Korean technology giant LG is all set to launch its flagship device, the LG Optimus G Pro in India on Thursday. The version going on sale in India will be the 5.5-inch model, as opposed to the 5-incher released in Japan earlier in the year.
Seen as a Samsung Galaxy Note II competitor, the phablet was announced in February this year and was launched in major markets in April. However, there was no word on the Indian launch and looks like albeit a couple of months late, the phone will finally debut on Indian shores on Thursday.
The LG Optimus G Pro comes with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, a 5.5-inch full-HD display, a 13-megapixel camera, 2GB RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, a microSD card slot as well as a removable battery.
The phone is available in two colours: Black and White and is lighter than Samsung Galaxy Note II at 172 grams. The battery of the LG Optimus G Pro leaves nothing to be desired at 3140 mAh.
What remains to be seen is whether LG will be aggressive with the pricing of the Lg Optimus G Pro, as a lower price tag will help it gain an upper hand over the Samsung Galaxy Note II.
After showing off glimpses of itself in a few different leaks earlier this year, the LG G2 may finally have been revealed tonight in a set of leaked images that appear to be from a promotional video. Posted by @evleaks, who claims to have received them from a tipster, the shots show the front of a thin device that appears to have an LG logo at the bottom of its face, just like the phone in the first G2 leak.
This new flagship smartphone is expected to be unveiled on July 7th in New York and come with a 2.3GH quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera running Android OS 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. In addition, the LG G2 will have an “edge to edge” 5.5-inch full HD display.
The screenshots show the volume buttons have moved from the side of the device to the back, right under the camera. Could be an interesting shift in design, definitely useful for those who talk a great deal, but might be a but frustrating for who liste to music.
While it’s tough to say whether or not the device in these leaked images is that successor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that LG is prepping some marketing materials for its next flagship smartphone with a debut that’s just a little over a month out.
Previous rumours indicated that LG would shed the ‘Optimus’ naming scheme and these pictures, if true, bring its truth. Vanished is Optimus and the device is called the “LG G2.”
At a time when manufacturers like Sony are concentrating on pushing forward their 4K televisions, LG recently released their new lineup of smart televisions, and among them was the LG LA6910 55-inch 3D TV.
The LG LA6910 has a 55″, 1920 x 1080 pixels display which is an advanced IPS LED LCD Panel. It has 9 aspect ratio modes including 16:9, Just scan, Original, Full Wide, 4:3, 14:9, Cinema Zoom 1, Zoom.
At the back it has a 2.1 speaker system (2way 3speaker) with Virtual Surround Sound Plus and Dolby Digital Decoder. The LG LA6910 has a bunch of engines to process images like Triple XD Engine, Dynamic Color Enhancer, Contrast Optimizer, Picture Wizard II, (3D MPEG) Noise Reduction.
In terms of design the LG LA6910 has a diminutive bezel with a brushed aluminum finish. A relatively thick brushed steel section of the bezel runs across the bottom lip that’s accentuated with a backlit LG logo at the centre. The stand has a unique chrome finish design with wheels at the bottom to make adjustments. Build quality is as you’d expect from a TV of this price range, solid.
Backlight bleed is virtually non-existent, and this is a mark of the emphasis that LG has paid in terms of the design and build-quality of the TV.
Since it is a smart TV you get access to various applications such as Skype and YouTube. You also have local apps such as NDTV which exist to cater to India-specific needs.
The LG LA6910 has the basic analogue video and audio inputs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity options, in addition to 3 HDMIs.
The LG LA6910 is available in the market for about Rs 2,00,000/-.
LG’s next-generation Optimus G will take advantage of Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 800 silicon, according to a joint press release.
The upcoming chip promises speeds up to 75% faster than that of the Snapdragon S4 Pro, which the 2012 Optimus G was one of the first phones to integrate. Snapdragon 800 boasts four Krait 400 cores alongside a new Adreno 330 GPU, both of which are more than just incremental speed upgrades from the current flagship Snapdragon 600.
Anandtech recently took a look at Qualcomm’s Mobile Development Phone and Tablet equipped with the MSM8974 and found that the system-on-a-chip is not only faster than any current-generation ARM-based combo, but approaches some of Intel’s x86-based internal graphics capabilities, albeit from previous hardware generations.
It may appear strange for a hardware manufacturer like LG to pre-announce the existence of a smartphone, but in many ways it’s the only method of keeping the customer excited in the lulling months before the actual unveiling. Since LG only plans to release one flagship non-phablet smartphone a year, the Optimus G brand must survive on the promise of its hardware; the Korean company doesn’t hold users’ anticipation in its hands like Samsung or Apple.
This is also LG flexing the muscle of its considerably potent partnership with Qualcomm, with whom they’ve struck an unspoken deal to debut new silicon. The Optimus G was one of the first widely-released devices with a Snapdragon S4 Pro, while the Optimus G Pro was similarly one of the first to boast a Snapdragon 600.
Snapdragon 800 will support Category 4 LTE speeds up to 150Mbps by using asynchronous carrier aggregation techniques. Unlike Dual-Carrier HSPA+, this allows network providers to take advantage of extra spectrum that does not need to be paired, or parallel. It also promises 4K video playback and multichannel DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus decoding.
Expect the next-gen Optimus G, as well as the Snapdragon 800, to debut in August.
LG demoed their “unbreakable and flexible” 5-inch and 7-inch display last month at the SID Display conference in Vancouver. Reports indicated that the 5-inch display will have a “1.0mm bezel allowing production of borderless smartphones,” plus the 7-inch display would be for tablets and has a HD resolution “that exceeds 300 pixels per inch (PPI).”
LG was rumoured to launch a smartphone with a flexible display sometime in Q4, but plans of this were reportedly halted due to a manufacturing issues. Recently, Dr. Sang-Deok Yeo, CTO and Executive Vice President of LG Display, said “with the resulting rapid need for new display advancements, LG Display, at the forefront of these trends, is well positioned to lead the market with its differentiated and cutting-edge technologies.”
An overseas report today surprisingly reveals that LG is heading into production of its flexible displays. LG spokesperson Frank Lee, who was once leading the Canadian communications arm of LG, stated “We have completed the development of our first flexible displays. We will mass produce flexible displays from the fourth quarter of this year.” The flexible display that will be used in mobile devices will be OLED (organic light-emitting diode) supporting ultra-high definition (UHD).
Unfortunately there’s no indication of specific details of the smartphone, only that it’ll be released “later this year” and that LG might be “selling the screens to other major mobile producers.”
The new technology will break the conventional cycles in the industry, and LG confirmed it is also working on TVs with flexible UHD displays.
At just 102mm long and 61mm wide, the LG Optimus L3 II Dual is a really snug fit for anybody’s hand. It is made up entirely of plastic and has a glossy black finish both at the front and the back, which we feel makes it very scratch and smudge prone.
The overall design of the phone is really well, bland, to be honest. It has rounded corners, and a grey bezel runs around the phone. Under the 3.2-inch display there are 4 touch capacitive buttons, namely back, home, menu and a SIM switch button.
At the top you have your power button along with a headphone jack, a microphone and Micro-USB port at the bottom, and your volume rocker towards the left.
Remove the back cover of the LG Optimus L3 II Dual and you’ll see the battery, below which, there are two SIM cad slots. Also, the micro-SD card slot is located to the left of the battery compartment, which in our opinion is a bit flawed as you’ll have to remove the battery cover every time, if you wish to take out your micro-SD card. Also, you really have to wrestle the phone to get the back cover off.
Build quality though is solid, but the lack of thought put into the design leaves us slightly disappointed.
Specifications And Hardware
LG Optimus L3 II Dual is a dual-SIM smartphone that comes with 3.2-inch QVGA IPS display. It houses a 1,540mAh battery. It is powered by a 1GHz single core processor with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 3-megapixel camera.
The device runs on Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) out of the box and connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and aGPS. There is a 3-megapixel rear fixed focus camera on the smartphone.
Display And Multimedia
LG Optimus L3 II Dual has a 3.2-inch screen that has a resolution of 240×320 pixels. Thus, the screen has a low, 125 ppi pixel density, which leads to unclear text and obvious difficulty while browsing. The screen has a high contrast and decent brightness though. As it is an IPS display, the viewing angles are pretty good and outdoor visibility is one of the best in this segment.
Now we obviously wouldn’t expect a stellar screen from a device of this segment, but we did expect better in terms of the pixel count.
Video experience on the device is hampered by the screen size and resolution, and so is gaming. So if these are your major criteria while choosing a phone, we suggest you give this one a miss.
Audio on the LG Optimus L3 II Dual is nice and loud. We were really satisfied with the quality of the sound.
The phone can connect to the internet, using 2G, 3G or Wi-Fi, with a maximum download speed of 3.6 Mbps on 3G. The web browsing capability on the LG Optimus L3 II Dual is dire, yes, dire. Pages take loads of time to load up, pinch to zoom is very choppy and laggy as well and it isn’t the best in this segment and also, the low-res screen makes it difficult to read online content.
Software And UI
The LG Optimus L3 II Dual comes loaded with Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) along with, as expected, LG’s Optimus 3.0 UI. Apps like Gallery and Music have been given a makeover by LG, and we were happy that LG paid attention to such small details when it came to the software on the phone. It gets the same lock screen transition and other animations that some of it bigger siblings get.
You have 5 lock screens along with various themes to choose from. The drop down windows has a set of toggles on the top, which can be customised and adjusted according to your needs. The lock screen too can be customised by using various shortcuts and clock/calender widgets.
The LG Optimus L3 II also comes pre-loaded with some of LG’s custom applications like the QuickMemo app that lets users scribble notes on a blank page or on top of a screen shot. Others include ones for Backup, Cell Broadcast, File Manager, a Memo app, Polaris Viewer, LG’s service related apps, SmartWorld, and a Task Manager.
Safe to say, this phone has one of the best software detailing in this segment. Well done LG.
Camera
The LG Optimus L3 II Dual comes with a 3.2 megapixel fixed focus camera without flash which in our opinion is a bit substandard and the image quality is average at best. Even with such a low quality camera, you have 3 shooting modes to choose from- Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Sunset and Night modes, along with settings for ISO, White Balance, Colour effects, and exposure.
Sample Shots :
Pictures were hazy, and grainy. In low-light conditions, images are barely visible. Likewise, videos can be recorded as QVGA videos. Not good enough by any means.
Phone, Messaging and Network
The dialer is nice and easy and like any other android phone cleverly integrates contacts and groups.
Call clarity was decent throughout our use, with neither us nor those on the other end of the line having any issues being heard. We had no dropped calls either. The phone is a dual-SIM GSM phone with support for one active and the other in standby mode.
The keyboard is fairly accurate and responsive. The keyboard works well in both landscape and portrait mode and the biggest surprise of all, it also has handwriting recognition! The handwriting recognition feature is as accurate as we’ve seen on any device. Impressive.
Conclusion
We’re not sure what LG was aiming for with the LG Optimus L3 II Dual. It lacks a USP. The only impressive feature of this device, and a big one that too, is the attention paid to the software aspect of this device. The custom apps, handwriting recognition etc. puts this device head and shoulders above the competition in this segment as far as software is concerned.
In contrast to that, the hardware of the phone is powered by seems dated and below this price point. Phones like the Micromax Canvas A110 offer way better specs at just a few 100 rupees more.
LG was the OEM of choice for building the Google Nexus phone last year, and the Nexus 4 has been quite a hit in the industry. Several tipsters and online rumors have pointed to different hardware being manufactured by different companies. The latest news comes from a Korean site called Daum, that claims that the Nexus 5 is already in testing and may be announced sooner than expected. The site also claims that LG is the choice as a manufacturer due to huge success with the Nexus 4 and an overall positive report from the market watch.
Google is known to have the same company build the Nexus device year after year, as they did with Samsung’s Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, LG could be chosen for the Nexus 5 seeing as how well they executed the previous edition of the Google Phone.
While no real specs, images or design ideas for the upcoming product are available, it is claimed that the Hardware has already done several rounds of the Google Campus. With no real information to back this one, take it with a pinch of salt guys.
LG might be enjoying the success of the Nexus 4 in India, and in order to retain that streak the company is planning to launch the new LG Optimus G Pro in India on the 20th of June.
The 5.5 inch smartphone from LG will fall into the Galaxy Note 2 category of phone sans the stylus.The LG Optimus G Pro has a True Full HD IPS Plus LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
For the hardware geeks, the Optimus G Pro has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. A massive 3140 mAh battery and 2GB of RAM.
The LG Optimus G Pro has a 32 GB storage along with 64 GB expandability via microSD card. A 13 MP rear camera and a 2.1 MP front camera enable full HD video recording and LG was also the first to show off dual camera features with the LG Optimus G Pro, right before Samsung launched the S4 into the market.
While the exact dates are unknown, several of our resources within LG have hinted at a June 20 launch, and now an independent report from Indiatimes confirms the date.
LG has somehow managed to always remain the underdog in the Indian market, thanks to delays in their products. But it looks like the company has great plans ahead and should be able to gain a large market share in India. The Price of the Optimus G Pro is expected to be in the Rs. 35,000 price bracket, but exact pricing is unknown. It is crucial for LG to launch the LG Optimus G Pro at a price that would totally capture and take the market away from Samsung, else the Note 2 and Galaxy S4 will remain the key phones.
[toggle title=”Press Release”]LG OPTIMUS G PRO ARRIVES IN ASIA
Fully Packed with Advanced UX and Features, LG’s Biggest Smartphone
Offers Asian Consumers Differentiated Smartphone Experience
SEOUL, May 30, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) is demonstrating its commitment to the premium smartphone market in Asia with the introduction of its flagship smartphone, Optimus G Pro, in the rest of the region. Originally introduced in its home market of Korea earlier this year, the 5.5-inch display Android device is being rolled-out in the rest of the region starting on May 30. The smartphone will debut in Hong Kong in June followed by other Asian markets including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippine, Vietnam and Malaysia throughout the month.
“LG’s Optimus G Pro sets a new benchmark in the over 5-inch display smartphone category which is catching on with consumers everywhere who aren’t interested in owning both a phone and a tablet,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Asian customers are leading many of today’s technology trends and we’re confident Optimus G Pro will find a large following in this region.”
The Optimus G Pro is equipped with the swift Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. Combined with other industry-leading features such as a long-lasting 3,140mAh battery and 2GB RAM, LG’s Optimus G Pro is one of the most advanced smartphones currently on the market today. With its expansive 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD IPS display delivering a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels at 400ppi, the Optimus G Pro provides razor sharp images and wide viewing angles as well as a comfortable in-hand experience and great “pocketability.”
Backed by powerful hardware features, the Optimus G Pro also comes packed with differentiated UX features, such as:
• Dual Camera and Dual Recording: The Dual Camera and Dual Recording functions allow users to capture pictures or videos with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously for a unique picture-in-picture experience; • VR Panorama: The VR Panorama allows shots of entire horizontal and vertical environments for a full 360°view; • Pause and Resume Recording: The Pause and Resume Recording feature allows for the recording of short snippets of video which can then be viewed as one continuous file. • Smart Video: Smart Video recognizes the position of the viewer’s eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without any manual input from the user.[/toggle]
Nexus 4, a smartphone that launched last year was speculated to arrive India soon after its global availability. The Nexus 4’s rumored launch dates for India got shunned, and prospective owners dealt with a lot of delay before the phone finally launched. LG brought the Nexus 4 to India under the assumption that the Indian people still wanted it. Was the company right ? Does the Nexus 4 bring about a world of difference in the way one looks at Android ? Lets find out!
Nexus
[pullquote_left]The Way Google Intended[/pullquote_left]A line of Mobile devices manufactured by an OEM brand selected by Google to lead into the area of expertise and build the Android flagship for that particular year. Apart from the lack of any form of software or network customizations or restrictions, they also have unlock-able bootloaders and are the first devices to receive instant Android Operating System updates.
In most cases Nexus units are responsibility of Google, sales in a particular country are pushed by Google and availability is also based on Google’s interest to bring forth the device. In India however, the only Nexus phone to have been made available prior to the Nexus 4 was the Nexus S. Just as the Nexus 4 was ignored in India initially, the Galaxy Nexus was not launched at all, despite huge demand for the successful handset.
LG decided to bring the Nexus 4 on their own accord, thanks to high public interest. Initially plans to bring in the Nexus 4 were sacked as the company thought it was not going to do well enough. The first few lots of Nexus 4 handsets also faced manufacturing issues, keeping the Nexus 4 virtually sold out, due to limited supplies.
Build Quality, Design and Hardware
There is no question that the initial look at the design reminds us of the iPhone 4/4s with a glass front and a glass back fused on either sides of a solid shell. The difference here is that LG has actually rounded the device out a lot, the front blends into the solid plastic bezel which then flattens out into a glass back.
Problems with the Nexus 4’s back glass cracking in the heat have been aplenty and still exist. But, some are fortunate enough to not have that issue, the problem however persists. If the Nexus 4 is left in the sun, or put through intensive activities that cause the device to heat up, the glass back around the camera lens develops hairline cracks.
Apart from the cracking issues, the Nexus 4 is noticeably well built and definitely has a very premium design factor. The dotted, glittery back glass makes the device shimmer in the slightest gleam of any light, almost making the Nexus 4 appeal to a artsy tingle in the brain. Somewhat making you feel the sense of passion towards a mere black piece of Android Jelly Bean hardware.
Speaking of hardware, the Nexus 4 has just the right amount to justify the price unlike some seriously strange mistakes for India. Powered by a 2100 mAh Li-Po battery the Nexus 4 runs a Quad Core Snapdragon S4 Pro Krait processor clocking in 1.5 GHz of raw unadulterated silicone hum. The impressive Adreno 320 GPU ensures graphics performance along with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of fixed – non expandable storage for the Nexus 4. Google however ensures that each Android user now gets 15 gigs of cloud storage, incase you would like to consider that as a value addition.
The front of the Nexus 4 has a brilliant LG display, True HD IPS Plus capacitive touchscreen with a 768 x 1280 px resolution clocking in a good 318 ppi. The addition of Gorilla Glass 2 on the front as well as the back give the phone strength, the unibody shell adds reinforcement. The back has a 8 Megapixel camera which is said to be quite terrible, we found otherwise (see below), the camera also does 1080p video at 30 fps. The front carries a 1.3 MP camera, only as good as it gets, capable of shoddy imagery and video.
Un-Salted Beans
(Stock Android Experience)
The fact that the Nexus 4 runs a stock version of Android actually has a lot of people in turmoil, we hope we can clarify some doubts. The Nexus 4, infact any Nexus phone, runs a stock unadulterated un-skinned version of Android out of the box. That means no – task manager, no floating weather animations and definitely no fancy dual picture camera shots. But the key word here is essentially “out of the box”, the Nexus 4 also give you, on the other hand, the maximum flexibility with the Android operating system. An unlock-able bootloader means the minute you get hold of the Nexus 4, you can root it and get developing.
[pullquote_left]Felxibilty with the Interface[/pullquote_left]The ability to use custom ROMs and skins is then endless, install widgets and apps from select manufacturers or even add your own custom UI, this is what truly makes the Nexus 4 experience fun. However the customization and open-ness is not for everyone. Some people want fancy UI’s out of the box. Pick up a Galaxy S3 and you have things like multi-window and fancy multi layer User interface, but with the Nexus 4 you have a bland boring flat UI from the get go.
Dashboard
Dialer
Keyboard
Browser
Camera Settings
Quick Toggles
About Screen
Camera Options
Photosphere
A first few days of the custom UI aside, you soon start playing with the Android open-ness and start trying to modify the phone to do interesting things. Splashing different user interfaces or even different launchers, different ROMs each day. It’s a time-consuming process, but on that makes you truly appreciate Android. As with each customization you find out another thing your phone is capable of.
Some on the other hand will love the vanilla experience, the way Google intended for Android to be, fast and snappy and completely flat.
Camera, Multimedia and Gaming
The camera on the Nexus 4 has been critiqued heavily for not being close to expectations set by Google. With the latest Android 4.2.2 update from Google we found that the camera sensor although not the best, is quite good. Images are almost always in focus, well composed, rightly saturated and for those who stick to auto easily captured. A lot of flexibility is available on the Nexus 4 for the camera. Check the sample below.
[pullquote_left]Washed out, But only in Comparison![/pullquote_left]When put in comparison to the Optimus G the Screen of the Nexus 4 appears to be washed out. The Optimus G’s display is a lot more deep and vibrant, whereas the Nexus 4 appears to be a little less effective. Many argue that the Galaxy S3 available at a similar price has a display which is a lot more appreciated. However, the Nexus 4 has a well-balanced display that not only works indoors it works great outdoors as well. Problems arise when you start comparing individual aspects of the display with other devices. The Nexus 4 is a great device for multimedia, audio is loud and crisp from the speaker and well handled during video playback. Whether you like online or offline multimedia the Nexus 4 can deliver a great performance.
Gaming is also well handled by the Nexus 4, the Adreno 320 is one of the most celebrated GPU of today’s hardware market. With the Nexus 4 you will see most games supported out of the box, incase you wish to download unsupported ones, you can do that by a simple root. The ample amount of graphics power and sufficient RAM make the hardware quite capable of gaming, in fact the only real problem gamers would end up facing with the Nexus 4 is the limited storage.
Performance, Phone and Networks
The Nexus 4, although launched last year, at current price is capable of dethroning most celebrated handsets. The pure OS experience not only gets quicker updates, but is a way to truly experience Android in its full potential as a smooth user interface. Apart from being the easiest day-to-day phone, users will realize soon that the Nexus 4 is capable of deep levels of multitasking, and expertly handled process distribution thanks to the great processing brain on the inside of the Nexus 4.
Mostly the performance of the Nexus 4 becomes evident in the initial uses, however for those who truly like to exploit the handset. The ability to root and install an overclocked kernel will speed up the performance. The most recent version allows up to 1.944 GHz on the 4 cores – Wow!
The phone call quality and networks remain excellent, ensuring good usage of the handset’s primary function; calling. Network quality remains pristine even during commutes and the callers are audible pretty nicely through the earpiece.
Battery Life
Battery life is sufficient out of the box on the Nexus 4, if you do a lot of gaming you might want to underclock and undervolt your Nexus 4 to get an additional 90 minutes of on-screen time. Running stock though you get a good mix of battery life through a day – 5-6 hours of talk time, an hour of browsing, half hour of gaming and few hours of music can also be included.
3G ON
Pure Talk time : 7 Hours
Pure Standby : 48 Hours Pure Gaming : 3.5 Hours Pure Online : 6 hours Pure Music 8 – 10 hours[/tab]
3G OFF
Pure Talk time : 8.5 Hours Pure Standby : 54 Hours Pure Gaming : 4 Hours Pure Online : 7 hours (wi-fi) Pure Music 8-10 hours[/tab]
Verdict
[pullquote_left]Your Playground[/pullquote_left]Although a little late, the Nexus 4 has launched in India at an excellent price mark, lower than similar hardware equipped handsets, yet the first one to get updates. The Nexus 4 is also the most flexible hardware and a pretty premium looking handset. However, The Nexus 4 does lack the basic microSD expansion, possesses a sub par camera module, and somewhat cheeky display in comparison to its brother the Optimus G. That being said, if you want to experience Android, the way it was intended to be, then the Nexus 4 is your playground and Android is your sport. Even if that is not the case the Nexus 4 will satisfy!
The Google Nexus 4 has been surrounded by rumors of a white version going on sale for months now. The White Nexus 4 was spotted at I/O several times and while Google made no official announcement, the White Nexus 4 was expected to be launched at Google’s June 10th event.
While the world awaits this elusive announcement, the White Nexus 4 has gone on Sale in India, and some lucky owners have already bought the white version from stores in New Delhi. The price remains same as the Black version and the capacity also remains the same at 16 GB.
It is highly unusual for a unannounced Google product to go on sale in India, let alone be launched. Maybe LG is trying to recover for the delayed launch of the original Nexus 4 by launching the white version before it gets launched anywhere else in the world. Or maybe some retailers couldn’t wait to make a sale, either way LG will be getting a lot of tweets today.
We will get you more details as and when we can and we will also try to go hands on with the product. You can watch our hands on with the black version below and the full review on the Nexus 4 also goes out today.
If the White Nexus 4 is actually available to buy here in India, we can only expect LG to furnish an official announcement soon enough.
LG is prototyping Plastic and Unbreakable OLED displays for mobile devices, and a particular 5 inch display has caught the media fancy. Society for Information Display (SID) will be the area for display of this panel. The company says that the OLED display is not only unbreakable but also very- very flexible.
Along with the OLED panel for mobile devices will be 5-inch and 7-inch HD LCD panels based on Oxide TFT. These will have a bezel of just 1mm allowing production of borderless smartphones that are lightweight and emit significantly less heat.
The final products to be showcased include a 14-inch 2560×1440-pixel laptop panel on hand, along with LCDs designed for use in refrigerators and automotive dashboards in various sizes and shapes. We should have more details and images once the show floor is set.
[toggle title=”Press Release”]LG Display Introduces Next Generation Display Technology at SID 2013
Curved 55-inch OLED TV and 5-inch plastic OLED panels on exhibit
Seoul, Korea (May 20, 2013) – LG Display [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator of display technologies, will showcase the latest TV, mobile, and other products representing the future of display technology at the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Display Week 2013. Underscoring its leadership in OLED technology, the company will introduce both a curved 55-inch OLED TV and a 5-inch plastic OLED panel. Also exhibited will be mobile panels applied with Oxide Thin Film Transistor (TFT) which is viewed as the next generation TFT technology.
“Recent trends indicate that the small- and medium-sized display market is moving towards high resolution and low power consumption, and the large panel market to OLED and Ultra HD,” said Dr. Sang-Deok Yeo, CTO and Executive Vice President of LG Display. “With the resulting rapid need for new display advancements, LG Display, at the forefront of these trends, is well positioned to lead the market with its differentiated and cutting-edge technologies.”
Industry Leadership in OLED
LG Display will demonstrate its industry leadership in OLED technology by showcasing a curved 55-inch OLED TV, as well as its award-winning standard 55-inch OLED TV at SID 2013. Based on the same WRGB OLED technology as the standard set, now widely adopted as the most effective OLED application for large-sized panels, the new curved 55-inch OLED TV offers a glimpse into the future of TV design.
In addition, for the first time to the public, the company will unveil an unbreakable and flexible 5- inch plastic OLED panel for mobile devices. The development comes at a crucial time when smart devices are being used more than ever and at increased risk for damage from drops, hits, and other accidents.
Next Generation TFT LCD Method
LG Display will also introduce 5-inch and 7-inch HD LCD panels based on Oxide TFT, seen as the next generation TFT technology as it offers high investment efficiency in producing thin, high transparency, and low power consumption displays. LG Display, which utilized this technology in its large-sized OLED displays for the first time in the world, will expand its expertise to LCD panel development thereby leading the market. The 5-inch HD panel will feature 1.0mm bezel allowing production of borderless smartphones that are lightweight and emit significantly less heat. The 7-inch HD LCD panel is equipped with touch function-embedded technology enabling superior touch functionality in thin and lightweight mobile products.
Superior High Resolution for Monitors and Tablets
LG Display, which was first to introduce an 84-inch Ultra HD TV, now advances the high-definition trend further with the world’s first Ultra HD panel for 23.8-inch monitors. In addition, the company will showcase a 14-inch Quadruple HD (2,560X1,440) panel for laptops, and the world’s first 7-inch Full HD panel for tablets that exceeds 300 pixels per inch (PPI).
Other Innovative Advancements on Exhibit
LG Display will also present a new type of LCD which can depict the highest level of color reproduction ratio for implementation across various industries. Products, on exhibit, applying this technology include a transparent 47-inch LCD panel for refrigerators featuring a 15% increase in transparency while maintaining NTSC 72% or the same as generic HDTVs, a 12.3-inch Full HD LCD panel for automotive dashboards with 800nit high brightness and 85% color reproduction ratio, and a 24-inch Adobe RGB monitor panel for professionals with 100% color reproduction ratio.
The company will also spotlight it’s commitment to heightened design standards based on borderless technology with a 5-inch HD LCD panel for smartphones with 1.0mm bezel, as well as products boasting the world’s most narrow bezels including a 13.3-inch Full HD LCD Neo Edge panel for laptops with 1.5mm bezel, a 23.8-inch Full HD LCD Neo Blade panel for monitors with 3.5mm bezel, and a 55-inch LCD panel for video walls with 5.3mm bezel.
SID Display Week 2013
SID Display Week 2013 will be held in Vancouver, Canada from May 19 to 24. LG Display’s products will be showcased at Booth #1012, and allow visitors to experience the latest offerings from the world’s leading display company.
In addition to product exhibits, LG Display will also present its distinguished technology with 17 major dissertations on a variety of display topics. Also, Dr. In-Byung Kang, Senior Vice President and Lead Laboratory Chief of LG Display, will be recognized with a special achievement award for his work in FPR 3D and IPS LCD technology.[/toggle]
The Google Branded Nexus 4 was launched in the US, last year and was expected to reach India early December 2012. LG gave word today that it has officially launched the Google Nexus 4 Smartphone in India for a Price of Rs. 25,999 /-., talk about delayed Indian Standard Time. The Nexus 4 has been launched and is available through online as well as offline vendors.
Most of us are already familiar with the Specs and Features of the Nexus 4, and the fact that the latest version of Android is instantly seeded to owners. The roundup for the Nexus 4 includes, a Qualcomm SnapdragonTM S4 Pro CPU 1.5 GHz Krait, with Android 4.2 .2. The Display is a 4.7 inch 1280 x 768 px IPS LCD display with Gorilla® Glass 2. Read full Specs and PR below.
In either case the Nexus 4 seems like a better proposition than another Android 4.2 Smartphone launched today.
Nexus 4 Specification:
CPU Qualcomm SnapdragonTM S4 Pro CPU 1.5 GHz Krait
Network Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+
GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)
HSPA+ 42
Dimension 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm
Operating System Android 4.2 .2
Weight 139g
Display
Type LCD/True HD IPS+
Size 4.7” diagonal
Resolution WXGA (1280 x 768) pixel resolution (320ppi)
GPS/HDMI/NFC Yes with GLONASS Support / Yes (Slimport)/ Yes (Android Beam)
Memory
Internal RAM/ROM 2GB/16GB
Processor
Quad Core 1.5GHz
Advance Features
Wireless Charging Yes
Wireless Display Yes
[toggle title=”Press Release”]New Delhi, 16th May, 2013:– Designed collaboratively by LG and Google, Nexus 4, the newest smartphone in the Nexus line-up from Google, was announced today for availability in India. With a sophisticated hardware design from LG, your favourite Google Apps, and the latest version of Android™, Nexus 4 puts the best of Google in the palm of your hand.
“LG Electronics is pleased to partner Google on the release of the Nexus 4 in India,” shared Mr. Soon Kwon, Managing Director, LG Electronics India. “We added the best of our talent to our strength, and the result is a feature- packed smartphone that packs superb hardware under a slim hood. With LG Nexus 4, consumers would be delighted by the perfectly balanced combination of style, function and power. The smartphone encourages consumers to explore a world of possibilities and also helps them balance between business and entertainment”
Built for speed Nexus 4 comes with a cutting edge Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor, so you’ve got speed and power to spare. Zip around the web, experience rich 3D graphics and gameplay, and effortlessly switch between multiple apps without ever missing a beat. With 2GB of RAM and the fastest version of Android ever, Nexus 4 is the snappiest Nexus smartphone yet.
Capture and share your world Nexus 4 comes with a high performance 8MP camera and takes stunning Photo Sphere images, letting you capture every detail of the world around you. Up, down and all around you, it’s like no camera you’ve ever seen; with Nexus 4, you can snap pictures in every direction that come together into incredible, immersive Photo Spheres that put you right inside the scene. Plus, photos upload themselves with Instant Upload so you’ll never lose a shot. All of this comes to life with stunning clarity and crisp, natural color on the vibrant 1280by768 4.7inch True HD IPS Plus display supported by Zerogap Touch technology. Gently curved glass edges allow your finger to slide smoothly on and off the 320ppi screen, while cutting edge display technology means you feel like you’re touching every pixel, protected by scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2.
Information at your fingertips Nexus 4 comes with the latest Google apps, putting the best of Google in the palm of your hand. The latest version of Google Now is built in, which keeps you even more organized – get reminders about upcoming flights, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and even nearby photo opportunities – when and where you need them. Get to the places you care about quickly and easily with Google Maps™ for Android. With turn by turn GPS navigation, live traffic info, and integrated driving, walking and public transit directions, getting from A to B has never been easier. 3D Maps and rich satellite imagery give you a more realistic sense of what’s around you while features like Street View and Indoor Maps make sure you always know what’s in front of you.
With this and a host of other new features, LG Nexus 4 is bound to transform and elevate a consumer’s smartphone experience. LG’s Nexus 4 is priced at Rs 25, 999 and will be available at selected LG exclusive brand shops, Multi brand outlets and speciality stores ( modern trade ) across India.
Specification: CPU Qualcomm SnapdragonTM S4 Pro CPU 1.5 GHz Krait Network Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+ GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) 3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) HSPA+ 42 Dimension 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm Operating System Android 4.2 .2 Weight 139g
Display Type LCD/True HD IPS+ Size 4.7” diagonal Resolution WXGA (1280 x 768) pixel resolution (320ppi) Etc Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2
Touch Type/Handwriting Zerogap/Yes
Camera Main Camera 8MP Flash LED 1EA Front Camera 1.3MP HD
Battery Capacity/Type 2,100mAh/Lipolymer (Embedded) Talk Time 11.9 hours (Tx power 10dm) Standby Time 564.5 hours (DRX 8)
Audio/Video Audio Codec MP3/AAC/AA+/eAAC+/AMR NB/ WAV/WMA/MIDI Video Codec MPEG4/H.263/H.264 Audio Jack 3.5mm 2nd Microphone Yes
Data Connectivity Bluetooth/USB/WiFI 3.0/2.0HS/802.11 a/b/g/n (Dual Band) GPS/HDMI/NFC Yes with GLONASS Support / Yes (Slimport)/ Yes (Android Beam)
Memory Internal RAM/ROM 2GB/16GB
Processor Quad Core 1.5GHz
Advance Features Wireless Charging Yes Wireless Display Yes
About LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India. It is one of the most formidable brands in consumer electronics, home appliances, IT hardware and mobile communications space. In India for a decade, LG has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry. LGEIL’s manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture GSM Phones, Colour Televisions, Air Conditioners, LCD TVs, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Monitors and Optical Disc Drives.
About Google Inc. Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.[/toggle]
It looks like LG could be the latest device maker Google is contracting for the next flagship Nexus smartphone.
In an interview with the Korea Times, LG CEO Koo Bon-joon said he met up with Google boss Larry Page, where the two “discussed ways to improve their business partnership”.
Although the Korea Times concedes that native LG is lagging behind Samsung in the smartphone stakes, it later mentions that it is currently working with Google to make the next stock Android smartphone.
The Korean newspaper reported that LG has agreed to work on Google’s next Nexus device, relying on Google to boost its smartphone business. It said the smartphone is likely to launch as the Google Nexus 5, suggesting that it will have a 5in screen. It’s also likely to run Google’s upcoming Android 4.3 mobile operating system and feature a dirt cheap price tag.
About once per year, Google debuts a new smartphone that is meant to be a test bed for its Android operating system. The Nexus line of smartphones run a clean version of Android, meaning there are no manufacturer or carrier applications on board. The stock version of Android appears as Google wants it to on Nexus phones.
HTC made the first Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 1, and Samsung made the following two, the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. The Nexus 4 is the first such device made by LG.
The original article doesn’t go into any details of what the new device phone might look like, and the earliest official indication we’re likely to get will be around Google I/O in a couple of weeks.
LG announced their Q1 2013 results yesterday and declared smartphone shipments of 10.3 million units. Executives said these results were “healthy” and mainly from the global success of the flagship devices like the Optimus G and Nexus 4. By the end of the year LG estimates their smartphone shipments will reach 45 million units.
If everything works out the way they intend, LG will be come to market this year with a smartphone that has a flexible display. This is something Samsung wanted to accomplish, but has reportedly met with technology delays. According to the Wall Street Journal, Yoon Bu-hyun, vice president at LG’s mobile business, said they’re currently working closely with the LG Display Company and will produce a smartphone that has a flexible OLED screen.
No other details on specs or timing, but will be great to finally see this technology come to market. Hopefully it’s priced reasonable and made available globally. Perhaps the go-to-market name will be the LG Optimus “Flex.”
LG is among several mobile companies, including one of its chief competitors, Samsung, eyeing flexible OLED display technology. The companies envision devices featuring fully flexible screens, allowing for more leniency in product design. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Samsung showed off a 5-inch demo unit with a flexible screen. Nokia has also shown off similar prototypes.
A year ago, LG trotted out a design for a flexible display for e-book readers.
Bloomberg reports Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency investigators entered the Samsung Display HQ in Asan as they look into the possibility that LG partners may have leaked secrets of its technology.
Police are investigating whether partners of rival panel maker LG Display Co. leaked technology secrets and whether Samsung is involved, Nathan Kim, a spokesman for Samsung, said by phone today. The two companies have been involved in criminal probes of alleged technology theft since last year. In July, six employees of LG Display were charged over theft of OLED technology from Samsung.
“We have no reason to steal other companies’ technology, as we have the world’s best OLED technology,” Jun Eun Sun, a spokeswoman for Samsung, told Bloomberg today in Asan.
LG Display said it didn’t report Samsung to police in connection with the current investigation.
Police secured documents and computer hard disks as they probe allegations Samsung swiped OLED, or organic-light-emitting diode, panel technology in 2010 from a subcontractor of key competitor LG Display.
“The latest investigation is related to large-sized OLED TV panel technology, but the police have made the allegation themselves,” Son Young Jun, a Seoul-based LG Display spokesman.
The OLED television is more technologically advanced than other flat display panels, including liquid crystal display or plasma display panel TVs. The OLED technology is regarded to be the key technology of next-generation televisions.
Samsung says the truth will be revealed through the police investigation, adding that the probe is focused on the alleged technology leak by LG Display’s subcontractor.
