LG eXpo unboxing and impressions
By Chris Ziegler 
posted December 20th 2009 5:31PM
posted December 20th 2009 5:31PM
Physically, we're going to go out and a limb and say that this is as good-looking of a phone -- or darn near it, anyway -- as the Tilt2 and Touch Pro2, phones that we think set a benchmark for the way a modern landscape QWERTY WinMo slider should look and feel. We didn't have one of HTC's units handy for comparison, but the eXpo definitely feels like it's up to the task with solid construction, a thick-but-not-too-thick shell, and a metal battery cover; needless to say, it's a huge step up from the cheap, plastic-heavy Incite of old and its giant, mirrored bezel. One look tells you this phone means business -- it's understated while subtly giving off "hey, I'm a pricey smartphone" vibes. That's generally the sweet spot, we think.
The fingerprint scanner doubles as an optical trackpad, but it's not a very good one. Fortunately, 6.5 Professional doesn't really require any directional input (the Touch Pro2 doesn't have any d-pad whatsoever), but if you were hoping that this would be as good as the trackball or trackpad you used on your last BlackBerry, you're in for a disappointment. For a trackpad to be comfortable and effective, it's got to be smooth, fall on the large side, and have just a little doming to it -- and the eXpo's falls flat in every category. It's actually a bit concave -- that's bad -- and the chrome ring surrounding it acts as a ridge that gets in your way; not only does it not feel great to run your thumb over, but it has a tendency to interrupt your motion, too. Again, though, it's really not a big deal for usability -- LG obviously through this functionality in here as a bonus since it figured it'd have the fingerprint sensor on there anyway.
You might think that slipping a mighty 1GHz Snapdragon processor this package works wonders, but after using the eXpo for a while, we're not so sure. It's not that the Snapdragon isn't a brilliantly capable core, it's that it's simply not playing in the same league as a bone-stock WinMo 6.5 build like the eXpo uses -- it's like trying to race a Ferrari in a parking garage (don't anyone dare make a The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift reference here). In terms of everyday usability, we'd venture that an old-school 528MHz MSM7201A (like that found in the Tilt2) would work just as well -- and you'd get more battery life out of it to boot. Cores like OMAP3 and Snapdragon excel at powering flashy, modern, animation-intensive user interfaces, and considering that 6.5 is basically a tweaked version of a UI we saw early this decade, it doesn't need (nor can it really take advantage of) this kind of processing power effectively. Gaming capability alone might justify it, but goodness knows WinMo isn't anyone's mobile gaming platform of choice these days. Perhaps the one place where you'd think the Snapdragon would pay dividends -- browsing -- didn't seem to have much of an effect; we didn't have an MSM7200-based phone side by side to benchmark it, but the eXpo doesn't scroll or zoom in IE Mobile with the creamy smoothness you might expect (it's not bad, it's just not anything special). We can't believe we're saying it, but yeah: this might be the first, last, and only time we wish a Snapdragon phone had an MSM7200 series chipset instead. Revel in it, because you won't see us making that statement very often.
Wrap-up
Who is the eXpo for? Simple: if the Touch Pro2 / Tilt2 make you salivate and you're on AT&T, the eXpo definitely deserves your attention before you make a purchase decision. The forgettable Incite had left a bad taste, but LG's latest entry for AT&T totally changes course -- it's not just a far better device, it's a serious competitor in the business power-user market segment with quality construction, good looks, and virtually every feature (and then some) that a 2009-spec phone playing this field should have. If you spend 8 hours a day wearing headphones or you can't go more than a few minutes without Super Monkey Ball, look elsewhere -- but if you live your life one PowerPoint presentation at a time, give it a serious look. And just remember -- when that microprojector accessory finally hits retail, we'll all be insanely jealous of you anyway.
@Caliber68 If Windows Mobile, in its current iteration, were the only OS worth using, Microsoft wouldn't be working harder than it ever has to get WinMo 7 out the door.
Windows Mobile is extremely capable of doing what you want it to do, but its presentation layer is awful. Every program you use brings you into a new experience. Hell, I installed Shazaam on my Touch Pro and they actually remade the context menu so it is animated and smooth, while keeping the old Windows Mobile 6.1 look. There is so much disconnect that occurs as you are using the device that it makes you feel like you have used 10 different operating systems as you jump from program to program. Microsoft has done nothing to help developers to make smooth and pleasing experiences. Developers have to "invent" experiences, which leads to the mess it is. And some developers don't bother, and use the included components. Those are the worst programs, since they remind you that you are using WinMo.
Like I said, Windows Mobile is extremely powerful and capable. Its just that its an absolute mess. I expect WinMo 7 to fix that "mess" problem while keeping the power of 6.x.
@Ruben
I see your point, though I personally don't care how it looks as long as it works. And I guess it depends on the person, I LIKE the Windows Mobile look, although HTC does a good job with the Touch Flo 3D on my Touch Pro 2, the stock Windows Mobile look FEELS like a computer, not a gameboy.
Although everyone is so far in denial (there is NO doubt that apple has the BEST marketing; maybe thats why they cant afford to make a real phone) that you cant get them to admit it, it seems aesthetics is used only as a rationalization; "Sure my ___ phone can't do this, this, and that, but at least it looks nice...kind of".
@Caliber68
I used WinMo for 3 years before I got my droid and while I enjoyed being able to do things no one else could, Windows Mobile through 6.5 is a joke to use outside of business related stuff. It has plenty of capabilities but not easy to navigate through.
Android phones can feel like whatever you want them to feel like. You can put all of your important things like word, excel, Gmail, corporate mail and calendar, browser, PDF reader and anything else on one screen with subfolders and all. They can also do media and games and fun stuff.
Thats the great thing about the PC. On a PC, I can listen to music, play games, do work stuff. I can do whatever I want. Google has carried the PC over to the mobile device, something Microsoft has yet to do.
If you think Android is a play thing, you havent used it to its potential.
@Caliber68
Glad someone finally said it. Engadget users are blinded by shiny new toys that have "appstores" -- it's a bunch of shit.
WinMo is still one of the only smartphone OS's that you don't need to ROOT to modify core elements of the OS, and for that I will ALWAYS love windows mobile. Microsoft had the right idea from day one for trusting the user \ consumer to do whatever they want with their devices. Only problem is they let it fester over the years and did not give it the attention it deserved...but it's still one hell of a great OS. Shit, I *LOVE* my Omnia 2...best phone I've ever owned. Way better than the shitty droid or eris.
Android claiming that it is open is a crock of shit. How is a device open that won't allow you to modify certain settings unless you find an exploit and obtain access to the root account? YOU paid for the device, the contract, and the plan, so YOU should get root access to the phone the second you walk out the door with it, credit card receipt in hand. But that's not the way mobile phones are done now is it...carriers and OS developers love to retain control -- "oh people could modify the phone to mount a terrorist attack and take down cell towers!!" -- are you fucking serious...and no I did not make that up, that was a quote directly from Apple when it took on the ETF saying it should be illegal for people to jailbreak their iphones.
Apple and Google turn their users into sheep and do whatever they say \ tell them a phone should do. Should a phone be capable of watching movies and listening to audio encoded with open standard like OGG or MKV? Not in Apple or Google's world.
@Caliber68 It all comes down to the marketing, the look, the hype, the eye-candy, the logo -- the style, not quite the substance.
Let's face it, there aren't many people like you and me -- people who want and recognize tech that actually give real "power" to the user and who are savvy enough to exploit it.
Rather, lots of people like to be spoon-fed their dose of consumer tech; most of them don't want to spend time nor brain power on technology, nor do they want "real power to the user" (much less understand what that is). Ads, general media exposure and brand power do the "research" for them during their buying decision.
Once they have their toy, they spend 10 minutes performing a no-brainer installation of the software on their PC and 20 minutes "figuring out" how to make phone calls, answer calls, add contacts, take pictures and buy games. That's all they wanted out of their toy. After 30 minutes, they have the satisfying feeling that they have mastered all the features and power of the phone and that now they are cool and good taste... like everyone else who owns that toy.
@Caliber68 you have some points but being a linux fan i cant help but like android the only problem i have with it is that android loses a lot of flexibility by not using x11(if you don't know what this is look it up) and makes it much more proprietary which pisses me off because i expected it to be more like winmo being able to just pull .cab files off the internet
@JXCGunrunna it sound like you had a winmo phone for 3 years...but thats its you clearly dont see the potential of a winmo phone...android is decent and its growing fast but its still just a bunch of shortcut and widget you get to place here and there...
and yes i used and android, iphone, Pre, and Winmo...and Winmo is the only open end phone where its up to you to make it how you want it to be...you can make your own UI and cover up stock WinMo and you can use company own UI ala samsung wiz or HTC Touchflo...its up to your imagination and knowledge to achieve what you want...with Iphone and Droid...beside changin colors and icon pictures...theres nothing else to it beside that....you cant change the UI...
and most important you can change WinMo UI to work like an iPhone and WinMo phone can run Linux...meaning you can run android on WinMo phone...Can android run WinMo on it...NOPE
@WickedEast
Exactly!
It's not a problem till all the pretentious fanboys (including, it seems, at least some writers here) become so self righteous that they feel the need to criticize everything that isn't what they have.
But at least we can find comfort seeing that apparently no one can think of a counter argument other then "windows mobile=fail".
I'm getting mine tomarrow! Can't wait. It's only a matter of time before the ROM chefs start churning out great stuff for it. Android and crapple can suck it, I'm through with their toys!
@Treiz I feel sorry for your purchase
@Treiz Is there even a ROM community for LG like there is for WM HTC devices?
@Treiz I am going to make an honest question: How safe is to use those cooked ROMs? I have always felt very uneasy to give entrance to an "alien", maybe unsigned is a better word ( please don't get angry I don't know what adjective to use, uncertified?) ROM into my communication device. After I saw how some phones, even dumphones, have been hacked and being spied on I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of replacing stock. I am not really well versed into the mobile platform yet in the sense of the nuts and bolts but there is the risk of getting malware as well, correct?
@cmajewsk
There are sub communities at MoDaCo for every mobile device imaginable. The amount of tweaks \ roms \ development will depend on how popular the phone gets. There will no doubt be something, but it's not as big as the HTC community at XDA -- which is quite sad, because HTC isn't really that great when you look at their failures over the years.
@TikiTeko there are alot of people who make them, choose a more respected cook
a good rom makes your phone so much better its... just SO worth it.
like my Xperia x1 gets almost 4 days of battery life now with a new rom. Before it would last 1.5
Fugly, sorry.
" We're not sure we'd be able to find a piece of hardware that made us adore Windows Mobile 6.5 "
HTC HD2.
@eka
Don't want to shoot down everything here, but NO!
The HD2 Would be a very good device...if it had a keyboard. With technology at the level it is now software keyboards are a fad. A very annoying fad.
Let it be known that regardless of the Operating System, Hardware, Carrier, or Manufacturer, if you buy a phone without buttons you deserve everything thats coming to you. Which is to say a headache and a lot of backspacing.
It's time to update my Tilt (which, after two years of faithful service is dying a slow death). The Tilt 2 had my $$$ all locked up until I saw this. The $100 price difference makes up for the eXpo's smaller screen and shorter battery life to me, and I've *rarely* played with cooked ROMs, so the loss of XDA support isn't a huge deal. I think it's pretty compelling for those of us who are happy with WinMo.
@Dixon Ticonderoga Don't forget you can get it for a total of $13 bucks.
@TikiTeko I'm not sure if I can, not without it being a major pain in the butt anyway.
me thinks that snapdragon would shine once the phone gets a wm7 upgrade
lol, he said dome
It would be awesome if Joshua could show us some of those screens where you need a stylus. I'm running 2 WinMo phones (both on cooked versions of 6.5). One has a 2.8" screen - the other 3.2". I can't remember the last time I used the stylus on either device.
@JXCGunrunna
I considered the droid as well. The hardware is better then the Touch Pro 2 but Android kills it. What can you do on your Droid that I cannot on my TP2? Tethering?...oh...nope... Video out?....ooops nope.
I can't speak to the business functions of the device because I am an 18 year old who works at a restaurant, I didn't buy it for those elements, I bought it for multimedia use. I compared the phone, and despite what Verizon (and engadget..) would tell you about which phone is better for that purpose, the specs speak for themselves. I can watch almost every (excluding the 720/1080p HD files) movie and listen to every song and read every ebook stored on my PC, as well as play Playstation games via an emulator. Not to mention streaming live cable tv through slingbox.
I'd probably compare my phone favorably to my computer too...if I had a mac. If your comparing the use of your phone with that of your computer like that you should probably throw away that junk apple (or is it legal to resell those?.....) and buy (or better yet, build) yourself a real pc. With Ubuntu. Or even Win 7. Once you realize that your desktop pc is Suppose to run other apps too, it wont seem so weird that your phone can do it............
@Caliber68 right on ubuntu is the best i have to use win7 for my gaming but my lappy is very karmic. if ubuntu made a phone os i would buy that phone immediately regardless of everything else
We have that phone here in Canada but it isn't called the LG eXpo,It is called the LG IQ(Don't know why).Telus just got the phone(posted on their website/exclusive to Telus only) a few weeks ago. I was at one of the stores this weekend and was playing with a live demo of the phone and it seems like a really good phone very responsive and fast. The only thing I am not a fan of is that you need the keyboard out to have the phone in landscape mode.
Plans for it here in Canada are:
$99.99- 3 Year term with a minimum $50 Data/Voice plan(500MB)
$399.99-2 Year Term
$449.99-1 Year Term
$499.99-Buy the phone on it's own.
Also it's a 3G HSPA phone.
gallery doesn't works with ff and safari
This looks like maybe an okay phone, but come on, EVERYBODY knows that Android>Windows Mobile any day, and twice on Sunday.
By the time WinMo 7 is released (end of 2010? beginning of 2011?), Android will be leagues and miles ahead of Microsoft's mobile platform.
Your right. Everybody who watches commercials rather then doing actual product research on the phone they intend to drop hundreds of dollars on knows Android is better.
Good for them.
Ziegler, thanks for the 20 minute review on the stylus. I am sure glad you spent the time there instead of showing us the accelorometer, programs opening up, typing in different apps, the phone interface, speaker phone functions and volume, wifi connectivity, GPS lock times, battery performance, camera functionality at 5 MP with AF and flash, the fingerprint security function, more d-pad illustrations, browser performance, etc, etc. So much for the hands on. When you don't give an adequate review you just invite the nerds to have a discussion on Android vs iPhone vs WinMo and the actual article at hand fades into the background.
@ChoppaDownYoTree HE SAID QUICK LOOK !!!!!!! I full review will be coming up soon I guess.
@ChoppaDownYoTree That's exactly why this is called a hands-on and not a review. AT&T literally provided us with the device 24 hours before the piece was published -- we just wanted to get something up there to give everyone some initial impressions as quickly as possible. We'll probably revisit the phone once the PJ is released.
@Chris Ziegler
Understood. But c'mon. Any seasoned windows mobile user could easily show all those features I mentioned at a glance in a few minutes. It is all basic stuff. Waiting for the projector is a red herring because most of us don't care about the projector. Sure it's cool. But not practical for most of us. To skip some of the most basic features after telling us it is in heads-up competition with the Tilt 2 is pretty rookie. But no worries. I have found other in depth reviews on other sites.
@Chris Ziegler
And the other sites don't take 2 minutes per page to load in Windows Explorer. What is up with that? It's been months since the new site launched. Even Firefox is slow.
WinMo = Fail...
@B00st3r
If you were more concerned with finding the best hardware/software combination in a phone, rather then attempting to rationalize your impulse buying of your phone (Your obviously a fanboy, though for Apple or Google I can't tell) by making vague and unsupported insults to an OS that you've probably never used, you might realize how very wrong you are.
Have you ever actually USED windows mobile, or do you just read all the articles from the media (don't get me started on the media in the USA) telling you that its old and you should buy the phone from the company thats probably the one paying them the ad revenue they need to run their site?
@Caliber68
Thanks for your constructed reply to mine. I regularly use mobile phones that have either Android, Apple or Windows Mobile OS. And i just think WinMo is my least favorite, and I didn´t feel like writing a full review just in this comment system, so I thought i´d sum up. :)
I /LIKE/ how the TP2 keyboard is offset. That's the whole point, that's what makes it so good.
Look at your desktop keyboard. Do all the keys line up in a grid? NO. That's what the TP2 is simulating.
@Chris Ziegler
snapdragon doesn't affect back youtube speed here either? what about the other browsers, such as skyfire or even opera? I was really considering this phone over the tilt 2, mostly because of the camera and snapdragon, but if it doesn't offer much more (and actually less with screen size and what not) I will just stick to HTC
First of all, very nice review.
I just purchased the LG eXpo online so I should have it in the upcoming week. Currently I have the LG Incite, It's a great device, but it's time to move on to something more powerful. I currently have my Dark Wolf 28014 rom loaded on http://www.LG-eXpo.com I'm hoping to cook up some really good roms for this phone. I prefer the 6.5.1 interface with the start menu on the bottom of the screen and would love to port it to this phone.
Agreed with Caliber68 and TikiTeko. Can you put it in a more poignant sentence? Not likely. It performs the same functions as iPhone - probably more, without the need to pay for the apps in a large number of cases. I remember using my HTC Hermes as a Sat Nav 3 1/2 years ago. TomTom to be exact - albeit not a freebie, but a damn sight cheaper than a discrete Sat Nav device and dare I say it, more useful than Google Maps well topping 60mph on the motorway?
Why is this phone unavailable or out of stock everywhere I look for it? What is wrong with it? I called LG and they said they are still manufacturing it but because of contract with ATT cannot sell it to individuals. ATT has been out of stock since near Christmas 2009.