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[Watch Ustream over wi-fi or 3G on your Android device]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/26/watch-ustream-over-wi-fi-or-3g-on-your-android-device/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/26/watch-ustream-over-wi-fi-or-3g-on-your-android-device/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/26/watch-ustream-over-wi-fi-or-3g-on-your-android-device/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Android users have been able to broadcast video to Ustream.tv for a couple of months now, but there was no way to watch Ustream shows on your Android phone until now. Ustream Viewer has just hit the Android Market, allowing for free, unlimited on-the-go viewing of the popular video site.

Ustream Viewer will work over either wi-fi or 3G. The iPhone version of Ustream Viewer has been around since early this year, but Android still has the advantage, because Broadcaster is Android-only. It's not that the 3GS can't stream video, it's that Apple has been rejecting streaming apps. Mark this one down under "Droid Does," I suppose.

[via TechCrunch]


Watch Ustream over wi-fi or 3G on your Android device originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidstreamingustreamvideoviewerThu, 26 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TripIt released for Android, updated for iPhone, coming soon for Blackberry]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/24/tripit-released-for-android-updated-for-iphone-coming-soon-for/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/24/tripit-released-for-android-updated-for-iphone-coming-soon-for/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/24/tripit-released-for-android-updated-for-iphone-coming-soon-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Travel management site TripIt have launched their mobile companion application for Android, available for download free of charge from the Android Market.

The new application, which is usable with both Standard and Pro TripIt accounts, allows you to access your travel itinerary direct from your Android phone, get maps and directions, make calls to airlines, hotels etc. as well as enabling flight alerts and alternate flight details for Pro users.

As well as launching on Android, TripIt have released an update to their iPhone application, available for download now from the App Store. The iPhone version adds support for Pro account features, as well as a number of useful travel tools including terminal maps, seating advice and live flight status.

If you have a Blackberry and you're feeling left out, fear not! The TripIt Blackberry application is currently in Beta, with release expected before the end of the year. Now how about good old Windows Mobile and that young upstart WebOS...?

TripIt released for Android, updated for iPhone, coming soon for Blackberry originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiphonetraveltripitTue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seesmic Mobile arrives for Android and Blackberry]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seesmic-mobile-arrives-for-android-and-blackberry/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seesmic-mobile-arrives-for-android-and-blackberry/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seesmic-mobile-arrives-for-android-and-blackberry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Seesmic have released their 'Seesmic Mobile' Twitter client for Android and Blackberry on their respective application stores. Available for download free of charge, the clients are slick, feature packed and refreshingly free of advertisements.

The Android client (pictured above) has a great design that utilises a standard tab-based user interface with a red accent, providing virtually every feature (bar multiple account support) that a Twitterer could desire. Included are the ability to scroll without limits back through your timeline, photo and video upload (either from your device camera or from the gallery) via a variety of online services, the ability to add your location to your tweet, URL shortening, saving tweets-in-progress as drafts, switchable full name / username display and very granular notifications.

The Blackberry application also features a native-feeling UI and adds lists and saved search support, albeit at the expense of video and location features.

If you give Seesmic Mobile a try, let us know how you get on and - of course - don't forget to follow @downloadsquad!

Seesmic Mobile arrives for Android and Blackberry originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackberryfreewaremicrobloggingmobilerimseesmicseesmic mobileSeesmicMobilesocialtwitterMon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SEVEN on Android - Ah, push it - push it real good...]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seven-on-android-ah-push-it-push-it-real-good/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seven-on-android-ah-push-it-push-it-real-good/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/seven-on-android-ah-push-it-push-it-real-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The SEVEN Beta setup is an interesting one.

As a company, Seven (enough capitalising already!) sell their excellent push e-mail products only via mobile operator channels, however their Beta program is an excellent way for users on unsupported carriers (that's likely you and I) to enjoy their software.

Available in a variety of editions on a variety of platforms, Seven's software allows you to receive push mail on your device from a variety of services - Exchange, Yahoo, GMail, AOL Mail, HoTMaiL and standard POP and IMAP services are all supported. A Beta release it might be (with the usual associated disclaimers), but the application is a supremely useful piece of software that i've been using for many years to push synchronise GMail with my Windows Mobile devices.

I happened to visit the Seven Beta site earlier today to download the latest Windows Mobile client and I was intrigued to notice that an Android download option had appeared. Obviously I had to download the application and take a look!

As expected, it's a Seven client for the Android OS that includes all of the goodness that i'm used to - push mail across a host of platforms, 'quiet times' when push can be automatically disabled, multiple accounts, server contact search, customisable notifications and more! Although the currently version of the software is missing a few features i'd like to see (primarily HTML mail), for Android users it can often be a trying task getting mail set up and working as desired if you are using something other than GMail, and Seven is making that story easier. I've been pushing an additional e-mail account and a HoTMaiL account all day without any issues!

If you'd like to try out Seven on Android (or indeed any of their other support platforms, which include WinMo Standard / Professional, Symbian S60, Palm OS and even J2ME!) then head on over to the Seven Community Forum to sign up for an account.

SEVEN on Android - Ah, push it - push it real good... originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ExchangeGMailHoTMaiLMobile MinuteMobileMinutePush MailPushMailSevenYahooMon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spotify music service comes to Nokia phones, North American users still screwed]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/spotify-music-service-comes-to-nokia-phones-but-still-not-to-u/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/spotify-music-service-comes-to-nokia-phones-but-still-not-to-u/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/23/spotify-music-service-comes-to-nokia-phones-but-still-not-to-u/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I admit it, European Download Squad readers: I'm jealous of you. My friends in London and Paris are swapping Spotify playlists like crazy, and we Americans and our brothers to the north still don't have access to this awesome music service. Heck, it doesn't even take a fancy phone to use Spotify in Europe anymore: it's just arrived on Nokia's Symbian phones.

This is a huge move for Spotify, which already has iPhone and Android apps. Nokia phones are extremely popular in the lucky parts of the world where Spotify is available, and supporting such a wide range of devices allows Spotify to look down its nose at passé walled gardens like iTunes. When Spotify comes to North America - sometime next year, but not soon enough! - it'll face competition on the iPhone, but I don't see a clear rival on Android or Symbian devices.

Do you? What will be your mobile music app of choice for 2010?

Spotify music service comes to Nokia phones, North American users still screwed originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mobilemusicnokiaspotifysymbianMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[5 ways to save money with an iPhone]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/21/5-ways-to-save-money-with-an-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/21/5-ways-to-save-money-with-an-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/21/5-ways-to-save-money-with-an-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On 12/28 I am eligible to switch phones and am rationalizing an iPhone purchase, which is all the more difficult as I just read David Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. The book advocates saving money and paring down expenses, so the $30 monthly data plan would definitely be in the con column. However, after reading 33 things you don't need if you buy an iPhone, I'm thinking I'll definitely come out ahead in the long run. Below are some of my favorite excuses reasons to purchase.

GPS- rather than purchasing a stand alone unit, like Tom Tom, there's several apps in the App Store that will help with turn by turn navigation.

Camera - since my husband borrowed and never returned my Canon PowerShot, I definitely "need" a good camera. And while the iPhone's camera is not like my SD850IS, it's a decent enough point and shoot. Plus, I'll be "saving" money and don't even get me started on the convenience of not having to carry multiple devices.

Continue reading 5 ways to save money with an iPhone

5 ways to save money with an iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appIphoneAppsave moneySaveMoneySat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Android, Palm, and iPhone users get new Google News page]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/android-palm-and-iphone-users-get-new-google-news-page/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgoogleiphonemobilenewspalmFri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Acrobat.com gets revamped and gets a mobile app]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/20/acrobat-com-gets-revamped-and-gets-a-mobile-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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

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

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

[via CNET]

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrobatacrobat.comadobedocumentspdfFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo! puts a stop to its Go mobile service]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/18/yahoo-puts-a-stop-to-its-go-mobile-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

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

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

[via TechCrunch]

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gomobileyahooyahoo mobileYahooMobileWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Marketplace now open for all (recent) Windows Mobile phones]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/windows-marketplace-now-open-for-all-recent-windows-mobile-pho/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/windows-marketplace-now-open-for-all-recent-windows-mobile-pho/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/16/windows-marketplace-now-open-for-all-recent-windows-mobile-pho/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Windows Marketplace for MobileHave you been itching to download applications from the Windows Marketplace on your Windows Mobile smartphone, but been thwarted by the fact that your device runs Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 instead of the shiny new WinMo 6.5? Well, fret no more. Microsoft is making its answer to the iPhone app store available for all phones running Windows Mobile 6.0 and up.

Sure, anyone stuck with an aging Windows Mobile 5.0 or earlier phone is stuck downloading and installing applications the old fashioned way -- by surfing the web to find programs and downloading either the CAB installer files or EXE files that can be installed from a PC using ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center. And then you have to walk uphill 2 miles in the snow to school and back and you'll like it!

You can install the Marketplace application by visiting mp.windowsphone.com on your mobile browser to download the software. You can also enter your phone number on a web site using a desktop browser and Microsoft will send you a text message with a download link.

[via Windows Team Blog]

Windows Marketplace now open for all (recent) Windows Mobile phones originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>windos-marketplace-for-mobilewindows-marketplacewindows-mobile-6.0windows-mobile-6.1windows-mobile-6.5Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Now you can browse Windows Mobile Marketplace on the web]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/now-you-can-browse-windows-mobile-marketplace-on-the-web/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/now-you-can-browse-windows-mobile-marketplace-on-the-web/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/now-you-can-browse-windows-mobile-marketplace-on-the-web/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Windows Marketplace
Want to know what kind of apps are available for Windows Mobile 6.5, but don't have a phone running the operating system yet? Or just want to look for apps on a screen with a resolution higher than 640 x 480? Microsoft has launched a web version of the Windows Marketplace.

Users can browse the web store without an account. If you sign in you can also purchase programs that will be installed on your mobile device wirelessly the next time you run the Windows Marketplace client on your mobile device.

One interesting feature is the ability to use the drop-down menu near the bottom of our page to change your locatino. SO if you want to see applications that are available in the Windows Marketplace for UK, Russian, Swiss, or Taiwanese users, you can do that.

[via Windows Team Blog]

Now you can browse Windows Mobile Marketplace on the web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storewindows-marketplacewindows-mobilewindows-mobile-6.5Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bump for Android: slick contact-sharing app not iPhone-only anymore]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/bump-for-android-slick-contact-sharing-app-not-iphone-only-anym/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/bump-for-android-slick-contact-sharing-app-not-iphone-only-anym/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/12/bump-for-android-slick-contact-sharing-app-not-iphone-only-anym/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bump, the impressive iPhone app that lets you trade contact info and other data by physically bumping two phones together, isn't just an iPhone app anymore. Bump for Android has arrived (so sayeth TechCrunch, at any rate), and it covers Bump's biggest weakness: you had to have an iPhone to use it. Between iPhones and Android devices, Bump now has the potential to become a common way of swapping contact info.

In addition to the Android launch, Bump also polished up its iPhone app. The new version, which is in the app store now, taps into Facebook to compare address books with your bumping buddies and see whether you have any contacts in common. You can also send either a message or a newsfeed post to yourself via Facebook when you bump someone new, so you can remember to get in touch with them later. These features haven't made their way to the Android edition of Bump yet.

[via TechCrunch]

Bump for Android: slick contact-sharing app not iPhone-only anymore originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbumpcontactsiphoneThu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune HD software update brings 3D games, widescreen keyboard]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-software-update-brings-3d-games-widescreen-keyboard/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-software-update-brings-3d-games-widescreen-keyboard/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/zune-hd-software-update-brings-3d-games-widescreen-keyboard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Zune HD 3D games
The Microsoft Zune HD is an intriguing device. It's a pretty good portable media player. It can handle 720p HD video in WMV and H.264 formats, and it has excellent audio quality. It even packs an HD radio tuner. And the NVIDIA Tegra chipset enable some pretty flashy (but still useful) graphics in the user interface.

And the Tegra procesor means the Zune HD can also handle some pretty slick games and other applications. Up until now, that meant a few games, a calculator, and a weather application. But now Microsoft has added a few new 3D games to the Zune Marketplace: Audio Surf: Tilt, PGR: Ferrari Edition, Checkers, Lucky Lanes Bowling, and Vans sk8: Pool Service. There's also a new Piano application.

The new games are pretty slick and really help demonstrate the power of the Zune HD platform. Unfortunately, it's still not much of a platform. There are over 100,000 apps in the iPhone app store. There are 15 in the Zune Marketplace.

Granted, all of the Zune apps are free (although you have to put up with a brief add for the Zune Pass music subscription before they start). But where are the third party apps? Where are the chat, Twitter, and Facebook clients? Or calendar and contacts applications? Heck, with the graphics capabilities on the Zune HD, where's Virtual Earth?

Anyway, the new applications should be available to anyone who updated their Zune HD to run version 4.3 of the Zune software. The update also brings a few other changes, including support for a larger virtual keyboard in landscape mode and an auto-suggest feature for text input.

You can check out my brief hands-on video with the new games after the break.

Continue reading Zune HD software update brings 3D games, widescreen keyboard

Zune HD software update brings 3D games, widescreen keyboard originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d games3dGameszunezune hdZuneHdWed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Droid Does... only have 256MB of storage for apps]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/09/droid-does-only-have-256mb-of-storage-for-apps/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/09/droid-does-only-have-256mb-of-storage-for-apps/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/09/droid-does-only-have-256mb-of-storage-for-apps/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Motorola's Droid is a sweet piece of hardware that's hyped to give the iPhone a run for its money, especially since it's running the new Android 2.0 OS, and works on the Verizon network in the US. We care about software here at Download Squad though, and there's some dismaying news about the Droid on that front: it has only 256MB for app storage. Seriously.

The Droid reportedly only packs a 512MB ROM (that's the built-in memory), of which only half is allocated for apps. There are some iPhone games that couldn't even fit in that teeny-weeny storage space! But at least it's expandable, right? Um, nope. Google doesn't support installing apps to the SD cards that Motorola relies on, so developers are pretty limited in terms of file sizes for their Android 2.0 software.

The Droid may have a solid CPU and GPU for gaming, but games that take full advantage of that hardware are likely to need 100 megabytes or more of storage space. That's going to make things pretty tough until Android 2.0 comes to a device with a lot more pre-installed flash memory.

[via Daring Fireball]

UPDATE: While it's true that the Droid only has 256MB for apps, commenters have pointed out that various resources for the apps (graphics, etc.) CAN be stored on the device's SD cards. It looks like the situation isn't as bad as the numbers seem to indicate at first.

Droid Does... only have 256MB of storage for apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsdroidmotorolastorageverizonMon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photoshop.com Mobile now available for Android devices]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/photoshop-com-mobile-now-available-for-android-devices/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/photoshop-com-mobile-now-available-for-android-devices/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/photoshop-com-mobile-now-available-for-android-devices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the release of the Droid and Android OS 2.0, Google has set up a head-on gadget war with Apple's iPhone. Even if they've got a comparably-cool piece of hardware and a nice OS, Android will have to compete with (arguably) the iPhone's biggest selling point: apps. If Photoshop.com Mobile for Android is any indication, Android will do just fine. The Android version of Photoshop.com offers everything the iPhone version does.

That means you can crop, zoom and flip your photos, as well as adding filters and color adjustments. Black and white, sepia and soft focus are just a touch away. The app also plugs into Photoshop.com, so you can browse your photo library and upload new shots. The only difference between the Android and iPhone versions, as John Gruber pointed out over at Daring Fireball, is that the Android version includes a straighten tool for devices without multitouch.

[via AppScout]

Photoshop.com Mobile now available for Android devices originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidphotoshopphotoshop.comSun, 08 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Now finally available - ubiquitous media sharing with Orb for Mac]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


It was pretty exciting news at Download Squad to hear Orb, the "sort of software version of Slingbox," was available for Mac. Orb allows you to broadcast your media to any device that has a web browser. After downloading Orb to your "always on" Mac with a high speed internet connection, you can access all your photos, songs, TV shows, and videos from any device with a browser and media player.

After downloading the app, Orb indexes your media and then prompts you to either log in to mycast.orb.com, or create a log in if you don't have an account. After you log in you can see your dashboard and all your media goodies.



Though my songs appeared immediately, my photos did not. There are various feed settings you can play with and channels to explore. Also, with a simple drag drop interface you can share your media with your friends via email, SMS, widget on your blog, or a public URL.



Checking it out from my home computer is one thing, but would it work on other devices? Success! I was able to access my media from my Dell PC.

A note for iPhone owners: The esteemed and indefatigable Jay Hathaway noted that he received errors when he tried to download the free version of OrbLive for the iPhone, which he tried from both his iPhone and his iTunes account on his Mac. There are 3 flavors of Orb available for the iPhone: OrbLive free, OrbMedia ($4.99) and OrbLive ($9.99)

Note to Orb: Please update your landing page to include PC and Mac, ok?

Now finally available - ubiquitous media sharing with Orb for Mac originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneMacmedia sharingmedia streamerMediaSharingMediaStreamermobileOrbThu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ibis eBook reader aims to get around iPhone app store]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

By now, iPhone users who haven't jailbroken their devices have learned that they can't get an app unless it goes through Apple's approval process and reaches the iTunes App Store. A new eBook reader called Ibis, planned for iPhone, Android and Palm's WebOS, plans to get around Apple's restrictions. How? Simple: it's a web app. You can access the reader from your browser, and your books are stored offline using HTML5.

It doesn't seem like there's much Apple can do about that, unless they want to start blocking web apps on their device. Unlikely. So, you can enjoy your DRM-free books in ePub format to your heart's content, and even buy new ones from Ibis' bookstore. You'll be able to sync books and bookmarks across devices via the cloud, too. Ibis isn't launching for "several months," but it could be a real winner if it looks as good as it sounds.

[via Daring Fireball]

Ibis eBook reader aims to get around iPhone app store originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbooksebookepubibisiphonemobilereaderwebosMon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wordpress for iPhone 2 is actually usable!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The first version of the Wordpress iPhone app showed a lot of promise as mobile blogging tool, but it was too slow and too buggy to use. It didn't know what to do with dropped connections -- all too common, when you're blogging from an AT&T iPhone -- and the UI was clunky and unintuitive. Round 2! Wordpress is back for another try at the iPhone thing, and this time they're far closer to doing it right: bug fixes, persistence, auto-saving and a better UI make Wordpress 2 a viable option for blogging on the go.

The single most important new feature in Wordpress 2 is persistence. That means you can close the app, and reopening it will take you back to the post or comment you were working on. In the old version, it was nearly impossible to finish a long post without being interrupted by a crash or a phone call, or without needing to pop into Safari to grab some text from a webpage. Speaking of those crashes, they're nowhere near as frequent as they were in Wordpress 1, and the new autosave feature makes them less damaging.

Photo uploading is smoother, too, and you can also preview a post while you're editing it. Aside from all the improvements to posting, comments now have their own tab, so you can moderate your site with ease. I'd still love to see liveblogging support in the iPhone app, though, because it seems like such an ideal use of a mobile blog client. All in all, Wordpress 2 is a workable solution for mobile blogging.

Wordpress for iPhone 2 is actually usable! originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automatticbloggingiPhonewordpresswordpress 2Wordpress2Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Maps brings GPS navigation to Android 2.0 phones]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/google-maps-brings-gps-navigation-to-android-2-0-phones/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/google-maps-brings-gps-navigation-to-android-2-0-phones/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/google-maps-brings-gps-navigation-to-android-2-0-phones/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As if we weren't already excited enough about the next version of Google's Android mobile OS, Google has now announced that Android 2.0 devices will offer GPS navigation with 3D views and turn-by-turn directions. Google Maps Navigation looks great, and it's a smack in the face to Apple, who seem to been distancing themselves from Google after buying their own mapping company. The iPhone is cool, but it's hard to beat Google Maps at its own game.

It's especially hard when Google's offering practically everything you get from a pricey GPS navigation unit, right in your Android phone. 3D maps, live traffic updates, and voice directions are all included, along with Google's Street View and Satellite view. When it comes out next week, the Verizon Droid will be the first phone to support the new navigation features. For right now, it'll only work in the United States, but other countries with Google Maps should get it eventually.

Google Maps brings GPS navigation to Android 2.0 phones originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgooglegoogle mapsgoogle maps navigationGoogleMapsGoogleMapsNavigationWed, 28 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google launches Android 2.0 SDK]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/google-launches-android-2-0-sdk/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/google-launches-android-2-0-sdk/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/27/google-launches-android-2-0-sdk/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Android Quick ContactGoogle is unveiling some of the features of its next-generation mobile operating system with the launch of an updated Software Development Kit. That means developers can already begin writing programs for Android 2.0 even though the first phone to run the operating system won't officially be launched until tomorrow.

So what's new in Google Android 2.0? Here's a shortlist:
  • Support for multiple email Google and Exchange accounts on each device, allowing you to sync with multiple email accounts and address books
  • Quick Contact feature that lets you pull up a contact's communication methods (email, SMS, phone, etc) with a single click
  • Combined inbox with email from multiple accounts
  • Search saved SMS and MMS messages
  • Auto-delete old messages in a conversation after a limit is reached
  • Improved keyboard with multi-touch support
  • Dictionary automatically includes contact names as suggestions, learns from words you enter
  • Web browser now includes web page thumbnails for bookmarks
  • Double-tap to zoom in broser
  • HTML5 support in web browser
  • Infinite scrolling in the calendar
  • Bluetooth 2.1 support
There's also support for digital zoom, white balance, and macro focus in the camera application. You can find a more detailed list at the Android Developers page.

You can also see some of the new features in action including a pretty nifty demonstration of how two Android devices can interact with one another in the video after the break.

[via Engadget]

Continue reading Google launches Android 2.0 SDK

Google launches Android 2.0 SDK originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google-androidgoogle-android-2.0mobileTue, 27 Oct 2009 14:22:00 EST