The Beanster Blog

O2 has just announced the O2 Flame -- This beast of a device boast very impressive specs inlcuding: Intel Xscale(R) PXA 270 processor at 520 Mhz. 2.0 Mega Pixel camera NVIDIA(R) GoForce(R) 5500 GPU Wireless LAN 802.11b+g SRS Mobile HD surround sound USB On-The-Go 2 GB Flash ROM + 64 MB RAM [although the screen shows something closer to 128Mb RAM] TV out connector Windows Mobile 5 (so far) Bluetooth Micro SD expansion slot 3G - Tri band phone Second camera for video chatting Built-in flash for the main camera The battery power is not final yet (the demo one had 1600 mA) Built-in FM tuner Business card reader (through camera) Infrared (does any one still use this? More info and mouthwatering pics on DinarSoft's coverage of GITEX From the comparison shots it looks like a huge device, of course with all the goodies you get this is understandable. This will be probably out by Q2 2007. Not really on my shortlist of devices at the moment as it doesn't have a hardware keyboard but it...

O2 in the aftermath of getting the boot from long time supplier HTC is gearing up for 2007. Reports are floating around in enthusiast sites of the upcoming devices for O2. This include a VGA Phone Ed device [O2 Flame] and a QWERTY slider [O2 Zinc]. I wonder who is manufacturing these devices for O2? I really hope they are good and experienced so that the new crop of devices are as reliable [or even more reliable] than the HTC manufactured ones. I think for Asia in 2006 O2 was only able to release one device and that's the ATOM [I will not count the ATOM Exec or ATOM Pure as additional devices since they have almost, if not the same specs] pretty lame huh! Well O2 needs to play catch up to dopod [now HTC's Asia Pacific arm] and regain some lost ground. Can these new devices push O2 forward in 2007? i-mate is also releasing new products not manufactured by HTC, the devices include JAQ3, JAQ etc. these devices are sort of a mixed bag. While having a relatively new form factor for ...

I've flashed my O2 XDA Exec [aka HTC Universal] with a AKU3.2 ROM by Lt. Commander Ivan [xda-dev], I also flashed it with Radio ver 1.13.00 from the Orange ROM, I skipped the Extended ROM and have a pretty clean device. I've synced over my PIM data and am checking if the Radio performs better than the 1.11.00 I previously had on my device. So far so good this AKU3.2 beta 8 ROM seems stable enough and of course I love all the AKU3.2 enhancements especially being able to get rid of the lousy battery that they introduced in AKU2.0

Out of boredom I decided to do some spring cleaning on my Exec... and I thought what the heck why not try out another ROM. The logical choice of course was the Dopod 900 ROM as I reside in Asia. Did a hard reset, went into bootloader, I got the Dopod 900 ROM and loaded it to my Exec with no hitches [took about 20 minutes]. Now I have an Exec with a Dopod 900 ROM :D No more O2 crap and the Autoconfig now has the most common telcos for Asia and the Pacific. Perfect! now it's easier to swap SIMs, until I decide to change telco's or get the unlimitted data plan from Globe [only offered to corporate accounts peeps]. I've loaded my apps and have done my tweaks/hacks. Happy to report that the A2DP hack is also working with this ROM. So far so good. It also seems that I am getting better reception with this Radio ROM [1.11]. My device is really snappy now as most of the crap files and reg entries left over from the past 3 months have been cleaned out. :P -- [ROM Info :P] -- [Memory...

First off thanks to Cubie 'Gorgeous' Cu for this case, and JM for bringing it back to Manila. -- Tired of waiting for the Universal's silicone case to arrive via my usual haunts for PDA Accessories I asked Cubie to get me one in Hong Kong. Although the label says it is for the dopod 900 it will fit all variants of the HTC Universal [including my O2 XDA Exec]. -- I've always been a fan of Silicone cases. I actually owned 3 silicone cases for my imate JAM, and 1 for my dopod 838 [even if it was useless as the slider could not be opened with it on the device]. Anyway now I have an alternative way of carrying my device, I just hope I don't get to pissed off with all the lint. -- Pros: Adds almost no weight to your device Low profile and thin but offers some shock protection. Washable. Unlike most cases silicone can be removed and washed with soap and water. Complete access to all buttons and functions. Cons: Some parts of the device are exposed mainly the pivot assembly...

I got the O2 XDA Exec because I wanted to use Globe's 3G with HSDPA, not suprisingly Globe's 3G sucks! I blogged about it here -- Upon getting the hp iPAQ rw6828 it immediately dawned on me that I could use another service provider, the obvious choice of course is SMART, SUN is cheap but is crap [tried it before and ended up giving away my pre-paid SIM]. -- I got a SMART Buddy Super SIM3 for PhP 150.00 got a PhP 300.00 Voucher [aka Load] downloaded the Connection Settings CABs [SMART MMS and GPRS] extracted from a dopod 900's ExtendedROM, SMSed the activation codes for MMS and GPRS, Installed the CABs, did a Soft Reset... and BAM! I was using 3G... I have a 3G signal almost anywhere I go, I did some speed tests and the results look promising... here they are. -- Test Conditions: Location/s: Moving from my house [near Wilson St.] to Nirai in Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, Metro Manila [spotty or no Globe 3G service here] No other applications using the Internet [i.e....

Ok here goes my review of the O2 XDA Executive [aka HTC Universal], I know there are tons of reviews all over the net tackling this device but here's my take on this device. -- Hardware: The Exec boasts some awesome hardware specs... It has WiFi 802.11b [can be hacked to improve 802.11g connection] it has Bluetooth v1.2 [can be hacked to get A2DP [Advanced Audio Distribution Profile] and AVRCP [Audio-Video Remote Control Profile]. It has Infrared for older devices or if you don't feel like bothering with BT. It has a standard SDIO slot [Hooray!] It is Quadband GSM/GPRS and is the first Windows Mobile PocketPC Phone to feature 3G technology. It has 2 cameras 1 0.3MP for Video Telephony and a 1.3MP for pics and video at the back. Last but not least it has a standard 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack, so you can use your fave high end earphones without a converter! All these bells and whistles come at the price of size and weight. This PPC Phone weights in at 285gms and has the following ...

Was really bored yesterday so I decided to trade-in my dopod 838, and got myself an O2 XDA Executive. Man the screen is gorgeous and it is way zippier than my 838. So far I'm am liking it it is way bigger and a bit heavier. I'm just about finished loading it up [some of my apps are not VGA aware yet though]. Will surely post more about it soon ;-)

Was over at PocketPC Thoughts and saw this story. Wow-wow-wee-wow-wow!!! O2 is coming out with the ATOM [Dec 2005] It's a Pocket PC Phone [it's a PDA + Phone]. -- Personally I'd wait for the HTC Wizard [aka i-mate k-JAM, Qtek 9100, dopod 838, O2 XDA II mini pro] I really want an in-built keyboard. But this baby is really nice as well. -- Quick specs are: Windows Mobile 5.0 [new OS] 2.0MP Camera Bluetooth 1.2 WiFi [802.11b] FM Radio Tri-Band EDGE Intel PXA272 416MHz miniSD -- [click image for more info at O2 website] -- :o)

MANILA [PHILIPPINES] BUYERS ONLY!!! -- I've got a couple of extra cases for O2 XDA mini [aka HTC Magician or i-mate JAM or Qtek s100 or Orange m500 or dopod 818 or T-Mobile MDA compact]. I'm selling them dirt cheap! -- [ slighlty used ] Brando Workshop Leather Case [complete with box and detachable belt clip] got it for PhP 1800 and I'm selling it for PhP 1,500 [click for bigger images; i-mate JAM not included ] -- [ never used ] OAD Silicone Case with screen cover [complete with handstrap detachable belt clip] got it for PhP 1,500 and I'm selling it for PhP 1,200 [click for bigger images; i-mate JAM not included ] -- If you're interested you may reach me at 09175353817 or 09223297888 or via E-Mail

[photo courtesy of Tekguru] Tekguru has just posted his review of the O2 XDA Executive (HTC Universal)!!! Head on over to Tekguru for the 2 part review ( Hardware and Software ) with loads of pics!!! Wow this device looks really sweet. It's a pity though that with our mobile operators we will not be able to take advantage of this device's capabilities.