LG Shine CU720 Phone, Black (AT&T)

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 2 x 0.8 inches ; 3.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0012DDJA2
• Item model number: CU720
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,348 in Cell Phones & Service (See Bestsellers in Cell Phones & Service)

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Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Combining glamorous form with advanced multimedia function, the LG Shine is available exclusively from AT&T. It can access AT&T's tri-band HSDPA/UMTS high-speed 3G network, which makes it easy to download music purchased from AT&T Mobile Music, stream tunes from Napster and eMusic, and watch video streamed from CNN and Comedy Central via AT&T's Cellular Video. It also supports AT&T's Video Share service, which offers a one-way video stream during a mobile-to-mobile phone call. This elegantly minimalist slider phone has a unique, reflective mirror finish that activates into a brilliantly colorful LCD screen and a brushed stainless steel housing. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, MicroSD memory card expansion, Bluetooth connectivity for both communication headsets and stereo music streaming, mobile email and instant messaging, and quad-band GSM network capability for global roaming.

AT&T Service

The stylish LG Shine has a brushed stainless steel body that slides up to reveal a backlit keypad.

This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900 MHz network (also known as WCDMA), making it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services with speeds up to 3.6 Mbps. It also gives AT&T the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. You'll also enjoy quad-band GSM connectivity, which allows you to make calls in more than 190 countries and access data applications in the more than 135 countries where AT&T offers international data roaming.

With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Video Share service, which enables you to send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.)

It's packed with multimedia streaming and download capabilities. AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. And you get access to AT&T Mobile Music, which enables you to buy tracks while on the, access the Napster subscription music service, stream music video, discover what's playing with Music ID song-recognition software, and find out what's hot with The Buzz music news portal.

The handset is XM Radio Mobile-capable, so you can enjoy streaming live digital radio as well. It's also MobiTV capable, which enables you to stream or download video content from providers ranging from MSNBC, ABC News Now, and CNN. MobiRadio lets you listen to more than 50 channels of digital radio. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T's Internet, video, and music services.)

The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

The large 2.2-inch screen is hidden when inactive and offers multi-angle vision technology for easy viewing.

Phone Features
The centerpiece 2.2-inch screen is hidden when inactive, a key feature to save battery life or when keeping a low profile is a must, and it has a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and 262K color support. The multi-angle vision technology enables you to view display contents from all different angles. A five-way navigation joystick and is found just beneath the screen, and it's joined by two softkeys. The top of the phone smoothly slides up to reveal the light blue backlit numeric keypad. The unit's advanced camera lens and flash can be found on the backside, just above the battery cover.

This phone also shines as a mobile digital music player, with compatibility for MP3, WMA, AAC, and AAC+/eAAC+ files, customizable equalizer, playlist creation and management, and large capacity storage via MicroSD memory cards (up to 4 GB in size). Synchronize music from your PC (including music files from online services such as Napster and eMusic) via USB 2.0. The phone also offers USB mass storage capabilities for storing your most important documents and files.

This phone provides Bluetooth version 1.2 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, object push, file transfer, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. Send contacts, calendar events, and pictures/videos/voice memos wirelessly. The phone stores up to 20 Bluetooth pairings.

The Shine is also great as a digital camera/camcorder, with a 2-megapixel resolution for still images (including five resolution settings ranging from 160 x 120 to 1600 x 1200 pixels). Other imaging features include a 2x zoom, integrated flash, brightness and white balance controls, multi-shot capability, self timer, and an in-phone image editor (for resizing, cropping, rotating, and adding color effects). You can capture video in two resolutions--320 x 240 (QVGA) and 176 x 144 (QCIF)--and the phone can record small files up to 42 seconds for sending via MMS or as long as you have capacity on an optional MicroSD memory card for saving.

In addition to voice calls, text messaging, and MMS capability, the phone is also compatible with mobile email from services including Yahoo!, AOL, Windows Live, AT&T Yahoo!, and BellSouth, as well as instant messaging (IM) from AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo!. The Shine also comes stock with a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing via MEdia Net (with WAP 2.0, WML, iHTML, xHTML, and WCSS compatibility). T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for entering text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Other features include:

• One-touch speakerphone
• Speaker-independent voice commands
• Voice memo recording (MMS and general modes)
• 10 unique ringtones, vibrate and silent modes, and music ringtone support
• Address Book with 500 contacts--each stores 5 numbers, 2 e-mail addresses, & a picture ID
• Flight mode
• USB charging via PC
• Tools: Alarm Clock, Calendar, Notepad, Calculator, Tip Calculator, World Clock, Tasks, Stop Watch, Unit Converter, Date Finder, D-Day Counter
• Java 2.0 support for application and game downloads

Vital Statistics
The LG Shine weighs 4.28 ounces and measures 3.93 x 1.99 x 0.59 inches. Its 900 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of talk time, and up to 10 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 850/1900 WCDMA (3G) frequencies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting, June 6, 2008

By	Kinetic Man - See all my reviews

Let's get the bad out of the way first.
I'm not going to whine about key size or anything because I knew going into this that it was a small phone and would more than likely have a small key pad, that really isn't an issue to me; although playing games like Tetris on it can become a bit painful. What I am a bit let down about is the fact that you really can't customize exactly what most of the hotkeys do in the first place. Prime example being that hitting left on the little joystick (which is wonderful for menu navigation by the way, I wish all phones had this) pulls up your IM menu. Now I don't use IM since I'm not a 16 year old girl, and it would have been nice to be able to switch it to something else like bluetooth or a phone tool, instead it sits there unused.
Navigating the menus themselves takes much getting used to, and feels to me a lot like I'm using a Verizon phone. There are many menus within menus within menus, making it very easy to get lost inside it. Many things are in strange places within the phone itself, which require jumping through a bunch of sub-menus to get to. This is fixed partially by allowing you to assign a number of items to a menu opened with the right softkey, but again I really wish I just could have tinkered with what was assigned to the joystick.
But the biggest issue I have with this music phone is that it, like 90% of all other music phones, don't come with headphones, any form of docking cable, or an SD card, but I can understand that last one. What I don't understand is why they can't kick me an inexpensive cable for committing myself to their two hundred dollar phone. Instead I had to hunt down the cable to order it, then wait for that along with compatible headphones to arrive. It might not be a big deal to some, but I see it as a prepackaged errand that came with my phone. What further adds insult is that I managed to find a new cable on this very site for $1.99, but I assume packaging these with the phone would have bankrupted LG.
As for the headphones, other phones such as the Sony Ericsson are making some headway by coming with adapters right in the box which allow you to use your favorite pair right from the start.
Over all though this is a trend that has to stop, it's like buying an MP3 player and then having to buy a dock, the earbuds, and the memory for it. In my opinion if the phone can't play music out of the box it shouldn't be advertised as a "music phone", instead it is simply a phone that can be modified to play music and should be shown as such.
Now onto the good.
One of the features I enjoy the most about this phone is actually the construction of phone itself. It has a good weight to it and doesn't feel like a cheap piece of plastic crap (like the Sony Ericsson). Although this phone is indeed made of mostly plastic it really doesn't feel like it and manages to come of as more sturdy and robust, which is very nice because I don't enjoy feeling like I'm going to crush the thing by dialing it. Honestly though I don't think it would survive a drop to the pavement, but many phones wont and that's why God created cell phone cases.
The screen is easily one of the impressive assets of the phone; it takes up most of the front and displays an image so crisp and clean you could eat off it. The fact that it's also a 3G compatible phone (assuming I can one day connect to that network in my city) means that you can stream video to it at an improved rate through various services, browse the web quickly and enjoy other things that up until now you had to have a smart to make any real use of.
Preloaded is an XM radio trial as well, which I'm incredibly stoked about using but will again, have to wait until headphones arrive.
Something else that seems to have most of the bugs worked out of is the 2 MP camera, which is placed on the back of the phone and comes complete with an LED flash. The flash LED itself can be left on and due to its incredible brightness would easily double as a flashlight if you needed it to I suppose, you can also take short range pictures in the dead of night thanks to this. Although you can't zoom on the highest resolution, you really don't need to either, and if you ever load the image on your PC you'll see what I mean. So far I haven't had any problems with using the camera and it actually feels like I'm using a proper digital camera when I do, so kudos on that LG.
As far as bluetooth goes, it works. No problems. I've read other reviews for this phone saying "it won't pair with anything", mine paired with everything I tried it on. My old headset, my new one, my friends headset, and his laptop. Again, no problems. Stereo bluetooth is also supported meaning you can use wireless bluetooth enabled headphones to switch seamlessly from music to talking and back again.
That's pretty much it, though there are other trial features like MySpace mobile, My-Cast weather, mobile banking, etc but like I said they're only trials and MEdia Net offers many more programs than just those. All in all it's a pretty good phone, but I would have enjoyed it more if I could have popped in my SD card and started uploading music to it right away.

Update 11/12/08: The phone fell out of my pocket and about three feet to the pavement without the case on it, and despite a few scratches on the side it still works great!

Update 1/2/09: While a friend was playing with it the other day they dropped it from a decent hight onto the hard tile floor at work (again without my case), then as they were picking it up somehow managed to drop it AGAIN! My heart sank as I imagined myself shelling out fifty bucks to AT&T for a new one via insurance, but low and behold it still works just as good as the day I got it. Not to mention no new visible damage.
This little guy is proving to be a lot more durable than I originally thought!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sleek and Handsome. Good Sound Quality and Reception, February 12, 2009

By	Nuknuk (Springfield, VA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Pros:
- Good sound quality.
- Good reception.
- It is a nice sleek looking phone. Really handsome with simple lines and shape. Has a nice feel on your palm. I like the color of my wife's "Shine" even better which is deep red. Mine is silver.
- MicroSD for additional memory.
- Capable to record short videos
- Long battery life (I tested the phone for a week without using the MP3 player and video. It lasted longer than my older phone which has a smaller screen). If you use the phone as an mp3 player, then that is another story.
- Bluetooth, games, calculator, notepad...

Cons:
- The joystick is not quite a joy to use.
- The back of the phone is too scratch prone.
- Keypad has grooves to to help with identifying the keys by touch but it is not as intuitive as a regular keypad. It is difficult for texting.
- Interface is a bit annoying. Got a little learning curve to get used to.
- Heavier than most phones.

Speaker phone is usable but does not sound very exciting. I like the easy slide that has a snap feel of the front cover to expose the keypad. It feels pretty solid.
The camera is OK. Very slow lens, but I am not really expecting much because most cell phones have extremely small lenses to gather enough light. 2 megs of resolution. Surprisingly it is equipped with a flash albeit it is tiny winy and almost next to useless. I am happy that It is big enough leap from my previous phone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A few 'ifs' but seems a good product., August 4, 2008

By	Seattle Polar Bear "Seattle Polar Bear" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

I replaced a 2 year old Samsung slider with this instrument (necessary after dropping the Samsung into cole slaw--don't ask). It's very similar in size and shape to the Samsung and seems to be of similar construction quality, which is to say, pretty good.

Reception is excellent and I live in a weaker signal area.

My main objections are two. The voice dialing function in the LG is markedly INFERIOR to the Samsung. The old phone almost always recognized my instructions and the internal voice responses were clear and useful. The LG has difficulty recognizing my commands, even after training, and it's internal voice responses are very hard to understand. This may be minor, but after knowing how well the function COULD work, it's a disappointment.

Second annoyance is the scarcity of USB connectors that fit the phone (I ordered one from Amazon that did not fit the connector). Also, it seems, even after you get a USB connection, it will not sync with common computer contact lists such as outlook. This is a major annoyance in this day and age.

One other minor note, compared to the Samsung, the camera, while superior, has an external lens even when the slider is closed. Some may consider this an advantage, but the Samsung's slider covered and thereby protected the lens while it was being jostled in a pocket or out in the weather.

All in all, it's a good choice for a modern slider phone, but has some limitations.