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Let the LG Spirit 4G descend

Save for one handset (the LG Motion 4G), all of MetroPCS' LG handsets have been stuck on Gingerbread.

So when the LG Spirit 4G was released on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (yes, it's not the latest Jelly Bean version, but I'll take what I can get), I was pleased. Not only was the update refreshing, the phone will also be the only other LG device to feature LG's Optimus 3.0 user interface.

On top of that, its current $199 price tag renders it oddly less expensive than some of MetroPCS' midrange Gingerbread phones (like … Read more

LG updates Optimus L-Series handsets for MWC 2013

Mobile World Congress will kick off in Barcelona, Spain, in two weeks, but that doesn't mean the news will wait until then.

LG announced today that it will unveil the next iteration of its L-Series line of mid-tier devices at the mobile conference later this month.

The series includes the successors of the LG Optimus L7, L5, and L3.

The updated L7, aptly called the LG Optimus L7 II, will have a dual-SIM version that will launch in Russia this week.

Its processor will be bumped up from a single-core to a 1GHz dual-core CPU, and it will get … Read more

Google sells Nexus 4 wireless charger for $60

Months after Google began selling the LG-made Nexus 4 Android 4.2 smartphone, it (finally) has a wireless charger to offer as well.

The charging accessory, available in the Google Play store, resembles a sheared-off Nexus Q and costs $59.99.

Google's wireless charger, like most, relies on the Qi protocol of inductive charging. The upshot is that the charger will be able to power other smartphones using the same standard.

I personally think this is a hefty sticker price for an add-on that's long been underscored as part of the Nexus 4's key selling points. Even … Read more

Apple reportedly hires LG's former OLED TV expert

Apple has reportedly hired a display expert with ties to LG and Samsung, and whose most recent work included efforts on OLED technology for TV sets.

According to a report from the OLED Association, Apple has wooed James (Jueng-Gil) Lee, a display and semiconductor technology expert who's had stints at LG Display, Samsung, and now-defunct flat-panel design company Candescent Technologies.

The hire, which Apple has not confirmed, comes while many have their eyes on the company with expectations that it will create its own TV set. Reports have gone back and forth between claims of a more advanced set-top … Read more

LG hints at new smartphone series in Facebook post

LG is hinting that a refresh to its smartphone line is coming.

The company posted an image of a wrapped package on its LG Mobile Facebook page last night. The package has text on top of it reading, "New series will be unveiled." LG's description of the image says that the "surprise" will come with "an unexpected distinction."

LG provided no further details on the "surprise" and didn't say when its product or products might be unveiled. However, Mobile World Congress will be held in Barcelona later this month, and … Read more

The top six wireless charging handsets (roundup)

Whether you think it's just a trendy party trick or the next feature we should all come to expect from high-end handsets, wireless charging is catching on and has been featured in a number of top-tier devices.

And while the future of its popularity still hangs in the air, we rounded up the best phones (in no particular order) that are available now and feature the technology. All these handsets, save for one Lumia, feature the capability natively and don't require a special phone case.

In addition, if you're looking at this list with envy while holding … Read more

Samsung, LG call off lawsuits in patent dispute -- report

Samsung Display and LG Display have decided to settle their patent disputes through dialogue and not court proceedings, a new report out of Korea claims.

Yonhap News reported today that Samsung and LG executives met at a hotel in Seoul to discuss their lawsuits. After leaving that meeting, Samsung Display CEO Kim Ki-nam told Yonhap that the companies will "resolve the issue one by one." LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom said the executives will continue to hold discussions.

LG Display sued Samsung Display in September, alleging that one of its chief competitors is violating seven patents it holds … Read more

Our favorite Android Jelly Bean smartphones

The latest in Android smartphone software is Android version 4.1, also known as Jelly Bean. But getting your hands on it isn't as easy as hitting the update button on your current smartphone.

Only a handful of current Android smartphones support Jelly Bean, and there are only a few new smartphones shipping with the software preinstalled.

But don't let that discourage you. As CNET's Brian Bennett pointed out in a recent blog post, there are some great Jelly Bean options out there that you can buy right now. Here are CNET's five best options.

Subscribe:… Read more

Quick fixes for Wi-Fi connection issues on the LG Optimus G

Are you the new owner of an LG Optimus G on AT&T? Now that you've taken your toy home, it's time to hook it up to Wi-Fi and start customizing. But wait, the Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting randomly when you enter the information for your home network. Or worse, it won't even let you save your home network to try reconnecting.

Luckily, there's an easy fix that will let you stay connected and keep information for Wi-Fi networks of your choosing. Here's how to fix it:

First you'll want to open the app … Read more

Apple overtakes Samsung as top U.S. mobile phone maker

Apple was the top mobile phone maker in the U.S. for the first time ever last quarter, Strategy Analytics said today.

Following the iPhone 5's debut last September, Apple shipped an estimated 17.7 million phones in the U.S. in the fourth quarter to score a market share of 34 percent. Those numbers were a healthy rise from the same quarter in 2011 when Apple shipped 12.8 million phones and captured a 25 percent share.

The stats looked at all mobile phones, not just smartphones. Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston attributed Apple's rise to … Read more