LgUplus
Latest
Galaxy Tab 3 gets rebranded as 'Homeboy' for launch on LG's Korean mobile network
Considering that Korea's warring giants don't get along too well, it's amusing to see LG offering a Samsung-made tablet on LG U+, the latter's domestic cellular network. The "Homeboy" is a re-branded Galaxy Tab 3 that plugs into U+'s services, including TV channels, music, video, e-book and educational software stores, oh, and it'll double as a GPS while on the go. Leave the unit at home, however, and it'll also guard the property, texting you if it senses an unwanted intruder -- and is, according to the company's Kang Hyun-ku, the first step in LG's new connected home platform. That said, given that it's nearly a nailed-on certainty that we're going to see LG's return to the tablet game in short order, we don't expect the amusingly-titled slate to remain the favorite son in a couple of months.
LG U+ launches LTE-Advanced network, sets sights on SK Telecom
Not long after South Korea's SK Telecom launched the world's first LTE-Advanced network, its homegrown rival, LG U+, will be rolling out LTE-Advanced to its customers as well, according to Yonhap News. There's no word on what phones the new network will support, though we won't be surprised if LG's own Optimus G successor will be one of them. Now pardon us as we figure out a way to move to South Korea, as that's the only place to get a taste of the zippy speeds right now.
South Korea frowns on steep phone subsidies, bans new carrier customers for most of January
South Korea is an ocean apart from North America in more ways than one. Where US and Canadian carriers virtually center their businesses around heavily subsidized phones, the Korea Communications Commission is discouraging the idea. The agency isn't just fining KT, LG U+ and SK Telecom for offering device discounts beyond 270,000 won ($252), it's banning those networks from taking new subscribers for as many as 24 days in January -- they'll have no choice but to serve their existing bases for most of the month. The providers are unsurprisingly miffed, although the punishment may be a win for customers who won't necessarily be as indebted to their carriers when they spring for a Galaxy Note II or Optimus G.
Samsung HDTVs get an IPTV app for LG U+ in Korea, most US providers are still slacking
Here in the US, Samsung has consistently pushed the idea of using its HDTVs to watch cable / satellite without a set-top box at CES for the last several years. So far it has actually managed to launch support for DirecTV and Verizon FiOS video via IP although other providers demonstrated are still missing (Time Warner, Comcast), and now it's launching IPTV support at home in Korea with LG U+. The app lets Smart TVs directly tune into any of 138 broadcast channels as well as video on-demand, apparently without any box in the house. While we wait for easier IP access stateside -- and it's going to be an even longer wait now -- Samsung's also rolling out IPTV access with Estonian provider Elion, while LG U+ has already announced a set-top box with integrated Google TV, NFC and more. Maybe next year really is the year we get to ditch the cable box -- but also, maybe not.
Korean IPTV service LG Uplus launches a Google TV-powered set-top box
While we've seen the Google TV platform spread to additional manufacturers and some new lower-priced form factors, LG Uplus (not the same as LG Electronics) is the first we've seen offering a set-top box for its IPTV service based on it. new and existing customers alike can opt for the U+TV G, which will blend live TV streams, video on-demand and Google TV apps. Rapper Psy will be playing a large part in a national campaign to promote the offering, and after making Korea the tenth country Google TV is available in, Google says it will continue to work with providers around the world. Jumping inside the cable box is a notable move for the project, however at home hasn't significantly improved integration beyond that originally offered by Dish Network, and it's not even built into the Google Fiber set-top box. Check out a few (oddly silent?) demo videos embedded after the break.
Pantech Vega R3 packs Snapdragon S4 Pro, 5.3-inch screen into one hand
If there's one thing that defines the phablet, it's not hand portability -- what's on the market usually demands something of a stretch. Pantech wants to keep our grip at least slightly in check through its imminent Vega R3. The Android phone's 5.3-inch, IPS-based LCD isn't what we'd call modest, but it's framed by an extra-thin bezel that Pantech claims is still comfortable in one hand. The R3 will be powerful, no matter how you hold it. It touts the same quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro we just saw in the LG Optimus G along with 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera and a 2,600mAh battery that can top up 100 minutes. South Koreans can pick up the Vega R3 from one of their three major carriers on September 25th. Sadly, we're not expecting an American variant of the design given an emphasis on cheaper and smaller Pantech models in the US.
Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands
HTC's closure of its South Korean office may seem yet another blow to the company this year, but don't be alarmed: we saw it coming. It's a given that Peter Chou's gang is cutting back in response to its recent weak performance, but the more interesting takeaway here is the fact that the South Korean smartphone market is one tough nut for foreign brands to crack open. Just walk into any carrier shop in Seoul and you'll see the shelves dominated by devices from Samsung, LG and Pantech. If you're lucky, you may spot the odd Sony, Motorola and HTC phones cowering in a corner. So why is that the case? Let's take a look at the how it all started.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 4th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, the LG Optimus L7 and Sony Xperia U both arrived at Fido, and Verizon Wireless unleashed some wicked LTE expansion across the US. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 4th, 2012.
LG Optimus LTE now official: High-speed data alongside a high-definition IPS display
It may not be the biggest phone reveal coming in the next 24 hours, but leaked details had already piqued our interest in LG's next big thing. The Optimus LTE's screen rivals Apple's Retina Display at 326ppi and that high-definition sharpness is slathered on a 4.5-inch AH-IPS display. The sizable 1830mAh battery should be enough to keep the phone ticking over despite these high-end specs, which include a confirmed 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and eight megapixel camera. Will we get to see it on these shores? We're not sure of its travel itinerary after it reaches Korea, but we'd love to see this and Samsung's latest LTE wares tussle for our affections.
LG teases LU6200 with 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 720p HD display, Gingerbread and 75Mbps LTE
We recently stumbled upon the latest smartphone that LG's preparing for its home country, and wow, this plus-sized beauty is sure to turn some heads in South Korea. The device is known only as the LU6200, but it packs a 4.5-inch AH-IPS display at 720p resolution, a dual-core 1.5GHz Scorpion CPU, an Adreno 220 GPU, along with an 8 megapixel AF camera and connectivity to the U+ LTE network (which supports a maximum theoretical download speed of 75Mbps). Further, users will find a 1.3MP front-facing cam, 1GB of RAM, 4GB built-in storage, an 1,830mAh battery, 801.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, along with support for DLNA, MHL, WiFi Direct and NFC. Specifically for the Korean market, the handset can also receive digital radio and TV broadcasts through terrestrial DMB. LG has launched a teaser page for this Gingerbread-powered smartphone, for which pre-orders are said to begin on September 26th -- although, there's yet no word on the pricing. It's certainly intriguing, though we'll gladly wait for a stateside version before raiding our piggy bank... again. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Samsung Galaxy U and Galaxy K add to the alphabet soup in South Korea
SK Telecom already offers a version of the Galaxy S -- but it's often the case that two or all three of Korea's top wireless players want in on the same hot handsets, so it's no surprise to hear that rivals LG U+ and KT are both working on flavors of their own. Confusingly, they'll be called the Galaxy U and the Galaxy K -- apparently in tribute to their carriers' names -- but they'll both be a touch smaller than the original S, clocking in at 3.7 inches (see the U pictured next to an S above). Word on the street is that they'll both be hitting between August and September, so the wait's a mercifully short one. Ironically, it's the supply of Samsung's 3.7-inch AMOLED displays that forced HTC's hand on moving into SLCD -- so we guess this is where part of that supply's being diverted. Check another picture of the U after the break. [Thanks, Pete]
