Verizon isn't kidding around this fall, with four new fashionable phones, a couple of which might divert a few iPhone dollars from archrival AT&T. It's those exact four that Engadget Mobile
got the scoop on last weekend, the Juke, Pearl, Venus and Voyager. A few of the details have changed, but the basic gist is the same. The Samsung Juke is the first "flick" phone to hit the States, and arrives with 2GB of built-in storage, A2DP (which shows up in all these phones) and a VGA camera, and comes in blue, red or teal. Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl is the first Pearl to get EV-DO and a 3.5mm minijack, and also adds Verizon's VZ Navigator service, which is standard across these phones. The Venus slider sports an interesting dual screen setup, with the bottom providing contextual touch controls and the top one acting like all normal-like. Venus, with black or pink color options, is the real fashionphone of the group, and rocks a boring 2 megapixel sensor, but there's a microSD slot for up to 8GB of expansion. Finally, the Voyager (pictured) does it all, with a full screen touchscreen on the outside, and a second screen on the clamshell interior, facing a gargantuan QWERTY keyboard.
V CAST Mobile TV makes an appearance, as does a microSD slot and 2 megapixel camera. All of these phones are supposed to be out by Thanksgiving, but no word on price or exact dates -- though the Juke and Pearl are hitting first, to be followed by the Venus and then the Voyager.
posted October 3rd 2007 3:01AM
Your buddy over at BGR has the release dates for all the phones
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/10/03/samsung-juke-lg-venus-blackberry-pearl-8130-lg-voyager-launch-dates/
10/19
11/4
11/9
11/18
It seems like there are going to be pre-orders for them too.
This is ridiculous ... another lame rip off of the iPhone.
Is this came from China, you'd be making fun of it in the title already.
I really hate this uncreativity. And look how poorly it's done.
Pfff ...
"Is this came from china"... you mean like most of apples products?
anyway... so a full touch screen makes it an iphone ripoff? So I guess that makes tablet PCs iphone ripoffs too?
hrm... uncreativity? you mean an autofocus camera, changeable battery, speakers (stereo.. that are actually GOOD speakers), being able to expand the memory (8 gigs per card max? LOL not being stuck with 8gigs FIXED memory is awesome)... c'mon, please try to hide your shiny, white, apple-fan-boyism.
It's not always about the specs, and in this case, it's seems from the review that the interface doesn't come close to the iPhone's, but thanks for showing YOUR anti-Apple-ness....
The UI reminds me of the Treo 680.
Which came out before the Iphone was even announced.
Plus touchscreen phones exists before Apple, even those by LG.
@prokana
More hardware doesn't make a device better.
A you really that easy sold?
And the interface on the touch screen just looks like a stupid rip off of the iPhone interface. Look at the bottom buttons.
I know that touch screens existed before Apple, ok?
But this is just ridicolous.
A post about a phone that isn't the iPhone? OMG LETS SAY IT COPIES THE IPHONE!!!
About the only thing that resembles the iPhone about this phones the use of icons (which TONS of phones use) and the dark gradient behind the bottom bar.
I own an iPhone and a Mac, but these guys are just rabid fanboys... Come on, people!
Oh, no ... there goes the fanboy dropping again ... look ... I don't even have an iPhone.
But I'm somehow into the design profession ... and it really makes me crazy to see those uninspired, same stuff again, in a style copied from another success story.
Same old cr** ... new case ... kings new clothes.
Here, I did a mock up ... just because this makes me mad:
http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ripoffmb0.jpg
The interfaces look NOTHING alike! Your mock-up proves NOTHING.
nfoo, have you never seen a Palm device?
Apple didn't invent the icons on a screen interface.
Look ... it doesn't matter ... this thing is just jump on the train.
Nothing else, nothing special.
Is there anything special about it?
And no hardware specs prayers, please ... because a gaziliion other phones offer the same.
@nfoo:
I agree. I think it's boring that Apple can't come up with anything original. Sony makes a nice keyboard, Oooh, look a nice keyboard says apple, let's copy it! And then they ripoff the Neonode touchscreen phone, even though it took them a few year to steal the idea. And then finally the steal the whole iPhone design from the LG Prada. Zzzzz, come on Apple...
Argot:
you're being really ridiculous now.
Why don't you drop the fanboy bomb on me, again?
Come on ... come on ... do it ... it's so fun ...
Look ... even the Navigator Icon on the LG looks like the Safari Icon ... crossed with the dashboard icon ...
Icons have the same colors.
The My Pictures icon is almost exactly the same as on the iPhone.
It's not only a layout rip-off ... they also did the most stupid thing and stole icons ...
Instead of defending uninspired Devices from the assembly-line of uncreativity, you should boycott those pices of plastic, that have nothing but randomness about them ...
I for one can't stand the news about poorly designed stuff anymore, which get featured just because you call 'em all gadgets.
It's just another phone that's only so-so. I don't understand why you have to fight for it so much?
I'm truly no fanboy ... but some guys here seem to be acting out of stupid anti-Apple-ism ... just comparing it to the iPhone made you jump out ... hm?
Man ...
@TMM. But you sound EXACTLY like an Apple Fanboi. "Oooh, look a few icons on this phone reminds me of the ones on the iPhone, what a total rippoff!".
Would you agree that the iPhone design is a rippoff of the LG Prada? I bet you won't.
So it has icons...just like the iPhone..
AND
ALL Sony Ericsson phones..
Windows 95-Vista..
Palm OS..
What else?
Bull...
LG Prada rip-off ... oh, man ... is there really nothing else you could come up with.
Why do I sound like an Apple fanboy?
Because I think this lame phone is nothing special, has no real concept and is sold through tech specs only?
Maybe you sound like a: everything but Apple fanboy - or Apple hater.
But maybe you're just a nerd, with no idea of design and in the Too fast, too furios target group.
TMM:
the thing that everyone is saying is that because you only compare/criticize a new device to Apple iPhone - not to Windows Vista/XP/98/95, not to the PALM OS, not to any other device that have implemented icons as menu items.
Granted, there are similarities, but, consider something for me:
- How would you depict a navigational applet?
- how would you depict a browser/internet surfing applet?
- .... depict an email applet?
I could go on and on...and I would bet that you have the same idea as 100 other people I would also ask. Does that mean you copied from all those other 100 or that they copied from you?? NO...it's called standardization or uniform depictions. Humans think alike, so, why not associate items similar without having to be called "uncreative" or even boring, etc...
And, guess what... your toaster looks like every other toaster on the market. Did they copy? They do the same thing!!! Who cares?? If it sells, more power to them!
At least somebody that tries to argue ... thank you:
But humans think alike? When exactly did any of the cell phone companies excell in understanding how humans work: mostly all interface are stone age and terrible to use.
And what I also don't get: Why are you all fighting so hard over this?
It is clear that they try to jump on the iPhone band wagon. Period.
Get over it.
Just another phone with nothing special about it.
@ nfoo
Cry me a river. Stop with the "But I'm somehow into the design profession" bullshit. If you are in the profession, you should know better that most designers copy one another and change things here and there.
Oi nfoo, the mock up you posted proved nothing. In fact I can easily create a mock up of the Iphone's UI next to a ten year old Palms and five year old Clie devices that sports the same icon based UI.
JON:
Bullshit.
Everything is there ... even the row at the bottom with FOUR function.
You don't see it because you don't wanna.
Do I have to draw you a map?
Every apple fanbody calls every full faced touch phone an iphone rip off, and every UI an iphone rip off. it is BS that you call those icons ripped from the iphone, cuz i could have sworn i have seen them on every other UI ive ever seen. Also, those buttons at the bottom arent new to the iphone. Ive had buttons at the bottom of every phone ive ever owned, just because they picked 4 buttons doesnt mean they ripped it. You sicken me for calling this a rip off.
TMM your short sighted Apple fanboyism is getting to you isn't it?
That UI where the row of buttons down below has been done before! Maybe not four icons (Treo 680p had five, Clie TH55 had 12), but it has been done. So quit yapping like the ignorant idiot fanboy you are.
http://www.palminfocenter.com/ss.asp?f=treo-680-ub-3-L.jpg
Let's hope they DO copy Apple, but not for the iPhone designs. I sware to God, I'm DONE with walking into a damn phone store and not being able to properly try out a damn phone. It's LAME. They let you SEE it, but... oops... the display is a cardboard insert. Or, here it is... oops, it has not power, but here's a brochure. They need to cut that crap out and let people properly evaluate these things in the store. Meanwhile, Apple's putting out demo videos, and saying, "come down and use one". Hint, hint.
It's like everyone is afraid of the iPhone. One person says something positive about it, and it's up to a million anti-apple anti-fanboy people to prove them wrong. Really, if there was something good about the iPhone would the world crumble? Would the sky fall? If I only read engadget comments I would thing satan gave birth to the iPhone. It's a little creepy how adamant some people get.
First and foremost, the LG Voyager is going to be a GRAND addition to the VZW family. I simply want to say this, the LG Voyager is the cross that crucified Self proclaimed (Jesus phone) aka Apple iPhone. I would personally consider the iPhone the Judas of all phones. The reasoning behind the logic; first the LG Voyager will be the 3rd generation technology from the original LG VX98000 (The V). Also LG already had the touch-screen technology embedded and invested in the LG PRADA, making this there 1st generation on the touch-screen. Then the LG Voyager VX10K will simply use 2nd generation touch-screen and 3rd generation design to its advantage, to kill the iPhone. Second, VZW turn down the Apple’s iPhone because Apple just wanted the tower use and glory. This would have made VZW the middle-man between the customer and service provider relationship. Now to add Cingular was going bankrupt and AT&T stocks were low. Apple takes advantage of two poor merging companies trying to keep the phones ringing in the dark. Lastly, LG learned from Apple’s mistakes and decided to make a phone that people would want and use without the bugs, then topping it with VZW’s slogan to Apple and the world. “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? GOOD! WE PRESENT TO YOU THE LG VOYAGER! “CAPTAIN OF THE LG VOYAGER”
Hey ... on Daring fireball it says: rip-off.
Well, he must be an idiot, too, right?
http://daringfireball.net/
THATS HUGE!
*rushes to store for pants with long pockets*
I wouldn't go as far as to call it a rip off of the iPhone...but look at their calendar app's icon. It's nearly identical to the iCal icon, which displays July 17 (Verizon's shows July 19).
Personally, it looks far to clunky for me and I'm scared off by Verizon's UI.
The Voyager one hot little number. I wouldn't buy it (allergic to CDMA) but I will definitely enjoy selling it.
V, enV, Voyager....
is*
@palooz ... are YOU KIDDING ME?
You just have to say NO ... no matther what?
Why? Because it's about Apple?
@palooz ... are YOU KIDDING ME?
You just have to say NO ... no matther what?
Why? Because it's about Apple?
I'm from the UK and I am very excited about picking up an iPhone, however, the only similarity I can see with this mobile phone and the iPhone is the bar at the bottom. Apart from that, it's just another touch-screen device.
OMG, the phone looks so freakin' sweet!
Mobile TV - Check
Being able to create your own ringtones with a program like BitPim - Check
Putting photos back and forward easily - Check
Games that do not require jailbreaking and warranty-voiding - Check
SMS - Check
Send Photos to anybody(number, email address, etc.) - Check
Idk, iphone clone or not, this seems like a pretty sweet phone!
Funny, all the things you mentioned are what Verizon usually disables on their phones (BREW, OBEX, data cables...)
@suntiger
By his post, I have to assume he's never used Verizon or known anyone who has. Verizon disables EVERYTHING. My gf's razr can't even download pictures to the a computer. My 4 year old V300 can do that with a $3 cable I bought on ebay.
Glad to see some fresh competition for the iPhone. This will force Apple to keep on top of the updates and add features to their product.
No it won't.
Definitely an iPhone challenger. It is just freakin histerical to hear Apple fanatics say this is an iPhone rip off. Ugh HELLO, this phone was prob in development since last year i.e. WAY before the iPhone was even being released. Anyway, be interested in seeing how this thing feels, works, etc considering "some" of the specifics/features outshine the iPhone such as EVDO, Verizon's network, stereo bluetooth, mobile TV, voice command, etc. And prob not has expensive either ;)
Go play with it before you knock it completely. Hell I will...
I agree. This looks like a very competitive phone as long as they hit the right price point. Oh, and they better have slipped up and neglected to mention that it has wifi...otherwise I certainly won't be buying this. For a phone of this caliber (and price) it better damn well have wifi.
What happened to the Treo 755p on Verizon?????
Oh, this is a bad idea! In not so distant future LG's V'ger will come back to haunt us, looking for its creator!
Are you guys kidding me?
How many different ways are there to make a calendar icon? They -all- look almost exactly the same, on every phone, ever. Same thing with "my pictures" and so on. The rampant Apple fanboy-ism kills me here.
No WiFI.... so much for not doing everything the iPhone does. Im a buyer when they do WiFi not until.
I never understood the whole, "Oh, its just a rip-off of [product x]!" mentality. In the technology world, rarely does the first of anything new turn out to be the best. Although, to be honest, the Iphone ISN'T anything new. Little, if any of its technology is new, its just another smartphone in a more attractive package. Maybe the Iphone is the rip-off?
Apple fans will always claim their product is the best and rarely have any complaints. Apple haters will always find the faults and brag about how something else is much better.
My opinion, Apple has usually made sleek, attractive products, but I despise some of their "design" decisions, such as no user changeable/upgradeable batteries. They seem to be more concerned about the "cool" factor and less about the end users actual product useability. My last two phones were both LG's and they work wonderfully, so hopefully, LG did as well with the Voyager.
I'll wait for a side by side review of Iphone vs Voyager after the Voyager has been on the market at least 6 months before I make any decisions.
thank you steve..
Sue 'em Apple.
Am I missing something? Where's the new Windows Mobile phone??? AAHHHHH!!! I've been waiting for an update to the freaking 6700 for months!
Ermmm... can this be unlocked to be used on, o I don't know, some other CDMA network besides Verizon? It does say "exclusively thru Verizon". Let's see how strict they are about unlocking this vs. Apple/AT&T are on the iPhone. There'll probably be no media backlash on Verizon for cracking down on that either.