Last week at CTIA, Kellex had time to go hands-on with LG’s new Optimus 3.0 user interface on the Optimus 4X HD which is a new toned down, yet feature-rich version of their Android skin. LG explains that with 3.0, they were looking to be less intrusive, while still being able to bring functionality and ease of use to LG device owners. Surprisingly enough, Kellex actually gave the new UI high marks and said it was a much needed improvement over previous versions. For vanilla Android purists, this next quote from LG’s CEO of Mobile Communications may sicken you:

With smartphone hardware becoming more and more similar, it’s important for manufacturers to differentiate their products from the competition through the user interface.

From what we have seen and readers have expressed, LG has done anything but stay up-to-par with the competition hardware wise. It’s interesting to see them pay so much attention to the UI when people have been calling for better hardware designs. Down below is the full list of additional features LG has baked into the new interface. 

When I saw that CTIA had booked the 4 CEOs from the top 4 U.S. carriers to get on stage and banter about the industry, I immediately penciled it into my schedule. They ran a similar keynote last year, but with the AT&T and T-Mobile merger still up in the air at the point, it was missing T-Mo’s CEO. With that merger now squashed, this will be the first time that all 4 will gather. It’s moderated, but it should make for some entertaining commentary.

This week, CTIA Wireless 2012 is poppin’ off in New Orleans and we are here to cover anything major that comes out of it. Think of this wireless show as a mini-CES that focuses on mobile only, rather than the TV, computer stuff and overwhelming amounts of spam products. It should be a decent show, with Verizon already announcing the DROID Incredible 4G LTE – a device that we should have our hands on before too long. Samsung, HTC, Qualcomm and most of the other players you have grown accustomed to will also be around in some capacity, showing off their latest products. Galaxy SIII in the building? We’ll see.

Keynotes begin tomorrow morning to open up the event, followed by an afternoon session that should be a blast. We get the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint all on stage together to banter about the industry, LTE and more. Wednesday’s keynote includes Spotify, Visa , EA and Firefox – Thursday’s is former President Bill Clinton.

The press events kick off this afternoon, so don’t be surprised if the press releases start trickling out this evening. Again, if it’s big, we will try to bring it your way. In between the oysters, po boys and local brews, of course.