Qualcomm adds mirasol display to Inventec V112 now, LG handsets later

Last time we Qualcomm's mirasol display in action, it was still enjoying its black-and-white simplicity. While the ultra-efficient, ambient light-loving technology hasn't gone through that Pleasantville epiphany just yet, a 1.1-inch bichrome mirasol touchscreen has found its way onto Inventec's V112 Smartphone alongside a decidedly more colorful bigger brother. It'll serve to show time, incoming and missed calls, email and SMS alerts, MP3 song information, and other information that doesn't require a lot of space or hue. As for the phone itself, we've got GPS, WiFI, Bluetooth, a three megapixel camera, and no word on pricing or availability. Additioanlly, Inventec has announced an agreement with LG to include use mirasol -- presumably also as secondary screens -- into one more commercial handsets sometime in the future. A great deal for Qualcomm, for sure, but how about a few more details on what exactly those phones will be?

Eyes-on with the well-camouflaged LG GD900

There's not a whole lot to look at with the GD900 slider, but in this case, that's exactly the effect lg was shooting for. The high-design phone was being carefully guarded by plastic and metal not its own at MWC this week, making a true hands-on impossible -- but the good news is that we were able to get a good look at the phone's headline feature. That nearly transparent keypad has a glow applied around its edges to illuminate etched numbers, but with tactile feedback hovering near zero, this is a situation where you've really got to value form over function (and in this case, we just might). Interestingly, documentation by the GD900 says it'll start launching in May, though LG's press documentation claims we won't see it until the second half of the year -- so it's unclear when you'll be able to get one imported. Question is, do you really want people to see your cheek while you're on the horn?

• Verizon's LG Versa likely to launch March 1st

Verizon's LG Versa likely to launch March 1st

We've had our eye on Verizon's crazy lg handset, the VX9600, (or "Versa," in fun-speak), since back when it was still just a doodle, and have expected an imminent launch since we caught those snaps of it in late January. So here it is -- documented evidence that points to a likely March 1 launch. If you've forgotten (there's no way you've done that, is there?) this zany piece of work boasts a sweet QWERTY keyboard module which is detachable, with other modules, including a pair of speakers and an internet module with integrated WiFi promised. No word on pricing yet, but we'll let you know when we hear something.

• LG Incite gets official for South Korea

LG Arena KM900 gets further detailed

We've already gotten a pretty good look at LG's curiously familiar Arena KM900 phone, and we're now starting to get some more details as well, although lg is still managing to keep a few things under wraps for the presumably imminent announcement. Apparently, this one will boast GSM/UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, along with a high-res 3-inch 800x480 display (no word on resistive or capacitive), and some form of mobile TV, although specifics on that are a bit light at the moment. The phone also apparently measures just 11.5mm thick, which makes it a smidgen slimmer than the iPhone and, as we had heard before, it could be out in Europe as soon as next month -- on T-Mobile Germany for starters, it seems.

• LG Arena KM900 touchscreen phone shows itself in print

LG Arena KM900 touchscreen phone shows itself in print

We got a whiff of this one last month courtesy of the FCC, but it looks like LG's new Arena KM900 touchscreen phone is now fully making its way out into the open, with the above image and some specs to go along with it surfacing in advance of MWC. As you can see above, this one bears a little resemblance to the Samsung Omnia, and boasts a 5-megapixel camera (plus a secondary one for video calls, it seems), built-in GPS, WiFi, and what's described as an "innovative S-Class 3D interface." Unfortunately, complete specs are still a bit of a mystery, but the phone is apparently on track to hit Europe as soon as March, and it seems a pretty safe bet that lg will have more to say about this one at MWC later this month.

• LG Cookie: now in pink and silver on Orange
• Virgin Mobile gives the lg Flare a new, pinker veneer

LG Cookie: now in pink and silver on Orange

LG's Cookie -- which is more formally know as the KP501 -- has just arrived in two more hues on Europe's most colorful carrier. If black just wasn't doing it for you, the touchscreen handset (which obviously resembles the KP500 in more ways than one) is now listed as "Coming Soon" in pink and silver. If you believe Orange's press release, though, it should be available now in stores for ?99.99 ($142) on a pay-as-you-go contract and just ?15 ($21) with a two-year agreement.

• lg CF360 now available from AT&T

LG overtakes Motorola for third place in global handset shipments

Half a year ago, Motorola was still clinging tight to the number three spot in terms of worldwide handset shipments, but boy -- what a difference six months makes. According to numbers compiled by DigiTimes, lg Electronics managed to ship just over 100 million mobile phones in 2008, while Moto checked in with "just" 99.9 million shipped. That makes lg the third largest handset maker in terms of shipments, barely beating out Moto and Sony Ericsson who placed fourth and fifth, respectively. As expected, Nokia and Samsung are still holding down the top two spots, but it's the continued slippage of Motorola that's most significant here. You know what they say about being on rock bottom, right? We bet Motorola's wondering if that mantra applies here.

• LG Lotus hands-on
• LG launches canU S1000 with AMOLED display

LG Renoir hands-on

Though it has been out for some time, we'd not had the chance to really check out LG's Renoir properly -- even though Engadget Spanish has had a chance. Of course, LG's massive booth featured an area dedicated to this 8 megapixel effort that we had to almost fight through to get at this phone. The interface is good, the weight and feel in-hand doesn't come off as $10 plasti-crap, and the touchscreen does seem to get its job done. Crazy presentations aside, LG's Renoir is a really solid effort, color us suitably impressed. Engadget Mobile has the gallery.

• Video: lg Watch Phone hands-on