LG Optimus LTE

   LG Electronics have announce in Korea the first 4G HD smartphone with advanced true HD IPS display technology which provides advanced resolution, brightness and clarity.

   The main technical specifications are:

-- DISPLAY: 4.5-inch capacitive touch 1280 x 720 pixels screen

-- CPU:  1.5 GHz dual-core processor.

-- MEMORY:  1 GB RAM.

-- STORAGE:  4GB for internal, microSD card slot up to 32GB.

-- CAMERA:  Primary - 8 MP camera, LED flash video recording up to 720p.

Secondary - 1.3 MP, video chat, video calling.

-- CONNECTIVITY:  3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, HDMI, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, micro-USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack, A-GPS.

-- BATTERY:  Li-Po 1830 mAh

-- MULTIMEDIA:  touch sensitive buttons.

-- OS:  Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Adobe Flash support.

-- APPLICATIONS:  Google Apps, social networking.

   Although the battery seems to be a powerful one with this type of display the phone still fits in LG`s design style. I never liked the LG`s poor quality plastic materials which some times are the same with Samsung`s. However I see the Optimus LTE as a main competitor for HTC Sensation and Galaxy S II. There is no other information if the device will be made available outside Korea for now.

Source

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Mango

   Today Microsoft have announced their new updates to the Windows Phone 7 and the new version was called Mango. As there were rumors a few days back, it appears that 500 new features have been implemented. Not all were made public at the press conference but we should see the rest in the next period. 

   First important updates are regarding the communications. The Mango has an organizer for social networking applications. User will be able to chat on Facebook, Windows Live Messenger and SMS in the same time or switch fast between these. Contacts can now be grouped into personalized live tiles; have Twitter, Linkedin feeds integrated. Also Facebook comes with check-in service and face detection software. There are good news for email too because you can link multiple accounts in a single Inbox now. Final communication update brings voice-to-text and text-to-voice capability for a hands free SMS or chat.

   Next is the Applications approach with Windows Hub. Applications are grouped in one place and can be opened where and when are needed. To most expected feature is the multitasking witch has finally arrived on Mango. Now users can open several applications and can leave a few to run in background to save battery life and performance.

   The internet navigation has been improved with Internet Explorer 9. And is the mobile version based on the PC version, but has full hardware acceleration and HTML 5 support. With the Local Scout option you can now receive search results based on current location with shopping and social activities recommendations. Bing is the default search engine for web and with Quick Cards you can have a relevant information summary of a product, place, movie or event.

   At the end Microsoft have announced new hardware partners which will release new Windows phones. These are Acer, Fujitsu, ZTE and are added to the ones that are already have windows phones: Samsung, LG Mobile and HTC. Of course the new strategic partnership with Nokia was mentioned. I remember that HTC promoted Android and Android promoted HTC in the world about 2-3 years ago and this continues Today. I believe the same thing may happen with Nokia and Microsoft - it`s something like help me help you situation.

   In the end, it appears to me that Windows Phone has now caught Android from behind and can have a fair battle now in the mobile OS market.

Source

LG Optimus 3D -- All about performance video

LG Optimus Pad

   Another announcement from LG is a product for the tablets market - the Optimus Pad. As you will read further I do not see it as a very different tablet than what the other produces can offer or will in the near future. It gives me the impression that they just needed to make a tablet just as a response to the others. The most important specifications are:

-- DISPLAY: 8.9 inches display LCD capacitive touch 1280 x 768 pixels screen, 16M colors

-- CPU:  Dual-core 1GHz nVidia Tegra 2 processor.

-- MEMORY:  1GB RAM.

-- STORAGE:  no details so far.

-- CAMERA:  Primary - 5MP dual-lens camera for 3D photo taking, video recording, 2D (up to 1080p, MPEG-4/H.264) and 3D (up to 720p, H.264 SEI).

-- CONNECTIVITY:  no details so far.

-- SENSORS:  no details so far.

-- BATTERY:  no details so far.

-- OS:  Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Adobe Flash 10.1 support.

-- APPLICATIONS:  Google Apps, social networking.

   There are many specifications missing but there is one mentioned which creates some confusion in my head. I wonder why Optimus Pad has only a 2D display but can record video in 3D. Also this screen is clearly larger than the smartphone Optimus 3D has and the 3D experience would have been a lot more fun. But I assume they know best.

Source

LG Optimus 3D

   LG has announced the first 3D smartphone - and you do not need any 3D glasses to look at the screen. The hardware specifications are making it the most powerful phone I`ve seen. Regarding the 3D technology, this is great but I am not sure if was released at the right time. I do not believe that there is a real need for a smartphone to have a 3D screen right now... perhaps is just a beginning of a new approach or future for mobile industry.

-- DISPLAY: 4.3-inch 3D LCD capacitive touch WVGA 480 x 800 pixels screen, 16M colors

-- CPU:  Dual-core & dual-channel Texas Instruments 1GHz OMAP4 processor.

-- MEMORY:  4GB RAM DDR2.

-- STORAGE:  8GB for internal, microSD card slot up to 32GB.

-- CAMERA:  Primary - 5MP dual-lens camera for 3D photo taking, video recording, 2D (up to 1080p, MPEG-4/H.264) and 3D (up to 720p, H.264 SEI).

Secondary - Yes, video chat, video calling.

-- CONNECTIVITY:  3G HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, micro-USB port v 2.0, HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, A-GPS.

-- SENSORS:  Accelerometer, Proximity

-- BATTERY:  Li-Po 1500 mAh

-- MULTIMEDIA:  3D hotkey and five 3D-dedicated Uis, 3D sharing.

-- OS:  Android 2.2 Froyo, upgradable to Gingerbread, LG 3D UI, Adobe Flash 10.1 support.

-- APPLICATIONS:  Google Apps, social networking, YouTube 3D.

   So LG has released again a smartphone with some world`s first features: full 3D experince (including sharing with a 3D TV through the HDMI port), dual-core & dual channel CPU, dual-channel RAM memory. I see it as the most multimedia capable phone but I do not believe there are applications in Android Market which can test the capabilities of this device yet.

Source

LG Optimus Black

   Honestly, I am really impressed of LG`s latest smartphones. I believe they are a serious competitor now for Samsung or HTC and are getting close to Apple. LG has just announced the Optimus Black - the smartphone with 'dramatically brighter 4-inch NOVA display' as they said. It appears that this display has great viewing angles indoor and outdoor, even in the sun light, and should be the world`s brightest screen. The NOVA display consumes 50% less battery (comes with 1500 mAh) than the LCDs or AMOLEDs

   Also this is the slimmest mobile device (only 9.2 mm) which comes with Android Froyo (upgradeable to Gingerbread) and with the new Optimus 2.0 User Interface, offering improved access experience to messages, emails and missed calls right from the locked screen with a single finger tap. Now I am not sure if the Optimus is making a major competition to HTC`s Sense but seems to have intuitive commands, lifting, shaking, tapping. Another premiere is the 'Wi-Fi Direct' for fast and high-quality data transfer between mobile devices and the last one is the 2MP front-facing camera.

   In conclusion - a lot of world`s-first features, but most important ones: brightest screen and slimmest mobile phone. I wonder how much this will cost as should appear until June. Anyway the CES is just starting and I believe I will not have enough time to talk about all releases :). I am looking forward to touch this phone in reality as looks great in pictures.

Source