FCC outs OZ2
Posted by Justin B. on September 19th, 2008 at 01:26 PMThat’s right, the day has finally come, it was like a gigantic present this morning when the FCC’s confidentiality expired on the Ocean 2. Pictures and more pictures (and a half naked guy in a reflection, or a hand– you decide), oh joy! We’ve gone through the images at the FCC and cropped/rotated/resized them for convenience, and without further delay, here they are. These are very large photos, so after you click the thumbnails you may need to wait a bit for it to load.
If you’re bored with the pictures, check out the user manual for the Ocean 2. Nothing like reading the manual for something you can’t have yet, eh? Skimming through it gives away a few details (but in no way guarantees a final feature list as it’s an extremely old document– only the basics):
September 19th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
That is one sexy looking ocean….worth the wait
September 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
i like the speakers on the back on the last pic…
September 19th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
that’s swanky!! i just got off the phone with dominic from helio and i think he said “right now we are not releasing any new device” at least 6 times. he also kept saying “we will have any new information on the helio website” and he rattled off the address. i know that they can’t say anything, just like tmobile’s keeping the hush on the HTC dream but still i thot i should try. not that anyone else hasn’t. lol. we’re all choppin’ at the bit. my only worry is not being able to get one. at this rate i’d pay for this even if it’s not as good as the dream cuz it’s gonna have better service then the older devices.
also, if you read the manual, on page 60 (or 119 if you follow the page numbers on the bottom) there’s mention of OTA updates!! maybe that’s a push towards the future where helio knows it’s gonna capture the hardcore users and just update the firmware from afar? im PSYCHED!!!
September 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
its just a highend ocean 1 :/ this big long wait for that!
September 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
looks the same as the ocean!! 2.0 mega pixel that suks. ineed more photos or vids
September 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
AAAAAHHHHH!!! i love it!! it’s a bit on the fat side though but… i still want it!!
September 19th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
hahahahah…
Over three years and this is the promised OZ2? Something that matches a phone that came out three years ago? This is the thing that is supposed to plant some doubt in my head about getting an HTC Touch Pro, or hell, any other phone out there, even the LG VX10000 - Yes, a piece of junk, but still better than the Ocean, and by extension, better than the OZ2.
Oct 11 (bill is due oct 12) I’m gone forever, goodbye Helio, I’m never looking back! Going to buddy up with Sprint Oct 19th with a brand new Touch Pro… you know, a phone that actually has some support, bugfixes, and there aren’t a third of them defective right out of the factory.
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!
September 19th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Imma put the same response I just posted on Gizmodo a few minutes ago:
WHAT.THE.FRAK!?!?
They took out the flash?!?! It was pretty useful these past few days that the lights were out thanks to hurricane Ike.
Why did they do that? Why?
Oh and I barely got the lights back an hour ago.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
They still have the flashlight RaulBravo. Its in the manual. i don’t know where they put it though….. and this is kinda a bummer. We have been waiting for so long and this is all we get? I looked on the FCC page, and all of the pictures were taken on march 28th. Why couldn’t it have come out then???? And still only 3g??? Shouldn’t helio start competing and improving their devices instead of just coming out with the same thing just with a new outside. im mad. Probably gonna switch to verizon.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I find it amusing that they released these pictures right before the Dream came out. Not that it could compete in any way.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
is there pictures or videos of the phone in action??
btw helio is ripping us off on this phone!
September 20th, 2008 at 7:27 am
It will most likely be expensive too…def not gonna be worth it
September 20th, 2008 at 9:30 am
well i’d bet helio or virgin mobile will have sum “secret” info that they are goin to release. but contract doesnt expire till marrch, so i will wait til then and see if i get the oz2.
September 20th, 2008 at 11:13 am
wow diz is wat we been waitin 4 it open like da ocean 1 and it kinda looks da same . how can u compete to other phone wit a similar product dat u already have out. it may have new features but its basically da same man idk i might just go get a verizon
September 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
If you look closely in the pics, around the camera lens there is a ring that looks clear. Im guessing that is where the flash is located. I care more about the browser having flash support than the camera having a flash.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
no multitasking while listeng to music/watching video???? but able to text while on a phone call? interesting. the later seems REALLY safe while driving ;). NOT.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
…the ‘+’ feature for international use seems to be taken from verizon. i know right now on my kickflip, mysto and fin i didn’t have to do anything with a + symbol.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
whatever happened to having flash player on the browser??
September 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
You are all joking, right? You truly think waiting 2 years for THIS device was worth the wait? It’s a redesigned Ocean with a “finger mouse”. Ummmm, I have a horrible feeling about the “finger mouse”. I think it’s gonna be a huge disappointment. My iPhone 3G has been nothing short of a relief from my Ocean and I don’t think I’ll keep Helio (Powered by Virgin [i hate it!]). I’ll obviously wait a little longer til some further information is released but I’m more than happy with the iPhone 3G and there is zero things here that excite me.
September 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I left T-mobile and an MDA to get with helio last December mostly because Helio was supposed to be the company pushing the envelope when it came to mobile phone tech. What the hell happened? Are you kidding? THIS is what we get? Come next week I’m no longer a helio customer, ETF be damned.
September 20th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
wow…. i cannot believe this..
its ALREADY outdated and theyre waiting LONGER to release it?
September 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
who decided it was a good idea to tuck the SD slot under the battery? inconvenient.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I also left T-mobile 1 1/2 yrs ago after about 4 yrs of being with them. I really liked them, but they had a terrible selection of cool phones so I switched to Helio as soon as the Ocean came out. I also was expecting them to push the envelope on technology. I am very disappointed in what has happened to them also. When my two yrs are up, I will seriously consider switching to another company if Helio is still a disappointment.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
also, either their proofreaders suck or this camera has a mysterious new feature called “Noght Mode”
(according to p. 75 of the manual.)
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
ShadowDrake The Ocean has not been out three years hahahahah And it’s not like Helio hasn’t come out with other phones since the Ocean’s release. They just weren’t high tech top of the line phones. Either way the Oz2 is a huge dissappointment and im leaning towards either the HTC Touch Pro or the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
I’m in the process of cancelling Helio after seeing this.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
Yeah. I’m really not impressed. Helio sold its soul already, so I’m checking out.
Ever since the take over Helio’s lost its swank and technosuperiority. In 2009 Sprint will release an Android phone. And that, my friends, is where my sweet monthly payments will go.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Did anyone notice how the QWERTY on the Owners Manual does not match up with the QWERTY they show on the picture?
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
thanx god I didn’t wait for it and went for iphone.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
So the features seem nice, but it’s still a 2.0MP Camera? And the same look as the older model?
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
ok i looked at the pictures, and on the last one it looks like there is going to be SIMS CARD…. that suck because people will be able to unlock it and use it with other services like for example t- moble (cause u know that they have phones that are crap)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
@babyhenry:
If you look closely, it says MicroSD card, not SIM card. Helio does not use SIMs because they are a CDMA carrier, not GSM.
The MicroSD slot was moved under the battery to clean up the outside of the device and allow for it to be thinner.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
well i think they’ll scrap this phone… probably havanother one in the works… theres no way they can release this… it sucks. i really need a new phone my ocean is so busted… i love it though, but its getting old and glitchy.
im staying with helio though… please dont let me down!! i defend it every day… might be going to a boring iphone, though.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
there are still too many buttons on the side.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Not impressed. Simply looks like another Ocean 1 prototype. CANNOT wait until my contract expires. Main gripe with the Ocean is the keyboard is too wide for texting, especially one handed texting.
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This is a waste of time, we have been waiting for something that we already have “A New Improve Ocean” Big Deal!!!! I have always bragged about Helio, but they really let me down when they were bought out, if they had any Marketing knowledge at all; they would come out with a phones ” Plural” PHONESSSSSSSSSSS…that would compete with the high end phones. This will never compete with Verizon…I dont care all of the new things added..it is still a thick Ocean..The iPhone is Hot on the Market…when are they going to Market their product so that it gears to everyone instead of OLD HAGS…The Phone is outdated….I cant wait for the day my contract runs out….cause I will be running for the iPhone or Running to Verizon..This is a disappointment to all of us…PLEASE HELIO step it up a LEVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!…You cant not go down in history of the worse cell phone carriers world wide….and eventually went out of business!!!!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I’ve had entirely too many problems with all my oceans to even consider staying with Helio past when my contract expires. I’m on my 4th ocean since a year and a half ago. Helio is fast becoming a joke. People either don’t know what it is, or know that it’s complete garbage. A true fly by night cell phone service. I haven’t looked around enough to know where I’m going after my contract is up, but I can guarantee that I won’t be paying Helio/Virgin any more of my cash. Innovative my ass.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:16 am
People It is the ocean 2 it is supposed to resemble the original ocean. did people get mad when the i phone 3g came out and it looked like the origanle not they just got mad because it worst than the origanle. how many PHONES do you know of that can open multiple web browing pages at the same time. Not that may there are changes coming. Though i dont know why they took the flash out of the camera though i admit that is a big design flaw.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I must say i too am fairly disappointed. This “improved ocean 1″ would have been cool maybe a year ago, people would see it as an upgrade. Like a DS to DS Lite sorta thing. But now with the constant flood of new phones from different companies, it looks like the ocean has been left in the dust.
But before i condemn it, ill take into account that these are teaser photos (someone had mentioned that these were taken back in march) and that nothing is “finalized” yet, so ill still hold out for hope.
Im on sprint, and the HTC Touch Pro is looking like my next purchase (or MAYBE, possibility, the HTC Touch HD) and if this is what helio will finally offer as the O2, then im sorry i wont tag along.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I’m not gonna say I’m not disappointed, because I am. But, I very much think everyone is bitchin’ a little more than they should be. It’s a phone service. Everyone’s kind of treatin’ it like it was life changing and there’s no going back. You obviously have a way out of your disappointment and let down, but some cats are too cheap and don’t wanna pay the ETF. Especially the ones that say they shouldn’t HAVE to pay it. You’re not special and you knew it was in the contract the day you signed up. Get over it. If you’re stickin’ it out, stop crying every day until your contract is up. Just ride it out and get it over with. I’m not trying to piss anyone off or step on toes, but all the words in the world aren’t going to change thing and no one that matters with Helio/Virgin is listening. Me, personally, I’m more than likely jumpin’ ship to T-Mobile for the new HTC Dream. That phone looks dope as hell and the software I’ve read about for it sounds innovatively amazing.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Took the words right out of my mouth Drug_Free_Rob!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I don’t like how the screen is kinda rounded and higher then the sides, my sis had a LG Chochlate and her screen was horribly scratched is like 2-3 months of getting, you set it down on it’s face or it slides and so on it’s scratches it because that’s what it sits on, OZ1 was awesome be cause it was recessed back and over a year later still no scratches on the screen.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am
are effing kidding me???2.0 mpx???? what about the bluetooth stereo? is it still 1.0?? this is bull shit! i can’t believe how many ppl are actually phyched about this. this whole time i was waiting for something that would either blow the iphone out of the water or at least match it, but instead we get the OZ re-arranged with a diffrent cover, oh i almost forgot….the stupid “Touch scroll sensor” !
September 25th, 2008 at 10:13 am
ok..after reading about the dream and the xperia…i have to say im a little dissappointed with helio and the oz2. seems way out dated. dont get me wrong. i love my ocean. had it almost a year. and believe me..i give my friends with an iphone a run for their money on basic phone actions..ie..no picture texts. i have 2 kids..and without that…friends and relatives would never see the funny stuff my kids do randomly. the last month or so..coinsedense of virgin mobile merge or not…i have had really hard times keeping tower and 3g service in my own home. i live on outskirts of dallas..come on. huge 3g market. 2 days ago..it was out for almost the whole day.
so..the dream with open apps and the xperia with its cool slide out are looking pretty damn good every day! not digging t-mobiles rates..and dont know who is gonna have the xperia..but for what we have gone thru waiting patiently for this awesome phone..im feeling a little let down by helio..powered by virgin mobile..whatever.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
i still say that i’m going to bide my time. with my contract already up i can safely wait and if i want to switch i have no ETF. there was a posting somewhere that i read that sky daton himself admitted to the ocean 2 BODY being done for quite some time. the pictures released by the fcc are only the external. we have no way of knowing the insides. oh sure, we know there’s a 2mpx cam. ok. downside. but at the same time, my 3mpx cam on my fin only takes good pix when the subject is PERFECTLY still. my ocean still takes pretty good motion shots. also, i think that ring around the lens is the flash. if not, oh well. don’t need it on my fin, dont need it on my ocean 2. the web browser with tabs suggests maybe something a LOT more stable than previous *ahem* helio browser crap. and im thinkin there’s some kind of OTA update service in the works as well (as i’ve stated before) since it’s in the manual.
all in all, i guess it’s a waiting game. helio will clearly lose some people, but in the long run, if they do release a phone with the double slide feature (kickass) and 3G built in (take that tmob) and an updated firmware that gives more stability and strength, then maybe i’ll just stay. i dont need my phone for a modem, that’s wht i have my macbook for. that’s my opinion.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
…2009 release date?
Well, I know this is going to be chalked up as a hate on helio comment but here goes.
You struggle to be a “technology” focused company, yet the last device you released outside of the fin, was the new paint job on the already dated heat.
You get bought out by virgin (for better or worse weather it be on a level of business or of customer advantage.), and your next hot flagship device gets pushed back, leaked and teased like a carrot in front of the noses of your eagerly waiting and ever so rapidly depleting customer base.
I once (like many of you) had in my possession the OZ 1 a.k.a. the Helio Ocean, and I like many of you thought that given a few short comings of an overall failure on the company part to recognize or even attempt to release some form of a firmware update to fix some of the more known and bothersome bugs…Get a slap in the face.
I grant them the point of (mainly thanks be in part to this community) they did release Opera mini for the ocean, which did in fact make browsing the internet not so much of a chore. I even can give them points for having some form or styling of a “push” email system on the ocean (hell the iphone doesn’t even have push) but for there to be comparisons of what phone, service or even features a device has in reference to another….is almost a moot point when in comparison there is so much for instance the iphone does better than the ocean.
The ocean has push (or a form of it) the ocean has a youtube app (which watching anything on that device is a headache due to the pixels and over all lack of viewing quality and experience) and MMS is a plus..but the iphone has the ability to email pictures (which unless you have a device that syncs with your email, or has a full email client then its worthless. And don’t even get me started on the fact of it being 2008 and having to deal or contend with keeping up with someones 1 solid email address that they use on a regular basis.)
The bottom line, with it being the end of Q3 and the release of the G1 t-mobile google android phone, a new firmware update for the iphone to be coming out soon (2.2) and the advances in the mobile market with an emphasis of internet accessibility and 3rd party apps…I see Helio as more of a dinosaur at this point in the game. I mean for god sakes when you go and look through the download of the user manual for the OZ 2 a.k.a the Ocean 2, and pay special attention to the icons used for service and mail notifications, it looks like a recycled played out version of the firmware seen in the first ocean…
I’m sorry to say, but every dog has its day…and I’m just sorry to say and to think that helios day has come and gone.
Again this is only my opinion. I mean you could sit there at your desktop reading this comment and be cursing me up and down about how I don’t know anything, and I will have to eat my words for the ocean 2 might still have the hypothetical flash support for web browsing (doubtful though), or how having a full qwarty tactile keyboard is better than touch (which that is an opinion, and honestly it could go either way). At the end of the day, come Q1 of ‘09, if your still brainwashed by the hype and luster and allure of this company and its all flash and no substance advertising….I feel sorry for you then, enjoy your glory and isolation on your little fantasy island, hopefully you get 3G coverage on it.
September 27th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I barely started with Helio and i love it. hmm and it is kinda sad that they didn’t do better. but i don’t care. I love Helio and i’m gonna get this new phone. it looks pretty sweet and awesome.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
EVERYONE HERE IS BLIND!! That manual is old… they are not releasing the device like that. Virgin already said that it’s being re-worked before they release it hence the delay until next year. AND those who say it has NO flash… BLIND!! READ the first page!! It’s listed there as part of the phone features!! ALL you guys don’t realize that Helio and Virgin KNOW that the phone is dated and are currently upgrading it!!! This manual and pics are the FCC documents from months ago that were timed released!!! THIS is not the finalized version of the OZ2… educate yourselves!!
September 27th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
@Jubie “educate yourselves!!”
wow not that anyone on this site hasn’t been searching for answers, images or any hints about what this device will look like.
“that manual is old… they are not releasing the device like that” yet you reference the manual to argue the point of flash.
Just saying…its HELLA dated, the end.
The only way they can “upgrade” it as you state they are trying to do, is to completely rebuild this thing from the ground up, and just say “hey we drug our feet to long on the release of this device, we F’ed up our bad…we’ll come back NEXT year with a cool device.”
Your getting Ocean version 1.2 basically with this supposed NEW Ocean.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
so i have a friend that works for a design company and already has the new ocean phone. i got to play around with it and its cool. the camera does look a whole lot better. its about the same size and the current ocean. just looks more slick.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I’m surprised that no one seems to be taking into account the possibility that the release was delayed in the first place because of the merger. I mean, doesn’t it make sense that if your company is having trouble and you’re working on shuffling around your leadership and then being bought out, you’d maybe not focus a whole lot of resources on R&D? And oh my! Virgin is waiting to release it because they’re re-updating it. I know that it’s a pain that those who want to upgrade would have to wait even longer, but be serious. Would you rather have them release an out-dated, crappy product or one that they’ve made competitive to similar items when it’s released?
And what’s the deal with the upset over it looking similar to the original Ocean? Did the Razr change drastically every time a new version was released? Helio isn’t Apple. Not a lot of companies are. There’s no real reason to completely overhaul a product’s appearance when you’re releasing version 2. Remember, this isn’t an entirely new device. It’s called the Oz 2 (or Ocean 2) for a reason. Of course it’s only going to be an upgraded Ocean.
Either way, I’m not saying no one is allowed to complain. There are plenty of reasons to complain about something; those just don’t seem like very valid reasons to me. If you’re going to leave Helio, good for you. I hope you’re happy wherever you go. If you’re staying like I am, then hey! Oz2 on the way. I’m not holding my breath for it, and I’m not of the opinion that people should focus so much on a piece of technology that they’ll replace when a new shiny comes available anyway.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
well im with tmobile got sk08 and maybe will get the g1 sometime. ive been lookin at the oz2 and i reminds me of an sidekick 3 with t silver ring and glow light helio flame. but im slowly gettin rid of helio enjoyed it while it last but sidekick08 is tight hella customizable. some big differences good and bad, but hey sacrifices. its way light thats for sure on my walet and pocket. but when your payin for your girls plan too hella cheaper with tmobile and f cricket as an option. my sidekick does lag thats foresure. battery life sucks but still a new phones and thats my bad. all in all im a man and happy with my choice. be a man and dont doubt your choices. dont be shoulda woulda coulda so stay or pay the eft and go. until then im highly medicated and i might be back to helio.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I think that the Helio Ocean 2 is looking good. It looks to be a similar physical interface to the original Ocean, so hopefully it’ll be easy to learn. It definitely looks a little nicer and really does pose the question: is this going to be the iPhone killer?
As stated in my previous post:
http://www.heliocity.net/2008/ocean-2-release-date-sort-of-announced/#comment-4224
I really do hope that the phone is really a great improvement over the original Ocean, especially in terms of speed. Browsing through text messages can get REALLY SLOW and deleting them even slower. The Ocean 2 better have a faster processor and a bit more virtual memory on-board. I also hope web browsing is easier because Opera can get a bit annoying having to zoom in/out all the time, which also is a bit slow…
Another feature that the Ocean 2 should have is a better media player. Playing songs on the Ocean is a pain and you can’t randomly shuffle songs. In this day in age, cell phones and media players are a mix, so I hope this Ocean 2 is capable of playing music, browsing the web, emailing, and texting/managing information, contacts etc fast!
I am eagerly waiting the release of this phone, but don’t think I’ll be the first to buy…just in case.
As read above from a lot of Helio members, if this phone is a failure, it may as well mark the end of Helio, because us members have been waiting for new phones for ages, and there are no updates. The acquisition of Helio by Virgin Mobile is a universal outrage, so prove to us why this merge was so beneficial to you Helio, and give us a damn-good phone!
September 29th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I noticed there’s still no voice-dialing/memory feature, what a bummer. I like my bluetooth and to be able to hit the button and just speak a name is an awesome feature that I wish they had.
Other then that, from the manual(Which i know isn’t the final copy) it doesn’t look to be all that different from the Ocean, other then I’m sure a MicroSD upgrade, and maybe some better quality speaker/microphone, but they aren’t even going to update the camera, which makes me wonder, why buy this?
September 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I really dont believe that they have them manufactured already to only sell them at a later date, this is a cellular company, thats a stupid move to make. i like the new smoother look even though they could have been a little more creative. and someone said the qwerty in the pics does not match with what was in the manual, typing errors “noght mode”, …. Basically i feel there’s gotta be more additions to this phone which is why its coming out at such a late time. its not smart to take out flash in the 2nd version of their phone?? who would do that?? probably VirginMobile influence who knows?? lol.
unlike others i’m curious about this and will be getting the 0Z2.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 am
If they are re-doing the phone (adding more features, etc.), should we be seeing it on the fcc site sometime soon again?
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
what a piece of crap. by the time this comes out there will be phones with WAY better technology. there already are. epic fail on helio’s part. sure, there are more features we haven’t heard yet. but they better be pretty big if they want to entice a large amount of people
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
wow, i wuz expecting more of a touch screen, not a “finger mouse”, the fuck am i gonna use that for? would be better if it wuz a touch nd they used the mouse cursor. oh well, like many ppl on here, i wuz waiting to see if Helio wuz going to come out w/ some new phones. But i have been sadly mistaken, waiting almost a year after i signed up to see some cool phones has been a waste. Once my contract expires, im going to Verizon, by then they’ll have some awesome phones
October 4th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
this new device sounds really cool but i think they for got to add a flash like the first one now that would make it a lot better am i not right????? but i just cant wait till it comes out…..
October 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
well like i said it would be better if they upgraded the device with flash and when i say that i mean like u can go online and watch videos off of other sits….. and the bluetooth should be better more like the other phones be Abel to pass songs and videos or wall paper that would be better for every one right…. plus i think in by doing that the phone would sell more for its capability am i not right….
October 4th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
[...] screens have become the new milestone for cellphone manufacturers. Word is that the Ocean 2 is retaining the dual slider configuration, and won’t feature a touch screen. If that’s the case, then Helio has truly learned [...]
October 7th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Fuck alll that!!!!
Make it so it can multi task!
End of story
October 11th, 2008 at 4:13 am
I’ve decided on the HTC HD. Whenever the HD comes here i’ll hump that train. Held out hope for Helio and the Ocean 2, they just didn’t bring it.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:07 am
The only reason VM who have to re-submit the device for approval to the FCC is if they changed the radio specs or added a radio like WiFi. Other than that VM can do what ever they want with the firmware/software/apps on the device.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Yeah, I had high hopes for the OZ2… Sadly, it doesn’t look like Helio will meet the expectations or even the standards that we need today. Something to notice on the OZ2 side is that the original Ocean is NOT a smartphone, even though some features resemble that. Still, I’m gonna move onto the T-Mobile G1 a.k.a. HTC Dream. That phone is showing a lot of potential even and though some things could be improved, it’s still better than the OZ2 we’ve seen so far. It’s sad. I loved the Helio Ocean but it just doesn’t hack it anymore and neither will this one, apparently. You’ve got me under contract til March Helio!! Show us what you can do!!!
October 13th, 2008 at 9:41 am
It does look awesome, however it is already extremely out-dated. At least when the Ocean came out it was one of a kind and some of the apps/features it brought to the table were unique. These days almost everything out there has even more features than the Ocean has.
I love my Ocean and I’ve been happier with Helio than I have EVER been with Verizon (long horror story). March 2009 will be the 1-year point of my contract. If this thing does come out in early 2009 that will give me a chance to think about either keeping my Ocean and going somewhere else in another year or using the money I save from my deposit crediting to my account to get the Ocean 2 and sticking with them for another two years. There are some things I really hope got some attention while upgrading the Ocean. For one I hope there is much less lag while typing. It gets very frustrating having to go back and retype words/letters because the Ocean couldn’t keep up and it missed them. I also hope they allows the T9 dictionary to learn words. I’m tired of having to switch from T9 to Abc to input words letter by letter because the dictionary doesn’t know some common words. For example, I call people a “boob” a lot…. but my Ocean does not know the word “boob” …. I have to either switch to Abc for that one word or type “boo” then arrow over and hit 2 and hit next until I get the other “b” ….very annoying.
Some other things that would be awesome would be to be able to customize ALL (or at least most) of the Oceans sounds. Example: New text notification. My old phone I had when I was with Verizon was a piece of crap, but I really liked being able to change those sounds. I’m a big Zelda fan. So when I’d get a text it would be the sound of getting a Rupee. When the battery was low the notification sound was the Low Health beep. Things like that. I would love to be able to personalize my Ocean 2 like that.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:41 am
One last thing….
I’m really going to miss the fact that my Ocean looks like an Oreo.
The Helio Ocean: Milks favorite phone.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I agree with theBIGmack… this looks like a good phone, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll compete with what’s out there… Well Helio’s plan is actually pretty cheap compared to what’s out there now… back in the day when I decided to go with Helio, it was a little more expensive and was one of the only plans to have everything unlimited like that. but yea I’ll see the price of this phone and if all the little things will actually make it worth it. I’ll wait…
iPhones are everywhere it seems and for good reason… I’ll see how T-mobile plans to put out the G1… or Verizon’s BB Storm?..
Helio has been disappointing with their lack of constant technologies.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
i dunno i dont want to talk crap about this but i dont think this will be enough to keep people with helio. seems more like a very early prototype, pretty close to the original ocean. whats the touch scroll sensor? like more or less just a section of touch sensitivity? i’m still content with my fin for now, i have another year left on my contract. its pretty cool, accidentally dropping it is like a past time of mine. today it was even dropped out a window at work, when i found it it was floating in a puddle, totally tanked through it and its still good for me to post this message with! people still compliment it. but i am hoping for a kickass new ocean 2! i’d bet it’ll be a lot different than this prototype. keep your fingers crossed, helio’s not done yet!
October 16th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I had a helio ocean for a good year. its a great phone to have in tell it brake on you.i called helio to see if i can get it fixed.they said no cuz my warrenty has exspired 2 weeks ago. i still one more year on the contract with them. the only way they will fix my phone is if i singed a anouther 2 year contract with them.i think that is some bullshit because there contract last longer then cell phone do. i am telling every to NOT BUY A HELIO PHONE TRUST ME ON THIS.
p.s. thats my story
October 16th, 2008 at 8:14 am
After all this time going by without any new products from Helio since the Mysto, I really think this new Ocean has to have at least the same amount of exclusive goodies as it’s predecessor when it first popped onto the market. I also believe they’re pinning all of their hopes on the new Ocean which is why it’s taking so long to come out. If this phone fails, Helio is as good as dead. I think it’s also important for Helio to maintain their current customers by offering an unprecedented discount on the Ocean 2 to current customers when it comes out. The big attractions to Helio for me was the unlimited plans which no other carrier could touch initially as well as great features on the Ocean that very few phones (if any) had. Not to mention an excited community like this. The only other thing I’ll mention is the ability to create custom apps is a must have to compete with the big boys. (and firmware upgrades)
October 20th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
hey is there anyone who would like to sell me an ocean for a good price?
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 am
how does 50 bucks sound??
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 am
Like I said, keeps getting better for Virgin Mobile users and worse for Helio users!! If this new Ocean2 “Device” isnt the shit then i’m going to join with my girlfriend and get t-mobile and have a big wedding!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
G1 lookin better and better with every second, especially now that they’re introducin 3G coverage in and around DC…
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
A little update from me. As of today, I am a T-Mobile G1 owner. Having been the odd man out in my family for some time now since I switched to Helio, they finally convinced me back into the family plan with the brand new G1. And I have to add, this phone is AWESOME. I still maintain with what I said before, the G1 does have its cons, one of the biggest ones or more noticeable ones being the lack of a multi-touch screen, so its incapable of that “pinching” zoom feature the iPhone has, the browser seems a bit choppy and the camera can’t shoot video. But, that’s where that phone shines, in being an open source phone, you can add, customize, MAKE apps for it. So, whatever software flaws you might see, might just be fixed by other developers…. Anyways, this is a Helio forum, so let’s keep it that way. As of now, no more news have been brought to our attention about the OZ2. To this I say “WTF Helio?!”, I might have even put off switching if there was at least some speck of news or a sneak peek of SOMETHING. Alas, I was not so lucky, and having basically the same plan with a G1 for way less money seemed worth it to me…
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Oh yeah! Here in Palo Alto and adjacent Bay Area T-Mobile locales, the G1 sold out… That’s about 5000 sold before noon. Still, nothing compared to the iPhone “around the block and down Lytton Ave.” release event.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 am
Went to T-Mobile today and got my G1. Totally sold out Helio, just like I figured I would. I will miss it, I suppose, but after having this thing for only half a day, I’m never looking back. I recommend to everyone: Get the G1. I promise, it will live up to your expectations(unless your expectations are ridiculous).
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
i’m switching to t-mobile and getting my G1 on sunday, Sorry HELIO.
October 25th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
hey wert ill buy that ocean phone from you. email me at kyo187@comcast.net and will talk.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
well if anyone wants to sell me the ocen phone?. email me at kyo187@comcast.net
October 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Love the email from helio with “exciting news” that just talks about features we already have and know about…you suck helio.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I have been told by our indirect dealer that one of the reasons why the ocean 2 has not come out yet is due to the over surplus ocean ocean 1’s and that september first is when the ocean 2 will be released as well as a new program for all you credit challenged wanna be helions. There is also a new mall program the virgin /helio is doing so start looking for the bright red carts and kiosk with virgin mobile looks like its going to be an all new helio boys and girls
November 5th, 2008 at 12:42 am
WHAT SEPT 1ST YOUR OUT OF YOU MIND ..BRIGHT RED CARTS N KIOSK NICE IDEA {NOT HAPPENING!} BUT WHOS YOU INDiRECT DEALER GIVE ME THEIR nUMBER I GOT SOME BUISNESS FOR THEM..DONT HATE ACTIVATE …SEPT 1 HAHAHAH NOT FUNNY..I LOVE THE OCEAN 2 LOOKS BEAUTIFUL CANT WAIT TO SELL THIS BABY LETS DO THIS HELIO/VIRGIN 09 BABY.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
@ Jonathan
September first? I thought it’d come out first quarter of ‘09.
Well it actually wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t release it till September.
I’m starting to like the Blackberry Storm. I don’t think I can wait till September, unless they’ve used the time to make better improvements to the phone.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
ok killr3whatever you are dumb its one uglya ass fuckn phone
i am so mad i just ws looking at the THC HD and its cheaper than waht i payd for my fuckn ocean i paid like 350 for my OCEAN and dont get me wrong i love helio and my ocean but waiting so long for that pice of crap!!!!…… come on HELIO we use to be best friends ! what happened to you i am so mad … the HTC HD is only 280 dollars … NOT BAD AT ALL !!! AND IT HAS A 5MGPIXL CAMERA COME ON!! Helio step it up a few levls >>> p.s my ocean just broke and i kinda dont even wanna pay 50 bucks to get the new one!!!!! so if you big cheese’s are readding these forums .. you better do something about it cus their is alot more bad comments about that “OZ2″crap phone …than good ones
!!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
PLEASE ALL I WANT IS FOR IT TO BE SKINNIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 8th, 2008 at 6:11 am
I’ve like the ocean since i first saw the commercial for it…i have the ocean, i’ve been a member for a year now … although i’ve had some minor problems I have been satisfied with my service….I can’t stand the other companies cause they’re so genaric when i go through the mall and tmobile or verizon stands offer me a phone im happy when i say i have helio…and they look confused when i say that….and it’s the best feeling ever lol …
Helio had the first dual slide phone when all other companies where still flipping or slide on way…the ocean was versatile and has many great features…but with the competition out now with touch screens and starting to slide both ways as well…we need some outstanding features to seperate you from the pack.
1. The Device could be a little skinner and a little lighter.
2. The browser could be updated to be useful underground when on trains
3.Along with the slide effect a touch screen should be incorpoorated somehow
4.helio should incorporate some of the korean tech from which it came from
5.Incorpoorate Internet radio…It’s own application
6. Better Camera MGPIX up to 5
7.Voice dialing
8.A pictochat thing for just helio members within range of each other would be cool like on the DS
I belive apon the long wait for a new phone/device from helio this ocean 2 was just a prototype to test our response and how we would react ….because that would be a great epic failure by helio …I don’t think they would waste time and materials on something like that.
I hope some of the suggestions i’ve mentioned will give some ideas to helio as well as it’s members for more ideas