LG G2
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AT&T will sell the G Pad 7.0 for 99 cents -- with a couple catches
We can't say for sure how great a tablet the new LG G Pad 7.0 is -- we haven't had the chance to try it out yet. But if you were already planning on buying the G3 smartphone on AT&T, you might consider picking up the tablet too: Starting on Friday, Ma Bell will throw in the tablet for just 99 cents extra. Now, before you get too excited, there are of course a couple catches. Maybe some dealbreaking ones. To qualify for that insane 99-cent price, you'll have to purchase either the G3, G Flex or last-generation G2, and you'll need to either sign a new two-year service agreement or renew your contract through AT&T's "Next" early upgrade plan. Also, the tablet needs to be on-contract too. Ouch.
Sprint's push-to-talk app adds support for six new phones
Sprint is bringing push-to-talk functionality to six new devices today: the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, LG G2, LG G Flex, LG Optimus F3, and the Kyocera Hydro Edge. The feature comes by way of Sprint's Direct Connect Now Android app, and allows user to chirp at friends who are using Sprint's Direct Connect services (and annoy everyone around in the process), as long as both have their feet firmly planted on US soil. In addition to today's announcement, support for the Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Mega, and Sprint Spark edition Galaxy S4 are expected to arrive soon.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: fall 2013
As the leaves turn to gold and flutter from the trees, the Engadget team digs out their scarves and mittens to get ready for the mad rush of phone launches that take place ahead of the holiday season. We've seen big devices (both large and high-profile ones) enter the world over the last few months, including new heavyweights from Apple and Google. Then there's Samsung, Nokia and HTC, which are all following the philosophy that bigger is better. But it's not just on the hardware side that things are getting exciting. T-Mobile's eliminated roaming charges and Verizon is doubling its LTE speeds to a whopping 80 Mbps. AT&T is offering customers a $5 daily pass for internet and is making mobile share plans the standard rather than the exception. Of course, if you'd prefer unlimited data, Sprint is promising that its Spark LTE will beat the field -- but it's currently only available in NYC, LA, Chicago, Tampa and Miami. Whether you're looking for a smartphone right now, or if your contract is about to expire, this is your guide to the best ones on the market.
New LG developer program lends you a G2 for free
Perhaps LG thinks life could be better than good for the company if more developers create apps for its smartphones and tablets. That's why the Korean corporation has launched a program that loans devices to devs free of charge. The catch (there's always a catch), is that LG wants devs to design proprietary apps for its phones -- but it doesn't forbid folks from seeing if their non-exclusive apps play nice with the handsets, too. If you're interested and technically adept, you can register at the official LG Device Loaner Program website and choose from one of the gadgets available, including the G2. You only have 30 days with whichever you choose, and return shipping's on your dime, but it's still a pretty good deal if you've been looking to test your code on LG's hardware.
Sprint introduces Spark enhanced LTE, promises unprecedented speed, futuristic app support
Sprint may have lost 360,000 customers over the last quarter, but it's looking to stem that tide with the introduction of Sprint Spark, an enhanced LTE service it says will deliver "unprecedented speeds" to its cellphone users. The company demoed the service running at 1Gbps this morning, however, customers can expect "50-60 Megabits per second (Mbps) peak speeds today with increasing speed potential over time." Sprint says the service will not only enhance video and bandwidth-hogging apps, but says it's ready to take on virtual reality and "futuristic apps" -- whatever those might be. Spark is dependent on tri-band wireless devices, which are intended to seamlessly switch between Sprint's 800MHz, 1.9GHz and 2.5GHz cellular bands, depending on your location and which apps you're using. The rollout begins today with limited availability in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Miami, though Sprint promises to extend that service to 100 US cities by 2016. The first Spark-supported phones, Samsung's Galaxy Mega and Galaxy S 4 mini and LG's G2, will be available on Sprint's network on November 8th. Software updates for Samsungs' handsets will enable tri-band "shortly after launch," with a similar update scheduled for early 2014 for the G2. The HTC One Max will also support Spark, but Sprint has yet to announce availability. Update: This post originally listed tri-band support for all Spark-enabled handsets as November 8th.
LG banner ads detect your Galaxy S 4 or iPhone in order to bash it
Ad agency M&C Saatchi has come up with a rather dubious but clever way of marketing LG's G2 smartphone. Its banner ads sense your own handset and will taunt its shortcomings while suggesting, naturally, an LG G2 instead. For instance, an HTC One-based ad suggests that you'll get 30 percent more battery life with a G2, while an iPhone version touts the LG's larger screen. The Sweden-only ads may rub brand-loyal types the wrong way, but as an attention-grabbing device? LG does know trolling.
Sprint opens LG G2 pre-orders ahead of November 8th release
Already on sale for more than a month at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, Sprint has finally revealed when you'll be able to get your hands on LG's G2 flagship. The operator today opened pre-orders for the $99 Android phone but doesn't expect deliveries to hit your doorstep until November 8th. To sweeten the deal, Sprint will also provide lazy notification cases (which are actually pretty convenient) to everyone who pre-orders a G2 through its website. [Thanks, Metayoshi]
This week on gdgt: Logitech's Harmony Ultimate, the LG G2 and investing in a next-gen console
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
Weekly Roundup: Apple iPhone 5s and 5c hands-on, LG G2 review, Moto X's Texas factory, 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.
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.
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?
The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 4PM ET!
We're back this week, and again there's no shortage of mobile news to keep our mouths talking -- not that this has ever been a problem for us in the past, right? This time our thoughts are primarily focused on the LG G2 and the Moto X, two flagships that we're going to be seeing a lot more of this fall. Join us at 4pm ET and we'll give you the scoop on the latest! August 7, 2013 4:00:00 PM EDT
LG G2 officially announced: 5.2-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 800, new rear design
After months of leaks and rumors, it's finally time for us to take a look at the real LG G2. The successor to last year's Optimus G was just officially announced and, as you have come to expect from the usual flagships, it's loaded with plenty of specs and clever features, not to mention some interesting new smartphone design approaches. The new device, which runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, comes with a larger display than its predecessor, packing a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS panel. It also offers a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC. Additionally, you can expect to find a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization (as well as a 2.1MP front-facing cam), 24 bit/192kHz HiFi playback, a non-removable 3,000mAh battery, 2GB of RAM and your choice of 16GB or 32GB internal storage. It'll come in white and black, and LG tells us that the G2 will be rolling out to markets around the world over the next eight weeks, and we have confirmation that all four major US carriers have committed to adding the device to their lineup. What about those unique design traits? As you may have already seen in the leaked images (or if you happened to look at the press image above), the backside of the phone is much busier than on most other handsets. LG opted to put the volume rocker and power button just below the rear camera rather than the edge of the phone. The idea for this, we're told, is to make the handheld experience a little less awkward on such a large phone. Since the device is wider than smartphones of olden times, LG wanted to put more controls in a place that your fingers naturally rest. LG is also boasting thinner bezels -- 0.1-inch thick, to be precise -- thanks to a new dual-routing method in which the touch sensor uses two connectors. On the software side, LG has done more than just throw in a few ringtones from the Vienna Boys' Choir. It offers features like AnswerMe, which answers incoming calls when you put the phone up to your ear, and Slide Aside, which lets you do a three-finger gesture to "slide" open apps off the screen for multitasking. Text Link is another interesting idea, where the phone takes relevant text and inserts embeddable links to them in other apps -- of course, this is similar to what we've seen on iOS previously. There's also Guest Mode, which allows another user to access the phone (LG refers to this as a type of Kid Mode) by drawing a different gesture on the lock screen. We lay out the software in more detail here, so check it out for more info. If you're interested in the full spec sheet and how it compares to other flagships, we've got that here. We also have our hands-on here for more impressions of the device, as well as a press release and gallery below. %Gallery-195580%
We'll be liveblogging LG's G2 event tomorrow, join us at 11AM ET!
Speculation is overrated -- or at least LG seems to think so. The Korean phone-maker has already announced that the Optimus G will be succeeded by a handset dubbed the G2, and it's pretty clear that tomorrow's event will be a launch for that very device. There's still plenty we don't know about this upcoming handset, though, so you'll want to point your browser right here as we bring you the latest news live from the NYC event. August 7, 2013 11:00:00 AM EDT
LG invitation and video tease G2 debut at August 7th event (video)
While there wasn't much doubt as to what LG would unveil at its August 7th event, the company has made it official: a new invitation and teaser video (both after the break) expressly state that we'll see the G2 at the New York City gathering. The invitation tells the media that it will be the "first in the world" to see the smartphone, and shows the device's signature (if frequently leaked) back-mounted volume buttons. At this rate, there won't be any real mystery left to the G2 by the time LG executives take to the stage -- still, we'll try to feign surprise at the launch.
A clear look at LG's upcoming Optimus G2 (update 2: video)
There's still one month to go before LG officially unveils its Optimus G successor, but thanks to an anonymous tipster, we have a pretty clear idea of what it'll look like. Similar to the G2 leaks we've seen in the past, this upcoming Android flagship falls more in line with the (LG-made) Nexus 4's rounded-edge design than the blockiness of the original Optimus G. As you can see in the image above, the purported G2's 5.2-inch, 1080p display is surrounded by very little bezel, making it appear near edge-to-edge. LG's also foregoing the three capacitive Android navigation buttons featured on the original G in favor of an onscreen (stock Android-like) arrangement. On back, we can clearly see LG is indeed going forward with that quirky volume rocker placement, which puts the controls just below the camera -- rumored to be a 13-megapixel module. Further corroborating earlier reports and LG's own official confirmation, our tipster pegs the G2's processor as a Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.3GHz and paired with 2GB RAM. And although there are no visible signs of carrier branding on its glossy chassis, this particular G2 variant is supposedly headed to Sprint. Which, if true, lines up with the legacy set by the Sprint Optimus G -- a device that also launched free of the Now Network's logo. Apart from a few screens showing the launcher, camera UI and one of LG's various lockscreen options, there's not much more we know about its spec list (i.e. battery size). Though we fully expect more details to leak out in the run-up to August 7th. For now, check out the mini-gallery below and an additional, close up photo of the G2's volume rocker just after the break. Update: We've received additional photos of the G2's settings menu confirming this model as a Sprint variant running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Update 2: 4Leakz has posted a video (after the break) showing the G2 in action. Reportedly, the phone is "very comfortable" and reminiscent of the Nexus 4, but thinner. [Thanks, Anonymous] %Gallery-193430%
OnLive Multiview on an LG Google TV, eyes-on (video)
Between the giant screen gaming demos, the shiny new hardware and the ever-present booth babes, the Electronic Entertainment Expo may well be the short attention span capital of North America at the moment. How does one possible manage to up the ante on electronic attention deficit disorder? Nintendo and Microsoft have both made pretty admirable strives in that direction with the Wii U GamePad and SmartGlass, respectively, bringing a second screen to home game play. OnLive is helping move things along as well, by way of the MultiView feature, which brings several screens worth of content to a single display -- in other words, you have other games taking up screen real estate while you're playing a game. OnLive's Spectate feature is nothing new, of course, letting you keep tabs on friends and scores of other players. MultiView, however, lets you watch that content while playing, the majority of the screen devoted to your own game, with this added footage in a sidebar. You can access the feature with the click of a button and chat with friends or coordinate with teammates. OnLive showed us the feature on an LG G2 Google TV -- the perfect opportunity for the company to highlight the new partnership. The 55-inch display also served as an ideal demo -- while the feature will also be available for mobile devices, you're really going to want a big screen, lest the whole thing become a little too cacophonous.
Engadget's summer gear guide 2012: home entertainment
In the interest of keeping cool this summer, we've put together a list of the hottest products out right now. From smartphones to e-readers and everything in between, there's no time like the present to re-up that post-spring-cleaning stash. So grab a popsicle or a cold one and dive in -- the water's just right. Forget heading outside to battle the sun, bugs and whatever other dangers may lurk in the wild -- we'll be inside near the TV. Of course, the summer programming schedule can often leave something to be desired, so we'll have to take that into account in our hardware suggestions going into the break. Also key is access to our preferred programming wherever it might be, broadcast or online. So, which devices are absolute must-have's to keep you chilling where the AC blows through October and beyond? Check past the break to find out.
