PhoneTalk

Not sure what to get Mom for Mother's Day this year? Well consider getting her apps that will make her life easier. 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. Help Mom have more fun with pictures stored on her phone

Many smartphones come with photo editing options and the ability to share them. The latest mobile app Snapbucket from Photobucket takes that functionality one step further. Not only can users make edits and add photo effects, but they can also share photos with friends on Facebook Twitter, via email, or with other PhotoBucket users. Best of all the application doesn’t alter the original image, so it’s always safely stored in the phone or on the phone's memory card.

Compatible OS: Android, iPhone
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on a compatible smartphone

2. Give Mom coupons on-the-go

Does your Mom still clip coupons from the newspaper? You can save her time and money by introducing her to Yowza!! Mobile Coupons. The application provides coupons to tons of nearby stores, restaurants, and activities. The app uses the smartphone’s integrated GPS to deliver nearby coupons, so just be aware it might drain the phone’s battery life. If Mom has a favorite local store, she can even set a notification to be alerted when the shop offers a new discount.

Compatible OS: Android, iPhone
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on a compatible smartphone

3. An app that lends a helping hand at dinner

Busy Moms who enjoy making dinner, but don’t have a lot of time to research new recipes will love Recipe Search from AlltheCooks.com. The site has over 70,000 recipes including everything from appetizers and desserts to main dishes, and more. The most interesting feature in the app is the ability to find recipes based on ingredients as well as traditional recipe names. This can be a huge time saver for Mom especially if she tends to stop off at the store on the way home from work. As is the case with many apps, there is lots of community support and the ability to share recipes via social media outlets.

Compatible OS: Android
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on a compatible Android smartphone

4. An intuitive way from Mom to track and organize reminders on her phone

Let’s face it, Moms have a lot to take care of in a single day and most likely the one thing they always have on them is a cell phone. Keeping track of everything that needs to be accomplished can be a task by itself. Enter (Read more)

Last month, we gave away three Beats by Dre audio products. 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:

• Jared Vitala won a beatbox
• Reginald Nazaire received Solo HD Headphones
• Kathy Goldberg won iBeats

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.

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.

Radio stations have already switched over to holiday music. Thanksgiving is this week. Store windows are being decked out with elaborate holiday themes. It’s official; the holiday shopping season is just around the corner. So we’ve rounded up mobile apps designed to make this year’s shopping a little bit easier and maybe even help save a little time and money.

1. Get the inside scoop on Black Friday

Who has time to check out circulars and deal information sites to see where the best deal on that new monitor might be? Not to worry, there’s definitely an app that does all the heavy lifting. Black Friday app from dealnews gathers all the latest sale details and offers as they get released from over 2,000 online retailers including places such as Game Stop, Sears, PetSmart, Sephora, and more.

Compatible OS: Android and iPhone
Cost: Free
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your device or corresponding app store on your computer.

2. The ultimate gift list

During the holidays, it’s easy to get a bit overwhelmed keeping track of who gets which gifts. For some shoppers who have lots of folks on their list keeping track of which gifts have been purchased and for whom can be a challenge. Enter mGifts. The app features a clean interface for keeping track of who is getting what and the ability to see how much has been spent on each person. This list-making app isn’t just for the holiday season, but can be used all year round.

Compatible OS: iPhone and iPad
Cost: $4.99
How to get it: Visit the app market residing on your device.

3. Shopping rewards? Game on!

Some consider shopping a sport. If that’s the case then shopkick isn’t playing around. The idea is a little bit like FourSquare, but instead of badges, mayorships, and bragging rights you get rewards and deals. The idea is simple: Every time you walk into a store, you get kicks (think: points), exclusive deals, or rewards (think: gift cards). Simply walk into stores such as Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, Toys R Us, and others, stop at the entrance, and launch the app. You get checked-in and the rewards just start appearing. Some might even call it a little bit of holiday magic.

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

4. Is the price right?

The stores will be filled with signs promising discounts of 20%, 35%, or more. So, what is the final cost of an item exactly? If you don’t have a calculator hard-wired into your brain, consider downloading the (Read more)

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.

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.

In this week’s edition, we cover new myTouch phones that will be available from T-Mobile, Verizon’s feature-rich Pantech Hotshot, and details on the new iPhone 4S. In the Test Drive section we take a look at the HBO GO streaming video app.