Work, play on a single phone: LG teams up with VMware to deploy Android handsets with virtualization

VMware has been chatting up seamless, sexy virtualization among multiple operating systems on a single smartphone for some time -- and it's finally getting the opportunity to deliver en masse thanks to a new partnership with LG. Targeted at the enterprise, Korea's number two phone maker -- which is going into 2011 with a big Android push -- will be integrating VMware's virtualization technology into some of its models next year, starting with Android but potentially moving to other platforms (Windows Phone 7 comes immediately to mind) if the market demands it.

You might think that being able to virtualize a second operating system on your phone doesn't have much consumer relevance, but VMware's got a point: with smartphones becoming more of an end-user phenomenon than ever before, it's getting tougher for IT departments to sell employees on giving up their personal phones in favor of a secure, managed, corporate-provided alternative. With the virtualized setup, the work phone lives as an app within the personal phone -- two phone numbers, two complete environments, and only the work environment can be controlled by the IT nerds. Long term, the concept would be that employees could use whatever phone their little hearts desire -- companies would merely need to dump their VMware setup on top and you've suddenly got your work phone integrated. Follow the break for the press release and a video demo of VMware's virtualization software (on a Nexus One, not an LG) in action.

Continue reading Work, play on a single phone: LG teams up with VMware to deploy Android handsets with virtualization

Work, play on a single phone: LG teams up with VMware to deploy Android handsets with virtualization originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba planning trio of tablets for CES: one each for Android, Chrome OS and Windows 7

So what if the Libretto exited the common consciousness almost as quickly as it entered it while the Folio 100 was bad enough to get its major UK retailer to discontinue it? Toshiba promised it'd have a family of tablets for us by the end of 2011's first quarter and the plan apparently hasn't changed. DigiTimes is reporting today that three new Toshiba slates are set for their debut at CES in a month's time, two of them equipped with 10.1-inch screens and a third sized at 11.6 inches. Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Chrome OS and Android will each be responsible for providing the operating environment on one of these new tablets, indicating that Toshiba -- much like the rest of the world -- has yet to make up its mind about what the best tablet OS out there is. We should know more in just a few short weeks.

Toshiba planning trio of tablets for CES: one each for Android, Chrome OS and Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Fingered as Worst Carrier By Consumer Reports [At&t]

iPhone owners have long had their frustrations with AT&T. So when over half of the AT&T respondents to a Consumer Reports wireless carrier satisfaction survey were iPhone owners, it's maybe unsurprising that they finished last. It's still disappointing, though. UPDATED:

AT&T's the only carrier to see a "significant" drop in overall satisfaction compared to last year, while dark horse US Cellular wrestled the top score away from Verizon.

The carriers were rated in value, voice service, and customer support. Sprint also had a strong showing, pulling even with Verizon. Which leaves T-Mo trailing and AT&T languishing, despite having some of the best hardware out there.

Of course, the survey was strictly of Consumer Reports readers, who have their own sets of priorities and concerns. And it was only a year ago that we found out AT&T had the fastest network around—when it worked at all. Still, a tough knock for the company, and another reminder that a Verizon iPhone could spell relief to a whole lot of people.

Update: AT&T sent us the following statement:

We take this seriously and we continually look for new ways to improve the customer experience. The fact is wireless customers have choices and a record number of them chose AT&T in the third quarter, significantly more than our competitors. Hard data from independent drive tests confirms AT&T has the nation's fastest mobile broadband network with our nearest competitor 20 percent slower on average nationwide and our largest competitor 60 percent slower on average nationwide. And, our dropped call rate is within 1/10 of a percent—the equivalent of just one call in a thousand—of the industry leader.

CONSUMER REPORTS: AT&T NAMED WORST CELL-PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER
U.S. Cellular Surpasses Former Top Provider Verizon Wireless;
January Report Also Features Tips for Avoiding Bill Shock

YONKERS, NY ― AT&T is now the worst-rated cell-phone service carrier according to a new survey of Consumer Reports readers. U.S. Cellular, a regional carrier that provides service in 26 states, beat out the long-standing top provider Verizon Wireless with outstanding marks for value, voice service and customer support. The full article also features carrier Ratings in 23 metropolitan markets and is in the January 2011 issue of Consumer Reports and at www.ConsumerReports.org.

In this year's version of an annual Consumer Reports survey on cell-phone carriers, more than 58,000 ConsumerReports.org subscribers weighed in about their service and customer support experiences with contract and no-contract providers.

AT&T was the only carrier whose scores for overall satisfaction dropped significantly since last year. Verizon Wireless remains among the better performers, but Sprint has pulled even with the carrier in overall satisfaction. The carrier actually even scored better than Verizon in some aspects of customer service, a remarkable turnaround from past years when that was a weak point for the company. T-Mobile was only slightly behind those two carriers in overall satisfaction.

More than half of the AT&T customers surveyed owned an iPhone, the Apple smart-phone that is currently available exclusively from the carrier. Consumer Reports data, reflecting all versions of the phone, found that iPhone owners were much less satisfied with their carrier and rated data service (Web and e-mail) lower than owners of smart phones on other carriers that, like the iPhone, have a host of apps to encourage heavy data use.
"Our survey suggests that an iPhone from Verizon Wireless, which is rumored, could indeed be good news for iPhone fans," said Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor for Consumer Reports.

How to Avoid Bill Shock & Cut Cell-Phone Costs

One in five survey respondents reported receiving an unexpectedly high cell-phone bill in the previous year, often for exceeding their plan's voice, text or data limits – an experience called "bill shock." Half of those respondents were hit for at least $50, and one in five for more than $100. Here's some ways consumers can avoid "bill shock" and cut cell-phone costs.

* Monitor use and act as needed. Consumers should check their use midway through their billing cycle via device settings or online. Pageonce.com sells smart-phone apps that monitor usage and sends users texts or e-mail warnings about overages.
* Don't overbuy minutes. Consumers should review the voice minutes they have not used in the past six months and consider switching to a plan with fewer billable daytime/anytime minutes, provided it offers the same free-talk time benefits.
* Avoid termination fees. Sixteen percent of respondents with a contract wanted to switch carriers but didn't want to get hit with early-termination fees that can run as high as $350 per phone early in the contract term. Penalties gradually decline as consumers get further into the contract period. Consider transferring the contract to someone else for a $20 to $25 fee through Celltradeusa.com or Cellswapper.com. To avoid being stuck with a disappointing carrier, test the phone and service during the 15 – to 30-day trial period, consumers who quit a new contract can port their number to another carrier without penalty.
* Weigh monthly costs. The purchase price of the phone, especially a smart phone, can be a surprisingly small contributor to the total cost of owning it over, say, a two-year period. That's especially true for T-Mobile smart phones, which can be bought with or without a contract, at differing prices and fees.

No-Contract Service

More than 90 percent of Consumer Reports survey respondents' phones were serviced under a contract. Those with no-contract cell-phone service said they made far fewer calls and rarely used data, and perhaps due to their simpler needs were more satisfied overall. Among no-contract service providers, Consumer Cellular scored highest for satisfaction followed by TracFone. AT&T GoPhone was the worst provider in this category receiving relatively low marks for value and voice service.

No-contract service is generally most suitable for light use, but options are expanding beyond bare-bones basics. There are now more conventional phones that provide data service without a contract, a change from the past. And carriers that specialize in no-contract service, including Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile are offering more smart phones. Verizon and T-Mobile now offer most of their phones, smart and regular with or without a contract, but customers will pay more for the device itself.

[Consumer Reports; Image credit: Houston Chronicle]

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Fring adds Dynamic Video Quality to its video calling apps

Fring is working hard to seize on this (hopefully temporary) gap in the video chat firmament, where Google is lacking in a first party mobile video chat solution, Apple's supposedly open FaceTime standard has yet to be opened, and Skype is dragging its feet on a mobile video call implementation. We're not sure how long that will last, but until then we're happy to have Fring sprucing up its own cross-platform solution. Fring just pushed out new Android and iPhone versions of its app that include "DVQ," or "Dynamic Video Quality" for video calling. It's pretty simple: the video quality automatically (and asynchronously) adjusts to use your available bandwidth, with an emphasis on keeping the audio stream pure and uninterrupted. It might sound like a no brainer, but it's a nice touch -- particularly for folks straying from WiFi and trying their luck with carrier data. Check out a video of DVQ in action after the break.

Continue reading Fring adds Dynamic Video Quality to its video calling apps

Fring adds Dynamic Video Quality to its video calling apps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check Out the Companies That Make ReadWriteWeb Possible

Our readers know ReadWriteWeb as the blog that's ahead of the technology curve. Our sponsors know us as that, too. Once a week we introduce our sponsors to our readers and let them know a little more about who they are and what they do. You can say thanks to the companies that make ReadWriteWeb happen by tweeting them (see the link below each sponsor) or following them using our Twitter list.

Interested in being a ReadWriteWeb sponsor? Our readers are smart, tech-savvy decision makers; 40% have a graduate degree or PhD, and over 45% play a key role in information technology purchasing decisions. More than 1 million people on Twitter follow us to stay abreast of the latest Web technology trends from around the globe. To find out more about our sponsor packages, visit our advertising page or email our COO.

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Skip to info about: Medill School of Journalism: Digital journalism programs | Skytap: Cloud solutions for enterprises and ISVs | BTBuckets: Free personalization and on-site behavioral targeting tool | Mashery: API management services | Rovi: Entertainment Data Solutions | SES London Conference & Expo: Search and social marketing conference | Columbia University's Journalism and Computer Science Masters Program: A new dual-degree Masters of Science program | Site24x7: Online website monitoring service | Conduit: Customized components | Alcatel-Lucent: Application developer platform | WatchMouse: Monitor Website Performance and Functionality | SendGrid: Cloud-based email delivery service | Toopia: Our iPhone app developer

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Medill School of Journalism

The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University offers programs that combine the enduring skills and values of journalism with new techniques and knowledge that are essential to thrive in a digital world. You might have a passion for creating finely crafted prose, or for telling stories using visual tools. Maybe you are invigorated by the possibilities of interactive publishing, or by videography for the small screen. Maybe you are an experienced professional looking to renew and retool your multimedia skills. You can find your niche in Medill's graduate journalism program.

Thank the Medill School of Journalism on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

Skytap

Skytap provides cloud automation solutions for enterprises and software vendors to develop, test, migrate, evaluate, demo, and train on new and existing applications in the cloud. Skytap Cloud is ideal for distributed Dev/Test, Training and Sales Demo teams. Teams are empowered to:

• Create multiple cloud environments in seconds
• Run existing applications without any code changes
• Deploy virtual data centers, take snapshots and collaborate
• Accelerate bug resolution cycles by 75%
• Reduce operating costs by 70% annually

Customers of all sizes can deploy Skytap in a day. Try Skytap for free.

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BTBuckets

BTBuckets is a free personalization and on-site behavioral targeting tool that allows websites to increase engagement and ultimately maximize conversion rate optimization (CRO) by clustering and targeting specific user groups. With a simple installation process (a single tag implemented on your site's webpages just like Google Analytics), BTBuckets can update and adapt your website in real-time to create the best experience for that specific user segment without the need to change any HTML code on your website.

BTBuckets segmentation capabilities include behavioral, demographic, customer life-cycle, technographic and firmograhic. Install the BTBuckets browser extension to create segments from within the Google Analytics interface and target these users immediately.

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Mashery

Mashery is a platform for Web services, allowing companies to manage their APIs using Mashery's expertise. At the "Business of APIs" conference, Mashery CEO Oren Michels explained to the audience that while APIs are a technology, their use is a business decision. He went on to say that Mashery has helped customers such as WhitePages.com, Thumbplay, Compete.com, and Calais. Check out the white paper "Five steps to scaling your business development using Web services" to discover how you can use APIs for your business.

You can find out more about APIs and their business use at www.mashery.com.

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Rovi

Rovi's entertainment data solutions allow online stores, portals, social networking sites, service providers, and application developers to differentiate their offerings, drive usage, and increase sales. By becoming a Rovi Data subscriber you gain access to our descriptive metadata on music, movies, TV shows, books, and video games, which you can deploy across multiple platforms.

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SES London Conference & Expo: 21-25 February 2011

As search continues to evolve in new directions and marketing is becoming more like conversations, marketers are being challenged to learn how to leverage all the new forms of media and technologies. SES London is taking the lead in dissecting the new search landscape and figuring out what it means for you. We're leaving conventional thinking behind and will bring together the brightest minds in digital marketing and the veterans of search to deliver you an entirely new perspective. Providing digital marketers with the foundational know-how and the latest industry techniques - commitments we are devoted to build upon.

Session highlights:

• Key Points in Launching a Global Website
• Content Marketing Optimisation
• Marketing to the European Union
• Augmented Reality Revisited
• Is Search Remarketing/Retartgeting Right for You?
• Local 2.0: The Evolution of Local Search

ReadWriteWeb readers, enter RWW20 and save up to £753 when you book now through 4 February.

Thank SES London Conference & Expo on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

Columbia University's Journalism and Computer Science Masters Program

Apply now to Columbia University's new dual-degree Master of Science program in Journalism and Computer Science.  Students will receive highly specialized training in the digital environment, enabling them to develop technical and editorial skills in all aspects of computer-supported news gathering and digital media production.  This program will offer the highest caliber of computer science and journalism training at Columbia University. The inaugural class will enroll in fall 2011 for a total of five semesters at the Journalism and Engineering schools, learning the fundamentals of reporting and writing while developing a working background in computer science and software design.   Application deadline is January 15, 2011.

Thank Columbia Journalism School on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

Site24x7

Site24x7, an online website monitoring service which allows users to monitor their website, web application and online web transactions. Users can get instant alerts when their website goes down. Site24x7 allows monitoring from across 25+ global locations.

Site24x7 pricing starts from $1/Month/URL. Sign-up for a 15-day Free Trial!

Thank Site24x7 on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

Conduit

Conduit enables Web publishers to distribute their offerings both directly and through its global network of 250,000 publishers and their 170 million users. The Conduit platform is a powerful marketing tool that allows you to offer the best of your site through apps or a Community Toolbar, sending desktop alerts to your users, and much more.

The Conduit platform opens a new world of content sharing. Your site visitors can add your content right to their browser by clicking on a branded 2go button that you place on your site. You can also share your content in the Conduit App Marketplace where all the publishers and users in the Conduit network can grab it.

The platform has been adopted by major brands such as Fox News, iWin, Major League Baseball, TechCrunch, and Travelocity, as well as thousands of small and medium organizations in 120 countries.

If you would like to Conduit your website, go to www.conduit.com.

Thank Conduit on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry, is turning the network into a powerful platform for developers.

With the launch of the Alcatel-Lucent Developer Platform, the company provides service providers and enterprises with tools that enable third-party developers to build, test, manage and distribute applications across networks, including television, broadband Internet and mobile. Alcatel-Lucent's introduction of a radical new business model combines network APIs with other third-party APIs, and opens revenue sharing opportunities to support developers in their pre-revenue wallets and provides an additional revenue channel for service providers.

The developer platform is part of a larger push by the company to combine the trusted capabilities of service providers with the speed and innovation of the Web.

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WatchMouse

WatchMouse monitors website performance and functionality 24x7 from over 50 locations worldwide. Monitors for your website, server or API can be set up in minutes and provide valuable insight into how your users experience your site. Features include Multi-step Transactions, Real Browser Monitoring (including Javascript front-end), and Public Status Pages as used by ReadWriteWeb, Twitter, WordPress, bit.ly and more.

Thank WatchMouse on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

SendGrid

SendGrid is a cloud-based email delivery service that delivers email on behalf of other companies to increase deliverability. With SendGrid, you can rest assured that your email will reach your customers' inbox. Integration takes just minutes via SMTP or can be done through a simple REST API. SendGrid can take the hassle of sending email completely out of your hands, and allow you to focus on being awesome at your core business.

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Toopia

Nicolas Koenig is the developer who made our beautiful iPhone app a reality. He runs an iPhone development shop from the Netherlands called Toopia. Toopia also created the Thermometer iPhone app, which enables your iPhone or iPod touch to get the current temperature based on your location. The RWW app lets you read us on the go, follow us on Twitter, share stories on Facebook and Twitter, and browse at your leasure using Read it Later and Instapaper. Download the ReadWriteWeb iPhone application here.

Thank Toopia on Twitter for making ReadWriteWeb possible.

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Have you got a smart company that could use some more visits by the sophisticated readers of a blog like ReadWriteWeb's? Drop us a line and let's talk.

Thanks to all our sponsors and our readers for your support!

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Report: Mac App Store Launching Before Holidays

Apple may be planning to launch its Mac App Store this month, according to an unnamed source cited by the blog Appletell. If true, that would be ahead of schedule - Apple CEO Steve Jobs originally promised a launch within 90 days, when plans for the Store were revealed at an Apple press event in October.

Could the pre-holiday launch have anything to do with Google's Chrome-related announcement being revealed tomorrow? We wouldn't be surprised.

Sponsor

According to Appletell's source, developers were told to have their Mac apps ready by today, Dec. 6. However, a launch this week now seems unlikely, the source said.

Another blog site, MacRumors, can confirm that developers were asked to begin submitting apps to the store back on Nov. 3. Apple also recently released a new version of Mac OS X (10.6.6) to developers, the version that includes support for end-user access of the Mac App Store.

Expected Tomorrow: Chrome Web App Store

Could Apple's sped up plans have anything to do with Google's Chrome announcement tomorrow?

Multiple sources are reporting that the search giant will either launch or provide an update on the status of its operating system, Google Chrome OS. And a major part of that OS is the Chrome Web App Store, whose launch is expected at Tuesday's event.

Image Credit: Download Squad

Both Engadget and All Things D have heard that the Web App Store will arrive tomorrow for end users who have installed the beta version of the Google Chrome Web browser. The beta version arrived last week, introducing support for Web apps as well as an update for syncing apps between computers where Chrome is installed.

These two "desktop" app stores - one from Apple, the other from Google, are even more different than the companies' mobile app store offering. Like iTunes, Apple will apply similar restrictions to its Mac Store, allowing for a "curated" selection of apps. But these are desktop apps - meaning, actual software installed on the computer. Google's Web App Store, however, involves only applications that run in a browser. But Google's philosophy for its Web App Store is different too - it's an "open" marketplace for apps, where the only requirement is a standards-compliant browser. It doesn't even have to be Google Chrome. All Web apps are welcome in the Chrome store - a small, one-time fee of $5.00 is the only obstacle, and is only there to keep the spammers out.

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API of the Week: UserVoice API

UserVoice, one of our favorite idea management services, launched a new API today. UserVoice has completely revamped its API, which is available in two varieties: a free read-only version and a more powerful commercial version. The company built its new Facebook Page App and iPhone SDK using the new API.

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The SDK is particularly interesting. As UserVoice points out in its announcement, iPhone users frequently give apps bad ratings because of one bug or missing feature. Using the iPhone SDK you can build a UserVoice community right into an app and collect feedback within the app, hopefully stemming bad reviews elsewhere. The SDK is available here.

The new API can be access through your UserVoice account in Apps & Plugins section of the Admin Console.

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The Best Budget Camera Lenses [Bestmodo]

If you're shopping for a new lens of some sort, you've come to just the right place. Here's ThePhoblographer's list of the best lenses you can get your hands on without breaking the bank.

Canon

• Canon 50mm F1.8/F1.4: When I first moved to Canon, I started out with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Though it has some slight quirks to it (autofocus is a bit hard to do at time and can be slow) it is still a wonderful general purpose lens and an excellent lens for when videos need to be shot at something like a concert. Stopped down to F4, it is wonderfully sharp.

If you can afford it, the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM is much better and is one of Canon's best buys.

• Canon 100mm Macro 2.8: Known as one of Canon's sharpest lenses, users will appreciate the versatility available with using a lens like this. One can go from shooting portraits, to macro products, to the fine details at a wedding, and to even sports shooting when put in a cropped sensor body like a 7D or a 50D (available at a rebate at the time of writing this article.) One really can't go wrong with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM.

• Canon 85mm F1.8: This is my second favorite lens in my camera bag. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM allows for super sharp portraits, headshots, and even candid moments when shooting events or a wedding. What's great is that you have a telephoto reach without having a really large lens that tends to attract attention: therefore making the photographer more discrete and also allowing them not to disturb their subjects.

• Canon 35mm F2.0: The Canon EF 35mm f2.0 is a great lens for events or photojournalism type shooting. This lens is great for capturing environmental portraits, and also for giving a real feel for what the vibe is like at an event. Combined with a flash, it can be great on the dance floor of a party and delivers sharp results with wonderful color.

Nikon

• Nikon 50mm F1.8/F1.4: The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF is sharper than Canon's but doesn't deliver as pleasing out-of-focus areas. In fact, it's quite a bit sharper and comes with a slightly higher price as well. The Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF is used widely at concerts and weddings in addition to photographers who capture portraits with cameras like a D300s. Many wedding photographers actually do this and deliver some fantastic and lovely results. I've seen some prints from photographers in Brooklyn shooting by the Brooklyn Bridge, and combined with their SB-900 flashes, it does some great work on quite the budget.

• Nikon AF-S 35mm F1.8: I've tried this lens on the Nikon D3x before. For the price, Nikon photographers get a lens that will stick with them in their bags forever. A lens like this is sharp, focuses surprisingly fast, and can be used for photo shoots, shooting couples, portraits, weddings, etc. Many portrait photographers I know actually use the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX.

• Nikkor 28mm F2.8D: Nikon's wide angle primes are becoming legendary, and the Nikon 28mm f2.8D AF is quite worth its weight in dollars. A lens like this is great for getting up close and personal with your subjects, like children, dogs, etc. Otherwise, it is great for shooting landscapes and some street photography.

• Nikkor 85mm F1.8D: Although it's not the absolutely gorgeous F1.4, the Nikon 85mm f1.8D AF is a lens that is seen on many Nikon photographers' cameras. This lens is the essential lens for portrait photographers and those looking to do in studio work. Stopped down to around F2.8 it becomes super sharp. The feel and construction of this lens will also not disappoint.

Panasonic and Olympus Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds

• Panasonic 20mm F1.7: As perhaps the most favorite lens amongst Micro Four Thirds photographers, the Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f1.7 delivers wonderful results in all types of lighting and also does this in a small pancake type body. Zach Honig over at Tech, Travel Tuna and PCMagazine uses this on his GF-1, which he really loves. Some of the results I've seen deliver things I never thought possible on Micro Four Thirds.

• Olympus M. Zukio 17mm F2.8: An alternative to the 20mm for those that want a wider field of view, the Olympus 17mm f2.8 Lens is still a great lens for the Micro Four Thirds system due to sharp image quality and wide aperture.

• Olympus 25mm F2.8: The Olympus 25mm f2.8 for Four Thirds is one of the most beloved lenses in the system. Vincent Pastore uses one (he wrote for this blog previously.) Additionally, most Olympus photographers carry it around when shooting for fun.

• Sigma 24mm F1.8: This is a lens that anyone seriously committed to the Four Thirds standard needs to get if they are also on a budget. Though it isn't the Panasonic 25mm F1.4 that one would sell their soul for, the Sigma will still deliver very pleasing results to users.

• Olympus 50mm F2 Macro: A 100mm on Four Thirds, this lens is great for events, macro work, products and portraits. The sharpness offered by this lens is really something to consider when you need a compact telephoto.

ThePhoblographer is a site that reports on the latest trends and happenings in the photography world. The site also reviews gear in the field review format which tests gear in the way that photographers and enthusiasts would actually use them in real-life situations.

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EmbedPlus Adds Extra Video Controls to YouTube Embeds [Videos]

Embedding YouTube videos is a pretty useful feature, but it only gives you basic player controls. With EmbedPlus, you can start your videos at a certain time, skip self-defined chapters, add annotations, zoom, and more to tweak the video to your liking.

If you're sharing your own video, you probably don't need anything extra, but when you share other people's videos, sometimes you want to tweak the video—start it at a certain point, ignore more boring parts of the video, or just add notes to the video to get your point across. YouTube doesn't let you do this, but free service EmbedPlus adds these and some other pretty neat features to YouTube embeds.

To embed a YouTube video with EmbedPlus, just grab the YouTube link of the original video you want to share, paste it into EmbedPlus, and tweak the size, start time, and scene markers for your video. It'll give you a new embed code that you can paste into your blog, PowerPoint, or another social network. Hit the link to check it out.

Update: Unfortunately, some sites (like ours) are reformatting the html and making EmbedPlus videos appear as standard YouTube videos. For a lot of sites, this shouldn't be a problem, but to demonstrate what a tweaked video might look like, you can check out my enhanced version of our Hackintosh guide by clicking here and playing the video on that page.

EmbedPlus [via AddictiveTips]

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Everything You Need to Know About 4G Mobile Broadband [Mobile Broadband]

Verizon just launched their 4G data network, joining Sprint and T-Mobile at the party. But what is 4G, exactly? Is it worth the money? How fast is it really? We've got you covered with answers to all your 4G mobile broadband questions.

Photo by kalleboo and Jen Ruhman

WTF is 4G?

The idea of mobile data has always been easy enough to grasp because data speeds were slow enough that differentiating between networks and options was pretty straightforward. Data speeds would mainly depend on the amount of coverage in a given area as well as available bandwidth on the network. 3G speeds jumped around in the 500kbps to the 2mbps range, so you could go out and buy a 3G USB modem or mobile hotspot that would meet your expectations. The only real points of comparison with 3G networks had to do with coverage and speed, so we managed—even when the technology was new—to understand it.

We now have 4G data, which is a lot less clear cut. With Verizon's launch of their 4G LTE network, three out of the four major US carriers—Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile—boast 4G data networks. Each company's definition of "4G" is quite a bit different, however, and not a single one actually meets the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) official definition. The ITU defines 4G as a connection capable of 100Mbps with high mobility (wherever you go) and up to 1Gbps with low mobility (Wi-Fi range). The cellular data network's 4G speeds don't even come close, and the only definition each network seems to be able to agree upon is that 4G is just what comes after 3G. While the title of "4G" isn't necessarily accurate and, in many ways, meaningless, we nonetheless have to live by the terminology these cellular data providers are using. For the purposes of this article, 4G will simply mean the 4th Generation of each provider's data network and nothing else.

A Quick Look at "4G" Technologies

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the different technologies that are currently being labeled as "4G" in the United States. We'll be throwing around these terms as we take a deep dive, so here's a quick refresher if you're not fully caught up on your next-generation wireless technologies:

• Mobile WiMax- WiMax is the "4G" technology that Sprint uses, and it offers peak data rates of 128mbps downstream and 56mbpss upstream.
• Long Term Evolution (LTE) - LTE is Verizon's choice for "4G" mobile broadband, providing theoretical peak data rates of 100mbps downstream and 50mbps upstream. While LTE (or, specifically, 3GPP LTE) isn't technically 4G, LTE Advanced is expected to actually meet 4G requirements with a peak download speed of 1gbps (yes, one gigabit). The upgrade path from 3GPP LTE to LTE Advanced is supposed to be easier and more cost-effective than most upgrades, so this could bode well for Verizon in the near future.
• HSPA+ (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access) - T-Mobile's opted to use HSPA+ for its 4G network, even though HSPA is what Sprint and Verizon use for its 3G data. While HSPA+ definitely offers faster speeds, those peak speeds are about half of what LTE and WiMax offer—56mbps downstream and 22mbps upstream.

Your Options: Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile

Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all taken fairly different approaches to what they're calling their 4G networks. These choices make for very different strengths and weaknesses in each, primarily in the categories of coverage, speed, device options, and operating system support. Below is a comparison chart for a quick overview, but we'll take a closer look at each network's offerings as well, then give you our bottom line take on what's best.

(Click image for full-size view.)

Sprint

Coverage
Sprint got a head start on their 4G network and so it's not surprising their coverage is pretty decent. On the map to the left, the blue areas indicate 4G coverage and the orange areas indicate other data coverage. Sprint provides a 4G coverage checker if you want to see if your area is painted blue. If you live in a major city, or near one, chances are you can use Sprint's 4G network.

Speed
In terms of speed, Sprint rates itself the lowest of the three networks and tests show those speeds to be fairly accurate. That said, Sprint is the only of the three carriers to directly advertise average speeds and not just peak data rates. T-Mobile advertises their 4G speeds go up to 21mbps (and they probably do for somebody, somewhere) but real world tests fall short. In reality, Sprint's 4G WiMax network performs better in real-world speed tests than T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ network, so kudos to Sprint for actually advertising their network speeds accurately.

Devices Options and OS Support
Sprint also has the best device support of the three networks. Smartphones aside, Sprint offers USB modems, 4G-equipped netbooks, and the Sprint Overdrive Mobile Hotspot. Sprint is currently the only carrier with a 4G mobile hotspot, which makes them particularly attractive to anyone with multiple devices. It also makes it much more simple to connect to Sprint's network since you can do so over Wi-Fi without the need for any proprietary connectivity software.

Cost and Data Caps
When it comes to cost, however, Sprint is the most expensive at $60 per month. On paper this is $10 higher than Verizon and $20 higher than T-Mobile, but while Verizon and T-Mobile offer only 5GB of data for their respective prices ($50 and $40 per month), Sprint offers unlimited 4G data (and 5GB of 3G data). If you only plan to use 5GB of data per month, Sprint is definitely the most expensive option available to you. If you exceed 5GB of data per month, however, Sprint could turn out to be your cheapest option.

Verizon

Speed
Verizon's taken a little more time to bring its 4G network to market, but as Gizmodo noted, its speeds are exceptional. Several tech blogs and news outlets tested Verizon's new 4G LTE network before launch and the lowest speed test ranked at 7.14mbps down and 1.12mbps up. MSNBC came in with an insanely fast 32.8mbps down and 11.99mbps up. Because these tests were performed before Sunday's official launch, it's possible that these speeds are not indicative of the performance we should expect once more people are actually using Verizon's 4G network. On the other hand, if the low end of the speed tests is any indication of what to expect in every day use, Verizon's 4G network is still the fastest. Only time will tell if that holds true.

Coverage
Verizon's coverage is currently pretty sparse, but if you live in and travel to major cities it may not matter all that much. Currently Verizon covers 38 markets and 60 major airports with plans to match its current 3G coverage by 2013. If you travel often and want 4G coverage right now, Verizon may not be the best choice. You can check Verizon's 4G LTE coverage here.

Cost and Data Caps
Unsurprisingly, Verizon is one of the more expensive networks when it comes to data plans. While its 5GB/month plan comes in at $50, which is $10 cheaper than Sprint's only plan, you pay $10/GB in overages. While 1GB is a lot with 3G data, when you can download at speeds similar to your home broadband connection you can easily rack up a few GB without a thought. If your data usage is a bit heavier, Verizon offers a 10GB/month plan for $80. This awards Verizon the most expensive 4G plan of any of the networks, but Verizon is also the only network offering an option. Of course, Sprint's 4G data usage isn't limited and costs only $60 per month, so it's not as though you're limited to 10GB on every network.

Device Options and OS Support
In addition to Verizon's coverage limitations, you don't have too many options when it comes to 4G devices. Verizon currently offers two USB modems that, when compared on their web site, are spec-for-spec identical. One of the USB modems looks notably larger, like a miniature satellite for your laptop, but all in all there doesn't seem to be much differentiating these two offerings. Currently both USB modems only work on various flavors of the Windows operating system, so Mac users will have to wait until Verizon adds support. Currently there is no news regarding Linux support or the addition of a 4G LTE mobile hotspot.

T-Mobile

Speed
If anybody's stretching the definition of "4G" it's T-Mobile. HSPA+, or Evolved HSPA, is essentially an upgrade version of what Verizon's and Sprint's 3G networks are made of. To be fair, though, HSPA+ is capable of notably faster speeds. In real world tests, T-Mobile's HSPA+ came out the slowest, but that's nothing new for T-Mobile. T-Mobile's 4G is definitely faster than its 3G speeds, especially if it ever manages to achieve the insanely high peak speed of 21mbps downstream (as advertised). If you've got a T-Mobile contract and want to stick around, it's definitely a decent upgrade.

Cost and Data Caps
Cost is what really makes T-Mobile's 4G particularly attractive. You can get a 250MB plan for only $25 per month, although why you'd want high-speed mobile broadband to only use 250MB is hard to understand. A 5GB plan costs only $40 per month, which makes T-Mobile the cheapest by $10. T-Mobile also doesn't charge overage fees if you exceed 5GB. Instead, they simple cripple your speeds. If your budget is the most important consideration, T-Mobile might be your best option.

Coverage
T-Mobile's network also has pretty wide 4G coverage, and you can check if you're covered here. While they advertise themselves as "America's Largest 4G Network," their coverage seems about on par with Sprint's. Like all the 4G networks, they're expanding, so you can expect better coverage over the next couple of years. One nice thing T-Mobile's done is mark their "coming soon" areas on the map. While a Google search can often turn up planned 4G rollout information for any network, it's particularly nice to see a company actually making an effort to clearly provide the customer with that information.

Device Options and OS Support
T-Mobile is similar to Verizon in terms of device options, although in addition to two USB modems T-Mobile also offers a 4G-equipped Dell Mini netbook. While T-Mobile does not provide a mobile hotspot option, they do support both Windows and Mac OS X with their USB modems so you're not limited to Windows as you (currently) are with Verizon. Nonetheless, without a mobile hotspot option, T-Mobile really only excels at providing the lowest-cost service.

The Bottom Line

With all these options, how do you decide what will work best for you? It really depends on what you consider most important. Here's where we felt each network ranked the best:

• Speed: Verizon
• Cost: T-Mobile
• Coverage: T-Mobile and Sprint
• Best Device Options: Sprint
• Best Value: Sprint

When 2013 rolls around and all three networks have much wider coverage, hopefully "4G" offerings will be as easy to compare as 3G. If you want to be an early adopter and start taking advantage of what each network considers its 4th generation speeds, now you know what you're in for. With coverage still fairly sparse across all networks, however, you may be better offer waiting another year for 4G to mature. Maybe then we'll even get a proper definition.

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