The Verizon Chocolate (LG VX8500) has a Flash Lite UI
August 14th, 2006 by Scott Janousek
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Bill Perry just posted a video clip of the newly marketed Verizon Wireless Chocolate handset which is running a Flash Lite User Interface (FLUI) in several areas of the device.
Soon, it also will be running Flash Lite For Brew.
This is the first device in the US (North America) to run a Flash Lite UI.
Anyways, looks like they are putting the circular nav to good use with the music player as well as overall “fluidity” to the UI. The user experience looks nice.
If you’re interested in the phone and want to check out specs, you may want to check out the Flash promo piece (which reminds me vaguely of the viliv p1 marketing campaign).
There are more photos of the device here.
I think Verizon is smart in following in the path of the RAZR, in labeling it “Chocolate”. Personally I’d much rather not refer to devices by model number anymore. It’s a huge pain in a%% to remember all the models #’s!
All in all, the chocolate looks like a sleek device for public consumption (heh), as well as Flash Lite for BREW development!
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August 14th, 2006 at 10:53 am
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August 14th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Thanks Scott. I think my Verizon phone will be 2 years old this month, meaning I can get a new one for free, or they give me $200 towards a new one or something. I might have to check this out. Does Verizon have any other decent Flash-enabled phones yet?
August 14th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Lucky!
The bastards won’t upgrade me until next year since I just got the SCH a-950.
At this time, I believe the only other (officially certified) phone is the LG VX9800 (god, I do depise these model #’s) … I doubt you want that “monstrousity” though!
Also, the RAZR V3C was shown at least on one occasion to being Flash Lite 2.1 (BREW) ready … so it’s likely that may be certified soon (fingers crossed).
If you were are gambling man … you could download the Flash Lite BREW specs from labs and see what the min requirements are for Flash Lite for BREW (I think it is BREW implementation 2.x something) and cross check it versus the phones available from Verizon/the BREW support device page. This might give you an idea of what might be certified later.
To play it safe, I think the chocolate and RAZR look like good bets. I haven’t touched the Chocolate yet, so I’m not 100% sure what it “feels like” yet … looks very similiar to a Nokia N80 though!
I dunno know about you but the UI on the current verizon handsets is gawd awful, so I’m glad to see Flash Lite UI making it’s way into the scene.
Hopefully this turns into a trend as in Korea and other areas.
August 20th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
[...] The LG K-800 (aka Chocolate) made the list at #2. I actually just upgraded to this device from the SCH-a950. The LG K-800 is a really sweet device (pun intended). Plus, if you haven’t heard it’s got a Flash Lite UI and will be Flash Lite 2.1 BREW enabled. [...]
August 21st, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Hey Scott,
I am interested in finding out more about the LG “Chocolate” Flash Lite Version info. My team is currently working on a mobile prototype using Flash Lite 2.0 and was wondering if you had confirmation that Verizon handset comes pre-installed with Flash Lite, or any other details on it. I have spoken with Verizon Directly but am getting the run-a-round.
Any thoughts?
August 24th, 2006 at 12:40 am
Amazing review LG Chocolate, it also includes rebates to buy phone for $74.99
November 22nd, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Dont get the chocolote. its terrible. i have one and the battery life (while using all the features) is aproximately 18 hours. also the speaker for the music is bad. i dont care what type of flash lite it has, is terrible. i would give anything to trade it in for a krazer or a razer v3. the only plus side to the chocolate is that its a slide phone and its virtualy indestructable. i dropped one off a staircase thats two flights high 3 days ago and nothing. the plus side to the phone is the touch sensor is sick, and the fact that when its closed its the exact look of an ipod. (although without the touch wheel). also the camera is very high quality and the music you dont have to buy you can download strait from your computer. but the speaker and bettery is still terrbile so you cant use the music for longer than 2 hours without your phone dieing. If your O.K. with these gripes its fine to buy
December 17th, 2006 at 8:12 am
Why would anyone (T-bone ?) expect the quality of a speakerphone to be as good as stereo headphones or stereo speakers? Also, you are probably playing your music on the speakerphone with the default effect - which is flat. Change it and it will be much improved. Lastly, there are ways to improve the battery life. If you are not download vcast shut-off ev-do. Don’t forget to shut-off the bluetooth when not in use. I personally have no issues with the battery. Being a heavy user, the battery will last me for days - but then again I’m not using the speakerphone to listen to my music. What a putz T-bone is …..
February 26th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I want to know : I’m living in Estonia and I don’t understand, can I call to my friends, if I am in Estonia ? I want to tell you, can I make available to call somebody who is in estonia ? I know, my INCOMPREHENSIBLE
but I don’t speak in english very well . I hope to you understand me . Please, try to answer to my questions !
March 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I am thinking of buying a chocolate but does anyone know If I can transfer ipod podcasts to the phone for download? And if so is it still compressed? Any insight would be greatly appreciated
August 9th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I have had my chocolate for the past 8 months, I like it and all, but I think I would have been better off getting something like the Evi…but I finally just going a mini SD card for it, and I put music onto the card, but now I do not know how to get the music onto my phone…and once it is there can I use that music as a ring tone?
August 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Does anyone knows how you can get the track number stored on the chocolate. All songs are stored alphabetically when you search by album or artist or by genre. It looks it does not move the field “track number” to the phone.
Also there is no smooth transition from song to song (the way you have that with Windows media player)
For the rest I love the chocolate. It is a true phone (small) and a complete nano Ipod for a cheap price (I got the 4Giga memory card). I don’t use my nano anymore.