4G Review

The world of cell phones and mobile technology has been rapidly evolving in recent years. The newest generation of cell phones, known as 4G Technology, provides higher bandwidth, wireless broadband with increased data transfer speeds, and a wider variety of multimedia applications. 4G simply stands for 4th generation. A set industry standard for 4G Technology has not yet been clearly established, but there are a few general guidelines. In comparison to 3G phones, which can reach modest speeds dozens of times faster than dial-up internet, 4G is setting the bar much higher, aiming to catapult speeds to gigabytes per second.

Currently, 3G phones are the most widely used in the United States, but experts agree that 4G Technology will take the reigns in the coming years. 3G phones revolutionized the capabilities of cell phones. No longer just for calls and text messaging, people now use their phones to access the internet, browse their favorite social networking sites, play games, access popular applications, and download music, movies, and television shows. With the introduction of 4G Technology, speeds are magnified, increasing power and accessibility. The cell phone companies developing 4G are extremely ambitious in wanting to exceed even your home internet connection.

There are several 4G cell phones out on the market today. While the technology has not yet reached its full potential, these phones have gotten off to a great start, possessing much more advanced features than their 3G predecessors. Sprint’s Epic 4G is renowned for its crystal clear screen, comparable to HD television screens. It also features a 5.0 megapixel camera and voice-activated search engines, offering location-based results defined by GPS.

T-Mobile’s myTouch 4G contains a 1-GHz processor and a front-facing HD camcorder for video calls. This phone also uses voice commands for many options, and with its Hands-Free mode it will read your emails and text messages out loud. Using this feature you can access Google Maps and receive directions while you’re driving, so the phone can be used as a GPS system for your car. The HTC EVO 4G also boasts a 1-GHz processor with a front-facing camera, and an additional 8 megapixel camera on the back.

Probably one of the most advanced new features, the 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network claims to be the gold standard for 4G technology, having the highest speeds and the most reduced latency (lag times). With LTE you can watch full-length movies with little or no buffering, download a song in mere seconds, and play a myriad of online multi-player games.

While 4G Technology is still in the development phase, it is clear that this new generation of mobile phones will blow its predecessors out of the water, with unrivaled speed and extremely advanced features more akin to a home laptop than a simple cellular device.

The HTC EVO 4G is one of the most advanced and highly featured of the newest generation of cell phones. The first WIMAX phone out on the market in the United States, it boasts very fast broadband internet speeds and uses the highly flexible Android 2.1 operating system to provide an accessible and dynamic user experience.

HTC’s hardware is both beautiful and very high quality. It manages to be very sturdy yet sleek and modern. The huge 4.3-inch, WVGA 800×480 touchscreen offers a crisp, crystal clear image. Turn it on and you’ll find a myriad of useful features, the functionality made quick and smooth by its powerful 1GHz processor. When using the HTC EVO 4G, you’ll find yourself browsing the internet in its proper form: lighting fast, with Adobe Flash support to view every website properly. The 4G speeds allow for seamless video streaming, as well as uploading and downloading. You can even share your phone’s WiFi capabilities with other devices within its range, such as a laptop.

One of the greatest benefits of the HTC EVO 4G is its integrated HD camcorder, recording in 720p for extremely high quality video that is almost unheard of when it comes to cell phone technology. Two-way video calling is also available, making the EVO a great phone for conferencing and keeping in touch with family. The phone provides dual cameras, an 8.0 megapixel on the back and a 1.3 megapixel on the front.

A few of the phone’s other features include Friend Stream, which aggregates Twitter and Facebook updates into one single list, a polite ringer that quiets once you pick up the phone, and a cycling panel of home screens easily switched through simple thumbnails. Additionally, there is a large variety of fun new widgets available for download.

Even after all this, however, the EVO 4G is not without its faults. First of all, the pricing is a bit high at $300 with the signing of a two-year contract. Second, the phone’s 4G capabilities tend to drain the battery quite fast. Additionally, 4G coverage is still not available everywhere so the EVO may only be worth getting if you live in a major metropolitan city.

Overall, the HTC EVO 4G is a smartphone that has a lot to offer, mostly with its incredibly fast 4G data speeds. Although it’s not perfect, Sprint has shown itself to be an expert in 4G smartphone technology, and the phone is well worth getting if you value the aforementioned features and capabilities.