techeblog.com — “GTPH” gives us a hands-on preview of the LG KE850, which looks extremely similar to the iPhone. Technical specifications have not yet been released, but we do know that it sports a 240 x 400 touchscreen display, much like the iPhone. This is definately an iPhone clone.
Jan 13, 2007 View in Crawl 4
remyloganJan 14, 2007
LG is going to wish they had intro'd this a few months ago. It's nice, but nowhere near as nice or sophisticated as iPhone. It is nice to know that there are other companies out there besides Apple who can think different. LG's problem is that it didn't think better, or even as good.
r3zonanceJan 14, 2007
Maybe, but it's lower resolution.
cleverboyJan 14, 2007
--And as a note, I realize that Google Maps does not equal GPS, but there are many many practical cases where GPS isn't really needed as much as basic real-time mapping services. My impression is that the amount of integrated devices that come out as "add-ons" to the iPhone after launch will be very telling.
kimusanJan 14, 2007
@cleverboy. Multi-touch screen in a phone/pda has been demonstrated in the FIC:<a class="user" href="http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archives/2006/11/10/fic-to-release-fic-gta001-linux-phone-with-built-in-gps/">http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archives/2006/11/10/fic-to-release-fic-gta001-linux-phone-with-built-in-gps/</a>The FIC phone is set to be out on the marked within a couple of weeks......iPhone is not on marked the next 6 month. and yes that is my Trinity (except that mine is all black). It is also called P3600 and in some places rebranded to other names too. yes it has google maps (satellite, map and hybrid) and with the gps turned on it even tells me where I am on the map. Besides google maps it of cause has MS live maps and yahoo maps. It does have a browser (actually I have 4 different installed right now - freedom of choice, you know!) and it does have an email client, but I prefer another one so I just installed that one (try that on the I phone). I watch movies and streaming tv - both via the WIfi when at home/work (or where I can find a signal) or if I am on the move, I can use the 3G connection. The same goes for my mp3 collection which I listen to via one of the available players. I can even connect it to my home computer via Wifi and listen to the music on that one remotely. It has a smaller screen thats true, but just try to fit the iPhone in your pocket (that no problem with mine and the screen has plenty of room for what I need). The interface might now be as glassy and shiny as the iPhone, but what can you expect from MS. Put on a nice skin and suddently it looks alot better (there was actually a skin out looking as the iPhone..20 hours later the Apple lawyers was after the creator and made him take it down). too bad.
drdabblesJan 14, 2007
Buried as a tool bag.
cleverboyJan 14, 2007
Sadly, I'd love to say LG isn't a "clone", and while technically, it isn't... it clearly derives its "look" ( shown here: <a class="user" href="http://www.slashphone.com/89/6073/page2.html">http://www.slashphone.com/89/6073/page2.html</a> ) from the MacOS ( pick any generic screenshot and you'll see what I mean ). Like this one for instance:<a class="user" href="http://www.guidebookgallery.org/screenshots/macosx103">http://www.guidebookgallery.org/screenshots/macosx103</a>While, all hats off to them for doing so... people are frantically whipping out "skins of the iPhone right now for their existing phones, sewing even more confusion. --I think the mania around this comes from some very basic points of contention:1.) LG's KE850's interface was obviously designed to be the "iPhone" Apple would have done, given Apple's highly influencial design choices. I guarantee, whoever directed the artwork gathered up all the more interesting "iPhone" possibles out there and considered them. In fact, if you look at the video by Gregory Desantis released back in May of last year, watch how the phone's "dial screen" looks when it opens up. <a class="user" href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3168733759916419298">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3168733759916419298</a> Back in June, his version alone generated over 1 million views between YouTube, Google Video, and other sites, and got mentioned and large magazines like New York Times and Stuff Magazine.2.) LG's "chocolate" series has been such a raging success in the phone/mp3 space, that there has been pressure to arrive at the "next thing", which for a long time since the arrival of the ROKR, has been expected from Apple ( <a class="user" href="http://www.futuremusic.com/news/august2006/appleiphonenow.html">http://www.futuremusic.com/news/august2006/appleiphonenow.html</a> ) With rumors on a full-screen virtual interface raging, that seems an obvious direction if technical capability isn't an issue.3.) As someone who likes the iPod interface, and tried earnestly to use LG's chocolate phone once before declaring "this really sucks", LG had a vested interest in being the one to release the truer convergence of the iPod and the cell phone, especially if Apple remained "mum" or disinterested in such a solution.Considering how original and USABLE the iPhone appears in the many product demonstrations we've seen of it, its a clear winner over the LG KE850 on coherent interface design, but rgw KW850 is still looking like a winner regardless, as it appears from the recent Phone House vid of a prototype LG KE850 on YouTube ( <a class="user" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5916aOMQNI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5916aOMQNI</a> ), that LG's phone has much less work done on interface usability (note that the iPhone doesn't actually use "scroll bars" on lists, KE850 has no accelerometer for spin UI control, doesn't feature multi-touch "pinching", etc), that it will be smaller (400x240 vs iPhone's 480x320), and cost less. Right now, we know next to nothing of the KE850's specs. Much less than we do about the iPhone, even though its supposed to be shipping in March. --Which, come to think of it, just seems weird.
cleverboyJan 19, 2007
Apple iPhone will cost $499 and $599. Conversely, LG's Prada phone (KE850) will start at $776. START. Gulp. If the videos on YouTube are any indication, the interface is pretty hurky-jerky. Nice snag on grabbing a high-profile style brand to push it with. Smart move, but... lacking "cover flow", visual voice-mail, blazing fast interface, and adaptable full-featured browser will certainly kick LG in the pants. I get the impression though, that everyone wanting an iPhone outside of the US might consider settling for this one.<a class="user" href="http://news.com.com/2300-1041_3-6151233-1.html">http://news.com.com/2300-1041_3-6151233-1.html</a>Sorry LG, but the days of the basic progress bars and text for music players are pretty much on the way out. Give us album art and snappy interfaces already.