Review: LG Optimus T
Bluetooth
Bluetooth pairing worked just fine on the LG Optimus T. I was able to connect with my Bluetooth headset as well as my stereo speakers. Reception through my headset could be spotty, and I encountered plenty of static during calls. Music playback was much better through my speaker system. I was also able to transfer pictures easily to my laptop from the image gallery using Bluetooth.
Clock
The LG Optimus T has a nice big clock on the lock screen, so you can check the time quickly without unlocking the phone. There is a clock in the notification bar, and this persists through most apps, though not all of them, so sometimes you'll need to jump back to the homescreen. LG has a nice alarm clock widget, a feature I appreciate since I use my phone as a timer frequently. This eliminated the need to dig through the app menu for the clock app itself.
GPS
There are a couple of options for GPS navigation on the LG Optimus T, though the choice is pretty obvious. Google Maps offers free, turn-by-turn navigation with spoken voice directions. It has a great location directory and a very nice interface. TeleNav is a paid service that also offers turn-by-turn directions. The interface is a little more colorful, but the point-of-interest database can be woefully out of date, and it often suggested I drive to business that had either closed down or were never there in the first place. Go with the free, more accurate option instead of the paid service. Google Maps found me quickly and followed me on my trip around the country roads in my area. It had no trouble rerouting me if I found myself off course.
Other Extras
Besides the FM radio and the DriveSmart app that I discussed earlier, there are few extras on the Optimus T, though the Android App Market does offer thousands and thousands of apps. The phone comes with a video tour app, which is really a Web link to a series of instructional videos that you can download. These videos are specific to the Optimus T, and they are hosted by Rob Riggle of "The Daily Show" fame. They range from goofy to useful, especially if you've never used an Android phone before. It would be fun if every phone had a good celebrity to give you a tour of all the features. My only complaint is that you can't erase the app after you've learned everything Mr. Riggle has to teach.
The LG Optimus T also has Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities. You can use the phone's data network connection to create your own portable Wi-Fi hotspot and share the data with other devices. T-Mobile offers the most reasonable Wi-Fi tethering plan, at only $15 over your initial data fees, but they don't give you more gigabytes to play with; you are still stuck at the same 5GB limit for data on the phone and shared data combined. Still, the same feature can easily cost twice as much on the other nationwide carriers.
CTIA Fall 2010
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LG Optimus T
