PhoneTalk

The newest member of the HTC EVO line of smartphones for Sprint will be the HTC EVO 4G LTE. Like its predecessor, the HTC EVO 4G, this model sports a kickstand. As has been the case with previous EVO models, this version has a “first” of its own: HD Voice. The idea behind this feature is that it will offer improved voice quality making callers sound fuller and more natural and help reduce background noise. As the cell phone name suggests, this Sprint model will work on the company’s 4G LTE network that will be unveiled in select cities by the middle of this year. The cell phone will also work with Sprint’s 3G network when 4G LTE service isn’t available. The Mobile HotSpot feature can be used to share the data connection with up to 8 WiFi-capable devices.

The HTC EVO 4G LTE will offer a speedy user experience with its 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS with HTC’s Sense 4 overlay. For those interested in shopping, there’s the built-in NFC chip and Google Wallet. It’s spacious 4.7-inch HD super LCD display will come in handy when conducting a Google Hangout via the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera or when using the rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with a flash to snap pictures with the f/2.0 lens or recording 1080p HD video. The cell phone will have 16GB of onboard memory and will accept up to 32GB microSD card - plenty of room for storing pictures and video. Since HTC teamed up with Beats, it’s no surprise that the HTC EVO 4G LTE will feature Beats Audio allowing users to listen to music the way the artist intended.

The latest addition to the HTC EVO family was announced at a Sprint/HTC press conference today and will be available in the second quarter of this year.

One of the latest model’s in Samsung’s Galaxy line of mobile products, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze, has a lot to offer including the ability to work with T-Mobile’s speedy 4G data network. The Android 2.3 smartphone features Samsung’s friendly user interface, Samsung Media Hub for renting/purchasing movies and TV shows, and contributing to the snappy experience is a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. As expected, the smartphone also sports a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that can record 720p HD video and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat. While not quite as big as some Android phones currently available, it does sport a spacious 3.9-inch Super AMOLED display that is sharp, crisp, and viewable in direct sunlight.

In this week’s edition we cover the DROID Razr by Motorola for Verizon, Android Gingerbread update for the Samsung Epic 4G, the latest Sprint ID pack, and more.

The latest member of the Samsung tablet family offers something a bit different than the other tablets on the market: Peel Smart Remote TV application. The idea behind the Smart Remote TV app is that it can transform the tablet into a universal remote. It also offers up programming recommendations and highlights your favorite shows. Of course there’s a social aspect to it giving users the ability to connect to Facebook and Twitter.

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has 16GB of onboard storage, runs Android Honeycomb OS, and sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It also has infrared (IR) built-in, which is how it can be turned into a remote control that can communicate with the home theater devices including TV, set-top box, Blu-ray and DVD players, and an AV system. The app takes advantage of the tablets entire display making navigation a breeze. Scrolling through the app looking for something else to watch? Simply tap “Watch On TV” on the tablet and the channel on the TV gets changed.

Interested in a tablet that can do double-duty as a remote control? The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available in mid-November.

Since it’s almost Halloween, LetsTalk.com is offering up a special treat. Over the past month (starting on September 28th) we’ve been leaving Halloween-themed items in our Expert Review videos and Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up videos. Tomorrow, the final Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up video with a Halloween-related item will be posted. That’s a total of eight videos with hidden items. All you have to do to enter is find each one and complete the entry form by October 30th.

What’s the prize? It’s a cool product from Verizon that we’ll be revealing in tomorrow’s Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up. Learn more about our Halloween Scavenger Hunt Giveaway by clicking this link, watching the video below, or visitingLetsTalk’s YouTube channel.

Owners of a Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD unit will be happy to learn that there is now a SlingPlayer app available for Android Tablets running at least the Android 3.0 OS. Slingbox is a device that lets users watch TV and even DVR content on a multitude of mobile products and even control the DVR remotely. Forgot to set up a recording before leaving the house? That’s not a problem with Slingbox.

This announcement adds Android tablets to the list of compatible devices. The SlingPlayer app for Android tablets also features a revamped program guide that makes it easier to watch TV while browsing through a list of other shows to watch. The app is available at the Android Market and costs $29.99.

The Samsung Stratosphere will be the first 4G LTE smartphone with a tactile QWERTY keyboard to work on Verizon’s network. The Stratosphere was clearly designed with business users in mind since it supports VPN, encryption, Mobile Device Management, Global Address List, and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. The Android 2.3 smartphone will also sport a 1GHz processor, front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera that can record 480p video (it will be able to play 720p HD video), and Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen. Finally, the phone can share its 4G connection with up to eight other WiFi-enabled devices or its 3G connection with up to five devices via the Mobile Hotspot feature. The business-friendly Stratosphere will be available this week.

The BlackBerry Bold 9930 for Verizon is slimmer, runs BlackBerry OS 7, works around the globe with the included SIM card, has a 5-megapixel camera, and sports a touchscreen. Is this the best Bold yet? Watch the video below to find out.

The DROID Bionic by Motorola is one hot 4G Android phone for Verizon Wireless. The cell phone features a dual-core 1GHz processor, rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with the ability to record 1080p HD video, a front-facing camera, and 16GB of onboard memory. It’s also running Android 2.3 and can be used with Motorola’s innovative lapdock station. Get a closer look at the DROID Bionic by watching the unboxing video below.

Changing phones can be a lot of fun, but what happens when the new phone doesn’t have quite the same usability as the existing phone? That’s what happened to LetsTalk’s Heather Battaglia. An avid BlackBerry user, Heather traded in her BlackBerry Bold 9650 for a larger touchscree-only DROID X2 by Motorola Android smartphone. Find out which model she prefers and why. Is a BlackBerry phone still the best bet for business? Watch the video below to find out.

At an event in New York today, Samsung officially unveiled its latest models in the Samsung Galaxy S II line for Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. All the models will be running Android 2.3 OS with Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 interface with a widget idle screen. The phones will also have a battery that’s 10 percent bigger.

First up, Sprint will be offering the next version of the Samsung Epic 4G. The new model called the Samsung Galaxy S™ II, Epic™ 4G Touch has some noteworthy editions, but is lacking the tactile slide-out QWERTY keyboard found in its predecessor in favor of a much slimmer profile. The new model sports a Samsung Exynos 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus touchscreen, Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 interface, enterprise functionality, and the 4G data connection can be used as a mobile HotSpot with the ability to share the connection with up to eight WiFi-enabled devices. The phone will also have a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with flash and autofocus that can record 1080p HD video that can be edited on the phone. On the front of the cell phone is a 2-megapixel camera that can be used for self-portraits or video chat using an app like Google Talk Video Chat.

There’s not a lot of information available about the Samsung Galaxy S II for T-Mobile, but it will run Android OS 2.3 with the Samsung TouchWiz 4.0 interface. Like the Epic 4G Touch it will also sport a 4.52-inch display. We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

AT&T will also be offering the Samsung Galaxy S II. That model will offer 4G connectivity, sport a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with the ability to record 1080p HD video and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The AT&T version will have a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display instead of the 4.52-inch size found on the T-Mobile and Sprint versions.