- Lightweight multimedia powerhouse in black with new Trace Motion Light navigation wheel
- Supports both WMA and MP3 music formats for more versitility in music listening; Bluetooth stereo headset support
- Expandable memory slot compatible with optional 4 GB microSD memory card for storage of up to 2000 songs
- 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom; video capture up to 1 hour
- Up to 250 minutes of talk time, up to 350 hours of standby time
Product Description
Now slimmer and lighter than ever, the Chocolate by LG comes in three new sumptuous colors to satisfy the most sophisticated palette. Of course, you’ll still be addicted to the silky-smooth design and high-end media capabilities. But you’ll also enjoy indulging in a few new treats like the touch keypad with vibration feedback and an improved navigation wheel with trace motion light. The Chocolate. Now sweeter than ever.Amazon.com Product Description
Slimmer, lighter and sweeter than ever, LG updates its Chocolate slider phone to the VX8550 with improvements including a new metal navigation wheel (which traces your finger’s movement with a small light), vibrating touch keypad, and the ability to run the music player in the background while using the other features of the phone. But many of the much vaunted features of the original Chocolate remain: silky-smooth slider design support for V Cast Music, an integrated music/video player, a 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder, stereo Bluetooth capabilities, and a microSD memory slot for up to 4 GB of storage. In addition to Verizon’s V Cast Music feature, this phone is also enabled with the Get It Now service, which allows you to easily download ringtones, games, and applications. It runs on Verizon’s CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies and EV-DO high-speed data network. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)
Imaging and Entertainment
The LG VX8550 Chocolate comes in three delicious colors and features advanced music playback features–including the ability to play in the background while accessing other phone features. |
The Chocolate’s is a 1.3-megapixel digital camera features a flash, as well as 2x digital zoom, self-timer, night-mode functions, and brightness and white balance controls. Other features include an in-phone image editor (zoom, rotate, crop) and a mirror for self-portrait capability. The camera can also capture video clips–30 seconds for sending and up to 1 hour for saving to memory card–at a 176 x 144-pixel resolution. It’s compatible with playing MP3, 3GP, and 3G2 video formats, and you can set a video as your screen’s wallpaper (as long as it’s under 5 MB in size).
A built-in music player with a dedicated music key for easy access, stereo speakers and an equalizer, MP3 and WMA playback, and the ability to hide the music player while still allowing the music to play on in the background. You can create and manage playlists right on the phone, as well as synchronize music between the Chocolate and your PC (using an optional USB cable and connecting with Windows Media Player 10 or higher). You can also take advantage of the Chocolate’s Bluetooth wireless headset capability, allowing you to hook up a pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones.
Design
The phone features a seriously attractive open-faced design with an internal antenna and a vibrant 240 x 320 pixel, 262,000-color TFT/TFD display. A touch sensor click wheel, similar to iPod, and sliding design set the phone apart stylistically. Opening the slider reveals a numeric keypad, as well as the 1.3-megapixel camera and LED flash, which are housed on the rear of the phone. The new navigation wheel with Trace Motion Light allows for easy navigation through phone functions, as well as quick and simple functionality while browsing music and videos. The touch keypad provides an improved feel for quicker input.
Calling Features
The Chocolate boasts powerful calling functions, such as speaker independent voice dialing, which makes it easy to call contacts by simply saying their names. No prior voice training is required and you can even speak individual digits to the phone for quick dialing of numbers you know by heart. And because the Chocolate is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation. You can save up to 20 Bluetooth pairings, and it supports the following Bluetooth profiles: headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, advanced audio distribution, phone book access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar (accessories sold separately), file transfer, and basic imaging.
The Chocolate’s internal memory can hold up to 1000 contacts for quick access to email addresses and phone numbers. Each contact can store up to five numbers and two email addresses. The phone lets you easily assign pictures as well as ringtones to your most common callers. In addition to vibrating alerts, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, and a number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Verizon’s Get It Now service. Lastly, the Chocolate’s GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools
With Verizon’s Mobile Email option, the LG Chocolate allows you to send and receive emails from MSN, Hotmail, and America Online, as well as access your address book and be alerted to new email. |
The phone’s support for multimedia messaging means that text, photos, video and audio can be sent with ease (Verizon messaging charges apply). When used in combination with the Chocolate’s built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. There’s also a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing. Verizon’s optional Mobile Web 2.0 package allows you to read and send emails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your email, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. 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.
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the Chocolate is fully compatible with Verizon’s V Cast service. 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. 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. You can also download and stream high-quality video–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. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games, making it possible to have more fun with a new breed of realistic games.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the Chocolate including a voice memo recorder that can record calls, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. You can even set the alarm to wake you to your favorite music. Also included with the Chocolate is Verizon’s VG Navigator software, which allows you to get real-time, turn-by-turn audible directions as you’re driving.
Vital Statistics
The LG VX8550 Chocolate weighs 3.24 ounces and measures 3.85 x 1.87 x .67 inches. Its l800 mAh ithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.17 hours (250 minutes) of digital talk time, and up to 350 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty.
LG Chocolate VX8550 Phone, Black
I have been tempted so many times to throw this phone across the room. The touch controls are so sensitive that you cannot even pick up the phone without inadvertently triggering a menu choice. The worst is when you are prompted to respond to menu choices (by the party you have reached) by pressing 3 or whatever, and the phone thinks you are trying to speed dial someone else. For months before I had thru trial and error found the optimal answer/hangup setting, the phone would hang up on my caller instead of answering when I used the slide up feature. I bought the phone for the music player feature. But it does not work well with Mac, and that was not revealed either. This is the only LG product I have absolutely hated.
Rating: 1 / 5
The Good:
– Very multifunctional phone. Serves as my phone, camera, and MP3 player.
– The MP3 player software will convert .mp3, .wav, and iTunes music and podcast for use on the phone. Very nice.
– The controls are not for the novice but after a couple of days they are easy to master.
– Speaker phone and voice commands work well.
– Sleek and doesn’t waste battery life when not in use. I actually read some reviews complaining that the phone goes dark when not in use. That’s exactly what I want to conserve batteries. Touch any button and the phone lights up.
Where to Improve:
– Use with most earbuds work fine for the user but not so fine for the person you are calling.
– Needs to accept the 8GB micro chip (only accepts 4GB)..
– Works fine in most settings but I note that in buildings, others can get a tower when I cannot. Improve the internal antenna.
Rating: 4 / 5
Its hot. I don’t have many complaints. I just got it yesterday, so I’m still getting use to the smaller key pad and the touch sensative- speaker and clear buttons. I had to take the vibration off, kind of annoying. Its my first “up to date” phone and it looks marvelous. I wish the pc adapter was included with the phone. I like the bigger screen and the features. I havent tried out the mp3 player yet but I’m sure it’s fantastic! Thanks Verizon. Thanks LG. I am official.
Rating: 4 / 5
I received this phone as a free replacement upgrade from Verizon to try and I have now sent it back. It’s the most frustrating phone I’ve ever tried! The screen is so sensitive it’s very easy to get off in some other menu until you’re completely confused. This phone might be “IN” but it is worthless to me. It also has terrible ringtones! With no cover to protect the screen, it looks like it will scratch easily and look old in no time. LG really screwed up with this one! I reactivated my LGVX8300 and now I’m back to reality. Don’t waste your money!
Rating: 1 / 5
I’ve been using this phone for one week and so far it runs great with me! Let alone all the fashionable merits as propaganded in the advs, it actually fixed most of the defects from previous Chocolate version(VX8500). The touch pad works well and the standby time is long enough. Try it and you will like it
Rating: 5 / 5