Bryan Chaffin is joined by John Kheit to pore over Apple’s new HomePod mini, the iPhone 12 product line, and the importance of 5G.
5G
Speaker Speculation and 5G School – TMO Daily Observations 2020-10-06
Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple speakers and 5G, and how it all ties into the coming Apple Event.
AT&T 5G Network is Available Across the United States
The AT&T 5G network is now available nationwide, the company announced today. All unlimited wireless plans will come with 5G starting August 7.
AT&T Advised to Discontinue Misleading ‘5Ge’ Moniker
A panel of the National Advertising Review Board is recommending that AT&T stop its “5G Evolution” label for its network. If you’re at AT&T customer and notice a “5G E” label on your iPhone, that is what this is referring to. (Hint: It’s not actually 5G).
The NARB Panel agreed with NAD’s analysis and concluded that the term “Evolution” is not likely to alert consumers to the fact that the service is not 5G […] AT&T stated that it “respectfully disagrees with the reasoning and result reached by the Panel majority,” […] As a supporter of the self-regulatory process, it will comply with the NARB’s decision.
No comment from me is needed, other than surprise that AT&T is capable of self-regulating
PCMag Lead Mobile Analyst Sascha Segan - TMO Background Mode Interview
Sascha Segan is PCMag.com’s Lead Mobile Analyst. He has reviewed more than 1,100 smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 15 years with PCMag. Sascha is also a multiple award-winning travel writer.
We chatted about how he got started in computing, and it was a familiar story. “…published the high school newspaper, literary magazine and foreign language magazine on an SE/30.” Along the way, Sascha discovered that he loved helping people and showing them how tech works. We talked about the future of foldable smartphones, how the butterfly MBP keyboard drove him to Windows, a (presumed) Apple iPhone/iPad event on March 31, and what’s in store for the 5G iPhone 12. Sascha understands 5G and phones deeply, and so this was a very informative show.
Three Rolling Out UK 5G Network Ready For Compatible iPhone
Three is rolling out its UK 5G network, and says it is ready for the “critical inflection point” of when Apple launches a 5G iPhone.
2020 iPhone Rumor Roundup: It Can Do Everything Except Perform Surgery (Update)
A new 2020 iPhone rumor today says that it could have a 120Hz ProMotion display. We’ve taken all of the rumors so far and rounded them up.
Here’s What the ‘Race to 5G’ Really Means
Karl Bode writes about corporations talking about the “race to 5G”, saying that it’s more like a race to bigger profits.
The “race” rhetoric is largely an illusion created by companies eager to do the bare minimum in exchange for as many subsidies, regulatory favors and tax breaks they can grab. This mindless regulatory capture has resulted in a US Telecom sector that routinely ranks in the middle of the pack in every metric that matters. While 5G will be a good thing when deployed at scale, it’s foolish to think the new wireless technical standard will address the deeper rot that plagues the sector.
FCC Unlocks 3.5GHz Spectrum ‘OnGo’ Band that iPhones 11 Can Use
After six years of collaboration the FCC has unlocked 3.5GHz spectrum, called the ‘OnGo’ band, for consumers.
5G Infrastructure, 5G in iPhones – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-15
Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss 5G network rollouts, and when iPhones might take advantage of it.
5G Wireless Actually Has 3 Bands—How That Impacts the Next iPhone
The FCC has approved of a total of three 5G wireless bands, each with its own capabilities. This will dictate the design of the 2020 iPhone.
New iPhone May Have Faster 5G Than we Thought
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that some models of the next iPhone could offer faster 5G speeds than we expected.
T-Mobile Switches on its 600MHz 5G Network
T-Mobile turned its 600MHz 5G network on, but no one can use it until 5G-capable smartphones are released, like two this Friday.
The “nationwide” 5G deployment relies on a slower form of 5G, using T-Mobile’s 600MHz spectrum. This “low-band” 5G essentially takes airwaves like the ones used for LTE and bundles them together with some new technology to deliver faster speeds.
T-Mobile doesn’t offer specifics on what kind of speeds you’ll see on the new network, and the actual improvements will vary a lot by location. “In some places, 600 MHz 5G will be a lot faster than LTE. In others, customers won’t see as much difference.”
T-Mobile Offers First Responders Free 5G for 10 Years
T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that his company will give first responders free 5G service for a decade. However, there’s a catch.
Custom 5G Apple Modem has Goal of 2022 Release
Reports say that Apple has moved its timeline for a custom 5G Apple modem to 2022.
It won’t be easy. In fact, bringing a new modem to the finish line in two years is really pushing it, my source said. After all the design work is done, and the fabrication of the chips themselves is underway, an arduous testing and certification process still awaits.
Right now I think 5G is overhyped and even the previous rumor of a 5G iPhone in 2020 didn’t make sense.
5G and T-Mobile, iPhone Rumor Roundup – TMO Daily Observations 2019-08-22
Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to talk about 5G and T-Mobile’s plans, as well as a breakdown of iPhone 11 rumors.
Intel in Talks to Sell Smartphone-Modem Business to Apple
Apple is in advanced talks to buy Intel’s smartphone-modem chip business, both patents and staff, valued at around $1 billion.
The 5G 'Health Hazard' Was a Misinterpretation
In 2000 a physicist was asked to study the health risks of wireless networks. He found [PDF] that there “was likely to be a serious health hazard.” Except he was wrong.
In his research, Dr. Curry looked at studies on how radio waves affect tissues isolated in the lab, and misinterpreted the results as applying to cells deep inside the human body. His analysis failed to recognize the protective effect of human skin. At higher radio frequencies, the skin acts as a barrier, shielding the internal organs, including the brain, from exposure. Human skin blocks the even higher frequencies of sunlight.
Despite all the studies showing a link between smartphones and cancer being debunked, I don’t think this idea will ever go away.
U.S. Might Ban 5G Tech Made in China
It could be a political move, a ploy, amidst tariff tensions between the U.S. and China. Or it could be something else. USA Today reports:
The U.S. is considering a requirement that next-generation 5G cellular technology for domestic use be made outside of China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing sources.
Three's 5G Network Going Live in UK in August
Cellular network Three announced that it will launch its 5G network in a number of major UK cities in August.
First T-Mobile 5G Test Reaches 493 Mbps in New York
During the first T-Mobile 5G test in New York City, the service scored 493 Mbps using a Verizon phone.
T-Mobile’s feat becomes greater when you understand that the carrier is using much less spectrum than Verizon is. Allnet Insights says T-Mobile is using 80MHz of spectrum in New York, which would make its theoretical maximum speed 500Mbps, but I’ve also heard that T-Mobile is using 100MHz, which would make the theoretical maximum 625Mbps.
EE Unveils UK 5G Launch And Harry Potter Partnership
Mobile network EE announced the launch of its 5G service – it will exclusively offer Harry Potter: Wizards United, but not Huawei devices.
Huawei Concerns, Shortcut Inspiration – TMO Daily Observations 2019-05-17
Charlotte Henry and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to talk about the latest issues with Huawei’s hardware and some ideas for Shortcuts.
Vodafone Confirms UK 5G Launch
Vodafone will switch on its 5G network on July 3 in seven cities across the UK, the company announced. It will use Huawei equipment.