From party anthems "Party in the U.S.A." and "Circus" to babymakers "Pieces of Me" and "Beautiful Surprise" to tear-jerkers "Grenade" and "Bittersweet," no. 1-selling, Grammy-nominated producer Claude Kelly can really create or enhance a mood through music. He does this by getting to know his artists and inspiring them in the studio with evocative movies.

The New York native and Berklee College of Music grad's career first skyrocketed after first working with R&B heavyweight Akon. He has since lent his songwriting talents to a diverse array of artists such as Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Jessie J, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Fantasia, Tamia, Eve, and many, many others.

Claude Kelly's music has sold over 25 million copies, but the songwriter isn't ready to rest on his laurels just yet.

Download.com chatted with Claude Kelly about his recording process, how he uses software in the studio, Miley Cyrus's infamous VMA performance, his artist wish list, and his favorite mobile apps.

Reading your bio, I was impressed by the importance your mom placed on swimming, dancing, and traveling so you'd enjoy a more well-rounded childhood. With kids today parked in front of their devices, have we lost anything? What they're missing, which is important to me as a songwriter, are the experiences that their parents had, which influ... [Read more]

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Have you ever been reading an important e-mail, studying some notes, or playing a game, when a call interrupts you? Wouldn't it be nice if you could quickly dismiss the call without putting your current activity in the background? That's exactly what Call PopOut does for you.

Instead of interrupting, Call Pop Out puts the incoming call in a tiny bubble, the same way Facebook uses Chat Heads for new messages. Ready to give it a look? Let's get to it:

Step 1: Download a copy of Call PopOut for your Android device. The app runs on Android 2.2 and up.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Step 2: After installing, you'll want to open the app and adjust the settings to your liking.

You can choose to mute calls by tapping the bubble, decide which apps (or all) will have their alerts displayed in the bubble, as well as the size and position of the bubble. Most of the features are available in the free version, save for minor things like the ability to put the bubble up top or make it smaller.

Left: the call bubble before you press it. Right: the menu that appears when pressing on the call bubble.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Co... [Read more]

The old Facebook Messenger icon vs the new Messenger one.

Facebook wants to help you find the fastest way to reach your friends. For instance, "contacts that also use Messenger ... are denoted by a little blue lightning bolt badge," said CNET's Jennifer Van Grove.

Among other major changes, you'll find that SMS support is gone. However, you can send messages to people in your address book that you haven't connected with on Facebook yet. (Yeah, this part sounds a little scary for the stalker types.) This process requires that the recipient provided a phone number on his or her Facebook profile, and that you have that same number for them.

The new friend list in Messenger.

Ready to try it out? Here's how:

Disclaimer: Installing third-party software means taking risks with your device and/or personal information. You will be responsible for any issues caused by the installation, and should only proceed if you are prepared to deal with the resulting consequences.

Before you dive in, make sure you can install third-party software on your Android device. Head to Settings > Security > make sure there's a check mark next to Unknown Sources.

Next, if you have the current version of... [Read more]

Windows Phone 7 users beware: soon enough, you won't have access to some video content.

Microsoft issued an e-mail to Windows Phone 7 and Zune users over the weekend, saying that Xbox Video content they currently own will no longer be accessible on their devices starting in late February. The video content will, however, be accessible on Windows Phone 8 handsets.

Related stories

• Nokia Lumia 1520 now up for preorder via AT&T, Microsoft
• Nokia Lumia 1520, 2520 to launch Nov. 22 in US -- report
• Windows Phone gains momentum, overtakes iOS in Italy
• Android snags record 81 percent of smartphone market
• Nokia sold 8.8 million Lumia phones in Q3

In the e-mail, which was published on Monday by Pocket-lint, Microsoft said the move "will allow us to more quickly and ... [Read more]