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Black Label Neo Geo custom wood mod ups the ante on collector excess
If you want to relive the glory of owning one of the rarest and most expensive (for its time) consoles in gaming history, you can do that for $130 with the Neo Geo X. Or... or you can recapture that magic and rebuild the system using "one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the entire world." That wood would be Cocobolo and, no, we're not making that last bit up. Analogue Interactive -- the same company that brought you the Neo Geo CMVS Slim -- is introducing a new service today for those (read: collectors) with money to burn, dubbed Black Label. The service, designed to let consumers craft a new Neo Geo console using a selection of domestic and exotic woods, starts at $1,299 -- that's for a custom setup made with domestic wood. Should you have more champagne tastes, there's a variety of exotic woods on offer, but be prepared to fork over up to an additional $585 for the "privilege." Without a doubt, it's the stuff of an über-collector's wet dreams; the very same stuff that has us scratching our heads and railing against the excesses of the 1-percent. And just in case it was lost on you earlier: a portable and significantly cheaper Neo Geo alternative is readily available.
LG BL40 review
You know the deal by now: we grab a slab of fresh new hardware, fiddle, play, and tinker with it until exhaustion or boredom is reached, then wax poetic about the whole experience, with a side serving of pictures and videos thrown in. Today's candidate for a grilling is LG's BL40, which is now available in Europe. You'll be familiar with it already from our hands-on look last month, but do join us past the break where we explore what's under the glossy hood in more detail, and give you a definitive answer on just how useful that elongated screen really is. %Gallery-75858%
LG BL40 Chocolate Touch hands-on
LG's latest Black Label device, tastefully titled the Chocolate Touch, caused quite a few gasps and swoons around the Engadget mansion when it was first spotted, and subsequent photo shoots have not diminished our admiration. The gorgeous 4-inch, 21:9 display promises a whole new way to experience web browsing and video playback on a mobile phone, and we've been salivating for an opportunity to try it out. Finally, that day has come, so follow along as we get our fingerprints all over a final production sample, and bring you pictures, video and our thoughts on the functionality that lay behind that tempered glass screen.
Oh, by the way: August 7, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Friday, August 7th, 2009: In addition to the BL40 and BL42, it looks like LG's upcoming Chocolate series is also going to include a lower-end BL20 according to a newly-uncovered user agent profile. Whatever it is, it's got a QVGA display -- a far cry from the epic 21:9 unit on the BL40. [Via PhoneArena] Motorola's W562 candybar for China has broken cover, and needless to say, you won't find any Android here. CDMA and a 2 megapixel camera, yes, but no Android. More baby steps are being taken in states' fights to jam phone signals in and around prisons. This time around, a Senate subcommittee has sent a bill to the full Senate that would allow individual states to plead their jamming case to the FCC, which -- as of right now, anyway -- seems pretty lukewarm to the idea in general. [Via Phone Scoop] Acer -- like Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, RIM, Palm, Google, LG, Samsung, and your cousin Ralph -- is opening an app store. It expects the store to be ready in the next few months as it ramps up the barrage of new WinMo devices it's been pimping over the course of the year. [Via PHONE Magazine] South Korea's KT has confirmed that it'll carry the iPhone at some point, though it's refusing to spill details on exactly when or how that'll go down. SKT's apparently still in the mix, too, so we could end up without carrier exclusivity here. [Via Unwired View]
LG's lengthy BL40 gets the hands-on treatment it deserves
After witnessing an all-too-brief run-in with LG's hot new slice of cocoa last week, the BL40 has finally found its way into the appreciative hands of a few Russian tech bloggers. Over at Mobile@Mail.ru, the elongated handset has splashed down and taken a moment to pose for the camera. There's nothing here that your mother wouldn't approve of, but since when is that an indicator of something's worthiness? Trust us, you'll want to give that read link some lovin'. Some good, good lovin'. [Thanks, noname]
LG's BL40 "Chocolate" phone sashays its way through new ad
We've already gotten a pretty good look at LG's stylish new BL40 phone (also simply known the new "Chocolate") courtesy of some official shots, but no phone launch would be complete without an over the top ad, and LG's naturally got that covered as well. As you can see for yourself after the break, the 4-inch, 800 pixel wide display is one of the main selling points here, and if that's not enough for you, we hear you can even use it to output full HD video to a TV. Unfortunately, there's still no word as to when it'll be release 'round these parts, although there's at least some indication that it could be making its North American debut on Telus.
LG releases first official shots of BL40 "New Chocolate"
We've already got a pile of evidence taller than the BL40 itself that told us LG's latest Black Label device was that ultra-wide, glossy red and black slate we've seen floating around -- but now, for the very first time, it's totally official. The company has just released the first fully-revealed press photos of the phone that it's calling the "New Chocolate," an homage to one of the phones that brought it to the dominant industry position it enjoys today. So, is the BL40 going to help it continue that dominance? At a glance here, yeah, we'd say there's a pretty good chance.
LG BL40 hits FCC with US 3G seemingly disabled, ready for Telus?
Good news and bad news for US netizens waiting to hear more from LG's sexy new BL40. First, it just passed through the FCC thus confirming the model number on this oddball Black Label-series handset with what appears to be a 21:9 aspect ratio. And the fact that it's now FCC tested is also indicative that we're nearing launch with 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, FM transmitter, and 1000mAh Li-Ion battery confirmed within. Unfortunately, testing was limited to GSM 850/1900 and the device is repeatedly referred to as a GSM/EDGE phone -- in other words, no 3G. However, while most of the documents are withheld from public viewing at the request of LG, this particularly revealing exchange with the test lab was not: Test lab: "While the licensed transmitter's Operational Description, for the most part, lists only non- U.S. bands for WCDMA, p.7/12 states that 'this design guideline shows UMTS 2100, UMTS1900 and UMTS850 applications.' Please clarify."LG: "The main chipset supports GSM850/GSM1900/UMTS850/UMTS1900 but BL40 supports GSM850 & GSM1900." Of course, UMTS850/1900 are the standard 3G bands used by AT&T in North America which makes this all the more perplexing. See the relevant screen-grab after the break.Update: It just occurred to us what might be happening. Those 3G bands will be enabled when the LG BL40 launches on Telus' new HSPA network in Canada as its first GSM device. Hey, it's just a hunch but it certainly makes sense.
LG BL40 garners FCC approval, no US 3G in sight
Unlike HTC and Nokia, LG has a reputation for playing by the rules and submitting fully to the whims of US carriers, which means that if a carrier doesn't pick up a device for inclusion in its lineup, you're simply not going to see it with North American 3G -- the best you'll be able to do is an international import with EDGE. So far, we're not seeing anything to suggest that the mighty BL40 will be bucking that trend, unfortunately; it's just earned itself some FCC approval on GSM 850 / 1900 alone. Since Verizon essentially owns the Chocolate brand around here, that's not to say we won't see a CDMA version before too long -- but hopes for an unlocked version whose molasses-like radio doesn't make you want to gouge your own eyes out are fading quickly.
LG's other Black Label, the BL42 slider, gets exposed
Remember that slightly stouter but still rather obelisky-looking Black Label cousin of LG's BL40 we spied earlier this morning? We've now spotted a lot more pictures of the thing -- and its crimson slide-out keypad. Dubbed the BL42, it sports light-up nav buttons, a 240 x 320 screen, and what looks to be the same five megapixel camera found in its slightly taller brethren, specs that should allow it to slot quite neatly into the Chocolate lineup -- at some indeterminate time and place in the future.
LG's BL40 Black Label phone captured in the wild -- alongside a kid sibling
The more we see of LG's latest Black Label handset -- the mysterious BL40 -- the more we want to touch it, play with it, talk on it, and put it (or, at least try to put it) in our pockets. Shots of the bizarre-yet-beautiful phone have appeared over on a German forum where we're told the interface is S-Class-based, the screen is 800 x 345, and the camera is 5 megapixels strong with Schneider Kreuznach optics -- all specs that fall in line with what we've heard so far -- and there's also apparently WiFi, an FM transmitter, and about 335MB of free onboard storage (easily rectified with a huge microSD card, of course). What has us even more intrigued, though, is a single picture in the bunch that shows the BL40 next to a smaller, stouter device with virtually identical industrial design. We have no idea what it is, but it looks like LG might be poised to roll out a whole series of phones in this new Black Label line -- and which ones are Chocolate-branded is anyone's guess at this point. See what we mean after the break or hit up the read link for all the pics.[Thanks, Anthony]
LG's next-gen Chocolate BL40 teased on video, looks good enough to eat
We can't verify the authenticity of the video, but it seems a little far-fetched to believe that even LG diehards out there would've been able to toil away making a very legit-looking promo piece for the company's recently-teased new Chocolate in such a short period of time -- so we're tentatively going to say we think we're looking at the real thing here. That said, what we've got is nothing short of drool-worthy: the rumored 21:9 800 x 345 display appears real (which is said in the video to be 4 inches diagonal), plus there's a gorgeous Flash-based 3D UI, multitouch, AGPS, WiFi, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and a glass screen surface that's said to be scratch-proof, all packed into an impossibly thin case. Yes, we know everyone's been trying to sound the dumbphone death knell for years now -- but frankly, you'd have to have a grossly miscalibrated monitor to not have a special place in your heart what you're seeing here. Follow the break for the quite-possibly-authentic video in full.[Thanks, Edward]
LG teases next-generation Chocolate for August unveiling
To say that the Chocolate was a hit for LG would be similar to saying the PlayStation 2 went over well for Sony. Indeed, the outfit's best selling handset ever (21 million units worldwide) holds a special place in the hearts of suits and shareholders alike, so it's hardly a shock to see the company issuing a next-generation version of the device. Slated to fall into LG's Black Label series, the phone -- which is simply dubbed the 'second generation LG Chocolate' for now -- will be fully unveiled in August, with bits and pieces to be strategically dropped during the run-up. The only real hint at features that we're given is the following: "The new LG Chocolate will be a disruptive force in conventional mobile screens in an effort to maximize usability while inheriting the original minimalist-inspired style and iconic design of its predecessor." Haptics? OLED? A portal into the future? Only time will tell. Update: The typically reliable Tweakers.net has come through with a few more details, namely that this here phone will become the first of its kind with a 21:9 aspect ratio display (much like Philips' 56-inch Cinema HDTV). We're also told that the model number will be BL-40, the screen resolution will be pegged at 800 x 345, the display itself will be over 3-inches diagonally, the inbuilt camera will be 5 megapixels and HSDPA will be included. Now, if only we knew how the UI would handle...[Via Engadget Spanish]
LG eyes number two phone maker spot for 2012, premium brand in the works
Sitting pretty as the number three cell maker in the world would make many of the bigger names happy -- not to mention the usurped Sony Ericsson and Motorola a bit green -- but not LG, as it's now gunning for spot number two. In an interview with Yonhap, LG's president of its mobile business, Ahn Seung-kwon, stated that the company hoped to bump Samsung to the wayside by 2012 with the help of a serious new set and a premium brand. While the gaudiness of really expensive handsets disturbs us at times, we'll admit that mention that LG's looking at a foray into the über high end of the spectrum -- with the likes of Nokia's Vertu -- piques our curiosity a good deal. And what about that serious new set we mentioned? Apparently in Q4 of this year, LG will launch a new Black Label-branded device to compete directly with iPhone, which when coupled with dreams of more success from yet another Prada device (and if we're super fortunate, some more Transformers-branded stuff) is part of the master scheme to start down the path. Will they crack it? Well, if we were betting types, we'd lean towards not likely as long as the Samsung juggernaut's standing in the way -- but we're all for watching them try.
LG's 5 megapixel KF750 with DivX rebranded Secret, shhh
LG's KF750 was just announced official-like by the non-rioting folks at Lucky Goldstar. With it, we get the official specs courtesy of, uh, Photography Blog. Why is a site for digital photogs carrying a cellphone press release, you ask? Easy, this one's got a 5 megapixel camera with face recognition and the ability to shoot DivX video at 120fps. A member of LG's Black Label series, the 11.8-mm slider is the thinnest 5 megapixel cameraphone on the market. Unfortunately the press release is heavy on fluff and light on specs so we can only tell you that it'll also be sporting an auto-rotating touch-screen display, suite of mobile Google apps, and Bluetooth when it makes its European debut sometime this year, presumably, for an unknown price. Update: A few more details are rolling in: 2.4-inch display, haptic feedback, and available in May.[Via Stuff.tv and Digital-Lifestyles]Read -- Secret micro site (so secret it's currently down) Read -- Press release
Thin is in: LG shares a glimpse of its 5 megapixel hottie phone
Great news, Mr. and Mrs. Tighty Pants: carrying five megapixels in your pocket is about to become a little less obvious! The latest member of LG's storied Black Label line -- other alumni being the Chocolate and the Shine -- is starting to break cover, and for what the slider might lack in sheer visual distinction, it makes up in technical prowess. The as-yet-unnamed slider promises to be the thinnest 5 megapixel cameraphone in the world when it launches, featuring a reinforced glass touchscreen up front (just a little Glimmer-esque, if you ask us) and a shell constructed from carbon fiber. Other than that, LG's being a little stingy with details at this point, saying that it'll unveil the handset's name later this month -- hopefully along with pricing and a full spec sheet. The phone will hit Europe first with a number of other launches across the globe thereafter, finally hitting LG's own South Korea in the second half.[Via T3]
Black Label adds another color, LG Shine now available in Hot Pink
Is it possible that we could have too much of a good thing? LG is gambling that we can't, especially when it comes to their Black Label Shine handsets. With many phones coming in a plethora of colors, why not add another? Hot Pink is the next pigment of choice for LG, and it will be an exclusive for Orange (the carrier, not the color) starting at the end of this month. Just in case the specs have slipped your mind, we'll give you a quick refresh -- Triband GSM radio, 2 megapixel shooter with autofocus, expandable memory via microSD, Bluetooth, and a MP3 player. The Hot Pink Shine should be free on contracts with plans starting at $60.00 or higher.
LG Shine gets Titanium Black makeover for Europe
As if the original Shine wasn't hot enough, LG is bringing a Titanium Black edition to those across the pond in hopes of wrangling a few more customers who have an eye for anything covered in metallic grey. A member of the coveted Black Label series, this handset won't deviate feature-wise one iota from the original, but the classy all-metal exterior should catch quite a few eyes regardless. You'll still find the two-megapixel camera, scroll wheel control scheme, media player, Bluetooth, and compatibility with GPRS and EDGE networks, and while pricing details on this sexy handset are currently unavailable, those dwelling in the UK can expect it to land late this year, while those in France, Netherlands, and Austria should receive it sometime thereafter.[Via UnwiredView]
Verizon's Chocolate site goes live
In what's likely the first salvo of a forthcoming big-ass marketing blitz, Verizon has gone live with its site promoting the VX8500, their carrier-exclusive rendition of LG's KG800 "Chocolate" phone. The first Chocolate and its siblings are fairly ubiquitous now in Europe and Asia, but we've yet to see any of them stateside, so Verizon would probably like nothing more than to see the VX8500 spark RAZR-like pandemonium when it drops in the next few months. The site's being coy about specs for now -- in fact, the only thing you can do is look at the phone and sign up for a release notification -- but as we previously reported, the phone looks to be packing a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, and a handful of physical changes (like the circular d-pad) that should make it more music-friendly than the original.[Via phoneArena]
LG preparing another Chocolate-like phone
LG is really running with the checkerboard keypad theme these days as details are beginning to emerge on the KG99, a candybar with fairly obvious Chocolate roots. No word on whether the phone falls into LG's Black Label category, but at 95 x 52 x 9.9mm, it seems chic enough for the task. Specs are unconfirmed at this point, but the phone is reported to sport triband GSM (sorry yanks, no 850), a 220 x 176 display, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and an FM radio. Now granted, as a fashion phone, we may not be the KG99's target demographic, but the specs still feel a bit weak to us -- we're going to wait a few weeks and see what else is in the checkerboard pipeline.[Via Slashphone]
