Okay, okay, we admit it: we
went a little harsh on the
Lotus before we had a chance to cradle it in our own palm. It turns out that LG's latest texting machine for Sprint is actually quite a looker in a bizarre, quirky way, with the black version taking on a well-constructed, businesslike aura and the purple doing a reasonably good job repping the high-fashion set. Don't get us wrong, it still looks downright weird when closed -- mainly because we're just not used to a square flip, we suppose -- but when it's open, it looks as decent as any featurephone on the market. We didn't have a great opportunity to put the keyboard through it's paces (stay tuned for that), but that new One Click UI paradigm looks like a winner at a quick glance -- so even if you're too fat-fingered to enjoy top SMS speeds, at least you'll enjoy watching your mistakes materialize on the screen in glorious detail.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mrg33 @ Sep 16th 2008 1:49PM
Looks like an HTC Dash if it were a flip phone. Kinda Neat.
Ray @ Sep 16th 2008 2:03PM
well, im surely not in love with the looks of this thing... but textaholics would marry a flip phone that fits their needs
Jacksplat @ Sep 16th 2008 2:05PM
That bottom icon listl looks it came from TouchFlo 2d. I'd like to know how it compares the VZ Blitz. they both seem like a similar audience was targeted.
Christian Walters @ Sep 16th 2008 2:23PM
If this thing was runnin Windows Mobile, I would be instantly sold! A full qwerty WinMo Pro Clamshell? HELLZ YEAH!
Dave @ Oct 15th 2008 11:50PM
I totally agree with you about the fact that if Windows Mobile was on the Lotus it would be a killer phone. Don't get me wrong it is a solid phone and I'm considering carrying one myself. I did have an opportunity to play around with a pre-release version and I was quite impressed with the form factor. At first though I was a bit reserved because it was so square, since I hadn't yet flipped it open, and it was the purple flowered model which was cool looking but not for me. I do have a standing offer for a free one of these units in black but I'm kind of torn. I currently carry two Sprint phones. One is the HTC Touch and the other is the new HTC Touch Diamond. I use the Diamond as my main phone and mostly appreaciate its texting and multimedia capabilities. The touch I'm mostly using for two apps, Sprint Navigation and my SlingPlayer. I like being able to use these apps on my second phone and still conduct business and take calls on my primary phone. If I did start carrying the LG Lotus I would make it my primary phone and put the HTC Touch Diamond on my secondary line. I usually carry both phones but it's nice to have all of the features and apps I use on my primary phone for those rare times when I'm carry just the one phone. When I'm out trining for the Ironman on my bike I usually only have my primary phone in the saddle bag. So the fact that the Lotus doesn't run on Windows Mobile and therefore can't connect to my SlingBox is kind of a bummer. On the bright side however I'd still have access to live television and my video/music/photo collection through the orb app that I use to run on the LG Muziq that I recently retired when I received the Diamond. To wrap things up I would say two things. You can't fault Sprint for their phones as they have the best lineup of phones of all of the US carriers (yes, that includes AT&T with their iPhones). Secondly, if we could only get LG and HTC working together we could have one awesome device.
Michael S @ Sep 16th 2008 2:44PM
Since no one has said it yet, I wonder if we can get Android running on this thing.
DssTrainer @ Sep 16th 2008 3:08PM
^^ No one has said it because common sense tells you it can't.
I will say, in complete contradiction to Christian Walters comment, the fact that this DOESN'T have windows mobile is making me want to trade my HTC Touch in for the Lotus. WinMo seems powerful on paper, but when you tried a dozen custom roms and installed all this garbage software... you realize that you need exactly 1% of it and the rest is just bloat.
But one thing good about WinMo phones is that they can run android... I await the release of the dream so we can rip the final rom.. Im so torn between going back to a media phone or waiting for android to flash and replace WinMo on my Touch.
Chris Are @ Sep 16th 2008 3:35PM
Totally agree w/ ya buddy. WinMo is definitely a downside for me, and I pretty much instantly shy away from a phone w/ it.
Chris Are @ Sep 16th 2008 3:36PM
I typically think LG phones are pretty clunky-looking and/or ugly. I actually like this one in a weird way. Wouldn't get it because I'm happy w/ my Centro, but still...
SFO Kevin @ Sep 16th 2008 3:53PM
The WIDE factor will go well in the Midwest with all those wide businessmen you see in places like Midway Airport...
Rogue_Genius @ Sep 16th 2008 5:30PM
Dude, what?
JDL @ Sep 16th 2008 4:38PM
The third gen Ipod nano reincarnated as a phone.
TIM @ Sep 16th 2008 9:08PM
looks really really UGLY and fat
Montusama @ Sep 17th 2008 12:06AM
Well the phone is strange but I'm kinda tempted to get it, since it has a qwerty keypad and plus the display is almost widescreen which if LG includes a proper media player, could make it pretty good for watching some videos of sort. But as I'm on sprint for another 18 months I kinda want a new phone but I want a performance phone, and only the Touch Pro seems to deliver in that but don't think its really worth spending 300-500 dollars on a phone that will be only used for about a year because it will be too "old" to be up to date.
emanuelle @ Sep 17th 2008 3:18AM
This is a reoccurring theme for Engadget. They always tell you to "look for more info about stuff" when they do a hands on. I for one never see anything else after the hands on except for the iPhone 3g. At least as far as i can remember but I'm willing to be proved otherwise.
Dead_Rebel @ Sep 17th 2008 9:24AM
Um.... 5th post down, maybe?
Sepurb @ Sep 17th 2008 1:40PM
sigh... if this isn't a pocketbuster like the Touch Diamond*cries* i may consider it... i have a treo 700p and even though it would probably NOT be an "upgrade" i only want 2 use youtube and surf the web @ phenomenal speeds... and that is where the 700p shows its age...
fini @ Oct 20th 2008 9:02PM
thats why i ordered the lotus yesterday, my treo 700p is showing its age, and i have a ipod touch to pick up the slack of anything missing from the lotus.
bob @ Oct 11th 2008 6:33AM
when are these new sprint phones coming out, I am dying to check out the new HTC touch pro
Tonya @ Oct 21st 2008 11:54AM
I simply ♥ this phone so far. I purchased and renewed my Sprint contract on Sunday and have been exploring the phone since then. The square shape stays down in my pockets and the feel of it is nice. The wide screen and resolution is great, you tube, facebook etc I love. My content manger was even easier to re-download ringers, apps and screensavers. The buttons are BIGGER than I expected and texting is a breeze! Only thing I've found to frown @ is the outer screen seems a little fuzzy??? I also like the preview feature when purchasing ringers, my prior phones didn't have this. Overall a really FUN phone!
Bill @ Oct 27th 2008 1:22PM
Is there any way the Lotus can sync with outlook calander and contacts?
David @ Nov 7th 2008 11:45PM
Beautiful phone, but I'm disappointed with the web browser. There is no way to scroll right if the screen is too wide, or save images, or zoom, so photo sites like flickr and picasaweb are pretty much unusable. Mobile picasaweb displays wrong so single pictures don't show up at all. If it had a standard web browser (like just ran straight Opera) it would be great, but as is, forget about the web browser and just use the phone for text messaging.