Download Squadhttp://www.downloadsquad.comDownload Squadhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/media/feedlogo.gifDownload Squadhttp://www.downloadsquad.comen-usCopyright 2008 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Really Slow Download Squad: 62% of dialup users don't want high-speedhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/07/04/the-really-slow-download-squad-62-of-dialup-users-dont-want-h/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/07/04/the-really-slow-download-squad-62-of-dialup-users-dont-want-h/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/07/04/the-really-slow-download-squad-62-of-dialup-users-dont-want-h/#commentsFiled under: ,

As you might guess from the name of our blog, we download a LOT of software, and it's a little scary to contemplate how much bandwidth we collectively use every day. So, trying to imagine a time when we felt like a dial-up connection would suit our needs is pretty difficult. But that's exactly how 62% of U.S. dialup users feel, according to a new study from the Pew Internet and American Life project.

The economy isn't doing so hot these days, so you'd think that the additional cost of a high-speed connection would be the deciding factor for these folks, but it turns out that only a third of them cited cost as their reason for sticking with dial-up. 19% gave the mystifying answer that nothing -- not even a huge decrease in the cost -- would make them give up their dial-up. The study posited that they just don't spend enough time online to need it.

[via Slashdot]
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]]>broadbanddial-updialupinternet accessInternetAccessisptrendsJay Hathaway2008-07-04T09:00:00+00:00The users have spoken - Netflix is keeping profiles!http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/30/the-users-have-spoken-netflix-is-keeping-profiles/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/30/the-users-have-spoken-netflix-is-keeping-profiles/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/30/the-users-have-spoken-netflix-is-keeping-profiles/#commentsFiled under: ,

We recently reported on Netflix' decision to get rid of their profile feature, a decision that was not at all popular with customers. Here at Download Squad, we got several comments bemoaning the company's poor judgment and threatening to cancel their subscriptions to the service. Apparently, our readers were not alone. Thanks to pressure from calls, emails and petitions, Netflix has realize their error of their ways and agreed to keep profiles.

Today, Netflix users received this email:

"You spoke and we listened. We are keeping Profiles. Thank you for all the calls and emails telling us how important Profiles are.

We are sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope the next time you hear from us we will delight, and not disappoint you.

-Your friends at Netflix"

This is completely brilliant on the part of Netflix. They're going to get more goodwill from listening to users and keeping profiles than they ever lost by theatening to take them away. For users, nothing has changed, but the public perception of Netflix is bound to go up, now.

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]]>netflixnetflix profilesNetflixProfilesJay Hathaway2008-06-30T18:00:00+00:00Ameritocracy: fact-checking for the masseshttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/29/ameritocracy-fact-checking-for-the-masses/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/29/ameritocracy-fact-checking-for-the-masses/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/29/ameritocracy-fact-checking-for-the-masses/#commentsFiled under: ,

Have you ever heard a public figure make a claim that seems a bit preposterous? In the year of a U.S. presidential election, more people are going to be scrutinizing candidates -- and political bloggers -- and wondering if what they're saying is true, exaggerated, or just completely made up. That's where Ameritocracy comes in. You can add a quote, and Ameritocracy users will rate its accuracy and its relevance.

We think this is great fun, because it takes a step toward realizing our fantasy of siccing Slashdot commenters on all of our nation's politicians. Sure, the accuracy ratings might be questionable, but they should continue to improve as the site gains additional users. Ameritocracy is full of diverse issues and opinions, so if you can't get worked up over the election, maybe you have an opinion on propositions like, "The mobile phone may be the most potent tool ever invented for the elimination of poverty."
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]]>Ameritocracyelectionfact-checkingpoliticspollingvotingJay Hathaway2008-06-29T10:00:00+00:00Wirewize - home theater setup help for the rest of ushttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/27/wirewize-home-theater-setup-help-for-the-rest-of-us/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/27/wirewize-home-theater-setup-help-for-the-rest-of-us/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/27/wirewize-home-theater-setup-help-for-the-rest-of-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wirewize

Wirewize is here to help you put together your home entertainment center setup and tell you just where to put all those a/v cables that may be confusing you. If you're not savvy with input/output and reading tiny instruction manuals in Chinese thinly disguised as English isn't your cup of tea, Wirewize could be what you need.

The concept is great - you tell Wirewize what components you have by providing the brand and model and after you input all your components, Wirewize shoots out a detailed step by step instruction list. The best part is the instructions are complete with detailed illustrations of the cables and inputs and they're in color. Wirewize is also nice to include pdf manuals of your system's components, a list of necessary cables and a way to purchase the cables if necessary.

Continue reading Wirewize - home theater setup help for the rest of us

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]]>electronics component setup instructionsElectronicsComponentSetupInstructionshome theater setuphome theater setup helpHomeTheaterSetupHomeTheaterSetupHelpWirewizeDolores Parker2008-06-27T08:00:00+00:00Intel to Vista: "I'm just not that into you."http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/intel-to-vista-im-just-not-that-into-you/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/intel-to-vista-im-just-not-that-into-you/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/intel-to-vista-im-just-not-that-into-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Windows 7 cannot come fast enough! The New York Times is reporting that Intel has decided against upgrading its 80,000 employees to Windows Vista. An Intel spokesperson told the Times that Vista is being tested and deployed in certain departments, but not company-wide.

Although the enterprise push to upgrade to Vista has fallen short of expectations, this is a particularly brutal blow. Intel is one of Microsoft's oldest and most important partners; both companies became industry leaders in large part because of that partnership.

Although the Times' Intel source made efforts to say that the decision wasn't about "dissing Microsoft," we doubt that will make Steve Ballmer feel any better. Can you imagine what that conversation is going to sound like?

Despite the lack of widespread corporate adoption, the install base for Windows Vista is 140 million worldwide -- hardly peanuts. Still, with large corporations declining to upgrade their systems, Microsoft has had to extend support for Windows XP through 2014.

Thanks Mike!
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]]>intelmicrosoftvistawindows vistaWindowsVistaChristina Warren2008-06-26T11:30:00+00:00Facebook added comments to the mini-feed. Add a new comment?http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/facebook-added-comments-to-the-mini-feed-add-a-new-comment/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/facebook-added-comments-to-the-mini-feed-add-a-new-comment/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/26/facebook-added-comments-to-the-mini-feed-add-a-new-comment/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Facebook feed comments
Facebook is at it again, rolling out features in advance of the redesign we've been hearing so much about. The latest addition is comments in the mini-feed. Now when you find out that "Ashley changed her profile picture" you can click a little + icon next to that item and add a comment. This doesn't go for all mini-feed items: it seems to be only for profile and status changes. At least you can't comment on a mini-feed item about someone's comment (yet.)

Well, ok. It's one more way of communicating on Facebook, but what does it imply about the future of the wall? What used to be the main point of communication is now one of many, with photo comments, mini-feed comments and messages all in the mix. Will more places to comment make things easier for users? On the plus side for Facebook, users will stay on the site a few seconds longer to check one more place for comments, but is it a plus for you? Weigh in with your comments about comments.
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]]>commentsFacebookmini-feedsocial networksSocialNetworksJay Hathaway2008-06-26T09:30:00+00:00Fav.or.it RSS aggregator launches. Will it change the game?http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/18/fav-or-it-rss-aggregator-launches-will-it-change-the-game/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/18/fav-or-it-rss-aggregator-launches-will-it-change-the-game/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/18/fav-or-it-rss-aggregator-launches-will-it-change-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fav.or.it is a new kind of RSS aggregator, somewhere in between a pre-set collection of feeds like Alltop and a full-on Google Reader-style service. It had been in closed beta, but now's it's opening to everyone. It includes a set of 2000 of the most popular and interesting feeds, and provides recommended stories based on what you're reading, how long you spend on it, and how you rate it. Basically, Fav.or.it tries to pay attention to what you're paying attention to. Also, as we reported earlier, your comments show up in Fav.or.it and on the original story.

It's no reason to abandon Google Reader, but if you're not already reading RSS feeds, this is a good introduction to managing them. With it's Top-Story-focused, categorized startpage, it reminds us more of Google News than Google Reader in some ways. Whether Fav.or.it gets a good user base is going to be depend on how happy people are with its recommendation algorithm. Even if you just think of it as site that exposes newbies to a couple thousand top blogs, it's doing a useful service for the Internet.
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]]>aggregatorbloggingblogsfav.or.itRssRss readerRssReaderJay Hathaway2008-06-18T08:00:00+00:00Firefox 3 basically finished for Windows/Linux, a few more fixes for Machttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/11/firefox-3-basically-finished-for-windows-linux-a-few-more-fixes/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/11/firefox-3-basically-finished-for-windows-linux-a-few-more-fixes/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/11/firefox-3-basically-finished-for-windows-linux-a-few-more-fixes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Anticipation is high for the upcoming launch of Firefox 3, with the recent Release Candidate 2 scoring good reviews from the likes of Walt Mossberg. We at Download Squad are constantly receiving tips that the finished product is coming soon. Well, here's the scoop: according to Firefox's development team, RC2 for Windows and Linux was good enough that it's getting copied straight over into RC3. For Mac, things are a little bit different. The OS X version is getting a few fixes and going through more testing, to work out some problems introduced by the 10.5.3 update.

If you've been watching the nightly builds like a hawk and sending in tips, your wait is nearly over. The Firefox Group says there are only 17 more issues on the list, and they should be dealt with by the end of the week. We don't have a hard and fast date for the release yet, but we believe the folks at Mozilla when they say it's coming soon.

[via ZDNet]

UPDATE: Readers have been pointing out in the comments that the release date is June 17. Thanks for the info, guys!
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]]>browsersFirefoxJay Hathaway2008-06-11T16:30:00+00:00You've been left behind - sends your final notes during the Rapturehttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/10/youve-been-left-behind-sends-your-final-notes-during-the-rapt/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/10/youve-been-left-behind-sends-your-final-notes-during-the-rapt/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/10/youve-been-left-behind-sends-your-final-notes-during-the-rapt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rapshure
You've been left behind (YBLB) is a new service to help you say "I told you so" to your friends and loved ones who don't make it with you during the Rapture. Rather than letting them figure out on their own that you've made it and they didn't, YBLB sends them an email from you so you can be sure to get the last word.

If nonnynonnybooboo isn't your style, your note could instead continue to harass encourage them to live their life the way you chose to live yours. You might also want to send them information as to the future hell they are about to endure and as YBLB so eloquently puts it, help "snatch them from the flames."

For just $40 for the first year, you get all this to help you stick it to your loved ones:
  • Store up to 250mb of documents
  • Send to up to 62 individual email addresses
  • 150Mb encrypted document storage
  • 100mb unencrypted document storage
  • You can edit documents any time
  • Write your own documents or choose from some of YBLB
Now, you might be wondering how YBLB will send the emails out since they're going to the Rapture party too. Well they came up with an ingenious solution - when 3 out of their 5 team members fail to log in over a 3 day period it will trigger the emails to be sent but, and here's the clever part, the system waits another 3 days to ensure no false triggers.

You've just got to hope the fab 5 of YBLB don't all get together and somehow aren't able to get online for 6 days pre-Rapture. That could be a very big oops.
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]]>email serviceEmailServiceRaptureYouve been left behindYouveBeenLeftBehindDolores Parker2008-06-10T15:00:00+00:00Retaggr - make your own interactive business cardhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/31/retaggr-make-your-own-interactive-business-card/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/31/retaggr-make-your-own-interactive-business-card/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/31/retaggr-make-your-own-interactive-business-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

retaggr

Retaggr takes the concept of paper business cards and transforms them into Harry Potter like interactive cards. Beyond the benefits of not killing trees to leave your contact information, an interactive card is sooo multi dimensional. With your Retaggr card you can:
  • Show your recent Twitter messages
  • Link to your blogs, web profiles such as Facebook
  • Display your online activity on other sites like FriendFeed, Flickr, etc.
  • Add any web widget
  • Allow others to get in touch with you via Skype, MSN, Gtalk, etc.
Whereas paper cards are static, your profile card instantly updates as you update information on your various social networks. Also, when you leave comments on other Retaggr enabled sites, your profile card is left there too. If someone mentions you in a post, they can link to you so your card automagically appears.

A profile card provides more context to what you're about and what you're up to. And that is the other edge of the sword. (Cue scary music). How much information do you want people to have at their fingertips anyway?
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]]>interactive business cardsInteractiveBusinessCardsRetaggrWeb 2.0 social profilingWeb2.0SocialProfilingDolores Parker2008-05-31T14:00:00+00:00Revision3 attack traced to anti-piracy company MediaDefenderhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/29/revision3-attack-traced-to-anti-piracy-company-mediadefender/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/29/revision3-attack-traced-to-anti-piracy-company-mediadefender/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/29/revision3-attack-traced-to-anti-piracy-company-mediadefender/#commentsFiled under: ,

DDoS attacks are hardly unusual. A site says something controversial that gets under the wrong person's skin, and it's not long before they get flooded with enough requests to knock out their servers temporarily. When an attack happened over the weekend at the popular webshow site Revision3 , they started to wonder what they had to done provoke it. Now Rev3 has found the source of the attack, and that's raising even more questions. Rev3 was hit by MediaDefender, the self-described "leading provider of anti-piracy solutions in the emerging Internet-Piracy-Prevention industry."

Rev3? Piracy? They're a site that produces original shows! Why would some kind of draconian piracy-enforcement have a bone to pick with them? Turns out that the attack was targeted at Revision3's BitTorrent ports. They've been using BitTorrent, a popular peer-to-peer sharing protocol, to push their shows out to the public more quickly and cheaply through a distributed model. It's good for business, good for their fans, and nothing at all like piracy.

Rev3 talked to MediaDefender and discovered that the anti-piracy company had been covertly using the Rev3 BitTorrent tracker to move its own files, quite without the knowledge of Revision3. The attack happened when Rev3 caught on and blocked MediaDefender's torrent traffic. This apparently caused the MediaDefender servers to go completely nuts with attempts to reconnect -- over 8,000 a second -- and took down the entire Revision3 infrastructure, including the servers for all their video content, their advertising, and their internal email.

MediaDefender claims it didn't intend to attack Revision3, but as for using Rev3's resources for their own torrents, it's going to be hard to call that an accident. Rev3 has involved the FBI at this point, and it looks like MediaDefender is going to have some explaining to do. Also this seems like a happy enough ending, we can't help wondering whether there are hidden MediaDefender torrents lurking on the servers of any other legitimate services.
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]]>bittorrentDDoSMediaDefenderpiracyRev3Revision3Jay Hathaway2008-05-29T16:30:00+00:00Belgian newspaper group seeks $77 million from Google Newshttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/belgian-newspaper-group-seeks-77-million-from-google-news/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/belgian-newspaper-group-seeks-77-million-from-google-news/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/belgian-newspaper-group-seeks-77-million-from-google-news/#commentsFiled under: , ,

CopiepresseOnce upon a time a group of Belgian newspaper publishers decided that they didn't like how Google was indexing their news stories and publishing headlines and short snippets on Google News and Google.be. While many newspaper publishers realized that Google was actually directing traffic to their web sites, Copiepresse, the organization representing the group of Belgian publishers took Google to court and demanded the search engine remove those newspapers from its index.

Google lost the court case and complied. But apparently not receiving search engine traffic isn't good enough for the newspaper publishers. No, they want cash. Up to €49 million or $77 million in cash, to be specific.

Now, in theory, we get it. Google was posting information online without first getting permission from the publishers. We'd argue that this was probably fair use since Google was only posting snippets including headlines and a few sentences. But the courts ruled otherwise, so whatever. The thing is, search engines are a huge driver of traffic. Asking the world's largest search engine to remove your pages is like asking to lose readers and advertising revenue. Even if the courts determine that Google does owe the newspaper publishers fines for infringing on their copyrights a few years ago, those newspapers are losing money today by keeping themselves out of Google's search index. And over time, that's could cost the companies a lot more than $77 million.

[via Techdirt]
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]]>belgianbelgiumcopiepressegoogle-newsnewspaperBrad Linder2008-05-28T18:00:00+00:00We call shenanigans: WiFi "allergies" do not exist, kiddieshttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/we-call-shenanigans-wifi-allergies-do-not-exist-kiddies/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/we-call-shenanigans-wifi-allergies-do-not-exist-kiddies/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/28/we-call-shenanigans-wifi-allergies-do-not-exist-kiddies/#commentsFiled under: ,

God is WirelessOver the past few days there has been increasing furor over a claim made by some "electro-sensitive" folks in Santa Fe that wifi in public buildings violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Because these people are electro-sensitive (and this sensitivity can be to all sorts of electromagnetic fields, in things like cell phones, or microwaves, or, we'd imagine, things like transformer stations and circuit boxes), they can't enter public buildings due to the horrible health effects they experience. These health effects range from chest pains, to leg numbness, to shortness of breath, and headaches.

Is wifi dangerous? Are cell phones dangerous? There is some debate about various cancers that may or may not result from having a cell phone pasted to your ear and your laptop constantly humming on your lap, but most cancers don't immediately cause things like, oh, chest pain, leg numbness, or shortness of breath. The verdict is still out on long term effects at this point anyway, and we take the stance that something is eventually going to kill us. Life is too short to live in constant fear, or without an internet connection.

Panic attacks cause the above symptoms. Generalized anxiety does as well. An "allergic" reaction to wifi? Eh.

We look at it this way. Right now, we're sitting in a residential area about eight miles outside of a major city. Turning on our wireless connection and sniffing around reveals eleven wifi networks in the area. Eleven that we could in theory connect with successfully, if they are unsecured. Eleven that are not blocked by things like walls, or doors, or tinfoil hats. We are not in a business district in a city.

Can you imagine the rogue wifi signals that are shooting around Santa Fe? Do the electro-sensitive people believe that wifi respects physical boundaries, and that walking by a coffee shop or public building with wifi is different than walking into one? If so, would they walk by a coffee shop with wifi while the door was open? Would the wireless, ahem, rush out the open door? Is there any place in the US where you can be in a city, or moderately populated town, and not be in range of some wireless signal?

Continue reading We call shenanigans: WiFi "allergies" do not exist, kiddies

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]]>ADAallergycell phoneCellPhoneinternetwifiKristin Shoemaker2008-05-28T13:00:00+00:00RIAA drops lawsuit against AllofMP3http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/27/riaa-drops-lawsuit-against-allofmp3/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/27/riaa-drops-lawsuit-against-allofmp3/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/27/riaa-drops-lawsuit-against-allofmp3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MP3Sparks

A few years ago you could purchase practically any song you wanted from the Russian music site AllofMP3. And the songs were dirt cheap. While you had to pay Apple roughly a buck for every song you purchased legally in the US, AllofMP3 charged just a few cents per song. If that all sounds too good to be true, the RIAA thought so too. The US recording industry trade group took legal action against AllofMP3 in late 2006, and Russian authorities shut down the service in 2007.

Last week the RIAA dropped its complaint against AllofMP3. An RIAA spokesperson told Bloomberg that there wasn't much reason to continue with the suit, since the site had been shut down.

But as TorrentFreak points out, the same people who created AllofMP3 now have another site that's nearly identical. The only difference we can find is that it has a new name - Mp3Sparks. Like its predecesser, the site sells music at ridiculously low prices, and doesn't appear to pass any of the proceeds along to artists in the US. So we're pretty sure that the RIAA will be filing another suit soon. Or claiming victory and pretending the new site doesn't exist. Definitely one or the other. Possibly both.

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]]>allofmp3mp3sparksmusicriaaBrad Linder2008-05-27T20:00:00+00:00Spectra Visual Newsreader: get your news in bright rainbow colorshttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/24/spectra-visual-newsreader-get-your-news-in-bright-rainbow-color/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/24/spectra-visual-newsreader-get-your-news-in-bright-rainbow-color/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/24/spectra-visual-newsreader-get-your-news-in-bright-rainbow-color/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spectra
Are you bored of reading news sites that all look the same, or staring at rows and rows of headlines in your RSS reader? MSNBC has something you might want to see. The new Spectra Visual Newsreader grabs MSNBC stories, color-coded by category, and sends them flying around your screen like index cards in a wind tunnel. Maybe you don't want to get your news this way all the time, but it's fun to play with.

Spectra has three modes: you can put it on automatic and let the camera fly around your floating news stories, or you can leave the camera in place, watching the stories spin. The third mode is the most interesting: it lets you use a webcam to manipulate the stories with "human interaction." Unfortunately, it didn't want to cooperate with a MacBook's built-in iSight.

We don't want to completely write off Spectra, because it's a lot of fun, but it seems like MSNBC put a lot of work into a cool toy that doesn't do too much. Webcam integration in browsing is definitely an interesting trend to explore, so it would be great to see that feature working on more platforms. For now, though, we'll just get our news via RSS.

[via Josh Spear]
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]]>animationflashMSNBCnewsreaderspectraJay Hathaway2008-05-24T13:00:00+00:00Court considers whether its legal to resell softwarehttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/court-considers-whether-its-legal-to-resell-software/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/court-considers-whether-its-legal-to-resell-software/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/court-considers-whether-its-legal-to-resell-software/#commentsFiled under: ,

AutoCADWhen you buy a piece of software, you may or may not actually own it. In many instances, software makers insist that what you're actually paying for isn't ownership of the application, but a license to use the application. And if that's all you paid for, then you don't have the right to resell the software.

But what happens when you buy a software CD secondhand? Can you sell it then? That's what Tim Vernor, an eBay dealer did. He bought several copies of AutoCAD. But when he went to sell that software on eBay, Autodesk, the makers of the software contacted eBay and requested that the auctions be suspended. Vernor issued a response, and Autodesk never responded, so his sales were reinstated.

After doing this a few times, eBay apparently received one takedown notice too many, because the auction site canceled Vernor's account. So he took Autodesk to court, claiming that he has every right to sell the software. While formal arguments have yet to be presented, Vernor has already won the first round. A federal judge denied Autodesk's motion to dismiss the case, which means that it can go forward.

The ins and outs of the case are pretty complex, but the judge has ruled that Autodesk has not yet managed to show that Vernor was bound by the company's license and prohibited from reselling the software. If Vernor is successful, this case could pave the way for an increase in used software sales on sites like eBay, although it's likely that the case would only set a precedent in cases that are extraordinarily similar to Vernor's.

[via Techdirt]

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]]>autocaddmcaebayBrad Linder2008-05-23T17:00:00+00:00Hints dropped about Ubuntu Netbook Remix; Wishlists already createdhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/hints-dropped-about-ubuntu-netbook-remix-wishlists-already-crea/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/hints-dropped-about-ubuntu-netbook-remix-wishlists-already-crea/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/hints-dropped-about-ubuntu-netbook-remix-wishlists-already-crea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ultraportable comparedThere is a subculture among the Download Squad bloggers (and you thought you couldn't get any further sub-anything) of ultraportable computer users. We love the little things. They're teeny, have the right amount of power to do their designated tasks well and with little fuss, and they're fairly inexpensive.

But sometimes we're not real enamored of the default operating systems. The Eee users among us love the machine, but the verdict is out on Xandros in either simple or advanced mode. We've used eeeXubuntu, and it works well, but it seems as though the project is stuck on the Gutsy release and has no plan to move forward.

In a Guardian interview, Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu dropped the intriguing news that there is a Netbook Remix version of Ubuntu in the pipeline. Details are scant, but it seems there is some work being done with Intel to support the custom chips it manufactures for this market (no word on whether this release could leave VIA-powered machines out of the loop). There is a Launchpad account up and running, but there's not too much to see there (yet).

Ubuntu is fairly easy to tailor to ultraportables, but we're expecting that the Netbook Remix project is going to offer a bit more than resized windows and applications altered to make the most of screen real estate.

Personally, we'd most like to see tweaks made to software to extend battery life, special repositories set up for applications optimized for ultraportables, and perhaps some utilities to better support those of us who use both the internal hard drive and a supplement memory card to house the operating system.

Fellow ultraportable users, what would be on your wishlist for Netbook Remix version of Ubuntu?

[The Guardian by way of Slashdot]
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]]>EeeHP MiniNoteHpMininotelaunchpadLinuxMSI WIndMsiWindNetbook remixNetbookRemixUbuntuultraportableKristin Shoemaker2008-05-23T15:00:00+00:00FriendFeed - now offers Roomshttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/friendfeed-now-offers-rooms/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/friendfeed-now-offers-rooms/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/23/friendfeed-now-offers-rooms/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Friendfeed rooms

FriendFeed has launched FriendFeed Rooms, a new feature where users can create private or public rooms to discuss various topics and share items with one another. Whatever happens in the room, stays in the room since only room members can see what comments are being shared by one another.

FriendFeed is a social network aggregator (which is growing wildly in popularity) that collects content from over 30 social networking sites and consolidates it to a customized feed.

Some of the rooms that have already been created include Obamamania (note to Hillary and McCain staffs) and a room about the new season of The Bachelorette. Rooms are a cinch to set up - all you do is click on the Rooms tab on your FriendFeed page and name the topic and whether the room will be public or private.

There are several Issues that need to be addressed. How do you find rooms that are public? And what about those name squatters who grab rooms with the names of corporate registered trademarked names? For instance, Thomas Hawk opened Ars Tecnica, Chevron and Exxon rooms just to see what he could register. Will there be a way to transfer room administration?

In any event, rooms looks like it's going to be a hit with users. Be sure to check in and tell us what your favorite FriendFeed Rooms are.
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]]>FriendFeedFriendFeedRoomssocial network aggregatorSocialNetworkAggregatorDolores Parker2008-05-23T08:00:00+00:00Budget Hero: balance the federal budget your way - Time Wasterhttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/22/budget-hero-alance-the-federal-budget-your-way-time-waster/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/22/budget-hero-alance-the-federal-budget-your-way-time-waster/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/22/budget-hero-alance-the-federal-budget-your-way-time-waster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Budget Hero

Budget Hero, released by American Public Media, is an online game where you're in charge of balancing the federal budget. If you're tired of hearing politician's economic policies as seen through the lens of political parties or special interests, Budget Hero cuts through the bull and provides policy options that have been vetted by non partisan government and think tank experts.

The object of the game is for you to balance the budget according to your values or goals, such as emphasis on national defense, health and wellness, economic stimulus, etc. You then play various cards from different categories representing sectors of the budget including among others, defense, school and kids, health care, and environment.

You're supposed to pay attention to the deficit meter and think about what impact your choices will have on future generations. You can then print out your budget and use it as a discussion point with others and even perhaps your elected representative.

We're happy to report in our own game we balanced the budget through 2028 and the budget bust point would not occur until 2070. We did this by repealing the Bush tax cuts, saving money on defense by having the troops come home soon, and raised taxes on the top 1% of wealthy Americans. We also raised the retirement age to 67, cut school lunch for kids who are not poor, and increased spending on mass transit.

So what's the big deal about balancing the budget?
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]]>balance the federal budgetBalanceTheFederalBudgetBudget Hero online gameBudgetHeroOnlineGameonline gameOnlineGameDolores Parker2008-05-22T10:00:00+00:00Yahoo! and Microsoft start a new dancehttp://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/19/yahoo-and-microsoft-start-a-new-dance/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/19/yahoo-and-microsoft-start-a-new-dance/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/19/yahoo-and-microsoft-start-a-new-dance/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yahoo! press release

Well, it's official. The Microsoft/Yahoo! deal that wouldn't die isn't dead yet. While Microsoft formally withdrew its buyout offer for Yahoo! a few weeks ago, last night the company issued a statement saying that it still had designs on Yahoo! Whether that means the buyout of just a portion of Yahoo!'s business or some sort of strategic partnership remains unclear.

What is clear is that Yahoo! is listening. The company has issued a statement in response to Microsoft's statement. (It's the 21st century of "have your people talk to my people"). In a nutshell, here's what Yahoo! has to say: Please don't buy our whole company, but we're not opposed to some other sort of a deal, especially one that would get our angry stockholders off our backs.

Translation: We've got to do something to get our stock prices back up, and if you can't offer us something worthwhile, we might have to go ahead and partner with Google instead.

[via Techmeme]

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]]>microsoftpartnershipyahooBrad Linder2008-05-19T10:00:00+00:00