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LG Shine CU720 Reviews
27 Dec 2007
LG Shine Review
AT&T
LG had a smash hit when they came out with the Chocolate. To continue upon that success, another stylish line was released, the LG Shine. Unfortunately this happened only in European and Asian markets. A few months later, everyone here finally gets a chance to get their hands on the Shine as AT&T has added the handset to its lineup ...
- Good
- out of 10
1. Review LG Shine CU720
2 days ago by dhtroy
73.3%7.3out of 10
I just recently selected an LG Shine when I resigned with AT&T. I choose the phone in Black, as I'm not a huge fan of colored phones; plus, Black goes with everything and looks professional.
The phone feels very sturdy, and the mechanics used for the slide have a strong feel to them; hopefully it will last a good long while (my last phone lasted me 4 years).
I'm not crazy about the 'mirror' that's on the face of the phone, as it seems like it would scrach easily, so I plan on getting a stick on cover to protect it; frankly, I'd rather not have the mirror, but it wasn't an option.
A majority of the navigation through the system menus is performed with the inset 'joy stick' in the center of the phone. This is probably the one feature of this phone I almost cannot stand. It really takes some practice, to get the hang of pushing on navigation joystick just right, as I was initially selecting things I didn't intend to select, and was getting frustrated by it's design. While you can use the numeric keypad on the phone to choose the various menu items, it doesn't make this task any easier. I personally feel if they had made the 'head' of the navigation joystick smaller in size, it might make it easier to push it in the correct direction with a finger. But this isn't a 'deal breaker', just a learning curve.
The LCD screen is excellent. Bright and easy to read, with a large face to it, even with my poor eyesite, I have no problems reading the screen.
The buttons are somewhat difficult to press, since the numeric keyboard is flat. I find myself using my finger nail/tip to push them, so if you plan on doing any serious texting, this phone probably isn't for you; you'd be better off getting something with a keyboard with raised keys.
The charger port is covered by this little plastic insert, which itself, is attached to the phone. Almost immedately, I suspected that over a period of time, the cover might snap off. I'd rather wish they would have inset a sliding cover or the like, but it is what it is.
The phone's OS is easy to navigate, I fairly much had it figured out after an hour. While there is a favorite menu that you can customize, and assign your most commonly used functions, the Navigation Joystick has assigned functionality from the "main page" that, from what I have found, cannot be changed. In other words, when on the "main page", if you push the joystick up, you go into Text Message mode, Right, into IM mode, Left into My Stuff, and down displays Contacts; pushing it straight down, opens a browser. Frankly, I would rather have control over the assignment of that joystick, than a Fav. menu.
The Camera is good, don't know why people expect so much from a phone camera, after all, it is a PHONE and NOT a camera. It takes fairly clear pictures, but as others have indicated, both you and your subject need to be rather still, as the shutter speed is S-L-O-W. But again, it works. I've yet to copy them off the phone to a PC, so I cannot speak to the quality from that stand-point.
Video works fine too, but the resolution puts the video size on the smallish side, but again, it's a phone, not a video camera.
My biggest "complaint" about this phone is with AT&T: because the navigation joystick is so sensative, and because AT&T has peppered the menu system with all sorts of "internet related" options (i.e., Shop Tones, Shop Music, Shop this, Shop that, SHOP SHOP SHOP), if you don't have a data plan, you're going to find yourself accidently connecting at every turn, until you get used to the phone, and configure it the way you like. You cannot disable internet connectivity directly from the Phone, shame on you AT&T, you have to call AT&T and ask them to block internet for you. Again, shame on you AT&T, you and I both know it does NOT have to be that way ... you want to make it difficult for people to not use the internet, so we're forced into a data plan, and that's shameful. I should be able to configure connectivity from my phone directly, without having to drag your support techs into the configuration of my phone.
My personal opinion is that I like the phone overall, I hope that this one can last me 4 years like my last phone.
Feels sturdy and solid
Great LCD
Easy menu system
Has a camera that takes pictures/video
Overall a good phoneNavigation Joystick tricky to use and not customizable
Flat numeric keyboard not good for texting
Little plastic cover thingie for charger port is lame
AT&T customization of phone, does not allow you to disable internet connectivity directly from the phone
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2.
18 Nov 2008 by Anonymous
73.3%7.3out of 10
ive been reading reviews for the shine for several weeks and i finally purchased one recently. Overall the look is wonderful. i have the silver shine. The feeling is sturdy and comfortable. Some problems i didnt like was the ringtone. You can't customize the message alert tone, and you can only have certain file size for ringtones. something like under 300kb. The camera is a lil frustrating sometimes because of the steadiness. You have to have a steady hand to take pictures or else there will be blurness. The joystick is comfortable and doesnt require alot of pressure to navigate. Sometimes, there would be lags, where i select something and it takes a while to select it, but they only last a couple of seconds and the lags don't bother me. the multitasking option is convienent because i'm always texting someone and when i receive a message my task is put aside so i can come back to it. This also happens when ur doing other things. Also when recording a video, the screen minimizes. overall this phone looks really good, the performance works great for me. Ive only had it for a couple of days, so i don't know if it scratches a lot yest. Also, the so-called "mirror" is really good looking, but doesnt clearly work as a mirror. texting is average
Great looks, multitasking options, performance and organization, good navigationlags, not so great camera, minimal ringtone options
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3.
12 Nov 2008 by Anonymous
43.3%4.3out of 10
ide like this phone alot if it didnt screw up on everybody, there is a common issue with the shine, when you slide it closed, it will automatically shutdown. and it wont go through t poweroff stage, it will just boot off. and i missed alot of calls because of it. plus it isnt loud at all, and u cant text for shit on it. so beware, cuz im not the only one with the shutdown issue.
toughglitchy
not loud
bad for texting
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4.
17 Oct 2008 by Kasey
73.3%7.3out of 10
This phone is pretty good. I got my phone because I loved the way it looked. The camera is amazing. It takes pretty awesome pictures! I took it to a concert & it's clear as day. There are a few things I absolutely hate about this phone and one being how easily the screen gets scratched ;; two, how audio isn't played very loud. My friend has the razr 2 and his songs BLARE while mine are not even half as loud as his. Last, I hate how myspace mobile shows up on the phone. =\ When I go to reply to a message it doesn't send it to the wanted recipient. It sends it back to me. Also, you can only view your top friends, not all. That's sad.
The memory is great! The phone overall is pretty good. I give it a 7.
camera, memory, look, slide effect, ++ more.audio soundback, myspace mobile, & how easily scratched.
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5. i love this phone.!!!!!!
16 Oct 2008 by Anonymous
100%10out of 10
i don't know what you guys are complaining about. this phone has really everything. the texting is great. the only thing is u can't record ur own ringtone, but alll u have to do is send it to ur self in tect messaging and set it. its not that hard to get used to.!
everything.!! this phone is the best i have ever had and i have had a lot.!u can't directly record something and set it as a ringtone. but u just have to send it through text and it should work.!
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6. I Dont know why I got this LG Shine
11 Sep 2008 by Big Money P
50%5out of 10
I bought the Black Lg Shine and at first I was excited but the day I bought it I was not able to send text messages or surf the web. I was going to go back to the AT&T store the next day but I didnt cause after I restarted the phone it started to work just fine. but about a week ago I was at work and tried to call one of my workers but it kept on saying call ended over and over again. It wouldnt let me do a single call then I tried to text a friend and it said sevice not available. that day my phone did not work all day. then I put it to charge and it started to work again. and today my phone shows no bars and it says that I have no service and I have been paying my bills I actually have 2 phones under this plan and the other is working just fine except for the LG Shine.
Its a nice looking phone thats why I got it. It does have a lot of memory and is a good mp3 player. I also love the camera for taking picturesit never works I keep on getting dropped calls
I dont like how the screen is small when you record videos. and I cant zoom in while taking pictures, I can only zoom in when recording videos.
the screen scratches really easily. and you cant really use the mirror to look behing you, cause it looks warped basicly you can only look at your self if you look straight on.
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7. i like it
7 Sep 2008 by Anna
96.7%9.7out of 10
i have had mine for about two months. overall i think it is a very nice phone. the joystick is a little weird, but i got used to it. i wish it was more rubbery rather than metal because it kinda made my thumbs sore. the number shortcuts for the menus are an awesome alternative to using the joystick, though.
the mirror LCD is very durable! i throw it in my purse with my keys and the screen has absolutely NO scratches on it! it does grub up pretty easily but i just wipe it down with an LCD cleaning cloth and it looks shiny and new. the back of the phone, however, got scratched to heck from jewelry and from putting it into a pocket with a metal button. but that is my fault for not being careful with the phone. you can order a new back to replace the scratched one anyway.
the phone is nice and heavy. it feels way more sturdy than any other phone i've checked out. i like the flat number pad and all of the brushed metal all over it. i have the silver one. it looks way cool and it gets tons of attention. when i go out i look to see if anyone has a cooler looking phone than i do and i don't think anyone does. ha!
the OS is kinda slow. i don't like any of the ringtones, so i usually keep her on vibrate. i have yet to make my own. the color themes are pretty limited and i'm already sick of all of them. i can't seem to find any downloadable ones for this model. i like the convenience of the camera. it is pretty much what i expected for a camera phone, and i wouldn't compare it's quality to a digital camera.
one really annoying thing is that you can't move multiple pictures from the handset to the sd card, you have to do it one at a time. there is a multi select option, but that's only to delete them. that's annoying when you are trying to move over 200 pictures. i don't have the USB cable for it yet, so hopefully you can move bunches of them over with that.
i like the fact i can make my own backgrounds for it. it does come with a pretty good variety of solid background colors if you don't want to use a picture. the calendar looks cool if you want to display it but i think the analog clock looks kinda tacky.
if you are used to cell phones, this one is really easy to get used to using after a short time. i didn't think it was overpriced, although i did get a rebate that made it 50 bucks. if you have it, the 3G service is the BEST THING EVER. if you are looking for something really cool and different, if you like shiny things, and if you are tired of flimsy, plasticky feeling cell phones (and if you want to turn heads), get yourself an LG shine.
unique design
durable and sturdy
camera is easy to use
large variety of preset background colors
variety of clock/calendar displays
easy to use
works really great with 3G serviceOS kinda pokey
can't move multiple pictures to SD card
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8. shiny and nice decent for its price
24 Aug 2008 by Anonymous
70%7out of 10
my gf has this phone and it randomly shuts off on her but overall its a nice phone. must be a hardware defect.
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9. Dont be so negative,very nice phone
18 Aug 2008 by Jackie
86%8.6out of 10
This is a very good phone, I don't know why you all are complaining. I asked for this phone when the razr I had for two years finally couldn't work any longer. It's one of the best phones I've had. One of the review's before me said that they had trouble texting on this phone, you must not be a fast texter or you must not be determined to get sat, Because I've only had mine for about four days and I'm already very fast on it, try using word. This phone's features are awesome I think & The camera is very nice. The shine mirror effect is really sweet & useful. I really like this phone alot and I wouldn't trade it, The only thing I would change about it is the volume of the ringtone- It's not horrible like the other people sad it was, but it's not great. Other than that I couldn't ask for a better phone. The shine is a great phone & you wouldn't regret buying it unless you don't feal like getting used to a new way of texting, which really isn't hard like I already said. BUY THE SHINE!:] Mine's silverrrrrrrrr
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10. OoI3OIVII3oO
13 Aug 2008 by OoI3OIVII3oO
42%4.2out of 10
I think this phone is great for multi-tasking with the side button feature that allows you to go from one task to another without ending the first task. Other than that this phone is crap I like its camera but shutter speed is really slow. I think the Sony Ericsson Walkman w580i is a way better phone
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Average User Rating
Based on 32 opinions