LG VX9900 enV messaging clamshell: Part2

Camera - Good

The 2-megapixel camera takes fine pictures, if a little blocky, and colors are accurate and sharp. Color seemed to suffer a bit when we used the LED flash, turning images colder, but the autofocus worked fairly well, though it took a moment to focus and release the shutter. The phone has numerous options for sharing photos, including Bluetooth, e-mail, MMS and PictBridge printing via Bluetooth; unfortunately, it lacks editing tools and MMS-friendly options like frames or captions, a shame considering the enV's focus on messaging.

Video - Very good

Though we wish the enV's screen were a bit wider, considering the room on both sides of the internal display, the phone is one of the few we've seen that displays full-screen streaming video, without any border. The enV is also the first phone we've tested that streams the audio track from a video to stereo Bluetooth headphones, a definite plus. Video looks pretty good on the V Cast network. We were disappointed by the occasional stuttering on fast-action clips, such as the preview for ''Spider-Man 3'', but the wide range of content was welcome. Buffering speeds were negligible, usually less than five seconds from selection to start.

Audio - Good

Verizon's V Cast network does a good job offering new content for purchase, but the VX9900 drops the ball once you've actually downloaded your tunes. The music player is barren, capable of only the most basic playback options. All synchronizing is handled by Windows Media Player on your PC, which is fine if you've never used the superior Apple iTunes. Finding tracks on the phone can be difficult, and playback stops when you select a menu option -- or, worse, when you close your phone to put it in your pocket. We were also bummed by the lack of dedicated music buttons on the phone, and the volume buttons are on the hinge side of the phone, which means they're blocked when the phone is open at an angle. On a positive note, setting up stereo Bluetooth headphones couldn't have been easier.

Multimedia and GPS - Very good

The LG VX9900 boasts a fearless Web browser, navigating large pages like The New York Times homepage without complaint. Though layout is a bit dodgy in the phone's one-column view -- the only layout option -- all images and links loaded fine, and the entire page was legible and clear. Though the phone offers a smooth scrolling option for pages, this seemed ineffective, and scrolling long pages required literally hundreds of clicks. We were also annoyed that the browser itself was buried under the ''Get It Now'' menu as ''News and Info,'' rather than appearing as a top-level menu item as we've seen on countless other handsets. GPS worked competently through VZ Navigator, though we had a hard time finding a GPS signal near our offices in lower Manhattan.

Accessories - Poor

Like most V Cast phones, the LG VX9900 comes with absolutely no accessories. For music, you must buy the media essentials kit, which comes with headphones, software and the USB cable, and a memory card. Though the phone is advertised as a ''V Cast Music Phone,'' you will be mostly unable to take advantage of these music features without the additional accessories.
12/10/2006 6:31:00 PM
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