Those of us here at CrunchGear who use Helio’s excellent Ocean (which is most of us) are thrilled up at the prospect of the rumored Ocean 2, or OZ2, which is purportedly set to drop on or around June 20. We know the phone has significant upgrades to the OS making it much faster and more responsive that the first-gen version, and we also hear there’s a better camera and in-browser support for Flash, as well as an Opera-based browser included. Other likely additions are integrated YouTube, weather apps, messaging, and true GPS functionality, but until we have one in our hands we won’t know what’s included for sure.
One thing we’ve been hearing a lot about is the new navigation pad. We hear alternately that it’s touch sensitive and non-touch, meaning you gesture above the pad and it reads your movements, which would one-up multitouch as a new technology.
This is apparently what the OZ2 looks like, very much like the current Ocean, which we’d heard, but we’re not totally convinced that’s the final form the phone handset will take. If all of these features are included, the OZ2 just might give the iPhone a run for its money.
You got to be kidding me… you actually like Helio Ocean? I played with one at Fry’s, and I couldn’t even make sense out of it within first 5 minutes. Out of the window it went. It has nothing on iPhone in terms of simplicity, ease of use and features that are actually useful. With 3G iPhone coming, pfft.
No offense but if you can’t figure out Helio Ocean than you must be mentally challenged aswell. Iphone sure is an innovation in itself but it pales away in comparison with the Ocean.
You played with the Ocean for 5 minutes and you couldn’t figure it out? This is me lol’ing over here. Look, I’m lol’ing.
“It has nothing on iPhone in terms of simplicity” check it out – lack of features is a feature!
And continues the trend of strange looking oval shaped devices that appear to be fat looking…
Is that a jab at me!?
Jk.
Get ready! Here it comes. http://www.HelioCellular.com/ARTICLE-Helio-OZ2.html
You can now sign-up for the pre-release of the Helio Ocean 2 for a limited time at:
http://www.ocean2promo.com
http://www.helioncity.com has better pictures of the ocean 2 on their home page.
Really fascinating multi touch video. Looks new and cool believe it or not! Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDyg_Hxbw0
Yeah I have a helio ocean and have handled an iphone…and the features for helio ocean are great just as the iphones are great as well…but the design and class of the iphone far exceeeds that of the ocean…I just pray that they make the ocean 2 a lot better in their design and make it at least very slim and touch screen or something…but please not keep it as the same way its been and add on and say ohh but look at all their features…because after keeping the ocean phone for several years now I’m starting to want a new and good look and design not some big stone of a phone…looks like a freakin rock…
The new Ocean is a piece of junk, I’ve had the original since day one and it’s a great phone, exactly what I wanted. But to come out with a red one with a bit more memory, no flash, crappy microSD location, and less than useless optical sensor “d-pad” is such a cop-out for only offering 4 phones. and yes, on Feb. 12 when the O2 comes out, they’ll still be offering 4 phones because it’s the same damn thing.
ok people this is my opinion i think out rite now the best phone is not the iphone but i do love the ocean 2 not only technically i think plan wise the ocean 2 is better also u people r getting cought up in the thin touch screen phaze. Is touch screen cool? yes it is. Is it needed? not entirley. if u have a aim and u need more resons or u wanna confrencemy aim is iceywolf1994