Apple iPhone vs LG Prada: separated at birth? (part 2)

The shot we've waited six months to take. (For the uninitiated, the LG Prada came first.) One more shot after the break.

[Rai @ Jun 30th 2007 1:32PM]

Yeh, Ryan's freaking lazy, just look at those articles that they put up for today, damn they are sooo freaking lazy...

Why does Ryan get the big bucks just for running a site that was "freaking up to date" with the latest developments of the iPhone launch.... I don't see CNET posting up their coverage, i don't see many blogs that covered as much as engadget in a day's work...

BTW, this is a picture extension of their older article, i don't think there's a need to copy and paste something that was 6 months ago.

[Chris M @ Jun 30th 2007 12:01AM]

Oh-hell-yes.

I bet you can copy-paste on the LG.

.. Ah, just messin'.

I still think the LG Prada is sexier of the two; but I'd still not use either personally.

Tactile.
Feedback.
K?

Chris

[Ignacio @ Jun 30th 2007 12:24AM]

Here is a detailed review of the Prada:
http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Page=4&Id=3415

From that review:
"I was disappointed by the Prada phone's music player. Best I can tell, it doesn't support playlists at all. Neither can it be synchronized with Windows Media Player, iTunes, or any other system. In fact, the Prada owner can't even organize their music by making subdirectories for different albums or artists,"
...
"The KE850's web browser is adequate, but not very well integrated into the whole touchscreen system. For example, instead of being able to tap on a link with your finger or scroll the page with a dragging motion, instead a link must be navigated to with a series of on-screen arrow buttons and then selected. Not only does this not fit in with the touch theme of the Prada phone, but it wastes a lot of space on what would otherwise be a great display for browsing. The browser doesn't support full HTML/CSS sites very well,"

[Jason Martin @ Jun 30th 2007 12:29AM]

I tried the iPhone tonight, and believe me: the lack of tactile feedback was a non-issue, and that was one of my main concerns. I don't know how they did it, but that virtual keyboard is amazing. Tactile feedback was completely unnecessary. I was typing faster on that thing within 2 minutes than any other smartphone I've ever tried. Absolutely amazing.

[Andrew Fong @ Jun 30th 2007 1:21AM]

I read in a Popular Science article that they've actually figured out a way to do tactile feedback with touch displays in Japan and China. The idea is to create very small vibrations when you press the screen. I wouldn't be surprised if some version of the iPhone or Prada did the same in the future.

[Riza @ Jun 30th 2007 4:03AM]

Alpine car audio screens have tacticle feedback alredy in their products, you feel a buzzing motion on the screen when your finger is over a button.

[az_runner @ Jun 30th 2007 4:41PM]

The RAZR2 does tactile feedback via vibration when the front screen has the touch-screen activated (in music mode, etc.).
However, I believe most peoples concern with the lack of "tactile feedback" is around the not being able to sense where you are without having to look at the device. Similar to a keyboard, where the "f" and "j" keys have that little nub on them to help you know where you are without looking at it. Heck to see proof of the benefits of a physical button, look at all the teenagers who are texting their friends while talking to some other friends and not looking at their phone. They know which key they are on and how many times this clicked it to write a message and send very quickly.

To me a vibration is no different than an audio response, which the iPhone does do when you tap on a virtual key.
Don't be mistaken though, I still picked up an iPhone yesterday. :)

[Common Core 2 Duo!! @ Jun 30th 2007 12:01AM]

how did you get a copy of the LG prada??

[EngadgetFanBoi @ Jun 30th 2007 12:01AM]

sahweet!

[Anton @ Jun 30th 2007 12:02AM]

I rather get the Prada, it will give you designer + points, and I am pretty sure you have easier flexibility with your carrier.

[yoshi @ Jun 30th 2007 12:23AM]

Prada? Are you kidding me. It will give you metrosexual points. No thanks.

[Ivan @ Jun 30th 2007 1:02AM]

Don't you mean Apple?

[Anton @ Jun 30th 2007 1:08AM]

@Ivan

...Eeeh, the last time I checked, being forced to go with only one specific carrier was not really a much of a flexibility feel...

[Ivan @ Jun 30th 2007 1:11AM]

I was responding to yoshi. :)

[Anton @ Jun 30th 2007 1:13AM]

@Ivan

Oh my bad. ^_^'

[Ben Hoffman @ Jun 30th 2007 12:03AM]

what retailer did you guys get the prada from? or maybe im being dumb? How did you get it?

[Ben H. @ Jun 30th 2007 12:05AM]

iPhone still looks better. If only it was on Verizon! Oh well, I guess I'll just ahve to Ebay my iPhones!

[Dan @ Jun 30th 2007 12:05AM]

HOLY SH*T! They both have keypads to dial phone numbers and a main menu to navigate around! And they're both black!

[Huey2k2 @ Jun 30th 2007 12:10AM]

The LG isn't made by Apple, and everyone knows Apple is god, therefore the iPhone is superior in every way.

[chang @ Jun 30th 2007 12:22AM]

stupid apple fanboys....

[Kevlar @ Jun 30th 2007 1:43AM]

I think that was sarcasm.

[Kevo @ Jun 30th 2007 12:14AM]

choose the iPhone for sure. I'm using I'd now and it blows the snot out of the bb pearl I had. The internet is incredible! This is one solid phone.

FYI - 3 mistakes typing this moving pretty quick.

[Dev @ Jun 30th 2007 1:56AM]

Maybe the problem is your grammar not the phone!

[Ratspilf @ Jun 30th 2007 12:19AM]

Ummm.. why is the Prada using the standard background as my Mac? Shouldn't the iPhone be using it?

[JohnTitor @ Jun 30th 2007 12:17AM]

Why are people always ripping off LG
first Motorola copying the KV2300
now Apple
I was never a fan of Apple products but I'd at least credit them for being creative with design

[Zorque @ Jun 30th 2007 12:18AM]

They're similar, and I can see why people would think the iPhone is a rip-off, but it looks like they have more differences than similarities.

[blakeman @ Jun 30th 2007 12:24AM]

Too bad Prada didn't DRM their intellectual property

[James @ Jun 30th 2007 12:25AM]

Still shots of the Prada look better but the transitions and animations on the iphone are sooo nice! I'd like to see a prada in person too but from the videos I've seen, there's really no competition in UI sexyness.

[Paul @ Jun 30th 2007 12:27AM]

what does after the break mean?! it drives me crazy!

[John Doe @ Jun 30th 2007 12:36AM]

It means that the front page only has a snippet of the article and to click on the link below to get the full article with picts...Its really not that hard to figure out if you pay attention to the context.

[Paul @ Jun 30th 2007 12:48AM]

I figured that, but I've never actually seen it with a link or page jump. I've only seen it on blogs where everything is on the one page

[Michael Leung @ Jun 30th 2007 12:35AM]

I think iPhone is still better than the LG Prada,
Its screen is bigger than LG and...
the design and somewhat are better then LG too.

[John Doe @ Jun 30th 2007 12:38AM]

Screen size means exactly DICK if you are buying it as a phone first. A video player a distant second.

[michael @ Jun 30th 2007 12:40AM]

I'm sorry, but that's kind of funny. That's how many Zune users have described how thier Zune was better than the iPod.

I own both the Zune and the iPod. And their both nice in their own ways.

[Greg @ Jun 30th 2007 12:37AM]

Anyone know what OS the Prada runs? It doesn't look like WinMo to me, but I guess it could be a skin? Is it Symbian?

[Dinraj @ Jun 30th 2007 4:06AM]

Think the Prada runs a flavor of custom os. the iphone runs on hype.

[Dom @ Jun 30th 2007 5:48AM]

It's a custom OS, but the Interface is all Flash. (Which is a little odd, given the web browser doesn't support Flash - or anything much else).

[Carbonize @ Jun 30th 2007 12:47AM]

I say the LG Prada is better because

1 - It's cheaper
2 - Anybody can buy one (not just Americans)
3 - Works on ANY network
4 - I've not been bored to death of it by constant postings in Engadget. Although to be honest at least most of the recent iPhone stories are just the usual rehash of news the found on someone else's site.

[carlo @ Jun 30th 2007 1:02AM]

Whoa, I'm a huuuge fan of the Prada but I have to note that it is NOT cheaper... unless you mean that you can get it FOR FREE in Europe by signing up for a new contract.

[Carbonize @ Jun 30th 2007 1:07AM]

Hmmm can get the Prada sim free for £350 so I suppose with the exchange rate the prices would be about the same. But then atleast I can buy a Prada and use it with my provider.

[carlo @ Jun 30th 2007 2:03AM]

700 bucks is a lot but IT'S PRADA!! You won't see every other person with one especially here in the U.S.--that's what I enjoy.

I'm looking forward to the other LG KEXXX that's not Prada branded but with the same/better features. It's going to be an interesting year.

[MarkA @ Jun 30th 2007 7:29AM]

Then again, my missus just upgraded her old phone yesterday to the LG Prada phone for £30 on a £25/mo contract with TMobile. She didn't get that price without a lot of negociation though.

[joey @ Jun 30th 2007 12:50AM]

Ryan,

I'm sure apple ripped off the Prada in the short 3 months difference in launches. They were announced within hours of each other. The iPhone has so many more features. Time will tell which is better. By the way, why do you rip so much on apple. It seems like ever since the Zune came out Apple does everything wrong.

I don't get it. Complain about DRM. Microsoft has DRM. Apple introduces DRM free music and you say they aren't doing enough. I understand you support developers and hackers. That's good and all. But god, there is enough wrong with other gadgets and you always seem to be cutting them a break.

[linkman2004 @ Jun 30th 2007 1:00AM]

"They were announced within hours of each other"

Actually, people knew about the Prada around a month before the iPhone was announced according to this post.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/first-pics-of-the-lg-ke850-based-prada-cellphone/

[carlo @ Jun 30th 2007 1:03AM]

... and how is this "ripping" on Apple? I don't see anything negative in this article.

You know, if Engadget wanted to rip on Apple, they'd have noted how many problems people are having getting their phones up and running--but I don't see that article.

The LG Prada is a great phone, and Engadget is only pointing out their similarities--and differences.

Objectivity man. Seems like a common trait a lot of people buying iPhones are lacking. I've never seen so many people rip on themselves and others in such displays of greed and animosity. It's a big turn off.

[brandon @ Jun 30th 2007 12:54AM]

the iPhone works great I'm writing this post on it.
the only issue I've had was the period being on a separate screen from the rest of the keyboard. Otherwise the keyboard is great compared to my old raze for the light SMS I do.

If you want to see a hard pn then look at gizmodo. Engadget is chilly towards iphone by comparison.

[denkigrve @ Jun 30th 2007 1:41AM]

At least engadget doesn't have banner ads containing trojans. Oops Gizmodo... My scanner went off 3 times while browsing their iPhone news. I guess they need to filter their ad vendors better.

[Dev @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:19AM]

And I'm writing this post on my Nokia N73 Symbian OS that I picked up last November. Zooming page, ooh, so nice! What's your point bud?

[brandon @ Jun 30th 2007 2:24AM]

my point was the keyboard works pretty well and gizmodo is more iphone insane, if ypu disagree or dont care then fine. Jeez, no need to be a dick.

[joey @ Jun 30th 2007 1:17AM]

I do however like the shape and size of the prada. It also sounds cheaper too. Nice.

What are your other impressions of the iPhone. I am really curious. Do you like it?