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Remembering LG's finest (and strangest) phones
LG has never been the biggest, most important smartphone maker, but consumers always benefit from more competition — it drives smartphone makers to innovate faster, and to make those innovations more affordable. But nothing lasts forever. Rather than sit around all glum, though, I think our time is better spent remembering some of the truly great — and truly wild — phones LG has made over the years.
The extended Nexus family: Google's golden Android standard
Google's Nexus line has long stood as the company's ideal vision of its widely adopted, open-source Android operating system. The devices, be they smartphones, tablets or even one-off media streamers, are built in conjunction with select hardware partners and represent an ideal marriage of tech specs with an unadulterated version of Android. It's Google's way of dealing with fragmentation (read: skinned versions) in the mobile OS market it created; a reference mark for manufacturers to aspire to, so to speak. On the tail of the original Android handset's sixth anniversary and in the run-up to whatever new Nexuses come next, we take a look back at the hardware path that's been Google's gold standard for Android.
Feedback Loop: Camera advice, smartphone battery life and more!
Happy Saturday! Here's a fresh edition of Feedback Loop for your reading pleasure. This week we talk about suggestions for the best point-and-shoot cameras, battery life in the Nexus 5 and Moto X, streaming shows through TiVo's mobile apps and using Bluetooth with multiple devices at the same time.
IRL: Choosing the Nexus 5 over the Moto X (and the Galaxy Note, too)
I enjoyed using the Nexus 4 during my time with it last summer, but its short battery life, glass back and quirky camera behavior made it tough to truly love. The Nexus 5 is theoretically a different beast: it addresses all those flaws while introducing huge leaps in performance and display resolution. I was tempted enough by those upgrades to buy the new phone and give it a spin on Rogers' network here in Canada. Would it be the Nexus phone I'd always wanted, and make me forget about other Android flagships that launched at the same time, like the G2 and Galaxy Note 3?
Engadget giveaway: win a Nexus 5 and wireless charger courtesy of iOttie!
The art of automotive zen begins with a clean and orderly interior (for most drivers) and this week's giveaway is sure to help provide a more cable-free ride. The case, cradle and charger folks at iOttie have done us a solid by offering two Engadget readers the new Easy Flex Wireless car charger and a Nexus 5 smartphone. This Qi-enabled, dash-mountable charger will help drivers keep their hands at two and ten nine and three like they're supposed to, while still providing visibility for turn-by-turn directions and a steady stream of juice. The charger's sticky gel pad will keep Google's latest handset from taking a dive to the floorboards and the device will even work with other Qi-compatible smartphones. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning one of these prize packs. You never know, a little dose of automotive feng shui could turn that long nightmare of a commute into some peaceful "me" time. Update: PSA - The DMV has apparently changed its age old hands-on-the-steering-wheel specifications. Drive safe kids and be sure to keep your hands at nine and three. The more you know... Winners: congratulations to John P., Edgewater Park, NJ and Martin S., El Granada, CA.
Google expands Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 sales to more European countries
Google may have wowed the world yesterday with the introduction of Android Wear, but it turns out it also had some Nexus-related news tucked away too. Already available in 13 countries around the world, the search giant has quietly expanded sales of the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 across Europe, listing them on the Play Store in eight new markets. These include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden, giving customers the option to bypass operators and grab themselves an unlocked Nexus device direct from Google. With the Chromecast finally on sale outside of the US and an influx of Android-powered wearables on the way, Google's finally making it easier for Europeans to start investing in its expanding product family.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition
You don't need to cast bones or read entrails to know that smartphones arrive in predictable cycles. February, home of Mobile World Congress, is likely to see the launch of new handsets from heavy hitters like HTC, Samsung and LG. Those new flagships will rule the mobile hill until the fall, when Apple and Google are likely to wheel out next-gen devices of their own. Sony, meanwhile, recently launched its latest handset, the Z1 Compact, which reverses the "bigger is better" trend to great effect. There may have only been one top-tier phone launching in January, but the phone industry has hardly been hibernating this winter. Two years after Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, it sold the rejuvenated handset maker to Lenovo. AT&T, meanwhile, has rejigged its mobile share plans to shrink your monthly data bill; T-Mobile will now pay you to leave your carrier; and we're inching ever closer to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger, the FCC permitting. If you're already on the hunt for a new smartphone, or your deal's only for a few more months left and you like to be prepared, this is your guide to the best handsets on the market.
Do you really need a 4K smartphone screen?
See those two screens up there? Pretty soon the smartphone will have the same resolution as the much bigger panel (a 27-inch Dell U2711 monitor with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels). While the snappiest CPUs, more RAM, better cameras and other frills are a must for the latest handsets, the current marketing pièce de résistance is a higher-resolution screen. In four years, we've passed from a norm of 800 x 480 to 960 x 540 and up to 720p, 1080p and soon -- likely on Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S5 -- 2,560 x 1,440 Quad HD (QHD). That works out to a borderline-insane 500-plus pixels per inch (depending on screen size) and manufacturers aren't stopping there. But is more resolution worth the extra expense if you can't even see the difference? Well, it's complicated.
Daily Roundup: Rugby on an Oculus Rift, Sony sells its PC business, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This is the red Nexus 5 (hands-on)
Valentine's Day is coming up, and 'tis the season for special red versions of well-established phones to magically pop out of the woodwork. It seems to happen at least once or twice this time of year, and the first one to make an appearance this year is the Nexus 5. Just like its black and white counterparts, the collaboration between Google and LG is now available in the Play Store for $350 (16GB) and $400 (32GB) and comes with all of the same specs. The red Nexus 5 showed up at the door, so we wanted to take the opportunity to snap a bunch of shots for those of you who may be on the fence about whether or not to buy one. Is it any better than the other colors? Not really, but it all comes down to personal preference. The red version has the same smooth matte finish as the white model (in contrast to the black model, which has a soft-touch plastic feel). As you can see, LG and Google opted for red sides and edges, as well as a red earpiece to go along with it. As there is more to look at than to actually say about the new hue, head straight down to our gallery below, which offers a perspective from nearly every angle.
The red Nexus 5 is now on sale at Google Play
Well, that didn't take long. We saw leaked snapshots of the Nexus 5 in red last week, and now the scarlet-hued handset has made its proper debut over at Google Play. As of right now, both the 16GB and 32GB versions are available with their usual $349 and $399 price tags, respectively. You can expect identical specs to the existing black and white models with the only difference being a new coat of Bright Red paint.
Nexus 5 might soon come in red (update: more pictures)
Currently, you can get the Nexus 5 in any color you want, so long as it's black... or white. Those two options may have satisfied Henry Ford, but the modern consumer sometimes wants something a little racier. Twitter's @artyomstar appears to have found a consignment of the smartphone clad in hot-rod red, something that's sure to raise the hopes of anyone looking for more colorful pure Android devices. We can't be certain, of course, but the images look a lot more real than the other leaks we've been sent, so let's hope that LG and Google don't make us wait too much longer before spilling the beans. Update: Aaaand, @artyomstar has decided to take the lid off the box and post a pair of pictures of the garnet handset itself. You can check 'em out after the break.
Feedback Loop: computer names, Google Hangout alternatives, cord-cutting and more
Welcome to Feedback Loop, a weekly roundup of the most interesting discussions happening within the Engadget community. There's so much technology to talk about and so little time to enjoy it, but you have a lot of great ideas and opinions that need to be shared! Join us every Saturday as we highlight some of the most interesting discussions that happened during the past week. This week, the Engadget community shared how and what they name their devices, switching from Android to iOS (wait, what?), SMS alternatives to the Google Hangouts app, styluses for winter use and whether or not it's possible to finally cut the cord. Click past the break and read what fellow Engadget users like you have to say.
Daily Roundup: New Nexus 5 hardware, Amazon Pantry, next-gen console sales and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
LG and Google tweak Nexus 5 production to fix speaker and loose buttons
Owners of brand new Nexus 5 handsets are starting to notice a few subtle differences compared to the version that sold at launch. The mono speaker grille holes are slightly larger, for a start, which could potentially offer a decibel or so of extra volume and prevent buyers from having to go all crazy with a hot needle. The volume and power buttons seem to have been made stiffer too, suggesting that complaints about excessive rattling noises reached receptive ears at LG and Google. None of this will help those of us who bought launch day models, of course, unless there's the option of seeking a replacement, but we reckon the Nexus 5 remains the best $350 option on the market even with all its original foibles. [Photo credit: shinral]
Android update focuses on Nexus 5 camera improvements
We may have called the Nexus 5 "the best phone $350 can buy," but its camera didn't exactly impress. The latest version of the Android OS, set to roll out in the "next couple of days," is aimed at fixing that. In an interview with Dave Burke, Google's Director of Engineering for Android, The Verge reports that Android 4.4.1 will address issues with autofocus, white balance, exposure and more by increasing camera speed. No word on a specific date, but Google assured us that it's coming soon. Update: And by the "next couple days" Google apparently meant today. Android 4.4.1 is rolling out today and brings with it the aforementioned improvements along with the ability to pinch-zoom the viewfinder in HDR+ mode.
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.
Engadget UK Giveaway: win a Nexus 5 courtesy of Mobilefun.co.uk
We can't let the yanks have all the fun now can we? So, if you nearly threw your PC in the bin when you realised you couldn't bloody enter the comp we ran earlier this week, then worry not. Thanks to the chaps at Mobilefun.co.uk, we've got a cheeky little Nexus 5 up for grabs that will make you the envy of all your mates. Proper useful if you win, especially if you're skint in the run up to Chrimble. Event if you don't, check out Mobilefun's colourful range of Nexus 5 goodies anyway. Saves having to queue for something at your high-street mobile shop. Lovely jubbly (etc.). Oh, and please read the rules! Thanks.
Daily Roundup: Hydrogen fuel cell USB charger, Tegra Note 7 review, Vine for Windows Phone and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Engadget Giveaway: win one of two Nexus 5 smartphones courtesy of Spigen!
Google's Nexus 5 handset may be in short supply at the Play Store, but protective case maker Spigen Inc. had the forethought to snap up a pair of them so that two lucky Engadget readers could get their KitKat fix without delay. Not only do we have the newest in the Nexus line, but we've also got a trio of Spigen cases to keep them safe and sound. Each phone comes with a selection of Spigen's Slim Armor cases -- including champagne gold -- and one Neo Hybrid case, which has an interchangeable bumper for color customization. These are unlocked, 16GB handsets, so the winners will be free from carrier woes and with these shock-absorbing cases, accidental device drops won't have you stressing. This could be your lucky day, so head on over to the Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win! Winners - Congratulations to our winners: Phong L., Savannah, GA / Christian M., Sarasota, FL
