LG G Pad 2 with 1080p display rumoured for October launch

LG could be preparing another bid for a slice of the Android tablet market as rumours suggest a successor to its G Pad 8.3 is in the works.

The LG G Pad 2 will include an upgraded display with a 1080p resolution, according to social media tipster Leaksfly.


Under-the-hood improvements also appear to be on the cards as the tablet is listed with a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage.

The leak also suggests that the G Pad 2 will feature an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing snapper, and Android 5.1.1.

LG has been tipped to launch the tablet in October, exactly two years since the original model debuted.

LG To Launch Hi-Fi Music Service For LG G4, G3, G2, And G Flex Users

Through a press release, LG announced that it will begin to offer a high-fidelity, or Hi-Fi, music service for owners of its premium smartphones.

The decision by LG to release such a service reflects the increasing popularity and demand for high-quality music, as seen by the success of music streaming services such as Spotify and the hype surrounding the launch of the new Apple Music.

The service that LG is releasing, however, is not a music streaming service, as there is no mention of the service being one. Instead, it is a music download service that will store Hi-Fi music in the premium smartphones of customers.

Hi-Fi music will deliver high-quality audio that will sound very close to the original recorded music, with playback capabilities of 24-bit and 192kHz. This is around six times clearer and richer compared to the quality of sound coming from a normal CD, which plays music at 16-bit and 44.1kHz.

The devices that will be compatible with the soon-to-be-launched music service are the premium smartphones that have the capability to play 24-bit music. Specifically, these LG smartphones are the LG G4, LG G3, LG G2 and LG G Flex 2.

Customers that qualify for the Hi-Fi music service will be able to download up to two Hi-Fi tracks for free per month. Users will also have the option to buy songs to download at prices of up to 50 percent off from the regular price.

The new Hi-Fi music service will be introduced beginning this month through the LG Smartworld app and through the LG World website across almost 70 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Brazil, France, Russia and Italy.

"Our Hi-Fi music service reflects our ongoing commitment to providing additional customer benefits to loyal LG customers," said LG Mobile Communications Company marketing communication head and VP Chris Yie.

Yie adds that while music in the digital mp3 format are perfectly fine for most users, owners of Hi-Fi music capable LG devices have the opportunity to enjoy richer music through their smartphones and LG's upcoming Hi-Fi music service.

LG has not yet released an official name for the service, which will challenge Korean rival Samsung's Milk Music streaming music service that was launched earlier this year.

LG G Watch Urbane Gets Australian Price And Release Date

The vast majority of smartwatches are unstylish. This much we know. LG is doing everything it can to bring the age of the unfashionable wrist-computer to an end with the G Watch Urbane: a sexy smartwatch which is finally coming to Australia.

First announced at Mobile World Congress in February, the G Watch Urbane features a 1.3-inch P-OLED 320×320 screen, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 410mAh battery and comes with either a gold or silver bezel/case.

It’s also dust and water resistant with an IP67 rating to keep it safe on your wrist from the harsh reality of the real world.

The G Watch Urbane may be stylish and flashy, but it’s also pretty bulky. There are people who love their chunky watches, so we’ll have to see just how it stacks up next to other big watches when we review it soon.

You’ll be paying $449 for the G Watch Urbane from Telstra, JB Hi-Fi or Harvey Norman from 1 September.

LG’s new 8-inch tablet has a full-size USB port

LG has quietly announced a new tablet, named the G Pad 2. Currently only available in Korea, the device is a successor to last year’s G Pad, and a slight step up from the G Pad F, which came to AT&T earlier this year. The G Pad range consisted of three different sized tablets — a 7-inch, an 8-inch, and a 10.1-inch version — but so far, the G Pad 2 only comes in a single, 8-inch size.

What’s new? Technically, not much. The screen has a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, and is fitted to a curvier, more modern body. Another Snapdragon 400 processor running at 1.2GHz provides the power, but the RAM has been boosted to 1.5GB, up from 1GB on the previous model.

The big changes with the G Pad 2 are on the accessory side. First is the introduction of a stylus, and LG highlights the slimness of the tip, making it ideal for precision work. Tablets that include a stylus aren’t anything new, but the G Pad 2 is one of the first we’ve seen with a full-size USB port built into the chassis. That’s right, no more messing about with admittedly clever dual-function mobile USB sticks, the G Pad 2 8.0 will happily accept any USB connection — and it’s no only about storage expansion either, it’ll handle keyboards and mice.

Not that storage will be a huge problem. There’s 32GB of internal space, plus a MicroSD card slot ready to increase this by up to 128GB. Other features include a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and a big 4200mAh battery. The tablet also comes with Android 5.0 installed, and Microsoft’s Android Office apps.

Spotted on LG’s Korean website, there’s no sign of other G Pad 2 tablets, but there’s a chance we’ll see both a smaller and larger version in the future. LG hasn’t announced the G Pad 2 8.0 internationally either, but all this may change during the IFA tech show in September.

LG G Flex 2 vs. LG G Flex: What could be the difference?

It was recently revealed that South Korean company LG Electronics is preparing to unveil the successor to this year's LG G Flex 2 curved smartphone sometime by March of next year.

photo from LG website

The LG G Flex 2 was announced earlier this year in January and was later launched in February.

Last month, a rumor surfaced revealing most of the expected specifications for the upcoming LG G Flex 3. Here's the difference between the new phone and its predecessor in terms of the specs and features.

In a review by Tech Radar, the LG G Flex 2 was commended for its flexible display screen, camera features and fast software performance.

The LG G Flex 2 sports a 5.5-inch display screen with a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. According to GSM Arena, the LG G Flex 3 is rumored to sport a 6-inch display screen, which is 0.5 inch larger than the previous model, along with QHD pixel resolution.

The LG G Flex 2 comes with a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a 2.1-megapixel camera on the front. On the other hand, the LG G Flex 3 is expected to have a whopping 20.7-megapixel primary camera, according to recent rumors, along with an 8-megapixel shooter on the front.

Under the hood, the LG G Flex 2 has a Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable built-in memory storage. In addition, another option is available offering 3GB RAM and up to 32GB internal memory.

For the upcoming LG G Flex 3, it is rumored to have Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, and a 32GB expandable built-in memory. The upcoming phone is also anticipated to sport a metal body and to come with a fingerprint scanner onboard. Also, website MobiPicker reports that the LG G Flex 3 might cost around US$500 to US$700.

Since the LG G Flex 3 handset is still in its early stages, these specifications should be considered as speculations.

Alleged LG G Flex 3 Release Date Set For March 2016: To Feature 6-Inch Display, Fingerprint Scanner

LG is working on a possible G Flex 2 successor, Mobi Picker reports. The “LG G Flex 3,” its says, will be released in March 2016. The report also gives key specifications and features of the device.

The flexible body and display clad G Flex series is an LG trademark. But the new report from Mobi Picker says the LG G Flex 3 will house cutting-edge flagship-quality configurations, complete with metallic chassis.

The LG G Flex 3 will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, currently in the works. Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang says the powerful chip will start shipping only after December. Therefore devices lined up for release in 2015, like the Xiaomi Mi 5, will not be powered by S820. But the shipping time frame works fine for the next LG handset. The overheating seen in the Snapdragon 810 chip is apparently not prevalent in the Snapdragon 820, says Phone Arena, quoting a researcher as the source.

The rumored LG G Flex 3 specifications include a humongous 6.0-inch display, fitted with a Quad HD screen resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels. Plus, the Snapdragon 820 chip will be aided by a killer 4 GB of RAM.

The LG G Flex 3 will come equipped with a massive 32 GB of built-in storage space. In addition, the handset will support expandable storage options. Furthermore, the device will reportedly feature a phenomenal 20.7 MP rear-facing camera unit, similar to the Sony Xperia Z3 series of devices. Plus, the front camera will be fitted with a gracious 8 MP snapper to capture killer selfies.

The standout feature, however, is the addition of a fingerprint scanner on the home button, similar to Apple and high-end Samsung devices. LG has not confirmed the G Flex 3 specifications or release date thus far.

The LG G Watch R no longer needs a Bluetooth connection

LG has announced that its second smartwatch, the G Watch R, will soon be able to receive notifications and other information over Wi-Fi.

The new feature will arrive with a firmware over-the-air update over the next few days along with the latest version of Android Wear, and will negate the need for a Bluetooth connection to users’ phones for receiving alerts.

That should help users save a bit of their phones’ battery life as well. It’s a small, but handy update for owners of LG’s first smartwatch, that went on sale at the end of 2014 for $299.