I have not handled the LG Arena or any other device running LG’s new dust-stirring user interface, quite aptly dubbed “S-Class”. But I haven’t handled the Apple iPhone either. Still there is no contention about the top-notch interface that the iPhone sports.

If the rave reviews that the new LG Arena is getting is anything to go by, an erstwhile underdog has gotten right what the giants are stumbling and fumbling over.

Samsung’s TouchWhiz interface is more of a hit and miss. Nokia’s new S60 5th Edition doesn’t have the fluidity and Waow factor, and stillfumbles in usability here and there. HTC’s TouchFLO is merely a thin layer of icing spread over the dated WinMo OS and interface.

But the LG S-Class UI simply rocks and seems set to become the best thing that happened to mobile phones since the iPhone. LG is getting something right.

A few weeks ago, I purchased a mid-range LG, the KS360 with slide-out QWERTY and touchscreen dialer. It ain’t no Arena and certainly isn’t running S-Class, but even that device left me with a very good experience. Dayo and I are agreed that LG did a good job with such an affordable device. The haptic feedback and responsiveness of the touchscreen dialer is very good. And functionality-wise, LG didn’t pull any punches either. Yes; the device has a couple of niggles, but for its price, its a deal.

Then, there’s the LG Cookie, also getting good reviews here and there. Coincidence? Or has LG struck pay dirt?

Related Article: LG KM900 Arena: A touch of class

Until now, I had never purchased nor used an LG device. I got this device out of a spirit of adventure. The QWERTY keyboard onboard such a mid-tier device was an object of fascination for me.

The KS360 has ended up a bundle of surprises, and I bet that you are itching to find out for yourself. So, let’s cut to the chase…

Quick Stats:
1. GPRS/EDGE
2. 240 x 320 pixel screen + touch dialling
3. 2 megapixel camera (no flash; no autofocus)
4. Side Slider form factor
5. Bluetooth, USB
6. WAP 2.0/XHTML browser
7. Email client
8. 15mb shared memory + MicroSD slot
9. Slide-out QWERTY keyboard

Form factor, Display, and Keypad

The KS360 looks like the regular slider phone – except that the slider opens sideways this time to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. In size, its also quite compact.

The KS360 spots a huge 2.4-inch display that takes up most of the front. Below the display are several buttons, including a clusted navigational set, two soft key buttons, hang up and dial buttons, a “C” button that takes you a step back in whatever menu you are in. The last button is that which activates the touchscreen dialer.

This touchscreen dialer gives you numeric as well as alphabet keys for either typing in a number or typing out a name from the contacts application respectively. The implementation of this touchscreen dialer is beautiful, and it works well. Note though that the touchscreen functionality is avaoilable only in the standby mode with the slider closed. How did LG pull that?

The LG KS360 has well thought-out ergonomics. With slider closed, it fees good in the hand, and is very comfortable even with the QWERTY keyboard slid out.

The display is quite brilliant, and bright. It is one of the better displays in this price bracket. You are also able to adjust the brightness and time-out.

Slide out the QWERTY keyboard, and the display rotates to landscape mode. In this mode, you can hammer out your email, and text messages, and also enter text into webpages.

The QWERTY keys are small but slightly domed for easier usability. The keyboard works well, but don’t expect the most spectacular performance for a phone this size. The smaller a phone is, usually the more of comfort and usability is given up with text entry.

The spring-loaded keyboard slides in and out smoothly, and feels very well built. Actually, the whole device has a feel of sturdiness and quality, though it is made of plastic.

Multimedia

The KS360 has a fixed focus 2MPX camera that delivers good shots. No; not great or spectacular shots. But what do you expect from a 2MPX camera without flash, and without autofocus?

Close-up shots in good lighting come out fine. Anything beyond that is more of a hit-and-miss affair.

Video playback is included in the KS360. Anything above 20 frames per second, though, and playback gets jerky and unstable. I converted a number of DVD movies to MP4 at 15 fps, and they played smoothly. Of course, 15fps meant that the video quality was greatly tampered with.

The KS360 has a built-in MP3 player too. It is quite basic, and produces fairly good sound in terms of quality and loudness. If you are a music buff who is used to iPod-like quality music, however, stay away.

Part two coming up shortly. I am deliberately breaking this review into paarts so as to keep page size down for those browsing on mobile.

Every year, to mark my birthday, I treat myself to a new mobile phone. Usually, it is a smartphone. This year, however, I have departed slightly from the regular pattern and gotten myself a mid-tier non-smartphone.

While traditionally a Nokia and Sony Ericsson fan, I have been getting quite adventurous for some time now, straying into the territory of other manufacturers, including Palm and Samsung. Well, the adventurous streak in me is apparently still at work.

I got myself an LG this time. My very first LG. Yes; life’s good!

The LG KS360

The KS360 is an interesting device from LG that sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a stunning 240 x 320 pixel, 2.4 inch, display with touch screen dialling functionality, GPRS and EDGE, Bluetooth, 2 MPX camera, FM radio, threaded SMS view, and microSD slot, among others. It is primarilly targeted at heavy messaging people.

KS360 beside the E90

The size difference is amazing! The KS360 is the size of a regular phone and weighs only 108g.

The KS360 with Keyboard Slid Out

I’ll be doing a full review soon, so watch this space!

Mobile World Congress 2009 threw up a number of efforts by major manufacturers to explore the world of solar-powered mobile phones. Those manufacturers include Samsung, LG, and ZTE.

Samsung has a touchscreen device named Blue Earth. LG’s teaser is yet to be named, while ZTE has dubbed theirs Coral 200. Of the three, ZTE’s offering is targeted at the low-end market.

The concept of solar-powered mobile phones is a good one. If you live in Nigeria, like I do, where public power supply is embarassingly and frustratingly pathetic, I can imagine that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look in that direction. Stop worrying about forgetting your charger at home too!