AT&T's LG eXpo pico projects itself right out of stock, production problems to blame?

As Windows Mobile 6.5-based handsets go, LG's eXpo unquestionably stands near the top of the pile thanks to its WVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon core, and optional pico projector hump for the rear -- but there's a problem: it's really, really hard to find. Nigh impossible, actually, especially now that AT&T has pulled it off its online store altogether (it had been showing out of stock for weeks anyway). The reason for that isn't entirely clear -- LG and AT&T are happy to cite "strong demand," naturally, but the company that supplies the eXpo's fingerprint sensor says there are actually some outstanding antenna problems that have the production line backlogged. So when's it coming back? "Soon," according to LG, but in this business we've seen "soon" mean anything from a few minutes to a few years, so that doesn't mean much -- and in the meantime, we're thinking T-Mobile's HD2 stands to eat its lunch.

[Thanks, Luda]

[DallasB Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:40PM]

To bad the AT&T stores in oklahoma didn't have them. I wanted to play with it.

[thrillchuckles Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:48PM]

@DallasB
when they do finally get them, i wonder how many guys will project porn on the wall and run out of the store, giggling like children.

[DallasB Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:52PM]

@thrillchuckles

That's not a bad idea. Honestly if they do that it's would be dumb. But I can see ppl doing that.

[Devin Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:54AM]

@DallasB What?

[Mentat Posted Mar 9th 2010 2:33AM]

@Devin

really Devin? Or are you just being a deuche?

[HerbieDerb Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:43PM]

HD2 FTW!

[RidEtHeLiGhTNiNg Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:52PM]

1Ghz snapdragon FTW!

[Soaa Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:55PM]

They're all in Canada, being sold as the Telus LG IQ.

[Soaa Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:57PM]

@Soaa By the way, I've played with it and it's seriously slow. Nothing like what people have been saying about the HD2. I was rather underwhelmed.

[jellotime91 Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:17AM]

@Soaa I played with it too, I know someone who is high up in Telus and he had a pre-prod unit at his house. It was really SLOW and useless! The UI was so freaking awful. I admit it was damn sexy as a phone, but WinMo is just AWFUL.. If it had Android, I'd be licking my lips. lmao

[Jason B Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:07AM]

I bought mine from Amazon for $50 less(no rebate) than what it would have been on on AT&T's own website post-rebate.

And it is slow. It also freezes a lot, has poor battery life(knew that coming in though) and doesn't have any good apps. I miss my N97.

[oblivion Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:11AM]

From what I can tell, this phone is not using all its potential.

I mean why is this phone missing 3mm headphone jack? For me, no 3mm no sale.

LG s-class skin is, let's face it, horrible. WM as much as it's a nice smartphone os, I don't think it's the fastest and s-class further slows it down to the point where you don't feel like using 1ghz processor (I know you can change the skin but regular everyday users mite not know how to).

I hope they add windows button, search button, 3mm headphone and then change the screen to capacitive and put wp 7 series on it. Maybe I'm being too optimistic.

[Luxury Guy Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:55AM]

@oblivion It doesn't ship with the S-Class skin even enabled, LG's positioned the phone as all about business, so its running Titanium by default.

[kevin52094 Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:12AM]

As cool as these Pico Projectors are, I would rather have one separate from my phone. That way I could use other input sources to.

[Palomino Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:35AM]

Anyone got this and tried flashing the HD2 ROM on it from XDA? The internals are near-identical except for RAM; could be a good solution to the slowness of S-Class.

[anonymousx Posted Mar 9th 2010 2:17AM]

Maybe the wrong place to say this but I think the HD2 has had a growing amount of people waiting, watching, wanting & some of the best publicity going. I have no urge for this 10 & it doesn't surprise me it's been pulled. I think ATT is confused & scared w/the HD2. Thank you very much.

[Robbie Hottie Posted Mar 9th 2010 4:32AM]

ive never seen it in a store. and have never seen the projector anywhere! not on premier, ebay, anywhere. has the projector even been put into production???

[Robbie Hottie Posted Mar 9th 2010 4:33AM]

oh ya, and letstalk.com and ebay still have the expo for sale.

[hellojoaquin Posted Mar 9th 2010 6:26PM]

I'll say it one and I'll say it again.
LG is crap.
Samsung is the way to go.
That or HTC, Nokia, Moto, etc.