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Nokia introduces the X family, combining Nokia design, build quality and services with the ability to run Android apps.
Nokia has officially launched the first three phones in the X family, the Nokia X, X+ and XL at Mobile World Congress 2014.
(scroll to bottom of page for video)
All three of the devices are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core processor and are Dual SIM. A range of third-party apps comes preinstalled, including BBM, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Viber, Vine and Twitter. As many more as you can fit can be obtained from the Nokia Store, third-party app stores and sideloaded.
The table below highlight the specs of each model:
The Nokia X, the entry level member of the family, with 4-inch IPS LCD screen, 512MB RAM and a 3-megapixel camera, and available in green, black, white, yellow, cyan and red.
The Nokia X+ offers 768MB RAM and a 4GB MicroSD card.
The Nokia XL comes equipped with its 5-inch screen and 768MB RAM, the free MicroSD card and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and flash.
Nokia X
Nokia X+
Nokia XL
4-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px
4-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px
5-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px
Up to 32GB
Up to 32GB
Up to 32GB
Rear camera
3-megapixel fixed focus
3-megapixel fixed focus
5-megapixel with autofocus and flash
Front camera
8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon
1GHz Dual Core
8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon
1GHz Dual Core
8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon
1GHz Dual Core
115.5 x 63 x 10.4mm
115.5 x 63 x 10.4mm
141.3 x 77.7 x 10.8mm
Standby time
2G = Up to 28.5 days
3G = Up to 22 days
2G = Up to 28.5 days
3G = Up to 22 days
2G = Up to 41 days
3G = Up to 26 days
Talk time
2G = Up to 13.3 hours
3G = Up to 10.5 hours
2G = Up to 13.3 hours
3G = Up to 10.5 hours
2G = Up to 16 hours
3G = Up to 13 hours
Changing The Global Paradigm
In Thomas Kuhn's seminal 1962 work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, the author hypothesised that scientific innovation was one of upheaval and disruption rather than the accepted view of a methodical "development by accumulation" and gradual evolution.
Kuhn used the reference of the Copernican revolution to illustrate how our world view changed almost overnight from a Ptolemaic world view to a Copernican one. The incommensurability of the old and new paradigms means that all systems and structures of the old world view are brought tumbling down.
As 2013 draws to a close, and 2014 approaches quickly, the tech and telecoms worlds may be on the verge of a paradigmic incommensurable change.
Heralding this change in the global paradigm, Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, announced the launch of internet. org – a global partnership with the goal of making internet access available to the next 5 billion people. "Everything Facebook has done has been about giving all people around the world the power to connect," Zuckerberg said.
"There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy. internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it."
Today, only 2.7 billion people – just over one third of the world's population – have access to the internet. Internet adoption is growing by less than 9% each year, which is slow, considering how early we are in its development.
The goal of internet.org is to make internet access available to the two-thirds of the world who are not yet connected, and to bring the same opportunities to everyone that the connected third of the world has today. The founding members of internet.org that include Facebook, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung will develop joint projects, share knowledge and mobilise industry and governments to bring the world online.
These founding companies have a long history of working closely with mobile operators and expect them to play leading roles within the initiative, which over time will also include NGOs, academics and experts as well. internet.org is influenced by the successful Open Compute Project, an industry-wide initiative that has lowered the costs of cloud computing by making hardware designs more efficient and innovative.
In order to achieve its goal of connecting the twothirds of the world who are not yet online, internet. org will focus on three key challenges in developing countries:
Making access affordable: Partners will collaborate to develop and adopt technologies that make mobile connectivity more affordable and decrease the cost of delivering data to people worldwide. Potential projects include collaborations to develop lower-cost, higherquality smartphones and partnerships to more broadly deploy internet access in underserved communities. Mobile operators will play a central role in this effort by driving initiatives that benefit the entire ecosystem.
Using data more efficiently: Partners will invest in tools that dramatically reduce the amount of data required to use most apps and internet experiences. Potential projects include developing data compression tools, enhancing network capabilities to more efficiently handle data, building systems to cache data efficiently and creating frameworks for apps to reduce data usage.
Helping businesses drive access: Partners will support development of sustainable new business models and services that make it easier for people to access the internet. This includes testing new models that align incentives for mobile operators, device manufacturers, developers and other businesses to provide more affordable access than has previously been possible.
Other efforts will focus on localising services – working with operating system providers and other partners to enable more languages on mobile devices.
By reducing the cost and amount of data required for most apps and enabling new business models, internet.org is focused on enabling the next 5 billion people to come online.
Facebook, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm, Samsung and other partners will build on existing partnerships while exploring new ways to collaborate to solve these problems.
"For more than 100 years, Ericsson has been enabling communications for all and today more than 6 billion people in the world have access to mobile communications," says Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.
"We are committed to shaping the Networked Society – where everyone and everything will be connected in real time; creating the freedom, empowerment and opportunity to transform society. We believe affordable connectivity and internet access improves people's lives and helps build a more sustainable planet and therefore we are excited to participate in the internet.org initiative."
"As a world leader in mobile solutions for emerging markets having powered more than 300 million smart devices within 2 years, MediaTek wholeheartedly supports the internet.org initiative," according to MK Tsai, Chairman of MediaTek. "Global Internet and social media access represent the biggest shift since the industrial revolution, and we want to make it allinclusive."
"Nokia is deeply passionate about connecting people – to one another and the world around them," said Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop. "Over the years, Nokia has connected well over a billion people. Our industry is now at an exciting inflection point where Internet connectivity is becoming more affordable and efficient for consumers while still offering them great experiences. Universal Internet access will be the next great industrial revolution."
Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software, says that: "Today, more than 300 million people use Opera every month to access the Internet. Tomorrow, we have a chance to serve the next 5 billion people connecting on mobile devices in developing countries. It's in Opera's DNA to save people time, money and data, and through internet.org we think we can help advance these goals."
Paul Jacobs, chairman of the board and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, comments that "mobile has helped to transform many people's lives in the emerging regions, where often a computing device will be the first and only mobile experience they'll ever have. Having shipped more than 11 billion chips, Qualcomm is a market leader that is committed to the goal of bridging the digital divide. We're pleased to be a part of internet.org and to be working with key ecosystem players to drive this initiative forward."
"This new initiative has big potential to help accelerate access to the Internet for everyone," said JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. "We're focused on delivering high quality mobile devices to ensure that the next 5 billion people have great mobile Internet experiences." The internet.org website launched recently and provides an overview of the mission and goals, as well as a full list of the partners. In the coming weeks, it will feature interviews with technology leaders and experts, along with the latest news on internet.org activities.
Stay tuned as 2014 could be the year the world changed forever! AT
telecoms sector is going green, but not in a hurry by lesley stones
It was just over two years ago that I met my first green base station. It was at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where Ericsson was making a big fuss about going green. "You have to be seen to be green," said Steve Barnett, Ericsson's Head of Network and Technology Consulting. "And we can save people a lot of money." The 40m-tall concrete tower wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but an imaginative operator could soon fix that with a funky lick of paint. The prototype base station was about to begin trials to see how well it met its promise of substantially lower running costs. Traditional base stations need a lot of power to feed signals from antennae at the top to transmission equipment at the bottom. This tower houses all the equipment at the top, eliminating the need to feed signals up and down. Nor does it need air conditioning, since it's cooled by natural air flow, while batteries to power the equipment are buried to keep them cool. Numerous other operators and equipment manufacturers also claimed to be striving to save the planet. African operator Celtel boasted about being the first in the world to install hybrid base stations that combine a diesel generator and a bank of batteries, which take it in turns to power the equipment. Running on battery power halves the fuel bill and the diesel recharges the batteries, making them suitable for rural areas. China Mobile talked of buying solar and wind powered base stations to cut electricity consumption, because its base stations account for 73% of its fuel bill. China Mobile also collects and recycles dead batteries and old cellphones from its customers and rewards them with free airtime as part of its green campaign. Everyone was being very earnest and thoroughly caring, yet there was a definite sense that efforts to save the planet were 'nice to have', but certainly not a business imperative. Then Nokia lightened the mood a little by demonstrating a nifty clamshell handset dubbed the Remade, which it built from recycled cans, plastic bottles and car tyres. The hitch was its total inability to actually make or receive a call, but Nokia claimed it was working on that one.
A couple of years on, has very much really changed? Fuel bills are not only among the largest operating expenses for telecoms players, but their energy consumption is a growing culprit for greenhouse gas emissions. Faced with big bills and bad press about environmental damage, operators and equipment vendors are feeling the pressure to devise energy efficient networks and reduce their carbon emissions. Their efforts include using the wind and sun as renewable energy sources, seeking more energy efficient practices for data centres, and initiatives to recycle old equipment. The trend has undeniably garnered a lot of attention, as event organiser Informa staged a telecoms exhibition last year specifically focusing on saving money and saving the environment. The ICT industry accounts for 2% of global carbon emissions, and the conference examined how that impact could be reduced. Informa's Global Green Telecom Summit was based on the growing interest in environmentally friendly strategies and the fact that reducing energy consumption and deploying alternative energy solutions would greatly reduce the industry's impact on the environment. Interestingly, Informa isn't running a Green Telecoms summit again this year, presumably because going green still isn't big enough to justify a dedicated exhibition. "The last green event was very interesting, but very few people were willing to put their money where their mouth is. Green telecoms has a much better chance of catching telcos' attention if it is related to cost-efficiency," said Informa Research Director Julie Rey. Research house Analysys Mason, part of South Africa's Datatec group, has been studying the issue for a while. Senior Manager David Eurin reported back in 2009 that green initiatives designed to cut costs would survive, while publicityoriented smoke screens would disappear. Operators were keen to use the green factor to reassure investors during a recession that they were 'doing something', he said. "Being seen as green has been near the top of the corporate social responsibility agenda in the last few years, responding to a surge in media coverage of environmental issues. Broadly worded mentions of 'responsible behaviour' and being 'members of the community' and aiming to make 'a positive impact on social progress' have been seen in company reports.
Those green policies had their value, however, as telcos were using environmental issues as a catalyst to cut their operational costs and drive efficiency. "Investment decisions will be tight, so we can expect that only those initiatives wit h a strong business case will be launched," Eurin said. "There certainly seem to be opportunities to reduce costs. For example, France Telecom reported that about 50% of its energy bill comes from base station equipment." In response, France Telecom was investigating solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells and other alternatives to provide offgrid energy, cut costs, and reduce dependency on expensive and polluting diesel generators, particularly in the African countries where it operates its Orange networks. Companies also use a credit system based on the Kyoto Protocol to offset their carbon emissions. Although this is a quick way to become green on paper by obtaining a zero emission net balance, Analysys Mason says it can prove very costly for little immediate benefit. The system relies on a trading market organised by the United Nations, in which certified reductions in emissions can be bought from carbon projects set up in developing countries. Recently a telecoms company stated – off the record – that it would drastically reduce its use of this syste m because it cost too much, Eurin said. Analysys Mason is turning green initiatives into something of a speciality, by offering fixed and mobile operators a service to monitor, control and reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions, and to help them negotiate better deals with energy suppliers. Ericsson is still plugging away at its green initiatives with Konstantinos Tzingakis, its Director of Innovations in South Africa, saying environmental concerns are one of the most topical issues facing society. Being environmentally savvy is not only impacting the lives of individuals, but also affecting businesses in how they operate and their choice of business partners, he says. Telecom companies are playing a more significant role in the fight to address climate change, Tzingakis believes. That is being forced upon them by soaring energy prices, spurring telecom operators to scrutinise their environmental and social responsibilities and their energy bills. Although ICT accounts for just 2% of greenhouse gas emissions, it is estimated that their technologies have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 98% in some other sectors of the economy. Overall, ICT could help to cut emissions by about 15%, Tzingakis says, by allowing people to use resources more efficiently. Ericsson believes it has differentiated its products by developing energy efficient equipment and methods for network and site optimisation. Its WCDMA base stations are designed for energy efficiency and a power-saving feature has been developed to improve the energy efficiency of already installed GSM base stations. Such environmental initiatives have seen Ericsson earn a Green Company Award for innovation in China and be acknowledged as a Green Pioneer in Korea. "The telecommunications sector has a crucial role to play in meeting the challenges posed by climate change," Tzingakis says. "To do this, telecoms providers and operators need to work together to create energy-lean products and production processes. More efficient technologies will reduce the amount of fossil fuels that operators need, as well as make it possibl e to use alternative sources of energy such as solar or wind power." Being environmentally savvy is a hot point of discussion in the ICT industry, with everyone wanting to go green, says Dan Engel, the regional sales manager of Polycom. "Pressure is being placed on companies to use recyclable materials in the manufacturing of their products, as well as to properly dispose of unwanted or outdated equipment." Going green is not an easy transition, he says, but energy-efficient IT is high performance IT. Tough economic conditions have led to cost cutting and many businesses have halted their investments in green solutions. Yet becoming greener is still a key priority towards future sustainability. Polycom offers a range of communication solutions that reduce travel and promote greener business for all industries, and for its own operations too. Using video to train Polycom's worldwide sales team will save an estimated 374 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, Engel says.
The core goal of green ICT initiatives, products and practices is to design, manufacture, use, and dispose of equipment efficiently and effectively with little or no impact on the environment. Specific goals are to reduce the use of hazardous materials, maximize energy efficiency during a product's lifetime, and promote the recycling or safe disposal of defunct products. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a global survey of more than 90 government and industry Green ICT initiatives that focus on the environment and climate change. The report concludes that initiatives tend to concentrate on the green technologies themselves rather than on their actual implementation to tackle global warming and environmental degradation. In general, only 20% of initiatives have measurable targets. So far the rules and regulations developed around green technologies concentrate on the IT sector, rather than the telecoms sector, with schemes such as Energy Star ratings and Climate Savers Computing Initiative in the US designed to reduce the power consumption of PCs. However, telcos may be affected by The Green Grid, a global consortium dedicated to improving energy efficiency in data centres and business computing systems. It was founded in 2007 by several key IT companies. Data centre facilities are booming as business data increases, and each houses a rising amount of powerful IT equipment. Their managers are running into limits related to power, cooling and space, and the rising demand has had a noticeable impact on the world's power grids. Once a standard set of measurements is adopted by the industry, it will be easier for end-users to manage their facilities and equipment to achieve optimal energy efficiency. Few companies are enthusiastic enough to build their entire business case around environmental awareness, except for Green Telecom. This independent UK-based player supplies corporate clients with phone lines and telephone systems with its services carried over the BT network. It promises to help organisations meet their Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) whilst saving them money, as it does not believe that going green should cost organisations more. Its carbon footprint is calculated and offset to a wind energy project in India that provides reliable, renewable power to the Rajasthan state electricity grid. That project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering the grid's dependency on fossil fuel-based electricity generation. Green Telecom also reuses or recycles all incoming packaging materials and minimises its use of paper. In August this year the company began a transition to paperless billing to enhance its green credentials. All electrical waste, such as old telephone systems, is removed from its clients' premises and disposed of in compliance with the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. Its systems installation division runs a tree-planting programme to offset carbon emissions and encourage wildlife. Overall, its green procedures are designed to make all employees and suppliers aware of their actions and contributions that may impact the environment.
THE FUTURE OF GREEN ICTs
Simple telecoms initiatives that can contribute to going green include VoIP and phone extension mobility, which make hot-desking more practical. That allows companies to operate from less office space, which reduces the cost of rental, heat and lighting. Although staff may resent not having a permanent desk of their own, companies may push for that because the average annual energy consumption for an office building is more than 23 kilowatt hours per square foot, with heat, air conditioning and lighting accounting for 70% of that, according to US studies. Another area where operators and network equipment manufacturers can play a major role is through teleconferencing, a technology that is often implemented as part of green computing initiatives. Holding virtual meetings instead of travelling reduces greenhouse gas emissions related to travel, although a more compelling reason for companies to adopt teleconferencing is to eliminate the time and money previously spent on travelling. That cost saving and the fact that staff are not losing productive time by being in transit are far more likely to sell the technology than appealing to a customer 's sense of environmental responsibility. And that's it in a nutshell, really. Operators and suppliers alike are undoubtedly under pressure to highlight the efforts they are making for the good of the globe. Yet they are under even more pressure from their boards and shareholders to generate a profit. Since going green is initially an expensive investment offering only a longer-term payback, innovations that benefit the environment must first and foremost be able to prove that they also benefit the bottom line.
If it hasn't, it is certainly expected to soon, because Pike Research predicts that investments in green telecom network infrastructure will touch $122 billion by 2014, representing 46% of telecoms capital expenditure. Of that, 63% will be for mobile networks. Pike's report on Green Telecoms Networks published in July looks at the opportunities, technology requirements and environmental impact of green schemes. Asia Pacific is expected to lead the capex spending, followed by Europe. Global emissions reductions by then (compared with doing nothing) should reach 24%, with a 46% reduction from mobile networks. Up to 80% of an operator's energy usage is absorbed by its networks, base stations and switching centres. But replacing them with renewable energy solutions carries a dearer upfront cost, so implementing greener equipment only becomes compelling if companies look at the total cost of ownership rather than the upfront fee. Yet if they are done well, green initiatives can provide major cost savings. Examples include using free and renewable energy sources, and remotely controlling equipment through an energy-saving on, off or idle switch. Even so, Pike Research believes that renewable energy will power only 4.5% of the world's mobile base stations by 2014, and a higher but still unimpressive 8% in developing countries. At the moment renewable energy powers a negligible 0.11% of the world's mobile base stations. That figure shows that for all the fine talk and fancy inventions, going green just isn't happening yet. Pike Research also points out that there are many opportunities for fixed and mobile operators to reduce emissions from data centres, both in the design of the facilities and through server consolidation and virtualisation.
Thought Leadership Interview with Stephen Elop of Nokia by Simon Dingle
Building the Third Ecosystem
Stephen Elop, the new CEO of Nokia, has his work cut out for him. Reinventing Nokia as a smartphone manufacturer is only part of the challenge – a broader objective is in stopping Google from dominating the market.
On 21 April 2011 Nokia and Microsoft ratified the partnership that they announced in February. The Finnish cellular giant has hit an all-time low in terms of its smartphone market share with its Symbian operating system being displaced by Google's Android that is now the leader with an estimated 33% global market share. With Microsoft in tow, it's all eyes on Nokia's new CEO Stephen Elop and the company's next move that will be a Windows Phone-based device promised by the end of the year. I met with Elop in Dubai in March to discuss his strategy for re-establishing Nokia in the smartphone market and perhaps diversifying its product range. Emerging markets and new revenue streams were also put on the table – but Elop pointed to a more serious war underway in terms of mobile ecosystem providers. The agreement Elop has struck with Microsoft goes beyond Windows Phone. The two companies will also work on a new advertising platform that will make its way into Xbox LIVE, Windows Live, Bing and other Microsoft product sets. This platform will provide Nokia with a fresh revenue stream and should be music to Nokia shareholders' ears. Nokia as a smartphone manufacturer is only part of the challenge – a broader objective is in stopping Google from dominating the market.
In with the old
The focus, however, remains on Nokia's core business as a device manufacturer. Success in this space will depend on the company attracting developers to its platforms, and this includes existing systems. Developers I have spoken to are not convinced. They see Symbian as a dead-end street. If anything, they are looking to Windows Phone as a potential platform – but many will switch to developing for Android or iOS instead. Winning them over – or back – has to be a preoccupation for Nokia and is something Elop is fully aware of. "I think the best message for a developer to embrace, if you like, is to look closely at the strength that Nokia has, and what we bring to the market as it relates to Symbian today, and in the months and years ahead – because Symbian still has a large role to play even as we transition and focus on other things in the future," he says. "For example, in my recent travels, which have included the Middle East and Africa, where we are today, last week in Russia and so forth, there is a wide range of markets where Nokia the brand and Symbian the platform are remarkably strong," continues Elop. "And as we've described, we expect tens of millions of devices still to ship in the months and years ahead. There's a tremendous opportunity there for developers, because when you look at the absolute scale of the operation, you say 'wow, there's something really there', and so we're definitely encouraging developers to continue with that, while also recognising that we hope to create a new opportunity around Windows Phone in the future," he adds. Another challenge facing Nokia is how it will differentiate itself from other Windows Phone manufacturers. Services would be an obvious way to achieve this and Nokia has a powerful set of services grouped under its Ovi brand. However, the Microsoft agreement will see Nokia handing its services over for integration into Windows Phone and to the benefit of all manufacturers shipping the operating system. It seems a curious move at first, until Elop outlines his objectives. "First of all, the highest order point of differentiation that we need to focus on is Windows Phone versus Android versus Apple," he explains. "Our number one competitor isn't a Samsung or an HTC or whatever – it is Android. And so as we proceed in the months ahead, our expectation is that we have to take steps to ensure that the Windows Phone ecosystem is very strong and very powerful. Whether it's us or even our competitors within Windows Phone who have access to some of the best technologies, we want to make sure that the platform holistically is very strong," says Elop. "Now that being said, we have a number of different areas, be it in services, in hardware or in software, that can and will contribute to our efforts to ensure that we can differentiate," he continues. "While mapping and navigation and location-based services are something that are crucial in the ecosystem, we will also make sure that we do unique and differentiated things on our devices, within that ecosystem, so that we work to stand apart from everybody else. But again, I emphasise, our principle competition is Android."
Turning it around
Windows Phone had a less than ideal launch phase and uptake has been slow, to say the least. Last year Microsoft's global market share in terms of smartphones was estimated at 5%. This year it has actually lost ground and dropped to 3%, according to Canalys. Elop and his colleagues at Nokia obviously think that this can be turned around. "I think there's an opportunity to first of all differentiate on the range and quality of services that are provided within that ecosystem. For example, Microsoft brings certain properties – take the Xbox gaming environment, which in certain environments is a very powerful capability," he says. "I think that we also bring a quality of mapping and location-based services that is better than and is differentiated from everything else, so there are elements of that. But when you look at it from a developer perspective, there's actually a range of things you consider: does it have breadth, are there lots of people using Windows Phone devices? Well, not today – but clearly with the relationship between Nokia and Microsoft, we believe that there will quickly be tens of millions of people who are using these devices," states Elop. "There needs to be great monetisation for the developers," he adds. "Nokia brings operator billing with more operators in more countries and regions around the world than anyone else by far, and that we will bring to the ecosystem for general use," he promises. "Developers need great tools; they need a solid development platform. Clearly that's part of it already in terms of what Microsoft brings to the table. And then of course developers need the support from the vendors, such as Nokia. For example, here in Dubai today we're asking what we can do with developers to help them build local applications and local capability," he says. "At Ramadan, for example, there were applications supported and encouraged by Nokia, delivered by our development community, that were unique for this region at that time of the calendar. And it's those types of things that we will do to ensure that this is a great platform for developers to target as they go forward."
Building out
There has also been speculation that Nokia is working on a tablet device. In the past we have seen diversified products from the company, such as its Booklet 3G laptop computer. Elop sees potential for other devices in the future, but isn't sold on tablets unless Nokia can do something wholly different with the form-factor. "We are building and contributing to this ecosystem with the belief that the opportunity is much larger than mobile phones, smartphones – however you would characterise them," he explains. "The challenge I have for our team is to make sure that as we enter adjacent markets, that we have a unique and differentiated position. Today you can go and buy one of 150 or 180 – I've lost count – different tablets out there that frankly you can't tell apart, and most of them aren't particularly useful for much," says Elop. "There are a couple that are very successful and we know who some of those are, at least one of them, and that's fine. But Nokia has to look at itself – its market opportunity, the strength of its ecosystem, the geographies where it has strength – and consider what we can do that sets us apart and goes after a unique opportunity." He continues: "We have some specific ideas, but are not announcing things there today. It's not just about tablets – there are other devices, platforms, things that can be done, that take advantage of the ecosystem, and contribute to the ecosystem, and these are places where you may see us play in the future." Nokia is also looking to emerging markets as a key strategy for the future. In these markets it has tried to play a more meaningful role than some of its competitors who are very good at talking the talk instead of delivering real value. I ask Elop whether Nokia has placed an emphasis on hyper-localised content that is not only designed for particular regions, but is actually developed by local developers. "You've just described a key element of our strategy, and that is the local aspect," agrees Elop. "Local content, local applications and local services are hugely important to our efforts to differentiate. And indeed the strength of the Nokia brand in emerging markets and Africa and other places is largely because we have delivered more than anyone else on the promise of a great experience that makes sense within your local environment," he adds. "While other ecosystems and players churn out devices at a furious rate, we're far more focused on making sure that you have a great experience that connects you. You know our overall statement about the company – 'connecting people' – well, that's about connecting people with their community, with the environment in which they operate, with opportunity. That's what Nokia is focused on. "And so, when you think about it, yes we'll have great devices, we'll have wonderful software and services that go with that, but to the extent that we deliver an experience that is unique and differentiated in the environment in which people are working … you've seen it already," he says. "And we can go so much further with that. That's part of the excitement that travelling around to these different regions is: you feel that, you meet people whose lives have been changed by the experience. And that's not just about placing a phone call, or doing an SMS, it's the whole experience."
The next billion
Nevertheless, manufacturers still have a long way to go in terms of scaling prices for the broader market in developing economies. Nokia has managed to get its non-feature phones down to ridiculously low prices, but smartphones are still just out of reach of the average emerging market user. This is changing rapidly, however. Elop believes that affordable devices in terms of these markets is around the corner. "I think it's much sooner than people realise. The rate at which price points can be addressed, starting at the high end and moving well down, with smartphone experiences or 'smartphone like' experiences even plunging below the prices [$100 mentioned in discussion], I think there's a lot of opportunity there," he says. "There's work that we've already done to bring some elements of a 'smartphone like' experience to very inexpensive handsets. The thing that I keep in mind, and this is particularly true in a region like Africa, is that today 80% of the world's population is within cell phone signal range," continues Elop. "They're close enough to a tower, and yet only 20% of them have had an Internet experience. And that's why we've called this strategy 'the next billion'. How do we bring the next billion to their first Internet experience, to give them their first banking experience, using their device? Some of that is smartphone capability, some of it is lower in the price point than that, but I think you're going to see things come down much faster than anyone would have previously predicted," he says. "And in our relationship with Microsoft that was a key part of the conversation with them: to make sure we jointly agreed to that, understood how it would be done, and could begin the engineering work to make it happen." Elop reinforced his previous statements that the first Windows Phone-based Nokia product will be on sale before the end of 2011. One can only imagine the kind of frenetic work underway behind the scenes at Nokia to pull that one off. The smartphone market is inherently frenetic. Apple set the pace when it committed to annual iPhone updates. The market scrambles to keep up and revisions come hard and fast. Android seems an unstoppable force at the moment, but Elop apparently sees it as inevitable that Google is kept away from a dominant market share. Microsoft and Nokia need each other and may just be the perfect combination to bring the fight to Apple and Google. By this time next year we should know for sure.
Top of the Apps by Bradley Shaw
The Oxford Dictionary describes an app as "a selfcontained program or piece of software designed to fulfil a particular purpose; an application, especially as downloaded by a user to a mobile device: apparently there are these new apps that will actually read your e-mails to you". As we know, voice to e-mail apps certainly are available. Africa Telecoms went out to find the best apps available for BlackBerry and Android. We wanted to include Apple, Nokia and Windows Phone 7 apps but unfortunately we did not receive devices in time for this article. Five apps have been chosen for each device. They are not ranked in any particular order but simply as the Top Five Apps for each device that we have found.
Blackberry - The Device - Torch 9800 using Blackberry OS6
The new-look Facebook social media app on BlackBerry is certainly a huge improvement on the first version with far superior looks and functionality and more Facebook-like navigation. Gone is the horizontal menu across the top – now there are two navigation grids. One gives an overall view of all areas of your Facebook profile from newsfeeds, places, photos and the rest. The other gives you a full notifications overview covering notifications (all including incoming chat messages), messages and friend requests. Overall the look and feel has been hugely improved, although it is still true to Facebook, which is great. On the downside as far as I can see the photo loader is still slower than on other devices with similar specs. However, this looks as if it could be an app optimisation issue rather than a BlackBerry hardware spec issue.
BlackBerry Protect
This is a protection/security app for BlackBerries. Once you have done your backup and configuration of BlackBerry Protect, you can remotely block your device if necessary; and if you forget where you have left your phone, Protect will tell you on Google Maps where it is. Unfortunately Google Maps is not yet detailed enough to tell you that your device is under the cushion on your couch but the info is still fairly useful. Should your phone get stolen, with Protect you now have options. You can either institute or change a password until the device is found. Lock the device. Or remote wipe the device. One handy feature here before you wipe the data is that you can do a remote backup, as it is unlikely you will lose or have the device stolen straight after you have backed it up. And that way when you do a restore on a new device all will be as it was the last time you had the device in your hand. The only downside I can see is that if BES has ever been installed on the device Protect cannot be loaded as the backup rights will still sit with your IT Admin. Overall this is a great app with some nifty features.
FNB Banking App
This is unfortunately a South African only application and is also available on Android and Apple OSs. This world first has set FNB apart from all banks worldwide as a true innovator. Using the app is amazingly simple and the design is great. Luckily, as an FNB account holder myself, on the day of launch I downloaded the app and now it is really quite indispensible. It has full transactional capabilities, transferring funds between your own accounts and making third party payments – all now possible with this app. It has a Branch Locator connected to Google Maps should you need to get to a branch while travelling around South Africa. They have also bundled FNB Connect with the app, which is useful as over WiFi you now have free access to FNB call centres. While travelling abroad this could prove to be invaluable – rather than paying roaming fees and suffering with potentially bad call quality, you will have a direct VOIP connection to your bank. There is also a live Forex tracker, which in the current times of financial instability and volatility could be handy while travelling. For version 1.0 this is a very slick app.
Bloomberg Mobile
This is a great app for those who have a vested interest in the financial markets through owning their own portfolio of stocks or are simply just interested. It contains information from most markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Zambia and Tanzania, to name a few. Looking up stock quotes, exchange rates and financial news has never been easier. The app gives you the number of times the last quote was downloaded and so you are always able to track how old the individual quotes are. Another useful feature is that each quote on opening gives you a 52-week graph showing historic levels at a glance, giving you an easy indication as to how the stock is trending over time. Another useful feature of this app is the podcast section that allows you to listen to a variety of Bloomberg podcasts. This could be useful while travelling if you feel like a short market update. For the non-financial professional it may prove a nice to have; on the other hand if finance is your business this is definitely a hot pick for your BlackBerry.
WeatherBug Mobile Weather
This is the most comprehensive weather app found in the app store and seemingly accurate too. But to be honest we have all at some time said how useless our local weather forecaster is. Time will tell when using this app whether or not this will be the same. One certainty is that as this is developed by an American app developer the information is still coming from the same source that your local weather person is getting it from. As far as information goes, it will give you everything you need to know from a weather forecast summary to sunrise and sunset figures. This would clearly include all the regulars: wind direction and strength, temperatures, humidity and even pressures. However, on the day this article was written in Cape Town, it was a wet winter's day with loads of rain, but WeatherBug had 0 mm as the rain figure for the day. An epic fail as it had been raining all day. Oh well, back to saying how useless weather predictions can be.
Blackberry - The Device - Playbook using QNX OS version 1.07
BlackBerry Bridge
BlackBerry Bridge is a certain necessity for any BlackBerry Playbook owner. This is the application that tethers/syncs your Playbook device with your BlackBerry device. This is done by loading BlackBerry Bridge onto your BlackBerry mobile device and then allowing a Bluetooth connection between the device and the Playbook. The reason for the ever so important application is that the Playbook does not have its own native e-mail client, although this has been mooted as a serious downside to the Playbook. In this case Africa Telecoms would disagree with this assertion, due to the fact that no syncing is necessary between Playbook and your BlackBerry mobile device as the mail is replicated on the Playbook from the Mobile. The other benefit of this is that your BBM service is also replicated. BBM has become the most ubiquitous app for BlackBerries worldwide and with younger generations a key driver of BlackBerry Sales. Then finally, as the Playbook has no SIM slot for an additional SIM card, BlackBerry Bridge allows the user to access the internet via this Bluetooth connection using the data available on the BlackBerry device. The other benefit of this is that the BlackBerry data bundle on your device is used. Overall this app is vital to gain maximum usage out of your Playbook.
Kobo Reader
Kobo Reader is a great e-reader with an amazing store available to purchase books. It has a very similar format and style to Kindle and the Google Books app on Android. Reading is easy, navigation is simple and intuitive. With a fairly large number of free e-books available on the platform, it is a great starting point for people wanting to use an e-reader for the first time. Paid books range from as low as US$0.99 to the average bestseller going for US$9.99. Although there is not much to differentiate Kobo from other e-book stores, it is nonetheless a serious competitor in a sector that Kindle has dominated from the start.
Need for Speed: Undercover
It would be remiss to review apps for Playbook and not include the Playbook's signature game with great graphics that are just as good as PC renditions of the game. The gameplay is incredible and steering with the Playbook makes for loads of fun. After receiving the Playbook it took me about a week to complete all levels of this game. There are various "levels" to play through and a host of Cars Available to drive, from a Nissan 240SX to a Ford Mustang 67 (great for the drifting levels) to the Pagani Zonda F. When you have unlocked enough of the game and have the necessary cash in the "career" mode of the game, the Pagani Zonda F makes previous stages that seemed really complicated and difficult to win an absolute breeze as it is so fast. This game has been a hit with a wide variety of users from my daughter Tori through to clients who have tried it; this is certainly far and away the top game app available for Playbook on App World currently. And best of all, it is a standard feature on all devices.
Press Reader
It might seem strange to have Kobo and Press Reader as top apps. There is a reason for this. Press Reader is a great app for keeping up to date with news. This app offers newspapers from around the world for US$0.99 per edition. And it has worldwide coverage: to name a few of the countries, there are Albania with nine newspapers, Australia with 184 issues, Haiti with one, Oman with seven. The number of African newspapers available is also impressive, including Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. What is astounding is the variety of papers and the number on offer for specific markets, with 326 US newspapers being available. Readability is great with pinch to zoom functionality being available. Press Reader also gives you seven free credits when you download the app, which is sufficient for you to choose seven newspapers before you need to pay for additional editions.
This is a very useful cloud-based application for the Playbook. As the name suggests, it is very similar to – if not a complete knock off of – Drop Box. The functionality is great, as you can login from a PC to upload or download files into your Box; and likewise with the Playbook, login, upload or download. Files can be organised in various folders. Free individual users have access to 5gb and a single file upload size of 25mb. This is upgradeable for an individual to 25gb of storage with a single file upload size of 1gb for US$9.99/month; or a business with 500gb of storage and a single file upload size of 2gb for US$15USD/month. Business users can also brand their Box with a company logo. I'm not sure the logo would sell the service but as a free cloud-based application Box it will certainly be useful. However there are some problems with the Playbook app. Files cannot be deleted from the Playbook. Although connectivity is required to download files from the cloud onto the Playbook, once downloaded the files are saved to the device. These downloads are also dated to ensure that you are viewing the most up to date version if multiple persons are working on a file at any given time.
Android Mobile - The Device - Motorola MB525 using Android 2.1 (Froyo) with Motoblur
Hot Apps
In the search for new and interesting apps on Android Market, Hot Apps is certainly a must use. This little app search app gives you a great view of apps that are currently trending on Marketplace. You can browse by "Hot Today", "All Time" or "Best of 2010" tabs. It is an incredibly easy to use and intuitive app. The most interesting way to find apps is the "shake to discover apps". This is simply a random selection of apps that comes onto the device's screen. It might not be terribly useful but it is a fun way to discover apps that you might not necessarily have ever downloaded. The only downside is that the search criterion for apps is currently not customizable, which would be a useful addition. The only other fail that became evident while using this app is its inability to ignore apps that you are currently using.
Many people have their doubts about the new social media entrant Google+. But … has Google ever done anything that has not been hugely successful? Well, some might look at the Nexus and question the success of the device. However, with 20 million users having registered for the service in the first three weeks of operation, it makes a compelling case. Then with Google's search page receiving around one billion users daily, there could be a huge conversion of users when Google+ launches in earnest. The Google+ app on Android is easy to use and requires a small amount of understanding as the terminology is different from the likes of Facebook and Twitter. By far the most impressive feature of Google+ is the handling of photos, shared by you or your circles. The default folders are for "photos from your Circles", "photos of you" (tagged), "your albums", and "from your phone". The "from your phone" folder even allows photos to be automatically uploaded from your device. These photos do however remain private until such time as you "publish" them to your Google+ profile. Photo sharing has never been easier and required less effort.
Thinking Space
This is a great mind mapping tool for giving some organisation to your thoughts. If you tend to sit in meetings and or conferences and doodle this might be a useful tool for you. The Oxford Dictionary defines a mind map as "a diagrammatic method of representing ideas, with related concepts arranged around a core concept". This is exactly what you can do with Thinking Space: instead of doodling, make pictures of the content in the meeting or the conference session you are in. it is very similar to doodling but far more useful that the reams of little doodle notes many people find in their possession. For tertiary education this app would prove invaluable for taking notes in lectures; although using it on a mobile phone could take some getting used to, compared with using it on a larger form tablet where it is perfect. The app itself is incredibly easy to use and even if you have never done mind maps, the user interface is very simple and in no time you will be mind mapping your way through your daily routine.
Talk to Me
This is an ingenious combination of Voice Recognition, Google Translate, and Text-to- Speech technologies. Best of all, this is a free to download app on Android. This is a definite must have for international travellers. It allows you speak a phrase into your Android device and it will recognise what you are saying and type it in your home language on the screen (this is to enable any correction of the voice recognition) and then repeat the phrase in a language of your choice. With what seems like a never-ending list of languages that it can translate, the only catch is that not all come with speak-back translations. These additional languages are available to purchase. But from an African perspective, for it to include Afrikaans and Swahili I was well impressed. I tested the speak-back translations from English to German and Spanish (this will be useful at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next year) and even with my limited knowledge of these languages, they certainly sounded like German and Spanish!
Smart Measure
This is another app that will probably turn out to be more fun than functional. But once you download it you may easily find yourself measuring the distances around your home or office. Or checking the height of arbitrary objects. Don't worry, you are not alone. This is really just about some fairly basic trigonometry being implemented on a mobile device. These days the processing power of most mobile devices is more than sufficient to run extremely complex programs – so it is not surprising that we are seeing apps like this service that can calculate heights and distances using trig. Although not very useful, it is one of those apps you are likely to use as you say to a friend: "How tall do you think … is?" and you answer: "Well, let me check how close you are." And I certainly can't see builders and architects checking site measurements using an application like this with fairly enormous variances.
(Although it would be interesting to see how the buildings turned out if they did ...)
Android Tablet - The Device - Motorola XOOM Tablet using Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)
Angry Birds
Angry Birds has been the most successful app to date, with over 250 million downloads up to June 2011, an average of 3.33 million hours a day spent playing Angry Birds across all platforms and over 40 million monthly users of the app. The Apple IOS version of Angry Birds is a paid-for application whereas the Android version used for this review is the free version. Rovio, the developers of Angry Birds, found another way to monetise this app by providing in-app advertising and this is still generating Rovio in excess of US$1 million a month in revenues. Playing Angry Birds on a large format tablet like the Xoom is a far cry from playing the game on the smaller form mobile phone devices. With the graphics Angry Birds is really coming into its own and making game play far more engaging. And Rovio is not done with Angry Birds either: in a recent interview with Venture Beat, the chief marketing officer of Rovio, Peter Vesterbacka, stated: "We are betting everything on Angry Birds. We want to be the first entertainment brand with a billion fans. That will take us two or three years to do. Next year, we want to be the leading entertainment brand in China."
Chrome to Phone
This is a great app if you are a Chrome browser user on your desktop or laptop. It quite literally takes links from your PC chrome browser and pushes the link onto your tablet. It is very easy to install: simply add the Chrome to Phone extension onto your PC browser and an icon becomes available. Once Chrome to Phone is installed on your tablet, it is simple to push any content from your browser to your tab. Great if you are busy reading an article and need to leave for a meeting or your daily commute; just push it onto your mobile device for your reading/researching pleasure on the move. The only improvement I can suggest would be a reverse functionality of pushing links from your tablet to your PC. This would certainly make the app more useful overall as there are times when you want to carry on reading or working using a link on your device.
Photoshop Express
This is another nice to have app, although its usefulness on a device the size of the Motorola Xoom might come into question. Holding the Xoom up to take pictures inconspicuously is not likely to happen. However, if you have taken photos and need to crop them, make minor adjustments to contrasts, etc, this is certainly the app for you. Or generally if you like tinkering and playing with photos before sharing in a myriad different ways. Adobe has done a great job of fitting some fairly highend photo editing technologies into this app and it is still a free download app on Marketplace. It allows for changes in brightness, contrast, changing the colour scale of the image, and creating borders for images. Overall this is a great app for the happy snappers who are never quite happy with their snap work.
Kindle for Android
Amazon has positioned Kindle as the leader in the e-book space with a variety of offerings including the Kindle Wireless Reader. Amazon launched the Android app for Kindle in June 2010. The Kindle store currently has over 900,000 books available, with prices ranging from free to US$9.99 for latest releases. This seems to be the average across all the various platforms where e-books can be purchased. The version of Kindle designed specifically with tablets in mind for the Android's upgraded Honeycomb OS has seen improvements in layout and optimisation for the standard size of tablets between 7 and 10 inch devices. A great functionality of the Android app is that Whispersync automatically syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights across all your Kindle devices. This includes the PC application, the Kindle device and any apps you have running. Granted this is based on the fact that you log into each application using the same login details. Reading using this application is great, with crystal clear text display and amazingly clear graphics when viewing magazines. Overall a very well put together app that runs smoothly and very efficiently.
Plume for Twitter is a powerful Twitter application for Android. The latest version being used for this review has been optimised for Honeycomb. Tweetdeck had set the standard for desktop Twitter applications. However the Android app version has not been optimised for Tablets – or Honeycomb for that matter. Plume sets itself apart from other apps in that it is fully customizable and can handle more than one Twitter account with ease. Multiple account management has never been easier, with each account given different colours, which makes tracking of these accounts within one client easier than ever. The free version of this app comes with one advertisement and with the premium paid app the ad is removed for just under US$3. However, the ad is not terribly obtrusive and so you may not want to fork out the additional cash for the premium version. The one area where Plume falls down against its largest competitors TweetDeck and HootSuite is that it currently does not support other social media offerings like Facebook or LinkedIn.


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Labor Day
The Yorktown, the American Worker and Three Days
We must have this ship back in three days!
Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz
On Labor Day we honor the American worker and the repair of the USS Yorktown tells us why. Badly damaged at the battle of the Coral Sea, it was estimated that the Yorktown would take three months in drydock to repair. That was unacceptable. With the battle of Midway looming the Yorktown had to be gotten back into action if the US was to have any chance at all against the Japanese fleet with its heavy advantage in flattops.
What happened next was a true miracle. 1400 civilian dockyard workers and sailors swarmed over the Yorktown, working night and day for 72 hours. Hawaii Electric staged rolling blackouts in Honolulu to generate the enormous power necessary for the mammoth repairs. The Yorktown sailed for Midway on May 30, 1942 with civilian workers still on board, completing the repairs. At Midway, four days later, Yorktown's role in the victory was absolutely crucial, her planes sending the Japanese carrier Soryu to the bottom before the Yorktown herself was sunk. Continue reading
Prayer to Saint Joseph
Something for the weekend. The video above supplying music and images to the prayer to Saint Joseph seemed very appropriate for a Labor Day Weekend. There was a reason why God chose as His guardian and the husband of His mother a humble carpenter, instead of some great and powerful king. God does not see as we see. We judge too often by outward appearance while God judges by the soul and character. A simple concept one would think, but one that is hard to live by as we too often judge people by their jobs or clothes or any of the other superficial differences between us that loom so large on this earth and which are less than nothing in eternity.
God Bless The USA!
Hymn to Saint Joseph
Something for the weekend. Nothing for a Labor Day weekend seemed more appropriate than a Hymn to Saint Joseph by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Stone
On Labor Day it is good to recall Saint Joseph the Worker. When God decided to partake in our humanity, He could have had anyone for His foster father, and He chose a humble carpenter, a man who worked with his hands. Why?
The Bible gives us no indication that Saint Joseph was intelligent, brave or resourceful. He may have been all these things, but the Bible does not tell us. We know that he was of the House of David, but judging from all indications in the Bible he lived in humble circumstances. What made Joseph stand out to God other than the fact of his heritage?
Kindness I think, simple human kindness. This was graphically demonstrated at the very beginning when Saint Joseph first is mentioned in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 1:18 and 19:
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Subsidiarity at Work
Everyone here at the American Catholic hoped that you all have had a happy Labor Day weekend.
The principle of Subsidiarity states that government should undertake only those initiatives which exceed the capacity of individuals or private groups acting independently.
Pope Leo XIII developed the principle in his AD 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. The principle was further developed by Pope Pius XI in his AD 1931 encyclial Quadragesimo Anno.
To learn more about Subsidiarity click here.
To read Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum click here.
To read Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quadragesimo Anno click here.
For more Dilbert funnies click here.
Saint Isidore the Laborer
On this day on which we celebrate the workers of America, it is good to recall a simple day laborer who became one of Spain's most beloved saints. Also known as Saint Isidore the farmer, he was born around 1170 and lived his entire life in the vicinity of Madrid, in service as a farm laborer to the family of Juan de Vargas. Some of his fellow workers complained to Vargas that Saint Isidore was late for work due to his habit of attending Mass each day. Checking up on his worker, he found Saint Isidore praying while an angel was doing the plowing! Eventually Vargas made Saint Isidore bailiff of his entire estate. Tales of miracles surround Saint Isidore. One relates how he brought the daughter of his employer back to life. Another tells how he found water during a time of drought. He was noted for his charity to the poor and to animals.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NeoOffice is a fully-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs) for Mac OS X. Based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office. Unlike the Mac OS X release of OpenOffice.org, NeoOffice does not require the X11 windowing system.
Released as free, open-source software under the GNU General Public License (GPL), NeoOffice is fully functional and stable enough for everyday use. The software is actively developed, so improvements and small updates are made available on a regular basis.


text:
PICTURE BERLIN Handbook 2013
Summer Session Handbook 2013
By April Gertler / Charlie Jouvet
The PICTURE BERLIN Handbook 2013 is an important and essential guide for the artists in the PICTURE BERLIN Summer Session 2013 program - which is taking place from 7 July to 10 August 2013.
About the Author
Publish Date June 05, 2013
Dimensions Pocket 80 pgs
Black and White printing (on cream uncoated paper)
Category Arts & Photography
Tags summer, Berlin, photography, resources, museums, art, school. residency program, guide book
Sign in or create an account to post a comment.
Start your own book today from US $3.99.
Get Started
Blurb Sites


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Apolo Ohno's lower body is so powerful -- dude claims he can leg press 1800 pounds of raw steel ... which is the Hollywood equivalent of 20 Nicole Richies.
For the record, Ohno only weighs about 145 -- without his eight Olympic medals of course.
I enjoyed watching Apolo and the other speed skaters. Shani Davis is another of my favorites. I even found myself happy that Chad finally got another gold medal, arrogant man that he is.
Apolo isn't arrogant, he simply answered a question. If you cannot do, what he can, then don't be hating.
The young man that cut his femoral artery in (training) practice, forgotten his name, but great watching that young man too.
Congratulations to all these men and Canada you too.
you are a bunch of f*cking haters! i'd like to see you bunch of f*cking lard a$$e$ perform just ONE of the workouts that apolo ohno performs. he has EIGHT medals, people!! you don't EARN eight medals without being one hell of an athlete!
65. Anyone on here dissing Apolo is clearly jealous. It might seem impossible for people sittin on their asses all day behind the computer doing nothing, but for an this Olympic athlete and gold medalist, I'm sure he's telling the truth! Why would he lie about something so stupid? Umm...he has to get his legs worked out pretty damn good to be the world's best speed skater! GO APOLO!!! America LOVES you!!!
Posted at 7:19AM on Mar 4th 2010 by Bitchen
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2010/03/03/apolo-ohno-leg-press-1800-pounds-video/5#comments#ixzz0hEKOvU7H
Jealous? You moron no one is Jealous people on here are speaking the truth trashing this buffoon! No Gold Go away plain and simple. Oh No!
Maybe you ought to talk to his thought-controlling Dad.
Makes Hitler look like Mr. Rogers.
That and the fact that you are queer as a 3 dollar bill.
@ Dorinha (#69)
Once you used pissing and tripe in your argument, i realized you were just spewing pointless banter. All you added to the "discussion" was an array of puzzling context and a metaphor to boxing; quite appealing to idiocy. Maybe should hit the gym, champ, and move down a few weight classes b/c your big 'ole brain is producing a truckload of hot air
There was nothing puzzling about my reply, Tim. In short, you need to smarten up. Had you argued simple facts rather than tossing around bush-league insults about Canada, I wouldn't have called you on your behavior. Rather than manning up to your childishness, you wrote another immature reply.
regarding the leg-pressing argument : my 83-year old mom was recently hospitalized for 6 weeks for a serious abdominal surgery. what do you think she had tacked to her bulletin board for inspiration for her rehab - ? a photo from a magazine of apolo ohno leg pressing 1800 pounds. YES - its for real, people.
as for the DQ in the 500m race : i agree with the poster above that had the canadian remained standing, no DQ would have been called on ohno. intersting that in the final of the 1000m race the week before apolo was clearly pushed out of a contending position (from second to last place) by one of the candian skaters which should have resulted in the canadian skater being DQ'd but none was called...still, apolo was strong enough not only to remain on his feet but to pass on the outside to gain a(nother) medal.
maybe it was all the hard work, prep and leg pressing?
....probably not?? if he's so awesome....why no gold at 2010??? hmmmm...weird...oh wait.. canadian judges messed it up for him, NOT! he sucks...
Id rather be "childish" b/c this is tmz.com not the f'in new york post. If you want to argue with someone more intelligent then go to their website *yawn*. BTW thanks for calling me out on my comment...that was the whole reason for me putting it on here :D
Tim the Troll
PS Don't take everything so personally
lol Don't be jealous, just because you're sitting in front of a computer screen, reading TMZ, and Apolo is at numerous media events with his 8 medals and his trophy from Dancing With The Stars.
He's a celebrity, you're a fat-ass reading TMZ.


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It is strictly aspirational at this point, and really never will be relevant at the speeds I'd be going at - I will decide in August about whether I might try and do an Ironman race in 2010 (I am looking at IM Wisconsin - training time falls over the summer while I am off from teaching, potentially not too hot, no absolute white-knuckle downhills on the bike), but it may well be more sensible to wait till the year after - but Alan Couzens has a very interesting and persuasive post on long-course triathlon pacing that is especially relevant for the fast runners out there...
(I like these training blogs that really are oriented towards top age-group and elite athletes - obviously the pace guidelines are woefully different - but there are some underlying principles of considerable relevance. Jack Daniels has the best explanation of how the stuff he lays out can/should be tweaked for regular-person speeds - I am a devout believer in the notion that every endurance athlete should own a copy of Daniels' Running Formula...)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday digression
Posted by Jenny Davidson at 4/29/2009 12:47:00 PM
3 comments:
- Brent Buckner said...
c.f. Laursen (2005)
- April 29, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Dances with Corgis said...
Ooh! IMoo 2010! :D I like the sound of that.
- May 1, 2009 at 2:34 AM
- Duane said...
IM 2010, yes! :-)
- May 2, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Systems Showcase
tortie's Polk system
This is my mini home cinema. LSi9 speakers in the front, Lsic in the center and LSiFX at the back. These are all powered by a Denon amp. The sub at the right of the TV is a PSW450.
Speakers (Car)
- MM6 System (front channel)
Speakers (Home)
- LSi9 (front channel)
- LSic (center channel)
- LSiFX (rear channel)
- PSW450 (subwoofer)


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A Special Storytime With Vicky Davis
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Maxwell
Toddler Storytime @ Appleby!
Time: 10:05 am
Location: Appleby
Preschool Storytime @ Appleby!
Time: 10:30 am
Goal Setting for Teens
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Headquarters
Self-Esteem Seminar
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Diamond Lakes
Introduction to Word Processing
The Golden Blocks: A Photographic History of Augusta From 1900 - 1970
Time: 6:30 pm
Clipping and Clicking for Savings
Master Gardeners Present General Yard Maintenance
Cupcake Decorating Craft
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Friedman
Page 1 of 3
Georgians can now
register to vote online!
Click here for more...


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Linux-based Nitix serves the works
Net Integration Technologies' all-in-one, set-and-forget Linux pack satisfies small networksFollow @pvenezia
If there's one thing IT managers of small businesses or branch offices need, it's solid, uncomplicated technology. Net Integration Technologies thinks it has the answer. The company's Nitix server is essentially a custom Linux distribution focused on the small office. Driven entirely from a Web interface, the solution boasts an impressive array of features, using the most common Linux services such as Samba and Apache.
The package is slick, the interface is simple and intuitive, and for a small network, the overall solution is very attractive. The caveat is scalability.
For SMB (Server Message Block) file sharing, Samba 2.2.8 is implemented to perform Windows NT 4 domain services, allowing the Nitix server to function as a domain controller or domain member server. Here, Nitix permits the configuration of log-in scripts to map shares and printers, and it includes a quick configuration parameter to map a single home directory as the user logs in.
User management is straightforward, supporting simple group creation and population. Using groups, delegated administration is possible for the Web and e-mail servers.
Yes, a Nitix server can also function as an e-mail server, with qmail providing POP, IMAP, and SMTP services to users on the local network. Secure POP and IMAP is supported, but not authenticated or secured SMTP. In addition to client/server e-mail implementations, Nitix incorporates the Horde/IMP Web e-mail application, allowing users to connect to their e-mail from any Web browser.
Nitix also includes Net Integration's ExchangeIt, allowing Outlook clients to connect to the Nitix server via an ExchangeIt plug-in. This plug-in enables groupware functionality such as calendar, contact, and task list sharing, as well as public folders and synchronization. Nitix accomplishes this via a combination of IMAP and LDAP services. In the lab, installing ExchangeIt was easy, configuring Outlook was straightforward, and using the collaboration functions went smoothly. For a smaller shop, this is certainly a viable alternative to Microsoft Exchange.
Other network-centric services such as DNS and DHCP are provided, and simple configuration tasks are, well, simple. DHCP configuration is handled by the Nitix server automatically, relying on its know-ledge of the network to construct the scope. If the Nitix server detects a DHCP server already present on the network during the initial boot, it will disable the DHCP services, but they can be turned on at any time.
If Nitix has an Achilles' heel, it's printing. Local printers are supported but network printers are not. For a small office, this means that network printers will require TCP/IP port configurations on the workstations, and centralized printer spooling isn't available to manage print jobs and speed them along.
Complex DNS and DHCP tasks are not as simple through the GUI, and they may not be possible via the CLI, either. Anything beyond a simple access control, printer, or mail exchange record addition will cause headaches. However, a split DNS configuration is possible, which is helpful if the Nitix server is used not only for internal network services but also as a firewall.
|Test Center Scorecard
|Nitix 3.75
8.1 Nitix 3.75" /> Nitix 3.75" /> Nitix 3.75" />
Very Good


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For the next two weeks, shoppers in Albemarle County can find special deals from a consignment shop to help dogs and cats find a forever home.
Pets up for adoption from the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA helped kick off the "Pets in the Attic" fundraiser Saturday at Saint Peters Attic Consignment.
The effort features collaboration between the SCPA, consignment shop, and Karimi Art Gallery.
"I think it's important that we raise money, especially around this time," says Karimi Gallery artist Hamid Karimi. "There's a lot of pets out there, and now as Christmas is approaching, I'm hoping that we can find homes for the pets that we have here today."
From now until December 7, customers can get 10 percent off their purchase if "SPCA" is mentioned at check out. A percentage of the shop's total sales will be donated to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
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Ancient Stuxnet flaw still being used to attack millions of Windows XP PCs
A software vulnerability exploited by cyberweapons including Stuxnet and Flame is still being used to attack millions of users around the world four years after it was patched, a Kaspersky analysis has suggested.
Rare SMS worm targets Android devices
A rare Android worm that propagates itself to other users via links in text messages has been discovered by security researchers.
Symbian signing key reportedly stolen from Nokia could have enabled powerful malware
An unknown person or group reportedly stole the cryptographic key used by Nokia to digitally sign applications for Symbian OS and extorted millions of euros from the company in 2007 by threatening to make the key public.
Users face serious threat as hackers take aim at routers, embedded devices
Home routers and other consumer embedded devices are plagued by basic vulnerabilities and can't be easily secured by non-technical users, which means they'll likely continue to be targeted in what has already become an increasing trend of mass attacks.
Linux worm diversifies to mine cryptocurrencies
A Linux worm that targets routers and set-top boxes is now looking for full-fledged computers to use its new feature, a cryptocurrency mining function, according to Symantec.
Hacker Diabl0 arrested in Thailand at the request of Swiss authorities
Russian-Morrocan hacker Farid Essebar, known online as Diabl0, was arrested in Bangkok at the request of law enforcement authorities from Switzerland who want him extradited to face charges in connection with computer fraud offenses and credit card information theft.
Infamous Zotob virus author 'Diabl0' arrested in Thailand on phishing charges
On-the-run hacker Farid Essebar, best known for writing the 2005 Zotob worm using the handle ?Diabl0?, has been arrested by police in Thailand on new charges connected to phishing Swiss online banking sites.
Turla, Red October and Flame cyberweapons preyed on earlier Agent.btz worm
The Agent.btz worm that hit the US military and others in 2008 was probably the inspiration for a new generation of cyber-espionage weapons including the recently-documented Turla (aka ?Snake? or ?Uroburos?), Kaspersky Lab has speculated.
The greatest security story never told ? how Microsoft's SDL saved Windows
Microsoft has launched a new website to ?tell the untold story? of something it believes changed the history of Windows security and indeed Microsoft itself ? the Security Development Lifecycle or plain ?SDL? for short.
Attack campaign compromises 300,000 home routers, alters DNS settings
A group of attackers managed to compromise 300,000 home and small-office wireless routers, altering their settings to use rogue DNS servers, according to Internet security research organization Team Cymru.
Topic Zone
Latest News
Latest Features
Top security threats in 2013: Mobile attacks
For years, information security experts have predicted a spike in mobile malware. Will 2013 be the year of mobile attacks? And what other security threats are on the horizon?
Which smartphone is the most secure?
These days, it is almost impossible to meet someone who doesn't own a cell phone. More specifically, smartphones, whether it be the trendy iPhone, corporate favored Blackberry or modern Windows Mobile, almost everyone has joined the smartphone frenzy - and with good reason. A smartphone offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary phone.
The Internet has created 'the largest trust gap' in history, says Bruce Schneier
Trust is at the heart of security, argues Bruce Schneier in his latest book, "Liars and Outliers".
Cybercrime is 'much bigger than al Qaeda' in the US
Security experts confirm concern outlined by DHS Secretary in recent speech
10 hacks that made headlines
Here are ten hacking incidents through history that made some of the biggest headlines.
Modern warfare: On the frontlines of cyber defence
Something has gone terribly wrong on the plant floor at ACME Specialty Chemical International.
Cyber risk and the future of national response
In September 2007, in a remote laboratory in Idaho, researchers began to show that the security picture had begun to change, dramatically and irreversibly.
Black Hat researcher demonstrates power plant hack
The night before the start of this week's Black Hat hacker conference here in Las Vegas, security researcher Dillon Beresford gave a demonstration to a small audience in his room at Caesar's Palace. The topic: how a hacker could take over the Siemens S7 computers that are used to control engines, machines and turbines in tens of thousands of industrial facilities.
Six new and rising hacker threats
Hackers never sleep, it seems. Just when you think you've battened down the hatches and fully protected yourself or your business from electronic security risks, along comes a new exploit to keep you up at night. It might be an SMS text message with a malevolent payload or a stalker who dogs your every step online. Or maybe it's an emerging technology like in-car Wi-Fi that suddenly creates a whole new attack vector.
Twenty glorious years of Windows malware
Windows PCs have been under siege for 20 years. What a difference those two decades make.
Also in slideshows:
Six tips to protect employees from phishing attacks
The 10 most terrifying security nightmares revealed at the Black Hat and Def Con hacker conferences
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[From the Fan Posts, Glenn A.is getting in the mood for the lockout to end and starts taking a look ahead at the season. -TL]
10. An AJ Price demotion to third-string PG: You'd be hard-pressed to find a more confident fella on the court than AJ Price. What, exactly, he's so confident about is still a mystery to many fans. It can't be his underwhelming play-making/assist skills, and it certainly can't be his sub-40-field-goal percentage. I'll give AJ the recognition that he has hit a few big shots as a Pacer, even one or two in the playoffs; however, if Larry and Co. are really serious about formulating a top-flight-bench product, AJ's inefficient ways should be on the skids.
9. Hansbrough's Back to the Basket: Psycho-T seemingly scores in two distinct ways: stand-up jumpers created through the pick-and-pop, or through relentlessness on the offensive glass, which leads to some easy putbacks and/or attempts at the foul line. When teams focus on limiting those areas of Hans' game, he quickly becomes a non-factor on the court. Hans needs some semblance of a back-to-the-basket game, and I'm not talking about a little running, T-Rex-armed hook shot either. To develop such a skill requires patience and instinct regarding when to attack, each of which seems contradictory to Hans' full-speed, full-effort reputation. However, if he doesn't make an attempt to diversify, then it's going to be awfully hard to counter the opinion of the masses that he's best suited as a role player off the bench.
8. The Spirit of Jeff Foster vs. Bulls: PG on Rose was fun. Hansbrough's vexing of Boozer was delightful. Granger carving up Deng while showcasing a little chest-pounding flair was Rifleman-esque. But maybe more enjoyable than any of those playoff highlights, were Jeff Foster's limited yet thoroughly aggressive stints off the bench. Not since the Davis' boys have we seen a Blue-and-Gold player so willing to mix it up. And mix it up he did. He physically fronted the league's supposedly untouchable contortion-artist MVP, while rousing Chicago players and fans into a simmering frenzy. Most importantly, though, he reawakened a long-time absent Pacers' mantra: "We may not win, but we will fight."
7. The Big Fundamental 2.0: There may not be a more proven formula than this: Big Roy + offseason + twitter feed = incessant fan delirium. This offseason is no exception as Roy is not only supposedly bulking up in the weight room, but he's also training with the Big Fundmental himself, Tim Duncan. That would be something like a 98 on a 100-point compatibility scale. Roy, like Duncan, will never have elite athleticism. If he really wants to take the next step, he's going to need to learn how to best take advantage of his size and length as well as apply some basketball smarts. Let's replace some of those disastrous line drive hook shots at the rim with some creatively angled shots off the backboard. The mentor selection, the tweets of newly learned moves, it's all positive, Big Roy, now let's see some of that Fundamental chatter come alive at Conseco and beyond.
6. A Full Season of Granger's Cold-Blooded Persona: At the time, I hated Granger's proclamation that the Bulls were his preferred first-round matchup. The gall of a playoff first timer to single out an opponent in such a nonchalant way screamed competitive immaturity. Then Granger played. He scored. He chest-pounded. He never backtracked from his comments. And, guess what? The Pacers went toe to toe against a playoff No. 1 seed for five games. It was everything that Granger hadn't been in the past. Bold. Brash. Confident. Resolute. Dare I say it was the swagger of a No. 1 option?


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John Rae is a professional documentary and commercial photographer based in NYC. His clients include Fortune 500 companies and International Nongovernmental Organizations. For 19 years John has photographed extensively in over 50 countries and those photographs have appeared in major publications in the US, Europe, and Australia.
John specializes in photographs of people on location. He knows how difficult it is to produce photographs under demanding circumstances and how rewarding that hard work can be. Through all these experiences, John has become skilled at working with organizations and their clients to produce compelling photographs. His work has won numerous awards and has been exhibited in one person and group shows across the world.


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Excellent New York Times coverage of Wal-Mart's moves to offer healthier foods, as well as cheaper fruits and vegetables. The company plans to slash sodium by 25 percent, and get rid of all trans fats by 2015.
I know it's fashionable to hate on Wal-Mart, but this is a company that's twice now used its enormous size and leverage to hasten urgently needed social change. Wal-Mart was a key player in shifting Americans away from wasteful incandescent light bulbs, and now it's acting with equal commitment to improve its food offerings.
Leslie Dach, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for corporate affairs, says:
Our customers have always told us, We don't understand why whole wheat macaroni and cheese costs more than regular macaroni and cheese. We've always said that we don't think the Wal-Mart shopper should have to choose between a product that is healthier for them and what they can afford.
This isn't lip service: it's a carefully thought out strategy that will measurably improve how many Americans eat. People are still going to eat junky convenience foods, but it's possible to reformulate these foods so they're a lot less health damaging. But for this to happen, a major player needs to lead the way, and that's exactly what Wal-Mart is now doing.
None of these moves will affect the most fortunate and well-informed food consumers—the people with the financial means and the knowledge to choose the highest quality, locally grown foods. These people don't buy food at Wal-Mart, and never will. But what we're seeing here is a raising of the lowest common denominator in how Americans eat, and this is certain to have transformational effects throughout our food system. Link.


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Jamie Tabberer settles down for a chat with American Idol's Adam Lambert. They were both in their PJ's, dontcha know.
When nattering with a bona fide American idol like Adam Lambert, a West Country twang like mine can be problematic. "How is my British accent working out for you Adam?" I ask the 27-year-old pop star, in my best attempt at Queen's English. "Does it remind you of Simon Cowell's at all?"
"No," he replies nonchalantly. "Yours is MUCH cuter than Simon's…"
I laugh, stutter an indecipherable response and then cough. Not sexy. We're 30 seconds into our interview, and I've already been rendered speechless.
But if his reputation is to be believed, Adam's ability to shock doesn't come as a surprise. The handsome singer – who finished second in last year's season of American Idol, far and away the most watched show on American TV – has always known how to provoke a reaction in people, most notably with his powerhouse voice.
Regrettably, though, it's the negative reactions he sparks inadvertently that generate the most headlines. From his forgivable penchant for guyliner (don't pretend you haven't been there), to his opinion-polarising album cover, to his controversial performance at last year's American Music Awards (in which he kissed and groped a male member of his band, inducing thousands of complaints to TV network ABC) it seems Adam can't bat a mascara-clad eyelash without offending somebody. The irony being, of course, that Adam's really not shocking underneath it all. In fact, he's a just a normal guy who –shock, horror! – is actually WILLING to talk about his sexuality. Adam Lambert: we applaud you.
"It catches me off guard," he admits, recalling the AMA nightmare. "In my circle, and in a lot of the underground clubs and performance spaces in Los Angeles nobody thinks twice about it, they love it. Then I gave what I thought was a harmless performance and everybody jumps down my throat about it. And I'm like 'Sorry, I didn't realise it was going to be that big a deal.'"
Hostility escalated when the (actually ace) cover of Adam's space-themed debut album leaked days later. On it, Adam's brave sense of style is epitomized – he appears in full make up, with electric blue hair and a pout to rival Victoria Beckham's, looking like a character from the 80s movie Tron. And if a female artist had pulled the exact same pose…
"…With the soft focus, and the retouching," he agrees, "nobody would have said a word. I'm glad you like it, but you're the minority. Here in the States a lot of people are really uncomfortable with it, which is hilarious. But Tron is a great movie!
"I just think you guys in the UK are way further ahead in terms of tolerance," he adds. "It's really interesting. In the UK and in Europe proper, it's less of an issue because people are more comfortable with their sexualities And not just the gay thing, but even playful things, like the concept of androgyny. That is something that generally many Americans are uncomfortable with. Mixing masculine and feminine stereotypes together and playing with it, people get suspicious about it."
But weeks later, Adam answered his critics when For Your Entertainment sold 200,000 copies in its first week on sale, charting above new releases from Rihanna and Lady Gaga, albeit outsold by a certain Scottish lassie…
"I know, if only it weren't for Susan Boyle!" Adam laughs. "I'm happy for her success, but that album is terrible. Wild Horses is the one that made me laugh the hardest. I just died when I heard it, I was crying with laughter. It was the most horrendous, sacrilegious treatment of that song!
"Still, when my album charted, it was validating. I was feeling bit attacked, like I had to vindicate something. I thought: 'Wow, look what I did.'"
And one hell of an album it is too - unashamedly electropop, and featuring big name collaborations such as Pink, Linda Perry, and even Muse front man Matt Bellamy.
"I love Muse," Adam enthuses. "I'm a huge fan and I think Matt's voice is beautiful. I was beside myself when I heard they were willing to give up the song for me. It's called Soaked, which here in America means wasted, or drunk.
"I love the song; lyrically I feel I can relate to it. From a dark place, it's about that viscous circle of going out and trying to fill a void by getting laid, but doing it by getting wasted in a bar and going home with somebody. That's what it's about for me. I've been through that: I'm 27 years old and I've lived a life where I was looking for something… for meaning, or love, but looking for it in the wrong way."
He may not look 27 ("the make up helps"), but it's just as well he has a decade on many of his contemporaries.
Read the whole thing, including Gaga Chat, in our new issue which costs just 385 pennies, which is about the price of a Rimmel Eyeliner, but definitely much cheaper than an Urban Decay one


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The Tennessee Volunteers will introduce Dave Hart, 62, as their new athletic director Monday, concluding a search that began in early June. Former AD Mike Hamilton was fired amid turmoil surrounding Bruce Pearl's exit, Lane Kiffin's exit and a whole array of other exits. Jon Gruden calls this guy The Interstate.
Hart comes from the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he held the title of executive director of athletics. Before heading to Tuscaloosa, he was the longtime Florida St. Seminoles AD. Alabama fans have been anxious about the news for several days now, dating back to when Jimmy Hyams first reported the potential hire.
He won't exactly inherit the stablest operation in America, with shards of a football program still being glued back together by young coach Derek Dooley.
Interim AD Joan Cronan performed ably, holding the fort through both tragedy and turnover as state legend Pat Summitt revealed her Alzheimer's diagnosis and the school hired a new men's basketball coach.
For more on the Tennessee Volunteers, visit Vols blog Rocky Top Talk.


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"Earth, Sun & Fire" an Organic Cocktail with a Sweet and Spicy Twist
The preparation of organic jalapeno infused tequila is absolutely worth it for this tasty cocktail! This drink has a wonderful spiciness mixed with a bit of sweet and sour from the organic tangerine and lime that makes it an unforgettable must have!
The Organic "Earth, Sun & Fire" cocktail recipe
- 2 ounces jalapeno infused organic tequila (see recipe below)
- 1/2 organic tangerine
- 1/2 organic lime
- 1/2 ounce organic agave nectar
Tools Needed: jar, muddler, cocktail shaker, small cooking strainer.
To prepare the organic jalapeno infused tequila: (Infusion time: 24 hours)
- Pour half of a bottle of organic tequila into a jar that can be completely sealed. Slice 2 organic Jalapeno Peppers lengthwise in half and place in the tequila. Seal the jar and place in a dark area (pantry or cupboard). Let sit for 24 hours then use a small strainer to remove the jalapenos and their seeds. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Tip: I like to use 1/2 of a bottle of organic tequila. That way, if the tequila is too spicy for you or a guest, you can dilute it with the remaining tequila.
To make the organic "Earth, Sun & Fire" : Peel apart 1 organic tangerine and place half (including peel) into a cocktail shaker. Slice an organic lime and add half to the cocktail shaker with a squeeze. Add 1/2 ounce of organic agave nectar. Muddle the ingredients very well, until the juice of the tangerine and lime have been released. Add 2 ounces of jalapeno infused organic tequila and about 3/4 cup of ice. Shake well and pour into a rocks glass.
Extra special touch: Glass straws are a beautiful and fun addition to cocktails (not to mention they are eco-friendly and toxin-free)! Strawsome, a family-owned green company, hand-makes delightful glass straws that are non-toxic and dishwasher safe. The straws come in a variety of lengths and are customizable to match favorite colors and designs. Strawsome even has a lifetime guarantee against breakage; if you break it, they will replace it! Strawsome glass straws make wonderful gifts, and truthfully, not a cocktail should be served without them!
To read more about Strawsome and to place an order, check out their website: http://www.strawesome.com/
Health Benefits: Like oranges, tangerines are full of Vitamin C, dietary fiber and B vitamins. They are super low in calories and help to boost the immune system. Organic limes are natural fat-burners and also a good source of nutrients and vitamins. Jalapeno peppers are a natural aphrodisiac and even help to boost metabolism. Does it get much better?
Organic Choice: The peels of citrus fruits are what contain and absorb the majority of chemical sprays used to grow them. In this cocktail especially, since the peels are kept on the tangerine and lime, buying organic is essential to protect your health.
For more cocktails by Organic Fit Bar Click here
*"Earth, Sun & Fire" is an Organic Fit Bar Original Recipe