| work and huddled around to watch excitedly as | | | | internal flash memory. A MiniSD card slot for |
| the wrapping was torn off and we opened the | | | | expanding the memory is located on the top of |
| box to review it!The Atom Life enters the Indian | | | | the phone. |
| market as part of 02's new strategy to divide its | | | | Camera |
| five main product segments: performance, | | | | The 2 megapixel camera takes decent pictures |
| lifestyle, messaging, hybrids, and smartphones. | | | | with resolutions ranging from 80x60 to |
| The products in each segment have feature sets | | | | 1600x1200. An LED strobe flash and a self-portrait |
| appropriate for their target market. This device | | | | mirror are also built in. |
| fits into the lifestyle category with its good looks | | | | Shaping the Masterpiece |
| and multimedia capabilities. Speaking at its launch in | | | | At first glance, the Atom Life looks like any other |
| Mumbai recently, 02 Asia Pacific and the Middle | | | | 02 model, but look closely and you'll see a few |
| East CEO, Mark Billington, stated that the Atom | | | | subtle differences. The device's glossy black |
| Life is a PDA that will power the user both at | | | | plastic screen is the in-call speaker grille, which also |
| work and play. We decided to put this claim to | | | | houses status lights-green for standby, red for |
| test. | | | | charging, and blue to show that Bluetooth is |
| Packed with Features | | | | switched on. Volume controls are on the left, and |
| The 02 XDA Atom Life is a tri-band GSM 900 | | | | the camera and record buttons are on the right. |
| 1800/1900 phone with GPRS and EDGE | | | | Keys on the front panel include call accept and |
| capabilities. The built-in Wi-Fi functionality makes it | | | | reject controls, two soft and media player |
| an excellent device to check e-mail on the go. | | | | shortcut keys. |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation is not | | | | The Atom Life weighs 145 grams which is quite |
| built in, but it's possible to add an external | | | | light for a PDA. Its slick form makes it a true |
| receiver. The Atom Life is 3G capable-the | | | | style statement. |
| front-mounted VGA camera makes video calling | | | | Chinks in the Shining Armour |
| simplistic In-call voice reception is nice and dean. | | | | 02 markets the Atom Life as a PDA that doubles |
| The Atom Life runs on Windows Mobile 5, so | | | | up as a multimedia device. Even though it has |
| mobile versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint | | | | SRS-WOW surround speakers, the volume levels |
| and Excel are included. These applications ens that | | | | could have been higher. The glossy black plastic |
| your work won't suffer no matter where you | | | | finish is prone to fingerprints and smudges, and |
| are. Other preinstalled applications include 02 | | | | the chrome plating- especially around the stylus |
| AutoConfig, 02 Autolnstall, 02 Connect, 02 | | | | holder slot-wears out easily with heavy use. The |
| MediaPlus. 02 SMSPIus, and 02 PhonePlus, which | | | | 2.7-inch LCD screen might look good at first, but it |
| make the phone economically strong. 02 Connect | | | | isn't the clearest we have seen. Team this up |
| offers access to software updates via a GPRS | | | | with terrible viewing angles and you have real |
| connection, while 02 MediaPlus allows you to | | | | disappointment on your hands. The quality of still |
| access all your stored music, videos, and photos | | | | and video photography is also below average. |
| from a single interface. You can use PocketMSN | | | | Verdict |
| to access your Hotmail account and chat with | | | | The 02 Xda Atom Life is a brilliant device, and a |
| your contacts through MSN Messenger. The | | | | great solution for all your business and multimedia |
| Internet Explorer makes browsing the web a | | | | needs. There's a chance that you might find it a |
| breeze. There's also a mobile version of Windows | | | | little confusing to handle initially but once you get |
| Media Player 10. And to round off the package, | | | | the hang of it, organizing your daily schedules and |
| there is Microsoft ActiveSync to connect the | | | | carrying out vital daily tasks will become very |
| Atom Life to your PC.The Atom Life is powered | | | | convenient. Also, the enhanced multimedia |
| by an Irte XScale PXA 270 processor running at | | | | functions make the Atom Life a pleasure to work |
| a mind-blowing 624 MHz. We were impressed by | | | | with. The elegant shape ensures that you are |
| the capabilities of this processor, which was able | | | | carrying a guaranteed style statement in your |
| to multitask and run heavy applications without | | | | pocket. As the maufacturers said-the Xda Atom |
| am hiccups. It features 64 MB RAM and 1GB of | | | | Life surely does power you at work and play! |