Tasty treat or backwards biscuit?
The new Cookie Fresh GS290 from LG Electronics is set to hit the UK and Asian markets later this month, shortly after the announcement of its bigger cousin the LG GS500, and will be available from Vodafone, Virgin, Tesco and Phones4u.
While keeping the previously popular core features of the original LG Cookie handset, the GS290, like many other contemporary mobiles, has a focus on sociability and easy-to-use integration with social networking sites. Offering a simple SNS connector, users have direct access to these sites, with a dedicated Facebook interface and animated characters for favourite contacts, courtesy of the LiveSquare technology.
Marketing Director UK & Ireland for LG Electronics, Paul Trueman said: "The LG Cookie Fresh GS290 reflects our efforts to bring creativity and fun to the mobile touch-phone experience. Over 13 million units of the original LG Cookie have been sold worldwide and by extending the Cookie range we're continuing to provide affordable full touchscreen phones to consumers. The LG Cookie Fresh GS290 builds on the original Cookie device with even more fun features and personalisation options."
Looks-wise, the Cookie Fresh certainly lives up to the name; its sleek, minimalist case, while rather standard to modern handsets, will be available in 10 different colours. The user interface will be its best visual feature, with cartoon animations and 18 customisable themes.
Buts its peacock charms can't hide the specs sheet, which resembles the original Cookie, but the camera has been downgraded to 2 megapixel resolution with a standard 3.5mm jack added. The rest of the original's core features remain unchanged. It still comes with a 3-inch resistive touchscreen, Bluetooth, FM radio microSD card, and Cookie speed dial.
The LG Cookie Fresh GS290 is certainly the most distinctive of the Cookie series to date, but the series needs to progress in its software and hardware. It's looking to be more the Cookie Stale than the Fresh. The Cookie will need to keep pace with the march of technology if LG Electronics hopes to keep it in the popular markets.
