LG Arena KM900 touchscreen phone shows itself in print
By Donald Melanson 
posted Feb 3rd 2009 2:05PM
posted Feb 3rd 2009 2:05PM
We got a whiff of this one last month courtesy of the FCC, but it looks like LG's new Arena KM900 touchscreen phone is now fully making its way out into the open, with the above image and some specs to go along with it surfacing in advance of MWC. As you can see above, this one bears a little resemblance to the Samsung Omnia, and boasts a 5-megapixel camera (plus a secondary one for video calls, it seems), built-in GPS, WiFi, and what's described as an "innovative S-Class 3D interface." Unfortunately, complete specs are still a bit of a mystery, but the phone is apparently on track to hit Europe as soon as March, and it seems a pretty safe bet that LG will have more to say about this one at MWC later this month.
Very nice, I wish this would come to verizon.
> "F*** CDMA!"
Fuck the best network with fast EVDO data speed?
Also comes with Dolby Mobile - sweet sound to my ears :-)
LG is intent on flooding Verizon with iPhone alternatives.
I've tried the DARE and a few other LG's and compared to iPhone THEY SUCK HORRIBLY.
This phone looks better but, I can't help feeling I've seen it before (ahem...IPHONE CLONE)
The video call camera is interesting but I doubt it will catch on. NOBODY WANTS PEOPLE TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY ARE MAKING A CALL. Too many lies would be uncovered.
Seriously , Is this LG's way of throwing in the towel. I mean if u cant beat'em clone'em.,?? Is that LG's answer to creating the "iphonekiller".,This is another clear indication that we are years away from witnessing the "iphonekiller". this is pathetic to say the least. When people see such iclone failure , they will be turned away so quick n make sure they do not purchase lg arena. I mean not even europeans are stupid enough to buy this.
Maybe they are trying to produce an iPhone killer because oh I don't know YOU CAN'T GET THE IPHONE ON VERIZION.
I appologize for the yelling, but until the real thing is offered on the network where my service contract is located and am satisfied with coverage and call quality. I will take a decent KIRF. Sure you may not be able to mimic the exact experience of the iPhone. Just imagine if someone were to come out with something like this that has Copy & Paste or a proper flash player and hey maybe even a SD expansion slot features that should be on your beloved iPhone, but are mysteriously absent.
An for all you a$$hats that immediately call anything that resembles the iPhone an iPhone clone. You are all just clones of the first guy to call something an iPhone clone.
/ stickstongueout
For a second there, I thought this was an unlabeled "Keeping it Real Fake" phone. At first glance I saw an iPhone, then saw the LG logo and was like "Wait...WTF?"
Either way, looks nice.
Agree 100%! Truly an iPhony, should be a KIRF article.
please look up the LG Prada phone, and proceed to Stfu. thanks.
Yeah, I looked at the Prada just now...The UI is vaguely similar at the most. The shape of the phone itself doesn't even match.
"As you can see above, this one bears a little resemblance to the Samsung Omnia,"
*AHEM* Was that an attempt at wry humor? I'm not as "with it" in terms of recognizing all the new touch phones coming out as your typical Engadget editor, but all I see is iPhone.
This is one of the most blatent, non keepin-it-real-fake, rips of the iPhone UI I've seen...
Most phones have an icon menu system.
With a similar layout and color pallet?
Color pallets make it easier for forklifts to move large quantities of colors.
@Bryan
LOL, my bad color PALETTE!
Agreed.
As for the Omnia resemblence.. ok, but that phone's touch is royally screwed up, so hopefully the LG doesn't follow to closely.
@Bryan lol You sir must made my day.
Have top agree with the Apple kids.
I mean, really, LG?
You got tons of talented GUI folks on sites like Deviant Art and Icon Factory.
Why didnt you guys give them some work and have them do a custom design?
How are you guys highly ranked? Usually anyone who says something looks like an iPhone gets instant low-ranked.
"How are you guys highly ranked? Usually anyone who says something looks like an iPhone gets instant low-ranked."
Usually they say it because they think any touch screen phone is a "copy" of the iPhone.
People like iEye.
In this case, the broken clock is right once today. When they start doing it again just to be fanboys, they will go gray.
@Look_Around_You:
Talent on deviantART? Don't make me laugh!
But what is this I see? 5 MP camera? A secondary camera? All the features and looks of the iPhone plus additional stuff = win!
4 in 5 engadgeters can't tell the difference. The LG Areana. You won't believe it's not an iphone.
"Nine out of ten Housewives can't tell the difference between the iPhone and a dead crab!"
oh man, with all these phones coming out (arena, topaz, tg01), this year's gonna be fun!
iphone l00k alike
that looks NOTHINg like the iphone
Disclaimer:
By "NOTHINg" he means exactly.
it looks like a macbook
Wow. That's really bad. They couldn't even come up with their own icons? If I were the judge, I'd grant Apple as much in damages as they asked for. This is just shameless.
Way to think outside of the box LG.
Engadget, could you please provide us with an update to your patent article a couple days back to include LG? I don't know much about all that lawyer stuff but this looks like the makings of a Royal Rumble.
Let's see... Green icon with handset on it for voice dailing? Check
Purple icon with tied eighth notes for music? Check
Calculator icon with plus, minus, multiply and equals in the same location as the iPhone? Check
Rounded icon of actual notepad with the top 20% barred off? Check
Shot of yellow flower for Photos? Check
Shot of camera lense on a grey background? Check
Rounded icon with top 20% barred off and the current day at a precise size? Check
Grey icon with gears on it for settings? Check
Yeah, you're right. Nothing like the iPhone at all.
Media Messaging... check
Full Service... check
your right! it isn't anything like the iphone!
uh, the last symbol on calculator is a divide, not equals. and those are all pretty generic icons. a green phone icon??!!! no wai!!!!! (here's a hint. green means go, red means stop. phone makers have been doing that forever).
No doubt if the writer said "The interface looks like Apple's," the comments would be all over him for bias.
Way to go Endgadget commentors. You successfully prevented Engadget writers from stating the obvious.
Yes. I agree 200% with your comment.
What are you two, engadget writers?
@ Julio:
I WISH I was an engadget writer. Then I'd actually get paid to write witty commentary and play with cool new toys.
And let's not forget the banning of jerkoffs. I'd rule with an iron fist! AN IRON FIST, I SAY!!!
No. Just normal people who kept looking for an iPhone mention in this piece, only to conclude that yes the writer was too intimidated to mention the obvious.
And yes if he mentioned the obvious (this time it's RLY obvious, not just a touchshreen phone) ppl would have been all over him.
@The WC
I thought I couldn't take a joke!
I would buy it.
Maybe it's just because the icons aren't final.
Wow, they even copied the design of the iPhone icons (gear for "settings", flower for "photos", four arithmetic symbols for "calculator" white phone on green background for "phone", etc.).
One more vote for "Keepin' It Real Fake".
Hopefully Apple is able to sue the pants off of LG for this one. It's corporate thievery to rip off a good invention like some companies are starting to do.
WOW, and all-touchscreen phone with:
Square colorful icons.
Black background
Great work, LG! It's not like you have a reputation to protect... oh wait.
ZORMFGROTFL1!!!! I CNA'TS BLV THEY TOTOALLY RIPPIED OFF THE IPHONZES!!!! EVERYONEZDJ KNOWE APPLE INVENTEDAZ ICONZ!!@@!!!!
There's sarcasm, and then there's sarcasm.
But that comment was so over the top, it's insulting.
Haha...I got a good laugh...
I bet Apple has a patent for icons...
It's a shame you don't, then maybe you wouldn't be so much of a hobo