Review: LG Optimus T
The LG Optimus T has the exact same messaging capabilties you'll find on any basic Android handset. You get text messaging and multimedia messages through the messaging app. These are viewable in a conversational format, so you can see both sides of the text chat as if you were reading an instant message transcript. Pictures show up inline with the text messages. For Instant Messaging there is only Google Talk on board, though you can download more IM apps from the App Market. Email is handled by its own app, and Gmail gets special treatment, with a better interface and extra features for Gmail labels and other tricks.
The LG messaging widget gives you a good view of messages from your homescreen, though it won't display the entirety of a 160 character text, which is silly, considering there is plenty of space in the Widget's 2-row window. There are shortcut buttons on the widget to create a new message or jump to the message list, but both of these simply open the messaging app. I would have liked to create a message within the widget without having to open the separate messaging app.
The LG Optimus S uses the Swype keyboard. Swype lets you trace your finger from letter to letter instead of pecking out each letter in a word individually. It usually works very well, though the touch sensitivity problems on the Optimus T did rear their ugly head in the Swype keyboard. I was also annoyed that there is no voice-to-text key on the Swype keyboard. The Optimus T, with Android 2.2, certainly supports the feature, but you have to change input methods to the stock Android keyboard if you want to dictate text messages or other text input.
Social networking fans will find Twitter and Facebook preloaded on the LG Optimus T. This makes it easier to synchronize your contacts from the get-go with your favorite social networks. There are no advanced social networking integration features, other than offering recent status updates and tweets in the contact list.
CTIA Fall 2010
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LG Optimus T
