Photos: LG Prada 2 is so hot right now

We've just got our hands on a final version of the delightful LG Prada 2 -- successor to the LG Prada -- and we think it could be one of LG's best phones yet. Combining a very responsive touchscreen with a relatively straightforward interface, the LG Prada 2 is certainly easy to use -- but what really separates it from previous LG touchscreen phones is a hidden slide-out Qwerty keypad.

The keypad is crucial for quick, accurate messaging and adds a more practical dimension to what was originally just a pretty face. The Prada 2 is inevitably thicker than its predecessor as a result, but it's also more useful. Aside from the slide-out keypad, there's Wi-Fi, HSDPA and a 5-megapixel camera, which in our initial testing took relatively good shots.

Our first impressions of the user interface are that it works much better than any other LG touchscreen interface we've experienced, and allows for multi-touch functionality when zooming in and out of Web pages or photos. The Web browser is much easier to use than any LG browser we've used before, due in part to the Prada 2's more responsive screen and the wider range of connectivity options.

Our only disappointments with the LG Prada 2 are that it doesn't have the same app eco-system as other touchscreen phones, such as the iPhone or T-Mobile G1, and it lacks support for Microsoft Exchange -- this is a particular shame, as it would make a rather nifty business device. We're also gutted there's no 3.5mm headphone jack. If you can look past these shortcomings though, the LG Prada 2 is hot enough to blast away this week's blizzards. Expect more details in our full review, but in the meantime check out our icy hands-on pics by clicking on the thumbnails above.

The LG Prada 2 is thicker than its predecessor, measuring 17mm thick, which isn't massive but you might not appreciate cramming it into the pocket of your snake-hipped jeans. You can tell this was shot today -- check out the snow on our balcony. Crave braves all weathers for the gadget hotness, that's for sure.

On the back there's a 5-megapixel camera with an LED photo light. It's certainly no worse than other camera phones at this resolution.

There it is, the slide-out Qwerty keypad. Very useful for tapping out messages. We hope at some point LG adds apps to the Prada 2, such as Facebook and twitter -- there's no better use for keypads than tapping out pointless messages to friends on your social networks.