It isn’t available on Mac OS X yet, so you might have to bug your neighbor to borrow his Windows tower for a second. There are a few preparations you should go through prior to upgrading to Gingerbread. First, you’ll want to make sure your battery is fully charged up. Personally, I always have my device plugged into the outlet during software updates. Next, backup your data!

Contacts will likely be backed up to your Google account, but make sure they aren’t saved to the phone just in case. Once your done dragging all the files you want to keep to your PC, take your phone out of “Mass storage only” mode. Navigate through Application > Settings > SD card & phone storage to do this. Don’t disconnect the USB cable once the update starts! That’s all, easy enough right? Let us know if you run into any problems! We’ll give you some pointers if so.

[Update Link]

[via @LGUSAMobile]

Actual specs are unknown, but it is said to sport a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm WPQ8060 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of ROM. The massive display could have a 1024×768 resolution, and the rear shooter is an estimated 8MP. We could also see NFC implemented, a technology thats taken quite some time to make it into the entirety of devices. It is unclear if this phone will host 4G LTE, but it’s possible. Either way we know it requires some sort of SIM card from the sneak shot below.

My best guess is the Optimus Vu will ship with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), and won’t see 4.0 until later down the road. Unlike the Galaxy Note, there doesn’t seem to be a built in stylus – which could be useful with such a large display. We will probably find out more at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain – so stick with us!

EDIT: There actually does seem to be a spot for a stylus from the clip – it’s quick and blurry, so no promises.

[via TheVerge]

By now you should be familiar with the Optimus LTE’s hardware but just in case you’re not: the biggest selling point is the combination of a 1280×720 4.5-inch IPS display and a high-speed LTE connection. Inside the phone you’ll find a dual-core 1.5Ghz processor and 1GB of RAM, with the obligatory 8MP camera thrown in for kicks. In both American versions of the phone that Android Community has reviewed thus far (the LG Nitro HD on AT&T and the Spectrum by LG on Verizon) it’s come with just 4GB of on-board storage and a free 16GB MicroSD card. Software is still limited to Gingerbread with LG’s custom skin.

The absence of the Optimus LTE on Telus’ site is odd, since they’ve already announced LTE versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab 8.9 for the upcoming high-speed network. It could be that they simply haven’t finalized a marketing deck just yet, and LG let the cat out of the bag early on their own site. Whatever the reason, expect to see the Optimus LTE grace retail and online Telus stores within the next few weeks.

[via MobileSyrup]

There’s not a lot of information on either phone available, but a few nuggets can be found. Digging around in the GSM filing for the P880 reveals a resolution of 1280x720p (the current standard for Lg’s flagship phones like the Optimus LTE, Nitro HD and Spectrum) and the P700 has a 640×480 resolution found mostly in second-generation Android phones. Oddly, the P700 is listed as an “ICS SmartPhone”, not the P880. This is a long way from confirmation of anything, but since most of LG’s smartphones run Android at the moment, it’s a pretty safe bet that we’ll see these two eventually.

Previous leaks of the LG X3 indicate a quad-core Tegra 3 phone with a 4.7-inch 720p display, more or less going head-to-head with the (also rumored) HTC Edge. The visual design evokes LG’s latest Prada phone – a very good thing. Keep in mind that all of this is so much speculation before the big show in Barcelona. Just about everybody – with the notable exception of Samsung - will be bringing their A game.

[via Pocket Droid]

Being spotted on the Swedish site cdon.se this phone looks like a blend between the Optimus One and a Samsung Galaxy S international version. Coming in with extremely low, entry level specs at the same time. We have a 3.2″ display and Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board but the details are pretty scarce.

While the screen size and resolution both appear to be lacking we do have a 3 megapixel camera around the rear for shooting some decent pictures and even a micro-SD slot but that just about rounds it up. We have no details on the CPU, RAM, internal storage or anything else but judging by the screen size and resolution it wont be anything spectacular and most definetaly headed for the budget crowd — but hey, they do have a white version coming too.

[via GSMArena]

Hardware

As noted above, the Spectrum shares its innards with the LG Nitro HD: a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor is paired with a full gigabyte of RAM, and the now-standard 8 megapixel camera does its duty on the back end of the phone. For storage you get a relatively feeble 4GB, but a freebie 16GB MicroSD card may be more useful, depending upon whether you like a little more flexibility in your storage. Without a doubt thew most impressive part of both smartphones is the screen, a 4.5-inch 720p panel that’s a true IPS LCD, the same technology that goes into professional graphics monitors.

And here we see the first and most recognizable shift from the Nitro HD: while both phones feature the same screen on their spec sheet, the Spectrum’s is undeniably clearer, brighter and much more pleasing to look at. When the Nitro HD launched it had the highest-resolution screen on AT&T, but the various Galaxy S models outshone it thanks to Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels. The screen on the Spectrum isn’t quite as bright as an AMOLED, but it’s close, and the vividness and color accuracy are at least as good. Add to that the impressive viewing angles of IPS, and you get a screen that rivals almost anything out there. To illustrate my point, here’s a photo of both phones on either side of a Galaxy Nexus, all at maximum brightness. The Spectrum is on the left.

Unfortunately, the Spectrum falls short of the Nitro HD in basic ergonomics. A glossy plastic exterior (shared with the international version) makes the phone slip and slide in your hand – not helped by the fact that it’s noticeably heavier than other high-end smartphones. Part of that is due to the 1830mAh battery, which does it credit, but other phones have the same or more juice in a smaller body. It’s attractive enough, in a vanilla sort of way -spun aluminum accents make for a phone that isn’t just another slate. I appreciate the ability to remove the MicroSD card without pooping out the battery, but I’m not overly fond of designs that kick the search button to the curb, as LG has been doing for some time.

Software

Gingerbread beckons for all new Android buyers save those choosy Nexus folk, and here we see it in LG’s customized interface garb. LG’s skin isn’t unattractive, but it does get in the way more often than it helps – particularly in the Spectrum’s app drawer. You’re given two options: an alphebetized vertical list or a grid that’s split up by category. If you want an A to Z grid – as almost all smartphone users will be expecting – you’re out of luck.

Launchers aren’t necessarily a death knell for a phone’s software, since they’re almost literally a dime a dozen on the Android Market. But pre-installed apps, particularly those that can’t be removed, are. I counted no less than 24 superfluous apps from LG and Verizon, none of which can be removed by the user. Old mares that no one really wants like Blockbuster and the Vcast App Store rear their ugly head, and while I use things like Kindle and Netflix on a regular basis, the fact that they’re include by default and I’ve got no say irks me something powerful. If you’re an advanced user and intend to root or otherwise mod the Spectrum, find a good ROM or prepare to spend lots of time cleaning the device of unwanted apps.

All that said, the phone does zip through the interface well. It positively aced the Quadrant test, with a score hovering in the 2650-2700 range. A little experimentation with some of my favorite high-end games confirmed that this wasn’t a fluke. There’s plenty of power justifying the bulk in the Spectrum, so gamers and video junkies will not be left wanting.

Call quality and battery

Like the Nitro HD, the Spectrum handles calls very well. Even in my relatively isolated home, a couple of bars’ worth of signal provided a loud, clear conversation. It must be said that the Spectrum performs much better than the Galaxy Nexus in that regard – though that isn’t saying much. Battery life is likewise good. Even spoiling myself with a screen near full brightness (the better to make those colors pop!) the phone lasts through a full day of moderate browsing, calling and texting without complaint. I’d say that it’s got the best battery on Verizon… if I didn’t also have the downright amazing DROID RAZR MAXX sitting next to it.

Media 

That brilliant screen isn’t just for looking at text and glossy icons, you know. Videos, whether streamed via Netflix, Youtube or played locally, look great on the Spectrum. Thanks to the IPS panels color accuracy and AMOLED’s tendency to oversaturate, it’s even better than the Galaxy Nexus. If you’re a video junkie, the LG Spectrum is well worth your consideration for the screen alone, to say nothing of the LTE wireless connection to banish buffering. The 8MP camera doesn’t fare so well. Even in ideal light is has a habit of washing out, and in indoor settings grain and blur become problems fast.

Wrap up

There’s a lot of great options on Verizon right now: The Galaxy Nexus for the die-hard modder, the DROID RAZR for the fashionista, the Rezound for the audiophile. Where does the Spectrum fit in? Well, at $199 it fits well below the others, and has an excellent screen, solid battery life and great call quality to recommend it. If these things are the most important to you, by all means go for it. The only real downside is LG’s software and the non-removable apps within it. If you can get over this, the Spectrum is a good choice at a good price – just don’t expect it to win any beauty contests.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Spectrum

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : January 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : True HD IPS

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.71 Inch
• Depth : 0.42 Inch
• Weight : 142 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1830 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• 3GP
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Snapdragon S3

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• CDMA

CDMA Band:
• 800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

Gameloft and Verizon wireless partnered this week to help bring in-game chat to Android over 4G LTE . It should prove to be very successful, and the first game to offer it will be the popular title Asphalt 6. It’s kind of odd to see them implement voice chat in an auto game when it may have helped even more in a FPS like Modern Combat 3. Either way, if it’s successful we should see it implemented there too. Later that night, were any of you able to catch President Obama in a Google+ hangout after his State of the Union interview?

A few HTC Primo specs recently leaked, and they bring Android 4.0 and Beats Audio to the table for a relatively cheap price. It’s not the powerhouse we’ve been used to seeing, but for a midrange device it should do well. Another Siri clone was released this week called Evi, and has more potential than many others we have seen. If you plan on trying it out, there’s a good chance you won’t be disappointed.

It’s amazing what individuals have been able to use the Kinect for when paired with other devices. Using a Galaxy Nexus, Kinect, and projector – Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) was scaled to a wall, and even operable straight from the surface. This is simply awesome. Tuesday, Michael Crider had some hands-on time with the LG Spectrum. It looks to be LG’s best device yet, and the screen produces a great picture.

Wednesday, Google updated their privacy policies and terms of service. You’ve undoubtedly seen the update cue from any one of Google’s websites; what they actually did is condense the long pages of lawyer-talk from over 60 services, and created a universal ‘easy-to-read’ revision. I’m certainly not opposed to it, and it looks great.

Finally, we just got in a DROID RAZR Maxx unit to review – but until then check out our hands-on. It runs the exact same software as the current DROID RAZR, so you won’t see much of a difference. However, the real beauty of this device lies within the huge 3500mAh battery, and you can be sure we’ll be putting it to the test.

The Optimus 3D only ran a 1GHz TI OMAP, whereas the new 3D Max is predicted to be clocked at 1.2GHz. The display will remain at 4.3 inches, but will certainly support a better resolution than the former 480×800. It will undoubtedly have the LG 3D UI, or even an updated version.

While official specs are still kinda fuzzy, we’ll have some more concrete information at Mobile World Congress next month. As much as some manufacturers want, it’s hard to imagine ’3D’ recording and displays ever taking off. Buyers seem much more interested in other features like extended battery life and form factor.

[via SlashGear]

We’re no fans of locked-in wireless contracts, but I must admit, a free tablet with an always-on connection is tempting. While I wouldn’t dream of paying an extra $100 on top of a WiFi model and saddling myself with a two-year contract (not to mention pricey early termination fees) the Optimus Pad has some respectable specs even for a device of the previous generation. The 8.9-inch screen packs in a 720p display, and a Tegra 2 processor will handle HD video and all but the most demanding of modern games. 32GB of storage is double the standard (even for much, much more expensive competitors) though there’s no option for MicroSD cards. US readers: the Optimus Pad is almost identical to T-Mobile’s G-Slate.

Don’t get used to this kind of pricing – the freebie deal is almost certainly meant to clean out inventory before the arrival of the Optimus Pad LTE. The updated tablet is confirmed to come with an IPS screen, 8MP camera, a MicroSD card slot and a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor from Qualcomm. Of course it also supports LTE wireless networks. The Optimus Pad LTE will come equipped with Honeycomb 3.2 – the original’s still on 3.0 as far as we can tell – but since it’s a ways out from release, there’s no word on when or if it wil get Ice Cream Sandwich.

So, Canadian readers, does the low price on the LG Optimus Pad tempt you? If it does, don’t be a putz – go for the two-year contract, not the three-year one.

[via MobileSyrup]

Since LG is counting US sales, we assume that it is including slight variations, such as AT&T’s LG Nitro HD and Bell’s Optimus Eye. The phone recently came to Verizon as the “Spectrum by LG” – you can check out our hands-on look at the hardware here. While these variants have slight stylistic differences, the core hardware remains the same, with an impressive 720p IPS display at a size of 4.5 inches, a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor and of course an LTE radio. The phone currently runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but LG and at least one of its carrier partners has committed to releasing an Ice Cream Sandwich update.

LG may have tipped its hand already for the Optimus LTE successor: a render/press photo of the “LG X3” made its way onto the Internet last week. Rumored specifications include a quad-core Tegra 3 processor and a 4.7-inch display, with Ice Cream Sandwich running at launch. The phone is expected to be seen in February at Mobile World Congress, if it’s the Real McCoy. “X3″ may be a codename – it’s hard to imagine LG dropping the Optimus branding if it’s doing so well.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Spectrum

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : January 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : True HD IPS

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.71 Inch
• Depth : 0.42 Inch
• Weight : 142 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1830 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• 3GP
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Snapdragon S3

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• CDMA

CDMA Band:
• 800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Nitro HD

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : May 31, 2011

Release Date : December 04, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.27 Inch
• Width : 2.67 Inch
• Depth : 0.41 Inch
• Weight : 127 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1830 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Scorpion

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via TechRadar]

Comparisons to the LG Nitro HD on AT&T are unfortunately inevitable, as this is essentially the same hardware. The changes are stylistic when it comes to the hardware: instead of a textured, rubberized back plate, you get a glossy plastic one with a faint checker pattern. The rear is unfortunately almost as fingerprint-prone as a glass screen. That said, the glossy look combines with a metal ring around the edge to make an elegant, if not overly thin, package. Spun metal touches on the camera and home button are snazzy, and compliment the black color scheme well.

Physical layout is typical of LG: on top is your power button, headphone jack and USB port hidden behind a tiny door. The left side gets the volume rocker, while the right is bare, and the microphone hides just under the nook that allows you to remove the battery cover. Inside you’ll find a generous 1830mAh battery and an even more generous 16GB MicroSD card filling the slot, combining with the internal 4GB to make 20GB of total storage – call it 18, after formatting and included apps.

The front is dominated by the HD 4.5-inch screen and LG’s standard three navigation buttons, Menu, Home and Back. A Search button would have been nice, but these days most of the major apps make accommodations for this. The phone definitely feels big and heavy – it’s almost exactly the same size as my Galaxy Nexus, and considerably thicker and heavier. For all that heft, it does feel pleasingly solid, and more so than previous LG phones I’ve tried.

Specs are impressive, but not head and shoulders above the pack: a dual-core 1.5Ghz processor and full gigabyte of RAM should handle Gingerbread (and eventually Ice Cream Sandwich) with ease. An 8MP rear camera shoots 1080P video, and of course the phone has access to Verizon’s LTE speeds. On the software side of things, the phone runs LG’s custom “I can’t believe it’s not TouchWiz” interface, which seems to chug even on this high-end hardware. There’s a considerable amount of pack-in apps from Verizon, LG, and their partners, and it looks like none of them can be removed.

The Verizon Spectrum by LG is available now for $199.99 on a two-year contract. You can see our hands-on unboxing video below, and stay tuned for a full review later in the week.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Spectrum

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : January 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : True HD IPS

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.71 Inch
• Depth : 0.42 Inch
• Weight : 142 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1830 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• 3GP
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Snapdragon S3

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• CDMA

CDMA Band:
• 800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

According to research from late last year, iGR estimates that 47 percent of United States smartphone owners use Android, compared to 24 percent which use an iPhone. (Note that the iPhone is now available on three out of four of the largest carriers in the country.) Among Android users, almost half researched their purchase beforehand and specifically chose an Android phone, and 27% of Android owners chose Android specifically because of its association with Google. From the study: ” …27 percent of Android users said that they selected an Android smartphone because they believed that Google was a ‘reputable company’ and therefore inferred that Android must also be reputable.”

With Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S line selling 30 million phones worldwide and an extremely wide range of price points available, Samsung seems to be winning the Android market with sheer force. HTC, LG and Motorola, the other three major Android OEMs, have product lines that are comparatively thin and spread out across multiple US carriers. Just as an example: among the Android Community writers at CES, four Samsung Galaxy Nexus and one Galaxy S II could be found, with an AT&T Galaxy S II Skyrocket as a backup. The only other Android phone brought was a Verizon LG Revolution, also a backup device. It’s fair to say that Samsung is kicking butt and taking names as far ass Android goes – but they shouldn’t be cocky. The same could be said of Motorola in the fall of 2009, and of HTC in mid 2010. Who knows who’ll end up on top as 2012 plays out.

The LG Spectrum is Verizon’s newest 4G LTE smartphone with a huge 4.5″ display and dual-core processor and with the Connect 4G they’ll have an even better priced phone available. The Connect 4G offers a 4.0″ NOVA display (not HD), and a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 5 megapixel camera. Making this more of a mid-range device for the budget crowd.

You can’t really call this a mid-range phone but it’s one of the lower spec’d devices of the recently launched LTE phones for big red, and sits nicely under the larger brother released yesterday. With the new Spectrum costing just $199 with a new contract we suspect the Connect 4G will probably launch around the $149 price range. Making this one of the better price/performance 4G LTE smartphones around. While the design may slighter differ from the MetroPCS cousin hit the links below for more details on the Connect 4G LTE by LG.

[via wirelessgoodness]

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen LG and Capcom buddy up for a major game release: the much-anticipated Street Fighter IV HD is also an LG exlusive, and looks to be so for some time. After promising a Q4 2011 release, LG and/or Capcom bumped the game back to 2012 to help promote the Street Fighter Global Championship 2012 Tournament. Owners of AT&T’s LG Nitro HD or the Optimus LTE international model can pick it up now in the LG Smart World app store. There’s no word on when Street Fighter will make it into the Android Market for non-LG devices.

By the look of the new game running on the Optimus LTE, it’s a port of the iOS version of Resident Evil 4 released back in 2009. Responses to that version weren’t overly positive, but LG’s latest phones should be able to run circles around the iPhone 3S, so here’s hoping that some updated hardware can match the original console releases. C’mon, Capcom, you’ve got customers waiting all over the world here – let’s get with the program and release Street Fighter IV HD and Resident Evil 4 to the masses.

[via The Verge]

Aside from the quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 system on a chip, the X3 has a 4.7-inch 720p display (probably using the same IPS technology found on the Nitro HD and Spectrum), 16GB of on-board storage, an 8MP rear and 1.3MP front-facing camera and NFC transaction capabilities. The battery is pegged at 200mAh, a solid 200mAh above the norm, and made all the more impressive since the phone reportedly comes in at less than 9mm thin. Though the X3 runs Ice Cream Sandwich according to the source, it’ll stick with the tried and true capacitive buttons below its large screen.

Naturally all these numbers are unofficial, though the press shot/render looks convincing enough. You can expect to see the X3 under a different retail name (my money’s on “Optimus Maximus”) and it probably won’t be available in any form for several months. The combination of style, size and spec make the X3 one to look forward to – expect to see it or something similar pop up at Mobile World Congress to combat new flagships from HTC and Samsung.

For your rupees you’ll get an 800mHz processor, a 3.2-inch 480×320 screen and a single 3 megapixel camera. While only 163 megabites of on-board memory are available to the user, you can add the standard 32GB with an external MicroSD card. a 1500mAh battery should be more than enough to run the Optimus Net Dual all day with moderate use, and the standard compliment of 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth has your connectivity options covered.

Dual-SIM phones like the Optimus Net Dual, Galaxy S II Duos and Motorola Xt882 are an in-between measure for countries and territories without reliable wireless broadband coverage. While there’s still large swatches of the US where only one GSM network is available, America has relatively stable roaming agreements between compatible carriers, a luxury that isn’t enjoyed elsewhere in the world. Until regional carriers in India, China and elsewhere can expand to cover more people, expect to see more and more dual SIM models of popular phones.

[via AndroidOS.in]

The Spectrum is available today online and in stores at Verizon and can be had for only $199. I’m glad to see LG and Verizon offering an impressive 4G LTE smartphone for such a low price because this $249-$299 level we’ve been seeing seems a bit much if you ask me. This is one of the best price/performance phones available at the moment and the specs are by no means mid-range.

The LG Spectrum offers an HD 1280 x 720p 4.50-inch IPS display, a powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an 8 megapixel camera and Verizon 4G LTE. Pretty stacked smartphone with all the top end specs we’ve come to love. They’ve tossed in an 1,830 mAh battery that should last plenty long too. The phone is available right now at Verizon for $199 with a new 2-year contract. Hit the source link below to get started today.

[via Verizon]

it won’t be running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but will instead ship with Android 3.2 (Honeycomb). Running a Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core processor – you’ll be able to run the latest and greatest of applications with ease. Not only that, but the Optimus Pad LTE will tout a 6,800mAh battery to help last long enough to do just about anything you need.

A tablet wouldn’t be complete without an HDMI out – so LG was sure to include it. Hopefully the HDMI out works as well as the Droid XYBOARD 10.1, which was absolutely flawless. All owners will have 32GB of onboard storage, and a MicroSD slot is available to support another 32GB. We’re not completely sure when we’ll see this tab on shelves, but it’s bound to be soon.

[via Android Central]

PRADA and LG announced the phone back in December at a London event, showing off the sexy slate design to tech and fashion press alike. The 4.3-inch 800×480 screen is the largest yet on an official PRADA device, and surprisingly, the internals don’t dissapoint either. A 1Ghz dual-core OMAP processor is paired to a full gigabyte of memory, which should let Android 2.3 run quickly and smoothly on the device. An 8 megapixel 1080p camera and 1.3 megapixel front shooter covers the shutterbugs, while 8GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot covers the media consumers out there. Perhaps the most interesting part of the PRADA phone is its user interface, a heavily customized version of Gingerbread that looks pretty fantastic from a visual perspective.

The PRADA 3.0 is already on sale in LG’s native South Korea, and a wider European release is scheduled for later this year. We haven’t heard anything about the phone coming to North America. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but the protracted process of carrier approval and subsidy means that it’ll probably be months before it makes its way here, if ever. At least there’s an FCC filing to keep up the hopes of western fashionistas.

Android observers will understand the danger here. One of the biggest thorns in the side of the Android ecosystem is manufacturer-customized software, which tends to slow down the operating system and make updates take months longer than they should. Thanks to Samsung’s TouchWiz “optimizations”, the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab will never see another official OS update, and TouchWiz is far from the worst of the offenders. All of LG’s high-end Optimus phones run its custom user interface, which leaves a lot to be desired.

Android has succeeded thus far in spite of manufacturers’ software additions, not because of them. The news yesterday gave us hope for Google TV returning to make a fight of it this year, but if the cost of signing up so many new partners is letting each one have their way with Google TV’s software, it might not be worth it. Of course, I could be overreacting - I’ll be sure to ask LG when they debut the new hardware in Las Vegas.