LG Announces CINEMA 3D HDTV With Nano LED Backlighting

LG has been setting the standard with their flicker free 3D HDTVs. We recently reviewed theLG 47LW6500 and the 42LW5700 and they performed well where the 3D aspect was concerned. The Korean based company has now unveiled the LW980S, which they tout as the newest development in home entertainment. LG claims that the LW980S is a top of-the-class TV that combines LG's advanced CINEMA 3D technology, Smart TV functions and NANO FULL LED all in one sleek package. Really slim bezel Like the models reviewed by us, the LW980S comes with comfortable, lightweight glasses that don't need to be recharged and are easily replaceable. With their latest HDTV, LG claims that they have tackled the issue of not enough content with a proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology that guarantees a ready supply of shows and movies in high quality 3D. The other main feature of this CINEMA 3D TV are the blacklight levels which boast an extremely high contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1. The HDTV also features Full-LED technology and with LED devices which enable nearly 2,300 screens across the back and keep it sharper and brighter with dense implementation of 3D images. 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio! Through LG Apps which are available by accessing the Internet through the Ethernet port, one can also get 3D Video-on-Demand. Other features of this television include Magic Motion remote control, Smart TV menus as well as built-in Wi-Fi. The LW980S will be unveiled internationally at Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA Berlin) which is a global trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances taking place from September 2-7 in Germany. For more details on this CINEMA 3D TV click here.

LG Optimus 3D Not Getting Gingerbread Update Till October

Seems like there is some bad news as well as good news for LG Optimus 3D owners. The bad news is that the smartphone will not receive the 2.3 Gingerbread update until October.  Whilst this might infuriate Optimus users, there’s a reason for this delay. A pretty good one too. The wait might just be worth it as LG are planning to give the usual bunch of features brought by Gingerbread with one important addition – apps running OpenGL for graphics can be switched from 2D to 3D.

Currently, the phone works on the Froyo OS 2.1 and supports 3D up scaling for pictures and videos, with an additional ‘depth control’ that helps customize the ‘amount’ of the third dimension that the user can see. However, there is an absolute lack of 3D content on the Android Market for the Optimus 3D.  

LG Optimus 3D

For those that are hoping to buy the Optimus 3D, here’s a quick spec sheet- 4.3-inch capacitive touch screen, 1GHz, ARM Cortex-A9 processor, twin 5 megapixel rear cameras, 1080p video, front facing camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth 3.0.

Our word of advice to Optimus 3D users. Patience. LG’s desire for converting 2D to 3D on the fly for applications and games might just be the thing that gives the LG Optimus 3D that much required edge over its competitors.

LG Optimus Pro and Optimus Net Now Official

After a glimpse of what the LG’s new touch-and-type phone would look like, the Korean company has made the Optimus Pro official. Alongside the Pro, LG also announced the Optimus Net, a full touchscreen phone for Internet junkies on a budget. There's no word on the Indian pricing just yet, but be sure to keep an eye on online stores as these are bound to pop up sooner or later for pre-order.

Some stiff competition for Sammy's Galaxy Pro

Both the handsets will launch with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and pack 800Mhz processors with LG’s own Optimus UI 2.0 running over Gingerbread. The Optimus Pro will go up against eitherNokia’s E6 or Samsung’s Galaxy Pro depending on the pricing. The phone features a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen and a full QWERTY keypad, 3MP camera with VGA recording, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 1500mAh battery.

The Optimus Net will have a larger 3.2-inch touchscreen and pretty much the same internals as the Optimus Pro. Both phones will be launched in a total of 30 countries, starting with Europe. 

LG Unveils World’s First Glasses-Free 3D Monitor

3D desktop monitors have hit a bit of a roadblock and there isn’t much to choose from as compared to 3D televisions. This is probably due to the fact that 3D glasses don’t come cheap and you have to pair it with Nvidia’s 3DVision kit which again is quite an investment. To avoid all this hassle, LG has launched their first (world’s first as well) glasses-free 3D monitor. The D2000 will also feature an eye tracking technology that automatically adjusts the 3D effect depending on the position of your eye.

No more dorky glasses

Along with that, the monitor also features 2D to 3D conversion feature which automatically converts movies and games into 3D. This is very similar to Asus’s Naked 3D technology used in their upcoming gaming notebook which also uses a camera to track your eyes. No word on the specifications or pricing as of now, so I guess we’ll have to wait and watch.

LG Optimus 3D’s Video Recording Bumped up a Bit

When we had a hands-on with the Optimus 3D, the smartphone could record 720p 3D videos at rate of 30 fps. However, in standard definition video capturing, it could record 1080p videos at 24 fps. Now the Optimus 3D’s launch was delayed, and there seems to be a valid reason for that.

Better frame rate for video capturing

GSMArena says that the frame rate for capturing Full HD 1080p videos has been bumped up by a few frames. Now, the smartphone can record 1080p at 30 fps which is not a very big rise, but is definitely quite a bit to change at the last minute. It looks like ever since the smartphone was announced, LG was working on tweaking the video performance of the Optimus 3D.

Many companies usually end up boasting about such achievements. And strangely, LG hasn’t done that. Does it mean that they’re working on some other update, as well and are planning to announce these updates together? Time will tell. Let’s hope the other update is a little more significant.

LG Optimus Black P970 Launched in India for Rs. 19,900

It was less than 72 hours ago that we reported LG's Optimus Black being up for pre-orders at a really affordable price. Now, LG has officially launched the smartphone and it looks like the MRP stays the same at Rs. 19,900, which definitely makes it worth a consideration for those with a 20k budget for a smartphone with speedy specs.

Great specs at a superb price

The Optimus Black P970 runs on Android 2.2 aka FroYo (which can be upgraded to Gingerbread), and is powered by a 1 GHz Cortex A8 processor. LG has also loaded the device with Optimus UI 2.0 and their Gesture UI 2.0. The smartphone has LG’s new display technology called the NOVA display which is encased in Gorilla Glass. Here’s a detailed list of specs that the Optimus Black boasts of:

• 4-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen at 800 x 480 pixels resolution
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
• GPS with A-GPS support
• EDGE/GPRS
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, EDR
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• 2GB internal storage with 512MB RAM
• Memory expandable to 32 GB via microSD slot
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• 3.5 mm audio jack

The Optimus Black’s camera also has features like geo-tagging with face and smile detection, as well. It can also record 720p videos at 30 fps. The Optimus Black supports a pretty wide range of media formats with MP3, WAV and WMA for audio and XviD, DivX, H.264, H.263 and MP4 for video. The smartphone has SNS integration and comes pre-loaded with the regular bunch of Google’s apps like YouTube, Picasa Google Talk, and more.

With these specifications and features, we kind of wonder whether it will rank better than the Optimus 2X, which has a few differences like a Dual-core set up and more memory. The Optimus Black is available for Rs. 19,900 at all mobile phone retail stores, but we suggest you wait for our full-fledged review on this smartphone so stay tuned.

LG Launches BD670 3D Blu-ray Player

Now that high-definition televisions have slowly started becoming the norm, it looks like it's time for 3D to do the same. LG has launched their new BD670 3D Blu-ray player which supports native 1080p content, as well as upscales lower resolution videos. In addition to the 3D functionality, the player also supports a host of smart TV features. For example, you can  view content from Picasa, Youtube, Vtuner, as well as view maps on Google Earth and get weather updates from Accu Weather. There is also integrated support for LG Apps.

LG BD670 - a 3D Blu-ray player with Smart TV functionality

The Wi-Fi functionality allows the player to connect to other devices wirelessly. DLNA is supported, which means easier access to media stored on other DLNA supported devices. One of the specialities is the ability to install an app on an Android mobile phone and use it as an interactive remote control. The app includes a QWERTY keyboard which means you can search for content with relative ease. The new range has two 3D Blu-ray players, BD670 and the BX580. They are priced between Rs. 16,000 and Rs. 20,000.  The two non-3D players, BD550 and BD678N are priced in the range of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000.

LG's New Optimus Might be the Nexus 3 Smartphone

For all you Android loyalists who aren’t really bothered about keynotes of any sort, here’s something to feast your eyes on. While what you’re going to see is just a teaser pic, you’ll nevertheless be delighted to know that this smartphone from LG which belongs to the company’s Optimus range is touted to be the Nexus 3.

LG joins the Nexus?

Apparently, this picture has been leaked by an LG employee in Indonesia, and appeared on a forum. It is said to be quite reliable. Earlier, there was a rumour doing the rounds of a leaked image that was touted as the next Nexus. While those were just rumours, the similarity between that smartphone and this one is quite obvious so there’s a big likelihood that LG is manufacturing the Nexus 3.

If you look at the history of Nexus smartphones, Samsung had made the Nexus S and the Nexus One was HTC’s brainchild. That kind of leaves us with LG who should be working on the next Nexus. Anyway there’s nothing more than a picture available for now, so stay tuned for more updates on this smartphone.

A Hands-On of LG's Cinema FPR 3D TV

3D is back and it’s bigger than ever before. This is not the first time the world has witnessed the wonders of 3D. In the earlier half of this decade, graphics card manufacturers started bundling 3d glasses to be used with their graphics cards and monitors. Things weren’t impressive and the hype quickly died out. 3D Cinema Zone at the LG Headquarters Now, close to a decade later, things have been heating up again. Watching movies in 3D at cinemas is a common thing. At home however, things are somewhat different. TVs are still pretty expensive and the technology hasn’t matured as yet. LG invited us to their headquarters in the heart of Seoul, South Korea to get our hands on the technology itself. The demonstration at their Cinema 3D Experience Zone was to highlight the weaknesses of the shutter glass and the advantages of using passive glasses. The scene so far 3D TVs are still expensive and the content isn’t available yet. Quite a lot of people seem to get headaches after watching 3D content for more than 15 minutes or so. There are a few issues with the current active shutter glasses that are used by most manufacturers other the obvious headache issues. The 3D glasses being used are somewhat heavy because of the batteries and the circuitry required in the glasses themselves. Wearing them for long periods of time can get a little tiring. Active shutter glasses turning dark when placed sideways There are some other issues as well. The polarized glasses also block out a lot of the light which means that the TV needs to be even brighter. There’s also the problem of flicker which causes the headaches. Crosstalk is another issue where the two images being rendered leak into one another, which causes a kind of blurring which can be really annoying as well. LG's new 3D FPR Technology LG has designed a new technology to counter the problems being faced by early adopters of 3D. It’s called FPR (Film-type Patterned Retarder). LG has chosen to go with a somewhat simpler approach where passive 3D glasses are used. There isn’t a need for batteries anymore and there are electronics in the glasses themselves. Most of the work is done by the display itself. Because of the way the FPR technology functions, brightness levels are a lot better than expected. LG's FPR display with passive glasses still work when placed sideways The TVs based on the new technology will be tagged as Cinema 3D TVs. There hasn’t been an official date for the launch of the TVs in India or any sort of pricing, but we can only hope to see it here within the next six months or so.

must watch LG GD910 Watch Phone

As mobile technology progresses, we’re making handsets smaller and smaller and as testament to that LG’s GD910 watch phones stands true. If you ever wanted to play spy or Dick Tracy, the super cop, this is one gadget you have got to have, even if it does cost you an arm and a leg. Take a closer look. 

Form Factor
The GD910 is a lightweight watch phone at just 84g. Its 1.4-inch touchscreen (capacitive) is very responsive and just large enough to be comfortable to use. The 128 x 160 pixel resolution also makes it clear to view in all lighting conditions. The leather strap is fully adjustable, so it can fit all forearms. It comes with a box full of accessories that includes a charger, USB cable, SIM card remover and of course the Bluetooth headset for calls with its own charger. 

A VGA camera is located just above the display. On the side is where the call Take and end keys are placed and in between is a return key. The rear can be easily unlocked to slip in the GSM SIM card. The device sports 2GB of internal memory so you can easily carry your music with you while on the go. The best part about the device is that it’s IPX4 certified water resistant.

The bundled Bluetooth headset was quite comfortable to use and had no issues with voice clarity (incoming and outgoing). It uses a Micro USB port for charging and has a power/lock key slider that’s quite handy. 

Features and Performance
Interface
It runs on a Flash UI that’s smooth and easy to navigate. It offers a variety of watch interfaces including analogue styles. Swiping through the menus and accessing settings is a fluid process. Response time is immediate with no lag at all. You can also customize the menus to various styles that you find comfortable. One would assume that typing messages on the small screen would be a problem, but it isn’t. It’ll take no more than a couple of minutes or less to get used to and you’re fingers will be flying across the screen. 

Media
The handset offers an image viewer as well as a music player. The biggest problem with the music player is that it will play through the built in speakers and is quite loud, but if you’re looking for privacy, you’ll need a Stereo Bluetooth headset. Audio playback is not supported via the bundled mono headset. This is a concern as it would involve a further investment of at least Rs. 3000 (min). However, audio quality was not bad at via an A2DP headset. A set of EQ presets are also included to help enhance the audio and you can also create a playlist of your favorite tracks right on the device. There’s no video support of nay kind. 

Display
Form Factor	Ba
Screen Resolution	128 x 160
Number of Colours	256K
Display	TFT
Type
Input Type	Touchscreen
Memory
Internal	82
Maximum capacity	No
Extendable Memory	No
Memory Type	No
Resolution
Sensor Resolution	VGA
Zoom
Digital Zoom	No Information
Camera Features
Video Recorder	No Information
Audio Features
FM Radio	No Information
Connectivity
3G	Yes
A2DP	Yes
Dual Sim Support	No
WAP Enabled	No
Interface
WiFi	No
Connection Options
USB Connector	No
EGPRS or EDGE	Yes
GPRS	Yes
Battery
Type	Li Ion
Capacity	510
Talk Time with Standard Battery	120
Standby Time with Standard Battery	247
Weight	84
Multimedia
Music Player	Yes
Music Format	MP3
Email and Messaging
Email Client	No Information
Type of Email Account Support	No Information
Additional Features
MMS	Yes
Dual Band	No Information
Tri Band	No Information
GPS	No
Java Type	No
Network
Quad Band	No Information
Sound Settings
Ringtone Type	MP3
Dimensions
Width	39
Volume
Volume
More Features
Unique Feature
After Sales Service
Warranty Period	1