Touch screen, accelerometer, carbon and glass - such a mixture is by far not common even among smartphones. LG Secret - is an embodiment of the notorious idea "all and now". The phone combines in itself a quite fashionable accessory and a technically sated (sometimes even over sated) device.
If we shall remember the development history of the LG trendy series, than these will be its most confident steps on the way to success. Firstly, a rough agiotage and record sales had surrounded the Chocolate model and its successors (with the recognizable glossy case and the touch-pad block). Some time later, the company announced the Shine series which has introduced thin outlines and cold shine of metal.
After releasing basically opposite models by philosophy, LG was considered in almost crisis of ideas which now experiences Motorola. For the majority, perhaps, long time was a secret: what model will become the continuation of the manufacturer’s trendy collection? Well, the answer to this question sounds the same - Secret.
The Design
A scrupulous eye will determine on the phone’s exterior, separate features of a whole range of previous models. The "skeleton" of this phone in many aspects is similar with the earlier tested KF510 (for example, invisible navigating keys). From KE970 Shine the novelty has the metal outlining, the reception/rejection keys and the mirror effect of the surface. However, to see in the device only a mixture of the earlier family members features is wrong.
The top part of the both halves is made from plastic, badly imitating leather (something similar we saw on the back panel of Samsung D880 DuoS). All used plastic is soft-touch, which adds pleasant tactile sensations and makes the phone’s management convenient.
Possibly, one of the main features in Secret’s design consists in the back cover of the model executed from carbon. Together with the front panel protected from scratches by tempered glass, and other attributes of the exterior in the "premium" style, it puts the model in one row with Nokia 8800 Arte and the recently announced Carbon.
The slider mechanism is brought to perfection. Anyway, even in the test copy which is supposed not to have the best adjustment of the details, there was no loose between the halves. They seem really strong and reliable, despite of the record thickness.
The Keypad
Once again LG used touch navigation keys as an ornament, an original addition to the general design of the phone. And once again these keys demand familiarization. This time, the buttons are illuminated by neon light; besides, at each contact, the touch "point" begins to emanate "circles", exactly as a thrown stone in water. Especially effective it looks in darkness. For a more precise pressing (or, more likely, touching) in settings vibration is stipulated.
The reception, rejection and symbol delete keys are made of metal, that’s why they merge with the case outlining. Nevertheless, their use does not cause discomfort. The physical buttons are large enough, the distance between them is also enough to avoid false pressing.
The sides of the device are also crowded with buttons. So, on the right side we have the touch mode activation key, the control panel key and the camera one. The double volume control key is also here.
The Display
The display is traditionally a strength of the Korean manufacturers, and this model – is not an exception. The screen impressions are exclusively positive: large, without grain, the picture is ideally seen literally under any corner, the level of brightness perfectly handles the solar beams. Thanks to flash-files support (extension SWF), the desktop can be decorated with really eye-frizzing animation.
Three functional features are connected with the display at least. First of all, certainly, "the Touch screen" mode. It can be activated as from the menu (the shortcut is stored in "Multimedia" folder), and through the allocated key. After the touch screen mode activation, the display really starts to respond to pressing, all this causes confusion: why was impossible to use the touch screen for all the interface?
After a while, the developers’ thinking becomes clear. To adapt all the menu for use in touch mode is quite difficult and inappropriate. Otherwise there will be a continuous headache with the small icons of the list. In touch mode, the basic multimedia functions are accessible: photo, video, music, documents, games.
Another declared feature - automatic turn of the picture depending on the phone’s position. This function works only in touch mode and only for viewing images, video and documents.
Above the display we have the light sensor which allows adjusting brightness of the screen automatically.
The company, however, has not limited itself only to these hi-tech elements. The model also possesses an accelerometer which allows to control the game process by moving the phone physically. Thus, a number of the preestablished games are pushed on an absolutely higher level.
The package of games with support of the movement sensor is allocated in a separated folder called M-Toy and consists of 6 games: darts, fishing, labyrinth, baseball, throwing, balancing. Firstly, the management can seem an uneasy task, but the pleasure from the games is guaranteed. However, in the phone, there are 2 games with a traditional method of management: sudoku and golf.
The Menu
The menu can be set in two modes: as a standard 3x4 grid or as a cycling list. For interface customization there are available only 2 color schemes: black and white. Subjectively, the first looks better with the device’s design.
The control panel, probably, has been borrowed from smartphones: so it can be accessed from all the applications. With its help it is possible to switch between programs – a quite demanded feature in daily use providing such type of schemes as "message-note-calculator".
By the way, all the traditional PIM-functions (phonebook, organizer, reminder, alarm clock, calculator, converter) are available in the phone, however, nothing especial in them is present. All these applications are known from the previous models of the manufacturer.
As a separate item of the menu is the Google application. Thanks to the utilities adapted for the small display, a Secret owner gets access to range of services of the search master, including mail, maps and YouTube. By the way, Samsung has the Google services included in its phones already for a long time.
One of the LG’s products strength is the possibility of viewing office documents, tables, presentations. When zooming (which is obvious because of the small display) is very conveniently to use the touch management.
The user has available about 100 MB of free space. Besides, the phone supports microSD memory cards. Among communications, Bluetooth is available. No problems at connection with the Bluetooth headset or with the computer and other phones was not observed, the speed of transfer reached 140 kb/s.
The Musical Features
Another feature, characteristic for the Korean manufacturers, - the function of voice speaker and ring speaker is carried by the same speaker. It is obvious, that its loudness cannot brag of outstanding performance (nevertheless, you will not miss the call, no worries about that), however, the quality is at a high level. Even so, after playing with the equalizer and pushing the settings to the maximum loudness, the speaker can rattle.
All the standard melodies are in МР3 format. Among them there are pleasantly sounding compositions, mainly in classical style.
The musical player has two modes of the interface - for screen management and keyboard management. The distinction consists in a substantial growth of screen buttons number within the same visualization window. It causes a violet shade that can not suit the taste of all.
LG did not put before itself the purpose to create a musical phone, therefore studying the interface we’ve encountered some flaws. For example, to access the library, it is necessary to come into the application through the menu.
The reproduction quality is at a satisfactory level. It is meaningful to warn, that on the player’s sounding can have a significant effect the equalizer’s presets (and completely not positive).
As it was already mentioned above, the phone has a built in FM-radio. Its playing is not special with anything else.
The Digital Camera and The Image Editor
When promoting its model, the company pays special attention to the device thickness (11,8 mm), and even so, it is equipped with a 5 Mp digital camera with auto focus. LG has experience of cooperation with the eminent manufacturer of optics Schneider-Kreuznach, however, in Secret, its trade mark is not written.
The camera’s lens is located on the back panel. It is not hidden when the slider is in closed position (as it happens at Samsung). To operate the digital camera in touch mode is impossible.
The photo’s quality corresponds to the declared opportunities, the colors transfer is natural, noise on the picture at natural illumination is insignificant. ISO value can be set up to 800, though, it is necessary to give priority to the competently working automatics. The only thing, that spoils a little the impression about the camera, is not the most successful flashlight.
A special attention is paid to the video recording process. It is possible to record videoclips in VGA resolution at 30 fps and, what is more interesting, in QVGA resoltuion at 120 fps. By the way, the phone supports the DivX format.
As separated category are presented various audio, photo and video editors. The essence of the audio and video editors consists in the possibility to cut off a part of a file directly on the phone. It is very convenient at creation of ringtones or videoclip assignment to a contact.
Muvee studio, one more entertainment for video, allows to apply the elementary effects on videoclips or sequence of photos. This program is well known for enough long time from Symbian.
The photoeditor favorably differs through the fact that it has available the same effects which can be involved during shooting: regulation of contrast, brightness, color and geometrical effects. Pay attention that the editor replaces the file. Therefore, if you wish to keep the original, create a copy before that.
The Battery Life
The operating time in independent mode is one of the few weak points of the phone. Apparently, the thickness of the device has not allowed to place a battery of sufficient capacity. Actively used - calls, games with accelerometer, touch screen, music - Secret had worked exactly one day. Apparently, the phone should be recharged every day.
Conclusions
LG has succeeded to release an excellent phone. After its study, the 4th place of the company in the top-manufacturers rating looks justified. Certainly, because of a price barrier (the starting price is expected to be $700-800) not all will be able to acquire this model.
Yes, the advanced users will not be pleased with the limited opportunities of the touch screen, accelerometer and the self turning screen use. However, the phone is calculated for a little bit other audience. The Secret’s formula can be formulated in the following way: LG has tried to implement the last technological innovations in a nice looking case.
Source: GSMpress ®
