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The ever-shrinking SIM card

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features,

SIM, micro SIM, and nano SIM

What you see in the image above is the evolution of mobile phone SIM card design over the past four years. The largest in the image, known as the mini-SIM, was used for quite a while as the standard in GSM cell phones. However, as smartphones began to rise in popularity, drop is cost, and brought increased functionality, it was determined that the mini-SIM just wasn't mini enough. It took up too much of the precious real estate that mobile phone manufacturers needed for other things. Thing like a GPS radio, Wi-Fi, larger batteries, dock connectors, graphics chips, and more. And so began the start of the shrinking SIM card.

Click to continue reading The ever-shrinking SIM card


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Verizon fixes iPhone 5 glitch that consumed data while connected to Wi-Fi

Verizon iPhone 5 carrier setting update

It appears that iPhone 5 users on the Verizon network were using up their allotted data while connected to Wi-Fi networks. Fortunately, there is a carrier setting update that resolves this issue. As such, this is a highly recommended update for all users on Big Red, even those on unlimited data plans and, of course, those who are on the tiered or shared data plans. It appears that no other carrier is affected by this but, just in case, keep a close watch on your data usage for any funny business.

Click to continue reading Verizon fixes iPhone 5 glitch that consumed data while connected to Wi-Fi

Read More | Apple Support

iPhone 5 review: This is the iPhone we’ve been waiting for

iPhone 5 review

Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 to the world on September 12th, and just 9 days later, the smartphone launched. Pre-sales hit over 2 million in the first 24 hours alone, showing that there was massive demand for the newly redesigned iPhone. According to Apple, it's the best iPhone it's ever made, but does it live up to the hype? More importantly, os it worth your hard-earned cash? We've had a few days to use the iPhone 5 (as well as its built-in operating system, iOS 6,) and we’re ready to break it all down in our iPhone 5 review.

Click to continue reading iPhone 5 review: This is the iPhone we’ve been waiting for


AT&T launches LTE in Seattle, Portland right before iPhone 5 launch

AT&T LTE Seattle Portland

If there's one feature to sway AT&T iPhone customers over to Verizon, it's the fact that Big Red has launched LTE in a ton of markets while AT&T plays catch-up. Tonight, AT&T closed the gap a bit with the launch of its LTE network in both Seattle and Portland, two major metropolitan areas that may have otherwise seen a hefty exodus when the iPhone 5 launches this Friday. Being that Gear Live is based here in the Seattle area, we started getting reports from a bunch of readers that their Lumia 900 devices were all of a sudden showing LTE connectivity. Sure enough, we confirmed it with our own unit, and AT&T followed up with a press release letting everyone know that LTE was now live in both Seattle and Portland areas. Readers are seeing speeds as high as 22Mbps down and 12Mbps up.

We've reached out to AT&T for information on just how large the LTE deployment is in these two metropolitan areas, as Verizon definitely has the entire greater region in each area covered in LTE.

Read More | The Verge

iPhone 5 backordered less than an hour after pre-orders begin!

iPhone 5 backorder

Well, that was fast. iPhone 5 pre-order began at 12:01am this morning, and by 12:56am, the latest Apple smartphone was backordered by a week. Buyers who are late to the game (and by late, we mean an hour late--1:00am Pacific, 4:00am Eastern,) will currently be receiving pre-ordered iPhone 5 units one week after availability, on September 28th. Of course, you can also opt to visit your local Apple, Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon Store on the 21st if you'd rather not wait a week.

Did you pre-order iPhone 5?


iPhone 5 pre-orders begin September 14 at 12:01am Pacific Time

iPhone 5 pre-order

If you're hoping to get an iPhone 5 on launch day without having to wait in line, pre-ordering is your best bet, and pre-orders start tonight at midnight. Just make sure you've got yourself some coffee, or get in a nap, because it might be a long night. Based on previous years, its going to be an absolute frenzy, consisting of a lot of refreshing of web pages, crashing carrier sites, losing your spot as servers melt under the pressure, etc. If you're lucky, you'll get through and be done within just a few minutes. Just make sure you know exactly which iPhone you want--color, capacity, carrier, and plan--so that you aren't trying to make those decisions while time-outs are occurring.

You'll be able to place your order in the U.S. starting at 12:01 Pacific Time, 3:01 a.m. Eastern on Friday, Sept. 14. Good luck.


Apple iPhone 5 LTE partners: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and more

iPhone 5 LTE coverage

During this morning's iPhone 5 event, Apple announced that the iPhone 5 would support LTE, and the list of carriers is huge, spanning the globe. In the US, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon will all support the new iPhone LTE capabilities. Over in Canada, Bell, Rogers, Fido, Virgin Mobile, Telus, and Koodo are all ready for iPhone 5 LTE action. Where Europe is concerned, T-Mobile and the new EE network in the UK are on board. Asia will see Softbank, SKT, KDDI, KT, SmarTone, and SingTei all offering iPhone 5 LTE connectivity. All that said, get ready for much, much faster LTE data if you happen to live in an LTE-supported area, and watch your data caps!

Check out our iPhone 5 event live coverage!


WSJ: The iPhone 5 will support 4G LTE in multiple areas worldwide

iPhone 5 LTE

This afternoon, the WSJ is reporting that Apple's iPhone 5 will indeed support LTE. There's additional good news for frequent travelers:  it will support more LTE bands for global coverage throughout the United States, Europe, and Asian markets. Currently, Apple offers two flavors of LTE for the third generation iPad, which also runs on both Verizon and AT&T networks.

Click to continue reading WSJ: The iPhone 5 will support 4G LTE in multiple areas worldwide

Read More | WSJ

Verizon Droid RAZR HD: 4.7-inch display, LTE, Ice Cream Sandwich

Motorola Droid RAZR HD

Motorola has finally (formally) unveiled the Droid RAZR HD, its new flagship device going into the holiday season. At its Motorola. On Display. event, the Droid RAZR HD was revealed as the world's most compact 4.7-inch smartphone, sporting a 4.7-inch 720p display, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, NFC, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, and a nice 2,500mAh battery. The phone is wrapped in that same Kevlar coating that we saw on the original Droid RAZR and it 8.4mm thin. The Droid RAZR HD will ship with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, but a Jelly Bean upgrade should drop before the end of the year. Expect the device to launch on Verizon, with 4G LTE in tow, this holiday season.

Click to continue reading Verizon Droid RAZR HD: 4.7-inch display, LTE, Ice Cream Sandwich


LG Intuiton to hit Verizon with 5-inch display, 4G LTE, $200 on September 6

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,

LG Intution

If you though that the Galaxy Note II was the only giant Android phone we'd be seeing this year, LG has other plans. The LG Intuition will be coming to Verizon Wireless for $200 with two-year contract, and it'll sport 4G LTE compatibility. It's got a huge 5-inch display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor,  and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Verizon will start taking orders online starting tomorrow, while in-store shoppers should see the Intuition in stores on September 10.


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