Video of LG's KE850: it's no poser

Sure, LG's KE850 might have some of those sexy iPhone looks and a strikingly similar interface, but the beauty's just skin deep, right? Not so fast, buckaroo. It looks like LG has been putting a lot more work into this thing than they've let on -- to be honest, they haven't let on a whole lot -- and stuffed in animated menus, purtiful video playback, touchable scrolling and other eye candy. It doesn't look quite as well put together as Steve Jobs' RDF would have us believe the iPhone is, but it's dang close, and makes Apple's offering look a lot more "evolutionary" than "revolutionary." Plus LG's KE850 is supposedly slotted for March or April, giving it a nice jump on the iPhone's planned June release date. Just tell us this thing has 3G, and check the video after the break.

[Thanks, Jonathan]

[Brian @ Jan 14th 2007 12:20AM]

The user interface leaves a lot to be desired.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 14th 2007 8:35PM]

I am not too fond of a touch screen on a cell phone, "real buttons" provide a tactile feel so you can use to phone with out having to look at it, the lack of "real buttons" makes this thing a driving hazzard. Bad idea.

[Charles R Hamilton @ Jan 14th 2007 12:24AM]

Good pics of the phone working, but the only thing I got from the audio was something about "we surrender" or something.

[Nick @ Jan 14th 2007 5:54PM]

Best. Comment. Ever.

[glacia @ Jan 14th 2007 12:28AM]

You know the fanbeasts are going to be circling soon to say it sucks but this is really the type of interface I was expecting from Apple since they constantly claim to have intuitive interfaces. The Apple phone looks cluttered and disorganized in comparison. The four tabbed windows make this look much more intuitive.

Now that that's out of the way you may now gnash your teeth and spin out of control.

[Zadillo @ Jan 14th 2007 12:50AM]

Just out of curiosity, what was it about the iPhone interface that looks cluttered to you compared to the LG? I see you mentioned tabs, and the only difference I see is no tabs on the "home" screen of the iPhone. But beyond that, once you're in one of this LG's phones tabs, you seem to have a folder/file list array of icons, which I'm not sure is any more or less disorganized/cluttered than the icon list on the iPhone home screen. Was there something about the specific application interfaces as well you were referring to too (like the music interfaces, video interfaces, etc.)?

[John P. @ Jan 14th 2007 10:53AM]

It looks like a really early prototype. The interface is terribly ugly. I'm sure it will improve though.

[chris @ Jan 14th 2007 12:36AM]

sexxxyyyyy and i dont have to use stupid ass bloated itunes! YAY! Hope it comes in without a tie to a stupid contract :) and its releasing soone rHELL YAZ

[Ted Brown @ Jan 14th 2007 12:35AM]

It looks pretty good but the interface seemed to be pretty choppy.

[ZombieFlanders @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:46PM]

"It looks pretty good but the interface seemed to be pretty choppy."

I agree. But what worries me is that my 5G iPod's UI is choppy when a song is playing (which is why I'm glad they added the overlayed letters over the songs when you scroll). I have a fear that this choppiness is a symptom of small electronics in general, and the iPhone will also exhibit that too. Likely all touchscreen phones will until the tech gets faster. I think from what a cell phone could do 6 years ago to what a phone does now...just wow.

[Rex @ Jan 14th 2007 2:04AM]

The phone looks pretty sleek. And the video that he played on it that looked like a commericial didn't seem choppy. I'd want one if the price was right.. after rebates and stuff.
But I was thinking.. LG and Apple should make PMPs out of this technology with the touchscreen interface and skip the telephone bit out, which would make the device much more cheaper and desireable.

[CTG @ Jan 14th 2007 2:15AM]

"But I was thinking.. LG and Apple should make PMPs out of this technology with the touchscreen interface and skip the telephone bit out, which would make the device much more cheaper and desireable."

No doubt in my mind that the next iPod will be the iPhone with its cellular capabilities ripped out in favor of a hard drive.

[Zadillo @ Jan 14th 2007 12:47AM]

Trying to put personal biases aside, I can't say that video really "wowed" me, but then again, it's also not something that I got to see as clearly as we have the iPhone videos. But the interface isn't doing much for me; reminds me more of what you see on other phones, but a larger screen, and touchscreen, of course. Seems decent enough though, and could be an interesting alternative to the iPhone. Should be interesting to see how it compares, but I think I'd really have to use them both physically, since it's kind of hard to judge just from videos, etc. I will say the interface looks nicer and more usable than other LG phones I've tried out.

[keith @ Jan 14th 2007 3:25AM]

Will this phone be released in the US? If so, who will be the carrier?

[Atanas Boev @ Jan 14th 2007 1:13AM]

No multitouch interface:) And looks a bit ugly. Why? I don't know.
Come on, I had Neonode (remember Neonode?) which followed the same concept two years ago. Damn, even the "unlock" gesture was exactly the same. However, nothing comes close to iphone yet. Apple never did exactly breaktrough things, it simply did them in the proper way.

[nicleT @ Jan 14th 2007 1:18AM]

Good demo of this pretty LG phone model but I stick to the Apple iPhone UI.

[BLee @ Jan 14th 2007 1:25AM]

can someone go over again whats so cool about multi touch?

[Baldwin @ Jan 14th 2007 1:36AM]

You dont have to use the stupid scroll bar in Multi-Touch like you have to on the LG. You can simply drag your finger anywhere on the screen and the list or webpage or photo will drag with your finger.

I noticed that he had a stupid scroll bar, Olypus tried that on the M:Robe and it failed, with Multi-Touch I don't have to move my finger to the side of the screen, I can simply drag it anywhere.

Verizon is still laughing at those cingular punks..
Baldwin
President
ThinkShoppingOnline.com

[Baldwin @ Jan 14th 2007 1:31AM]

This is why Verizon is not worried about the iPhone...they have LG.

HAHAHAHA
Baldwin
President
ThinkShoppingOnline.com

[Das @ Jan 14th 2007 1:33AM]

I disagree, the iPhone is actually a much more revolutionary device since it is capable of running on pure hype.

[John Doe @ Jan 14th 2007 1:39AM]

Gah....I smell a HUGE lawsuit on the horizon. Remember the whole and oh boy have we patented it remark by jobs at his keynote? The question is just WHAT has been patented? He sure as hell can't patent a touch screen display since this has been done for....well just about ever.
All I want to know is what OS. Obviously this isn't Windows Mobile so forget about their 3rd party apps. Palm OS umm no. Symbian? What 3rd party support if any? And what carriers?

[Kevin @ Jan 14th 2007 1:48AM]

Yeah but your hand is in the way... and you have to "brush" the page essentially "throwing" the screen... with a scroll bar it's smooth, precise, and practical. Since you're touching things you can also click on with iPhone, throwing the page is the only way. It may look cool, but it doesn't work as it should.

That, by the way, is not unique to multi-touch. Apple is just the only company stupid enough to scroll that way. The ONLY application of the true multi-touch funtion is "pinching". Weak. How about the classic "press zoom > click focus" like seen on other software, instead of this unnatural finger exercise?

Das is 100% right, it runs on hype. And priced at $500 + assload of monthly charges it will crumble.

[Cardbored @ Jan 14th 2007 1:59AM]

as much as it should crumble, it won't. Due to the fact that every single richy richy prep that is a loyal apple fan boy will bitch and moan at their parents untill they buy them one. Then it will become the "cool" in thing since celebs will start to buy them and yea... you've got the iPod

[Ignacio @ Jan 14th 2007 3:52AM]

"with a scroll bar it's smooth, precise, and practical."

Did you actually watch the video? It wasn't smooth nor precise; as for practical, being able to scroll just by, well scrolling the "page" is a lot easier than aiming at that little, thin scrollbar, not to mention that if you have say, 100 emails, moving the scrollbar a couple of pixels would scroll several pages, whereas on the iPhone the page tracks your finger precisely, and only enters "fast scroll mode" if you slide your finger quickly and then lift you finger. Much more natural. Also, in case you missed it, THE IPHONE *ALSO* HAS SCROLLBARS, which fade-in and out automatically when you scroll, although it's not clear whether they are manipulable or just for information purposes ("I'm near the beginning/middle/end of the list"). There is also a list of initials (at least on the music tracks view) so you can scroll directly to a specific place in the list.

[JamesF @ Jan 14th 2007 2:02AM]

Is it just me or does that background look a lot like one of the default Mac desktop pictures?

[riggs @ Jan 14th 2007 1:57AM]

im getting this for my bday.

iPhone is nothing but looks btw.

[CTG @ Jan 14th 2007 2:08AM]

Looks like the cheap copycat that soon everyone will make. Nice job LG for being ahead of the pack.

[riggs @ Jan 14th 2007 2:36AM]

it boggles my mind how anyone can call this a copycat, since apple never let the "cat out of the bag" about iPhone, and it was only announce a few days ago, so how in the hell is LG the copycat? cause it was shown second?

[Ellianth @ Jan 14th 2007 3:21PM]

My memory might be messed up, but i remember the LG phone being shown on Engadget before the iPhone was shown anywhere...

[CTG @ Jan 14th 2007 2:45AM]

"it boggles my mind how anyone can call this a copycat, since apple never let the "cat out of the bag" about iPhone, and it was only announce a few days ago, so how in the hell is LG the copycat? cause it was shown second?"

I'm speaking figuratively. Everybody on the face of the planet earth has seen the iPhone while a select few on gadget websites know what the LG KE850 is. It will undoubtedly be regarded as the first iPhone copycat even if it sees release a couple months earlier.

That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 14th 2007 2:57AM]

I am so sick of Apple claiming they re-invented this or that. Ever notice Job`s presentations are set up so nobody can challenge him on his claims?The LG phone looks to be better built and has a user-replaceable battery.
Jobs=the Ron Popeil of the electronic gadget world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Popeil

[Jeff @ Jan 14th 2007 3:07AM]

Who invented what is not the issue here.

The issue here is that after watching this video, you can't possibly think using a touchscreen to navigate a phone interface is anything other than completely retarded. I mean, come on. This guy's going so slowly in order to avoid hitting any wrong keys; nobody actually uses a phone like that.

Both of these phones are gonna crash and burn. And when I say that, I don't mean the iPhone's not gonna sell initially. I mean it's gonna sell to the fanboys and then it's gonna fall off a cliff. It's going to have first-month sales that Jobs is gonna get out and brag about and then all of a sudden they're gonna clam up because post-launch sales are just gonna hit the floor. And the reasons will be numerous, but among them will be the fact that touchscreens suck as cell phone interfaces.

They won't give up, though (talking about Apple). But they will retool this phone within a year, and/or add new variants to the lineup as an eventual phaseout of the currently announced model. Mark my words.

As for LG, I suspect this phone will sell as well as any LG phone does.

[weonys @ Jan 14th 2007 3:47AM]

엘지폰도 괜찮군요. 생각보다 더 아이폰과 유사하군요.

[BigD @ Jan 14th 2007 5:26AM]

It does appear to be quite similar to the iphone, but is has more buttons, and is likely to be available to more carriers, globally.

[Nando @ Jan 14th 2007 4:55AM]

The truth, I will most likely get this LG phone if the iPhone cannot be network unlocked.

[Adrian @ Jan 14th 2007 5:01AM]

It looks 'ok' - but there's something lacking with the software / GUI that didn't impress me. The demonstrator didn't seem comfortable using it either, and LG's solutions were no where near as cool or elegant (from the limited video). Scolling down using a narrow side bar (which saps screen space). It feels like you're using software too much.

The key to Apple is not that they have 'special' technology, but the way they make everything simple and effortless. You don't 'use the software' - you just do stuff.

[CTG @ Jan 14th 2007 5:03AM]

"Please do explain how they copied Apple when Apple didn't even announce their device until Tuesday."

My statement:

"Looks like the cheap copycat that soon everyone will make."

I have no need to explain that which I never stated in the first place.

This looks like a copy of Apple's more refined device with an execution that's sure to be emulated by other manufacturers. Particularly the not-quite-there OS X look and feel. That was my original statement. A full screened phone with cheap Apple icons and a normal touchscreen that has none of the functionality of Multi-touch, that's where we're headed if the iPhone is a hit.

And, as I said before, the world is fully aware of the iPhone. Even if the KE850 sees release first, realistically speaking it will be forced to live up to the iPhone and not the other way around. No way in hell the KE850 spends a few days being covered by global news networks.

You're simply reaching. Or drunk. Or an Eagles fan. Perhaps all three. You're certainly no gentleman with such a crude tongue.

[Grant @ Jan 14th 2007 5:13AM]

the interface did seem a bit choppy, but everything else seemed pretty nice. as a self proclaimed apple fanboy the iphone made me salivate just for the full screen touch ipod/video/osx running all in one device.

but it's partnered with cingular.
and isn't 3G.

for the momentum the iPhone could have pulled, those two factors slammed on the breaks and slowed it faster than a brick wall could have.

since this is LG, it will most definitly be in verizons hands fast enough. with EVDO. looks like i may have to ebay the MOTO Q sooner than expected.

[MarkDutchy @ Jan 14th 2007 5:29AM]

My 2 and half year old SE P900 can play widescreen video smoothly, why show that for half the show?

I'm interested in how LG worked out the text input!

[Sam @ Jan 14th 2007 3:52PM]

I want to see how you input text on it. With multitouch, you can input text a lot quicker because the screen won't get confused with you pushing keys too quickly.

Scrolling can be done on a single touch screen without a scroll bar, I have programs on my Treo that scroll like that. However, you get a lot more options with multitouch for gestures - Apple already has the multitouch trackpad on their macbooks and it really is amazing and handy compared to the competition.

[jamma @ Jan 14th 2007 6:40AM]

This is exactly like the original Ipod vs. the Zen. They both have a very similar UI, but one runs on name alone, has a slightly different way of navigating, and costs twice the price. Like the Ipod, kids and celebrities who "have the iPhone" will be a lot cooler than the loser with the copycat phone.

I personally think that

[jamma @ Jan 14th 2007 6:41AM]

the iPhone will win, but it should, and i'll probably wait until Samsung,Nokia or Sony Ericsson bring a similar item out

[jamma @ Jan 14th 2007 6:42AM]

no wait i meant the iPhone should NOT take over the mobile phone market, but it probably will

[Karl @ Jan 14th 2007 8:56AM]

It's certainly a nice phone, but it seems a lot more fiddly than the iPhone. It has a scrollbar system, it's onscreen buttons look smaller, and the touchscreen doesn't seem to be overly responsive.

But as an alternative to an iPhone, it's very attractive. I'll have to try this out when it hits the shelves and see if my concerns are real or not.

Karl

[bruckwine @ Jan 14th 2007 9:28AM]

multi-touch is overrated esp on a phone! So it's easier to "pick up and slide" something on a screen the size of your palm than use a stylus or nav pad?! I doubt especially if you pick up the wrong icon and don't realise until you're through "multitouching it"..ntot o mention the lack of speed involved in doing the whole vulcan gesture esp as it lacks the tactile component! Try doing that 200 times a day just to surf a webpage (two handed at that)!

Touch screens are nice and all to look at, but if you make it a whole side of a phone then adding a slide-out qwerty makes much more sense...
Both the LG and iPhone (and any other device that ignores teh fact that fingers are hardwired for tactile use) looked destined for the small niche/big paycheck/fad market which is fine by me!

The dinosaurs were evolutionary too at one stage but we all know where they ended up without opposable digits! Beauty is skin deep...function is everything.

[Jason @ Jan 14th 2007 9:52AM]

Yeah the iPhone has a limited market in that it is only Cingular and it cost $600... its just like the PS3... who is going to run out and buy their kid a 600 cell phone AND extend their contract 2 years??? The lack of 3G is HUGE... people who are willing to spend that much money on a phone are going to want to do lots of cool data stuff on it and the fact that it outdated already doesn't make any sense.

Also HTC has MUCH better devices out there already... The lack of a real keyboard is HUGE... typing on a small screen with your fingers just doesn't work right... the SideKick is cooler than that phone just because it has a full keyboard... Also... lots of mobile people use their high end phones for business stuff... with no tie in to Exchange server like Windows Mobile has or Blackberry this is going to have problems competing in that market as well.

I'm interested to see what the next generation of Windows Mobile has to offer... if it is "vista"esc it has a good chance to pass right over the iPhone... Since WM is so open and there is already thousands of applications out there for it is is just so much more practical than the iPhone...

I'm sure the iPhone will be the most expensive, coolest looking, most feature lacking phone available.

[Thrillcekr @ Jan 14th 2007 10:08AM]

Bwaaahahaha! Man I can hear the screaming now! The fanboys will be in shock to find out that Snow Jobs spoon fed them a steaming pile of dookie with that whole "5 years ahead" bologna. By the time Apple rolls out the iPhone there will probably be 20 other phones out on the market it just like it.

[Chas @ Jan 14th 2007 10:17AM]

I don't like the UI.

[Jason @ Jan 14th 2007 2:02PM]

Why does every phone post turn into Apple fanboys saying how much better the iPhone is? Have you guys all tried out the iPhone and I just missed it at my local Cingular store for a test drive? Great you watched some slides and a brief video. You don't know how well it will work, how fast it will be and if it will be intuitive.

Why can't the fanboys just say "good work LG, looks nice but not for me". LG has done a nice job on this phone and it still has bit of time for refinement. You fanboys should welcome the competition rather than try and shoot it down, it brings out better products.

Finally, would someone please actually try and read the definition of Revolutionary? Some may consider the iPhone evolutionary but it is definitely not revolutionary. Being able to "flick" a page is hardly revolutionary. This bastardization of the English language has become so common that everyone thinks it is okay. This is the reason why according to the media we have "sports heroes". Unless a football team member runs into a burning building and saves people, they are not a hero.

[Xinyu @ Jan 14th 2007 11:04AM]

This LG phone is all looks no substance. Apple iPhone is so much better built and more powerful. Those of you who want to have the LG phone are fools no doubt.