Now there’s a safe and easy way to jailbreak the iPhone 4.

Just go to JailbreakMe.com and follow the instructions – it’s really that simple.  Keep in mind that you can restore your iPhone 4 to it’s original settings by using iTunes so there really is very little danger here but as always the disclaimer is that jailbreaking your iPhone does void the warranty.

So why would you want to jailbreak your pretty iPhone?

Well, you can get an app ($4, but free to try) called My3G that allows you to use Facetime over 3G so you’re no longer limited to using Facetime only when you have a WiFi connection.

And if you’d like to create a wifi hotspot with the iPhone 4, just get MyWi 4.0 ($19.99) and you’ll be off and running.

Just check out Cydia to see all the apps that become available to you should you decide to free your iPhone.

When I first started making a list of 4G phones available for each cell phone carrier (U.S. carriers only), this was an easy task, there was one phone.  That’s all changed now – you have a plethora of good choices, though the trend of the 4G LTE phones only being available for Google Android continues.

4G is also called LTE, HSPA+, or WiMax depending on who you talk to but they all refer to the same thing… sort of.

Of the three, LTE is the fastest “4G” while HSPA+ is the slowest, but most widely available.  WiMax sits somewhere in the middle.

Verizon is the primary provider of LTE coverage though AT&T has finally brought it to a few markets as well (finally).  Sprint’s 4G coverage is via WiMax, which actually comes from Clearwire.    AT&T and T-Mobile primarily use HSPA+ and while their flavor of 4G is the slowest, it’s also available everywhere they have 3G coverage as it doesn’t require building new cell towers like LTE and WiMax do.

With that being said, let’s jump to the list of 4G phones and devices.  Last year around this time, this was a really short list.  Now it’s a lot longer as there are tons of 4G devices.  If I miss one, just post in the comments and I’ll get it up.

Verizon 4G  Phones (Verizon’s 4G network is called LTE – “Long Term Evolution”) (coverage map)

Verizon officially turned on their LTE network on December 5th, 2011 in 38 markets.  Now they cover more than 190 cities and cover more than 200 million people and everybody that is currently covered by 3G should have 4G access by 2013.

LTE Phones:

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus – $299.99
• Motorola Droid Razr – $299.99
• Motorola Droid Bionic – $199.99
• Pantech Breakout – $49.99
• LG Revolution – $99.99
• HTC Thunderbolt – $99.99
• Samsung Stratosphere – $99.99
• HTC Rezound – $299.99
• Samsung Droid Charge – $199.99

LTE Tablets

• Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 – $379.99
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 – $579.99
• Motorola Droid Xyboard 10.1 – $479.99
• Motorola Xoom – $499.99

Sprint 4G Phones (coverage area)

Sprint was the first to bring 4G coverage to the masses with its WiMax technology.  Unfortunately, growth grew to a standstill at the end of 2011 and only covered 71 markets despite the fact that they covered 68 markets in 2010.  That’s a net growth of 3 markets in all of 2011 – not good.

They do have a nice selection of phones, though.

WiMax Phones:

• HTC EVO 3D – $199.99
• HTC EVO Shift 4G – FREE
• Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch – $199.99
• HTC EVO Design 4G – $99.99
• HTC EVO 4G – $99.99
• Google Nexus S 4G – $99.99
• Motorola Photon 4G – $199.99
• Samsung Epic 4G – $99.99
• Samsung Conquer 4G – $99.99

WiMax Tablets:

AT&T 4G Phones (AT&T Also uses LTE Technology for 4G but will start with HSPA+ like T-Mobile) (coverage map)

AT&T has really made things complicated with all their 4G talk.  AT&T calls both LTE and HSPA+ 4G.  Their LTE network is tiny, covering only 26 cities while their HSPA+ network is big, covering virtually everyone that gets 3G coverage.

As far as I’m concerned HSPA+ isn’t real 4G.

However, if you want other options than an Android phone, you’ll get those with HSPA+.  You can get the iPhone, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberries in HSPA+ configurations though none offer 4G LTE yet.

LTE Phones

• HTC Vivid
• Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
• LG Nitro HD

LTE Tablets

T-Mobile 4G Phones (coverage map)

T-Mobile was the second carrier in the U.S. to launch their “4G” network though , again, it isn’t really 4G, it’s HSPA+ though from a practical standpoint it’s quite a bit faster than then current 3G.

HSPA+ Phones

• HTC Radar 4G
• Samsung Exhibit II 4G
• T-Mobile Sidekick 4G
• LG DoublePlay
• T-Mobile myTouch
• T-Mobile myTouch Q
• Samsung Galaxy S 4G
• T-Mobile G2x with Google
• T-Mobile myTouch 4G
• HTC Sensation 4G
• T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide
• Samsung Galaxy S II
• HTC Amaze 4G
• Blackberry Bold 9900 4G
• Blackberry Torch 9810
• Nokia Lumia 710

I’ll try to keep updating this as new info is released, but right now if you want a 4G phone, first check to make sure there is coverage in your area, then pick one of the phones on this post.  You can purchase 4G phones for areas that aren’t covered as they all work just fine on 3G networks, you just don’t get the huge speed boost when surfing, streaming, or downloading files.

If you know of a 4G phone (real or rumored) that I don’t have on this list, then please post in the comments.

Sure, some of the suggested uses like waiters using it to take orders and uses it for interactive textbooks for students seemed cool, but pretty nichey.

I did eventually conclude that it’d be useful in my business when making presentations to clients, but again, that’s a pretty specialized use.

I’m not at all convinced it could replace my trusty laptop on a trip.

However, since this is a GPS site (or we used to be, once upon a time), I quickly concluded the iPad could easily be used as the ultimate GPS navigation device in your car.  With it’s gigantic 9.7 inch screen, it makes even the large displays found in Mercedes and Infiniti navigation systems look small.

I know that I sometimes strain to see the screen on my Droid for directions, but with an iPad that’s a thing of the past – you can see everything clearly.

Gear Required

To make this all work nicely, you’ll need a little gear.

• iPad 3G (no wi-fi only devices)
• CoPilot Live HD (built specifically for iPad’s huge screen $29.99)
• An iPad Car Mount (and don’t even think about putting this thing on your windshield, dashboard or cup holder mounts only, please)

At that point, you’re ready to navigate in style, and you’ll get incredible bang for your buck considering that a built in system with a screen that size runs about $2500.