LG Thrill 4G (aka Optimus 3D): Shoots and plays 3D content without special goggles
First it was the HTC EVO 3D, then the Sharp Aquos Phone SH-12C and now the LG Thrill 4G (Optimus 3D in Europe): the third dimension is definitely infiltrating smartphones but is this a feature you want in your next handset?
LG just announced it is bringing the Optimus 3D/Thrill 4G phone first to Europe and then hopefully to America "over the next several weeks", but did not specify a date. When it lands stateside, the phone will be rebranded as the LG Thrill 4G and carried by AT&T according to Engadget.
What makes full 3D possible on the LG is its Tri-Dual design. It is powered by a second-generation 1GHz dual core TI OMAP4430 processor, 512MB of dual channel RAM and a pair of 5 megapixel rear cameras that can capture 3D 1080p video at 24fps, or 3D 720p at 30fps. The speedy CPU and RAM significantly improves performance when multitasking and watching or playing graphics-intensive games and movies because it is able to simultaneously process data with two cores and memory channels.
The 4.3" 3D LCD display (800 x 480 resolution) with up to 1080p in 2D and up to 720p in 3D means you can enjoy the three-dimensional content you capture using the built-in cameras directly on the phone without any special glasses, or on your HDTV via the HDMI-out. It also comes equipped with software to convert 2D photos and videos into 3D, and will offer other free downloads such as a 2D-to-3D game converter and a 3D augmented reality browser LG co-developed with Wikitude.
Unfortunately, the Thrill 4G runs on Android Froyo (2.2) rather than Gingerbread, despite packing some of the most advanced technologies available into a 5.93 ounce package. Hopefully this can be rectified with an update before the phone arrives in America. There's still time.
Judging from Engadget's review of the HTC EVO 3D, battery life is a huge issue with 3D phones so at least the Optimus 3D/Thrill 4G sports a removable 1500mAh battery that can be swapped out. It's hard to tell if 3D is worthwhile on a phone yet but we can't wait to see whether the 3D quality is more Nintendo 3DS than Imax 3D.
[Source: LG press release via Engadget, Akihabara News]
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