We loved the 720x480-pixel resolution, 30 frames per second video camera. We took it on a tour of CNET Towers, moving from bright sunlit areas to darker rooms. The results looked clear and the exposure adjusted quickly to lighting changes, but the colours were slightly washed out. Video playback was sharp and smooth on the Arena's 76mm (3-inch) WVGA screen.
Sound and fury
The Arena uses Dolby Mobile, a set of digital audio-processing features that's meant to make your phone's audio output sound less like a monkey playing a kazoo. Dolby says the feature adds 'surround sound' and 'spaciousness' when you're using headphones.
We compared the sound of a lossless WAV file on the Arena to the sound of the same file on the SanDisk Sansa Fuze, one of our favourite dedicated MP3 players, using some beautiful Audio-Technica headphones. We found the Arena produced strong, brassy high frequencies and a more washed-out bass, but the overall sound wasn't unpleasant.
The Arena comes with a built-in FM transmitter, so that you can wirelessly connect it to your car radio, for example. You can also buy a charging cradle that has a TV out for watching your mobile content on a big screen.
Conclusion
The LG Arena KM900 is a scrappy challenger to the iPhone's touchscreen title, but it can't
beat the heavyweight when it comes to the secret of its success: usability. We
can't fault the Arena's amazing wealth of features, but all those features come
at a cost: the user interface sometimes feels slow and the battery life is
terrible. Our sample handset didn't even make it through one day of normal use
without needing a charge.
If you're looking for a touchscreen phone and you can't live without features such as an FM radio, the Arena is worth a look. But you'll need to be patient to put up with some of its performance issues, like the laggy keypad response.
Edited by Charles Kloet
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User reviews4
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Gavin Athay 20 February 2011
Good: stylish easy to use
Bad: battary life
Comment: good phone but battary life is bad I used this phone for two seconds and the battary life went down two bars.
Brutha EmAyyzedd 7 January 2011
Good: Umpteen Features
Bad: Battery life, No applications made for the phone, unpredictable zoom, unresponsive touchscreen, texting is difficult and much more.
Comment: good looking phone but does not hold value for the price tag. Harsh to say but the LG Arena is a terrible let down.
pablouk 14 July 2009
Good: ease of use and its not a over sized I-phone, Great Camera
Bad: No "app" surport from LG whatsoever, company is a complete waste of time, shutter lag is terrible.
Comment: Phone is fine for me as an average phone user.
But this phone has problems with software and its touch screen; it freezes up at least once a week so a battery restart is needed.
The touch screen is not responsive enough and causes problems when typing. (Fat finger syndrome)
I do like the phone though it’s small enough not to make you look like a complete ass; also it’s not a girly I-phone brick.
LG Application support is nonexistent and trying to contact LG to see if there are new apps for the phone is a complete waste of time. (FYI: There are no new apps and no games which to download from LG just for the built in motion sensor (unlike I-phone)
LG suck big time on their telephone/web site help, you would be better of talking to Korea than the UK and I regret to say until LG get with the programme and wake up to the idea of application downloads this is the last time I will purchase their phones.
Shame for even with its faults I really like using the phone, it’s very easy great MP3 and great Camera. (Shutter lag really bad)
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