Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

optimus

Texting isn't just for utility, it's a sport too

The Olympics aren't the only competition taking place this summer, there's also the U.S. LG National Texting Competition. And Austin Wierschke, 17, has become the reining champ for the second year in a row.

Wierschke, who hails from Rhinelander, Wis., is now deemed "the fastest texter in America," according to the Associated Press.

His secret? "Abnormally fast thumbs," he told the news source.

The competition, which takes place in New York's Times Square, tests texters on three skills: speed, accuracy, and dexterity. The thumb athletes must text blindfolded, know "text speak,&… Read more

LG Optimus Elite to get QuickMemo

The LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile will get QuickMemo through an over-the-air update.

According to the carrier, the feature will be available in August.

QuickMemo lets you jot down notes and draw doodles with your fingers on top of the phone's screen image (though virtual notebook paper is an option too).

To access QuickMemo on the Elite, you'll have to push and hold both buttons of the volume rocker. Four different brush types and 16 colors are at your disposal as well, and you can save and send your memos via e-mail, text, Bluetooth, and more.

I … Read more

Verizon may carry LG Optimus Vu

With its mammoth 5-inch screen, the LG Optimus Vu is hard to miss -- and so is that Verizon logo.

According to Android Police, the "phablet" device has been spotted in the wild with Big Red's name emblazoned above the display.

In addition, the device runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich natively. This is a surprising upgrade since we nicked the Vu down a notch in our very own review because it came with Android Gingerbread out of the box.

Other than that, nothing much has changed. There are still the 8-megapixel camera in the … Read more

LG Optimus Vu review: A ginormous 5-inch phablet

It seemed like not so long ago, we were trying to wrap our heads around the Samsung Galaxy Note and its whopping 5.3-inch screen. Now it looks like LG has provided its own answer to the phone-tablet hybrid with the LG Optimus Vu.

The Vu's screen is slightly smaller at a perfect 5 inches, but its svelte frame is more squarish and the display has an odd 4:3 aspect ratio. The device also comes with a hefty stylus, called a Rubberdium pen, that's sturdy and feels similar to a real pen.

Though I like its decent 8-megapixel camera and crisp display, the Vu isn't without its drawbacks. This includes its outdated Android Gingerbread OS and its nearly $900 price tag. For the full review, read more here.… Read more

Nvidia responds to Torvalds' diatribe, digit

After an F-bomb-laced rant last week from Linus Torvalds, the recipient of that ire has responded.

Torvalds, the main force behind the Linux kernel, was speaking at a forum hosted by Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship in Otaniemi, Finland, on June 14, when he was asked a question about Nvidia's alleged lack of support for its Optimus graphics products.

"Nvidia has been one of the worst trouble spots we've had with hardware manufacturers," Torvalds said. About a minute into the rant, which starts at 49:59 mark (see video at bottom), he dropped the F-bomb and gestured … Read more

LG Optimus L5 sets sail for Europe this month

The LG Optimus L5, an Android 4.0 handset that is equipped with dual SIM capabilities, is readying itself for a European launch this month.

U.K., Germany, and France will be the first countries to receive it. Afterward, customers in the Middle East, Asia, Central, and South America will be able to nab the device.

Unfortunately, LG has not released any information about a U.S. release.

CNET first caught wind of the LG Optimus L5 back in February, where it was unveiled at Mobile World Congress. It was announced in conjunction with the Optimus L7 and L3.

The … Read more

Optimus 4X HD review: Our favorite LG phone yet

Recently, I haven't been so impressed with a string of LG phones. Though a lot of them are good, solid handsets, none of them have wowed me.

That is, until now.

I mentioned the LG Optimus 4X HD back in February, when it was going by the name LG X3. It was rumored to have a quad-core CPU and I'm glad the rumors were true.

Its 1.5GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor from Nvidia makes it impressively snappy. Not only does it launch and quit graphics-heavy gaming apps like nobody's business, but the 8-megapixel camera is stupid … Read more

Android 4.0 reaching two LG Optimus smartphones in June

Some LG smartphone owners will be receiving the latest version of Android early next month.

An LG Korean news item (English translation) points to the Optimus LTE Tag and the Optimus Vu as getting a dollop of Ice Cream Sandwich -- aka Android 4.0 -- starting on June 4.

As Engadget points out, it's a bit tough to decipher the Google translation. But the update appears to include LG's Optimus UI 3.0, which runs on top of Android 4.0. Owners of the Optimus Vu will also receive "additional features."

CNET contacted LG for … Read more

LG Optimus Slider lets you text like a fiend

The LG Optimus Slider on Virgin Mobile is the successor to early 2011's LG Optimus V -- only, it hardly even looks like it.

Like a cousin who spent his summer camp days working out and beefing up only to become unrecognizable by the time September rolled around, the Slider somewhat resembles the V with a little more junk in the trunk.

But to be fair, that extra "junk," is actually a slideout QWERTY keyboard. With four rows of generously sized keys and navigational arrows, the handset is great for people who text all day and want … Read more