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Sprint announces Muziq from LG
Shoring up its music-friendly line alongside the UpStage from Samsung, Sprint has announced its "Muziq," the Fusic's spiritual successor from LG. While it'll face some serious musicphone competition from across the CDMA / GSM divide later this week, the Muziq holds its own with some interesting features including an integrated FM transmitter that can send tuneage to any FM radio within ten feet. It also offers up stereo Bluetooth, a microSD slot supporting up to 4GB of expansion (a 64MB card is included in box), 1.3 megapixel camera, and sideloading of DRM-free music via USB. Look for it to hit on July 15 for $99 on contract.
Sprint prepping to launch LG's "Fusic II"?
LG's original Fusic was fairly well received and reviewed, but left a little bit to be desired in the phone-as-iPod-replacement category -- and with a name like Fusic, this may have been LG's goal. Not to be dissuaded, rumor has it that LG is set to bang out a revision two handset named, you guessed it, Fusic II. The specs we peeped don't show too many changes as the screen resolution remains the same at 220 x 176, it is still rocking EV-DO, and while the camera is still only spitting out 1.3 megapixel pics, it has been relocated to the front. We don't have specifics on the handset's size, but we do hear it's weighing in at 99 grams now instead of the portly 120 grams of the original -- and smaller, thinner, and lighter are three things we definitely adore. Release is apparently slated for "Mid 2007" and you can be sure we'll be back before then with more info.
Sprint fumbles, fries Fusics with faulty firmware
We hate to see a nifty technology like FOTA (firmware over-the-air) getting such a bad rap early on in the game, but in the same breath, our mommies always told us "measure twice, cut once" -- and we think that's an eminently appropriate adage in the aftermath of Sprint's recent attempt to re-up Fusics already in the field. It seems the firmware update, pushed just a couple days ago to customers' handsets, quickly and efficiently bricked each and every one of them. The whole situation is a full order of magnitude more frightening than Nokia's similar experience with the E70, seeing how Nokia's update was optional and at least required the user to manually perform the upgrade. Naturally, Sprint's pulled the bogus firmware and is offering a free replacement to affected customers, but it's still a shame that they've cost Fusic owners a trip to the Sprint Store.
LG Fusic music phone reviewed
If you're thinking about picking up LG's Fusic (otherwise known as the LG550) you might want to block off some time to read Phone Scoop's incredibly thorough review. The handset, which is available now from Sprint, gets high marks for design and advanced features like excellent battery life, A2DP and an FM transmitter, but is hurt by the fact both music players (one for songs purchased from the Sprint Music Store and one for everything else) can't multitask, so if you need to check your texts, you'll have to do it in silence. The review goes on to admit that even with interchangeable faceplates and a very familiar scroll wheel, the Fusic is geared more toward the occasional listener than the audiophile, so don't go making a spot in the junk drawer just yet.
Sprint launches LG LX550 (Fusic)
There was little surprise in this one, but Sprint's officially launched that LG LX550 as the Fusic. Sure, maybe it's not the most skillfully named (or styled) phone we've laid eyes upon, but it's got EV-DO, A2DP, an FM transmitter and radio, 1.3 megapixel camera, and MicroSD (bundled with 64MB) for $179.99 after rebate and two-year contract.[Via Phone Scoop]
