Gizmodo: KU-580

Ku-b Design Is Glowing, Transforming Kitchen of the Future

Kit Eaton — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EDT

We've shown you both modular and futuristic kitchen gizmos before, but now there's this new design that somehow combines the two. Dubbed Ku-b, it's a kind of sculptural, transforming cooking station with flat cooking plates, illuminated surfaces and built-in computer and screen. In closed position, it's a kitchen-island, but it swings open to reveal concealed drawers and storage. From designers Innova, it's part of the Atipic House project, which is all about mixing reality and experimentation. And I'm sad it's just a concept: I'd love this in my home. [Design Spotter via Born Rich]

LG KU990 Viewty Touchscreen Cellphone Can Now Record 640x480 DivX at 120FPS

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:20:59 EST

Recording VGA-quality movies is nothing new, but DivX and LG just announced that the LG Viewty smartphone can now record VGA-quality movies at 120 frames per second with what looks like a software update (new ones will ship with it pre-loaded). Best of all, it records in the DivX format, which means you can watch it back on all kinds of DivX devices (your computer, various PMPs, the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for example). Besides recording at such a high rate, the phone can also take 5-megapixel stills, for the times when one picture says more than 120 of them. The Viewty is already available in Europe, and we got a hands-on with it last year. [Mobile Burn]

LG's Viewty (aka the KU990) is now available ...

AddyDugdale — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:58:39 EDT

LG's Viewty (aka the KU990) is now available in Europe, the same week that Samsung's G800 makes itself available over there. Let battle (of the 5-megapixel camera phones) commence.

Tony at MobileTechReview forum just realized ...

Brian Lam — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:59:02 EDT

Tony at MobileTechReview forum just realized the LG's KU990 Viewty isn't just a crazy looking phone, its a crazy looking phone that does DivX playback. [MobileTechReview]

Hands-on with the LG KU990 Smart Phone (Verdict: Definitely Not an iPhone Killer)

AddyDugdale — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:00:09 EDT

Here's the LG KU990 Viewty (will I ever get used to that name?) in the flesh at IFA. The camera may pack a 5 Megapixel camera punch but the phone itself leaves a lot to be desired, especially when compared to you know what. It's got some nice ideas, like the lens rim functioning as both a manual focus and a click wheel, but after playing with it, we have to say it looks incredibly badly executed.

You saw what Mark said about the click wheel/lens rim: it just doesn't feel right and it doesn't work as you would expect a click-wheel to work.

LG's PR told us that the phone was "almost perfect" and only a little bit of the design may change for the production. Not the click wheel, though. He said that the phone may be a little bit thinner. Another problem with the phone was the speed. Really slow and stuttering when you compare it to the smooth-as-a-hot-knife-through-butter iPhone user interface.

The touchscreen wasn't impressive either. While demonstrating the Graffiti-like writing recognition, we asked specifically if you needed a stylus or not. The answer: yes. Yet, it seemed like they were trying to make it look like an iPhone alternative by demonstrating writing with their finger. As you can see by LG hostess Scarlet von Hardenberg (yep, that was her name) trying to use her nail as a stylus in the gallery, the experience is not as nice as using an iPhone. In fact, it looked quite painful.

The interface looked confusing when doing many operations, and it clearly wasn't designed for touch-based operations with your fingers. Small interface elements, as you can see in the video, made it quite difficult to use.

Sadly, and even counting its 5-megapixel camera, the LG KU990 can't compare in speed, user interface and overall experience with the JesusPhone. We don't know about the price yet, though, but from here it doesn't look it's going to be a bargain.

In other words: we were hoping this phone to be a worthy competitor to the iPhone, and our impression has been a complete letdown.

Up Close and Personal Video of LG KU990 "Viewty"

Mark Wilson — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:49:14 EDT

Here's an extensive walk-through of LG's new KU990 Viewty. You can tell that this prototype is far from perfect as even our practiced demonstrator has issues once in a while. In my minute of allowed hands-on, I found that the back wheel doesn't spin, but snaps back into place after rotating about 30 degrees. It feels horrible. And the touch sensitivity is fairly crappy. Good on paper, bad in person.

Something funny: I asked if we could see the Viewty make a call and unintentionally stumped them.

Slashgear has a hands-on with the KU990 ...

Jason Chen — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:49:21 EDT

Slashgear has a hands-on with the KU990 touchscreen phone and the LG KS20, the HSDPA WM6 Prada phone.

Is This the LG...Google Phone?

Brian Lam — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:33:56 EDT

Right. Europe got this Google infused LG KU580 yesterday, loaded with utilities like GMail, Google Maps, and search. Outlets like The Register are calling this The Google Phone, perhaps in jesting reference to the previous rumors. We doubt a phone preloaded with apps you can download free is The One.

But the subtext, if there is one, could be that the 3g phone, 2MP camera phone with chocolate stylings is a sign of a budding Google and LG relationship.

Previously, HTC and Samsung were the suspected partners for the Google phone. I suppose we can add LG to that list. But let me be clear. This is just watercooler talk. I place odds at less than 5% that anything like a fullblown Google handset will come from LG.

LG locates Google phone in Europe [The Register via My iTablet]

My 24 Hours with the LG Shine: Shiny and Sucky

Brian Lam — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:21:42 EDT

I apologize for all the buzz on the mirror-faced LG Shine over the last few months. Across the Internet, it looked good. At CES, when I touched it, it looked good. I have a LG Shine here, and after spending a day with it, I've decided that it really is gorgeous (see the pics). And that it sucks. Let me name the ways.

Screen: Sucks. it's a mirrored screen. Unless in total dark, what you have is goddamn glare.

Slide: There are two places to put your finger when you slide this phone up. On the rolling knob, which your thumb will undoubtedly slip on. Or the mirrored finish. Your call, slip or smudge.

Battery Life: Sucks. It must take a lot of battery to blast light through that one-way tinted mirror top.

Case: Nice. What? You thought I was going to just bash the Shine the whole post? The case is gorgeous, but the phone isn't as small as I'd like.

Music playback: Great. The UI for playback includes a EQ, and the built-in speakers are great, too. The otherwise annoying roll-bar is great for getting through long lists of songs. Good job, LG.

But there's more bad.

Keypad: Just like a RAZRs. They're almost asking to be sued.

UI: Mixed. On the main screen, nothing is labeled well. The main menu's screens work like a charm, though.

Browser: Sucks. Doesn't render anything well.

Extras: It can read PowerPoint files, and I'm assuming XLS and DOC files, too. Whoop de Do.

Camera: It's freaking good. Ain't no Carl Zeiss in a Nokia, but it's not bad at all. There's a strong LED flash and the 2MP shooter even has white balance, and autofocus.

It's not so much that it sucks as that it is an expensive but mediocre phone. Which means you should pass if you care about handsets. The software and functionality are just "ok" while being packed in a shell that looks glorious.

So, don't sweat the fact that this phone isn't Stateside. You're not missing anything. Just take your average high-end phone and slap a makeup mirror onto its top. There you go. Shiny cellphone. –Brian Lam

LG Shine [Gizmodo]

Binaural Head Mic Makes You Feel Like You're There, Man

www.gizmodo.com — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:17:58 EST

If you want to record music that will sound amazing in headphones, retaining and delivering the space that the music was recorded in, this is how you do it. The KU 100 Dummy Head by Georg Neumann is a binaural recording device that has a mic in each ear, and the sound it records is strikingly true to how it would sound if the listener was in the position of the head.

And yes, this is where the name of that Pearl Jam album came from, as they used one of these bad boys in the studio. Is there anything better than well recorded, spatially-rich music on a good set of headphones? –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via NotCot.org]