MWg Atom V

MWg previously known as O2 Asia has two new devices in the offering the Atom V and the Zinc II. We start off with the Atom V which is powered by an Intel PXA270 520MHz CPU and comes with 256MB ROM and 64MB RAM. The Atom V offers quite a few connectivity options like Quad Band GSM for world roaming, Wi-Fi, UMTS, HSDPA and of course Wi-Fi. The phone comes with a 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen, 3 Megapixel camera, GPS, FM Radio, Micro SD card slot and Bluetooth 2.0. The phone runs on the latest Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional edition

Upcoming: MWg Atom V

Words are out that MWg will be releasing 2 new handhelds. One of them will be the O2 Atom/Exec replacement model named MWg Atom V. Pricing is currently not confirmed.





Specification:

Dimensions: 116 x 59 x 14.95 mmPrimary display resolution: 240 x 320 pixels

Networks: Quadband GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900

Connectivity options: 3G, HSDPA, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPRS/GSM, USB, EDGE

Messaging features: SMS, MMS, Predictive text input, Email, Instant message

Built-in digital camera: Yes

Maximum camera resolution: 3 megapixels

Additional multimedia features: FM Radio

Operating system: Windows Mobile 6

Main processor type: Marvell PXA270 (520MHz)

RAM/ROM: 64 MB/256MB

Expansion option(s): TransFlash/microSD

General specification looks interesting with GPS and 3G. It’s only 1mm thicker than the HTC Touch with so much function thrown in. However, the low 64MB RAM really is a damper!

http://freshgear.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/upcoming-mwg-atom-v/

MWg Atom V

Description

The MWg Atom V is the first Windows Mobile device exclusively designed and launched by MWg (founded by the team responsible for O2’s ground-breaking products in Asia).

Features:

Operating System	Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Processor	Intel XScale PXA 270 520MHz
Memory	256MB Flash ROM; 64MB RAM
Cellular Data	Tri-band UMTS (2100/1900/850 MHz), Quad-Band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz), HSDPA 3.6Mbps
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth v2.0, 802.11b/g WLAN
Display	2.8” TFT QVGA (Touch Screen)
Radio	FM Radio with RDS
GPS	SiFR Star III GPS
Camera	2MP camera
Dimensions	116 x 59 x 14.95mm

With a brand new design and exclusive to MWg, the Atom V is a guaranteed head-turner. Its 2.8” TFT LCD screen boasts QVGA resolution, and extends throughout the front face of the handset, giving it a sleek & sophisticated look, while the tactile skin on the back of the device makes it comfortable to handle.

The Atom V features a full range of connectivity options from HSDPA 3.5G (3.6Mbps) to WiFi and Bluetooth so you can stay connected anywhere you go. The integrated SiRFstarIII GPS will help you find your way with great reliability, even if urban areas with high buildings or densely covered outdoor environments.

Box Contents:
- Atom V
- AC multi-head adapter for multiple countries
- MiniUSB sync cable
- Battery
- Stylus
- Stereo headphones
- Manual
- Companion CD

Technical Details

•	Operating System: Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 6 Professional, World Wide English
•	Memory: - 256MB Flash ROM - 64MB RAM - MicroSD expandable memory
•	Display: - 2.8” TFT QVGA LCD touch screen - 240 x 320 pixel resolution - 65K effective resolution - Video support: MPEG4, 3GP, WMV - Image support: BMP, WBMP, GIF, PNG
•	Network Frequency: - Quad-band GSM: 850/ 900/1800/1900 Mhz - WCDMA: 2100 Mhz - HSDPA 7.2 Mbps* - EDGE
•	Connectivity: - SiRF III GPS - Built-in Wireless LAN 802.11b+g - Bluetooth® version 2.0 + EDR - Mini-USB port - Audio jack (2.5mm)
•	Audio: - Speakerphone Stereo speaker - Playback support: MIDI, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC - FM Radio with RDS function
•	GPS: Integrated highly sensitive SiFRstarIII GPS chip, reliable in urban and densely covered outdoor environments.
•	Camera: - 2.0 Megapixels CMOS Auto-focus White LED strobe flash - Support still image and video capture - GPS image tagging - Macro Mode
•	Operating Time: - Standby up to 150 hours (GSM) - Talktime up to 3.5 hours
•	Dimensions: 116 x 59 x 14.95mm; 140g
•	Warranty : - 12 months for main unit - 6 months for supplied accessories

http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=161299

MWg Atom V

Till now, the O2 Xda Atom Life remains a popular handheld among those looking for a compact keypad-less Windows Mobile (WM) device. It helped that the company relaunched it in a new color, but still, the fact that people are still buying it a whole year after its initial availability is testament to its staying power. It makes sense then for MWg (what O2 Asia is called now) to carry on the Atom line of products with the Atom V.

Design

Design is an important reason the Atom Life was successful, and from the images and specs, the Atom V looks to emulate that. Though not razor-thin like so many consumer mobile phones these days, the Atom V is pretty slim, measuring in at just under 15mm, down from the Atom Life's 18mm. There is a bit of sacrifice in the length and width though. The Atom V has a noticeably larger footprint and does not look as compact as the older Atoms.

The Atom V has a circular directional pad which, unfortunately, doesn't rotate.
(click for larger image)

Like HTC's Touch series, the entire front surface of the device is flush. This means there is no raised bezel, which makes it better for fingertip actions like scrolling and swiping. We did find that the LCD is really quite far under the clear plastic cover, which makes it difficult to aim at small icons, especially if the screen is placed at an angle from your view.

Below the display is a round directional pad. At first glance, you expect it to be a scroll wheel because of the shape, but unfortunately, it's not. The lack of circular motion doesn't take away from the fact that it's a pretty effective five-way navigator. We especially liked it that the selector is very large so you can't possibly miss it.

Around this navigator are the shortcut buttons. These are thinly shaped but well spaced out so we had no problems with them. On the left side of the Atom V is the camera shutter, a volume rocker which doubles as another shortcut key and the microSD card slot. Connections-wise, there's a standard mini-USB port on the base and a 2.5mm audio jack for headsets on the right side.

Features

The size of the Atom V doesn't limit what it's able to do and it remains as fully featured as the Atom Life. This includes HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connection options as well as quad-band GSM, a feature frequent travelers to the US will appreciate. For those who still like to listen to the radio, a tuner is also built into this handheld.

The Atom V Quick Menu interface.

Another feature that globetrotters will like is the inclusion of GPS. This was one thing that gave the HTC P3600i (or Dopod D810) the upper hand when comparing features. The GPS in the Atom V will utilize the tried-and-tested SiRFStar III chipset. Of course, that isn't a guarantee for success as the quality of the internal antenna will have to support it. More on that when we are able to test this feature out in a future review.

One of the most glaring omissions is the lack of a secondary camera for video calls. Though it is equipped with 3G, there is only one rear-facing camera for still snapshots and video capture.

Though still fast at 520MHz, the Atom V's processor is slower than the Atom Life's 624MHz one. It may not mean a lot to most users, but those switching over from an Atom Life may feel the difference.

Though many handhelds now come with 128MB RAM, the Atom V sticks with 64MB. RAM is temporary memory for running applications, so more of it will make multitasking more efficient. This is one feature we really regret not seeing in the Atom V.

One of the things that we liked about O2 products was the effort taken to customize the software. On the Today screen, this is usually done by adding new rows and shortcuts to make getting to commonly used items more convenient. MWg has taken another step by providing an attractive alternative to the default Today screen in an app named Atom V Quick Menu. This interface features large icons on the bottom of the screen which are meant to be tapped with the fingers. Icons can be removed or added from a comprehensive list and moving between them is intuitively done by swiping your thumb against the row. A big clock is found in the middle of the display while the top of the screen shows system information and fixed shortcuts to messaging, the phone application and keylock. This is definitely much easier to use than the regular Today screen. But if asked to make a choice, we'd still have to say that HTC's implementation is still more comprehensive and useful.

Another useful feature is the Easy-Touch Menu. This can be called up by pressing and holding the Windows key. What it does is to help you easily terminate the application you are in, because as we know, pressing X on the top right corner only minimizes them. This will help with RAM management. It also has a shortcut to the brightness setting, making it convenient to adjust the backlight to save power.

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001708,42514760p,00.htm

MWg's Atom V - A Quick Peek

Reacquainted with the Atom

When O2 announced its imminent withdrawal from the Asia Pacific market, it was smartphone enthusiasts who were left with a reality of losing a prominent Windows Mobile device in its wake. Fortunately, the O2 Asia team has taken on the mandate with a new initiative under the Mobile and Wireless Group (MWg), with an impressive lineup for the upcoming months.

For starters, we were presented with their first introduction for the year, the Atom V. Exclusively designed by MWg and being their first of many more releases to come, the Atom V takes on a form much unlike its previous O2 XDA predecessors.

You'll notice the biggest difference on its navigational pad, with softkey buttons seemingly too narrow for comfort.

Adding some bells and whistles to the Atom V is a propriety user interface known as the Atom V Quick Menu. The flushed screen made sense to us when we discovered the ability to scroll through your various applications with the flick of your finger. With the option to mix and match various applications into the Atom V, MWg has a clear direction in providing a unique user interface for consumers.

You have the camera button, scroll wheel and microSD slot situated at the left side of the Atom V, but what's of interest here is ...

... the location of its 2.5mm audio jack, oddly found on the top right, just slightly above the battery casing.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=18&id=2497