LG GW620 Android Phone in video and full specs

There is information about LG’s first Android smartphone, LG GW620. They have get own mini-site (http://www.lg-gw620.com/) about its full specifications. It is made in the side sliders form factor with touchscreen and sliding QWERTY keyboard. LG GW620 was announced in September 2009, but a full list of features is emerged only now, at this site.

LG GW620 is a smartphone running Android 1.5 and S-Class UI from LG. In addition, it has a SNS Manager (Social Networking Service), also developed by LG. It allows user to integrate contacts from social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to the appropriate application on the phone. An interesting possibility is the recognition of individuals, the relationship between photo gallery and a list of contacts. It is expected that sales of LG GW620 in Europe is start in the Q4 of this year.

Features of LG GW620:
* Operating system Android 1.5 (Cupcake)
* Interface S-Class
* Cellular Telecommunications GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS (900/2100 MHz),
* 3-inch touchscreen display with a resolution HVGA and support for up to 262K colors
* Built-in memory 2/4GB
* Card slot microSD (up to 32GB)
* Micro USB port, 3.5 mm headphone jack
* Wireless - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
* FM radio
* GPS receiver
* Battery capacity 1500 mAh
* Time running conversation - up to 8.1 hours (GSM), up to 7.7 hours (3G)
* Opening hours of standby time - up to 700 hours (GSM), up to 625 hours (3G)
* Dimensions - 109×54.5×15.9 mm
* Weight - 139 grams

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Hell Freezes Over, DoCoMo Offers a ROM Update for One of Thier Smartphones

One thing in Japan that pissed me off for years (8 in total) is the lack of ROM updates for Windows Mobile devices… During the pocket PC era, when Compaq, then HP and other manufacturers, provided ROM updates for their PDAs Japanese manufacturers claimed that ROM updates were impossible and pushed you to purchase a new PDA instead… Later on, HTC via DoCoMo and Softbank did the same. If you wanted a ROM update you'd have to invest in new device while in the rest of the world you could get an upgrade… Basically, if you were/are a Windows Mobile user in Japan you're badly screwed… Operators don't provide free ROM upgrades on Windows Mobiles devices…

Pissed by this lack of support from Microsoft, HTC and mobile phone operators, a year or so ago I asked Microsoft why? Why can't we get proper ROM upgrades? Apparently, before the iPhone was launched in Japan, it was impossible for mobile phone manufacturers to provide ROM upgrades (via Push or download) without loosing their phone certification given by the Japanese government… Once a phone is approved here in Japan, the manufacturer isn't allowed to change it in any way without loosing this certification… Since the certification process is a real pain, everyone gave up on offering ROM updates.

While this certification problem still exists, it appears that iPhones, and now Android phones, in Japan (HT-03A) are immune. After Apple updated their iPhone's OS several times in the last year or so (Softbank), now the giant DoCoMo is offering an upgrade from Android 1.5 to 1.6 via download (from the device itself)…

Now I'd like to ask to DoCoMo, Softbank, AU, HTC and Microsoft what the hell is going on? Why don’t you offer ROM upgrades, even a paid ones, while others, like Apple and Google, offers them in Japan? Apparently the certification process isn't that tough, maybe Microsoft doesn't care much about the Japanese market after all?

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Acer Finally Announces Their Android Liquid Smartphone

Yesterday ACER UK announced their new Liquid A1, a Snapdragon (1GHz) powered Android (Donut) Smartphone featuring both 3G and 3G+, touch screen, 800x480 resolution, 5Mpix AF camera module…

2009-10-14 - The Future has arrived with Acer Liquid
Acer introduces its new smartphone “Liquid” series: the world’s first Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor based and world’s first Android™ 1.6 high definition smartphone, combining cutting-edge technologies, software innovation and an ultra-fluid user interface to create an all-new mobile experience. It is the ideal solution for users demanding the best from their devices, and in particular outstanding multimedia, web browsing, social media integration and video streaming. It also brings smartphone product design forward with its unique and modern style.
Finally something different
Acer Liquid is the first Wide-VGA smartphone in the market benefiting from the latest release of the Android™ 1.6 Operating System (aka Donut) and the first Android™ smartphone in the market equipped with the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor.
This platform brings to market unique benefits for the end users and paves the way for a new wave of innovations from the developer community:
•With its High Definition capacitive touch screen (Wide VGA), Acer Liquid offers today an unparalleled experience when watching pictures or videos. But it also holds a promise for the future: the promise of an abundance of new applications on Android™ Smart Handhelds - games, professional applications and web applets that will enrich the end user experience. Now developers can be assured that their investment will build upon a standard resolution for the years to come;
•Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, Acer Liquid provides instant access to web pages, smooth streaming of videos or music , and instant response from popular mail, maps and search applications. The high-speed processing capability and high-speed internet access (HSPA) of Snapdragon™ brings to life the Android™ experience: no idle-time, almost instant uploads of web pages and downloads of rich multimedia contents. The developer community can now take full advantage of these capabilities to bring to market innovative applications that demand raw computing power and superior handling of 3D graphics.

Unique software enhancements
Acer Liquid also bolsters a set of unique features developed by Acer and its partners:
• Improved power management to help achieve longer battery autonomy for intense users;
• A new user interface with easy access to entertainment and web bookmarks;
• An optimized camera with geo-tagging, ISO, self-timer options and accelerated auto-focus performance;
• Exclusive Spinlets™ application providing free streaming of worldwide music and video, that can be shared with friends and family through web-posting or e-mail;
• Smart integration of Facebook™, Twitter™, Youtube™, Picasa™ and Flickr™ in the address book, with realtime notification of status or content updates.
A refreshing alternative to square shapes
With ellipse curves, a choice of red, white and black colors, and a slim body shape, Liquid will please style-seeking consumers. Designed for ergonomy, Liquid fits well in the hand, and displays a smooth finish. The fluidity of its curves gives the Acer Liquid its unique character and unconventional style.

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