LG ARENA Mobile Phone Review
Hi. We’re about to show you the most intriguing cell phones of 2009, the LG Arena.
It’s the first — of LG’s brand new interface named S-Class 3D as well and except for it, and the cellphone itself is something common referred to as just another iPhone clone and you just need to take a look to notice that.
The shiny metal framing the screen by no means fall short of bringing Apple’s platform to MOD. The similarity is further reinforced by the touch sensor to the screen utilizing the capacitive technology that dominates over the whole front side.
Unfortunately, the LG Arena has a rather smaller 3-inch screen and to wish it was larger by at least half an inch giving its splendid resolution. Still, it’s usable although it’s not that fan looking in direct sunlight due to the light sensitive sensor located next to the — camera in the top left corner.
Its lightweight and compact size is direct result of its smaller display that gets in the way of its intended luxurious image.
We are really pleased with the whole lot of buttons and that perfectly — with the order of design in the whole round-shaped, low profile look about it.
The volume rocker and the camera shutter are in its right-hand side and using them is scurfy despite that they do not have enough trouble.
The screen lock and unlock button is in the opposite side of the phone. It’s rather small but it knops out and it’s easy to feel with your fingers.
Next are the 3.5-milimeter jack and the cover unlocking mechanism while the Micro SD card expansion slot is located under the back cover. The charger port in on the left-hand side and it is protected with a tiny sliding flap that is really handy.
As you can see for yourselves, the LG Arena looks really nice but it unfortunately lacks fascinating features and deserves being called a clone.
What makes it standout from the crowd is its S-Class 3D interface and to we’re just about to tell you more about it.
Well, you maybe were racking your brains where the 3D part of its name came from. As you can see, the phone has got four start-up screens located on to the side walls of a cube. Let’s dig deeper into this.
This is the screen where you can place sort f goods to your overused functions but you're limited to not more than nine. You just need to keep your finger pressed against an icon for a short while to enter the app functions more. You’re free to re-arrange them to your liking.
Now, here is the widget’s screen we know all too well from the Arena. It looks after the same principle. Keep your finger pressed against any on-screen application icon for a while and Walla! You can place it anywhere you like or add new ones in a similar manner.
If you need more space than what a single screen offers, you cannot move below or above and just scroll between them. Unfortunately, there are only 11 widgets and there is no option to download more later on.
Meet our friends from the Matrix, — favorite contact in your honor. You must be wondering how you can add more. Well, your guess is right. By keeping your finger pressed as a whole, utilizing quite in the same way of doing things is something easy to get used to.
The fourth start-up screen features some multi-media player that allows you to easily load your favorite songs, pictures and video clips. We’re going to show you how the whole thing works. But bear in mind, you’re limited to only 15 items.
We believe, it comes in handy for keeping your favorite multi-media content in hand whenever you are on the go and feel like wasting to wait time.
Unfortunately, the landscape mode is only available when you watch videos or browse pictures. Well, that enough on LG’s cube in its sides.
There is a — that’s on the bottom of the screen hat allows you to quickly dial number, access your contact list, message bulks and main menu, nothing kind of — really. They are large enough to click on it with your fingers.
A drop-down menu appears if you touch the upper part that lets you activate the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functions, set an alarm clock, turn the music player on, take a look at missed calls and set up your ring style profile.
In the main menu itself, is one of the reasons why the device looks so much like the iPhone. The main difference is, LG can sort all items by relevant category.
You can change their places as well but they can only switch places remaining in the same row they belong to so you always have communication related icons in the top row; contacts, recent calls, messages, browser, etcetera.
The multi-media icons are below them; Gallery, Camera, Video Camera, the Organizer Functions Coming Next, Calendar, Notes, Alarm List and Finally, Settings.
Actually, the same division exists in previous manufacturer’s model as well. you just let everything get merged to get in all so you have to scroll the roll sideways incase you need to find a less important functions. All icons become visible if the screen is in landscape mode.
What we like most about the new S-Class 3G are all these animations and nice effect that can really make you scroll through menus just for the cue card.
Anyway, we have only two remarks —. First, the icons are rather small. You can live with that but people with thicker fingers may find the icons uncomfortable to use. Second, the accelerometer is either not really sensitive or it just works slowly.
With the answer result, being that you really need to give the phone a nice shake to rotate thte view. The good news is there are changes for the better not only in the main menu or the home screen.
All interface elements have been properly implemented, have a finished look to them and they’re definitely better than anything we’ve seen coming form LG by now.
For in instance, to search in your contact menu, you can use either both paths of the name or search window to enter in digits and filtering the result. Let’s say, “2020” leads to use top secret telephone number. Adding contact no longer feels like a middle-aged torture and — on the —.
You can see more info fields on the screen. Moving up and down between them is adequate. You just need to get used to minimizing the keyboard if you want to go ahead.
The calendar is some of the most beautiful was we have ever seen. It is really easy to use and packs standard functions. You add detail schedule, tasks, or mark specific days as bank holidays. They are to allow more since your disposal.
A fairly common one that allows you to set up several different time — and Quick Alarm option to remind you about something that is to happen within the next hour.
The list also includes a bunch of platform functions like Memos, Stopwatch, Voice Recordings, Calculator, World Clock and a set of tools like an FM Transmitter and Unit Converter.
The message menu has been through some major changes. Getting in takes a ride into incoming messages is grouped by date.
You can browse your sent messages and drafts or read all messages Sent To or By a specific contact is a — by pressing against the button located at the top.
The good news is the LG Arena supports Microsoft Exchange Server to sync emails, contacts and calendar. All these goodies are really comfy to use due to the phone’s proper keypad.
Unfortunately, the buttons are a bit smaller than the — and somewhat hard to type away with both hands.
The beauty in browsing is really good although it needs some finishing touches to get inline with Apple’s Safari Mobile.
The multi-touch is used to zoom in on things pretty much the same way as on the iPhone. And if it’s not that smooth, it’s far better than the implementation on the product tool.
Actually, its exact speed and fast response that the browser needs is in order to catch up to the market leader.
There is nothing really impressive about the 5-megapixel camera of the LG Arena but it features handy and nice looking interface.
The numerous settings are represented in wheel-like shape and include functions like face detection, geographical text, various effect, white balance, and etcetera.
You can capture video at resolution of 720x480-pixels in both picture and video quality is good. You cannot assert an image you choose if — in your computer and large the size monitors but they’re good enough to share it with your internet buddies.
The Gallery looks great especially when in landscape mode. Did you notice the flowing graceful manner the fold downward in?
The music player is a bit of an odd board but you will eventually get used to it in time. it’s not anything trailblazing but it’s not a copy of the one that comes with the iPhone neither.
This is something good since we’re more than fed up with running kind of clones indeed. The browsing problem is something we do like.
The list is by artists name pops up on-screen with their artwork visualized in separate CDs.
When you start a song in portrait mode, the player appears right to it in the song list and scrolling down list to the album cover and background effect dropping out of sight. But you can change over to a different song or stop the current one by the controls of it all.
In landscape mode, the player takes at about the third of the screen and somehow it doesn’t seem to go with the rest of the interface at all.
Playback sound quality is good although we do recommend putting the available 3.5-milimeter jack to good use and avoiding to falling back on the dainty looking but really are uncomfortable to use earplugs that come along in the pack.
The phone supports DivX and Xvid. Or in other words, you can directly load and watch movies from your personal computer as long as they are not in HD.
The beauty in video player is simple and delivers decent image quality but cannot win over what we saw on the —.
Win catered some artifacts and colors that failed to grab it smoothly. Our test units however, played high risk leaves in 8 to 63 formats only.
We have also got another piece of good news. The phone offers something more than just fancy interface and likable design. It is actually the feet for talking. Stunning, isn’t it?
Sound quality during talks is excellent and the short displayed timeout really helps save battery power.
The manufacturer claims that the letter should be able to provide about four hours of continuous talk. All doubt, we just have to congratulate LG on the more they have done.
It appears the Arena has come out to introduce the S-Class 3D interface. Apparently, this turned out to be a great move since the phone has been selling great ever since its official release.
Several phones utilizing the S-Class 3D interface have already been announced as well. Among them are smart phones that were eagerly anticipating to see.
The LG Arena definitely makes for a good touch screen phone with a novelty interface that clearly shocks us in 2009 already.
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