Once again, LG design and technology have been recognized at the highest level. This time, the plaudits came at the 2010 ceremony of the iF product design award, held in the German city of Hanover on March 2.

Along with reddot and IDEA, iF is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, recognizing products that unite function, comfort and aesthetics while also displaying genuine innovation. This year, a total of 1,016 companies from 39 countries submitted 2,486 products, of which iF honored 778 for their extraordinary achievements in design.

All the award-winning entries will be on display at the iF product design award exhibition, which runs March through August at the Hanover exhibition center. The winners will also be on show on the iF website, which draws design fans from all over the world.

LG Electronics had another successful year at the 2010 iF event, with seven awards going to its phones: the Lollipop, the Watch phone, the New Chocolate phone, the Crystal phone, the Lotus Elite in the United States, the LG Mini in Europe and LG’s first Android phone.

Contrary to the widely held belief that iF only rewards aesthetic design, distinctiveness and innovation are at least as important in deciding who wins the awards. More specifically, the iF judges consider factors as diverse as workmanship, choice of materials, degree of innovation, compatibility with the environment, functionality, safety, ergonomics, brand value and the universality of its design. The iF awards consider technology to be central to a design’s success, and in recent years, the emphasis on ease of use and practicality have become ever more pronounced.

LG’s award winners this year are a diverse yet singular bunch. Designing them with specific users and regions in mind, LG successfully unveiled new, cutting-edge technologies such as the world’s first Watch phone, a 21:9 ratio display unit and a transparent handset.

Here is a brief introduction to LG’s iF honor roll:

(Left, Below) Created with teenagers in mind, the Lollipop packs an auto-focusing 3 megapixel camera on the outside and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the inside, making it the perfect handset for taking regular pictures or self-portraits.

(Right, Above) The LG Watch Phone is the world’s first touch mobile phone to support both voice and video calls. To provide the perfect platform for its 1.43-inch LCD, LG has removed practically everything apart from the screen, while designing the profile to look like a trapezoid.

(Above) With its New Chocolate phones, LG stripped the design to the bone to deliver a “Real Cinema View” – courtesy of a 21:9 ratio screen – along with easier internet access and browsing.

(Left, Below) Boasting the world’s first transparent keypad, the slide-type LG Crystal combines the very best of LG technology and design in a single handset.

(Right, Above) Equipped with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the LG Andro-1 (LG GW620) is LG’s first Android-based smartphone. With its rounded edges, the LG Andro-1 is easy to use and very comfortable to the grip.

(Left, Below) In its diminutive package, the LG Mini packs a 5 megapixel camera, HD video shooting, video calling and GPS. Its metal frame and robust display make it deceptively tough, while a rubber cover minimizes discoloration and scuffing. In addition, its new, narrow-bezel LCD makes its 3.2-inch screen look bigger.

(Right, Above) With an array of customizable features, the Lotus Elite is specially designed to appeal to American teens and 20-somethings eager to express a bit of themselves in their mobiles.

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Original and innovative, LG mobiles take center stage at iF Product Design Award 2010 is a post from: LG Blog

LG have been named the 7^th most innovative company in Business Week magazine’s annual “50 Most Innovative Companies” story. In last years poll LG came in at 27^th, so this is an impressive increase of 20 places in one year, placing LG ahead of any of their main competitors.

With a circulation of just under one million and a history dating back to its first issue in 1929, this is a big accolade from a well-known and respected publication.

LG is being recognized for their innovations not only in their products, but also within the company structure.

Over the last year LG have restructured their centralization of purchases, saving over $2 billion from its annual $30 billion shopping bill. “Innovation could bring sustainable savings,” says Thomas Linton, a 20-year IBM (IBM) veteran purchasing manager who became LG’s first-ever chief procurement officer in 2008.

Whilst we’re on the subject of innovation here’s a little light-hearted video showing  just one innovation that LG brought us last year…

For more info on the BL40 Chocolate phone follow the link here

LG named 7th most innovative company by Business Week is a post from: LG Blog

Don’t forget you can also watch the action filled advert on the LG Blog’s YouTube channel.

Exclusive Preview: Chocolate BL40 Avatar Advert is a post from: LG Blog

T3 and Total Film are featuring an exclusive augmented reality enhanced gatefold in their December issues which are out now. The 6-page advert promotes the crystal-clear cinema-aspect screen of the Chocolate BL40 mobile using assets from the eagerly-anticipated Avatar movie from visionary Director, James Cameron.

By holding the ad’s augmented reality icon up to a webcam, readers can access a special Avatar trailer that plays on a user-controllable 3D rendering of the Chocolate BL40.

The augmented reality advert takes T3 and Total Film readers to the dedicated LG Avatar microsite where they have the chance to win a VIP trip to the premiere of Avatar in London, just by uploading their very own Avatar. Using sophisticated modeling technology, the photo is combined with a Na’vi character from the film to create a unique character. The user is then entered into a prize draw, which will also see their Avatar appear in a personalised online LG Avatar advert.

Find out more now about the competition and how to create your own Avatar character by clicking through to the microsites below:
www.lge.co.uk/avatar http://www.lgavatar.com/exclusive/

“Both Avatar and the new LG Chocolate BL40 represent innovations in their respective industries which this campaign will bring to life by delivering a cutting edge platform to interact with our customers” said John Barton, Sales and Marketing Director at LG.

Watch an exclusive Avatar trailer with the Chocolate BL40 is a post from: LG Blog

After the success of the LG – twenty8twelve partnership where Sienna Miller and Savannah Miller designed a case for the Chocolate BL40, we are pleased to announce an exclusive competition where you can win one of the very stylish and sought after black leather cases for your phone.

All you have to do to be in with the chance of winning is to answer the following question correctly:
What is the name of the Chocolate BL40′s operating system?
a: Z-class
b: A-class
c: S-class

Email kajsa@lgblog.co.uk with your answer, your address and contact number for your chance to win.
The competition will close at 10am (GMT) on Monday 23 November and the winners will be picked at random and notified the same day.

Please note:
This competition is open to UK residents aged over 18 years old only.

twenty8twelve BL40 Competition is a post from: LG Blog

Thought I would share some good news with you on this beautiful Friday afternoon. Last night the Chocolate BL40 won the “Mobile Phone of the Year“ award at the What Mobile Awards ceremony in London. What Mobile is the UK’s longest running consumer mobile phone magazine and that makes the award very special to us.

“The award for the new LG Chocolate BL40 is a fantastic achievement for LG as it was voted by the general public as a phone that really stood out from the crowd,” says Jeremy Newing, head of marketing, LG Mobile UK and Ireland.

Chocolate BL40: Mobile Phone of the Year is a post from: LG Blog

“They’ve consistently improved their touch-screen technology…and have a real knack for making incredibly sleek, stylish phones too. And in a credit-crunched year, they’ve racked up some impressive profits thanks to high-selling phones like the Arena and Cookie (one million and five million units sold respectively). But it’s not just LG’s mainstream appeal, it’s their innovation in products like the Watch Phone (left), and the recent New Chocolate BL40, which packs cinematic high-res widescreen in possibly the world’s skinniest, longest chassis.”

“LG’s new Chocolate brushes the rest aside to become queen of the catwalk. An eye-catching phone is as much of a fashion statement as the latest handbag or trendy haircut. Our shortlist highlights those phones that are made from the finest materials, have the good looks to turn heads and, above all, ooze class. From its colossal four-inch widescreen display to its polished piano black finish, everything about the LG New Chocolate BL40 sparkles… Unconventionally tall, the handset is svelte, and its display, which has over 16 million colours and a 345×800 pixel count, is one of the most vibrant we’ve seen. Despite facing some tough competition, the LG New Chocolate BL40 is a worthy winner of Most Stylish Phone 2009. It’s almost good enough to eat. Almost.”

LG Chocolate BL40 voted most stylish phone is a post from: LG Blog

The stylish handset is perfect for film fans as the extra wide screen and immaculate sound quality will give a more intense and memorable experience. If  you have not had the opportunity to see the advert yet, take a look and let us know what you think.

The advert is also available at the LG Blogs YouTube channel

Chocolate BL40 Advert is a post from: LG Blog

London Fashion Week is over for 2009.  Our blogging fashion week friend Miggy was busy show hopping, martini sipping, goody bagging and chocolate spotting.

Last week Miggy found herself the awe of the fashionistas when she turned up with her Chocolate BL40 handset.

She was in good company though with fellow Fashion Week attendees such as Alice Dellal, Alexa Chung and none other than Anna Wintour all carrying the accessory of the week, the Chocolate BL40.

Miggy Chocolate spotting is a post from: LG Blog

To LG, TWENTY8TWELVE was the most suitable brand to design the case as they share the common value of ‘Design Innovation’ through a creative collaboration between two completely different fields of technology and fashion. The luxurious leather pouch design no doubt turn heads during Fashion Week, and will no doubt become the accessory to be seen with. Check out the video below with Sienna and Savannah, creative directors of TWENTY8TWELVE, talking about their partnership with LG and their love for the Chocolate BL40.

TWENTY8TWELVE and LG Chocolate BL40 is a post from: LG Blog

They chatted about their mutual passion for fashion and about what has inspired the Miller sisters for the collection. After the interview, our girl Miggy headed to the martini bar to do some mingling and celeb spotting, and she was not disappointed. Fashion Guru and editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour grazed the guests with her presence.We will be following Miggy during London Fashion Week , here at the LG blog, we hope you will join us.

Miggy’s interview with Sienna & Savannah Miller is a post from: LG Blog

Chocolate BL40 and GM750 Handsets – Tips & Tricks is a post from: LG Blog

Miggy @ London Fashion Week is a post from: LG Blog

LG Chocolate BL40 – Design Museum Launch Party Videos is a post from: LG Blog

The launch was at the Design Museum in London, with an exhibition dedicated to the evolution of the Black Label series, and evolution in product design in general.

We’ll have a full debrief on the event – and guest speaker Wayne Hemingway (of Red or Dead and Hemingway design fame)’s presentation – with more photos and videos but for now, have a look at the event and the product video:

You can see more photos from the event on our dedicated Chocolate BL40 launch Flickr set.

LG’s new Chocolate BL40 gets a stylish launch is a post from: LG Blog

What do you think?

LG Chocolate BL40 – first look video! is a post from: LG Blog

“The initial response to the new LG Chocolate phone is exceeding our expectations by a wide margin,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. “Although much of the interest seems focused on the striking shape of the handset, the real surprise will be when people discover the advantages of the 4.0-inch screen in terms of viewing pleasure and ease of use.”

Jeremy Newing, head of marketing, LG Mobile UK and Ireland says, “Selling over 21million units, the success of the first iconic LG Chocolate paved the way for style and design in the mobile industry and the Black Label Series has continued to bring design led handsets to the consumer. With the new LG Chocolate, LG has combined the latest in touchscreen technology with a new chic and slick design to meet consumer demand for HD content. This handset revolutionises the viewing experience on a mobile phone.”

We were lucky enough to get our hands on one for a brief spell, so here are some pictures for you:

As soon as you hear “21:9 ratio” and “widescreen”, there is understandable concern about the handsets size, so here’s a little size comparison, left to right: Crystal GD900 (open), Chocolate BL40 and the LG Secret (open).

(There are more size comparisons in the Flickr set.)

The HD LCD screen is gorgeous and the Chocolate comes with brand new games as standard:

The video-playback is flawless and with Dolby it sounds great too!

You can see more in our LG Chocolate BL40 Flickr set.

Hands on with the new LG Chocolate BL40! is a post from: LG Blog