BUY.
Pros: Great functionality, form and design. Excellent design and form factor. Works with a 4GB miniSDHC card, Wi-Fi with WPA2, bluetooth with A2DP, everything that my i-mate JAM had and more.
Cons: Battery life very disapointing, my i-mate JAM lasts 3 times as long although it is already 3 years old. Worst, the Atom Life is UNRELIABLE! Crashes when on low battery instead of answering a call. In other words becomes a switched-off PDA instead of a phone and the worst thing is you don't know until you try to switch it back on! I've never had a phone that dies before. And while I'm at it, the speakers are tinny and quiet, sometimes the caller at the end can't hear anything.
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Sentol
29/02/2008, 07:12 PM
rating
2/10
Yes, MWG Singapore service is worst. Very rude. I've sent my Atom Life in Dec 07...til now still waiting!!!
Pros: Good design(outside)
Cons: Everything. When I receive back the phone I will sell it
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BL
24/02/2008, 07:37 PM
rating
2/10
Believe what you read. Go to all the forums, personal reviews and gadgets sites. Type in O2 atom problems and you see a long list of complaints. MWG singapore have no after sales services. Their staff is rude, tactless and very unprofessional. You get better service buying a $38 Nokia phone.
Pros: Nice design. (That's all.......)
Cons: Everything else.
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jnflkjnl
15/02/2008, 09:49 AM
rating
9/10
these people do not believe them. they are just six of them who are spreading that its a bad phone. According to me its a great phone
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