LG Dare hands-on
By Paul Miller 
posted June 25th 2008 9:25AM
posted June 25th 2008 9:25AM
Unfortunately, where things start to fall apart is polish. The phone inexplicably carries two app menus, one a "shortcut menu" accessed by a button off to the side of the home screen, the other a full-fledged affair accessed by the primary soft button row... which is also on the home screen. We also had trouble with the QWERTY keypad despite the abundant horizontal real estate the Dare commits to it. We got better as we became accustomed to tapping with our fingernails (thumb presses don't work, it's not a capacitive touch screen). Other things like the inability to fling your way through menus and long web pages are minor niggles, but detract from the overall experience.
It's also quite clear that the Dare is a featurephone, not a smartphone, so if you were hoping to manage email effectively or keep up with your appointments, you're probably better off sticking with one of those Big Kids phones -- even if the Dare's messaging and contact integration is admirable. The browser is also a "full HTML" browser in the most minor of senses. Sure it understands HTML, but it won't be rendering web pages anything like they're supposed to look, other than specially formatted mobile sites -- which sort of defeats the purpose. At least the anti-aliased fonts are a step up from traditional Verizon fare.
In all we'd liken the phone to its incohesive and boring external design: all the right elements are there, but they might need some more time in the oven to really make sense.
Does OS superiority even matter? Ever?
Who cares about all the battles between who and what is better... I would rather have intellectual discussions about the subject at hand.
What you use and how you use it is your personal choice, and that should always be respected.
I have the Samsung Glyde currently, trying to get used to it, I have a month to decide to keep it or not.
The LG Dare is a possible upgrade, so we'll see. All the new phones seem to be lacking the most obvious things.
They need to take more time and give us one nice phone instead of a barrage of quick shinny ones.
In response to:
jefffaucher &
mphayvanh
The envelope and message that you see contain the partial lyrics to a song:
Life is So Cool-Sweetbox
I never really try to be positive
I’m too damn busy being negative
So focused on what I get
And never understand what it means to live
You know we all love to just complain
But maybe we should try to rearrange
There’s always someone
Who’s got it worse than you
(chorus)
My life is so cool
My life is so cool
Oh yeah
From a different point of view
(verse 2)
We’re all so busy tryin’to get ahead
Got a pillow of fear when we go to bed
We’re never satisfied
The grass is greener on the other side
We're so distracted with the jealousy
Forget it’s in our hands to stop the agony
Will you ever be content
On your side of the fence?
(verse 3)
Maybe you’re the guy who needs a second chance
Maybe you’re the girl who’s never asked to dance
Maybe you’re lonely soul
A single mother scared and all alone
Gotta remember we live what we choose
It’s not what you say It’s what you do
And the life you want
Is the life you have to make
Oh yeah, and I forgot to say that this is one of the most boring and ridiculous "hands-on" videos that I have ever seen. The person didn't even try to use their fingertip rather than fingernail (i've seen it done in other videos) and she didn't even show how to use the handwriting recognition feature correctly. See how she kept trying to make a capital 'B' but kept goofing it up? That was her fault, not the phone. Watch how she draws a straight line, then lifts her finger (causing it to process the input) and then she draws what looks like a 3. It would be a much better video if the person showing off the phone had some idea how to use electronic products.
You people are so stupid. Before bashing a phone, how about you try it hands-on first. YOU DON'T NEED FINGERNAILS!!!!!! It just so happens that the person handling the phone DID have fingernails, so she preferred to them rather than the tip of her finger.
I have handled this phone personally. I would just like to say that the touch-screen is VERY responsive (in some cases and unlike the glyde which had a horrible touch-screen) the camera is amazing for a phone, and the only downside to this phone was that I had a little trouble navigating through the menus although it was my first time using the phone. I think that could be remedied by exploring the phone and having more hands-on time with it. It is a great phone though and a worthy competitor for the iPhone.
I concur with N!KC. I was hours from buying a voyager, as I'm not a fan of Apple products (unlike you other psychos on either side of the fence, I don't try to impress my opinions on others) and currently have a contract with Verizon so had to look at their selection, and came to terms with what I did not like about the Voyager, but realized it had a lot of good qualities. The salesperson then mentioned I should wait 5 hours, and they would have their first Dare in, and I could play with it. It was impressive, without a doubt. I'm surprised with my fat fingers I have yet to have a glaring error with any of the touch functions, including the keyboard. I seem to have an issue with the e key, I always get w for some reason, but oddly enough that is the only key I have a personal issue with, and I cut my nails so short I couldn't nail tap if I wanted to, I fingerprint press every touch, and it works perfectly. All the functions of the phone are perfect, and personally I prefer a removeable battery as well as memory, not to mention the amazing camera. So those of you bad mouthing the phone, try it hands on. I'm not one to say "iPhone killer" but yes, definitely an iPhone competitor.
i just went and got this phone and let me tell you sumthin its a good phone responds quickly to the touch its way better then the voyager which i went thru two of them in one week def a go getta
I have had the dare since July 4th and I can say that is surely does have it's ups and downs. The handwrighting capabilities are not for beginners. You have to learn and adapt to it and not be a baby like the guy who reviewed this and automatically have it recognize por penmanship. Also the qwerty keyboard is fully manageable with your thumbs and I am no skinny guy at a 6' 2'' 240lbs stature. So I know that if I can manage with it that many can mange it. All it takes is time like any other phone. I compared it to the later version iphone and the iphone owner would unquestionably prefer the lg dare to his iphone. However dare also faults itself at not being able to access getitnow like other verizon phones. And for the record the applications that are accessable on the phone are all business oriented and not for fun. The media player is outstanding, the memory is expansive, the music qualities are much like an ipod and the phone overall takes some getting used to but is a pretty good phone.
The LG Dare is so much better then the iphone 3g, its the only phone out there with rev A capabilities and verizonwirelesses network is unbeatable by any other carrier. and at&ts 3g network is 80% smaller then verizons. Any one who thinks other wise doesn't know the difference between CDMA and GSM// CDMA = 7 times faster and the dare is just a bad ass phone
i have had this phone for a week and once you set the setting like u want it is by far the hottest phone i have ever owned. the touchscreen is alittle different from the iphone because its not the iphone. you have to touch hold then move up and down or side to side. once u get used to it i fly thru stuff. and the keyborad is great once u calibrate it. trust me if vz advertised this like the Instince people would be on it quickly
Definitely better than LG Voyager when it comes to the Touch Screen features, but it's missing the hardware QWERTY keyboard. Let's discuss more at http://www.LG-Dare.com I feel this phone will not beat the iPhone, but you do get the better verizon service.
Apparently the writer didn't really try the LG Dare or they surely wouldn't have made such obvious mistakes. First, regarding the two menus, one is the place where you can drag (using your finger) icons onto the main display to create a "desktop" that looks the way you want. You aren't forced to have a box style layout ala iPhone. This way, only those features you use most are displayed yet the others are a finger swipe away. Yes boys and girls, you can navigate and move through web pages swiping your finger, just like the iPhone. How the author didn't figure this out is amazing. The, unlike the iPhone, you can use a stylus if you want. With a screen protector you can use a ball point pen, pencil or a chpstick if you feel like it. With the handwriting recognition, you can write ten times faster than you can finger peck on any iPhone.
While the iPhone is a nice phone, it does nothing really great that the Dare can't do. The Dare has a camera that puts the one of the iPhone to shame. The Dare is also smaller so if you don't need a brick in your pocket, the Dare works better.
Now the apple fans will always hate anything other than what apple makes, that is expected. Notice how they have to comment on everything instead of just being happy with their choices? Who are they trying to convince?
Web pages look exactly like they should and the user can even make quite a few adjustments to change how they are displayed. Did the writer even bother to look? Maybe it is because the iPhone can't be customized, you take what Apple says you get.
Sending text messages on the Dare is so easy, why can't the iPhone do it that well?
With VZ Navigator, you can create a route and then send it to someone else. Another something the iPhone simply can't do.
Not everyone wants an iPhone. It used to be that Apple was the choice if you wanted to be a bit different. Now it is Apple fans who are the norm and everyone else is unique. Strange how the iPhone makes some people what they didn't like most about everyone else.
After reading this, I was confused. I went to the store to play with it a bit. This article says the keyboard doesn't work with thumb taps. It worked just fine. The iPhone does not have voice dialing capabilities not is it picture messaging capable. It is very limited compared to this phone. Further, Verizon passed on the iphone to begin with. and it proved to be a good move with all the problems they have had.
I find it odd that this article is very slanted away from Verizon. most articles I read on this site about Verizon products talk about how poor they are. It makes me wonder...is there a particular reason? Do they have special interests? I mean a company who is consistently rated #1 overall cannot have such bad products.
Cracks me up how the majority make decisions from a biased review. I have this phone and like it. If you don't then by all means use something else. Something that just tickles me purple is how people buy a phone, that's right, just a phone. I didn't buy just the LG Dare, I bought service from a carrier. Verizon has an excellent network. Don't believe me? Just look at most of their phone reviews, Excellent Call Quality, Lightning fast data rates, and the best CS in the cell industry. If you ever get tired of dropping calls on some of those other over rated phones and networks, give VZW a chance. I'd much rather have a LG Dare WORK when stranded then a iPhone consistently refusing to dial out (don't that cool x-ray program would do ya much good).
I know you can't add street addresses to the address book but anyone knows if you can order the notepads in alphabetical order? I wouldn't mind doing that if I get to have this phone. I really need customers' street addresses on my phone.
Hey,
I am thinking about getting this phone but I am an avid texter and was wondering how many messages the inbox holds.
Great phone! Just got it last night. touch is very responsive and texting is easier. Best LG phone I have ever owned.
wait, doesn't every phone have bugs? and this phone seems really cool. for a young teenager's point of view, i would love to be able to get this phone. the young audience for this type of phone isn't looking for a smart phone with all that 'boring' stuff on it. were looking for all the cool and hip stuff. like the hand writing tool or the picture editing tools. this phone is more entertainment than buisness and that's exactly what my age group is looking for.
please remember that when you are typing these things, be more classy and leave out the obscene words because adults arent the only ones reading these things. Thanks!
Battery Life is great I usually go 2-3 days before charging again but I usually let the battery go down to a bar before I charge. This phone is an excellent phone besides some of the glitches it gives me like restarting while texting or on the browser but I have found fixes for this on http://LG-Dare.com that showed that I can just reset the phone back to normal and it should fix it but sometimes I still get restarts. Other than that this phone is amazing and really have no complaints except the restarts I get.
how i can use the songs in my music at the l G dare phone as a ringtone?????