Download Squad http://www.downloadsquad.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/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[Canonical working on an iTunes-like music store for Ubuntu?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/canonical-working-on-an-itunes-like-music-store-for-ubuntu/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/canonical-working-on-an-itunes-like-music-store-for-ubuntu/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/canonical-working-on-an-itunes-like-music-store-for-ubuntu/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One program people I know miss when they've tried to switch to Linux is iTunes. Like it or not, Apple's desktop app has gained the reputation of being the place to buy music and video downloads. But iTunes on Linux? Fuhgettaboutit.

That leaves an opportunity for someone in the Linux community to step up and deliver an alternative. Enter Canonical, who may be preparing to do just that in time for the release of Lucid Lynx.

Over at LaunchPad, there's a blueprint called Ubuntu One Music Store which states its goal as "to deliver the ability to purchase music from within a desktop music player." There's nothing much yet for details on the associated wiki, so there's no telling yet what exactly might be in the works.

As Joe Panettieri points out at WorksWithU, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth mentioned Amazon during a press call for the launch of Karmic Koala. Unlike Apple, Amazon was more than happy to show Linux users some love - offering a downloader for purchases from their MP3 store. They're also pretty chummy already thanks to that whole cloud thing.

Even if the Ubuntu One Music Store ends up being an affiliate app powered by Amazon, it could provide a decent revenue stream for Canonical. It's also one more feature that could entice users to give Linux a try on their desktop.

*installer screen cheesily simulated

Canonical working on an iTunes-like music store for Ubuntu? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ituneslinuxmp3music storeMusicStoreubuntuubuntu oneUbuntuOneTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Air 2 goes beta, adds tons of new features, sucks a whole lot less]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/adobe-air-2-goes-beta-adds-new-features-sucks-a-whole-lot-less/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/adobe-air-2-goes-beta-adds-new-features-sucks-a-whole-lot-less/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/17/adobe-air-2-goes-beta-adds-new-features-sucks-a-whole-lot-less/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've had a love-hate relationship with Adobe Air since it arrived on our desktops. Ram-hungry apps had us seeing red. Still, a few killer apps helped drive adoption - apps like TweetDeck, Times Reader 2.0, and DeskTube. As Air continued to develop, it got leaner and meaner and now version 2 has arrived in beta. Adobe Air 2 is now here, and it's ready to get down to business.

Air 2 features a number of tweaks, updates, and feature additions. For starters, the Air 2 ships with Flash 10.1 beta - which adds GPU acceleration support and so far seems to kick my CPU's ass less often. Air 2 also boasts tighter integration with operating systems and can now access certain mass storage devices like USB flash drives, digital cameras, and flash memory cards. Air 2 can also tap into your computer's microphone.

Webkit has been updated, as has the SquirrelFish Extreme Javascript engine. Those two changes combine for a reported 50% gain on SunSpider benchmarks. There's also added multi-touch and gesture support and better printing and networking (including the ability to listen for incoming socket connections). Got a gigantic display? Air 2 supports a maximum window size of 4095x4095 - a 42% increase, though likely not one you'll benefit from at home.

Processor usage and memory consumption have been addressed, with many Air apps reporting about half the CPU utilization of Air 1. TweetDeck on my system is using about 20Mb less RAM. More efficient use of my hardware? Now that you can enjoy at home.

For more details about Adobe Air 2 check out the embedded clip of Kevin Lynch's presentation from MAX or head over to Adobe Labs, where you can also download the new version. Downloads are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

So far, the Air 2 beta feels like a major step in the right direction for Adobe. As more developers begin taking advantage of the possibilities now available and optimizing their apps for the new version, you may just see some pretty cool things happening on Air 2.

[via Adobe.com]

Adobe Air 2 goes beta, adds tons of new features, sucks a whole lot less originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobe airAdobeAirTue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chromium bookmark sync now cross-platform, lands on Linux]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/chromium-bookmark-sync-now-cross-platform-lands-on-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/chromium-bookmark-sync-now-cross-platform-lands-on-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/15/chromium-bookmark-sync-now-cross-platform-lands-on-linux/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Jay posted yesterday about the arrival of bookmark sync on Chromium for Mac, and it appears as though Linux users have been invited to the dance as well.

After finishing the updates on my Ubuntu 9.10 dual-boot, I gave the --enable-sync command line switch a go on my 64-bit Chromium install. Sure enough, sync is now working on Linux. Head to the wrench menu and press "Synchronize my bookmarks," enter your credentials, and within a few seconds your bookmarks appear.

The change is certainly making my work day a heck of a lot easier. With the LastPass extension already handling my logins and passwords and Chromium now providing cross-platform access to my bookmarks, jumping back and forth between Linux and Windows is a much smoother process.

Chromium (and Chrome) on Linux is shaping up rather nicely. I'm in agreement with the devs on this thread - it feels speedier than its Windows counterpart. With about 80% of my computing time spent in a web browser, Linux is becoming a more compelling option for me - thanks to the Chromium project.

Chromium bookmark sync now cross-platform, lands on Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookmark syncBookmarkSyncchromiumgoogle chromeGoogleChromeSun, 15 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wally is a kick-ass, connected wallpaper changer for Windows, Mac, and Linux]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/wally-is-a-kick-ass-connected-wallpaper-changer-for-windows-ma/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/wally-is-a-kick-ass-connected-wallpaper-changer-for-windows-ma/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/wally-is-a-kick-ass-connected-wallpaper-changer-for-windows-ma/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


There are plenty of wallpaper-changing applications out there, and plenty of them can tap into photo sharing sites like Flickr and Photobucket for access to a plethora of images. Still, not many of them are quite as well-connected as Wally.

Even fewer are cross-platform. Wally, though, is happy to share its background-rotating skills with Windows, Mac, and Linux users alike. It's built using Nokia's Qt4 framework and supports an insane number of image sources: local and remote folders (via FTP), and popular photo sites like Flickr, Yahoo!, Panoramio, Pikeo, Ipernity, Photobucket, Buzznet, Picasa, Smugmug, and Bing. You can use any combination of sources you choose by adding and removing them on the settings screen.

Customization options are plentiful, from specifying the delay between image changes to tweaking the size of your local image history store. Images from the 'net are pulled in based on the search terms you specify - and yes, you can shut off Bing's adult filter if you want to.

Wally is free and open source, and pre-compiled downloads are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The project is also mirrorerd over at Sourceforge.

Wally is a kick-ass, connected wallpaper changer for Windows, Mac, and Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundsflickrwallpaper changerWallpaperChangerwallyFri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Linux Mint 8 RC1 brings a kicked-up Karmic Koala to your desktop]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/linux-mint-8-rc1-brings-a-kicked-up-karmic-koala-to-your-desktop/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/linux-mint-8-rc1-brings-a-kicked-up-karmic-koala-to-your-desktop/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/linux-mint-8-rc1-brings-a-kicked-up-karmic-koala-to-your-desktop/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's no denying Ubuntu's popularity when it comes to Linux on the desktop. It's also the foundation for a number of other excellent distributions, including one of my favorites - Linux Mint - and I was pleased to see some big news on the Mint blog early this morning.

Linux Mint 8 RC1 has arrived (codenamed Helena), bundling Ubuntu 9.10's updated core with the usual Mint enhancements like a more customizable Mint Menu, enhanced MintUpload (a slick drag-and-drop FTP app) and Updater, and a good selection of preinstalled apps. For more details about what's new, check the official blog post.

Unlike Ubuntu 9.10 - which switched to Empathy as the default IM client - Mint 8 still includes the more popular Pidgin. finding and loading other software in Mint is as about as easy as it gets on Linux since you can install Ubuntu-compatible .debs. Want to try out Google Chrome on Mint? No problem.

One thing to note: if you plan on using Ubuntu PPAs (like the Chromium nightly project), you'll need to first add the PPA to your repositories then edit its details - changing helena to karmic under distribution.

Even though Mint 8 is still an RC, I found it stable, fast, and every bit as easy to use as previous versions.

Linux Mint 8 RC1 brings a kicked-up Karmic Koala to your desktop originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linux mintLinuxMintubuntuFri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dropbox Votebox lets you decide what they work on next]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/dropbox-votebox-lets-you-decide-what-they-work-on-next/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/dropbox-votebox-lets-you-decide-what-they-work-on-next/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/13/dropbox-votebox-lets-you-decide-what-they-work-on-next/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Dropbox is one of my current top 5 favorite apps. It's an extremely useful utility with a few, very powerful, easy to use features, and now they are looking to expand. With Votebox (must be signed in to see the page), they are letting the user base vote on which features they work on next. Thousands of votes have already been cast. Here are the top 5 at the time of this writing.

1. Selective sync. Ability to choose which files or folders get sync'd to which computers.

2. Watch any folder. Sync folders outside the My/Dropbox folder (thus essentially replicating the functionality of SugarSync). This would be sweet, though I wonder how it would affect the current simplicity and performance of the app.

3. Share folders without forcing other members to lose space. I'd be interested to see how they handle this one. It could open up loopholes for vastly expanded storage space for groups of people.

4. Email files to Dropbox. Use an email address to upload files to your dropbox space.

5. Mac resource fork support. Perhaps the most cryptic of the requests. The resource fork is essentially metadata attached to the file that helps the Mac OS understand the file better. It defines things like custom icons, window sizes, menu definitions and the like. It is also how Mac OS can do extension-less file names. These things are generally stripped by backup programs (like Dropbox). This would be an extremely useful feature for Mac users.

Dropbox Votebox lets you decide what they work on next originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developmentDropBoxfeature requestsFeatureRequestsFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Boxee media center to hit beta next month]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/boxee-media-center-to-hit-beta-next-month/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/boxee-media-center-to-hit-beta-next-month/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/boxee-media-center-to-hit-beta-next-month/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Boee Alpha
Media center application Boxee has grabbed a lot of headlines over the past year or two, and for good reason: Boxee provides Mac, Linux, and Windows users with an excellent solution for watching internet video on a TV. While web browsers were generally designed for viewing text and images with video thrown in as an afterthought, Boxee was designed to look and feel more like a consumer electronics application that you can navigate from the couch with a remote control.

Boxee can access online video from services including Hulu, Joost, and BBC's iPlayer. You can use it to enjoy audio and video podcasts. And you can access local media stored on your hard drive.

But despite all of its features, Boxee is still alpha software. That's going to change next month. Boxee is set to launch the first beta version of its software at an event in New York on December 7th. I suppose the day will continue to live in Infamy, although I doubt that decades from now we'll still be talking about it as the date that Boxee went beta.

The new version will have a new user interface, improved navigation, a user-controlled queue, and a new TV and movie search function among other changes.

Boxee media center to hit beta next month originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxeeboxee-betamedia-centerFri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Egoboo is a fun 3D Rogue-like game for Windows, Mac, and Linux]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/egoboo-is-a-fun-3d-rogue-like-game-for-windows-mac-and-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/egoboo-is-a-fun-3d-rogue-like-game-for-windows-mac-and-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/egoboo-is-a-fun-3d-rogue-like-game-for-windows-mac-and-linux/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I have no idea if Egoboo's original creator named this thing, or if the name came later on after the mantle had been handed down a few times -- and I had absolutely no idea what that word meant... until I punched it into Google! Check out the definition, if you feel the need to know. If not, read on!

Egoboo is a (90 megabyte!!) 3D Rogue-like game. Rogue is a very, very old game -- the original adventure game, really -- and Egoboo builds on its legacy, throws in a little hack-and-slash... and it's even a bit of a RPG! There is loot, there are gribbly monsters that are out to eat your face, and there are plenty of pretty zones to explore (plus there's a map editor!)

To top it all off, it's fully cross-platform (Windows, Mac AND Linux) and has a thriving forum community. It's free of course. Oh, and It's quite brutal. I died several times very quickly, so I'd recommend reading the guide before you jump in.

Download Egoboo (yes, their site is so old it even uses frames! OK, iframes, but still...)

Egoboo is a fun 3D Rogue-like game for Windows, Mac, and Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurefreegamesopen sourceOpenSourceWed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Focus Booster helps you stay focused]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/focus-booster-helps-you-stay-focused/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/focus-booster-helps-you-stay-focused/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/focus-booster-helps-you-stay-focused/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Focus BoosterDistraction is the enemy of focus. If you work at a computer all day, the possibilities for distraction are limitless. One way to stay focused is to use the technique of a firmly regimented working period followed by a short break period that I first came across at Merlin Mann's 43 Folders site. His technique suggested using 10 minutes of work followed by 2 minutes of rest, but the recently popular Pomodoro Technique suggests using 25 and 5. Whatever periods you use, the cross-platform Adobe Air based Focus Booster application is just the timer you need to keep you on task.

Focus Booster is a tiny timer that allows you to set a work and rest period, then away you go. You can focus entirely upon your work knowing that a rest period is coming soon, and you can check out your Facebook / Twitter / blog comments / whatever it is you fancy when the time comes.

Focus Booster helps you stay focused originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobedistractionfacebookrest periodrest-periodRestPeriodsshort-breakMon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skype for Linux to go open source... eventually]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/skype-for-linux-to-go-open-source-eventually/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/skype-for-linux-to-go-open-source-eventually/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/skype-for-linux-to-go-open-source-eventually/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Skype 2.1 beta for Linux
Skype has been providing cheap and free VoIP, chat, and video conferencing features for Windows, Mac, and Linux for years. But just because a program works on Linux doesn't mean it's open source, and the Linux client for Skype has been just as closed a platform as the Mac and Windows versions. That's not to say that developers haven't been able to build third party add-ons and tweaks for Skype. But the source code hasn't been available, which limits the ability of the open source community to really contribute to Skype for Linux.

But it looks like that's going to change. This weekend Olivier Faurax contact Skype customer support about the availability of an RPM package for installing Skype on Mandriva Linux, and he received a reply that indicated that the Linux client for Skype would be made open source in the near future.

I was a bit skeptical, since customer service folks don't always know what's going on in the minds of management, so I sent a request for more information to Skype's corporate communications office, and it turns out that yes, Skype does plan to make its Linux client open source in the future.

It's not entirely clear when the shift will take place. But it should make it much easier for third party Linux developers to ensure that there are up to date packages for Skype for a variety of popular Linux distributions including Mandriva, Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Fedora, and others. It also means that we could start seeing third party applications built around Skype code or more powerful third party plugins for Skype that enhance the application's functionality.

You can read the official statement from Skype after the break.

Continue reading Skype for Linux to go open source... eventually

Skype for Linux to go open source... eventually originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>open-sourceskypeskype-for-linuxvoipMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[15+ great Google Chrome extensions]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/15-great-google-chrome-extensions/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/15-great-google-chrome-extensions/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/15-great-google-chrome-extensions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We've already mentioned other ways to power up Google Chrome. Before extensions arrived on the developer channel, Userscripts and bookmarklets were your only options. Both are still great ways to add some kick-ass functionality to Chrome. If you're running the stable or beta builds, you may want to stick to them for now.
Now, onto the extensions!

If you have a favorite that I left off, feel free to share it in the comments!
Share

Continue reading 15+ great Google Chrome extensions

15+ great Google Chrome extensions originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsbookmarkletsbrowserbrowserschrome-4chromiumdeveloper-channelextensionsfeaturesgoogle chromegoogle-chromeGoogleChromelistsproductivityUserScriptsutilitiesMon, 02 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla release mockups for upcoming Firefox Linux releases]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/mozilla-release-mockups-for-upcoming-firefox-linux-releases/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/mozilla-release-mockups-for-upcoming-firefox-linux-releases/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/mozilla-release-mockups-for-upcoming-firefox-linux-releases/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Firefox 4.0 Linux mockup
The folks at Mozilla have released the first mockup showing what Firefox 4.0 may look like on Linux... and it looks an awful lot like the Windows version.

Firefox 4.0 isn't due out for another year or so, but the developers have already stated a few goals for the project. One idea is to move the browser tabs above the location bar. Another is to consolidate the menus into a few tabs that will hang out next to the location bar. Both movies will free up space, allowing more of the browser to be dedicated to displaying web pages.

If the end result looks familiar, that's because it looks an awful lot like the default layout in the Google Chrome web browser.

Mozilla has also released some mockups of Firefox 3.7 for Linux. One of the most notable changes is that the interface will be more consistent across platforms. Firefox 3.7 for Linux will use the same Forward/Back buttons as the Mac and Windows versions, for example. The edges of the browser, tabs, and other elements will also be curved rather than angled, which will make the browser look more like the mac and Windows versions.

At this point, both the Firefox 3.7 and 4.0 mockups represent proposed changes and not finished products, so things may change by the time these browsers are actually released.

[via OMG! Ubuntu]

Mozilla release mockups for upcoming Firefox Linux releases originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firefoxfirefox-3.7firefox-4.0linuxmockupsweb-browsersSat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Millions of Karmic Koalas descend on the 'net as Ubuntu 9.10 downloads go live]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/millions-of-karmic-koalas-descend-on-the-net-as-ubuntu-9-10-dow/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/millions-of-karmic-koalas-descend-on-the-net-as-ubuntu-9-10-dow/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/millions-of-karmic-koalas-descend-on-the-net-as-ubuntu-9-10-dow/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been looking at Ubuntu 9.10 for a while now in anticipation of the big day. It's finally here, and the full release of Karmic Koala is now available for download.

As usual, there are plenty of ways to get your hands on the new OS. Unlike Windows 7, that includes certified, honest to goodness torrents straight from Canonical. They're already fairly well seeded, so P2P downloads should be nice and speedy.

To save you sifting through the massive list of links, here are the three big ones:
There's also a new release of WUBI [direct download] for those of you who want to do a hands-free Ubuntu 9.10 install from the comfort of your current Windows desktop.

Millions of Karmic Koalas descend on the 'net as Ubuntu 9.10 downloads go live originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>karmickarmic koalakarmic-koalaKarmicKoalaubuntuubuntu-9.10Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[How good is WINE at running Windows software on Linux? Good enough to get infected]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/how-good-is-wine-at-running-windows-software-on-linux-good-enou/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/how-good-is-wine-at-running-windows-software-on-linux-good-enou/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/how-good-is-wine-at-running-windows-software-on-linux-good-enou/#commentsFiled under: ,


WINE. It's not an emulator, but it is a pretty decent way to run many Windows programs under Linux.

What's that you say? Why yes, malware and scareware do count as programs. So, do they run under WINE, too?

The answer is a resounding yes!

Linux user Filip Sufitchi was killing time on Facebook when he stumbled across a malicious link on someone's wall. The link used a series of redirects to dump users at a site that pushes rogue antivirus software. Ignoring Firefox's repeated warnings (in the name of science, of course), Filip clicked onward until he wound up on the nefarious site.

Filip was rewarded with an incredibly annoying bogus app that didn't care what platform it was installed on. Win Police Pro set up shop and began "scanning" his WINE C: drive for "viruses," and WINE neatly transformed the Windows system tray alerts to Gnome notifications. The infection was also able to attach itself to the WINE registry.

While it's not the most positive endorsement of WINE around, it's still pretty impressive that an app like this was able to function without missing a beat (apart from a single error message).

How good is WINE at running Windows software on Linux? Good enough to get infected originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>malwareviruswineTue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical to limit free Ubuntu CD distribution program]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/26/canonical-to-limit-free-ubuntu-cd-distribution-program/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/26/canonical-to-limit-free-ubuntu-cd-distribution-program/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/26/canonical-to-limit-free-ubuntu-cd-distribution-program/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ubuntu Shipit
On Thursday the folks at Canonical will release Ubuntu 9.10, the latest version of the popular Linux distribution. But as the operating system grows more and more popular, there's one service that Canonical has been offering for years that gets more and more expensive. Up until now, if you wanted to install Ubuntu, you could either download a disc image and burn it to a CD or DVD or sign up to have Canonical send you a free CD.

But the thing about free CDs is that somebody has to pay for them. And in this case, it's Canonical that's footing the bill. And the more people request the free CDs, the higher that bill gets. So Canonical has decided to place a few limits on the ShipIt program for distributing those CDs.

The discs will still be made available to Local Community team members and Ubuntu contributors. And new Ubuntu users will be able to request a CD. But you need to create an account and sign in to request that CD. In other words, Canonical will be tracking you and will only send you a free CD the first time you ask for one. After that, you'll be expected to either upgrade to the next version of Ubuntu by downloading software updates or by purchasing a disc from the Ubuntu Store.

[via PC Pro]

Canonical to limit free Ubuntu CD distribution program originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>shipitubuntuMon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the clock: Unknown Horizons is a free, open-source RTS for Settlers fans]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/25/unknown-horizons-free-rts-windows-linux-settlers-clone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/25/unknown-horizons-free-rts-windows-linux-settlers-clone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/25/unknown-horizons-free-rts-windows-linux-settlers-clone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's Sunday, and we're off the clock. Time for a little open-source RTS fun with Unknown Horizons! Though it claims to be a clone of the Anno series by Sunflowers/Ubisoft, you will probably associate this game more with the Settlers games -- a very popular, age-old series of 2D real-time simulation games.

The premise from their own website: 'The player starts with a ship somewhere amid an archipelago. The goal of the game is to found some cities on the islands and to earn money.' Such a simple concept. But as we all know -- the simple games are often the best and last the test of time.

And, believe it or not, defying most open-source expectations, Unknown Horizons actually plays rather well. If you don't mind hammering away at a very, very nascent user interface, this is a great game to have running in the background while you browse your favorite after-hours websites.

Continue reading Off the clock: Unknown Horizons is a free, open-source RTS for Settlers fans

Off the clock: Unknown Horizons is a free, open-source RTS for Settlers fans originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freegamesopen glopen sourceOpenGlOpenSourcepythonsdlsettlersSun, 25 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Open Office 4 Kids is good for adults, too]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/22/open-office-4-kids-is-good-for-adults-too/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/22/open-office-4-kids-is-good-for-adults-too/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/22/open-office-4-kids-is-good-for-adults-too/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The open source movement isn't just for grown-ups: Open Office 4 Kids is a slimmed-down version of the open source Microsoft Office alternative OpenOffice.org.

The target age group for Open Office 4 Kids is 7-12, but after trying it out, I think there are a lot of adults who would prefer it over MS Office or the full version of OpenOffice. It's available on whichever OS you've set your kid up with: Mac, Windows and (of course) Linux.

Less UI clutter helps make OO4K super-fast. Load times for the app and for creating a new document blew away Office 2008 on my Mac, and I didn't experience any of the annoying lag in loading font menus that I sometimes get in Office.

OO4Kids also has large, very obvious buttons for all of the most common functions of each Office app. The "4Kids" branding is almost a shame, because this could also be Open Office 4 Your Mom Who Always Asks You How To Do Stuff in Office.

On the other hand, I'm glad that any 7-to-12-year-olds who use this app will grow up understanding that Microsoft Word isn't the only way to write a paper.

[via Ghacks]

Open Office 4 Kids is good for adults, too originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kidsOOoopen officeopen office 4 kidsOpenOfficeOpenOffice4KidsThu, 22 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tell DLS: What are your top 10 must-have apps? - Linux!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/tell-dls-what-are-your-top-10-must-have-apps-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/tell-dls-what-are-your-top-10-must-have-apps-linux/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/tell-dls-what-are-your-top-10-must-have-apps-linux/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's time for the third installment of our 'Tell DLS' feature and today i'm sharing my top 10 must-have apps for Linux with you, our lovely readers.

I confess to not really being a Linux expert, generally using OS X for the majority of my working day and using Windows and Linux only when the need arises. With that said, I think I have some great applications in my list!

Of course, being a 'Tell DLS' feature, we want this to be all about sharing your experience too - so please post your chosen top 10 in the comments.

Read on after the jump for my top 10 (how many can you identify from the icons above?).

Continue reading Tell DLS: What are your top 10 must-have apps? - Linux!

Tell DLS: What are your top 10 must-have apps? - Linux! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linuxTell DLStell-dlsTellDlsFri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefly is the game you control with a candle. Wait, what?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/firefly-is-the-game-you-control-with-a-candle-wait-what/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/firefly-is-the-game-you-control-with-a-candle-wait-what/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/firefly-is-the-game-you-control-with-a-candle-wait-what/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've read about using candles as a replacement for your Wii's sensor bar before, but what about the other end of the gaming input equation?

Say what? The controller. How about using the candle as a controller?

Who gives a crap if there's a slight risk of spilling a little hot wax on your hand during game play? No real man cares, that's for sure. In fact, the possibility of sustaining minor burns should make you want to play all the more.

Here's the gist of the game: a firefly has lost his luminescence. Since the little bug is attracted to light, you guide him through a series of caverns using a candle - which is tracked by your webcam. The game features awesome low-fi, pixelated graphics and original ambient music - also created by the developer.

This baby may never hit store shelves, but that wasn't the goal anyway. From the description on the YouTube page, the aim was "to show that you can use quite a medieval tool to control a game, and one that you can get for 35636575 times cheaper than Wiimote."

I don't know about you, but I'd like to see this released just so I can phone EB and ask them if they have any candles in stock. Either that, or I'll start keeping bees so I can make my own controllers.

[via Geek.com]

Firefly is the game you control with a candle. Wait, what? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Frustrated EEEUbuntu dev says "Ubuntu sucks."]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/frustrated-eeeubuntu-dev-says-ubuntu-sucks/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/frustrated-eeeubuntu-dev-says-ubuntu-sucks/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/16/frustrated-eeeubuntu-dev-says-ubuntu-sucks/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ubuntu certainly has its fans - perhaps more than any other Linux distro. One person you can rest assured isn't part of that group: EEEUbuntu developer Andrew Wyatt. In case you aren't familiar with the project, EEEUbuntu is a customized Linux distro tailored to Asus' line of netbooks.

It was a SourceForge community choice award winner this year - for best new project. Now, however, it looks as though the distribution's future may be in jeopardy. On his personal blog, Wyatt expresses his frustration at receiving blame for problems actually caused by things like wonky Intel video drivers and kernel bugs.

Things which he feels are the result of carelessness of Ubuntu developers. "...They missed something as stupid as the ntel tiling kernel bug which caused every Intel card out there to crawl during any OpenGL function. There is no excuse for their release of alpha grade drivers and less than alpha grade kernel code into their release distribution," Wyatt writes.

He also hits on an issue that has given me grief in the past on multiple laptops - knowing what to do when you shut the lid. "Who needs suspend anyway, not like its a useful feature and all on an ultraportable." If it bothers me, I can certainly see how it would vex someone who develops a Ubuntu-based OS.

In closing his post, Wyatt gets in one last parting shot: "Maybe I should buy a copy of Windows 7, I hear that it actually works. How can we expect non-techical users to use this pile of garbage that is 'Linux'?"

Ouch.

[via ITWire]

Frustrated EEEUbuntu dev says "Ubuntu sucks." originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicaleeeeeeubuntulinuxubuntuFri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST