Samsung’s newly created category of phone / tablet will soon get a competitor from its archrival, LG Electronics. The Korean company is teasing a 5-inch smartphone / tablet device dubbed as Optimus Vu with an expected showcase at Mobile World Congress later this month.

While LG isn’t forthcoming with all the details, Engadget claims the phone will have a display with an aspect ratio of 4:3, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, NFC, 8MP camera and Android 2.3.

LG Blog

SkyGrid, that was named by Apple as the best news app for 2011 has introduced the world’s first TV app for iPad. Available free via www.touchtv.me or from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/apps/touchtv, Touchtv lets viewer watch their favourite programs anytime, anywhere.

Custom designed for the iPad, Touchtv gives viewers their own personal TV to watch their favorite channels effortlessly. Simply launch Touchtv and touch any channel to start watching. From the Home Screen viewers can add more channels and personalize their TV.

Also, LG Electronics & Touchtv announced their global partnership for integrating Touchtv to LG Smart TVs. With Touchtv, LG Smart TVs offer viewers innovative capabilities such as watching the biggest trending events at any time. Touchtv and LG also plan to share more product details as the newest LG Smart TVs become available later this year.

LG Spectrum is now available on Verizon and we managed to get our paws on the device for a limited amount of time at the CES last week. Spectrum is a big and a powerful device that features a 4.5-inch HD IPS display and Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core processor.

The phone supports Verizon’s 4G LTE connectivity, which we couldn’t put to a real test as apps on the demo unit were password protected. Moreover, it has an 8MP autofocus camera, full HD video recording and playback, Dolby Digital Plus, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microSD card slot and 1830mAh battery.

LG has announced their first ever tablet with LTE connectivity support. Sensing a rise in data usage amongst tablet users, LG says LTE is the next step forward, which is why they’ve unveiled the Optimus Pad LTE. Set to arrive first in South Korea, the Optimus Pad LTE boasts an HD IPS display (1280×720) and runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS. The 8.9-inch tablet is powered by Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz dual-core processor and features 8MP camera with HD video recording support, 2MP front camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, DLNA, microSD card slot (up to 32GB) and 6800mAh battery.

Additionally, Optimus Pad LTE comes with Smart Movie Editor, Web Duet and On-screen Phone features.

One of the best things to come out of LG’s press conference the other day was the OLED TV. It’s the world’s first 55-inch OLED TV and we managed to get a glimpse of the upcoming TV on the show floor at point blank range.

Needless to say, the picture quality looks awesome with richer colors and contrast. On the upside, the TV is power efficient and is thin as a pencil.

Verizon Wireless and LG Mobile announced the Android OS based smartphone – Spectrum. Spectrum is the first smartphone for Verizon Wireless to feature a 4.5in True HD In-Plane Switching (IPS) display. Intensifying its HD capabilities, Spectrum by LG will give customers exclusive HD access to the ESPN ScoreCenter application. ESPN’s ScoreCenter app is supported by an exclusive HD video feed, giving customers the exclusive access to ScoreCenter stats, images and videos in 720p HD. Scoreboards and live game details include in-game stats, news and video. Personalization features allow fans to customize their ScoreCenter experience by highlighting their favorite teams and leagues from around the world, all in crystal clear high-definition.

Spectrum by LG supports 1280 x 720 resolution and its 500-nit display luminance and Real-Stripe RGB pixels offer users clear viewing in direct sunlight.

Spectrum is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm 1.5 GHz processor and also offers 4G LTE connectivity. Spectrum by LG will be available on Jan. 19 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Key features:
• 4.5in True HD IPS display, undistorted HD images in 16:9 aspect ratio with 329 ppi
• Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass
• Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade available the first half of 2012
• Preloaded Netflix app allows Netflix subscribers to stream the latest movies in high-definition quality
• Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
• Pre-installed with ESPN’s ScoreCenter app
• Spectrum supports Dolby Digital Plus and can stream up to 7.1 channels of surround sound through home entertainment
systems
• 8-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera
• Bluetooth® Version 3.0
• 16 GB microSD card pre-installed with support for up to 32 GB microSD card
• SmartShare—share media wirelessly to DLNA-enabled devices
• HDMI mirroring capable via MHL

LG is the new company to join the Google TV bandwagon. The Korean manufacturer will showcase their first ever Android OS-powered television at CES 2012, which starts from next week. LG says their offering will combine the goodness of Android OS and its 3D and smart TV technologies.

LG claims they’ve made some changes to Google TV’s user interface, which is now much simpler to use when used in combination of Magic Remote QWERTY.

Additionally, the TV will use LG’s Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to display 3D images and support CINEMA 3D glasses that does not require any battery and is lightweight.

LG’s menu for CES seems to be strongly focused on televisions. After unveiling the 55-inch OLED TV, LG has announced a huge 84-inch television set with Ultra Definition support. For the uninitiated, Ultra Definition boasts a resolution of (3840×2160 pixels) which is 4 times higher than a Full HD TV. Additionally, the new 84-inch TV from LG supports 3D with 3D Depth Control that allows users to control the 3D effect, features a slim and narrow bezel and supports over 1200 Smart TV Apps.

The LG 3D UD TV will be complemented with the Magic Remote that recognizes different types of command input like Voice Recognition, Wheel, Magic Gesture and Point.

Press Release

LG is the latest company to confirm Ice Cream Sandwich update for its devices. Users using devices like LG Optimus LTE, Prada phone by LG 3.0, Optimus 2X, Optimus Sol, my Touch Q and the Eclipse will start receiving the latest Android OS from second quarter of next year.

For tad older devices like Optimus 3D, Optimus Black, Optimus Big, Optimus Q2 and the Optimus EX, LG will release the ICS update in the next quarter, which is Q3 2012.

Its soothing to know the manufacturer is looking out for their customers but there’s a caveat. Release dates for every region will vary depending on the carrier and the model so don’t pin your hopes on the scheduled time frame.

[Via LG Facebook]

OLED displays are the future and it seems LG has taken the first major step in order to popularize and make it cheaper. The Korean company announced the development of a 55-inch OLED TV panel, which is touted as the world’s largest. LG says OLED with smaller display sizes (in mobile devices) are expensive to produce but that is not the case when it comes to producing a large panel.

The 55-inch OLED TV panel uses Oxide TFT technology and White OLED which LG says results in lower error rate and higher productivity. Additionally, the use of OLED panels will result in a thinner television set (about 5mm) and boasts a contrast ratio of 100,000:1.

LG will showcase the new panel at CES 2012 next month.

[Via Engadget]