LG InTouch Max GW620
Android for the masses?
Review It's taken a while, but LG has finally got around to releasing an Android handset. We're pleased to see they haven't just gone for a me-too 'droid either – the GW620 is firmly aimed at the lower mid-range rather than the smartphone high end. It puts the focus firmly on social networking, with integrated SNS, a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, plus Wi-Fi, HSDPA 3G, 5Mp camera and GPS.
Android enticer? LG's InTouch Max GW620
The InTouch Max GW620 is a pocket-friendly 109 x 55 x 16mm with a 3.2in touchscreen – so it's on the small side when compared the likes of the iPhone or media-tastic Android handsets like the Google Nexus One. It's nice and curvy too, with sloping edges top and bottom and rounded corners, all of which helps it to sit very neatly in hand or pocket despite the inevitable depth lent it by the slide-out Qwerty keyboard.
It's black gloss on the front, with an anti-slip rubberised coating on the back – ah, those little things mean a lot – together with a protruding camera lens and LED flash. The touchscreen is set within a surround, which includes the LG logo, but no buttons, touch sensitive or otherwise, which seems like a waste of real estate.
Beneath it are touch-sensitive home and back keys, plus a hard menu button. On the sides are dedicated camera and music buttons, a volume rocker, micro SD card – it comes with a 1GB version already loaded – and USB power/sync slots covered by a flimsy plastic grommet, with a power button and 3.5mm audio jack on top.
So far, so good, but the resistive LCD screen, while bright and fairly sharp, left a lot to be desired in terms of responsiveness. We often had to tap an icon several times to get it to work, and we sometimes found ourselves opening apps that we're sure we didn't touch. And while we're having a pop, the processor could be unbearably slow on the uptake and there were some unacceptably long lags on occasion when moving between applications.
A little chunky, but that's Qwerty sliderphones for you
The GW620 is running the Android 1.5 OS, rather the more recent 2.0 we've seen on the Motorola Milestone and others. It does all the usual Android stuff, of course, allowing you to spread a range of icons across three home screens, plus the option to add more from the Android Market. Yet here you'll see the basic 1.5 version, rather than the fancy recent upgrade. There's also the pull-down notifications page from the top of the screen and the pull-up apps menu from the bottom.
COMMENTS
Nice phone
Come on that touch screen is not that bad, can't see much difference from this to other touch screen phones, but you make it as if it's the worst ever.
The size of phone easily fits into your hand, size somewhat similar to older phones not like the iPhones and Nexuses slates of today, and it doesn't feel to heavy either.
The back of phone is a very smooth leather(?) and feels great to the touch and would have grip to a desk. And the keyboard is the best since HTC Touch Pro - that is nuff said.
well quite
And in the same manner, I'm sure an LED can output far more light in a short burst than it could cope with continuiously.
letters
It's very simple - when a new technique is applied to an existing technology a new name must be found. If a new name is not available then the name of the technique or material must be used instead. Bathtubs, for example, were first made of tin but are often made of plastic these days. So, if you have a tin bath it's a bath but if you have plastic it's not a bath. Houses either have bathrooms or plasticrooms depending on the material used for the main item within the room.
Plastic bath = plastic
Tin bath = bath
Simples.
This "phone" does not excite me. I'd prefer that they were honest and called it what it really is - plastic encased circuitry and chips. Without even a hint of Bakelite, it cannot be called a phone.
Troll because "I refer the reader to the post made some moments ago"
Works for me
I've had this for a while and as my first smartphone I am very pleased with it.
Although I'm sure the comments complaining that it's only Android 1.5 are valid, but for someone's first experience, don't make any difference.
The camera (and LED Flash) is very good for what I want i.e. in the pub etc and if I want anything better I would take my dedicated compact.
So, the only complaint above that I would agree with is that, yes, the home button is too sensitive and easy to brush accidentally, but you do get used to and avoid it after a while.
For anyone wanting a cheap route into the world of Android I would recommend this phone!
Re: "LED flash"
"LED Flash = LED
Flash = Flash
Not complicated, is it?"
Weeeeeeellll... being that my phone has an LED on the front used as a notification light for texts/emails/alerts etc but no camera flash at all of any description, and my wife's phone has a xenon flash... yes it is complicated.
If the review just said the phone has an LED, there'd be no indication that the LED was intended for taking pictures with the camera. If it just said it had a flash, how would I know whether it was a xenon or an LED designed to momentarily switch on and off (i.e. flash in the literal English sense of the word) in sync with the camera to illuminate the picture?
What's NOT complicated is simplifying matters by referring to them as an LED flash and a xenon flash. They both flash.
Unless of course you want to uncomplicate matters further by redefining the meaning of the word flash, but that's your call.
