PhoneTalk

The Android Market icon may look the same on your Android smartphone, but upon opening the application you’ll notice it has quite a new look and feel. Oh and a new name: Google Play. Instead of the more list-friendly view, it now looks a lot more like the Android Market you might see on a web browser. It has also expanded beyond apps and music. The idea is that everything you might want to use (Books, Music, Movies, Games, and Apps) on the phone or tablet is available in the Google Play store. There are also some great deals to be had as well such as the Free Song of the Day, movie rentals for 99 cents, and even apps for 25 cents.

There’s no need to download anything to get Google Play on and Android Device, just launch the app from the Market icon and Google will do the rest.

Updated: October 20, 2011

Last week, BlackBerry users around the globe suffered an extensive service outage. Although, RIM had service up and running again within a few days the company wants to help compensate for the outage by offering its customers a selection of free premium applications that have a combined value of over $100. The selected apps will become available for download starting today and remain available until the end of the year. Once users download the app they want it’s theirs. They won’t have to pay for the app after the free download period. Although, there isn’t a complete list of apps available (new apps will appear over the next four weeks) some have been announced:

• SIMS 3

• Shazam Encore
• Photo Editor Ultimate
• Vlingo Plus
• Bubble Bash 2

BlackBerry users should check the BlackBerry App World on their phones and look for the “A Thank You Gift from BlackBerry” category to get more information and start downloading the available apps. The offer is available for all BlackBerry smartphone customers, so be sure to check the special section in the BlackBerry App World for free premium apps.

Last week at the Adobe MAX conference, a new game for the iOS platform was launched called, “The Adventures of Timmy: Run, Kitty, Run.” Sure there are lots of games that launch all the time, so what makes this one so special? It has a decent concept: Young Timmy wears a cat suit to school and draws attention to himself from a girl named Kitty. Before things can progress between the two, the school bully, Mitch, kidnaps Kitty. It’s now up to Timmy and his cat suit to rescue Kitty, which he can do by going through a bunch of levels. It’s a bit reminiscent of “Super Mario Bros.” The game is actually pretty good according to a review from TouchArcade and it will work on both Mac OS and iOS products.

The interesting thing about this game is that it was built using an HTML 5 animation tool from Adobe called Edge. We all know Adobe Flash, but the fact that it’s throwing its hat in the HTML 5 game with Edge is what’s saying something. In essence, it means the next generation of the web might indeed be moving away from Flash and we just may start to see more and more web-based products built from HTML 5. To learn more about Adobe Edge check out this article from PC World. To see Edge in action, check out the game cut scenes.

Update: New Grand Prize Winner announced. See below for the new winner.

Last month, we launched the Xperia PLAY Player’s Paradise Giveaway and gave away eight Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY for Verizon Wireless and a grand prize that included a Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY, PlayStation 3 and a $50 PlayStation Network Gift Card. All that was needed to enter the Giveaway was to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page or follow LetsTalk on Twitter and use #LTXP. Join us in congratulating all the winners of the sweepstakes listed below:

May 27, 2011 Winners: John Gulich and Lay Basden

June 3, 2011 Winners: Debra Jacobs and Pedro Romero

June 10, 2011 Winners: Carolyn Gates and Yvonne Joy Neil

June 17, 2011 Winners: Stephen Wagner and Shahei Tonge

June 24, 2011 Grand Prize Winner: Rebecca Fry

In this week's edition, learn about two new HTC phones, the HTC Status (aka the Facebook Phone) for AT&T and the myTouch 4G Slide for T-Mobile. Also, the popular Angry Birds game is available for Windows Phone 7 users. Our test drive feature takes a look at how to extend the battery life of your cell phone. Finally, find out how to win a Motorola Roadster.

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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LetsTalk.com’s latest giveaway is the Xperia PLAY Player’s Paradise Giveaway.What can you win? Two fans every Friday through June 17th will be chosen to win a Sony Ericsson Xpera PLAY plus one-year Sony PlayStation Network Pass. There will also be one grand prizewinner who will receive a Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY, PlaySation 3 Gaming Console, and a one-year PlaySation Network pass. All you have to do to enter the Giveaway is become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page or follow LetsTalk on Twitter and use hashtag #LTXP. Not sure how to become a fan? Simply visit LetsTalk on Facebook and click the "Like" button at the top of the page.

If you’re already a fan of LetsTalk on Facebook, you’ll still be entered to win. Already following us on Twitter? Then all you have to do is Tweet about the giveaway using the hashtag #LTXP. Entering into both WILL increase your chances of winning. Only one entry per person through Twitter and Facebook during the promotion period is permissible. We should note that you only need to enter once to win and selecting/deselecting "Like" on Facebook will not increase your chances of winning.

The contest has just begun and ends Monday, June 20, 2011 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. So, be sure to spread the word. Becoming a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page or following LetsTalk on Twitter will help keep you informed about the latest cell phone news, let you know when the most popular phones are available, and more. Know all you need to know to enter? Then click this link to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page and Tweet about it on Twitter.

Last week, Verizon Wireless announced the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY phone or rather the long awaited PlayStation phone would be coming soon. Sure enough it is. In fact, you can pre-order one now by clicking this link to ensure you're the first of your friends to get the cell phone. The Xperia PLAY is unlike other gaming-centric phones we've seen in the past because it has an integrated slide-out game controller and it is a PlayStation certified device, which means it has similar controls to those for the PlayStation (circle, X, square, and triangle) gaming console so it offers a true gaming experience. To help put you in the mood the cell phone comes with seven titles: 

• Madden NFL 11 (EA Sports)
• Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior (Digital Legends)
• Asphalt 6: Adrenaline (Gameloft)
• The Sims 3 (EA)
• Star Battalion (Gameloft)
• Crash Bandicoot (Sony PlayStation) 
• Tetris

The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is also a solid cell phone. It's among the first models to sport the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS out-of-the-box, sports a 4-inch display, has a 1GHz Snapdragon II processor, and comes with an 8GB microSD card pre-installed. The Xperia PLAY also has a front-facing VGA camera for video chat and rear-facing 5-megapixel camera. Get a closer look at the Xperia PLAY in the unboxing video below.

Last month RIM officially launched the BlackBerry Playbook tablet with WiFi connectivity. We take a closer look at the PlayBook in the video below. The 7-inch tablet is fairly lightweight and purse-friendly. We were particularly impressed with the screen and video playback. The user interface is fairly intuitive and speedy (read: no lag time switching between screens and running apps). Although you can do more with the tablet if you have a BlackBerry cell phone, you definitely don't need one to get a lot out of using the Playbook. So, is this the tablet for you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Verizon customers who have been waiting for a Windows Phone 7 smartphone from the carrier will be happy to learn that one has finally arrived, the HTC Trophy. The cell phone will sport a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel camera with flash and the ability to capture 720p HD video, and will have 16GB of onboard storage. Since this is a Windows Phone 7 handset you'll be able to sync with Xbox LIVE mobile to access avatars, profiles, and scores. Of course those who want to be able to do a little business on the phone will be able to via the included Microsoft Office apps: Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. You can also further customize the phone via the HTC Hub offering of applications. The smartphone will be available in the coming weeks.

Not sure what to get mom for Mother's Day this year? Well consider getting her apps that will make her life easier. Whether you're shopping for a new mom or a mom about to send her kids off to college, there's sure to be an app in this group that could help them on a daily basis. While all the apps listed here are free, some of the apps also have premium versions available that offer more features. You can always download one or all of the apps to your favorite mom's phone while spending time with her during the holiday.

1. TrendTracker for fashion forward moms: Know a stylish mom who doesn’t have time to catch the latest news from the runway shows? Get her the TrendTracker mobile app from trendstop. Mom’s can use the app to upload photos of a trend they spotted, get daily fashion news, coverage of the runway shows including videos, and a fashion store finder.

Compatible OS: Android, iPhone, BlackBerry
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit mobile.trendstop.com on your smartphone’s web browser or visit the app market residing on your phone

2. CardStar for moms that know loyalty: Loyalty programs are all about saving money at checkout or earning points to redeem for products and vacations, but there’s no need to carry all those cards around in a wallet. Mom’s have enough stuff in their bags. Get them the handy CardStar app from CardStar. Use it to help mom keep track, access, and find special offers of all her loyalty programs in one place: her smartphone.

Compatible OS: Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your phone

3. Text4Baby provides helpful info for expecting and new moms: Expectant and new moms have a lot on their plates and likely tons of questions. Help them out by signing them up for text4baby, a free educational program from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. Once registered with the site, soon-to-be and new moms will start receiving via text message tips about pregnancy and caring for a baby. The smart feature is that they are designed to coincide with a due date or baby’s birth date.

Compatible OS: All. This is an app that arrives as a text message on your phone.
Cost: Free. (Note: While there’s no cost to receive the text from text4baby it still counts against the allotted messages on a plan.)
How to get it: Text BABY to 511411 from the cell phone that should receive the messages.

4. OurGroceries help makes the most of a trip to the market: Mom’s are busy, that’s why the OurGroceries (Read more)