O2 Xda Flame to redefine Pocket PC high end?

Call us fickle, but if the rumored specs on this thing are even close to accurate, we're quite ready to put the whole Nokia N97 debacle firmly behind us. In fact, this so-called "Xda Flame" for O2's networks (read: not us poor, smartphone-starved Americans) has us salivating uncontrollably to the point where we're embarrassing ourselves. Skeptical? Check this: a 3G radio (HSDPA, we're guessing), 2GB of internal storage, 802.11b/g, a 2 megapixel cam, surround sound, TV out, and an XScale PXA270 clocked at 520MHz, all paired up to a 3.6-inch VGA (yes, we said VGA) display powered by an NVIDIA GoForce 5500. Breathtaking, is it not? Sounds too good to be true, in fact -- but we should know some time next year when this thing's allegedly lined up to hit store shelves. Now go back to your 8525s, folks, and we'll let you know when you can buy one of these suckers.

[Dave Weinstein @ Nov 21st 2006 2:14PM]

Ummm... so where's the keyboard? or the 12 key for that matter? And who's building this thing for them? I'm a bit tired of buggy HTC devices.

[Tyler @ Nov 21st 2006 2:42PM]

I first read this and actually considered what it would be like to spend $800+ on a smartphone. According to my mediocre-at-best geometry using the screen size as a reference, this thing is 4.5" x 2.75". My Treo 650 is 4.5" x 2.3" and is already bulging out of my front pocket to a degree that is one step short of a phone belt-clip in terms of girls being willing to talk to me. LCD headsets are great to keep something this big tucked away, but it's going to be a challenge to keep this thing low profile for those of us vain enough to care.

Oh, and thanks Dave... I forgot to think about it, but I need QWERTY unless there is some revolutionary data entry system they have yet to unleash. They are getting so close to the perfect phone/pda/multimedia device though.

[ianpac @ Nov 27th 2006 11:46AM]

The dimensions are 4.9 inches by 2.8 inches.

The complete specs are listed here:

http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=673

[David @ Nov 21st 2006 2:43PM]

Oh. That's. Pretty.

Preeeeeeeeeeeetty.

I'm sold!-ish. I still like the o2 xda exec better though, just cause I don't mind carrying around large devices for ppc (Not smartphone) abilities.

[Curtis @ Nov 21st 2006 2:44PM]

I'll admit it caught my eye at first, but the poster, or whatever that image is, makes an inaccurate claim. This device is not the first "dual processor" handheld, because if by "dual processor" they mean there's a CPU and a GPU, then take a look at some of Dell's AXIMs that had the ATI graphics chip... yeah it might not have had 3d acceleration, but it was there.

Dave Weinstein, I'm with you: where's my keyboard?????

Oh yeah.. quadband... 3g? WIFI is not everywhere!

[dyahalom @ Nov 21st 2006 3:04PM]

Notice there is no mention about integrated GPS or bluetooth....

Plus, its ugly.

[I'd like to lick it @ Nov 21st 2006 3:34PM]

^ my name says it all..

[Covert @ Nov 21st 2006 3:59PM]

Well the Axim actually has the Intel 2700 graphics unit, rather than something by ATI, but there have been other devices with graphics controllers as well.

To dyahalom: it would be ridiculous for it to not include Bluetooth, as commonplace as it has become. GPS is another matter.

While this sounds like a great PDA, it looks far too large to be a suitable phone.

[RICK @ Nov 21st 2006 4:28PM]

Well, I must admit that Nvidia chipset is the only thing that makes it shine, other than that... well, I wouldn't get it. Having purchased an I Mate JasJar I could tell you they're using the same 3.6 inch screen VGA screen which provides stunning clarity but lacks vibrant colors due to all smartphones limited 64k color screens. The TV output is a very nice touch, the 2 gigs built in is pathetic! You can get an 2GB Sd card for 30 bucks now a days. I'm still waiting for that perfect do-it- all smartphone, and this aint it. Nice, though.

[John @ Nov 21st 2006 5:15PM]

Without a built-in hard drive, this seems a little disjointed. I've been wondering for a very long time when your PDA, phone, MP3 player, camera, and mass storage will become one device. This thing seems to come close, but without a hard drive, it just can't do the job(s) well enough. I hope that all-in-one device is coming soon...

[E71 @ Nov 21st 2006 5:25PM]

It looks large and heavy. Knowing british engineering if it's made by them limeys it'll break down before you know it.

[cmonkey @ Nov 21st 2006 6:24PM]

I wouldn't be surprised if the rumored specs are true. All of these features (except maybe surround sound, whatever thats supposed to mean) have been available in different Pocket PCs already. It was just a matter of time until someone decided to combine them all. Of course, this thing will cost more than the average laptop, but cool none the less.

[Alpha4 @ Nov 21st 2006 7:06PM]

@E71
Spaceshuttle? Tit.

[Steve @ Nov 21st 2006 9:43PM]

Looks really nice, can wait to see it out in the wild.

[Zach @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:12AM]

Still waiting for something to pass up my Axim x51v. VGA, faster CPU (624mhz), etc. Connects to EVDO via bluetooth with my phone. Connects to GPS via bluetooth. Has SD and CF slots. I've got a thumb keyboard when I need that, and a bluetooth keyboard when I need it.

It's not a phone, but I've had PDA phones before and didn't like them. I've got a Samsung A900 for phone duties.

[BBoy @ Nov 24th 2006 12:03PM]

AMEN!! My X51V will be in my pocket until something comes along that rivals it. I want the specs to be comparible or better and include a "3G" phone.

[saq @ Nov 22nd 2006 1:23AM]

As a very happy owner of an 8525 and longtime PDA owner, I'm not quite sure exactly what I would do with a Geforce 5500 level chip on a PDA or why I'd even want one.

Mobile gaming (of which I'm not a huge fan) is much better on a PSP or DS than a PDA formfactor.
Handheld consoles aren't the greatest formfactor for mobile gaming. Why not leave it at that?


I'd much rather have an extremely long battery life, a built in hdd (20gb or so sounds fine), integrated GPS in a slightly slimmer device than my 8525 before having a GeForce 5500 to play games on a PDA.

[isomaniac @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:43AM]

Questions:

1. Is the 2M camera auto-focus? If not, sorry.
2. Does it support EDGE as well? (Sorry, flat rate GPRS/EDGE plan is free in my place Hong Kong, but HSDPA plan is still expensive)

[Rod @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:39AM]

Gotta love idiots who demand a 3 megapixel camera, as if that would be a meaningful improvement. I hate to break it to you, but whether it's the 3 megapixel Nokia or the 6 megapixel Samsung, ALL phone cams are terrible. If you want to take a picture, carry a camera, not a PDA or a phone. PDA/phones may have a future in replacing mp3 players and PMPs, but cameras? I don't think so. With the size of sensors and lenses they fit on those things, I don't know why anyone tries to take pictures with those.

[gamercorps @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:23PM]

@saq
Personally there are enough devices to cover what you would like, however there are little to few decent devices with dedicated gpu's. I can say this with that kind of gpu, I'm sure their thinking media output and emu gaming, they could have reconsidered the controls...anyone know if logitech makes bluetooth game pad ;) I'll stick with a mpx220 and a gp2x for now.

[Jeff @ Nov 22nd 2006 5:48PM]

Now that's a $750 PDA/phone. HTC eat your heart out.

[Jeff @ Nov 26th 2006 7:14AM]

I have a Tapwave, that was a PDA with an ATI 3D chip in it. Not that I really use the 3D graphics. I didn't buy it for the games, I wanted a Palm OS unit with Bluetooth. I think it retailed for $250. I just don't understand why attaching phone circuitry to a PDA would make the PDA cost nearly $800.

[Hoot Loder @ Dec 1st 2006 11:19AM]

When are people going to realise that the amount of megapixels has nothing to do with the quality of the image. It merely denotes the maximum SIZE that an image can be displayed or reproduced from the stored data. Image quality, e.g. sharpness, contrast, colour rendition is determined by the LENS, not megapixels. Any camera with the optics of a gnats eye is never going to compete with the large scale precise curves of a digital SLR lens. For photos get a CAMERA, and if you must have 16 x 20 inch prints, make sure it has 6 megapixels.

[mailto:jeffdm @ Jan 31st 2007 11:49PM]

The sensor has a lot to do with it too, there are a few different types of sensor technology. The lens has a lot to do with it though, they have to work together. No pinhead-sized lens is going to get very good results compared to something with a decent sized lens.

[gomango @ Nov 30th 2007 11:17PM]

i think this O2 xda flame packs a breath taking puunch , it has every thing i need from a high end machinine and then some. does any know if it will ever make it to the USA, i'm looking to upgrade my 8525, i'm with old school large screen pda, i think that's where my 8525 fall short, any ideas if there will be winmo 6 ROM upgrade available for this phone