Chef (2014) Review

Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman), he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love. 

Run Time (in minutes): 96115 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Comedy 
Directed By: Jon Favreau 
In Theaters: May 9, 2014 Wide 
Cast: Jon Favreau Carl Casper, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt 

There's a formulaic element to the plot which offers few surprises but the film is mostly a crowd pleaser ...straddles the genre encompassing its food specialist nature with themes of the father son relationship and road trip adventure. The film is heaven for food porn enthusiasts, with its lovingly shot montages of sautéed veggies, juicy grilled meats and gooey melted cheeses. And it is funny, lighthearted movie that leaves you satisfied, if craving a bit more for those background characters. 

Microsoft will hold a 'small' Surface event on May 20th

Microsoft has reportedly been working on a miniature version of its Surface tablet for nearly two years, but the wait may be over. The company has just sent out invitations to a Microsoft Surface event on May 20th, with the tagline "Join us for a small gathering."

While that could obviously simply refer to a small gathering of attendees to see the latest device that Microsoft has to offer, it seems far more likely to be a tease for the company's latest product, particularly since Microsoft already recently refreshed the full-size Surface line of devices. An early 2014 release date for the Surface Mini would also line up with last September's reporting.

Allegedly, the new miniature Surface will come with a unique 7.5-inch, 1440 x 1080 display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning it would be shaped more like Apple's iPad line than the movie-friendly Surface tablets available today. It's also rumored to come with a Qualcomm processor under the hood, and thus would run Windows RT rather than full Windows 8. That means, like the Microsoft Surface RT and Surface 2, it wouldn't run legacy desktop software.

While Microsoft has never officially acknowledged the existence of a "Surface Mini," many sources within the company have mentioned it to The Verge, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. The company's own software development tools also contain a mode specifically designed for its screen size, one that didn't previously exist. Originally, the 7-inch mini Surface was rumored to be a gaming device, but that reflects Microsoft thinking from two years ago.

All Microsoft has said officially is this: "We have a lot of great things that we are thinking about and working on, and there are multiple aspect ratios and sizes and awesome things to come from Surface."

Convert DVD to Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10

Google Nexus series of phones, from 5 " to 7", then 10 ", each product using the latest Andriod operating system , to provide users with faster Internet speeds. while in appearance , more lightweight and convenient, like Nexus 7, it can be anywhere and bags, backpacks, or even back pocket easily adapt. The pixels are also constantly upgrading , for example, Nexus 7, which has super high resolution 7" tablet puts over 2.3 million pixels in the palm of your hand. With 323 pixels packed into every inch, you can read text that's sharper than the printed page, see images more vivid than the highest quality photo magazine, and watch videos come to life in vibrant 1080p HD. And Nexus 10, With a dazzling 2560-by-1600 high-resolution display and powerful graphics processor, Nexus 10 places you right inside the action with picture-perfect performance. Over 4-million pixels in your hands means that text is sharper, HD movies are more vivid and photos look as clear as the day you took them. Such a high configuration, the battery is very important for us, Nexus 7's battery is 3,950 mAh, it can be up to 9 hours of HD video playback, 10 hours of web browsing or e- reading, and Nexus 10's 9,000 mAh, which is more twice than Nexus 7, can last longer.

With these perfect tablets for watching videos, a converter is needed for your videos. And Pavtube DVDAid is the very converter for you with smooth conversion and easy management. When you want to convert a video to Google Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10 , Pavtube DVDAid can do it for you. When you want to rip a dvd to Google Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Pavtube DVDAid can do it for you. Please learn more about what Pavtube DVDAid can do for you in the below article.

Know more about Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10

How to convert DVD to Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10

Step 1: Download and launch Pavtube DVDAid, a powerful tool designed to manage the conversion from DVD movie to Google Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10 file.

Step 2: Import DVD file. Open DVD Ripper, click "File" button and then choose "Load from disc" option in the drop-down menu to import DVD file for further editing.



Step 3: Set output video. To make sure users can play the converted DVD on Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10, users need to convert the DVD video to MP4 movie. Therefore, set the output file as MP4 video for Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, Nexus 10 in the drop-down menu of "Format".



Step 4: Settings. Click "Settings" button lying next to Format bar to enter into Settings panel where various video parameters are provided. Then convert the DVD movie to a decent video with those parameters. For example, set video size as "2560×1600", audio codec as "AAC" and video codec as "H.264" for Google Nexus 10.

Step 5: Start the conversion. After all those steps, click Convert button to begin the process of converting DVD. As the conversion ends, one can play DVD on Google Nexus freely.

How to transfer video from PC to Android Phones?

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Watch Bluray discs on my Android Smartphone with HD H.264 MP4 format

Rip and Convert DVD ISO/IFO files to Nexus 5, new Nexus 7, and Nexus series

Movies Coming Soon: May 8, 2014~May 9, 2014

Thursday May 8, 2014 

Finding Fela! 

FINDING FELA! tells the story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s life, his music, his social and political importance. He created a new musical movement, Afrobeat, using that forum to express his revolutionary political opinions against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s. His influence helped bring a change towards democracy in Nigeria and promoted Pan Africanist politics to the world. The power and potency of Fela’s message is completely current today and is expressed in the political movements of oppressed people, embracing Fela’s music and message in their struggle for freedom. 

Run Time (in minutes): 119 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Jigsaw Productions 
Directed By: Alex Gibney 
Producer(S): Jack Gulick, Alex Gibney 
In Theaters: May 8, 2014 - Toronto (Canadian Music Week) 
Cast: Fela Kuti 

Jimi: All is by My Side 

Set in 1966 to 67, the film covers a year in Jimi Hendrix’s life. Starting as an unknown backup guitarist playing New York’s Cheetah Club, the film follows him making a mark in London’s music scene up to his triumph at Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967. 
Jimi: All is by My Side is an intimate portrait of the sensitive young musician on the verge of becoming a rock legend – about a man growing up, falling in love and becoming Jimi. Director John Ridley brings authenticity and reveals a poignant and touching image of the man behind the legend. 

Run Time (in minutes): 116 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Drama 
Directed By: John Ridley 
Producer(S): Tristan Lynch, Sean McKittrick, Jeff Culotta, Danny 
In Theaters: May 8, 2014 - Toronto (Canadian Music Week) 
Cast: Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots 

Friday May 9, 2014 

Neighbors (2014) 

Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne lead the cast of Neighbors, a comedy about a young couple suffering from arrested development who are forced to live next to a fraternity house after the birth of their newborn baby. Neighbors is directed by Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek). 

Run Time (in minutes): 96 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Comedy 
Directed By: Nicholas Stoller 
Written By: Andrew J. Cohen, Brendan O'Brien 
In Theaters: May 9, 2014 Wide 
Cast: Seth Rogen Mac Radner,Rose Byrne Kelly Radner,Zac Efron Teddy Sanders, Dave Franco, Jake Joh 

Chef (2014) 

Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman), he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love. 

Run Time (in minutes): 96115 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Comedy 
Directed By: Jon Favreau 
In Theaters: May 9, 2014 Wide 
Cast: Jon Favreau Carl Casper, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt 

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014) 

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return is a 3D-animated musical based on the adventure books by Roger Stanton Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum. A continuation of one of the world's most popular and beloved fairy tales, Legends of Oz finds Dorothy (Lea Michele) waking to post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try to save her old friends the Scarecrow (Dan Aykroyd), the Lion (Jim Belushi), the Tin Man (Kelsey Grammer) and Glinda (Bernadette Peters) from a devious new villain, the Jester (Martin Short). Wiser the owl (Oliver Platt), Marshal Mallow (Hugh Dancy), China Princess (Megan Hilty) and Tugg the tugboat (Patrick Stewart) join Dorothy on her latest magical journey through the colorful landscape of Oz to restore order and happiness to Emerald City. Set to the tunes of Academy Award-nominated singer/songwriter Bryan Adams, Legends of Oz marks a charming, family-friendly return to the Oz franchise. 

Run Time (in minutes): 88 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Animation, Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts 
Directed By: Dan St. Pierre , Will Finn 
Written By: Adam Balsam, Randi Barnes 
In Theaters: May 9, 2014 Wide 
Cast: Lea Michele Dorothy Gale, Jim Belushi Cowardly Lion, Dan Aykroyd Scarecrow, Kelsey Grammer Tin Man, Megan Hilty 

The Double (2014) 

Eisenberg plays Simon, a timid, isolated man who's overlooked at work, scorned by his mother, and ignored by the woman of his dreams (Wasikowska). The arrival of a new co-worker, James (also played by Eisenberg), serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon's exact physical double and his opposite - confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon's horror, James slowly starts taking over his life. 

Run Time (in minutes): 93 minutes. 
Movie appeal: Comedy 
Directed By: Richard Ayoade 
Written By: Richard Ayoade, Avi Korine 
In Theaters: May 9, 2014 Limited 
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor 

CyanogenMod 11.0 M6 now available

CyanogenMod 11.0 M6 is here! Along with it are some notes from the CM team, including that the "M" builds have supplanted the need for "stable" releases. (And that's why you won't be seeing "RC" builds either.) Why is that exactly? According to the CyanogenMod blog: 



Like the 'stables' before it, 'M' releases are built off the 'stable/CM-##.#' branches – the only difference is now frequency and label. We could have chosen to remove 'M' releases and stick with the 'stable' tag instead for these monthlies, but the word 'stable' itself is a misnomer – it doesn't mean bug free and it certainly never meant feature complete; but with the name 'stable' it gave the false impression that it did mean those things – especially to those risk-adverse that would only hop from 'stable' to 'stable'.

CM also says the goal is to get releases out every 2 weeks going forward. Now, on to the changelog and download link! 

• Quiet Hours – Fix longpress QS tile option 
• Voice+ – Integrate into settings (under Wireless and Networks > 'More') 
• Blacklist – Add provider permissions 
• Lockscreen – Fix custom wallpaper crashes and album art issues 
• Display – Consolidate screen-off animation options (remove checkbox) 
• Bluetooth – Upstream updates and fix issues with audio routing to select car makes/models and disconnect issues 
• MultiSim – Additional support patches (15+) and UI/UX modifications 
• Lockscreen – Disable elements when in custom lockscreen 
• Quick Settings – Options to show smaller tiles; add BT device name to tile 
• Quick Settings – Fix QS tiles layout in landscape mode 
• Usage Stats – Fix screen on stats after boot 
• Resolve memory leaks in Frameworks 
• Settings – Show 'eject card' action for USB storage 
• Theme Engine – Introduce new Engine capabilities (chooser to arrive in nightlies this week) 
• Parallel Shutdown – Decrease shutdown time 
• Address security vulnerability for icons 
• Downloads – Add pause/resume support 
• Trebuchet – Hidden apps and labels support 
• Remove parallel boot dexopt from stable/cm-11.0 branch 
• And more (all changes from Mar 29th to April 30th)

Look for the build for your device on the Community Distribution channel as they make their way through the system.

How to Sync MKV, AVI, Tivo, VOB, MPG, M2TS to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5?

Apple has a lot of dynamic recently, iOS 7.1 has just launched, but iOS 8 as a new version of Apple's operating system, rumors have begun to spread. At the same time we are constantly concerned about the iPhone 6. I hope it early arrivals, but honestly, so far, we still do not fully understand the function point of iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S or iPhone 5, or we have no way to solve problems encountered in the course of using. For example, you may have some movies in .mkv format, you synced the 1080p MKV videos to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, but only to find the videos can't be played; and you may like recording TV shows by Tivo, and want to transfer them to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5 to kill time to board. However, the problem is not all these formats are supported by iPhone 5S, 5C or iPhone 5. Replace our phones to iPhone 6, is a bit unfortunate. Don't worry, in this article, this problem can be solved easily. 

Preparations: 

1. Videos stored (externally-downloaded or from other source) 
2. Windows XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7/8/8.1 or Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.5 above(including Mac OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Mountain Lion) with 1G Hz or above Intel processor 
3. Download and install Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate for iPhone 5S, 5C, 5 or its equivalent Mac version. 

How to Sync MKV, AVI, Tivo, VOB, MPG, M2TS to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5? 

Step 1. Load video files. 

Launch Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate. Click "Add video" or "Add from Folder" button to import source files. 



Note: 
When loading Tivo shows to Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate, the program will ask you to enter your Media Access Key. Do as the program requires, and then click "OK" to continue. 



Step 2: Select an output format for iPhone 5S, 5C, 5 

Select iPhone video format from the drop-down profile list of "Format" bar. Here you're recommended to choose "iPhone 5S/5C(iPhone 5) H.264 Full HD 1080P(*.mp4)" or "iPhone 5S/5C(iPhone 5) H.264 HD 720P(*.mp4)" from "iPhone" category. The output videos could fit on the iPhone 5S/5C or iPhone 5 perfectly. 



If you like, you can click "Settings" to change the video encoder, resolution, frame rate, etc. as you wish. Keep in mind that bitrate higher results in big file size, and lower visible quality loss, and vice versa. 

Know more about Apple iPhone 5s vs iPhone 5c vs iPhone 5 specs comparison: spot the differences 

Step 3: Convert video to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5 

Click "Convert" button to start converting videos to iPhone 5S, 5C, 5. When the conversion finishes, click "Open" to get the result mp4 videos, add them to iTunes and then sync them to your iPhone 5. Just enjoy the movies! 

Tip: How to transfer media files from iTunes 11 to iOS devices 

More about Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate 

In addition to sync the various formats of video to the device, it supports adding *.srt and *.ass subtitle into video and merge them into video part. Moreover, Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate allows users to back up/rip/convert Blu-ray/DVD/Videos for playback on Android Tablets & Phones, Apple devices, Windows Tablets, HD Media Players and video editing software, ect. If you want to trim, copy, Split one large file into smaller pieces and Add watermark to your movie, Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate also can help you! 

Know more About Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate 

More Reading 

How to Add Blu-ray ISO files to iPhone 5S & iPhone 5C with iTunes on Mac OS X 

Convert Blu-ray and DVD movies for editing on PC and Mac 

Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate, A faster DVD Ripper and Converter than Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate 

Apple iOS 8 release date, news and rumors

iOS 7.1 has only just launched but already we're itching for iOS 8 and we're not alone, as rumors of what the new version of Apple's OS might include have started circulating. 

Enough have dropped for us to start to get an idea of what form iOS 8 might take, so without further ado here's what we've heard so far. 
Release date 



Release date 

New versions of iOS tend to get announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and there's been no suggestion that iOS 8 will break the trend. This year's WWDC 2014 has been confirmed as kicking off on June 2, which is when we anticipate the keynote speech will be. 

Apple's WWDC logos through the ages: what did they tell us? 

However, while iOS 8 will likely be announced then it probably won't actually launch until later in the year, making its debut on the iPhone 6. Again, this is all based on Apple's past iOS launches. 

Healthbook 

Apple, like Samsung, seems to be pushing the health and fitness capabilities of its products and the next step of that is likely to come with iOS 8. 

According to unnamed sources who spoke to 9 to 5 Mac, iOS 8 will come with a new app dubbed Healthbook. Supposedly it will have a similar interface to Passbook, but will track steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned and weight loss. 

So in other words it's doing the same job as stand alone fitness trackers like the FitBit Force, which makes sense since Apple already built an M7 motion co-processor into the iPhone 5S to track just those sorts of things, so it might as well make the most of it. 

However apparently it will also go way beyond that and track hydration levels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, nutrition information and respiratory rate, taking it a step beyond existing fitness trackers. 9to5mac has even recreated some images of how the app will supposedly look. 

Obviously no existing Apple hardware has the relevant sensors to track most of that stuff, but there's been talk recently that the iPhone 6 might have an array of new sensors, plus some of it may rely on Apple's unconfirmed iWatch. 

Apple Maps 



Apple Maps has had a bit of a tough time so far. Its launch was as far from smooth as possible and while it's no longer putting train stations in the middle of the sea it still lags some way behind Google's offering. 

That could be about to change though, as 9 to 5 Mac claims to have spoken to "sources briefed on the plans" and learned that public transport directions for trains, subways and buses will be added to Maps, initially for major US cities, with a wider roll out likely to follow. 

The same sources also claim that it will be more accurate than it is now and new points of interest and labels will be added for things like stations and airports. 

The appearance of the app has apparently been improved too, making streets more visible. Supposedly Apple is also working on an augmented reality feature, which will allow you to see points of interest on your camera viewfinder, though it's thought that this feature won't make it out in time for iOS 8. 

Late last year Apple patented some major new ideas for Maps, which would add a whole new level of interactivity beyond even what's currently rumored. 

It would allow users to tap a road for example and see information relevant to just that road, such as any junctions on it, or to tap a restaurant and get a menu. 

This functionality might be some way off yet, if it emerges at all, but we live in hope that it might make an appearance in iOS 8. 

Siri 

Apple could hardly release a new version of iOS without updating everyone's favourite personal assistant. 

According to tech site The Information, Apple wants Siri to be able to interface with third party apps. Currently it's compatible with a number of popular third party apps, but only because Apple worked directly with the developers to add the functionality. 



Shazam is one of those embedded applications being rumored, allowing you to verbally ask Siri what song is currently playing without having to open the Shazam app. 

In future any and all app developers might be able to make their apps compatible with Siri without Apple's help, which would vastly increase Siri's usefulness, allowing you for example to use third party messaging apps and calendars to send messages and set reminders. 

There's also talk that Siri might be able to contextually launch specific apps in future, so for example if you start jogging it might automatically launch RunKeeper, rather than you having to ask it to. 

iTunes Radio 

Apple looks to be putting more weight behind iTunes Radio, if sources speaking to 9 to 5 Mac are to be believed. The sources claim that it will be given a separate app for iOS 8, as currently it's part of the Music app. 

Supposedly other than becoming its own app it's going to remain exactly as it is now, which isn't so surprising as it only launched last year, but by giving iTunes Radio its own app it will be more noticeable to users and better positioned to take on other streaming services like Spotify. 

Preview and Text Edit 

We recently got our first glimpse of what might be iOS 8. Based on the image it unsurprisingly looks a lot like iOS 7, albeit with a few new apps on board. 

There's an icon for the aforementioned Healthbook and one for Tips, which is likely a user guide, but there are also Preview and Text Edit icons. 



If those names sound familiar it's because they're existing pieces of software for OS X, but now seemingly iOS is getting its own versions. 
However while the Mac versions are used to edit PDF's, images and text files, the iOS versions are apparently optimized to simply let you view any such documents that you have stored in iCloud. 

It's questionable how real this screenshot even is, 9to5Mac claims to have confirmed its veracity with several sources, yet it would be easy to fake, especially as the Text Edit and Preview icons are identical to their Mac counterparts. 

iWatch connection? 

There are still a multitude of rumors doing the rounds regarding the Apple iWatch, and with iOS 8 we could see functionality for a smartwatch built into the ecosystem. 

A screenshot appeared on a Chinese social network allegedly showing the iOS 8 interface and a new app called "Watch Utility." 



While we're not convinced of the screenshot's authenticity, it certainly does provide food for thought as the wearable market continues to develop and companies such as Samsung and Sony look to include such devices in their mobile operating systems. 

The Watch Utility app has also appeared in a series of leaked images from Phone Arena, claiming to show iOS 8 running on an iPhone 5S. 

As well as the Watch Utility app the leak also shows Healthbook, iTunes Radio and other mooted applications such as Preview, TextEdit and Tips. 

App updates 

There are whispers of various minor updates to a number of apps. According to an unnamed source the Notification Center is getting streamlined for iOS 8. The update completely removes the "Missed" tab, so everything can be found on either "Today" or "All". 

The Messages app is apparently having a new option added, to allow you to automatically delete threads after a certain period of time and Voice Memos may be getting a new button arrangement. 

Apple is also supposedly removing the requirement for a Lightning cord when using CarPlay, allowing it to work wirelessly instead. 

Apps may also be able to better communicate thanks to a new developer API which is rumored to be in testing. Known as an "XPC" service, the API would allow apps to share data, which among other things would hopefully make it easy to keep files synced up across different apps. 

Goodbye Game Center 

While there are a lot of new things rumored for iOS 8 we might also be losing some things. Apple's Game Center app is rumoured to be for the chopping block according to 9to5Mac, with the functionality being moved directly into games themselves.