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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 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Paint.Net plugin lets you view and edit Photoshop PSD files]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/paint-net-plugin-lets-you-view-and-edit-photoshop-psd-files/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/paint-net-plugin-lets-you-view-and-edit-photoshop-psd-files/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/paint-net-plugin-lets-you-view-and-edit-photoshop-psd-files/#commentsFiled under: Design, Windows, Open Source

The aptly-named Paint.Net PSD Plugin is one of those pieces of software which pretty much spells it all out right in the name. It's a plugin...for Paint.Net...(wait for it)...which lets you open files saved in Photoshop's PSD format.

Download the zip archive, dump the included PhotoShop.dll file into your Paint.Net FileTypes folder (usually c:\program files\Paint.Net\FileTypes), and you're ready to rock. Pretty well anything in the PSD for which Paint.Net has an implementation will load just fine. Saving is another story, so you'd best stick to Paint.Net's native .PDN file when you're done working.

If you don't have Photoshop, the plugin is a handy for looking at PSDs your friends might send you to look at. It's also a nice way to transition yourself to a free alternative if you no longer require Photoshop.

Thanks to FreePSD.com for the template I experimented with -- it's been so long since I used Photoshop on one of my systems that I can't even find any of my old PSDs...

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Paint.Net plugin lets you view and edit Photoshop PSD files originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drawingediteditorgraphicspaint.netphotoshoppicturespsdTue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10+ great tools for safer web browsing]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/10-great-tools-for-safer-web-browsing/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/10-great-tools-for-safer-web-browsing/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/09/10-great-tools-for-safer-web-browsing/#commentsFiled under: Internet, Security, Features, Browsers

Today is Safer Internet Day, an annual event coordinated by the folks at InSafe -- who are all about promoting responsible Internet use. We've covered a number of great tools in the past that have the same aim, so what better day to take another look at them?

Web Of Trust (WOT, Pictured)
WOT is a community-powered trust and ratings system. With nearly 26 million sites rated to date, it's one of the most popular safe browsing tools you can find. Their browser add-on is available for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome. Once installed, you'll start seeing WOT's color coded ratings rings next to links to let you know if they're safe.

I have WOT installed in my browsers, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

McAfee Site Advisor and AVG Linkscanner
Name recognition matters to less technical users, and McAfee and AVG are two of the most recognized names in antivirus. Besides antivirus, both have also developed safe browsing tools like WOT to complement their internet security software. Both are free downloads and work with Firefox and Internet Explorer, and they're a great way to know if a link is safe before you click it.

LastPass, KeePass, 1Password, and RoboForm
One Internet safety issue which keeps popping up is the need for better passwords. These four tools all offer ways to securely store your passwords and also help you create strong passwords. You might not be able to handle 14 different passwords like @h1Pp0p0tMu5.bu770ck$@, but you don't have to. Choose one humdinger to protect your password tool of choice, and let it do the remembering for you!

NoVirusThanks
Not sure the file you're about to download is safe? Why not run it through a virus scan before you ever download it? Head over to NoVirusThanks and choose "scan web address." Copy and paste in the link to your file, and press submit! The scanner can only handle files up to 10Mb, but it's a good way to check small music and video downloads you're unsure about.

LongURL Please
One way scammers try to trick you is with shortened URLs (think tinyurl, bit.ly, is.gd, goo.gl, etc.). While some services that create short URLs have started checking for malicious links, many still don't. LongURL Please can help by un-shortening those links so you can see where they're trying to send you.

Long URL Please is offered as a Firefox add-on and a bookmarklet (which works in any web browser). Not sure what a bookmarklet is or how to use one? Check out Vic's post to learn all about them!

OpenDNS
One really good way to prevent Internet badness from creeping onto your computer is to head it off at the pass. By using OpenDNS on your system (or setting it up on your wireless router) you can take advantage of their massive blacklist which prevents your computer from accessing known bad sites.

It's easier to set up than you might think. OpenDNS provides instructions and video tutorials, and Windows users can download DNS Jumper -- a free tool which makes switching as easy as pressing a button!

Secunia Online Software Inspector
This tool examines Windows and a long list of popular programs to see where your system might be vulnerable. There's more to keeping your computer safe than automatic updates and virus protection, after all. When the Inspector finds a problematic program, it will display a download link so you can resolve the issue.

...and don't forget to check our list of free antivirus programs for Windows. With great apps like Avast 5, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Avira who needs to pay for antivirus software?

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10+ great tools for safer web browsing originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsbrowsingdownloadsextensionsinternetpluginssafertoolsTue, 09 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Pinta project brings Paint.Net inspired simplicity to Linux]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/pinta-project-brings-paint-net-inspired-simplicity-to-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/pinta-project-brings-paint-net-inspired-simplicity-to-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/pinta-project-brings-paint-net-inspired-simplicity-to-linux/#comments

Over the last year, Paint.Net became my default app for quick photo edits. It's an excellent Photoshop alternative for beginners and non-professional users.

Now, thanks to Jonathan Pobst, Linux users have a similar app they can enjoy. Pobst began working on the project in response to a call last year from Thomas Holwerda from OS News, who lamented the lack of a decent Paint.Net-like app for Linux.

The result is Pinta, Pobst's clone of Paint.Net utilizing the Cairo and GTK libraries. Though currently only at v0.1, Pinta already includes all the basic drawing tools you'd expect plus important advanced features like an undo history and multiple layers. While it looks somewhat similar, the only code borrowed from Paint.Net are the adjustments and effects functions.

Pinta could nicely fill a void on Linux. As a bonus, you don't even need to be a Linux user to try it out: Windows users need only have the GTK runtimes installed and Mac users will need Mono for Mac. Check the instructions at the Pinta FAQ!

Pinta project brings Paint.Net inspired simplicity to Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drawinglinuxpaint.netpaintingphotoshoppintaMon, 08 Feb 2010 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Open source disk tool UltraDefrag hits version 4.0]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/open-source-disk-tool-ultradefrag-hits-version-4-0/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/open-source-disk-tool-ultradefrag-hits-version-4-0/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/08/open-source-disk-tool-ultradefrag-hits-version-4-0/#commentsFiled under: Utilities, Windows, Open Source

If you haven't heard it mentioned before with other disk defragmenters, UltraDefrag is a solid open source alternative to tools like MyDefrag and Auslogics' Disk Defrag.

Ultra Defrag is packed with functionality, offering whole disk defragmentation and optimization, file and folder defragging (via your right-click context menu), boot-time defragging, and scheduled jobs. The boot-time job allows UltraDefrag to take care of locked system files like pagefile.sys and your registry hives, which are locked while Windows is running.

While UltraDefrag v4.0 isn't the project's first major release, its developers consider this to be the first 'non-beta' due to past issues with reliability. The new version is fast, and after testing it on three different Windows 7 systems (including x64) those problems seem to have been fixed.

Downloads are available for both 32 and 64-bit Windows versions, and both an installer and portable option are provided.

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Open source disk tool UltraDefrag hits version 4.0 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defragdiskdrivehardhddoptimizeultradefragMon, 08 Feb 2010 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[CubeMe for Google Chrome lets you pretend you're browsing on an iPad!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/07/cubeme-form-google-chrome-lets-you-pretend-youre-browsing-on-an/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/07/cubeme-form-google-chrome-lets-you-pretend-youre-browsing-on-an/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/07/cubeme-form-google-chrome-lets-you-pretend-youre-browsing-on-an/#commentsFiled under: Google, Browsers

There's a very good chance that Chrome OS tablets -- unlike the iPad -- will support Adobe Flash. Google is, after all, one of Adobe's partners in the Open Screen Project.

Suppose, however, you share the Jobsian distaste for Flash and the CPU abuse perpetrated by carelessly crafted .SWFs. What if you actually want those little blue Legos all over your browser? The answer is simple: there's an extension for that!

Just install CubeMe, and your Google Chrome will take on a mobile Safari approach to Flash, displaying the mystery block wherever an embed would normally appear. Don't go expecting configurable blocking like with Flashblock -- you'll get blue Legos, and you'll bloody well like it!

On a practical note, CubeMe will speed load times on certain sites -- though it does make goofing off on ArmorGames a whole lot more complicated...

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CubeMe for Google Chrome lets you pretend you're browsing on an iPad! originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeapplechromecubemeextensionsflashgoogleipadjokeSun, 07 Feb 2010 12:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla outs Thunderbird 3.1 alpha]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/mozilla-outs-thunderbird-3-1-alpha/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/mozilla-outs-thunderbird-3-1-alpha/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/mozilla-outs-thunderbird-3-1-alpha/#commentsFiled under: E-mail, Mozilla

Mozilla finally released version 3 of their Thunderbird desktop email client last December, and they now have their attention focused on a minor bump to 3.1. Last night the first alpha build was made available, and it sports the usual handful of changes and improvements.

Among the tweaks are enhancements to stability and memory usage, better IMAP access, fixes for smart folders, filters, and attachment handling. The Thunderbird interface is also being re-tooled -- so far the changes are fairly subtle.

Thunderbird 3.1 is also dropping support for Windows ME and older as well as Mac OsX prior to 10.4 Tiger. But hey, if you're still running an OS that old you're probably not too concerned with running up-to-date apps either...

Ready to take it for a spin? Testers can download alpha builds for Windows, Mac, and Linux from the Thunderbird early release page.

Mozilla outs Thunderbird 3.1 alpha originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaemailimaplanikaimozillapopthunderbirdFri, 05 Feb 2010 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Where did Google Chrome's pinned tabs go?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/where-did-google-chromes-pinned-tabs-go/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/where-did-google-chromes-pinned-tabs-go/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/05/where-did-google-chromes-pinned-tabs-go/#commentsFiled under: Google, Beta, Browsers

On a recent Google Chrome post one of our commenters -- MoneyMike -- lamented the apparent passing of one of Chrome's popular UI features in recent nightly builds: pinned tabs.

I, too, noticed the change recently and wondered what was going on. There's been plenty of discussion amongst Chrome developers, and it boils down to an evolutionary step for Chrome and the introduction of app tabs. The arrival of phantom tabs recently is also part of the change.

To clear the air, I pinged Google's Eitan Bencuya to see if he could shed any light on the situation. Here's his response:

"As you know, all of these features are still pretty experimental (they're not even in the dev channel yet) and we're trying out different approaches to see what works. In this case this is part of a larger set of tweaks we are making related to extensions but we haven't yet fleshed out all the details of app tabs specifically."

Right now, changes to the tab strip are a moving target. Developers are also working hard at tweaks for the almost-certainly-coming tablet version of Google Chrome, and the extension API is still evolving as well.

Ultimately, while this kind of change might be frustrating to us it's all part of the thrill of using experimental software. Yes, it comes at the expense of perhaps watching a feature you like fall by the wayside, but you still get to play around with all functionality users of the stable version may never see.

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Where did Google Chrome's pinned tabs go? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchromechromiumgooglenightlypinnedtabswebFri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CinemaDrape blacks out distractions so you can focus on the task at hand]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/cinemadrape-blacks-out-distractions-so-you-can-focus-on-the-task/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/cinemadrape-blacks-out-distractions-so-you-can-focus-on-the-task/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/cinemadrape-blacks-out-distractions-so-you-can-focus-on-the-task/#commentsFiled under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Windows x64

Avoiding distractions on while working your computer can be tricky business. Fortunately, there are plenty of great, free apps out there to help you get things done!

CinemaDrape, for example, is a great way to turn off the "background noise" so you can focus on one particular app or area of your screen. You can download an installable version of CinemaDrape or grab the portable remix and run it from your USB flash drive.

If you install, you can invoke CinemaDrape by pressing ctrl + F12 (or re-map to your preferred key combination). The portable version has to be launched, since it's not hooked into your system files. The screen area around your active window will be instantly blacked out -- you can also hover over the side and bottom border to resize or the top border to move. To turn the effect off, just tap your escape key.

Right-clicking on the blackout will open the configuration menu, where you can set up to nine pre-defined areas, reset to default, and change the bacground color and opacity.

CinemaDrape is free for both personal and commercial use and it runs on Windows 7, Vista, and XP -- including x64 builds. The .Net 2.0 runtimes are required if you're using XP.

CinemaDrape blacks out distractions so you can focus on the task at hand originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black outBlackOutblockcinemadrapedistractiongtdhideportableThu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[TV Gorge lets you watch popular shows online for free -- with no geotarding!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/tv-gorge-lets-you-watch-popular-shows-online-for-free-with-no/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/tv-gorge-lets-you-watch-popular-shows-online-for-free-with-no/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/tv-gorge-lets-you-watch-popular-shows-online-for-free-with-no/#commentsFiled under: Video, Web services

Computer users like me and Martin at GHacks, who live outside the U.S. don't often get to partake in the online media goodness that our American pals do. One notable except is TVGorge, a site which offers free, online viewing of dozens of popular TV shows.

The list includes everything from 24, Chuck, CSI, and NCIS to The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and South Park. You can even tune in to one of my current guilty pleasures -- Steven Seagal: Lawman. Video quality is fairly good, you can watch in full screen, and you're not limited to the current season. All 24 episodes from all eight seasons of 24 are available, for example.

I have my doubts as to how long the site will stay up, especially once it experiences the upsurge in popularity that usually follows an app like this being outed on blogs. But hey, in the meantime it's a great place that non-U.S. residents can watch shows in their browser.

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TV Gorge lets you watch popular shows online for free -- with no geotarding! originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geotardingstreamingtvtvgorgevideowebThu, 04 Feb 2010 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Chrome tablet UI begins taking shape in Chromium nightly builds]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/google-chrome-tablet-ui-begins-taking-shape-in-chromium-nightly/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/google-chrome-tablet-ui-begins-taking-shape-in-chromium-nightly/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/04/google-chrome-tablet-ui-begins-taking-shape-in-chromium-nightly/#commentsFiled under: Google, Browsers

Google's user interface mockups and YouTube video were a hot topic the other day, and that buzz will likely continue until we finally see a tablet device emerge from Mountain View to accompany the Nexus One.

If the images and video weren't enough proof for you, changes are under way in the Chromium source code which certainly make it look like Google is getting serious about a new interface for Chrome OS on touchscreen tablets.

Coming soon to the Chromium nightly builds is an --enable-vertical-tabs command line switch. While the source note clearly states that this does nothing other than toggle a preference right now, there's every reason to believe that it will move the Chrome tabstrip from the top of your browser window to the side -- as shown in one of Google's tablet user experience slides.

It's a starting point -- though I'm more interested to see how the tab switching interface shapes up.

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Google Chrome tablet UI begins taking shape in Chromium nightly builds originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildchrome osChromeOschromiumgooglenightlytablettouchThu, 04 Feb 2010 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 7 now powers nearly 1 in 10 computers]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/windows-7-now-powers-nearly-1-in-10-computers/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/windows-7-now-powers-nearly-1-in-10-computers/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/windows-7-now-powers-nearly-1-in-10-computers/#commentsFiled under: OS Updates, Microsoft

Sebastian reported last month that roughly 1 in 7 Steam users has already made the jump to Windows 7. What about the big picture? How has Windows 7 fared with the rest of the computing world since its release on October 22, 2009?

CNet's Ina Fried notes that Windows 7's market share reached nearly 10% over the weekend. That figure is based on NetApplication's statistics -- which tend to vary a bit from weekdays to weekend as people connect to the 'net from their home computers instead of those at work.

On Monday, Windows 7 posted an 8.14% share which still amounts to a gain of nearly two percent during January. Further enterprise adoption would help that number grow, and with SP1 development picking up steam there could soon be more companies willing to join the likes of Intel and BMW on Windows 7.

Another side effect of Windows 7 adoption: Internet Explorer 8 has crept into the #1 spot on the browser usage chart. Well played, Microsoft...

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Windows 7 now powers nearly 1 in 10 computers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7figuresmarket shareMarketSharemicrosoftnetapplicationsstatswindowsWed, 03 Feb 2010 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft pushes Office 2010 release candidate to testers]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/microsoft-pushes-office-2010-release-candidate-to-testers/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/microsoft-pushes-office-2010-release-candidate-to-testers/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/microsoft-pushes-office-2010-release-candidate-to-testers/#commentsFiled under: Office, Microsoft

With the full RTM due in June, Microsoft has confirmed that a release candidate build of Office 2010 is currently in the hands of testers.

This isn't news to the crew at Wzor.net, of course, who have made a habit of putting leaked RC, beta, and RTM software from Microsoft on display for all to see. They've confirmed that Microsoft is already internally testing an RTM escrow build of Office 2010.

As a Microsoft spokesperson told NeoWin, "Microsoft made a release candidate available to members in the Technology Adoption Program (TAP). This is one of Microsoft's planned milestones in the engineering process; however they do not have plans to make this new code set available broadly."

Fortunately for eager testers, Microsoft's own distribution plans won't hold you back. Leaked RC builds are circulating on various torrent sites (and other P2P networks like eMule), so you can still find a copy to test if you're OK with the associated risks.

We wouldn't advise that, of course.

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Microsoft pushes Office 2010 release candidate to testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftofficeoffice 2010Office2010rcrelease candidateReleaseCandidateWed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[uTorrent 2.0 for Windows sheds the beta tag, goes RTM!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/utorrent-2-0-for-windows-sheds-the-beta-tag-goes-rtm/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/utorrent-2-0-for-windows-sheds-the-beta-tag-goes-rtm/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/03/utorrent-2-0-for-windows-sheds-the-beta-tag-goes-rtm/#commentsFiled under: P2P

uTorrent has been the world's most popular BitTorrent app for quite some time, and today its developers announced another big milestone: version 2.0 has dropped the beta tag.

While many uTorrent users haven't been shy about updating to beta or RC builds, the general public seems to prefer the reassurance of the RTM stamp. If you count yourself among that group, you'll be glad to know that you can now download the new stable release from the uTorrent website or a number of mirrors (like Filehippo).

Yes, the installer still offers the Ask.com toolbar -- so make sure you pay attention to the screens as you click through the install if you don't want the toolbar installed.

One thing a lot of users forget about uTorrent is that it's skinnable -- so why not download a new theme for your new 2.0 install while you're at it?

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uTorrent 2.0 for Windows sheds the beta tag, goes RTM! originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bittorrentdownloadp2ppeer to peerPeerToPeertorrentutorrentWed, 03 Feb 2010 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Hexxeh's Chromium OS Zero learns to auto-update]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/02/hexxehs-chromium-os-zero-learns-to-auto-update/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/02/hexxehs-chromium-os-zero-learns-to-auto-update/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/02/hexxehs-chromium-os-zero-learns-to-auto-update/#commentsFiled under: OS Updates, Google, Beta

While it didn't land in time for the release of Chrome OS Zero, Hexxeh has now made a script available which bolts on an automatic update feature.

The updater is currently in open beta, and installing it requires a little bit of tinkering via terminal (ctrl + alt + t starts a terminal session on Chromium OS). Follow Hexxeh's instructions, reboot your system or VM, and watch the magic! If you're not totally up-to-date, you'll see a window like the one above.

One of the most welcome fixes is listed at update 2: no more Broadcom delay. If you've been testing Chromium OS on a netbook or laptop running one of their wireless adapters, this is fantastic news!

One note: for the final step of the process, Hexxeh's instructions say to type reboot [enter] in terminal. That didn't work for me -- but sudo reboot did.

Hexxeh's Chromium OS build is one of my favorite independent projects so far this year, and it just keeps getting better. If you've used it, share your thoughts in the comments!

Hexxeh's Chromium OS Zero learns to auto-update originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome osChromeOschromiumgooglehexxehlinuxupdateTue, 02 Feb 2010 09:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/chrome-corner-weekly-updates-extensions-themes-and-tips-for/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/chrome-corner-weekly-updates-extensions-themes-and-tips-for/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/chrome-corner-weekly-updates-extensions-themes-and-tips-for/#comments

Welcome to February 2010, and welcome to another installment of Chrome Corner! There's plenty of action to cover this week, so let's not waste any time!

Chrome OS to feature touch capabilities?

Of course it is.

I mean, can you imagine anyone developing a sexy, new OS for any electronic device at this point and not including some touch elements?

What the blogosphere (TechRadar had the scoop, and Mashable et al went giddy) is in a twitter about is the deer-in-headlights routine by Google's search lead Anders Sandholm -- who didn't know how to tactfully respond to a reporter's question without giving something away.

Instead, he looked to a PR teammate for help and sputtered, "I can't... I mean... right now we are targeting netbooks, that's what we're focused on, but I expect it to work well... we expect it to target everything up to desktop computers." TechRadar refers to Sandholm's response as the "strongest hint yet" regarding touch.

My vote for strongest hint: Google isn't run by complete idiots.

Oh, and there's also this documentation over at the Chromium Developer site which details UI possibilities for a touch tablet. A Google tablet device is coming -- probably from HTC (the same folks who built the Nexus One) -- and that thing would look pretty silly running a touch-stupid OS.
Data Privacy Day reminder: there are less Google-y versions of Chrome you can run
Just because you want Chrome's speed, and access to the all goodies in the Extensions Gallery, doesn't mean you need to provide extra metrics about your browsing to the Big G. They have plenty of other ways to keep tabs on what you're up to, after all.

If you'd prefer to keep as much to yourself as possible, you may want to look into SRWare Iron, ChromePlus, ad Comodo Dragon. All three are privacy-enhanced and built upon the open source Chromium code.

Fresh Start keeps your tabs in sync across multiple computers
To keep my Firefox installs running in step on my home and work systems I use Weave (which recently hit the big 1.0). What about Google Chrome? I use the built-in bookmark sync and LastPass for my passwords, but I've been missing Weave's ability to sync the tabs I have open.

Fortunately, there's an extension which has stepped up to the plate. Fresh Start taps into Chrome's bookmark sync to use it for session storage. Hit the button, save your tabs, and re-open them later on a different machine.

This extension will be a great way for you to jump back and forth between your desktop OS and Chrome OS -- on that sleek new smartbook Google is hoping you're going to buy...

Chrome 4 goes primetime, Chrome 5 hits the dev channel!
With Google moving Chrome 4 from beta to stable, the general public now has access to the Extensions Gallery, bookmark sync, improved security features, and better speed -- which testers have been enjoying for quite a while.

Testers, in the meantime, can now make the jump to Chrome 5 which appeared last week on the dev channel. Before you shout "version jumpers!" at Google again, have a look at their versioning logic as posted by commenter MxxCon:

Google changes major version number when there are significant comparability changes will happen to the core, for example when Google will make some change to its html engine or javascript engine.
Chrome versions pre 1.0 had V8 javascript engine 0.3 but changed Webkit versions.
Chrome version 2.x changed both Webkit and v8 engine
Chrome version 3.x changed both Webkit and v8 engine
Chrome version 4.x changed v8 engine
Chrome version 5 now has v8 engine 2.0 and will probably change Webkit as well.

They are not changing versions just for the hell of it. They have documentation explaining their logic behind major, minor and build version changes.

What's that smell? It's the Farty Extension for Chrome!
Remember, I'd never actively encourage anyone to sabotage a co-worker's computer... but if you did want to have some fun, Farty is a stupid-yet-awesome desktop prank.

Drop the extension into someone's Google Chrome and wait five minutes for the hilarity to ensue. Just remember to pick a victim who has speakers, otherwise the effect is kind of lost.

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Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchromechrome cornerChromeCornerchromiumgooglewebMon, 01 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Download sexy all-glass gadgets for your Vista or Windows 7 desktop]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/download-sexy-all-glass-gadgets-for-your-vista-or-windows-7-desk/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/download-sexy-all-glass-gadgets-for-your-vista-or-windows-7-desk/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/download-sexy-all-glass-gadgets-for-your-vista-or-windows-7-desk/#commentsFiled under: Windows

Looking for some fun, useful gadgets for your Windows 7 or Vista desktop? Sebastian compiled a list for the Windows 7 launch, and the crew at Into Windows have now shared a slick set of 14 which are dressed up (or is that undressed?) in transparent Aero Glass sexiness!

The pack includes replacements for many of the common non-transparent gadgets like the Calendar, clock, CPU and bandwidth meters, recycle bin and mail status, radio, weather, notes, and system controls.

I'm not always that keen on the glass effect -- and I know from past comments that many Download Squad readers aren't big fans either -- but these gadgets really do look quite good on the right wallpapers. Dark images in particular provide a nice backdrop.

If glass is your thing, go download the Chameleon Glass set from gersma on DeviantArt.

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Download sexy all-glass gadgets for your Vista or Windows 7 desktop originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aero glassAeroGlassdesktopgadgetsglassvistawidgetswindows 7Windows7Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[VLC 1.1 gets extension support]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/vlc-1-1-gets-extension-support/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/vlc-1-1-gets-extension-support/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/vlc-1-1-gets-extension-support/#commentsFiled under: Video, Open Source

That panel above might not look familiar to current VLC users, and there's a good reason for that. It's because the Last.FM Context Panel is from an extension -- something which is all-new for VLC version 1.1.

Jean-Philippe Andre announced the news this weekend, noting that they're different than the modules developers have been able to create for previous versions. Extensions will be created using "Lua, a simple a lightweight scripting language, embedded inside VLC media player."

The goal is to provide Firefox-like extensibility in VLC, allowing each of us to personalize our media player with a wide range of additional functionality. Currently there are a handful extensions you can demo, including Last.fm and IMDB lookups and subtitle/lyric display.

Don't start getting excited just yet. Based on how long it took for VLC to hit v1.0, it could be quite a while before a stable download of 1.1 is made available. Anxious testers can grab a nightly build from http://nightlies.videolan.org.

[via webupd8]

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VLC 1.1 gets extension support originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>extensionsmultimediaopen sourceOpenSourceossplayervideovideolanvlcMon, 01 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Chrome to go polyglot? Auto-translate lands in Chromium nightly]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/google-chrome-to-go-polyglot-auto-translate-lands-in-chromium-n/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/google-chrome-to-go-polyglot-auto-translate-lands-in-chromium-n/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/01/google-chrome-to-go-polyglot-auto-translate-lands-in-chromium-n/#commentsFiled under: Google, Browsers

The Chromium source code has seen a number of changes recently, and a new feature which poked its head out earlier this weekend has now landed.

You can now enable auto-translation of pages in Chromium. Just add the --auto-translate switch to your Chromium shortcut and head over to a foreign language web page to test it out. A Google Translate bar will appear, and you can then click the button to convert all text on the page.

Translated text appears without reloading the page itself, and you won't have long to wait -- pages I tested were completed within four seconds or less.

Not sure how to enable the feature? Check out our guide to adding switches to Google Chrome or Chromium!

Remember, this only works in Chromium right now -- auto-translate has not yet made to even the developer build of Google Chrome. It's probably only a matter of time until we see it there, however. I fully expect to see a number of Google services integrated more tightly into Chrome as we get closer to the arrival of Chrome OS.

For those of you looking for a way to do this in Google Chrome right now, head over to the Extensions Gallery -- there are more than 50 translation options for you.

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Google Chrome to go polyglot? Auto-translate lands in Chromium nightly originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchromechromiumgooglenightlytanslatetranslationMon, 01 Feb 2010 07:54:00 EST<![CDATA[After the Deadline grammar, spell check addon for Firefox is a writer's best friend]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/31/after-the-deadline-grammar-spell-check-addon-for-firefox-is-a-w/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/31/after-the-deadline-grammar-spell-check-addon-for-firefox-is-a-w/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/31/after-the-deadline-grammar-spell-check-addon-for-firefox-is-a-w/#commentsFiled under: Text, Blogging, Mozilla, Browsers

After the Deadline has been mentioned before here on Download Squad. In September of 2009, Automattic (the company behind WordPress) acquired ATD and promptly integrated it into their wildly popular blogging platform.

If you do any writing anywhere on the web and you're using Firefox, you'll be glad to know that the After the Deadline add-on has hit version 1.0 and should be shedding Mozilla's experimental tag very soon.

In case you're not familiar with it, ATD is a brilliant proofreading tool. It can handle everything from common typos to misused punctuation, redundancies, double negatives, and other grammatical gaffs.

Install the Firefox add-on and you can tap its proofreading powers virtually anywhere you can type. It's well worth adding to your writer's toolbox even if you are a master of the written word -- it never hurts to have backup, after all!

Curious what goes on behind the scenes? Check out this recent blogpost which describes in gloriously geeky detail how ATD comes up with spelling suggestions.

Want to see the ATD add-on in action? Take the jump, and check out the video from the WordPress crew!

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After the Deadline grammar, spell check addon for Firefox is a writer's best friend originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>after the deadlineAfterTheDeadlineblogbloggerbloggingeditgrammarproofreadingspell checkSpellCheckspellingwriterwritingSun, 31 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Chrome dev channel hits v5 in less than two years]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/30/google-chrome-dev-channel-hits-v5-in-less-than-two-years/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/30/google-chrome-dev-channel-hits-v5-in-less-than-two-years/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/01/30/google-chrome-dev-channel-hits-v5-in-less-than-two-years/#commentsFiled under: Google, Browsers

Plenty of noise has been made in the past about Google Chrome and version jumping, but a little grumbling isn't going to slow Google down. Today, Chrome's dev channel reached a new milestone, hitting version 5.0.

For those of you counting, it's been a little over 16 months since version 1 first appeared.

The list of changes so far is fairly small. Mac users will notice a bit more of a difference, with fixes addressing plugin stability and crashing while dragging tabs, a slightly improved cookies manager, and minor tweaks to Chrome's task manager.

On Windows, there are two key updates. First, Chrome will now use your default downloads folder (i.e. Username\Downloads on Vista and Windows 7) instead of creating a new Documents\Downloads folder.

Work has also begun on the new Content Settings window. User settings for cookies, pop-ups, plugins, scripts, and images are being moved to their own panel. It was decided that the Under the Hood page was getting a bit lengthy and required too much scrolling.

If you're already running the dev channel, just head to the wrench menu -> about and check for updates. If not, you can download the dev channel build manually from this page.

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Google Chrome dev channel hits v5 in less than two years originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchromiumdev channelDevChannelgoogle chromeGoogleChromeSat, 30 Jan 2010 08:26:00 EST