LG Spectrum LTE Smartphone Review


User Interface

The LG Spectrum runs on Android 2.3 and features some custom user interface tweaks from LG. LG and Verizon Wireless plan to offer an upgrade to Android 4.0 sometime in the first half of this year.

On each of the home screens, you'll notice LG has placed four static icons at the bottom. These icons provide access to the Phone dialer, Contacts, Messaging, and Apps.

From the Home screen, the Menu button provides access to a number of predesigned Themes you can use to customize the phone very quickly. You can also create your own custom themes. There are also a number of widgets preloaded on the phone that you can use to customize any of the phone's seven home screens. To view a thumbnail of each of the seven home screens, simply pinch to zoom out from any of them.

       

Click to enlarge

Like other phones, LG and Verizon Wireless have included a number of preloaded applications with the Spectrum. Some of these preloaded apps include ESPN ScoreCenter, Netflix, Amazon Kindle, Bitbop, Blockbuster, Hot Pursuit, NFL Mobile, Rhapsody, VideoSurf, Polaris Office, Richnote, and more. Of course, there are also a handful of Verizon Wireless apps such as My Verizon Mobile, V CAST Media Manager, V CAST Tones, Verizon Video, and others. Many of these preloaded applications cannot be uninstalled using the Manage Applications menu found on the phone.

       

Click to enlarge

By default, the applications are presorted into collapsible category folders called Communication, HD, Verizon Wireless, Media, News & search, Tools, and Downloads. Using the menu, you can add, delete, rename, and reorder categories as you see fit. If you don't like the category view, you can also view all applications in a list.

The LG Spectrum comes with a LG Keyboard and the SWYPE keyboard.

 

Click to enlarge


Related content