One of the most controversial rumors regarding the upcoming iPad 3 has been whether or not the tablet will feature 4G technology. While countries like the US and Canada have growing LTE networks, others won't see the tech for at least a year.
Tonight, the Wall Street Journal seemingly puts an end to the speculation. The world-renown newspaper is reporting that it has confirmed that both Verizon and AT&T flavored iPad 3s will include the next-generation wireless technology...
Among the rumors we've heard regarding Apple's next-generation tablet, LTE compatibility has come up a number of times. And last month, Bloomberg seemed pretty confident when it reported that the iPad 3 would feature the 4G technology.
Now a new report from PhoneArena adds some weight to the argument, as the site has just learned that AT&T is about to receive a whole new batch of LTE-capable micro SIM cards. Could these be for next-generation iPads and iPhones?
Apple has received a lot of criticism for leaving LTE out of its two latest iOS devices. After all, Android manufacturers have been implementing the 4G technology in handsets and tablets for over a year now.
But as Tim Cook noted last Summer, LTE chipsets have been too big and too battery-intensive thus far for Apple to justify using them in its devices. And it looks like HTC had to find that out the hard way...
Yesterday, we passed on a report from CNET that claimed that Verizon would soon be enforcing a "hard requirement" that all future smartphones be LTE-compatible. The news made some sense considering the carrier has been leading the LTE movement.
But today, the Mac Observer is reporting that they've heard a different story. While Verizon might eventually start requiring manufacturers to incorporate LTE chips into their products, it doesn't look like it'll be happening anytime soon...
We've heard an assortment of rumors over the last month or so regarding Apple's upcoming tablet release. A majority of them seem to agree that a new iPad will debut sometime between late February and early March of this year.
As far as features go, however, the gossip has been all over the place. 7" screen, 10" screen, Siri, quad-core processor — we've heard it all. And now Bloomberg has entered the mix, claiming that Apple's next tablet will be LTE-capable...
The latest in analyst predictions comes from Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty. According to Huberty, the next-generation iPhone will be slimmer and sport a quad-core Qualcomm chip with 3G and LTE compatibility across all networks.
We've heard plenty of rumors regarding the mythical iPhone 5, and this particular analyst claims that Apple will have its upcoming handset ready for customers in the third quarter of this year.
If there's one thing Apple's mobile products have taken a lot of criticism for recently, it's their lack of LTE support. The company released a new tablet and handset last year — neither of which contained the popular 4G technology.
While nearly every Android partner has implemented LTE into their products, Apple has continued to ignore the tech in favor of battery life and reliability. But they may not have a choice in the matter in future Verizon-bound products...
After rolling out its LTE network in 15 markets last year, AT&T takes one more step forward by adding 11 new cities to the grid:
AT&T took a big step toward expanding its high-speed LTE network, announcing on Thursday that it has added 11 more areas, including Los Angeles, the New York Metro Area and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Also getting the service are Austin; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Orlando; Phoenix; Raleigh, N.C.; and San Diego, Calif.
Where's my iPhone LTE, Apple?
Both AT&T and the FCC continue to make headlines today, as reports are surfacing that the Federal Communications Commission has just approved the carrier's purchase of 700MHz wireless spectrum from Qualcomm.
You may recall that the FCC recently announced its disapproval of AT&T's T-Mobile buyout, eventually forcing the carrier to pull out of the deal. But it seems like the two organizations are on the same page this time around...
Rumors of an LTE-capable iPhone didn't materialize at Apple's event last week, adding fuel to the fire for the company's critics. After all, there are dozens of Android handsets available that support next-generation technologies like LTE and WiMax.
But Apple chose to skip on LTE this time around for several reasons. The technology, in its opinion, just wasn't ready. Perhaps there's no better proof of that than AnandTech's new infographic that shows what LTE does to a smartphone's battery life...
Although Apple touted its new smartphone yesterday as "capable" of 4G-like speeds, the iPhone 4S isn't getting the "4G" label. The handset still essentially uses 3G technology, debunking the last-minute rumors that the device would be LTE-capable.
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and it's a common choice for carriers looking to go 4G. The technology has been really popular in Android devices over the last several months, so why didn't we see it in the new iPhone?
After several months of talking about it, AT&T finally seems ready to put up or shut up. On Sunday, the carrier plans on lighting up its new 4G LTE service in 5 major U.S. cities. The news does come with several asterisks though.
One, it's about a year late to the party. Verizon's had a live LTE network since last December. Two, the launch is tiny compared to Verizon's 39-city rollout. And three, there's not even a compatible smartphone available (yet)...