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Windows Phone 8.1 vs. Android 4.4 KitKat: Microsoft plays catch-up, but still lags behind
- By Ryan Whitwam on April 3, 2014 at 1:05 pm
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Windows Phone 8.1 vs. Android KitKat: Settings
Microsoft has tried a few ways to make notifications better on Windows Phone, but in this new version it just gave up and did what Android came up with years ago. It's nothing to be ashamed of — Apple did much the same thing. The Action Center is accessible with a swipe down on the status bar and shows you all the recent notifications on the device. Above the notifications are an assortment of quick setting toggles. This is an almost mirror image of the notification implementation in several builds of Android.
If you venture more into the settings of Windows 8.1, you'll come across features like Data Sense. This tool tracks your data usage and can alert you to impending overages — a must have in this age of capped mobile data. Android has an almost identical feature, though it has a few more options like custom alerts and background data restriction. Google added this in version 4.0 back in late 2011, but it hasn't been improved upon since then.
Android has struggled with battery life throughout its existence, but there have at least always been tools to tell you how badly your phone was performing — thanks, Google. Microsoft has traditionally had good luck with battery life on Windows Phone, but it's adding a lot of new capabilities this time around. To make sure users can still make it through a day, there's Battery Saver. This menu offers a breakdown of what's eating up the battery and offers settings to reduce the drain. Stock Android still doesn't include a simple power-saving mode, though many OEMs have created their own. Microsoft is doing better with battery savings than stock Android, but it's not as wild as the extreme battery saving modes in KitKat builds from the HTC One M8 and Galaxy S5.
Windows Phone 8.1 also brings Internet Explorer 11 with support for sharing tabs across devices. You'll be able to see the tabs you have open on the desktop and other mobile devices from the phone. This is almost identical to the setup on Android, though this is reliant on the Chrome app in Google Play rather than a full OS update.
Storage Sense is Microsoft's attempt at making the obfuscated file system in Windows phone a bit more accessible. It allows you to choose storage locations for new content and move things like photos, music, and apps between the internal storage and SD card. Android has a completely open file system, but has actually started clamping down on SD card access in Android 4.4. Apps can no longer mess with the data of other apps on the SD card, making file explorers less useful. Android is still a bit more complicated and powerful in this respect, but Microsoft is getting closer to finding a reasonable middle ground.
Windows Phone 8.1 vs. Android KitKat: Catching up
Looking at Windows Phone 8.1 in a vacuum, it seems like a solid OS upgrade. There are more features, settings, and some nice UI tweaks. Windows Phone doesn't exist in a vacuum, though, and Android is way out in front. Many of the additions to Windows Phone are similar to what we already have on Android devices, but that's fine — Microsoft needs to play catch up if it has a hope of gaining ground.
The emphasis placed on Cortana shows how seriously Microsoft is taking voice interaction. Google has a big head start in implementation, but Microsoft has been working on machine learning and voice recognition for a long time. If it can bring its full technological might to bear on Cortana, perhaps it will be the clear victor down the road.
Windows Phone 8.1 compares fairly well to Android KitKat, but Google is rumored to be planning a big revamp of the platform in the next version. Microsoft isn't planning to roll out the new Windows Phone for a few more months, which might end up being a problem as Google I/O is coming up fast.
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Illusive Man
You didn't mentioned a single thing Windows Phone 8.1 needs to catch up too. I can understand the app argument, but Android has been a round for nearly a decade.
What are these mysterious features, that the OS is lacking? Please tell us.
It still doesn't even have folders.
It doesn't have real multitasking, multi window support, USB OTG functionality, peripheral expansion ability, nor even the basic file management.
The irony is that WP and Android don't really compare since Android is actually far closer to desktop windows than WP is.
It is a full fledged OS that is implemented on screens from 1.8″-42″(or even bigger, it only depends on the TV size you plug Android into) diagonal.
WP is just a glorified feature phone operating system
Ray C
I don't think the average smart phone user puts any of those as number 1 on their list. As a matter of fact the only reason you'd find any of them talking about these issues is that people blogs and other sources love to push the feature-set game
And that is your opinion. The fact that windows phone lacks those features is not an opinion.
And I am just your everyday housewife who couldn't care less about those features. Most consumers do not care about them either , unless you happen to be a techie or computer geek. and These are in the small very small majority.
Wrong. The only reason i don't have an a Windows Phone now is because of all the lack of easy desktop style software features that Android has. File management is a big factor in my everyday phone use. Everyday, most of my actions come from a file management folder for access and launch. I barely even use other apps except for my file manager apps. To launch other apps to use whatever i'm working on.
You say it your self -"File management is a big factor in my everyday phone use."-
For 98% of the people is file management not a big factor in there everyday phone use, i use a Droid from/for work, and a WP for privet use.
And must say both have there own plus and minus points, but at the end of the day, i like WP a hell of lot better in easy to use.
The moment that comes clear to the masses, WP could be the real winner at the end of the day.
Years ago i learned that my preferences, are not always the best pick for the average users.
You and many other like you, still think that whats best for you is best for others two.
Guess what, your not a soccer mom, a office suit, or a hamburger flipper.
So for all those, the lack of those options is not a problem, and the easy use of WP is much more a plus.
Njoi Fontes
FIle management is available through third party apps
I'm not a techie. So tell me what would I do with a file manager ? How do I use it ? I have a Verizon LG G2 and I do have a file manager on there , but for the life of me I don't see any use for it.
You can browse the structure of network PC's for example, connect to a PC on the same network, and copy files to your phone using the file explorer. You can play music/videos from other devices using a file explorer. You can manage your files in one place, say you wanted to delete some pictures and documents, instead of opening the gallery and deleting the pictures, then opening the music app and deleting the music, just use a file explorer to do both?
If you don't know why you would use it, then why are you on this blog?
I read all tech blogs. I find it very interesting and to find things I might not know about. Like in your post. I just learned something new here .BTW , I didn't think one had to be a techie to read tech blogs.
Thanks , but I don't connect my phone to other devices . It's my phone , not my laptop . Have absolutely no use for a file manager and neither do anyone I know personally. We are just your common every day consumers ,
File Management is a way you find all your files like you would searching for them on your desktop computer. It gives you access and easily able to find things you wouldn't necessarily be able to locate with individual apps that populate things in their own way. A file manager lets you find then you select an item select the menu option you want for the action you want to take and then it will give you the option of which app you would like to open it with. Basically desktop functions.
Too bad KitKat just effectively killed all that functionality, huh?
I think they do….which is why almost no one uses Windows Phone.
I think the reason is more
) there are less apps
) you just do not know about the future of the system
and for many non-pros
) no one can support you, since no one else has it in your family
Fact is, that WP is a very stable, fast and easy phone OS that works quite good. It lacks some "geek" things most people do not use on their phone(!!). I am an IT pro, working with Windows, Linux and Android and I really would appreciate a more simple more stable and more phone focused device than my actual Nexus 4. Sure I can do quite fancy things with it, I just don't need this fancy things. What I would need are: no occasionaly reboots/hangs, no stuck volume control, no randomly turned off sounds….all of these can be found in several forums. Even youtube integration did not work until some months when you used google apps instead of a pure gmail account.
I am quite sure my next phone will be a WP since the development is quite good: less new features but added stability and speed.
So: you think wrong, when you think it's about file management. >90% of the users do not even know they have files on their phones…
You sir, said the exact words I tell while discussing phone os with my geek friends. I am a techie and software developer. From that point of view android is far better than wp. But if you consider a phone's purpose. Does a phone needs to edit ppt presentations or PDF files? Every gadgets we use everyday has it's own place. I need my hi budget gaming PC to play all the latest PC games, I need my laptop for my work and other stuffs, and I need my phone for…. Well for instant messaging, phone call , meeting reminder, navigation service, listening to music, email, little before sleep browsing. And I want it with basic phone like stability and battery life. No, I won't stream movies from my htpc. That would beat the purpose of the home theatre pc. I previously thought of buying a lumia, then I resisted myself because… Come on man, at least I need a little customisation like wallpaper. What the hell was MS thinking? And I hate bing search. Google search is the best. But with the new 8.1 update features, now I can finally switch to lumia. I hope I won't miss android.
If you've played with KitKat, you won't miss Android as they've killed a great deal of functionality by limiting the SD card. I'm looking into Win 8.1 right now, myself. VERY pissed off at Google now.
Have never needed or used an SD card. I prefer the on board memory . I will be happy to see the SD card slot done away with and that day will come.
Giorgi Bregvadze
The same opinion here…
The only reason I am still on Android (Nexus 5) it has far more customization than WP (Backgrounds, widgets, launchers etc), however after 8.1 update, I am already thinking to move to Lumia 930 with WP 8.1, which has still restricted customization, but as mentioned it makes WP more simple and smooth
Well said . I agree
Well iPhone doesn't have folders and that doesn't stop them.
iOS has folders for even longer than Android does.
WP also has folders. It's a Nokia app. Pretty much useless, because folders are dumb on a phone. It is a poor band aid for side scrolling, multi-desktop mess found on android and Iphone.
Android had folders way before iOS. What iOS did first was add a simple efficient way to make folders which was icons being dragged on top of each other. Before iOS having that, making folders was a multi-step pain on Android.
Lol no.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Android = Windows Mobile 6 :: as in powerful, lots of features, but much more complicated and tries to do too much. Apple's iOS is about simplicity. Microsoft rides the line between the two with Windows Phone 8.1. It includes the simplicity (app store) and yet also the powerful (VPN, same core as Windows 8.1). Most files should be cloud stored with local copies. This makes for less issues if you get a new phone, and keeps the interface simple. Why does one need files and folders? Only if one is stuck in the past with references to File Cabinets/folders/etc.
You try to make some sense but I only see flawed assumptions, heavy ignorance and prejudice.
Care to give an example on how is Android more complicated?
It is actually easier to use than WP.
In order to change a setting, you need to do 3 steps in WP, as opposed to just one in Android.
In order to reach an app/tile, you're ALWAYS forced to vertical swiping, and swiping between screens.
On Android , you can set a launcher to reach everything by just pressing.
Further, you can set up widgets to directly perform almost any action, be it contact calling, direct messaging.
How is that complicating things?
On Android, you can even chose SIMPLE UI setup, you can set up gestures for system wide actions.
And ..get this one, genius..you can simply CLEAR UP the homescreen, leaving whatever you need/removing whatever you don't need.
It is the very basic element of simplicity, that both WP and iOS are lacking!
And your theory that folders and file managers are unnecessary and dated..WTF?
In case you didnt noticed, folders are natural and logical UI element of every self respected OS,(i use it like tens of times per day on my Note 3, imagine that) ..and file managing has always been a natural and logical aspect of controlling the content of the OS.
Can't believe I even had to point that out.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
You haven't used Windows Phone, at least that seems like the case given your apparent ignorance on its features? I am somewhat ignorant and prejudice as I really like Windows Phone and find it much simpler than iOS or Androids icons. I like the integration focus of Windows Phone better than the App Silos created in the other OSes.
Not trying to cause an uproar. I have an android tablet, but I mostly use Windows devices (Win 8.1 PCs, Xbox 360s/One, Windows 8.1 tablet, Windows Phone 8).
I'm sorry that I didn't spend enough time writing out my thoughts to help you understand my perspective.
"And ..get this one, genius..you can simply CLEAR UP the homescreen, leaving whatever you need/removing whatever you don't need.
It is the very basic element of simplicity, that both WP and iOS are lacking!"
You are mistaken. On Windows Phone, you can remove everything from the screen, even the phone and text messaging. Seriously, you can make it blank, with nothing showing. You are not "Always" forced to scroll vertically. You can set whatever tiles you want on the main page, and they can be set to be small.
My comment on Android being equivalent to Windows Mobile is that it is very customizable and I agree it is more customizable than Windows Phone, due to the Widget options, and the general ideology that comes with building powerful tools and features. iPhone is like Blackberry was, when everyone had a Blackberry. Windows Phone is the OS that fits between customizable and locked down.
I know files and folders have been the mainstay and will still be for some time. However, as a builder of web applications, people don't care about files, they care about data. In web applications, data is stored elsewhere, with the web merely presenting it in different formats. No one cares that the data is in a table or a file, or what folder it is in.
I could be wrong on the future of moving past folders/files.
Don't have the time to answer in depth. .but I will only say that I used Lumia 800(WP 7.8) for 3 months, as my backup phone.
Tried to like it but really overall it was hilariously inferior compared to Android. Especially the browser.
That is my experience with it
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Ok, understandable. I haven't had any issues with the browser, but I don't do as much surfing on my phone.
Lumia 800 is from 2011 – that's 3 years ago, the phone and its OS are dated. Windows Phone 8 devices (including the lowest end Lumia 520) are leagues ahead of WP7.x handsets.
totally. i had a lumia 620 and was disappointed with it; swapped it with my father after 6 moths for a moto g who was content with only making /recieving calls and occasionally using GPS.
Somehow your naiveness, doesn't seem at all excusable. How would you access your things if the internet is down or if you don't have internet access? How would you ever have everything you own digitally stored on someone elses storage and maybe lose it all one day? Why would anyone give someone else dominion over your own digital life? You have it completely wrong about the future. With the way government and corporations are moving, the public is all that more adamant to move away from internet storage for personal storage.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Sure, there are people who are adamant about it. However, the majority of people don't actually care that much, sad, but true.
I have my own server that I use for storage as well as using cloud providers. I don't have much sensitive data, but I do encrypt things as needed. I have local copies and backups.
As for Phones, they either have Internet and work or they don't have Internet and no longer work. It is a device that needs network connectivity or it is no longer a phone, but a small tablet. In either case, the OS handles the storage of content both locally and out to the cloud. You want music, you look it up in the music app by artist, or genre, or album, or song title. No folders needed. You want videos, same thing really. Need documents, then you can have folders and such, on MS products, OneDrive provides folders for documents–which apply to the cloud, more so than the device.
Please verify what you are saying. Cloud storage and networking has been predicted to grow by 16 times by 2016 google it. PLease make sure you read what you type cuz you are showing your naiveness here. There is no point in making your opinion a fact by presenting wrong information. People support Cloud because as technology grows security grows and cloud being a much better storage option people wont fear the loss of data. Now what are people going to store in the cloud? If there is anything that the customer fears he can keep it safe somewhere else
I don't like storing in the cloud because my data is limited and cloud storage uses my data.
I think by complicated, he means "Us iphone users are too stupid to set up such complicated tasks as using tasker widgets and such or use our own media without having a hurdle of paying for everything just so we can access it!"
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Not sure where you get all that. I did not state any one was "too stupid", and if it is difficult, then the interface is what needs work, not the person.
Easier to use than WP, You need vertical scrolling to reach out stuff in windows? Which platform sports multiple home screens mess and more? you need multiple swipes in android while at max 1 in windows. With 8,1 setting need just 1 click and folders exist in windows phone, but who gives a shit about folders? They are ancient. Tell me what you mean launcher to set up everything at your reaches? Isn't that like keeping lots of shortcuts on home screen? Oh wait a minute isn't that making it like windows phone homescreen where you pin everything to start?
To be unbiased as a user of all three platforms I love IOS the best and then Android, but with 8.1 all my problems with windows phone are solved (except the store) likely be the best OS for phone now. Even the app store is not very Tiny , microsoft is trying to make it big so I think the store will have all important apps soon.
You seem to have very poor and stereotyped Android knowledge.
It IS the easiest OS to use, if you put just a little effort and time in it..is that too much to ask from any smartphone user these days?
You can reach any app, any widget, any screen without a single swipe.
For example, even Samsung stock launcher gives you that ability by default – just press on the dots that are representing the respective home screens or screens in the app drawer.
Go launcher has the same thing.
Njoi Fontes
Uau dude you are insane if you think that android cluttered mess of a UI is the easiest to use. This is not even debatable, multiple screens, each one with a different design language, etc. WP and ios are far easier to use. Folders are completely unnecessary in windows phone since you can fit so much stuff on screen at once. BTW your homescreen is tipical of any android homescreen: a huge waist of real estate and ugly compared to a wp 8.1 homescreen. I can fit 60 Small live tiles on my screen, and by using a mix of large, small and medium I have an average of 22 on each screen, all while looking awesome.
Cluttered mess, you say? I have ONE homescreen from which I can open my most used apps with one click or one swipe. I can also swipe down from ANYWHERE to open my notification shade(I hide it). I can swipe up for access to my app drawer, which I've set up to be a scroll vertically as opposed to pages. I can double tap for setting. I can hide the dock, open the app drawer and access quick settings via icons on my homescreen. Two finger swipe up or down gives my my launcher settings. There is also the useful built-in ability to swipe up on the Home button to access Google Now. I'm not a big fan of widgets and I only really use one to see battery life, but they are there for those that DO like them.
Now, I have definitely seen cluttered Android phones, but that is the fault of the user, not the OS. The OS allows the user to set the phone up in any fashion they'd like. Downloading a new launcher can allow you to do quite a bit by way of customisation, and dropping a few dollars on the paid version will allow you to do a lot more(I got Nova on sale for $0.25).
If you like the aesthetics and usability of WP, that's fine. However to say that Android is a 'cluttered mess' is ridiculous. If one spends 30 minutes optimising the appearance, they can increase its ease-of-use. It doesn't take a tech-whiz to do any of the optimisation, nor does it take one to use the device afterwards. All it takes is tap-and-hold, selecting from menus, tap-and-resize and other actions that should seem natural to anyone that has used a mobile device in the past 5 years.
Adolf Kleinhans
man I just read the first paragraph of what you said and you already proved the point. Yes, it is very easy to use, and yes it is way more productive, but ONLY for me and you and other tech savvie guys like us.
All those swipes and touches and screens, the average user doesnt use one sixth of that functionality, it just makes them go: O-o …..
I personally use an android tablet (Becuase its better games, movies, blah blah) but I use a WP as a phone. It's much more suited for everyday use, going uot with friends, heading to the office or just what ever.
When im at home laying back on my couch, then I pull out the tablet to do other stuff.
It just isnt debatable, Android is better for tablets (Although the new Surface pro 3 just wipes the flour from what my friends tell me), and WP is a much better 3-5″ phone OS.
Eric M
What is that lock screen/launcher you're using in the screenshot, by the way? It looks pretty cool.
Launcher is 'Nova Prime'. Icon set is 'Min'. The circular battery widget is 'Battery Widget Reborn'. The old setup had some built-in icons from Nova, I have since switched to an all 'Min' icon set and lost the remote shortcut altogether since Western Digital ruined their app with the latest update. I have it setup so the dock auto-hides after any actions. It's not much by way of security in the event I lost my phone, but it is for leaving it on the table for a minute or two because people do not immediately know how to open up my apps.
And to Adolf, one does NOT need to be tech-savvy to do any of what I have done. One just needs to NOT be lazy and complacent. If it were required to enter commands into a Terminal Emulator or gain root access, well, then you may be correct in your statement, but this is purely point-and-click or press-and-hold modification.
Eric M
Thanks, I'll check those out. I love the easy customizability of Android.
Well I personally don't like using a lot of apps and no widgets . Just uses so much Ram.. By the way . I have the Verizon LG G2 32GB and have lots of space and still don't like a lot of apps and widgets. Don't use all that many
really, I can put the Setting to the Start Screen and launch it in 1 just 1 step. And so do the apps, just pin it on startscreen and tap it. And have to admit, i love the way of tiles displaying than the boring Android and iOS launcher =)) LOL
Akhilesh Bhambhani
Dude just use a Wp8.1 device and see for yourself.
it HAS a file manager official one coming up by Ms and 3rd party ones available.
it allows you to cut copy paste edit documents and other stuff. You can join your home network access files,from pc copy paste them to phone or from phone to pc just as smooth as drag and drop even rename those files and watch them over your phone. It gives you seamless integration with your pc or laptop office integration is terrific and onedrive is also cool to access stuff on the cloud. Have remote desktop app and teamviewer to remotely control devices at decent speed. So basically it gives an average or a business end users what they want. People in It have shifted over to wp because it integrates with all ms services just perfectly. Yess one thing it lacks is customization where as in Android sky is the limit. And yea you even have folders to have multiple apps at on place for fast access so just use a windows phone for 30mins and you'll see for yourself. There are SO many substitutes for google services and work just fine. So basically it is ACTUALLY somewhere between ios and Android where you don't have to tweak much to get a decent performance on battery or reduce lag after 8months of Use. It works just smoothly.
digvijay singh
Use fileEx…
It's native file manager for wp8.1
Apply this to yourself and a few others , but not to the majority of phone users
You make no sense. Everyone i know that has an Iphone always comes up to me asking "How do you do what you do with your Android Phone, with my Iphone?" I tell them, "They can't! Because my phone is like a little laptop. And your phone is just for spending money on media." I can access, save, upload, share, all my media directly on my phone and to my phone and from my phone, to other devices without any cloud requirements. Why would any moron prefer to have a hurdle to access their own media?
My friend has an android, and can't even share a picture with it. WP has every sharing feature that exists. That includes tap to send that can actually share full files not just tiny playlists.
Puskar Kandel
Its not Google's fault your friend is stupid :P
On that note, maybe I'm uninformed… But just yesterday I was trying to share a video from the iPad–no idea at all where to begin. I get the feeling the whole iOS the best mobile OS is exaggerated.
Read below.
android cant share pics, eh? you are an idiot
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
I have access to all my media. There weren't hurdles for me. But then I have a home server that is easily accessible for me.
Adolf Kleinhans
One word: OneDrive
Yes, it uses cloud, but how on earth are you " access, save, upload, share, all my media directly on my phone and to my phone and from my phone, to other devices" without having an wireless connection? You can't. So why not just use cloud?
Have you ever heard of a MicroUSB cable?
Come on dude… At least TRY and use ur brain
You are limited as to what you can put on an SD card
I bet many morons that now have KitKat installed are asking themselves that question about that hurdle to their media on external SD. Selling my now garbage phones and heading to Windows 8.1. Toodles.
I don't want a computer on my phone.
Tyrone Thompson
You know your phone is a computer right?
You sound like the average Iphone owner.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ablelawrence Able Lawrence
Wake up on alarm.
http://aaronenvoy.tumblr.com/ Aaron Abraham
The limited multi tasking is the reason why WP works so well in the lowend. Its why Lumia 520 was such a success.
I think that 'great' multitasking on Android is simply inferior process supervising (in the mobile context), compared to WP that is.
http://aaronenvoy.tumblr.com/ Aaron Abraham
Yes multitasking in Android still doesn't come close to the multitasking done in old Symbian phones or the Web OS.
Lumias and ATIVs have folders.
There's a file picker similar to file manager
The rest I cant really argue (although its been know for a while that USB OTG and peripheral expansion would be present later this year with a GDR update). WP8.1 has indeed closed the feature gap that most "regular smartphone users" care about
Njoi Fontes
You have no idea of what you are talking about. WP does have folders, it is provided by nokia… Multitasking works where it maters (on apps that play music or video, and mapping apps). Nobody gives s shit about multi window support… File management is available as well through third party apps. Try doing some research next time. WP is much better than android for 99% of users. It is much more stable and runs much faster on slower hardware. It is also virus and Trojan free and no matter how much you tweak android it is never as good looking as windows phone 8.1.
Plus multi window support is rather quirky on Android, isn't it? On the other hand, larger MS devices, tablets, run Windows, and it does multi window multitasking multi whatever better.
the ignorance level in this post is so high its mind blowing.
NA Na Na . Android is nowhere near Desktop Windows. Man you're living in a dream world.
Do you mean that you can't change the icon symbol for the cursor? If by that you mean no where near, then maybe yes. But i bet that is a silly notion because Android doesn't need a cursor on a touch screen. Unless you are inputting text or something.
Dante Sparda
the only thing android & windows desktop have in common is they are mostly in danger of virus infection,nothing else kiddo.
when you compare these 2 sure you only browse web & watch movie with desktop,no doubt.
you don't even know showing folders can be gained through making an app not changing the WHOLE OS (they are doing that already)
real multitasking? huh like android closes my apps in random without even asking,yeah i see.
WP had real multitasking when android didn't even exist as an os kiddo,
before and1.6.
sure you don't know that like many other things.
Android is incomparably more flexible and secure than windows..It can be used in anything, from a smart watch to full desktop environment.
In a desktop environment, only difference is the vast advantage in professional application that can be used with windows..but that doesn't have anything to do with the underlying software.
It is simply a matter of legacy in app writing.
Even the most professional windows desktop apps are technically possible to be written for android.
The fact no one is doing it doesn't mean Android is incapable of running them.
Provided Android gains some desktop market share with products such as this one, you could see any program ported to android eventually.
Wp8.1 is coming with file manager named "files" in store. You will be now able to do all basic things like move,copy,paste,rename and details of the file…you can even make new folder.check it out in june.
Let's not overlook the glaring fact that Windows doesn't give you shit either about wanting to use an ext sd card. FUCK Kitkat, Google, Larry and Sergey. Glad to be getting that whole data-mining debacle out of my hair and Windows 8.1 now provides the escape pod.
http://www.facebook.com/djjohnmtv John Abraham
Phones that helps us daily
Multitasking is possible
Wont HANGS Like Android
If android is better then y are companies like HTC LG Song etc likes to move on to Windows phone???
They Know that android is Old and its reaching Grave Point.
I don't care about folders. I don't know of anyone who uses folders. Folders are not important as it's a phone , not your laptop
http://www.elitecomics.net/ gerry rivers
File manager is there now. But even android doesn't have multi window support nor does IOS and why would u need it on a phone. Plus android may can stretch to larger screens but the apps look horrible on big screens hence why android is not a desktop system. Mhl cables for windows phone works just like a micro HDMI cable used for android
Carlos Barros
we dont need real multitask, its only needed at PC not at mobile. please take a classe of Science Computer! ignorant.
Ray C
LOL @ the articles I see on this site. They'll have these crazy misguided article titles when it's about a Microsoft product. Then it will spend 90% of the article talking about the good things in a Microsoft product. It will be about 10% negative. And the final verdict will be "it's ok" but not that good. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Microsoft isn't going to have 100% of everything that is on other platforms overnight or in a few months. But at the end of the day 8.1 is a great update that's been positively accepted on almost every other site I've visited or media outlets I've taken a listen to that cover tech. I've rarely heard anyone say "I'm not getting Windows Phone because it doesn't have this" or "I switched from iPhone or Android for these 1 or 2 small features." Very rarely is it someone who doesn't work in tech that even talks about features missing among platforms other than those that have been really pushed in advertising.
Sunset Rider
"Rome wasn't built in a day, and Microsoft isn't going to have 100% of everything that is on other platforms overnight or in a few months."
Windows Phone has been around for 4 years now. The excuse that Windows Phone is new and therefor gets a free pass because it needs time to catch up, no longer holds weight.
In the same 4 years, Android has grown from 2.3 Gingerbread to 4.4 KitKat, and has amassed 1.2 million apps.
I agree. If W8 and Windows Phone had the aggressive improvement model that Xbox division seems to be pulling off, they'd be much more competitive. Beyond the real pros and cons of these OS's, there this feeling of sluggishness, or being always a step behind. People don't like spending money on tech that is behind.
I understand the apps story, and it will take market share for the apps to improve on WP. However, concerning sluggishness, even my kids old WP7.8 phones run quicker and smoother than my friends Android phones, and my wife's and my WP8 phones are way faster and smoother. The tech with WP is not behind, but the marketshare / apps ecosystem is.
I didn't mean sluggish performance. I was talking about feature updates.
Matjaž Miler
It's no longer new, I agree, but Microsoft seems to be putting a lot of their resources into synchronizing and eventually merging their different operating systems, and many individual features are being put on the side as a result. They won't be getting many users fast this way, but in the long term their current strategy does make a lot more sense than chasing down users when the mobile landscape is so prone to quick changes.
"Merely" having a popular mobile OS doesn't guarantee it'll stay popular for long. Just look at Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm. Even iOS is no longer dominant, even though just a few years ago iPhone and smartphone were often considered synonymous. Microsoft lost at this game once already and it looks like they don't want to play it by the same rules this time around.
A very strong tie to their other systems (far beyond simple data syncing) just might work out better in the long run. But right now, they still have money to burn and a name that can take some further beating if it has to.
This..i love you
Njoi Fontes
Actually since wp8 was a complete reboot of wp7 in a different kernel, The current version of windows is little over 2 years old.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Obviously the writer is heavily weighted toward Android. Skipping the Cortana can tie reminders to actual people, and that personalized data is better for a personal assistant than aggregate data. And we don't actually know enough to do a real comparison, so we'll wait and see.
Jeff Goldman
I bought a Lumia 521 for $60 so I could check out Windows Phone 8. It's a nice phone (especially for the price) and the OS is solid. The problem is they needed this 3-4 years ago when Android was still growing, Apple wasn't at its peak, Blackberry still had a significant market share. With the Smartphone market 65-70% saturated they can't just cater to new users. They have to figure out how to get people to switch from Android or iOS and that is VERY HARD. Once you learn an OS and invest time and money into learning (think MS-DOS or Windows 3.1 being the far inferior OS to the Mac) it you're not apt to switch. So getting Android or iOS users to switch to WP8 is going to be very hard. The depth and breadth of WP8 apps is still lacking even with 250K apps – I'd say about half of my apps on Android weren't available on WP8 (and I'm not even talking games as I don't game on my phone, just my tablet. Also, most users with a smartphone also have a tablet with that OS and no additional cost for the apps for the tablet. It's very rare for an iPhone user not to have some type of iPod touch or iPad and more and more Android users are getting tablets (especially with the affordability of the Nexus 7). There is no compelling feature to get them to switch and in fact MS has excellent support for both rival OSes (mobile Office, OneDrive, Outlook, Skype) are all well or better supported than the WP8 apps.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
It'll be interesting to see how things progress. Microsoft may be slow, but it isn't dead or dying. They are still making tons of money. Also the market for Smartphones is not yet saturated. I know plenty of people still using old phones and aren't upgrading until their phones die. It may take a while. Also, in markets outside the first world countries, people haven't even started getting smartphones, though they are more likely to get smartphones than computers.
My kids have 521s, and I'm pretty impressed. The speakers are pretty much amazing. For the price difference between their phones and mine, the 521 has everything I need. I'll probably buy it's future equivalent when the time comes for me to buy a new phone.
Ironically, it seems that Nokia's replacement for the Lumia 520 is actually the Android-toting Nokia X.
Elop launched the Lumia 630/635, in his own words "as the new low-end Windows Phone replacing the 520″, despite being in a different price bracket to it.
http://aaronenvoy.tumblr.com/ Aaron Abraham
Nokia x is not a replacement of Lumia 520 its Lumia 525.. Both have similar specs infact X having slightly more lowend one. Lumia 630 launch price of 150-160 is actually pretty closer to Lumia 520 and much lower than 620.
The L525 was not given a worldwide release, and just released in Asia.
And it's not really a different phone to the L520. Just the RAM was changed and the back cover design.
http://aaronenvoy.tumblr.com/ Aaron Abraham
Agreed still X is not the Lumia 520 successor, its the Lumia 630.
Jeff Goldman
If you want something a little nicer (bigger/higher res screen, faster) you might need to move up to something like the 925/928 (Just saw a deal for the 928 for around $200 unlocked). I do find the 521 to be a little slow when starting apps and especially when switching apps – the 512K really shows up as a limitation. Also, after having a 4.7″ S3 and now a 5.2″ LG G2 I do find the 3.7″ screen to be a little small. The problem with WP8 is they seem to have gone low/high end with nothing in the middle. What I mean is the 520/521 and the new 630/635 are all low end with 800×480 screens, 512 RAM, and 5 MP cameras with no flash. There is no middle end with the Lumias (720P/10MP+ camera, 16 GB on board with micros SD expansion, etc.). It also depends what carrier you're looking for – if you are with Sprint/Verizon or one of their pre-paid affiliates your choices are very limited and usually expensive. If you're going the TMo or ATT (both GSM) then you have a much wider choice of phones.
Parishrut Pandey
The speakers are crap. I have a 525 and my old Nokia 5800 performs MUCH better in terms of audio.
But then maybe that is because it was an xpressmusic.
Actually, Microsoft could have it all today. If they really wanted it. But they are making a huge mistake. Instead of opening up the flood gates, they are doing the nickle and dime the public routine. They should just create one multiplatform software that works on any device! They already have all the patents and even Google pays them patent fees for their own software use. Microsoft makes more money from Google then its own software licensing sales right now. But Microsoft has been sleeping at the helm and because they did that, we now have this situation. Microsoft can break this whole thing open and steam roll this whole thing with one decisive move. But nobody at the helm has had the foresight to really make the smart moves that Gates made. I hope Gates makes something happen soon.
MS is working on a multiplatform system, and are aligning the core components to make this possible. However, I think they are hesitant to make sweeping changes across their entire footprint at once (a pretty risky move), so they are taking an incremental approach.
http://gcomputer.net/ DarkGray Knight
Really, they are almost there in many cases. By next Build, they will probably be at that point.
Android is moving as many hardware units every six weeks as the entire Windows 8.x installed base. They had better kick it into high gear if they want to win.
http://aaronenvoy.tumblr.com/ Aaron Abraham
where is ur facts for that claim.
fariz ascariz
IOS user are confius with the 'folder' term. It's not folder in your homescreen, it's folder in file management. What wp wanna do now is the same way like ios do. Once u in, u cant get out. U die as wp user, same with ios. Thats why so many restriction. Android? Every1 love it, but not the lagness. Wp is new? First time i try wp on my friend phone, i said in my heart 'damn, this cheap wp phone much smoother than my hard tweaked android SGS3′. Now im looking for wp phone. But the problem is, the price. Nokia still release phone with quite expensive price and have just 5MP camera. If wanna make cheap phone, at least 8MP man… Its 2014, not 2009..
http://www.android.com/ HyperTallih
Stan Yu
WP is no better than Android, Even Nokia knows this; That's why they made the Nokia X, to try and get a piece of that "BIG cake".
I had a Lumia 610, running WP 7.8. Worst phone I've ever owned, it lacked even basic features such as bluetooth share. In my opinion MS is just playing the "Catch-up" strategy, WP8.1 might be better than WP7, with more features, but is it better than Kitkat 4.4? The marketshare says NO!
One huge omission still holding me back from Windows 8.1 is the lack of "voice everywhere". On the iPhone and Android devices, the mic for dictation is right on the standard keyboard. Not so with the Windows phone.
http://batman-news.com/ bountybunker
I don't get this no folder thing. If you go to one drive in WP8 you see folders. The great thing is that you can access these folders on all your LiveID accounts as well. If you look at a lot of apps that Google has they are useless with companies like their parent company ditching products faster than a slut changing guys. I don't trust google and that is why I have big problems with their products. There is just no telling where the axe is going to swing next.
Microsoft did a terrific job with WP 8.1. Yes I think Microsoft has caught up with IOS and Android. We really really need the competition and will get better and better I am sure. Anyway I want Microsoft to succeed with WP.
If the power is good and the price is right, why not? Android use to make powerful phones, but instead started to dumb down their specs for the sake of more Apps like Apple.
If Windows continues to use powerful specs and continues to not have enough apps, I could live with that, since Apps aren't my money buying point since I carry a tablet with me too.
Windows are planning to implement a folder system later on.
Multitasking has been included (Apps are suspended and can be swiped up or down)
Users are also presented with multiple options when a Windows Phone 8.1 device is connected to a computer via USB.
Added Swype style keyboard
Microsoft IE 11 The updated browser also includes a new YouTube web player with support for HTML5 videos and closed captions, the ability to pin websites as live tiles, support for inline video, and the ability to save passwords. Furthermore, users can now open an unlimited number of tabs, instead of the previous maximum of 6
Except thanks to all these new features the 512MB RAM doesn't give the same fluidity as it did on WP8/7. I wish Nokia would stop being cheap about RAM already.
Sounds nice. If the next iPhone doesn't come with an upgraded and stronger USB cables, I think I'm going Windows with my phone as well. I could do without the Apps, since most Apps are just simpler versions of what you can do on a web browser.
Its simple economics, why would anyone pay more phore a Windows Phone and get less features, app market?
Get Android 4.4 KitKat on any Android phone without root! Works with older devices too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdYU_VSbhY
http://www.wikiforu.com/ Gurjit Singh Khehra
This is a pure user review of Windows Phone OS after using Nokia Lumia and Nexus 4 for over a month. Actually, a friend of mine who was a Microsoft fan boy, suggested me to try Windows Phone and he did all that blah blah which fan boys use to do.
So, I gave it a try, and after using Windows Phone for over a month, I'd say Android and even iOS are much much better than Windows Phone OS.
As my Windows Phone was manufactured by Nokia, so I assumed that its definitely gonna compete Nexus in terms of battery backup, but even with much clearer display and better performance, Nexus did last much more than Nokia. And the battery saver app doesn't really make any difference, while on Nexus I wasn't using any battery saver app but still I'd use to use for 3-4 days after charging once.
The other thing is that Music Volume and quality in headphones is much better in Nexus Android than WP. Actually, the loudspeaker's volume was a little high in Windows Phone but it totally sucked at headphones.
Hanging/Lagging Problem: One of the arguments that my friend made to me was that Windows Phone never hangs or kinda lag as Android does. But honestly, I never got a message on my Android saying that 'X app has stopped working' for any of the apps that I was using but on Windows Phone, the music player would sometimes play a totally different file, while I'd have clicked/touched on another one. I had to touch 'Skype' icon multiple times in order to run skype and even being a totally Microsoft's product, they couldn't get it to work perfectly on their own OS. Sometimes, I'd call someone and it'll say no answer without calling the user. I had to touch the call button multiple times.
So after trying both devices thoroughly, I'd say go for Android and if you are bored by Android, then go for iOS, but WP? I wouldn't personally recommend it.
For now android is simple n best. Wp cant install or export program file to sd wich a great adv to memory mgt. No privacy like vault in android. Down for window
http://www.elitecomics.net/ gerry rivers
Well I'm late but everyone knows now that the file manager is there now
Having used both Android and Windows I can say Windows is by far more practical, easier to use and better at managing my data, files and other email accounts. Especially emails from a non gmail account. Everything is on onedrive vs 6 google accounts that I have to manage separately. The settings for every app are a mess, I could do everything in half the steps with Windows. Sure there are more apps on Android but the good ones worth having are also on Windows. I am really not bias here as I use both google and windows products at work, I am pretty tech savy and after having switched to android I want windows back.
Carlos Barros
android sux its not stable! WP is much better than this shit.
Carlos Barros
I dont need real multitask, its a PC feature, not for mobile. Its a poor justification.
You may not but many people are now using their phone in place of their PC, so real multitasking currently is, and will only become more of, an important feature.
Carlos Barros
android would never be solid and stable as windows phone and iOS!
Dylon Swartwood
i've used both, i have a lumia icon and an htc one m8 (will be getting the htc one m8 for windows) they are both amazing, for those who want more apps and customization, go android (although windows phone is catching up in that area, they are still behind) if you want simplicity and a new design, go windows phone, both are amazing operating systems and you will love either one you get, just don't go ios,
Steve Vatev
Windows Phone do have folders, and absolutely all features discussed if one actually used one, ask me about a feature and ill tell you how to access it. Wp8.1 lags nothing. Its faster, less memory, processor, battery consuming device. Does more integration than any other os, has native applications cross platform, quality market place (not always) ut better than play store or apple. Devices are solid, at least Nokia, fully integrated UI, people say this and,that, but never actually explored the interface. There is nothing that is missing, again hjt me with a question, ill give you the answer. Sick off ill informed statements on the web. I challenge all of you
Vinod Shalgar
I bought new Windows Phone (Lumia 1320) today.. earlier i was using Dell Streak 5 which is Android 2.2.. now i am really thinking whether i have done right decision or wrong decision.. the kinds of application which are available on Windows Store are of very low quality and looks like developed by novice developers and most of these apps are paid.. i was searching for one simple app such as file explorer and media player on Windows Store similar like ES File Explore and MX Player but I was unable to get it. Some are available but they are paid.. same thing is not true in Android…there are thousands of quality apps which are absolutely free..
Vinod Shalgar
I think it will take another min 5 year for WP to match with Android
So i currently own a Windows Phone 8. It is a Nokia Lumia 928. It is supposed to bring direct competition to the iphone 5s, google nexus 5, and samsung glaxy s5. However it it brings with it a bedget price. As opposed to $300+ for a new phone a Lumia 928 can be purchased for $99.00 outright. It supports basic things like Internet browsing with IE11, Text Messaging, Email using a mobile outlook, which you can also sync to your corporate email, which is nice to have if you need that feature. It is fast, reliable, stable, 4G, and makes good use of microsofts skydrive, with a complete mobile office suite. So, as far as stability goes, i need to say that the windows phone 8, not even 8.1, is a solid phone for making calls, texting, emailing, browsing, and syncing data to the skydrive that you would like to share on multiple devices.
All that said, there are some features that may turn some people away from the platform, and it is not live tiles, because quite frankly the live tile system for me, is far and away superior to the icons system on androids and iOS's. But that is simply a preferance of mine. What im going to hit on here are apps. iOS and android simply have more of them. WP is still in instagram beta and does not curently support video, there are third party apps that you can use that support it though and they arent bad, but its not directly from instagram. Pintrest is another one that is missing on the WP. So there are a few rather big apps missing that could turn people away, and the list does not stop at those 2.
That being said, if i have a choice in my phone, ill take the one that is stable, with good battery life, and is 99$ out the door and just as good for the average person out there as any other smart phone. If i have to use a third party app for instagram and pintrest then so be it. It simply isnt worth it to me to pay an additional 200$ for a phone just for a few apps, and even more money than that in some cases.
Like a lot of others that have commented on this article, i too am an IT professional. I work on the network side of IT and microsofts cloud approach works just fine, and in some cases even better than a local accessible file system on android. Im not saying it is better, im simply saying they approach the way data is shared in 2 drastically different ways but they are 2 sides of the same coin at the end of the day. Personally, i wont ever own another android or iOS again after my experience on a WP8. As long as microsoft can continue this approach i can see this phone gaining momentum and becomeing a mainstay in the mobile market. Im not saying it is better than android or iOS, im saying it is a competitor to the android and iOS market. I would not be suprised if the WP eventually gobbles up a 20-25% share of the mobile phone market. It is simply that good and the price is right for what you get.
Mithool Jain
Check out my article outlining features that are unique to WP


text:
May 11 2009
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
IMPORTANT: Be sure to use a cake pan that's at least 2 inches deep! Before baking, the batter should not fill the pan more than halfway.
I was bored (read: hungry, ravenous, craving sugar) yesterday and I had a bunch of strawberries in my fridge. I also had a laundry room filled with dirty laundry, a sink full of breakfast dishes, and a major ax to grind.
So I decided to bake. It's what I do when I have an ax to grind.
I came *this close* to making strawberry shortcake—I had plenty of heavy cream in my fridge as well, which I could easily have sweetened, whipped, and plopped over the top of sweet biscuits and syrupy strawberries. Been there, done that…dozens of times.
But yesterday, I wanted to be different.
So I created something else. I created…a cake. It's a cross between strawberry shortcake and strawberry cake. And get this: I got really creative and decided to name it…Strawberry Shortcake Cake. I'm creative that way.
The Cast of Characters (for the cake): Unsalted Butter, Sugar, Eggs, Sour Cream, Vanilla, Baking Soda, Flour, Salt, and Cornstarch.
For the icing/topping: Fresh Strawberries, Unsalted Butter, Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla. And a dash of salt, too.
Begin by sifting together flour, salt, baking soda, and cornstarch. This cake is adapted from one of my favorite sponge cake recipes of all time. I knew it would be perfect for this cake—I'll show you why later.
Sift the ingredients onto a sheet of waxed paper; that way, you can fold it up and carry it over to the mixer in a minute.
Throw the butter and sugar into the mixing bowl.
Cream it till it's light and fluffy.
(Do you write till? Or do you write 'til? I wrote 'til till someone recently set me straight.)
(Or do you write until, like most literate people do?)
Never mind. Don't answer that.
Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing gently after each addition.
Now dump in the sifted ingredients…
And mix it just until ingredients are combined. I usually stop just short of it being totally combined so I can give it a stir or two with the rubber spatula.
You need an 8-inch cake pan. I decided to do 8-inch instead of 10-inch because it's smaller and cuter.
Very unlike my bottom.
VERY generously spray the bottom and sides of the pan with cooking spray, which, let's face it, is SO much easier than rubbing the inside of the pan with butter, then tapping flour all over it.
I praise the DAY I discovered cooking SPRAY.
That could be a jingle, a poem, or a rap, depending on your needs.
Pour the batter into the greased pan…
Then, with an offset spatula, get the surface as level as you can.
Then bake the cake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until no longer jiggly. And please note: the cake tends to get pretty golden brown on the outside when it bakes…but it's perfect inside. Here, I've inverted the baked cake onto a cooling rack and placed it by an open window (it was cool outside yesterday) so it'll hurry up and cool down—it has to be completely cooled before I can ice it.
Meanwhile, stem and slice the strawberries. I love using the tip of a spoon to stem strawberries; that's how my mom always did it.
Slice them in half from top to bottom.
Throw the strawberry halves into a bowl…
Sprinkle the sugar over the top.
Now, let the strawberries sit for 30 minutes. They'll begin to give off juice, which will mix with the sugar to form a nice syrupy liquid. Delish.
After 30 minutes, mash the strawberries on a plate with a fork.
Once they're mashed (you can mash as much or as little as you'd like), sprinkle on a little more sugar. Let them sit for another 30 minutes to get nice and juicy and syrupy. (I halved the strawberries and mashed them on two separate plates.)
(And for you adventurous types: here's where you could splash just a little bit of Grand Marnier over the strawberries. It'll make the cake extra yum, and will cure your aches and pains.)
Once the cake is completely cooled, make the icing. Throw the cream cheese and unsalted butter into the mixing bowl…
Mix it together till light and fluffy.
Sift the powdered sugar and throw it in. Add the vanilla here, too, along with a dash of salt.
Beat the icing until it's light and fluffy, about a minute on high. This is where the whisk attachment of your mixer comes into play—it really gets the air into the icing. (A hand mixer works just as well!)
Mmmm. Cream cheese icing. The stuff that dreams are made of.
Make sure the cake isn't the least bit warm.
Then, with a long, serrated knife, slice the cake perfectly in half.
The texture of this cake is really something. Here's why I decided to use it:
It's substantial enough to hold up when you spread the strawberries over the top. Half the berries go on the bottom…
Be sure to pour all the sweet juices over the top. They'll soak into the cake and make you a happier person.
Now, repeat with the other half the cake and the other half of the berries, then place both halves into the freezer for about five minutes. Go ahead and stick the icing into the freezer, too. This'll cool everything down just a bit and help the icing process. (Just don't let the icing stay in much longer than that; the butter will become firm very quickly.)
When you're ready, place the bottom half onto a pretty cake plate or pedestal. I love this dadgum pedestal.
I got it on eBay, like, last century. Quite literally. Fenton Milk Glass. Totally kitschy, man.
Plop a little less than a third of the icing on top of the strawberries…
And spread it out, being careful not to disrupt the strawberries too much.
No need to be overly neat. The icing can hang over the sides a little.
Next, place the other strawberry-covered half on top.
Plop half of the remaining icing on top…
And spread it out evenly, being careful not to disrupt the strawberries too much.
*Important: at this stage, I stuck the cake back into the freezer for about 5 to 7 minutes before icing the rest of it. It's a crazy habit of mine.
When you pull it out, begin to panic when you realize you're losing daylight fast. Use the remaining icing to cover the sides of the cake.
If you get icing on the plate or pedestal, just use a damp paper towel or cloth to clean it right off. Marlboro Man always makes fun of me when I do this, especially when I'm serving the kids Spaghetti-O's.
Well HELLO, my beautiful lover! It's very nice to finally meet you face to face.
I think the cake looks nice the way it is—you can see hints of strawberries peeking through the icing, and it's sort of natural and uncontrived. But if you wanted to, you could artfully arrange strawberry halves all over the top in any number of designs.
But I'd rather spend that time eating it.
I can't really talk about how good this was. If I tried, I might start crying.
It's the best strawberry shortcake cake I've ever eaten. An absolute delight!
Print Options
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Difficulty:
- Easy
- Servings:
- 10
- Cake
- 1-1/2 cup Flour
- 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 9 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1-1/2 cup Sugar
- 3 whole Large Eggs
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream, Room Temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- _____
- Icing
- 1/2 pound Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
- 2 sticks Unsalted Butter
- 1-1/2 pound Powdered Sugar, Sifted
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 pound Strawberries
Preparation Instructions
IMPORTANT: Be sure to use a cake pan that's at least 2 inches deep! Before baking, the batter should not fill the pan more than halfway.
Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and corn starch.
Cream 9 tablespoons butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well each time. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just barely combined.
Pour into greased and floured 8-inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until no longer jiggly like my bottom. Remove from cake pan as soon as you pull it out of the oven, and place on a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.
Stem strawberries and slice them in half from bottom to top. Place into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, mash the strawberries in two batches. Sprinkle each half with 1 tablespoons sugar and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
Make icing: combine cream cheese, 2 sticks butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until very light and fluffy.
Slice cake in half through the middle. Spread strawberries evenly over each half (cut side up), pouring on all the juices. Place cake halves into the freezer for five minutes, just to make icing easier.
Remove from freezer. Use a little less than 1/3 of the icing to spread over the top of the strawberries on the bottom layer. Place the second layer on top. Add half of the remaining icing to the top spreading evenly, then spread the remaining 1/3 cup around the sides.
Leave plain OR garnish with strawberry halves.
IMPORTANT: Cake is best when served slightly cool. The butter content in the icing will cause it to soften at room temperature. For best results, store in the fridge!
581 Comments
bRENDA On Monday, May 11 at 3:20 pm
Can I just live with you……please???
Savvytech On Monday, May 11 at 3:20 pm
I am drooling on my keyboard right now! This is going to the top of my MUST TRY list. Oh, and will you please adopt me? -what's one more punk around your place? =)
LadyZ On Monday, May 11 at 3:21 pm
Jennifer On Monday, May 11 at 3:23 pm
Definitely going to try this one! I love just about anything made with strawberries. Thanks for the recipe!
Rooth On Monday, May 11 at 3:25 pm
Yum double yum now wouldn't this be heavenly with Boysenberries too? or Peaches ! Yeah that's the ticket oh my goodness PEACHES!
cristina On Monday, May 11 at 3:27 pm
I don't believe you that is THE BEST EVER, so I will have to try it myself. =P
Annie G On Monday, May 11 at 3:28 pm
That's one pretty cake. I have a ton of strawberries. This looks like a good thing to try. Thanks Ree
Janet On Monday, May 11 at 3:34 pm
Any bite taken with my eyes closed is calorie-free. Right?
Nicole On Monday, May 11 at 3:34 pm
DAMMIT Ree! WHY?!!!!
I was just driving home thinking "I think I'm losing weight". And now I'll be forced to make this on Friday and kill any one who tries to eat a slice. So I'll gain weight AND go to jail.
I hope you're happy.
Renee On Monday, May 11 at 3:36 pm
I totally LOVE strawberry shortcake! I always make it for my birthday in July…guess what I will be making this year!!! (Ok probably several times prior to my birthday as well!!)
Kristianna On Monday, May 11 at 3:37 pm
Yum. I always heard this called a strawberry 'tallcake'.
Lara On Monday, May 11 at 3:37 pm
I had strawberry whipped cream cake for Mother's Day – it was FAB!
carol On Monday, May 11 at 3:38 pm
Yeah!…I have all the ingredients in the house NOW
Tammy at The Butterfly Mind On Monday, May 11 at 3:46 pm
I can SEE how good it tastes – no kidding!
kerry On Monday, May 11 at 3:46 pm
Thank you for sharing this recipe, it looks wonderful. I have to try it!!
Susan in Seattle, WA On Monday, May 11 at 3:53 pm
Oh my! That looks positively sinful – I can hardly wait to make it! Thank you!
Becky from Canada On Monday, May 11 at 4:24 pm
Miss Ree, you have a way with food, that ia a beautiful cake! Mine always turn out wopsided. Ypu have a knack, dear friend.
Tiera Hickman On Monday, May 11 at 4:25 pm
This is not about Strawberry Shortcake Cake. It is about cinnamon rolls! i have been making your cinnamon rolls with a slight tweak to rave reviews. I made a kabillion of them last week and sold them at work to raise money for Relay for Life. I sold $267.00 worth in one day! Thanks for the great recipe!
p.s. – I also made some of the orange marmalade rolls and those sold. And I made a peanut butter version and those sold too.
Barb On Monday, May 11 at 4:28 pm
So, Ree, I'm making your cake right now – just took it out of the oven. But it definitely doesn't look as nice as yours – mine sort of collapsed in the center. What did I do wrong? (Looking at your pictures, my batter didn't seem as thick as yours).
Janet On Monday, May 11 at 4:33 pm
Now I know what I'm making for "Mom's night out" this week! Thanks, Ree- it looks amazing!!
Amanda On Monday, May 11 at 4:38 pm
Someone honestly corrected you for 'till????? Seriously??? That cake is dreamy!!!
Vicki On Monday, May 11 at 4:38 pm
Well, I'll be darned! My son bought a mini version of this cake at Trader Joes yesterday for a Mother's Day Tea tea party at his and my daughter in law's house. TJ's was offering samples and it was too good to resist and adorable to boot. I'll be making your version this summer.
Nicole On Monday, May 11 at 4:43 pm
oh my. Yum.
Sara MIller On Monday, May 11 at 4:46 pm
I want this cake so badly right now…alas, we're off to the baseball field!
Jean On Monday, May 11 at 5:21 pm
Great photo of strawberry with fork. Looks like an old sterling fork on nicely used cutting board.
Miki On Monday, May 11 at 5:26 pm
this. looks. amazing.
i might actually die. death might actually occur.
Theresa from Alberta On Monday, May 11 at 5:27 pm
drool! looks very yummy! I really like that serving plate.
jamiegets On Monday, May 11 at 5:30 pm
Karen W On Monday, May 11 at 5:33 pm
Yum that looks good. I have that very same cake plate. Got it for a wedding gift in Nine-Teen-Seventy-Nine!! =]
S On Monday, May 11 at 5:35 pm
12 Steps to Happiness
1 – See post on Pioneer Woman
2 – Realize I have fresh strawberries in the fridge, and a can of store bought cream cheese frosting that needs to be used
3 – Realize I do not have a round cake pan of any size
4 – Decide to make it in a loaf pan instead
5 – Realize making the cake would be easier if I'd won one of those Kitchenaid mixers Ree is always giving away
6 – Dump vanilla on the kitchen counter instead of in the bowl
7 – Bake the cake
8 – Slice, sugar, mash strawberries – getting plenty of red goo on the counter
9 – Assemble cake.
10 – Re-learn important lesson that store bought cream cheese frosting sucks a little
11 – Generously sprinkle suck-y frosting with mini chocolate chips
12 – Approve and enjoy.
Sarah On Monday, May 11 at 5:38 pm
This looks awesome! My mom just picked up some strawberries today, so I'll definitely be looking into making this cake.
On a semi-related note, I made your quiche for my mom as a Mother's Day treat and we all loved it. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Jaime On Monday, May 11 at 6:02 pm
Wow. Just wow. This looks SO delicious. Was the shortcake moist? I know shortcake doesn't tend to be super moist, but I am SO hoping this was moist, dense and decadent.
Kelly On Monday, May 11 at 6:17 pm
I have got to try this. i would tonight, but finally NO RAIN here in Fayetteville, my boys might acutally get to play baseball! Woohoo!
Laura Whetstone On Monday, May 11 at 6:20 pm
That is really an odd coincidence. Yesterday I told my husband I kinda felt like making strawberry shortcake, and he suggested making a cake with strawberry cream cheese icing. This is like both things! I guess I'll have to make it.
lisa On Monday, May 11 at 6:24 pm
Sigh…. I wasn't getting any skinnier anyway.
Bob On Monday, May 11 at 6:57 pm
Oh wow. That is stunning. You could do it with all kinds of different berries and fruits too. Love it.
Lexus On Monday, May 11 at 7:02 pm
ooh I'm making this today! I'm terribly excited about the deliciousness!
Lana G! On Monday, May 11 at 7:09 pm
Okay! Thank you so much for this recipe! I adore Strawberry Shortcake. I order Strawberry Shortcake ONLY when I go to the Cheesecake Factory! Never Cheesecake – ONLY Shortcake! GO Figure!!
elizabeth On Monday, May 11 at 7:23 pm
this axe better not mean you were not WORSHIPED as the domestic goddess that you are for mother's day! i have been lurking here for months and i'm blown away by how much you do, so artfully and with such tantalizing results. this, like so many of your other creations, speaks to me. and i never knew the de-stemming w/ a spoon trick, so muchos gracias, amiga. just in case 84 other mamas didn't already send this to you, i've got a follow-up to this email coming your way.
kristyn On Monday, May 11 at 7:29 pm
ree! your recipes have never ever ever let me down before… this looked SO YUMMY and i started making it… it was all coming together so nicely, poured it into the 8 inch pan, seemed to fit fine…
and then it was in the oven for about 20 minutes of the cooking time when it started to overflow the pan and almost caught the oven on fire! oh man! but i perservered and since only the top had started cooking i scooped it off along with some of the batter, put a cookie sheet under the pan and tried again… but it still overflowed… so i gave up
what the heck did i do wrong? i used an 8 inch pan, all the measurements were right, i'm so sad.
Debbie H On Monday, May 11 at 7:46 pm
I am making this right now. Is this suppose to go in 2 cake pans because mine is flowing over in the oven.
wendi On Monday, May 11 at 7:55 pm
I needed this cake pre-Mother's Day!! I was looking everywhere for something JUST like this, but nothing sounded good. I ended up must making an ice cream cake.
PJ On Monday, May 11 at 7:55 pm
Hubby and I were having the 'til/till debate on Saturday night, prompted by shop signage promoting their opening hours "till 10pm". I though "till" in this context was incorrect as it is an abbreviation (obviously) for until, so 'til or *even* til would be acceptable. Am I wrong on this?!
PJ On Monday, May 11 at 7:58 pm
And back on point…the cake, of course, looks delicious!
barbara in Texas On Monday, May 11 at 8:01 pm
Oh this looks soooo good! I am definitely making this one! My hips will just have to suffer.
Melissa On Monday, May 11 at 8:06 pm
Sweet Mary mother of Jesus…I need this cake NOW! Too bad I have packers here putting all my cooking tools into boxes Thanks for the tease though Ree
Liz On Monday, May 11 at 8:11 pm
I made this today. Thank you for recipe. My family loved it! YUMMY! My daughter just oh, ah while she ate it.
Laura On Monday, May 11 at 8:13 pm
oh… my… gosh… I MUST make that cake!!! it sounds and looks so delicious! thank you so much for sharing it with us!
lisavanmac On Monday, May 11 at 8:21 pm
Have you ever used Challenge Butter? It's the best butter ever. My cookies and cakes and even scrambled eggs are better with that stuff.
Sal's Girl On Monday, May 11 at 8:25 pm
Why do you use unsalted butter and then add salt? Is it a baking secret? I'm confused!!!!
Patricia On Monday, May 11 at 8:28 pm
Please make this receipe printable. Thank you.
Arlene On Monday, May 11 at 8:35 pm
I'm making this ASAP. But please tell me, how, how, how do you keep the top so flat and the sides so straight?
My cakes always look like domes.
Heather in CA On Monday, May 11 at 8:40 pm
That cakes looks incredible!! I love to cook, but haven't quite hit the "look what I just whipped up" level. I am a recipe follower only. Good thing you post them! I think I'll make this for my brother-in-law's upcoming birthday. Perfect.
Lauren On Monday, May 11 at 8:49 pm
As usual, looks amazing! Another one of your amazing recipes I will add to my list of recipes to try!
Ashley On Monday, May 11 at 8:51 pm
This is very similar to a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake that was in "Cooks Illustrated" magazine in March/April. I"ve made it twice and its delicious. Their version creates this great cream icing- using cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and heavy cream whipped- then you use that as icing as well as a filling between the layers.
Don't have an electronic link sorry..
Nancy On Monday, May 11 at 8:52 pm
Yum!!! The sound of it makes my mouth water!!!
Jen On Monday, May 11 at 8:58 pm
Looks delicious, I can't wait to try it with some berries from the farmer's market next month (the grocery store ones are so huge that they just don't look right).
And you had it right before…the correct way to write the short version of until is 'til…till is an actual word and does not mean the same thing.
Liesel On Monday, May 11 at 9:03 pm
Mmm…this looks delicious, Ree. I will definitely have to add this to my "must try" list. Thank you!
livinonthecrowrock On Monday, May 11 at 9:05 pm
I don't know why I am needing to comment on this! I just want to try/eat it! Thanks, PW!
bev On Monday, May 11 at 9:07 pm
Ijust gained 5#….YUM! will try it soooooooon!
Angela Hughes On Monday, May 11 at 9:17 pm
Looks yummy!!! I haven't ever used a spoon to destem(?) strawberries,I use a straw sometimes. Poke the straw in the berry from the bottom and the stem just pops off.I may have to try this recipe I just got some strawberries today.
Renie On Monday, May 11 at 9:21 pm
Ree, I'm trying to diet so I cut myself off from coming to your site this past week. I gave into temptation and boy am I sorry!
Jo Ann On Monday, May 11 at 9:24 pm
My hubby LOVES strwaberry shortcake, this would be perfect to make for him. I will try it out this week, thanks!!!
Trisha On Monday, May 11 at 9:26 pm
Thanks. Until now I've been writing 'til but from now on I'll be writing till. I did my research and your friend seems to be right.
Crys On Monday, May 11 at 9:27 pm
it's 'til, not "till". "until" doesn't have two L's, so why would it be spelled "till"? even though "till" is accepted, it's not necessarily right!!!
oh, and brilliant cake.
Karen On Monday, May 11 at 9:55 pm
Oh, I HAVE to make this. I looooove strawberry shortcake. When I was pregnant with my youngest son, I craved it nonstop. And I will admit that once I did actually eat every bit of strawberry shortcake I made… that was meant for the whole family. I can't say I'm ashamed though.
Kensey On Monday, May 11 at 10:04 pm
I am making this tomorrow…am a bit worried after other people had theirs overflow.
Dione On Monday, May 11 at 10:14 pm
Dear PW,
If you had a daughter who was getting married, what kind of cake would you recommend she have? Just curious.
Thank you,
Baking Monster On Monday, May 11 at 10:22 pm
you are amazing we have way to many strawberrys in the house and I really didnt want to make strawberry shortcake and this is perfect!
Hilda Bakke On Monday, May 11 at 10:25 pm
I just found and tried this tip from (of all places) about.com quilting forum. To hull strawberries, push a plastic drinking straw from the pointy end of the strawberry to the top. If done right it pops the little green top off. (You could have your kids do this.) The removed parts look like little palm trees. I thought about spreading some cream cheese on a cracker and standing the removed parts in the cream cheese to look like palms on a white beach to photograph, but decided to just eat the berries instead!
Heatherly On Monday, May 11 at 10:38 pm
Woman, I love you and your axe. I had an axe to grind yesterday too and it ended in cookies.
Nikki On Monday, May 11 at 11:16 pm
I think that the cooking gods might smite me for offering advice to YOU, but I do have a handy tip for keeping your oh-so-beloved cake pedestal clean while you ice your cakes. Just use enough wax paper to cover the pedestal, then cut it either in half or in fourths. Piece back together, and put your cake on top. Now ice away, and be as messy as you like. When you're done, just slide the pieces of wax paper out from under the cake. Having it in pieces keeps you from sliding your cake off. Now your pedestal is sparking, and you have a crisp, cleanly iced edge to your cake.
dingogirl On Tuesday, May 12 at 12:15 am
Yer killin' me!!!!!!!!!!!
Vera On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:09 am
I love the blow by blow account. Haha Thanks for the recipes, and the photos!
Glitzer On Tuesday, May 12 at 5:04 am
This recipe is great for the summer! I totally love it! I have strawberries in my fridge… am so tempted to make it as I am also craving for sugar. Thanks so much for the great recipe!
Barb 1230 On Tuesday, May 12 at 7:08 am
Since I had everything on hand and it looked so pretty, I decided to make this yesterday. Looks great but YEOW is it ever sweet. I will make it again but cut the sugar back by half that's on the strawberries. Very creative recipe, Ree!
Lisette On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:02 am
Oh that cake looks so gorgeous!
Till and until are generally interchangeable in both writing and speech, though as the first word in a sentence until is usually preferred: Until you get that paper written, don't even think about going to the movies.·Till is actually the older word, with until having been formed by the addition to it of the prefix un-, meaning "up to." In the 18th century the spelling 'till became fashionable, as if till were a shortened form of until. Although 'till is now nonstandard, 'til is sometimes used in this way and is considered acceptable, though it is etymologically incorrect.
BOSSY On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:05 am
Speaking of strawberry shortcake, Bossy's brother bought Bossy one for Mother's Day! Except Bossy's brother insisted the cake-decorating lady spell it, Mutha's Day. Because Bossy's brother is City like that.
Megs On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:18 am
Now you've done it! Not only is this my favorite desert EVER, but I happen to have all the ingredients, including the same freakin' brand of strawberries. *sigh* So much for that bikini body…
Nikki B. from Ohio On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:20 am
This looked so good that I bought the ingredients on the way home from work! I promptly ruined my reputation of "never having set anything on FIRE in my oven"! The cake batter overflowed the 8″ pan. I immediately threw a baking sheet under it, and kept on baking. But the damage was done…all the cake batter on the bottom of the oven charred, and then caught fire!! My house was full of smoke! Had a good laugh about it though – probably my inexperience and not your recipe! Only bad thing was this was for a belated Mother's Day dinner with my mom. It was supposed to be a surprise, but I had to call for advice on what to do at 10pm last night. I managed to save it, but we'll just say that my version looks VERY uncontrived. I'm sure it will taste yummy tonight though! Thanks for posting!
Anita Turner On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:24 am
WOW! This cake looks fabulous, can't wait to make it Thanks!
Sally On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:43 am
It looks good, but I guess I'm a purist: I'd rather have strawberry shortcake than strawberry shortcake cake.
Dana On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:54 am
I love the idea of "strawberry shortcake cake" because we had "strawberry shortcake WEDDING cake". My husband is a freak about strawberry shortcake, so… since I got everything I wanted as far as wedding planning, I let him pick the cake. And boy, was it delicious! I wish I could post a picture of how pretty it was too.
nancypants On Tuesday, May 12 at 8:54 am
I just read your question about "till." These are the questions that keep me up at night. Till makes me only think of tilling the soil or Trichotillomania. 'til seems more appropriate to me.
Katie On Tuesday, May 12 at 9:02 am
Yum Yum Yum! What more can you say!?
Jen from Louisville (Cards!!) On Tuesday, May 12 at 9:05 am
Made this last night- Delicous!
Kelley On Tuesday, May 12 at 9:35 am
Looks delicious. I'm so glad strawberries are in season again.
Kristen On Tuesday, May 12 at 9:58 am
That looks so good! Will have to try it one day.
Sarah On Tuesday, May 12 at 11:10 am
Oh wow. I think we're going to have to make that – TODAY!
Brandi On Tuesday, May 12 at 11:42 am
Ree, I made the cake last night and its a hit! I brought it to the office today and literally people started to swarm!!! Its fantastic!!
Judi On Tuesday, May 12 at 12:01 pm
Pound of strawberries in the fridge leftover from Mothers Day… check
Cream cheese that needs to be used soon… check
Sounds like I gotta make this cake tonight. Everyone in my office thanks you in advance.
Rico On Tuesday, May 12 at 12:23 pm
Very similar to a Victoria sponge I made some time ago, so I know it is indeed a delicious cake that you're showing here I am really impressed how beautiful you've made it, really nice. thanks for sharing xx Rico-Recipes
Jen C. On Tuesday, May 12 at 12:25 pm
Looks heavenly Ree! That Milk Glass cake plate is something to covet for sure! Going to make this cake for sure…soon! Could use any berry that is in season. Yum!
Abbiejsmith On Tuesday, May 12 at 12:51 pm
YUM-O ! I will have to try this one for sure! I loved your quesadillas!!
Sarah J On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:05 pm
Am I going crazy or does it not tell you how much to use?!?!? I went to the other recipe but the ingredients aren't the same and they don't match up with what you have in the pictures. I'm sitting here….with ALL the ingredients out to make during the girls nap and I could cry that there are no ingredient measurements! Someone able to help me at all?!
Sarah J On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:11 pm
Haha nevermind my last post. I found it. I've been too spoiled with her usually telling how much goes in with the illustrated pictures!!
Kate On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:13 pm
Who told you it was till?? It CAN'T be till!! Plain old till means to till the soil!! I do it like you did, 'til, which makes much more sense. I would love to know what convinced you you were wrong. 'Cause I say you're right. And yes, I wrote 'CAUSE and YES, it's right!!! Just like 'til!!!
hennifer On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:22 pm
oh my… I'm just in love! I do like the strawberries peeking out!
Nicole Steele On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:40 pm
Ok, I have this cake baking in the oven right now. It almost didn't make it there, though, as the batter alone was good enough to eat by itself! My cake pan must not be as deep as yours, though, because it overflowed some and I had to use a cookie sheet to catch the overflow.
Beth&her3inFL On Tuesday, May 12 at 1:40 pm
Just made this cake, Ree, and Holy Schmoly does it look/smell/taste yummy!!! Fantastic!! Thanks so much!
Oh, and 'til is correct, becuase it's the shortened form of the word "until". T-i-l-l is the word used when you're talking about soil. Just thought I'd help a sister out.

subset: commoncrawl


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Not many people know what the term 'biodiversity' means or that there is an important biodiversity conference in Nagoya, Japan, in less than 2 weeks.
However, people are worried about the drastic loss of native species, the effects of climate change on global wildlife and over-fishing, and these are threats to biodiversity (the diversity of plants and animals on Earth and the habitats they depend on).
In preparation for the conference (The Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP10), the Big Nature Debate at the Natural History Museum is exploring public concerns about biodiversity loss, and getting people to have their say, through forums, expert blogs, Twitter and Facebook.
The issues raised will be put to a panel for a debate live online tomorrow at 3:30pm, and the results will be passed on to the UK government before representatives from the 193 countries arrive for the conference, beginning on 18 October.
Big Nature Debate panellists include Professor Jon Hutton, Director of the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Professor Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Paul Smith, Head of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Dr Chris Lyal, Research Entomologist, the Natural History Museum, Professor Jonathan Baillie, Conservation Programmes Director for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The decisions made at COP10 will be crucial for the future of biodiversity, and they could affect how we protect, manage and make use of the planet's diversity of life for decades to come.
It's not too late to add your questions to the Big Nature Debate and let leaders know that you think biodiversity issues are important.
The Big Nature Debate is part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) and is a partnership with the IYB UK, ZSL and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.


text:
Born and raised near Tacoma, Washington, native-son Mike Kreidler has served the people of Washington in elected offices and appointed posts for more than 30 years. From the boardroom of the North Thurston School District to the state capitol and halls of Congress, Mike has represented our state with efficiency and dedication, also managing a professional career in optometry.
Kreidler has distinguished himself in issues ranging from health care and the environment to banking and insurance. He was elected Washington State Insurance Commissioner in November 2000, taking office the following January. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.
Insurance Commissioner
As Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler is responsible for regulating the $30 billion insurance industry in Washington State. Accomplishments during his first three terms:
- Cut excessive rate increases by insurance companies, saving auto and homeowner consumers over $310 million
- Successfully fought repeated attempts by big out-of-state insurance companies to take away consumer legal protections
- Helped individual consumers recover over $160 million on their insurance policies when payments were delayed or denied
- Protected women by requiring that contraceptives be included in prescription drug coverage
- Blocked the attempt by Premera Blue Cross to convert to "for profit" status
- Brought transparency and regulatory oversight to the individual health insurance market
- Joined with the Governor to pass legislation creating a consumer friendly health insurance exchange to bring about health care reform in 2014
A Health Care Provider
Mike Kreidler earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Oregon and a master's degree in public health from UCLA. As an optometrist, he worked for 20 years for Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in Olympia.
Legislative Leader
Serving in the Washington State legislature as a Representative and Senator, he distinguished himself in matters related to health care and environment. For 16 years, he was the chair, vice-chair or ranking minority member of the standing committee addressing health care policy issues. Major legislation on generic drugs, respite care, HIV/AIDS, health care cost containment, foster care, day care and the natural death act were enacted through his leadership. His committee experience included financial institutions and insurance, agriculture, ecology, energy, law and justice and ways and means committees.
U.S. Congressman
As a freshman in the U.S. Congress, Kreidler won a coveted seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the subcommittees on Health and the Environment and Energy and Power. He was actively involved in matters addressing health care access, affordability and quality. Kreidler was involved with issues of food safety, violence against women, Medicare reimbursement rules, improved mental health services and expedited Superfund cleanups.
Serving his Country
Kreidler retired as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves with over 20 years of active and reserve service. In January 1991, his hospital reserve unit was called to active duty in January 1991 in support of Desert Storm and he was assigned to Madigan Hospital in Washington State.
Health Administration
President Clinton appointed Kreidler in 1998 as Director of Region 10 of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here he was an advocate for the state's participation in the Children's Health Insurance Program that expanded coverage for children.
Mike's Family
Mike's wife, Lela, is a former teacher who is now retired from the North Thurston School District. They have been married over 40 years and have three children, Kelli, Michael, and Lora. They also are proud grandparents of Kendell, Helene and Griffin.


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This is the start and highlights of the first stint in the #147 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 during the KONI Challenge ST 6 hour race at Virginia International Raceway. The driver is Michael Skeen. At the first caution (end of the video), the car was in 6th place overall with all team cars in the Top 6.
Visit MikeSkeen.com for more information and check out SPEEDtv.com for the event article. Also, check out our sponsor: AtlanticRetailConstruction.com !
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Product Menu
Medals of America is your premier source for Military Medals, Badges, Patches, Challenge Coins, Rank, Rates and Insignia, as well as great military clothing. Our apparel includes military hats, shirts, jackets and more! Most of our clothing products can be Custom Embroidered, so you can make your clothing one-of-a-kind.
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Rank sold in pairs.


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Explains the fundamentals of working with vocal tracks and how to correct pitch and intonation with Auto-Tune evo in Pro Tools.
"My biggest problem is figuring out what I want to watch next. Just when I think I'm all set, I find something ELSE that is fascinating." —John O.
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Conservatives have an … interesting relationship with women, which depends entirely on the ideology of the woman in question.
If a woman is conservative, she is essentially placed on a pedestal. Near-adoration by the right is reward for her upholding conservative values like deferring to her "first dude" even if she is the governor of a state and the family's breadwinner, bearing many children (or adopting lots of them); holding strict anti-abortion views, or even preaching abstinence, even if she hasn't personally practiced it. They should be rewarded for prioritizing their appearance at every age, and aren't subject to the mockery reserved for "less attractive" liberal women, while having a strong intellect is not a priority. Anyway, they will be deemed "intelligent" and even "brilliant" by their conservative brethren, whether they show their candle wattage or not, with any difficulties in articulation brushed off as "plain spokenness" that's refreshing to "real Americans." Such a woman must not be disrespected by the "left." Far from it: these women are often coddled. If they make factual mistakes – even lots of them – they get a pass, even if it means bending history to fit their "facts." If they come across as extreme, no member of the media, even one of their own, is allowed to point it out. If they do, they'd better hurry up and apologize.
Non-conservative women, on the other hand, merit no such rewards. For their failure to accept the notion of men holding mystical power over them and an elevated place in society, they are subject to endless scorn. They are harpys, and "unshaven beasts" and man-hating lesbians who are determined to destroy the traditional family (and "real women's" happiness along with it.) In a truly just society, the conservative meme goes, women should not be allowed to control their reproduction, and must be "protected" from abortion, even if they are raped (assuming they can prove it was "forcible") or victimized by incest (in which case they should see the pregnancy as God's divine plan for their lives.) They should be forced, by law, to conform to the reproductive control that superior, conservative women have already ceded to the state. And organizations like Planned Parenthood, which dole out "potential-human" stopping birth control pills, should be gotten rid of. If they have the misfortune to be poor, they are to be punished — and their undeserved benefits (which cause minority women to "rut like rabbits") should be taken away from them and their children. In the "best case scenario," they will turn for charitable aid to the church, where they will receive corrective spiritual guidance along with a hot meal. They should be drug-tested, because they are assumed to be lying, drug addicted "welfare queens" who are greedily abusing the system after having driven their men away. Any assistance they receive from the government — even in their old age — represents theft via forcible charity from the productive men whom government should prefer. If they don't know their place, they can be physically handled, even choked, and if they complain, they will be called liars who are just trying to smear innocent men for political reasons. Or they'll be labeled the aggressor.
Of course, conservatives would say liberals unfairly characterize conservative women as bubble-headed zealots who don't think for themselves, and who are seized with foolish religiosity and third-grade reading skills. They would say they're sick of traditional women being disrespected by the media and the popular culture, which has sold girls sexual promiscuity, man-less careerism and material greed in the name of women's liberation, and which disparages the homemaker and Christian wife as relics of the 1950s. They would say they are the ones who respect women, because they still believe women should be on a pedestal, rather than grinding out a career-focused life with no husband and no kids (or Big Government as substitute father) which is baseline Phyllis Schlafly. And they believe the left's "promotion" of promiscuity is the real root cause of rape, rather than the traditional psychological view, which is that rape is about power and dominance.
It's an argument that's sure to continue, and represents the question of modernity versus tradition, which in my opinion, is what liberalism versus conservatism often boils down to (including the right's constant inveighing against what they see as the left's war on traditional America and Christianity.)
But it's certainly a strange concept that the right has, when viewed through the lens of their reactions to situations like Wisconsin's justice choking scandal versus how the right reacts to any story they see as disparaging Sarah Palin.


text:
Hi guys,
We finally made it to Steam!
Thanks for the Greenlight.
If anyone played it during our initial release a year ago, some stuff's changed. For one, the game is now actually beatable and utilizes Steam's API for Achievements and Cloud saves.
Amongst other stuff we reworked some of the visuals and rebalanced design significantly.
To those who bought the game - we sent out a blast e-mail on how to activate it on Steam. It's fairly straightforward and we have enough keys for everyone.
Hope you have a blast!