Press Release:

VUDU, Inc.’s industry-leading on-demand high definition (HD) movie service is now available on the BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc player from LG Electronics, giving consumers a whole new way to access the largest on-demand HD library of Hollywood movies in their living rooms, the company announced today.

VUDU continues to work with top consumer electronics manufacturers to become more accessible to customers who want to rent or buy major Hollywood movies in high definition.  The VUDU service, already available on flat-panel HDTVs, uniquely delivers the largest available HD movie library of instantly-viewable movies in 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and provides customers with VUDU’s superior user experience for finding and watching movies in high definition.

“Our goal as a company is to offer the best possible HD movie service to the broadest possible audience,” said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU.  “By adding the top-rated LG BD390 Blu-ray player to the lineup of VUDU-enabled products, we’ve made it easier than ever for customers to enjoy the VUDU experience.”

Some of VUDU’s key features include:

• Instant viewing experience:  unlike typical Internet and on-demand video streaming, VUDU movies start immediately, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with buffering
• Highest quality video:  VUDU’s unique HDX format delivers true 1080p resolution and TruFilm encoding enhancements, now available for the first time on an instant-start basis
• Immersive sound:  VUDU is the only on-demand service to deliver Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all video quality levels
• No monthly fees: customers can instantly buy or rent from VUDU’s extensive library of standard and high definition movie and TV titles without any monthly service charges
• Largest HD library anywhere: over 2,200 titles are available in HD or HDX format
• New releases: Newly-released titles from all major studios are available the same day as DVD release, typically months before they are available on subscription-based service.

LG’s BD390 networked Blu-ray player transforms and personalizes the home theater experience by offering a stellar array of entertainment options.  In addition to its broadband capabilities, the BD390 offers exceptional “Full HD” 1080p video performance and exceptional image quality from standard DVDs with 1080p up-scaling via HDMI output. The BD390 is also equipped for easy connection to the home network and has one gigabyte (GB) of built-in memory for BD Live functionality.

Model BD390 with LG’s “NetCast Entertainment Access” feature is available now at nationwide retailers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $399. VUDU connectivity will be available at the end of the month via a free upgrade.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Rumors are circulating that Sony is planning to develop a combo gaming and cell phone device. Japanese Business daily Nikkei reported that Sony is putting together skunkworks team to develop this gadget that will marry the PlayStation Portable gaming consoles with the Sony-Ericsson mobile phone handsets.

O RLY? Can Sony take on the iPhone? Neither their Walkman or Sony Ericsson phones do that well at all in the US market. Personally, I’d like to see more Ericsson phones in the US market, I’ve had an Ericsson phone and I was really happy with it. But the general attitude towards Ericssons are “meh” at best. What could help this phone is if it gets the same all access to the PlayStation gaming network like their other handheld gaming systems. They also have to go up against the big wall of iTunes.

However, this isn’t the first time that Sony’s had designs on this kind of hybrid device. From Businessweek:

“Rumors that Sony was working on a PlayStation cell phone first cropped up two years ago when Sony’s engineers filed a patent describing such a gizmo. The Internet rumor mill went into overdrive again in April, after Kazuo Hirai, who had led Sony’s video game division, was named as the head of a broader portfolio of networked products and services. The PlayStation Network is Sony’s biggest success story in online services. Under Hirai, the PlayStation group has rolled out online downloads of music, movies, TV shows, games and created a content platform for developers to create applications and games, sell videos, and post trailers and sneak previews. It’s clearly the model that Sony wants other divisions to emulate.”

With some phones such as the LG Versa trying to capture the gamers with it’s gamepad module, we see that companies are hoping to catch gamers’ attention. We have yet to see if they will bite.

[via businessweek]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Press Release – LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today announced the launch of the LG-GM730, its newest handset in LG’s smartphone line with advanced features that are also easy to use. This is the first smartphone to offer the new version of Windows Mobile 6.1, integrated with LG’s advanced 3D S-Class User Interface. The LG-GM730 will be on display at CommunicAsia 2009 in Singapore from June 16-19.

The LG-GM730 was designed for fast and easy operation so users can experience the latest smartphone features without spending too much time or effort with the user manual.

“Users, especially beginners, find smartphones to be too complicated for everyday tasks because of their unfamiliar and complex environments,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The combination of Windows Mobile and our new S-Class UI will make the LG-GM730 the most functional and easiest to use smartphone ever created. Starting with LG-GM730, we are introducing a new direction for phones that are smart and advanced but at the same time, user-friendly.”

“It’s great to see the extended LG and Microsoft alliance come to fruition with the launch of the stylish LG GM730 smartphone,” said Andy Lees, Senior Vice President, Mobile Communication Business, Microsoft Corp. He also added, “Combining LG’s technology and design leadership with the Windows Mobile platform has resulted in a great phone that will enable consumers to stay connected with people, information and services they care about most.”

Enhanced User Friendly Operation

LG’s S-Class UI is designed to make smartphones easier to use while still delivering the advanced, familiar capabilities of Windows Mobile. Built-around a 3D cube layout, the S-Class UI eliminates nested menus wherever possible, providing more direct access to features and applications. A simple flick of a finger rotates the cube so that any one of its five faces can be accessed instantly.

LG-GM730’s multitasking environment allows users to run a number of applications simultaneously in separate windows without having to stop one task to start another. “Cut and paste” allows users to copy content from the internet and paste it into documents or send it via email.

What makes the S-Class UI and Windows Mobile combination so easy to use is that features and applications on the LG-GM730 are so well integrated. Email, for example, is easier to set up and use because the phone’s schedule and contact lists are connected. This means users can send and receive messages using less key presses than on regular smartphones. Writing and sending an e-mail to an address already in the contact list is just one tap away. Folders from Outlook on home or office computers sync perfectly with the LG-GM730 which means the information on any device is the most current one. Push email means instant notification of incoming messages, eliminating the need to log in manually and check for new mail.

Smartphone Features in Slim and Sleek Packaging

Smartphones are known primarily as tools for business but the LG-GM730 is capable of much more. Networking on the Map Service, a navigation-based social networking service, enables users to see where their friends are while communicating in real time. Advanced multimedia features such as a 5 megapixel camera, MP3 player and numerous action-packed games make this phone a full-featured entertainment device.

The LG-GM730 incorporates LG’s signature style with a slim, seamless profile and smooth, stylish rounded edges. At just 11.9mm and highlighted by an elegant chrome band, this slim handset is the perfect on-the-go device for new as well as experienced smartphone users. Despite its small size, the LG-GM730 still manages to pack in all the essential productivity software with room to spare. This advanced mobile device is available in three colors: Black, Lime and Pale Pink.

The LG-GM730 will be available globally, with its initial launch in Asia this July. The LG-GM730’s launch coincides with the opening of LG Application Store, which expand the capabilities of LG’s smartphone

Popularity: 24% [?]

TheGadget411.com reviews LG VERSA On The Money Shot from TheGadget411 on Vimeo.

@lizmoney on twitter reviews the LG Versa and the Gaming Extension. Also she tell of the Giveaway that thegadget411.com is hosting .
Read the full story

Popularity: 4% [?]

LG is really on their design game. The LG Arena KM900 is officially official and was launched at the MWC 09 in Barcelona as LG’s Flagship phone for 2009.

This very pretty, unabashedly iPhone-looking handset has got the goods. Wi-Fi enabled, AGPS and also comes with Dolby and DivX support.

“The direct, intuitive and dynamic S-Class UI will be unlike anything that has appeared on a mobile phone before. With rich 3D graphics, touch sensitivity and exciting multimedia capabilities, it will truly make ARENA a fully loaded multimedia phone,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

Read the full story

Popularity: 5% [?]

Ok, I drive a Nissan Versa, and so I’m kinda partial to this phone just because of that random fact.
Randoms aside, The LG Versa will come to Verizon later on this year and it’s a truly different little phone, with lots of neat little attachments to come, for those who like to carry a lot of stuff with them at all times.

The standout here, as you can see, is the detachable QWERTY keyboard module, which is just one of a number of promised detachable modules for the phone, including a gamepad, a pair of speakers, and an internet module with integrated WiFi. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on a release date, but these pics would seem to suggest that it’ll be coming sooner rather than later.

Those pics above come courtesy of HowardForums member Snap315, and article via engaget.

Popularity: 4% [?]

LG brings it to this year’s CES with the Renoir. It’s a phone packed with a serious camera. The specs are the real deal, not just a cam-afterthought like on most phones:
8 megapixel image sensor, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, xenon flash (a flash! woot!), 120fps video recording, image stabilization, auto-focus, and many shooting modes that can pick up smiles, eye-blinks, and can even rid your pictures of blemishes so you’ll always look your best. No more worries about looking “day after.”
And there’s more – the Renoir has a large 3-inch touchscreen for all your camera controls, from exposure levels, timers, and shooting modes. Unlike most cameraphones, the makers of the Renoir took notice of nice user details such as shot-to-shot time and shutter lag, so there’s no downtime between grabbing those impromptu moments. There is also a slo-mo shooting mode that takes 5 pictures a second, for those really interesting shots.
oh yeah, it’s a phone too, and we all know how great LG phones are, so that’s all gravy.
No word yet on price, release date or carrier, but it’s a dream phone and it’s got a great name.

Popularity: 4% [?]