LG Optimus Vu review: Vu from the top

LG may have given up on tablets, but not on the Optimus Vu - it's halfway between a phone and a tablet, a hybrid of form factors that we like to call "phoneblets". The Samsung Note was one of the first, but that doesn't mean it can have the market all for itself. The LG Vu pairs the big screen with a handy stylus to enhance tasks like note taking, something that can be a chore on a normal thumb-operated handset.

LG Optimus Vu official photos

The dedicated Notebook app lets you create elaborate, multiple-page notes with images and text, or you can just hit the QuickMemo key, which snaps a screenshot and lets you scribble on it - you can screenshot a website, a part of an email, a document, an image, and just about anything else.

This makes the Optimus Vu a handy tool for putting down reminders or helping you communicate with others - it's much easier to explain what you need when you can take a screenshot and sketch your idea over it. Once you're done, sending the image via email, Dropbox, a social network or another channel is just a tap away.

The phoneblet sure has a lot going for it, but it's not all sunshine and roses - you can go ahead and copy our notes on where it scores and where it misses.

Dual-band CDMA, 1x EV-DO, HSDPA and LTE connectivity5" 16M-color capacitive HD-IPS LCD touchscreen of XGA resolution (768 x 1024 pixels)LG Rubberdium stylus and QuickMemo buttonAndroid OS v2.3 GingerbreadDual-core 1.5GHz ARM Scorpion processor, 1GB of RAM, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8660 Snapdragon chipset32GB of inbuilt storage8 MP autofocus camera, face detection and geotagging1080p @ 30fps video recordingFront facing 1.3MP camera, video callingWi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspotNFC connectivityGPS with A-GPSmicroUSB port (charging)Stereo Bluetooth v3.0MHL TV-outPolaris Office document editorSmart dialing, voice dialingAccelerometer and proximity sensorDivX/XviD video supportStandard 3.5 mm audio jackDolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancementStereo FM radio with RDST-DMB TV tunermicroSIM cards onlyRuns older Android 2.3 GingerbreadWide form factor needs getting used to4:3 aspect ratio not a good fit for video watchingNo microSD card slot

With a rich app package, the Optimus Vu has solid business credentials. It features the Polaris Office document editor and an app that can automate backups (with an option to encrypt them).

You also get an NFC app, with which you can easily share your contact details, web site, memos, scheduling info and more. You can share it directly with another NFC-enabled device or write the info to NFC tags that you can hand out to people.

The extensive connectivity options go on - you get fast data connections over LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi Direct, then there's the fun stuff like DLNA and a T-DMB TV tuner (ok, that's a Korea-only feature).

LG Optimus Vu at ours

We're not counting on the LG Optimus Vu being very pocketable, but we'll be putting the screen under a microscope (even literally) to find out if it's worth the tradeoff. We'll also look at the rest of the hardware and rummage through the retail box - all that's coming up.

View the original article here

LG announces dual-SIM version of Optimus L3 for some regions

 

LG has come up with a dual-SIM version of their entry-level L-Style droid, the Optimus L3. It's model number is E405 (the single SIM one is E400).

The Optimus L3 E405 features a new set of keys below the screen. The hardware button is gone - there are four capacitive keys in its place. The first three are the standard Menu, Home and Back keys, while the fourth one toggles the active SIM. The L3 E405 is a single-SIM-standby device.

The other features of the phone are virtually the same - Android 2.3 Gingerbread running on a Qualcomm MSM7225A chipset (Cortex-A5 CPU @ 800MHz, 384MB RAM, Adreno 200 GPU), 3.2" QVGA TFT screen, HSDPA, 3MP camera with VGA video, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and 1,540mAh battery.

The LG Optimus L3 E405 will be available in the Ukraine in July, priced around UAH1,500 ($185, ?150). The phone is also available on LG's Russian and Chinese sites, but there's no launch date or pricing for those markets.

Source (in Ukrainian)

View the original article here

LG Optimus L5 is now globally available, to cost �189

LG has announced its entry-level Optimus L5 smartphone will be making its international debut this month.

 

Powered by a Qualcomm MSM7225A chipset with a single-core 800MHz Cortex A5 processor, the LG Optimus L5 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box and comes with 512MB of RAM. At the front, the device features a a 4.0-inch HVGA display and at the back there's a 5.0MP snppaer with LED flash.

Internal storage is limited to 4GB, only 2.5GB of which are user accessible. Fortunately, it comes with a microSD card support of up to 32GB. The Optimus L5 measures at 118.3 x 66.5 x 9.5mm and weighs 125 grams.

The first countries to get the LG Optimus L5 will be Germany, France and the UK followed by the Middle East and the rest of Asia. Then, later this month the smartphone will hit the shelves in North, Central and South America.

Amazon Germany currently lists the device ?189, but we guess the price will fall even further before its release. After all the Optimus L7 goes for just under ?200 in Germany and we doubt LG will position the L5 so close to it.

View the original article here

LG to launch the Optimus 4X HD in 11 Euro countries quite soon

LG announced today that they will be launching their Optimus 4X HD this month in 11 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and Italy, right on plan, actually.

The LG Optimus 4X HD was announced back at the MWC in February, where we got a pretty good look at it. Unfortunately, that was it, as the Koreans have been taking their time with the market release of the smartphone.
The Optimus 4X HD runs on a 1.5Ghz quad-core Tegra 3 chipset, comes with 1GB of RAM and has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS screen of 720p resolution. The camera on the back is an 8 megapixel unit with FullHD video recording. The smartphone's profile is 8.9 mm and the battery inside has a 2,150 mAh capacity to cope with the demands of the bigger screen and multiple cores. Overall, it seems like a nice match for the like of the Samsung Galaxy S III and the HTC One X.
Source | Via

LG Optimus 4X HD now available in Germany, to hit UK in mid-July

After leaving the factories yesterday the LG Optimus 4X HD is already available for purchase in Europe. Germany is the only country to have received it so far, though.

The white version of the quad-core LG Optimus 4X HD is currently retailing for ?505 over at Amazon.de and doesn't require any commitment. That's a pretty attractive price given the package you are getting and even more so considering that it will drop a bit when availability extends. Sadly, if you are after the black version of the Optimus 4X, you are in no luck, as that one isn't on sale just yet.

UK residents don't get any good news today either, as Clove UK confirmed the device will only be hitting Britain in mid to late July. LG has provided the time frame for the northern European countries, while the rest of Europe is still in the dark regarding when to expect the next LG flagship.

Source | Via

View the original article here

LG Optimus 3D Max P720 review: Remastered

It's been almost a year since the release of the original Optimus 3D from LG, and in that time we've been watching 3D technology continue to evolve. Undoubtedly you've seen the changes in your local cinema, and even your living room, if you happen to have a 3DTV. While it still hasn't permeated every aspect of our reality as in Total Recall or the likes, it's at a stage of budding infancy. Since the Optimus 3D, LG have been the only big-name manufacturer to stick to their guns in the 3D smartphone market. There's been nothing official about a potential EVO 3D sequel by HTC and it's a safe bet to say that the cutting-edge of mobile 3D technology can be found in the Optimus 3D Max.

LG Optimus 3D Max official photos

It's hard to look at the 3D Max apart from its 3D viewing and recording capabilities - after all, it has 3D in the title. But beyond that, the phone can present some solid credentials, even by today's standards. There's the dual-core processor, dual-lens 5MP stereoscopic camera, as well as full HD capabilities. It's not as loaded as some of the latest flagships, but it's got enough power to run whatever you throw at it without a hitch.

With the 3D Max, LG has improved on the original we saw last year while choosing to keep most of the internals the same.

Quad-band GSM and 3G support21 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA4.3" 16M-color capacitive LCD stereoscopic touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with LG 3D UIDual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 proccessor, PowerVR SGX540 GPU, TI OMAP4430 chipset1 GB RAM8GB internal storageDual 5 MP autofocus cameras, LED flash; stereoscopic 3 MP pictures, face detection and geotagging1080p@30fps video recording, stereoscopic 720p@30fps videosGorilla Glass 2Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNAGPS with A-GPSStereo FM radio with RDSmicroSD slot up to 32GBAccelerometer, proximity sensor and an auto-brightness sensorFront facing camera with video callsStandard 3.5 mm audio jackmicroUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v3.0, MHL TV-outSmart dialing, voice dialingDivX/XviD video supportPolaris Office document editorInnovative gesture controlsDolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancementRuns GingerbreadLess than impressive camera performanceStill limited third-party 3D apps marketQuestionable outdoor performanceNot the best dual-core performance, Got rid of the microHDMI port, MHL instead

With such similar specifications, you're not going to see much difference from a hardware standpoint. That said, the Optimus 3D Max is 2mm thinner and 20g lighter than its predecessor, and when held in hand, it feels noticeably less bulky than the original. The 3D Max now looks more like an "ordinary" smartphone. The camera bump of the original Oprimus 3D is gone and, with a pleasantly textured back panel, the Max has a much more streamlined design. Considering the minor upgrades, LG has done well to make it a standard-looking package with an extra bonus, rather than a huge device that looks like it must do something special.

LG Optimus 3D Max live pictures

Enough spoilers - join us after the jump for the actual hardware tour.

View the original article here