LG already offers several special apps on its Android smartphones, like QSlide for viewing two apps at once on a device's display and QRemote for controlling home entertainment gear. Today LG expanded is software offerings with another new feature dubbed "Smart Video." According to LG, Smart Video takes advantage of eye recognition technology to track a user's eye movements while he or she is watching a video and, when it detects that user isn't looking at the device's display, it will pause the clip automatically. Playback will resume when the device detects that the user is once again looking at the screen.
LG says that Smart Video will be rolled out to the Optimus G Pro in Korea next month as part of a Value Pack update. In addition to Smart Video, the Value Pack will include a Dual Camera feature that will take photos using the front and back cameras simultaneously, Magic Remote Keypad and Text Keypad additions to the QRemote app, Video Pause/Resume that will allow users to stop and start while capturing a video to create one continuous clip, and a set of color emoticons. The Smart LED Lighting surrounding the LG Optimus G Pro's physical home button will also be updated to allow users to assign colors to specific contacts.
While LG specifically says that the Optimus G Pro will be getting its Value Pack update in April, that's not the only handset that'll be treated to the new software. The Life's Good crew is also planning to roll out its Value Pack to "some premium LG smartphones" at an undisclosed point in the future.
Like with Samsung's Premium Suite upgrades, the LG Value Pack sounds like a nice little update for owners of the Optimus G Pro and the other devices that'll receive it. Smart Video is perhaps the most intriguing feature, which is probably why LG chose to highlight it in its announcement, though we'll have to wait to actually judge Smart Video until we can give it a go for ourselves. What do you all think of Smart Video? Does it sound like a feature that you'd actually use?
EYE RECOGNITION TO BRING NEW LEVEL OF ENTERTAINMENT CONVENIENCE TO LG SMARTPHONE
Technology to Debut in Smart Video Feature in Optimus G Pro
SEOUL, Mar. 14, 2013 — Smart Video, a new multimedia UX feature from LG Electronics (LG), will be unveiled for the first time in the Optimus G Pro. Smart Video takes viewing videos on mobile devices to a whole new level of convenience with eye recognition that eliminates the need to manually control playback during the viewing experience.
Through the implementation of advanced eye recognition technology, Smart Video recognizes the position of the viewer’s eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without any manual input from the user. When the viewer’s eyes are no longer focused on the smartphone display, the front camera recognizes this and immediately pauses the video automatically. Once the user’s gaze returns to the smartphone, the video resumes playback from the point last viewed.
In addition to the Smart Video feature, Optimus G Pro will also be equipped with the world’s first Dual Camera function. The Dual Camera feature is an extension of the Dual Recording feature which debuted on the Optimus G Pro introduced in the Korean market last month. Dual Camera simultaneously captures photographs using both the front and back cameras for a picture-in-picture composition. Users can now be a part of the story, not just observers.
“LG is continuously innovating to offer creative ways to offer a user experience that adds value to our customers,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Elec-tronics Mobile Communications Company. “It’s the positive UX that will differentiate smartphones in 2013 and beyond, not only cutting-edge hardware specs.”
The Smart Video and Dual Camera features will be introduced as a part of the Value Pack upgrade which will be offered for the Optimus G Pro in the Korean market next month. These features will also be made available for some LG premium smartphones in the future.
Other features in the Value Pack upgrade include:
Via Droid-Life
