LG Optimus GT540 Android smartphone LG's first Android phone was the InTouch Max, which impressed with its slide-out Qwerty keyboard, social networking features and low price. Dispensing with the keyboard and utilising a lower quality camera, the Optimus adds to LG’s growing range of Android handsets, and offers social networking features with a few other tricks …
This can't compete with HTC & Samsung iPhone killers at twice the price or with stuff like the Mini Pulse at half the price.
I mean the Pulse Mini has 2.1 now with fingers crossed for 2.2. OK an inferior screen but compensated by a more compact package with a stylus for the difficult bits. And while these screens may be cr*p to iPhone/Desire users - they are still a revelation to most Nokia users.
And that's it really - Android is a fast maturing OS with hardware coming down the cost curve. If you are going to compromise with what the Desire/Galaxy S offer today - then buy a real cheapie you can afford throw away next year when we may get 3.0 and better screens. You may end up with something better than the best today at the end of an expensive 24month contract. at lower cost. But not if you buy this.
I'm an iPhone user, have been since the original iPhone and very little could change that for me, but I've always been interested in the Android Market, so decided to get me a little Android nasty.
I bought this phone SIM free from a well known high street phone store a couple of weeks ago for £99.99 on PAYG (so somewhat cheaper than the review price), it also doesn't appear to be network locked which is a bonus, and came with a free 2Gb micro-SD card.
Android 1.6 is a bit old now, but I'm reliably informed (as are other users who have asked LG) that there will be a major update to 2.1 this month - it can't come quick enough.
The stock keyboard is shockingly bad, but if you install 'Swiftkey' from the Android Market (for free) you get a prettier (iPhonesque) and much more accurate keyboard.
So many of the cheap Android phones have a QVGA 320x240 screen with which a large number of Market apps will not work, however LG thankfully went with the 320x480 resolution.
For £99.99 you can't beat it really!
Dont forget, for standby time, you'd need to have PERFECT signal, and never move the phone. It uses a lot of battery when you move around cell site, and it looks for signal. Also perfect temp too.
You'd never, ever get the standby time quoted, but i think you might manage a week if you really never touched it.
People should just learn to accept, using the phone, if you get 2 full days, thats good. Charging is easy though, just plug it in before bed.
This post has been deleted by its author
I've recently discovered a rather nasty scam being orchestrated by Mobile Phone companies and Smart Phones.
I've got a LG Arena locked to Orange which has Wi-Fi and 3G, etc. which you'd expect in a modern phone.
But whilst I can web browser via Wi-Fi or 3G and manually choose from these two options so I can web surf for no extra cost on my own private Wi-Fi connection. I can't do this with Email.
I am forced by a locked setting to use 3G if I want to read my email! I was flabbergasted!
I was wondering why my balance was quickly dwindling away as I sat on my own sofa reading my email thinking that because I had connected to my Wi-Fi that my phone was using it.
To my horror it wasn't.
A quick phone to Orange Support and they apologised and would get my balance refunded. A Support person would get in touch with me in 24 hours to 'sort my phone out'.
Well needless to say they didn't and I soon discovered why....
A phone call back to them 2 days later and they confirmed it's a 'feature' with many of their Locked Phones. You are forced to use 3G and not Wi-Fi to use the built-in GPS or email.
Nice little earner for Orange but it leaves a bad taste in their customers mouth once they find this out. Needless I'll not be buying Orange again.
Orange Support told me this was a common 'feature' offered by other Mobile Phone companies on Locked phones and I could now believe it...
Are these companies allowed to get away from locking a feature of a phone just so they can force you to spend more money with them?
Maybe The Register could sniff this out?
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2025
