The LG Star, Tegra 2, Stock Android, yummy!

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/exclusive-lgs-4-inch-android-phone-with-dual-core-tegra-2-and/

Wow. LG did say it'd bring some heat to its Android Optimus line and here's our first look at it, folks! An 8 megapixel camera-wearing, 1080p video-recording, dual-core superphone to appease all the spec fanatics out there. Aimed for release early next year, as the very first dual-core Android handset, this device will finally bring NVIDIA's Tegra 2 into the smartphone realm. Our tipster tells us it's codenamed Star internally, though that's certain to change in the final product nomenclature. You might think that massive Google logo on the back would imply stock Android and you'd be right -- we're told it'll be a nearly untouched representation of the Google OS, though it's still not clear which version it'll be. We've also spotted a front-facing camera on the front, while the innards include microSD memory expandability, microUSB connectivity, and a 1500mAh battery. Nexus who?

*Drool* Must resist temptation for a few months.

 

[murphy55d]

What carrier?

also not sure how LG will be in terms of bootloader lock down.

 

[snikt]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/exclusive-lgs-4-inch-android-phone-with-dual-core-tegra-2-and/

We've also spotted a front-facing camera on the front

*Drool* Must resist temptation for a few months.

Oh thank god they pointed that out. I'd've never guessed...

 

[s44]

Looks ugly, but you can't argue with the specs. No display info, however.

 

[zerocool84]

Looks ugly, but you can't argue with the specs. No display info, however.

It'll be around the same as the rest of them, 4" 480x800 IPS Display.

 

[YoungGun21]

Looks ugly, but you can't argue with the specs. No display info, however.

The title says 4 inch...

 

[s44]

The title says 4 inch...

But what tech and resolution?

IPS 800*480 = meh

Super AMOLED or high-res = yay

 

[Bateluer]

But what tech and resolution?

IPS 800*480 = meh

Super AMOLED or high-res = yay

800x480 is still decent for a phone, competitive with other high end smart phones.

However, LG does make the 'Retina' display that Apple uses in the iPhone 4. Take that how you will.

 

[Deeko]

800x480 is still decent for a phone, competitive with other high end smart phones.

However, LG does make the 'Retina' display that Apple uses in the iPhone 4. Take that how you will.

4" 720p display? mmm

 

[MrX8503]

It'll be around the same as the rest of them, 4" 480x800 IPS Display.

Most smartphones don't have an IPS display.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Probably verizon, I doubt this is coming to T-Mo/ATT

 

[YoungGun21]

But what tech and resolution?

IPS 800*480 = meh

Super AMOLED or high-res = yay

It won't be SAMOLED unless Samsung needs some cash and they sell it.

Isn't an IPS at 480x800 high enough resolution for you? We are talking a 4 inch screen here.

 

[Bateluer]

Probably verizon, I doubt this is coming to T-Mo/ATT

It is easier to get the GSM validation from the FCC than CDMA. Plus, GSM works in more countries than the US, allowing them to sell the phone in more places than just the US.

 

[Deeko]

It won't be SAMOLED unless Samsung needs some cash and they sell it.

Isn't an IPS at 480x800 high enough resolution for you? We are talking a 4 inch screen here.

800x480 on a 4" screen really isn't that great. Hell, the old HTC Touch Pro had a sharper screen.

 

[Deeko]

It is easier to get the GSM validation from the FCC than CDMA. Plus, GSM works in more countries than the US, allowing them to sell the phone in more places than just the US.

While true - I believe LG's only Android presence in the US right now is on Verizon, if precedent means anything.

 

[Bateluer]

While true - I believe LG's only Android presence in the US right now is on Verizon, if precedent means anything.

Also true. All speculation at this point.

 

[phoenix79]

Except it's supposed to have stock android, which is more likely on T-mobile than anywhere else. Also a GSM network that would allow it to be sold overseas.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Battery life?
They keep making the phones faster and do more, but the betteries never change. These phones do plenty as it is. They need better battery life. I'd be happy to go from 7am to 12-midnight and not have to recharge my phone sometime during the day.

 

[YoungGun21]

Battery life?
They keep making the phones faster and do more, but the betteries never change. These phones do plenty as it is. They need better battery life. I'd be happy to go from 7am to 12-midnight and not have to recharge my phone sometime during the day.

Good luck with that on this phone. That is one reason I'm gladly not upgrading until Feb of 2012. Hopefully by then dual-core phones will have good battery life.

 

[Bateluer]

I'd be happy to go from 7am to 12-midnight and not have to recharge my phone sometime during the day.

Eh? I do this every day. Typically plug it in when I go to bed, but its usually got about 60% battery life remaining after a day of moderate use.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Good luck with that on this phone. That is one reason I'm gladly not upgrading until Feb of 2012. Hopefully by then dual-core phones will have good battery life.

A 1500mAh battery is going to burst into flames when combined with a large high res screen, Android and a Dual Core CPU.

 

[Bateluer]

A 1500mAh battery is going to burst into flames when combined with a large high res screen, Android and a Dual Core CPU.

Does anyone know what the TDP of a 1Ghz dual core Tegra 2 is? Or what thermal/power controls are implemented?

 

[MrX8503]

Battery life?
They keep making the phones faster and do more, but the betteries never change. These phones do plenty as it is. They need better battery life. I'd be happy to go from 7am to 12-midnight and not have to recharge my phone sometime during the day.

DroidX and iPhone4 are the phones you would want if you want battery life. I actually use my iPhone to its full potential and I still have enough battery life left until I get home. I used my EVO occasionally and it died at 2pm.

 

[Deeko]

The Motorola Droid phones as a whole do better than other Android phones in terms of battery. They have large batteries, and I'm guessing the screens/OMAP CPUs they use draw less power than the competition. Its still not GREAT, but its definitely better.

When I had the Epic 4G, it struggled to go 10 hours on a charge...really varies by model.

 

[Bateluer]

Did some quick Googling on the Tegra 250 and found this article.

http://smartphonebenchmarks.com/for...cessor-smartphones-are-they-going-to-be-fast/

It talks a little about the Tegra 250s performance and battery life.

They also claim far less power consumption when Tegra 2 chip is decoding music and video compare to Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. If this is true, Tegra 2 based phones will last significantly longer when listening music and watching YouTube video.

While battery life is a concern, I seriously doubt LG, or anyone else for that matter, is going to release a smart phone with a battery that lasts only a few hours with typical use. Obviously, you can drain an Evo's battery very fast when you turn on BT, GPS, max screen brightness, and wifi tether it to a PC and start torrenting Linux ISOs, but thats going to drain any smart phone. And its hardly typical use.