Bonnie Cha

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Sprint Grows LTE Lineup With Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, LG Smartphones

With Sprint’s 4G LTE network rolling out to 100 more cities in the coming months, the carrier is continuing to add to its selection of compatible smartphones and tablets with today’s introduction of four new devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, LG Optimus G, LG Mach and Sprint Plug-in Connect Tri-Mode USB modem were all announced at the Fall CTIA wireless show in San Diego on Tuesday, and will be available later this fall. Sprint said it would reveal release dates and pricing at a later time.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is Sprint’s first LTE tablet, and can be used as a 3G/4G mobile hotspot able to serve up to 10 devices. It ships running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and sports a 10.1-inch, 1,280 by 800 pixel touchscreen.

There are two cameras: A three-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing VGA camera. The latter can be used with the built-in facial recognition technology to unlock the tablet with your face instead of a password, if you’re feeling James Bond-like. For business users, there’s also on-device encryption and VPN access.

Those seeking an advanced camera phone might have a gander at the LG Optimus G. This Android smartphone offers a 13-megapixel camera on back, with advanced functions like low-light noise reduction for clearer pictures in dark environments, and something called “Cheese Shutter,” which lets you snap a photo simply by saying, “cheese.”

Other features of note include a 4.7-inch HD touchscreen and the ability to work in two apps simultaneously, via LG’s Q Slide function.

Meanwhile, the LG Mach is more of an entry-level smartphone, with a smaller 4-inch display and a five-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video-recording capabilities. It runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and has a slide-out physical keyboard.

Last but not least, there’s the sexily named Sprint Plug-in Connect Tri-Mode USB modem. The mobile broadband device simply plugs into your laptop’s USB port, and provides an Internet connection using Sprint’s network.

Sprint launched its first LTE devices in May, even before the network went live in July. LTE service is currently available in 24 cities, and the carrier plans to complete most of its nationwide build-out by the end of 2013.

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Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life is too short to be of any use.

— From the fact sheet for a fake product entitled Useless Plasticbox 1.2 (an actual empty plastic box) placed in L.A.-area Best Buy stores by an artist called Plastic Jesus