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LG sells 10 million Optimus L-Series phones, stays semi-humble with success
Although the Optimus G and its Nexus 4 cousin are clearly the darlings of LG's mobile lineup, that isn't precluding the Korean company from crowing about a milestone for its more pedestrian Optimus L-Series smartphones. The company has officially passed 10 million sales of L-Series phones spread across the entire line, ranging from the tiny L3 through to the extra-large L9. LG only makes a partial attempt at keeping itself grounded, though. While it's quick to acknowledge that 10 million is a "modest" amount in the light of grander achievements, it directly credits the figure to rejecting rivals' tendencies to put "all their eggs into a one-size-fits-all phone" -- a not-so-subtle potshot at a certain competitor's approach to budget models. Whether or not that's valid criticism, we'd say a little braggadocio could be justified when most low-cost smartphones rarely get this kind of recognition.
Refresh Roundup: week of August 6th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
LG Optimus L7 review: a beautiful, entry-level Android 4.0 smartphone with LG's new UI 3.0
Consider your last trip to the car dealership. Let's say you saved up and hit up BMW. While you might've looked at -- or even test driven -- the M3, there's a good chance that your better judgment (and your budget) led you to drive off of the lot with a 328i. Sure, it's only got a four-cylinder engine inside, but the car offers great handling and good gas mileage. Better yet, you didn't have to spend an atrocious amount of money to get behind the wheel. The same goes with mobile phones. While it's fun to dream of owning a One X, a Galaxy S III or an Optimus 4X HD, they're called superphones for a reason: they cater to power-hungry individuals with a fair amount of disposable income. Like supercars, they're designed to bring people into the store, even if shoppers ultimately leave with something else in hand. More Info LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple' LG Optimus L-style series hands-on LG busts out a trio of L-series phones in the run up to MWC Enter the LG Optimus L7. Positioned at the higher end of the company's entry-level lineup, it aims to be the 328i of smartphones. Sure, no one's lining up to drool over it, but LG is aiming for this to be a practical choice with just enough elegance and pizzaz to keep consumers grinning. Of course, that sweet spot is difficult to achieve, and we've seen plenty of smartphone manufacturers miss the mark in attempting to balance performance and amenities with a palatable price. So, does the Optimus L7 rise to the challenge? We've spent the past week with it as our daily driver, and we're ready to make the call. Read on for the answer.%Gallery-159344%
LG Optimus L5 to complete the L-style ensemble later this month
The final middle piece of LG's L-style puzzle, the 4-inch Optimus L5, is pegged to arrive in the UK, Germany and France in the next two weeks. The sub-10mm phone packs the same design elements seen in the rest of the L-style series, meaning it'll also look uncannily similar to both the incoming Optimus Vu and Prada Phone 3.0. Aside from Android 4.0, the mid-ranger doesn't house that many surprises underneath those designer lines. Ho-hum specifications include a single core 800MHz processor, 4GB of (microSD-expandable) internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera. Once it's toured Western Europe, the device has plans to see the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America, although LG isn't saying whether the Optimus L5 has plans for a visit to North America.
Did LG's Optimus L5 handset sneak through the FCC?
Remember LG's Android L-style series of smartphones from back at Mobile World Conference? While we can't be totally certain this is the case, it appears that the Optimus L5 handset recently passed through the FCC's subterranean lair. Buried within the testing report is the diagram pictured, displaying measurements that fit in nicely with the mid-tier device's 4-inch screen size. For cellular connectivity, you'll find GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and WCDMA (850/2100) radios, alongside the requisite GPS, Bluetooth and WLAN. Mum's still the word on when we might start seeing this device and its siblings up for sale on US shores, but feel free to parse the FCC testing report at the source link below in the meantime.
LG's Optimus L7 brings ICS, 4.3-inch screen to market starting today
The high end edition of LG's new L-Style Optimus line is ready to roll, as the company announced the Optimus L7 is available in various "major" European locales before heading to Asia and the rest of the world later. In case it's been forgotten in the midst of its fellow L-branded smartphones like the L3 that launched in March, the L7 is an Android 4.0 handset with a 4.3-inch screen and 8.7mm-thick frame. Check out our hands on impressions from MWC or the press release after the break for more info, though it will likely appear on a carrier nearby sooner rather than later.
LG confirms Optimus L3 will introduce L-Style to Europe this month (updated)
Fresh from its official debut in the warm Catalan sun, LG has confirmed that the Optimus L3 will be hitting European shelves this month, making it the first L-style phone out of the gate. After Europe, the dual-core 800MHz slice of Gingerbread will leave a crumbly trail eastwards, landing in Russia, then Asia. The official PR stops short of telling us if it'll go full-circle and arrive on US shores, simply teasing budget phone-seeking Americans with "followed by other markets around the world."Update: LG has issued a clarification regarding the specs of the device which we've corrected in the PR after the break. Original release stated that the phone had 2GB RAM, while in truth it has only 384MB, but does have 1GB of storage available for media and other files.
