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[Path Finder 4 is here]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/17/path-finder-4-is-here/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/17/path-finder-4-is-here/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/17/path-finder-4-is-here/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you're a Mac user but find that the Finder just doesn't do it for you, check out Path Finder, a great replacement for the file manager, which has just been updated to Version 4. This is a major upgrade, with a raft of new features, including full integration with OSX 10.4 features such as Spotlight and 256x256 icons, along with lots of features you won't find in the Finder. These include a built-in search engine (in case you really don't like spotlight), tabbed windows, and tons of modules, including a file previewer, text editor, PDF viewer, and terminal tool. Path Finder is $34.95; if you purchased Path Finder 3 after September 29, 2004, you're eligible for a free upgrade.

Path Finder 4 is here originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Jan 2006 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 17 Jan 2006 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple updates iLife, iWork, .Mac and OSX]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/apple-updates-ilife-iwork-mac-and-osx/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/apple-updates-ilife-iwork-mac-and-osx/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/apple-updates-ilife-iwork-mac-and-osx/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Along with all of the new hardware announced at Macworld, Apple managed to release a raft of software upgrades as well, including updated versions of the OSX operating system, productivity suite iWork, and the iLife media bundle. ILife '06 includes upgrades to iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand, along with a new app, iWeb, which provides tools for web site creation, podcasting and blogging, along with one-click publishing to Apple's .Mac service. Unlike the default mode of most other blogging tools, such as Typepad, Wordpress and Blogger, iWeb is designed to be used offline, with posts uploaded to .Mac after they're created in the desktop application. Other updates to iLife include podcast-editing tools in Garage Band and the ability to create RSS feeds for iPhoto libraries. ILife '06 comes bundled with all new Macs, or is available from Apple for $79. As usual, there's no upgrade discount for owners of previous versions of the software. Improvements to iWork include new 3D charting modes and new image editing tools. IWork '06 is also available for $79. OSX 10.4.4 is an incremental upgrade, and includes several new Dashboard Widgets, including a Google widget and an improved calendar widget. Oh, and this one's free for users of OSX 10.4. Woo hoo.

Apple updates iLife, iWork, .Mac and OSX originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:50:00 EST<![CDATA[No XP on Intel Macs]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/no-xp-on-intel-macs/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/no-xp-on-intel-macs/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/11/no-xp-on-intel-macs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you've been counting on being able to run Windows on those new Intel-based Macs, Apple's not about to make it easy for you -- despite Apple's new agreement with Microsoft not to block Windows on the new computers. According to Apple SVP Phil Schiller, the new Macs announced yesterday (those being the Intel iMac and MacBook Pro) may not be able to run current versions of Windows due to the fact that the computers will boot using the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), rather than a traditional BIOS (current Power PC Macs use Open Firmware). EFI was developed by Intel and allows a number of advanced features, including the ability to connect to the Internet from a command shell before the OS is loaded. Since EFI was developed after Windows XP, it's not supported by the current or earlier version of Windows (it is, however, supported by 64-bit versions, but the new Macs are 32-bit, so it's back to square one). However, all is not lost: Windows Vista will support EFI. So, if you're a Vista beta tester and have ordered a new iMac or MacBookPro, get those install CDs out; the rest of you will have to wait for the official Vista release, or find a way to hack XP to boot using EFI.

No XP on Intel Macs originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy 15th Birthday, Web Browser!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/26/happy-15th-birthday-web-browser/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/26/happy-15th-birthday-web-browser/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/26/happy-15th-birthday-web-browser/#comments
Fifteen years ago, while most other people were probably unwrapping presents, Tim Berners-Lee was giving one to the world: On Christmas Day, 1990, he put the finishing touches on WorldWideWeb, the first web browser. The browser ran on a NeXT computer, and included a built-in HTML editor as well. Of course, there wasn't a whole lot to browse, given that Berners-Lee had launched the first web site just a month earlier. But the birth of WorldWideWeb, and its companion line-mode browser, was a major step toward the creation of the web as we know it today, and was a huge Christmas present from Berners-Lee to the rest of the computing world. So, thanks, Sir Tim, and happy anniversary!

Happy 15th Birthday, Web Browser! originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 26 Dec 2005 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 26 Dec 2005 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[News flash: Opera buys Opera!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/25/news-flash-opera-buys-opera/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/25/news-flash-opera-buys-opera/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/25/news-flash-opera-buys-opera/#commentsFiled under: ,

The final word, from Firefox wunderkind Blake Ross: "Amidst mounting speculation of an all-out bidding war between Microsoft, Google and the Korean bakery down on 3rd, Opera Software announced today that it inadvertently purchased itself in a $0 million recursive merger set to complete on Monday."

Way to go, Blake! Your best post since you declared that Firefox was the "schmutz-free" browser.

News flash: Opera buys Opera! originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 25 Dec 2005 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 25 Dec 2005 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[WinRoll: Today's Free File]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/winroll-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/winroll-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/winroll-todays-free-file/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Are all of those open windows taking up a little too much space on your desktop? Want to make them disappear without having to minimize them? Give today's free file, WinRoll, a try. It can make your windows "roll up" into the title bar (a trick familiar to users of Mac OS9), and can also let you make your windows transparent at will (a trick familiar to users of Windows Vista). A handy utility that does just a couple of things and does them very well.

WinRoll: Today's Free File originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Did Google deep-six Kozoru?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/did-google-deep-six-kozoru/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/did-google-deep-six-kozoru/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/did-google-deep-six-kozoru/#commentsFiled under: ,


There's an interesting series of posts over at the blog of John Flowers, about how he believes his small search company has suffered at the hands of Google. According to Flowers, Google recently banned his company's spiders, after initially shmoozing with him about a possible deal. Flowers posted a few weeks ago about how, after conducting talks with Google, the company suddenly stopped responding to his calls, though it did continue to access Kozoru's private interface. Then, apparently without warning, not only did Google stop taking Kozoru's calls, but stopped taking its traffic as well. Flowers speculates that Kozoru - which created a meta-search engine designed to pull more intelligible results from Google searches - was banned after Google "couldn't decide how or if [Kozoru's] results were able to be monetized -- after all, less results means less space for ads and so forth." Sounds like Google's playing a bit of hardball here, which the company has every right to do. But it does sort of fly in the face of Goog's whole "don't be evil" thing. Of course, I doubt Google's shareholders see this as evil; the company is protecting shareholder value, and if Kozoru gets in the way of that, hey, that's life in the big time. Still, it does seem like the whole "don't be evil" thing is getting a little old. Goog's a big company now, and is acting like one. It's time for it to stop pretending otherwise.

Did Google deep-six Kozoru? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 23 Dec 2005 21:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2005 21:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple to preview Leopard at Macworld?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/apple-to-preview-leopard-at-macworld/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/apple-to-preview-leopard-at-macworld/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/apple-to-preview-leopard-at-macworld/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Forget those Intel-based Macs (well, not really, but humor me for a minute here). According to TUAW, the real news at Macworld this January may be the first public preview of the next version of OSX, version 10.5, aka Leopard. Right now it's just speculation, but TUAW makes a reasonable case for the idea that Stevie J. may use his annual shindig to show off more than just some shiny new laptops and iPods.

Read

Apple to preview Leopard at Macworld? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Opera denies MS takeover rumors]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/opera-denies-ms-takeover-rumors/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/opera-denies-ms-takeover-rumors/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/23/opera-denies-ms-takeover-rumors/#commentsacquire the company - and some sites even claiming that the deal was done - Opera Software has issued a firm denial, saying that the company has "not been bought, and we have not received any offers." So, there you have it. Though, I somehow suspect that Opera would be more than happy to accept an offer (though I don't think one will be forthcoming from Microsoft; the company has invested a little too much in IE7 to abandon it at this stage).

Opera denies MS takeover rumors originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Greeting card templates]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/gift-guide-greeting-card-templates/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/gift-guide-greeting-card-templates/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/gift-guide-greeting-card-templates/#commentsFiled under: ,


Admit it. It's getting down to the wire, and you haven't picked out gifts for everyone, or even sent out all of your cards yet. One popular last-minute solution is to send out e-cards, and here's one way to make those cards a little more interesting. Instead of just using the canned cards available on countless sites, design your own. Don't have the time or Photoshop chops? No problem. Just use a canned template and plug in your own images, words and whatever else you need to make the card work. One good source is the scrapbook community, where designers have a wealth of templates available at prices as low as $3.00, most of which can be used both for e-cards and for printed ones - though, unless you're going to spring for FedEx or deliver your cards by hand, the latter isn't a likely scenario this year.

Gift Guide: Greeting card templates originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson: Today's Free File]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/watson-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/watson-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/watson-todays-free-file/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're looking for another desktop search tool to add to your arsenal, check out Watson, a contextual search bar that can generate realtime results based on the content of whatever you're working on in another window, such as a browser session, Outlook message or Word document. That could get a little annoying, but could also come in handy now and then, if you need to quickly get a piece of info that will help you fill out a document you're working on. It can also use the indexes compiled by Google Desktop or Windows Desktop Search, which saves you from having to re-index your whole hard drive if you want to use it as a desktop search tool. And, yes, it's free (though, of course, there's a Pro version available, at prices of up to $199 for a lifetime subscription).

[Via The Office Weblog]

Watson: Today's Free File originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Get ecto for 20% off]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/get-ecto-for-20-off/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/get-ecto-for-20-off/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/get-ecto-for-20-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're into heavy-duty blogging, there's one piece of advice that may stand above all others (well, other than the old tip to avoid blogging about your job if you want to stay employed): work offline. There's nothing more frustrating than spilling your guts in an entry only to have it fall victim to a sudden Firefox hiccup. And, while there are quite a few decent offline editors, ecto is, without a doubt, one of the best. It's cross-platform, works with most popular blogging platforms including Blogger, Movable Type and WordPress, and it's now available for 20% off (from Friday through Monday only). That's $14.36, instead of the usual (and eminently reasonable) $17.95. At that price, you can't afford not to work offline.

[Via TUAW]

Get ecto for 20% off originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Live Messenger invites on eBay - with Microsoft's blessing]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/windows-live-messenger-invites-on-ebay-with-microsofts-blessi/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/windows-live-messenger-invites-on-ebay-with-microsofts-blessi/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/22/windows-live-messenger-invites-on-ebay-with-microsofts-blessi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


You might recall that just a few months ago, invites for the WordPress.com blogging service began showing up on eBay, something that WordPress developer Matt Mullenweg greeted with thinly disguised glee. At the time, I opined that there was something a little unseemly about a developer gloating that his attempts to create buzz and limit usage during a beta period had resulted in an inflated secondary market for his products. I still think that's the case, but it looks like I'm in the minority, since it turns out that the Windows Live Messenger team over at Microsoft is pleased as punch that their invites have begun showing up on the 'Bay. Gloating on their blog, they declare: "If you must get an invite and you don't mind spending some money on it check out the auctions here. The Messenger team has a pool going to guess what the highest selling point will be." Great, guys. Remind me to start a pool to guess how much people are willing to pay for bootleg copies of XP and Office, also widely available on eBay.

Windows Live Messenger invites on eBay - with Microsoft's blessing originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Software company swag]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/gift-guide-software-company-swag/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/gift-guide-software-company-swag/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/gift-guide-software-company-swag/#commentsFiled under:


What do you get for the geek who has everything? How about some software company swag? Software companies large and small offer everything from the Google Goo pictured above, to Mozilla's plush firefox dolls, to logo-pimping t-shirts. Some of my favorites include the non-logo t-shirts from Mac developer Panic Software (they include one featuring the Mac "spinner" and one that boasts "i make macintosh software"). If you really want to impress, you can hunt down collector-level swag on eBay, including old Apple lapel pins and Microsoft bobble-head dolls.

Gift Guide: Software company swag originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Talk to work with AIM]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/google-talk-to-work-with-aim/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/google-talk-to-work-with-aim/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/21/google-talk-to-work-with-aim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Talk: buddy listIt's just one line in a press release about Google's $1 billion investment in AOL, but it's a good one for anyone who has gotten frustrated with having to run multiple IM clients, kludge a link to Google Talk via Jabber, or just skip running Google Talk in favor of the dozen or so other IM clients out there. According to Google, one ramification of the investment will be to allow "Google Talk and AIM instant messaging users to communicate with each other, provided certain conditions are met." At this point, I have no idea whether those conditions are technical, financial or both, but it makes perfect sense for the two to combine their efforts - after all, AOL already has AIM and ICQ under its umbrella and interoperating. There's no reason not to do the same with Google Talk (and, chances are, it'll make selling ads into the client a little easier as well).

Google Talk to work with AIM originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Desktop Multiplier - Today's Free File]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/desktop-multiplier-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/desktop-multiplier-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/desktop-multiplier-todays-free-file/#commentsFiled under: , ,

desktop multiplierWant to turn one computer into two? If you're running Linux and have a box that can support two monitors, you can do it for free with a two-user license of Desktop Multiplier. Once installed, the program lets two users access simultaneously, with what the developer says are only minor performance hits (though we imagine that it might be a little tougher if both users are running graphics or processor-intensive apps). The developer, UserFul, also offers a commercial version of the program that can handle up to 10 users on a single PC. Of course, this only works with Linux; if you want to do something similar with a Windows box, you may have to spend about $200 for something like the Applica U2 Lite, a "reverse KVM" that installs in a PCI slot. Or you can always spend another $100 and get an ultra-cheap PC.

Desktop Multiplier - Today's Free File originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Roll your own digg for free]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/roll-your-own-digg-for-free/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/roll-your-own-digg-for-free/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/roll-your-own-digg-for-free/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

digg cloneLike digg? Wish you owned it? Well, now you can, sort of. Technocast has a tutorial up on how to create your own digg-like service, using nothing more than WordPress and a the Pligg plug-in. Follow a few simple steps, and you'll be diggin' it in no time. Of course, if your digg-clone catches on, you may need to pay your hosting service for lots of extra bandwidth. But, presumably, by then you'll be rolling in so much Adsense dough that you can write them a blank check. 

Roll your own digg for free originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 20 Dec 2005 04:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2005 04:44:00 EST<![CDATA[How To: Use Google's language tools as a proxy server]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/how-to-use-googles-language-tools-as-a-proxy-server/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/how-to-use-googles-language-tools-as-a-proxy-server/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/20/how-to-use-googles-language-tools-as-a-proxy-server/#commentsFiled under: , ,

googleHere's a quick-and-dirty hack to help you access sites that your company's firewall may block: Just use Google's language tools to access the site. You can set your parameters to "translate" the site from Engish to English, and then plug in any URL:

http://www.google.com/translate?langpair=en|en&u=www.downloadsquad.com

It may not work with every firewall, or with every site you want to visit, but it could be worth a try if you need to, say, finish your online holiday shopping and your boss is an ecommerce-blocking Scrooge.

How To: Use Google's language tools as a proxy server originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 20 Dec 2005 01:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2005 01:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer: Today's Free File]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/microsoft-raw-image-thumbnailer-and-viewer-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/microsoft-raw-image-thumbnailer-and-viewer-todays-free-file/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/microsoft-raw-image-thumbnailer-and-viewer-todays-free-file/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

nikonIf you have a digital SLR camera, you may be familiar with RAW files, the uncompressed, uncorrected "digital negatives" that your camera can produce.  While these images can be edited in programs like Photoshop or the image editing application supplied with your camera, they can't be viewed as thumbnails in Windows Explorer. That is, unless you download and install today's free file, Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer. The program lets Windows treat RAW files saved by Canon and Nikon cameras like any other images, so you can preview them with ease. In addition to  displaying thumbnails in Explorer, the program includes a  Picture and Fax Viewer lookalike that can be used for basic image viewing and printing.

Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer: Today's Free File originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Linux Format magazine]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/gift-guide-linux-format-magazine/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/gift-guide-linux-format-magazine/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/12/19/gift-guide-linux-format-magazine/#commentsFiled under:

linux format magWhy on earth would you want to get someone a holiday gift made from dead trees? For one simple reason: Linux Format magazine, from the UK's Future Publishing, comes with tons of free software (well, free after the $15 each issue will run you in the US). In fact, many issues come with  pre-configured distros that you can install and run instantly. Yes, you (or your gift recipient) can download most of the software that comes bundled with the magazine. But even with a broadband connection, it's sometimes nice to get that software delivered to your door on a CD or DVD that you can just pop into your drive and run (especially if you don't want to deal with burning discs from ISOs). And, for the Mac or Windows fan on your list, Future also publishes Mac Format and PC Format, both of which also come with software - though you're not going to get a copy of OSX or XP with your magazine.

Gift Guide: Linux Format magazine originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Dec 2005 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 19 Dec 2005 10:35:00 EST