Design
Most consumer-styled smartphones have gone for the sleek and sassy look -- we're thinking here of models such as the Motorola E6, or the Samsung BlackJack. They're basically the same as their chunkier enterprise counterparts, only in slimmer and presumably more enticing enclosures.
For its latest consumer-friendly smartphone, O2's taken a gamble in the opposite direction, presumably with the thinking that consumers will figure that a large phone must offer more for your money because it's, well, very large. And the O2 Xda Flame is, indeed, big. Humongous, even -- measuring in at a very hefty 126 by 74 by 17.5mm and with a carrying weight of 190g, this isn't a phone that slides casually into your pocket. Well, not unless you happen to be Andre The Giant, and as he sadly passed away fourteen years ago, it's probably safe to say you're not.
Features
The Flame is a touchscreen Windows Mobile 5.0 smartphone, with a hefty 2GB of onboard storage ROM; this can be added to via the microSD card slot on the side of the phone. It sports not one, but two processors -- an Intel XScale PXA 270 Processor running at 520MHz for primary functions, and then an additional dedicated graphics processor, the NVIDIA GoForce 5500. It's an unusual first in a smartphone, further blurring the line between smartphones and ultraportable PCs.
In connectivity terms, the Flame is both a 3G and tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz) phone (but no HSDPA) with inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 networking. And lest anyone accuse O2 of leaving anything out, it also supports TV-out (for displaying video, photos and at a more mundane level, PowerPoint presentations) and can double as a universal remote control.
Leaving aside the touch and drag interfaces of the iPhone or HTC Touch, there's really not much that the Flame omits.
Performance
The biggest strike against the Flame is undoubtedly that, well, Moses carried smaller things down the mountain than the XDA Flame. It's a problem exacerbated by the 2-megapixel camera on the back, which bulges out slightly; if you are going to jam this into a pocket you'll probably scratch the lens over time.
The inclusion of the GoForce 5500 is an interesting step for the smartphone world, but we're wary of endorsing O2's line that it turns the Flame into a portable games console -- this is no Nintendo DS. It does come with Siege: Catapult Assault, a competent enough Scorched Earth style 3D catapult game that's a nice enough diversion for a wee while, but until applications take advantage of the extra memory, it's not that worthy an addition.
Thankfully the rest of the O2 Flame shines; it's a good communicator for general use, very swift with most business tasks, and the inclusion of 2GB of onboard storage -- which can be supplemented via adding most portable USB drives quite painlessly -- makes it a good consumer-level device. Of course, by putting every feature known to man in the Flame, there's a payoff; the Flame's battery can run down very quickly indeed. Left to its own devices, we averaged around three days between charges, but if we used the Flame at a moderate level, we'd have to recharge it every single day.
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green pencil
23/09/2008, 10:34 PM
rating
9/10
can u have fully customised ringtones such as an mp3 etc. And can u also customise background and wallpapers?
Pros: i want it
Cons: i dont have it
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brides
09/05/2008, 07:00 PM
rating
9/10
can this phone support a 4gig micro sd? tnx
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deepspy
09/01/2008, 07:41 AM
rating
10/10
the powerful boy tht stands out of all pda-phones
using since its release no probs but only addicted to use it...
Pros: u ask anything this big boy is thr for u.....
Cons: battery but can be managed if we make up simple setups and usage modifications.....
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o2fan
04/01/2008, 07:53 PM
rating
8/10
Was going really badly indeed until I grabbed a BIG Mugen extended battery from www.pressdigital.com.au and a hacked ROM from www.xda-developers.com - Now my O2 Flame is a happy camper..
Pros: Great screen
Cons: Battery life unless you upgrade to a bigger battery!
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ninereeds
23/12/2007, 01:49 PM
rating
2/10
This is the third pda/phone I have had, starting with the original O2 XDA. I recently upgraded from an I-Mate pocket pc.
This is without doubt the worst one I have ever had. Too slow, not enough battery life. Poor bluetooth implementation: I lose calls and cannot answer them.
Do not buy.
Pros: nice screen, lots of ram; transcriber very good
Cons: no car charger; extremely poor battery life - I live on my phone and I'm lucky if it lasts until lunch time; response to key presses is terrible.
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pisethmd
16/12/2007, 06:40 PM
rating
7/10
can we use windows mobile for updating XDA exec to update XDA flame or not???? Please help me answer this questions! thanks a heap.
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Jaffar
10/12/2007, 06:39 PM
rating
9/10
COUNT THE BATTERY OUT
Pros: SYNC, OFFICE
Cons: BATTERY,
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outbreak123
30/10/2007, 01:28 AM
rating
8/10
My first PDA i ever have which is actually nice. The onboard 2 Gb really does the job, especially when you add a 2GB microSD!
A Fantastic phone but it could need a better battery (there is actually a 3800mAh battery built by a chinese company), and it could use a better camera!
Pros: Fast, big storage, nice screen
Cons: short standart battery life, could use a better camera
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rivido
20/09/2007, 10:11 PM
rating
10/10
amazing device, no doubt o2 has the power to think out of the box and bring out something very unique. a graphics card and a sound card is a feature which many of the pcs don't have. its just fabulous.
Pros: performance: 128 mb ram
screen
Cons: size
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Jack
19/08/2007, 12:24 PM
rating
9/10
40x480 Screen Resolution is like a 14" monitor. So for only Dopod U1000 can compete. Apple iPhone 480x320, other PPC only has 320x240. This is the MAIN REASON I buy O2 Xda Flame. When I travel, I need to access to my email, surf internet, look at my document in full page, present by Power Point presentation to customers. It could attach to a TV for Power Point Presentation. I could take photo for sample products in China. Even though it is a bit bigger, but no choice in order to view bigger document.
Pros: 640 x 480 Screen Resolution. Apple iPhone only 480 x 320. Other PPC 320x240.
Cons: Battery life short.
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