Hands on with the LG VX9400 for Verizon

It may not be Chocolate -- but in terms of style, the VX9400 isn't very far off. From the pictures, we'd thought that this was going to be one heavy, wide, unusable disaster of a handset, but we were dead wrong on every count. The phone can be used against the ear whether open or closed (obviously crucial for easy access to the keypad and quick taking of a call while watching TV), the pivot is smooth, and the glossy black top contrasts nicely with the silver bottom. The MediaFLO-based VCAST TV service, announced during the press conference today, is fully functional on the phone; we caught wind that Vegas and Seattle are fully live (among other markets) so it seems reasonable for Verizon to meet its goal of launching before the quarter's out. The video was smooth and quick to load, and the interactive guide (which loads via the FLO link) seemed well laid out. Click on for more pictures!

[Robert Garcia @ Jan 7th 2007 6:13PM]

me wantz this:(
i have to wait another year for my dumb cingular contract to end:(

[Jonathan Keim @ Jan 7th 2007 6:18PM]

I highly doubt too many will sell. The new design swiveling screen will be a hassle, and the only way to justify the hassle is if widescreen content is available and desired.

[Josh @ Jan 7th 2007 6:19PM]

Mmm extendable aerial!

[Chris Merchant @ Jan 7th 2007 6:22PM]

Jonathan, I believe the inverse.

Verizon will market this as the first real 'TV handset' and flocks of the 'Gotta have it' market will rush to pay for it out the ears. I don't see a personal use for it- streaming video to any one of my web-enabled devices would serve the same purpose for much less cost, but the ease of use with such a device is sure to be a huge seller.

Chris

[ben @ Jan 7th 2007 6:30PM]

Can someone explain to me what the ENORMOUS antennae is for? It makes the phone look so '90s.

Is this thing gonna have full cable. And how ludicrously expensive will the service be? Regular VCAST is already something like $80/month.

[Chris K. @ Jan 7th 2007 6:49PM]

"Regular VCAST is already something like $80/month."

Actually it's $15/month.

[Ryu @ Jan 7th 2007 6:46PM]

Ben, the purpose of the "giant antennae" is to recieve broadcasting waves for mobile TV and such. Im from Korea, where a lot of phones have DMB capabilities, where most of the phones have TV viewing by satelites waves. The antennae is used simply to gain stronger signals. This model is actually an old one in Korean, LG Cyon is pretty crazy about the swivel screen design and quite common. Swivel screens allow a loarger viewing field for broadcasted TV and really common in Europe in Asia. This is the first for America.

[Liqwid @ Jan 7th 2007 7:47PM]

Can the screen slide up? I ask this because you're only flipping the screen and I see that the microphone is actually at the top? Is it a slider/flip-into-widescreen phone or does the screen only flip?

[Liqwid @ Jan 7th 2007 7:49PM]

Not microphone... I mean the receiver.

[riggs @ Jan 7th 2007 7:50PM]

now i can watch colbert on the go!

[Ryan @ Jan 7th 2007 7:54PM]

If Apple doesn't release a phone this week, this LG will be my next phone. it looks sweet!

[Sean DL @ Jan 7th 2007 10:36PM]

IT's going to be so funny seeing people thinking they have to use that antenna to get better reception .....

Brings new meaning to:

"Can you hear me now?"

[v_dogg @ Jan 7th 2007 11:05PM]

how do you talk on it when the screen is flipped, or do you just flip it down to talk?

[Devin @ Jan 8th 2007 10:44AM]

Love the pics and all, but any info on a release date? I'm up for my New Every Two on Thursday and don't want to hold on to the old piece of junk I have for too much longer, but if this is coming reasonably soon I can handle it.

[a_zaidi @ Feb 14th 2007 6:15PM]

anyone know if verizon is gonna have some type of software updates for older phones such as the enV to enable TV?

[Mr. Mystery @ Feb 27th 2007 10:46PM]

ben @ Jan 7th 2007 6:30PM
the antenna is for the video service to improve the antenna. and you get 8 channels for $25/mnth

Liqwid @ Jan 7th 2007 7:47PM
the screen only twists there is no slider

a_zaidi @ Feb 14th 2007 6:15PM
nothing planned. the phone would need additional hardware.

[turtle @ Mar 16th 2007 5:51PM]

i have played with this phone and it's pretty sweet! however, it doesn't have personalized text msg ringtones like the 8300...anyway around this? i think its something vzw locked out?!?

[AJ @ Jul 17th 2007 12:04AM]

I actually have the 9400, and i LOVE IT! It does take some time getting used to, but it's worth it. The reception is about the same as my 6100, and the extendable antenna DOES help with reception in low service areas (my basement). The mobile TV is AMAZING on this phone, as well as how the camera focuses on close objects or far-away objects. Another plus is that this phone has the old headphone jack back instead of plugging your headphones into the charger port like the LG VX8600 (what a hassle). The only thing i dont like about this phone is that i get some echo when i use the speakerphone, but that's about it. Music Player is really loud, the screen has really good color, and good clarity.....my whole family can read the screen without using their glasses. For all who want to know, the TV Package comes with all TV channels, V-Cast and Mobile Internet (all unlimited use) for $25 a month OR it is $15 a month with "extra fee's". Also, BitPim works on this phone, unlike on the LG VX8600's where it's locked. The secret menu is also back to it's normal where you go into the menu press "0" and then the service code is all "0"'s. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [e-mail]

-AJ

[Percy @ Aug 10th 2007 7:40PM]

how do you unlock the keypad in the menu to hack the wap

[AJ @ Aug 12th 2007 10:46PM]

To get to the WAP settings, you go into , and hit Zero, then put Zero's in for all of the question marks in the Service code, and the WAP setting is number 8.

[salvatore @ Nov 27th 2007 8:35PM]

u know any cool things to do in the secret menu?

[AJ @ Aug 12th 2007 10:47PM]

To get to the WAP settings, you go into the main menu, and hit Zero, then put Zero's in for all of the question marks in the Service code, and the WAP setting is number 8.

[AJ @ Nov 28th 2007 1:34PM]

In the secret menu, you can switch your phone to Extended Network, so if you have bad verizon service, sometimes extended works better. Also, if you don't have EVDO in your area, you can switch your phone to 1X only, so that it doesn't waste battery looking for EVDO, so that can save you some battery life. Other than that, I haven't really tried anything more in the secret menu because it can really mess up your phone if you click on the wrong thing. Have you heard of anything cool in the secret menu?

[salvatore @ Nov 28th 2007 11:31PM]

lol no
just getting onto the hacking thing
i know that bitpim is cool
And im trying to learn python to be able to do some cool stuff in the menu though
so ya
thanks
And sorry

[Stephen Ryan @ Oct 16th 2008 6:20PM]

Ok, I'm truely hoping someone knows. Maybe you do. I've been trying to get videos I've downloaded onto my phone. But if I use Mpeg-4 or .3gp or .3gpp2 it goes through Itunes, which infact doesn't work with this phone. I'm trying to get more than just music onto my phone through windows media player. Which music, however, is easy. It's the vieos I can't use. And I've tried every website I can find. So if anyone does know please allow me the knowledge.


and by the way. Despite the phones' Complicity, it is a very nice phone. Easy flip screen. Great video qualities. perfect size screen for TV, Video, or Any other picture. This phone far surpasses any other phone I've ever had. So if it's something you're thinking of buying, then don't hessitate for even one second.