Food and recipe blogs have become an underrated force in the blogging world. The Yummy Kitchen Connect, an entry in the Microsoft / IDSA Design Competition, might win the food talk a little extra recognition. We’ve seen some really cool kitchen design in the past, but the Yummy might be the most usable of the bunch for every day life. The Kitchen Connector will join you and your kitchen to the food blogging network. Specially designed for the kitchen, the Yummy takes up very little room, fitting on the wall like a wall calender. The Yummy takes the information from your kitchen and food life, such as food you have available, diet schedule, and saved recipes and recommends food to make that you might like. Think of it as your kitchen Tivo. The Yummy can also access media such as podcasts, video blogs, music, webtv, and Skype for kitchen calling. All in a useful touchscreen interface.

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If you happen to be the proud owner of a registered Zune (as I am), then you received an odd email in your inbox today. Why was it odd? Because it was so plain. It seemed like it was just a thank you letter from Microsoft for registering your Zune. Titled “Welcome to the Social” it seems like just any other advertisement you might receive from Microsoft. OK, now to go the Zune site and you’ll notice that in the upper left hand corner it says that the site was updated today (1/16/07). If you are able to find the Zune PassItOn site, you will notice something new. There is word of podcasts! With a nice large rectangle featuring the set of NPR podcast, it looks like we are turning a new page with Microsoft. Podcasts are amazing, if you haven’t been exposed to the world of podcasting, google it now and be amazed. So what does podcast support mean for the Zune? Probably not too much in terms of sales. Apart from sales, it does mean a whole bunch of very happy early adopters (who aren’t exactly early anymore). Customer satisfaction is what firmware updates are all about, and Microsoft needs to get this podcast support out ASAP! — Nik Gomez

Zune PassItOn

It’s probably the strongest argument against the Zune (for geeks): no podcast integration. It seems like such an easy area to build into any new portable audio device, but Microsoft missed the bar with the release of the Zune. But can Microsoft redeem itself? Of cource, the Zune supports firmware updates, an feature that Apple consistently leaves out of its iterations of the iPod. Microsoft just has to write the code into the next firmware update, and it seems that the support is already in the code for the software used in conjunction with the Zune. zune.exe, when opened with a program called Resource Hacker, has the capability to support podcasts and lyrics for your songs. Maybe the Zune team didn’t have enough time to have these features in the firmware at the time of launch, but many people are hoping that they fix their mistake. Also, Resource Hacker revealed the possibility of plugin support for the software, something necessary if Microsoft wants people to convert from iTunes over to their Zune media player (last.fm support, anyone?). — Nik Gomez

Zune to support lyrics, podcasts? [via Electronista]