The LG Thrill 4G 3-D Android smartphone arrived last week on the AT&T network and did so as only the second handset to offer 3-D viewing capability for 3-D movies, videos and still shots without the need for any extra glasses or other accessories. The gripe for the longest time has been that although 3-D visuals are incredibly realistic, no one likes looking like a dork wearing those heavy, expensive, silly looking 3-D eyeglasses and handsets which up till now were required to view 3-D content.
The HTC Evo 3D 4G smartphone arrived a couple of months ago and was the first mobile phone to offer glasses free 3-D technology. The LG 3-D AT&T 4G handset also offers glasses free 3-D viewing, and also allows for the recording of video and 3-D for viewing in 720P HD on the 4.3 inch capacitive touchscreen, or transporting of the 3-D video to a 3-D capable HDTV or monitor via HDMI 1.4 wired or DLNA wireless technology. Recording is also available in two dimensions at true high definition 1080 pixel resolution.
The way that LG accomplishes this glasses free viewing is through the employment of a 3-D graphics hardware accelerator and dual core 1.0 GHz Texas Instrument’s OMAP processor, using 512 MB of RAM memory. And if you want to record your own 3-D content, that is made possible via dual 5 megapixel video cameras facing out from the rear of the device.
To record in three dimensions, the LG Thrill 3-D simultaneously records whatever still shot or video you desire from those dual 5 megapixel cameras which are spaced very close together, yet at different viewpoints. As you are recording, your video or snapshots are sent immediately to LG’s 3-D processing engine, and using those dual images a 3-D image or video is extrapolated through three dimensions. All this takes place in real time, and there is no waiting for processing.
Sprint recently dropped the retail price of the HTC 3D handset, so AT&T decided to debut their LG Thrill 3-D 4G smartphone for $99 with a two-year activation, with an even lower price tag on Amazon starting at $29.99. YouTube access is preloaded, and YouTube 3-D video access is instantly available. A microUSB port is on board, and a microSD slot is available for storage expansion up to 32 GB. The LG Thrill offers Bluetooth stereo and Wi-Fi connectivity options, and is 5.07 x 2.68 x 0.47 inches and 5.93 ounces. For more information on the specs, features, and functionality of this new 3D gadget, as well as where to get this smartphone at the lowest possible price, read our LG Thrill review.
