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AT&T doubles down on its 5G fib
AT&T is facing quite the pushback over its decision to label its upgraded LTE network as "5G Evolution," and not just from rival carriers (yes, including Engadget parent Verizon) taking cheap shots at a competitor. However, it's determined to stick by its decision. In an interview with Tom's Guide, the company's Igal Elbaz defended the decision. AT&T had been "pretty public" about what it was doing for some time, he said, and the indicator helps them know they're in an "enhanced experience" coverage area. He added that all of the provider's relevant hardware investment was "5G ready," so it just had to flick a software switch to enable the new technology on its end once both the code and devices were available.
Sprint says AT&T is 'blatantly misleading consumers' with fake 5G
Sprint has blasted AT&T after the latter made it seem Android phones on its network are connected to a version of 5G. It updated the LTE icon on the devices to read "5GE" (for "5G Evolution"), but the phones are still using 4G connections. "AT&T is blatantly misleading consumers -- 5GE is not real 5G," Sprint CTO Dr. John Saw said in a statement to Engadget.
AT&T gets burned by rivals over its fake 5G network
When AT&T admitted that its new 5G network was actually regular old 4G LTE with a fresh logo, the internet was having none of it. It might have become a trend among wireless operators, but fortunately Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have also given their rival the gears.
AT&T's Android phones now lie about having 5G
Like it or not, AT&T's not-really-5G icon is reaching phones. The carrier has started rolling out the indicator to Android handsets, including Samsung's Galaxy S8 Active and LG's V30. Install the update and you'll see a "5G E" (5G Evolution) indicator where you used to see "LTE." More eligible devices will see the new cellular icon in the spring, so don't think you'll escape it if you have a reasonably modern device.
AT&T will give some Android phones a faux 5G icon
Remember when carriers started showing a "4G" indicator even though you were only using advanced 3G? Those days are back. AT&T has told FierceWireless that it will soon switch the "LTE" indicator on some Android phones to "5G E" (5G Evolution) in those areas where it's using upgraded LTE technology, such as 4x4 MIMO antennas and 256 QAM signal transmissions. If you're using actual 5G on millimeter wave frequencies, you'll see a "5G+" label instead.
Qualcomm's 8cx chipset just might make always-on PCs worth using
The last time I used one of new always-on PCs, I was intrigued by its potential -- why wouldn't I want to use an actual Windows computer that was always online? My job would be so much easier if I didn't need to, I don't know, stress about WiFi or events or file stories while waiting to get on the subway. Needless to say, the reality didn't quite live up to the hype.
Mobile internet is faster than WiFi in 33 countries
It's tempting to assume that a good WiFi hotspot will outpace modern cellular data, but that's not necessarily true -- in some countries, WiFi might be more of a pain. OpenSignal has conducted a study showing that mobile data is faster on average than WiFi hotspots in 33 countries, including multiple African, European, Latin American and Middle Eastern nations. And the differences are sometime gigantic. You'll typically have an advantage of 10Mbps or more in places like Australia, Oman and the Czech Republic, while multi-megabit advantages are common in places like Austria, Iran and South Africa.
Microsoft's Surface Go with LTE will be available November 20th
Microsoft is releasing the LTE version of its 10-inch Surface Go tablet later this month. It will be available in the US and Canada November 20th, and 21 other countries by November 22nd. Preorders open today in some markets.
Samsung added LTE to the Chromebook Plus V2
Back in June, Samsung launched a follow-up to the Chromebook Plus, replacing the original's ARM processor with a faster Intel chip and equipping it with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. Now, the tech giant has introduced an upgraded version of that upgraded version, giving it the ability to connect to the internet on its own even in the absence of WiFi or a device with hotspot. Called the Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE), it's still the same premium device released a few months ago, except it comes with LTE connectivity.
After Math: Hello Darkness, my old friend
Well, this week lasted years. While we weren't being bludgeoned by the cantankerous Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, we were learning about how 50 million Facebook users had their accounts hacked, that Elon Musk is being sued by the SEC for his Twitter posts (the ones about privatizing Tesla, not the ones wherein he libels a rescue diver), and that Red Dead Redemption 2 will rustle the remainder of your hard drive's free space.
AT&T and Harman bring connected features to your existing car
AT&T is joining the ranks of carriers that can bring a whole suite of connected car technology to older passenger vehicles. It's launching the Harman Spark, an OBD-II dongle that adds diagnostics, tracking and LTE data to cars from 1996 and beyond. Unlike the old ZTE Mobley, this isn't just about internet access. It can alert you to car trouble (including theft), help you find and pay for roadside help and locate your vehicle.
You'll have to pay $50 more for Samsung's LTE Galaxy Watch
Samsung just outlined how much it will cost you to get an LTE version of the Galaxy Watch and leave your phone at home. The company's product pages show that you'll be paying a $50 premium for the T-Mobile-oriented cellular version arriving at launch, starting at $380 for the 42mm model and climbing to $400 for the chunky 46mm edition. For context, the LTE-equipped Apple Watch Series starts at $400 for a 38mm model and $430 for 42mm wristwear.
Samsung's Exynos modem will make 5G phones real
Samsung has unveiled a 5G modem that meets all the latest standards and can hit 6Gbps mmWave speeds. The Exynos Modem 5100, built using Samsung's 10-nanometer process, conforms to the latest 3GPP release 15 spec for sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G spectrums. At the same time, it's compatible with current 2G, 3G and LTE standards, with speeds as high as 1.6Gbps on advanced 4G networks.
Verizon accused of misleading FCC on rural LTE coverage
Rural carriers have accused Verizon of using shady tricks to hinder its cellular competition. In a letter to the FCC, the Rural Wireless Association accused Verizon of providing the regulator with a "sham coverage map" that distorted the reach of its LTE network in order to deprive competitors of Mobility Fund subsidy money. Big Red said it covered nearly all of the Oklahoma Panhandle in its report to officials, but engineers testing against the FCC's 5Mbps standard estimated that the real coverage area was less than half as large.
AT&T expands its 5G network to North Carolina and Oklahoma City (updated)
AT&T's mobile 5G network will expand to three new cities this year. Folks in two of North Carolina's biggest population centers -- Charlotte (above) and Raleigh -- and those in Oklahoma City will have access to the faster wireless signal. Previously, it announced Atlanta, and Dallas and Waco in Texas. "We're deliberately launching with a mix of big and mid-sized cities," AT&T said in a press release. "All Americans should have access to next-gen connectivity to avoid a new digital divide."
Permanent LTE exploits steer users to rogue websites
LTE was theoretically supposed to fix the security holes baked into earlier wireless standards, but it isn't completely immune. An international team of researchers has discovered a attack methods (nicknamed aLTEr) that takes advantage of inherent flaws in LTE to direct users to hostile websites. An active exploit uses the lack of integrity checks in LTE's lower layers to modify the text inside a data packet. Since that's easy to determine with DNS packets, which direct traffic to website addresses, you can steer requests to malicious DNS servers and thus take the user to a website of your choice.
Xiaomi's latest tablet offers LTE on the cheap
Save for the earlier false alarm of Google nixing the tablet section on its website, things have been a little quiet in the Android tablet world. But earlier today, Xiaomi updated its tablet lineup with the Mi Pad 4, an 8-inch, 0.76-pound metallic slate that starts from a mere 1,099 yuan or about $170. Not bad at all for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 device with 3GB of LPDDR4x RAM, 32GB of eMMC 5.1 storage, microSD expansion, a 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display and more. For an extra 300 yuan (about $46), you get 4GB of RAM plus twice as much storage; but you might as well throw in another 100 yuan ($15) for the LTE + GPS version. At 1,499 yuan or about $230, the Mi Pad 4 is one of the most affordable LTE tablets coming from a major brand.
Tesla will charge for 'premium' internet on new cars starting July 1st
Ever since Tesla started offering cellular data access in its cars, there's been the implication that it would eventually charge for service. In 2014, it indicated that would start charging in 2018. Four years later, that moment is at hand... although it's not playing out as you'd expect. Electrek has obtained a sales team email indicating that Tesla is launching a paid Premium Connectivity package for cars ordered on or after July 1st. There will still be no-extra-charge (Standard Connectivity) cell access, according to the email -- you'll just have to pay to get features that current owners take for granted.
T-Mobile is bringing its long-range LTE to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria several months later, but it should have the benefit of thoroughly modern networks as it returns to health. T-Mobile now plans to roll out its 600MHz Extended Range LTE networking in the US territory this fall. This should provide more coverage and capacity than you sometimes see on the mainland (it has twice the range of "mid-band" LTE, T-Mobile claimed) as long as you have a compatible device.
AT&T's Dash-like smart button doesn't need WiFi
AT&T has launched a new product called LTE-M button, which allows users to place an order online in one click. Yes, it sounds just like Amazon Dash -- in fact, it's powered by Amazon Web Services -- but since it's connected to AT&T's LTE-M network, it doesn't need a WiFi connection to work. AT&T's button was also designed more for businesses than homes and individuals. It's not pre-programmed like Amazon's Dash buttons are, and companies can program it to accomplish tasks that fit their needs.
