Review of the LG Dare
Jenn June 29th, 2008
After owning the Dare for about four days, here are my early thoughts:
Overall
The Dare seems to be living up to everyone’s expectations, including mine. I really have not been disappointed with anything yet. Actually, I have been regularly surprised as I discovered new, unexpected features. The Dare already has reviewers asking if the iPhone(y) can keep up with the Dare. I know all the fruitcakes out there will have a fit that anyone suggests that anything beats their product, but remember: LG was in the touchscreen business for cell phones before there was any talk of an iPhone. The Dare was definitely worth the wait.
Physical aspects
It feels very good in the hand. The back is made of some type of silicone, rubber, or soft plastic. This is a real bonus for people like me who are prone to dropping their phones because it gives the phone a “stickier” feel. The size feels great in your hand. I would not want the phone and smaller or any bigger. The screen is plastic and measures at 240 x 400 pixels. I find the display to be bright and clear. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack that allows you to use the music/video players with regular headphones or easily tether it to another device without an adapter. The dare also has a lanyard hook for accessories or even a stylus. The phone has a micro USB port for charging and connecting to a PC and a slot for a micro SD card. The battery performance seem outstanding, even with heavy data and Bluetooth use.
Touchscreen
I have found the touchscreen to be flawless. Like any touchscreen device, there is a learning curve, but I found it to be short and painless. Some were concerned that this is a pressure sensitive touchscreen. This is not a point to be worried about. The screen is easy to use. You may calibrate the touchscreen and adjust the haptic feedback level. It is remarkable how the integration of sound and vibration aid our brains in resting in the fact that our action has been in fact registered by the phone. The phone’s accelerometer allows you to hold the phone in a landscape position for a fuller screen display. When messaging or entering text, the landscape position automatically display the on screen Qwerty. I had reservations about a touchscreen Qwerty, but I make no more mistakes with the touchscreen Qwerty than I did my physical Qwerty.
Interface
I like the Dare’s interface. It is orderly, intuitive, and yet has the flexibility to be a little creative or edgy. 5 icons line the bottom of the screen for messaging, phone, programs, contacts, and favorites. Favorites are photo tiles that represent your 8 favorite contacts. You may drag and drop those tiles in any way you want on the Favorites screen. At the bottom of the favorites screen are icons for messaging, calling the contact, or looking at the contact’s information. The shortcuts menu is easily accessed by selecting the arrow half way up the right side of the home screen. You may customize your favorites .
You may choose either a traditional black theme or a white theme, in which the programs is white with scatter icons. The theme only applies to the submenus. The main screen is customizable with various types of static and animated wallpapers.
A note: those of you looking for “Get it now” can find it under a new icon name, “Media Center” or under the different categories like ringtones, games, etc.
Camera/Video
Unbelievably good for a cell phone, the 3.2 megapixel Dare camera features a Schneider Kreuznach lens and flash.. The camera features, auto focus, face detection, adjustable settings, and white balance adjustment. There are 4 shot types: normal, split, panorama, and frame and several modes as well (night, landscape, sports, beach, and portrait, and normal. You may shoot in bursts of 1, 3, 6, or 9.
The Dare includes the ability to edit your photos and videos on your phone. You may crop, adjust, or enhance your photo using special preloaded formats to the photo and the upload it directly to a blog or social networking site. It should be noted that edited photos and videos will increase the file size.
The video camera also performs exceptionally. Video messaging is only supported at 176 x 144 or 320 x 240. Videos recorded at 640 x 480 must be transferred to your PC. You may record at high speed recording (120 fps) slow-motion (15 fps). Video also allows you to set the flash, color effects, and white balance.
Messaging
I have not been much of a text message person, but one cool thing I noticed accidently is an icon that actually reads you the message. Mobile email is OK. Of course I wish it was better and had the ability to handle attachments, but it is not a Smartphone, so I can’t expect too much. I have been able to use the mobile options tools in Outlook to send me my calendar and reminders as well as to alert me of new email. This has helped me transition away from using a Smartphone with push email and wireless sync.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is great. Besides stereo Bluetooth, you can also push vcards, vcalendars, photos, videos, and music to and from PC and other compatible Bluetooth devices.
Miscellaneous “Nice to Have” Features
- Alarm clock,
- Tip calculator
- Vcast video player
- In Case of Emergency Icon at the top of your contact list
- Handwriting recognition
- Drawing pad and note pad
- Stopwatch
- Calendar
- Ability to play DVD quality videos (can store and play from micro SD card)
