LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player Review & Ratings
Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player. Check out the link below:
LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player Review
The LG VX8300 is the latest offering in the market for do-(almost)-it-all cell phones. It combines all of the standard phone functionality with music and video playback and phone, making it a media powerhouse considering that it's such a portable, affordable package. The next step up would be a smartphone, but at significant extra cost for the addition of more well-rounded PDA functions.THE PHONE
The first thing you'll notice about the 8300 is that it's a great-looking piece of tech - stylish and modern yet also subdued enough that it won't embarrass you in business settings. Some pictures make it look black, but it is actually a deep metallic pewter color. It's roughly the same size (3.5 x 1.9 x 0.9) as LG's other recent clamshell phones, although a little slimmer for easier pocketing. It feels solid but not heavy at 3.9 oz with the standard battery. The plastic case feels softer than prior models, so it may be more susceptible to scratches and scrapes over time. There is a leather case for it, but I doubt you could bear the idea of covering up this good-looking unit.
The 8300 runs on Verizon's CDMA all-digital network, so coverage may be an issue if you live in rural areas. I've been a Verizon customer for years with LG digitals and never run into any dead spots around town and while traveling, but check Verizon's coverage maps on their website beforehand.
Voice clarity is superb, both for you and for the person you're calling. The 8300 has speakerphone capability, but amplified through the external audio speakers, it tends to be so loud that it may distort - set your volume appropriately low.
The phone has a wide array of conveniences, including numerous handy voice-activated commands (send messages, check voice mail, look up contact, examine wireless account, etc.), one-touch calling, unique rings and photo IDs for different contacts, an address book with room for 500 contacts, and so on. I'm a huge proponent of the voice-activated commands, and while the 8300 is very easy to set up, the long-term downside is that instead of matching up your command with your own prerecorded voice as prior models did, this phone tries to actually phonetically "read" entries from your contacts list and find a match that way. So, if you have unusually-spelled names with silent letters in your contacts list, the 8300 will have a tough time making a match. Plus, when it repeats the name back to you, it generally mangles the pronunciation, making that form of caller ID undesirable. It's too bad that the contacts list doesn't have a separate "nickname" field so that you could accurately store the contact as say, "Mike Krzyzewski" but have the voice-activated commands look the entry up as "Coach", for example.
If you're obsessive about ringtones, then you'll be disappointed with the default offerings. They play back with great quality, but they're pretty boring. Verizon clearly wants you to go to their GetItNow service to purchase the latest and flashiest ringtones. It's not documented in the manual, but it is possible to use MP3s loaded into the phone as ringtones.
The phone supports Bluetooth v.1.1, which makes it easily compatible with many wireless devices like headsets/earpieces. You can also use this to wirelessly transmit and receive contact information with other Bluetooth devices.
THE CAMERA
I bought my first digital camera about five years ago - a 1.3 megapixel Olympus for about $350. Now, for a fraction of the price and space, the 8300 delivers that same picture quality. It's also got additional features that make the results actually worth viewing/printing, including flash, white balancing for a variety of lighting conditions (no more washed out or oddly-tinted phone pics), a four-position digital zoom, and night mode. There are also some capabilities for having fun with your photos such as special effects (negative, posterize, etc.), self-portrait capability using the external screen as a viewfinder, and a timer. You can take pictures from 160x120 thumbnails all the way up to print-quality 1280x960.
The camera can also take videos, although the quality is predictably choppy and the largest clip that can be sent via email is only 15 seconds. Like any of the phone's media, larger clips can be stored to the phone's internal memory or onto an optional microSD card and then copied to another device or PC.
Photos taken can be used as contact IDs or wallpaper on either the external or main screen. Both screens are breathtaking in their brightness, clarity and resolution. They never fail to register the initial jaw-dropping compliment when someone sees the phone for the first time.
MUSIC PLAYER
You can't really say MP3 player because the 8300 wants to only play files in Microsoft's .wma format. This is because Verizon wants you to use their VCast online music store. I purchased the Music Essential Pack with my phone and was sorely disappointed in this - the VCast software wouldn't load (it kept trying to roll me back to Windows Media Player 10 even though I'm on 11), the USB cable kept losing connection (crummy driver software), and the headphones were just so-so. I recommend instead investing in a big MicroSD card and using it to store and transfer all of your music, photos and videos. This is clearly the easiest way to load information back and forth between the phone, although Verizon won't tell you that since it cuts their overpriced music store out of the loop. And if you do prefer MP3s for playback, the 8300 may not be configured out of the box to play them, but it's a simple change to make - just search the web for instructions.
The sound for playback is very good, again considering that it's not a dedicated music device. The external stereo speakers are on either side of the clamshell hinge and they pump out a lot of sound for their size. The 8300 has a very good ergonomic feature in the form of player control buttons (play/pause, fast forward, rewind) on the outside face of the phone. So, you can keep it in the palm of your hand rather than flipped open while listening.
BUSINESS/PRODUCTIVITY
The 8300 comes with the standard roster of business apps dumbed down for cell phone usage: calendar, world clock, calculator with tip macros, etc. At this time, I haven't found an easy way to sync data back and forth with any desktop apps like Outlook or Notes. There are open source apps on the Web like Bitpim that can do this, but the 8300 is currently too new for that software to handle. That gap should be remedied soon.
Verizon offers wireless broadband via an EV-DO network that includes most major metropolitan areas and airports.
One exceptional add-on that Verizon offers is VZ Navigator, which turns the 8300 into a GPS-driven navigation device. You can purchase the add-on either monthly if you do a lot of traveling by car or even day-to-day if you're just taking a short trip. It works well, looks great, and really boosts the usefulness of this unit.
CONCLUSION
The LG VX8300 combines a great phone, a camera that's actually useful and some pretty cool media capabilities into one compact unit. There are of course some trade-offs for each, but the convenience of only having to carry one slim item in your pocket is invaluable. It really is a marvel for the price. PROS
* A very clear phone with many convenient features like voice-activated commands.
* A 1.3 megapixel camera capable of taking pictures you'd actually have printed thanks to 1280x960 resolution, flash, and color effects.
* A good-sounding music player that, when combined with your own library on an optional microSD card, puts hours of entertainment in your pocket.
* Bluetooth capability for wireless add-ons and communication with other devices. CONS
* Incompatible with existing accessories - get ready to buy new chargers, sync cables, etc.
* VCast music store is overpriced and not easy to set up (just get a microSD card and use it to store/transfer media instead - no problem).
* Initial selection of ringtones is pretty dull - another attempt by Verizon to squeeze extra charges out of you.
* Some of the external buttons are awkwardly sized and/or placed - people with larger hands may cramp up after prolonged periods of use.
LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player Overview
Get ready for the power of Verizon's exciting V Cast service, which allows you to download or stream full motion video and 3D games, all on your handset. A service like that requires some horsepower, and luckily, the LG VX8300 is up for the task. And that includes support for Verizon Wireless' exciting music service, which lets you discover and jam out to tunes wherever you roam.This upgrade to the popular VX8100 adds a thinner and lighter profile, much longer battery life, and support for stereo Bluetooth headsets and microSD memory cards instead of miniSD. As with the VX8100, the VX8300 features a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture and dual color displays. All this makes the VX8300 the perfect companion in a new era of high-speed wireless content.
Design The VX8300 features a traditional clamshell design with a very large 176 x 220 color display and support for a whopping 262,000 colors-- plenty of room for V Cast content. As mentioned, memory is expandable via a MicroSD slot. A generous, full-color 96 x 96 OLED supplementary display on the outside of the cover displays incoming call information, battery life, signal strength, graphics, photos and more. Music playback control keys are also located on the front cover. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad. The VX8300 also features a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets and up/down keys are located on the left side of the unit. The 1.3 megapixel camera unit is housed on the rear of the unit. USB data connectivity is available via an adapter cable that plugs into the bottom of the phone.
Calling Features The VX8300's built-in address book can store up to 500 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. Meanwhile, a speed dialing feature allows you to dial up to 99 numbers virtually instantaneously. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones plus a vibrating alert. More ringtones can be downloaded via Verizon's Get It Now service. Ringtones can be assigned to specific callers so you don't have to look at the phone to know who's calling, or you can match pictures with callers to identify them. The VX8300's voice recognition software supports voice commands from any user, not just a pre-programmed user's voice. Lastly, the VX8300's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.
Messaging, Internet and Tools With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the VX8300 is fully compatible with Verizon's V Cast service. With V Cast, you can download and stream high-quality video. Need news and weather? Get the latest Accuweather forecast delivered right to your handset, or stream CNN news headlines. ESPN sports updates, entertainment news from E!, and even Sesame Street content for the kids, are all available. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games. Have more fun with a new breed of realistic games.
With support for sending and receiving text, picture and video messages, the VX8300 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging, too. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the VX8300. Verizon's Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the VX8300. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.
Verizon's music service is another EV-DO-powered service that makes the VX8300 all the more desirable. With V Cast Music, your phone is a music player, letting you jam out wherever you are. It's also a music store, and you can download songs instantly to your phone wirelessly. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you. You can even pause to take a call without missing a beat.
The VX8300 ships with a number of handy tools including a calendar and a voice memo application. An alarm clock and calculator are also included. Use the VX8300's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth headset accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. And don't forget that you can take advantage of the VX8300's support for Bluetooth stereo headsets.
Imaging and Entertainment While the VX8300 is a great platform for watching V Cast video content, it can also capture video that can be shared with your friends and associates via video messaging. The video unit records in MPEG4 format and can capture clips up to 15 seconds in length. Of course, you can also use the camera to capture still pictures, too. In addition to megapixel resolution (1280 x 960), the camera features an LED flash, macro and night modes, a self-timer, and brightness and white balance controls.
The VX8300 supports V Cast 3D games, as well as other 2D-based games, which are available from Verizon's Get It Now service. You can also customize the phone's wallpapers and screensavers to give your phone a look that suits your style.
EV-DO Wireless Broadband Coverage Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.
Vital Statistics The LG VX8300 weighs 3.88 ounces and measures 3.58 x 1.93 x .92 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 230 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 380 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
Note: The VX8300 supports Bluetooth Profiles for Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking and Object Push for vCard. It does not support Bluetooth object transfer (OBEX) profiles.
Want to learn more information about LG VX8300 Verizon Video Bluetooth Vcase Mp3 player?
>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
