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LG Marquee comes to Boost Mobile on January 23rd for $279
Having raided the smartphone coffers of its parent just a few days ago, today Sprint subsidiary, Boost Mobile, is at it again. Today's plunder comes in the form of the LG Marquee -- the Now Network's version of the Optimus Black -- which we first espied in carrier grab back in September. Setting you back $279, it'll be offered in Boost Mobile stores January 23rd, followed by everywhere else come February. PR on the 4-inch Gingerbread-totin' smartphone is after the break.
Telus launches Optimus Black in white, doesn't believe in paradoxes
For those who like a good dose of irony with their Cheerios, there's the LG Optimus Black -- now available in white. Like its darker cousin released in Canada earlier this summer, the Black in white (seriously...), will feature the same specs as the original (a 5 megapixel camera, unlimited Skype-to-Skype calling and a 4-inch IPS display) as well as an identical contract-dependant price tag. Starting tomorrow, the phone will be available on the Telus network, but there's no word yet whether its American twin will get the same whitewash treatment. This latest pair of handsets now joins a distinguished list of ebony and ivory favorites: Oreos, tuxedos and Michael Jackson songs (video after the break).
LG Marquee steps out in leaked press shot, coming this October? (updated: it's official)
It looks like the LG Marquee's gearing up for its coming out party. We first caught wind of the Optimus Black clone when it surfaced in blurrycam form at a Radio Shack briefing, running what appeared to be vanilla Android, and branded for the Now Network. Well, thanks to a leaked press shot over on PocketNow, we can clearly see that the device is, indeed, sporting a lightly-skinned version of the pure Gingerbread experience, with Sprint ID replacing the browser in the phone's launcher. Cosmetically, you'll also notice the new grey-colored chassis has a striped band sweeping down the battery cover, although the camera placement remains similar to its European cousin. Aside from that, the only other notable difference is in the design and arrangement of the capacitive buttons. The specs seem to fall line with its elder LG stablemate, as the handset packs a single-core 1GHz processor, 2 megapixel front-facing / 5 megapixel rear cameras and 4-inch NOVA display. The only question that remains is whether you're willing to forgo impending beastliness for elegance this October when it's rumored to launch. Update: Sprint's made it official. The LG Marquee'll be available for pre-order online on September 20th, and will go on sale October 2nd for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year contract.
LG Marquee caught on candid camera, is this Sprint's Optimus Black?
Is this a case of smartphone identity crisis, or just a repurposed chassis? Whatever the case may be, LG's got a Marquee handset ready to shore up Sprint's future line-up. The leaked shot comes courtesy of a now private video spotted by Android Central, and was taken at a Dallas-based Radio Shack Business Summit. It's evident from the one Mr. Blurrycam screen cap on display that the phone's currently running a vanilla build of Gingerbread, and sports a minimalistic design that's reminiscent of the Optimus Black. We can't be certain the two are indeed twins, however that leaked roadmap did indicate a stateside October bow for the Optimus Black -- this could simply be a rebrand for the Now Network.
Sprint to welcome Samsung M930 and LG Optimus Black in October?
Samsung's been making a ruckus with the M930, an Android slider that hasn't even been announced yet. Soon after reporting the device was en route to Boost Mobile, we saw its subsequent appearance in the FCC. According to leaked internal docs, it turns out the Droid Charge-lookalike may very well be heading to Sprint and replacing its elder brother, the Transform. In case you only have eyes for slates, the M930 will be offered alongside the LG LS855 -- the Optimus Black -- sometime in October. For those who love two-year commitments almost as much as they love the phones, a couple new options may now be on the table for the holiday season. [Thanks, Korey]
Telus gets cozy with Skype, announces Optimus Black 'Skype edition' for summer release
Telus is looking to attract Skype's Canadian constituency by positioning itself as the nation's first carrier to easily enable the VoIP habit -- an addiction we're quite fond of, in fact. In a partnership with Microsoft's latest acquisition, Telus will allow its customers to purchase Skype credits directly from their wireless accounts -- meaning credit cards won't be necessary to call mates in distant locales. For newbies, the provider is announcing a "Skype edition" of the LG Optimus Black, featuring a shortcut to download the app (rather than pre-installing it), and a $2 credit for up to 60 minutes of international calls. If you're thinking a single toonie is a bit meager, we're suspecting Mr. Ballmer was glad to save coin anywhere he could -- after dropping $8.5 billion, that is. The specially-branded phone is set for a summer release and there's no hint at pricing, but if you get your jollies from reading press releases, just follow the break for the reveal. [Thanks, Justin]
LG Optimus Black arrives at T-Mobile UK for free (gasp!)
Sure, its 700 nit Nova Display is bright, but it doesn't quite approach Apple's excellence, and its 1GHz processor comes across a touch sluggish, but attach "Free" to LG's Optimus Black and instantly there's a whole lotta value crammed in these 9.2 millimeters. That's the story over at T-Mobile UK, anyway, which is giving the Android 2.2 handset away with any two-year plan over £25. Just think, once you convince a friend to also throw down nothing for this handset, you'll be exchanging laughs, tunes and memories over WiFi Direct -- once you find an app that supports it, anyway. As for mainland Europe, your Optimus Black will be arriving shortly, but don't get too huffy if your particular carrier isn't quite so philanthropic.
LG Optimus Black review
If you asked us to design our ideal Android phone, it might well end up looking like LG's Optimus Black. The handset that was once known under the codename "B" features a clean, elegant and exceedingly thin exterior, which is garnished with a 4-inch IPS display capable of generating 700 nits of brightness. There's the usual litany of added features, too, like a 5 megapixel shooter with the ability to record 720p video, a special G-Key for motion controls, and Wi-Fi Direct for peer-to-peer file transfers. Of course, looks and headline features are just the tip of the iceberg that is user experience, so if you want to know about the mountainous whole, join us after the break for a deep dive with LG's latest Android phone. %Gallery-123183%
LG Optimus Black debuts in Europe 'this month,' rest of the world settles for dual-core crumbs
LG told us to expect the ultra-slim Optimus Black handset globally in the first half of the year, and at least one continent will receive the device as planned -- the company just announced that the 9.2mm thin smartphone with the 700 nit NOVA display will hit Europe this month, with launches planned for North America and Asia at unspecified times after that. Yes, there'll be plenty of jealousy to go around, especially sometime in June -- that's when LG will allegedly unveil white and pink versions of the phone. Assuming, of course, that you're willing to settle for a single-core 1GHz processor when confronted with the latest spec sheets. PR after the break.
LG releases Optimus Black in Korea, it's a dark phone with a really bright screen
Okay, perhaps someone at LG didn't get the memo, but unless you're Samsung, this really wasn't the best time to launch a phone in South Korea. Even though it was easily overshadowed, today also marked the launch of LG's Optimus Black, and while its 1GHz processor won't top any benchmark charts, designers had something altogether different in mind for this one. Most notably, the handset features a bright, 4-inch NOVA display that promises energy-efficiency and all-day longevity. Further, the device supports WiFi Direct communication, which enables phones to trade files directly and without an intermediary. The Optimus Black still includes Android 2.2, just as LG said it would, though we're told Gingerbread is in the oven. Hit the source link for an extended peek -- it's in Korean, but there's so much audio-visual stimuli that you're unlikely to notice.
4G at CES 2011: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile make big moves
Traditionally, CES isn't a huge mobile event -- the biggest phone news has historically been saved for MWC in February and CTIA in March -- but that changed in a huge way this week. Looks like 2011 is shaping up to be the year of 4G, and both carriers and manufacturers alike wasted no time jumping on the hype bandwagon with a variety of announcements that promise to make the next few months exciting... and really, really fast. AT&T kicked things off early in the show, but it was just the beginning of a relentless torrent of mobile news that lasted for days and ultimately left us with a pile of devices and network upgrades that should take us at least through the middle of the year. Read on for the recap!
LG Optimus Black shows off its WiFi Direct skills on video (hands-on)
WiFi Direct, for those not paying attention in class, is a communications protocol for allowing devices with wireless radios to talk to one another and share files without the need for an intermediary WiFi access point between them. Basically, it's like blasting out an ad hoc wireless network, one that permits simultaneous file transfers to up to eight other WiFi Direct-capable machines. LG kindly gave us a peek at its implementation in the Optimus Black, and while things are still pretty rough and (not) ready, we got a decent idea of how they'll operate. Jump past the break to see for yourself. %Gallery-113287%
LG Optimus Black hands-on
We were on-hand for a hands-on as LG threw itself a bash celebrating a couple swish Android sets: the Optimus 2X and the Optimus Black. We've seen plenty of the 2X already, but the Black is an entirely different creature. First off, the taper on the back that sees the set go from 9mm in the middle to 6mm on each side is both nice to look at and helps keep the set cradled in your hand. The 4-inch WVGA NOVA display is both bright -- 700 nits, if you worry about that type of thing -- and extremely legible in the glaring spotlights installed at the stand. LG was touting the addition of its Wi-Fi Direct feature -- what at first sight seems like gimmickry -- that allows direct file transfer between sets without the need for an access point, and hey, it worked -- and might even be useful. We look forward to the Optimus Black crashing into our lives sometime in the first half of this year. %Gallery-112876%
LG announces super slim Optimus Black with NOVA display
It may have already tipped its hand, but LG has now just gotten fully official with its latest flagship Android phone, the Optimus Black (previously known as the LG "B"), which packs a 4-inch NOVA display that promises to be both bright (700 nits) and energy efficient. What's more, despite being just 9.2 mm slim (and tapering down to 6 mm), the phone also packs 1,500mAh battery that promises a full day of use, and you'll get a 2 megapixel front-facing camera in addition to another one of unspecified resolution presumably 'round back. According to LG, the phone will ship with Android 2.2 (plus LG's Optimus UI 2.0), but get a Gingerbread update at some point in the future. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and look for the phone itself to roll out globally in the first half of the year.
