Verizon's 'iPhone Killer', the LG Voyager, Disappoints?

[MacRumors]

TheStreet previews Verizon's new LG Voyager launched today. Dubbed an iPhone Killer at its annonucement, the LG Voyager disappoints.

Here's the bleak truth about the Voyager: It's not the thrilling gadget adventure people were waiting for. ...
Playing with the Voyager for the past week has provided a nice mixture of fun with a familiar dash of frustration.

The Voyager has no document creation, email ($5/mo extra), or desktop syncing and appears tro be more of a media player and entertainment device. While it comes with a 3G connection, web browsing still uses the Openware browser "that's been lamely rendering Web pages ever since phones could access the Net."

PCMag's review is less critical, and acknowledges some notable features, such as a force feedback touch screen, a physical keyboard and TV tuner. Their summary:

The Voyager does a lot of things that the iPhone doesn't: mobile TV, GPS, video recording—and heck, it runs on Verizon's network. This handset is still a study in how the rest of the industry can't quite catch up to Apple's seamless, easy syncing and interface. But if you chose your network first and it's Verizon, this is the closest you'll get to a true mobile revolution for now.

MobileBurn's review goes into more depth and describes it as a "multimedia monster" and "one of the most compelling devices" ever offered by Verizon but is also disappointed by it's lack of syncing capabilities.

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[plumbingandtech]

And just like the long line of iPod killers, this iPhone "killer" bites the dust...

[dalvin200]

Originally Posted by plumbingandtech

And just like the long line of iPod killers, this iPhone "killer" bites the dust...

tru dat!

[dr_lha]

Just like all of Apple's competitors, this misses out of one vital thing that Apple knows: Implementation is just as important as features, if not more so. You can forgive the iPhones lacking features because what it has works so beautifully and is a joy to use. Almost every other phone on the market may have every features thrown in, but they are a pain in the ass to use.

[michaelsviews]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

Just like all of Apple's competitors, this misses out of one vital thing that Apple knows: Implementation is just as important as features, if not more so. You can forgive the iPhones lacking features because what it has works so beautifully and is a joy to use. Almost every other phone on the market may have every features thrown in, but they are a pain in the ass to use.

I'll second what you said and very well put I mite add

[killmoms]

Is anyone really surprised by this? I saw video reviews of the device on YouTube before it was out and thought "This is supposed to kill the iPhone?" It has some features the iPhone doesn't, but the interface is a mess. Even in the video reviews the nerdy Apple-hating types who were all "IT'S BETTAR THAN IPHONE" were getting confused by the interface and doing things wrong.

It may do more, but if it frustrates me to use it, I can do without the features. I'll take a pleasant experience over an unpleasant one any day.

[GregA]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

Just like all of Apple's competitors, this misses out of one vital thing that Apple knows: Implementation is just as important as features, if not more so.

Yes.
Or put another way - absolute simplicity becomes a 'feature'.

Originally Posted by killmoms

It may do more, but if it frustrates me to use it, I can do without the features. I'll take a pleasant experience over an unpleasant one any day.

The very first comments after the iPhone came out, by execs coming up with alternatives, were that they had a phone that could do all the iPhone did AND MORE (then reeling off a list of features ignoring simplicity). What was stupid was that they knew the simplicity was key, and wanted to learn from iPhone's success, yet threw that out the moment they started talking about their phones.

Doubly stupid - they should have realised that their existing products already did more than the iPhone did (feature wise)

HOPEFULLY they were aware of both, but were trying to put a good spin on their products... but I doubt it.

Kind of reminds me of when I was applying for an interface design job 10 years ago... multiple people from different companies would say to me "Ease of use is critical, but we don't need someone specialised on it, we'll just tell the programmers to make it easy to use."

[TitoC]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

Just like all of Apple's competitors, this misses out of one vital thing that Apple knows: Implementation is just as important as features, if not more so. You can forgive the iPhones lacking features because what it has works so beautifully and is a joy to use. Almost every other phone on the market may have every features thrown in, but they are a pain in the ass to use.

EXACTLY! Every time I show a friend who has another phone or smartphone, they always love touting how theirs "does more, has more features, etc., etc." But as I say "Cool, show me," I get a variety of responses, which are ususally one of the following:

"Yeah, I don't have (insert feature here) right now. But if I wanted it, I could." So, it's such a "cool" feature, but not enough to warrant getting it. Hmmm . . .

OR

They can't seem to find where that "special" feature" lives, because it's buried 12 menus deep.

As someone who lives, breathes and works as a designer (and sometimes yes, as an interface designer for some clients) it killed me every time I would try out a cell phone or ANY phone out there. And believe me, I tried out over 18 different kinds before giving up on them. They all sucked. Their users manual also sucked. Then using them was even worse. Couldn't find a lot of "features" or worse - one phone had me go through 8 menu selections just to change my ringtone volume. Jeeez! I didn't have a cell phone for over 2 years because of how bad they were.

Being able to get to a "feature" or anything else for that matter on any device, computer or electronics should be something intuitive, fluid, simple and even graceful to the end user. This not only makes using said device enjoyable, but also makes using the device next time not something that makes you want to curse the Seven Hills of Mary every time.

It comes down to simplicity, ease of use, art, good design and actually something that makes you WANT to use the damn thing. Even if you don't need to. You want to. These are the fundamental flaws that all of these Iphone Killer companies don't understand and probably never will until they actually hire interface designers. Real interface designers. This, as opposed to people making cute little folder icons ("Don't worry, we'll get the engineers to actually design the interface, you just worry about those cute little icons) who get labeled as interface designers by these companies.

Sometimes it's not always what you have, but how well you use what you got.

Being Bloated is not sexy. Being Smart is.

[j5045096]

brilliantly said - so true about features that are "available" but how people don't seem to have them. i have verizon and so obviously no iphone...mac user but no iphone but i think it's a darn cool phone for sure.

this lg voyager--all it is is the next in the EnV series from LG. If any of you have used an EnV before it's a piece of junk. Adding a touch screen on the outside isn't going to change it - it just adds a nice looking mask.

I have Verizon because the network is good. The calls sound great and text messaging works really really well. Other than that I won't vouch for anything they do, nor would I vouch for at&t. honestly, if the ipod touch gets VOIP enabled, I'm ditching cellular altogether.

the only thing the iphone has going for it to lure me is that it's apple and syncs with my itunes, ical and all the other good stuff. at&t's network stinks; i don't want 2 years of slavery with a new slavemaster.

that said, nice try lg & verizon. it's like these little acer laptops that they made in white to try and look as cool as an ibook or macbook. ...no functionality=no sale and that's exactly what this lg is.

[lofight]

iPhone is still the best! then iPod Touch ...

[Telp]

That's ashame, it doesnt bring much that an ordinary phone doesnt bring anyway (even the things apple left out). Its nothing revolutionary, just an iPhone lookalike. The 1st true one in what will be a long line.

[michaelsviews]

Cant say Verizon isn't trying, but each company and each device has its good points and bad points.

Hmmmm maybe I'll go and open up an acct and try it for 30 days, you get all your money back and don't have to pay for the calls or data or messages.

Naaahhhhhhh I have the best, why settle for second wanna be best

Guess the Verizon Execs are NOT going to bonus this year

[Silencio]

Originally Posted by michaelsviews

Guess the Verizon Execs are NOT going to bonus this year

Of course the execs will get their bonuses! They'll just lay off a few thousand peons to make up the difference.

[miketcool]

And so another manufacturer shamelessly rips Apple's icons and look. At least the shortcut menu doesn't look like that nasty Verizon interface I loathe navigating on my girlfriend's phone. When will she switch to a decent carrier so I can at least get her a decent phone.
Hopefully there is no option to use a touch keyboard on the front screen. Matching Verizon's lackluster UI with a touch interface (TRY using an LG Chocolate) is begging for me to put the device through a wall.

Next iPhone Killer rant...

Zune Fön: "The turd brick you talk to"

[jayducharme]

Originally Posted by miketcool

And so another manufacturer shamelessly rips Apple's icons and look.

I was wondering about this. Anyone think Apple has their legal department looking into the LG? The virtual keyboard, the menu screen, the round-edge device rimmed with silver...it's all an obvious rip-off of the iPhone. Instead of "Slide to Unlock," the LG reads, "Press to Unlock." The similarities seems a bit too blatant. At least we know who the innovators really are.

I thought this quote from the PC article was peculiar:

You can store files in the whopping 183MB of available internal memory

Sarcasm? This seems like an absurd statement when people are complaining about the 8gb available on the iPhone.

[puckhead193]

i was at verizon today and played with one for a few minutes. its def. not an iphone killer at all. I rather get the pearl that is cheaper and is better all around and screw the touch screen. instead of scrolling using the 4 way button on phones you touch what you want... big whoop....

[iTeen]

well i must say that this phone is no "iphone killer". i am going to buy it however due to the lack of AT&T coverage...

[stagfish]

that is why im leaving verizon , that phone is a joke... why do they have to have the lame verizon gui.... ill have a iphone by christmas!!

[louelou21]

Originally Posted by stagfish

that is why im leaving verizon , that phone is a joke... why do they have to have the lame verizon gui.... ill have a iphone by christmas!!

i 2nd u on that. i just upgraded to a new two year contract at verizon but i will be returning the phone and going back to my old two year contract (which would have been up the first week in january) and i am leaving verizon and picking up an iphone instead of this voyager crap

[zflauaus]

This is really starting to get on my nerves real bad. I love Apple. Why do you think I have two Macs with Applecare each, two iPods, an Apple wireless keyboard, and had my sister get an iPod mini? Also, I'm dedicated to Apple as I always drive to their retail store (75+ miles away) whenever I want to buy something significant. I would love to have an iPhone... If it wasn't on AT&T. And I hate defending Verizon, but...

First of all, there is a piece of false information in the article written by Arn. The browser is not Openwave, as it supports full HTML. I forgot who makes the browser, but it is NOT Openwave.

Second of all, why wouldn't Verizon put 3G in their phone? It's almost abundant in most cities. Hell, rural Southern Illinois went live earlier this month. I live in a town of 3200 and we have EVDO. EVDO does not suck that much battery life. And 4 hours of usage as mentioned by erandall38, that would be talk time. Possibly a little less if browsing the web/VCAST, but more if you are using it as a music player or text messaging. Even picture taking. You have to take note that most of the time, the lowest amount of battery life mentioned in a review is usually the talk time.

The Voyager is as close to the iPhone as I will get unless AT&T decides to move off their chair and buy some spectrum up in my county. That said, I will not buy it. I will be getting the Pearl instead because it has the features I want.

Yes, I agree, Verizon had no reason to call it the iPhone Killer as they knew they couldn't compete at all. But for those who have only Verizon coverage or no AT&T coverage in the area (or are biased against them) this is a great alternative.

I know I'm going to be flamed, but honestly. Think different. That's what Apple did.

[iTeen]

Originally Posted by zflauaus

This is really starting to get on my nerves real bad. I love Apple. Why do you think I have two Macs with Applecare each, two iPods, an Apple wireless keyboard, and had my sister get an iPod mini? Also, I'm dedicated to Apple as I always drive to their retail store (75+ miles away) whenever I want to buy something significant. I would love to have an iPhone... If it wasn't on AT&T. And I hate defending Verizon, but...

First of all, there is a piece of false information in the article written by Arn. The browser is not Openwave, as it supports full HTML. I forgot who makes the browser, but it is NOT Openwave.

Second of all, why wouldn't Verizon put 3G in their phone? It's almost abundant in most cities. Hell, rural Southern Illinois went live earlier this month. I live in a town of 3200 and we have EVDO. EVDO does not suck that much battery life. And 4 hours of usage as mentioned by erandall38, that would be talk time. Possibly a little less if browsing the web/VCAST, but more if you are using it as a music player or text messaging. Even picture taking. You have to take note that most of the time, the lowest amount of battery life mentioned in a review is usually the talk time.

The Voyager is as close to the iPhone as I will get unless AT&T decides to move off their chair and buy some spectrum up in my county. That said, I will not buy it. I will be getting the Pearl instead because it has the features I want.

Yes, I agree, Verizon had no reason to call it the iPhone Killer as they knew they couldn't compete at all. But for those who have only Verizon coverage or no AT&T coverage in the area (or are biased against them) this is a great alternative.

I know I'm going to be flamed, but honestly. Think different. That's what Apple did.

I agree with you 100%.Right on

[erandall38]

Originally Posted by zflauaus

Second of all, why wouldn't Verizon put 3G in their phone? It's almost abundant in most cities. Hell, rural Southern Illinois went live earlier this month. I live in a town of 3200 and we have EVDO. EVDO does not suck that much battery life. And 4 hours of usage as mentioned by erandall38, that would be talk time. Possibly a little less if browsing the web/VCAST, but more if you are using it as a music player or text messaging. Even picture taking. You have to take note that most of the time, the lowest amount of battery life mentioned in a review is usually the talk time.

Well the iPhone is stated as 8. So according to your model. It is 8 hours talk time (which is correct and expected.)
- The iPhone will get more if you are just using it as a music player... much much more
- EVDO might take up less than 3G but if with a battery that only holds 4 hours talk time you do not have much time to spare- and lots of people would be using 3G.
- keep in mind almost all phone providers state that their battery is one level but in real world situation its not.

The point of the thread is "Voyager, the iPhone killer". So really it is irrelevant what internet provider you are using... it comes no where close to killing the iPhone.
If you non-stop used the internet on the iPhone its battery would last longer than if you non-stop talked on the voyager....

[maestro55]

I am 100% open to competition in the market, but yes this phone is not going to kill the iPhone. Hopefully by March we will have the iPhone 2 and even if phones from other competitors start to look and feel more like the iPhone we all know the iPhone 2 is going to blow them out of the water.

[megfilmworks]

Thank you Verizon for insuring that many more customers will make the switch from a d-rated under designed mess to the iPhone.

[ImNoSuperMan]

Originally Posted by maestro55

I am 100% open to competition in the market, but yes this phone is not going to kill the iPhone. Hopefully by March we will have the iPhone 2 and even if phones from other competitors start to look and feel more like the iPhone we all know the iPhone 2 is going to blow them out of the water.

I wont really get my hopes up for iPhone 2. At most it`ll have 3G,GPS and more memory. Which are all nice but not really ground breaking. More of evolutionary than revolutionary like the current iPhone.