LG Optimus G finally heads to Europe, has Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean in tow
By Vlad Bobleanta on 22 Feb 13Many, many months after it was first introduced into the world, the LG Optimus G is finally on its way to Europe. The Korean company officially announced this today, and it also proudly stated that the handset will arrive running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. That’s neat, considering that the Optimus G originally launched running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but then again an update to Jelly Bean is already out anyway.
There’s only one problem. In the official press release, LG says this: “the European Optimus G will feature Google’s latest Android Operating System, Jelly Bean 4.1.2″. And this is a lie. Whatever LG or its PR people may be smoking, the latest version of Android is 4.2.2. Just one different digit, but a world of difference in fact.
Anyway, let’s move past that. The Europe-bound Optimus G also has some improved software features courtesy of LG, alongside things such as expandable notifications and Google Now – which are there as a consequence of the Jelly Bean update.
LG’s QSlide function has been “upgraded to 2013″ and it now allows multitasking some apps as transparent screen layers, and not side-by-side frames anymore. And it’s not just the video player that can take advantage of this, it being joined by the likes of the browser, memo, calendar and calculator apps.
Safety Care sends emergency location information to predetermined recipients, in case an emergency service number is dialed, or if the phone goes unused for a certain period of time. Finally, Privacy Keeper lets you hide the details of the person at the other end of the line (well, airwaves) while a call is incoming. You can access the caller’s name, number, and photo by swiping an icon. How this is useful is beyond us, but it’s there if you need it.
The LG Optimus G will become available in Sweden later this month, and it will be out in other markets such as France, Germany, and Italy at some other point (maybe in March?).
Aside from the aforementioned new software features, this is the exact same device that it’s always been. LG hasn’t upgraded or modified the hardware in any way. Keep in mind that the company has already announced the Optimus G Pro in its home country of Korea, and that features significantly upgraded hardware. Then again, there’s no telling how long that will take to reach Europe, or if it will ever do that. Then there’s the fact that it’s also much larger than the Optimus G, which might relegate it to the Samsung Galaxy Note’s niche and not make it as desirable as the original.
If you liked the post, you might find these interesting too:
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- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Android 4.1 update now rolling out in Germany
- Android 4.0 coming to LG Prada, Optimus 2X, Optimus Black, Optimus 3D, Optimus LTE, says LG Singapore
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