LG Dare Review
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Text messaging | Mobile IM/Email |
There is the option of downloading a program called Mobile Email so that you can connect with your own personal E-Mail accounts while on the go. However, unlike smartphones that automatically check for new messages every few minutes and push them to the phone, this program must be run manually to check for new messages. It comes preloaded with the ability to connect to Yahoo Mail, Windows Live Mail, AOL, AIM, and Verizon.net, but you can also manually configure it to connect to any other E-Mail account through means of POP or IMAP. We were able to access all of our E-Mail accounts without any problem, and could send messages through the account server. When viewing a new message, you can choose not delete it from the server, so that you can download it later when you are connected using a PC. Even though this application is not as feature-rich as Windows Mobile Outlook, it does a fairly good job for showing plain-text E-Mails. However, it cannot open attachments or properly render HTML messages, which is a disappointment. Regardless of the limitations, the application is still worth the $5/month access fee.
For people who like to use Instant Messaging, the Dare also comes preinstalled with Mobile IM, which will connect you to AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo. After signing in, you can send and receive IMs, but it is basically glorified text messaging to people on your buddy list and will count on your calling plan the same as using text messages.
Connectivity and Data:
The Dare is a dual band all-digital device that operates on the 800MHz and 1900MHz CDMA Verizon Wireless network. Non-voice data, such as Web and E-mail, are transmitted using Verizon’s updated 3G EVDO Rev A network, which is said to have download speeds between 600-1400kbps and uploads between 500-800kbps. However, this can vary during the time of day and the amount of network congestion. We tested the Dare at different times downloading a 1MB file from DSLReports.com. On average we got between 400-600kbps, but on occasion would see from 900-1300kbps. While roaming, the phone is backwards compatible to the slower EVDO Rev 0 and 1X networks.
Bluetooth version 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate) is supported and allows up to 20 pairings. Supported profiles include: headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo (A2DP/AVRC), phone book access, basic printing, object push, file transfer, basic imaging, and human interface device. We experienced some problems while using the auto-pair feature with our Motorola S9 and HT820 stereo headsets, where they would become disconnected after music would begin playback. As a workaround, we turned off the auto-pair and reconnected to the headset. We were able to get up to 45 feet of music playback on our headsets without any interference, but when used for calls with our Jabra 250v, we only got up to 30 feet since it only supports Bluetooth 1.1.
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The time required for the browser to completely load graphically rich sites, such as PhoneArena.com, is 22 seconds, which is noticeably quicker than the 50 seconds required by the Voyager and Glyde. We’re sure that this is due to the device supporting the faster EVDO Rev A. More simplistic sites, such as Google, only took 3 seconds to load. Overall, the browser is the fastest that we’ve seen on a non-smartphone from Verizon.
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Computer Sync:
Detaching the USB cable from the wall plug allows you to use it for connecting the Dare to a PC. When going into the settings & tools menu, there is an option for USB Auto Detection (Sync Music, Sync Data, Ask on Plug). When selecting “Ask on Plug”, each time your PC is connected to the device, the phone’s screen will ask if you want to sync music or data. If you select “Sync Music” you can use Windows Media Player, Real Player, or Verizon’s VCast music manager with Rhapsody to transfer music files to and from the phone’s internal memory or microSD card. However, if you select “Sync Data” then go to Tools and USB Mass Storage, the microSD card is shown as a Removable Storage device connected to your PC, where you can copy pictures, videos and music files. This is by far the easiest method of transferring files, as it eliminates the need of having an external card reader.
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154 Comments
1. ChocolateGirl (unregistered) posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
No mention of the touchscreen's subpar performance? It is unresponsive at times, which especially makes messaging cumbersome. When using it I will touch the screen and it will vibrate and make a sound, but the action won't be taken. It only happens 10% of the time, but it is enough to frustrate you. My sister has the Venus and her touchpad does the same thing, which leads me to believe there is an underlying issue with LG's touch technology. Its annoying when navigating the menus, but it is utterly infuriating when trying to type messages and keypresses are missed despite feedback being given! Even if everything else was perfect (which it is not...very good, but not perfect), with the touchscreen issues alone I could not give this phone more than an 8/10. This phone is going back, I may have to give the Instinct a try or break down for the iPhone 3G.
3. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 12:47 0 0
Hold your touch for another 0.5 second, it will help.
8. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 14:39 0 0
0.5s doesnt sound like much, but i doubt my fingers are on the keyboard for even 0.25s when typing. a minimum threefold decrease in efficiency to make the screen work as it should is unacceptable. try the instinct, itll accurately keep up with even the fastest typers
10. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 15:57 0 0
im curious to see how this touch screen responds in person. very few people have complained about its responsiveness but im sure ill become one of them based on how picky i am. i think it just takes some getting used to before you should return the device. i know people that hated the iphone when they first got it and now they cant put it down (i mention that b/c i think the iphone has a great touch screen response). the learning curve should kick in soon and you'll be typing fast again. if not...just return it, buy a real qwerty phone, and wait until technology catches up so that touch screens are more bearable.
16. atakid (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 18:18 0 0
have you ever considered the fact that you may have a deffective handset? if it something like what you descrided were to occur, sites like these would tell you about them.
26. (unregistered) posted on 04 Jul 2008, 09:00 0 0
I also calibrated mine with a stylus and have had none of the touchscreen problems described by Chocolategirl... i've texted my face off, set up mobile e-mail and surfed the net alot and have had touch problems less than 1% of the time, and those extremly rare issues only happened for the first day or so as i was getting used to my first touch screen phone...glad she managed to get that I-Phone plug in though, wouldn't be a good thread around here without it also, when the reviewer mentioned his dissapointment that Mobile e-mail didn't offer Corporate capabilities he apparrently didn't browse the phone applications for "remote Sync" which allows you to recieve corp e-mail on the Dare
51. ata_isbankrupt (unregistered) posted on 08 Jul 2008, 14:41 0 0
atakid, you have deffective spelling. by what you've descrided, i think you meant "defective" and "described". and yes i spelled them wrong the first time on purpose and for clarification.
63. jd (unregistered) posted on 10 Jul 2008, 19:14 0 0
I'm interested in getting the Dare. I've heard that it's a good thing to calibrate it with a stylus for better touchscreen accuracy...but do you HAVE to use it with a stylus or can you still use your finger or thumb and get accurate results? Thanks!
67. (unregistered) posted on 11 Jul 2008, 22:38 0 0
it's nice, responsive but the signal is not as good
68. (unregistered) posted on 11 Jul 2008, 22:39 0 0
calibrateif u want to work right for your finger
96. (unregistered) posted on 19 Jul 2008, 04:29 0 0
yea you can still use your finger cause i do and i love my new dare and i dont kno why so many people are haveing problems with it but it is a GREAT phone to have
133. (unregistered) posted on 17 Aug 2008, 16:24 0 0
Yeah, if it vibrated like it registered the touch but nothing showed up, that means you missed the button. Trust me, I've tested the hell out of that theory. If you hit the button on the side of the key, chances are as your finger pulls up, the last past that gets registered is an area outside of the button. Therefore, it acknowledges that you touched the screen, but since at the last moment you finger was no longer in the button, it do do what you though it would. This can vary a lot depending on your calibration. So try recalibrating and test it again.
151. vaan144 posted on 20 Sep 2009, 18:27 0 0
you can press for any amount of time, just hard enough and in the right spot. sometimes my callibration is off so touching the screen misses the icon and i just get haptic feedback.
2. Mr LaZy (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 12:44 0 0
Does this phone have the ability to turn off Vibrate on touch like the Voyager? I wouldn't see a problem with the touchvibe and no response if I turned it off. You'd never notice anything except the fact that you have to touch it again.
6. XxTNTxX posted on 03 Jul 2008, 13:31 0 0
yes you can turn off the haptic feedback on the Dare
152. vaan144 posted on 20 Sep 2009, 18:31 0 0
yes it is you can turn off the feedback or turn it to a different level of vibration or even type of vibration. so yes, you definetly can turn it off...
4. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 12:55 0 0
this faired better then i thought, but people will always complain about the touch technology in phones, there getting better but they wont be perfect for some time, not to mention this isnt a smartphone so it isnt going to have that awesome touch tech seen on smartphones...bet in like a year or 2 the touch screens will be near perfect
5. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 13:28 0 0
the iphone is perfect, and the instinct is damn close. the dare doesnt compare to them
13. (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2008, 17:12 0 0
having a heat sensitive touch screen does not depend on the phone beinng a smartphone or not. Most smartphones have almost dont even have heat sensitive touch. If LG probably can put it in but I think they are too sprung on the haptic feedack thing. The original chcolate was heat sensitive, and it wasn't a smartphone. I know that they are two different types of technology but I don't think that heat sensitive touch screen and heat sensitive keypad are too far off from each other.
