LG ups the ante with the Optimus Ex

Not content with giving us some amazing offerings from Samsung (especially in the last 12 months), LG is now really upping its game too - with the Optimus Ex.

It certainly looks sweet with Android 2.3, a super-bright 4-inch 700 nits IPS display with WVGA resolution, 1.2GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor, DLNA, HDMI support and even a DMB digital TV tuner (very handy if you like South Korean TV since that bit will only work there.)
The whole idea is that the screen will be bright enough for outdoor use and slim enough to carry around at 9.65mm with a weight of just 127g. Pocketability and portability, see.
However, there is one thing that leaves a sour taste already. Being in Korean, we're unable to decipher the original press release and work out what camera this baby packs but we can't help noticing there is a significant lack of flash/LED light on the rear.
This immediately makes us want to smack our heads against a brick wall due to wasted opportunity - just like we did when we first got our mitts on the Samsung Galaxy S.
Initially, this is going to be a native phone for the South Koreans with SK Telecom getting it first. But although there is no word on the Brits getting a version, we're optimistic. LG has a real new lease of life these days courtesy of Android and will soon be looking to replace the Optimus 2X range which hasn't done too badly here.
Just as well really as the days of us Brits being wowed by LG are, sadly, over. The era of ogling handsets like the Chocolate KG800 or the Shine which genuinely brought something new to the table at the time are gone.
Since then, we've had various mediocre offerings, plus a few that have tried to be different but not really taken off  and a spattering of Android handsets.
The Optimus 3D was genuinely amazing for about the first ten mins until we realised that the 3D bit had given us a headache, plus the battery had gone down 75% in that time (slight exaggeration but not far off) and when the 3D was taken out, all we were left with was an oversized, bricky Android slab.
Hopefully the Optimus Ex will fix that. If it ever makes its way over here. And LG sort out that flash!
Via Slashgear

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LG makes the Optimus EX official

A few days back we caught a glimpse of some leaked press photos of the LG Optimus EX smartphone packing Android along with a few specs on the device. Today LG has gone official with the new smartphone and given up all the details on the device along with a slew of photos and specs. The Optimus EX is aimed at the high-end Android smartphone market.

An NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor at 1.2GHz powers the device. The operating system is Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The screen of the smartphone is very bright with an IPS panel that is 700 nits making it the brightest screen around. The phone supports HD video output, 1080p video recording, is 9.65mm thick and weighs 127g.
The smartphone also has Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI output, DLNA compatibility, and a lot more. We had previously reported that the smartphone would get a 5MP rear camera with no flash, a front facing camera, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. The battery is said to be a 1500mAh unit. Pricing and release date is unknown.
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Samsung Galaxy S2 vs LG Optimus Q2

We watch as Samsung's Galaxy S2 defends its title against LG's new Optimus Q2

We see how LG’s latest Android phone, the Optimus Q2, compares to Samsung’s well-established Galaxy S2.

Form:
Samsung Galaxy S2 - 125.3x66.1x8.5mm, 116g
LG Optimus Q2 - 123x65x12.3mm,147g
Samsung might not make waves by producing bombastic designs like Nokia and Sony Ericsson, but what the company does well is elegant understatement.
There’s nothing in-your-face about the Galaxy S2, instead its opting for simple, clean lines and eye-pleasing proportions. It’s very squared-off with its stark rectangular silhouette and sharp corners but we think this lends it a premium appearance.
What is slightly less premium is the build quality. It’s not exactly going to fall apart any time soon. But in order to get that wafer thin profile and feather-like weight Samsung has opted for plastic over the aluminium we’re more used to seeing on high-end handsets.
The back panel has a nice, modern-looking ‘carbon fibre’ texture to it to add a bit of panache but it’s not a distracting visual feature by any means.
LG is also well-established as a company which, in the main, makes some very attractive devices – although it has produced a few stinkers of late.
The Q2 has also gone for a minimalist aesthetic but we feel LG has perhaps been a bit overzealous in this regard, crossing the border from unobtrusive chic and into outright bland territory.
The corners are extremely rounded giving an overly soft feel to the phone’s looks.
Where Samsung has kept the details small and discreet, LG has removed them entirely, creating a completely flat and uninterrupted surface.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Display:
Samsung is well known for producing some pretty spectacular smartphone displays and the Galaxy S2’s is no exception thanks to a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen.
The pixel density is a respectable 217 pixels-per-inch thanks to an 800x480 pixel resolution.
Gorilla Glass has been used for the screen so you don’t have to worry about it taking a bit of a beating.
Built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors sort out screen orientation, along with Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 user interface (UI) which is overlaid on the Android operating system. The S2’s display supports multi-touch input and features touch-sensitive capacitive buttons under the glass.
LG’s Q2 uses an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, it’s slightly smaller than the Samsung’s at 4-inches, but with the same resolution this gives a higher pixel density at 233ppi.
Just like its opponent the Q2 packs both accelerometer and gyro sensors and it also similarly features multi-touch and capacitive controls.
It seems LG has beaten Samsung at it’s own game here. The higher pixel density of the Q2 means you’ll get a much sharper picture.
Samsung’s Super Amoled Plus technology goes some way to compensating for its lower pixel density and it’s still a fine display, but even so, on raw numbers we think the difference is significant enough to grant LG the victory.
Winner – LG Optimus Q2

Storage:
The Galaxy S2 is something of a heavyweight contender when it comes to storage with options for both 16GB and 32GB of internal capacity.
By comparison the Q2 has 8GB onboard, which is nothing to sneeze at of course, but it’s not anywhere near approaching even the lower end Galaxy’s space.
The rest of the storage specs are quite similar between the two, each has 1GB of RAM to support their respective processors and both also feature microSD slots allowing for a further 32GB of external memory.
This is quite an easy victory for the Galaxy’s sledgehammer approach to memory, but that’s not to say the Q2 is exactly lacking, it’s simply dwarfed by the exceptionally generous amount of space on the Samsung.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Processor:
Both phones are dual core powered devices. Samsung’s baby runs an ARM Cortex-A9 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. It runs the Exynos chipset and packs a powerful Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU) into the bargain.
The LG is on the same level power-wise at an identical 1.2GHz clock speed, however, it’s running NVidia-made hardware on the Tegra 2 chipset.
They’re equally high-powered handsets and you might be hard pushed to discern a performance difference between the two.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
Each of these handsets is running Google’s Android operating system, the same version too, Android Gingerbread.
As a result, there’s nothing to compare the two here.
Winner - Draw

Camera:
LG has opted for a 5-megapixel primary camera in the Optimus Q2. The resolution comes in at 2592х1944 pixels and there’s also a secondary VGA camera with video calling support.
Autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging keep the features short but sweet.
Exact information on the video capture quality hasn’t been forthcoming, although we’ve seen plenty of suggestion for 1080p HD, which isn’t too much of a stretch really. We’d say at the very least we’d expect 720p capture from this setup.
The Samsung goes the extra mile though with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264x2448 pixels, boasting 1080p HD video capture, video calling and a video light.
Other features include geo-tagging, touch focus, panoramic capture, face and smile detection, image stabilisation, autofocus and an LED flash. Lastly, the secondary camera is rated at 2-megapixels.
Another easy win for the Samsung with it’s strong-arm approach to in-built cameras.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Final Thoughts:
This has actually been a pretty tough contest. In some key areas the Q2 has shown itself to be the Galaxy S2’s equal, with an evenly matched processor and sporting the same operating system.
The most surprising result was a win for the LG on display, an area usually dominated by Samsung phones.
Apart from this, however, the Samsung is still as potent as ever with a superior camera, a much greater storage capability and killer looks.
We doubt if many people would find themselves dissatisfied if they get their hands on an LG Optimus Q2 and they’d be getting the better end of the bargain as far as display is concerned.
In many other ways though, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is still top dog, the Q2 proves it’s not so secure on its pedestal, but LG is not quite able to topple it just yet.

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LG Optimus EX press image and specs revealed

Well folks, just a few days ago we received our first potential look at the LG Optimus EX rocking a dual-core processor and a decent rap-sheet full of specs. Earlier this week the details were a bit scant but today we’ve found actual press images as well as a detailed breakdown the specs and what will be under the hood here with the EX.

Coming in at under 10 mm thick this should be a very sleek and thin smartphone from LG. Rocking Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread and what has now been confirmed as a 1.2 Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and more. It will feature a 4.0″ 480×800 NOVA display (no H-IPS or HD here), a 5MP camera around the rear yet sadly it wont have an LED flash. We also see a front facing camera and it will come with a 1500 mAh battery under the back cover.

Apart from the usual other treats like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sensors it will also be capable of 1080p video capture and more. The original look didn’t reveal much other than the unique design approach LG has taken with this smartphone and the image above shows it clear as day. A bit odd if I don’t say so myself, but nice nonetheless. According to sources this is also headed for now only to Korea and will be offered in two colors — Black and Silver, as well as White and Gold. Hopefully this along with a few other LG phones seen as of late will get a US release date too.
[via Cetizen]

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LG Optimus LTE pictured again in the wild

The LG Optimus LTE has been floating around the past few weeks and now the details are starting to pour in. Known originally as the LG LU6200 sources have confirmed they are calling it the Optimus LTE but most likely will receive a full name once it hits a few carriers. This dual-core device is a nice improvement for LG’s lineup and we cant wait to see more soon — details below.

The LG Optimus LTE aims to be their answer to the Galaxy S II from Samsung. LG has dialed up a nice phone featuring a 4.5″ H-IPS display said to be the best screen around and rocking a 1280 x 720p HD resolution. Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, a dual-core 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm processor, 8 MP HD camera on the rear with 2 MP front for video, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage rounding it off as a nice top tier contender.

The Optimus LTE appeared again just this week giving us a decent view of the smartphone. While the back seems a bit weird the photo’s today paint it in a more natural light and it doesn’t look so goofy. With what seems to be a rigid soft coated back panel for easy grip, an aluminum bezel wrapping around the phone and a nice aluminum dedicated home button on the face I’m really digging this new direction by LG.
The LG Optimus LTE is rumored to hit Korea sometime this month so any day now, and we should be hearing details about a possible US launch shortly. I’d love to see this hit the streets here on Verizon or AT&T to rival the Galaxy S II but they’ll need to hurry. Who wants one?
[via PocketNow]

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LG Optimus EX Press Renders and Specs Leak

Just the other day we've seen the LG Optimus EX for Korea's SK Telecom being leaked with some specs and today we've got some press renders with a full breakdown of the phone's internals. The Optimus EX weighs only 127 grams and measures 118.0 x 63.4 x 9.65 millimeters.

Running Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the device is powered by a 1.2GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor aided by the ULP GeForce (AP25) GPU. It packs a four-inch WVGA IPS 700-nit NOVA display, five-megapixel auto-focus camera sans flash, but with 1080p video recording capability, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of ROM, microSD card slot with support for additional 32GB, all the usual sensors and a 1,500mAh battery. It will come to SK Telecom in Korea in two color flavors: Black & Sliver plus White & Champagne Gold. We hope a variant will be released in the U.S. and internationally as well.

Source: Cetizen
Via: Blog of Mobile

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Netflix for Android app gets updated, now plays on LG Thrill 4G and G2x

A couple of weeks ago, the Netflix Android application got updated to support most of the current handsets running on Android 2.2 and 2.3. While that sounded good to everyone, some devices such as the LG Thrill 4G and the T-Mobile’s G2x had an issue with the app which consisted of it not starting. Netflix just released a new minor update to address “minor bugs.” We can finally watch Netflix on the LG thrill and we also have reports that the G2x owners are also able to do the same. Use the links below or head to the market to take care of business.


(How to use QR codes)
Android Market Link

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LG Esteem Leaks – Brings Gingerbread and LTE to MetroPCS

Found on a LG Partner portal, the LG Esteem has been confirmed for MetroPCS. The device will run on MetroPCS’ 3G/LTE network. It will also be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board as well. Though MetroPCS doesn’t sell its devices on discount with contracts, it is also reported that the device will sell for $349 with a $100 mail-in-rebate.

Apart from the inclusion of LTE, the device’s specs are a little low key compared to the other Android powerhouses on the market, but seem sizable to MetroPCS’ existing lineup. The LG Esteem features a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, with 512MB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage. The LCD display is 4.3 inches with a 720p enabled, 5 megapixel camera on the back. The device also features a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat as well.
MetroPCS had also recently announced that they would be developing 3G service over their existing EV-DO network. The company made bold moves by initially skipping over developing a 3G network in support of quickly building its LTE network. For reasons that they haven’t specified quite yet, MetroPCS had recently announced that they would be upgrading approximately 30% of its EV-DO towers for Rev. A support.
[via AndroidCentral]

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LG Optimus EX dual-core phone leaked

A new Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone from the teams at LG has been leaked along with a press photo and some impressive hardware specs. This is the Optimus EX (aka LG-SU880) and for now we are just starting to receive information on this handset. First off hitting markets in Korea, we can hopefully expect to see it land on others soon.

The LG Optimus EX will sport a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor though we are still unsure on make and model but most likely a Qualcomm, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP camera around the rear as well as a front camera for video chat. Packing a 4.0″ WVGA display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and all those other usual sensors this appears to be a nice, well rounded phone from LG.
We’ve yet to see this type of design from LG and from looking at the image above it almost appears as if the speaker grills are on the front of the device, unless that is just the snazzy design. It’s said to be sleek and sexy being only just 9.5mm thick. We haven’t heard anything regarding pricing or availability outside the US, or if it will pack 4G LTE like its recently leaked LTE brother. We will update when we hear more details on this mystery phone.
[via PocketNow]
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Verizon Wireless unveils the LG Enlighten smartphone

Verizon Wireless is getting a new smartphone that runs Android 2.3 called the LG Enlighten. The smartphone will hit Verizon online on September 22 and it will be in stores on September 29. The Enlighten is a smartphone aimed at messaging, email, and apps in one package. The smartphone has some decent features that entry-level shoppers looking for a low price Android device might appreciate.

The screen is a 3.2-inch unit with a resolution of 320 x 240. The processor is an 800MHz unit and it has a QWERTY slide out keyboard. It supports Flash, hotspot connectivity, and has customizable home screens. The rear camera is a 3.2MP unit with autofocus and camcorder. The smartphone naturally supports the Android Market for apps.
Rounding out the features are Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, support for Exchange, and a 2GB microSD card is included. The Enlighten will be offered for $79.99 after a $50 MIR and a new 2-year agreement. Voice and data plans will start at $39.99 and another $30 monthly for data. The hotspot feature will cost you another $20 monthly.
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LG Optimus Q2 vs HTC Sensation XE

We compare HTC's upgraded Sensation XE and LG's keyboard-toting Optimus Q2 to see which device offers users the most complete Android package

LG's Optimus Q2 is a device aimed squarely at the more discerning Android user and with its sliding full Qwerty, slim form factor and powerful processor the device looks set to turn a few heads, but how does this promising pro-Android compare to HTC's new beast, the HTC Sensation XE? Let's find out.

Display
LG's Optimus Q2 features a 4-inch IPS LCD touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and a pixel density of 223ppi, making it pretty standard Android fare.
HTC's Sensation XE comes in with a 4.3-inch S-LCD qHD display which operates at a resolution of 540 x 960, giving it a subtle edge over the LG, and it beats the Q2 in pixel density too, with 256ppi, which is good but no iPhone 4.
Both devices will do justice to an assortment of media though, and you'll likely find them more than a match for any HD videos and games you might want to run on your device.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Form & Build
LG Optimus Q2 - 123x65x12.3mm, 147g
HTC Sensation XE - 126.1x65.4 x11.3mm, 151g
Despite offering a nice, full Qwerty keyboard the Optimus Q2 is still only 12.3mm thick, giving it a real edge over other full keyboard toting Android devices.
You can expect the build to live-up to LG's recent track record, which is to say solid and durable with a pleasant premium feel, and at only 147g you won't feel like you're carrying a lead weight around with you.
The HTC Sensation XE is only 1mm thinner than the Optimus Q2, even without a keyboard, and this doesn't work to the device's favour in this round. The extra input options that a full QWERTY brings are well worth that tiny bit of extra paunch.
Other than that the Sensation XE is good, but unremarkable. It feels a nice weight and the balance is on par with what we've come to expect of a manufacturer with HTC's cachet.
Winner - LG Optimus Q2

Camera
The HTC Sensation XE features the same 8-megapixel camera as the original Sensation and the performance is equally as idiosyncratic.
You get the usual add-ons with the Sensation XE too, such as dual-LED flash, face detection, touch-focus, geo-tagging and instant capture as well as 1080P video capture and a front facing VGA offering, giving the device a nice spec-sheet, but don't expect it to replace your compact.
The LG Optimus Q2 features a standard 5-megapixel snapper with autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging, as well as a front facing VGA camera for video-calling.
We can't comment on the performance, but we wouldn't expect it to be anything better than what's already on the market.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Software
Both of our contenders run on version 2.3.4 of Google's Android platform and more than do the operating system justice.
The Optimus Q2 features LG's custom overlay, which brings some new widgets, apps and other functionality to bear on the already well-stocked OS, though it mightn't be to everyone's liking.
The Sensation XE features HTC's sterling Sense UI overlay, which really gives the Taiwanese manufacturer's devices the edge over virtually every other Android on the market.
Sense brings social networking integration, widgets, apps and eye candy to the device and makes it a breeze to use and a pleasure to look at.
On top of Sense you also get the benefit of the vaunted 'Beats' software (and headphones too!) which offers custom sound profiles and tweaking, and gives the XE exemplary sound quality, so pick yourself one up if you're a muso in training.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Power
The Optimus Q2 runs on a dual-core 1.2GHz Tegra 2 CPU, so you can expect the device to run at a fair trot and cope with all the latest apps and games without a hiccup, and while there are faster devices out there you won't find the Q2 wanting.
HTC's Sensation XE is driven by a new 1.5GHz dual-core CPU that makes the device fly. The extra oomph is really noticeable and the inclusion of a larger, 1730mAh battery will keep the slick package running for longer too. This we like.
HTC didn't deem a RAM upgrade necessary though, meaning the device comes with 726MB installed, the same as its forebear. This we don't like.
That aside the Sensation XE is still a blisteringly fast smartphone which performs brilliantly in almost every regard.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE
HTC's Sensation XE takes the tape first in this comparison, and with effort to spare.
Sure, the Optimus Q2 is a contender, and its hardware QWERTY and slim figure will appeal to those message heavy users, but it just isn't as much fun as the obscenely powerful and pretty Sensation XE.
Is the XE worth the upgrade if you already own the original? Well, no, unless you're keen to hammer your credit card or music's more important to you than money, but for those that are looking for a rewarding and powerful Android experience it's the flavour of the week.

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LG Optimus LTE Emerges

Formerly codenamed the LG LU6200, the LG Optimus LTE finally has some sneakshots. This will be the first dual-core LG device to hit the LTE airwaves – the carrier is still a mystery. Previous LG devices can’t compare to the specs of this new superphone; with the 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660 Snapdragon processor lag/hangups should be a thing of the past.

Similar to the US Galaxy S II, the battery has been amped up to 1830mAh to help your device last the entire day. The Optimus LTE will sport the world’s first AH-IPS LCD display at 4.5″ with a 1280×720 resolution. There hasn’t been enough solid competition against Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus displays to date, but the AH-IPS LCD is sure to be a contender.

Most unique to the Optimus LTE is the exterior-rear casing. It looks to be a diamond-backed pattern that’s smooth to the touch. Whether or not this will be the same to ship out to the US is still unclear. As for software goes, Street Fighter IV will be available exclusively for the Optimus LTE for 3 months.
[via daum (Korea)]

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LG Optimus 3D CyanogenMod 7 Alpha now available

In what developers are calling “Almost CyanogenMod” the LG Optimus 3D has just received the first alpha build for CM7. Available right now for users to flash and enjoy all the treats that the developers of CyanogenMod bring to our devices. The Optimus 3D is also known as the AT&T LG Thrill 4G and this should work across both device models.

The developers from CyanogenMod have been keeping up with most of the popular devices as of late, as long as the bootloaders aren’t completely locked down. As usual with any alpha build this is not yet complete, there may be issues or things not fully working, but it should be completely stable enough for daily use.
According to RootzWiki the CM7 build for the O3D seems stable but HDMI is broken, capturing images in 3D still has a few quirks that need worked out, and wireless tethering has a few problems too. These are expected to be fixed shortly as most things do in the world of CyanogenMod.

Teaser video of CM7 on the Optimus 3D



If you’d like continued news and updates, or would like to thank the developer working hard on the Optimus 3D feel free to head over to Google+ and say hello and give thanks to Ricardo Cerqueira (aka CM_arcee). For those like me that love all things CM7, Give this alpha build of CM7 for the Optimus 3D a try and leave any thoughts or suggestions in the comment section below. More details are available at RootzWiki.

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LG Optimus Q2 revealed: Super-bright QWERTY slider

LG has unveiled its latest Android smartphone, the LG Optimus Q2, a QWERTY-toting slider with a 4-inch WVGA IPS display and a 5-megapixel camera. Running a 1.2GHz processor, the Optimus Q2′s real draw is the display, which LG says runs at an eye-searing 700 nits.

There’s also WiFi Direct support, Bluetooth and a front-facing video camera. The phone is 12.3mm thick and weighs 147g, and LG says its shrunk down the dimensions of the slide section by 2mm compared to previous smartphones from the company with the same form-factor.
It’s unclear which version of Android is loaded, but LG has done some fiddling with its own UI system. South Korea will be able to pick up the LG Optimus Q2 from next weekend, though there’s no sign of a price or a release date for international markets.
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LG grabs Street Fighter IV for HD phones in Q4

LG’s first HD Android smartphones are expected to arrive in Q4, bringing with them classic game Street Fighter IV thanks to a new deal with CAPCOM. The agreement will see LG have three months exclusivity to the title, which will be distributed via the handset manufacturer’s own site rather than, it seems, through the Android Market.

“As we prepare our first HD smartphone for launch, it was important for us to be able to offer HD content that would really demonstrate this phone’s benefits” LG Mobile president and CEO Dr. Jong-seok Park explains. ”The HD version of Street Fighter certainly fills this objective. We are also confident that LG’s soon-to-be-unveiled HD display technology will give Street Fighter fans a whole new reason to play the game again.”
Unfortunately there’s no further detail on the HD smartphones themselves, though leaks earlier in the year suggested that the LG Prada K2 would have a  4.3-inch HD NOVA Display, an 8-megapixel main camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. LG recently showed off a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 panel, with an iPhone 4-challenging 329ppi pixel density.
[via MobileBulgaria]

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LG U6200 leaks with 1.5 Ghz dual-core, LTE and 720p HD screen

Well folks, it seems LG is finally ready to hit the dual-core realm. Most of their current offerings have been single core devices thus far, but things are about to change. Just hitting the wires is not only a dual-core phone, but it also packs 4G LTE, an HD display and a few other impressive specs.


A flash site showing the phone appeared and was quickly pulled. What we have is a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with a 4.5″ 1280 x 720p HD display touting to be better than Samsung’s AMOLED technology — called H-IPS, then 4G LTE and more. First guesses might say this is the LG Revolution 2 for Verizon like we’ve seen in that leaked roadmap.
Some of the other rather impressive specs are a 8 MP camera on the rear, 1.3 MP front facing webcam, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage and nicely rounded up with a sleek 10.5mm thin profile. Originally launching in Korea it should be announced late this month and be available shortly. With specs like that hopefully we see a global release or at least over in the US so we can get our hands on it and see if LG can rival the Bionic and Galaxy S II.
[via GSMArena]

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LG Optimus S Gets Android 2.3 Update

Won’t be long before Froyo is obsolete. Sprint has released Android 2.3 for the LG Optimus S (which, if you didn’t know, is their version of the LG Optimus One). Sprint’s version of the phone is a slightly modified version of stock Android so you can expect the stock Gingerbread look that has really grown on a lot of people. Find the list of changes below and grab instructions on how to pull the update down here. [Sprint via AC]

LG Optimus S Software Update – Android 2.3 (LS670ZVH)

Enhancements/Fixes:
- Volume adjustment from handset when backlight is off and in a Bluetooth call
- Initiation of a 3-way call in certain markets
- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
- Updated color scheme (includesdarker notification bar and black-based menus)
- New on-screen keyboard (supports multi-touch input and a  smart auto-correction function)
- Improved cut-paste functionality
- New integrated download application for ease in accessing downloaded files
- Updated camera application
- Power management and task killer applications

Important Notes:
- The new software version is: LS670ZVH
- Released in stages with 100% of devices having received the update within 10 days
- Refer to the LG Optimus S Software Update blog for install instructions

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Sprint Officially Announces the LG Marquee for October 2nd, Angles it as a Choice for the Style Conscious Citizen

That didn’t take long, did it? After the LG Optimus Black for Sprint was outed at a recent Radio Shack event as the LG Marquee Sprint’s gone ahead and made it official with a nice looking press release. While the Marquee will draw people in due to it’s extremely bright screen, Sprint’s going with the fashion angle, collaborating with design collective MADE to launch the device in style.

Aside from its good, sleek looks, you can expect decent internals that fits this one right into that mid-range crowd. We’ve got the oft-discussed 4 inch NOVA display which LG claims is the brightest mobile phone display on the market, a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3, a 5 megapixel rear camera with a 2 megapixel front camera and more.
Availability? You can begin preordering on September 20th through September 27th. Presale customers will begin receiving their devices on the 29th, but the “official” launch isn’t slated for three days later. All of this comes to you at just $100. Read on for full press details.

LG Marquee from Sprint Celebrates the Perfect Combination of Signature Style and Cutting-Edge Technology During New York Fashion Week

 As Sprint’s first device available for advance pre-sale, customers can buy 

LG Marquee beginning on Sept. 20 at www.sprint.com/marquee for $99.99

 

TLC’s Stacy London and up-and-coming designers team up to
invite consumers to make "The Bright Choice" with a MADE Fashion Week Campaign promoting the thin, light and bright LG Marquee

New York City - Sept. 14, 2011 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and LG Mobile today announced the upcoming arrival of an Android device that perfectly pairs fashion with technology - LG Marquee Android™, exclusively from Sprint. The device will be launched in partnership with non-profit design collective MADE, formally known as M·A·C & Milk, at this year’s MADE FASHION WEEK in New York City. Keeping with the smartphone’s innovative convergence of technology and fashion, LG enlisted Stacy London of TLC’s "What Not To Wear"to act as resident style mentor to five up-and-coming MADE designers as they craft chic carrying cases for LG Marquee.

LG Marquee arrives on the Sprint Network on Sunday, Oct. 2 for just $99.99 (excludes taxes) with eligible upgrade or new two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card¹ (pricing excludes taxes). It will be the first Sprint device to be sold in advance online. Pre-sale orders begin on Tuesday, Sept. 20, and end on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at www.sprint.com/marquee. Customers who pre-order LG Marquee will begin receiving their devices on Thursday, Sept. 29 - three days before the device goes on sale.

"These days, a wireless phone is much more than just a communication device - it also echoes one’s personal style and taste," said David Owens, vice president - Product Development, Sprint. "Design has become a key factor in the purchase decision and the LG Marquee is sure to turn heads."

"LG believes fashion and technology go hand-in-hand among today’s growing contingent of style-conscious and tech-savvy consumers," said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. "By partnering with Sprint, MADE and Stacy London, LG effectively showcases three prominent phone features important to consumers: a sleek, thin profile, ultra light weight design and bright display."

LG Marquee is an ideal mobile device for anyone who wants superior performance without sacrificing personal style. The sleek, ultra-thin smartphone features a 4-inch NOVA display and a virtual QWERTY keyboard. Encouraging consumers to make "the bright choice," LG Marquee boasts a remarkably vivid and visible screen, even in direct sunlight.

LG Marquee ships with Android 2.3 and Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. It also offers a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for maximum versatility in creating and sharing media and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera making your face-to-face video chatting experience even more memorable. Equipped with a 1GHz processor and Adobe Flash technology, LG Marquee makes downloading, posting, commenting, watching and playing faster and easier than ever.

The device features Sprint ID, allowing users to customize up to five screens on the device with a couple simple clicks. Sprint ID allows users to cut through the clutter of Android Market’s more than 250,000 apps by simply selecting from a variety of mobile ID packs featuring apps, ringers, wallpapers, widgets and more. Available Sprint ID packs include: Fashion and Beauty, E!, MTV Music, Green, and NASCAR Sprint Cup.

LG Marquee requires activation on a Sprint Everything Data plan for smartphones². Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously³ (pricing excludes taxes and surcharges).

Celebrating Technology and Fashion

The LG Fashion Week campaign pairs Stacy London’s impeccable style with the innovative, futuristic eye of MADE. London brings years of fashion-industry experience to her LG style mentor role and will provide each of the MADE designers with creative consulting sessions as they design fashion-forward carrying cases to showcase the clean, modern, minimalist styling of LG Marquee. Participating MADE designers include Kevork Kiledjian, Katie Gallagher, The Lake and Stars, Erickson Beamon and Christian Cota.

"Being able to give our designers yet another platform for growth and exposure is part of the DNA of MADE; and allowing our designers to interact with major brands like LG is a great learning tool for future partnerships," said Jenne Lombardo, Co-Director of MADE.

Celebrating a partnership of Sprint and LG’s rich style heritage, the campaign highlights the increasing influence of technology on today’s design community and includes a Fashion Week panel discussion and product launch reception hosted by London at Milk Studios on Thursday, Sept. 15. The MADE panel discussion, entitled "How Fashion Communicates," will be moderated by Simon Collins, dean of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design, and will take an in-depth look at five key areas where technology has altered fashion design. As part of the esteemed panel, London will provide industry insights to discussion categories including designer communication, the rise of the blogger, public access to real-time happenings, retail and the shift from print to digital media.

The chic and functional LG Marquee carrying cases created by the participating designers will debut on Sept. 15 during LG’s launch event at MADE FASHION WEEK. The event will feature individual designer stations that will display the inspiration behind each case. In addition, at the end of the evening, London will announce her top designer pick for the overall campaign.

 

 

 

 

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2010 global sales of 55.8 trillion Korean won (USD 48.2 billion), LG comprises four business units - Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit http://www.lgmobilephones.com.

MADE, formerly known as M.A.C. and Milk, was born from the successful Fashion Week collaboration that started in 2008. Now in its fifth season, MADE FASHION WEEK continues to showcase outstanding design and harness the energy of New York’s creative communities. The compelling program of events - over 35 fashion shows and presentations each season, exhibitions, parties, concerts, panel discussions and an unrivaled online presence on milkmade.com - has translated to success at a retail level and in the press, as well as in the highly coveted digital arena. MADE has expanded as a year-round, dynamic platform for emerging design talent and other innovators and visionaries. MADE provides support to New York’s fashion community in a vibrant atmosphere that encourages creativity, fosters growth and challenges convention. These innovators and visionaries are now a powerful voice in the international fashion dialogue and have initiated a general shift in the industry.

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LG Optimus Black to be called the LG Marquee

It looks like the LG Optimus Black we’ve seen a few times that was also said to be headed to US carriers back in July is finally here, but with a different name and a slightly different cover around back. The Optimus Black will be called the LG Marquee and will debut here in the U.S. on the Now Network in yellow.

While it brings a little less black along with it by losing that in the name and replacing the rear black battery cover with a grey pinstripe it still looks plenty sexy and I hear it feels great in the hands too with that curved design. The LG Marquee may not have the power we all love and crave in those dual-core processors but it does have an amazing screen and the latest version of Android.
The Marquee claims to have one of the best and brightest displays for mobile phones with the LG NOVA display. It also features a 1.0 Ghz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, a 5 MP shooter on the rear with LED flash and VGA front. With Android 2.3 Gingerbread it rolls in as a nice mid to high-range smartphone. It should be shipping around October 2nd but we have no word if this will feature 4G WiMAX but sources are leaning towards a no. If the EVO 3D is too much for you and the Samsung Galaxy S II isn’t your thing either maybe the LG Marquee will be what you desire.
[via PocketNow]

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LG Optimus Black Coming To Sprint As LG Marquee [Confirmed]

After a Radio Shack promo video briefly revealed the LG Marquee for Sprint, there was a lot of speculation that this would in fact be Sprint’s version of the LG Optimus Black We’ve known for awhile that the LG LS-855 would be Sprint’s version of the Optimus Black and now we thanks to Sprint’s Cellebrite data courtesy of PocketNow, this has all but been confirmed.

There you have it, folks. While this device may not have the dual-core punch that many of our die-hard Android readers crave (and the Android OS has yet to support) the bright Nova display should be enough to capture the attention of casual passer by’s. I’ve held this device in my hand and there’s absolutely no denying its sex appeal. Should compliment Sprint’s Android lineup nicely.
[Via Pocketnow]

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