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THE LONE RANGER 2013

Unlock Miley Cyrus Documentary Bonus Clips With Your Tweets

MTV aired Miley: The Movement, an intimate documentary about the provocative 20-year-old pop star Miley Cyrus on Wednesday night, and now fans can earn never-before-seen bonus clips based on the intensity of their tweets.
If her rabid fans — dubbed "Smilers" — post enough Twitter messages with the hashtag #UnlockMiley, they will unlock two videos that can be viewed only on MTV's iOS app. MTV launched the #UnlockMiley challenge immediately after the documentary aired. The bonus footage (one involves her conversation with Britney Spears) will eventually also appear in the 90-minute deluxe edition of Miley: The Movement, which will air on Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. ET.

Fans can track the progress of their tweets at UnlockMiley.MTV.com.

Wednesday's broadcast followed Cyrus as she premiered "We Can't Stop," worked with Spears on a duet and unleashed her viral antics at the MTV Video Music Awards.
"It's a strategic hot mess," Cyrus said, describing her controversial VMAs performance during which she groped Robin Thicke with a foam finger and twerked on him.

How to Optimize Your Profile Photos Across Social Media

Choosing your social media profile photos is an important task. They represent the physical you in the online world, while providing an all-important first impression to anyone viewing your profile.
In order to make the most of the available space, we took a look at how you can optimize your avatars and cover photos on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google+.

Read our guidelines below, which include the optimum sizes for imagery across all sites, and some handy tips and tricks to bear in mind when choosing the right photographs.

Facebook

Facebook profile photos are cropped square, so we advise you to use an image that is already in this ratio — that way, you can avoid hastily cropping it right after you upload it. Profile pics are displayed at 160 x 160 pixels, but the image you upload must have minimum measurements of 180 x 180 pixels.
Cover photos come in at 851 x 315 pixels. While the minimum size is 399 x 150 pixels, images that are smaller than the optimum dimensions will get stretched and look awful.
Your profile photo is the one that's seen most around the site (next to posts, comments, etc.), so it's important that your choice works well as a small, standalone image. However, if you want to get creative by making your profile pic and cover image work together, note that your profile image displays 23 pixels from the left side and 210 pixels from the top of your cover photo.
If you're all about fast load times, it's worth noting that Facebook recommends your cover photo be an sRGB JPG file that's 851 pixels wide, 315 pixels tall and less than 100KB. If your image is logo- or text-based, then Facebook suggests using a PNG file to get higher quality results.

Twitter

Twitter displays profile photos really small, so it's important to choose an image that works in miniature. Twitter also uses square profile pics, so be sure to scale yours appropriately before you upload it.
While the maximum file size for a Twitter avatar is 2MB, it will show only as 73 x 73 pixels on your profile page and a teeny 48 x 48 pixels in tweets.
However, if people click through to your profile and then click on your avatar, it will show up larger (as it will in some Twitter clients), so it's worth uploading an image that will display bigger than the small, default sizes.
Twitter header photos can be up to 5MB in size. The recommended dimensions for these images are 1252 x 626 pixels. Bear in mind your Twitter account name, handle, bio, location and URL will all appear over your header image, so you need to consider choosing a photo that will work behind text and will not obscure the text.

Google+

Photos are a bit different on Google+, where the network crops profile photos as circles. You'll need to consider what kind of image will work in a round format.
Your avatar is displayed 120 x 120 pixels on your profile, but not all of that will show up due to the round crop. With images showing up as small as 48 x 48 pixels in posts and just 28 x 28 in comments and other activity, this is another example of needing to choose a pic that will work well on a small scale.
The Google+ cover, or feature photo, is a tricky one, as it dynamically resizes depending on screen area. As far as measurements go, the minimum size is 480 x 270 pixels, and the recommended size is 960 x 540 pixels, but if you want your image to look good on large or retina displays, you'll want to upload a photo that's 2120 x 1192 pixels.
However, keep in mind that unless anyone takes the time to scroll up on the default desktop view, there is only a small area of the cover photo that will be seen on your profile — the very bottom.

YouTube

Since Google linked Google+ page identities with YouTube, your YouTube "channel icon," or avatar, is linked to your Google+ profile photo.
YouTube offers detailed information on how to optimize your other channel imagery though, including downloadable templates to help.
Similar to Google+, your cover photo, or "channel art" as YouTube calls it, will auto-rescale to fit the size of screen on which you're viewing a video. In order to get "optimal results on all devices," YouTube recommends uploading a 2560 x 1440 pixel image (including a "safe area").
The minimum display size for channel art is 1546 x 423 pixels, so you can be sure nothing within this area, such as text and logos, will be cut off.

As a professional social networking site, LinkedIn has some official guidelines as to what kind of photo you can use. The site states that "a photo can be removed by LinkedIn if your profile image is not your likeness or a headshot photo," so it's best to stick to the basics.
With a max file size of 4MB, you can upload a square JPG, GIF or PNG. The default size for a LinkedIn avatar on your profile page is 200 x 200 pixels, but users can click to enlarge the image up to 450 x 450 pixels.
Company pages are a little different. The standard company logo displayed on LinkedIn pages is 100 x 60 pixels, and the square logo is 50 by 50 pixels. You can also upload a homepage cover photo-style image to a company page. The minimum recommended size is 646 x 220 pixels.

8 Great Hidden Features in iOS 7

If you've upgraded to iOS 7 on your iPhone or iPad, you're probably familiar with a whole collection of new features. But some of the best additions in the software update are hiding beneath the surface and take a little time to uncover.

We've been digging deep into Apple's new mobile operating system, discovering some surprises along the way. From night mode in Apple Maps to a faster way to close apps, here's a few useful features that you can find — as long as you know where to look:

1. Clock Icon

Go ahead and look at your clock app icon. Take a closer look. It's an actual clock with a working second hand. A nice little touch from Apple.

2. Text Timestamps

If you slide text messages to the left, you can see the timestamp for all of them — not just the most recent.

3. The Level

By opening up the Compass app and swiping your finger across it, a new digital "level" feature is revealed. You'll never have a crooked painting on the wall again.

4. Night Mode for Maps

If you're driving late at night, the glow of your iPhone screen can be nearly blinding as you try to use the Apple Maps app. Now, the platform displays a darker interface at certain times. This is less distracting and easier on the eyes when navigating at night.

5. Closing Multiple Apps

You can close multiple apps at once! Here's how: double click the home button to reveal open webpages and platforms. You can then swipe up to three apps at the same time by using three fingers and dragging them upwards.

6. Siri Controls Settings

You can use Siri to set alarms and reminders on previous iOS versions, but now you can lean on her to navigate settings too. For example, by saying "Open Settings," Siri will open the Settings folder. By asking Siri to "Turn Off Wi-Fi," she'll gladly oblige without you having to lift a finger. You can also tell her to make calls and play voicemail messages too.

7. Block Calls

If you're getting harassing calls, you can now put a stop to it. Visit Settings > Phone > Blocked to add numbers you want to restrict.

8. Apps Near Me

The Apple App Store has a new "Near Me" feature, which shows apps that are popular near your current location. So if you live in New York City, it will highlight handy apps such as NYC Subway KICKMap and Way2ride taxi, which lets you pay for cab rides via the app.
Find any other not-so-obvious features? Let us know in the comments below.

21 brilliant iOS 7 tips and tricks

In Depth The little things in the new mobile OS that make the big difference

The iOS 7 release date has arrived and while the jury may still be out on iOS 7's radical redesign - for what it's worth we love it, with a few reservations - there's no denying that it's the friendliest version and most powerful of iOS yet.
But there's more to iOS 7 than headline features such as Control Center, Airdrop and iTunes Radio: some of our favourite improvements are little things that make our everyday lives that little bit more pleasant.
These are our favourites - let us know yours in the comments.
Check out our iOS 7 review for the full lowdown!

1. Camera: shoot in burst mode

The redesigned Camera app has a nifty trick up its sleeve: if you want to shoot in burst mode, taking multiple shots in quick succession, just click and hold the volume-up button.

2. Multitasking: quit multiple apps

You probably know that you can quit running apps by double-tapping the Home button and flicking the offending app upwards, but you might not have tried it with multiple fingers to force-quit more than one app at a time. We've made it work with three apps on our iPhone, although doing the same on an iPad means getting your nose involved too.

3. Notifications: begone!

When you receive a new notification, you can still swipe right to open the appropriate app - but if you just want rid of it you can now swipe up to hide it.

4. All new balancing act

iOS 7 is bad news for novelty app developers: not only has the Control Center killed the market for flashlight apps, but Compass has done the same for spirit level apps too.
If you launch the app you'll see the familiar dots at the bottom of the screen that indicate there's a second screen: swipe it and you'll see a spirit level for all your checking-things-are-flat needs.

5. Phone, FaceTime and Messages: block contacts

Does someone have your number and you wish they didn't? Successfully avoid exes, creditors and the angry husbands and wives of your lovers with iOS 7's excellent blocking features. Add the number to your Contacts, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Block This Caller to refuse incoming calls, messages (including SMS and MMS) and FaceTime calls.

6. Messages: see the timestamps

iOS 7 likes to keep things nice and minimalist, but if key information isn't visible there's a good chance it's just a swipe away - so for example in Messages, you won't see timestamps against each SMS, MMS or iMessage. Want to know when they were sent? Swipe left.

7. Apps: swipe backwards

This little tip is a handy time-saver: when you're finished reading an email or message, or fiddling with Settings, or exploring a Music playlist, swipe backwards to return to the previous page. If you're at the first level (such as your list of mailboxes in Mail, or the first Settings screen) nothing will happen.

8. Location Services: see where you've been

iOS 7 keeps an eye on where you go to help it personalise features such as the Notification Center, and to help improve the accuracy of Maps. If you fancy a look you'll find it in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations. You'll see a list and a map, with blue circles showing where you've been and when. You can clear the history from this page, and if you think it's a little creepy you can turn it off from the System Services page.

9. Newsstand: put it away!

We like Newsstand, but we don't like the way it can't be stuck in a folder like Apple's other stock apps. Hallelujah for iOS 7, then, because at last that absurd restriction has been removed.

10 . Settings: make iOS 7 easier on the eye

We like the new interface, but it isn't for everyone. If you have problems with your sight or just want to make iOS more legible, you'll find some useful settings in Settings > General > Accessibility. You can make all system text bold, increase the size of text in apps that support Apple's Dynamic Type, scale down motion effects such as the parallax effect or invert the colours to make iOS 7 look like a 1980s electro-pop album cover.

11. Sounds: get some new tones

iOS 7's library of sounds (Settings > Sounds > Sounds and vibration patterns) has been given a regular update, and Apple says they're so good you might miss calls because you're dancing. That, frankly, isn't very likely.

12. AutoFill: let Safari input your details

Feeling trustworthy? Safari can automatically fill out web forms using your Contact info, previous names and passwords, and credit card details, should you so wish. You can toggle these AutoFill options individually from Settings > Safari > Passwords > AutoFill.

13. Siri: now reads your emails

Siri makes light work of not only listing emails in your inbox, but also reading them out to you. Hold down the Home button and say, "Read my emails" and Siri will give you sender, time and date sent, and the subject of each in turn. When asked if you want it to read out your mail, just say "Yes".

14. Apps: one folder to rule them all

Unlike previous versions of iOS, there's no limit to the number of apps you can file away in a single folder. Now you can simply pile icons onto each other to your heart's content. Finally, an end to the Games 1, Games 2, Games 3 (ad nauseum) home screen debacle.

15. Motion: reducing sickness

iOS 7 likes to advertise its existence to you with all manner of motions, animations and alerts. If all the hullabaloo is leaving you slightly queasy, put a dampener on things by selecting Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion > Off.

16. Notification Centre: not on my lock screen

Notification Centre got a visual overhaul in the latest version of iOS, offering a neat snapshot of your appointments and message snippets accessible from the lock screen. But not everyone wants their itinerary on show to all and sundry. Happily you can turn off this overview from Settings > Notification Centre, using the sliders listed under - you guessed it - 'Access on Lock Screen'.

17. Compass: invoke the spirit

The compass is a mainstay of iOS, but has been redesigned to look less 'Forstall' and more 'Ive'. That's not all though, as a quick swipe left in the app reveals: a spirit level now accompanies the navigational tool, ensuring future DIY jobs should be a little less skewed.

18. Maps: walk or drive everywhere

Maps still has its downsides, but it's useful for the most part - more so now that you can choose a default mode of travel. If you're more rambler than driver and want to avoid having to define your directions as such, simply tap to Settings > Maps and select Walking under Preferred Directions.

19. App Store: Near Me

A new tab in the App Store app called Near Me automatically lists the most popular apps in your general location. That might sound a bit gimmicky, but we found it useful when visiting towns and cities for the first time, when it turned up local transport and tourist information apps.

20. Apps: Background App Refresh

iOS 7 introduces the ability to selectively control which apps are allowed to refresh their content while you're getting on with other business. When battery life is at a premium, turn off any offenders by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

21. Apps: Automatic Updates

iOS can now update your apps automatically. That's great as long as a) you have an unlimited data plan, and b) your favourite app's functionality doesn't get mangled with some poorly advised revisions. Control this function either way by going to Settings > iTunes and App Store and sliding the Updates option under Automatic Downloads.

LG G2 Unboxing and Hands on Review

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Specifications

Company/Brand	LG
Type	Smartphone
OS	Android 4.2.2
Price	16 GB Rs. 40497 / Rs. 43497 (see below for cheapest price)
Announced	30th Sep 2013
Released	30th Sep 2013
Hype	4/5
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800
Processor	Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400
GPU	Adreno 330 GPU
RAM	2GB
Battery	3000 mAh
Primary Camera	13 MP with BSI 2 Sensor
Secondary Camera	2.1 MP
Video Capabilities	1080p@60fps from main camera, 1080p@30fps from secondary
Weight	143 g (5.04 oz)
Dimensions	138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm (5.45 x 2.79 x 0.35 in)
Main Display	1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.2 inches (~424 ppi pixel density)
In-Built Storage	16 GB / 32 GB
SAR Value	0.50 W/kg (head) 0.69 W/kg (body)
Connectivity Ports	Micro USB
Special Features	No buttons on the edges of the device.

LG today launched the G2 a successor to the Nexus style Optimus G and the G Pro, the new LG G2 brings to the table what LG seems to have been missing from a long time. The LG G2 offers a mix of impressive hardware a decent design and build along with the right pricing. The two variants the 16 GB and 32 GB have been launched in India for prices Rs. 40497 and Rs. 43497 respectively (latest price below) .

In the box of the LG G2 are the usual things:

The LG G2
In Ear : Quadbeat 2 Headsets
USB CAble
Wall Charger
Documentation

The initial impressions of the LG G2 are quite impressive, out the box, the device just blazes across tasks. The impressive 5.2 inch display has a minimal bezel and great visibility outdoors, the usual great viewing angles, Gorilla Glass 2 and OGS HD IPS LCD which has a full HD 1920x1080p resolution. The LG G2 comes with a non-removable 3000 mAh battery along with a non expandable storage capacity of either 16 or 32 GB.

The rear camera on the LG G2 is an improved version of the on Optimus G pro with a 13 MP BSI sensor with OIS and 1920 x 1080 p hd video capture at 60 fps. The G2 will remain LG’s flagship this year and with great conviction thanks to the great set of hardware. The phone aesthetically is good to look at, the rear of the device sits in the hand really comfortably thanks to the curved edges and rounded corners. The phone is extremely light when you pick it up and at first appears as if is without a battery. The subtle chrome lines and the metallic back buttons ensure that the device looks premium adding to the patterned back panel.

Putting the buttons on the back of the device may not be LG’s most shining moment, but it also makes the device free from bumps and ridges, letting your hand and fingers slide smoothly across the sides of the device. The knock to unlock screen also makes the experience of locking and unlocking the device a lot more potent.

LG might have a winner here

The biggest A factor of the device has to be the gorgeous display along with the minimal bezel design which makes the front of the device fell as if its purely display (edge to edge). LG might have a winner here, but lets wait for our full review!

48.6% Of Android Devices Now Run On Jelly Bean

It’s taken seemingly forever, but Jelly Bean is now on nearly 50% of active Android devices — 48.6% to be exact — as of October 2nd, 2013.

The stats, which are released each month, indicate that Jelly Bean’s slow-and-steady march to the top has not exactly fixed Android’s fragmentation problem, but has allowed developers to target Android 4.0+ devices more readily without risking alienating large swaths of users.

While Gingerbread still powers a staggering 28% of active devices, which could mean some 280 million if we use Google’s recent announcement of 1 billion activated Androids as an indicator, developers can take the Ice Cream Sandwich number, which is dropping but still powers 20.6%, and combine it with Jelly Bean for a comforting 69.2% of all devices.

Android 4.3, the newest version of the OS to hit Nexus devices and some Samsung and HTC products, is only on 1.5% of the total, and with KitKat nearing its inevitable rollout, it seems likely that most devices will likely skip directly from Android 4.2 to 4.4.

It must be noted that these stats only include Android 2.2+ devices and only those that are actively visiting Google Play each month, not those that connect to forked app stores like Amazon.

Micromax Canvas 4 A210 Review

Micromax, with a lot of hype and a little bit of disappointing specs launched its latest flagship, Canvas 4 on July 8. One of the major things that everyone witnessed was that people had shown a lot of trust towards this Indian brand with a whooping number of 11500 pre-bookings while having the specs and final product price secret. The product does look promising with the features it packs in and the premium feel.

Hardware

The phone is 8.9 mm thick and feels good while holding in hand. The anodized aluminium rim running along the sides of the phone adds more richness. The rim is also supposed to feature as an antenna to improve the signal quality and that has been proved when Canvas HD and Canvas 4 were checked in the basement of a building for network strength of the same carrier and found Canvas 4 having a stronger network based on bars shown by the phone. The device is available in White as well as Grey color. The brushed finish on the back is an add on to the beauty and on Grey color it appears more prominently. The gadget features a High Definition display which is absolutely crisp and vivid but 1080p display could have done a superb job. On protection front, the Canvas 4 is provided with Corning Gorilla glass 2 which resists scratches to a huge extent and a bonus in the package. Phone has a 13 MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p videos with 5 lenses built in and a Sony sensor. Secondary camera is a wide angel 5 MP shooter and delivers good image quality as well as video quality during a video call. It encompasses a dual color notification LED which won’t let you miss a notification on your phone. Dissection of the device exhibits disappointment with the same one year old MediaTek MT6589 quad core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz. 1 GB RAM is further disappointment, though normal application usage and gaming did not get affected much in day-to-day usage. 16 GB ROM was an expected and much needed hardware requirement and has been fulfilled by Micromax. Phone bears a 2000 mAh battery which lasted for around 14-16 average hours even on aggressive usage. Dual SIM card slots allows you to manage your work and personal connections with a swift. 3.5 mm jack on the top enhances the universal support for the headsets from a variety of brands.

Software

The device is blessed with the goodness of the Google’s Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean operating system which is more or less the latest one. Existence of Project Butter could be experienced while using the phone. The user interface is much of stock feel and very less customizations have been done by Micromax. The phone is though loaded with some of the premium features offered by high end phones in the market. Smart Gesture part of the settings include features such as Upside silent, Upside speaker, Proximity answer phone and Proximity dial phone. All these features perform to their best in the usage. Another gesture feature that is added in the Video Player that of Pause on Look Away which doesn’t work to the expectations and worked only three times out of ten incidences. Pinning video player works great and without any lag while you have your mail getting checked or the twitter timeline being read. Filling your screen half with browser seems to work just fluid and gives you the freedom of having any other application open in the other half unlike Multi Window of Samsung where limited applications are supported. Music player has been completely transformed into a new avatar and features a round dial like panel and seek bar running through the periphery. Added visualization also worked fine. The music player has also got a new widget and the notification toggle. Settings panel remains somewhat the same with no categorization of the options but a new set of icons cannot be over overlooked. This time Micromax seems to have worked more on software front than that of the hardware and the yield is Blow to Unlock which is powered by Foneclay. Though the principle behind this unlock feature is not very special but yes, it has been brought up for the first time. Blow to unlock feature uses microphone for an input. Unlocking worked alright for eight out of ten times and the rest two times it unlocked without any blow or shake. Camera interface remained almost same as the previous but added vertical panorama is a fantastic feature and stitching is just perfect. M!Security application is powered by NQ Mobile and allows you to use Anti Theft feature very efficiently. Overall software is smooth and premium to use.

Final Verdict

Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is packed with ton of software tweaks and promising hardware but pricing of Rs. 17999 is a bit higher for comparatively lower specifications. We think, Canvas 4 is a real good device but not really worth an upgrade for existing Canvas HD users.

hah Rukh Khan: Lost friends post RA.One, made more enemies after Chennai Express

Shah Rukh Khan says that he is scared of losing.

A relentless worker that he is, Shah Rukh Khan often goes the extra mile to achieve success as he fears losing the top position.

The 47-year-old superstar, whose last release Chennai Express is one of the highest grossers at the box-office till date, said he is constantly working hard to sustain his place in the industry.

"I am scared of losing. I am scared of coming second. I am scared of not making it big. So, I have such a fear of failure that I work harder when even I don't need to. I work longer when I don't have to.

"I never rest on my laurels because I feel that this will be taken away one day. I have this fear that if I don't work hard enough I will lose what I have attained and not be able to continue to do so. I don't have blood pressure neither I am a heart victim but I need to just work hard," he said on the sidelines of 40th National Management Convention by All India Management Association (AIMA).

A star in the industry for two decades, Shah Rukh said that his journey has not been a cakewalk and he did face his share of failures.

But now basking in the success of Chennai Express, the actor said he has made many foes in the industry after doing the Rohit Shetty film.

"Failures also gets you to find who your real friends are. The true strength of your relationship gets tested in the phase of strong adversity. I lost lots of friends post RA.One, apart from losing a lot of audience too. And after Chennai Express, I haven't made any new friends but I have a whole new set of enemies now," he added.

Shah Rukh sported grey streaks at the event which he said is a part of his look for his upcoming Farah Khan directed film Happy New Year.

Having given many hit films including Darr, Baazigar, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Chak De!among others, he said that he still feels like a new comer on the sets.

"When I look at a project, I feel I don't know anything and I begin the film as a newcomer. I take it as my last project and give all my efforts to make it big so that I don't repent later," he said

Deepika Padukone's secret ingredient is now a Bollywood favourite

Deepika loves to have rasam rice.

Deepika Padukone swears by the rasam powder that lines the shelves of her kitchen cupboard. The Bangalore girl has it specially made since rasam rice is her favourite.

Those who have eaten at her home know the distinct taste of the spicy rasam from the star's kitchen. Says a source, "Guests who have savoured it say it is a treat for the tastebuds. So much so that the actress even shares the spicy rasam powder with her close ones in Mumbai."

Adds the source, "Everyone who has had the dish at Deepika's home knows exactly why it is loved so much. It is made in big quantities as it is distributed to a whole list of people who request her for it. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the special rasam at her place, always adds their name to her rasam powder delivery list. Dippy's homemade rasam powder is flavourful minus the loaded preservatives that is available in stores.

The powder is made under the standing instructions of the actress. There is the right blend of the various ingredients like coriander seeds, dried red chillies, dal, cumin seeds and peppercorns. In fact, the star makes it a point that the rasam powder is delivered to her industry friends and other close pals regularly whenever a new stock is made.

Subhash Ghai: I am not in a hurry to release Kaanchi

Kaanchi features Kartik Tiwari and newcomer Mishti in the lead roles.

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who is busy shooting some last scenes of Kaanchi, is in no hurry to rush the film's release date - a "mistake" he made with his last film Yuvvraaj.

A few portions of the film are left for shoot. I am going to take my own time to release Kaanchi. I am not in a hurry to release the film as I don't want to repeat the mistake I did with my last film," Ghai said.

"Most of the films which do not do well because of the pressure of its release date. Directors later feel that the film would have worked better if they had given some more time for their film," he said.

Kaanchi features Kartik Tiwari and newcomer Mishti in the lead roles. The film also features Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty.

Ghai says he wants to give his best shot to the creative aspect of the movie.

Asked if he is looking for some perfect festive season for the release of Kaanchi, he said: "That's a business strategy. But I will not compromise with the creative part. Once the product is ready, only then we can think about release dates."

Bug feast - everything that flies or crawls goes into the pan

A feast fit for an Aztec king is making a comeback in Mexican restaurants serving some of the insect delicacies once relished by the country's ancient rulers.

It's not Montezuma's revenge, but can you stomach it?

From the corner cantina to the refined white-linen cafe, chefs are writing up menus that could make a foodie's skin crawl: furry worms, fly larvae and crunchy grasshoppers are just a few of the flavors being resurrected.

"We are going through an insect boom," said Daniel Ovadia, chef of Mexico City's high-end Paxia restaurant.

"The escamoles -- ant larvae that cost up to $100 per kilo -- disappear immediately," he said, referring to the eggs known as "Mexican caviar."

Ovadia freezes the eggs before frying them on a pan, otherwise the heat would make the precious caviar explode. He then serves them on a plate with guacamole and sprinkles dried chiles on top, returning some of the earthy texture of their former habitat.

His restaurant also serves the azotador, a worm with black fur, or shield bugs -- known as jumiles in Mexico -- that crawl around the plate with their six legs and wiggly antennae.

The jumiles, he explained, "make an impact when they are served alive because they taste better like that."

"We are experiencing nostalgia," Ovadia said, and chefs are seizing on this yearning for the past by "giving value to the land."

While such lively pre-Hispanic ingredients have now crawled their way onto porcelain plates of ritzy restaurants, they have long been standard fare at more laid-back joints, like Chon, in the capital's blue-collar La Merced barrio.

"Everything that walks, flies or crawls goes into the pan," said chef Fortino Rojas as he cooked an egg omelette with fly larvae.

One of his creations is a mix of ant larvae with chrysanthemum petals and mango sauce.

But Rojas warns that such foods may not last much longer because environmental pollution is destroying their habitat.

Next to the city's famed San Juan market, Pedro Hernandez sells bugs like crispy grasshoppers that are eaten with garlic and olive oil or lime as well as chunky maguey worms that live off the agave plant used to make tequila.

"We come here to buy them every rain season, we don't miss the chance," said Margarita Martin, a homemaker who bought half a kilo (one pound) of live, red maguey worms.

In June, Hernandez opened a restaurant, La Cocinita de San Juan, next to his shop where customers can try cooked insects or "buy the raw little critter and take the recipe home," he said.

Nicole Olivares, a medical student, tried for the first time fried maguey worms on a bed of sopes -- maize dough shaped in a circle.

"They're very good. They taste like meat," she said.

Her lunch partner, high school teacher Miguel Diaz, said the Mexican palate has "Westernized" and forgotten foods that "in addition to being tasty, are very nutritious."

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization not only believes that bugs have nutritional benefits, the agency even suggested in a recent report that they can help combat hunger affecting two billion people worldwide.

They can also act as an important supplement for children enduring malnutrition, the report said.

Gabriela Jimenez, an entomologist at National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the protein content of insects such as grasshoppers is double that of beef.

"All insects have amino acid which is essential for humans, and their life cycle moves quickly. They become adults within two months of being born on average while a female produces 800 offspring."

Jimenez said Mexico, which competes with the United States for the title of the world's fattest country, will develop a bigger appetite for insects.

"They are not fattening," she said. "You can make flour with any insect."

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