The LG GD900 Crystal isn’t just a pretty face, although from gawping at our hands-on gallery you’d be forgiven for thinking so. It’s actually an ultra-smart mobile packed with next-gen touch-technology.
Want the skinny on what’s so clever under that slinky (and see-through) shell? Read on!
1. It’s multitouch… twice.
LG’s squeezed multitouch into its mobiles before. The LG Prada phone has pinch-to-zoom abilities, but the LG Crystal goes one step further. Not only does it let owners pinch its touchscreen with two fingers to zoom in and out, the transparent keypad is also multitouch too, so you can choose where you do your pinching.
2. It recognises your handwriting.
Slide open the LG Crystal keypad and start scribbling. It’s that simple. LG has taught the Crystal how humans create characters. It pieces together different strokes of your fingertips to create letters, and then pulls them together into words.
3. Gestures can be mapped
What’s the point of having a gesture if it’s not a natural one? The LG Crystal supports gestures (basically shapes that aren’t letters or numbers) traced onto its keypad. Think of shapes like a backwards arrow, or an upward stroke. But it doesn’t stop there. LG’s phone lets you map them to any function of the phone, so a quick swipe will get you into your messaging, music, camera, or any other function you like.
4. It brings analogue control back to cameras
The digital cameras found in phones are a bit clunky. Press the zoom button and they’ll ‘step’ in on an image. But not with the LG Crystal. It uses the combination of touchscreen and touch-sensitive number pad to give two-handed control. Hold down the zoom key with a thumb, and “scroll” in a clockwise motion using your other hand on the touch pad. Zooming is more fluid and controlled, just like on a proper camera.
5. It’s inspiring new accessories
LG has confirmed the Crystal will come with a new range of accessories when it goes on sale next month. At the very least we know they’ll include a Bluetooth headset with the same styling. Expect an emphasis on transparency, glass and ultra-slick touch controls.
