All 4G is not created equal. You see, each carrier seems to be defining 4G as they see fit. Verizon’s got their new LTE network. Sprint’s got WiMax. AT&T and T-Mobile have upgraded their 3G networks to a faster (but still technically 3G) technology called HSPA+. Each carrier’s network has widely varied speed capabilities, and are at different points in their nationwide coverage rollout — and yet, all of them are wrapped up in the little marketing buzzword-burrito that is “4G”. Confused yet? Making things worse, none of these networks are actually 4G — at least, not as 4G was defined by the International Communication Union last year. Looking to clear up this mess a bit, Democratic Rep. of California Anna Eshoo has proposed a bill requiring carriers to clarify whatever the hell it is they mean when they say “4G” by providing speed details, coverage maps, pricing, and layman explanations of the technology in place. Taking it one step further, the bill would also require carriers to provide consumers with side-by-side comparisons of their “4G” tech versus that of the other players. → Read More

When Virgin Mobile announced the Blur-free and surprisingly-high-end-for-a-prepaid-phone Motorola Triumph, they neglected to mention two little details: the price, and the launch date. Thanks to the always resourceful gadget huntsters over at… wait, what? People Magazine? Anyway, thanks to a little blerp in People Magazine’s “StyleWatch Concierge” section, it’s lookin’ like the Triumph will launch on July 19th. Still a mystery: the price. Quick! Check Highlights! [Via EngadgetMobile] → Read More

Apple has just been awarded a very important patent that describes changes to the iOS user interface.

The patent was originally filed back in December of 2007 as a part of a string of provisional patent applications that go back as early as January 2007. While this patent isn’t necessarily as significant as the 358-page “iPhone Patent” granted in 2009, but it still has major implications for other smartphone makers. → Read More

Research In Motion is done. They’ll be bought in the next year or so, their products will roll into whoever buys them – Microsoft, most probably – and they’ll go the way of Nokia, Danger, and countless other mobile platforms. They’ll exist independently for a while and then be subsumed. It’s over. Here’s why. → Read More

Just as we expected, Judge Lucy Koh has rejected Samsung’s request to get its hands on Apple’s iPhone 5 and the iPad 3. She did not rule from the bench this time, as Apple tweaked its complaint the night before Friday’s hearing, adding a host of new Samsung products to its copy-cat list. Instead, the order was presented on paper in an 11-page document. → Read More

AT&T is obviously a top-dog in the wireless industry, and stands to take the number one spot once its T-Mobile buyout comes to a close. But in a small pond, AT&T isn’t the big fish you’d expect it to be.

The big blue carrier still faces strong competition in the prepaid sector from smaller carriers like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS, which is probably why AT&T came up with a new $50 unlimited plan, announced today. → Read More

Do you have an iPhone 4 and $300 bucks to burn? Are you a little bit flashy, and a little bit crazy-roll? Case-mate wants to relieve you of all that stupid extra money you’ve got laying around. This morning, Case-mate announced a $300 case for the iPhone 4. Yep: $300. → Read More

Good news! If you live in Scranton, Pennsylvania, you’ll soon have one more thing to add to your list of fun things to do locally (which I assume is currently comprised of “roam around dangerous abandoned anthracite mines” and “reenact scenes from The Office”). Come July 21st, you’ll be able to surf the vast Intertubes over Verizon 4G. Joining Scranton in the right to claim 4G coverage come July 21st: Huntsville, Alabama; Springfield, Massachusetts; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greenboro-Winston, Salem-Highpoint, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Oh, and for my fellow Best Coasters: Los Angeles and San Diego will have their already in-place Verizon 4G coverage expanded on the 21st, as well. → Read More

Turns out Greg was right yesterday, PocketNow’s leaked press shot is in fact Nokia’s long awaited MeeGo handset, the N9. The rumor mill has thrown out a few different specs on this device, including a QWERTY keyboard (which is not present here), so we’re glad to finally be able to set the record straight.

The N9 is an entirely buttonless handset (with the exception of a volume rocker and camera shutter button), and is basically just a 3.9-inch sheet of 854 x 480 AMOLED screen. On the back, that polycarbonate shell is colored all the way through so you don’t have to worry so much about those ugly scratches.

And that’s only the beginning: check out an introduction video after the break. → Read More

Sprint’s Premier club, the one for all the cool kids, is about to make a select few people very happy. The EVO 3D, which is one of the most sought after phones of the season, will see a nearly $250 price cut with the deal Sprint’s offering.

Basically, if you’re a member of Sprint’s Premier club you can get this 3D-packing super phone for just $199.99. Of course, this deal will lock you into a two-year contract with Sprint. → Read More

Can’t live without your Goo Splat or Castles and Cannons, those instant classics that appeared on the Zune HD? You’ll be happy to hear that Microsoft is planning on puffing up the WP7 app catalog with ported versions. “The apps that we have built internally for Zune, we’re actually looking at porting those over to Windows Phone,” said Microsoft’s Dave McLauchlan in a Zune Insider podcast — though he tempered that, also saying that “Right now, our focus for the app team is, more apps for Zune. Zune owners would like to hear that there’s more stuff coming.” While the addition of a couple dozen apps won’t put WP7′s numbers in line with iOS’s and Android’s, a few more (and fairly entertaining, some of them) won’t hurt anybody. [via WinRumors and SlashGear] → Read More

Start the countdown clock, Verizon Thunderbolt owners: word has it your handsets are just days away from an update to Android v2.3.4. You get a Gingerbread! And you get a Gingerbread! Everyone gets a Gingerbread! → Read More

I heart TV and, in turn, I heart TiVo. Why wouldn’t I? It’s basically a little treasure box of my favorite episodes saved for me to watch at any time I’d like. The ONLY problem I have, and I really mean only, is that whenever I discover a new show, which is usually by way of conversations with friends, I’m not at home and can’t schedule it on my TiVo.

Luckily, TiVo apps for the iPhone and Android devices are in the works, so you can set a show to record even when you’re not on the couch. → Read More

Nokia’s all set to announce something at the CommunicAsia expo in Singapore, and all signs are saying that it’s the MeeGo-powered N9. The N9 has shape-shifted a few times in its laps around the rumor mill, having started life as a QWERTY-slider and, as shown in this leaked press shot acquired by PocketNow, eventually ending up as a lil’ slab-o-glass. No word yet on any sort of specs or details beyond what’s pictured, though it’ll also come in baby blue and black hues for anyone not down with the Salmony-pink. What’s that, you say? You thought Nokia was done with MeeGo, and was all about Windows Phone 7 now? You’re mostly right. From what Nokia VP of Product Marketing Ilari Nurmi is saying, Nokia only has plans to release one MeeGo phone this year (presumably this one) — after that, it’s anyone’s guess. → Read More

Much like a great book, a roller coaster ride, or a Joss Whedon TV show, we knew that Verizon’s “unlimited” data plans were coming to an early end sooner or later. We just didn’t know when, or how much we (or, at least, those of us not on grandfathered plans) would have to cough up when the time came. Now, things aren’t official just yet — but thanks to the ol’ rumor mill, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect. → Read More

After more than a month-long delay, Android 2.3 Gingerbread is finally headed to the Xperia X10, according to a blog post from Sony Ericsson.

Originally, SE had scheduled the update to roll out towards the end of the second quarter, or early in the third quarter, but obviously things didn’t go as planned. Today, however, Sony Ericsson’s blog said that “development and testing is still ongoing and the current plan is [to] start the roll-out in the beginning of August.” → Read More

We all know that RIM isn’t having the best year, but there’s still one little ray of gleaming hope left for the company: forthcoming BlackBerry smartphones. RIM has a new QNX operating system in the works that is set to release in 2012, and it is expected to put an end to a year’s worth of disappointment. Until then, its upcoming smartphones have to sell well to keep the company above water.

Obviously, RIM is well aware of this, and is reported to be taking extreme measures to get those phones up and running. BGR’s “trusted source” claims that RIM has been bullying carriers into approving devices earlier than they are ready. → Read More