talk

Talking Tom Cat 2 is the kind of interactive experience that only the iPad can offer, but for numerous reasons it is also one that is well suited for only certain personalities. The gimmick of the app wears off quickly, and while there are numerous things you can do beyond putting words in the cat's mouth, sputtering animations and simplistic jokes make it a limiting app.

In Talking Tom Cat 2, there is an animated cat onscreen that will mimic whatever you say. Talk to your device and the cat will repeat it back to you. The effect is … Read more

Google released Hangouts last week as a standalone app for iOS, Android, and the desktop via a Chrome extension. In addition to the apps, you can also use Hangouts from within Gmail, just like the old Google Talk.

To enable Hangouts in Gmail, click on your profile photo from the Google Talk chat list, then select Try the new Hangouts. Hangouts will immediately replace Talk, then walk you through a very brief introduction to Hangouts.

Keep in mind that it may not have rolled out to you yet, so if you don't have the Hangouts option in your Gmail … Read more

Adding text bubbles to a photograph usually involves an overly complicated editing program such as Adobe Photoshop, or at the very least, Paint. Thankfully, there are now a few applications that serve this specific function. Photo Talks is one of the better offerings on the market. It gives the user tons of options and allows them to customize pictures effectively.

Users will have no difficulties installing Photo Talks. It downloads quickly and is fairly light on the device's resources. The main screen opens very quickly and the program seems very stable. The user interface is well designed, featuring brightly … Read more

The latest Google Hangouts update removed the ability for users to make outbound phone calls, the company said Monday.

Nikhyl Singhal, a director of real-time communication products for Google, posted on Google+ that the company is working on adding outbound calls for the Web and the Chrome extension. Hangouts currently only supports incoming calls for users with Google Voice numbers. Users who still want to make phone calls can use Gmail's Google Talk while they wait for Google to make the function available again in Hangouts.

"Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice, and making/… Read more

Whether he's talking about the weight of 300 billion elephants or battling Bill Nye the Science Guy for geek supremacy, famous astrophysicist and Star Talk Radio host Neil deGrasse Tyson is someone I pay attention to. I'm interested in his opinion and give it more weight than a lot of other people's. When he tackled one of the greatest sci-fi rivalries of all time, I perked up. "Star Trek" or "Star Wars"?

It's no secret Tyson is a major Trekkie, but his bountiful space love doesn't stretch to encompass "Star Wars" quite so much. Now we know why. "I never got into 'Star Wars,'" he admits in an interview with Business Insider (see embedded clip). "They made no attempt to portray real physics. At all."… Read more

The iPhone is a perfect device for integrating audio and images into a single interface. While this usually means creating videos, it doesn't have to. There are dozens of ways to use the technology in new and creative ways. Case in point: Talking Pictures. This app allows you to tag a photo with different audio tracks that can be activated by other users with the same app -- a potentially innovative way to share information.

When you open the app, you can choose to view your gallery (which will be empty) or create a new talking picture. Choose the … Read more

Our iPhone already came equipped with a Voice Memo app, but, hey, we're all about choices. iTalk Recorder claims to be a "full-featured recording app with a streamlined and intuitive user interface." And after putting it to the test, we'd have to agree with that statement.

iTalk Recorder does indeed offer a simple and intuitive interface. Users are greeted with a large, prominent red button that you press to start recording. To get started, simply give the recording a name, select from the three different recording quality options (Good, Better, Best), and press the Record button; … Read more

The built-in alarm clock on the iPhone is a companion to millions of people who have long since ditched their plug-in alarm clocks. Simple, easy to use, and very effective at making large volumes of noise, the iPhone is a natural alarm device. But it is limited in its functionality. For those interested in a more classic look or an alternative to loud, grating noises, The Talking Alarm is a breath of fresh air. With a classic, green LED display design and a number of voices to choose from, it is an effective, fun-to-use alarm that offers a great alternative … Read more

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Researchers at Cambridge University have created a virtual talking head that expresses emotions and someday might be your personal assistant and a shoulder to cry on. Scotland may pass a law allowing Jedi to officiate at weddings. And the Image Toaster prints pictures from the headlines on your toast, making breakfast a whole lot more enjoyable. This, and more, on Crave. … Read more