If you are going to produce a touchscreen handset with a really flashy UI, then it helps to back it up with a good set of features too. Otherwise, once the novelty has worn away with the touch interface, you will be left with what is a pretty basic mobile phone. It seems LG understand this concept; with the new LG KM900 Arena handset you get both a new flashy touchscreen UI and a healthy set of top notch features underneath. So, let’s take a closer look.
This LG Arena KM900 is inevitably going to draw comparison with the Apple iPhone. Not that the iPhone is in anyway the benchmark by which other phones are judged, but simply because it just looks so similar. Not just in handset design, but also on the main menu screen. If you were shown a screenshot of the LG Arena alongside one from the iPhone, you would be hard pressed to know which was which.
The LG Arena is housed in a metallic touch casing, which gives it a sense of durability. What you notice straight away is the beautifully large screen. 800 x 480 WVGA resolution, the screen supports up to 262,000 colours and measures 3 inches across, from point to point. The new user interface LG have for this phone has been dubbed S-Class. What is unique about it is it is a 3D operating system. What this means is not what you would normally associate with 3D, as in 3D cinema, but that the interface is designed on a four sided cube style. As you move from one screen to another, the interface rotates as if flipping a cube from one face to another, and does look pretty impressive. Size-wise, the LG is pretty compact, measuring just 105.9mm x 55.3mm x 11.95mm and weighing in at just 105g.
As we’ve already said, what is underneath is just as important as how you interact with the phone, and here LG do not disappoint. The KM900 sports a cracking 5.0 megapixel camera, with auto focus, and also records video at very good quality and resolution, offering options between WVGA at 30fps to QVGA at 120fps. There is also a secondary front facing camera for any video call requirements. Check out the official LG Arena campaign below.
Media wise the LG Arena offers a video player which can play MPEG4 video clips, and even more impressively also includes DivX capability too. Alongside this is the music player, which will play MP3 and AAC files. If you ever tire of listening to your own music collection, you will find the Arena also includes and FM radio, so you can listen to the latest hits on your favourite music station. A 3.5mm audio output jack is also available, so you can use your favourite comfortable headphones with the device, and not just the naff plastic ones most manufacturers include as standard.
The KM900 is a well connected handset. As well as being GSM Tri Band, the phone is also compatible on 3G networks, and offers HSDPA Mobile Broadband support up to 7.2 Mbps. Pretty impressive stuff, and all ably backed up with EDGE and GPRS, and well complimented with the addition of WiFi too. Bluetooth is also available, as is USB support for connecting the device to a PC to transfer files, pictures and music. Internal memory capacity is set at 8GB, which can be expended using Micro SD memory cards; the LG will support up to an extra 16GB capacity.
GPS Support is also included, so you can use the handset as a mobile satellite navigation device. Google Maps is a good option here, not only fully featured and easy to use, it is also free.
As you can see, the LG KM900 really does deliver a tip top range of features and is ready to set the standard when it comes to touch screen phones. The question to ask is whether the competition is ready to step up and compete? The handset is due for release in March 09, for full specifications check out our LG Arena KM900 Reviews and for comparable prices view LG Arena KM900 Deals.
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11:21 am
Thanks for sharing such an insightful post it really changed my mind.I am planning to buy LG BL40 but after reading the specification details specially the multimedia features of LG Arena, I am little inclined towards this one.