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US 3G version of LG's KC910 pops up, speculation abounds


Based on what we've learned about LG's KC910 (or the Renoir, as it's affectionately known), we had all ideas it was being reserved for corners of the globe not named USA. But after taking one look at the specifications on the outfit's Global web portal, we're beginning to have second thoughts. Granted, this whole thing could just be a copy and paste blunder, but the 8-megapixel cellie sure shows up as having support for 850/900/1800/1900 GSM bands. Everything else looks par for the course, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't a wee bit excited about the possibilities here. Hold tight -- we'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more details.

[Thanks, Kevin]

LG VX8360 gets pictured catalog-style, looks round


Last we'd heard, this bad boy is coming in just a couple weeks' time, so it's good to see some promotional materials floating around making mention of it, right? The VX8360 is said to feature a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, EV-DO, microSD expansion, and if we had to venture an educated guess, we'd say a color secondary display with external music controls. Nothing to write home about, granted -- but we'd be willing to bet Verizon is gonna part with these for a song.

[Thanks, Thomas S.]

LG announces Prada II


We think that phones like the Touch Pro and X1 sort of limit the market for pricey dumbphone QWERTY sliders, but be that as it may, LG clearly has every intention of making the Prada II one of its headline devices in the waning months of 2008. The rumored 7.2Mbps HSDPA 850 / 2100, WiFi, TV-out, an FM radio, and a 5-megapixel camera have all been confirmed to go along with the full keyboard for a launch in Europe in the end of October or beginning of November, running something in the range of €600 (about $816). Don't get us wrong, it looks alright -- but would this be your first choice of ways to part with the better part of a grand?

LG CT810 "Incite" for AT&T gets pictured, we think


Okay, we're not absolutely positive that we're looking at the Incite here, but here's what we know: this is definitely the CT810, a phone that was approved by the FCC back in July bearing WCDMA (presumably HSPA) on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. It says AT&T on the display, it's running WinMo, and it matches the description we have of the Incite, so for all practical purposes, this is probably our prime suspect. We've got to say, LG -- if this is what you plan on bringing to the table, where've you been in our lives all these years?

[Thanks, alex]

Minimalists, drunkards rejoice: LG Wine goes live on Bell


If "function follows form" is your mantra, listen up -- especially if you happen to be in Canada. LG's curiously-named Wine has come to the land of polar bears, maple syrup, and adorable baby seals, offering very little in the way of bells or whistles (seriously, we're talking about a 1.3-megapixel camera and Bluetooth 1.2 here) but keeping the style dial turned to 11 -- and hey, at least it's still got a QVGA main display and GPS packed in there somewhere. It'll run you $79.95 now on a three-year contract in your choice of black or the always tasteful gold.

[Via MobileSyrup]

LG bringing WinMo-powered "Incite" to AT&T?

When, pray tell, was the last time you saw an LG running Windows Mobile on AT&T? Go ahead, take your time, we'll wait. Still struggling over there? Yeah, you're not going to think of one -- trust us. Looks like that's finally about to change this year with the so-called Incite, a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional beast that we're hearing AT&T hopes to launch in time for Festivus celebrations. We don't have any photography to ogle yet, but the specs sound dreamy: mirrored flush 400 x 240 touchscreen, 3-megapixel autofocus camera with flash, AGPS, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, WiFi, and a full metal body that runs 106.95 x 55 x 13.9mm -- in other words, this thing could conceivably out-KS20 the KS20. Yikes!

LG's KC780 8 megapixel cameraphone likes your smile, not your pimples

LG's KC780 8 megapixel cameraphone likes your smile, not your pimples
LG, a major player in the cameraphone megapixel wars, is aiming to knock out the competition via a one-two punch of the KC920 Renoir and the newly official KC780. That latter phone still lacks a cute nickname, but now has a few official specs to go along with its resolution. Just 13.9mm thick, it sports a 2.4-inch LCD on the front and an unsurprisingly Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens on the back, the latter augmented by some advanced "face-enhancing features" like smile detection and Beauty Mode to digitally smooth blemishes. It should perform decently in low light, courtesy of an ISO 1600 shooting mode and built-in image stabilization; good things both because we don't expect that tiny flash will brighten any room. The phone records videos at 640 x 480, and interestingly, it can act as a wireless Bluetooth webcam for a PC. Price is unconfirmed, but European release is coming next month ahead of a worldwide launch "later."

[Via Engadget Spanish]

US Cellular getting LG Rhythm: think Chocolate with a cyclops eye (updated)


We've learned that mega-regional US Cellular has its sights set on an LG slider apparently dubbed the UX585 "Rhythm" for a mid-November launch, featuring a 1.3-megapixel camera, FM transmitter a la Nokia N78 and LG Muziq, and an honest-to-goodness mechanical wheel -- a key feature for a phone touting a music slant. The theme doesn't stop there, though: the Rhythm is also said to benefit from tweaking by Mark Levinson's loving ears, a QVGA display, and something being called a "Touch Music Hot Key," a trick-looking circular touchscreen in the middle of the wheel. Yeah, these guys might be a little behind the Chocolate curve here, but at least they're coming out swinging. Look for it to run $129.95 featuring a $50 rebate for customers signing up for a data plan for at least three months.

[Thanks, USCCGuy]

Updated: Turns out Alltel snuck this out onto the market just this week in black and white as the AX585, and seeing how they're spelling it "Rhythm," we're updating the spelling for US Cellular's version, too (let's be honest -- "Rythm" would be an incredibly annoying trademarkable spelling for that word). Alltel's charging $119.99 on contract after rebates for the pleasure. Thanks, Jer!

LG's 8-megapixel Renoir handset gets previewed, handled


We were already warned that the megapixel race was headed to the mobile realm, and as if you needed any more proof, here we are looking down the lens of LG's 8-megapixel Renoir. Clearly aimed at Samsung's recently unveiled Pixon, this touchscreen-based handset found itself in the loving arms of CNET's UK branch. During the limited time editors spent with it, they found the interface to be eerily similar to that found on the Viewty and the camera to be a real winner. As expected, the not-a-3.5mm headphone jack was none too pleasing to critics, but we did overhear the T-Mobile G1 voicing its support of the port. Anywho, tap the read link for the full preview / hands-on shots.

[Thanks, T.I.]

LG Wine gets Bell a little tipsy


We didn't think much of the simple LG Wine when it first launched in Korea -- nor when it went to Europe as the KF300 (pictured) -- but LG must be doing something right here, because it's now been slated for a release on Bell next month. The flip is targeted at folks looking for a simple phone with a premium look, and its feature set certainly fills that bill with a QVGA display, GPS, Bluetooth, 1.3-megapixel camera, and "quick preset keys" for major phone functions. It'll be available in black and gold for $79.99 CAD (about $78) on a three-year contract.

[Via MobileSyrup]

LG introduces "attractively-priced" KP500, doesn't say how attractive

LG introduces
Got touchscreen envy but don't have the pair of Benjamins required to get yourself into a celly without a keypad? LG has a solution: the KP500, a nearly button-less and stylus-bearing handset that sounds rather like another recent cheap smartphone. LG's not giving many details about this one beyond its 3-inch display, a 3 megapixel camera, motion sensor, and availability in black, brown, silver, or gold (though based on the pic above we'd stay away from that last one). There's a short video of the TouchFLO-like UI to whet your appetite just below, but that's all we have to share until this phone hits Europe in a month, with a worldwide release to come afterward.

[Via Unwired View]

LG KC780 strives for world's thinnest 8 megapixel camera phone


An official-looking promo shot of the rumored LG KC780 has surfaced, along supposed confirmation and some details: this will be the slimmest 8 megapixel camera phone to date, offering quad-band GSM support and limited touchscreen functionality. There's still no word on 3G support, no price and no date -- but you'll know more when we do. Promise.

Samsung, LG said to be releasing Android phones in Q3 '09 "at the earliest"

Neither LG nor Samsung have ever gone so far to as pin down an actual release date for their promised Android-based phones, but it looks like they could each now be giving themselves yet more wiggle room, at least if the supposedly in the know Mirae Asset Securities is to be believed. According to it, we now shouldn't expect to see Android handsets from either manufacturer before the second half of 2009 "at the earliest," which doesn't exactly match up with earlier word that both companies were aiming for a release in "early 2009." Venturing even further into speculation, Mirae says that the delay is a result of "negative responses" from mobile phone operators like Vodafone, as well as some general skepticism among advertising sponsors about Google's profit model for the phones. Of course, none of those parties mentioned are actually saying anything themselves just yet, so you may do well to take all of this with a hefty grain of salt for the time being.

[Via Unwired View]

Megapixel race hits the mobile realm


When the megapixel race unofficially started in the point-and-shoot world, it didn't take long before every last camera manufacturer out there was cramming 14-megapixel sensors into any ole pocket cam. Now, it seems the same race is headed to the mobile realm. Of late, we've seen a new batch of 8-megapixel handsets and a 9-megapixel sensor, and a recent interview with LG's sales and marketing director John Barton points to even more of those in the near future. According to him, "the megapixel race that we saw amongst camera makers is now being battled out between mobile manufacturers," hinting that 10+ megapixel phones (not to mention handsets with HD video capability) are closer than we may have imagined. Mmm, the possibilities.

[Via Cell Phone Feeds]

LG already prepping a midrange 8-megapixel phone?


Our minds are still positively blown at the mere thought of stuffing eight megapixels of picture-snapping power behind some mediocre optics and wrapping it up in a GSM radio, but LG appears to already be looking forward to a time when this kind of thing is par for the course. iDNES.cz has a tiny, blurry shot of a supposed KC780 slider, which tosses out the KC910 Renoir's high style for a homelier look that we can only assume fortells a lower asking price. You get a mere 140MB of integrated storage here -- not bloody much for a phone that's snapping eight millions pixels at a shot -- and iDNES says it's "not clear" yet whether 3G will even be supported, though we'll apparently see image stabilization and face detection in the cam. Low end? High end? What's it gonna be, LG?




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