How Windows Phone 8 ‘Apollo’ Would Stack Up Against iOS 5, Android 4

Hands eagerly pawed all over Windows Phones at CES 2012. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS is often criticized for lagging far behind iOS and Android, the other major operating systems in the mobile space. But on Thursday, a leaked description of Microsoft’s next big mobile OS, Windows Phone 8, came to light, revealing how the operating system will improve.
The leak, reported by blog Pocketnow and validated by Windows insider Paul Thurrott, shows that Apollo (the codename for Windows Phone 8) will be a major improvement over the current iteration, Windows Phone 7.5, otherwise known as Mango.
“Currently, we have to work around some limitations with Mango, and many of those limitations would be removed with the upcoming Apollo version,” Eric Setton, CTO of mobile VoIP app Tango, told Wired.
Mango is the current version of Windows Phone. It launched in October, bringing with it a slew of new features, including built-in social media and chatting tools, groups for organizing contacts, multitasking, and improved Live Tiles. A small update called Tango (not to be confused with the VoIP app) is slated next, and then the world will see Apollo, which is rumored to launch in mid-2012.
Microsoft wouldn’t tell us whether Thursday’s leak report is accurate, but offered insight on its OS plans in general.
“We think your smartphone should be smarter,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Wired. “When I take a picture, a ‘smart’ phone should anticipate that I may want to share it with a friend or on Facebook and help me easily do that. With Windows Phone these kinds of things are just built in, and we think there’s always room for a better way.”
A number of Windows Phone developers (several whom also write iOS and Android apps) were eager to share their thoughts on this rumored “better way.”


source : http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/

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Top 100 Gadget Blogs

Top 100 Gadget Blogs

source : http://www.gadgetvenue.com/top-100-gadget-blogs/

The Top 100 Gadget Blogs ranking is here to help you find out which of the gadget blogs from around the world are the ones to watch out for. Ranking is based on information from Alexa and Technorati which combined, give the blog a ranking. The lower the rank number, the higher in the top 100 gadget blogs list the particular blog will appear.

Information for the Top 100 Gadget Blogs list is compiled every week. At the bottom of the top 100 list you will find code to add a top 100 blog button to your gadget blog. Congratulations to all those who made the Top 100. If you own a gadget blog and are not listed then drop us an email and we will add it for you. Updated 20th June 2009 We no longer accept submissions for various reasons.

Rank Blog Alexa Technorati Score 1 www.engadget.com 955 1 479 2 www.gizmodo.com 1099 5 555 3 www.switched.com/ 6253 18 3145 4 www.crunchgear.com/ 6873 21 3458 5 www.ubergizmo.com/ 8247 117 4241 6 www.slashgear.com/ 10698 71 5420 7 www.techeblog.com 16040 668 8688 8 www.yankodesign.com/ 18045 41 9064 9 www.coolest-gadgets.com 16316 925 9083 10 www.akihabaranews.com/ 18997 363 9862 11 www.likecool.com/ 19838 74 9993 12 inventorspot.com 19116 933 10491 13 www.i4u.com/ 17569 2721 11506 14 www.slipperybrick.com/ 20521 1695 11956 15 www.technabob.com 23326 937 12600 16 www.techfresh.net/ 15571 5520 13306 17 www.geeksugar.com/ 25428 1469 14183 18 www.geeky-gadgets.com/ 26442 2253 15474 19 www.bornrich.org 31329 1801 17466 20 www.ohgizmo.com/ 36782 253 18644 21 www.gearlive.com/ 24296 6653 18801 22 - - - - 23 www.walyou.com/blog 30860 4267 19697 24 hackedgadgets.com/ 34064 4656 21688 25 www.redferret.net/ 37615 2987 21795 26 www.gearlog.com/ 40678 2048 22387 27 www.everythingusb.com/ 36678 7317 25656 28 www.geardiary.com 43396 3960 25658 29 www.geekalerts.com 46015 3458 26466 30 www.gadgetvenue.com 40399 8386 28586 31 nexus404.com/Blog/ 34338 13376 30545 32 www.shinyshiny.tv/ 59375 2577 32265 33 www.gadgetell.com/ 52222 7958 34069 34 www.uberreview.com/ 57324 6977 35639 35 www.gizmowatch.com/ 58643 6769 36091 36 www.nerdapproved.com 66562 2958 36239 37 www.gearcrave.com 57759 11053 39933 38 www.techchee.com/ 57434 20662 49379 39 craziestgadgets.com/ 66993 18145 51642 40 www.gadgets-reviews.com/ 77864 32485 71417 41 www.teknobites.com/ 42127 52956 74020 42 www.gaj-it.com 115436 24900 82618 43 www.7gadgets.com/ 144498 11804 84053 44 www.geekandhype.com/ 129934 27226 92193 45 www.gadgettastic.com 81754 61312 102189 46 gadgets.fosfor.se 112372 51951 108137 47 www.trendygadget.com/ 127213 45776 109383 48 www.rimarkable.com/ 45016 89052 111560 49 www.zath.co.uk 69316 80959 115617 50 www.phonearea.net/ 70260 80959 116089 51 www.ounae.com/ 165574 40637 123424 52 www.gizmosforgeeks.com/ 170958 50957 136436 53 blog.pcnews.ro/ 116881 78979 137420 54 www.coated.com 163570 64034 145819 55 www.digitalworldtokyo.com/ 255651 22865 150691 56 www.elitezoom.com/ 54106 127121 154174 57 www.techlivez.com/ 72082 127121 163162 58 www.dailydigitals.com/ 142140 92650 163720 59 blog.wired.com/gadgets/ 1177 190579 191168 60 www.gadgetspy.co.uk/ 255869 64034 191969 61 www.gadgetmadness.com/ 119660 136679 196509 62 www.funponsel.com/blog/ 33597 190579 207378 63 www.cutiegadget.com/ 106076 159819 212857 64 todaygadgets.com/ 144357 141894 214073 65 www.techiediva.com/ 359055 35379 214907 66 www.thinktechno.com/ 97050 166699 215224 67 www.audiojunkies.com/ 210251 122838 227964 68 www.gadgets-club.com/ 206821 141894 245305 69 www.gadgetizer.com 247946 122838 246811 70 www.gopaultech.com/ 188812 153427 247833 71 www.desinformado.com/ 235168 174039 291623 72 thegadgetsite.blogspot.com/ 478774 62651 302038 73 blog.mightygadget.co.uk/ 268510 174039 308294 74 www.lifeatmost.com/ 146387 247606 320800 75 gadgets.infoniac.com/ 77811 300257 339163 76 www.realitywired.com/ 353105 166699 343252 77 www.gadgetspage.com/ 393918 210407 407366 78 www.gadgetsonthego.net/ 292767 262889 409273 79 www.loopygadgets.com/ 348906 247606 422059 80 www.spyreview.co.uk/ 522108 247606 508660 81 www.gadgetsandgizmos.org 412240 348599 554719 82 www.mobileincanada.com/ 181935 509666 600634 83 www.machinesthatgobing.com/ 320291 456335 616481 84 www.giz4geeks.com 593830 378421 675336 85 www.gizmo-central.com/ 576389 413874 702069 86 www.gadget-blog.co.uk/ 515181 456335 713926 87 www.idealgadget.com/ 688099 378421 722471 88 www.techzi.net/ 1089211 200172 744778 89 dasyndicate.sweell.com/ 194355 661347 758525 90 www.teckh.com/ 415872 575630 783566 91 www.ladiesgadgets.com/ 587051 509666 803192 92 www.gizmograph.com/ 853763 378421 805303 93 rj3sp.blogspot.com/ 744810 456335 828740 94 www.freshpilot.com/ 879855 413874 853802 95 www.gadgetsblog.org/ 1023510 413874 925629 96 www.gadgets-network.com/ 1258663 300257 929589 97 themensgiftguide.com/ 1783417 85295 977004 98 www.technonix.com/ 543123 777255 1048817 99 www.mybestgadgets.com/ 1800800 200172 1100572 100 www.thegadgetblog.com/ 1375980 413874 1101864

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Red Devilled Eggs

Ingredients

• 6 Eggs-hard boiled
• 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1 teaspoons of grated onion
• 1 teaspoons of mustard
• 1/2 teaspoons of Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 can Devilled ham (2 1/2 oz)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cut hard cooked eggs in half lengthwise-removing yolks to bowl. Mix remaining ingredients with yolks and pile lightly into reserved halves. Dust lightly with Paprika before serving.

source : http://thecookingblog.blogspot.com/

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Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach and Artichoke Dip

With the Super Bowl coming up I have been thinking about snacks a lot lately and dips have been getting almost all of the attention. As I reminisced about how great artichoke dip baked in bread is, I remembered wanting to try roasted portobello mushrooms stuffed with spinach and artichoke dip. I had made a portabella mushroom stuffed with a creamy chicken mixture a long time ago and I figured that the classic combination of spinach and mushrooms would be even better; but who are we kidding, it was the perfect excuse to make some more hot cheesy spinach and artichoke dip!



I kept things nice and easy and I went with my favourite spinach and artichoke dip and I simply stuffed it into some portobello mushrooms. I do not normally remove the gills from portobello mushrooms but I wanted to be able to get as much of the dip in as I could so I removed them this time. I also pre-roasted the mushrooms a bit to ensure that they were nice and tender by the time they were done because you want to be able to easily cut through them with your fork when eating them. The final touch was to top the spinach and artichoke dip with panko bread crumbs that turn a beautiful golden brown and get all nice and crispy while baking.

When you make these with the portobello mushrooms they can make for a really nice light meal but you could also make them in button or cremini mushrooms if you prefer finger food for snaking during the big game or as appetizers for your next social gathering.

Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Roasted portobello mushrooms stuffed with a cheesy spinach and artichoke dip and topped with a crunchy panko breadcrumb topping.

Servings: make 4-8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 6-8 medium sized portabella mushrooms, stems and gills removed
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup mozzarella
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated

Directions

1. Brush the mushrooms with oil and roast in a preheated 450F oven on a baking sheet with the inside facing up until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile mix the spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, mayo, mozzarella, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Mix the oil, breadcrumbs and parmesan.
4. Divide the filling between the mushrooms and sprinkle on the bread crumbs.
5. Roast until the filling is hot and the breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 10 minutes.

source : http://cookingwithamy.blogspot.com/

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Bell Pepper Rajas Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/2 ea Green bell pepper; *
• 1/2 ea Red bell pepper; *
• 1/2 ea Yellow bell pepper; *
• 1/4 teaspoons of Red pepper; crushed
• 3/4 cups of Monterey Jack cheese; shredded
• 2 tb Chopped ripe olives

* Peppers should be seeded and cut into 6 strips each.
Directions

1. Cut bell pepper strips crosswise into halves.  Arrange in ungreased broilerproof pie pan, 9 X 1 1/4-inches or round pan 9 X 2-inches. Sprinkle with cheese, olives and red pepper.  Set oven control to broil. Broil peppers with tops 3 to 4 inches from heat until cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.

source : http://thecookingblog.blogspot.com/

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Eggplant Parmesan Soup Recipe

I've started off this year eating more soup. It's amazing what can go in soup. I mean, pretty much anything. And many classic comfort food dishes can be transformed into soup. Macaroni and cheese, baked potato, even eggplant parmesan.

I got the idea to make this soup when I was contacted by Whole Foods about a Parmigiano Reggiano promotion they were planning. I wanted to make something with the flavors of eggplant parmesan, but lighter and healthier. I used a few croutons and roasted the eggplant, instead of breading and frying it and skipped the mozzarella altogether. And you know what? It still pretty much has the flavor of eggplant parmesan! I thought I was being terribly original, but it turns out there are several eggplant parmesan soup recipes out there on the internets.

I topped my soup with a couple tablespoons of Pamigiano Reggiano. It's the cheese that really makes the soup into something special. It adds that distinctive flavor and texture. I'm sorry that you can't see in the photo that the soup has chunks of eggplant in it. You could puree it if you prefer a smoother soup. Also the croutons absorb a good bit of the soup and add even more body to it. Best of all, it's very healthy, so you can help yourself to a second bowl. I won't tell.

Eggplant Parmesan SoupMakes about 6 servings

1 large or 2 small eggplant cut in 1/2 lengthwise (about 2 lbs)
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes with basil
3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
Croutons
Fresh basil leaves, optional

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eggplant in half, lengthwise and place cut side down on a lightly greased foil-lined broiler pan. Roast for about 45 minutes, or until eggplant is tender. Allow eggplant to cool. Meanwhile heat olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, sauté 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Scoop out the eggplant from the shells and chop roughly, discard the shells. To the dutch oven add the chopped eggplant along with the tomatoes, water and salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top each serving with croutons and two tablespoons of Parmigiano Reggiano. Garnish with torn basil, if desired.

Enjoy!


source : http://cookingwithamy.blogspot.com/

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Love begins in Winter

There's nothing more cozy than cuddling up on the sofa with a book and a box of chocolates on a chilly Winter day. And it seems I'm not alone in my love of pairing chocolates with a good read. For Valentine's Day this year one of my favorite chocolatiers Richart has combined a big box of chocolates with a book of short stories, from an award-winning writer Simon Von Booy. Even better, there are twelve specific chocolates that pair with passages from the book! The gift is called Love begins in Winter ($75), after the name of the book.

I haven't experienced any of the lovely pairings yet, but I spoke with Benjamin Auzimour in charge of Richart in North America, and he shared one of his favorites:

"Here's an extract that I like, about happiness, to be read while tasting a Petit Richart filled with salted butter caramel coulis, which will enhance the warmth of the feelings created by the scene. We can sense Simon's precise, concise, although almost impressionist style"

"when it started to get dark, Hannah and I left the shop. Bicycles were being wheeled home in the snow. Old women left bricks of cake on one another's doorsteps. The butcher was dressed up like Santa Claus.
Children peered out into the night from upstairs windows. And for several kilometers Hannah and I waded through snowy fields, past old gates and fallen tress, laughing and calling out as our bodies disappeared from view.
The shadows remained.
Gifts from the fallen, not lessening our happiness but guiding it, deepening it, and filling us with the passion we would need to sustain our love in the coming days."

If you don't know Richart chocolates, I highly recommend you try them. Richart not only makes some of the creamiest confections thanks to their intense conching process, but also takes a very thoughtful approach to chocolate called QuintesSense:

1. Knowledge of what you're tasting - background, origins, geography...
2. Sensory analysis
3. "Emotional" analysis - memories, feelings...
4. Finding the overall flavor of this very moment
5. Sharing it with others

They use Venezuelan criollo cocoa beans and make delicate confections using a wide variety of flavors, some that might seem unusual like flowers and herbs but always achieve balance and pure perfection, as far as I'm concerned.


source : http://cookingwithamy.blogspot.com/

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