Kate Moore has been crowned a texting champ.
(Credit: LG)Fifteen-year-old Kate Moore won LG's third annual U.S. National Texting Championship this week. The contest finals were held in New York Tuesday, and Moore won $50,000 as well as a free LG enV3. Moore, who's from Des Moines, Iowa, attributes her success to her 14,000-texts-a-month habit.
The contest required entrants to perform a series of challenges, like texting while blindfolded and texting while going through an obstacle course. The final showdown had both finalists text three long phrases without any mistakes. However, all tasks were done with an LG enV3, which has a full QWERTY keyboard. We think it would've been a lot more interesting if they texted with normal phones with a number keypad and T9 predictive text.
LG's texting contest drew almost 250,000 applicants, and all finalists were 22 or younger.
The LG enV3 is the much awaited update to the LG enV2, and after a few days reviewing it, we have to say it's definitely an improvement. It still has that odd calculator-like exterior with the small external screen and flat number keypad, but it opens up to reveal a bigger screen and a redesigned QWERTY keyboard with the space bar in the middle instead off to the sides.
Better still are its features. It now has a 3.0-megapixel camera and camcorder with camera settings like smile shot, which automatically takes a photo when a smile is detected, and panorama mode, which stitches together three photos taken from left to right. It also now has a Dashboard feature that acts as a Web portal to various information channels like weather, ESPN, and more. But the biggest update is that it now has a full HTML Web browser. It's easy to use, with the full browser features like full-screen view, zoom capabilities, and bookmarks. However, we didn't like that we had to go to another page just to enter the Web URL; there isn't a normal URL field at the top of the browser.
Other features include a wide array of messaging options that include instant messaging, mobile e-mail, mobile Web e-mail, and corporate e-mail, and of course EV-DO, GPS, and access to Verizon's broadband services like V Cast Video and V Cast Music. It also has a music player and stereo Bluetooth.
Overall, we think it's a great full-featured messaging phone from Verizon Wireless. It's $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service agreement.
We've talked about it for weeks now, but Verizon has finally made it official with the announcement of three new LG phones: the LG enV3, LG enV Touch, and LG Glance. All of the phones have text and multimedia messaging with threaded messaging, mobile Web, mobile e-mail, Bluetooth, and GPS. Here's a brief rundown of specifications unique to each phone:
LG enV Touch
(Credit: LG)The LG enV Touch is the most advanced of the lot, and is the successor to the LG Voyager. It has a 3-inch external touch screen similar to its predecessor, as well as a 3-inch internal screen that is not a touch screen. It flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, and it has a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder with autofocus, flash, and an image editor.
Other features include a full HTML Web browser, visual voice mail support (note: you have to pay a monthly fee to Verizon for this feature), up to 16GB microSD card support, EV-DO Rev. A, and a music player compatible with V Cast Music with Rhapsody. The enV Touch can also read Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat (PDF) documents.
LG enV3
(Credit: LG)The LG enV3 is the sequel to the LG enV2, and it does indeed look similar to its predecessor. It has the number keypad on the front, with a 1.56-inch external screen and a 2.6-inch internal screen, and it flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard.
Features include a 3.0-megapixel camera/camcorder, which is a step up from the enV2's 2.0-megapixel shooter, high-speed EV-DO (Not Rev. A), a full HTML Web browser, visual voice mail support, a microSD card slot with support for up to 16GB, and a music player with V Cast support.
LG Glance
(Credit: LG)Last but not least is the LG Glance, which is the most basic of the three. It has a simple candy-bar form factor with a "woven" metal back plate, and it features a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and not much else.
The LG enV3 will be available this Friday, May 29, for $129.99, while the LG enV Touch and the LG Glance will be available June 5 for $149.99 and $49.99 respectively. All these prices are after a mail-in rebate and a new, two-year, service agreement. The rebate will be in the form of a debit card, which you can use like any other debit card.
On Sale Now: $49.99 - $499.99
View the latest prices for LG enV Touch (Verizon Wireless)
On Sale Now: $29.99 - $349.99
View the latest prices for LG enV3 - slate blue (Verizon Wireless)
On Sale Now: $9.99
View the latest prices for LG Glance (Verizon Wireless)
This summer will be extremely busy for all of us here at CNET. Not only is the Palm Pre coming in June, but we're expecting iPhone news at WWDC, a new Nokia N97 for North America, the LG enV3 and enV Touch, and more. Phew! We discuss all that, go over our weekly reviews, and answer your questions, too.
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Rumors of the week
BlackBerry Storm 2 could hit as early as June
Rumor: Nokia N97 NAM to launch June 2
News
On Call: A summer of cell phones
Palm Pre to arrive June 6 for $200
Sprint CEO: Expect Pre shortages
Best Buy Mobile to sell Palm Pre $199.99 without mail-in rebate
Sprint-branded HTC Touch Pro 2 spotted
LG enV3 to launch May 29
LG enV Touch set for June 5 release?
Nokia lays out three new phones
Android 1.5 Update for T-Mobile G1 delayed one week
Samsung Jack coming to AT&T on May 19
Samsung phone has partial keyboard--Bonnie Cha shall not be pleased
Samsung A167 goes to GoPhone
Reviews
Samsung Magnet
Kyocera X-tc
LG 160
Jabra BT4010 Bluetooth headset
Jabra SP200 Bluetooth speakerphone
Upcoming reviews
Samsung Jack
Kyocera Jax S1300
Samsung SGH-A167
Samsung Smooth SCH-U350
Samsung JetSet SCH-r550
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Aura Spracht BluNote
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We finally have a release date for the Palm Pre.
(Credit: Palm)Update at Wednesday, May 20 at 10:00 a.m. PST: A few readers have asked about the North America version of the Nokia N97. It should launch June 2.
Though summer is always a busy time for new cell phones releases, so far the summer of 2009 is shaping up to be a doozy. We expect a full load of new handsets over the next three months with June being an especially hectic time for high-profile models. To help you keep track of the news, here's a handy list.
Palm Pre
After months of waiting (and plenty of rumors), we finally learned today that the Palm Pre will go on sale Saturday, June 6 for $200. Palm pushed its "first half of the year" deadline to the very end, but it appears they'll make it.
We're hoping to have a review unit by the time it hits stores so that we can give you the full scoop on this much-anticipated device. Indeed, we're very excited to finally be able to touch it. June 6 was a bit unexpected since Sprint typically releases new devices on a Sunday. But the date does give Palm a two-day jump on what should be the next incarnation of the iPhone.
... Read more
We hate to say anything is confirmed until we get the official press release, but it certainly looks probable that the LG enV3 will be released May 29, according to the Boy Genius Report.
As we mentioned before, the enV3 will sport a 2.6-inch internal display, a 1.5-inch external display, a QWERTY keyboard, a 3.0-megapixel camera with flash and video recording, a music player, a microSD card slot, Bluetooth, GPS, HTML Web browser, and EV-DO. It'll be around the same size as the LG enV2, and will measure 4.11 inches tall by 2.13 inches wide by 0.65 inch deep, and weigh around 3.77 ounces.
Pricing is slated to be $299 retail, but the LG enV3 could sell for as little as $129 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract.
Left to right: LG enV3 closed, LG enV3 opened, and LG enV Touch opened.
(Credit: Phone Arena)The rumors of a new LG enV3 and a LG enV Touch are becoming hot and heavy now, especially with these new leaked pictures on Phone Arena. The LG enV3 is, as expected, the successor to the LG enV2 messaging phone from Verizon Wireless. The enV3 will have a 3.0-megapixel camera, an LED flash, a QWERTY keyboard, a larger external display, stereo speakers, Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot.
The more impressive device is the LG enV Touch, which is rumored to replace the LG Voyager. Like the Voyager, the external display will be touch sensitive. It also has a 3.0-megapixel camera with LED flash, plus a Schneider Kreuznach lens, a QWERTY keyboard, a 3.5-mm headset jack (we definitely like this), stereo speakers, Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot. However, the enV Touch will not have V Cast Mobile TV.
No word on pricing or availability, of course, but we expect to see more news soon.
(Via Engadget Mobile)
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