LTE

RFID tags wirelessly provide information on products or other items, but they can only be read by dedicated portable devices. That may soon change, however, as a tag-integrated chip and a software update could allow smartphones to do the job.

To maintain communications during emergencies or in remote areas, Lockheed Martin has come up with a new LTE-over-Satellite system that will allow LTE mobile phones to hook up with satellites to provide 4G connections.

​While not something that's likely to be used every day, portable projectors are great for easy set up movie nights, or quick photo sharing while out and about. The FuntaSee over on Kickstarter is being billed as the first one with 4G capabilities, making streaming on the go a real possibility.​

Samsung's Gear S3 smartwatch comes in ​both "Classic" and "Frontier" varieties. Until now, only the latter has been available in an LTE variant. Today, Samsung announced that US customers will soon have the option of purchasing a Gear S3 Classic with 4G cellular connectivity as well.

The Spyro 2 is versatile, compact multi-function smart projector from ZTE. Running on Google’s Android OS, it offers both mobile hotspot and portable projector functionality in a compact, aesthetically-pleasing package.

LG’s F60 is a 4G LTE handset that otherwise offers middle to low-end specs. The smartphone, which is scheduled to land first in Europe, packs in a number of the company’s software enhancements, including Touch & Shoot and Knock Code.

Recent LTE-A tests have demonstrated speeds of up to 300 Mbps, but now Australia’s largest telco Telstra has upped the ante with news of a new world’s fastest: 450 Mbps LTE-A using carrier aggregation.

China's Vivo is about to release a flagship LTE-capable Android phone named the Xshot that features a 13 MP camera at the back with a deliciously fast F1.8 lens and optical image stabilization, and an 8 MP selfie cam to the front, along with 4K video and high-end audio as added pot-sweeteners.

HiSense, a Chinese-based manufacturer best known for its range of white goods and other household electrical appliances, is planning to bring its X1 mobile device to the US later this year. With its 6.8-inch display, the device straddles the blurry phablet line between tablet and smartphone.

Techno Source and KD Interactive first made waves in the childrens tablet market by collaborating to produce last year's Wi-Fi Kurio S Series devices. They have now returned to offer full-time parental control and connectivity with a CES debut of the Kurio 7x 4G LTE.

China-based electronics giant Lenovo is looking to continue its expansion into markets outside China by unveiling four devices this week. The company is set to showcase its new series of smartphones at CES, including its first LTE-enabled handset, the Vibe Z.

LG has revealed the Optimus F Series line of smartphones, which features 4G LTE support, higher processing power, and the Android 4.1.2 OS.