Lucky Goldstar phones really take the biscuit
LG has announced a trio of touch screen phones in their Cookie series that are all aimed at ‘Generation Z’ users. These handsets are the Cookie, Cookie Style and Cookie 3G, which are geared up for the youth market where text, music and social networking features are very much the focus of these devices.
The three phones are designed for first time full touch screen phone buyers, as well as a younger generation of mobile users.
Just for some background info, Generation Z people are the children of Generation X, which in turn themselves are the children of Generation Y.
The LG Cookie is their 2.4-inch full touch screen mobile phone, which is the most compact of the series fitting comfortably in the hand. LG Cookie Style tips up with a 2.8-inch LCD screen, with its case being more stylised than the Cookie where a variety of colour options will be available along with accessory’s for mixing and matching.
Lastly, the LG Cookie 3G obviously boasts access to a fast data connection - as the name suggests, with fast push email access too. A 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio and a microSD slot all accompany the new models with a customised social networking UI.
There are already a few LG Cookie handsets in the UK, with different names and styles to suit all tastes. These new mobile phones are said to be arriving around September time, with a view to extend LG’s presence in the UK with younger phone ownerZ.
Windows Phone 7 handsets for everyone
Microsoft has announced they will be furnishing every member of their staff with a new Windows Phone 7 based handset, when the mobile phone OS is ready to ship before Christmas this year.
The information came from a tweet by a Microsoft marketing person that was then retweeted by a ZDNet journalist, which mentions all 90,000 Microsoft employees will be equipped with a mobile running Windows Phone 7.
This initial information came from the company’s Microsoft Global Exchange sales event, where this news was welcomed by all members of Microsoft staff as a thank you for a job well done.
The move will be seen by some as a most definite way to get exposure for your latest product, whilst at the same time assuring the buying public confidence within that product that Microsoft most certainly has.
Microsoft recently confirmed the list of companies that will be running Windows Phone 7 on their mobiles, which are Asus, Dell, HTC, LG and Samsung - although no news yet as to what handsets will be passed out to all members of Microsoft staff.
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Optimus becomes LG’s prime
Korean electronics giant Lucky Goldstar has launched a new category of phones and devices under the title
of Optimus, running various operating systems that include Google’s mobile OS and also Windows Mobile. Optimus will be LG’s new range of mobile devices, which consists of 10 products and even a tablet computer.
The first of the series of devices was announced at the end of April, where the touch screen LG Optimus GT540 arrived as their second Android handset. Joining that mobile are the LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic, which will tip up running the latest version of Google mobile OS 2.2 during the second half of the year.
LG has little details to offer on the exact specifications of the range at present, other than a few images. However, the main Korean website for the company has noted the products will range from the entry level to premium models, with Windows Mobile 7 handsets and an Android tablet in Q4.
LG’s Android tablet has even been noted to be “thinner and lighter than competing devices”, according to the company themselves. LG goes on to state the product will deliver “vastly superior performance” than other similar devices, although no specifications have been made available at this stage.
‘My first smartphone’
A blend of previous best selling LG models like the Etna and Cookie, the GW520 combines touchscreen with keyboard in my favourite format as a QWERTY side-slider. Sturdily constructed in plastic the phone has a solid feel when open and the keys are spacious and brightly backlit in white. Four direction keys and colour coding further enhance the keypad to create a durable messaging and text phone.
The 2.8 inch touchscreen is the resistive style, but icons and menus are large and colourful so even I didn’t need a stylus. Users flinger slide between two main screens which are supplemented by pretty standard menu icons and widgets. The basic home screen is unexceptional, the more interesting side is LiveSquare.
LiveSquare is LG’s novel idea for incoming messages mails and other recent contacts to appear as cutesy animal and human avatars. They wave or hold up little signs when text threads are extended, evidence here that the phone is very much targeted as a starter for younger teens. The idea needs some work but It amused my friends kids.
Facebook is the only SNetworking app, but the internet access is great with HSPA. No Wi-Fi or GPS and the 3 Megapixel camera is extremely basic, but sacrifices do keep the price tag down. Only 40MB onboard means you’ll need to pop in a MicroSD card, up to an 8GB limit - I seem to make that comment a lot, manufacturers stop skimping on memory chips!
Bolt-on Pico
This is the first video I’ve seen of the 1GHz LG eXpo, with the ultra-portable pico projector attachment clipped on. Pico technology has been much talked about over the last two years and this beasty goes on sale today in the States.
The projector replaces the back panel of the phone and does add quite a bulge. Because of the size, and the fact there’s a lose back panel to keep track of, I’m not going to embrace this paring of tech just yet. I have an aesthetic preference for keeping them separated.
Credit to PCMag.com for the video.
