Computerworld

LG Intuition offers option between a tablet and smartphone

  • Jon Gold (Network World)
  • 04 September, 2012 20:26

A new "in-between" option for those who can't decide between a smartphone and a tablet will be available from Verizon on Sept. 6, in the form of the 5-inch LG Intuition.

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The Intuition features powerful hardware -- including a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 4G/LTE connectivity -- a stylus for taking handwritten notes, and both front- and rear-mounted cameras. The device, which runs Android 4.0, will cost $199 with a two-year contract from Verizon.

The wireless company touted the Intuition's "high-definition" screen and 4:3 aspect ratio in its press release, but did not provide an exact resolution.

LG's design appears to be at least partially focused on ensuring the Intuition's appeal to enterprise customers -- hence the inclusion of full VPN, remote wipe and encryption support.

However, the Intuition also packs more consumer-oriented features, like NFC connectivity and a pair of programmable NFC tags. Those tags can be set to trigger a number of different actions on the device, like putting it to sleep or turning on the Wi-Fi.

Inevitably, the Intuition is going to be heavily compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which was rolled out last month but has not yet been released in the U.S. The phablet niche isn't yet well-populated, but a budding struggle between two fairly major hardware manufacturers could help draw battle lines and spur innovation in the often-overlooked form factor.

The LG Intuition can be ordered online from Verizon on Thursday, and will be available at brick-and-mortar Verizon stores Sept. 10.

Email Jon Gold at jgold@nww.com and follow him on Twitter at @NWWJonGold.

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