Hasta La Gadget!

Hints that LG would bring the Optimus LTE II to Verizon have persisted since the spring, which almost led us to wonder if the smartphone was still coming: not to fear, as it’s finally here under the Spectrum 2 badge. Other than the expected switch-ups in navigation keys and the mix of both CDMA with global GSM roaming, the design will feel very familiar to anyone who’s been on a trip to South Korea lately. The Spectrum 2 preserves the 4.7-inch AH-IPS display, dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, 8-megapixel camera, 16GB of storage and support for wireless charging for those who buy a charging pad. We’re also expecting a relatively light tweak of the software that keeps it running Android 4.0 for now, with LG’s support for Tag+ stickers and QuickMemo being the standouts. We do wish we were looking at a quad-core Optimus G instead. For the moderate $100 post-rebate price, however, we’ll take the two fewer processor cores — especially when the Spectrum 2 is already on sale online and should be in retail stores sometime in the next few weeks.

Continue reading LG Spectrum 2 made official for Verizon, brings Optimus LTE II to the US for $100

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

LG Spectrum 2 made official for Verizon, brings Optimus LTE II to the US for $100 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The information leaks ahead Google’s Android event next week continue to flow, with the latest thanks to support manuals on LG’s Australian and UK websites. While we’re already familiar with the phone’s hardware thanks to a detailed Belarusian review, the manuals confirm it is going to be called the Nexus 4, and that along with the 8GB version we’ve seen there will definitely be a 16GB edition available. As you can see above, it also includes an induction coil for wireless charging and excludes any microSD slots for additional storage. This all comes after two separate Nexus 10 leaks earlier today, as well as a report by Wired of a lost Nexus 4 recovered in a San Francisco bar (sound familiar?) last month. Hit the source link below to check out the LG E960 PDF for yourself (you may need to select the “show all” radio button), although there’s only a few diagrams and support info waiting within.

[Thanks, Tim aka Zurginator]

Continue reading LG E960 support manuals confirm Nexus 4 name, 8GB and 16GB configurations

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LG

LG E960 support manuals confirm Nexus 4 name, 8GB and 16GB configurations originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that we know much, much more about Apple’s latest iPhone, we can’t help but wonder why certain features are missing from the iPhone 5. For instance, near-field communication — standard in many iPhone competitors — is notably absent. This seems especially odd considering iOS 6’s Passbook feature, which acts like a virtual wallet for gift cards, boarding passes, and other such things, would be a perfect fit for NFC technology. “Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today,” Apple senior VP Phil Schiller told All Things D.

Schiller also explained the reason for the iPhone 5’s new “Lightning” port, which allows for faster data transfer between phone and computer, but also requires an adapter ($29) for use with Apple’s previous wire standard. Apparently Apple’s future lineup would be impossible without the new connecter, according to Schiller. He attempted to assuage concerned consumers with one hopeful promise: “This is the new connector for many years to come.”

And finally, when pressed on wireless charging — a main feature of Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the Lumia 920 — Schiller said such a feature offers little to consumers beyond confusion. “Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated,” he said. As per usual, the iPhone 5 will charge via USB — using the new dock connector, of course. But surely, turning a bunch of cables into just one giant wireless charging plate aligns well with Apple’s simplicity design, right?

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Apple’s Phil Schiller explains new ‘Lightning’ port, doesn’t think much of NFC and wireless charging originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBL just kicked out a pair of new accessories to go with that new Nokia Lumia 920. The Power Up speaker does more than just start Bluetooth music sharing over NFC — it has a Qi wireless charging point so that you can just leave your shiny new Windows Phone on top for an extra jolt of energy without looking for that FatBoy pillow. We’ll provide more details as they emerge following Nokia’s special event.

Dana Wollman contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

JBL intros Power Up speaker to charge your Nokia Lumia 920, pair over NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Any of you who bothered to read Engadget this past Labor Day Monday must’ve noticed all those Nokia leaks making the rounds. Chief among them was a wireless charging pad, featured in a legit-looking press shot. Well, Nokia’s big day of announcements has arrived and indeed, the company just formally unveiled the charging accessory — a soap-dish-shaped device based on the popular Qi wireless standard. (Of course, the Lumia 920’s built-in Qi tech means that you can use all manner of third-party charging pads; they don’t have to be made by Nokia.) Additionally, the company briefly teased a Fatboy-branded pillow (pictured), also designed for recharging. Other than that, the company didn’t share too many specifics, though it did reveal that Virgin Atlantic and Coffee Bean will both be offering wireless charging — Virgin in its Heathrow Airport lounge, and Coffee Bean on its countertops.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

Nokia announces wireless charging pads, Fatboy Recharging Pillow for Lumia phones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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