9 Essential Amazon Kindle Fire Apps

1. Flipboard

Keeping up with social media can be incredibly time consuming. Flipboard puts all your social media in one place so you can see what's new, without having to scan through seven different apps. It also features The New York Times as well as articles from other news sources.
Price: Free

2. Evernote

An all-in-one task manager, Evernote will bring order to your Kindle -- and your life. The app allows you to take notes and photos, make to-do lists and save webpages to read later. With a long list of capabilities, everyone can find a good use for this app.
Price: Free

 3. Temple Run 2

Kindle Fires aren't all business, so having a game or two can be useful when you need a break. One of the most popular games is Temple Run 2, in which players must dodge obstacles, collect treasure and earn rewards, all without stopping.
Price: Free

 

4. OfficeSuite Professional 7

Tablets are easier to haul around than laptops, whether it's to class or on a business trip. If you want to work on the go from your Kindle Fire, use OfficeSuite Professional 7 to make presentations, spreadsheets and documents.
Price $14.99 (There is a free version here.)

5. Wi-Fi Analyzer

Finding a good Wi-Fi signal can be tough, especially when you're in an unfamiliar setting. Wi-Fi Analyzer helps find the strongest or least crowded connection to ensure that you can enjoy the best speed and quality.
Price: Free

6. SketchBook Mobile

If you're an artist on the go, you can use your Kindle Fire as a sketchpad. SketchBook Mobile acts like a small version of an image software program, allowing you to sketch, color and add layers right on your mobile device. The app also features an email function, so you can send your masterpiece to whomever you want.
Price: $1.99 (There are also free and $4.99 versions.)

7. Pulse News

A lot of news outlets have individual apps to keep you up to date, but it's a hassle to switch back and forth to read specialized new sources. The beauty of Pulse News is that it combines feeds from different types of new outlets, so you can check football scores right after reading up on the latest smart watch.
Price: Free

8. comiXology

The Kindle Fire is built to read books, after all, so it only makes sense to be able to read comics on it, too. This app has a huge library and updates regularly with new material. If you're an international Kindle Fire user, the app also has books in different languages. Note, however, that you cannot currently download DC comics through this app.

9. Plants vs. Zombies

This hit game is a perfect edition to any mobile device -- challenging, high quality and kid friendly. Sadly, the sequel isn't out yet for Kindle Fire. Until then, you'll just have to sharpen your skills in this version for a while.
Price: $0.99

 

Apple Releases Golden Master of OS X Mavericks to Developers

Apple has released a Golden Master version of its upcoming operating system, OS X 10.9 or Mavericks, to developers.
This essentially means that OS X 10.9 is finalized, as the Golden Master is the same version that will be released to the public. The exact date of launch has not yet been revealed, but Mavericks should become available sometime in October.

Named after a famous surfing location in California, Mavericks brings better performance and battery life, the ability to tag files, folders and documents, better support for multiple displays, a new version of Finder with support for tabs, a new version of Safari, as well as many other fixes and improvements.

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."

Google Streetview comes to India, just monuments for now

After running into speed breakers for many years, Google seems to have finally got the government's nod for Streetview in India.

The launch has been scheduled for October 3 at Qutub Minar in New Delhi. However, the 360-degree street-level images will be restricted to 100-monuments for now.

Streetview is returning to India in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture and will be restricted to their monuments spread across the country.

At the moment, Streetview in India shows just the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.

There are also reports that some private properties could also be included in due course.

In 2011, Google's Streetview cameras ran into trouble weeks after they started recording images in Bangalore. Recording was soon banned due to security concerns.