Jelly Bean is now running on the (wait for it) Optimus S via a CyanogenMod 10 port

 

The LG Optimus One line will never die. I have a feeling that one day, far into the future where apes control the planet and man is farmed like livestock, The little Optimus that could will still be going strong and folks will be hacking them with their stubby, apish hands. As proof, I offer Android Developer drewwalton19216801's CyanogenMod 10 (Jelly Bean) port for the Optimus S. 

It's not perfect, as Drew puts it "There will be bugs, and things may crash from time to time", and the usual suspects like camera and MMS still need some work, but I'd wager that more than a few of the folks using and loving the Optimus S will be more than happy to run this as their daily driver. 

We're still waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich on some of last years best phones (hello there, HTC Rezound) but this is proof positive that a little bit of source code and some awesome developers can make magic happen. Whether you're using the Optimus S, or just a fan of all things awesome, hit the link below and have a look. Be sure to give Drew a little well-earned love!

CyanogenMod 10 port for the Optmus S 

 

LG Optimus L7 coming to Rogers and Fido according to Future Shop

The LG Optimus L7 has already made its way to Europe and Asia and now it has appeared online for Canadians via the Future Shop website. There is still no actual release date listed for the high-end model of the L series phones but we do know with it you'll be getting 4.3-inch screen and running a new Android 4.0 based Optimus UI. We'll keep our eyes on this one and let you all know when they fully go live on Rogers and Fido. Until then check out our hands on with the device from Mobile World Congress.

Source: Future Shop via: Mobile Syrup

LG Optimus Elite review

Green, eco-friendly, and price conscious, the LG Optimus is certainly a budget phone - But is it for you?

When I found out I'd get to do the LG Optimus Elite review, I was happy, to say the least. Most folks write these phones off as bottom-feeders, budget phone lowbies that have no place in our elitist, Android society. To those folks, I must say, I disagree.

For starters, this guy is pretty eco-friendly. More than 50 percent of its plastic case is made with recycled plastic, and in a society of excess and waste, that's commendable right off the bat. It's small, light, and inexpensive. And let me tell you, it's made for ?somebody.

Enough soapboxing for now. There's a review to be written (and subsequently read), so join us after the break to see how the latest phone to don the Optimus moniker handles.

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LG unveils new Optimus UI 3, promises to be unobtrusive and simple

By now, you probably know that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of custom UI overlays. Sure, I totally understand why they exist, and how various features from these skins pave the way for new and great things to come from Google. But that doesn’t change the fact that three different people walking down the street can have three completely different Android experiences, which ultimately makes a large headache for developers trying to create an application that reaches all of them.

LG has sent us a press release this morning about their new LG Optimus 3 overlay. I’ve tried nearly every single UI overlay out on the market today, and have continually placed LG near the bottom on my preferred list. Google’s stock Android is always first, followed very distantly by HTC’s Sense and Samsung’s Touchwiz, then distantly again by LG’s UI and MotoBLUR (or, whatever the heck they’re calling it now).

With the Optimus 3 overlay, LG promises a skin that is unobtrusive and simple to use. Sure, judging from the few pictures they’ve sent along, it does look like a toned-down version of LG’s Optimus UI, but it still has enough changes to the stock Android experience to leave a sour taste in my mouth. Granted, my annoyances with Optimus UI’s app launcher can easily be fixed with a launcher replacement (which, I’d recommend you do immediately after powering on your LG device), changes to the notification bar and some of the included widgets are much more difficult, if not impossible, to change.

I’ll hold off full judgement on LG’s Optimus UI until I have a chance to get my hands on the Optimus 4X HD to test for myself. One thing I can say for sure, however, I definitely long for the day when there are multiple Nexus devices to choose from on multiple carriers.

Show Press Release

LG’S NEW OPTIMUS UI 3.0 ADDS NEW FEATURES
AND FUNCTIONS WHILE BEING UNOBTRUSIVE AND SIMPLE
New User Interface Makes the LG Smartphone Experience
Faster, Simpler, More Convenient

SEOUL, May 16, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) is introducing a new User Interface (UI) for its newest Android Ice Cream Sandwich devices, aptly named Optimus UI 3.0. Optimus UI 3.0 brings with it an array of enhanced key features, including Quick Memo™ and unique unlock functions, among other new features and functions aimed at improving LG smartphone experience.

“With smartphone hardware becoming more and more similar, it’s important for manufacturers to differentiate their products from the competition through the user interface,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Both carriers and customers tell us that they want LG phones to look and feel unique and the UI plays a big part in that. LG is really going to push the boundaries of what is possible in user interfaces starting with Optimus UI 3.0.”

Optimus UI 3.0 is designed with convenience and speed in mind. A powerful memo function called Quick Memo™ enables users to jot notes on the screen using a finger. Quick Memo™ in Optimus UI 3.0 allows users to share their thoughts through social networks, text messages and e-mails more conveniently than ever before.

Other new features include:

– the ability to unlock the phone by dragging anywhere on the screen;
– a new Pattern Lock that allows users to preset the most frequently used function, such as the camera, which automatically opens once the phone is unlocked;
– a simpler version of Optimus UI 3.0 for new smartphone users which organizes the main applications so that they are the easiest to access;
– a new Voice Shutter that allows users to capture photos using only voice commands;
– a special camera feature that enables users to pick up the best shot among multiple images including the moment just before the shutter button is depressed;
– an Icon Customizer that provides an additional level of personalization by allowing users to set their own photos as icons and shortcut images;
– the addition of a Download category to the menu for easier organization.

Optimus UI 3.0 will debut on the LG Optimus LTE II launching this week in Korea, followed by LG Optimus 4X HD in June.

LG Optimus 4X HD arrives in Europe in June

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AppId is over the quota

LG Korea has announced that the company's upcoming international flagship, the Optimus 4X HD, will arrive in select European counries starting next month. The 4X HD, which is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, will launch in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Poland in June.

LG's new baby, which we first saw at MWC, before getting our hands on it again last week at CTIA, also sports a 720p IPS display, an 8MP BSI camera, 2150mAh battery and a re-vamped version of LG's UI skin. There's no word on U.S. availability just yet, but unconfirmed rumors have suggested this thing may arrive on T-Mobile as the "G4X" -- a successor to last year's G2X.

You'll find more about the LG Optimus 4X HD in our hands-on report from CTIA.

Source: LG Newsroom (Korean)

Optimus 4X HD coming to Europe in June

LG’s first quad-core superphone will be making its way to store shelves in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and Poland next month. Powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor and a 4.7? True HD IPS display, the Optimus 4X HD has its sights set squarely on the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III superphones, giving users a solid alternative if they haven’t been blown away with either other device just yet.

The Optimus 4X HD takes full advantage of the larger display, and offers phablet features such as a new Quick Memo, which allows users of the 4X HD to jot notes over a screen image, and Media Plex, which provides desktop-like image and video playback.

The Optimus 4X HD will head to Asia, South America, and Central America in coming months, though no official word of a US release has been given. We expect this device to launch as the T-Mobile G4X later this year, perhaps shedding LG’s updated UI Overlay in favor of stock Android 4.

Confirmed specs of the Optimus 4X HD include:

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with updated LG UI Overlay1.5 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor4.7 inch 720p True HD IPS display8 megapixel backside illumination rear camera1.3 megapixel front camera1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage2,150 mAh batteryBluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi 802.11b/g/nMHL, DLNA, etc.8.9 mm thickSHSPA+ 21 Mbps supportShow Press Release

LG’S FIRST QUAD-CORE SMARTPHONE
HEADS TO EUROPE IN JUNE
LG Optimus 4X HD with Advanced User Experience (UX) Offers
Fast Performance, Superb IPS Display and Biggest Battery in its Class

SEOUL, May 15, 2012 – LG announced that the Optimus 4X HD, which was first introduced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February, will be available next month in key markets starting in Western Europe.

Beyond the fast NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, LG’s latest Android 4.0 device boasts the biggest battery among Quad-Core smartphones at 2,150mAh and a superb high resolution viewing experience with in the 4.7-inch True HD IPS display. Since MWC, the Optimus 4X HD has been upgraded with new SiO+ battery technology, Quick MemoTM to enhance productivity and Media PlexTM for an advanced multimedia experience.

The Optimus 4X HD is fitted with NVIDIA’s 4-PLUS-1™ Quad-Core mobile processor, the Tegra? 3, which utilizes a fifth core for the best power efficiency and outstanding performance. For maximum performance, Tegra? 3 runs on all four cores but when in standby mode the processor defaults to the fifth, battery-saver core. In a future upgrade, LG will introduce Eco-Mode specifically for the Optimus 4X HD which will allow users to manually shut down any of the Tegra 3’s cores for even more control over power consumption and performance.

The removable 2,150mAh battery utilizes advanced SiO+ technology to provide higher energy density for more power and longer run times without adding bulk to the phone’s already svelte form factor.

“Beyond the fast processor, superb display and largest-in-class battery, the Optimus 4X HD is the first LG smartphone to feature the new User Experience (UX),” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “As the smartphone segment consolidates even further, it’s becoming more and more apparent that both great software and great hardware are crucial to stay on top of the game. LG intends to be a strong contender in both areas and the Optimus 4X HD is our proof.”

One of the new UX features in the Optimus 4X HD is Quick MemoTM, which first appeared in the Optimus Vu:. Quick MemoTM is not an app but is integrated into the operating system of the Optimus 4X HD so that it can be activated within any application, including games or video players. It gives one the ability to jot memos or notes over a screen image for saving or sharing with others. The version of Quick MemoTM found on the Optimus 4X HD is a newer version that allows URLs imbedded in memos to directly connect to web pages.

Media Plex TM is the newest addition to the Optimus 4X HD. This is a collection of software features that take image and video playback on the smartphone to a level that until now was only possible on a PC or laptop. Some of the innovative features offered by Media Plex TM include:

l Fingertip Seek that shows a preview of any video frame simply by touching the progress bar;
l Live Zooming which allows viewers to zoom in and out by pinching during video playback;
l Video Speed Control for precise control of the playback speed of a video;
l Thumbnail List Play which enables users to view thumbnails of videos playing while watching another video full screen.
The advanced 8.0MP BSI (backside illumination) sensor camera of the Optimus 4X HD comes with a powerful new feature that allows users to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before pressing the shutter button.

And with MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), there are multiple ways to connect the phone to TVs and other devices in the home.

The Optimus 4X HD will be rolled out in Europe followed by countries in Asia, CIS, South and Central America in the coming months.

Optimus 2X ICS update now looking like a Q3 arrival, according to LG Singapore

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AppId is over the quota

According to the LG SIngapore Facebook page, the tradition of long waits for updates is set to continue for owners of the LG Optimus 2X. Gingerbread took what seemed like an eternity, but initially the device was slated to receive Ice Cream Sandwich in Q2 of 2012. That now seems unlikely, with LG Singapore answering a query on Facebook, stating it will be Q3 for the long awaited update.

If indeed this is true, it will be yet another bitter blow to owners of the device, which kicked off the dual-core age of Android smartphones. Q3 after all stretches through to September, by which time we'll have been through Google I/O, and very possibly seen the first mentions of the next version of Android. 

The big redeeming factor with the 2X in particular though, is it's hackability. My own device currently runs a very early build of CM9, and for all intents and purposes, it's pretty darn good. LG make fantastic hardware, it's such a shame to keep hearing stories such as this one. 

Source: LG SIngapore (Facebook) via Mobilesyrup

 

Virgin Mobile USA now taking pre-orders for the LG Optimus Elite

If you're looking to get in on a budget friendly Android device that also packs a little punch, Virgin Mobile USA has now opened the doors on their pre-orders of the LG Optimus Elite. Available on May 15th for only $150, the LG Optimus Elite will be the first device in the Virgin Mobile USA lineup to launch with both Google Wallet and NFC enabled. As for the specs, here is what you'll be getting:

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread


• 3.5-inch touchscreen


• 800 MHz processor


• 5MP rear-facing camera

Looking to grab one for yourself or someone in your family? Check out the source link below to head on over to the Virgin Mobile USA pre-order site. Plus, don't forget to have a look at our previous hands-on with the device.

Source: Virgin Mobile USA

LG Optimus 3D MAX in white hands-on

Rounding out our coverage of LG’s presence here in New Orleans this year is the Optimus 3D MAX, a phone we first met back at Mobile World Congress in February. Sure, we got our hands on the device back then, but we figured another spin wouldn’t kill us. This time around, the MAX came dressed in white, an outfit we prefer to the black we saw in Barcelona.

Like we’ve said before, if you aren’t sold on 3D technology by now, this isn’t the device to change your mind. Spec-wise, the MAX isn’t that much different than the OG Optimus 3D. You’ve got the same 4.3-inch WVGA display (this time around, though, you’ve got a coating of Gorilla Glass 2), the same dual-lense 5 MP camera, and the same old Gingerbread OS. The processor has been tweaked just a tad, upping the clock speed of that dual-core OMAP 4430 to 1.2 GHz. But the lack of bigger and better specs isn’t really a not a knock against the MAX, though; in fact, the device is perfectly capable smartphone that comes with some pretty cool features for those 3D fans.

One of those features is the built-in 3D converter, which is a new addition to the Optimus 3D line. With it, you can convert any old app to full 3D glory. Videos and pictures don’t do it justice, so this one you’ll have to check out for yourself.

Now I’m not a huge fan of 3D technology, but I have to give credit where credit is due. It’s nice to see that LG has committed itself to the technology, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it comes up with as the line evolves.

The MAX is available now in Europe, with hush-hush rumors pegging it for an AT&T release sometime this summer. Until then, enjoy some hands-on photos and video after the break. 

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LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on

Greetings from CTIA 2012 here in New Orleans, where today we got our paws on the latest and greatest hardware from LG. First up is the company's latest flagship device, the Optimus 4X HD. We first got a look at this beauty back at Mobile World Congress, but like true techies, we just needed another round with it. The Optimus 4X HD has got the guts to go up against the heavy hitters on the market today: underneath the hood we've got a Tegra 3 processor clocked at 1.5 Ghz, 1 GB RAM, and Ice Cream Sandwich. LG has done a bit of tweaking to its Tegra 3, optimizing a fifth core for light, non-intensive usage that's designed to save precious battery life.

Speaking of battery life, LG is really focusing on improving it. In addition to packing 2,150 mAh battery, LG is making the most out of Android 4.0's battery optimizations, in addition to its own software tweaks. We're glad to see it, as that 4.7-inch "True HD" IPS display is certainly not a battery sipper. Hopefully, with what LG has done, we'll see some solid and respectable talk and standby time here.

LG is hush-hush on release dates and US carrier information, though after talking with representatives, I certainly got the feeling it's coming sooner rather than later. We'll keep our eyes peeled, of course, and until then, enjoy another round of hands-on after the break.

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LG announces Optimus LTE2 with a whopping 2GB of RAM

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AppId is over the quota

LG has announced the new Optimus LTE 2 for the Korean market, and there's a couple specs on-board that may have you looking twice. Besides the True HD IPS Display (of an unknown size, but it looks "big"), the LTE radio, 2150 mAh battery, Ice Cream Sandwich and other goodies we expect on a high-end LG phone, the LTE 2 also packs in 2 GB of RAM and a wireless charging solution. The details on the wireless charging are a bit sparse, but we do know it complies with  the World Association of Wireless Charging (WPC) standards and can be charged with a standard charging mat, regardless of manufacturer. We like standards.

But we do know what 2 GB of RAM means. First off, it's at least double what the phone your using, or thinking about buying today, has. If you didn't buy a new laptop this year, there's a good chance the LTE 2 has the same amount of RAM as your notebook computer. For a smartphone, it's a lot -- as in a whole-hell-of-a-lot. That means more applications open and running at once, for better multitasking, and less re-drawing. We like more multitasking as much as we like standards.

The LTE 2 is expected to debut on five carriers in Korea this month, with other markets to follow. Will we see it in the United States or Europe? We sure hope so.

Source: LG Korea (Korean)