Announced way back in January at the Consumer Electronics Show, the 4G-powered HP Pavilion dm1-3010nr notebook is now available at Verizon.
Laptops
You’ve seen things, read stuff, and heard nonsense, but at the end of the day, more likely than not, you don’t know what the heck to think of 4G WiMAX. Here for you today is part two of our tour through the market – we take you to Clearwire, the provider of CLEAR service itself, and examine the hardware options it offers to those looking to buy into its service.
Within the eye-popping Intel Pavilion at CES 2011 (Central Hall), Intel had one particular kiosk titled: “Laptop Gaming with 4G.” Using a Sandy Bridge-based Toshiba Satellite laptop, Intel revealed how the 2nd Generation(codenamed “Sandy Bridge” with quad-cores/Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 in conjunction with the embedded Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250) flawlessly executed the on-line/multi-player game called “Need for Speed” with smooth 3D rendering and no jitters. Clearwire installed an indoor WiMAX network infrastructure allowing for broadband connectivity via Toshiba’s embedded Intel 6250 PCI Express Mini card. Intel made history once again at CES 2011, with the unveiling of the Sandy Bridge processor family.
Its awe-inspiring features include:
1) A single monolithic die includes the processor graphics core alongside two – four cores and up to 8 MB shared L3 cache (25 clocks) on a new ring bus which is shared with the integrated graphics core – with L3 running at full core-clock speed.
2) The memory controller and a single X16 PCI-E 2.0 are embedded into the core as well – like prior designs.
3) Sandy Bridge is connected to the peripheral control hub (PCH) via a single 20Gb/s Direct Media Interface connection.
4) AES-NI instructions provide the encryption/decryption acceleration with the addition of Intel’s Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) – hence, improving floating-point performance for media- rich applications.
5) GPU-accelerated encoding (Quick Sync Video, etc.) which makes on-line games like “Need for Speed” possible for mainstream gamers and even extreme gamers.
6) Turbo Boost 2.0 (with all the cores being pushed) – making a single threaded game like “Need for Speed” performance possible.
In addition to “Need for Speed,” attendees had an opportunity to play ”Marvel Super Hero Squad Online” for the first time using a Sandy Bridge-based Lenovo T420 Thinkpad laptop with an embedded Sierra Wireless LTE PCI Express Mini Card connected to the commercial Las Vegas Verizon LTE network . For the first time in history, Intel demonstrated an Intel-Inside laptop with LTE 4G internet connectivity.
Stay tuned for further coverage next Monday on 4G Wireless Technology integrated into Smart TVs, laptops and more.… Read the rest
You’ve seen things, read stuff, and heard nonsense, but at the end of the day, more likely than not, you don’t know what the heck to think of 4G WiMAX. However, despite all the technical mumbo-jumbo choking way-too-savvy blogs and overenthused advertisements, we do believe it’s worth it to jump on the bandwagon and get it on the hottest new mobile trend to seize the grand ol’ US of A. Therefore, for your viewing pleasure (and poor, overworked brain), we’ve put together a shopping list to help you get your 4G fix, WiMAX-style, one hardware provider at a time.
WIth WiMax availability quickly expanding throughout the U.S., the forward-thinking minds at Toshiba's Digital Products division thought it might be a good idea to take advantage of the burgeoning 4G capabilities of many of those major markets. 54 cities are expected to utilize the 4G WiMax technology by the end of 2010 and it's a healthy assumption that consumers will be hungry to experience the increased network speed. Instead of dangling a Snickers in the face of techies to satisfy that hunger, Toshiba decided to get with the times. On top of a bevy of laptops released in September, their most most revered laptop model– The Portégé R700– is now a WiMax-ready instrument capable of getting the best broadband experience possible.The world’s lightest 13.3-inch full-performance ultra-portable laptop featuring an integrated DVD drive just got an upgrade.
According to Carl Pinto, vice president of product development for Toshiba America Information Systems, with the new-and-improved model "business professionals will be able to enjoy the benefits of having citywide connectivity at their fingertips.” While many industry professionals are ready to proclaim the death of WiMax, such improvements geared towards embracing the technology seem to indicate it still has a pulse. Whether or not that pulse quickens or slowly fades out depends on just how long others are willing to hold off for the launch of LTE and subsequent improvements in the interoperability of Wimax and LTE.… Read the rest
Perhaps the most important announcement from Clearwire on their earnings call yesterday (at least to those of us who covet speeds faster than a roadrunner on heroin) was the trumpeting of their upcoming bout of LTE trials. The trials are slated to go live in Phoenix in the fall of this year – which is INDEED right around the corner. This begs many questions from those of us who have some knowledge of wireless broadband, engineering principles and commercial deployment intangibles. Lucky for those of us nerds, as well as the crowd here, Dr. John Saw, the Chief Technology officer of Clearwire, was able to share a lot of knowledge in a press release just following the earnings call. Clearwire plans on offering LTE speeds in the real world range of 20-70 Mbps! That is much faster than the 5-12Mbps that Verizon Wireless has announced it will operate its LTE network. Not only will Clearwire offer a faster LTE network, it also plans to test the possibility of a dual WiMAX/LTE network for optimal end user performance, both on the receiving end as well as the backhaul. So what does this all mean? If you decide to read ahead, you will find out plenty about how it all works, and why Clearwire may well be poised to deliver some serious competition in the mobile broadband market.
Remember the days of pulling out your cell phone antenna, standing on one foot and doing all but a dance and jig to potentially catch a cell phone signal from somewhere in the air? As any of us can remember, coverage was something not taken for granted, and the use of the mobile device was sweet indeed. Fast forward a decade or so and the two largest carriers hired their actors and producers to poke and prod at each other’s “maps” with one boasting the other was garbage and the other claiming the latter was a lying jerk. My point here is that those days – at least for a few seasons – are through:
“In a 4G world, wireless coverage is important, but capacity is KING. This capacity is a unique and sustainable advantage for Clearwire, thanks to our all-IP network and unmatched spectrum holdings.”
More on the spectrum holdings in a moment – but let’s talk about the capacity that they’ve been touting. I’m
Let us do a quick review of a typical WiMAX network architecture: Essentially, the MS (member station)/SS (subscriber station) is on one side, and the BS (base station), ASN (Access Service Network) Gateway, CSN (Connectivity Service Network: HA(home agent), AAA, etc.) is on the other side. Please remember the following common interface terminologies: the air-interface between the MS to BS is termed R1, the interface between MS to CSN is R2, BS to ASN is R6, ASN to CSN is R3, ASN to another ASN is R4 and CSN to another operator’s CSN is R5. Next, we provide a simplistic summary of the network entry and initialization process: Phase a) the MS scans the DL channel and synchronizes with the BS, Phase b) transmit parameters are obtained, Phase c)
Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are the companies leading the way for this new product. They exude confidence during technology fairs concluding that the 4G revolution is upon us. They’ve developed products to help connect to the network such as portable modems, usb drives, and sim cards. They’ve even entitled their networks; Sprint’s being WIMAX (World-wide Interoperability for Microwave Access) while Verizon and AT&T’s shall be called LTE (Long Term Evolution). However, perhaps their confidence is missed guided and their promise of debuting in 2013 is unrealistic.
WIMAX developed by the Sprint and Clear companies respectively, seems to be losing ground in the United States amidst their attempt to bring WIMAX success domestically. Though they’ve raised 3.2 billion dollars in investments to produce the network, Sprint and Clear may have underestimated how expensive it is to blanket the country in connectivity. Sprint, the lesser of the three major telecommunications distributors in the country, may not have enough currency to continue production if the 3.2 billion isn’t enough, and investors Google, Time Warner, and Intel may grow weary of waiting and pull their investments early. Also those dependent on their WIMAX’s success is far less than those who are dependent on LTE”s success due to the fact that Verizon and AT&T are far larger companies. … Read the rest
Novatel Wireless revolutionized the shared 3G experience with its MiFi devices. Now, Sony’s jumping on the features of the MiFi by introducing its latest laptops. The Vaio Y and Z series will be MiFi capable, sharing a 3G connection with up to five other devices over Wi-Fi.
“Share My Connection” feature will be available on June 20 to a few Y and Z notebooks. The 3G connection comes from Verizon, meaning users will have to sign up for some sort of data plan. The device is aimed at business travelers that work with other people and connect those other people to the internet. It’s also for family travelers that need to keep their kids entertained while taking long vacations.
The Z models weighs 3 pounds, showcasing in a carbon fiber and aluminum casing. The battery life is pretty impressive on the device, lasting for up to seven hours on a single charge. The screen on the Z model measures 13.1 inches, with a LED backlight and widescreen presentation. An optional blu-ray drive is available for the Z model.
The VAIO Y series comes in five available colors, with a 13.3 inch LED backlit screen. Battery life details weren’t released, but Sony stated that the unit uses less power. The Sony VAIO price point will start at $770 while the VAIO Z will start at $1950. Purchasers what want to enable the MiFi feature on the laptop must sign a contract with Verizon.… Read the rest
