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Xiaomi Smartphones a Security Threat, says Indian Air Force

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has now started advising its personnel and their families against using Xiaomi smartphones, according to a report by the Sunday Standard.

According to the IAF's allegations, Xiaomi's smartphones and notebooks have been found to send users' private data to servers in Beijing. However, this claim is odd as Xiaomi does not have laptops in its range of products yet.

The IAF, according to the report, advised its personnel against using Xiaomi's products based oninformation obtained from the Indian Computer Response Team, which has also confirmed that the smartphones send back data to China.

This is not the first time the Chinese company has faced such allegations. In the past, there were claims that Xiaomi phones were pre-loaded with software to spy on its users. However, Xiaomi in turn, assured its users that the information was misleading. To counter these allegations, the company recently shifted out some smartphone data out of China.

According to Hugo Barra's blog post on Google+, data from non-Chinese users will be moved to Amazon servers in the United States, apart from data centres in Singapore.

The Sunday Standard report also mentions F-secure's findings that Xiaomi phones were forwarding information to Beijing. However, it does not take into account a more recent report by F-secure, which notes that these security flaws have been plugged.

Recently, Xiaomi said that its Mi Cloud service was enabled by default and then it made amends by releasing a software update that turned off the service by default, thus making it an opt-in feature that users will have to activate manually.

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Jailbreak Released For Apple iOS 8.1: Works On iPhone 6 And 6 Plus

As those familiar with the jailbreaking scene, iOS 8.1 signaled the possible release of a jailbreak for Apple’s new mobile operating system and iPhones. I previously reported on how to jailbreak previous model iPhone on iOS 7, and it was anyone’s guess as to how long it would take for the jailbreaking community to release another.

Many suspected months, however, within a matter of weeks after the iPhone 6 launch, Chinese jailbreaking team Pangu, that was also responsible for the last jailbreak has surprised the community yet again.

The new jailbreak, as per usual, will allow you to install Cydia on your device, which provides access to a host of tweaks and programs that you can often use to modify the otherwise restricted iOS experience. In fact, it can offer similar levels of customization enjoyed by Android users. Jailbreaking is completely legal and won’t break your device or void its warranty.

Best of all is that the current jailbreak not only works on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but it’s untethered too, meaning you don’t have to re-jailbreak your device every time you reboot it.

There are a couple of catches. The first release of the jailbreak resulted in photos on some devices being lost. This appears to have been fixed in a subsequent update but at the moment, the jailbreak is only working with Chinese instructions and is intended for jailbreak app developers to get things ready.

It has also caught the people behind Cydia by surprise. As such, Cydia it’s not currently supported by iOS 8.1 once it’s been jailbroken. However, the Pangu team is expected to release a new updated version of the jailbreak, which will include an up-to-date and working Cydia store.

At the moment, the only way to get the jailbreak working with Cydia is a rather complex and lengthy method, not best-suited to first timers at all. As a result, I’ll hold off doing my own guide as I did for previous versions for a short while until the new version is released – hopefully in the next day or two. By this time things should be much simpler to follow and the jailbreak itself will include Cydia and have been tested a little more rigorously to make sure everything works as it should. It’s not recommended to jailbreak just yet.

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3 Strategies Microsoft Needs to Sell Windows Phones

It's been nearly five months since Microsoft(NASDAQ: MSFT  ) closed its $7.2 billion deal for Nokia's devices, and as the dust settles the responsibility for the Redmond-based company to turn its smartphone position around becomes clearer.

But tackling Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) (NASDAQ: GOOGL  ) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  )  iOS is no easy task. There's no quick fix for the Windows Phone OS, but there are three ways Microsoft can steer its OS toward success.

Close the app gap

This isn't a new idea. Everyone knows it, but Microsoft has yet to woo enough developers to its platform to make this happen. Right now, Windows Phone has 300,000 apps compared to more than 1 million for Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.

Numbers clearly aren't everything, but Windows Phone also has problems securing some of the most popular apps. According to July data from App Annie, Windows Phone only offered six of the top 25 iOS apps -- though some of those were less-than-neccesary apps like Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.

But even the lack of popular games on Windows Phone points to a major problem. Data from Flurry shows people prefer to use Android and iOS for gaming more than any other category.

 

Source: Flurry.

Which leads us to the question: if Windows Phone doesn't have the most popular games or much of the same popular non-game apps, what are people using the OS for?

Of course Windows Phone has its own games and even work-around apps for popular apps that aren't available, but it's hard not to see that both of these problems are part of what's keeping Windows Phone so far behind the competition.

So with a lack of gaming apps and popular apps, why not cater to the business sector and lock-in existing Windows users?

Get down to businessOK, so Microsoft's smartphone isn't winning the app popularity contests, but it's probably a real workhorse that's tearing iOS and Android apart in the business sector, right? Unfortunately, no.

According to a new report by Good Technology, Apple's iPhone is absolutely killing it when it comes to enterprise smartphone activations, while Android handsets take the No. 2 spot and Windows Phones barely register in the category.

Source: Good Technology .

The Good Technology data shows that for the past five quarters Windows Phone hasn't moved beyond its 1% enterprise activation share. It's a bit stunning that Microsoft -- of all companies -- can't convince businesses that it makes the best utilitarian smartphone OS.

To win over enterprise users, Microsoft will have to circle back to it's app problem. Good Technology mentioned a quote from Forrest Research that said, "At the end of the day, we may talk about mobile devices, but in reality it's all about the apps."

To get more apps Microsoft needs more developers, and to do that it needs to sell more phones. This will happen when Microsoft finds the right avenue to move its devices.

Flood the marketThere's a strong case to be made for Microsoft to steal some of Samsung's marketing strategy and simply flood the smartphone market with a wide range of devices at different price points.

It may seem like a desperate move, but Windows Phone is walking a fine line right now. In the second quarter of this year, the company shipped just 7.4 million smartphones, a 9.4% drop year over year. That pushed Windows Phone OS to 2.5% of worldwide marketshare, down from 3.4% around the same time last year. 

In a recent letter to employees, Stephen Elop, Microsoft's VP of devices and services, said the company will focus on the "more affordable smartphone segments" to drive Windows Phone sales. That may work in part, but the company needs to target the mid and high-end markets as well if it wants to get developers to create apps for its devices and make real gains against iOS and Android.

Right now, Microsoft has nothing to lose by offering a plethora of devices and then axing the ones that don't work. By focusing too much on low-cost devices, Microsoft risks losing the mid-range and high-end markets for good, as Apple and Samsung users become further locked in to those app ecosystems.

Foolish thoughtsMicrosoft has a tough road ahead, and we can't pretend any of these strategies will be easy. It'll take more than a few quarters to see any of them realized, if it can pull them off at all. 

I think there's room in the smartphone world for three strong OS platforms, but the window of opportunity is slowly closing for Windows Phone. If Microsoft can't convince users that it has the best apps, the best productivity software, or the best array of devices, than what does it have? That's the question facing Windows Phone right now, and it's high time Microsoft answered it.

Leaked: Apple's next smart device (warning, it may shock you)
Apple recently recruited a secret-development "dream team" to guarantee its newest smart device was kept hidden from the public for as long as possible. But the secret is out, and some early viewers are claiming its everyday impact could trump the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. In fact, ABI Research predicts 485 million of this type of device will be sold per year. But one small company makes Apple's gadget possible. And its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors. To be one of them, and see Apple's newest smart gizmo, just click here!

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Android L and Windows Phone 8.1: Top Features Why Users Must Upgrade As Soon As Possible

The Android L and Windows Phone 8.1 updates are very essential to eligible devices and users should know the new features. Here are the reasons why upgrade to the software or buy a new device running the latest OS version.

Google improved various aspects of Android OS on the upcoming "L" version based on the unveiled developer preview. Android L features a new user interface, a new runtime for apps and new efficiency tools.

1.      Android L user interface boasts the new Material Theme which design native apps. Material Theme design supports both smartphones and tablets with new shadows and animations. Users can also change the colour schemes of Material Theme between white and black.

2.      New widgets are now supported on Android L which can carry complex views unlike with previous versions. Google Cards version of widgets displays images and other important contents while the list view features a more user-friendly appearance.

3.      More animations are added to Android L including touch feedback, reveal effect, activity transition, curved motion, view state change and state list drawables. In addition, developers can also create customised animations on Android L.

4.      New runtime called ART or Android Runtime has been carried over from Android 4.4 KitKat. On Android L, ART becomes the default runtime that switches Dalvik as optional.

5.      OpenGL ES 3.1 for graphics is now supported which improves graphical shaders, textures and rendering.

6.      New camera API for advanced camera capabilities such as fine-grain photo capture and image processing.

7.      Bluetooth Low Energy support for peripheral devices with Bluetooth LE compatibility.

8.      Improved power management with Project Volta and scheduling jobs.

9.      New version of the default Android keyboard with Material Design. It also features several improvements on user experience, suggestions and input method editors.

10.  More manageable lock screen and notifications giving users the ability to allow or disallow sensitive contents to be displayed.

Windows Phone 8.1

Similar with Android, Windows Phone devices are also receiving a major revamped on the user interface and functionality from Windows Phone 8.1 update. Based on Microsoft, Windows Phone 8.1 enhances usability, camera function and management tools on any devices running the update.

1.      New virtual assistance called Cortana for search queries, suggestions and useful recommendations.

2.      Customisations and personalisation options across the Live Tiles, Start Screen, wallpaper and themes.

3.      Upgraded camera app with Burst Mode, Photo Apps and Collections.

4.      Integration across different screen sizes and Microsoft services including Office, Skype and OneDrive.

5.      Xbox is now a native app with connection to achievements, friends and multiplayer action. Support for Xbox Music and Xbox Video on this app has been provided as well.

6.      Word Flow keyboard feature for easier writing using fingers on the screen.

7.      Action Centre more centralised notifications of email, texts and social media updates. Toggles such as Wi-Fi, Airplane Mode and others are also added on the Action Centre.

8.      Improve battery life using Battery Saver app.

9.      Manage storage better using Storage Sense app.

10.  Management on data usage for mobile Internet and Wi-Fi using Data Sense and Wi-Fi Sense apps.

Windows Phone Will Pass BlackBerry Ltd In The UK This Year

BlackBerry’s sequential increase in units shipped doesn’t change the overall story

In the continuing decline of BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s handset business, the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone is projected to supplant it as third most popular mobile OS in the UK (behind Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android) by the end of this year according to market research firm eMarketer. BlackBerry has already fallen out of the top three on a global basis, but it has been able to hold on in the UK market for longer, possibly because regulated businesses in the financial sector, which plays a major role in the UK economy, are still more likely to opt for BlackBerry’s secure platform.

BlackBerry is treading water: eMarketer

“The demise of BlackBerry has long been documented but these numbers highlight just how far it has fallen from grace,” said eMarketer analyst Bill Fisher, reports Sophie Curtis for The Telegraph. “While Microsoft is making significant effort to grow its presence – buying Nokia’s mobile phone unit and recently partnering with HTC to offer a Windows-based version of the flagship HTC One M8 – BlackBerry appears to have been treading water.”

This falls in line with what other market research companies such as Kantar have found, though the forecast of when the two platforms will swap places may be a little sooner than had been expected. The problem is that BlackBerry Ltd’s (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) proposition, the most secure platform with a dearth of app developer interest, is well known and not very popular with most consumers. Improvements that don’t break the mold are likely to keep ceding ground to BlackBerry’s competitors.

BlackBerry saw sequential increase in units shipped

Even as its market share continues to slip, BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) had a sequential increase in units shipped last quarter, from 1.3 million to 1.5 million, as the smartphone market keeps growing. Unfortunately, that’s still a 78% drop from last year when analysts were speculating that the company would be put up for sale and nowhere near the numbers it was putting up a few years ago.

BlackBerry CEO John Chen has said that he intends to make the company profitable by fiscal year 2016, but it’s a good thing that he is focusing on software and enterprise services to make it happen. The handset business may not be dead, but it will take a real breakout product to get it to rebound.

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Android, China make strong showing in smartphones

Android-based devices made a strong showing in the worldwide shipment of smartphones during the second quarter of 2014, capturing 85 per cent of nearly 300 million units shipped. Three brands from China made it among the top six smartphone players.

"Global smartphone shipments grew 27 per cent annually from 233 million units in Q2 2013 to 295.2 million in Q2 2014," said Linda Sui, director at consulting firm Strategy Analytics. "Global smartphone growth in the current quarter is at its lowest level for five years, and there are wide variations by region. For example, Africa and Asia are booming, while North America and Europe are maturing."

Following this trend, Huawei, Lenovo, and Xiaomi showed improved shipments with Huawei reaching 6.8 per cent of the smartphone market and Xiaomi taking 5.4 per cent. Strategy Analytics director Woody Oh called Xiaomi "the star performer" for rising to fifth place among smartphone leaders for the first time.

popular in the Chinese market and it [sells] millions of them every quarter through its extensive online and operator channels," he said. "Xiaomi's next step is to target the international market in Asia and Europe, where it will have to invest big money to familiarise western consumers with its unfamiliar brand name."

Huawei, meanwhile, shipped 34.27 million smartphones for a 62 per cent year-over-year growth rate. Officials attribute the company's third place among handset vendors to its Ascend smartphone series with LTE, which have led to "success in the mid-to high-end market."

While Samsung dominated the smartphone market with 74.5 million units this quarter, Strategy Analytics analysts noted a slight drop in shipments from 2013. The company faces tough competition from Apple in higher-tier phones and from Huawei at the lower end. Should Chinese companies and other Android-based devices continue to sell well, the OS paradigm could change completely.

Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston said:

Like the PC market, Android is on the verge of turning smartphone platforms into a one-horse race. Its low-cost services and user-friendly software remain wildly attractive to hardware makers, operators and consumers worldwide. Rival OS vendors are going to have to do something revolutionary to overturn Android's huge lead in smartphone shipments. Apple's push into the big-screen phablet market and Firefox's expansion into the ultra-low-cost smartphone market later this year are the only major threats to Android's continued growth at this stage.

Android's gain comes at the expense of every major rival platform, with BlackBerry holding on to just one per cent of the global smartphone market and Apple's iOS losing one point of share due to a lack of presence in low-tier phones. Likewise, Microsoft's Windows Phone share fell two per cent globally.

Cross Court Tennis 2 - Windows Phone Gameplay

ZTE Nubia Z7, Z7 Max and Z7 mini Smartphones Launched With Snapdragon 801

ZTE, a Chinese multinational telecommunications firm, has introduced three new smartphones under its Nubia range - Nubia Z7, Nubia Z7 Max, and Nubia Z7 mini. Both Nubia Z7 Max and Z7 mini are the variants of the Nubia Z7.

While the ZTE Nubia Z7 (See above) is priced at CNY 3,450 (roughly Rs. 33,300), the Nubia Z7 Max and Z7 mini come with a price tag of CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 19,300) and CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 14,500) respectively. The availability details of the three handsets are not clear as of now.

Some of the specifications the Nubia Z7, Nubia Z7 Max (See below) and Z7 mini share are Android 4.4 KitKat OS, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, FM radio and Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity along with a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

While the Nubia Z7 and Nubia Z7 Max come with 32GB of inbuilt storage, only the Nubia Z7 mini (16GB inbuilt storage) and Z7 Max are shown listed with up to 64GB of external storage support. In addition, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) processor powers the three smartphones. However, while the Nubia Z7 and Nubia Z7 Max processors are clocked at 2.5GHz, the same processor in Nubia Z7 mini is comes clocked at 2GHz.

While the ZTE Nubia Z7 and Z7 Max both feature a 5.5-inch screen size, the former flaunts a QHD (1440x2560 pixels) resolution display while the latter sports a full-HD (1920x1080 pixels) resolution display. The Nubia N7 mini (See below) however sports a smaller 5-inch screen with a full-HD resolution.

The Nubia Z7 houses 3GB of RAM, is backed by a 3000mAh battery and measures 153.2x75.5x8.9mm. The Nubia Z7 Max and Nubia N7 mini run on 2GB of RAM and are powered by 3100mAh and 2300mAh batteries respectively. While the Nubia Z7 Max measures 152.7x76x8.7mm, the Nubia Z7 mini measures 140.9x69.3x8.2mm.

Super-Thin iPhone 6 on Sept 19 Release Date Confirmed with LTPS Display & Curved Screen Panel – Reports

The iPhone 6 on release date this 2014 is likely the slimmest ever that Apple will build as fresh indications emerged that point to the display panel attributes of the device plus its overall make.

From China, the iPhone maker is reportedly switching to a single brightness enhancement film (BEF) that serves as the backlight tool for the next iPhone screen panel. Apple will use a higher quality module to offset the loss of the dual BEF that was in previous iPhone models,MacRumors said in a report.

MacRumors pointed to China Times as the source of its information.

But with the switch, it is suggested too that Apple may encounter yield issues as better quality BEF takes more time to manufacture. It is unclear also in the report if this problem will impact on the supposed iPhone 6 availability on September this year.

What is clear, the report said, is one BEF firing up the iPhone 6 screen panel will allow engineers to further shrink the device's thickness, which is in line with swirling speculations that the next iPhone's new form-factor is mostly about it super-slim build.

Curved screen panel

In another report, this time from 9to5Mac, alleged leaked images of the iPhone 6 screen panel seem to reveal two things about the device - that it will have a larger screen from that of the iPhone 5S and the front panel sides taper in at the edge.

The 9to5Mac photos insinuate of a next iPhone body finish that is more rounded when compared to the 2013 versions. Also, the pictures support the growing expectation that Apple will issue the 5S sequel in two screen sizes - a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch variant that serves as the first iOS-powered phablet.

IGZO out, LTPS in

As for the display technology that Apple will deploy with the iPhone, the chance is higher that the tech giant will opt for LTPS instead of rumoured IGZO panel that Japan's Sharp Display will manufacture, Apple Insidersaid in a report.

While IGZO is said to deliver higher brightness on a device screen and is prized too for its power-efficient feature, LTPS panels are easier to bulk produce, added the same report.

Apparently in choosing LTPS over IGZO, which is also rumoured for the 2014 iPads, Apple is assured of timely shipment plus the volume it requires. LTPS is likewise known for the same amount of energy efficiency, or near the same level, that is attached with Sharp's IGZO screen technology, added the Apple Insider report.

The iPhone 6 release date is said to be on September 19 2014 though there are talks the 4.7-inch regular version will come out first with the 5.5-inch jumbo-size sibling to immediately follow.

Google targets affordable smartphones with Android One

NEW DELHI: In a bid to target price-conscious consumers in emerging markets like India, Google on Wednesday unveiled Android One, a programme that will see the company partner with local phone makers to create and sell affordable yet fully-functional Android phones.
Sundar Pichai, the influential Google executive, who heads Chrome and Android divisions at the company, said that Android One devices will see their global launch in India in "fall" and will be priced below $100. He added that Google was already working with three Indian phone companies — Micromax, Spice and Karbonn for Android One phones. 

The move is significant because Microsoft, which so far has failed to notch up significant market share with its Windows Phone (WP) mobile operating system, too is eyeing the price-conscious consumers in emerging markets. According to IDC, 78% of all smartphones sold in India belong to sub-$200 category. 

While $100 smartphones are already available in India and other countries, most of them offer poor experience, have buggy software and underpowered hardware. According Pichai, Android One will address the problems that existing low-cost smartphones suffer from. 

"When I go back home to India... and other countries like that, it is exciting to see the impact phones have on people's lives but it is disappointing that only less than 10% of population has access to smartphones. We want to change that," said Pichai. "We are going to launch (Android One devices) across the world but we are going to start the journey in India. We are also working with telecom operators in India to provide affordable connectivity options for these devices." 

Currently, buying a low-cost Android smartphones for consumers is a leap of faith. Most of the phones sold for less than Rs 10,000 have poor hardware and poor software performance. They also don't get adequate Android updates. 

Pichai said that as part of Android One programme, Google would select the hardware. "We identify the components that go in the next-generation smartphones. These (Android One devices) are high quality, affordable smartphones," he said. "They will have the stock Android software similar to what runs on Nexus phones will receive automatic updates directly from Google." 

The approach is similar to what Microsoft has in place. Microsoft recently tied up with Karbonn and Micromax to launch affordable WP smartphones. However, even though these WP phones - Micromax will start selling two in the coming weeks -- will be sold by local companies they will use hardware and software selected and controlled by Microsoft. Manasi Yadav, senior market analyst at IDC, said Android One looks like "a very good decision by Google" considering this is the time when majority of consumers are moving from a feature phone to a budget smartphone. 

Scribd brings Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 users unlimited access to thousands of books

Scribd (scribd.com) claims to be the world's largest digital library with over 80 million users. The service features a subscription available for a monthly fee of $8.99 that allows readers unlimited access to more than 400,000 books from over 900 publishers, including Harper Collins, RosettaBooks, and Workman as well as New York Times bestsellers and literary classics.

Scribd also is the world's largest digital document collection, with millions of user-uploaded documents and written works. While the app has been available for iOS and Android for long, the official Scribd app has finally arrived for the Windows platform – as a Universal app for both Windows Phone and Windows 8.

The app features editorial collections and offers personalized recommendations that help with the discovery. Available worldwide, the subscription offers unlimited usage across all your devices on different platforms, including the Web browser. All your books are synced automatically across devices. You can pin your favorite books or the ones that you are currently reading to your Start screen for quick access.

While the app has a neat bookshelf-like design to emulate a library, and an intuitive user experience, there's one challenge. You must be connected to Wi-Fi or have an active data connection to read books. An offline functionality would've been great especially since a lot of reading happens on long flights.

Download the Scribd app for Windows Phone 8 devices from the Windows Phone Store and for your Windows 8 devices from the Windows Store. Scribd is like a Netflix for book lovers, and similar to the real-world library memberships. Check out the app, and the service if you haven't heard of it, and let us know how you like it.

How to Cook Everything with a Windows Phone (Hidden Gems)

It's time to grow up and start cooking like an adult. No more microwavable meals. No more take-out from that Chinese place down the road. And please stop ordering Domino's twice a week. You don't need to become Thomas Keller or Gordon Ramsay, but you need to at least be able to make a week's worth of meals without breaking down.

Thankfully for you, there's an app in the Windows Phone Store that's going to help you discover the rewards of simple cooking. How to Cook Everything is a bestselling cookbook from New York Times columnist Mark Bittman. The cookbook features more than 2,000 simple recipes and has been helping folks learn how to cook for over a decade. That book is now an app for Windows Phone.

Let's take a look. And remember, if you leave a comment, you enter into our daily Hidden Gems contest to win a new tablet or phone!

What it is

How to Cook Everything ( howtocookeverything.com) is the app of a very popular cookbook. You're getting over 2,000 recipes that are aimed to be simple and require minimal cooking skills or knowledge. In addition to all those different recipes, you get 400 how-to illustrations and a ton of other info throughout the app. The cookbook itself came out in 1998 and quickly went on to become a favorite in kitchens across the country. Praises have been given out to the book from celebrities and folks like you and me. Just check the ratings and reviews on Amazon or check out what singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb says about How to Cook Everything:

"I learned how to cook from How to Cook Everything in a way that gives me the freedom to be creative. This new edition will be my gift to new couples or for a housewarming; if you have this book, you don't really need any others."

Endorsements run high for the cookbook. So how's the Windows Phone app hold up?

The app

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you'll find the digital version of this popular cookbook. In our time using it we've noticed a few things that you'll want to know about. It's a simple app, but does achieve its goal of being a digital cookbook. It lacks a ton of photos, but the information is straight to the point that you don't really miss them.

Here are the highlights of How to Cook Everything for Windows Phone:

• From this award-winning book: Mark Bittman's 2,000 recipes and recipe variations—as well as his no-nonsense cooking guidance, including hundreds of how-to illustrations; equipment, technique, and ingredient information; and meal-planning ideas.
• Easy-to-use and flexible search capabilities, as well as the ability to browse recipes and reference information.
• Cooking inspiration: Bittman's Picks, Featured Recipe, Quick Dinners, and Favorites, which provide quick access to selected recipes.
• All recipe and reference content is embedded in the app, which means that you can use the app even if you don't have a network connection.
• This app is the perfect complement to the book and an invaluable reference.

When you go into a recipe you'll get an overview of what you're about to make, an ingredients list, the steps and variations you can make to a recipe.

The overview page is a summary of the meal you're going to make. On this page you'll find information like the number of servings it makes, the time it takes to prepare/cook and related content. The related content are how-tos within the app that will help you make a given dish. For example, you'll find the best way to prepare onions if you're making an onion soup.

The ingredients page is straight forward and just lists everything you'll need to make a recipe. While the steps page contains all the required moves you'll make to actually be eating. We'd really like to see additional photos in this section, but that would add to the install size of the app.

The amount of content you get with this How to Cook Everything is huge. Everything is contained within the app when you first install it, so no internet connection is required to use it. That has its pros and cons. We'd really like to see more photos in the app, even if it required data. The download size is just 27 MB.

How to Cook Everything for Windows Phone will cost you $2.99 in the Windows Phone Store. You can trial the app, fully-featured, for three days. So we suggest you guys download it and take it for a spin.

You'll really want to trial the How to Cook Everything for Windows Phone since it is part of our Hidden Gems collection. Leave a constructive comment below and you can win a new phone or tablet!