LG Optimus 7 Review
Thursday, October 27, 2011
LG Optimus 7 Focus is on Functionality!
Every phone maker has at least one primary line of product range.Samsung has the Galaxy series of smartphones. HTC, the smartphone devices with the `Desire' branding and Sony Ericsson, its famed Xperia smartphones. Likewise, the South Korean mobile phone maker has the Optimus range of smartphones that are known for their top of the line technology inputs and design inputs.
The LG Optimus 7 runs on the Windows Phone OS
The LG Optimus 7 is one of the more prominent ones in this impressive series. With the Optimus 7 smartphone device, LG has made a serious diversion from its obsession with the Android platform and instead has opted for the Microsoft developed Windows Phone software. The LG Optimus 7 uses, as the name of the phone handset clearly suggest, the Windows Phone 7 version of the operating system. This, we say confidently at the very outset, has been a bold and at the same time a mover that is not without its share of risk. All the same, it is clearly borne out by the fact that the Windows Phone operating software is good as the other rival platforms in performing most, if not all, of the functions that you would expect from your smartphone handset.
The ordinary design element works well here!
For its design, LG has opted the no fancy and out of the ordinary approach. The LG Optimus 7 in that sense at least is a very ordinary looking smartphone device. But this is, believe us, not that bad a design concept or idea to bank on. Instead, practicality and functionality aspects have been given sole and at the same time maximum importance. It is a very sturdy mobile device that actually sits very comfortably in your palm and you do get the feel of confidence that this handset will last the maximum number of days with you. Now, this is a great observation to make for any smartphone.
All in all, the LG Optimus 7 is the kind of smartphone handset that you will, at the very least, wold like to take a second look when you are browsing through so many such smartphones in the market place. It has its share of shortcomings no doubt. But the positives seem to be far outweighing the former. This is one big reason why you should not hesitate to buy the LG Optimus 7 smartphone device.
Here, before we go in to the bare details of each of the features and analysis them, it would be sensible to have a better understanding of the kind of technical specifications that the LG Optimus 7 smartphone offers.
This is given in bulleted form below –
* Touchscreen a nd resolution – 3.8 inches wide capacitive TFT touchscreen with the WVGA resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. It has the support of 16 million colours
* There is Quad-band GSM, GPRS, and EDGE support
* You also have 3G with HSDPA (7.2 Mbps) and HSUPA (5.76Mbps)
* Windows Phone 7 operating system
* 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB RAM
*5 mega pixel autofocus camera with LED flash and geo-tagging; You can also take panorama photographs using the Panorama shot application . 720p video recording @ 24fps is possible with it
* On board memory space of 16 GB
* Standard 3.5mm audio jack
* Standard microUSB port for charging)
* There is Wi-Fi b/g/n; DLNA support via PlayTo
* Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
* Accelerometer for screen auto rotation
* Landscape on-screen QWERTY keyboard
* FM radio with RDS
* You can use the Office Document Editor and get your office work done in a more systematic and orderly manner
* Social networking integration with Facebook, Twitter and other social integration web sites
* Built-in A-GPS receiver for help in navigation
* The LG Application Store offers some interesting apps like the Voice-to-text and the canSearch augmented reality app
Now, let us concentrate on some of the more individual features and attribues that the LG Optimus 7 smartphone device brings with it. And thereby figure out where all its scores and where all it could have done better.
Design and Form Factor
As mentioned, LG seems to have altogehterly abandoned aesthetics and has concentrated only on the praticalness of the device. This, has explained earlier, is not that bad a line of thinking to adopt. Overall, the LG Optimus 7 indeed is a device that does look ordinary but not, at the same time, down right cheap. Somehow, LG has managed to instil in some classiness within the ordinariness.
Basically, LG has given the Optimus 7 device the slate style form factor. This has actually been built from what most Microsoft Windows Phone-based smartphones offer and is more an extension of the typical design that all Windows phone handsets use. This renders it a very nicely balanced handset with a very enduring and lasting feel about it.
But having said this, it may also be pointed out that the slightly slanted top of the LG Optimus 7 makes it a cumbersome task to reach for the power button and switch on the device. Also, the back of the deivce is rubberized and this gives a rather plasticity feeling. This, in particular, could have been avoided by LG. Even a metallic coating could have, we felt, alleviated the situation to the favour of LG.
Operating System
It is really impressive the manner in which Microsoft has improved and improved its operating software and has finally seems to have got it all right with its latest Windows Phone version of the operating system. One main area, where there has been significant improvement is the convergence aspect. You can convergence all your media and other content ( both textual as well as visual) and share it across all your mobile devices like laptop, personal computer and televsion set. You have the related connectivity ports like DLNA, etc to make the sharing happen.
Interesting applications with the Optimus 7
Voice to Text Application
The LG Optimus 7 handset extends a few interesting apps. In fact, one such application that is not generally found in other competing Windows Phone 7 OS run smartphones is the Voice to Text option. The Voice to Text enables the user to through voice commands send E-mails, texts, and other related stuff. This we really thought was a value addition in the true sense of the term.
Though having said this, it is also true that not all LG Optimus 7 models selling in all the various markets possess this attractive feature. It also to a certain extend depends on the network service provider you are using.
The ScanSearch App
The ScanSearch application has to be most exciting of all apps with this smartphone at least. The Scansearch is an enhanced application that lets you view the world outside through the lens fitted in the camera of the phone device. The lens used the A-GPS software in-built in to the phone device to help you locate points that are of interest to you.
Mobile Phone Web Browsing and Data Networking
With the 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, EDGE, and bluetooth technology along with the connectivity ports – USB port and DLNA – all together deliver reasonably well and you do get to view most web pages pretty easily. You can indulge in quite a bit of E-mailing as well. The net speed only slacken a little when you are on to more complex web pages. But this is only to be expected and is found in other supposedly more well equipped smartphones.
Camera
The five mega pixel camera does what is expected of it in a satisfactory manner. The snapper is fitted with auto focus, LED flash, geo tagging and panoramic shot view options and this expectedly helps a great deal in delivering visually rich and colouful images as well as video clips. With its camcorder, you can do video recording at the high definition of 720p and that too at 24 frames per second
White it is true, that the LG Optimus 7 phone's camera may not be up to the quality levels of some of the Sony Ericsson made Cyber shot snapper or even the HTC Desire, it is all the same, a very good photography device indeed. Most users will be happy with its performance.
Conclusion
There is no reason why anyone who is interested in a mid-range smartphone that runs on the Windows Phone operating system should not go for the LG Optimus 7 smartphone device. The Optimus 7 does manage to meet most the smartphone requirements to the best possible extent.
Pricing also has been done to everyone's satisfaction
The LG Optimus 7 smartphone handset is being sold very cheaply through plenty of low price LG Optimus 7 contracts, SIM FREE and pay as you go mobile phone deals. You really will not have any major issues with its prices either.
