Mobile Phone Buzz

The LG eXpo has drawn a great deal of attention in recent weeks, as it offers a unique combination of high-end features. Most notably, it is the first smartphone widely available in the U.S. with a miniature projector attachment, allowing you to show movies or make presentations with a phone.

But it doesn’t stop there. This device runs Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro on a 1 GHz processor, and sports a fingerprint scanner, WVGA screen, sliding keyboard, and much more.

This smartphone is available now from AT&T, but the pico projector is not. However, LG was kind enough to demonstrate this model for me at CES, and I recorded a video of it in action, and wrote up some first thoughts.

FIRST THOUGHTS

Trying out the LG eXpo immediately made me want a pico projector. There’s no other way I can think of to get a 40-inch monitor into my pocket.

You can project anything that is on the eXpo’s screen — you’re not just limited to movies. You can make presentations with PowerPoint Mobile, or just read your e-mail on a large screen if you want.

We’ve reached the point where a smartphone can do most of what a laptop can. Nevertheless, many people still carry a laptop with them when they travel because they want a larger screen. A pico projector gives you the best of both worlds.

I know the projected image doesn’t look its best in the video above, but keep in mind that it was taken under harsh conditions. It looks much better in dimly-lit rooms. Its colors are good, and the image is sharp. (There’s a manual focus so you can adjust it to your liking.)

There’s still a hurdle to get over: battery life. The pico projector uses the eXpo’s battery, and can drain it in a couple of hours. If you’re planning on watching a movie on the plane, you’d better bring an extra battery.

Aside from the pico projector, this LG model is an out-standing smartphone. It has the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile OS, and is running this software on a 1 GHz processor. This is an OS that can be a bit sluggish on slower processors, and the extra power should help a lot.

On the outside, it has a sliding design, with a 3.2-inch, WVGA touchscreen, and a landscape-oriented sliding QWERTY keyboard.

It even has biometric security in the form of a built-in fingerprint scanner. This is located on the front, in the middle of the D-pad.

Rounding out its feature set is 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 5 megapixel camera with flash, a microSD/SDHC memory card slot, and a 1,500 mAh battery.

STAY TUNED

I’m very impressed with the LG eXpo, even though I’ve only had limited time with it. I should have a full review of this device in the coming weeks.

For those of you who can’t wait, this smartphone is available now from AT&T for $200 with a two-year service agreement and $100 rebate. The pico projector — which will weigh in at 1.8 ozs — will be sold separately for $180.

Quick Specs
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro
Processor: 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
Screen Resolution: WVGA (800 by 480 pixel)
Keyboard Type: On-screen, QWERTY
Communications: Bluetooth, GPRS, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Wi-Fi
Meda Type: microSD, microSDHC
GPS: Yes
Dimensions: 4.5 inches by 2.2 inches by 0.7 inches
Release Date: 12/16/2009