PhoneTalk

In this edition, we discuss the DROID MAXX by Motorola, the Kyocera Duramax and Sprint's affordable ZTE Optic Android tablet. Plus learn more about how your cell phone could be useful during Super Bowl 2012.

This week during CES in Las Vegas, I’m wearing the MotoACTV to track how far I walk during the show and using it with the DROID RAZR by Motorola to keep updated on texts and calendar appointments.. This device does more than that. It can tell you how many calories you burn, track runs, bike rides, workouts on elliptical machines, and more. It’s also an MP3 player with the ability to store podcasts and access FM radio.

Sounds interesting? Well, you can win one by visiting LetsTalk’s Facebook page, and filling out a brief form for a chance to win one of two MotoACTV’s that we’ll be giving away. The giveaway ends on Monday, January 23, 2012.

Not sure what to get dad for Fathers' Day this year? Well consider getting him apps that are useful and fun to use. Whether you're shopping for a new dad or a dad about to send his kids off to college, there's sure to be an app in this group that they would like to use. You can always download one or all of the apps to your dad's or grandfather's phone while spending time with them during the holiday.


1. Turn new dads into a baby whisperer

Being a new dad while completely rewarding can have its challenges, like getting that new bundle of joy to sleep. No need to worry, there's an app for that. Get the new dad in your life the Baby Shusher app that literally shushes your baby to sleep. Don't worry about incoming calls waking an almost sleeping baby, there's a setting for that in the app.

Compatible OS: Android, iPhone
Cost: $4.99
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your phone or corresponding app store on your computer.



2. Add a doctor to your dad's phone

Not all dads are doctors like Awesome on the show Chuck, but that doesn't mean they can't have a virtual doctor in their cell phones. If they're the kind of person that always wants to diagnose an ailment, help them out with iTriage. The app is filled with content from physicians and includes useful information on thousands of symptoms, diseases, procedures and medication. It also includes a nationwide directory of every hospital, urgent care center, retail clinic, physician, pharmacy, and community health center.

Compatible OS: iPhone, Android smartphones and tablets
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your phone or corresponding app store on your computer. You can also access it on a web-based enabled cell phone by visiting iTriage.com.



3. Get your dad a history lesson

Is your dad a history buff? Then he'll love the It Happened Here! mobile app. Basically this app turns a cell phone into a virtual tour guide. Dads can use it to learn more about history and pop culture events that occurred in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles or San Francisco. The events are presented in a list or on a map. Don't worry you don't have to be in the city to use it, but being there does make it more fun.

Compatible OS: iPhone, Android
Cost: $2.99 per city
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your phone or corresponding app store on your computer.



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The 2011 NFL Draft is almost here, but there's no need to stay home glued to the TV to catch all the details. If you have a Verizon cell phone you can get all the information you need with Verizon's NFL Mobile app. In addition to coverage leading up to the draft pick Thursday, April 28 to Saturday, April 30, you can also see the live draft tracker, check out draft pick analysis from NFL experts, watch video highlights of players, and link to your favorite team's page within the app. There's also integration with Fan War Rooms found on NFL.com so you can take part in any online chats from your smartphone. The app is currently free to download and use, so why not check it out if you're a football fan.

Sports fans will be happy to learn that they will soon be able to get sports update from Slacker Radio. The company has teamed up with ESPN to deliver ESPN Radio programming to users of the music app. The integrated ESPN service will include ESPN SportsCenter headlines for hourly updates on any Slacker music station. Since Slacker Radio lets you create personalized radio stations you'll also be able to create custom sports stations.

Slacker Radio has a free version and subscription version, which starts at $3.99 a month, so not all of the ESPN coverage will be included in the free version. Those subscribed to the basic service will have access to the interactive programmed ESPN station, while those who pay for Slacker Radio monthly will get unlimited access to the ESPN offering including ad-free stations, the ability to create personalized sports station, and an option to add top of the hour SportsCenter updates to any Slacker Station.

If the Slacker Radio app didn't come included on your smartphone you can download it from the appropriate market place on your cell phone. If you already are a Slacker Radio user and want to add the subscription service for full ESPN access when it becomes available just click the "upgrade" button in the Slacker Radio app on your cell phone. There's no word on availability yet, but we'll keep you updated when we learn more.

Hockey is a long season and there are a lot of games. The season starts with the NHL All-Star game this Sunday. If you want to stay up on all the action and you're a Verizon customer with an Android cell phone or even a BlackBerry smartphone check out the NHL GameCenter Live application. The app offers access to National Hockey League (NHL®) game scores, players, stats and video highlights. For a one-time fee of $9.99 you can get additional access to condensed games, live game radio and video highlights. For even more features sign up for the premium version, which is available for a one-time $39.99 fee. The premium version also offers 40 out-of-market games per week that you can watch on your cell phone (Note: Some restrictions may apply).

Want a cell phone that you can use on the slopes or at the beach? That's the idea behind Verizon's latest rugged cell phone, the Casio G’zOne Ravine. In addition to its rugged design, the Ravine comes with quite a few outdoor-centric apps installed such as a Walking Counter, Astro Calendar for following the cycles of the moon, Thermometer, Tides to help follow what's happening with the current, Earth Compass, and more. Also on board are push-to-talk functionality, 3.2-megapixel camera, VZ Navigator, voice recorder, and of course a multitude of messaging options.

Although, Sprint isn't offering the NFL Mobile app anymore (that application is now available for Verizon Wireless customers), but that doesn't mean you can't catch the NFL draft on your Sprint cell phone. In fact, quite the opposite, Sprint is launching a new app that does exactly that, called Sprint Football Live. Here's what's included in the app:

• Follow all the picks, trades, and news
• Prior to draft there will be access to behind-the-scenes blogs from projected top picks Sam Bradford, quarterback from the University of Oklahoma, and Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle from the University of Nebraska
• A draft tracker
• Mock drafts
• In-depth profiles and analysis of nearly 500 top prospects, breaking news and information from ProFootballTalk.com
• Team-specific news for all 32 teams
• Expert analysis
• Sprint-only blog by NFL insider Jay Glazer

If you don't want to use the app, you can still watch a live telecast of CBSSports.com's draft coverage April 22-24 on Sprint TV.

How much is all this going to cost? If you have a Sprint Everything Data plan it's included with the service.

Sprint may not have NFL Mobile anymore, but it has a much bigger sports line-up with live sports programming and entertainment from ESPN Mobile TV. The line up for the next couple of months include over a 100 live events:

23 Live Men's NCAA Basketball Games (including Conference Championship games)

19 Live Women's NCAA Basketball Championship Games

9 NBA Playoff Games

15 Regular Season NBA Games

30 Live NBA Fastbreak Shows

10 Regular Season MLB Games

50 Live Baseball Tonight Studio Shows

3 College Football Spring games

3 Live Friday Night Fights

3 Live NCAA Hockey Championship Games

5 Live MLS Matches

Clearly, if you're a March Madness fan it looks like a sprint cell phone will keep you up on all the events - even let you catch games while on-the-go. If you don't have a data plan ESPN Mobile TV will cost $0.03/KB. That can add up pretty quickly and Sprint's Everything plans offer basically everything so you can watch all the ESPN Mobile TV you want and not worry about the pricing.

Starting in April, Verizon Wireless will be offering NFL Mobile on its cell phones.The first big event to air on Verizon cell phones will be a live stream of the NFL Network's coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft to be held from April 22-24. There will also be a pick-by-pick draft tracker updated in real time along with other related content. During the season fans will also be able to watch the NFL RedZone, live streaming events of Sunday and Thursday night football games, and more. We'll have to wait until the season starts for more information on pricing of the service and which Verizon cell phones will be able to receive it.

As the NFL season is getting a close to an end it's time to remember and vote on the top plays of the season. To cast your vote in the "Sprint Can't-Miss Play of the Year" visit the NFL mobile phone app on a Sprint cell phone or go directly to www.nfl.com/cantmiss on the web. The top 5 plays of the season have been picked by NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Jim Loftus of NFL.com, Joanna Hunter of NFL public relations, and Steve Gaffney, Sprint's vice president of corporate marketing. You can pick your favorite of the following listed below.

Week 1: "Broncos Game-Winning Touchdown" - Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley comes up with an incredible catch followed by an 87-yard run for a game-winning touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Week 3: "Viking Miracle" - Vikings quarterback Brett Favre avoids a heavy rush and throws a 33-yard pass to receiver Greg Lewis at the back of the end zone for a game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.

Week 12: "Last-Second Heroics" - Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young throws a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kenny Britt as the Titans convert on a fourth down with no time on the clock to defeat the Arizona Cardinals.

Week 13: "Jaw Dropper" - New Orleans receiver Robert Meachem strips Washington Redskins defender Kareem Moore after an interception and has a 44-yard return for a touchdown.

Week 15: "Steel-ing a Win" - With no time on the clock, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws a 19-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Mike Wallace who makes a tough catch as the Steelers defeat the Green Bay Packers.

The winning play will then be announced to all fans during the Sprint Can't-Miss Plays countdown telecast airing at 4 p.m. (EST) Feb. 6 on the NFL Network.