Our favorite Web 2.0 company, 37Signals, must be working overtime these days.  They have announced the availability of an API for their popular Basecamp project collaboration product.  With this API, Basecamp users will be able to unleash their creativity in developing OS X dashboard widgets and Yahoo! widgets, or just generally hooking up Basecamp to all kinds of external systems.

Not to rest on their accomplishments, the crew over at 37Signals also signalled that calendaring will soon be added to Backpack.  For Backpack fanatics, this was the most requested feature on the popular list tracking web site.  Some would even say that calendaring is the missing link on Backpack.

While all this is exciting, it does make us wonder when we can expect Sunrise, their CRM application?

37Signals working overtime, release Basecamp API, Calendar for Backpack to follow originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Now that the excitement has died down, software products are starting to appear that are 'tuned' for the UMPC's form factor.  Yes, we know that Microsoft has made is a point to tell everyone who will listen that the UMPC's greatest appeal is that it can run any Windows XP application.  While that may be true, the smallish screen size of the UMPC made us wonder how we'd squeeze some of our favorite applications into such small digs.  While it looks like some applications from Microsoft (namely OneNote) will account for the new screen real estate, an entirely new cadre of applications are being readied to fill the (smaller) void.

One of the first applications to be released that is UMPC sensitive is abletFactory's abletFoodCalc.  FoodCalc is a nutritional calculator for keeping track of your eating habits while on the go.  FoodCalc comes with a large database of nutritional values for foods that will allow you to quickly accumulate your daily consumption habits with your UMPC.  This sounds interesting enough, although we're forced to ask one practical question:  Since input on the UMPC is mostly hand driven, won't our precious UMPC get 'all greased up' if we enter food data all day?  Well, it seems like a sure opening for another UMPC accessory, the UMPC sanitizer.

UMPC tuned applications begin to appear originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Like many of you, much of my daily work pattern revolves around Microsoft Outlook.  Over the years, I've grown accustomed to Outlook, and have an understanding of its strengths and limitations.  One of the biggest limitations has been the ability quickly file inbox messages.  Outlook lets you build rules to auto fule stuff, but those rules tend to be pretty rigid.  Plus, I'm not a fan of auto filing, at minimum I want to glance at any incoming subject line before I banish it to a sub-folder.  Drag and drop is slow, and the built in filing command isn't powerful enough to give you folder options as you search. 

The last couple of days I've been testing a new, tiny application called SpeedFiler.  SpeedFiler does one thing, and it does it well.  The Outlook Add-in gracefully extends Outlook's filing command (Ctrl Shift v) with a smart window that narrows your folder list as you type.  This means you don't have to go searching for the appropriate folder by scrolling through a huge list of folders. Nice.  Need to get to a folder quickly?  Just begin typing the folder name in the SpeedFiler toolbar and optional folder names begin to autopopulate.  Cool stuff.

SpeedFiler can also be setup to request a folder to file sent mail, every time you send a message.  SpeedFiler has quickly become a part of my routine.  If you want to check it out, you can download a trial copy, valid for 30 days.  To purchase, SpeedFiler will set you back $19.95

Clean up your Outlook inbox with Speedfiler originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Check flight status in real time from your Treo originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GoBinder 2006 ships with an entirely new architecture originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not only does Google want to own all your data, Google wants you to plan your life on a Google platform.  As Google says, we must follow, right?  Well, on both points, Google's intentions have remained a closely guarded secret until this week.  Those as lofty as the Wall Street Journal reported on the PowerPoint mixup that exposed Google's file storage plans.  Now we have leaked screenshots of the super-secret "CL2", or Google Calendar.  Techcrunch scored the screens and they seem to validate that Google is building a expansive calendaring capability to augment the GMail platform.  Like all things Google, the interface looks spartan, but heavily splashed with AJAX.  It is also speculated that CL2 is a while away from gracing us lowly users.  Until then, you'll have to plan your life on something else, like with a pen on paper or your hand.

Google Calendar: What does it look like? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continuing on a quest to buy everything that Google or Yahoo haven't bought already, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Onfolio today.  Onfolio, for the uninitiated, is one of the most powerful web bookmark, page capture, research assistant tools available for Windows.  The big M will be adding Onfolio onto its Windows Live Toolbar as a free offering.  I'm sure that won't go well with those who ponied up $99 for their copies of Onfolio, but hey, now the rest of the world can share the wealth of your 'seed funding'.  It will be interesting to see what Microsoft does with the Firefox integration of Onfolio, since nearly everything that is going into the Live strategy requires the proprietary Internet Explorer browser.  Before you point your IE browser to Onfolio's website, be forewarned that the free version isn't available until "the afternoon".  Now, whose afternoon is the global giant referring to?

Microsoft swallows Onfolio originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Do you have a problem with junior venturing into programs that you don't want him to touch?  Is he trying to sneak a peak into your Zinio magazine rack (you know the one where you download Foreign Policy and BusinessWeek...among others...)?  Well, configuring Windows XP to keep him out of your things can be difficult, if not impossible.  This is where Program Protector comes in handy.  Program Protector lets you password protect any Windows application with a fairly tight protection scheme.  The program cannot be bypassed by renaming executable files, or even by deleting Program Protector.  You can also view an activity log to see of junior has tried to access a protected application,.  I've been testing a trial version, and it seems to work as advertised.  A license will set you back $29.95.

Prevent unauthorized use of programs with Program Protector originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Do you ever wonder what really goes on at home while you're away?  Want to make sure the cops catch any thieves that may want to steal your authentic MacGyver memorabilia?  Well, you may want to give Crime Catcher a try.  Crime Catcher is a motion detection driven webcam capture tool.  You can hook the software up to monitor upto four webcams, and have your computer fire off an email when motion is detected.  To deter would-be thieves, you can also setup the application to play sounds off of your computer's sound system.  I can just imagine it now, a burglar running in fear after crooner Tom Jones kicks in.   That is assuming that the bad guys don't steal your kick-butt speaker system.  The basic application will set you back $25, while a full featured, four camera version runs $49.

Need to protect the fort while you're away? Give Crime Catcher a test drive originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It seems like we've been waiting forever to see a working version of Chandler, the much anticipated collaboration-PIM tool that was being developed by the Open Source Foundation.  Well, they finally have released a presentable version of the Calendar Module for Chandler, and from the looks of it, Chandler is a winner.  More than just another pretty PIM, Chandler's vision was to challenge the Microsoft Outlook-Exchange standard with a more open, and robust tool.  It seems as though the OSA team is marching, very slowly, toward that goal.  Take a look for yourself here to see what the Chandler team as been up to.  You can also download a working version of this module, which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux environments.

It's a slow ride to perfection, but Chandler seems to be getting there... originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Soonr makes your mobile phone to be even more productive originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Paranoid about hidden tasks on your Windows system? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 09 Jan 2006 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Symphony, another blogging application now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:45:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. We love that Microsoft spread computing beyond geekdom.  Over the last thirty years,  Microsoft's unrelenting charge toward world dominance has brought computing technology to the forefront of society.  While many will argue that Microsoft is a great hindrance to the spread of computing, we are certain that without the Microsoft-Intel duopoly computers would still be the purview of pocket protector adorned, horn-rimmed glasses wearing geeks (sorry, no offense).
   
2. We love to hate Microsoft.  It seems as though Microsoft cannot do right by its customers.  Being the biggest fish in the ocean, it's only natural that Redmond take the heat for any computer ailments we suffer. And, on a regular basis, Microsoft obliges us with one screw-up after another (here's the latest example).
   
   
   
3. We love Microsoft's recent openness.  So many Microsoft employees write blogs. Whether it is an astute marketing ploy or not is yet to be determined, but hearing from the likes of Omar Shahine and Chris Pratley is a good thing. The spread of blogging throughout Microsoft has added a humanizing quality to the company that you can't imagine coming from other tech behemoths like IBM or (especially) Apple.
   

Continue reading Ten things we love about Microsoft

Ten things we love about Microsoft originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:00:31 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Secure your data on your Palm originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:31:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While I'll never be mistaken for a programmer, from time to time I'll build a small application to serve as a front-end for a database requirement I may have at the moment.  In the past, I would use the dreaded Microsoft Access as the weapon of choice, but in recent years I've tried to build these smaller solutions on a web platform.  By being online, my application is available to me from anywhere, and I don't have to lug around a computer to access it.  It's not easy for someone who doesn't really know how to code to build applications on the web.  Enter CodeCharge.  I've used CodeCharge for several years now, and found it to be a very powerful and surprisingly easy solution for coding neophtyes.  YesSoftware has recently upgraded CodeCharge Studio to version 3.0.  The 3.0 product has added some really slick features such as web reporting , a web calendar builder, a CSS style builder, and internationalization capabilities.

While you can dig into actual code with CodeCharge, the beauty of this application is that it lets you build on any of the following platforms, PHP, ASP, JSP, Perl, ColdFusion, or ASP.NET, and you don't really have to know how to program a single line of code.  The downside is that CodeCharge isn't cheap.  It'll set you back $140.  Once you have a tool like this and access to a web server, however, you'll find yourself building all kinds of useful applications.  Who knows, you may unleash the hidden coder in you!  CodeCharge is a Windows based application.

CodeCharge Studio 3.0 released originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:30:37 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ZLauncher for Palm updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:42:46 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. When was the last time your mom did a full backup of her computer files?  When was the last time you backed up your computer (sorry, had to ask)?  Do your mom a favor and make at least two backup copies of her most precious files.  Keep one backup for your records, and have your mom store another copy in a safe place.  You might want to take a look at NTI Shadow 2 (on sale for 99 cents until the end of the year) as a backup utility, if mom's computer lacks one.
   
2. Like all moms, we bet yours has collected a bunch of photo files over the years.  We are also confident that they are not as well organized as she thinks they are.  Clean up her photographs by putting them in the My Pictures folder on her computer.  Then download Picasa from Google and show her how to use it.  Picasa, along with its online companion Hello, are your friends.  They will make sending pictures to your mom much easier, and will make viewing pictures more pleasurable too.
3. Now that her pictures are all sorted out neatly, it's time to buy her a nice LCD screen to get rid of that boat-anchor CRT monitor on her desk.
4. While we're thinking of hardware upgrades, why not get your mom some real speakers to replace those tiny, screeching ones that came with the computer?  Your mom deserves better sound quality when she listens to music, right?
   
5. Install Firefox.  Your mom will love it.  Trust us on this one.
6. If your mom would like to keep one place to store notes, copies of web pages, and other clippings, setup Evernote for her.  Given that Evernote lets you copy and categorize notes, web pages and clippings, this program will help her keep track of all kinds of stuff in one place.
   
7. Update the anti-virus software on her machine, as well as the spyware detection software.  It has probably been a while since she had the latest, and greatest, virus definintions on her PC.  We know you keep your virus definitions up to date, right?  To keep spyware at bay, we prefer Adaware by Lavasoft.
   
8. Introduce your mom to the world of VoIP by setting up Skype.  We're pretty confident that all moms would love to be able to chat with their children at any time.  Even more inviting to most moms is when they can chat for free.  Of course you will thank us for this tip once your mom buzzes you while you are in some important meeting at work.
9. Run a system check utility on her machine to clean out the cobwebs that slow down system performance.  Systweak does a good job in cleaning up PCs.
   
10. Get her a real email account.  Many moms (and dads for that matter) fall into the trap of using some default, arcane email address that was provided by their internet provider.  Make her email address a memorable one.  Be a sport, move your mom onto a vanity domain  name and have it forwarded to her favorite email address.  Domain names can be bought for less than $9/year and will give your mom a special email address that is easy to remember (okay, this is sort of senitmental).
    

Top 10 things to do for mom's PC over Thanksgiving originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Nov 2005 08:20:43 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• International, 24-hour time picker with an option for setting time in 1-minute or 5-minute increments.
  
• Year view in KeyDates (for hi-res handhelds only).
  
• You can set Week Start in KeyDates to any day of the week. All views now reflect this Week Start day.

KeySuite for Palm OS updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Nov 2005 15:23:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Notepad++, yet another free text editor replacement for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:30:04 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.