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The iPhone 8 has a gigabit LTE modem (updated)
At first blush, iFixit's tech autopsy on the iPhone 8 didn't reveal anything particularly notable, besides some different screws and a way to remove the glass backing. So far, so meh. But then when it came to the laundry list of chips and modems all crammed inside Apple's latest smartphones, we noticed something. It looks like the company has made its first gigabit LTE phone, capable of substantially faster download speeds. Or at least, the iPhone 8 could have, if it had everything else.
Apple Watch Series 3 struggles to connect to LTE
For those awaiting their new Apple Watch Series 3, be prepared for some connectivity issues. The Verge's Lauren Goode reports that during her review of the new smartwatch, it frequently struggled to connect to LTE and often linked to an unknown WiFi network instead. While surfing, and away from WiFi signals, Goode says that her watch either had a single bar of service or no service at all. And her connectivity issues spanned across two separate sample units. The Wall Street Journal reported similar issues with LTE, also across multiple watches.
T-Mobile confirms the new Apple Watch will get LTE speeds
The Apple Watch Series 3 comes with built-in LTE, but as MacRumors pointed out, T-Mobile's add-on $10 wearable plan limits devices to 512kb/s connections. Tonight T-Mobile CEO John Legere announced its plan for the Watch will include unlimited 4G LTE, saying that "We always listen & act!" That should help keep things even among the US carriers for anyone picking up a new iPhone and/or wrist-worn accessory. Of course, according to a T-Mobile spokesperson, the most data-intensive app on the Watch is high quality Apple Music streaming, which tops out at about 256kbps.
Apple Watch Series 3 gains LTE for $399
Just a year after the Apple Watch Series 2 was launched onto an unsuspecting public, Apple has updated its iconic timepiece once again. The Apple Watch Series 3 shares a similar case to its forebear, but most crucially, comes with an optional built-in LTE radio. That means that users can now make calls to their friends without the use of their smartphone, letting you finally live all of those Babylon 5 fantasies.
iOS 11 leak reveals the LTE-enabled Apple Watch
A copy of iOS 11 in its final development stage has leaked online, and 9to5mac has dissected the software to reveal the secrets we're bound to hear during Apple's upcoming event. One of the publication's most notable discoveries is an image of what seems to be the LTE-enabled Apple Watch from within the wearable's app. It has a black Sport band, which indicates that the current bands will also fit the new model, and an eye-catching red Digital Crown. The most telling part of the image, though, is the watchface: it has a signal indicator in the middle that signifies cellular connection, as well as a phone and a navigation icon.
Xfinity Mobile arrives to all of Comcast's markets
If you're using Comcast's Xfinity internet service anywhere in the US, you can now get on the company's Xfinity Mobile service, too. Just over four months after it was first revealed, Comcast has completed the rollout of the service (powered by Verizon's network) "across all of its sales channels," it says. Comcast has since simplified the plans, and now simply offers either a $45 per month "unlimited" offering, or $12/GB if you'd rather go à la carte.
T-Mobile boosts coverage with the first 600MHz LTE network
That cellular equipment you see above may not look like much, but don't dismiss it too quickly -- it could be crucial to the future of wireless data. T-Mobile has switched on the world's first 600MHz LTE sites in Cheynne, Wyoming, promising less congested networks (and thus higher real-world speeds) and better coverage, especially indoors and in those rural areas where range is vital. It's a modest start, but the carrier promises more 600MHz sites in 10 additional states before the year is over. The tricky part is getting a device that can take advantage of it... you'll have to wait a while for that.
The next Apple Watch might not need an iPhone for data
Well, Apple Watch fans have more to look forward to than just a new operating system. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple will release a version of its Watch with cellular network support built-in by year's end, relieving users of the need to carry their iPhones around. Three words: it's about time.
Karma's new hotspot gives users a cloak of invisibility
Personal hotspot hardware provider Karma has announced a new security-focused product, Karma Black. A specialized version of the company's KarmaGO hotspot device, Karma Black will provide anonymous browsing (Tor), an integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN), blacklisting and ad-blocking. KarmaGO allows users to establish a WiFi connection through 4G via a small portable device, either on a pay-as-you-go basis or through a monthly data plan -- it's particularly popular with business travellers. Karma Black will operate in the same way, but will act as an invisibility cloak for users, encrypting web activity and hiding physical location. It'll also provide beefier protection against intrusive advertising and viruses.
Samsung's latest LTE modem supports faster-than-fiber speeds
If you're in the market for the Galaxy S9 next year, it could have a modem that's faster than your home fiber connection. Samsung has unveiled a co-called 6CA (carrier aggregation) modem that can handle download speeds as high as 1.2 Gbps, fast enough to download a full-length HD movie in 10 seconds.
T-Mobile launches speedy LTE-U service in six cities
The war over speedier LTE data is heating up in a big, big way. T-Mobile has launched LTE-U (that is, LTE riding on unlicensed frequencies) in parts of a handful of cities, including T-Mobile's home turf in Bellevue as well as Brooklyn, Dearborn, Las Vegas, Richardson and Simi Valley. If you have a compatible device (just the Galaxy S8 for now), it'll take advantage of public 5GHz wireless to give your service a boost. And if that's not fast enough, both T-Mobile and AT&T are offering a peek at the next wave of not-quite-5G speeds.
Computex was a reminder that the age of the eSIM is upon us
Nestled inside your cellphone is a teensy sliver of plastic you almost certainly never think about. That's your SIM card -- the bit that basically stores your phone's identity and passes it along to whatever wireless carrier network you pay for. It's absolutely crucial to the way your phone operates, but wireless carriers and network companies have been plotting its demise for years. As far as they're all concerned, the future belongs to what's called an eSIM -- short for "embedded SIM" -- woven directly into the silicon fabric of a device's modem. Now, thanks to some crucial announcements made at Computex, we're getting a better sense of just how pervasive these things are going to be.
What is mobile gigabit, and why should you care?
You may have heard about this thing called a gigabit phone recently. The term was thrown around a lot during the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S8, since that's the first commercially available handset to support the technology. But gigabit will also be included on Sony's Xperia XZ Premium and other high-end phones, which means you'll probably hear about it a lot more later this year. And it's going to be a big deal.
Samsung promises Tizen phones aren't dead with the budget Z4
Samsung has plenty of reasons to give up on Tizen phones -- they're a security nightmare and there are basically no apps. However, it's not punting yet on its home-grown OS, as it has just launched its fourth Tizen smartphone, the Z4. The device is aimed clearly at emerging markets, with low-end specs: a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a lightly-curved 4.5-inch "2.5 D" WVGA screen and 5-megapixel camera. Rather, Samsung is pitching it to "first time smartphone users" who want a simple device and LTE connectivity.
Qualcomm study says sure, you can control a drone over LTE
Internet-connected drones will be necessary if you're going to see fliers that can communicate when they're delivering packages, livestreaming video or otherwise coordinating with the outside world. But how well can you control them over an LTE data connection when they're soaring hundreds of feet above the ground? Quite well, if you ask Qualcomm. The chip maker has published the results of a trial run using LTE-linked drones, and it believes that they're ready for prime time... mostly.
Playing 'Splatoon 2' over LTE won't kill your data plan
When Nintendo first revealed its new game console back in October, it chose to end the device's teaser trailer with a shot of a packed arena cheering an esports team. Its game of choice was Splatoon 2 for Nintendo Switch. The scene represented two things: Nintendo staking a claim in the competitive gaming space and a promise that the new console's portability would allow gamers to take that competitive online experience on the road. I put the latter half of that pledge to the test during last week's Global Testfire preview, and it held up better than I ever imagined.
Samsung finally has an LTE model of the Gear S3 Classic
If you're in the market for a new wearable with a retro look, Samsung today announced that its Gear S3 Classic smartwatch is getting 4G LTE connectivity. The original Classic lacked this feature, opting for WiFi instead. S3 fans had to go with the Frontier version if they wanted LTE.
Jaguar follows Chevy with unlimited LTE for your car
In-car WiFi is only worth having if you've got enough mobile data to make use of it. Following Chevy's lead, Jaguar Land Rover will offer a pre-paid, unlimited AT&T data plan for $20 a month. The luxury automaker says that you can connect as many as eight devices to the LTE network via the InControl feature on certain models, including the Jaguar XE. If that car sounds familiar, that's because it's one of the few that you can make in-car, cashless gas payments from. Would you pony up for the mobile data service? Let us know in the comments.
Qualcomm's chips bring 4G connectivity to dumb phones
In an effort to differentiate its processor lineups (and annoy tech publications), Qualcomm recently renamed its chips as "Mobile Platforms" instead of "processors." We can now see why: It just unveiled the 205 processor, er, Mobile Platform, its first low-end 200-series chips with LTE and no Snapdragon branding. The idea is to bring services like banking, Voice over LTE (VoLTE), and music or video streaming to feature phone users in Latin America, India and other regions just getting high-speed data services.
Chevy is the first major car company with unlimited LTE data
Chevrolet's latest OnStar LTE plan would be every smartphone user's dream, if it wasn't confined to cars. Starting March 3rd, Chevy owners can get unlimited 4G data, including an OnStar WiFi hotspot, for $20 a month, prepaid. It's apparently economies of scale that are helping Chevy lower costs. It has sold 3.1 million OnStar LTE-equipped cars, more than any other automaker, and customers streamed 4 million GB of hotspot WiFi data in 2016, double the year before.
