LG is striving to pull attention away from fellow South Korean smartphone manufacturer Samsung today with an announcement of its own eye-tracking technology and other new features coming via upgrade to its flagship Optimus G Pro.
Samsung is expected to unveil a Galaxy S IV smartphone at an event later tonight in New York City, and there has been speculation that this device will come with advanced eye-tracking technology.
However, LG has tried to steal Samsung’s thunder by announcing an upgrade package for the Optimus G Pro that introduces features such as Smart Video.
Smart Video appears to do exactly what a video purporting to be of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S IV demonstrates. That is, the device recognises when a users is looking at it and, when he or she turns away, will automatically pause playback of a video. Once the user looks back again, the video resumes from where playback was stopped.
Focus on innovating the user experience
The Optimus G Pro’s new features don’t stop there, either. A dual camera function will enable users to capture images using both the front and rear cameras, creating picture-in-picture compositions and Video Pause/Resume will allow user to stop and start recording but still keep everything in one continuous video file. Other technologies to come include new options for using the Optimus G Pro as a remote control for LG smart TVs and the ability to customise the phone’s LED notification lights so alerts from different contacts can come in different colours.
“LG is continuously innovating to offer creative ways to offer a user experience that adds value to our customers,” said Dr Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. “It’s the positive UX that will differentiate smartphones in 2013 and beyond, not only cutting-edge hardware specs.”
These features will be introduced as part of an upgrade offered to Optimus G Pro users in the South Korean market next month. The features are also earmarked for other LG premium smartphones in future.
