In a very short time frame we’ve become constantly connected, able to get our internet fix anytime, anywhere. Most of us are more than a little reliant on our Internet connections. MaximumPC breaks down some of the different devices and services that provide internet access across all fifty states, delivering that delicious online content you crave. More »
The third installment of a trilogy is typically the most satisfying. The Empire Falls, Frodo destroys the ring, Cinderella goes back in time. (Okay, that’s a stretch.) Our protagonist in this tale is the Droid 3, which bears an uncanny resemblance to its dad and granddad— but Verizon’s added a few new components and made some minor design tweaks in attempt to improve the overall experience.
Are these adjustments enough to save the series? The original Droid launched with much fanfare, a device that steered Motorola back onto the path of success from its post-RAZR Hades. It had a refreshing gold-laden design that oozed elegance, top-of-the-line specs for its time, and was the pioneer that helped usher Google’s mobile OS into a new era. Each new iteration has received less attention than the one before, however, and the Droid 3 experienced such a quiet launch that we blinked and almost missed it. No matter, though — as long as the phone can speak for itself, it doesn’t need the confetti to accompany it. But is the third time another charm for the Droid? Or will it be buried by other heavyweights like the Droid Bionic or Samsung Galaxy S II Function? Join us after the break to find out.
Gallery: Motorola Droid 3 review
Continue reading Motorola Droid 3 review
Motorola Droid 3 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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3G wireless is now less a privilege than a right, and and with any luck our 4G networks will be similarly self-evident soon. Verizon is doing its part, flipping the switch on 28 new LTE markets today. This boosts the total number of covered areas to 102. Added highlights include: Colorado Springs, Colorado; Augusta, Georgia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Hilo, Hawaii. Meanwhile, folks in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Dallas, San Antonio, and Seattle can now roam a little further from city center without losing LTE. The full list is after the break, but if you’re feeling lucky just go ahead and enable everything on your handset. We’ve got our fingers crossed for you.
Verizon flips the switch on 28 new LTE markets, Louisville Sluggers now available with 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’re here at Sprint’s monolithic campus in Overland Park, and part of our day was spent speaking directly with CEO Dan Hesse. Amongst other things, the bigwig confessed that it had been awhile since his company (or Clearwire) had launched a 4G market. While Verizon Wireless has been pushing out LTE to new cities on what feels like a fortnightly basis, there’s been nary a WiMAX deployment in the US during 2011. But that, friends, is gearing up to change. According to Hesse: “We’re going to come out with a great story this fall around 4G, and it’ll all become clear.” He seemed curiously excited about whatever’s around the bend, and Sprint’s VP of Product Development, Fared Adib, seemed similarly giddy about the impending unveiling. Neither of ’em would crack on what markets would be addressed or what tactics would be used to match rivals in terms of 4G reach, but whatever the case, we’re guessing Sprint users will be a lot happier with their service once they get through the summertime blues.
Oh, and it’s worth mentioning that Sprint’s “not exclusive to WiMAX, nor the Clearwire relationship.” Not a soul on the campus would talk details surrounding that rumored LightSquared investment, but judging by the smiles, it’s at least on the table.
Sprint’s Dan Hesse: significant 4G plans to be announced this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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There were some mumblings that T-Mobile’s OG Galaxy Tab would come packing a Micro SIM, but that rumor never came to pass. Now a similar tale is being spun about Verizon’s LTE-sporting Galaxy Tab 10.1. Android Central got its green, fingerless arms on a purported image of Big Red training docs that reveals the Honeycomb slate will not use the standard-sized 4G SIMs found in the Thunderbolt, Droid Charge, Revolution — instead, it will come stuffed with a tiny 3FF card. The company has already made it abundantly clear that there will be no LTE roaming with its devices, perhaps now it’s trying to discourage users from swapping a single SIM between a phone and tablet to save cash. Or, maybe Samsung chose the format due to space constraints. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see — which hopefully won’t be much longer.
Verizon’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 may pack Micro SIMs, force Charge owners to break out the scissors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Remember that HTC 10-inch Puccini tablet we spotted in May? It just passed through the FCC’s gates with the model number PG09410 and from the looks of things, is headed straight for AT&T’s network. The rumored Honeycomb tablet’s sporting the requisite GSM 850, 1900MHz frequencies and 3G WCDMA 850 and 1900MHz bands, but the real showstopper here are the slate’s LTE radios. With both AWS 4 and 17 bands on board, it’d be a pretty safe guess to see this launch alongside the orange-colored carrier’s LTE rollout. We should note that the FCC doesn’t test for European compatibility, so you could still see this bad boy hit across the Atlantic. What else can we glimpse from that diagram in blue? Based on the size of what appears to be a SIM card slot, we found this Android tab measuring in at the 10-inch mark. Also, you can expect a dual speaker set-up, but sadly no 3D camera. With the rumored June launch date already passed, we’re hoping this’ll hit late summer.
HTC’s Puccini tablet passes through the FCC, has AT&T written all over it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looks like someone took the Droid 3, slapped a new name on it, and shipped it north to our friends in Canada, but added one neat twist — it’s now rocking an extra “G.” Officially known as the XT860 4G, Bell’s version of Motorola’s QWERTY slider comes packed with a HSPA+ radio that can handle the 850MHz, 1900MHz, and 2100MHz bands. That means not only can our ice-sweeping neighbors enjoy blazing fast mobile data, but they can roam the globe without sacrificing their deliciously speedy connection. Otherwise, you’re looking at the same 4-inch, dual-core Gingerbread device that just launched here in the states. For the moment though, price and availability are still up in the syrup-scented air.
Continue reading Motorola XT860 4G is the Droid 3’s curling loving cousin for Bell
Motorola XT860 4G is the Droid 3’s curling loving cousin for Bell originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Several companies are hopping on the LTE bandwagon, but it’s turning out to be more isolating an experience than we hoped. According to PCMag, a Verizon spokesperson confirmed that its fourth-generation broadband network won’t be compatible with other carriers in the US. As it turns out, Big Red and AT&T each own a separate block of 700MHz spectrum with only a fraction of overlap, leaving little room for phones on both networks to mingle with one another. There’s not much hope for roaming on MetroPCS or LightSquared, either, as their waves of LTE run at 1700MHz and 1500MHz, respectively. This smattering of frequencies means it’ll be near impossible to get roam on other companies’ 4G networks nationally. What’s worse, the ITU has approved twelve bands for LTE use around the world, so don’t count on a wide selection of global devices — and you thought sorting through international 3G was bad, didn’t you? We’re still a long way from learning our LTE roaming fate, but it appears the largest carrier in the US won’t make the journey any easier on us.
Verizon LTE: no roaming, even if you want to originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pew pew. Those are the sounds we instantly hear whenever we come across Motorola’s Photon 4G. Sadly, the soon-to-be dual-core star of Sprint’s smartphone lineup won’t come pre-loaded with a laser soundboard on July 31st, but it can be pre-ordered now — for a significant markdown. All it takes is a quick internetting trip to either Wirefly or Walmart, where this WiMAX handset’s up for a $20 – $40 discount. It’s not a massive price chop on par with free, but it should move some yellow-tinged operator inventory. If walking the straight and narrow’s your bag, you could still always opt for the direct carrier two-year contract option — but why? Hit the source to get yourself in line for this cut-rate beast.
Motorola Photon 4G gets the bargain bin treatment at Wirefly, Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 02:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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That Sandy Bridge-equipped, “business rugged” Latitude E6420 that Dell debuted earlier this year just got a little more appealing to data fiends always on the go. That particular model can now be loaded with a Verizon LTE card that, as Big Red likes to brag, is up to ten times faster its 3G EV-DO network. You’re gonna have to cough up the big bucks to put the DW5800 4G mini-card in your laptop, though. The add-on is $249 and you’ll still have to sign up for a data plan, which starts at $30 a month for 2GB — but we’re sure you were prepared for a little sticker shock.
Dell Latitude E6420 adds Verizon LTE option, high price to match high speeds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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