LG Vortex Tips: Video Conversion and Transfer

Cellular Country's LG Vortex has a great screen that just begs for some quality video to show off. But what is the best way for you to convert your favorite videos and transfer them to your cheap cell phones?

In this guide, we show you what software you need to convert videos for viewing on the Vortex, and we also show you how to get your newly converted videos onto your handset.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Installed copy of Handbrake software
2. Video files and or DVD of your choice
3. LG Vortex with microUSB cable

STEPS:

1. Launch the Handbrake application on your computer and select the video source

a. Launch Handbrake (figure 1)
b. In the menu on the right-hand side, select the iPod Legacy preset (figure 1)
c. Select your video source by clicking on the Source dropdown menu (we used a DVD for our testing purposes)
d. Select the destination and name for the file once it has been converted (both the .mp4 and .m4v extension work for the Vortex)
e. Confirm that the container is set to MP4 File and that Large file size, Web optimized, and iPod 5G support are unchecked

2. Adjust Handbrake's Video Settings

        Picture Tab:

             a. Uncheck Keep Aspect Ratio
             b. Set the Vortex Width and Height (the Vortex supports a maximum of 320 x 240 pixels)

           Video Tab:

a. Set Handbrake's encoding settings by clicking on the Video tab (figure 2)
b. Confirm the Video Codec is set as H.264 (x264)
c. Framerate (FPS) should be set to Same as source
d. Under Quality, select the Avg Bitrate (kbps) and change it to 1500

3. Adjust audio settings

a. Set Handbrake's audio settings by clicking on the Audio tab (figure 3)
b. Confirm the Audio Codec is AAC (faac)
c. Mixdown should be set to Stereo
d.  Change the Samplerate to 48
e. Change the Bitrate to 160

4. Save as a preset for future use

a. Click on the Presets menu and select New Preset
b. Enter Vortex in the dialog box and click Add
c.  "Vortex" will now be saved as a preset and listed on the right hand side in Handbrake to be used in the future

5. Convert the video and copy to your Vortex

a. Click on the Start button in Handbrake
b. A command line/DOS window will open and start to process the video conversion
c. Once the conversion is done, mount your Vortex on to your computer via USB
d. Once mounted, create a folder named Video in the root folder on the Vortex
e. Copy converted file into the Video folder



That's it! The converted video can now be played on your Vortex using the Gallery app. It should look fantastic on the Vortex's screen as long as the original source was of good quality.
A few things to keep in mind when converting video:

1. The Vortex does not like video file sizes over 2GB (the settings in Step II should help insure that the file size is kept under 2GB)
2. Your converted video will only be as good as the source video
3. If your source is over 320 x 240, you must be sure to set the width and height to a maximum of 320 x 240 as noted in Step II

LG VN250 Cosmo Tips: Pair with a Bluetooth

The LG VN250 Cosmo from Cellular Country features a full slide-out keyboard, a 1.3-megapixel camera and a Bluetooth 2.1 technology, allowing you to make wireless connections with other cheap cell phones. Most Bluetooth accessories, such as a headset or wireless speaker, are compatible with the LG Cosmos, and allow for hands-free conversations. You'll need to place the device within range and place it in pairing mode in order to set it up with your phone. Maximum range for Bluetooth communication is about 33 feet.

Below are the instructions on how to pair your Bluetooth with the LG VN250 Cosmo.

1. Place the Bluetooth device in pairing or discoverable mode. This process will vary, depending on your specific model. You can activate pairing mode on many devices by pressing and holding the "Power" button for five to ten seconds. See your user guide for details.

2. Press the center "OK" button to open your main menu.

3. Select "Settings and Tools," then select "Bluetooth Menu."

4. Select "Add New Device." Your phone will search for nearby devices. If you are prompted to turn on Bluetooth power, select "Yes."

5. Highlight the name of your device from the "Add New Device" menu. Press "OK."

6. Use the keypad to type in the device pairing passkey when prompted. Most devices use "0000," see your user guide for details. Press "OK." Select "Always Ask" or "Always Connect," then press "OK." Selecting "Always Connect" means your phone will automatically connect with the device when they are on and within range.


Note: The Bluetooth accessory should be charged fully before you begin.

Difference Between a LG VX9700 Dare & a BlackBerry Storm

A number of modern cheap cell phones found at cellularcountry.com are capable of performing a number of communication and multimedia tasks in addition to their role as telephones. Each cheap phone model has its own set of features and specifications intended to make it better at performing those tasks. The BlackBerry Storm 9530 and the LG Dare VX9700 are both Web browsing, touch-screen smartphones on the Verizon network.

Input and Display

The LG Dare and the BlackBerry Storm both use their touch screens as their primary input method. The Dare has a 240-by-400-pixel LCD touch-screen display, which is a slightly lower resolution than the Storm's 480-by-360-pixel LCD touch-screen display. The LG Dare uses an on-screen keyboard with optional handwriting recognition. The Storm's on-screen keyboard provides SurePress tactile feedback, which makes the entire screen clickable. Both cheap cell phones have internal orientation sensors that allow them to change the screen's orientation between portrait and landscape mode when you rotate the phone.

Multimedia

The Storm and the Dare both place an emphasis on multimedia playback. The Storm is compatible with more media file formats than the Dare with support for 3GP, MP3, WMA, WMV, MP4, M4A, AVI and others. The Dare only supports MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC and unprotected AAC+ formats. Both phones have a 3.2-megapixel camera with an LED flash and video-recording capability. The Dare's camera software has face recognition and panorama stitching capabilities. The Dare also includes Verizon's V CAST music store, which allows you to sample and purchase music directly from your phone. The Storm is also compatible with the V CAST software, but it is not included with the phone. Both phones have microSD card slots to expand their memory capacity.

Operating System

The Storm runs on RIM's BlackBerry operating system, which means it runs most BlackBerry-compatible applications, including those found in the BlackBerry App World store. The LG Dare uses a custom operating system with limited support for other applications. The Dare's and other used cell phones' of same sort has an operating system that uses a specially designed dragging interface that allows you to rearrange items and sort data on your phone by dragging visual representations of the objects around the screen.

Physical

The BlackBerry Storm measures 2.4 inches wide by 4.4 inches high by 0.6 inches deep. At 2.2 inches wide by 4.1 inches high by 0.5 inches deep, the LG Dare is slightly smaller. The Dare also weighs considerably less at only 3.76 ounces, compared to the Storm's 5.5 ounces.

Battery

The Storm's battery is rated at 1400 milli amp hours, slightly larger than the Dare's 1,100 milli amp hours battery. The Storm's larger battery gives it longer talk time at 5 hours and 30 minutes compared to the Dare's 4 hours and 40 minutes. Both cheap cell phones are rated for the same standby time, approximately 15 days.