Apple's iPhone continues to spawn imitators--and in most cases, these imitations simply can't live up to the original. This is true of the LG Dare; it's no iPhone. But it is a good-looking phone that will appeal to people who like the Verizon Wireless network.
Design
You could easily mistake the LG Dare for an iPhone--and that's not a bad thing. It features the same minimalist design, dominated by a big, bright display.
PROS: Navigating the phone--using the touch screen, as well as the three buttons on the front of the phone--is pretty easy. The menus are well laid out and easy to understand, and you can customize the home screen with the shortcuts you select. The touch screen includes the haptics technology that I liked on the Samsung Glyde; you'll feel a slight vibration when the screen has registered your touch. This makes using a touch screen a whole lot easier. You also can adjust the sensitivity of the touch screen with a built-in calibration wizard.
CONS: While I like the feedback that the touch screen provides, I can't say the same about its scrolling features. Scrolling through lists is exceedingly difficult--so much so that at first I thought it was impossible. With an iPhone, you lightly touch the screen and slide your finger to move a page up or down. With the Dare, you really have to work at it--you almost have to tug at the page to get it to move.
Making Calls
PROS: At 3.8 ounces, the Dare is light; that makes it very comfortable to hold, and its shape fits nicely next to your ear. The speakerphone is easy to access, and the speakers proved more powerful than I expected.
CONS:Voice quality was only so-so, and volume on the handset was not as loud as I would have liked--even when I turned it all the way up.
Browsing the Web
PROS: Like the Samsung Glyde, the Dare supports Verizon's 3G EvDo network, so surfing is snappy. Sites load quickly, and downloads are relatively brisk. You can rotate the phone to view sites vertically or horizontally, which allows you to see more of a Web page.
CONS:You can expect plenty of scrolling when trying to view sites on the 3-inch screen--and the difficulty of scrolling on the Dare's touch screen is really apparent here. And while the 3G support is a nice touch, the Dare lacks support for Wi-Fi networks, which can speed up your surfing when you're not in 3G range.
Messaging
PROS: You can choose from Verizon's available e-mail and instant messaging services, so you're not limited to the messaging applications that come with the phone.
CONS: While the IM app is free, the e-mail apps are not. This is just one reason why messaging really isn't a strong point for the Dare. Verizon's Mobile Email app, which is primarily designed for use with Web-based e-mail services like Yahoo and AOL (though it supports POP3 and IMAP accounts, too) costs $5 a month. That's a bit pricey when you consider that many smartphones include e-mail in their monthly service plans. The Dare also works with Verizon's Wireless Sync Email service, which supports more business accounts and is wirelessly updated, but it costs more at $20 per month.
Software
PROS: Again, you can take your pick of the applications that are available from Verizon, and you'll find some good ones, such as VZ Navigator, a GPS app that provides excellent turn-by-turn directions.
CONS: You won't find a ton of business or productivity apps. If you're looking to edit Office documents and fine-tune presentations from your phone, the LG Dare is not the phone for you.
Multimedia
PROS: The 3.2-megapixel camera includes some features that would put digital cameras to shame, such as: facial recognition for taking portraits; SmartPic technology that automatically adjusts skin tones and lighting; and the ability to stitch consecutive shots into a panoramic image. It includes a flash and the ability to capture video clips. My snapshots were among the best I've seen from a cell phone.
You also get access to Verizon's V CAST video service, which delivers video clips to your phone, and its V CAST music service, which allows you to purchase songs for download directly to your phone (at $1.99 each). The Dare includes support for Stereo Bluetooth, so you can wireless send tunes to compatible headsets and external speakers--including some in-car systems.CONS: The V CAST services can be pricey; at $2 a pop, song downloads will add up quickly. And the V CAST video service costs $10 a month.
The LG Dare may look a whole lot like an iPhone, but in truth, it's no iPhone. Where the iPhone's platform is open and almost unlimited--you can download almost any application you’d like from Apple's App Store--the Dare is roped-off and restricted. Your choices are limited to what Verizon offers you, and right now those choices are pretty limited.
But not everyone is looking for an iPhone. If you're interested in a good-looking touch screen phone, with an excellent camera and some very good multimedia features, the Dare could be for you. It's available for $200 from Verizon Wireless when signing a two-year contract.
