Hands-on Review of the O2 Xphone



The O2 Xphone was launched recently in Singapore. The more I read about it, the more I am tempted to take a look at it even though it was neither using the Palm or PPC OS which I have an abundance of registered sofware. I was very attracted to its good looks and the new Windows Mobile community where a growing number of freeware are already available on the Internet.

I took a long look at it on my day off, playing with it and even running programs that I have brought along on my extra SD card. After thinking it over, I returned the next day to purchase it. At under US$500, it was an easy decison. Usually, with all the hype and anticipation, I generally have grave regrets over my hasty purchases. As far as the Xphone is concerned, now that I have it for over a week, I find myself liking it more each day, and using it more often than my regular mobile phone. Now lets get to business.



Physical Attributes - Nokia 68xx with Xphone

First, let look at its physical attributes. It certainly looks big placed side by side with my Nokia 6820, but when compared with my wife's Nokia 6800, it is more or less the same size. I have no quarrel with its size as the screen needs to be at least its current size to be readable. I would really like the Xphone to be a little thinner though.

The screen is extremely bright and easy to read. Buttons are well placed and designed for one hand operation. I was afraid that it would be heavy, like my Treo 600; but it feels just a tad heavier than my current Nokia 6820. IMHO it is one of the nicest looking Smartphone around.

Next, lets consider the phone features. The Xphone comes with every conceivable feature that one can wish for in a mobile phone - bluetooth, GPRS, MMS, SMS, T9 input, speed dial, speaker phone, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GSM 900, internet and email access. A mobile phone user would be very much at home with the familar phone layout.

As in most of the newer mobile phones, the Xphone comes with a camera with video capabilities. I was doing my weekly walk with my family this morning at the nearby botantic gardens when I noticed what a glorious day it was. The sun was high up in a cloudless sky. How beautiful, I thought, when I observed the rays filtering throuqh the tall trees, creating a kind of mystic Eden in my mind's eye. I did not have a camera with me but I thought I'll give the Xphone a shot. Boy, was I impressed with the shot below - best photo I have ever taken on a phone-camera.



A photo I took with the Xphone

Of course having an SD card makes sense in having video capture on a device, unlike mobile phones with just a few megabytes of memory.

The Xphone comes with a useful voice recorder, MP3 and Windows Media player.



Using the Xphone

Now, lets focus on the Windows Mobile aspect of the Xphone. If you have used a PPC before, you will be up and running in next to no time. The absence of a stylus takes a little time to get used to and it is not as fast or snappy. However there are ways that you can make it more efficient.

1. Using the file manager, move everything out of the RAM storage/Windows/Start menu except those you need.
2. Copy short cuts of any program that you may need that are not already there.
3. Soft reset.

Once done, all you have to do is to hit the Start button and run your programs.

The way I organise my programs is to create folders like Apps, Games, Utilities, System etc on the SD card. Then create sub-directories if needed (eg Games - Arcade, Brain, Demos, Emulators, Kids). I place shortcuts of all the programs in these folders, use the file manager to navigate and run the app of my choice.

There are enough freeware on the web for you to get by without shelling $$$ for commercial Smartphone software. From utilities like Quick Reset to applications like Notepad and Mpeg players... they are there for your picking.

I especially like the free Bible Reader from OliveTree. Works like a charm on one hand. Also, there are free emulators for Gameboy, NES, SNES as well as emulators for older stuff like old computers and consoles. The NES emulator is very well done, with sound, key configuration and rotation. With games like Arkanoid, Pacman, Battle City, Galaxians and Pinball, there is hardly any need to buy any gmes. BTW freeware games like Invaders, Pacman and Tetris are almost perfect.

If you wish, you may want to buy some software. Quick Office allows you to take your MS Office stuff with you - perhaps the only software you need. If you are looking for games with great graphics and sound, goto PDAmill for Snails and AstraWare for stuff like Mummy Maze, Atomica, Fruit Frolic, Seven Seas, Cubis. Great stuff at only a few dollars.

Bottomline: For a reasonable price, you get a great mobile phone, bright screen, PIMs and all the multimedia that we have grown so used to. For me, it is great to carry only one device and yet have all I want with me including a Bible and the church membership data.