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A while back, startup FreedomPop declared ambitious plans to give every American the chance to get online for free. The company's beta subscription program is now live.

Via one of two modems -- a Photon mobile hotspot or a Bolt USB dongle -- customers can use up to 500MB of data per month without billing. That's not much, but it could be adequate for email and careful browsing.

The hardware is technically free, according to the company. However, to get your hands on the free data allocation, you need to put down a "fully refundable" deposit … Read more

The iPad may be horrendously overpriced compared with other tablets on the market (and I suspect the rumored iPad Mini will be as well), but it does offer an option found on few Android-powered competitors: 4G LTE.

I mean, look at the most popular Android tablets -- the Kindle Fire, the Nook, the Google Nexus. They offer only Wi-Fi connectivity. You can get 3G on a couple models (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab), but 4G is rarer still.

Cut to today's deal: while supplies last, Ice Monkey has the refurbished Motorola Xoom 10.1 32GB Wi-Fi + 4G LTE tablet for $219.99 shipped.… Read more

This is a Prizefight throwdown showdown between Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S3, before the Jelly Bean update, that will continue on for generations to come.

The iPhone 5 finally has caught up to technologies that the Android world has had for more than a year, so how will it match up with one of Android's crown jewels, the Galaxy S3?

You can bet we'll be pitting these two against each other after the Jelly Bean update, but you can't have a better matchup than this. There's no way to go wrong with … Read more

Though its thinner profile and longer screen are two of the iPhone 5's top draws, I'm more interested in what's inside Apple's newest handset. Yes, after a long wait, the iPhone 5 finally adds support for 4G LTE data networks. Of course, I have to point out that a galaxy of Android phones (get it!) have long offered the feature, but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful that at long last the iPhone has caught up.

Editors' note: This article was originally posted September 22, 2012. We will continue to update it as we … Read more

The iPhone 5 goes on sale tomorrow, and you're wondering if it's worth standing in line for.

Join Scott, Josh Lowensohn and me for a 30 minute Google+ Hangout discussing the iPhone 5, starting today at 2:30 pm Pacific. We had one of these a few days ago and it worked out so well, we figured we'd try another one.

The Hangout will be accessible though CNET's Google+ page, where you can also submit your questions. I repeat, the Hangout is closed for comments, so submit your questions though CNET's Google+ page using #CNETLive . … Read more

MetroPCS today announced that its next smartphone, the ZTE Anthem 4G, will join the company's roster in the coming weeks. As the first 4G LTE handset from ZTE in the United States, the device is a mixed bag of midrange Android.

The Anthem 4G runs (only) Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and features a a 4.3-inch WVGA display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and a 5-megapixel rear camera. There's also HDMI output and Dolby Surround Audio. Additional specifications for the smartphone include 4GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, and a microSD expansion slot.

As is the case with just … Read more

Low Latency is a weekly comic on CNET's Crave blog written by CNET editor and podcast host Jeff Bakalar and illustrated by Blake Stevenson. Be sure to check Crave every Thursday at 8 a.m. PT for new panels! Want more? Here's every Low Latency comic so far.

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Check out Scott Stein's comprehensive review of the Apple iPhone 5.

- Scott writes about the 5 things that surprised him about the iPhone 5.

- Apple delivers iOS 6, available for download now.

- First Look video of Apple's new Maps application.

- How to control your privacy settings on iOS 6.

- Apple Lightning Adapter adds life to your old gear.

- Sony unveils super slim PlayStation 3.

- … Read more

AT&T mobile subscribers in Seattle and Portland can now grab their own slice of LTE.

The carrier announced today that it has turned the switch on its high-speed network for customers in both cities. That brings AT&T's total number of LTE-enabled markets to 72.

Earlier this month, the company activated 4G LTE access in Anchorage, Alaska, Bakersfield, Calif., Jacksonville, Fla., Modesto, Calif., Omaha, Neb., Syracuse, N.Y., and Bridgeport, Conn.

An AT&T spokesman told CNET that the company plans to reach a total of 100 cities by the end of 2012 and complete … Read more