Enjoy the holiday, stay safe out there, and see you all in the new year!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Happy Holidays from the Enterprise Bridge!
With the big day coming up tomorrow, I just wanted to wish all of you out there in cyberspace a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This is my final post for the year, so a huge thank you for dropping by and checking out my blog! If you like what you see here, please take a moment to share this site with your friends and help me build up that reader base :-)
Enjoy the holiday, stay safe out there, and see you all in the new year!
Enjoy the holiday, stay safe out there, and see you all in the new year!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
LG840G: a solid semi-smartphone from Tracfone Wireless
Looking for a solid, inexpensive phone, but don't want to deal with those pesky contracts? Tracfone has you covered.
Although the LG840G is far from being a new device, it's the latest in Tracfone's efforts to modernize their phone selection. A bit of a cross between a standard feature phone and a (very) low-end smart phone, the 840G packs some interesting features that puts it above all others in Tracfone's lineup. Like one YouTube reviewer put it, "this phone is the leading edge of the trailing edge of cell phone technology."
Although the LG840G is far from being a new device, it's the latest in Tracfone's efforts to modernize their phone selection. A bit of a cross between a standard feature phone and a (very) low-end smart phone, the 840G packs some interesting features that puts it above all others in Tracfone's lineup. Like one YouTube reviewer put it, "this phone is the leading edge of the trailing edge of cell phone technology."
Costing just under $20 USD reconditioned (or up to $60 USD new), the 840G features a 3.2-inch compacitive touchscreen, 3G/wi-fi connectivity, Bluetooth capability, a 2 GB micro-SD card, and triple minutes for life.
Update: at the time of this writing, the 840G was the best Tracfone had to offer. Very recently, they made available two full-fledged Android smartphones, the ZTE Valet ($99.99 USD) and the Samsung Galaxy Centura ($129.99 USD). Other newly-released smartphones, such as the LG Optimus, are only available through select online retailers such as QVC or HSN. I was wondering when Tracfone would start releasing 'real' phones -- I guess I have my answer...
Appearance & Build Quality
The 840G is definitely one of the more solid Tracfones I've used. It's somewhat heavier than the 800G, but only slightly larger in dimensions. In contrast to the 800G's rounded corners (which make the phone fit nicely in the hand), the 840G is much more rectangular with 'sharp' edges. The battery cover is made of a cheaper plastic and snaps (rather than slides) into place. Even so, after being locked into place, it doesn't at all feel flimsy and can't easily pop off.
There are only two physical buttons, the volume rocker switch (left side), and the power/lock button (top). A standard 3.5 mm headphone jack is also on the top of the phone, with the charging port on the bottom. The 840G really does look and feel like a small smartphone, and could easily pass for one at a distance.
The Screen
The compacitive touchscreen is light-years ahead of the resistive display on the 800G. It's much more responsive and can be used with a light touch. Considering the screen's low resolution, the display is bright, clear, and easy to read. The overall larger display allows for much easier use of the on-screen QWERTY keyboard, although people with big fingers may still have trouble.
The Camera
The 840G's camera is a fairly standard low-end camera phone, maxing out at 2 megapixels. It's not a great 2 megapixels at that, but it works fine as a backup or I-don't-have-a-real-camera camera. It doesn't appear to be as sensitive to movement as the 800G's camera is -- the 800G camera would constantly blur with the slightest movement. I've yet to test the phone's video capability.
Internet Connectivity
The 840G is the first Tracfone to come equipped with both 3G and wi-fi internet. This puts the 840G into the realm of 'semi-smartphone'. Is it a good web-surfing platform? Not really, but for the basics, it works fine.
Wi-fi access is totally free, but surfing at 3G speeds will quickly eat up your airtime. The included web browser is pretty basic and doesn't handle complex sites very well. This can be remedied by installing Opera Mini, a portable version of the Opera desktop web browser.
The phone also comes with an email client, but I haven't had any luck getting it to work properly. On the other hand, the generic social networking app seems to work fine for Facebook, and even allows for photo uploads. If that's not enough, the phone supports most Java-based apps.
Battery Life
Under light use, the phone will last about a a week before the battery dies. Beware that if wi-fi is turned on, the battery will drain in half that time. Also keep in mind that when the battery is low, the phone doesn't give much warning, so charging proactively is probably a good idea.
Operating System
Althouth the 840G looks like an Android smartphone, it runs a stock LG phone operating system, featuring three home screens (contacts, widgets, & app shortcuts) and an app tray. It's very similar to the one on the 800G, but with some marked improvements. Overall, the OS is very easy to navigate, especially for former 800G users. Even Android users will (more-or-less) feel right at home. Needless to say, it's not nearly as flashy as Android or iOS, but it's solid and functional.
Update: at the time of this writing, the 840G was the best Tracfone had to offer. Very recently, they made available two full-fledged Android smartphones, the ZTE Valet ($99.99 USD) and the Samsung Galaxy Centura ($129.99 USD). Other newly-released smartphones, such as the LG Optimus, are only available through select online retailers such as QVC or HSN. I was wondering when Tracfone would start releasing 'real' phones -- I guess I have my answer...
Appearance & Build Quality
The 840G is definitely one of the more solid Tracfones I've used. It's somewhat heavier than the 800G, but only slightly larger in dimensions. In contrast to the 800G's rounded corners (which make the phone fit nicely in the hand), the 840G is much more rectangular with 'sharp' edges. The battery cover is made of a cheaper plastic and snaps (rather than slides) into place. Even so, after being locked into place, it doesn't at all feel flimsy and can't easily pop off.
There are only two physical buttons, the volume rocker switch (left side), and the power/lock button (top). A standard 3.5 mm headphone jack is also on the top of the phone, with the charging port on the bottom. The 840G really does look and feel like a small smartphone, and could easily pass for one at a distance.
The Screen
The compacitive touchscreen is light-years ahead of the resistive display on the 800G. It's much more responsive and can be used with a light touch. Considering the screen's low resolution, the display is bright, clear, and easy to read. The overall larger display allows for much easier use of the on-screen QWERTY keyboard, although people with big fingers may still have trouble.
The Camera
The 840G's camera is a fairly standard low-end camera phone, maxing out at 2 megapixels. It's not a great 2 megapixels at that, but it works fine as a backup or I-don't-have-a-real-camera camera. It doesn't appear to be as sensitive to movement as the 800G's camera is -- the 800G camera would constantly blur with the slightest movement. I've yet to test the phone's video capability.
Internet Connectivity
The 840G is the first Tracfone to come equipped with both 3G and wi-fi internet. This puts the 840G into the realm of 'semi-smartphone'. Is it a good web-surfing platform? Not really, but for the basics, it works fine.
Wi-fi access is totally free, but surfing at 3G speeds will quickly eat up your airtime. The included web browser is pretty basic and doesn't handle complex sites very well. This can be remedied by installing Opera Mini, a portable version of the Opera desktop web browser.
The phone also comes with an email client, but I haven't had any luck getting it to work properly. On the other hand, the generic social networking app seems to work fine for Facebook, and even allows for photo uploads. If that's not enough, the phone supports most Java-based apps.
Battery Life
Under light use, the phone will last about a a week before the battery dies. Beware that if wi-fi is turned on, the battery will drain in half that time. Also keep in mind that when the battery is low, the phone doesn't give much warning, so charging proactively is probably a good idea.
Operating System
Althouth the 840G looks like an Android smartphone, it runs a stock LG phone operating system, featuring three home screens (contacts, widgets, & app shortcuts) and an app tray. It's very similar to the one on the 800G, but with some marked improvements. Overall, the OS is very easy to navigate, especially for former 800G users. Even Android users will (more-or-less) feel right at home. Needless to say, it's not nearly as flashy as Android or iOS, but it's solid and functional.
If you're looking for a cheap phone that does all the basics plus a few extras, check out the LG840G. It may not be cutting edge, but it's more than sufficient for any Tracfone user.
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