O2 XDA Orbit Review |
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Matt recently did an unbox video of the O2 XDA Orbit and asked me if I would like to review it for him. Naturally I jumped at the chance to play with a Windows Mobile device with built in GPS!
The O2 XDA Orbit is the O2 version of the HTC Artemis, essentially the same device internally but the Orbit has a different, more modern looking, exterior design. O2 were the first UK operator to offer a Windows Mobile device with built in GPS. I had high hopes for this device!
Impressions
The 02 Active homescreen is gone! Let that be the headline statement, and we shall all rejoice. Yup it’s true. FINALLY O2 have got rid of the awful thing, and actually given the Orbit a nice selection of “normal” today screen plug-ins.
It’s a nice first impression, and it does immediately feel like an expensive device. The Orbit is the smallest Pocket PC/WM Professional device I’ve ever used, and it feels a lot less bulky in the pocket than my now-aging TyTN.
The problem I have with reviewing devices such as this, is that hardware wise, and OS wise – they are all very similar. I’ll try and concentrate on the major features and add-ons the Orbit has over other similar devices.
This helpfully brings me onto the mouse pointer. Yes, a mouse pointer, with trackball, on a Windows Mobile device. Although I was quite excited to finally try this out, I was a bit unsure as to how effective it would be. I shouldn’t have been. It’s a totally new way to control a mobile device without the need to get a stylus out. It works really well in the main, and can be used completely OS wise. The trackball is small, but perfectly useable, and I found it to be especially useful for navigating around the OS, and for surfing the net through Pocket IE. The mouse pointer is not the most accurate thing in the world, but it’s good enough for anything you’ll need to do on the Orbit.
This was also my first device with a built in GPS chip. Again, I was impressed, and the quality of the lock and signal seemed fine. I used both the supplied Co-Pilot and a copy of i-Go. I’ll speak more about Co-Pilot in a second, but i-Go worked fine!
O2 don’t appear to have made many “Orange” style mods to the OS or its icons. They seem to have kept their modifications to a simple theme, and the obvious Hardware skin. The usual array of user manuals, and outlook software licences come in the book, and as mentioned, the supplied O2 today screen plugins are available too. These appear to be O2 in-house programs. I’ve certainly not seen them elsewhere.
The review device I received also came with a copy of Co-Pilot. As a Tom Tom Navigation user, and part time i-Go “faffer”, I was really excited to be able to trial a different navigation system, but unfortunately, I was distinctly underwhelmed by it.
The major factor for me was the speed. The program didn’t appear to respond to key taps very quickly, and the same can be said about the navigation itself. I suspect this may have been an individual problem, I don’t know. Certainly, I was happy to get back to Tom Tom. As I said, I tried i-Go on the device instead, and it seemed fine, so I can only assume Co-Pilot was the issue. The GPS itself seems very good quality and as expected for a Sirf III chipset – the fix was quick, and stable.
The lack of a full hardware keyboard is a shame, but understandable since this is designed to be as sleek as possible. I just find the on screen keyboards hard to use, as they require a stylus. The mouse point is not really accurate enough to use for typing. These problems are compounded since the removal of the Phone Pad from HTC devices.
The integrated wi-fi is welcome, but becoming fairly standard, and the FM radio is easy to use, and seems to perform well. This is quite unusual for Windows Mobile devices, but may tempt some of the Nokia monkeys (sorry Nick!) to the platform.
Once again, all this is powered and charged via the ExtUSB connector that HTC do at least seem to be using as standard now. You’ll also need an adaptor to use normal 3.5 jack headphones with the device, and I’m not 100% sure if this will make the FM radio useless. For charging, as with other devices, a standard mini-usb will fit in the weird shaped socket, and will charge/power.
For external memory, microSD is used, which I know will annoy some/most but for me, having used the format for the M3100, it works fine. The position of the reader however, doesn’t. Located under the battery means there’s no chance of swapping cards without removing the battery, and SIM card. Not really ideal on the move, and I ‘d have preferred HTC to keep the reader on the side of the phone, similar to the TyTN.
The 2 megapixel camera is about average for HTC – not great(!) but they are improving, both in terms of quality, and the software included to take photos. The standard phone services are also just that – standard. Quality and signal strength seemed as average as my other phones, and although the lack of 3G is very, very annoying, it does at least have GPRS.
I was happy using the device, and although there are a couple of things which concern me, I have to recommend it. It's quick, powerful, has an array of extra little features which are currently exclusive to this model. On an O2 UK subsidised contract, it’s also surprisingly easy on the wallet!
O2 XDA Orbit Specification:
Review by: Mark
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, O2, HTC Artemis, XDA Cosmo, XDA Orbit, HTC P3300]
Permalink25 comments
Thanks in advance
Regarding the built-in keyboard question, I had one of course on the XDA Mini S and thought it would be indispensable. In fact it was completely useless. Hopeless on a desk, on a train or plane or in my hand. You think it will be a good idea but in fact it's about as useless as a chocolate teapot. My advice - avoid slide-out qwerty keyboards like the plague. They are completely un-ergonomic.
The stylus and soft keyboard are perfect and very quick to get accustomed to and to use. I've tried the mouse mode - which is novel - but in practice when using the soft keyboard and the mouse to point to each key, it's about a half to a third the speed of using the stylus at best. The trackball comes into its own though when you want to select menu items or icons as you can use it to very quickly move the focus from one to the next and then press the (neat illuminated) trackball button itself to make the selection. Note this does not need mouse mode (and the mouse pointer) enabled. The outer wheel around the trackball can be similary used to quickly move the focus point.
As regards the position of the microSD card, it's perfect. Out of harm's way and no less useful for it. With USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity to choose from, copying and moving files to and from the storage card to/from my PC is a breeze and the last thing I'd want is to actually have to be physically juggling the memory card just to transfer files. How archaic!
The O2 XDA Orbit is truly outstanding. Just don't forget to get Microsoft Voice Command and a decent noise cancelling Bluetooth headset for an all-round stunning solution. Buy one!
Matt
I'm afraid I'm an archaic user and am still with the XDA IIi. This is because I need my device to be a PDA first and foremost and then a phone. Is this orbit sufficient as a PDA or have corners been cut (i.e. less processing power / ROM etc?). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Matt
In short what they were debating was whether the new 4GB+ micro SD "HC" (a new format of micro SD that has the potential to reach 32GB one day) would actually work in the orbit or not. The conclusion was no. Apparently the orbit doesn't have the HARDWARE required to read micro SDHC even though it would physically fit.
It was debated whether it was a hardware or software issue, especially with the recent new software update for the orbit. However a 4GB micro SDHC was bought & tested by one of the members with the new orbit software and it just doesn't work, so it's 2GB max.
Shame really but never mind, it certainly doesn't hold you back with the connectivity of the thing, I couldn't be happier with the orbit which has replaced my previous 3 xda's.
After saying that though is does crash lots less than the
exec i had before and is so many times better than the joke that nokia call the 9500 communicator. Mine ended up communicating wth the sea in portugal.lol
Most greatful if someone can help.
I have an Orbit XDA, had it about a year now. My last phone bill showed I had been downloading at odd times, middle of the night etc. This may have been when out drinking or heading home and the buttons got hit. I usually have the phone on Lock when out, thinking this would stop any accidental button pressing.
I have noticed the Mobile GPRS is always trying to logon and I'm forever turning it off, only for it to attempt to logon again.
This is the first time it has happened where I have been getting a hefty phone bill for this happening.
I'm sure I read somewhere that there was a piece of downloadable software that would stop this happening.
Has anyone got any idea where I can download it?
*** DO I RISK UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 6.0 OR NOT? ***
Seems to be mixed messages out there. I've heard TomTom6 runs better on Windows 5? Also, will I be able to install all the great spb products that bought for my old phone (spv m600 with Windows mobile 5)?
it works fine with 4GB SHDC.
I have purchased Kingston 4GB but My O2 orbit is not able to detect the Memory.
I have WM6.0 loaded on the same
So it can be done
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