Wednesday, 25 August 2010 16:37
Sprint's HTC EVO was the world's first 4G-capable smartphone and has been in high demand since its launch earlier this summer. On August 31, 2010, a second 4G-capable phone will join the EVO on Sprint's network: the Samsung's Epic 4G. The successful launch of the EVO and all of the anticipation that is surrounding the upcoming launch of the Epic has prospective users wondering which of the two might be the right phone with which to make the leap to 4G. Both devices utilize the popular Android OS (operating system), provide 3G/4G capabilities, and offer the option to use the phone as a mobile hotspot, but there are a number of features that make these two phones unique. Below you'll find the primary differences between the EVO and the upcoming Epic. For more information on either phone, make sure to check out our EVO FAQ and Epic FAQ!
Display:
- Samsung Epic 4G: 4.0" Super AMOLED (Super Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode)
- HTC EVO 4G: 4.3" WVGA (Wide Video Graphics Array)
- What This Difference Means: The Epic 4G will feature a better overall display that has a much brighter picture; however, it may be harder to view in areas with lots of light.
Size/Weight:
- Saumsung Epic 4G: 4.9" 2.54" x 0.56" (LxWxT); Weight: 5.46 ounces
- HTC EVO 4G: 4.8" x 2.6" x .5" (LxWxT); Weight: 6 ounces
- What This Difference Means: Even though the HTC EVO has a larger screen than the Epic, it's still a bit smaller overall than the Samsung Epic - although the Epic is slightly lighter. The Epic's QWERTY keyboard understandably makes the Epic slightly thicker than the EVO.
Operating System:- Samsung Epic 4G: Operates on Android OS 2.1
- HTC EVO 4G: Comes with Android 2.1 installed and can be updated to Android OS 2.2 (Android 2.2 Feature overview)
- What This Difference Means: EVO users have the option of upgrading to Android 2.2, which provides faster performance and includes more features. It is unknown when Samsung will make the Epic 4G 2.2 compatible (we will find out after launch).
Processor:- Samsung Epic 4G: 1Ghz Hummingbird Processor
- HTC EVO 4G: 1Ghz Snap Dragon Processor
- What This Difference Means: The Epic's 1Ghz Hummingbird Processor has an edge over the EVO's Snap Dragon processor, allowing you to access applications faster.
Cameras:- Samsung Epic 4G: 5MP rear camera with flash and front-facing VGA camera
- HTC EVO 4G: 8MP rear camera with flash and front-facing 1.3MP camera
- What This Difference Means: While a 5MP camera is very good or a cell phone, the HTC EVO 4G has an advantage in the camera department with its 8MP (Mega Pixel) rear camera. This allows the camera to shoot pictures that have a greater pixel density for better detail.
Physical QWERTY Keyboard:- Samsung Epic 4G: Yes, slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard and virtual keyboard
- HTC EVO 4G: No, virtual keyboard only
- What This Difference Means: If you prefer a physical keyboard for data entry and texting, the Epic is the choice for you. If you don't mind typing on a virtual keyboard, the HTC EVO 4G has a excellent virtual keyboard and voice input features.
Media Streaming:- Samsung Epic 4G: DLNA (communicate directly to other DLNA-enabled devices)
- HTC EVO 4G: HDMI (direct output to HDMI-capable HDTV)
- What This Difference Means: With a compatible HDMI cable, the HTC EVO 4G will allow you to connect directly to your HDTV to view recorded or streamed video. The Epic will require another network-capable DLNA device to communicate with to share media.
Mobile Hotspot Feature:
- Samsung Epic 4G: Yes, support for up to 5 devices
- HTC EVO 4G: Yes, support for up to 8 devices
- What This Difference Means: Both devices offer an optional mobile hotspot feature for $29.99/mo, which provides truly unlimited 3G/4G access (no 5GB cap like 3G/4G aircards). The HTC EVO does take the edge with the ability to support up to 8 WiFi devices, but either device can be paired with the Pepwave Surf Mini wireless bridge to get around the 5- or 8-user limit.
As you can see, there are some subtle differences between these two phones that make both appealing to different types of users. The Samsung Epic should appeal to a different auidence based solely on the fact that it has full QWERTY keyboard. Some users can't comfortably use a touch screen interface for typing and prefer a physical keyboard to type on. Others will go for the larger screen resolution and better camera of the HTC EVO. With either choice you can't go wrong - both devices are extremely powerful and have a host of features as well full 4G support!
The HTC EVO is currently out of stock, but we are accepting pre-orders for our next shipment (price is $199.99 after rebate w/ new 2-year or eligible upgrade). The Samsung Epic will be available on 8/31/10 and we are accepting pre-orders now (price is $249.99 after rebate w/ new 2-year or eligible upgrade)
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Thursday, 19 August 2010 16:50
3Gstore.com is thrilled to announce that we are now able to ship orders to over 200 countries worldwide! Mobile broadband is not restricted just to North America, and we are happy to now be able to provide users all over the world with products like 3G/4G routers, 3G antennas, unique equipment like the Pepwave Surf Mini WiFi bridge and the IP Switch, and more. Thanks to FedEx's international shipping options, 3Gstore products are now accessible to millions of mobile broadband fans. "We look forward to sharing our unrivaled product knowledge and support with mobile broadband users all around the world," said 3Gstore owner Michael Ginsberg. "We understand that mobile broadband users have unique needs whether they're 50 or 5,000 miles from our headquarters, and this is something we've been looking forward to offering for quite some time." Customers from 200+ countries around the world can place orders now at 3Gstore.com. International customers should be sure to read 3Gstore's shipping information page before ordering and always check compatibility before ordering. Happy shopping!
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 22:14
3Gstore is Now Selling the NexAira Business Class II (BC2) 3G/4G RouterWe are pleased to announce the addition of the NexAira BC2 enterprise router to the lineup of mobile broadband routers at 3Gstore! Like other mobile broadband routers, the BC2 allows you to share a 3G or 4G connection with multiple computers/devices, but it does much more than just that. The linux-based BC2 is specifically developed for enterprise and small business use, and includes a variety of advanced features that set it apart from any other mobile broadband router, including (but certainly not limited to - check out the full review for more features!): - Failover with minimal downtime: NexAira's "failover with anti-flap" feature allows the router to switch between a primary connection and a backup connection in under 10 seconds!
- Xtreme Speed Optimization: The BC2's optimization feature allows you to get the most out of your internet connection.
- Status monitoring: The BC2 provides IT administrators with remote web administration, remote SSH access, and an SNMP server, as well as the option to automatically email multiple administrators for emergency events such as a connection failing.
- Minimal Reboots: The BC2 rarely requires a full reboot when changing various settings on the router (on other routers, you have to reboot your equipment every time you make a change to one of the settings). This feature alone can save large corporations time & money as your entire workforce won't be without local network and internet connectivity for several minutes because you had to change a few settings on your network!
- QOS: Allows you to prioritize certain devices, applications, or ports on the network, so that your most important services receive priority bandwidth over any other users on the network.
Other features on the BC2 include: You can learn more about all of the features the BC2 offers and how it might benefit your business or home office in our review: NexAira BC2 Hands-On Review
The NexAira BC2 is now available at 3Gstore for $189.99 (MSRP $209.99). Save an additional $20 if you're also signing up for a Sprint, Verizon, or CLEAR 2-year contract!All routers purchased from 3Gstore include our exclusive support CD (including 3Gstore's NexAira tip sheet to help you get your BC2 set up) as well as our esteemed technical support.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:40
 Until this point, CLEAR had differentiated themselves from Sprint by offering 4G-only devices at a reduced monthly cost, while Sprint focused on dual-mode 3G/4G modems. The new U1901 from Sprint is their first 4G-only USB device, and it is essentially the same device as CLEAR'S PXU1900. The monthly service for this device is $49.99/mo for unlimited 4G, $10 dollars less than their 3G/4G service plan (which is $59.99/month for unlimited 4G and 5GB of 3G). This is good if you're in an area covered with 4G WiMAX service and only need service in that area. However, for users that do a lot of traveling, one of Sprint's 3G/4G devices like the Overdrive or 250U would be a wiser choice because they operate on both the 4G and 3G networks (and the service is just $10/month more). Like the PXU1900, the U1901 has an optional "performance dock" to help increase the 4G signal and performance. It's also compatible with a variety of routers so that you can share the connection with multiple computers: If you're in a 4G area and are considering the Sprint U1901, you may want to consider the PXU1900 with CLEAR service instead. It's the same device as the U1901, but CLEAR's unlimited 4G service is only $40/month, vs $49.99/month from Sprint - and they don't require a 2-year contract! Plus, for a limited time, CLEAR is giving away a free performance dock to everyone who orders the PXU1900 with service!
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Tuesday, 10 August 2010 18:02
The 250U (left) outperforms the U301
Since Sprint released the 3G/4G Sierra 250U USB modem earlier this summer, there have been a lot of curious mobile broadband users out there wondering how this new device compared performance-wise to Sprint's other 3G/4G modem, the Franklin U301. With its round swiveling design, the 250U certainly looks different than the U301 (or any other aircard, for that matter!), but what we were most curious about was whether this new modem suffered from interference problems like its predecessor. As we noted in our review of the U301, while we typically expect aircards to perform comparably to other aircards on the same network when all things are equal, the U301 was very susceptible to interference. In our extensive tests and comparisons with the performance of other 3G and 3G/4G devices, we noticed that the internal antenna in the U301 is much more sensitive to interference than other modems - when the U301 was positioned close to other active aircards, performance suffered (as long as no other cellular devices were nearby, the U301 performed as well as other devices on the same network). We are happy to report that the 250U does NOT have this problem - its performance is not effected by interference from nearby cellular devices like the U301. Additionally, we found that the 3G reception on the 250U is significantly better than on the Franklin U301 (4G reception was equal on both modems, however). We tested both cards in identical locations and checked the reported signal strength on both the 3G and 4G network, and found that the 250U consistently reported a stronger 3G signal than the U301. In addition to the fact that the 250U performs so much better than the U301, the 250U also features a usable 3G antenna port. 4G signal can't be improved (yet), but the 250U allows you to use an antenna to improve 3G signal just like you would on a traditional 3G-only aircard. Mobile broadband users who rely on antennas to get a reliable signal for their 3G aircards have been hesitant to make the move to a 3G/4G device, but now users don't have to sacrifice the ability to easily boost 3G signal in order to get a 3G/4G modem!
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Friday, 06 August 2010 17:44
As we enter the latter part of 2010, Verizon has been working diligently to make good on their claims of a 4th quarter 2010 LTE launch. Thanks to a leaked document reported by Boy Genius Report, Verizon has successfully completed data end-to-end calls over their 4G LTE network in 34 of the 38 markets they plan to launch service in first. The other four markets didn't fail testing, they simply haven't tested the end-to-end calls in those markets yet. From the leaked documents it's not clear which cities will be getting Verizon's LTE network, but we do have a list of the states where Verizon completed the tests: LTE Test States (Specific Markets TBA):- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Virgina
- West Virgina
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Florida
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Tennessee
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Colorado
- Utah
- Nevada
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
A few months ago we reported on a rumor stating Verizon's LTE network will launch 11/15/2010 and it appears they're right on course to make that deadline. The FCC has also recently approved the LG VL600 LTE aircard which should be available when the network goes live. Sprint may finally have some competition on the way for their 4G WiMAX network!
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Thursday, 05 August 2010 22:25
It appears that Verizon's very first LTE USB modem may be manufactured by LG. As you can see from the images that were posted on BGR's website, the unit has an LTE SIM card. While there isn't much to report on at the moment, it appears that the unit has two ports which look very similar to antenna ports. These two ports are most likely antenna ports, one for 3G and another for the 4G LTE frequency. Stay Tuned to 4Ginfo for more updates!
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