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LG touts 15 million Optimus L Series phones sold like so many refrigerators
As stylish as it can be, LG's Optimus L Series is very appliance-like, the smartphone line that gets the job done versus the more luxuriant Optimus G. It's almost no surprise, then, that LG's sales rate has accelerated to the volume we'd expect from an air conditioner or fridge: just two months after the L Series hit 10 million in sales since launch, it's already at 15 million. That's no doubt heartening to LG, especially with the L Series II right around the corner. We doubt Samsung will break into cold sweats, though. When the Galaxy S III alone moved twice as many units by November of last year, LG still has some catching up to do in 2013.
LG Optimus L5 to complete the L-style ensemble later this month
The final middle piece of LG's L-style puzzle, the 4-inch Optimus L5, is pegged to arrive in the UK, Germany and France in the next two weeks. The sub-10mm phone packs the same design elements seen in the rest of the L-style series, meaning it'll also look uncannily similar to both the incoming Optimus Vu and Prada Phone 3.0. Aside from Android 4.0, the mid-ranger doesn't house that many surprises underneath those designer lines. Ho-hum specifications include a single core 800MHz processor, 4GB of (microSD-expandable) internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera. Once it's toured Western Europe, the device has plans to see the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America, although LG isn't saying whether the Optimus L5 has plans for a visit to North America.
Did LG's Optimus L5 handset sneak through the FCC?
Remember LG's Android L-style series of smartphones from back at Mobile World Conference? While we can't be totally certain this is the case, it appears that the Optimus L5 handset recently passed through the FCC's subterranean lair. Buried within the testing report is the diagram pictured, displaying measurements that fit in nicely with the mid-tier device's 4-inch screen size. For cellular connectivity, you'll find GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and WCDMA (850/2100) radios, alongside the requisite GPS, Bluetooth and WLAN. Mum's still the word on when we might start seeing this device and its siblings up for sale on US shores, but feel free to parse the FCC testing report at the source link below in the meantime.
LG Optimus L-style series hands-on
LG's Optimus L-style family of (slightly more) affordable devices is here, packing a similar designer flavor to the Prada phone 3.0 alongside some reduced specifications. Three models made their debut here at MWC, from the 4.3-inch Optimus L7 to the dinkier 3.2-inch L3, with the 4-inch L5 offering a size and specification compromise right in the middle. Skip on past the break for some first impressions.
Mobile World Congress 2012 preview: what will we see?
Without hesitation, February always seems to be the most hectic time of the year for the mobile industry, thanks primarily to the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain. The show has long been considered the proper venue for phone and tablet vendors to show off their latest and greatest innovations. Naturally, the internet is been set ablaze with plenty of rumors and even a few official product announcements from companies hoping to benefit from some solid pre-show buzz.In this guide we'll take you on a tour and walk through the hardware we already know will be shown off at MWC, as well as what we should likely expect to see and the things we'd really love to hear more about but probably won't. Join us after the break, won't you?
L5 Remote now shipping, turning your iDevice into universal IR boss
This might be a little later than the promised late February release, but we've finally gotten word of the iPhone L5 Remote accessory shipping. You'll remember that this little infrared dongle, also compatible with the iPod touch and iPad, turns your touchscreen device into a universal remote control, replete with customizable and easily programmable buttons. The L5 costs $50, a tidy 20 bucks cheaper than the i-Got-Control alternative, and can be had now via the company's website below. [Thanks, John]
L5 universal remote for iPhone now shipping for $50
Back in the olden days, you spent the better part of a grand for a big touchscreen programmable universal remote -- and if you were lucky, it might have a color display. But this is 2010, which means you spend fifty bucks, slap a little black box to the bottom of your iPhone, and call it good. L5's self-named L5 Remote for the iPhone and iPod touch involves a free download from the App Store paired with a 1.25 x 0.85-inch dongle, together creating a solution capable of storing up to 1,000 configurable screens and controlling devices from up to 30 feet away. It's available now from L5's site for $49.95 and will hit a handful of top-tier online retailers by the end of the month; follow the break for the full press release.
CES Watch: More tales from the iLounge
Another day at CES 2010, another round of new iPhone, iPod, and Mac-related accessories. We're putting them all together in one post -- it's like you're on the show floor, without the terrible AT&T reception. iLive is introducing a whole slew of new speakers and micro speaker systems. Case-Mate has some cases with charging features, including a pretty slick-looking induction charger panel. iWave's also got four new collections of cases, speakers, and headphones to introduce at the convention. The Cignias NAO Symphony is a nice looking speaker dock with a strange feature: the ability to control the dock with a second iPhone or iPod touch. You can also stream music to it over WiFi or Bluetooth, and the unit will run you a hefty $299. The Phubby will keep your iPhone attached to your wrist, but that looks pretty bad for circulation. Toktumi showed off an app that will supposedly add a second phone number to your iPhone. Engadget went hands-on with the L5 remote dongle that we talked about the other day. SRS is releasing a new iWow adapter -- it's supposed to make music, movies, and TV sound better on your iPhone. And finally, Targus is showing off fingerprint blockers to keep the prints off of your devices. As you can tell, the iLounge pavilion at the show is packed with all kinds of things that connect to your iPhone -- if anyone ever wanted to overpay for an accessory, it's probably there. We'll keep an eye on any other Mac-related releases during the show for you throughout the weekend.
L5 iPhone IR dongle / remote software hands-on
Well, we just got a demo of the L5 Remote at ShowStoppers and we're glad to report that the IR accessory for iPhone / iPod touch works exactly as promised. The IR signals are outputted by a small dongle that attaches to the dock connector of your device that works in conjunction with a free app from the company. During our first attempt at a demo, the software -- which is still in BETA version -- crashed, but the same can't be said the second time around. Programming a new device is as easy as pointing any IR device at the receiver and pressing the buttons that the app dictates. Programming multiple rooms, changing button layouts, and managing multiple devices is a snap, though we wish you didn't have to use the iPhone upside down to use it. According to reps on site, it should be shipping by the end of February, and once it does, you'll never have to worry about losing a remote again. %Gallery-82127%
L5 Remote turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote
Sure, you can use Apple's own Remote application to use your iPhone or iPod touch as a remote for your Mac, but that likely isn't going help most folks' with their home theaters. This new L5 Remote might be just what you're looking for, however, and it doesn't require a pricey dock like some other similar options. Making its official debut at CES, the L5 is a $50 IR dongle / app bundle that promises to do more or less everything that a dedicated universal remote does, and plenty of things that many of those don't -- like let you create your own customized interface. Of course, that all hinges on the thing actually working as well as a dedicated device, and we should no doubt hear more about that in the lead-up to its rollout next month.
L5 Games looking a lot like Blizzard
Forming a new game studio and want to build some instant cred in the industry? Following in the example of other companies who believe anything associated with the Blizzard name turns to gold, Gravity Interactive has announced the formation of a new subsidiary game studio called L5 Games, which is to be staffed by a sizable number of former Blizzard North employees. According to the story over at Gama, as many as half of the new staff has ten or more years of experience in the industry, with credits in such mega-hits as World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo.It's not exactly standard practice to flaunt the resumes of new hires in the press, but well... it's Blizzard, alright? Giant Interactive, which plays both publisher and developer roles for Ragnarok Online over in South Korea, is looking to beef up its U.S. operations, which have largely floundered to date, despite their game's unmitigated success overseas. "We intend to develop online games targeting the North American market, one of the fastest growing online gaming markets, with the outstanding developers of L5 Games who have a successful track record and thorough understanding of the culture of the North American market," says Gravity CEO Il-Young Ryu.While there's a temptation to be snarky about this, the fact of the matter is that they've successfully captured our intention. Now just don't disappoint us.
Nikon intros five new Coolpix models
With the Photokina trade show just around around the corner, we've been expecting an onslaught of cameras, and Nikon today proved that its no slouch; the venerable manufacturer has introduced a total of five new members to its lineup of Coolpix consumer cams. We'll start out with the S7c, a compact 7.1 megapixel shooter highlighted by a huge 3-inch LCD, maximum ISO of 1600, and like the previous P3 and S6, that sweet WiFi radio for wirelessly sending your winning shots over the internet (including through email). You're also getting 30fps VGA movie capabilities (with sound), electronic image stabilization, 14MB of internal memory, but as usual, only a 3x optical zoom. Keep on reading for pics and deets on the rest of the new Coolpix posse...Update: Oh, and did we mention T-Mobile Hotspot users will also be able to use the S7c with their WiFi account using at Coolpix Connect feature? Because they can. Not bad.
