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Camera
Pressing the camera button converts the LG VX8100's internal screen into a viewfinder. Built on CMOS technology, the VX8100's 1.3-megapixel camera captures images up to 1280 x 960 px in resolution. Advancing significantly from the days of thumbnail-sized pictures, which were more of a novelty than practical, the VX8100's camera takes photos high enough in resolution to make decent prints.
Fitting approximately 50 images, consumers who want to conserve memory can snap pictures at lower resolutions (640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, 176 x 144 px, and 160 x 120 px) to store up to 100 photos.
The VX8000 was the best camera on the market, with high-resolution images clearly captured with outstanding exposure and color representations. Unfortunately, VX8100's accuracy representations have digressed, partly due to the sensor change from CCD to CMOS. Improved through manual setting adjustments, the VX8100 is still better than most cameras on the market, just not the VX8000's.
Basic Features
Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM6500 chipset in the VX8000, the VX8100 is optimized for Verizon Wireless' 3G network. Built on an all digital dual-band CDMA (800 / 1900 MHz) network, consumers who rely heavily on analog should be weary.
LG rated the VX8100's 1000 mAh Li-Ion battery at 3.75 hours and 163 hours (6.8 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, those are under optimal conditions. Handset manufacturers and carriers often list talk-time and standby-time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times.
Screen
Featuring dual displays, the LG VX8100 brings color to life. Having a 0.168 dot pitch, the external LCD displays 65K colors at 128 x 128 px in resolution; showing 7 lines of text and even doubling as a viewfinder when closed in Camera Mode.
The main LCD features an advanced 262K-color 176 x 220 px screen, similar to the one found on the VX8000. Having considerably fast refresh rates and a 0.18 dot pitch, the TFT screen is comfortably bright and clear for video applications and camera functionality.
Internet
Being one of the new phones supporting Verizon Wireless' 3G service, EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) allows consumers to browse the Internet, stream videos, and transfer high-resolution photos at speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps, theoretically; realistic rates will be more around 300 to 500 kbps. Using the Openwave UP 6.2 browser, web pages are rendered upon the WAP 2.0 standard. The LG VX8100 uses windows media.
Storage
Storing all the photos, music, video, and applications takes a considerable amount of space, and luckily the LG VX8100 comes with 32 MB of internal memory. Dynamically shared among all stored files, the VX8100 also features a miniSD card slot should more memory be needed.
Connectivity
Having the freedom to move without wires, users can connect wirelessly to a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices including headsets and many new vehicles.
However, Verizon Wireless disables OBEX (Object Exchange) profile support. Limiting functionality by preventing multimedia transfer from the VX8100, Verizon Wireless forces customers to use its fee-based Get It Now service rather than allowing users to share ringtones, wallpapers, games, and videos.
Conclusion
With the release of the VX8000, Verizon Wireless officially launched its EV-DO and VCAST service; providing 3G broadband speeds for video applications. The VX8000 met some mixed feelings as consumers praised its outstanding multimedia features, but were turned away by its large unappealing box-like exterior.
With the launch of the VX8100 six months later, LG hoped to fix past mistakes which held back a technologically impressive device. Adding more shape and color, as well as reducing its size, the VX8100's form is much more reasonable.
However, some features of the VX8100 have actually declined in quality. While still excellent, the external LCD's screen colors were reduced from 262K to 65K. And while both devices feature 1.3-megapixel cameras, the VX8000 camera's ISO selection and macro mode features were removed completely.
But, LG has improved the VX8100 as well; increasing the internal memory to a large 32 MB and adding a miniSD card slot. Allowing more room for multimedia, users will have the flexibility to store files without having to count each byte.
However some limitations stayed the same. Verizon Wireless had once again disabled Bluetooth transfer and dial-up capabilities. Not surprisingly, all Verizon Wireless Bluetooth-enabled phones are crippled to encourage paying for content.
Regardless, the highlight and foundation of the VX8100 is its EV-DO capabilities. Allowing users to browse, download, and stream high-quality multimedia at blazing fast speeds, users will never want to go back.
Packing robust imaging, audio, and messaging capabilities, the LG VX8100 is a high-tech phone for the gadget enthusiast. Well-rounded and state-of-the-art, high-speed 3G EV-DO streaming and transfer speeds allow users to do and share more than they ever had before. Regardless, the highlight and foundation of the VX8100 is its EV-DO capabilities
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