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Chicago (IL) - With smartphones gaining popularity, and the touch-screen concept growing, LG and Verizon Wireless are aiming high in the hopes of producing an iPhone beater, and not just being a competitor. The LG Versa, the phone that I consider to be the product of procreation between the LG Dare and the LG Voyager, is pretty close to doing just that. The company promises that the phone will be the MVP (most versatile phone) on the market; users are provided with the opportunity to increase the phones functionality, and customize it on a daily basis for their wireless needs. Priced at $199.99 (after a mail-in rebate of $50) and a new two-year customer agreement, the phone hit store shelves on March 1. For now, you'll have to purchase the phone at a Verizon corporate store, as in the past I have noticed phones arrive at authorized retailers much later.
Samantha Rose Hunt is the resident cellphone enthusiast here at TG Daily. Having bought more than 18 cellphone over the last two years, some might consider her a cellphone addict, but others, like us, believe that she can compare the value of a cellphone to the user much better than most of us and her opinion on a new cellphone certainly carries weight. We asked her to give her opinion on the Verizon Wireless LG Versa.
Verizon states:
Design
Describing LG's Versa is a little difficult, as it changes. Upon first glance the handset looks just like the LG Dare, though it is a bit smaller, measuring 4.2 by 2.07 by 0.5 inches (HWD). It weighs a mere 3.8 oz. The touch screen is 3 inches, with a 240 x 480 pixel display. The screen is a higher resolution than the Dare's, but it's also smaller giving it a sleek, sophisticated look. It's possible to adjust the backlight time, dial fonts, menu fonts, the banner, wallpaper, and even the images that are displayed on each screen.
On the back is a 2 Megapixel camera lens, and LED flash. The chrome sides have a volume adjustment and dedicated camera key, a microSD card slot, screen lock key, and a 2.5mm headset jack (they could have included a standard 3.5mm headset jack, but oh well). There is also a place to attach the included stylus, and a lock switch.
The lock switch is utilized to remove the Versa's back panel. Once you've removed the back panel from the device you can then insert it into a hybrid keyboard/case, which is composed of texturized plastic which looks like a leather casing. This gives the Versa a QWERTY keyboard. On the outside of the case is a dim external screen which displays the time and caller ID information. The keyboard has small keys, so those with larger fingers might actually find it difficult to use when texting.
The QWERTY keyboard is not the only attachable module planned for the phone. In April, Verizon promises to deliver an attachable gamepad, however information regarding the price and functionality of that module is unclear. Additionally, the company hopes to deliver external speakers.
The add-on modules could give this phone the opportunity to be fully functional, with the ability to act as both an MP3 player and Portable Game System.
The Touch Screen Itself
Tactile feedback is provided by Versa's touch-screen. A calibration wizard allows you to adjust screen sensitivity to that which suits you. Additionally, you can change the type of vibrate, the level of the vibration, and the sound effect you hear when utilizing the screen and more.
In my experience the touch interface is extremely responsive. However, there were certain issues that I noted. Sometimes while browsing I had to touch multiple times to get the phone to recognize the task I was trying to complete. This only happened on the social networking sites Facebook and Tumblr. However, it gave me no trouble when navigating the phone itself, or texting and dialing -- suggesting that the high compute background services on those pages are stealing GUI cycles.
Rather than having just one home screen, you'll have three, with each one being fully customizable. You have a shortcut screen which allows you to pick and choose which applications can be quickly navigated to, one for media shortcuts, and one for bookmarks on the Web. You are however, limited to these screens and there is no option for creating your own personal screen which blends those options.
Customization of the home screens is quite simple. There is a gear icon on the right side of the screen which directs you to a settings page. Once there you can decide what you'd like to have shortcuts to on your phone.
Using the phone
The Versa is equipped with a built-in accelerometer which rotates the phone's display from portrait to landscape mode depending on how you hold it -- either vertically or horizontally.
When attempting to make a call there is a phone dialer with a standard numeric keypad, the clear function, a button which enables voice command, and a speakerphone option. When making a call you can hit call, or push the talk button.
When inputting information into your phonebook, texting, or searching the web, you have the option of the QWERTY keyboard or utilizing the handwriting recognition mode which converts your writing into text. I had a little bit of trouble with this feature. It is not smart enough to identify between numbers, letters, and symbols so you have to change the mode manually. The phone is equipped with a stylus for this activity.
Read on next page: Phone features, The Browsing Experience
Samantha Rose Hunt is the resident cellphone enthusiast here at TG Daily. Having bought more than 18 cellphone over the last two years, some might consider her a cellphone addict, but others, like us, believe that she can compare the value of a cellphone to the user much better than most of us and her opinion on a new cellphone certainly carries weight. We asked her to give her opinion on the Verizon Wireless LG Versa.
Verizon states:
"Customers can get the most out of their LG Versa with Verizon Wireless' Nationwide Premium calling plan. Starting at $79.99 monthly access, the Nationwide Premium calling plan includes unlimited messaging, VZ Navigator, Mobile Email and VCAST VPak, plus unlimited megabytes for Mobile Web and Media Center. Mobile Broadband Connect can be added to their plans for $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access, per line, plus airtime or megabyte charges and messaging fees, depending on a customer's plan."
Design
Describing LG's Versa is a little difficult, as it changes. Upon first glance the handset looks just like the LG Dare, though it is a bit smaller, measuring 4.2 by 2.07 by 0.5 inches (HWD). It weighs a mere 3.8 oz. The touch screen is 3 inches, with a 240 x 480 pixel display. The screen is a higher resolution than the Dare's, but it's also smaller giving it a sleek, sophisticated look. It's possible to adjust the backlight time, dial fonts, menu fonts, the banner, wallpaper, and even the images that are displayed on each screen.
On the back is a 2 Megapixel camera lens, and LED flash. The chrome sides have a volume adjustment and dedicated camera key, a microSD card slot, screen lock key, and a 2.5mm headset jack (they could have included a standard 3.5mm headset jack, but oh well). There is also a place to attach the included stylus, and a lock switch.
The lock switch is utilized to remove the Versa's back panel. Once you've removed the back panel from the device you can then insert it into a hybrid keyboard/case, which is composed of texturized plastic which looks like a leather casing. This gives the Versa a QWERTY keyboard. On the outside of the case is a dim external screen which displays the time and caller ID information. The keyboard has small keys, so those with larger fingers might actually find it difficult to use when texting.
The QWERTY keyboard is not the only attachable module planned for the phone. In April, Verizon promises to deliver an attachable gamepad, however information regarding the price and functionality of that module is unclear. Additionally, the company hopes to deliver external speakers.
The add-on modules could give this phone the opportunity to be fully functional, with the ability to act as both an MP3 player and Portable Game System.
The Touch Screen Itself
Tactile feedback is provided by Versa's touch-screen. A calibration wizard allows you to adjust screen sensitivity to that which suits you. Additionally, you can change the type of vibrate, the level of the vibration, and the sound effect you hear when utilizing the screen and more.
In my experience the touch interface is extremely responsive. However, there were certain issues that I noted. Sometimes while browsing I had to touch multiple times to get the phone to recognize the task I was trying to complete. This only happened on the social networking sites Facebook and Tumblr. However, it gave me no trouble when navigating the phone itself, or texting and dialing -- suggesting that the high compute background services on those pages are stealing GUI cycles.
Rather than having just one home screen, you'll have three, with each one being fully customizable. You have a shortcut screen which allows you to pick and choose which applications can be quickly navigated to, one for media shortcuts, and one for bookmarks on the Web. You are however, limited to these screens and there is no option for creating your own personal screen which blends those options.
Customization of the home screens is quite simple. There is a gear icon on the right side of the screen which directs you to a settings page. Once there you can decide what you'd like to have shortcuts to on your phone.
Using the phone
The Versa is equipped with a built-in accelerometer which rotates the phone's display from portrait to landscape mode depending on how you hold it -- either vertically or horizontally.
When attempting to make a call there is a phone dialer with a standard numeric keypad, the clear function, a button which enables voice command, and a speakerphone option. When making a call you can hit call, or push the talk button.
When inputting information into your phonebook, texting, or searching the web, you have the option of the QWERTY keyboard or utilizing the handwriting recognition mode which converts your writing into text. I had a little bit of trouble with this feature. It is not smart enough to identify between numbers, letters, and symbols so you have to change the mode manually. The phone is equipped with a stylus for this activity.
Read on next page: Phone features, The Browsing Experience