Hasta La Gadget!

Verizon is sharing its grand vision of the future of TV at CES this year which not only includes FiOS TV programming on its set-tops and iPads, but also via Blu-ray players, game consoles, and even directly on the TV without any tethered box at all. And unlike other providers, Verizon isn’t taking the media server approach because it doesn’t scale. The demo at the at CES’s bloggers lounge included all four screens with a Samsung Blu-ray player’s app delivering both traditional live TV, DVR’d content and video-on-demand — in this case the DVR content was being streamed from a FiOS DVR, but the device could have internal storage. Because this content is to be delivered via IP instead of QAM, there’s the chance that this programming could be delivered everywhere and to any screen (rights issues aside of course). That’s the good news, the (potentially) bad news is that all this great content will only be delivered via Verizon’s software, so if you’re a TiVo or Media Center guy, no programming for you. We still stick by the idea that true inovation will only come when cable customers can chose both their hardware and their software, but we you can bet we’ll bite our tongue and enjoy some HD when we are not standing on our soap box.

Verizon intends to take its FiOS TV to every box, maybe even everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cellphone parts supplier Global Direct Parts has gotten its hands on, well, something. A video posted to YouTube shows what the company calls the iPhone 5, in five minutes of mind-numbing detail.

The “iPhone 5″ looks very similar to the current model, with the only external changes being a redesigned antenna band. This band now has an extra separation line between sections of the antenna. Internally, things have been rejigged, with redesigned connectors and a change in the layout of some parts.

Is this the iPhone 5? It could be. After all, the external changes between the iPhones 3G and 3GS were minimal. It could also be a new universal iPhone, made to work on both Verizon’s CDMA network as well as GSM networks (the micro-SIM slot is still there). That might explain the antenna redesign, and the reworked internals.

It could also be a fake, but the fact that the original video has been removed from YouTube at Apple’s request lends it some credence. You can still find the video, of course. I won’t bother with a link, as the one I found will surely be gone very quickly, but if you search YouTube for “GlobalDirectParts iPhone 5″ then you”ll get it.”

Next generation iPhone casing, innards revealed on video [BGR]

iPhone 5 or Verizon Wireless iPhone Photos Leaked! [Smartphone Medic]

See Also:

• Analyst Predicts Verizon iPhone Announcement Next Week
• WSJ: Verizon iPhone Debuts Early 2011
• IPhone 4 Loses Reception When Antenna Band Is Touched
• It's Time Apple Fixed the iPhone 4 Antenna Problem

The Motorola Droid Bionic is Verizon's flagship smartphone on the 4G network. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

LAS VEGAS — Just as TV manufacturers have been hawking 3-D TVs with barely any 3-D content to watch, carriers are heavily promoting 4G devices for networks that have spotty coverage at best.

After years of hyping up its fourth-generation cellular network, Verizon on Thursday announced 10 4G devices that will be rolling out this year. AT&T also said this week that it plans to release 20 4G devices by end of 2011.

Both companies have made only initial steps in deploying their 4G networks, so if you buy one of their high-speed devices today, you’ll probably be using it in the slower 3G mode more often than not.

That’s not stopping company executives from making grand pronouncements.

“During this three-year journey, from acquiring spectrum to launch, we not only transformed our network, but also our business,” said Dan Mead, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless. “The result is true magic — the sum of a powerful network, applications, software systems and devices that bring 4G LTE to life.”

It’s probably not going to seem very magical when your brand-new 4G smartphone can’t find a signal.

To date, Sprint is the only carrier that actually has a widespread 4G network. Sprint started deploying its network in 2008, and it currently offers 4G coverage in 70 markets and through 17 4G devices, including phones and netbooks.

AT&T, on the other hand, is only beginning to launch its 4G service, planning to roll it out widely by sometime mid-2011. Verizon just last month started its 4G network in 38 major metropolitan areas. That means for AT&T and Verizon customers, 4G coverage this year will only be available for a few dozen cities.

Succeeding 3G networks, the 4G network operates under a cellular standard called LTE, or Long Term Evolution, that carriers are adopting internationally. (If you haven’t already, read Wired.com’s full explainer on 4G.)

Verizon and rival AT&T both highlighted their 4G networks at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Both carriers are promoting flagship Motorola 4G smartphones: the Atrix 4G on AT&T and the Droid Bionic on Verizon. Each smartphone features the brand-new, dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor.

Verizon has partnered with manufacturers HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung to serve smartphones on the 4G network. Additionally, the company is working with Motorola and Samsung to offer 4G tablets.

The rest of Verizon’s 4G lineup includes the Motorola Xoom — a tablet that will ship with Honeycomb, Google’s Android OS modified for tablets. Also, the already-released Samsung Galaxy Tab will work on Verizon’s 4G network, too.

The remaining devices are Android smartphones from LG, HTC and Samsung that include the older 1-GHz Snapdragon processor.

Releasing 10 devices can be considered a punch in the face to AT&T, which only listed three 4G smartphones during CES. However, AT&T did say it expects to have more than 20 4G devices released by the end of 2011.

But no matter how many devices the companies toss into the 4G world, they can’t change the fact that their 4G networks are far from mature.

It may not have a dual-core processor, but the 4.3-inch HTC Thunderbolt is a beauty to behold — not to mention a speed demon with Verizon LTE on board. We just got our paws on the 1GHz Snapdragon-powered Android 2.2 handset at CES 2011, and immediately fired off packets in an online speedtest. While we’re not entirely certain Verizon’s building-penetrating 700Mhz frequencies would typically work deep in the heart of Las Vegas’ Venetian Hotel, it definitely did here, delivering nearly 18Mbps and loading full websites in a snap. The Desire HD-inspired hardware itself is no slouch either, with a solid if oh-so-slightly hollow build, a responsive glass touchpanel, and positively lovely colors from the 4.3-inch Super LCD screen — a coup for HTC in and of itself — and the strong, EVO 4G-like kickstand that hides the speakerphone is a nice touch. Here’s hoping Verizon doesn’t ask for internal organs or first-born children to turn this beast into an LTE hotspot. Find video after the break, and loads of pics below.

Myriam Joire and Darren Murph contributed heavily to this report.

Continue reading HTC Thunderbolt first hands-on (update: video!)

HTC Thunderbolt first hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The white curtains just lifted here at the Samsung booth at CES to unveil the Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone. This Verizon LTE-ready beast touts a Super AMOLED Plus display, runs Android 2.2 with TouchWiz and features a front-facing cam. On the rear it’s got an 8 megapixel auto-focus shooter and mini HDMI on the hip. We’re busy sorting out details and grabbing pics more. Stay tuned!

Update: We’ve added the gallery with hands-on shots for your viewing pleasure!

Update 2: Samsung nor Verizon were willing to talk labels, but it’s a pretty safe bet this phone is the SCH-i520 we peeked earlier in the week.

Samsung 4G LTE smartphone for Verizon (SCH-i520) first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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