We examine the LG Fantasy (E740) Windows Phone prototype

Although LG has announced its plans to not produce whatever more than Windows Phones and and so changed their tune a chip, we've managed to become our hands on ane of their prototypes that may never meet an official launch.

For months now there have been rumors of a new device from LG called the E740 'Fantasy' (and a presumably canceled CDMA variant for Dart). The phone looks to have been prototyping in late 2022 with evolution abandoned in early 2022 when LG decided to focus on Android and take a hiatus from Microsoft.

The E740 looked to be another low to mid-range offering from the Korean visitor and we'll be honest, we're not that upset that it might not be released.

While it may brand an 'ok' depression-end Windows Phone, companies like Nokia and their Lumia 610 just blow it out of the water in terms of quality. Yet, like the Lumia 610NFC coming in the third quarter, the LG E740 has an interesting trick upwards its sleeve: fully functional Near-Field Communication (NFC) hardware.

We decided to document what nosotros tin from this device for posterity. Read by the break for our exclusive video hands-on and photos of the device.

Hardware

The specifications of the LG E740 are under whelming for 2022 let alone 2022. Regardless, here they are:

• Display - 4.0" TFT LCD
• Os - Windows Telephone 7.5 8107
• CPU - i GHz Scorpion
• 8GB storage (5.6GB available)
• Retentivity - 512MB of RAM (356MB available)
• 2G Network - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• 3G Network -  HSDPA
• Battery - 1500 mAh (removable)
• Camera (Rear) - 5MP; no flash
• Camera (Front) - i.3MP
• NFC - Aye
• Compass - Yes
• Proximity - Yeah
• Gyroscope - No

The feel of the phone is quite inexpensive due to the majority of the device being plastic. Of course at that place are two caveats to that (i) this is a prototype and non a final build, so lets not be too harsh and (2) the telephone is extremely light as a upshot. Having said that, the overall design is about every bit tiresome and generic as yous can get for a Windows Phone equally it lacks any sense of mode. (To our Sprint friends, though we know y'all're desperate for a new phone, trust me when we say you don't want this).

It's interesting to note that what looks to be a afterwards variant of this phone showed upwardly with Telus branding. That device looks more polished (literally) and has a more refined build indicating a later-stage of development.

The hardware buttons are very affluent with the device and very difficult to find without looking. Nay, incommunicable. Information technology relies on you sensing an indentation in the button instead of it protruding like on virtually phones. Looking at it compared to the Dart version, it looks to accept the same setup, and then although LG could presumably "set up" this it looks to be their design intention. LG's Breakthrough had similar buttons and that was certainly annoying.

The screen does well outside merely it'southward still quite dull and lacks the vibrant punch of HTC's Super LCD screens, Nokia's ClearBlack or Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus. Peradventure it is non a huge surprise that LG doesn't have the best screens around although due to the super-tight pixel density, the Quantum looked decent for a generation 1 Windows Phone at the time. This phone at 4.0" is a chip irksome but information technology'd practise.

NFC support

Really the only unique and interesting aspect of this phone is that is has near-field communication (NFC) hardware and software on lath. And yes, it does piece of work. Nosotros're uncertain of the software origins if it is an LG design (probable) or something Microsoft whipped upward for futurity Windows Phones merely it'southward a nice addition.

What'southward fascinating is this device was prototyping in late 2022 right around the fourth dimension we heard Mango does indeed back up NFC already, information technology's just that no OEM had taken reward of it. Microsoft later corrected that argument stating that Windows Phone does not support NFC but it will be coming later.

[Speculation warning!] Then how tin we can we explain why a telephone with OS build 8107 has NFC? Well, technically 8107 is Windows Telephone Mango Commercial Release ane (CR1) and all we can imagine is that version of the Bone is the one that received NFC API and driver support from Microsoft, meanwhile Mango proper (build 7740) did non.

Getting back to the LG E740, the NFC app allows you to place the phone next to other NFC enabled devices and share/receive contacts, URLs, memos, call requests. It also has a split department for Tags where you tin encounter past history including previously read, shared, favorites and drafts of letters.

While NFC remains in its infancy it will certainly be the "Bluetooth transfer" of the future. With its quick speed it tin exist used for payments, transferring of phone info (similar above) or even paring of hardware including external speakers or Bluetooth headsets with NFC-support.

Nosotros saw nothing to indicate any support for a future Microsoft NFC payment arrangement ala Google Wallet. Surely something like that is in the works for Windows Phone 8 but it'southward absent on this device.

Seeing as Nokia has gained all the attending for the Lumia 610NFC device it is clear that LG had been working with the same technology for quite some time too. Information technology makes sense for LG equally they were the first Windows Phone company to "get deep" in the Bone and offer Augmented Reality apps with their phones e.m. ScanSearch or the helpful Voice to Text app.

Operation

The device features a 1GHz CPU which should be powerful enough to handle the Windows Phone OS only the device does feel a tad sluggish. Of course one time again, it's a epitome so we tin can't judge too much. Just if we get by WPBench, it gets a 74.04 which puts it effectually the mid-range as expected.

Camera

The E740 features a middle of the road 5MP rear camera. Truth be told, information technology ain't half bad actually. Surely LG didn't accept time to fully optimize and finalize the software but as is it holds it own except for some dull colors.

LG had customized the camera app on here and we like the changes. Here are some of the photographic camera settings:

• Intelligent Shot: Smart scene, portrait, landscape, night , backlight and off
• Beauty Shot: on/off
• Panorama shot (congenital in) Tin sew together as many pics every bit you desire and it uses the accelerometer
• Photo Resolution: option for xvi:9 widescreen at 2 & 3MP and four:three standard (various sizes)
• Anti-Milkshake: on/off
• Color effects & White balance

Oddly enough, this prototype has no flash which is perchance just an omission (the Telus version appears to have the wink added though that Sprint version did not). Nosotros actually liked the photographic camera module quite a flake and LG seemed to take done some neat things with it, more and then than Nokia who barely offering whatsoever customizations while HTC (with the Titan 2) has gone to a higher place and across other OEMs.

The front-facing camera is deadening. It's groovy only nothing special either.

The wrap upward?

It'due south a bit weird to "review" a paradigm phone but we're enthusiasts here and we wanted to document this device for you folks. Information technology'south certainly not fair to LG to judge this every bit what "could have been" since it was still in evolution, we know that.

And then again, we also know LG and they've rarely impressed us in the last few years. And while their software team was actually skilful leaving users with some great OEM apps, their hardware has always been sub-par and lacking any finesse.

Though this E740 is "unfinished" nosotros're not to thrilled with what we've seen save for the NFC back up. We could imagine diverse carriers seeing this every bit a low-cost solution then passing on it one time they put it through testing (if it even got that far).

We don't hateful to kick LG while they're down but if this was their Generation 1.five device aka "Mango phone" information technology is a pretty big disappointment even if it is geared towards the depression-cease. Surely consumers would be much happier with the similar spec'd Lumia 710 or even 610 than this telephone.

Just because a phone is "cheap" doesn't mean it has to exist this dull.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lg-fantasy--e740-windows-phone-prototype

Posted by: meyerscamonwarld.blogspot.com

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