Marketplace is also a slow burner from 2009, and while the software store has not caused quite the stampede seen with the iPhone app store, with between 400 and 800 applications in there it was an essential addition to the Windows Mobile universe.
Developers who code with Windows Mobile should be warned that an increasing number of buyers seduced by great devices such as the Samsung Omnia 2 or HTC HD2 will not believe your application exists if its not in the app store.
 Univ. of Wash. via YouTube |
Robby Connor demonstrates the drink mixer in a University of Washington lab. |
If you’re looking for a buzz on New Year’s Eve, consider the automatic wireless drink mixer – a student-built contraption that is generating a fresh wave of buzz on the Internet.
…(read more)
Sure, there’s still a week remaining in the 2009 regular season, the NFL Draft is months away, and we can’t yet say who the free agents will be. But that’s not going to stop us from mock-drafting the opening rounds of a 2010 fantasy league.
Below you’ll find our top 60 picks, if were we forced to create next year’s league today. Funston, Behrens, Romig, Evans, Pianowski and Salfino are your drafters. There’s a new name at the top of the draft board and no shortage of ’09 breakout stars in the early rounds. Please read on…
ROUND 1
1. Chris Johnson, TEN, RB – Like Forrest Gump, he runs like the wind blows – the perfect blend of age, talent and situation. (Funston)
2. Maurice Jones-Drew(notes), JAC, RB – Nothing’s changed from the ’09 preseason, I still prefer MoJo to Adrian Peterson. (BFun)
3. Adrian Peterson, MIN, RB – Peterson’s blend of age, talent and situation is even, um…perfecter. (Behrens)
4. Ray Rice(notes), BAL, RB – The Burner earned consideration, but a glance at the ’09 per-game scoring leaders reassured me. (AB)
5. Michael Turner(notes), ATL, RB – Elevate and ice that ankle, then resume that touchdown-per-game pace you’ve established in Atlanta. (Romig)
6. Larry Fitzgerald(notes), ARI, WR – 34 TDs in three seasons plays even in non-PPR formats, but I’d reconsider here if Warner retires. (Mig)
7. Steven Jackson, STL, RB – Deserves a Purple Heart for heroic fantasy season – 100-plus total yards in 11 of 14 games. (Noise)
8. Frank Gore(notes), SF, RB – Transition to pass-heavy system unsettling, but his versatility and steady production calms fears. (Noise)
9. Andre Johnson(notes), HOU, WR – A ridiculous 210 catches for 3,079 yards the last two years, and he’s too talented not to score double-digits eventually. (Pianowski)
10. DeSean Jackson(notes), PHI, WR – After seeing 11 scores in 14 games and 18.7 yards per reception (a gross number in today’s game), I demand in for 2010. (Pianow)
11. Jamaal Charles(notes), KC, RB – 2,000-yard pace the second half and exact same size as Chris Johnson, and almost as fast. (Salfino)
12. Rashard Mendenhall(notes), PIT, RB – Disappointing in December (3.6 per carry), but seems a lock to be a true feature back in a prolific offense. (Salfino)
—
ROUND 2
1. Ryan Grant(notes), GB, RB – Seems to have hit his stride with nice size and showing plus speed in an amped up passing offense that forces defenses to pay scant attention to the run. (Salfino)
2. Brandon Marshall(notes), DEN, WR – Likely won’t be as much of a one-man show in 2010, but the tradeoff then is quantity for quality (yards per catch). (Salfino)
3. DeAngelo Williams(notes), CAR, RB – Jonathan Stewart(notes) doesn’t worry me too much; Williams will keep doing what he does, averaging 5 yards a pop and scoring a handful of distance touchdowns. (Pianow)
4. Cedric Benson(notes), CIN, RB – He’s the foundation of this offense and he just turned 27; the music will play for a while. (Pianow)
5. Aaron Rodgers(notes), GB, QB – A-Rod’s dual-threat abilities, youth, weapons, system and incredible consistency simply can’t be bypassed – 11 multi-TD games in ’09. (Evans)
6. Randy Moss(notes), NE, WR – Occasional sloughing off aside his 13.1 points per game output in standard formats was second only to Andre 3000. (Evans)
7. Beanie Wells(notes), ARI, RB – Sky is the limit if he gets the featured role we can all plainly see he deserves. (Mig)
8. Calvin Johnson(notes), DET, WR – In a worst-case season that saw three quarterbacks start games (one a rookie), he still has a shot at 1,000 yards. (Mig)
9. Reggie Wayne(notes), IND, WR – Wayne is a no-doubt player in a high-yield offense, coming off his sixth straight 1,000-yard season. (AB)
10. Drew Brees(notes), NO, QB – He directs an offense that’s finished No. 1 in both total yards and points each of the past two seasons. (AB)
11. Roddy White(notes), ATL, WR – Proved that he could co-exist with Tony Gonzalez(notes) just fine – career-high 10 TD catches. (BFun)
12. Vincent Jackson(notes), SD, WR – A prime-aged (27 in January) go-to guy for the NFL’s No. 2 offense. (BFun)
—
ROUND 3
1. Miles Austin(notes), DAL, WR – No 3 among WRs in fantasy PPG despite starting just over half the games in ’09. (BFun)
2. Peyton Manning(notes), IND, QB – Taking him as the No. 3 QB here because he’s the QB with the best top-6 guarantee. (BFun)
3. Wes Welker(notes), NE, WR – There’s no reason not to expect another triple-digit reception campaign after Welker’s historic ’09. (AB)
Update, Jan. 4: As if you needed a reason not to hold your 2010 fantasy draft before Week 17 of the ’09 season. Welker suffered a serious injury in the Pats final game, likely tearing both the ACL and MCL in his left knee. He’s no guarantee to play in 2010, so he’s clearly not a third rounder. Brutal news.
4. Ronnie Brown(notes), MIA, RB – Brown is expected to be at full strength by the preseason; he was a better per-game scorer than several backs already off the board. (AB)
5. Jonathan Stewart, CAR, RB – A good time to look past the role and focus on the numbers – he’ll likely finish season with 2,000 total yards and 20 TDs over last two seasons. (Mig)
6. Steve Slaton(notes), HOU, RB – Between the weight gain and the fumbling (not a big issue as a rookie, I’ll give him a mulligan on 2009; it’s not like anyone stepped up in his absence. (Mig)
7. Thomas Jones(notes), NYJ, RB – Constantly circumvented because of age concerns but final year of contract should motivate graybeard to produce another strong RB2 effort, especially behind the Jets’ stout offensive line. (Noise)
8. Matt Forte(notes), CHI, RB – Forgettable season provided few highlights, but if Bears retool offensive line and add firepower at receiver ’09’s biggest bust will easily exceed presumed low expectations. (Noise)
9. Pierre Thomas(notes), NO, RB – Here’s hoping the Saints accept the reality of Reggie Bush(notes) and Mike Bell(notes) and start featuring their best runner. Yeah, it’s the holidays, and this is good eggnog. (Pianow)
10. Philip Rivers(notes), SD, QB – The Chargers finally gave Rivers the keys to the offense and he’s got the most dangerous receiving collection in the AFC (Gates, Jackson, Sproles out of the backfield, Floyd). (Pianow)
11. Steve Smith, CAR, WR – Matt Moore(notes) looks good enough even if he’s not the revelation he proved to be in December, so Smith should get back to being a PPR monster with game-breaking skills. (Salfino)
12. Greg Jennings(notes), GB, WR – Expect a bounce-back year with the Packers pass protection likely to improve, just creating more scoring opportunities for this world-class home run threat with the game’s best long-ball QB. (Salfino)
—
ROUND 4
1. Knowshon Moreno(notes), DEN, RB – He was a great disappointment but should get 65 percent of touches next year, enough to make up for his lack of game-breaking skills. (Salfino)
2. Hakeem Nicks(notes), NYG, WR – Has the world-class QB and all the skills to break out in his second year, and it’s not like he was a slouch as a rookie – 75-1,200-10 is the forecast. (Salfino)
3. Santonio Holmes(notes), PIT, WR – Touchdown/catch ratio is a little misunderstood; when you see a yardage monster off a low number of spikes, go get him the next year. Jennings is a better fit for this principle but he’s off the board. (Pianow)
4. Marques Colston(notes), NO, WR – He’s never been one of my favorites but there’s a safe floor when you’re the favorite target of Drew Brees and Sean Payton. (Pianow)
5. Matt Schaub(notes), HOU, QB – Arguably the most underappreciated signal caller in the virtual game, he tossed eight 300-yard and nine multi-TD games – V-A-L-U-E. (Noise)
6. Dallas Clark(notes), IND, TE – In a year several tight ends were godlike, Clark was Zeus – 11.0 ppg standard league average was better than aforementioned Colston (10.7) and Holmes (9.9). (Noise)
7. Tom Brady(notes), NE, QB – I spent the end of this season spinning the Matt Hasselbeck(notes)-Alex Smith wheel on a weekly basis; I don’t plan on spending Week 16 of 2010 playing Vince Young(notes)-Jay Cutler roulette. (Mig)
8. Anquan Boldin(notes), ARI, WR – On a 105-reception pace in Weeks 10-16; the TDs will return. (Mig)
9. Sidney Rice(notes), MIN, WR – With one week remaining in his ’09 season, Rice has already reached the reception and yardage totals that were forecast above for Nicks (who would not have made it back to Salfino, just for the record). Thought about taking Jumbotronicus here, too. (AB)
10. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, RB – No, he doesn’t have a team yet, but Spiller will be a first-rounder in the NFL Draft; he’s a multi-purpose threat with elite speed – just check the tape. (AB)
11. Joseph Addai(notes), IND, RB – We’re always so quick to point out the negatives that come with Addai, but 43 TDs in 58 career games can’t be disparaged. (BFun)
12. Antonio Gates(notes), SD, TE – Yes, Vernon Davis(notes) has more TDs, but end zone tallies can be a bit random from year to year – I’ll opt for the TE with more catches, considerably more yardage and a vastly longer track record of success. (BFun)
—
ROUND 5
1. Percy Harvin(notes), MIN, WR – Hopefully the migraine issue won’t dog his 2010 season like it has his rookie campaign, because he’s a special talent who has already proven he can hurt NFL defenses in a myriad of ways. (BFun)
2. Chad Ochocinco(notes), CIN, WR – His drive to be the center of attention should land his fantasy owners yet another 1,100-1,200-yard, 8-9 TD season in 2010. (BFun)
3. Marion Barber(notes), DAL, RB – In a year that disappointed everyone, MBIII has still crossed the goal line seven times and he’ll finish in the neighborhood of 1,200 total yards. (AB)
4. Tony Romo(notes), DAL, QB – Over his last five games, Romo has averaged 309.6 yards per game while throwing nine TD passes and just one INT; he’s a top-tier QB in 2010, assuming Miles Austin remains in Dallas. (AB)
5. Ben Roethlisberger(notes), PIT, QB – Again, this owner is a bit gun shy about third and fourth tier QBs, and Big Ben is just a step behind the Rivers-Schaub-Romo set in fantasy points per game. (Mig)
6. Mike Sims-Walker(notes), JAC, WR – Was way too hit-or-miss down the stretch for my taste, but the expected third-year leap should smooth the edges. (Mig)
7. Steve Smith, NYG, WR – The previously selected Nicks may possess more explosive abilities, but the greaseman is Eli’s trusty rock; another 95 receptions, 1,100 yards and 6-8 TDs are a certainty. (Noise)
8. Jahvid Best, Cal, RB – Behrens’ stealing of Spiller leaves a bitter taste, but the Cal standout isn’t far behind in terms of immediate impact potential (visual propaganda here); Seattle is sure to blow up his cell in the late first. (Noise)
9. Michael Crabtree(notes), SF, WR – He hit the ground running without much prep time; imagine what a training camp will do for him. (Pianow)
10. Jerome Harrison(notes), CLE, RB – He’s a little undersized but it’s not like 205-pound backs have never starred before in the NFL. Roll the tape, Bill Raftery. (Pianow)
11. Vernon Davis, SF, TE – This manchild finally translated his scouting bona fides into fantasy production and in 2010 will remain one of the game’s great redzone weapons as a true WR/TE hybrid. (Salfino)
12. Jermichael Finley(notes), GB, TE – Expect 80 catches and 10 TDs from this tight end in name only as he continues the December trend of being Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target everywhere, but especially in the red zone. (Salfino)
—
—
Photos via US Presswire
The excellent MusicAlly blog has a neat look back at a piece written in March of 2001 covering the digital strategies of the major record labels. Some of it is quite amusing in retrospect — such as how Warner Music’s plans were entirely focused on how its newly merged parent, AOL Time Warner, would offer it all sorts of digital opportunities (how’d that work out)?
The company’s internet strategy begins and ends with AOL. The thinking here is that AOL, with 24 million subscribers, has a natural customer base for Time Warner’s extensive music catalogue, as well as serious Internet expertise in house. Although MBI World Music Report lists Warner Music Group’s global market share as equal to BMG’s at 11.9 percent (tied for fourth), AOL was working to secure licensing rights from the other music titans.Combined with Time Warner’s cable-modem Road Runner service, AOL also has control of fat pipes in the US. The reason many people didn’t use Napster is because it is slow and expensive. With control of broadband, subscription is that much more compelling.
Of course “compelling” in theory is different from “compelling” in execution, and AOL, Time Warner and Warner Music never bothered to come up with anything close to compelling (for years we were amused by the fact that the company even refused to let AOL work together with Road Runner, despite them being the same company!).
As you read through the rest, you just keep seeing names of long-dead sites and projects — none of which came up with anything compelling. You see plans for “new proprietary digital formats” that rely on RealPlayer (yeah, there’s a winner) and other short-sighted concepts. But what you see is really the same old story, and effectively still the same thing we’re seeing today. Everyone was focused on recreating the same old retail world, pretending that the digital world is just a replica of the physical world. It’s all focused on direct sales of recordings, rather than anything larger. And, of course, all of these plans ran into trouble when backwards-looking execs freaked out about being too open or too free, and so all of the plans were locked down, inconvenient, expensive and useless (if they ever came out at all).
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Windows Mobile 6.5 was far from the Windows Mobile 7 we were expecting in 2008, but the late arrival of this OS update brought a much needed veneer to Windows Mobile which served to make the smartphone OS more palatable to both consumers and OEMs. Of course opinions are divided on each particular feature the software brought, but devices such as the HTC HD2 would be poorer for not having the actual native start menu and lock screen for example.
Windows Mobile 6.5 brought much more than just UI improvements. It also brought a new kernel with new memory management techniques which should allow software developers to make much better use of the massive memory Windows Mobile smartphones now ship with, and of course usual advances such as longer battery life and better stability.
In 2010 we can expect further iterations to Windows Mobile 6.5 which will make the OS much more suitable for capacitive screens, and also more improvements in the bundled apps and also an increased rate of releases by Microsoft, culminating in the release of Windows Mobile 7 later in the year.
Do any of our readers feel Windows Mobile 6.5 is a real advance over Windows Mobile 6.1? Let us know below.
Keeping with the end of 2009 theme, we continue with Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Most Researched New Vehicles for 2009.
“The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new-vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004,” kbb.com said. “However, many vehicles made noteworthy jumps into the top 20 most-researched new-vehicles for 2009 that were not on the list in 2008. Chevrolet’s all-new redesigned Equinox and Camaro models both grace this year’s list for the first time. Also new to this year’s top 20 are the recently revamped Lexus RX 350 and the popular, fast-selling Ford Fusion.”
Make the jump for the full list in the press release.
Press Release:
Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Names Most-Researched New Vehicles for 2009, Brands With Greatest Share of Market Interest This Year
Chevy Equinox and Camaro, Ford Fusion, Lexus RX 350 Jump into 2009’s Top 20 Most-Researched New Cars
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new and used car information, today announces the most-researched new vehicles of 2009 on the company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com. In addition, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com reveals the top five brands with the greatest share of market interest for 2009.
This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Kelley Blue Book saw increased visitation to its Web site, with nearly 180 million visits to kbb.com in 2009. Because kbb.com is one of the most-trafficked automotive research sites, visitation to specific vehicles has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers.
Kbb.com’s Top 20 Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2009:
1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Toyota Corolla
6. Toyota RAV4
7. Toyota Highlander
8. Toyota Prius
9. Nissan Altima
10. Honda Pilot
11. Ford Escape
12. Chevrolet Camaro
13. Honda Odyssey
14. Ford Fusion
15. Mazda3
16. Ford Mustang
17. Volkswagen Jetta
18. Toyota Sienna
19. Lexus RX 350
20. Chevrolet Equinox
The stabilization in gas prices for 2009 has indicated a trend away from smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles over the past year, and thus some popular small cars that were among the most-researched in 2008 have fallen off the list for 2009. Subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, along with the compact MINI Cooper, were among the most-researched new cars last year, but do not hold court among the most-researched models this year. In addition, Chevy’s Malibu, redesigned for the 2008 model-year and featured on last year’s ‘most-researched’ list, has seen some of its popularity fade over the past year, no longer listing among the top 20 most-researched new cars of 2009.
“The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com demonstrates what is on the minds of today’s new-car shoppers, especially when examining the most-researched new-vehicles of 2009,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Declined interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased popularity in attractive, recently redesigned models is an accurate reflection of the marketplace in 2009. We also see that consumers are reacting well to new models and redesigns from domestic manufacturers like Chevy and Ford, which bodes well for their future sales numbers.”
Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for 2009
1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Ford
4. Chevrolet
5. Nissan
Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan (respectively) are the top five brands with the highest share of market interest — defined as the percent of new-car shopper activity for a particular brand — on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for 2009. Of those brands, Ford saw the most growth throughout the course of the year, with its share rising steadily in the first half of the year and peaking during the summer months, benefitting as the only domestic manufacturer that did not require a bailout or undergo bankruptcy. Ford also benefitted from the “Cash-for-Clunkers” program during the summer of 2009, due to its aggressive promotion of the program.
– By: Kap Shah
CalorieLab didn’t even exist at the turn of the last decade, but we couldn’t resist a look back at some of the things that seem so important today in the world of health, dieting and nutrition that weren’t even on the radar back before the aughts.
All this was inspired by a great article on 10 nutrition topics that are in the news now but weren’t to be found anywhere in 1999. Some of the highlights:
I wasn’t really paying attention back then, but I don’t think anyone in the 1990s was worrying about charging obese people more when they fly on an airplane or the need for wider seats to accommodate larger passengers.
Some ambulance services are also charging obese people more to be transported to the hospital because of the extra time, crew and specialized equipment needed to get them where they need to go.
We also weren’t talking about one of the biggest nutrition trends in the past few years: putting nutritional information on restaurant menus. This started in New York City after legal challenges and spread to Philly, California and many other places across the country.
Studies have found menu labels may help people make healthier choices but that’s not really clear. Still, a nationwide calorie count law is part of the healthcare bill being debated in Congress.
What will the next decade hold in diet and health news? We hope you’ll stay with us to find out. Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy new year.
(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)
Stories of the decade: What we weren’t worried about in 1999
Filed under: Car Buying, Earnings/Financials
This just in from Hard Numbers News: From 2000 to 2007, an average of 16.8 million vehicles were sold in the States. In 2008, that figure dropped to 13.2 million. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the tally for 2009 is expected to put the sales needle somewhere around 10.4 million. According to Bloomberg, that would make last year the worst for new car sales since 1982, when there was not only a recession but also 25 percent fewer Americans.
The good news: sales began to rise at the end of 2009, having sustained themselves nicely after the revelry of cash-for-clunkers. The final data isn’t in yet, but Bloomberg‘s survey of analysts suggests two months of gains in November and December. Predictions estimate that Ford, Toyota, Honda and Nissan saw increases, with General Motors and Chrysler looking at slipping sales.
The silver lining? Meager sales could “indicate significant pent-up demand.” That kettle of demand is going to take some time to boil, but a rise in household spending is penciled in for late 2010, along with greater availability of credit, and a drop in unemployment numbers is in the forecast as well. The road to recovery will be a slow one, but hopefully with the turn of the calendar year will come a turn in fortunes for the U.S. economy.
[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]
Bloomberg: U.S. auto sales “probably rose” in December originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Anyway, ever since my diagnosis with the high blood pressure and consequently diabetes about 3 months ago, I’ve been noticing that one or both of my arms fall asleep during the night when I sleep. I sleep on my stomach with one arm under the pillow. And every few hours I wake up and notice that arm is asleep (lack of circulation, I assume). I hang the arm over the bed for a minute or so and the circulation resumes and it’s all good again. No big deal. But I know diabetics gotta worry about circulation issues and losing limbs, fingers, toes, etc. I am still fairly young – 38 yrs. old. So I assumed the circulation problems were more for those who were older and/or not really watching their BG levels very well. And I watch and control my BG levels like a hawk. So I didn’t figure circulation would be a problem for me at this point.
I am thinking the circulation in my arms is more of a result of the water pill. I take the pill, typically, just before dinner time. And it works quickly. By the time I go to bed (around midnight) I have emptied my bladder a good 4-5 times and usually one more time during the middle of the night. So I am pretty empty of liquids when I am sleeping. I am wondering if the water pill and lack of liquids is what is causing my arms to go to sleep and lose circulation at night. Maybe I should switch to taking this med in the morning instead of at dinner time.
Anyone have experience with this? Do you think this makes sense? Or do the circulation problems with the arm I am experiencing just go hand and hand with diabetes?
The 2010 Detroit Auto Show is just a couple of days away and GM’s Chris Preuss has officially confirmed some highlights for the Detroit automaker at the Cobo center. About 19 hours ago, Preuss’ status read:
RT @KenAlexDon: @chrispreussGMVP info on the GMC Granite others at NAIAS? Granite. XTS. CTS-V coupe. Aveo RS (all new). Regal. A CFO.
That means we can confirm the name of the mystery Cadillac concept as the XTS, a next-generation Aveo and the GMC Granite (a Chevrolet Orlando Delta platform based vehicle). Preuss also mentions the 2011 Buick Regal in his status and since the Regal originally made its debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show, we’re speculating that Preuss is talking about the high-performance Regal GS sedan. Joining the lineup will be the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and GM’s new CFO, Chris Liddell. No word on whether the pre-production Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will be there.
– By: Omar Rana
Source: Twitter (@chrispreussGMVP)
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety
Maybe it’s the mass inebriation that makes it easier, but New Year’s Eve is apparently hottest holiday for car theft. If the whole world is already sleeping it off, there’s no way anybody is going to pay heed to your stupid alarm, perhaps.
As proof, our corporate cousins at AOL Autos breaks down the car theft rates for various holidays, and New Year’s bookends the list of eleven days. While New Year’s Eve is relatively quiet, New Year’s Day is three times as active. The second-most active car theft day? Labor Day – again, another event that tends to involve plenty of imbibing and a good dose of “hey, watch this.” With Halloween in third, it would be interesting to see how many of these thefts were mere joyrides, and how many were determined thieves looking for 1994 Honda Accords (the most stolen car last year) to feed the chop shops.
Many cars are easily stolen because of a lack of owner vigilance. Things like leaving your keys inside the car, even if it’s just at home, are about the same as a blinking neon sign on the roof saying “steal me.” Josh Max works up a good list of Dos and Don’ts – and if you don’t want your car stolen this New Year’s season, AOL Autos has tips, whatever the reason.
[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Tuppus – C.C. License 2.0]
Lock Those Doors: New Year’s Day the worst holiday for stolen cars? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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After Windows Mobile appeared to stagnate in Qualcomm MSM7xxx hell for nearly 2 years, we have finally seen with the arrival of the HTC HD2, the Acer neoTouch and the LG eXpo Windows Mobile smartphones that can multi-task flawlessly and still run amazing user interfaces without breaking a sweat.
In 2010 we should finally see some of the promised Tegra devices, and a few powered by TI OMAP, and waiting for the screen to finally rotate when we slide out the keyboard will seem like a horrible memory from a past best forgotten.
Do you have a Snapdragon powered device and feel its the bees knees? Let us know below.
|
Australia lights New Year sky with 'green' fireworks
Ekklesia And Fireworks Australia claimed it not only offsets its carbon footprint by buying carbon credits, it will similarly offset the emissions from tomorrow … and more » |
Luggage check and hospital gowns
Editor, The Times:
Regarding the article “Terrorism and planes: Is it time to bare all?” [page one, Dec. 30], the airlines should be required to provide everyone with hospital gowns at check in.
The gowns should be modified to have a chest pocket for the boarding pass, and perhaps an airline logo. No other modifications should be allowed in order to facilitate security checking by the canine on duty at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening point.
This policy might also have the side benefit of reducing the obesity epidemic in the United States.
— Earl Hunt, Bellevue
Colonoscopies for one and all!
For some time, I’ve been saying that soon we’ll all fly naked, for better airline security, of course.
With the latest terror threat, we’re moving toward that goal at a rapid rate. There is good news and bad news associated with the upcoming security rules: The bad news is that for the most part, it won’t be a pretty sight.
The good news is that we all get a free colonoscopy for flying —This may be tough on frequent fliers.
Of course this all ignores the fact that passengers, themselves, are the first line of defense aboard any plane. But let’s ignore reality in the name of security.
— Bruce Barnbaum, Granite Falls
Traveling with your birthday suit
I say yes — it is time to bare all.
I think airports should have two lines: one for those of us who don’t mind and don’t care whether someone would see us electronically naked, and one line for those who would rather take off their shoes, be poked and prodded by strangers, and inspected like meat in a plant.
I have been in hospitals and doctor’s offices and made to wear those ridiculous gowns that allows everyone to see everything somewhere along the line. I have been scanned and X-rayed and find it less invasive than other technologies.
If the line is longer for scanning, it will allow more thorough physical inspections of those few who go through the other line, increasing our safety.
I will submit to unobtrusive scans anytime. It’s not like the people running the scanners, or any of the rest of us, haven’t seen it all before.
— Gary S. Silverstein, Olympia
As 2009 winds down and 2010 rears its head around the corner, we thought it appropriate to reminisce about our favorite drives of ‘09. Of course it only makes sense to compare apples to apples, so we picked our favorite test-car in each of seven categories. The consensus of our staff is below – click through to read the original review for each and see how the specs measure up.
Sedan: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Crossover: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Sports Car (Coupe): 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Hatchback: 2010 Volkswagen GTI
Compact Car: 2010 Mazda3
Hybrid: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Convertible: 2009 Infiniti G37 S Convertible
– By: Stephen Calogera
If you’re like many chefs, you sometimes discover a cooking gadget you forgot you had tucked away at the back of the utensil drawer. If you’re like me, you have one than one utensil drawer!
Utensil trays are a must for items like forks and spoons, but have you also considered using different-sized trays for gadgets that may be loose in your drawer? I’m talking about things like ice cream or cookie dough scoops, measuring spoons, pastry brushes, small whisks, thermometers and other kitchen tools.
You can even be eco-friendly by using bamboo trays to organize. I spied several bamboo trays of varying sizes at Bed, Bath & Beyond recently.
Another tactic for organizing the utensil drawer is to remove bulky items that aren’t used as frequently. Some examples may include an apple slicer, kitchen scales, pastry cutter, rolling pin and basting brushes. You know how often you use what.
Gather larger items and store them in an extra bin outside your kitchen drawers. I did this recently using a black wire mesh three-drawer organizer on wheels from Target. It sits happily beside my microwave cart, potatoes resting in the bottom drawer. I also use a pitcher on my counter top as handy storage for spatulas and large whisks.
Once you’ve gotten your utensil drawers organized so that you can easily find tools, keep them clean. At least once a month, remove everything, including the liner. Wash or replace the shelf liner and use a handheld vacuum to easily remove any dirt (or spices!) that has accumulated in the bottom of the drawer. Wipe the drawer clean, replace shelf liner and then add your organized utensils back in.
Do you have trouble finding items in your utensil drawer?
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree
Health care is only the beginning of oligarchy
Syndicated columnist E.J. Dionne Jr., in the course of bemoaning the mostly negative results of our so-called national health-care debate, recently put it very bluntly — we are no longer a normal democracy [“Put aside your anger over the health-care bill, progressives, and get busy,” Seattletimes.com, Editorials / Opinion, Dec. 21].
He went on to state, “power has passed from the majority to tiny minorities, sometimes minorities of one.” And clearly Sen. Joe Lieberman’s posturing and preening has paid off for him.
As we see with national health care, so we see with just about every other issue important to the general public: a political structure that confers the powers of obstruction on tiny minorities, sometimes minorities of one.
That is not representative democracy. It is oligarchy.
Things have come to a very alarming political pass in the U.S. when a very mainstream and rational columnist like Dionne, can advocate changing or even abolishing the Senate, and not come across as extreme.
Instead, he makes eminent sense.
— Frank W. Goheen, Camas
Remind me: why did we build on a flood plain?
I can’t help but wonder — what part of building a community in a flood plain never struck anybody as being a problem until now [“Decaying levee magnify Green River flood risk,” page one, Dec. 29]?
— Ron Dickson, Seattle
Fish and Wildlife need to step it up, do their job
The article on the elk slaughter near Concrete [“Trapping, killing of elk closes hunting,” NWWednesday, Dec. 29] highlights the mismanagement of our wildlife by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. This type of thing probably happens all too often, but this time it was captured on camera and in full view of the public.
The department said the bow-and-arrow wounding and slaughtering of the trapped elk was legal. If true, then we need new laws to prevent it.
Fish and Wildlife is responsible for the slaughter. In their never-ending quest to expand hunting opportunities, they relocated elk to the Skagit Valley. They then authorized this year’s hunt, after last year’s fiasco with muzzle-loader hunters.
According to the department’s own numbers, hunting mortality, including wounding loss and poaching, is by far the greatest source of elk mortality — 64 to 82 percent —of which poaching makes up 15 percent. This clearly defies the state mandate in RCW 77.04.012 to preserve, protect and perpetuate our state’s wildlife.
The hunters were unethical, but Fish and Wildlife should have never allowed the hunt in the first place. Then when it got really ugly, the agent should have stopped it.
— Diane Weinstein, Issaquah
State not as enlightened as I had thought
Wow. I moved up here from Texas and I keep thinking Washington in general — and the Seattle area in particular — is enlightened. I feel as if someone punched me in the stomach after reading this article.
What a disgusting spectacle of wanton cruelty that had nothing — nothing —to do with so-called sportsmanship. Seven animals were killed in circumstances resembling an appalling canned hunt, but what of those who were injured but managed to flee?
How long will it take them to die of blood loss and infection and exposure in the middle of winter? What of the female who was trailing loops of entrails?
How can this seem like an OK recreational activity to anyone? I am utterly sickened.
— Franziska M. Edwards, Seattle
Rethinking how we treat wild animals
The article “Bow hunters shoot elk in Wash. pasture” [Seattletimes.com, Local News, Dec. 29] mentioned that a few of the animals had arrows embedded in their hides and were bleeding, but were still upright and running.
Sadly, this is an example of how these animals really die. It’s never as clean-cut as hunters would have you believe. In some cases, it can take days.
This wasn’t a case of necessity, it never is.
Bill Johnson said he didn’t necessarily regret the kills, however, some were messy and caused undue pain to the animals. This doesn’t sound like fun.
Maybe we need to rethink how wild animals are treated, and consider that we have to place some of the blame on ourselves for creating these situations in the first place.
We simply cannot push these animals in the corner in order to satisfy our own population growth.
— Anai Rhoads, Alexandria, Va.
Talking about those large, high resolution screens, the next major development of 2009 was the arrival of extremely competitive web browsers. While in 2008 we counted ourselves extremely blessed to have Opera Mini, by 2009 we were inundated by a plethora of great browsers, including what many see as the king of Windows Mobile browsers, Skyfire, which made no website off limits to a Windows Mobile user.
While at this point many of us probably take it for granted that we can have rapid website rendering on a smartphone, we, more than any other mobile platform, are in fact exceptionally lucky. Next year we expect further improvements in IE Mobile, and of course a real heavyweight contender in the release of Fennec for Windows Mobile.
Do our readers appreciate the browser wealth on Windows Mobile? Let us know below.
