By 
The long wait is finally over. The LG VX9900 (aka LG enV), an upgrade to the popular VX9800, has finally arrived. Skatter Tech readers are in luck since Verizon Wireless was kind enough to send us a unit a few days before the launch. With a ton of new features, a new body, new interface, and a reasonable price tag, the phone has definitely met our expectations.
The phone looked quite big at first since we recently spent time reviewing the Motorola KRZR and LG VX8600, but according to the specs is actually much sleeker and shorter than the original “The V” phone. In terms of basic features, the LG enV (pronounced “envy”) features an impressive 2MP camera w/ flash, microSD expansion, stereo speakers, bluetooth, a full QWERTY keyboard, and standard V Cast Music/Video functions. This phone might just be Verizon’s “best phone of the year”.
LG VX9900 Specifications:
- Provider: Verizon Wireless (1.9GHz CMDA)
- Form Factor: Laptop-like w/ QWERTY keyboard
- Dimensions: 4.64H x 2.08W x 0.78D (inches)
- Weight / Battery: 4.6oz / 4hrs 30mins talktime
- Screens: External 128×160 & Internal 240×320
- Digital Camera: 2 megapixel camera and camcorder
- Storage: ~50MB internal + microSD (2GB max)
- Others: Bluetooth 1.2 + Stereo Speakerphone
- Price: $150 with a new 2-year contract
LG enV Body: 4/5 stars
Although the VX9900 is larger and very block-like compared to most flip phones, it’s still more compact than the VX9800. The phone can not be placed upright since all sides are rounded or even placed down on its back properly since the camera bulges out. The inside of the phone is designed quite well and everything is where it should be. The keyboard keys are backlit and spreadout. Overall the phone is a bit bulky for average users and isn’t the best looking phone, but size and looks can be thrown out considering the features it has packed inside.
Displays: 4.5/5 stars
The outside display (65K 128×160 px) is a way too small, but luckily the enlarged interface allows access to most required functions. The internal display (262K 240×320 px) is pretty bright and the colors are just stunning. It’s one of the best displays we’ve seen in a while.
Music Playback: 5/5 stars
The VX9900 support playback of unprotected MP3 and WMA files plus purchased V Cast Music. Music can be browsed by Artists, Albums, Genre, or Songs, similar to iPods. A neat addition is “Music Only Mode” which disables incoming/outgoing calls limiting the phone to just a Mp3 player to save battery life. Although the music player takes a few seconds to load, with the right setup music can be started in just 2 clicks.
Speakers: 4.5/5 stars
The enV has dual speakers for stereo surround, which makes music sound a whole lot better. Even when the volume is loud, the sound is still clear. The phone also utilizes the same speakers for calls, making it probably the best speaker phone we’ve used. The only downside is that, since the speakers are on the inside, they only sound good when the phone is open.
Digital Camera: 5/5 stars
The enV features a 2 megapixel camera which can snap shots up to 1600×1200 px. The images are bright, clear, and crisp, which is pretty good for a camera phone. (click to enlarge sample) The camcorder can record up to 1 hour clips at 320×240 px, but only 15 second clips can be mailed. Photos can be taken with the phone closed and held sideways like a traditional camera, but can also be taken using the larger internal display when open. Since the cam is on the back, the outside display turns on for self-portraits when flipped open. Other than that the phone also has a mechanical lens cover, flash, night shot, self-timer, and some extra effects.
Interface: 5/5 stars
We have to congratulate VZW for finally giving the interface a huge make over. The ugly red bars and menus are gone! The new “communicator” style has a new layour, soothing blue colors, and some animated items. However the important internal menus are still organized the same way as regular VZW phones. Some items in the main menu seem misplaced, but it isn’t a big issue. VZW has also included another style which is very similar to the classic theme, but with new icons/colors.
MicroSD: 4/5 stars
Music can be transfered to the phone using the “Sync” feature, however we were unable to do so since Verizon hasn’t released the USB cables or drivers yet. (check back for that) We instead directly copied the music onto the microSD card using an extra card reader/writer. Card access is easy, it is right under a flap on the right-side. Update: We got our Music Essentials Kit, but there are still some bugs. When syncing with Windows Media Player 11, the software keeps detecting the phone as a new device each time it’s plugged in. (auto-sync won’t work) We were also unable to get the Album Art to display on the phone, which worked perfectly with the KRZR. Card Reader/Writer Users: Format the card in your phone first. Folders for music, flix, and pics will be created. Finally just place the proper files into the correct folders.
Bluetooth: 5/5 stars
The Bluetooth (v1.2) on the enV now supports many new profiles, which include: headset (mono), hands free (ex. car), data modem, stereo speakers, image printing, contact cards, file transfer, and wireless keyboard. Supports saving up to 20 different device “pairings”.
Overall we would recommend this phone for people who take a lot of photos, heavy email users, music listeners, and “computer geeks”. If you usually only use your phone for making calls I’d suggest finding a smaller phone, which you will definitely appreciate more. If you do plan to get it, it will be available in stores and online starting Monday, November 27, 2006. If you are a current Verizon customer and are eligible for the every two year upgrade, the phone can be yours for as low as $50 + tax. However it will cost new customers signing up for a 2 year contract $150. New customers can get the phone for FREE after a Mail in Rebate online. (link below) For the features this phone has its an extremely good deal.
DEAL ALERT: FREE LG enV w/ New Plan (via Amazon)
Links: Verizon Wireless – LG VX9900
Related: LG VX9900 Data Sheet (.pdf)
Recent Reviews: Motorola KRZR Review
Does anybody know how to make the notes longer? I type really long notes and I always get out of space messages.
thanks,
los
after converting music video file to 3g2 and loading the files to my memory card why does my Env not see the files?
MY SCREENSAVER OPTIONS DO NOT WORK ON MY NEW GREEN LG_ENVY. Am I doing something wrong in my settings or is this a common problem amongst users? can someone tell me how to get this function working on my phone? everything else works fine, so i doubt i have a defective lemon….but then again, who knows??
Mine only comes on when I have my Orange plugged in. I think it has something to do with the power save function.
earlier papa 54 and Paul Cotter said something about opening the 9800 with the 000000 service code and turning on the MP3 setting…does this work on the 9900. i put in the 000000 and went to audio settings in the service menu, but it has nothing about MP3’s…seems odd to me because i saw it on the old 8100 and the 9800…anyone know a way to turn that feature on if it exists?
[Comment ID #35402 Will Be Quoted Here]
ok open the 9900 up.. lay it down and go to the get it now icon.. and press the zero button (0).. then enter the zero’s in place of the ? marks… you are wide open and i would not change the pass word an ) is easier to remember.. now get the free “BitPim” program online… connect the cpu to the PH with a usb connection.. flip on bit pim and change about anything you want to.. including any MP3 you like..no matter how long it is… i converted the whole MPs although it wont play it all as a ringer but will play it all when i wanna play that song…easy as pie..
I just got the enV and I’m wondering if there is a way to turn music into a ringtone using the SD card. I’ve figured out how to get music from my computer to the phone, but can I then turn the music that is on my phone into a ringtone? I can’t seem to figure out how to save anything onto the card as a sound so that I can text it to myself. I don’t have the software to sync my phone to my computer either, just the card and a card reader.
[Comment ID #38734 Will Be Quoted Here]
is the screensaver supposed to only be “active” when your phone is charging and plugged in? it just doesnt seem right that the phone’s screen automatically goes “black” and perhaps into power save mode after your backlight goes out. all of my other phones always stood on to at least show the date/time. is anyone else annoyed with this odd function on the lg-env? or is it just me? has anyone figured out a way to actually keep the screensaver on the way its supposed to work? if so, please post a comment….thank you kindly ;-)!
The screensaver thingie used to annoy me too. But I just hit the ‘OK’ button (twice if the Keyguard is on) to see the time. Once I got used to it I actually preferred that.
Ok, love my enV first off, but im on my replacement phone. My first one stopped charging on me, at first i had to hold it in and then sooner than later it just broke. I got a refurbished one and now that one is having the exact same problem. Anyone else having this same problem?
I’ve taken a ton of pictures with my enV that saved to my SD card. But I can’t figure out how to transfer them to my PC. I have BitPim and use that for all of my ringtone stuff… but I can’t figure out how to get the pictures to upload from my SD card. Suggestions?
I’ve had this phone since February 2006, just in the past month it’s started shutting off as well. Not sure who to call or what to do about it. I loved the phone until this started happening :(
Ok, nobody is probably going to answer this, but ok. I hope someone does.
1. Screensavor? What is up with that? how does it work?
2.Can you make a recorded sound into a ringtone? If so, how?
3. Antena? Is there one, or no?
OK thank you. PLEASE ANSWER!! thankyou =]
email me @ mgqt94@aol.com
thanks again !
Does anyone know if you can send a ringtone via bluetooth with verizon (envy)? if so how to? Thanks
how do u get speakerphone? because even though i open the phone, the speakers aren’t much louder…
Jeannie – You have to hit the speaker button on the lower right corner. This got me the first time I tried to use mine, too!
wow…i didn’t even notice. thank you so much nxzemagrl!! =]
[Comment ID #39932 Will Be Quoted Here]
You cannot set music as ringtones….wish you could but you cant….. sorry
[Comment ID #8929 Will Be Quoted Here]
Wats uo gangsta????the way to set ringtones from your sounds is sending them via picture message…..go to options and then you can set the sound as a ringtone
you’re welcome, jeannie. glad i could help!
[Comment ID #40078 Will Be Quoted Here]
Actually, you CAN set an entire song as a ringtone if you have an SD card with the memory to hold it. Download BitPim. When you’ve got your phone connected (with the USB Data cable for your phone) to the program, you will see an icon on the top of the window that shows a music note with a + on it. Click that, find your song, convert it, click ok. It will convert the song for you and save it in your ringers in the program. Then you need to “Send Data to Phone”. After this is complete, open your phone and view your ring tones, it will be there. If my directions don’t make sense, just download BitPim and view their “How To” section.
I know it works. I have Upgrade U (the entire song) as the ringtone for my sister, You’re the World to Me as the ringtone for my husband (the entire song) and I ripped a section of the Kill Bill Theme for everyone else.
It does work. You need an SD Card, the cable and BitPim.
[Comment ID #38423 Will Be Quoted Here]
listen up,,everyone,,,,there is a free Program called “Bitpim” it is easily found and DL’ed.. it will place a mp3 in yer phone as a ringer.. the whole song ..but the env only gives about45 seconds and then it goes to voice mail…but the entire song can be heard if you want to.. theres options to move other parts of info as well.. i am not a gamer, so i did not try to load any.. i will tell you this.. in southeast tn they called the envy9900 the new kid on the block… and after i bought 1, i found they had been out since 2006.. so my next will be new if i have to order it from california.
and yes the hole for power and usb does get wallered out.. hows that for southern..
There have been a lot of questions about ringtones. Goto http://www.bitpim.org/ and download the program; you will need a data cable or computer bluetooth usb device.
1) Open Bitpim; it should automatically connect to your phone.
2) Click View, View Filesystem. Be careful in here because changing/deleting files could mess up your phone!
3) In the directory window expand to the folder brew/16452/lk/mr
4) Right click in the white space under name, and click new file.
5) Select an mp3 file and it will be uploaded (other file types may work too, but I am not sure).
6) Right click and click Reboot Phone; or turn it off and on yourself and your ringtone will show up
Note that you may want to cut the mp3 file down to a 20-30 second clip instead of putting an entire song in the ringtone folder.
As for saving your own sounds as ringtones…Recorded sounds are saved in the brew/16542/ms folder. Select your saved sound, right click and save it to your computer. From there you can follow the previous steps to set it as a ringtone
I want to upgrade to a new phone and i was thinking about the enV but I was wondering if they are going to make a new enV and if anyone knows, please let me know the release date.