XDAIIs - better spec in Q1 2005?

[rakh1]

Can anyone shed any light on rumours that I have heard concerning a priocessor speed and camera upgrade to the XDAIIs in Q1 next year.

I read somewhere there would be a 500MHz CPU and a 1.3MPixel camera released mid January?

R

[ajong]

perhaps, it's called XDA IIi ------->HTC Alpine

[donakmar]

Is it really true that O2 gonna come out with the XDAIIi? Is there any facts to justify this? If it is true, I guess it will be the best ultimate machine ever produce from O2 with all those awesome specs.

[veletron]

Its true... it looks like an XDA II, has 1.3Mpix camera, 500MHz proc, but no keyboard. Wifi is still present. Cant remember where I read this now, but it was in several locations.

Nigel

[Anonymous]

I was going to get an xda iis early next year, because I really like the looks, love the keyboard, and like the better specs than the original (forgot what processor speed is), but you say there is a better one? I've also heard there were a few problems with the xda iis, but don't know specifics. Question is...does anyone know what bennefit I would have to waiting for the new one mentioned here with even better specs than the blue angel? I will just say that I must have a built in keyboard (don't like stylis's) and I like the way the thumboard is and the way the blue angel is built in general...any suggestions or ideas is appreciated

[usdiver]

does anyone know where I can find info on the newest one mentioned here? who has the blue angel and what do you think?... would you upgrade to the newest one or stick with the blue angel? thanks

[veletron]

Hi

Blue angel is a nice device (mine is the XDA IIs variant), but like you say, it does have some problems. For the post part these can be cured by firmware updates. It is likely that the Magician (o2 XDA Mini), and the future O2 XDAIIi will also have firmware issues. Search these forums for 'veletron' for my rants about the issues that I have found). Should point out that the Magician has no wifi and is unlikely to prove a suitable device for someone otherwise considering an blue angel.

My advice would be to avoid O2 and the other telcoms companies and maybe go for a IMate PDA2K. Reason for saying this is that IMate is the *only* reseller of the blue angel that appears to have done anything about the extensive bluetooth problems that the device suffers from. I suspect the fix comes from HTC, but IMATE are the only lot that have packaged this fix as an update for its users.

O2 are notoriously bad for issuing updates, preferring to do a new firmware release that contains a load of fixes in one. IMHO, the bluetooth issues warrent a prompt patch from each of the blue angel resellers.

I dont think that the O2 XDA IIi has a keyboard, it looks just like the O2 XDA II. I would not sacrifice the O2 XDA IIs' keyboard for the faster proc & better camera myself.

Hardware wise, the main issue with XDA IIs devices has been yellow screens (though mine is fine <-- looks yellow when viewed off angle), and the loose keypad - starts off tight but the slider mechanism gets slack. Some kind of a slider lock would have been nice here. Battery life is par for a device of this kind. Wifi reception is bad (but sufficient).

There are also worries over call quality using the internal microphone (no one can hear you). I think that a firmware upgrade will fix this though.

I have found around 50 software issues (some serious) but I will stick with mine since:

1) when it works, it works well
2) 95% of these problems are softare and can be fixed with an upgrade
3) There is nothing else like it on the market

Regards

Nigel

[bigblk150]

There are people on howard forums who have done reviews of the Blue Angel, Magician, etc, and they have briefly discussed the upcoming Alpine (XDA IIi):

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=519561

It seems that we are not the only ones who are unhappy with the quality issues surrounding the Blue Angel. According to the review, the Alpine will be based on the previous Himalaya design, NOT the Blue Angel.

[usdiver]

thanks for the link...certainly great information. I will have to say I'm still partial to the blue angel because I like keys and easy, conveniant user options. The xda mini is impressive as well, but I didn't see anything about keys or built in keys in the xda mini. think I will wait for a couple of months and see what comes up. I am one who likes heavy duty material and durability, but willing to sacrifice this and get a case if the other features are more benneficial. comments? (can you get the xda iis in the us as of yet?)

[kj]

Will i-mate carry a variant of the XDAIIi? If so when and what will it be called? Can't find it on the i-mate website yet.

[Anonymous]

My main issue is that the upcoming Alpine will be designed to support and probably ship with PPC'005 and that is something worth considering when stacking it up against the BlueAngle.

If PPC005 will be available as an upgrade on the Blue Angle and it runs just as well as on the Alpine -- then I like the keyboard and layout on the Angle. But what if 2005 borrows from the Wintel playbook of old and requires more Mzh or Ram or other hardware novelty that is the real reason for HCT releasing the Alpine so hot on the heels of what is otherwise a successful product just now maturing to the point where most of the bugs are fixed.

I had one of the first phones these guys made and remember what a joke the MS PPC was -- not even supporting SMS sender recognition etc .. and how long it took to get 2003 working and the associated hardship involved. As a result of that I have complete and utter faith that the master cooks in this forum like Lump will come up with a fix to get '005 on the Angle -- but if it is a big problem, then perhaps I should just make the best out of having a circa 1999 spec MegaPixel camera in my pocket all the time.

Anyone have any ideas about PPC'005 compatibility with the Blue Angle ??

-d

[chiark]

The thing that'll see me shelling out for a new phone to replace my XDA 2s will be a 640x480 screen resolution device at a decent price.

The XDA 2s does appear a little buggy in places, but on the other hand I am pretty much converted to the idea of a phone integrated with a PocketPC, and this form factor (particularly the keyboard) is what really floats my boat.

It would be a great shame (but bloody typical) if I've just bought something that is at the end of its evolutionary branch!

[xda-rocks]

There's been rumours and even photos of the MDA4 with VGA resolution, faster processor and 3G radio (with keyboard).

[Mastiff]

I'll buy that!

[walshie_au]

yes the rumors are in fact called the xda 3, this model is due middle to late 2005 with 3G radio CF & SD and running the PXA 272 500Mhz processor with Windows Mobile 2005. But dont get your hopes up yet, there have been problems with MS supporting the 3G radio and software, because they do not have plans for 3G support on Windows Mobile, they are talking about CE.NET 5 to support 3G

[Anonymous]

But where is the "real" news here? It's not really surprising that - how ever it is named - a "UMTS Xda" will have VGA display (because mid next year VGA will be standard for Pocket PCs), using a Bulverde CPU above 400 MHz (even today's high-end devices have this), and will have CDMA (otherwise it wouldn't be a UMTS/§G device).
The information at msmobiles isn't everything else than a rant (please notice msmobiles is reporting a "XScale" CPU).
So if we are ranting here I can add that a "UMTS Xda" will most likely have a mega pixel camera with flash, either a second camera for video telephony or a rotateable, and is supposed to use the "next generation" Pocket PC Phone Edition OS. Release date is anytime between January 05 and December 05. A first view will either be provided in Cannes at the 3GSM congress (which I will attend for sure - as every year) or in Hannover at the CeBIT (which I will attend as well).

So you see, all it takes is to use the excising information, merging it and you have a "3G Xda".
But does we know more now? Comes time comes Xda XYZ.......