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Daily Roundup: LG G2 review, Lumia 625 review, Sony's new PS Vita, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sprint to start LG G2 pre-orders on October 11th
We've seen AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon commit to releasing the LG G2 this fall... but where's Sprint's version? Don't worry, fans, the carrier hasn't forgotten you. Sprint now says it will take pre-orders for the $200 Android flagship starting on October 11th, with a release "in time for the holidays." In return for the wait, the provider is giving out free QuickWindow covers to everyone who pre-orders a G2 through its website. We doubt that the gift will quell the jealousy of Sprint customers whose friends get a G2 weeks in advance, but the more patient among those subscribers can register their interest at the source link.
LG G2 review
There are a lot of smartphones out there now. You know this. To add to the confusion, many companies are now parading out multiple top-drawer phones: think Samsung's Galaxy S and Note series, or the Xperia Z and Z Ultra from Sony. Even LG, whose new G2 flagship I'm poring over this time around, has both the G and G Pro to tempt buyers. It's getting increasingly difficult to launch a smartphone with some standout feature, something more than just bigger screens and faster processors. For the G2, LG's decided to make a major change to the phone's physical layout -- in a bullet-point summary, it has buttons on the back. Three, in fact. LG reckons that as the size of smartphones has increased, at this point, the viability of buttons around the edges is now questionable. The new G model lands between last year's Optimus G and the Pro size-wise, breaking through the 5-inch screen barrier with a bright 5.2-inch, 1080p IPS screen. The rest of the feature set will seem familiar to anyone who's read a flagship Android phone review in the last 12 months. Optical image stabilization, remote control blaster, a mixed bag of proprietary software features and Android 4.2.2. There's also some new stuff, including 24-bit / 192kHz audio recording and playback, and it could well be the first Snapdragon 800-powered smartphone to reach US stores -- that's Qualcomm's most potent mobile processor yet. But with IFA just finished and the Galaxy Note 3 now official, is a button transplant going to be enough? In fact, that's a red herring, because there's actually a far better reason to buy the G2 -- and it's none of the above.
T-Mobile to launch LG G2 in stores on September 25th, sells Optimus F6 today (update 2: AT&T and Verizon)
At last, the LG G2 has a US release date: T-Mobile is shipping the Android flagship to stores on September 25th, with online availability starting September 18th. The 5.2-inch smartphone will require a $100 initial spend on a downpayment plan, and costs $630 outright. Both black and white colors will be available, although you'll have to order the white version online; thankfully, you can pre-order either model today. Too expensive for your tastes? You can buy the newly available Optimus F6 instead. The 4.5-inch budget smartphone is now selling online for $50 on a downpayment plan, or $290 at full price. Those who'd prefer a walk-in purchase can pick up the F6 at a retail store on September 11th. Update: Verizon has since provided its G2 launch details, and it's beating T-Mobile to the punch. It will release its logo-laden variant on September 12th for $200 on a two-year contract. Update 2: AT&T has chimed in as well: it will sell the G2 on September 13th for the same $200 on contract as Verizon, or $27 per month on Next.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 12th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought leaks of a smartphone that tips the scales with a 6-inch screen, an alternate ego to the oft-leaked Sony 'Honami' and the return of unlimited data to a certain AT&T MVNO. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 12th, 2013.
LG G2 coming to six major Canadian carriers this fall
LG was unsurprisingly silent regarding a Canadian launch for the G2 at its New York City event, but it's making up for that today with initial release details for the country. As in the US, LG plans to support most larger carriers: its 5.2-inch phone will be available this fall through Bell, Rogers, SaskTel, Telus, Videotron and Wind Mobile. There are no mentions of pricing at this stage, although the Canadian G2 will share the American variant's 3,000mAh battery and 32GB of storage. It will at least offer more variety in the local smartphone selection -- when the G2 ships, many Canucks will see at least two Android flagships on their network of choice.
Daily Roundup: E-Reader buyer's guide, Google blocks Microsoft's YouTube app, Amber update arrives on Lumia devices, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Verizon claims its LG G2 variant comes with exclusive wireless charging
LG launched the G2 without any mention of wireless charging, but Verizon seems to have scooped that feature for its own variant of the handset. On its sign-up sheet, Big Red is claiming that the CDMA version will come with "exclusive wireless charging," and the accompanying image also shows a slightly different design to the rear buttons. Exactly the sort of thing rival carrier CEOs like to squabble over.
Daily Roundup: HTC kicks off $1 billion rebrand, Elon Musk's Hyperloop, Liquid E2 review, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
LG Korea launches G2 with ill-advised marketing stunt, injures 20 (video)
It's a fine line that gadget fans have to walk, moderating our techno-lust just enough that we don't start hurting people. It's a lesson that LG Korea has just learned the hard way after a promotional event for the new G2 caused 20 people to be injured. The "G in the cloud" event in Seoul involved launching hundreds of helium balloons into the air, carrying vouchers for free handsets -- which some members of the crowd tried to shoot down using BB guns. The company has already apologized to those who were inadvertently shot and will cover the cost of their medical care, while subsequent events have been called off. What's wrong with a raffle?
Weekly Roundup: Moto X review, LG G2 hands-on, Apple's next iPhone event, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 5th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a smartphone inspired by TopGear's 2012 supercar of the year, leaks of a water-resistant handset for T-Mobile and an Android smartphone from LG that sells for under $100 outright. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 5th, 2013.
Daily Roundup: Obama's response to NSA scandal, Distro Issue 102, NVIDIA's second generation Surface, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Editor's Letter: Will LG get lucky with the G2?
In each issue of Distro, Executive Editor Marc Perton publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. It wasn't long ago that the electronics divisions of Samsung and Lucky-Goldstar, two massive Korean conglomerates, played second fiddle to Japanese competitors like Sony and Panasonic. Today, of course, Samsung is a leading manufacturer of everything from tablets to TVs, while Sony makes most of its money by selling life insurance. The renamed LG, meanwhile, continues to battle Samsung on the international stage. In the cellphone industry, for example, LG ranks fourth, behind Apple, Nokia and market-leader Samsung. In TVs, LG ranks second, behind, yes, first-place Samsung. LG's latest salvo, fired this week, comes in the form of the G2, a flagship smartphone that left our Sarah Silbert impressed during her brief time with it. Boasting a 13-megapixel camera that can potentially hold its own against the shooters in the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4, and a range of new features like Answer Me, which lets the phone automatically connect to incoming calls when held to your ear, the G2 could be, in Sarah's words, "a compelling flagship."
Daily Roundup: LG G2 hands-on, Sony's RX100 Mark II, Oculus Rift's new CTO, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Engadget Interview: LG Mobile's Dr. Ram-chan Woo on the G2 design and features
Today at LG's G2 launch event in New York City, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Ram-chan Woo -- LG Mobile's head of LTE product planning -- about the company's new flagship. He walked us through the handset's design with its signature back-mounted volume rocker and power button. We discussed the ultra-thin bezel surrounding the 5.2-inch 1080p GRAM-equipped IPS panel and how the combination of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 SoC and a pyramid-shaped 3,000mAh Li-poly cell helps balance performance and battery life. Next we talked about the 13MP camera which packs OIS, 9-point AF and software-enhanced digital zoom. Finally, Dr. Woo shared his excitement about Hi-fi audio and the phone's ability to playback 24bit / 192KHz FLAC and WAV files right out of the box -- a feature we're rather fond of ourselves. Hit the break for our video interview and be sure to read our hands-on.
LG piles on the software features for latest flagship, including 'Answer Me' and Guest Mode
No non-Nexus Android phone is complete without a pile of obnoxious helpful unique software features. LG's G2 is no different; it adds a bunch more customizations and apps to the company's existing suite. Plug & Pop automatically suggests apps and tasks when you plug in headphones or a USB cable, while Slide Aside lets you quickly dismiss running apps with a simple three-finger swipe. KnockON isn't exactly new, but it's definitely one of the more intriguing and simple twists on the standard Android UI: instead of hitting a power button you simply tap twice on the display to wake the G2 from its sleep. It's a nice convenience that goes hand-in-hand with Answer Me, which automatically answers calls when you put the phone to your ear, just like an old-school wired telephone. There's even QuickRemote, which can not only control home entertainment systems, but a whole range of devices, thanks to its ability to "learn" from standard IR remotes. There's also a guest mode, for when you want to hand the phone over to a friend or your child, though, Guest Mode does nothing to stop their sticky little fingers from leaving goo on your screen.%Gallery-195588%
LG G2 hands-on (video)
We've just met the follow-up to LG's Optimus G flagship, the much-anticipated LG G2. That "much anticipated" comes with a caveat, though: while there's plenty to love about LG's recent premium handsets, they haven't achieved anywhere near the same market clout as, say, Samsung and HTC. With the G2 -- correct, no "Optimus" here -- does LG finally have a crowd pleaser on its hands? Let's dive in, shall we? %Gallery-195565%
LG G2 vs. the competition: flagship Android smartphones square off
Now that the LG G2 is official, the battle between mid-2013 Android flagships is fully underway. But which wins the war? We've pitted the new smartphone against its biggest competitors in the US -- Samsung's Galaxy S 4, the HTC One and the Motorola Moto X -- to understand which device most deserves a place in your pocket. Based purely on the spec sheet, the G2 is the frontrunner. Its larger 5.2-inch screen, quicker 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 and image-stabilized 13-megapixel rear camera will please those who want a media powerhouse. Its extra-large battery and 24-bit / 192KHz audio are also unique in a category where longevity and sound quality tend to play second fiddle. If all you want is the most technically capable device, look no further. Yet each of the G2's competitors has an advantage that's harder to quantify. The GS4 has a full set of hardware nav keys (for those who prefer them), air gestures and a slightly tougher plastic build. The One claims superior low-light photography and dual speakers. And the Moto X partly makes up for its lackluster speed through design customization and helpful tricks like Touchless Control. To us, that puts LG in an awkward middle. While the G2's performance is almost beyond compare, many of its software features aren't all that unique -- those who aren't sold on its performance could easily be lured away.
LG G2 will launch on all four major US carriers
If you were worried that LG might launch an exclusive deal with one of the major US carriers for its new flagship G2 smartphone, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The company announced during the device's launch that it'll arrive on the Big Four stateside: Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. Sprint said it was "thrilled" that the G2 would hit its 4G LTE handset lineup, while T-Mobile said it would be adding three LG devices to its lineup: the G2 plus the Optimus F6 and F3. T-Mob added that the F3 is now available for $0 down on its Simple Choice plan (for a limited time), and said that pricing and availability for the Optimus F6 and G2 would be available "in the coming weeks." Verizon tweeted that LG's flagship was "coming soon," but AT&T has yet to officially chime in.
