As expected, Verizon Wireless unleashed the LG Dare today. The handset is now available via Verizon's online store for $199 after a $50 rebate with activation on a two-year plan. Dare will also be available in retail outlets including VZW stores in Circuit City starting next Thursday, July 3.
We've covered Dare quite a bit already in these pages so I won't go into too much more detail here, except to say that I wish they'd gone with a true Xenon flash instead of an LED flash on the camera. But hey, LED's better than nothing. I guess I can be bothered to cut and paste the full spec sheet from the press release, too. More just as soon as I get my paws on a review sample.
From the Press Release:
The LG Dare's touch-screen offers the optimal HTML Web browsing experience and runs on the nation's most reliable wireless network to ensure a smooth and easy navigation experience. The touch-screen also supports handwriting recognition and tactile feedback so that customers can more easily select their options on the phone. The phone's camera has a Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens for outstanding image quality, and the camera offers advanced features, such as face detection and an LED flash so customers can take enhanced-quality photos from their mobile phones. Additionally, customers can use the photo editing tool to personalize their digital photos with features that include borders and landscapes, and they can draw on their pictures directly on the screen using their fingertips.
Additional features and capabilities of LG Dare include:
- V CAST Music-capable ? access more than 3 million full-length songs from well-known and independent artists that can be purchased and downloaded over-the-air directly to the phone
- Music Player for .mp3, .wma, unprotected .aac, and unprotected .aac+ files
- microSD™ card memory port ? with up to 8 GB support with an optional memory card
- USB Mass Storage ? transfer files between microSD card and PC
- 3.2 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder
- Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens for optimal picture quality
- Camera Resolutions: 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels
- SmartPic technology and manual ISO adjustment for improved image quality
- Face Detection ? detects a face when taking a picture
- Panorama, split shot and frame camera settings
- Scene Mode ? automatically makes adjustments to camera settings for improved quality in different environments
- Zoom: up to 2x
- Image Editor ? zoom, rotate, crop, add frames and icons and write over images
- Video Resolutions: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 176 x 144 pixels
- Video Recording Speed: up to 120 frames per second for slow video playback
- Video Recording Time: 30 seconds (for sending); up to 1 hour (for saving) depending on memory
- Video Player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
- Customizable brightness, white balance, shutter sound, color effects, night and preview mode, photometry, self-timer
- Bluetooth® Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
- Listen to music with optional stereo Bluetooth headset
- Send all contacts and calendar events via Bluetooth
- Print and send customer-generated pictures (JPEG) via Bluetooth
- Save up to 20 Bluetooth pairings
- Supported Profiles: headset, hands-free car kits, dial-up networking, stereo Bluetooth, phone book access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer, basic imaging, human interface device
- One-touch speakerphone
- Speaker-independent voice commands
- Voice Recording: 1 minute or 1 hour (standby)
- Music ringer support (clips from hit songs)
- HTML Web browsing with touch navigation and favorites
- Text, picture, video messaging-capable
- Mobile Email ? access MSN® Hotmail®, America Online® and Yahoo!® accounts to exchange e-mail
- Mobile IM capabilities
- VZ NavigatorSM-capable ? get visual and audible directions to thousands of destinations, locate businesses and other points of interest, get maps of a location, and share directions with others
- Phone Book with 1,000 contacts: each contact entry stores five numbers, two e-mail addresses and a Picture ID
- FOTA-capable ? upgrade firmware over-the-air
- Favorites ? add up to nine contacts with Picture ID
- Speed Dial (up to 996 entries)
- Technology: CDMA
- Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (Digital Dual-Band)
- Data Transmission: high-speed EV-DO
- Dimensions: 4.1" (h) x 2.2" (w) x 0.5" (d)
- Weight: 3.76 ounces
- Display: 260K Color TFT, 240 x 400 pixels, 3.0"
- Standard Battery: 1,100 mAh
- Usage Time: up to 280 minutes or
- Standby Time: up to 360 hours
