LG BL40 Chocolate Touch hands-on
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Sep 2nd 2009 9:24PM
posted Sep 2nd 2009 9:24PM
We headed off to the London Design Museum this cloudy and muddy afternoon with a healthy dose of skepticism. After all, as promising as it may look, we still knew very little about the BL40's usability, and there was at least the shadow of doubt in our mind that perhaps LG would rely on the unique form factor (128 x 51 x 10.9mm) and attractive display to woo people into buying otherwise unremarkable hardware. So it was both a delight and a relief to confirm for ourselves that this is by no means a gimmick phone.
The construction of the Chocolate Touch exudes both luxury and longevity. Yes, that reads like it's been lifted from the PR sheets, but it's true nonetheless. With the screen well protected and a generally minimalistic external design, it should be able to withstand the ocassional drop without much trouble. We commend the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the phone, and there's a usable, if not spectacular, 5 megapixel camera on the back.
The S-class UI will be familiar to users of the Arena, as it remains largely unchanged. We're not exactly huge fans of it, and the main menu comes with an overwhelming number of difficult to distinguish icons to work through, but it's still functional and probably a lot more intuitive once you've spent some time with it. The good stuff includes a virtual QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode (though it takes up most of the screen), and the all new dual-screen UI, which lets you look at two different menu items when in your email, messaging or schedule apps. Another neat addition is the ability to use gestures on the screen as shortcuts to particular apps. So if you draw an S shape on the locked screen, you will be taken directly to, say, your video gallery. These would all be meaningless, however, without a responsive handset and the BL40 duly delivers. We found menu navigation snappy, multitouch pinching and zooming was excellent, and rotation between landscape and portrait modes was near instantaneous. This should be no surprise though, as the processor running things is a slightly slower version of the ARM CPU found inside the iPhone 3GS.
With support for DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4 video, WiFi and HSDPA connectivity, and one of the most daring designs we've seen for a long while, the Chocolate Touch looks all set for success. The interface may prove too unwieldy for some, but overall the phone makes a very positive first impression. The BL40 has already cleared the FCC hurdles to making it to North American markets, so while the rumored August 23 launch date hasn't materialized, we don't expect our American readers to be left out in the cold for much longer.
P.S. - You can change the font, in case that flamboyantly ugly one isn't doing it for you.
So is this a smart-dumb phone?
Good looking smart-dumb phone and not as long that i thought it was.
Actually, it's a dumb-smart phone. ;-)
Its more like a media dumbphone, probably more or less a LG Dare. I have a feeling this will be an At&T phone mostly because the UI has been developed to work in this format instead of the particular dumbphone format that Verizon uses. As well as that most Verizon Phones don't come unlocked and addable, so that probably means that a CDMA flavor that doesn't sport a SIM card will be coming later if its on Verizon. It looks like to me anyway, a revamped and restyled LG Vu
21:9.... wtf ??
I prefer the term "feature-phone". And with Verizon, its about the best way to go. You can get 90% of smart phone features, without needing a data plan (which VZW requires, and is $30-50). You can even have unlimited web browsing by adding on V-Cast for under $15.
I love that font, it's like Comic Sans reborn!
It's like they wanted to use Comic Sans but decided that would be abjectly evil, and so decided on a compromise that was only mostly evil. Why must such beautiful hardware be ruined by such awful software UIs?
...
Whatever, I'm gonna have a dream tonight about a BL40 running WebOS. You can't stop me.
@Joshua
You know VZW changed the requirement on feature phones and the new ones require data, either $9.99 for 25MB, $19.99 for 75MB, or a Connect or Premium plan.
What about all my old B-52's videos that are 4:3?!?!
Just what I needed... something even bigger than the iPhone for my pocket...
But the size has it's ups! Hows the touch part? Capacitive?
Capacitive. It has multi-touch.
The Iphone is perfectly pocket size.
This phone looks like complete crap.
I think the phone LOOKS great, and I absolutely adore those icons on its launcher screen, but if the processor in this is slower than the iPhone, then it's going to be sluggish as fuck. It's a shame, too, because it's a slick package.
what movie is that in the video?
Avatar trailer
why did I cancel my contract to get an iPhone...
We all make iMistake sometimes...
There's quite a few of us that will NEVER make that mistake.
Because the iPhone is faster and better.
Because you wanted a better phone than this one. One that is actually a computer and a phone.
he bought an iphone not your imaginary phone^
LG bitchlady 40yrs phone, the "All my children, bold and beautiful" crowd.
Can you change that hideous font? I mean, even for the browser?
You beat me to it. I know it seems nit-picky, but it bothered me in nearly all the photos. When I saw the web-browser using it, it made me feel a little sick to my stomach.
Couldn't agree more. Hate the font, but I have a feeling you can change it. Admittedly, while I'm not a fanboy either way, I do like the fonts on the iPhone and the Pre (slightly more on the Pre). But if you really want to get your fonts designed well, just ask Patrick Bateman.
Agreed. What the heck is that, anyway, Comic Sans? Do they know how bad that looks on such a well-designed device?
That font looks a hell of a lot like Comic Sans.
/kills self
/orgasm
ooops.,,, me tooo. but the Nokia X6 still looks a little cooler...
+1
That font is close enough to Comic Sans to make me feel dirty just by reading it.
It's like Comic Sans dressed up for a night on the town.
On the other hand, the icons look quite nice.
A woman came into our office [an architecture office where we're all overly critical about aesthetics nonetheless...] last week and gave a presentation all done up in comic sans. I couldn't take her seriously the entire time she was talking. I can't even tell you what the presentation was about, I just know it was in Comic Sans.
I admit, it has some cute transition effects. However is it me, or did that LG rep totally dodged the 'resolution' question with a bunch of BS?
Either that or he's just really dumb.
Well, it wasn't a bunch of BS, but it wasn't a great answer either. Basically he said you can use the desktop software to convert videos into the 21:9 format (e.g. toss a bunch of the content away), meaning probably the phone can't do this on its own. Which is odd since the iPhone CAN do this (touch the little icon near the top on the right during playback), so its not like the chip can't handle it. And that's for 16:9 stuff. I can't imagine how much stuff you'd have to throw away on 4:3 content to leave only a 16:9 video. Basically, most of the frame?
I did like the "full width" web browsing, though obviously you only get a few lines. Personally when I saw the virtual keyboard come up and it left you with only one line of text visible I thought that was quite unacceptable.
Your review didn't comment on the feel or pocketability of the thing, which is odd since its such an odd shape...
im not a fan of keyboardless phones but this is really awesome
+1
I love how the guy never really answers the question about the resolution of the video...
Yeah, I noticed that too. I also like it how they showed just one internet page, and it couldn't even load it correctly. Some text... A photo... Some text... A photo. Hey guys: a full internet browser is a 100% must on a cell phone these days. You gave it a big enough screen, with obviously plenty of power. Install opera for christ sake.
Sexual Chocolate! SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!!!
Prince in New York, classic.
Ladies and gentlemen, give it up!
Excuse me?
hahaaa thats awesome
It looks pretty slow which is disappointing. But damn, watching movies looks like it's gonna be even better than I thought!
fail.. there were like negative two lines available to see teh text you were typing in qwerty
One question, can you change the font from comic sans MS?
Nice work, Vlad!
Waaaaaay too expensive though.
Why do you have to convert the video so it has the same aspect ratio as the screen?
don't you think they would just adjust it right there on the phone itself...?
I like the way the phone looks, but totally hate the interface...I think it should of ended up as a portable media player rather than a phoen.
Agreed. This could be a much more popular PMP than a phone.
21:9 is a great feature to grab people's attention, but they're going to blow it if this thing isn't really good on release and getting better over time. Apple or Microsoft will go 21:9 with an iPod/Zune and because they're already recognized as more than good PMP's they'll sell like the hottest hotcakes you've ever seen before LG even has a chance to get their first software update out the door for this thing.
A portable media player and not a phone? So you would like this better with less features? What are you stupid? What are you saying "Oh I love it's media abilities too bad I can call people on it". Seriously.
Yep...I've gone completely mental!
I mean obviously more features obviously = better, right? Doesn't matter how frustrating or complicated it is to actually get to those features, much less getting those features to actually do what you want them to without tossing the phone across the room...You may have broke your phone throwing it against the wall, but at least it can play music AND MAKE PHONE CALLS(not at the same time, or really any sort of way that would make this feature useful)!! Obviously that is just pure awesome! ***eye roll***
Did you even watch the video? That UI looks a large-scale game of memory, in which you try to remember which icon launches which application. Not one single thing about this UI looks intuitive at all, and I honestly think that the only way that that kind of structure would work is if it was just a media player. Navigating through 5 options(music, video, pictures, settings, and browser) is hell of a lot easier than trying to navigate through 60 options with a very gimped and impossible-to-navigate user interface, like this one.
I like the way the phone looks, but totally hate the interface...I think it should of ended up as a portable media player rather than a phoen.
Wow, & I can't believe they finalized this? This ish could be used as a murder weapon :/ .. conBADyoulations ;]
The initial launch video LG made made the phone look crazy legit, but I'm a little disappointed after this. The phone looks cool, but the main menus are HIDEOUS. I could have done better, and I'm 17. I mean, certain UI aspects look nice (I like the glassy "slide up to unlock" lock screen, and the browser and email look nice), but the main menu looks poopy with all those rows of all those ugly icons. That's just like LG... sometimes they produce really nice phones and UIs, but then other times it looks... like this.
Just remember, you are 17, and know about as much as one.
Regarding the possible October launch for this handset.
VX8575 =! BL40...
I bet youtube looks horrible on this thing its too narrow
wow this is nice
I didn't know that the iphone 3GS has a Qualcomm cpu??? doh it has Samsung that's why...
So you posted a 4:3 video of a 21:9 device?
Not a fan of the UI font.
oh just saw the P.S but still, bad choice.
, hmm between the Omnia HD, Omnia II, the Jet, or this LG...I think I gotta save up for this nice phone. Hopefully people won't think I am carrying a package in my pants, if you know what I mean.
This phone looks horrible, Its way too long and skinny! And the GUI looks cheaply Put together. Come'on LG, Do a better job. I've never had good luck with LG phones.
The flip feature is what I've always wanted on the iPhone...well freakin' MMS too, but so if I turned it on the side, the icons would flip and you read it landscape on the home screen. That can't be that hard Apple...meh.
I'm just curious where they are going with this OS...we already have a very crowded smartphone OS market so does LG expect this OS to compete and mature alongside all the other OS's? Also, I feel like with all these features, the average consumer will mistake this for a smartphone (whatever that definition is) and you'll find them asking things like "wheres the app store for this?"
I just don't know if I can trust an OS like this
It not a smart phone, also the (global) mobile phone market in 2008 was almost 900 million units so there is enough room for another player.The LG sold about 1 million arena km900 in six months so they are capable of selling some (non-smart) phone.
... i misread you comment (and angadget doesn´t let me edit mine)
MOST people does not know what is a smart phone and even less what is an app store and neither they care.
Gotta agree with you there... I'd prefer it if they had built it on Android or WinMo (prefer the former over the latter).
Adding on apps to hardware like this is key. I think most people (at least those who would buy a touchscreen phone) know what apps are, and yes, they do want them.
"Most people I KNOW" indeed knows about apps, smart phones ect (if I look around I see 3 Black Berries, one iPhone, two androids and several S60 devices and 1 dumb phone) however this does not represent "most people" just go standing on a street corner (of a non bussness district area) and ask every body that passes what kind of phone they own and if they ever installed an application on it.
Attaching the "Chocolate" moniker might have been a bad idea. Ask any carrier what has been their highest failure rate device ever, most will tell you the Chocolate. I think our failure rate was somewhere close to 100%.. Cracked screens, charging ports, unresponsive touch pad, low/no sound... and most came back repaired only to break within weeks.
good looking phone..i might give it a try and give my 1st gen iphone a rest. love the style and overall look of the phone..hopefully the software is up to par...
His a little more on the UI. I dont think it looks that bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUY45sUuoU
This will fit nicely in my Prada purse.
It will have a variant for Verizon. Problem is... Even as a feature phone. Will be forced to have a data plan under there new scheme.
They showed practically nothing about the interface. Wonder why.....this is not an iPhone competitor by any stretch.
"The gorgeous 4-inch, 21:9 display promises a whole new way to experience web browsing and video playback on a mobile phone"
You mean cramped?
It's a lower resolution screen than any WVGA device on the market (ie the Samsung Omia II or Jet or the LG Arena, Viewty Smart or Crystal) meaning that it will be poorer for web browsing as it just won't display as much on the screen as those handsets.
As for video, if by the time you've gone to the hassle of converting your videos/DVDs/porn/whatever into a 21:9 aspect ratio, as mentioned by other commenters, whose to say it's going to look any good? You could well end up with just a strip out the middle of the screen, having lost the top and bottom of the picture.
Or, if you don't convert it, you'll have big black lines down either side, which just makes having a 21:9 screen a complete waste of time.
This is not a revolutionary handset, it's a gimmick.
And it's a gimmick with LG's questionable build quality (don't believe me, read up on issues with the Cookie and KS360 - two incredibly popular handsets, two ridiculously buggy handsets as well).
It's very disappointing that Verizon users probably will not see this phone. There is no way verizon is gonna give customers a feature phone that is wi-fi enabled because they get too much enjoyment from forcing users to pay for their slow and costly internet time
Again, this is not the Chocolate Touch that is coming to VZW.
I just don't get the screen dimensions: too wide for wide screen movies, too narrow for webpages in portrait, and too wide/short again to properly view webpages in landscape. Looks like it's going to be a right pain in the A.
Oh I remember the first "Chocolate". What happened to that? No phone has made as much impact or remained as relevant as the Iphone. Apple does it again
Gotta love that vibrant screen.