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Verizon 4G Review
As you might know, Verizon’s 4G commercial debuts will happen this Sunday. “4G” can mean very different things for different carriers, but at the very least, it is supposed to represent a “discontinuity” in terms of network performance, when compared to 3G networks (note that there are also 3.5G networks…). We got our hands on the LC VL600, one of the two Verizon 4G modem available today. We took it for a ride, and here are the first pieces of hard data that we have compiled for you.
As you can see, the sheer download speed is very impressive (and is consistent with previous 4G performance rumors), and far beyond “4G” Networks like Sprint’s. We’ve chosen to run synthetic tests with different benchmarks because results often vary from one to another. However, we also streamed 1080p videos and movie trailers (try this one with your 3G modem), and that showed that we were indeed getting impressive download speeds. Competing products could simply not sustain that kind of streaming in our testing conditions.
The upload speed is also very interesting, and again, Verizon does very well. But what’s most important is the perceived performance: it feels very much like using a landline connection and that’s why we did compare Verizon’s 4G with our office Comcast cable connection.
This is a big deal. After years empty promises by the wireless industry, it is Verizon that delivers a mobile broadband in the U.S that truly feels like a “home” connection. Some might debate whether or not Verizon should call its product “4G” (4G was supposed to deliver 100+Mbps), but we feel that it’s a sterile debate. What matters is to understand what it can do for you – today. From that perspective, we can only conclude that Verizon’s 4G represent a huge discontinuity in the mobile broadband market. But beware: all 4G are definitely not created equal.
*Note: the current data represents a sampling that was taken near the Caltrain station of 22nd street in San Francisco. Results can vary from location to location, but given the results, it’s pretty clear that Verizon’s 4G LTE connection is providing great results, even if you take into account that:
1/ The network has a lot of capacity given that it was just launched this week.
2/ Competing networks might run faster in a different location (Verizon’s could too)
If you’re curious: the test was conducted on a Macbook Pro 15″ running on Windows 7 + Bootcamp. There’s currently no modem support for Mac (Windows emulation *should* work).
This review was originally posted on Ubergizmo under the same title: Verizon 4G Review
So yesterday was Apple’s WWDC and they revealed several new changes and introduced their iCloud services, Mac OS X Lion and more importantly revealed iOS 5 which brought about many changes that iOS users have been hoping for since the first iPhone.
Check out our thoughts on some of the key features after the break.
In breaking news it seems that there was an explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu manufacturing plant where Apple’s iPad 2’s are being manufactured. According to reports:
“At around 19:00 in China, Foxconn Chengdu manufacture plant got an explosion, we are not sure actually what cause the explosion and how many casualties had resulted. At the scene, there are currently more than 10 fire engines, ambulances and 10 police cars had arrived on the scene.”
The explosion occurred in Building A5 which said to be where the iPad 2’s are being manufactured. Remember how we just talked about how the iPad 2 supply woes are being eased, well if this turns out to be serious it looks like the iPad 2’s supply woes are right back where they were. Although unclear on how much damage has been done to the iPad 2 supply, it seems to be rather series due to the amount of fire engines that have arrived on scene.
Reporters are being warned that there might be a second explosion and to stay away from the buildings. Our prayers go out to the 100 or so Foxconn workers who might have been trapped or injured during the explosion.
There is still a good two months to go before the Apple WWDC gets underway and until then we cannot help but speculate what the future holds in store for the iOS. Taking into consideration the latest patent filing from Apple, there is every chance that ‘Spaces’ might eventually make it to the iOS 5. Spaces is a part of the Mac OS X desktop operating system which enables users to have multiple virtual desktops open and users can switches between those desktops with a few gestures. Spaces could eventually make it to the iPad courtesy of the iOS 5 which is to be showcased at WWDC 2011. iOS does require something of this sort given the fact that its multitasking and notification system looks very ancient compared to its browser or the applications. One may argue that there is already a hidden multitouch gestures feature in the iOS open for developers and Apple may like to develop that feature furthermore. But, the argument in favor of Spaces is that the developers-only feature has is limitations when you need to run multiple applications on your iOS capable devices and this is where Spaces could be very useful.
Source: Link