LG's Incite Smartphone Gets It Right

Incite's screen measures 3 inches diagonally (240 by 240 pixels, QVGA) and can be viewed either vertically or horizontally. Inputting on the screen is different from doing so on the iPhone or the Storm. The iPhone is the easiest (and has the best spelling-recognition software) followed by the Storm. The Incite is not as refined as either of the others I just mentioned, but it is the best touch-screen design I've ever had the pleasure of using.

As with the BlackBerry Storm, in the horizontal mode you're presented with a QWERTY keyboard when you need to type. There's a Pearl-style, two-letters-per key, 20-key, XT9 keypad system when you type in the vertical mode. Once you get used to the screen/touch feedback feel, you can fly on the keys while typing. If you wish, there are other input options, including a character-recognition program called Transcriber. For the record, the Incite does not come with a stylus, but a thumbwheel to the right of the screen helps you navigate.

When it came to using the Incite, everything worked as it was supposed to -- a giant feat in and of itself. This was the first phone to receive a 3G signal in my eastern Long Island test center. That's especially amazing because, according to its map, my location is outside of AT&T's 3G coverage area. No other cell/smart phone has ever done that. And another feature to note, Incite's battery life was astounding. I got two full days of heavy use before needing to recharge. Not many other full-featured handsets can come close.