PhoneTalk

Win a Motorola Roadster 2 Handsfree Device

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Wednesday, June 27, 2012 (permalink)
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June is Safe Driving Month and there are still a few days left. We’re giving away the next generation of the Motorola Roadster 2 Handsfree In-Car Speakerphone to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel while driving. The universal (works with most Bluetooth phones) accessory lets you stream music and calls through the built-in speakerphone or the car stereo. In addition to many of the features found in the previous version, this model will also work with the new Motorola Car Finder app that automatically marks where the car has been parked and then can provide walking or driving directions to help you return to the car.

In honor of Safe Driving Month we’re giving you a chance to win a Motorola Roadster 2. All you need to enter is follow LetsTalk on Twitter and retweet: Win a MOTOROLA ROADSTER 2 Bluetooth! #MOTOLT

Note: Only one entry per person per day through Twitter. The giveaway has just begun and ends Sunday, June 30th at 11:59pm Pacific Time. So, be sure to spread the word on Twitter.

5 Phone accessories Dad will love

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Friday, June 15, 2012 (permalink)
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Dads do so much for us and often help us find solutions to our problems. Why not return the favor this Father's Day with one of these accessories for his phone? Whether your Dad loves to listen to music, spends tons of time in the great outdoors, or just loves gadgets we’ve got him covered. One of these accessories will help him get the most out of his cell phone.

Give Dad more juice

With cell phones performing more and more functions these days it’s not surprising that some have a problem staying charged all day. Is your Dad’s cell phone always running out of power at the most inopportune times? Consider getting him the Energizer Portable Charger. This pocket-friendly charger can be used with any cell phone that has a mini-USB or micro-USB (that’s what’s on most smartphones) port.

A phone case that’s as rugged as Dad

Are you more likely to find your Dad outdoors hiking, rafting, or biking? Help him keep his cell phone protected with the Grace Digital Audio Eco Extreme Rugged Case. Just about any smartphone (even iPhones and iPods) will fit comfortably in the case. Plus if the phone has a 3.5mm headset jack (most phones do) they can even listen to their favorite playlist through the case’s speaker. Since this rugged case is also waterproof it will standup to just about any outdoor activity your dad loves.

Glasses for Dads who love gadgets

There are tons of Bluetooth headsets available, but how many of them are also a pair of sunglasses? That’s the idea behind the Qi-Wear Stereo Bluetooth Sunglasses. Equipped with a built-in Bluetooth headset and dual microphones for ambient noise cancellation, these sunglasses let Dad take calls on his cell phone and listen to music when he wears them. Plus they have an Ultra-Dura anti-scratch coating that will help keep the lenses from getting scratched. These sunglasses will do more than just keep the sun out of your Dad’s eyes.

Give Dad the gift of music

Does your Dad love to use his cell phone as an MP3 player? If so, help him set his music free with the QuikCell Sphere Portable Wireless Speaker. This compact speaker plugs right into the 3.5mm headset jack on his phone so he can hear the music on his phone wherever he wants. So whether he’s in the office or in a hotel traveling for business he’ll be able to listen to the music on his phone without a headset.

This mount will help keep Dad’s hands on the wheel and not on the phone (Read more)

Winners of the Motorola MOTOACTV Giveaway announced

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Wednesday, February 01, 2012 (permalink)
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Last month, we gave away two Motorola MOTOACTV GPS Fitness Trackers. To enter the contest, you had to visit LetsTalk’s Facebook page, select the “Win A Prize” tab and fill out the entry form.

The Giveaway is now closed and the winners have been selected. So join us in congratulating the winners: Sally O’Neil and Ella Kociuba.

Turn up the volume on your cell phone

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Thursday, January 26, 2012 (permalink)
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Ever wish the music on your cell phone could be a bit louder without needing to attach it to a Bluetooth speaker? Check out Boost from iFrogz. The idea is simple: launch the music app on a smartphone, press play, and then place the phone on the Boost device and suddenly the music playing on the phone is a lot louder. Boost uses Near Field Audio technology to amplify the sound coming from the phone. Music actually sounds better since you don’t need to increase the volume, which can distort the audio quality, to make it louder. Boost will be available this spring for $39.99.

Going the distance with the MOTOACTV

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Monday, January 23, 2012 (permalink)
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Whenever I go to tradeshows, such as CES and CTIA, I like to put different technology to the test. This year I brought the MotoACTV with me. I had a couple of reasons for choosing this device. First, we are seeing more fitness-centric tech hitting the market from watch-like devices to smartphone apps such as Endomondo. Second, I wanted a device that worked with a cell phone. At shows, I typically have four active cell phones with me and there’s little time available for digging through a bag to find the one receiving a text message. Finally, I really wanted to know just how far I walk during an average day at a tradeshow in Las Vegas. The MOTOACTV did all of this and more.

Since I was taking the MOTOACTV with me this year, I had to become familiar with the device before I left, which meant calibrating it on a treadmill/stationary bike and doing some light workouts. It’s actually quite easy to setup, just attach the MOTOACTV to a computer via the included microUSB-to-USB cable, install the MotoCast desktop software, and sync. You’ll also be prompted to enter information such as height, weight, and age. The benefit of the MotoCast software is that it also works with Motorola Android phones and essentially lets you sync music, photos, and other information from your computer with the phone. If you don’t want to sync music, there are some workout-centric songs preloaded on the device. Once it’s all setup it’s worthwhile to head over to the MOTOACTV website where you can set fitness goals, schedule workouts, and even get a training program if your planning on doing something like running a 5K. Too bad there’s no training plan for attending CES.

The fitness features are great, but the intriguing feature for me is the cell phone tie-in. In addition to a few other active Android phones, I took along a DROID RAZR to the show and synced it with the MOTOACTV via Bluetooth. To be clear, the device will sync with other Android handsets, however, it does a bit more when it syncs with a smartphone that supports the MOTOACTV app. Once synced, I was able to get alerts from my phone on the MOTOACTV. Plus, if I had a Bluetooth headset connected I could have taken calls, as well. (Read more)

iLuv’s ArtStation Pro at CES expands a tablet’s entertainment possibilities

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Thursday, January 19, 2012 (permalink)
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For many who purchase a tablet – especially a model with at least a 10-inch screen – the idea of using it to view videos is especially appealing. The trick is finding the right case or accessory to make that an easy experience. The ArtStation Pro iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tablet docks might be just the solution. The tablet clicks into place and the tablet can be rotated for viewing in horizontal or vertical mode. Once attached, the included remote control can be used to manage things like Power, Volume, Play, Next, and Previous. For those who use the tablet for some work or to check e-mail it will also work with a paired Bluetooth keyboard. Prices for the stand start at about $150.

Like the idea for a stand, but don’t have a tablet? There’s also a similar option that’s a bit more compact and works with a smartphone or even a Kindle. The MobiAir is a speaker that can be connected via Bluetooth or via the 3.5mm headset jack that can also be used to charge the device. Prices start at about $70.

Griffin’s WindowSeat 3 Handsfree shown at CES

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (permalink)
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With cell phones performing more tasks, more and more people are finding that they need a permanent spot for them in the car – especially in light of all the laws banning use of a cell phone while driving. Griffin showed off a product that could do the trick, the WindowSeat 3 Handsfree. Once the product is mounted to a windshield or dashboard, users can securely place their smartphone in the 3-point mounting bracket and then adjust it in place so that it can be seen at the right angle (think: turning it into a better position to see driving directions from a map on the phone.) The accessory works with a plethora of smartphones since it is so adjustable, though you likely will not be moving the WindowSeat 3 Handsfree accessory between multiple cars. It also comes with an auxillary audio cable so you can connect the phone to the car stereo’s Aux-in jack and use the built-in microphone for handsfree calling.

Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up: Week ending January 6, 2012

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Friday, January 06, 2012 (permalink)
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In this edition, we talk about the upcoming CES show scheduled to be held in Las Vegas next week and focus on the Motorola MotoACTV, which is more than just a way to track fitness goals in this week's test drive.

Sound ID SIX Bluetooth headset boasts new handsfree features

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Tuesday, November 01, 2011 (permalink)
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The Sound ID SIX Bluetooth headset sports a lightweight design and is loaded with features. SIX has many of the features needed so users won’t have to take their hands off the wheel while wearing it. The VoiceMenu can be used to verbally access voicemail, search Bing, get 411 information, and even dial phone numbers. For those who don’t want to access features verbally the headset sports a Smart Touch Surface for performing similar tasks and more with a quick touch. The SIX also works with Sound ID’s EarPrint App that lets users create personalized listening preferences, check battery life, and even has a "Find Me" feature that triggers the headset to start beeping so it can easily be found. When paired with an Android smartphone the app supports Text-to-Speech functionality for text messages. The app also works with iPhone, and most BlackBerry phones. Finally, the headset can be paired and used with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The Sound ID SIX is available now for $129.99.

Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up: Week ending October 14, 2011

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Friday, October 14, 2011 (permalink)
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In this week's edition, we cover news from CTIA and the recent BlackBerry outage. We also discuss new Android tablets coming to T-Mobile, Verizon’s latest 4G LTE phone the Samsung Stratosphere, and the SlingPlayer app for tablets. Test drive this week offers a quick peak at the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch for Sprint.

T-Mobile’s HTC Wildfire S arrives

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter    |    Wednesday, August 03, 2011 (permalink)
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A couple of weeks ago, we learned the HTC Wildfire S was headed to T-Mobile. The Android 2.3 smartphone has finally arrived and you can get it now. The pocket-friendly, 3G HTC Wildfire S has a lot to offer including a 5-megapixel camera, HTC Sense, SWYPE keyboard, and WiFi calling. The phone also comes with a 2GB microSD card for storing pictures, music, and files.