LG KU990 Viewty: The YouTube phone is unveiled

Note: This post comes by way of Crave UK. Some links have been changed to reflect their CNET U.S. counterparts. The original post can be found here.

LG isn't renowned for high-end camera phones, but that doesn't mean that the company behind the fashion-centric Chocolate phone can't make one. It can--and it has--and no, we're not talking about the LG KG920. The LG KU990 Viewty, formerly known as the NYX, might have an awful name, but it features a whopping 5-megapixel camera with a nifty touchscreen interface and YouTube functionality.

Take video and upload it to YouTube. Take that iPhone!

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Similar to the LG Prada phone, the LG KU990 comes in a glossy black casing and features a large display. The touchscreen interface produces small vibrations that make it easier to sense when you've touched it, a system that Motorola also uses in its Motorola Razr 2 V8, and one we think works really well.

The 5-megapixel camera on the back comes with a Schneider Kreuznach lens, autofocus and manual focus, image stabilization and LED photo light, but more interestingly--or curiously--it can shoot video at up to 120 frames per second. The reason we're curious about the high frame rate is because it's about four times higher than a standard camcorder and is usually intended for viewing videos in slow motion or shooting fast-moving action footage.

Whether or not viewing slow-motion clips is your thing, the KU990 does one thing that'll please many: it has the ability to upload videos directly to YouTube, a feature that many iPhone users would love to see. You can also watch YouTube videos on the handset.

The LG KU990 is set to come out soon on 3 and other major networks. Pricing has yet to be announced and we're uncertain on all the final specs, but we're getting one in very soon. We'll post a hands-on with more juicy details as soon as we do--watch this space.

Andrew Lim is the Mobile Phone Editor for CNET UK.