LG KB770 with DVB-T
Discontinued 28th August 2008
A 3.5G touchscreen phone with an integrated
digital TV tuner, the LG KB770 is an impressive
looking multimedia monster that competes directly against
iPhone class handsets, but it is just a little bit different
enough to be distinctive.
The LG KB770 has a large 3" 400
x 240 pixel touchscreen display, but the key feature
here is the KB770's DVB-T tuner which allows it to receive
free-to-air digital TV broadcasts. In this respect,
the KB770 is very like the LG
HB620T, but this PDA-style format perhaps lends
itself to television better.
In case you're confused by the letter
soup that accompanies modern TV broadcasts, then DVB-T
is the standard digital terrestrial signal that you
might watch on your digital TV at home or via a set-top
box. Unlike some other "TV capable" phones,
this means that no special infrastructure is required.
By comparison, the Nokia
N96 uses the different DVB-H system which
has much more limited
coverage. On the other hand, DVB-H should have a
lower power drain and give a more seamless viewing experience
while on the move.
Remember
though this is actually a mobile phone, and underneath
this is a tri-band GSM device with WCDMA 2100 and
support for GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSPDA data - in other
words this is a 3G/3.5G capable device, but one aimed
primarily at Europe. One thing missing from the LG KB770
is WiFi support, which is odd.
On the back is a 3 megapixel digital
camera with autofocus, with a secondary camera on the
front for video calling. The maximum video capture resolution
is 320 x 240 pixels at 15 fps, which is adequate but
not as good as many rivals. The LG KB770 also comes
with a microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
The software includes a comprehensive multimedia player,
email client, web browser and a personal information
management application. Another omission from the KB770
is GPS - it would have been an ideal device for personal
satellite navigation.
Despite all the features, the LG KB770
only weighs 109 grams (according to LG), and measures
108 x 53 x 14mm which isn't too bad for a device with
a large display like this. Maximum talktime is quoted
as 4 hours with up to 12 days standby time. We aren't
certain of the viewing time for television transmissions.
LG say that the KB770 will be available
in Germany from November onwards for a SIM-free retail
price of about €449 (around £360). There's no
word on the KB770's availability in other countries.
This is an impressive device, but just
think how much more impressive it would have been with
WiFi and GPS.. and perhaps a more sexy name than the
"KB770".
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LG
KB770 at a glance
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Available:
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November
2008 (Germany)
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Network:
|
GSM
900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS
2100
|
Data:
|
GPRS
+ EDGE + UMTS (3G) + HSDPA
|
Screen:
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240
x 400 pixels, 262k colours
|
Camera:
|
3
megapixels
|
Size:
|
PDA-style
device 108 x 54 x 13mm
/ 109 grams
|
Bluetooth:
|
Yes
|
Memory
card:
|
microSD
|
Infra-red:
|
No
|
Polyphonic:
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Yes
|
Java:
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Yes
|
GPS:
|
No
|
Battery
life:
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4 hours talk / 12 days standby
|
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