Navigation Keys and User Interface

Below the external screen are three touch-sensitive keys, also built into the glossy surface. They're similar to those on the KG800, except that they're designed for MP3 navigation (Play/Pause, Next Track, and Previous Track), allowing you to navigate your playlist while the phone is folded. This is a blessing, considering the KG800 relied on the same heat-sensitive keys to navigate the phone's essential menus - a feature that you will either love or hate. On the new KG810 however, it's more of an optional stylish feature, since you can still navigate your playlist with the conventional keypads.

The touchpad needs some getting used to, since it requires quite a deal of accuracy. I find its behaviour erratic especially when using the Play/Pause key since it's located in the centre, and half the time I end up touching one of the other two keys simultaneously, causing it not to respond. I have to avoid using my thumb as a result. There are times however when all is needed is a tap and the touchpad would register. The touchpad saves you the trouble of flipping the phone open to navigate your MP3 playlist and doubles as a cool feature, but serves nothing more. If you are worried about accidentally pressing the touch keys while in standby, rest assured that it is not activated that way. You need to press and hold either the Volume Up or Down key located at the left side of the phone to bring it up from standby mode to activate the touchpad.

The internal keypad has a conventional 3 x 3 structure, surrounded by two soft keys on top, with the dedicated MP3 and Camera keys below - pretty easy to understand. The 'answer', 'end' and 'clear' keys are grouped with the numeric keypad. The keypad is single-pieced, firm but light to the touch, and big enough to navigate with effectively and comfortably. 

Mounted on the bottom right side of the phone is the headset/USB/charger input, hidden beneath a plastic leaf cover. It may have been a better idea to use rubber for the leaf as I foresee that prolonged usage might actually cause the plastic to break off. It does feel rather flimsy, but the plastic adds consistency to the phone's material. It all comes back to looks. Unfortunately, the unit we received seemed to have some problems with the USB connection. Windows XP could detect the phone, but could not recognize it even with the drivers installed. We were unable to test the LG software as a result or share data between phone and PC.

The menu system is well organized, I had no trouble finding my way around without consulting the manual. The interface however makes full use of the keypad and you would have to go through a lot of keys and sub-menus just to do basic things like send messages. Easy to get around, but by no means the quickest and most convenient phone user interface in the market. Nevertheless, you have 9 slots to which to save any of your favourite tabs or sub menus so that you can access them directly by pressing the Favourites key instead of having to manually navigate every time.

Next: Features, Functions and Connectivity