Download Squad http://www.downloadsquad.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.downloadsquad.com/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://www.downloadsquad.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Facebook is trying out a new photo upload tool, and it doesn't suck!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/facebook-is-trying-out-a-new-photo-upload-tool-and-it-doesnt-s/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/facebook-is-trying-out-a-new-photo-upload-tool-and-it-doesnt-s/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/facebook-is-trying-out-a-new-photo-upload-tool-and-it-doesnt-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Facebook is the most popular photo sharing site in the world, but its photo upload tool has always been clunky and frustrating to use. No longer, thanks to a prototype New Photo Uploader that will hopefully displace the current upload tool very, very soon. Instead of the slow, tough-to-navigate system that loads up thumbnails of every. photo. in. your. pictures. folder. by default (ugh!), this new version has navigation that looks a lot more like what you're used to in Windows Explorer or the OS X Finder.

Facebook ditched the old-school Java uploader they'd been using since 2005, and built a plug-in from scratch with newer tools. Aside from looking better and running a lot more smoothly, the new uploader can also run in the background, so you don't have to stop browsing while you wait for your pics to upload. The first time you try to upload photos after turning on the prototype, you'll be prompted to install the Facebook plugin. It doesn't take long, and it's well worth the extra 30 seconds to get a better, faster photo uploader.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Facebook is trying out a new photo upload tool, and it doesn't suck! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookphotosprototypeuploaderFri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Android, Palm, and iPhone users get new Google News page]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google has launched a new mobile version of Google News, designed specifically for current-gen smartphones: the iPhone, Palm's WebOS phones (the Pre and Pixi, so far) and Android phones.

Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and Symbian already had their own Google News page, so its only fair for the new kids on the mobile block to get in on the action, too.

Google's pretty vague about the changes in the official blog post, but it looks like they've just managed to do more with the same amount of screen real estate. Navigating between sections is easier with the new layout, and you can now customize your Google News the same way you've been able to in a full desktop browser.

Android, Palm, and iPhone users get new Google News page originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgoogleiphonemobilenewspalmFri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ommwriter: a Mac writing app that helps you concentrate]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/ommwriter-a-mac-writing-app-that-helps-you-concentrate/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/ommwriter-a-mac-writing-app-that-helps-you-concentrate/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/ommwriter-a-mac-writing-app-that-helps-you-concentrate/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ommwriter is a Mac word processor with a bit of a gimmick. Like one of my favorite writing apps for the Mac, WriteRoom, Ommwriter goes full-screen, with a minimal interface and a focus on avoiding distractions. Ommwriter is even more extreme, though, adding a calming background and soothing music to the mix, and restricting your control over text formatting to a bare minimum to reduce fiddling.

The good: that fiddling-reduction thing really works. You can make your text larger or smaller, and choose between three fonts, but that's it. It keeps you away from the controls and focused on your words. Also good: there are 7 different musical selections, and the option to turn the music off altogether (which I recommend you exercise). The default background is quite attractive, but you can switch to basic white if you don't like it.

The bad: your only options for saving your Ommwriter docs are plain .txt or Ommwriter's own format. I suppose that's in keeping with the word-centric theme of the app, but sometimes a .doc comes in handy if you're sharing with an Office-devoted friend or colleague. Also - and this is clearly a matter of taste - the whole zen schtick feels a bit hokey to me. I'm all for removing distractions, and Ommwriter succeeds in that regard (except, perhaps, when it comes to the music) but I prefer the plain black screen and more robust formatting capabilities of WriteRoom.

Ommwriter: a Mac writing app that helps you concentrate originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distractionsommwriterword processorWordProcessorwritingFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Acrobat.com gets revamped and gets a mobile app]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Adobe's Acrobat.com service is getting a big update tonight, followed closely by a new mobile app for iPhone and BlackBerry. The name "Acrobat" goes hand-in-hand with the PDF file format, and Acrobat.com allows you to convert documents to PDF and save, store and view PDF files. It also features some other applications, including the Adobe BuzzWord word processor, a web meeting service called ConnectNow, and storage space for docs, spreadsheets and images.

The new features include searching by filename (I'm still wrapping my head around how they didn't have this before), but not searching within documents. That feature is reportedly coming soon. Your files are also now displayed in a file organizer that lists everything you have stored on Adobe's webspace - I think this includes saved stuff from other web apps, including presentations.

The mobile app is reportedly going to be a pretty basic mobile front-end for Acrobat.com, with the ability to upload documents and send faxes (what's a "fax?") from your phone. It will come in both free and paid flavors, and the free version will allow a limited number of uploads and faxes per month.

[via CNET]

Acrobat.com gets revamped and gets a mobile app originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrobatacrobat.comadobedocumentspdfFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trillian brings impressive multi-network chat to the iPhone]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/trillian-chat-multiple-network-msn-aim-yahoo-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/trillian-chat-multiple-network-msn-aim-yahoo-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/trillian-chat-multiple-network-msn-aim-yahoo-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trillian, the excellent all-purpose chat app we've loved for years on the PC, just made the leap to the iPhone.

There are a lot of things to love about this pocket-sized version of Trillian, including its great-looking interface and its support for several different chat services. You'll need to sign up for a free Astra account if you don't already have one, but it's nice that Trilian's existing desktop users can just plug and play with no account setup required.

Little perks of Trillian on the iPhone include push notifications (yay!) and the ability to send photos. Managing contacts is also pretty easy. In fact, Trillian's the first iPhone chat app I've seen that has a straightforward way of moving contacts between groups.

I do have a couple of minor bones to pick with Trillian, though. First, no landscape keyboard? Seriously? IM is a typing-intensive activity, and the iPhone's small portrait keyboard doesn't cut it for fast and furious chats.

Second: it takes two clicks to close your current chat (the "more" button and then "end conversation"). Can't we just get a close button? These are minor issues with what's otherwise a great app, and a decent value at $4.99, especially if you use more than one chat service at a time.

[via CNET]

Trillian brings impressive multi-network chat to the iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIMastrachatIMiphonetrillianFri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Minim (now on iPhone): the game so nice we've reviewed it thrice]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/19/minim-now-on-iphone-the-game-so-nice-weve-reviewed-it-thrice/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/19/minim-now-on-iphone-the-game-so-nice-weve-reviewed-it-thrice/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/19/minim-now-on-iphone-the-game-so-nice-weve-reviewed-it-thrice/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've been a Download Squad reader for a while, you've probably heard about the 3-D molecular puzzle game, Minim. I reviewed it back in May, and Jason reviewed it again in July (oops!). However, I've got my hands on the iPhone version now, and it's worlds better than the Flash one we played before.

The object of Minim is to match up various numbered molecules until you clear the board. When you combine two of the same number, they form a single molecule that's one number greater. Eventually, you'll wind up with just one left, and you've won the level. The thing is, Minim is a lot more fun when you can use the iPhone's gestures to rotate the game board to see what you're working with. Using the mouse in the web version was fine, but the sense of manipulating the puzzle with your fingers adds an extra element of awesome. Check out the trailer after the jump to see how it works.

Minim isn't fast-paced (although you do get time bonuses for quickly solving puzzles), so it's ideal for mobile play on the bus, in the subway, or at your desk. It's cool, we won't tell your boss. The game comes with 50 basic levels, and there appear to be another 40 mystery levels, if you make it that far. For 2 bucks, you're getting your money's worth if you're a puzzle fan.

Continue reading Minim (now on iPhone): the game so nice we've reviewed it thrice

Minim (now on iPhone): the game so nice we've reviewed it thrice originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonemathminimpuzzleThu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Listerine is a fresh and clean Twitter list organizer]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/listerine-is-a-fresh-and-clean-twitter-list-organizer/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/listerine-is-a-fresh-and-clean-twitter-list-organizer/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/listerine-is-a-fresh-and-clean-twitter-list-organizer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With everyone going gaga over Twitter lists, it was only a matter of time before someone built a third-party service for creating and managing lists. Enter Listerine. Instead of making you go through pages upon pages of people you follow, this handy web app shows all your Twitter friends in a drag-and-drop interface.

The friends display shows mutual friends with a heart icon, and people who don't follow you back with a star. There's a search field, in case you follow so many people that even this compact grid layout is too difficult to navigate. To add a friend to a list, just grab their icon and drag it. Perhaps Listerine's coolest feature is the ability to direct-message everyone on a list. This works great if you want to invite your local list to an event, or DM your team at work.

[via Lifehacker]

Listerine is a fresh and clean Twitter list organizer originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>listerinelistsorganizertwitterWed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Earth for iPhone gets an update to 2.0]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/google-earth-for-iphone-gets-an-update-to-2-0/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/google-earth-for-iphone-gets-an-update-to-2-0/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/google-earth-for-iphone-gets-an-update-to-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When Google brought its amazing global map application, Google Earth, to the iPhone, it was a match made in heaven. (Okay, it was match made on Earth, but bear with with me, here.) The pinching and rotating gestures on the iPhone made exploring the globe on a handheld device fun and easy. Well, now Google Earth is back with version 2.0, which introduces some of the useful features you've come to expect from Earth's sister project, Google Maps. You can grab it from the app store now.

Although it's nothing earth-shattering (ha!), Google Earth can now access your saved maps - and other people's public maps - by logging into your Google account and using the My Maps interface. Bringing Maps and Earth even closer together, Google has also made it easier to search businesses, photos and places in Earth, just like you can in Maps. Also, in a move that seems fitting for an app that maps the entire world, Earth 2.0 supports 31 languages, up from the original 18.

Google Earth for iPhone gets an update to 2.0 originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google earthgoogle mapsGoogleEarthGoogleMapsiphoneWed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Office 2010 beta for Windows and Windows Mobile now live]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/office-2010-beta-for-windows-and-windows-mobile-now-live/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/office-2010-beta-for-windows-and-windows-mobile-now-live/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/office-2010-beta-for-windows-and-windows-mobile-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Microsoft has finally made downloads of Office 2010 beta available, for both Windows on your desktop and Windows Mobile 6.5. Project 2010, Visio 2010, and SharePoint Server 2010 are also available on the Office 2010 download page, and you can get the mobile version of Office via the Windows Mobile Marketplace. Microsoft says the portal for all things 2010 is http://www.microsoft.com/2010/, but the first live download links I've found are right here.

Because we apparently need social networking in every app these days, one of the things Microsoft is pushing about Office 2010 is the new Social Connector, which "brings communications history, business collaboration and social network feeds directly into Outlook, with support for Windows Live and SharePoint Server." LinkedIn has been announced as the first social network that will plug in to this new feature.

More on Office 2010 soon, as Microsoft is getting ready to demo it at their Professional Developers' Conference as I write this. Happy downloading!

Office 2010 beta for Windows and Windows Mobile now live originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftofficeoffice 2010Office2010social connectorSocialConnectorwindows mobileWindowsMobileWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo! puts a stop to its Go mobile service]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yahoo! Go was an early mobile content service that started in 2006. It seems quaint by today's standards, though, which explains why Yahoo!'s shutting it down. With a mobile site that's available on pretty much any phone, plus a few different iPhone apps, Yahoo! simply has no reason to keep working on Go.

Go hasn't been updated in the past year, so current users probably saw this coming (or already have newer phones).

The official date on the headstone for Yahoo! Go is January 12, 2010. In the meantime, the team working on Go has been reassigned to improving Yahoo!'s mobile site. Other Yahoo! mobile properties include iPhone apps for Flickr and Yahoo! Finance.

[via TechCrunch]

Yahoo! puts a stop to its Go mobile service originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gomobileyahooyahoo mobileYahooMobileWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Six Apart launches new TypePad Micro for short blog entries]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/six-apart-launches-new-typepad-micro-for-short-blog-entries/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/six-apart-launches-new-typepad-micro-for-short-blog-entries/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/six-apart-launches-new-typepad-micro-for-short-blog-entries/#commentsFiled under: ,

Six Apart, makers of the powerful TypePad blog hosting service, have launched a leaner, meaner version of TypePad. It's called TypePad Micro, and it falls into the gap between longer blog entries and teeny Twitter posts. TypePad Micro comes with a slick-looking theme called Chroma - although you can customize the look of your blog if you want - and it's free.

If you're thinking there are already services in this new short blogging space, you're right: Tumblr and Posterous are two of them. Like those services, TypePad Micro allows you to post images, text, video, audio, and links. It also has a bookmarklet to easily post from another webpage (like Tumblr) and posting by phone or email (like Posterous). Other appealing Tumblr like features, including the ability to follow other users and reblog their posts, have also found their way into TypePad Micro.

So, what sets TypePad Micro apart? Maybe it's the bullt-in stats display (thanks to Google Analytics), maybe it's the built-in comments, or maybe it's just the Six Apart pedigree. I have to admit that I love Tumblr, but I also think TypePad (the big version) is a great product. It'll be interesting to see if there's room in this pool for another large and impressive fish.

[via CNET]

Six Apart launches new TypePad Micro for short blog entries originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggingsixaparttypepadtypepad microTypepadMicroWed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Image Swirl serves up a tasty blend of related images]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/google-image-swirl-serves-up-a-tasty-blend-of-related-images/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/google-image-swirl-serves-up-a-tasty-blend-of-related-images/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/google-image-swirl-serves-up-a-tasty-blend-of-related-images/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Google Image Search is already a great way to find images from all corners of the Interwebs, and it just got more interesting with a new way of visualizing results. It's called Image Swirl. Searching for an image with swirl will give you a list of 12 images, and clicking on each one brings up a cluster of related pictures. Picking one of those will spin the wheel around and give you even more to look at.

This new way of exploring images may be more fun than it is useful, but it does definitely deliver the goods. If you're a visual thinker, it's probably a quicker way to browse results than the existing "similar images" link in Google Image Search. The underlying technology for Image Swirl comes from Similar Images and Picasa's face recgonition features. If you want to give Image Swirl a spin (har har) it's available in Google Labs now.

[via Official Google Blog]

Google Image Swirl serves up a tasty blend of related images originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleimageimage searchimage swirlImageSearchImageSwirlTue, 17 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seesmic launches native Windows Twitter client]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/seesmic-launches-native-windows-twitter-client/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/seesmic-launches-native-windows-twitter-client/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/seesmic-launches-native-windows-twitter-client/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seesmic sure picked a weird time to announce a new Windows-native Twitter client. It's one of the most popular clients running on Adobe's cross-platform AIR platform, which just hit version 2.0. AIR was everyone's biggest complaint about Seesmic, so it makes sense that they'd want to ditch AIR on at least one OS. Creating a native app also allows for drag-and-drop Twitter list management and plug-ins for various third-party Twitter services.

Plugins so far include the user recommendation service MrTweet and the index of popular links, Tweetmeme. Other Twitter-like services will also be able to integrate with Seesmic through the new service. This doesn't necessarily mean the end of development for the AIR version of Seesmic, unless they come out with a native Mac client too. The Mac Twitter space already has a lot of great apps, though, so I'm not sure that'll happen.

To get beta access to the new Windows client, you'll have to sign up for Team Seesmic.

Seesmic launches native Windows Twitter client originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clientseesmictwitterwindowsTue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Autocomplete Me is a gallery of Google users' bizarre searches]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google's autocomplete feature for searches can be pretty useful when you're looking for a common search term. Hey, neat! You don't have to type the whole thing! Sometimes, though, Google's suggestions take a turn for the hilarious or just plain weird. A site called Autocomplete Me collects some of the strangest ones for your amusement. Admittedly, some of these might be offensive, so viewer discretion is advised.

Who knew that searching for "the air s" would show you Monty Python's famous "air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" I suppose that's not too surprising, but "i like to t" will find you a number of strange results, notabiy "I like to tape my thumbs to my hands and pretend I'm a dinosaur" and "I like to pretend Jesus was a mischievous badger." If you took this site and added Bill Cosby, you'd have a show called "Kids Search for the Darndest Things."

Have any favorite Google autocomplete results of your own? Put them in the comments (and send them to Autocomplete Me, of course).

Autocomplete Me is a gallery of Google users' bizarre searches originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocompleteautocomplete meAutocompleteMefunnygooglesearchTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter apps now have people search, thanks to a new API]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/twitter-apps-now-have-people-search-thanks-to-a-new-api/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/twitter-apps-now-have-people-search-thanks-to-a-new-api/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/twitter-apps-now-have-people-search-thanks-to-a-new-api/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Third-party Twitter apps have access to nearly all of Twitter's functions. Even the new lists feature and the new retweet format can be supported by any ambitious developer. It's sort of strange then, that Twitter's people search is just now getting an API.

Now that this missing API is finally here, the ability to search for users should be popping up in your favorite Twitter program very soon. "Find people" on Twitter's site works by search both name and username, which is something apps couldn't achieve with the (admittedly very handy) "go to user " function.

If you're a curious developer, go check out the official announcement on Twitter's API announcements list.

Twitter apps now have people search, thanks to a new API originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>APIpeople searchPeopleSearchsearchtwitterTue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Translate gets phonetic translation and more]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/google-translate-gets-phonetic-translation-and-more/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/google-translate-gets-phonetic-translation-and-more/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/google-translate-gets-phonetic-translation-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Google Translate just got a lot better, with a nice, clean new look and several new features. The first thing you'll notice is that you no longer have to click to translate. Translate now works instantly, as you type. If you're trying to translate something into a language with a non-Roman alphabet (like Chinese, for example) Google will also show the phonetic pronunciation underneath the translated characters.

If you're translating into English, you've got an even better option: you can hear an audio pronunciation of the English translation. This feature is awesome, and I'm looking forward to a time when Google inevitably implements it for other languages, too. There's a new feature for English-speakers, too, though: if you type in the phonetic, romanized version of a word from a non-Roman language (Google cheekily gives Fake Steve Jobs' trademark sign-off, "namaste," as an example), Translate will attempt to show the proper characters in the original language.

Google Translate gets phonetic translation and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlelanguagetranslatetranslationMon, 16 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TinyChat launches Ustream-style video streaming service]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/tinychat-launches-ustream-style-video-streaming-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/tinychat-launches-ustream-style-video-streaming-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/tinychat-launches-ustream-style-video-streaming-service/#commentsFiled under: ,

TinyChat has evolved from an ultra-light chatroom service (no sign-up required) into a quick way of setting up video chats. Now it's going one step further, launching a stream video service similar to UStream. This new project is called Tinychat.tv, and anyone can use it to start their own web-based broadcast.

Tinychat.tv pages are customizable, and bandwidth is free and unlimited, making Tinychat a great choice for anyone who wants to get started with livestreaming. It even supports multi-participant chats, in case your new show needs two or more webcams. You can also comment on shows through various social networking services, or subscribe to a channel.

[via TechCrunch]

TinyChat launches Ustream-style video streaming service originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>streamingtinychattinychat.tvustreamvideoweb showsWebShowsMon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[httpTorrents offers direct downloads of popular torrents]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/httptorrents-offers-direct-downloads-of-popular-torrents/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/httptorrents-offers-direct-downloads-of-popular-torrents/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/httptorrents-offers-direct-downloads-of-popular-torrents/#commentsFiled under: ,

Torrent sites are a lot of people's first stop for music, movies and other files, but not everyone has figured out how to use BitTorrent. If you don't know or don't like BitTorrent, you might still be able to find the downloads you want using regular old HTTP. The site that's making this happen is called httpTorrents.

Although only a small percentage of the most popular torrents have been added for direct download, trying to download a torrent that httpTorrents doesn't have will put it on their list to be added. Using httpTorrents is as simple as grabbing the hash of the torrent you want (which you can find this on most torrent search sites) and pasting it in. If you're a fan of KickassTorrents, you may have spotted httpTorrents links there, as the two sites seem to have partnered up.

It's an interesting idea, but who knows how long httpTorrents will stick around. Because direct download requires the files to be stored on a central server somewhere this project is a bit of a legal toss-up compared to BitTorrent.

httpTorrents offers direct downloads of popular torrents originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bittorrentdirect downloadingDirectDownloadinghttptorrentskickasstorrentstorrentMon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo! Messenger 10 now out of beta with video chat and more]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/yahoo-messenger-10-now-out-of-beta-with-video-chat-and-more/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/yahoo-messenger-10-now-out-of-beta-with-video-chat-and-more/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/yahoo-messenger-10-now-out-of-beta-with-video-chat-and-more/#commentsFiled under: ,


It seems like just yesterday that Yahoo! Messenger 10 entered beta, showing off new video chat and social networking features. Now it's all grown up, out of beta, and replacing Y! Messenger 9 as the default version on Yahoo's download page. Folks upgrading to version 10 get the benefit of several nice new features, including video calling and integration of streams from social sites.

Yahoo! has made some big improvements to its webcam feature, adding better video quality, synched audio and a full-screen mode. You can also move your video call windows around and place them side-by-side. It also supports video effects. To make video calls, both sides need to be on Yahoo! Messenger 10.

The other big addition is a social streaming view called Y! Updates, which lets you see your contacts' updates from several social sites, including Twitter, Last.fm, and Yahoo!'s own Buzz. Of course, it also shows your friends' Messenger status messages. However, CNET suggests you do a custom install of Yahoo! Messenger 10 rather than the default installation, so you have more control over toolbars and other additional junk that comes with Messenger.

Yahoo! Messenger 10 now out of beta with video chat and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatmessengeryahooSun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac-clone company Psystar loses big in Apple lawsuit]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/mac-clone-company-psystar-loses-big-in-apple-lawsuit/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/mac-clone-company-psystar-loses-big-in-apple-lawsuit/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/mac-clone-company-psystar-loses-big-in-apple-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: ,

You may have heard of Psystar, an infamous manufacturer of Mac clone "open computers." They're best known for frequently getting into legal hot water with Apple over everything from trademarks to copyrights to selling Apple's OS X operating on non-Apple computers. Apple just took Psystar to school on that last issue, winning summary judgment in a California court on copyright violations and Digital Millennium Copyright Act Violations.

Psystar's losing argument really splits some hairs, and the court wasn't buying it. Here's what happened: Psystar bought one copy of OS X and loaded it onto a Mac Mini. They then transferred it from the Mini to a non-Apple computer, where they modified the kernel so it would run on the computers they sell. Psystar argued that they were allowed to sell their (legally-purchased) copy of OS X, but the court recognized that the copies made from the Mini and the second, non-Apple machine weren't made legally. Advantage: Apple.

Judgment in Apple's favor means Psystar will likely have to pay damages at minimum. This could potentially sink their entire ship. The takeaway, according to an article on Groklaw? Don't mess around with licensing agreements, especially Apple's.

[via Slashdot]

Mac-clone company Psystar loses big in Apple lawsuit originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecopyrightlawsuitos xOsXpsystarSun, 15 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST