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December 15, 2006 3:18 PM PST

Are LG's keys fading away?

by Mike Yamamoto
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(Credit: Mobil Portal)

As the mobile phone continues to evolve, traditional keys may eventually become the handset equivalent of prehensile toes. That, at least, appears to be the case with LG's latest designs.

According to Slashphone, the "LG KE850" has no keypad and instead relies solely on a touch screen to control its functions. Little else is known about the phone, other than it apparently won an award from the International Forum Design in Germany (which is probably why photos of it are being circulated today).

The handset does bear some resemblances to its famous cousin the Chocolate, though there's obviously no slide. But if the design means more real estate for the screen, we're all for it.

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iphone??????????
by smokeonit December 15, 2006 8:03 PM PST
could it be that LG will manufacture the apple iphone??? this looks so apple...
the touchscreen that supposedly turns to a click wheel for the ipod features,
man i hope apple comes thur with a sleek design like everybody talks about;-)
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Cold Weather Dialing? NP
by Lordadimar December 18, 2006 8:20 AM PST
Cold weather Dialing is always an issue. If you've got those gigantic gloves on in fridgid weather, you're going to have a tough time dialing any phone. And the LG heat sensors could pick up a finger through a leather glove. I think this phone is a step inthe right direction. I hope it has a nice camera on it.
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Cold Weather Dialing? NP
by Lordadimar December 18, 2006 8:21 AM PST
Cold weather Dialing is always an issue. If you've got those gigantic gloves on in fridgid weather, you're going to have a tough time dialing any phone. And the LG heat sensors could pick up a finger through a leather glove. I think this phone is a step inthe right direction. I hope it has a nice camera on it.
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downscaled OSX?
by Mainframe December 19, 2006 5:43 PM PST
is it just me or does that gui look very apple like?

on screen dialpad....ipod like design, looks and seems very simmilar to all the iphone rumours flying around.
perhaps apple is simply creating a mobile operating system and a general idea on the designs they want it to appear on and leaving it up to phone manufacturers to come up with the hardware?

either way, it looks hot. if it has pda functionality my Nokia E61 will be getting replaced.
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