lg

Comeback kid? LG eyes break in U.S. with Optimus G Pro

When LG was developing its first phablet, known globally as the Optimus Vu but in the U.S. as the Intuition, the head of the mobile division, J.S. Park, supposedly obsessed over the slide-top mechanism that covered the charging port, sending back prototype after prototype to his designers.

One was too fast, one was too loose, and another was too slow, according to a story related by James Fishler, head of marketing for LG's U.S. division, one he characterized as LG folklore. Park was convinced that the little detail was an important detail that consumers would focus … Read more

LG's curved OLED launches with Ewan McGregor's help

LG has announced availability for the 55-inch curved OLED TV in Australia, which is the first country to be confirmed outside of South Korea, and introduced Ewan McGregor as its new brand ambassador.

Though pricing wasn't announced at the Australian launch of the LG 2013 range, the company said the TV will arrive before the end of the year. The set was announced for Korea at 15 million won (around AU$13,100); there is no availability or pricing for other regions, including the U.S.

LG Australia's marketing general manager Lambro Skropidis told CNET Australia that he … Read more

LG Optimus G Pro comes to U.S. on AT&T (hands on)

Today at an event in New York we got a chance to spend some hands on time with the new LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T. We can say that the 5.5-inch, quad-core superphone feels just as quick, nimble, and powerful as the international model. Our experience makes us even more eager for the device's launch date of May 10. The handset will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract, but AT&T will begin taking preorders of the phone starting May 3.

The device marks the company's second attempt at a "phablet&… Read more

LG's curved 55-inch OLED TV now open for preorders

After being the first TV manufacturer to launch an OLED TV, LG is now taking preorders for a new model featuring a curved screen. The 55EA9800, priced at 15 million Korean won (US$13,500), will be available starting from next month, but this is limited to the Korean market for now. Unfortunately, both availability and pricing for other countries will only be announced later.

Despite a sizable 55-inch screen, the 55EA9800 has an alluring 4.3mm-thin side profile and weighs just 17kg. Special "thin-transparent film speakers" are integrated within the panel's stand to maintain a sleek … Read more

Smartphones outpace feature phones for first time ever

It seemed inevitable, and now it has happened: for the first time ever, feature phones have taken a backseat to smartphones in terms of quantities shipped.

In the first quarter of 2013, device makers shipped 216.2 million smartphones worldwide, a volume that accounted for 51.6 percent of total global shipments and that marked the first time smartphones have claimed more than half of all quarterly shipments, according to market researcher IDC.

The smartphone market grew 41.6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2012, but declined 5.1 percent from the shipment tally for the fourth quarter … Read more

LG eyes flexible OLED-equipped smartphone for Q4

LG will be launching a device featuring a flexible OLED display sometime later this year.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, LG vice president of mobile, Yoon Bu-hyun, said that his company has plans to launch a smartphone with a flexible OLED screen in the fourth quarter. According to the Journal, he failed to say what other features it'll have and where it will be offered.

LG is among several mobile companies, including one of its chief competitors, Samsung, eyeing flexible OLED display technology.

The companies envision devices featuring fully flexible screens, allowing for more leniency in … Read more

LG Electronics ships record 10.3 million smartphones

LG Electronics achieved a record number of smartphone shipments for the first quarter of 2013.

The mobile phone maker shipped 10.3 million smartphones for the quarter ended in March, its highest level since jumping onto the smartphone bandwagon. Revenues in LG's mobile business reached 3.21 trillion won ($2.96 billion), a rise of 28.5 percent from the year-ago quarter.

The company attributed the gain in smartphone shipments to healthy sales of its Optimus G and Optimus G Pro phones as well as 3G smartphones such as the Optimus L Series and Nexus 4. LG expects further … Read more

Confessions of a technology pack rat

I'm taking spring cleaning seriously this year. I've already Craigslisted a good chunk of my furniture and hosted a massive yard sale. Now, I'm breaching the depths of uncharted waters in my closets and desk drawer. I'm going after all those old gadgets I've been hanging onto for years. What wonders will I discover?

I have old cell phones. I have old computers. I have sickening piles of cords tangled about each other in knots that may never be unraveled. Why do I do this to myself? Do I really think I'm going to need to make a call on that 2002 LG VX-10 with the extended battery pack? It's time for it to go, along with all the other dusty old tech that hasn't felt a surge of electricity in years.… Read more

Optimus G Pro to be center of LG's 'Share the Genius' event

Slowly but surely, LG is releasing more details about its "Share the Genius" event, that's scheduled for Wednesday, May 1 in New York City.

The event will take place at The Metropolitan Pavilion at 8 p.m. EST, and will feature the band Atlas Genius (hence, the "Share the Genius" event name).

Most importantly, however, is that the event will focus on the LG Optimus G Pro.

The handset debuted back in February, during MWC 2013. Its 5.5-inch full-HD IPS screen places it in "phablet" territory, and it's pitted as a … Read more

LG earnings weak amid slowdown in Apple orders

LG Display's quarterly profit was hamstrung by a seasonal slowdown and decreased sales to Apple, Reuters reported today.

For its first quarter ending in March, LG took home an operating profit of 151 billion won ($135 million). That topped the average analyst's forecast of 147 billion won and proved a healthy rebound from the 211 billion won loss in the year-ago quarter. It also marked the company's fourth straight quarter in the black after seven straight quarterly losses.

However, earnings sunk 74 percent compared with its fourth quarter, the lowest level since LG's return to profitability. … Read more