Originally released worldwide, except for North America, as the LG Optimus 3-D, that version of the North American LG Thrill was the first handset to offer glasses free 3-D technology viewing without the need for extra hardware or glasses. In North America, the first handset to offer that technology was the HTC Evo 3D 4G handset. As of early September, the HTC Evo 3-D now has company. Backed by a nationwide 3-D gaming campaign promoted by LG and French video game developer and publisher Gameloft, the LG Thrill 4G 3-D Android handset has arrived in the United States.
Offered on AT&T’s 4G mobile broadband network at a recently reduced entry-level price of $19.99 with a two-year activation at AT&T authorized retailers, and a still reasonable $99 at AT&T, the Thrill 4G 3-D handset uses the same basic system as the Evo 3-D to deliver glasses free 3-D technology viewing. While most 4G smartphones today have one rear facing camera that is usually five megapixels or eight megapixels, the LG Thrill employs dual five megapixel cameras to achieve what no other smartphone before the Evo 3-D could.
3-D viewing can be achieved by recording dual images or video recordings at precisely the same time from locations that are very close together. The two rear facing five megapixel camcorders on the LG Thrill 4G can record video individually in two dimensions at 1080P HD, but when the 3-D switch is thrown, both of these cameras run at the same time in tandem, and record in 720P HD.
These simultaneous and almost identical images or recordings are then processed by the 3-D hardware graphics accelerator and 3-D software system employed by the Thrill 4G to deliver a 3-D image or recording which requires no glasses worn by the viewer to experience realistic 3-D viewing. Also, the LG Thrill 4G can obviously view content in three dimensions that was created previously and is available on the Internet, in movies and videos, or in video games. Buy the LG Thrill 4G 3D starting at only $19.99.
With the advantage of being the second phone to offer such technology, AT&T has released their phone at a retail price lower than that of the Evo 3-D handset in an attempt to attract market share away from one of its main competitors, Sprint. The LG Thrill 4G Bring Your World Alive cross-country 3-D gaming tour’s next stop is at the Rolling Stone Hollywood and Highland Center LA Lounge on September 20. Amateurs and other nonprofessionals are encouraged to enter, and LG is giving out over $10,000 in prizes. Learn more about this new 3D smartphone with our detailed LG Thrill Review.
