Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been just about 10 months since an LG device has showed up in “IRL.” That was back in January, when our Canadian editor Jon Fingas took the Optimus G for a spin on Rogers. Now he’s back to test the G2, though he’s still waxing a bit sentimental about the ol’ G. So how does it stack up? Let’s see.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

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You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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At last, the LG G2 has a US release date: T-Mobile is shipping the Android flagship to stores on September 25th, with online availability starting September 18th. The 5.2-inch smartphone will require a $100 initial spend on a downpayment plan, and costs $630 outright. Both black and white colors will be available, although you’ll have to order the white version online; thankfully, you can pre-order either model today. Too expensive for your tastes? You can buy the newly available Optimus F6 instead. The 4.5-inch budget smartphone is now selling online for $50 on a downpayment plan, or $290 at full price. Those who’d prefer a walk-in purchase can pick up the F6 at a retail store on September 11th.

Update: Verizon has since provided its G2 launch details, and it’s beating T-Mobile to the punch. It will release its logo-laden variant on September 12th for $200 on a two-year contract.

Update 2: AT&T has chimed in as well: it will sell the G2 on September 13th for the same $200 on contract as Verizon, or $27 per month on Next.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG, T-Mobile

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Source: T-Mobile (1), (2), Verizon, AT&T

Following the formal reveal of the LG G2 yesterday, UK network Three was quick to report its plan to offer the handset “soon,” so we thought we’d follow up with all the other major providers to see where else you’ll eventually be able to find one. O2 is also on board, although it would only commit to a vague release window of “later this year.” Vodafone said it currently has no plans to offer the G2, and while EE has “nothing to announce,” we couldn’t get any assurance that it wouldn’t show up on its 4G network, or on the Orange or T-Mobile brands. Retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a tentative October arrival date on its website, and although we’re still waiting on a response from Phones 4U, you’ll more than likely be able to find it there, too. So, if you’ve developed a particular taste for the slim bezel design and quirky button placement, you’ll have at least a few options come launch time.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

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Via: CNET

Source: Three, Carphone Warehouse

No non-Nexus Android phone is complete without a pile of obnoxious helpful unique software features. LG’s G2 is no different; it adds a bunch more customizations and apps to the company’s existing suite. Plug & Pop automatically suggests apps and tasks when you plug in headphones or a USB cable, while Slide Aside lets you quickly dismiss running apps with a simple three-finger swipe. KnockON isn’t exactly new, but it’s definitely one of the more intriguing and simple twists on the standard Android UI: instead of hitting a power button you simply tap twice on the display to wake the G2 from its sleep. It’s a nice convenience that goes hand-in-hand with Answer Me, which automatically answers calls when you put the phone to your ear, just like an old-school wired telephone. There’s even QuickRemote, which can not only control home entertainment systems, but a whole range of devices, thanks to its ability to “learn” from standard IR remotes. There’s also a guest mode, for when you want to hand the phone over to a friend or your child, though, Guest Mode does nothing to stop their sticky little fingers from leaving goo on your screen.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

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