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Filed under: Google, Social Software, web 2.0

Waver, a cross-platform Google Wave application for your desktop

There's Tweetdeck for your Tweets, Seesmic for your Facebook stalking -- and now Waver for your Waves!

Waver is simply an Adobe AIR application that hooks into your Google Wave account. From there, you can create new waves, or update existing ones.

Adobe's Javascript implementation seems to do surprisingly well, rendering Waves as quickly or quicker than Google's own V8 -- though this could be due to the fact that Waver uses the cut-down iPhone UI output from Google Wave. Also, a lot of the UI seems to actually be, er, missing. And a lot of the shortcuts don't seem to work yet.
Try as I might, I could not get Waver to look like their sample picture -- perhaps it's because I'm running Windows 7 instead of OS X?

But let's not forget the most important thing here: in this case, Waver is merely rendering Google Wave using WebKit -- the same engine powering Chrome, Safari, and several other web browsers.

Is it really worth installing AIR and running a separate application to access your Wave account? Why not just open another tab in Chrome?

[via Life Rocks 2.0]

Filed under: Social Software, Web

Flickroom: Desktop browser for Flickr

Flickroom
Flickroom is an application that lets you interact with photo-sharing site Flickr from your desktop without opening a web browser. Flickroom is based on Adobe AIR, which means you need AIR to be installed in order to run the application. But it also means that Flickroom is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

The program lets you login to your Flickr account and view photos in your own photostream or those of your contacts or groups. You can also use the search feature to find images from all Flickr users, upload your own images, save images from Flickr, add comments, notes, or share images via Twitter.

I have to say, I'm not that impressed with Flickroom's tools for discovering photos from users that aren't your contacts. I find the Flickr web interface much easier to navigate for that activity. But Flickroom has an attractive user interface and handy tools for keeping up to date with your contacts' activities.

Flickroom also has a few odd features like an integrated chatroom where you can communicate with other Flickroom users. But since the program is still in beta, I suppose any chance to leave feedback for the developer and other users is a good thing.

[via MakeUseOf]

Filed under: Finance, Windows, Macintosh, Linux

Portfolio: Free, flashy stock tracker based on Adobe AIR

Portfolio Viewer
Portfolio Viewer is a slick desktop application for keeping track of the value of your stock portfolio. While it doesn't link to your investment account for actually making trades, the program does plot user-entered transactions on a chart and keep track of historic stock and fund prices.

You can create multiple portfolios like, say, one for your retirement account and another for your investment account. You can use the application to lookup stock and fund ticker symbols. And you can view detailed information in several handy graphs that show you the change in value of individual stocks or your entire portfolio over time. There's also a pie chart that shows how your funds are allocated.

Portfolio Viewer can import your investments from Quicken, Microsoft Money, or Excel files. And since the application is based on Adobe AIR, it can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

[via RefreshingApps]

Filed under: Design, Developer, Adobe, Open Source

Adobe open sources Media Framework, text engine behind TimesReader 2.0

This morning, Adobe announced the release of two major pieces of software as open source- the OSMF (Open Source Media Framework) and TLF (Text Layout Framework) - under the Mozilla Public License.

TLF is the new text-rendering engine in Air 1.5, where it handles things like the typographical wizardry in TimesReader 2.0. A major goal with TLF was to provide web application developers a set of features more like those provided by desktop publishing suites.

Other sites utilizing TLF include Adobe's own Acrobat.com Presentations and Makebook, a slick web service which allows independent authors to self-publish. It's also powering the Boston Globe's GlobeReader, which is currently available for preview.

Adobe and Akamai have also teamed up to continue work on the Open Video Player initiative, which is aimed at providing a consistent platform for delivering Flash multimedia content. As they put forth on the project web site, "Open Source Media Framework enables developers to easily assemble pluggable components to create high-quality, full-featured playback experiences."

Adobe believes the frameworks will provide reduced development time, allowing traditional media outlets (like the Times and Globe) to focus on monetization - a problem few have yet to solve.

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Social Software, Web

Yammer releases new desktop client for Twitter-like business app

Yammer updateYammer is a Twitter-for-business style application that basically lets users communicate only with other users that share the same private email domain. For example, I could setup a Yammer network where I could keep up to date with other @downloadsquad.com users.

The company recently launched an updated version of its desktop client. Like the previous client, the new application is still built on Adobe AIR, which means it can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. But the new version includes a new, brighter look plus the ability to search colleagues, tags, and groups, the ability to open new threads in new windows, and the option of switching between multiple Yammer accounts.

There's also a built-in spellchecker.

Yammer is available for free, although companies that want more control over their networks can sign up for paid accounts.

[via TechCrunch]

Filed under: Design, Developer, Windows, Macintosh, Adobe, Commercial, Beta, Windows x64

Adobe releases trio of Labs goodies for designers, developers

Adobe has been busily working away on the Flash/Flex platform, announcing late yesterday that three new releases were headed to Adobe Labs.

The Flex SDK has reached version 4, and Flex Builder has been re-branded as Flash Builder. The new version delivers loads of new functionality and focuses on three keys: developer productivity, designer-developer workflow, and data-centric development.

Since Flash Builder just hit labs, that means there's a free download for you. You'll need an Adobe account, but once registered you're free to download the Flash Builder 4 30-day beta (existing Flex 3 licensees will receive a serial number via email to extend the trial), the Eclipse plugin, a component kit for Flash Pro, and an HP QuickTest plugin.

On the workflow front, they have released Flash Catalyst, a tool which allows interfaces designed in Photoshop and Illustrator to be easily converted to SWF. The beta is available for download, and serial numbers are provided to extend your tryout beyond 30 days.

For a look at what's new in the Flex SDK, check out the post from Adobe's Matt Chotin and read up on the differences between version 3 and 4.

Filed under: Google, Web

iGoogler turns iGoogle into a desktop app - in the simplest way possible

iGoogler
If you use your iGoogle web page as a personalized homepage with information like the local weather, access to your Google Calendar, news feeds, and other items, but don't like having to fire up a full web browser every time you want to get that information iGoogler can help.

Basically iGoogler is a single-use web browser built on Adobe AIR. When you load the application, your iGoogle web page will pop up. You can interact with your widgets, add or remove widgets, or do anything that you could do if you were visiting the page in Firefox, Google Chrome, or another browser.

iGoogler loads a bit faster than most browsers. But the other advantage is that you can leave it open in the background while opening and closing any other web browsers or apps. It's sort of like an alternative to installing Google Desktop if you just want access to your Google Gadgets and don't care about the desktop search and other features.

[via Digital Inspiration]

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Web

New York Times launches Adobe AIR-based TimesReader 2.0

TimesReader 2.0
TimesReader is a desktop application for reading the New York Times without a web browser. While this may not sound like a service you need, since you can read most Times articles online, the latest version of TimesReader provides a pretty compelling interface for reading the paper. TimesReader 2.0 also happens to be built on Adobe AIR, which mean that unlike earlier versions of the program, it runs well on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

When you first load TimesReader, you'll see a list of articles from the front page of that day's paper. You can click any article to read the full text and see any pictures. You can also change the date to see any issues from the last week, enter a query in the search box, or flip to a different section of the paper using the sidebar navigation. You can even do the crossword puzzle for each day.

Once you're reading an article you can either go back by hitting the navigation buttons on the top or left of the screen, or you can hit a button to spread out the "pages" of the day's newspaper as if you were flipping through them on your table, helping to re-create the experience of reading the print edition.

There is a bit of a catch though. While you can read all of the articles from selected sections of the paper for free, if you want unlimited access you'll need to pony up $3.45/week for a subscription. Or fire up a web browser and go read the same articles for free on the web.

[via GottaBeMobile]

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Freeware, Social Software, Beta

Statuzer: Twitter client and music player

Statuzer
At first glance, Statuzer looks like just another Twitter client built on Adobe AIR. But it has a few awesome features that set it apart from competitors like Twhirl and Tweetdeck. First, Statuzer comes with a built in music player that lets you stream MP3s shared through song.ly and tra.kz. But you can also use Statuzer as a search engine for Jamendo to find and play free and legal music. In fact, even if you didn't want to use the application as a Twitter client, Statuzer would be worth checking out as a Jamendo desktop client.

The program also has a few other bells and whistles, including the ability to display images from Twitpic directly in your stream. It also supports the following features:
  • YouTube thumbnaiils
  • Hashtags
  • Contact groups
  • Multiple accounts
  • Search filters
  • URL shortening
  • Customizable color scheme
Statuzer is still in beta, but it seems pretty stable. It's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a new Twitter desktop client for Windows, Mac, or Linux.

[via Go2Web20]

Filed under: Linux, Adobe, Beta

Adobe seeks testers for 64-bit Air on Linux

A few months back, Adobe announced the availability of a 64-bit version of the Flash plugin on Labs - for Linux only. Now they've released a 64-bit alpha version of Air, and once again it's just for Linux users.

If you're running a 64-bit Linux distribution on your system and can pitch in with bug reports and devote some serious time to testing you can email Adobe with your particulars. While I haven't received word back from Adobe as to why Linux is their testbed of choice, it surely has something to do with the number of Linux users running x64 distributions and their willingness to experiment with pre-release software.

Update: Adobe's Matt Rozen has just emailed me a response. He says "We have seen much stronger interest from the Linux community for a 64-bit version of Adobe Air, so that has been the focus of our efforts."

Windows users will have to wait patiently. There's no news at all yet about Air and the official line on Flash is that 64-bit support won't come until the next major release.

Filed under: Adobe, Social Software

Facebook desktop client brings you more clutter in less space

I'll say right off that I'm not a big Facebook user to start with, but there's nothing compelling in the newly-released Facebook Desktop client that is going to make me change my mind. If anything, it makes me more sure that I don't need to be spending time on the mammoth social networking site.

The app is built on Adobe Air, making it instantly available to nearly everyone as long as they've got the client installed.

Once I load the application, what I end up looking at is the middle column from Facebook's web site, and it's horrible. Quiz after quiz that I can't block with a Greasemonkey script and images that don't fit properly in the non-adjustable window.

No problem, I'll just resize the window. Wait, what? The arrows appear when I mouse over the side, but I can't expand it. I also can't change the typeface from Times Roman, which I wasn't aware was still a popular choice for apps like this. Heck, there aren't any personalization options of any kind.

It's also a ram hog, sucking down 165Mb after just a few minutes. That's twice as much as TweetDeck and 30Mb more than the Firefox instance I'm using to compose this post. Ouch.

If I was a frequent Facebook user, I can think of plenty of other ways I'd rather access my stream - like with Seesmic desktop, which is also mentioned in the official blog post. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh. After all, this is the first release so at least that means there's plenty of room for improvement, right?

Take it for a spin yourself and share your experience in the comments!

[ via Facebook Blog]

Filed under: Internet, Google

Polaris makes Google Analytics data pretty, brings it to the desktop

Polaris
Polaris is a desktop viewer for Google Analytics data. It's built on Adobe AIR, which means it can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. And while it doesn't show you any data that you couldn't find by logging into your Google Analytics account, Polaris does make your data easier to read at a glance.

The program features attractive graphs, charts, and animations. You can use it to check your visitor numbers, trafic sources, referring sites, top content, top keywords, and other information. Polaris is free if you want to view one Google Analytics profile at a time. But you can also pay $15 per year for access to the multi-profile edition.

Polaris started out its life as the Google Analytics Reporting Suite, which we profiled in 2007. To be perfectly honest, the original reporting suite had a lot of features that Polaris is missing. But the that application was a free beta. The developer expects to launch several new products built on the platform this year that will offer advanced features for analyzing your web traffic information.

[via Refreshing Apps]

Filed under: Fun, Text, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Office, Freeware, Social Software, Windows x64

SpreadTweet hides your Twitter stream in a fake Excel window


Obviously, if your usage policy at work prohibits using Twitter, this program isn't going to be of any help. Log files will still show what you've been up to. However, if you simply want a less obvious interface so that the Looky Lous around your cubicle can't immediately tell what you're up to, check out SpreadTweet.

It's yet another Twitter client built on Adobe Air, but obviously there's a bit of a twist - it camouflages your stream as a Microsoft Excel workbook. Three skins are available to ensure it blends in on your system: 2003, 2007, and OSX.

No avatars are displayed. There's no TwitPic or URL shortening support. Everything is displayed in boring old plain text, so you'll have to copy and paste links you want to browse.

I'd never use this as an everyday client, but I did actually find it handy for one thing: locating users that incessantly flood my stream with retweets. It's easy to spot the RT @personwithoriginalthought in SpreadTweet's plain text columns.

One super-duper, ultra-critical note: by downloading the software, you "absolve [the developer] of any and all responsibility" and agree to bring him cookies and beer if he goes to jail.

Filed under: Internet, Text, Web services, Adobe, Freeware, Social Software, web 2.0

Seesmic Desktop packs TweetDeck's features with a smaller footprint


Seesmic's Thwirl may not be as popular as it was a year ago, but it's still one of the most popular desktop Twitter apps around. They've lost a lot of ground to TweetDeck - which they no doubt hope to claw back with the release of the all-new Seesmic Desktop.

Yes, it's also an Adobe Air app. Unlike the relatively inobtrusive Thwirl, however, Desktop offers a customizable, multi-paned display that allows you to simultaneously view different bits of Twitter's bottomless supply of data - your @replies, direct messages, searches, and more.

The interface is clean, though possibly a bit too "Mac" for some users. Color schemes aren't easily adjustable (yet), though there are 15 XML config files in the "color schemes" folder. Links can be shortened using six different services - including Digg, and inline uploading of images to TwitPic is also available.

Seesmic Desktop doesn't have TweetDeck's voracious appetite for RAM. At startup it weighed in at about 65Mb and has reached 79Mb after letting it run overnight. Leaving TweetDeck on would typically result in anywhere between 300 and 600Mb of memory consumed. Seesmic also supports multiple Twitter accounts, so it bests TweetDeck beaten on two fronts.

But wait, where's the Facebook support? When Seesmic released their Air-based client for FB last month, they told us a unified client was coming. Seesmic Desktop is likely it, but since it's still a preview we'll have to wait and see what other features are added in upcoming releases. Right now, though, Seesmic Desktop definitely shows promise.

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Freeware, Social Software, Search

Yahoo! Sideline is a desktop client for Twitter searches

Yahoo! Sideline
Yahoo! has launched a new application that lets you keep track of trends and search terms in Twitter from your desktop. While Yahoo! Sideline is based on Adobe AIR, it's not a full fledged desktop client for Twitter like Twhirl or Tweetdeck.It doesn't let you send messages or keep track of tweets from your friends. Instead, Sideline lets you enter search terms and see messages from all Twitter users using those terms.

You can also create Search Groups with multiple terms. For instance, say you wanted to track everything said about Download Squad. You could create a group called Download Squad and then enter "download squad," "downloadsquad," "bradlinder," "leematthews," "film_girl," "grobertson," "strutting" and other terms. Sideline displays messages matching all of those terms and refreshes the search at regular intervals.

There's also a Trends area where you can see topics that are popular across the Twitter network at the moment.

Overall, Sideline is kind of cool, but it doesn't feel like something that needs to be a desktop application. You can create the same searches using Twitter's Advanced Search tool. I suppose if you really, really want real-time notifications alerting you whenever someone mentions your name, your web site's name, or a dozen other search terms, Sideline can come in handy. But for the rest of us, a normal Twitter client that lets you send and receive messages seems more useful.

[via TechCrunch]

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