O2 XDA Orbit

User opinions and reviews

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S
Shaun
my8
13 Jan 2007

Can't see why it would take 5 minutes to send a text message, some people are so negative. Thanks for the tip about updating the GPS and it works too!
When the sat nav is working, the bluetooth light flashes so it must be connected to the gps?

D
David
nEM
12 Jan 2007

I work for the mentioned telecommunications company and I can confirm that you get the co pilot satnav software free if you are on a contract of £40 above.

£35 p/m and its half price for the software [£49.99] but the handset is still free.

The only reason you will be told otherwise is if the software is out of stock.

I've had the orbit now for a month and its great.

One question above states the only charge to do with the sat nav facility is to update the "Quick Gps" facility [updates the phone to the latest satellite positions]

An easy way to avoid this charge is set the "Quick Gps" facility to update at every "sync" and always charge your phone via USB i.e every time you charge your phone it will update the log for 3 days free of charge using your pc's internet connection.

Also, with regards to texting/e-mail's there is a virtual keyboard which is fine if you are stationary with the stylus, but difficult if you are in motion.

If this is a problem, I would suggest the XDA Mini S [or the Zinc soon] for a more sensible typing solution, with the added bonus that you can still add a windows mobile 5 sat nav solution and connect via a Bluetooth GPS receiver [also available from the provider].

But with Satnav in mind, the orbit has a clear advantage, because it doesn't use Bluetooth to connect to a receiver, it is free to be used with a hands free kit alongside your Satnav solution. It also means you only have to charge one device, rather then two i.e GPS receiver and phone.

C
CS
mXW
11 Jan 2007

Fabulous device.
Don't know what the grudge is against texting .. just find a contact in the address book then tap the 'send text' button and fill in the text. Couldn't be easier or quicker.
This is my sixth PDA (psions, palms and ipaqs over the years) - and far and away the lightest, cutest and most versatile.
My only criticism is the text size on the screen - getting on in years now and definitely need glasses.

h
hipposniffer
mR7
10 Jan 2007

when you all get bored of showing yer mates that you have the 'daddy' phone, you will realize that you dont use 70% of the features the phone has to offer and will be well p@@@sed off that it takes 5 minutes to send a simple text message!
sorry for being so harsh but it is the truth as i have just changed mine for a regular handset!
i will look forward to the responses!!!!

K
Khalid
TtZ
10 Jan 2007

Navigator 6 was really slow on mine but people with different WM5 devices said it was slow also.

I got Destinator 6 which runs really well.

S
Shaun
my8
09 Jan 2007

I have had one of these little gems for 3 weeks now and it is perfect for my needs.
I have loaded Tom Tom and it works fine although a little jerky, the GPS is on Com 4 which is connected via bluetooth. I believe you will be charged for a gprs connection only when it updates the GPS system every 3 days.

s
s
MBh
09 Jan 2007

Do not get this for texting very slow, i had to send it back!

j
jadetike
MSR
09 Jan 2007

Can anyone answer the questions about texting? I'm considering getting one but I do a lot of SMS ing. How does it work and is it a really slow way of texting?

K
Khalid
TtZ
08 Jan 2007

Thanks, I got the GPS working now. I didnt get the GPS software but wasnt to bothered as if you look on certain forums you can find GPS software for free via a crack or keygen which i did.

a
adrian
pYx
07 Jan 2007

just before i buy one can anyone tell me if it goes into landscape mode whilst on the internet. cheers

j
john
m2Y
07 Jan 2007

HI all. im looking at getting the orbitin the next week or so but im not sure on the best site to down load. the tomtom6 software for free......

R
Rog
mH0
05 Jan 2007

Hi all. For those who aren't aware (sorry for those who are) GPS uses the Global Positioning Satellites circling the earth for deciding your exact location. This is achieved using a satellite receiver which is built into the XDA Orbit. There is no cost for receiving these signals, but you must be in a place to pick the signals up (ie that's usually outside).
I was unable to upgrade to the xda orbit with free software with O2 without suggesting that I was going to cancel my contract and start up a new one. At that point they agreed to match the online deal with the free software (I haven't received the package yet so I have yet to confirm that!!). Regards to all.

K
Khalid
TtZ
05 Jan 2007

If u connect wirelessly u do not get charged as u are not using the phone network.

Can anyone help me with the GPS side of things. I downloaded some GPS software called destinator and it runs on my orbit. However what it wont do is find the GPS signal. In the GPS settings I set my program port to com4 and the GPS software finds the antenna but no signal when setting a route. Do I need to change the GPS hardware settings on the phone (currently set at none).

How does GPS connect. Does it use the GPRS or bluetooth?

Z
Zach
Mti
05 Jan 2007

I can clear up the situation about CoPilot. I work for telecoms company. and i ordered one in for a client and was disappointed when no software came however we purchased one and gave it to the customer out of gratitude. But you only get the CoPilot on a new connection with 02 and not upgrades.

T
Tom
mmR
04 Jan 2007

Hi all,

I have just bought one of these. Have I done the right thing? how does the texting work (writing them?) Also I have the free SatNav thing, when using it, does it cost money every time as it is a gprs system? ALSO does it do the same when you wirelessly connect to the net? or can you get around it?

T
Tom
mmR
04 Jan 2007

J
Jason Billyack
mnX
04 Jan 2007

This is a great phone and you should get it but also get a memory card for it and the biggest i think you can get is 2Gig so get one of those!!! Install all things to the card!!!

Hope this helps

M
Mike
M3m
02 Jan 2007

I'm new to XDA's and PDA phones but am tempted by the orbit so hoping for a little advice from any kind souls out there. Having compared the voting results (design, features, performance) it appears that the orbit scores the highest of all PDA phones - which leads me to assume that this is one heck of a phone! Does anyone know how the orbit generally compares to other PDA's by other manufacturers? for example, a friend has the orange SPV M600 which he belives is superior to O2 XDA's. (I'm an existing 02 customer so would just upgrade) What do you people think? Is this the creme de la creme of PDA's (not interested in ones with keyboards by the way) or should i consider anything else out there.
cheers
Mike

K
Khalid
TtZ
02 Jan 2007

I guess I can just put tomtom on this if I wish. As the phone is already GPS enables I just need to get the software, correct?

n
nigpar
nSs
31 Dec 2006

I have the O2 XDA Orbit from O2 online. From what I gather some people are getting the free CoPilot satnav software and some are not. I upgraded my phone recently and was told it would include the satnav s\w. However on arrival no bundled satnav software. I called O2 and compalined and they tried to say that I had to pay extra for the software.I was within the 14 day cooling off period and just told them that I wanted to cancel my new contract and send the phone back. They then handed me over to retentions who more or less admitted that they didnt have the software in stock.
They offered me a tenner a month off my contract which equates to 120 quid. The software is 99 quid from O2 so result. I then searched the web and found the software for 68 quid.
You work it out.
Advice: Nag and nag O2 within the 14 days until you get what you want. It works !!

The copilot sofware comes on a 256mb mini SD card. However the orbit is micro sd.

All you have to do is copy the contents of the Mini SD on to a Micro SD. Besides the 256mb card is useless if you want to use it as an MP3 player. I hooked in a 2gb micro SD and now use it as an MP3 player as well. Pocket PC 5 syncs great with Windows Media Player 11.
The sat nav receiver syncs to an online database to get satalite position about sat position. This happens every three days. The idea of this is to give you faster positioning on start up. This will happen over GPRS if you want but if you can also do it over wifi or while your Orbit is connected to your internet enabled PC.

If you want traffic updates then this has to happen over gprs as and when they are needed.

I hope this clears a few questions for a few of you.

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