Gizmodo: Helio

Ocean 2 Review (Verdict: A Great Phone If It Were 2007)

Adam Frucci — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

The Helio Ocean was an amazing phone in its day, so we were excited to see all the cool updates hitting Virgin Mobile's Helio-branded Ocean 2. Turns out, there's not much cool to be found.

Originally released almost two years ago, the Ocean was a great phone at the time. Its dual-sliding design was unique, and it was packed full of features that weren't widely available elsewhere, such as 3G surfing, GPS and great Gmail integration. Cut to two years later, and none of these things seem all that unique.

Today, the Ocean 2 doesn't hold up as well. It's seriously thick compared to most other phones—twice that of an iPhone—and its dual-sliding design requires a fatness that is the phone's Achilles heel. It's not worth the space when a touchscreen could replace the entire numerical pad level. A much simpler configuration would be a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen for dialing, like on the Palm Pre. Sure, the screen is brighter and sharper than the original, but it's still not a touchscreen. Cost-cutting was clearly a key influencer in the Ocean 2's design, but that may hurt it in the end.

The Ocean 2 does, however, offer some upgrades to its predecessor. Besides the noticeably sharper and brighter screen, you also get 2GB of built-in storage, plus an SD slot for more videos and music.

There's a new optical navigation pad, which is a bigger, fancier version of the "OK" button on the original Ocean. It still acts as an OK button, but it also is touch-sensitive, allowing you to scroll around websites and through menus without any clicking required. Unfortunately, it's too small to feel very useful, and you end up accidentally scrolling when you're trying to hit OK.

There are some new software features that are nice, including Helio Connect, a way to check on your Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube accounts, as well as your RSS feeds, all in one place. It's a convenient way to get caught up without having to jump around to a half dozen websites or apps.

On the other hand, the browser is inexcusably bad. It completely destroys the rendering of most websites, and if you choose to view them as regular HTML, you'll be scrolling all over the place. It's also very slow, despite the 3G connection. It just feels like a last-generation mobile browser.

Overall, the interface is basically identical to the original, just like the design. Yes, there have been updates, but none of them feel all that substantial or consequential. This feels more like the Ocean 1.5 than the Ocean 2.

With phones such as the Palm Pre and the iPhone out there for not all that much more, you've got to wonder how many people are going to be interested in signing a two-year contract for a two-year-old phone that's merely been polished instead of being really revamped. You certainly won't feel like you've got the hottest piece of tech on the block, but it's also too expensive and bulky to be seen as a good budget phone. It's stuck in a vague middle area, a place few customers are going to want to go. [Virgin Mobile]

Virgin Mobile's Helio Ocean 2 Is Official, Being Launched By Britney Spears

Jason Chen — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:00:00 EST

MobileCrunch has lots of photos of the Helio Ocean 2 for Virgin Mobile, which we last saw in a spy shot a few months back. It's definitely real now.

They don't have many details, but you can head over to see lots and lots of photos of it in the open and splayed positions. [MobileCrunch]

Also, it looks like Virgin Mobile is using Britney Spears' tour to help launch the device. Wha?

In conjunction with sponsorship of the “Circus” tour, Virgin Mobile USA plans to launch its new Ocean 2 multimedia device. Select fans at the private show will be given an Ocean 2 to chronicle the event. This “Ocean 2 Camera Crew” can blog, IM, email, post to social networking sites and send photos from this one mobile phone to share with friends and fans.

Thanks Luis!

Pantech Matrix Dual Sliding Phone Has More Buttons Than Sense

John Herrman — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:30:00 EDT

Formed from the same genetic ooze as Pantech's Slide Duo smartphone and rebranded Helio Ocean handset, the Matrix is a mildly frustrating device: spec'd with the best, but dressed in the worst. An HSDPA-enabled handset with GPS, a full QWERTY keyboard in addition to a dialpad, and two cameras should have the software to leverage the hardware, but AT&T and Pantech have chosen to stick with an in-house OS rather than opt for Windows Mobile as they did with the Duo QWERTY smartphone. Still, it doesn't look like a bad feature phone for people who message more than they talk, and it's available today at AT&T stores. [Crave]

First Images of Helio Ocean 2

Mark Wilson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:08:00 EDT

Not so long ago, the FCC leaked the Helio Ocean 2. But those pictures were black and white technical drafts, not featuring nearly enough colors and blinky lights to captivate our stimuli-needing attention spans. But a new FCC filing includes real shots of the new Helio Ocean. And from what we can tell, it's got a fancy, iPhonesque silver frame around the face. How do these designers know that we can't resist metal-colored paints? Our one weakness! [FCC via Electronista]

Virgin Mobile's First Helio-App Handset Due September 28th: The Shuttle

Kit Eaton — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Virgin Mobile USA is soon to launch its first handset that uses tech from newly acquired Helio. Just as predicted, the slider phone will indeed include advanced features like social networking and other mobile services "through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo!" and others. There's also Virgin Mobile's first location-based services like "Buddy Beacon" (a friend-finder) and "Where," which supplies local service info. The 3G EV-DO handset is set to cost below $100, have a 1.3-megapixel cam, Bluetooth and a 2-inch screen, and will be exclusively out at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com on 28th September. Press release below.

WARREN, N.J. Sept. 10– Video and web entertainment on a cell phone without the hassle of a contract just got a whole lot faster. Virgin Mobile USA and Personal Communications Devices, LLC [PCD] are launching the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA's first EV-DO handset, designed with high performance for data and content in mind. Available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com as of September 28, the Shuttle ushers in a new era of performance for consumers who demand the flexibility of monthly plans with no contract but also feel the 'need for speed.'

Following Virgin Mobile USA's recent acquisition of Helio, the Shuttle will be the first handset enabled to integrate several features from the Helio portfolio. This will include improved access to social networking communities and other mobile internet sites through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook*, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo! and more.

The Shuttle is also slated to feature Virgin Mobile's first location-based services from uLocate including:

· Buddy Beacon®, the popular 'friend-finder' solution which allows customers to find friends in a crowded city and show where they are and what they're doing; and

· Where™, the application that delivers local information to easily discover nearby places and things of interest such as locating the lowest gas prices, finding local events, and getting restaurant recommendations.

According to Bob Stohrer, Virgin Mobile USA's Chief Marketing Officer, the time has arrived for Virgin Mobile USA to make the 3G leap. "With the Helio acquisition and the new Shuttle, we've made a strong move into 3G, satisfying our customers who want the speed and affordability, while greatly enhancing our handset line-up just in time for the holidays," Stohrer said.

Jam-packed with features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2'' screen; video capture, playback and messaging, integrated media player that supports both streaming and sideloaded music, stereo Bluetooth** wireless technology, and SD card support, while sporting a stylish S-curve design in a compact slider form factor.

"Virgin Mobile USA is a natural fit for the handset, especially considering their game-changing commitment to innovation, service and value," said Philip Christopher, President, PCD. "The Shuttle is the latest in a long line of PCD offerings that deliver on that commitment, a tremendous and affordable device that will surprise and delight discerning Virgin Mobile USA consumers, just in time for the holidays."

New Virgin Mobile USA Mobile Web Offer

With the new Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA is also introducing its first Mobile Web data packs as add-ons to calling plans, as more and more customers access the mobile web and other mobile data services. "Data is the center of growth in wireless. This handset is a perfect fit for our new Mobile Web, heavily discounted for customers who purchase a monthly voice plan, and a big benefit for users looking to take advantage of the fast web-browsing abilities," said Stohrer.

For Monthly Plans: $ 5.00 - 20 MB Surf the Web, Unlimited VirginXL [WAP deck]

$10.00 – 50 MB and Unlimited VXL

For Pay As You Go: $ 5.00 – 5 MB Surf the Web

$10.00 – 20 MB, Unlimited VXL

$20.00 – 50 MB, Unlimited VXL

The new Shuttle adds a cost-effective and attractive product to Virgin Mobile USA's lineup, as customers have access to a host of calling and messaging plans without annual contracts, including the $79.99 Totally Unlimited voice plan that provides unlimited calling without roaming charges, activation fees or a two-year commitment. Here are highlights of the Shuttle handset:

· Sleek and small, this slider measures 3.9" x 1.9" x 0.7" – all at just a shade over 3 ounces and about the size of half a candy bar, the phone fits perfectly in a pocket or the palm of a hand.

· EV-DO 3G-capable data speeds for browsing mobile internet and downloading content.

· Boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2" screen, video capture and video messaging, a music player, stereo Bluetooth*, and SD card support.

· Comes preloaded with an array of playful games, along with downloadable animated and Real Music ringtones.

· More than 235 minutes of talk time and nearly 2 weeks of standby time on a single charge

· Room for 500 contacts that accommodate 5 numbers, 2 email addresses, 2 IM handles and 1 website slot for each contact.

· Has Virgin Mobile USA's Contact Vault, which allows customers to store, retrieve, delete and transfer their wireless phone's personal contacts list online in the event the phone is lost, stolen, damaged or upgraded.

Helio, Sidekick UI Designer Working On New Palm OS

Matt Hickey — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:13:18 EDT

This is some pretty exciting news for us Palm fans who've been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for something new from the handset maker. It turns out Palm has hired Matias Duarte to design the UI for the next Palm OS. You probably haven't heard of him, but he's the guy behind the impressive interfaces for the Sidekicks and Helio's phones. The idea of giving this guy a large install base and a touchscreen to play with is a good one. Palm's got an uphill battle to take on the iPhone, but this could be how they do it. [Engadget]

Phew: Keep Your Advanced Features When Your Helio Turns Into Virgin

Brian Lam — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:42 EDT

In today's news of Virgin buying Helio for 39 million dollars, it has been revealed that the advanced features Helio was known for (and paid dearly for in the end) will be ported over as Virgin takes over operations. The infrastructure will also allow future handsets from Virgin to include modern day amenities like Google Maps with GPS, YouTube and MySpace apps, stuff Helio was very early on compared to the rest of the industry. [Virgin]

Greatly Expanded Handset and Data Offerings

Helio has built its reputation by providing its approximately 170,000 customers with highly sophisticated data services, and Virgin Mobile USA will leverage these advanced applications along with Helio's established postpaid platform, social networking content and feature-rich handsets to provide its customers with the latest in wireless products and services. This acquisition will allow Virgin Mobile USA to provide current and future customers with unique user applications on Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, including Google maps with GPS, as well as integrated You Tube and MySpace applications.

Virgin Mobile to Buy Helio, Kill It, Consume It

Mark Wilson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:58:00 EDT

It appears that the rumors were right, kinda fake telecom provider Virgin Mobile will buy kinda fake telecom provider Helio. Once the acquisition is complete, Virgin Mobile will consume Helio and hopefully become stronger from the nourishment, but the trendy Helio logo will be gone forever. Since both companies run on Sprint's network, it shouldn't be that big a deal from a technical "will my phone still work??" standpoint. Although Helio was extremely progressive in features and pioneered "all in" plans. We don't know if Virgin is interested in giving users the world like Helio did in the financially challenging MVNO space. [Yahoo and Electronista]

This Might Just be the Helio Ocean 2

Adam Frucci — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:23:25 EDT

Is this the Helio Ocean 2? According to someone on the Helio City forums who grabbed this screenshot from a since-removed YouTube video, yes. Is Helio even going to be around long enough to release another version of the Ocean? We'll see, but I'm not placing any bets one way or the other. But the fact that this shot makes the phone look very similar (and just as thick) as the original doesn't make me optimistic. [Helio City via Engadget]

Helio Stores And Kiosks Closing Soon, Company In Trouble?

Jason Chen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:59:59 EDT

A tipster told us that the talks between Virgin Mobile and SK Telecom/Helio are going nowhere, with Virgin backing out unless there's some sort of bankruptcy declaration or huge liquidation. Our tipster says that Helio's corporate stores and kiosks will be closing very soon, which is backed up by similar info from Engadget. They say that there's no merger between Helio and Virgin, and that customers might just be moved over to Virgin's network.

When we called up Helio stores, their people sounded like they were reading off a script, or that they've gotten a memo, and were trying to convince us that they shouldn't worry if Virgin takes them over. So in essence, Helio customers won't be plan-less if Virgin does take over their customers—you'll just be making out your checks to Virgin instead of Helio.

Is This the Helio Ocean 2?

Jason Chen — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:47:59 EDT

Engadget got their hands on a Helio Ocean 2 shot, and it looks quite similar to the sketch we saw on the FCC site a while back. If this is it, it's still rounded and dual-sliding like the first, but supposedly has various upgrades like a 3-megapixel camera, 1GB internal storage, 30FPS video recording and a touch-sensitive D-Pad. We're not sure how we feel about that touch sensitive part—most TS D-Pads we've used have been kinda awful—but we can't wait for the final version. [Engadget Mobile]

Virgin and SK Telecom Actually In Talks Despite SK's Denials

Jason Chen — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:45:37 EDT

Even though SK Telecom denied being in talks with Virgin Mobile to merge it and the Helio brands, Virgin Mobile is having none of it. VM said that they were in the "early stages" of discussions, but there aren't any "assurances that any transaction will result." Sounds like someone at Virgin is using the press as a weapon in their discussions. [Marketwatch]

SK Telecom Denies Merger Talks With Virgin Mobile

Adrian Covert — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:32:03 EDT

Despite mocoNews' and WSJ's reports last week that SK Telecom and Virgin Mobile were set to merge the Helio and Virgin Mobile USA brands, SK Telecom denies these rumors and says it's fully committed to Helio. Dow Jones quoted SK Telecom spokesperson Mina Ryu as saying the all-stock transaction merger was "groundless." While SK Telelcom did say they were actively pursuing opportunities for expansion in the US, they clearly stated they weren't in "any sort of talks" with Virgin Mobile. [mocoNews]

Helio and Virgin Mobile to Merge?

Adrian Covert — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:45:42 EDT

mocoNews reports talks are going on between Helio and Virgin Mobile USA about a possible merger between the two wireless phone carriers. Helio has had some finanical issues over the past year, and its owner, SK Telecom, has been looking to make a splash in US markets. Current talks include SK Telecom buying out Virgin Mobile USA, infusing it with cash, and having Virgin Mobile buy out Helio via stock purchase. Seeing as both carriers operate on Sprint's network, technical logistics won't be a huge hurdle, which leaves financials to deal with. But this is still very much in the early stages. [mocoNews via Phone Scoop]

Helio Becomes First Carrier to Offer Push Gmail

Sean Fallon — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EDT

If you are the proud owner of a Helio Ocean, Fin or Mysto, you have the honor of being the first to enjoy push Gmail on your cellphone. Using the "ultimate inbox" feature, simply set up your Gmail account and press Menu > Send/Receive. Then you will be prompted to enable new mail notification. It's just that easy, baby.

Helio Ocean 2 Hits FCC, First Impression is Same-Old Same-Old

Haroon Malik — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EDT

The FCC has just leaked this image of Helio's Ocean 2. How do we know that? Well, it's carrying an OZ2 model and OZ was the alternative moniker of the original Helio Ocean. We can't tell much else from the drawing, such as whether the Mark 2 Ocean will have the dual slider of its older brother, but we can see the body design will remain true to the original. However, having been overly impressed by the original, we're sure this baby is going to kick ass whenever it does land. [FCC via Crunch Gear]

Opera Mini Browser Now on Helio Ocean, Officially

Kit Eaton — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:01:29 EDT

Sure, with a little third-party app hacking you've been able to get Opera running on some Helio phones for a while. But today Helio and Opera have released Opera Mini in what's the first official deployment of the tiny browser by a US service provider. Apparently Helio listened to their enthusiast community and then worked to tailor the software. Press release below the screenshots.

The software is available for download from today from Helio's web portal. Currently it's optimized for the Ocean, but since this is apparently the "start of a beautiful relationship" we may expect to see other versions in the near future.

Opera Mini Surfs on the Helio Ocean
Opera signs first deal with U.S. service provider

Oslo, Norway and Mountain View, CA - March 19, 2008 - Opera, together with Helio, announced the first deployment of Opera Mini on a mobile service provider in the United States. As of today, Helio members can surf the Web with Opera Mini on their Ocean device with a specially-tailored version of the browser designed specifically for the handset.

Available as a downloadable application from Helio's Web portal, Opera Mini is a perfect addition to the Helio Ocean, a sleek and powerful dual-slide device that offers an incredible breadth of functionality. Opera Mini makes browsing on the Ocean even more fun and addictive with an
elegant desktop-like experience that lets the user dive into the page to access the content they want. At the same time, Opera Mini serves pages at lightning speed so it will not slow down the on-the-go mobile experience to which Helio members are accustomed.

"We're always looking to give our members their choice of great applications so we're excited to be the first service provider in the U.S. to make Opera Mini an on-deck option," said Doug Britt, Vice President of Service Management at Helio. "Opera Mini is a tremendous mobile browser. Optimized for Ocean and running on a nationwide 3G network, its a combination that's tough to match."

"Offering Opera Mini underscores Helio's insight into how the mobile industry is evolving," said Rod Hamlin, SVP Sales and Marketing Americas, Opera. "Helio understands their customers' desire for innovative and engaging mobile experiences and answering this demand with a choice in browsers explains why Helio selected Opera Mini."

More than 39 million cumulative users have discovered how Opera Mini can revolutionize their mobile Web experience. Now Helio Ocean users can enjoy all the features and fun of Opera Mini, including Opera Link, a free service that synchronizes your bookmarks, Speed Dial and personal bar between all your Web browsers.

About Opera Software ASA
Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at HYPERLINK "http://www.opera.com" www.opera.com.
Opera Mini Surfs on the Helio Ocean - 2
About Helio
Helio is the mobile brand for the Internet generation. With advanced mobile services, exclusive, high-end, beautiful devices and smart pricing on a nationwide high-speed 3G network, Helio is built for consumers who have mobile at the center of their lives. Helio is a joint venture between
SK Telecom, one of the world's most advanced wireless carriers, and EarthLink, the next generation Internet service provider. www.helio.com.

Buddy Beacon 2.0 Launches Facebook and iPhone Apps, Reaches Multiple Carriers

AddyDugdale — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:59:08 EST

Buddy Beacon, the friend-finding service so beloved by Helio users, is to widen its circle of friends, as of today. As well as being available on multiple carriers (which means that you and your mates don't need to share the same mobile provider) version 2.0 includes applications for Facebook and iPhone, which will allow users to stalk each other from their computers. Press release is below.

uLocate Communications Enhances and Extends Buddy Beacon™ Functionality Revolutionary friend finding service offers cross-carrier interoperability on five mobile carriers, as well as applications on iPhone and Facebook

Boston, MA - February 13, 2008— Today, with the release of a new version of HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon" Buddy Beacon™, uLocate Communications introduced the world's most advanced location enabled mobile friend finding service. With Buddy Beacon, users can choose when to share their location, and what they are up to, with their friends. Buddy Beacon is the first location enabled friend finding application that is interoperable between multiple carriers.

In addition to cross-carrier interoperability, the Buddy Beacon platform allows users to update their location and status on leading online social networking sites, including Facebook. As a compliment to this feature, uLocate has also unveiled a HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=5989766750" Buddy Beacon application on Facebook. This functionality extends the Buddy Beacon user experience beyond mobile devices.

"Historically, consumers who use mobile friend finding applications have been limited to interacting only with other users who share their same carrier," said Scott Ellison, VP of Mobile and Wireless Communications at IDC. "With Buddy Beacon, uLocate has removed this limitation by providing a friend finding product that transcends the single carrier barrier. Additionally, the introduction of cross-platform functionality with online services, such as Facebook, provides the potential for viral adoption of the application. uLocate has clearly emerged as a leader in the mobile friend finding space."

"Helio has always been committed to providing our members with innovative ways to communicate with their trusted circle of friends," said Greg Hayes, Head of Convergence at Helio. "The new Buddy Beacon experience provides better context for location sharing, enhances ease of use and creates new occasions to publish location as a social networking activity. We know that our members will benefit from the enhanced capabilities that we have developed in conjunction with uLocate."

"Consumer adoption of Buddy Beacon has been remarkable. We are delighted to now offer the service across numerous carriers and the HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon/iphone.php" iPhone, as well as extend the service functionality to the web," said Walt Doyle, CEO of uLocate Communications. "Buddy Beacon is a revolutionary application that offers a new way to interact with your friends and keep them updated on where you are and what you are up to. We plan to continually advance the functionality and availability of the service in the months ahead."

For more information, or to get Buddy Beacon on your phone, please visit www.where.com/buddybeacon.

About uLocate Communications Inc.
HYPERLINK "http://www.ulocate.com" uLocate Communications is the market leading developer of location based applications. In addition to developing location based applications for strategic partners, uLocate markets and operates WHERE™ and Buddy Beacon™. HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com" WHERE is the leading location based application platform that offers consumers access to a library of over 60 location based widgets on multiple operators in North America. HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon" Buddy Beacon is the world's largest mobile friend finding solution that lets consumers leverage the power of location based technology to connect with their friends. For more information, please visit: HYPERLINK "http://www.ulocate.com" www.ulocate.com.

Contact:

Dan Gilmartin
VP Marketing
uLocate Communications, Inc.
HYPERLINK "mailto:dgilmartin@ulocate.com" dgilmartin@ulocate.com
617-502-3100

Helio and Buzzd Make Location-based Yelp-like Service For Your Phone

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:23:13 EST

Yelp is great, but what if you could find restaurants and clubs based on where you are right now? Thanks to Helio phones' GPS service and the Buzzd software, you can. It works as a built-in app on your Helio phone (the two companies partnered up today) and will allow you to even message your friends to update them on where you're going right from the service. There's even real-time activity finding to figure out what's going on right now, something we're sure Jack Bauer would appreciate if he weren't so busy shooting up terrorists. [Buzzd]

Helio Unlimited Minutes Plan for $99 (Normally $145)

Brian Lam — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:12:31 EST

Helio's unlimited minutes plan dropped from $145 to $99 last week. I've no idea how long this sale will go on for. [Phone Scoop via Gadget Review]

Helio's Mysto Slider Now Available Everywhere

Jason Chen — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:25:00 EST

The previously NYC and Santa Monica-only Helio Mysto has finally expanded to a nationwide release, meaning you can grab one online or at your local meatspace Helio store. Here's one bit of info we haven't mentioned before: the Mysto's web browser is "location aware," meaning you can have location data for certain web-based applications. Neat stuff. [Helio]

Helio Mysto Arrives, but Only the Korean-Language Version

Adam Frucci — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:27:35 EST

Here's a weird move by Helio: its launching its new phone, the Mysto, quietly today. Why quietly? Well, it's only releasing the Korean-language version of the new slider. Soon enough, the English version will follow, but apparently because of its ties to Korea's SK Telecom only the Korean version is available for now. If you really want an English version, a few will be available at the Helio stores in NYC and Santa Monica on December 26th before a full launch in late January.

The Mysto is a rebranded Samsung U600, featuring a 2-megapixel camera, GPS with BuddyBeacon, 3G web access and the ability to upload directly to YouTube (although it won't have the Ocean's sweet YouTube app). It'll cost $149 with a 2-year contract. [Product Page via Electronista]

Helio's YouTube 2.0 Client Hands-on and Impressions (Verdict: It's Good)

Jason Chen — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:00:01 EST

YouTube and Helio aren't strangers in the least, but compared with the iPhone's gorgeous implementation, Helio's first version was found to be a little lacking. No more. The latest release, available today, bumps Helio up onto the same tier as Apple's offering. Here's what we think.

The video quality is definitely good, but not quite as good as iPhone over Wi-Fi. The good news is that it loads faster and looks better than iPhone over EDGE. The interface is pretty solid, and allows you to scroll horizontally between featured videos and popular videos. The standard desktop options like favorites, commenting, playlists, related videos, rating and searching are also there.

What makes this better than the iPhone is the ability to upload videos directly from your phone. How cool is it to shoot a camera vid, dump it onto YouTube, then call your friends to tell them about this crazy homeless guy you saw on the road? And speaking of roads, you can even GPS tag it with the Ocean's GPS so you know exactly where it is you were when you shot it. Only available on the Ocean for free. [Helio]

Helio Mysto Gets Official in Picture Form, Will Cost $150?

Matt Buchanan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:15:11 EST

While CrunchGear says they've got no specs to go with this picture of the "first official pic" of Helio's upcoming Mysto, its looks match up quite nicely with past mumblings that the Mysto is in fact Samsung's U600 slider. If it is, expect it to be tricked out a bit since the GSM model now available lacks 3G, though it comes with MP3, AAC and WMA support and FM radio out of the box, promising to be a decent little multimedia phone for $150 after some Helio tweaks. [CrunchGear]

American Express My WishList Post-Black-Friday Super Deals Go Live Nov. 27

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:44 EST

We just got the advance word on the American Express holiday My WishList deals, running from November 27 to December 13. If you recall, Amex sells certain hot products for super cheap in very limited supplies, but you have to go to the site and try to buy it on a certain day (and yes, with an American Express card). It's really just a game, because demand always comically dwarfs supply. But there are other products that go on sale immediately, and are available at low but not necessarily insane prices until they sell out. And they always sell out. Before you go and shoot your wad during the Black Friday frenzy, you might want to check out this year's lineup, edited down to the most Giz-appropriate selections (i.e. no spa retreats or studded mini clutches):

Remember, the first four products are going for ridiculous prices, but because of this they are only available on a certain day, in a certain timeslot:

Panasonic 42" 1080p HD Plasma TV
Available on My WishList: November 30
WishList Price: $700 (Retail Price: $1,999)

Dell XPS M1330 Notebook
Available on My WishList: December 3
WishList Price: $900 (Retail Price: $2,079)

Xbox Elite Game System and Five Games
Available on My WishList: December 11
WishList Price: $300 (Retail Price: $649.99)

BMW K 1200 R Sport Motorcycle
Available on My WishList: December 4
WishList Price: $5,000 (Retail Price: $17,000)

The rest of the products below will apparently be on sale until supplies run out; some deals might look similar to Black Friday pricing, while others may be crazy low. Have a look:

Denon Soundbar
WishList Price: $743.99 (Retail Price: $1199.99)

TiVo HD DVR with Service and Wireless Adapter
WishList Price: $399 (Retail Price: $538.98)

Audiovox 8" Picture Frame
WishList Price: $108 (Retail Price: $159.99)

Olive Opus N 250GB Pure Audio Server
WishList Price: $700 (Retail Price: $1,499)

Canon HD Camcorder with 40GB HDD
WishList Price: $500 (Retail Price: $1,299.99)

Helio Ocean with 6 Months Service
WishList Price: $400 (Retail Price: $1,249)

Rock Band Special Edition for Xbox
WishList Price: $50 (Retail Price: $169.99)

Nintendo DS Lite with Two Games
WishList Price: $160 (Retail Price: $199.96)

Toshiba 10.2" Portable DVD Player
WishList Price: $230 (Retail Price: $349.99)

Ultrasone iCans iPod Headphones
WishList Price: $99 (Retail Price: $159)

iStorm Wireless Speakers for iPod
WishList Price: $140 (Retail Price: $199.99)

Sirius Stiletto 2
WishList Price: $279 (Retail Price: $399.99)

Magellan Maestro Portable GPS System
WishList Price: $390 (Retail Price: $599.99)

To see if you can master Amex's wicked little game, visit the official website. [Amex My WishList]

Helio Ocean Gets Doc Viewer and Exchange 1.2 Support

Brian Lam — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:07:22 EST

Helio's Ocean is getting a free file viewer that can view Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PDF, plain text and html, as well as most major image formats. The Ocean is also gettting Mail for Exchange 1.2 support for calendar sync. Good to see Helio continue to evolve the handset. I hope most of this functionality is built into the next generation Ocean but I hope that it's built on something more robust and open *Android*cough than the Ocean 1's OS.

HELIO FILE VIEWER NOW AVAILABLE FOR OCEAN USERS
View Microsoft® Office, Adobe PDF, Plain Text Documents and Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 16, 2007 - The Ocean is giving Helio members greater freedom and doing its part to unchain people from their PCs with the launch of the Helio File Viewer. Ocean users can now view, save and share documents and images while on-the-go, making Ocean more versatile than ever. Along with new attachment viewing capabilities, Helio is also announcing Mail for Microsoft Exchange 1.2, an upgraded version of its application that allows users wirelessly synchronize email, calendar and contacts from their companies' Microsoft® Exchange Server.
"Ocean's unique dual-slide design and comprehensive messaging suite lets members communicate with friends, family and business associates in unique ways," said Darshan Patel, Director of Email Communications at Helio. "The addition of Helio File Viewer makes staying in touch easier and more effective for business users with the ability to view documents wherever members take their Oceans."
Business + Helio = Pleasure
Ocean makes it easier to mix business and pleasure with Helio File Viewer. Members can now view important documents sent via email or view documents saved to their device for review on-the-go. The Helio File Viewer, which is available at no additional cost, gives members access to Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel, Microsoft® PowerPoint, Adobe PDF, Plain Text and HTML documents as well as images (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WMF, EMF) making it easier to be in-the-know.
In addition to being able sort files in various ways for quick retrieval, the File Viewer allows users to zoom, move and page up or down quickly once in a document. Members can also view documents in landscape or portrait mode on Ocean's large (2.4") QVGA screen as well as fit to width, fit to height and rotate for optimized viewing of a file. Helio's File Viewer leverages Picsel's advanced technology, to view files at higher quality resolutions and without time-consuming preprocessing and load times.

Cutting-Edge Integration + Innovation
Helio is also announcing Mail for Microsoft Exchange 1.2. The latest upgrade includes improvements with alerts, calendar functionality and synchronization performance. Mail for Microsoft® Exchange 1.2 also works in conjunction with the Helio File Viewer application to allow users to view, save and share documents and lets users wirelessly synchronize email, calendar and contacts from their companies' Microsoft® Exchange Server so they can use their devices to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as stay on top of business.
Ocean users can wirelessly download Mail for Microsoft® Exchange to their devices and after a brief set up, send and receive emails, manage and create calendar appointments and access corporate contact lists. Once downloaded, Mail for Microsoft® Exchange is easily accessible through Helio's Ultimate Inbox messaging home screen aside the full suite of Ocean's messaging capabilities.

Helio Cuts All Phone Prices by $50, Flashes Some Leg, Winks

Adam Frucci — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:40:59 EST

First they dropped their all-in plan to $99 a month, and now they've gone and slashed the prices of all their phones by $50. Helio really wants you to switch to them in a bad way, which could be a sign that they aren't doing so hot, or they may be paving the way for a new device to drop. Either way, now that you can get an Ocean for less than $200 and get an all-in plan for less than $100, I certainly wouldn't blame you for taking the bait, as that is as good a deal as you're likely to get in the cellphone world right now. [Product Page via Boy Genius Report]

Helio Offers Unlimited Service for $99/Month, Refurbed Ocean for $99

Adam Frucci — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:47:26 EST

Good news for people thinking of picking up a Helio Ocean: Helio has lowered its rates for its all-in plans, giving you all-you-can-eat service for $99 a month. It's also starting to offer refurbished phones through the Helio Refreshed service, with the Ocean now available refurbed for a mere $99. That's a pretty awesome deal for one of our favorite phones seeing it lists for $295 new. [Helio via Electronista]

Is the Helio Mysto Really the Samsung U600?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:04:55 EDT

The fabled Helio Mysto could actually be a Samsung U600 if the rumors coming from a source at PhoneArena prove to be correct. The rumor also states that a Helio version of the phone would switch to a CDMA receiver and EVDO, but would otherwise remain its sexy-looking self —including its super trim .42-inch profile. As with all rumors, this info should be taken with a grain of salt, but I wouldn't mind seeing what Helio could do with the U600. [PhoneArena via Electronista]

Helio Drift Gone, Helio Mysto Coming Soon

Jason Chen — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:46:18 EDT

It's been only a year, but the Helio Drift slider has been phased out of Helio's lineup, and should be soon replaced by a Helio "Mysto." Heliocity discovered a new filing at the USPTO for the Mysto, but unlike the FCC, the USPTO doesn't tell tales of lovers gone by. It's unlikely that the Mysto is the next generation Helio Ocean, seeing as the Ocean's only been on the market for about half a year. So the only questions is whether the Mysto is a slider or a flip—Helio, unlike Kirstie Alley, doesn't seem to like candybars. [Heliocity]

Helio just got a hot beef injection in the...

Jason Chen — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:02:39 EDT

Helio just got a hot beef injection in the form of $270 million from SK Telecom, which means the cellphone provider should be around for a couple years at least, allaying any fears you may have about jumping on board. [CNN]

AT&T's Dual-Sliding Pantech Duo In the Wild

Jason Chen — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:20:58 EDT

The Pantech Duo, seen previously as the Helio Ocean, has just been spotted in the wild by a tipster. He takes some sample shots next to his V3xx RAZR, which should give you a good idea of how large it is in comparison. If it's as thick as the Ocean, prepare to be either appalled or flattered when your friends comment on your third testicle. [Update, added side shot]

Thanks tipster!

What Helio, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola Think About the iPhone

Jason Chen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:40:50 EDT

It's been three months since the iPhone launched, which is plenty of time for four cellphone manufacturers/designers to form an opinion about what's good, bad and effective about Apple's phone.

Laptop Mag got Samsung, Nokia, Moto and Helio to answer a few iPhone-related questions. The premise is good, but the questions were somewhat tame and the answers were even weaker. Nokia couldn't shut up about the N95 whenever any question was asked, Moto refused to really acknowledge the iPhone, getting handwavy, and Helio directed attention back at their own products as well. The only good job was done by Samsung, who actually addressed the iPhone's features without getting defensive about what its phones does or does not have. [Laptop Mag]

First Helio Fin Review and Full Gallery

Brian Lam — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:15:24 EDT

The Fin clamshell is Helio's best looking piece of hardware, bar none. (And pun intended.) Samsung's Ultra designers made sure of that, giving the phone an 11.4mm thick profile, OLED external screen, and sturdy magnesium shell, making it almost as thin as an iPhone, but not quite as slim as a candybar like the Sony Ericsson W880i. The software is Helio's latest as well.

The Fin's OS is the same as the older sliders, but it's tweaked to near Ocean standards. It has the generous email/IM client. The camera can upload via HelioUp to Flickr and Youtube with geotags. And it has access to the amazing Garmin turn-by-turn GPS application that organizes local searches by distance from you and your handset, and the voice nav even reads street names. The only thing missing, compared to the Ocean, Helio's Hiptop Killer? is Exchange support, which is coming soon. And obviously, the QWERTY.

Which brings me to the keypad. Like the Ocean (despite it being made by Pantec, this by Samsung) it has a vague, spongy feel. This was confirmed by those of us on staff not using iPhones the rest of the time. The keys don't click, and with the flat, keyless face, it's hard to tell where your finger is on the keypad without using the two little nubs as reference, or looking. Thankfully, the keys are big, and I'm sure with enough time, one could get used to this sort of layout. There is a play/pause button and a camera button hardcoded above the dialpad.

Like the Ocean, Bluetooth is still crippled, as the send photo feature doesn't work for me when testing it with a Mac or PC. It'll work with headsets and stereo headsets for audiostreaming, too.

There is no way to get images off the device except by saving to memory card, or sending them to Flickr. I'll test their desktop software in a bit and update this post. (Justin from Helio tells me it has contact and image sync, and the software is Samsung's.)

The camera itself takes shots at over 2000 pixels wide, at 3MP, and in good light, the color is great, the image sharp, but the grain is overwhelming.

Helio's Hot service is great, and its launch was timed with the launch of the Fin. The other handsets, except the Ocean, can make use of this free RSS reader that can accept up to 10 feeds at once, and display them across your phone's idle page. Very useful. Check out the screenshots in our gallery to see what it looks like, but basically, it's a headline, and image. It auto-checks every 15 minutes, or can be refreshed manually. I love anything that makes use of the phone's main display while it's passive.

The Fin can use Garmin's amazing mobile software. It mimes the clean UI of the touchscreen full-sized GPS devices, utilizing the internet and the phone's location awareness to do a pretty freaking good job of GPS on a phone. You can search for nearby stores, banks, airports, whatever, and sort by proximity to your current location. That's cool, and even cooler, the list of points of interest seems to poll from the internet, meaning that the list will always be pretty up to date. Then there's this turn-by-turn service, which is amazing because it has voice prompts that read street names. Many full standalone GPS devices don't even have this, but if you're going to keep your eyes on the road, voice commands with street names are critical. Lovely.

The speakers on this device are incredibly loud for such a slim device. The speakers, stereo, are on the bottom of the handset. Used with Helio's over-the-wire music service, which has a LOT of songs, I'm happy with the music prowess of this phone, even more so than other Helio handsets. The headphone/mic set uses the Samsung data port and not a standard minijack, but you can, as I've said above, use bluetooth headsets and stereo earphones instead. Good stuff. Except that this phone only has 100MB of storage, and doesn't come with a microSD card. For $175, ok. But maybe this should have been $199 with a 1 or 2GB card. Tough call.

Lo! It charges by USB! (Ocean does, but slowly.) Yay! But jacking in by USB doesn't provide any mass storage capability other than a lousy 16MB of storage firewalled from the phone's images and music. Boo!

The screen is nice, 320 by 240, but there's a great little OLED screen on the outside. Two color, I believe. It shows track names, when music is playing, but mostly message alerts, signal strength, battery, and the time.

I like this phone far more than the Drift or Heat. The Ocean is much fatter, but with the QWERTY and widescreen modes, it is far better at taking advantage of the beefy features like YouTube and IM. I'll call this the only non-Ocean Helio you should consider, but the Ocean remains my primary choice. Unless I'm wearing tight jeans. What else do you want to know? [Helio]

Sizemodo: Helio Fin vs. Ocean vs. iPhone vs. HTC Touch

Jason Chen — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:47:57 EDT

Here's how the Helio Fin, the thinnest clamshell in the US, stacks up against other equally thin phones. As you can see, it's pretty much the same thickness as the iPhone, which is amazing since the Fin actually flips open. It's slightly thinner than the HTC Touch, and is dwarfed by the bulge-tastic Helio Ocean. More Sizemodo after the jump.

Live Helio Ocean Fin Grope [UPDATE: Archive Video Up]

Brian Lam — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:15:50 EDT

Noah unboxed this baby this morning, but I'm looking forward to tearing the back out of my Fin's box right now. BTW I haven't showered, yet, so don't mind the bedhead. Hit the jump for the live video. UPDATE: Archive video of the hour-long grope is live.

Helio Fin Unboxing - Meet The Thinnest Clamshell In The US

Noah Robischon — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:51:23 EDT

Clamshells make up 79% of the US market for cellphones, so it's no surprise that Helio is introducing one to its lineup starting today. Here's the unboxing, with Sizemodo to come.

Earlier: The Helio Fin is a Magnesium-Cased Samsung Ultra Flip Phone!

The Helio Fin is a Magnesium-Cased Samsung Ultra Flip Phone!

Brian Lam — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:00:42 EDT

Holy crap. The Helio Fin is the company's first clamshell, and is built on Samsung Ultra phone DNA. As such, it's only 11.4mm thick, and hot damn, it's the only one made of magnesium. It's also the only Helio handset to have Garmin turn-by-turn GPS software on it, although you'll have to rent it to a sick tune of $3 a day. (Bleh!) The cameraphone is a generous 3MP, however.

And it records video to MPEG 4. The screen is 2.3 inches, 320 by 240 pixels, and has a mediocre full HTML browser, but the Opera browser hack should work just fine on it. One hundred MB of internal memory is lame (but you can extend its memory by up to 4GB using a microSD card. And of course it has that 3G network powered by Sprint (our favorite). Very sexy, and just the kind of handset the carrier needs. [Helio]

HELIO FIN PACKS ADVANCED 3G SERVICES
INTO THINNEST FOLDER AVAILABILE IN THE U.S.
Helio Debuts Garmin Mobile and Customizable RSS Feeds for H.O.T.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 15, 2007 - Helio's portfolio of innovative mobile devices just got thinner with the introduction of Fin by Samsung, the thinnest folder currently available in the U.S. True to Helio form, Fin's ultra thin blue-black magnesium body comes packed with Helio's full line-up of 3G content and services including MySpace on Helio, GPS-enabled Google Maps for mobile, YouTube , HelioUP for instant upload of photos and video to YouTube , Flickr and other destinations, plus Helio's messaging suite which combines Instant Messages, text messages, picture messages and emails in one ultimate inbox. Fin also debuts Garmin Mobile for GPS-enabled voice-guided navigation and the addition of customizable RSS feeds to H.O.T. (Helio On Top), letting members sign up for updates on news and information they want delivered to their device home screen, no clicks required.
"Our last device was proof of what Helio is capable of, but we're not resting on our laurels," said Sky Dayton, CEO of Helio. "Less than 90 days later, we're launching one of the thinnest folders on the market. Fin is smart, fast and powerful, but thin enough to slip into your pocket without a crease."
The Fin
Supercharged and ultra thin, the slim and fully loaded Fin is a powerhouse in blue-black magnesium and just over 11mm deep, the thinnest folder currently available in the U.S. Produced by Samsung, Fin runs on a high-speed nationwide 3G network, has a 3 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, night mode and built-in Photo Studio for high quality photos and video, a 2.3 inch QVGA display, 100MB available internal memory expandable via microSD to 4GB, an HTML browser, GPS capabilities for integration with Helio's GPS services like Buddy Beacon and Google Maps for mobile, stereo Bluetooth and support for an array of audio and video formats including MP3 and AAC audio, and MPEG-4 and H.264 video. Fin also has communication covered with a version of Helio's ultimate messaging suite, combining Instant Messages, text messages, picture messages and emails in one messaging paradise. Fin has out-of-the-box access to Yahoo! Messenger, AOL's AIM Service and Windows Live Messenger, email from Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail , Helio Mail, EarthLink email, the ability to add additional IMAP or POP3 email accounts, and push mail support for Yahoo!, AOL, Windows Live and Helio Mail.
More...
HELIO INTRODUCES FIN - 2

Point + Shoot + Share
With HelioUP, high quality photos and video shot with Fin's 3 megapixel camera can instantly be uploaded to popular sites like YouTube and Flickr directly from the device, so members can capture and share their experiences as they happen. HelioUP is GPS-enabled so users can geo-tag photos and video with location information and other metadata. Another industry first, Helio is the only U.S. mobile operator to let members automatically post geo-tagged photos from their device directly to Flickr's World Map (flickr.com/map), one of the world's largest collections of location tagged photos. Now members can photo blog a road trip, vacation or party, letting friends and family tune in on Flickr to not only see what happened, but where.
Customizable RSS Feeds for H.O.T. (Helio On Top)
Helio has added customization to the innovative H.O.T. (Helio On Top) service giving members with compatible devices click-free access to their favorite RSS feeds delivered directly to their device home screen. Through the new H.O.T. area of the Helio website, members can set as a H.O.T. channel one of the countless available RSS feeds on the Web. Members can also share their favorite RSS feeds with the Helio community or select from other member recommendations. Members can also still select from an assortment of optimized H.O.T. channels from Helio partners including Yahoo!, MTV, Accuweather, Surfline, The Onion and more. Whether it's their own blog, favorite news or weather site, the latest celebrity gossip or sports scores, members can have RSS feeds delivered right to their mobile device, no clicks necessary.

Garmin Mobile
Helio members can now get voice-guided navigation with Garmin Mobile . Utilizing the device's GPS capabilities, Garmin Mobile provides a moving map with turn-by-turn directions that follow the member in near real-time, making it easier than ever to get to a specific street addresses or any of nearly six million pre-programmed points of interest, including gas stations listed by price at the pump, ATMs, and more. Garmin Mobile can even check weather for driving conditions and find alternate routes in the event of heavy traffic. Garmin Mobile is available now on select Helio devices for $2.99 per day.

Fin Availability and Pricing
Fin is now available at Helio retail locations, HYPERLINK "http://www.helio.com" www.helio.com, by calling 888-88-HELIO and at thousands of retail locations nationwide for $175 through a limited time offer for Helio Samsung devices. New members purchasing a Fin or other Samsung device on Helio receive $50 instant savings at Helio locations, or if purchased at third party retail locations, new members can mail in for a $50 Helio Visa prepaid debit card.

Custom Apps Now Possible on Helio Ocean (Opera Mini)

Jason Chen — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:48:26 EDT

Not only is the iPhone getting its third-party cherry popped, the Helio Ocean is now running third-party apps now as well. The first proof of concept app is Opera Mini, the smallish browser from Opera that lets even lousy phones browse like a star. To get it to work on your Ocean (even though the default Ocean browser is just fine for us), just follow the directions on Heliocity. After you're done, you may want to check to see how you can support them to get even cooler apps on the Ocean. [Heliocity]

ActiveSync and Exchange Support for Helio Ocean

Brian Lam — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:00:50 EDT

Helio is announcing Activesync support for the Ocean. The phone will then be able to sync calendars, email and contacts from an Exchange server. They're also doing a file viewer app that will view PDF, Word, Powerpoint and Excel docs. $10 a month for Helions with All-In service plans.

HELIO LAUNCHES MAIL FOR MICROSOFT EXCHANGE
Wirelessly Sync Ocean with Microsoft® Office Outlook® Email, Calendar and Contacts

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 25, 2007 - Helio Ocean's expansive messaging capabilities just got more versatile with the launch of Mail for Microsoft Exchange. Adding to Ocean's already comprehensive messaging line-up including a single hub for all text messages, picture messages, Instant Messages and emails from the major portals and ISPs, Helio members can now mix business with pleasure through Mail for Microsoft Exchange. This new application lets users wirelessly synchronize Microsoft® Office Outlook® email, calendar and contacts from their companies' Microsoft® Exchange Server so they can use Ocean to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as staying on top of business.
"Ocean has already made staying in touch with friends easier than ever with the ultimate messaging dashboard for all email, IM, picture and text messages, something nobody has ever done before," said Doug Britt, Sr. Director of Content and Messaging Services at Helio. "Now we're bringing the business user into the fold with the addition of corporate email, calendar and contacts, all from the same great messaging interface. Combined, this solidifies Ocean as an ideal device for keeping in touch with friends, family and business associates."

Business + Pleasure
Mail for Microsoft Exchange is Helio's new downloadable client that uses the Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® protocol to let users remotely synchronize and access business email, contacts and calendar data from their corporate Exchange Server. Ocean users can wirelessly download Mail for Microsoft Exchange to their device and after a brief set up, send and receive email, create and send calendar appointments and access corporate contact lists. Once Mail for Microsoft Exchange is downloaded, it is also easily accessible through Ocean's messaging home screen aside the full suite of Ocean's messaging capabilities.

Helio will also soon launch Helio File Viewer in conjunction with Mail for Microsoft Exchange. When available, Helio File Viewer will allow users to view documents including .doc, .ppt, .xls, and .pdf files.