LG Arena KM990 officially announced

We only spoke about it a week ago and now LG has officially announced their latest flagship - the LG Arena KM990 at the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona. I know some have been asking us when exactly the Arena will be available in the UK, we can now confirm that it will arrive very shortly next month! Meanwhile, we’ve got an official demo video of the new and very exciting 3D cube user interface (UI) for you to see right after the break.

UK, February 16, 2009 - LG Electronics, a worldwide technology and design leader in mobile communications, today announces the launch of LG ARENA (LG-KM900) at the Mobile World Congress 2009. ARENA is packed with the latest multimedia features and uses LG’s new and intuitive 3D User Interface (UI).

ARENA is the world’s first global handset to feature Dolby Mobile surround sound to deliver a totally new and enhanced audio experience for both video and audio content. The UI is the perfect 3D gateway to enter ARENA’s amazing multimedia environment which creates a fresh new way of delivering a portable entertainment experience. The standard 3.5 mm audio jack means ARENA can be used with any pair of headphones.
“What really makes ARENA special is the new LG intuitive 3D UI, which is unlike anything that has appeared on a phone before,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President & CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We surveyed consumers and found that they were unhappy with current interfaces. They wanted a simple, fast and fun way to use multimedia and additional features, but also an experience that was dynamic and interesting. We’ve done this so well with our brand new UI that it will set new standards for handsets in both functionality and fun.”

3D User Interface

Intuitive
Intuitive and 3D touch-menus take the fuss out of searching through contacts and multimedia content, perfect for anyone more comfortable with a traditional analogue experience. Reel Scrolling menus appear as if they are on a film reel, providing vivid icons for each feature that are instantly recognisable. Dragging a finger across the reels allows users to scroll through each feature option.
In ARENA’s camera mode, an intuitive on-screen dial, similar to those found on many high-end stand alone cameras, makes it easy to customise shot settings for picture-perfect results.

Fast
ARENA’s UI was designed to reinforce the advantages of touchscreen technology from the offset, eliminating any unnecessary menus and complicated navigations. At its core is a cube layout that provides four customisable home screens that provide quick access to all features by flipping the cube with just a flick of a finger. With multiple faces, the cube allows for four times more shortcuts than a single screen, making navigation easier and enhancing overall usability.
Cube layout
ARENA’s Elastic Lists make it easier to browse through contacts and other menu listings. When touched, the listed items stretch like a rubber band to provide more detailed information, options or easy editing. This eliminates the need to switch to a new screen, saving time and making it easier to browse the other options available. The smooth and quick transitions on screen are a result of a powerful AMD processor working together with LG’s 3D UI.

Fun
Colourful and vivid graphics give ARENA a sense of dynamism and fun. ARENA’s dynamically designed graphics are particularly evident in the phone’s Floating Image Gallery. When held upright, the phone displays photos neatly in rows. But flip the phone on its side and the photos automatically cascade off the screen and reappear much larger. Sliding a finger from top to bottom will show photos taken on different days. Dragging a finger from left-to-right shows photos taken on the same day.
Going one step further, its Tactile Analogue Alarm Clock and Radio Tuner make it almost feel like moving a clock’s hands or turning an actual dial.

Multimedia Features that Come Alive
Dolby Mobile surround sound technology unleashes the power of unrivalled audio for movies and video and delivers rich, resonant sound. Featuring a range of equalizer presets to fit all genres and individual tastes, further enhances the listening experience. A built-in FM transmitter allows ARENA to play music wirelessly whether it is through a car or home stereo system.

“The new LG intuitive 3D UI offers superior functionality, speed and ease of use unlike anything seen before, the LG ARENA really is taking touchscreen technology to the next generation,” says Jeremy Newing, head of marketing, LG Mobile UK. “Partnering with Dolby Mobile and its audio expertise has ensured that LG is bringing new and exciting handsets to the market, that give users the opportunity to engage in a wholly new multimedia experience.”

ARENA’s large 3.0” full touchscreen display has an incredible WVGA resolution, which is four times sharper than QVGA. With the clearest LCD screen available on a mobile phone, ARENA is ideal for watching DVD quality DivX or Xvid movies on the go.

D1 recording capabilities capture DVD resolution video content that remains crisp and sharp when played back on a large screen. ARENA allows recording up to 120 frames per second so when played back in slow motion records every detail.

ARENA has the capacity to store up to 40GBs of music, image and movie files with 8GB of internal memory and up to 32GB with an external micro SD slot. The battery life provides up to 30 hours of MP3 playtime and 300 hours of standby time.

The range of high-end camera features and excellent image quality make the ARENA’s five megapixel comparable to that of a stand alone camera; with the ability to set the camera to auto or manual focus enables the user to capture every special moment.

ARENA’s 3G HSDPA 7.2 networks and Wi-Fi capabilities allow for audio, video and photos to be uploaded easily onto social networks so users can share their multimedia experience online. ARENA provides additional support for Google Mobile Service including Google search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Blogs; A-GPS and geo-tagging are is also available and the multi-touch capabilities greatly enhance the web surfing experience.
All of these multimedia features are packed in ARENA’s sleek and refined silver or black titanium metal body, perfectly sized to grab and go at just 105.9 x 55.3 x 11.95 mm. A tempered glass finish protecting the screen ensures long-lasting durability, designed to keep the phone looking sophisticated and clean.

Officially launched at Mobile World Congress, LG ARENA will be available in Europe in March.