• February 26th, 2012

    Hands-On With LG’s (Huge) Optimus Vu

    optvu1

    We’re here checking out LG’s media preview event, and so far, there are no surprises to be had here. LG’s Daniel Hernandez is on stage as I write this talking about all of the phones that the company has already announced these past few weeks.

    Of course, we’re not just here to listen — we’re here to play! And on that note, how could I resist playing with the giant little Optimus Vu.

    Two words immediately spring to mind when you pick up the Optimus Vu: “Holy cow.” → Read More

    February 8th, 2012

    LG Takes A Chance With The Oddly-Proportioned Optimus Vu

    optimussketch

    After spending the past few quarters in the red, LG recently turned things around with a bit of growth in their once-ailing smartphone division. By focusing half of their 2012 capital expenditures budget on developing smartphones, LG wanted people to know that some big mobile plays were on the horizon.

    As it turns out, their plans for year include the newly-leaked Optimus Vu, which isn’t exactly the sort of big we were hoping for.
    → Read More

    December 15th, 2011

    LG’s Optimus LTE Android Phone Goes On Sale In Japan

    LG_Optimus_LTE_Launch_in_Japan_5001

    Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo has introduced LG’s awesome Optimus Android phone in Japan yesterday. It’s compatible to Docomo’s 4G service Xi and follows the launch of the handset in Korea and North America.

    The Docomo version comes equipped with NFC and a digital TV tuner for Japanese users wanting to watch 1seg channels on the 4.5-inch, 1280×720 IPS display. LG did not build in an infrared connection, however (which many Japanese mobile subscribers got used to on their feature phones). → Read More

    March 28th, 2011

    Japan's Docomo To Sell LG's Optimus Pad This Thursday For $980

    Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo today announced [press release in English] that LG’s 3D-capable Optimus Pad will go on sale in the country as early as this Thursday. That means that the Android 3.0 device will hit stores in Japan earlier than in the US – where it’s expected to become available on April 20. → Read More

    November 23rd, 2010

    T-mobile announces BOGO promotion for Black Friday

    If there’s a special someone in your life that’s into smartphones as much as you are, then you should have a gander at this:

    Starting this Black Friday, T-mobile are including their entire line of Android devices (including the Galaxy Tab), as well as the WinPho7-powered behemoth that is the HD7, in a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

    Jump on past the break for all the grisly details. → Read More

    November 22nd, 2010

    Metro PCS launches their first Android phone: the LG Optimus M

    Joining the Optimus party that T-mobile and Sprint have been getting down at since October, and that US Cellular is still on his way to (Verizon is reportedly partying, but at an entirely different address to the others), Metro PCS have now launched their own version of LG’s cheapest Android handset, dubbing it the Optimus M. This is a momentous day for Metro PCS, too, as it is their very first Android-powered handset. Aw… happy days. The Optimus M will be available tomorrow, November 24, for a hefty $230 — significantly more than the $30 that T-mobile want for the device (or the $1 that Walmart are asking for it) — but that nets you a contract-free $50 unlimited talk, text, and web plan. The Optimus M runs Android 2.2 atop a 3.2″ touch-screen, and has a 3.2MP camera ’round the back. Those interested can check the full press release here. → Read More

    October 14th, 2010

    Microsoft Attempts To Patent The Optimus Keyboard

    It seems that a year and a half ago, Microsoft applied for a patent for what appears to be a sort of hybrid between their own pressure-sensitive keyboard and the lovely but prohibitively expensive Optimus keyboard. The claims include “an adaptive-imaging engine to dynamically change a visual appearance of the key in accordance with rendering information received from the host computing device.”

    Sounds a lot like a number of products already on the market, but the claims are more specific to a “gesture-recognition engine.” → Read More

    August 20th, 2010

    LG To The WSJ, "Our tablet will be better than the iPad."

    Oh boy. LG’s Marketing VP made a mighty big claim in a recent Wall Street Journal article. I’ll state it again if you somehow missed the headline: “our tablet will be better than the iPad.” That’s like Kia saying their upcoming sports car will be better than the Porsche 911. Or some Hollywood startup saying they’re making the next Star Wars only better. A blanket statement like that just doesn’t sit well. Although, LG seems to have the right idea and might bust out the best Android tablet to date — well, that’s not that hard really. → Read More

    June 29th, 2010

    First shots of Optimus Popularis keyboard emerge

    We heard tell of the Optimus Popularis in May, but it had a completely different look. The new one, with its dedicated display bar and lack of number pad, is in my humble opinion a vastly superior design. The LED (not OLED) keys are, after all, totally customizable, and this saves a ton of money — that’s 20 less displays they have to put on the keyboard. And they can pass the savings on to the customers! Or not. It’s still going to cost nearly a grand. → Read More

    May 13th, 2010

    Optimus Popularis will cost less than $1,000, remain irrelevant

    I think of Art Lebedev’s odd creations the way I think of expensive, weird sex toys – maybe someone will buy one, but any way you slice it it’s not going to take off. Anyway, the Optimus Popularis keyboard uses little screens on each key, just like the old Optimus Maximus. However, instead of OLEDs it will use LEDs. The Popularis will sell for under $1,000 and should be mass produced in time for everyone to forget about it. via SlashGear → Read More

    February 25th, 2009

    Oh look, a World of Warcraft Optimus keyboard theme

    What good is that Optimus keyboard without World of Warcraft? None good, I say, which is why it brings me great joy to see this homebrew WoW layout. It was created by one of the blokes at an Optimus Keyboard message board—message boards are the new salons—and is primarily for Warlocks. → Read More

    July 22nd, 2008

    Optimus Pultius: between Minimus and Maximus

    This might be something I can use. I enjoyed the easily customizable softkeys on the Microsoft wireless keyboard I reviewed a month or so ago, and this is more powerful and less attached to a bulky keyboard with non-separated F-keys. I’m pretty sure it’ll still cost north of, oh let’s say $400, but I think this is more practical than the actual full-LCD keyboard. It’ll probably be real around the beginning of 2009. → Read More

    July 16th, 2008

    Optimus Tactus: Yeah, I'm OK with my old keyboard, thanks

    → Read More

    June 3rd, 2008

    First mock-up of new Optimus keyboard!

    That garish Optimus keyboard that annoyed people with its price and lack of functionality will be re-born as the Optimus Popularis. That up there is the first mock-up of the keyboard, which is supposed to be “well under” $1,000. I know, feed your family, or buy a keyboard? via Wired’s Gadget Lab → Read More

    May 21st, 2008

    Next version of Optimus keyboard revealed: Under $1K!

    Ladies and germs, the next version of the Optimus keyboard! Dubbed the Optimus Popularis, it’s currently set to retail for “well below” $1,000. That’s some deal, $1K for a keyboard. Why buy food or pay rent when you can have a cool LED keyboard? All the best stories come from random LiveJournals. Or something. → Read More

    April 24th, 2008

    ThinkGeek selling Optimus keyboard for $1,589.99

    → Read More

    January 8th, 2008

    Optimus Maximus touched at CES

    It’s out there, and it’s just as glossy and beautiful as you think. The keys are somewhat bigger than a normal keyboard, probably by 15% or so; they had a regular size one there for comparison. The screens were crisp, bright, responsive, and very high contrast. It really does look like a $500 object, and if you can afford it, I’d say go for it. Their booth girls were nice and glossy too, definitely not local. → Read More

    January 3rd, 2008

    Patent filing shows Apple working on Optimus-like OLED keyboard

    If you’ve spent any amount of time on tech sites like this one, you’ve surely heard of the Optimus keyboard. It uses OLEDs in place of “regular” keys. One minute a key open Safari the next it open Photoshop. Like the picture! According to a recent patent filed last March (but only revealed recently), Apple is working on a keyboard just like the Optimus. Maybe with Apple R&D behind this type of keyboard it’ll actually see the light of day, unlike the as-yet vaporware Optimus. New Apple Dynamic OLED Keyboard [hrmpf.com via Mac Rumors] → Read More

    December 28th, 2007

    Optimus announces another dope keyboard that doesn't really exist

    Hot on the heels of this year’s never-released Optimus Maximus superkeyboard, Optimus has taken the concept one step further with the Tactus keyboard. The idea is similar, but instead of customizable keycaps, the keys themselves are virtual. Cool idea, but as anyone who’s tried to play Mario on an iPhone can attest, there’s a definite advantage to the tactile feedback real buttons (or, indeed, keys) give a user. Optimus Tactus concept keyboard [Slippery Brick] → Read More

    December 26th, 2007

    Optimus not prime for shipping on time

    Art Lebedev Studios was more than happy to take preorders for the Optimus Maximus keyboard (that we all thought would never see the light of day) but seems to have neglected to make the device’s firmware work well enough to justify the high price tag. The method by which the firmware gets upgraded also needs to be overhauled. Alas, she’s been delayed until the end of February. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we’ve been waiting this long, what’s another couple of months, huh? One of us here will be sure to update you in mid-February when it gets delayed again.  Optimus OLED keyboard pushed to February [MacNN] → Read More

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