PhoneTalk

Tomorrow, at 2:00 PM PST, I'll be hosting a chat on LetsTalk's Facebook page. I’ll be taking questions about phones, plans, apps, and can even help Facebook fans pick the best phone for them. If there's something you want to know about mobile, but didn't know who to ask stop by and ask me on Facebook at 2:00 PM PST this Thursday.

Windows Mobile Phone 6.x will no longer have access to its dedicated marketplace. The store is closing today. Users will still be able to use the apps they have already installed on existing phones, however, if a “hard reset” (basically, this is returning the phone back to factory settings) is performed the apps will also be wiped from the Windows Mobile Phone and users will have no access to them. While the store is closing, some of those apps may still be available from the app developers or third-party stores.

The new Windows Phone Marketplace, which offers apps for Windows Phone 7 and later models, is still open and users of Windows Phone should check that our for new apps in the future. More information on the shutdown can be found in this story from Fierce Mobile Content.

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)

It’s been reported that some people who were among the first to purchase the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone experienced trouble getting a data connection. According to this CNET article, Nokia has confirmed that there is indeed a glitch in some of the earlier models. The issue is a result of a combination of memory management and software. There will be a software update rolled out to the cell phones on April 16th that should fix the problem. In the meantime, Nokia is offering $100 credit for the service bill to those with affected phones until midnight on April 21, 2012.

It happens all the time, you’re out with friends and inevitably someone pulls out a cell phone that you want. Now one of the easiest ways to get more details about that particular model is by checking out LetsTalk’s new mobile site on your cell phone. The easy-to-use site lets you do a ton of things that can be done on the full website such as find a phone by using a concise search bar with exact name matches, view videos and detailed photos of the phone, and read user reviews. Find a phone you like, but aren’t sure if you’re eligible for an upgrade? No problem, you can use the mobile LetsTalk site to check eligibility and then click-to-call an 800 number to speak to a representative or purchase a new phone. Finally found the perfect phone? Then go ahead and share the phone you like with friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. The new site can be accessed by typing m.letstalk.com in the mobile web browser on your phone.

According to a recent post on the Facebook for Windows Phone App page an update of the application is now available in Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace. Version 2.3 offers quite a few improvements including the ability to change the banner image, new filters, improved navigation, some overall bug fixes, and more.

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.

At a press conference at CES, Nokia unveiled the Nokia Lumia 900, which will work with AT&T’s 4G LTE network. As is the case with the previous Lumia models, the 900 has the unibody build so there’s no visible seems on the phones adding up to a sleek design. The smartphone also features an 8-megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics and a front-facing 1-megapixel camera. The Lumia 900 is running the latest version of Windows Phone 7 (Mango) OS and has a host of Nokia apps included on the phone. Get a closer look at the Lumia 900 in the video below.

We got a look at the HTC Titan II at CES. This Windows Phone, running the Mango 7.5 OS, was announced at the show. The cell phone will be coming to AT&T and will work on the company’s 4G LTE network. In addition to the 4G LTE connectivity, the HTC Titan II will sport a 16-megapixel camera with a pretty fast shutter. The phone should be available this Spring.

Today, T-Mobile announced the company would offer the Nokia Lumia 710 Windows Phone in early January 2012. The smartphone will feature a 3.7-inch WVGA scratch-resistant display, a 1.4 GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel camera, and will work on T-Mobile’s 4G network. Since it’s a Windows Phone users will have access to the Windows Phone Marketplace, Internet Explorer Mobile, Bing search, gaming via Xbox LIVE, and documents via the Office Hub. T-Mobile is including entertainment-centric apps such as Netflix and T-Mobile TV with mobile HD. The Nokia Lumia 710 will be available in black or white and is expected to cost under $100 with new service.

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)