The Korean phone maker launches its latest flagship smartphone, and hopes its impressive specs can stand up to the best from Apple and Samsung. August 7, 2013 8:23 AM PDT The G2 unveiling in New York today. (Credit: CNET) NEW YORK--LG on Wednesday unveiled its new G2 smartphone to take on Apple, Samsung, and other Android phone makers. The hardware specs are top-of-the-line, with the G2 sporting a 5.2-inch full HD display and running on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The G2 is the first global device to include Qualcomm's highest-end chip. The device also is LTE-Advanced capable, allowing for faster wireless speeds in places like Korea. The U.S. doesn't yet have the faster network. Perhaps the most noticeable difference from other devices is the location of the volume and power buttons. The three buttons were placed on the back of the phone rather than their typical location on the side of the device. LG noted that its rear key design came from studies that showed that the larger the phone became, the more difficult it was to properly access the side buttons. "The most innovative aspect of the G2 is the design, with the rear key being the feature everyone has been talking about since the news became public," Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Co, said during the company's launch event. "It is certainly different. However, the sole purpose of this design shift was not just to be different. It was born from one of our key findings in human research." The LG G2. (Credit: LG) Holding the volume down button for a period of time activates the camera, while holding the volume up opens a note-taking program called "QuickMemo." Users also can turn on the display without pushing the rear power button; "KnockOn" allows users to power on the device by simply tapping twice on the display. LG official unveiled the G2 during a launch event Wednesday in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center venue. The South Korean company, which has struggled to compete with bigger rivals such as Samsung, has started to make some traction in the market. It shipped a record 12 million smartphones in the second quarter, and data released Wednesday by International Data Corp. show it was the second biggest Android vendor in the second quarter, albeit with only 6.5 percent share compared to Samsung with 39 percent share. Despite recent gains by LG, the G2 launch comes as the company continues to face worries about tough competition and slowing growth in the high end of the smartphone market. Apple is expected to launch a new smartphone later this year, and Motorola also recently unveiled a new device. Samsung, LG's crosstown rival, also remains a significant threat. LG will be putting all of its might behind marketing the G2, its new flagship device. Much like Samsung with the Galaxy S4, LG took pains to emphasize the features it believes will help consumers in their daily lives. "Answer Me" automatically answers a call when the phone is raised to a person's ear, and "Text Link" allows information embedded in text messages, such as addresses, to be easily selected, saved, and searched on a map or the Internet. "Guest Mode" protects a user's privacy by displaying only certain apps when someone besides the phone's owner unlocks the device. The G2 will be available globally at more than 130 carriers within the next eight weeks, starting with South Korea.

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The Korean phone maker launches its latest flagship smartphone, and hopes its impressive specs can stand up to the best from Apple and Samsung. August 7, 2013 8:23 AM PDT The G2 unveiling in New York today. (Credit: CNET) NEW YORK--LG on Wednesday unveiled its new G2 smartphone to take on Apple, Samsung, and other Android phone makers. The hardware specs are top-of-the-line, with the G2 sporting a 5.2-inch full HD display and running on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The G2 is the first global device to include Qualcomm's highest-end chip. The device also is LTE-Advanced capable, allowing for faster wireless speeds in places like Korea. The U.S. doesn't yet have the faster network. Perhaps the most noticeable difference from other devices is the location of the volume and power buttons. The three buttons were placed on the back of the phone rather than their typical location on the side of the device. LG noted that its rear key design came from studies that showed that the larger the phone became, the more difficult it was to properly access the side buttons. "The most innovative aspect of the G2 is the design, with the rear key being the feature everyone has been talking about since the news became public," Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Co, said during the company's launch event. "It is certainly different. However, the sole purpose of this design shift was not just to be different. It was born from one of our key findings in human research." The LG G2. (Credit: LG) Holding the volume down button for a period of time activates the camera, while holding the volume up opens a note-taking program called "QuickMemo." Users also can turn on the display without pushing the rear power button; "KnockOn" allows users to power on the device by simply tapping twice on the display. LG official unveiled the G2 during a launch event Wednesday in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center venue. The South Korean company, which has struggled to compete with bigger rivals such as Samsung, has started to make some traction in the market. It shipped a record 12 million smartphones in the second quarter, and data released Wednesday by International Data Corp. show it was the second biggest Android vendor in the second quarter, albeit with only 6.5 percent share compared to Samsung with 39 percent share. Despite recent gains by LG, the G2 launch comes as the company continues to face worries about tough competition and slowing growth in the high end of the smartphone market. Apple is expected to launch a new smartphone later this year, and Motorola also recently unveiled a new device. Samsung, LG's crosstown rival, also remains a significant threat. LG will be putting all of its might behind marketing the G2, its new flagship device. Much like Samsung with the Galaxy S4, LG took pains to emphasize the features it believes will help consumers in their daily lives. "Answer Me" automatically answers a call when the phone is raised to a person's ear, and "Text Link" allows information embedded in text messages, such as addresses, to be easily selected, saved, and searched on a map or the Internet. "Guest Mode" protects a user's privacy by displaying only certain apps when someone besides the phone's owner unlocks the device. The G2 will be available globally at more than 130 carriers within the next eight weeks, starting with South Korea.

The Korean phone maker launches its latest flagship smartphone, and hopes its impressive specs can stand up to the best from Apple and Samsung. August 7, 2013 8:23 AM PDT The G2 unveiling in New York today. (Credit: CNET) NEW YORK--LG on Wednesday unveiled its new G2 smartphone to take on Apple, Samsung, and other Android phone makers. The hardware specs are top-of-the-line, with the G2 sporting a 5.2-inch full HD display and running on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The G2 is the first global device to include Qualcomm's highest-end chip. The device also is LTE-Advanced capable, allowing for faster wireless speeds in places like Korea. The U.S. doesn't yet have the faster network. Perhaps the most noticeable difference from other devices is the location of the volume and power buttons. The three buttons were placed on the back of the phone rather than their typical location on the side of the device. LG noted that its rear key design came from studies that showed that the larger the phone became, the more difficult it was to properly access the side buttons. "The most innovative aspect of the G2 is the design, with the rear key being the feature everyone has been talking about since the news became public," Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Co, said during the company's launch event. "It is certainly different. However, the sole purpose of this design shift was not just to be different. It was born from one of our key findings in human research." The LG G2. (Credit: LG) Holding the volume down button for a period of time activates the camera, while holding the volume up opens a note-taking program called "QuickMemo." Users also can turn on the display without pushing the rear power button; "KnockOn" allows users to power on the device by simply tapping twice on the display. LG official unveiled the G2 during a launch event Wednesday in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center venue. The South Korean company, which has struggled to compete with bigger rivals such as Samsung, has started to make some traction in the market. It shipped a record 12 million smartphones in the second quarter, and data released Wednesday by International Data Corp. show it was the second biggest Android vendor in the second quarter, albeit with only 6.5 percent share compared to Samsung with 39 percent share. Despite recent gains by LG, the G2 launch comes as the company continues to face worries about tough competition and slowing growth in the high end of the smartphone market. Apple is expected to launch a new smartphone later this year, and Motorola also recently unveiled a new device. Samsung, LG's crosstown rival, also remains a significant threat. LG will be putting all of its might behind marketing the G2, its new flagship device. Much like Samsung with the Galaxy S4, LG took pains to emphasize the features it believes will help consumers in their daily lives. "Answer Me" automatically answers a call when the phone is raised to a person's ear, and "Text Link" allows information embedded in text messages, such as addresses, to be easily selected, saved, and searched on a map or the Internet. "Guest Mode" protects a user's privacy by displaying only certain apps when someone besides the phone's owner unlocks the device. The G2 will be available globally at more than 130 carriers within the next eight weeks, starting with South Korea.

Posted by : Unknown Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Korean phone maker launches its latest flagship smartphone, and hopes its impressive specs can stand up to the best from Apple and Samsung.

August 7, 2013 8:23 AM PDT

The G2 unveiling in New York today.

(Credit: CNET)

NEW YORK--LG on Wednesday unveiled its new G2 smartphone to take on Apple, Samsung, and other Android phone makers.

The hardware specs are top-of-the-line, with the G2 sporting a 5.2-inch full HD display and running on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The G2 is the first global device to include Qualcomm's highest-end chip. The device also is LTE-Advanced capable, allowing for faster wireless speeds in places like Korea. The U.S. doesn't yet have the faster network.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference from other devices is the location of the volume and power buttons. The three buttons were placed on the back of the phone rather than their typical location on the side of the device. LG noted that its rear key design came from studies that showed that the larger the phone became, the more difficult it was to properly access the side buttons.

"The most innovative aspect of the G2 is the design, with the rear key being the feature everyone has been talking about since the news became public," Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Co, said during the company's launch event. "It is certainly different. However, the sole purpose of this design shift was not just to be different. It was born from one of our key findings in human research."

The LG G2.

(Credit: LG)

Holding the volume down button for a period of time activates the camera, while holding the volume up opens a note-taking program called "QuickMemo." Users also can turn on the display without pushing the rear power button; "KnockOn" allows users to power on the device by simply tapping twice on the display.

LG official unveiled the G2 during a launch event Wednesday in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center venue.

The South Korean company, which has struggled to compete with bigger rivals such as Samsung, has started to make some traction in the market. It shipped a record 12 million smartphones in the second quarter, and data released Wednesday by International Data Corp. show it was the second biggest Android vendor in the second quarter, albeit with only 6.5 percent share compared to Samsung with 39 percent share.

Despite recent gains by LG, the G2 launch comes as the company continues to face worries about tough competition and slowing growth in the high end of the smartphone market. Apple is expected to launch a new smartphone later this year, and Motorola also recently unveiled a new device. Samsung, LG's crosstown rival, also remains a significant threat. LG will be putting all of its might behind marketing the G2, its new flagship device.

Much like Samsung with the Galaxy S4, LG took pains to emphasize the features it believes will help consumers in their daily lives. "Answer Me" automatically answers a call when the phone is raised to a person's ear, and "Text Link" allows information embedded in text messages, such as addresses, to be easily selected, saved, and searched on a map or the Internet. "Guest Mode" protects a user's privacy by displaying only certain apps when someone besides the phone's owner unlocks the device.

The G2 will be available globally at more than 130 carriers within the next eight weeks, starting with South Korea.