Video: LG Watch Phone hands-on

So we dropped by LG's booth here in the South Hall at CES and weren't really surprised to see a whole bunch of watch phones in a case that looked like it was just moved out of Jacob & Co. There was a surplus of models dolled up behind glass, but only two out on the floor. LG was being super secretive about the transitions between the various screens, but we did our best to sneak peeks through the fingers on our not-so-generous demonstrator's hand. What we did see looked pretty polished though (which you should know by now) and the transitions looked like browsing music on the iPhone. We were able to find out that the screen is not an OLED. LG went with a TFT with capacitive touch but we were told that it would work through a golf glove -- though we're not exactly sure about this. Be sure to check out the gallery for even more glamor shots and check after the break for video of the device (or the parts that LG would let us see) and prepare to be amazed. Ooh, shiny.

Gallery: Video: LG Watch Phone hands-on

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[eggothewaffle @ Jan 8th 2009 3:31PM]

Nothing says sexy CES time like a hairy wrist.

Oh. baby.

[inteller @ Jan 8th 2009 3:45PM]

what I want to know is how BIG that wrist is. These types of devices have a tendency to be ginormous, and they look stupidly huge on the average geek's wrist.

[superfresh @ Jan 8th 2009 3:54PM]

What I want to know is why it's the right wrist? And that's coming from a lefty.

[superfresh @ Jan 8th 2009 3:57PM]

Oh, and FAIL. MSN Watch FTW.

[Dave @ Jan 8th 2009 3:59PM]

It doesn't look too big to me. I don't have skinny fingers, and by the video neither does the demo guy, and when he's typing numbers it looks as though his finger covers about half the face, horizontally. I'm wearing a Timex Expedition that's about the same width.

[MyHeadisFed @ Jan 8th 2009 4:16PM]

@superfresh. I was unaware that the MSN watch could make phone calls or play music...or do anything useful...or continue to exist =P MSN Direct FTL.

[superfresh @ Jan 8th 2009 4:41PM]

@MyHeadisFed: I was unaware that sarcasm was so easy to miss.

[Bryant @ Jan 15th 2009 10:36PM]

@superfresh, the connotations behind most written comments on the internet are not received as intended by the intended party (or by most parties, for that matter).

Thus, unless the sarcasm is blatantly obvious and/or stupid, most people wouldn't get it without a /s tag. In your case, your sarcasm was neither blatantly obvious nor stupid, and you forgot an /s tag... hence the low rank.

[Nathan Paul Prince @ Jan 20th 2009 5:50PM]

15 years ago, I submitted a copy of a design I'd been working on, to the Sony Canada Corporation. This watch is just a small part of a unit that strap onto your arm, carries your MP3 files and other documents (portable data bank), touch screen like any other pod device, and hosts a bunch of other groovy information and latches onto peripherals and households... and 15 years after, this is all a company like LG can come up with? People should email me asking me for these ideas... There is way much more out there that can be done than a watch with a little "slide to next screen" button...

[bajanboss @ Jan 8th 2009 3:31PM]

he didnt want ANYONe to see those transitions. either that or thas how u change it.

[STINK @ Jan 8th 2009 3:33PM]

I must admit, I'm dorky enough to wear this.

[Chris R @ Jan 8th 2009 3:37PM]

Was thinking the same. Hope the watch face is skinnable too, looks very much like the Viewty / Prada interface which could be good as there is quite a bit of work done on that platform with flash

[STINK @ Jan 8th 2009 3:42PM]

I can see buying skins from watch companies, so you can get as snooty-patootie with your Dick Tracy watch as you like. That or turn it into a TokyoFlash blinkfest.

[reisa @ Jan 8th 2009 4:59PM]

You and me both, brother! I will sell a body part to get this if I have to. Just not my left hand, because the watch would keep falling off, and that would suck.

[Blastar @ Jan 8th 2009 5:02PM]

Especially if you are a big fan of Knight Rider...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E83ee3SVMuY

[Lars @ Jan 12th 2009 7:23PM]

Same here, except I'm thinking "I wonder if there's a bracer-style model?" Oh and its gotta have push to talk.

I'd also settle for a Star Trek communicator phone.

[Ridgecity @ Jan 28th 2009 3:12AM]

@Blastar

Except instead of calling KITT you call you mom to pick you up.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 8th 2009 3:37PM]

Thank You for the video. I will be getting one of these to go with my already obsolete video watch.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 8th 2009 3:40PM]

Oh and Nice PSP esque WAVE in the screen. Sweet Sony must love you today!

[Derallde @ Jan 8th 2009 3:37PM]

Its a really great concept, if it has bluetooth Then it will be a great phone to have, and great hands free solution.

[gweedo @ Jan 8th 2009 5:05PM]

Ahh, but is it really hands free?

[absinthe party @ Jan 8th 2009 3:38PM]

I'm waiting for the Swarovski-encrusted versions before I make any serious decisions.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 8th 2009 3:40PM]

"wearable mobile communicator"...will have capability of asking the starship enterprise for a beam up.

[epignosis @ Jan 8th 2009 5:06PM]

Urgent correction for the title: Video: LG Watch Phone on-hands

[Berka @ Jan 8th 2009 3:44PM]

sexy

[Ridgecity @ Jan 28th 2009 3:15AM]

Unless you are wiping your ass while receiving a video call. Although some people like that, not that there's anything wrong with it...

[Ryan @ Jan 8th 2009 3:48PM]

It's got a messaging button? I want to see someone typing out a text on this thing, haha.

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:48PM]

Wrist cancer?

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:51PM]

Hey, this think looks like it's lacking a camera. That seems like something that would be just as cool on a watch. All the other watch phones have a cam. What gives?

[Wolfticket @ Jan 8th 2009 4:47PM]

Is that because it looks like you wrist has an asshole?

[Squiggle @ Jan 9th 2009 7:39AM]

All the other watch phones I've seen have cameras, and they just add to the bulk. Nobody wants bulk on a watch phone.
Would be difficult to take point-and-click photography using something attached to your wrist, so a camera on this thing would only be good for video calling. Whilst this is kinda cool, nobody would ever use it (also you'd only give the other person a good view of what's up your nostrils).

I'd love for them to make this thing simple and small. I'm totally buying one...

[000000 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:01PM]

For lack of a better word you people are ignorant. There are many watch phones out there and almost all of them have a cam and it adds no size. Barely a little nub on the front and some have a pinhole cam. If you're going to cram all sorts of stuff into a watch you might as well do it right and don't half a$$ it. So if I could get a cam in there and not add any size whatsoever would you still not want it then?

Sheesh if everyone had your mentality who knows how un-advanced society would be.

[go seki @ Jan 8th 2009 3:51PM]

I'm sorry I don't know anyone under 50 who wears a watch .. Thats unlikely to change .. maybe a bluetooth connex to your phone but as a complete device = FAIL

[CraigJ @ Jan 8th 2009 4:04PM]

Someone call Tag, Rolex, etc and tell them to stop marketing to men in their 30s because go seki says none of them wear watches,,,

[Freestyle Farfetchd @ Jan 8th 2009 4:10PM]

I really don't understand this idea that some people here seem to have about nobody wearing watches - was it you who said this last time? Almost everyone I know has a watch, and I'm at Public (High) School. Almost every pupil wears a watch including myself. If I were go out into the street and look at some random wrists, I'd see a lot of watches on people young and old. I see plenty of people in H.S. Samuel's buying watches whenever I go into town. Looking at your mobile for the time is a step back to the day of pocket watches, and a pain in the arse. Not everyone's enitrely dependant on their mobiles, you know.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 8th 2009 4:13PM]

Wearing a watch especially a stylish one is a symbol of class and dignity, neither of which you apparently have.

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:43PM]

I can agree that if you ALWAYS carry a cellphone you may not need a watch. However a watch, for me, is the only "jewelry" I'll wear. Useful jewelry at that. So do you think jewelry is going the wayside?

Actually I wear a Philip Stark kick a$$ watch that gets uber attention.
http://www.depthlog.com/english/images/Stark.jpg

[Syndrical @ Jan 8th 2009 4:48PM]

Apparently go seki doesn't have any style!!
Even if you don't wear a watch for its practicality, you could at least wear one as an accessory.

Women have necklaces and jewelry.
Men have watches, tie clips, cuff links, etc.

[Michael @ Jan 8th 2009 6:11PM]

im 26 i wear a watch. I'm interested in knowing the source for your information because I do have a few other friends who wear watches too. Your source may just be outdated, look for something post 1900s.
On another note.... these 'watch phones' for me the are just phones with straps on them. someone needs to come up with something more innovative if its going to kick off because lets face it email and phones will def. go hand in hand as time progresses and ill be damned if i wanna read an email on that.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 8th 2009 7:23PM]

OK.. I will only do something if everybody else does it.......

[Cassini @ Jan 9th 2009 2:42AM]

"Apparently go seki doesn't have any style!!"


Or maybe he lives on a remote island with only two or three people... who all happen to be in their early 20's.

I know of few people of any age, male or female, who DON'T wear watches.

Although using a watch is absolutely functional and MUCH quicker and easier than using a cell phone to tell time, watches are just as much (or even more) about adult style than function, and they'll never go away. Wearing a watch (and the style of watch) says a lot about a man, just like his clothes or hairstyle. Notice I said "man" and not "boy". Boys don't wear watches because they have virtually no responsibilities in this life, but a man does. Wearing a watch says to others that you're mindful of time and managing what you have. Cell phones don't. But I would not expect many in their early 20's and younger to truly understand that.

And what's more complicated when all you want to do is tell time? Simply taking a quick glance at a watch on your wrist, or pulling out your phone, unlocking or flipping it open to look at the time, relocking or closing it, and then stuffing it back into your pocket every moment you want to catch the time of day? What that says is that you're married to your cell phone and are inching closer to actually having it grafted onto your butt.

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On another note, this cellular watch looks slick, but I doubt many will buy it.

[projekt84 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:52PM]

This just in, Apple to announce phone watch in next keynote.

[Darryl @ Jan 8th 2009 4:50PM]

The iWatch?

[lpppppl @ Jan 9th 2009 7:59AM]

or phone with a WATCH! omg!

[MJD HITEK GEAR @ Jan 8th 2009 3:56PM]

Nice improvement from CES 2008.

Cell Phone Watches are the Future.

[STINK @ Jan 8th 2009 4:06PM]

I hope smartphone eyeglasses with the RoboCop targeting/Predatorvision upgrades are the future, but I'm not holding my breath for that CES demo.

[mightycbu @ Jan 28th 2009 12:38PM]

no, it's broche-cellphones. didn't you ever watch star trek?

[Javier Diaz @ Jan 8th 2009 3:58PM]

You know this thing will probably need to get charged each night. I've never had a watch that would have needed to get charged, except that stupid Kinetic watch I had, had to shake it like a polaroid to get it to work.

Definately can't text while driving on this thing, I can't see how, lol.

[Dave @ Jan 8th 2009 4:00PM]

Do us all a favor, and don't text while driving.

[az1324 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:02PM]

Steer with your knees rookie