Tag: 5g

Review: Ready to Switch up Your Mobile Phone Plan?
It is never too soon to think about switching up your mobile data plan. Most carriers update their plans frequently, and the chances are high that you are not getting as much value as you should be from your current plan. Most customers ‘set it and forget it’, when they could be paying less AND getting more value from their service.

Make sure your plan is optimized to your usage habits and data needs. Check out some of the current carriers, plans and features below:

Overview:
1. Verizon consistently offers the most reliable coverage out of all the wireless providers.
  - Verizon Get More Unlimited: Best unlimited plan—$90/month
  - Verizon Do More Unlimited: Best coverage phone plan—$80/month
2. Visible Wireless has made a big play in the prepaid wireless space with unlimited plan that costs $40 a month. Large discounts are also available when additional lines are added to a family plan.
  - Visible Wireless: Best prepaid plan—$40/month
  - Visible Wireless: Best family plan—$100/month for 4 lines
3. Metro by T-Mobile currently offers the best value for family prepaid plans.
  - Metro by T-Mobile $50 Unlimited Plan: Best prepaid family plan—$90/month for 3 lines
Summary:

Best overall mobile plan: The Verizon Do More Unlimited plan offers everything. With amazing coverage, speed plus HD streaming and 22 GB of 4G LTE data each month, it was an easy pick for best mobile phone plan overall.

Best prepaid plan: When it comes to prepaid- Visible wireless offers unlimited features and services on the best network for $40 a month. All of it combines for great value. However, be mindful of data slowing down over time, which has been reported by some users.

Best prepaid family plan: You will spend $50 a month if you choose Metro by T-Mobile unlimited plan. However, your costs are reduced to $30 a month for every additional line you add. The more people you have in your family- the better the savings.

Best family plan: Visible wireless is great for family plans because of the large discount when multiple lines are added. You cost can be reduced to $25 a line for unlimited data with enough people on the plan

Best unlimited plan: The Verizon Get More unlimited plan offers 75 GB of data and comes with 5G data access and HD streaming. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for.

So when was the last time you reviewed your plan and usage to ensure you’re getting the best value? There’s no time like the present~ Check into it!
October 14, 2020
They’re FINALLY Here! The Best 5G Smartphones:

5G technology is now here, we can finally see the first phones using the new tech. This is a huge moment for technology. Are you ready for the changes? Many have wondered which first phones will be using the tech, well we’re going to delve a bit deeper into 5G technology and the smartphones we can expect to take advantage of it.

5G technology, for the uninformed, is the next step in wireless connections. If you remember back when 3G was phased out in favor of 4G LTE, you’re familiar with what this process looks like. Originally, 4G was only available in large metro areas and only on the newest and best smartphones.

The roll-out of 5G tech is likely to track quite similarly. Much like 4G LTE, 5G is a huge step up in terms of speed and accuracy. It will likely first be rolled out to primarily large cities where it can service the largest numbers of users. Over time, it will be rolled out nationwide.

5G Smartphones

Most phones that are on the market today will not have 5G compatibility, so this likely won’t even affect you until you upgrade. You won’t need to upgrade for a bit unless you’re living in an early-access area like New York or LA, though.

If you’re interested in future-proofing, you can pick up one of these 5G-enabled phones in the coming months as they become available.

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Samsung come out of the gate strong with a 5G version of their Galaxy S10. What can we say about the Galaxy S10 that hasn’t already been said? It’s a great phone with a great suite of useful features, a beautiful display and a stellar processor. Add lightning-fast 5G speeds to that and you’ve got a real winner.

iPhone 12

We know what you’re thinking: iPhone 12? They just released the 11! Well, Apple did not roll out 5G integration on this year’s upgrade. Given the slow roll-out of 5G nationally, Apple’s focus won’t be on that tech until 2020, with the eventual launch of the iPhone 12.

Huawei Mate X

If you don’t mind importing, or dealing with a somewhat shady company, the Huawei Mate X will be releasing later this year. This folding, 5G-ready phone looks like a sci-fi device. The Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has been in hot water recently over some scandals, but they still make great phones.

February 9, 2020
Is 5G Going to Make Your 4G Phone Obsolete?

The big shift from one to the next generation of wireless connectivity is right around the corner. This time around, the shift is coming in the form of 4G LTE coverage being augmented by 5G, an event that is being hotly anticipated by tech insiders.

The question on most consumers’ minds, however, is “will this make my phone obsolete?” In the current smartphone landscape, customers are keeping their phones for longer, upgrading less often and sticking with what they know. This makes the upcoming generational shift a bit uneasy for some people. Let’s take a closer look.

Availability

Some big cities are currently seeing major communications companies rolling out 5G networks. They’re all in their infancy at the moment, and they may represent a smaller portion of the current tech landscape than advertising would have you believe. At present, less than ten percent of the country even has access to these networks.

Beyond this, 5G connections have some notable drawbacks. They’re blisteringly fast: faster, in fact, than fiber optic connection in your own home. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re a strict upgrade over existing wireless communications. Case in point: 5G signals sport a very short wavelength, which means that they can be blocked by trees, double-pane glass and thin walls. They can also only travel a short distance.

Obsolescence?

This is where the overlap between 4G LTE and 5G comes in. While the conventional wisdom holds that 5G connectivity is replacing LTE, this is actually inaccurate. As we stated earlier, 5G will be augmenting 4G for years to come. Due to 5G’s inherent limitations, it will need to work with existing 4G infrastructure in order to cross larger distances and work through blocking obstacles.

What this means is that your 4G phone won’t be going extinct any time soon. In fact, this is likely to mean that your 4G phone is getting a shot in the arm. The addition of 5G technology to existing infrastructures means that you’re likely to see faster, more consistent speeds on your existing 4G handsets.

How is this Different?

If this sounds weird, it’s because it is. Prior shifts in wireless technology were massive revolutions, as all of the old tech got tossed out in favor of the new hotness. Wireless communications technology was simply advancing at such an absurd pace that it was hard to even incorporate tech that was a few years old into new infrastructures. That’s changing in the modern era.

Today, technology is advancing in less dramatic ways. The way data is compressed, the style employed to send that data, is what is shifting now. Existing wireless technology is still great at covering large distances and penetrating barriers. 5G is just a more efficient way of sending that data directly over short distances. In a sense, this will act as an upgrade to existing infrastructure.

Reasonably Useful

Another reason why 5G won’t be replacing LTE any time soon is the simple reality of the way people use their phones. Internet speeds and network connectivity are hitting something of an endpoint. Yes, we can make them faster, and yes, there are some uses for 2GBps speeds. However, those uses are incredibly specific and narrow: augmented reality, video game streaming and similarly high-demand tasks.

Most people just need their phones to stream internet videos and music from their favorite artists. The cost associated with incorporating these ever faster and stronger signals is giving diminishing returns, and most people are quite pleased with their current phone’s performance. There’s just less to improve upon now than ever before. And, in our opinion, this is a good thing. Now, let’s work on just perfecting what we have in front of us.

July 12, 2019
5G Networks are Coming: Are You Ready?

The biggest shift in wireless communications history is coming up soon, and it goes under the name “5G”. The newest advancement in wireless communications technology, 5G networks will revolutionize communications speed and change the way the world communicates. This might sound like hyperbole, but it isn’t: this will be a huge moment for technology. Are you ready for the changes?

5G Networks

What is 5G?

5G is a network specification, much like 4G LTE or 3G. These are all types of wireless communication, defined by industry standards, bandwidth and speeds. Think of them like wireless internet speeds, and as loose indicators of the current face of wireless communications technology. Notable advances in technology in the last few years are what has made 5G a possibility.

When 5G networks go live for a wide-release, carriers like AT&T, Verizon and Sprint will be offering cell phone networks powered by 5G technology. Samsung, Apple and other flagship smartphone manufacturers will also be creating phones with the capability of connecting to 5G networks and making the most of the new technology.

What This Means

5G connection speeds are expected to be absurdly fast. As in, downloading a movie in seconds, stream 4K video at 60 FPS, upload video in moments kind of fast. This will bring about big changes in more than just cell phone technology, of course. There will be robotic devices capable of letting a surgeon perform a procedure from across the country. Self-driving cars will be able to connect and make adjustments based on traffic reports in seconds.

Other functionality could extend to entertainment, augmented reality and consumer products, too. Imagine holding your phone up while watching a football game, and having your screen superimpose live stats and graphics to help you keep track of players, all updated on the fly. That’s the kind of power 5G will bring: the applications are sure to be mind-blowing.

When Can We Expect This?

5G networks aren’t quite a widespread reality yet. The technology is currently undergoing rigorous testing and production and is in the final stages before wide release. Some smaller scale, individual-city level 5G tests have been done, but these are using somewhat limited versions of the expected 5G technology.

At the earliest, we could expect to see some larger cities receiving 5G support in late 2019. However, this is an optimistic estimate and assumes that carriers push for early trial versions of the technology. As for nationwide coverage of 5G networks, that is likely as far away as mid- to late-2020. While this might sound like a long time, the massive increase in power will more than offset the long wait.

What Phones Can Use 5G?

It’s unlikely your current phone will be able to use a 5G network unless you have a bleeding-edge phone prototype. In fact, few manufacturers are even selling phones that will be able to use eventual 5G networks yet.

However, there are a few brand-new phones that are either coming soon or have just been released that will be able to take advantage of 5G when it arrives. If you want to be absolutely future proof, here are some of the phones you should be looking at.

Upcoming 5G Phones

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, which starts at $1,300, was released in mid-May in the US and will offer 5G connectivity. The Galaxy Fold, which was delayed into later 2019, will also be able to use the upcoming network.

The Motorola moto z3 will offer a 5G mod chip that will allow you to use the upcoming network, as well. It’s currently available for purchase, but the 5G chip will be launching later. Also coming to the 5G game will be phones for Chinese smartphone maker Huawei, including their Mate 20X 5G and upcoming foldable Mate X.

June 3, 2019
Is 5G Going to be That Big a Deal?

Verizon unveiled their first public test of a 5G network yesterday in Chicago. This occurred well ahead of the April 11^th target date. However, the question remains: is 5G going to be that big of a deal? Today we’re going to look at what the experts are saying about this new network connectivity standard.

5G Phone Speeds

What is 5G?

In simple terms, 5G is simply the next step in wireless connectivity. It’s not some new type of connectivity, it’s just significantly faster than existing technology. The current wireless infrastructure works on 4G LTE, a standard that was unveiled in the early 2010’s. 5G is a new standard that is promising to be between 10 and 100 times faster.

If phone manufacturers are to be believed, 5G will be the biggest shift in smartphones yet. The speeds are promised to be so good that some people will have faster internet on their phone than in their home. Verizon has stated you could expect “typical speeds of 450 megabits per second, with peak speeds of nearly 1 gigabit per second, and latency less than 30 milliseconds.”

More than Just Phones

There’s more going on with 5G than just fast phone speeds, though. 5G speeds will enable new uses of technology, such as remote surgery for isolated regions. Remote surgery will allow doctors in remote regions to contact doctors who can walk them through a surgery step-by-step using technology and robotics.

Another example of 5G uses outside of phones will be for city planning. Cities will be able to link their traffic lights via a 5G network and make sure they all stay synced up. This will allow for traffic to flow much more easily.

When Will This Arrive?

5G speeds are being tested now in limited markets, specifically in Chicago. As 2019 rolls on, more 5G tests will be seen in other large cities. As for a nationwide rollout, it might be late 2020 before all areas in the US have 5G coverage. For the time being, you don’t need to futureproof: 5G phones won’t be on sale until later this year.

April 5, 2019
5G Smartphones: What Phones Will Use the New 5G Tech?

5G technology is on the horizon, and we can expect to see the first phones using the new tech by the end of the year. Many people have wondered what the first phones using the tech will be.

Today we’re going to delve a bit deeper into 5G technology and the smartphones we can expect to take advantage of it.

5G Smartphones

5G Technology

5G technology, for the uninformed, is the next step in wireless connections. If you remember back when 3G was phased out in favor of 4G LTE, you’re familiar with what this process looks like. Originally, 4G was only available in large metro areas and only on the newest and best smartphones.

The roll-out of 5G tech is likely to track quite similarly. Much like 4G LTE, 5G is a huge step up in terms of speed and accuracy. It will likely first be rolled out to primarily large cities where it can service the largest numbers of users. Over time, it will be rolled out nationwide.

The Phones

Most phones that are on the market today will not have 5G compatibility, so this likely won’t even affect you until you upgrade. You won’t need to upgrade for a bit unless you’re living in an early-access area like New York or LA, though.

If you’re interested in future-proofing, you can pick up one of these 5G-enabled phones in the coming months as they become available.

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Samsung will be coming out of the gate strong with a 5G version of their Galaxy S10. What can we say about the Galaxy S10 that hasn’t already been said? It’s a great phone with a great suite of useful features, a beautiful display and a stellar processor. Add lightning-fast 5G speeds to that and you’ve got a real winner.

iPhone 12

We know what you’re thinking: iPhone 12? They haven’t even released the 11 yet! Well, rumor has it that Apple likely won’t be rolling out 5G integration on this year’s upgrade. Given the slow roll-out of 5G nationally, Apple’s focus won’t be on that tech until 2020, with the eventual launch of the iPhone 12.

Huawei Mate X

If you don’t mind importing, or dealing with a somewhat shady company, the Huawei Mate X will be releasing later this year. This folding, 5G-ready phone looks like a sci-fi device. The Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has been in hot water recently over some scandals, but they still make great phones.

March 29, 2019
Houston, We have Verizon 5G!

We have liftoff! Big news and advancement in the Verizon 5G world. Verizon, Motorola, Qualcomm and Samsung announced that they’ve achieved the world’s first 5G data transmission to a smartphone using a “commercial 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) network.” Verizon kicked in the spectrum and network, Samsung made the radio, Motorola obviously built the phone and it’s Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem inside that little backpack. A video Call was placed, history is made and the future is upon us.

Currently, Verizon’s 5G service is available only in a few cities. Pushing broadband for home internet but many providers are racing to launch services. AT&T has said its 5G network will be ready to go live this month, while Sprint and LG have said they’ll try to be first to launch a phone next year. While Intel gets its 5G modem technology together Qualcomm has a head start there. They have said it expects a couple waves of flagship phones launching in 2019.

Verizon 5G Status

The trial, which took place in Providence, Rhode Island, used a Motorola Moto Z3 with a 5G moto mod — which Verizon called “the world’s first 5G-upgradeable smartphone. Verizon in October then announced that the fifth US city to receive its 5G network will be Panama City, Florida, as the carrier aims to “stabilize and strengthen” its wireless network across the hurricane-impacted Panhandle and throughout the Bay and Gulf counties. If you have to rebuild, rebuild in 5g.

“As the community rebuilds, Verizon will be … committing $25 million to build the most technologically advanced wireless network in the area. We will include 5G technology as part of that infrastructure,” According to Verizon technology leader Kyle Malady last month.

The Final Though

Im so happy and excited also a little bit scared. Like 98% excited and 2% scared. This is momentous. We have real 5G, the world is changing before our very eyes. If you have been working on it, Now is the time to launch your holographic call platform.

November 15, 2018
AT&T’s 5G Updates

We have 3 big 5g news updates from AT&T’s 5G this week. They seem to be the front runner for the next gen network with a very organized and aggressive expansion model. I have talked about the benefits, Upgrades and all-encompassing human evolution that will come with AT&T’s 5G network many times already. This news update about AT&T’s 5G network is very exciting as we track the progression and implementation. Let’s take a look at what they got for us.

New Cities

We already know AT&T’s 5G rollout will include Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Raleigh and Waco. However just today AT&T announced the remaining cities to receive mobile 5G through the end of 2018. Congratulations, Houston, Jacksonville, Louisville, New Orleans and San Antonio. This makes a total of 12 major US cities to get the next gen network this year. On top of that, the company also revealed cities that would receive the service in early 2019: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. As a central FL resident I’m super stoked to be able to be an early adopter of AT&T’s 5G network.

Data Transmission

Second up in the update is that The company is stating that they are also exploring a new millimeter wave for 5G; AT&T was successful in making the first millimeter wave wireless 5G connection using standards-based production equipment. The company is planning on utilizing the 5G technology in densely populated areas; it can deliver high speeds under varying conditions.

AT&T’s 5G AirGig

Lastly we have Project AirGig. AT&T also has an update on Project AirGig,. AirGig Is how AT&T will deliver 5G to rural users. No longer will high speed connections be just for the urban markets. It uses various types of technology, such as low-cost plastic antennas, mounted on top of existing infrastructure, such as utility poles. The company is now ready to begin testing and building commercial-grade equipment for Project AirGig.

The Final Thought

Everyday its gets more real, These updates to AT&T’s 5G network are huge advancements and great indicators we are almost there. AT&T’s AirGig idea shows us the prior failures of previous network upgrades won’t be experienced again. I know it won’t be a perfect rollout but it looks like it will be swifter and easier than in the past.

September 10, 2018
5G Iphone, No Not Yet

We have all read the 5 part dissertation of the 5G network here at Good.find.guru. We know 2018 is going to be the year that 5G networks finally set up and start our next stage in human evolution. 5G smartphones will be expanding rapidly in 2019. WE are all really thinking, that’s great an all but it doesn’t matter till there is a 5G iPhone. Well from what we are hearing today It’s going to take until at least 2020 for Apple to make a 5G iPhone available.

Apple is never the first to adapt the new networks, but they are the ones that make it the standard. Apple, has never been very interested in putting cutting-edge wireless tech into its phones first, they want to be able to offer 5G when 5G has the network penetration to be completely utilized. The benefits of 5G, like lower latency and gigabit speeds, aren’t particularly useful for smartphones right now, and Apple would rather wait for coverage to be widely adopted and implemented before trying to integrate a new technology. Completely understandable.

Then we get this bit of news Nokia on Wednesday announced a flat, 3 euro ($3.48) per-device licensing fee for its 5G standards-essential patents. At the same time we are hearing that Ericsson will be charging between $2.50 and $5 based on the cost of a device. Now Qualcomm has said they are licensing its 5G patents at 2.275 percent of a single-mode phone’s total price, and 3.25 percent for multi-mode phones, capping at $400 of course. If you do the math a 5G smartphone could potentially be saddled with over $21 in combined royalty payments. Around $13 will go to Qualcomm regardless of any current spats.

We have not heard from Intel and Huawei yet either on the rate for the 5G chips. While volume fee arrangements could reduce the price the other companies are going to try to push the price up. We do not specifically known what Apple pays per iPhone for 4G technologies. The licensing isn’t as simple as what has been worked out for 5G technologies. The cost is thought to be much higher than the approximate $21 expected for 5G.

Apple and Qualcomm Delay in the 5G iPhone

Apple and Qualcomm have been legally battling this issue since 2016. Even then Apple complained that Qualcomm’s practice of charging royalties on a phone’s entire cost was excessive. They say they should be disallowed since many of the patents involved are part of industry standards. Qualcomm in turn shut off a flow of payments. Apple described them as partial rebates on the royalties. This lead Apple to sue Qualcomm and stop paying royalties. In Turn Apple has designing its 2018 mobile devices to work without any Qualcomm chips. This year’s iPhones are set to use Intel modems exclusively. They are nearly certainly going to skip 5G this time around, since the standard was only finalized in June, and U.S. carriers are only just beginning to deploy coverage.

The Final Thought

These licensing fees will have to be paid no matter who provides the actual 5G modem in Apple’s future smartphone. They aren’t related to hardware, but cover the cost of using patents on the 5G standard itself. So for Now we will just bite our tongues and wait for the 5G iPhone. Between you and me ill pay and extra $21 for the 5G.

August 23, 2018
The New 5G Network Will Evolve the World Part 5

Wow what a week it has been, we found out a lot about this new 5g network. You now know we are on the cusp of the next big jump in human evolution. We know now how, where, when, who and why of the new 5G Network. Yes, we open Pandora’s box and now our fall down the rabbit hole is reaching an abrupt end. So what is next? Next? The future of the new 5G network.

In this 5th part of the 5 part break down we are going to take a Snow-white like look into our futures. 5G connectivity is coming, and faster then you would expect. We know when and we know what it can do, and where it will take us. Let’s talk about the real fun stuff, where we will take the new 5G Network. Here is the 3 big theoretical things we will discuss and try to grasp as we think of what we can do with this extreme capabilities. Time Travel, Space travel, and Medical operations/Cyborgs.

Space Travel

First up Space travel, This is already In place. NASA’s Ames Research Center is teaming with the often sinister-sounding Machine-to-Machine Intelligence Corporation (m2mi) to create a global networking system using small satellites they call “nanosats.” The organizations say their nanosats will be developed with a fifth generation (or 5G) communication system — which includes VoIP, video, data, and wireless transmissions. This will in increase the data and earth bound communications of vessel ships that we send for colonization. Keeping in contact with earth will be crucial to the survival and thrival of exploration colonies.

Elon Musk, Yes!, Elon Musk has been batting around the idea of a “space internet” for years, initially proposing it as a way to connect SpaceX’s Martian colonists. In the near-term, the system can be adapted to deliver easy, continuous access to base stations around Earth, providing simple connectivity to the planet’s most remote communities. A proposal filed in November shows how the system would actually work: 4,425 satellites in non-geostationary orbit traveling in a tightly choreographed ballet 700 miles above the surface of the Earth, keeping at least one satellite 40 degrees above the horizon at nearly every spot on Earth. This is set for implementation with the new 5G network.

The big take away here is that we are already working with the new 5G network in space, when we get this tech and connectivity in the hands of the next generation they are going to find ways to take us further, faster and deeper in to space then we can comprehend. Not to mention the first Hotel in space will provide WiFi via the 5G network.

Cyborgs On the New 5G Network

With super-efficient, super-fast technology like 5G, wearables should start to take on a whole new role in our lives. Large batteries will be a thing of the past and it’s a good thing too, this will power cybernetic human components. The idea of a cyborg — a human-machine hybrid — is common in science fiction and although the term dates back to the 1960s it still generates a lot of curiosity. Our merger with machines is already happening. We replace hips and other parts of our bodies with titanium and steel parts. More than 50 000 people have tiny computers surgically implanted in their heads with direct neural connections to their cochleas to enable them to hear. In the testing stage, there are retina microchips to restore vision and motor implants to give quadriplegics the ability to control computers with thought. Robotic prosthetic legs, arms, and hands are becoming more sophisticated.

The dawn is approaching and that day will bring human enhancements not just medical replacements. We will see people upgraded perfectly working eyes and ears for cyberneticly enhanced options. At some point it will be beneficial for human to have artificial enhancements, leaving un enhanced humans inferior to their upgraded counterparts. See the extinction of Homo- Neanderthals if you need to know what happens next. It will not take 1000s of years this time, I would say 3-4 generations.

Time Travel

Time travel — moving between different points in time — has been a popular topic for science fiction for decades. Not all scientists believe that time travel is possible. Some even say that an attempt would be fatal to any human who chooses to undertake it. General relativity also provides scenarios that could allow travelers to go back in time, according to NASA anyways.

The equations, however, might be difficult to physically achieve, especially with the limits of our computer and networking power. While time travel does not appear possible — at least, possible in the sense that the humans would survive it — with the physics that we use today, the field is constantly changing. However if you take the advances in quantum theory and extrapolate the vast capabilities of the new 5G network some kid somewhere trying to power his next gen Xbox will make a huge time paradox discovery that will baffle and change and evolve the world forever. Yes there is it, The new 5G network will evolve the world.

August 17, 2018