We've been hearing about Samsung's new smart features like Smart Pause and Smart Scroll that are likely to make it to the company's latest Galaxy S IV flagship. LG has now announced a new multimedia UX feature called Smart Video, which implements advanced eye recognition technology.
Apart from Smart Video, the
Optimus G Pro will be equipped with, what LG claims as "the world's first Dual Camera function". Both these features will first make their way to the recently launched device as part of a Value Pack upgrade to Korean users starting next month.
LG says that these features will also be made available for some other LG premium smartphones in the future.
Smart Video uses eye recognition technology to track a user's eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without the user operating any playback controls manually. Just as Samsung's Smart Pause feature, when the viewer looks away from the phone's display, the front camera recognizes this and immediately pauses the video automatically. Once the user's gaze returns to the smartphone, the video resumes playback from the point last viewed.
On the other hand, LG has introduced a Dual Camera feature that is an extension of the Dual Recording that debuted on the Optimus G Pro. It simultaneously captures photos using both the front and back cameras for a picture-in-picture composition.
"LG is continuously innovating to offer creative ways to offer a user experience that adds value to our customers. It's the positive UX that will differentiate smartphones in 2013 and beyond, not only cutting-edge hardware specs," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
Currently, the 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro can be purchased only in South Korea. It will be introduced in the US starting Q2 this year. Apart from these features, LG is also offering other features in the Value Pack upgrade, which include:
- Magic Remote Pad and Text Keypad via the QRemote function. These new options for QRemote work specifically with LG Smart TVs for easier browsing when using Optimus G Pro as a remote control for LG Smart TVs.
- The Smart LED Lighting outlining the home button of the Optimus G Pro will be upgraded so users can customise the colours to correspond to their favourite contacts. The flashing of the LED in different colours will allow users to identify the source of incoming calls, missed calls, unread messages and emails.
- Video Pause/Resume allows the user to stop and start in record mode for one continuous video file.
- The first Colour Emoticons in an Android smartphone for more personalised text messages.