LG's touchscreen Dare boasts 3.2MP camera

Not happy with the iPhone's two-megapixel snapper? Check out the just-announced Dare, a new touchscreen handset from LG that packs in a 3.2MP camera, complete with on-board photo editing tools.

Details on the LG Dare, announced just days after Apple made a splash with the iPhone 3G, are still sketchy. The 3G handset for Verizon Wireless is slated to go on sale sometime next month, although there's still no word on pricing or an exact street date.

From the looks of the press image, the Dare has a good-sized touch display, while earlier leaks suggest an interface similar to that of LG's Vu on AT&T—a handset that I felt failed to take full advantage of its touch UI.

What sets the Dare apart from touch-enabled competitors like the Vu, the iPhone, and Samsung's new Instinct is its 3.2-megapixel camera, which makes for the highest-resolution snapper of the bunch (the rest all made do with 2MP cameras). The camera will auto-adjust for low or uneven lighting conditions, Verizon promises. No word on a flash, though.

Verizon is also touting the Dare's photo editing abilities; for example, you'll be able to add borders, landscapes, or even draw doodles with your finger. Once you're done snapping, you'll get the chance to upload your pictures to "a social networking site," Verizon says; whether that means MySpace, Facebook, or another service remains to be seen.

Beyond that, the Dare will come with access to streaming V Cast music and videos and turn-by-turn directions via VZ Navigator. Bluetooth also appears to be on board, although there's apparently no Wi-Fi or MediaFlo-enabled mobile TV, a la the Vu.

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Press release