How would you change LG's Vu?

With all this hubbub floating around about the elusive 3G iPhone, let us not forget about the latest touchscreen smartphone to land at AT&T: LG's Vu. After getting official earlier this month, we were able to sit down with the Mobile TV-supporting handset and form a few opinions of our own. Here, however, we're interested in your take -- do you feel the $549.99 (or $299.99 on contract) price tag is reasonable for what you get? Are you pleased with the hardware / software? Are you feeling buyer's remorse like never before? Go on and spill it, we're all friends here.

[dimsum05 @ May 30th 2008 6:35PM]

Capacitive Screen!

The more finger-friendly, the better!

[loosely_coupled @ May 31st 2008 3:32AM]

Yes, that's a great feature. I love that part of the iPhone and think every good touchscreen phone should be capacitive. It's sad most people don't know the difference -- I certainly didn't until I tried an iPhone. I was amazed how didn't have to use ANY pressure at all and how smooth it was. I'm sure the Vu is just as good.

What to change? The primary reason why the new iPhone will kick so much ass is the software. All these other companies are finally putting together decent hardware, but as long as they use some proprietary bullshit or Windows mobile, they don't have a prayer.

They need to hurry up and get Android rolling!

[James @ May 31st 2008 11:49PM]

Put an Apple logo on it.
It'll be REVOLUTIONARY! :D

[J0hns0n @ May 30th 2008 6:39PM]

tactile keyboard

i cant stand the iphone-like touch screen keyboard i like the samsung glyde or htc wizard keyboards

[McCulligan @ May 31st 2008 12:51PM]

It is still difficult to text on even though it vibrates to let you know you have touched a key.

[MacVicta @ May 30th 2008 6:40PM]

I'd start with the revolutionary OS X interface and a Multi-Touch™ screen.

[techk8 @ May 30th 2008 6:47PM]

See, this is the reason why a lot of people think Apple fanboys are stupid.

[Mark Anderson @ May 30th 2008 7:21PM]

Well, in fairness, they are.

[BigDaddyM @ May 30th 2008 7:26PM]

Now that was really funny!
M

[Laron @ May 30th 2008 7:30PM]

@techk8

Dude, I think he was being sarcastic...
If you read it that way, he's actually making fun of Apple (or Steve Jobs).

[Quikboy @ May 30th 2008 8:07PM]

Hmm. I wasn't aware that the term "multi-touch" was trademarked. Oh wait. It's NOT!

[Andrew @ May 30th 2008 11:54PM]

Quickboy, not so quick, next time jump. that went right over your head haha

I believe that was part of the joke...

[Smileypanda @ May 30th 2008 6:43PM]

In b4 make it an...oh wait...

[Peter @ May 30th 2008 6:44PM]

For me, I'd rather have more smartphone-like abilities, like full imap email and the like.

[HB @ May 30th 2008 6:46PM]

First I would make it not suck, then I would add an apple logo to it.

[El Taco @ May 30th 2008 11:51PM]

you wouldn't have to do anything for it to not suck. Just add an apple logo and poof! It's awesome and hip and sexy and everyone needs to have it. It could even still have Windows Mobile (which would actually never happen on an apple phone) and everyone would still love it.

Who would guess 50 years ago that a fruit would become the secret to a 5-star rating?

[Eddie Mendoza @ May 31st 2008 7:26PM]

forrest gump would have guessed

[manny @ May 30th 2008 6:47PM]

Not worth changing.. Its an LG...

[Golferal @ May 30th 2008 6:53PM]

Seconded.

That plus it's on AT&T so it's even less relevant to me...

[retro77 @ May 30th 2008 6:54PM]

Too bad we can't verify that people are an owner of the phone before posting their fan-boy-ish crap.

I don;t own one so I can't comment on what I haven't personally used.

[Big John @ May 30th 2008 11:42PM]

That's nice and smug of you, but it's not exactly hard to look at a spec sheet and go "well, I would like X instead of Y".

[Seth A @ May 30th 2008 6:55PM]

I am a hardcore Apple, I guess you would say Fanboy. I love Apple and love my iPhone, but I gotta say. The Vu is pretty attractive, I am hoping Apple uses this 3G chance to take a stab at the Vu, but who knows. Unless the 3G iPhone completely blows, I doubt I would ever get the Vu. But as an Apple fanboy, Two thumbs up to LG, and I mean it. I haven't had a chance to play with it, but from what I hear I am impressed. Its nice to see some reputable competition.

[Eli @ May 30th 2008 6:57PM]

"I am a hardcore Apple"

I see what you did there.

[retro77 @ May 30th 2008 7:10PM]

Wow, I can't believe I am +1'ing an Apple fanboy...not the typical fanboy, good job.

[james @ May 30th 2008 7:17PM]

@retro77
me too

[Noah Kravitz @ May 30th 2008 7:38PM]

I own an iPhone and review phones for (part of) my living. Vu's really nice. Not as nice as iPhone, but honestly really pretty nice. I'd never actually pay for the mobile TV service, but it works well (if a little pixelated sometimes). As far as sleek, all-touch, not-an-i-phones go, Vu's right up there with the best of 'em, I think. One thing LG does well, IMO, is make clear, easy to use, attractive phone UIs. Vu's pretty straightforward in that regard, and in a good way.

[Noah Kravitz @ May 30th 2008 7:39PM]

Oh, duh, sorry ... some vids of Vu in action if you care:

http://www.phonedog.com/cell-phone-research/lg-vu-cu920.aspx

[emanuelle @ May 30th 2008 6:59PM]

I would make it os x, make it multi touch, and have the ability to sync with iTunes.
Come on guys really, I'm an apple fanboy and all but it comes a time where its need to rest.
But in my opinion..... it would have an os maybe win-pro or Symbian I'm tired of these none os basic touch screen phones.

BTW now i used punctuation marks so i wont get flamed..... I thought the internet is where i could speak freely and not be judged.... ahem lol

[Seth A @ May 30th 2008 7:15PM]

Ahh, so this is what gave "Apple Fanboy" a bad name. You know, I have used a Mac and only a Mac since the day I was born, back in the 90's Apple Fanboys weren't pompous jerks, they had reputable arguments and held on to a company that I can agree was in the shitter. Now that Apple has made a name for itself suddenly anybody with an iPod is an Apple fanboy and they throw out stupid arguments bordering that every phone in the world should run OS X. Quite honestly, I love competition. The iPhone pushed companies to think differently about phones, which is why we got the Vu. Not everybody wants a phone with OS X, thats fine with me. Matter of fact, I miss the days when I was the only person in the Coffee shop with a Mac. Is the iPhone an amazing phone? Yes, I love mine to death. Is it for everybody? Not a chance. The world would kinda suck if everybody's phone had an Apple on it, would it not? Quit giving the true Apple Fanboys a bad name and either give a reputable argument why you don't like the Vu, or shut up, for all of our sakes.

[nate @ May 30th 2008 7:24PM]

It's not the lack of punctuation that draws the flame, it's the lack of intelligence in the post.

[ryan @ May 30th 2008 8:36PM]

dammit, Seth, this is the internet! get out of here with your "perspective" and "acceptance"! APPLE FTW!

[/sarcasm]

[El Taco @ May 30th 2008 9:02PM]

he didn't really mean all of that, it is just kind of tradition that whenever there is a 'how would you change' article, someone decides it would be better as an apple product. Please tell me you've seen these?

[Colin Potter @ May 30th 2008 10:47PM]

I have to agree on the syncing with iTunes point, because I have music all over my computer so to drag and drop it all would take ages... atleast with iTunes its all in one place... or dont just limit it to iTunes, make it able to sync with any media player

[tnkgrl @ May 30th 2008 11:47PM]

@Seth, The LG Vu is a variation on the LG Prada, which was released before the iPhone was announced... Shocking, I know!

[techk8 @ May 31st 2008 12:12AM]

@Seth A
I love you.

[Ace b @ May 31st 2008 1:57AM]

Seth,man,where have you been for the last elleventy billion Apple related post?!?!

You actually make fanboys not look or sound stupid.

Praise the Seth.

[Prokanda @ May 31st 2008 2:36AM]

/friend Seth

maybe you should become their leader.... and help the rest of them become objective and help them think about things before their itchy-fanboy-fingers go crazy.

kudos.

[naz @ May 30th 2008 7:06PM]

bigger screen?

[David @ May 30th 2008 7:08PM]

Up the storage capacity, internal or SDHC, and have it support a ton of audio and video codecs. Have the browser support flash, streaming video.

[William Hartmann @ May 30th 2008 9:28PM]

Why not throw on the K-Lite Codec Pack. Next thing u know, AT&T could be selling mobile DVDs for their cell phones.

[lippersm @ May 31st 2008 3:42PM]

thank you so much for actually responding like engadget intended. the iphone made its mark, and it's up to everyone else to find a niche/beat it. 3g is attractive, but imap email and flash browsing is practical. i hope android turns out to be worth its hype since it will alow for massive amounts of customization. but for a phone by itself, the vu is impressive in its size, but not quite a good balance between fun and business. a guy at the att store tried to convince me that it was the best phone they have. im sure i would get it if i didnt have to turn over my first born and my right leg just to be able to afford it.

[David @ May 31st 2008 12:12PM]

Oh yeah, add stereo bluetooth and Wifi.
Come to think of it, it looks like they just took last years Prada Phone and called it a Vu. It had so much potential, but the tech is all at least a generation old. Boo LG

[james @ May 30th 2008 7:14PM]

@techk8
Way to go!
someone actually has a brain here!!

There are better smartphones out there than the iphone

COUGHhtc touchCOUGH
COUGHany android phoneCOUGH
COUGHblackberry 9000COUGH

[aaron @ May 30th 2008 7:17PM]

You okay?

[james @ May 30th 2008 7:19PM]

yeah, i have a cough sorry
lol

[Unknown @ May 30th 2008 8:10PM]

@james:
"There are better smartphones out there than the iphone
COUGHany android phoneCOUGH"

Really? Where can I buy said Android phone? Oh, right, there isn't an Android phone out there.

Sure the Android prototype looks good, but if you want to buy something *today*, there's nothing better for web browsing than the iPhone, IMO.

[james @ May 30th 2008 11:18PM]

@unknown
you have a point...
damn.

[james @ May 30th 2008 7:15PM]

add iphone seeking missiles

[iEye @ May 30th 2008 7:16PM]

Even the box it comes in pales in comparison to the iPhone... forget about the junk packed inside the box...

...and LG is garbage when it comes to handsets... Chocolate anyone?

[kevin @ May 30th 2008 7:23PM]

"..and LG is garbage when it comes to handsets... Chocolate anyone?"

true, i thought the chocolate sucked, but they made up for it with the chocolate 2. not to mention i have an enV, which i love, and im gonna pass up on the voyager because im spoiled and im used to multi touch. =/