News brief: Apple rebrands iPad WiFi + 4G to WiFi + Cellular

Apple has quietly rebranded the new iPad WiFi + 4G after a lot of people (mostly people who form part of consumer and advertising standards groups) around the world raised issues about being misled about actual data network support. It’s now called the iPad WiFi + Cellular everywhere it’s being sold, settling on a more generic term that covers other data networks, including HSPA, HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA. The name change also applies to US and Canada, where 4G LTE is actually supported, and is now listed to work on “fast cellular networks – up to 4G LTE.”

Just so you know, they didn’t downgrade anything; you’re still getting the same tablet, but with a different name. But just in case you’re picking up a third-gen iPad in Australia and the UK – where they do have (or are prepping to launch) LTE networks – you still won’t get LTE support since they’re using incompatible frequency bands from the ones available in the US.