Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/downloadsquad.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Compartmentalize, or you'll get 20 lashes! (unless you're into that sort of thing)]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/02/compartmentalize-or-youll-get-20-lashes-unless-youre-into-t/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/02/compartmentalize-or-youll-get-20-lashes-unless-youre-into-t/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/02/compartmentalize-or-youll-get-20-lashes-unless-youre-into-t/#comments Recently I was interviewed by a graduate student who was working on a thesis about representations of female sexual empowerment in popular culture. Much of our conversation centered on women's usage of the internet. One of the first questions she asked me was whether I thought there was still a stigma against women being openly sexual online. After stumbling over my words because I couldn't get the "yes" out fast enough, I gave her an example that shows just how much of a problem this is.

I go to a lot of conferences, unconferences, and all variety of social media-oriented events. Frankly, I'm feeling a little conferenced out at this point. Anyway, at each of these events I go to, there's almost always a panel or session or discussion group focused on the question of how to "present yourself" online - usually framed in a business context. And even if there isn't a session nominally devoted to this topic, it ends up coming up sooner or later. It's obligatory, just like the incessant "bloggers vs. journalists" debate.

These discussions can get quite heated, with people becoming very earnest about not wanting to look "unprofessional" online. Women in particular tend to get very worked up about it (which isn't surprising; there are expectations placed on us that men won't ever experience). Without fail, the ultimate example of "unprofessional" is always something sexual. Someone will be ranting about the presentation of their professional demeanor online and attracting new clients and blah blah blah, and it's only a matter of time before they make an offhand remark like, "So, I'm not going to go around posting naked pictures or anything!" Such comments are usually received with much laughter and nodding in agreement.

So, YES, if one's sexuality is the ultimate representation of what it means to be unprofessional, then absolutely we have a problem here.

Continue reading Compartmentalize, or you'll get 20 lashes! (unless you're into that sort of thing)

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Compartmentalize, or you'll get 20 lashes! (unless you're into that sort of thing) originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> conferencesidentityMySpaceprofessionalismSex2.0sexualitysocialmediaSXSWunconferenceswomen Amber Rhea Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Girls and technology: what's next?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/24/girls-and-technology-whats-next/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/24/girls-and-technology-whats-next/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/24/girls-and-technology-whats-next/#comments Girls and Tech A February 21 New York Times article ("Sorry, Boys, This Is Our Domain") states that teenage girls far outnumber teenage boys in the creation of web content such as blogs, web sites, and original graphics. Some of these teens have created viable businesses out of their online efforts, such as Chloe Spencer of The Ultimate Neopets Cheats Site and Martina Butler of Emo Girl Talk.

In the working world of adults, however, the number of women in computer-related fields is still very small, with women holding only 27 percent of such jobs. In the next decade, will we see vast changes in the gender balance of the tech industry?

The New York Times piece holds the less-than-optimistic view that while girls outnumber boys in web content creation, those same girls are not trending toward advanced programming classes, undergraduate majors in computer science or math, and the like. It attributes this to girls being attracted to creative use of existing technology, rather than the invention of new technology.

I'm not so quick to wring my hands, though.

With each passing day, I think it makes less and less sense to draw a dividing line between what constitutes a computer-related field and what doesn't. We're very rapidly coming to a point where such lines are not only arbitrary, they're downright moot. As technology, and especially web technology, moves into more aspects of our lives, we can see it fitting comfortably into jobs that never before would've been considered "technical" -- such as teaching, healthcare, real estate, public relations, food service, and countless more. A fundamental tenet of social media is that it connects people and enhances our ability to do what we already love doing.

Maybe the real question, then, is not whether the blogging/coding/podcasting girls of today will grow up to become software engineers, but to what kinds of interesting and innovative uses they will apply their skills in their chosen field. We'll just have to wait and see, but my sans crystal ball prediction is that we won't be disappointed.

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Girls and technology: what's next? originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> careersgirlsSex2.0socialmediateenagers Amber Rhea Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[NSFW? No SEO for you!]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/18/nsfw-no-seo-for-you/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/18/nsfw-no-seo-for-you/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/18/nsfw-no-seo-for-you/#comments What's your first thought when you hit a Blogspot blog that slaps this warning screen in front of your face?

Some readers of this blog have contacted Google because they believe this blog's content is objectionable. In general, Google does not review nor do we endorse the content of this or any blog. For more information about our content policies, please visit the Blogger Terms of Service

My first thought is, "splog." Followed, as a close second, by, "threats of violence." In any event, it gives every indication that previous readers thought the site was problematic and flagged it.

Well, that might be the case.

Continue reading NSFW? No SEO for you!

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NSFW? No SEO for you! originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adultcontentBloggerBlogspotSEOSex2.0sexuality Amber Rhea Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Valentine's Day gifts for the sex nerd(s) in your life]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/valentines-day-gifts-for-the-sex-nerd-s-in-your-life/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/valentines-day-gifts-for-the-sex-nerd-s-in-your-life/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/valentines-day-gifts-for-the-sex-nerd-s-in-your-life/#comments Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and regardless of your relationship status, we think you should treat someone to some well-deserved fun. Whether the lucky recipient of your generosity is a long-term partner, a friend, or yourself, these gifts will appeal to the most discerning sex nerd in your life.

It should go without saying, but most of the following links are deliciously not safe for work.

Continue reading Valentine's Day gifts for the sex nerd(s) in your life

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Valentine's Day gifts for the sex nerd(s) in your life originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> giftsSex2.0ValentinesDay Amber Rhea Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Speak for yourself: Letters from Working Girls and Letters from Johns]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/29/speak-for-yourself-letters-from-working-girls-and-letters-from/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/29/speak-for-yourself-letters-from-working-girls-and-letters-from/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/29/speak-for-yourself-letters-from-working-girls-and-letters-from/#comments Letters from Working Girls We often hear that social media is enabling us to see a more complete picture of who people are, and in some cases this may be true; but how often do we, instead, see a more truncated version of who a person is, because they feel like they have to self-censor? As anyone who's been blogging for a while will tell you, the reality of it has a lot more sticky nuance than the idyllic concept. What about the places where one's life intersects with the lives of others? How much is okay to share about another person without his or her consent? Even for those who blog pseudonymously, these are constant questions whose answers may vary from day to day -- especially when sex is involved.

(This column both acknowledges the existence of sex, and explores the ways sex and sexuality relate to and are enhanced by the internet. If you're offended by such content, don't take the jump.)

Continue reading Speak for yourself: Letters from Working Girls and Letters from Johns

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Speak for yourself: Letters from Working Girls and Letters from Johns originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bloggingLettersFromJohnsLettersFromWorkingGirlsSex2.0sexualitysexworkSusannahBreslin Amber Rhea Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Five smart sex podcasts]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/21/five-smart-sex-podcasts/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/21/five-smart-sex-podcasts/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/21/five-smart-sex-podcasts/#comments Like podcasting? Like sex? Like not being spoken to as if you're slightly more intelligent than a paramecium? If you answered "yes" to all three of those questions, here are some podcasts you might enjoy.

(Warning to readers. This column both acknowledges the existence of sex, and explores the ways sex and sexuality relate to and are enhanced by the internet. If you're offended by such content, don't take the jump.)

Continue reading Five smart sex podcasts

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Five smart sex podcasts originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audioLiveGirlReviewMidwestTeenSexShowOpenSourceSexpodcastingpodcastsPolyamoryWeeklySex2.0SexIsFunsexualityvideo Amber Rhea Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Sex 2.0: It's not just a conference, it's an attitude]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/14/sex-2-0-its-not-just-a-conference-its-an-attitude/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/14/sex-2-0-its-not-just-a-conference-its-an-attitude/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/14/sex-2-0-its-not-just-a-conference-its-an-attitude/#comments Sex 2.0 A little more than a year after my last "regular" post here, I'm back to write a monthly/semi-monthly/whenever-inspiration-hits column about Sex 2.0-related stuff. What's Sex 2.0, you ask? Why, it's the totally awesome conference I'm organizing!

After this introductory post, I promise I won't be constantly shilling for my conference; but I do think I need to provide a little background.

Over the past several years, the internet - especially that of the web 2.0 variety - has been enabling people to learn, grow, and connect sexually. As an unapologetic geek and an unapologetic sex fiend, the worlds of sex and technology naturally dovetailed for me. As I began paying attention to what was happening on the web, it seemed like inspiring new projects were popping up left and right, largely led by women.

Continue reading Sex 2.0: It's not just a conference, it's an attitude

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Sex 2.0: It's not just a conference, it's an attitude originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Sex2.0sexualityweb2.0 Amber Rhea Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Vote in the 2006 Weblog Awards]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/12/08/vote-in-the-2006-weblog-awards/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/12/08/vote-in-the-2006-weblog-awards/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/12/08/vote-in-the-2006-weblog-awards/#comments 2006 Weblog Awards Voting opened this morning for the 2006 Weblog Awards. Get your votes in now; the polls will close on December 15th. (Our very own Engadget is nominated for Best Technology Blog - not that I would ever attempt to stuff the ballot box, of course.) The site has a sleek new design this year, complete with Ajax action on the forms.

As for categories, there don't appear to be any significant changes this year. "Best Podcast" and "Best Video Blog" remain this year, after being introduced in last year's Weblog Awards. Sooner or later, though, these will have to spin off into separate award competitions. There are podcasts and vidcasts that fit most of the categories outlined for blogs, with more springing to life each day.

But hey, what are you hanging around here for? Go exercise your right and privilege as a netizen, and vote!

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Vote in the 2006 Weblog Awards originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Dec 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bloggingblogspodcastsweblog awardsWeblogAwardsweblogs Amber Rhea Fri, 08 Dec 2006 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ZSubway: The New York City subway on your iPod]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/27/zsubway-the-new-york-city-subway-on-your-ipod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/27/zsubway-the-new-york-city-subway-on-your-ipod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/27/zsubway-the-new-york-city-subway-on-your-ipod/#comments ZSubwayZSubway is a collection of New York City subway maps and schedules that you can download to your iPod (and some other portable media players). It's amazingly simple - just a bunch of images, really - and yet immensely useful.

This is something all cities should have, in my opinion. When I think of the ways mobile technology is "revolutionizing" our lives, I think the most important changes come in the form of these seemingly small things. No, there's nothing flashy or exciting about subway maps. But ZSubway ranks very high on the usefulness scale. No more having to carry a map around with you, or look for a map (much less a schedule) in a deserted station, or call a customer service number. I don't know about you, but every minute I save is precious, and convenience is much more important than bells and whistles.

So let this be a message to other cities - it's time to get on-board and provide iPod-friendly transit maps.

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ZSubway: The New York City subway on your iPod originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ipodmapmobilenew york subwayNewYorkSubwaynyc subwayNycSubwaysubwaysubway mapSubwayMapZSubwayZurnet NYCZurnetNyc Amber Rhea Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Save the date: Atlanta social media conference, Feb. 10, 2007]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/26/save-the-date-atlanta-social-media-conference-feb-10-2007/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/26/save-the-date-atlanta-social-media-conference-feb-10-2007/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/26/save-the-date-atlanta-social-media-conference-feb-10-2007/#comments Atlanta If you have an interest in podcasting, blogging, or any of that other "social media" hooey, then you'll want to be in Atlanta, Georgia on February 10th, 2007. That's the date of the as-yet-unnamed social media conference being organized by Sherry Heyl, the Atlanta Media Bloggers, and a bunch of local riff-raff. (If you have any bright ideas for a name, feel free to share.)

Continue reading Save the date: Atlanta social media conference, Feb. 10, 2007

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Save the date: Atlanta social media conference, Feb. 10, 2007 originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AtlantaAtlanta Media BloggersAtlanta social media conferenceAtlantaMediaBloggersAtlantaSocialMediaConferenceconferenceGeorgianew mediaNewMediasocial mediaSocialMediaunconferenceWhat A ConceptWhatAConcept Amber Rhea Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:13:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Get system information with Windows Inspection Tool Set]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/25/get-system-information-with-windows-inspection-tool-set/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/25/get-system-information-with-windows-inspection-tool-set/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/25/get-system-information-with-windows-inspection-tool-set/#comments Windows Inspection Tool Set (WiTS) is an open-source utility that consolidates all kinds of information about your system into one central location with an intuitive user interface. Thanks to WiTS, you won't have to dig around the innards of your file system - or try to remember what to type at the command line - in order to find the information you need. In addition to eliminating the hassle of dozens of built-in Windows tools, WiTS offers additional functionality, such as the ability to terminate TCP connections.

WiTS runs seamlessly in the background until you need it. When you do need it, the interface is snappy and responsive. (I'm interested to hear how it performs on older systems, though - so, readers, feel free to add your feedback.) And, of course, the fact that it's open source is enough to make any geek happy.

Windows Inspection Tool Set

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Get system information with Windows Inspection Tool Set originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Microsoftopen sourceOpenSourcesystem informationSystemInformationTclWindowsWindows registryWindowsRegistry Amber Rhea Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Cucumis: Share a translation, get a translation]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/21/cucumis-share-a-translation-get-a-translation/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/21/cucumis-share-a-translation-get-a-translation/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/21/cucumis-share-a-translation-get-a-translation/#comments CucumisI'm not sure if I'd call Cucumis a Web 2.0 site; nevertheless, it's yet another site featuring luscious-looking fruit in its logo! I read about Cucumis at TechCrunch today, and I have to say, I disagree with Michael Arrington a bit on this one. What he sees as a weakness of Cucumis, I see as its most appealing (and distinguishing) feature - the fact that the service is available only to those who are willing to give back to the community by offering translations of their own.

I see Michael's point that this framework certainly isn't going to make Cucumis any big money - but if they're able to run the site on donations alone, I say more power to 'em. It seems like the linguistic equivalent of many peer-to-peer file sharing networks out there: you can't be a freeloader. Share and share alike.

Of course, this is further complicated by the fact that in the U.S., at least, we are sadly lacking in foreign-language skills. But hey, maybe this'll motivate some people to learn more Spanish than just "cerveza grande."

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Cucumis: Share a translation, get a translation originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> CucumislanguagelinguisticsTechCrunchtexttranslationWeb 2.0Web2.0 Amber Rhea Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:05:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AppDelete for Mac: Use it with care]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/appdelete-for-mac-use-it-with-care/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/appdelete-for-mac-use-it-with-care/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/appdelete-for-mac-use-it-with-care/#comments AppDelete AppDelete is a freeware utility for Macs that, ostensibly, removes all associated files when you delete an application. (Don't you hate having meaningless preference files hanging around, taking up hard drive space?) AppDelete claims that if you drag the application you want to delete onto its icon, it will scan your hard drive and find all the associated config files, preferences, and so on.

Unfortunately, although the current version is 1.0.1, AppDelete is not yet ready for prime-time. I tested it with a few applications, and it found no associated files, even though they were right there in my Library folder - or sometimes in the same folder as the app itself. More importantly, though, some Lifehacker commenters have pointed out that you need to pay close attention to what AppDelete is doing, lest it delete stuff you'd rather keep. For example, one commenter says she told AppDelete to remove Fire, and it ended up trying to remove Firefox as well. Lifehacker blogger Adam Pash seems to have had a good experience with it, though, so I guess it's hit or miss.

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AppDelete for Mac: Use it with care originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AppDeletedeletefreewareMacMac OS XMacOsXOS XOsX Amber Rhea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Inquisitor brings Spotlight to Safari]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/inquisitor-brings-spotlight-to-safari/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/inquisitor-brings-spotlight-to-safari/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/05/inquisitor-brings-spotlight-to-safari/#comments Inquisitor is a free OS X app that adds "search as you type" functionality to Safari. Install Inquisitor, restart Safari, and when you start typing in Safari's search bar, Inquisitor will display up to three links and several suggested keywords as you go.
Inquisitor

This, of course, works best if you have a fast computer and fast Internet connection. I found Inquisitor to be a bit slow on my 800mhz iBook G4 (hey, we can't all have the latest and greatest). And of course, it would be simply impractical for Inquisitor to search the entire web as you type; instead it pulls its results from Google, Amazon, Wikipedia, and several other sources.

If you don't have Safari, there's also a free web-based version, currently in beta. I actually found the web-based version to be faster than the Safari version.

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Inquisitor brings Spotlight to Safari originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> browsersfreewareInquisitorMacMac OS XMacOsXOS XOsXSafarisearchsearch engineSearchEngineSpotlight Amber Rhea Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Visualize your schedule with AmbientClock]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/02/visualize-your-schedule-with-ambientclock/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/02/visualize-your-schedule-with-ambientclock/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/11/02/visualize-your-schedule-with-ambientclock/#comments AmbientClock Here's a neat little utility with questionable usefulness and a less-than-intuitive UI - but, yes, it's neat. AmbientClock pulls appointments from your Google Calendar and maps them along a circular analog clock. You can also add a secondary calendar (such as that of a co-worker or spouse) for a visual representation of schedule conflicts.

So far, I can't really see what AmbientClock accomplishes that plain ol' Google Calendar doesn't, aside from the "oh crap look how little free time I have today, when am I going to eat?" factor. You can add it to your Google homepage, which I suppose is useful in the at-a-glance sense. However, browsing to future dates didn't work for me in Firefox 2.0. But since it's in beta, I'll cut it some slack.

Apparently, if all goes well, AmbientClock will soon be more than just a Google gadget - it'll be a standalone device. As in, an actual, three-dimensional product you can place on your desk!

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Visualize your schedule with AmbientClock originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AmbientClockclockGoogleGoogle CalendarGoogle gadgetsGoogle personalized homepageGoogleCalendarGoogleGadgetsGooglePersonalizedHomepagescheduleschedulingtimeWeb 2.0Web2.0 Amber Rhea Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:13:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Speed up Firefox with Firetune...]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/speed-up-firefox-with-firetune/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/speed-up-firefox-with-firetune/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/speed-up-firefox-with-firetune/#comments
FireTune is not a Firefox extension. It's a downloadable app - for Windows only - that "tunes" Firefox depending on your computer's speed and internet connection. You give FireTune some information about your setup, and it adjusts the browser's settings accordingly.
Firetune

The big question for me, though, is why anyone would go to the trouble of installing FireTune, when the extension Fasterfox includes the same functionality and more. I have yet to uncover any features in FireTune that aren't present in Fasterfox; and Fasterfox includes other perks in addition to speed, such as blocking Flash-initiated pop-up windows. So far, the only benefit I can see to FireTune is that it apparently supports Firefox 2.0 - which, of course, still hasn't been officially released.

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Speed up Firefox with Firetune... originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> browser speedbrowsersBrowserSpeedextensionsFasterfoxFirefoxFirefox 2.0Firefox extensionsFirefox2.0FirefoxExtensionsFiretunefreeware Amber Rhea Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:36:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Build cool forms with Icebrrg]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/build-cool-forms-with-icebrrg/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/build-cool-forms-with-icebrrg/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/24/build-cool-forms-with-icebrrg/#comments Icebrrg Yes, I know, bad pun. Sorry.

Anyway... if you need forms of any kind for your web site but don't have the time to program one from scratch (or the money to pay someone else to do it!), Icebrrg might be the solution for you. It lets you easily create a variety of forms - surveys, contact forms, job applications, invitations - through a simple WYSIWYG interface. Icebrrg handles all the back-end logic and data collection for you.

One huge benefit of using Icebrrg to build forms instead of a hosting them on a third-party site is that the forms you create will match the look and feel of your site. You can create an account for free and find out if Icebrrg fits your needs. The free account limits you to a maximum of three forms and ten fields, and doesn't include data storage options, but paid plans start at an affordable $9/month.

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Build cool forms with Icebrrg originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> content managementContentManagementformshtmlhtml formsHtmlFormsIcebbrgsurveysweb developmentWebDevelopment Amber Rhea Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:23:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Return of the flying toasters]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/23/return-of-the-flying-toasters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/23/return-of-the-flying-toasters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/23/return-of-the-flying-toasters/#comments ToasterClone Remember the flying toasters, from the early 1990s? C'mon, cast your memory back, I know you know what I'm talking about. That's right - After Dark, by Berkeley Systems! Those whimsical winged kitchen appliances charmed my parents on my Mac Performa 635 and, I think, helped to chip away at their Luddism just a bit. They flew right into my heart, that's for sure.

As the days of screensaver obsession faded away with the twentieth century, though, the toasters were all but forgotten. But now they're back, thanks to the ingenuity of the good folks at Uneasy Silence. ToasterClone is available for Windows and Mac OS X (Mac users may choose between "modern" and "classic" toasters). So download it today and relive the good old days!

(Thanks, Dan!)

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Return of the flying toasters originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> After DarkAfterDarkBerkeley SystemsBerkeleySystemsflying toasterflying toastersFlyingToasterFlyingToastersfreewarescreensaverToasterCloneUneasy SilenceUneasySilence Amber Rhea Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:20:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Rearrange your taskbar with Taskbar Shuffle]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/13/rearrange-your-taskbar-with-taskbar-shuffle/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/13/rearrange-your-taskbar-with-taskbar-shuffle/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/13/rearrange-your-taskbar-with-taskbar-shuffle/#comments Taskbar Shuffle From the "Why didn't somebody think of this before?" files...

Taskbar Shuffle is a simple Windows utility that allows you to rearrange the order of your taskbar items by dragging and dropping. And now I'm wondering how I'm going to fill an entire post with info about Taskbar Shuffle, because there's not much more to say beyond that! It is refreshing in its simplicity. (I'm suddenly reminded of something one of my computer science professors once said about Unix programs... "Each program does only one specific thing, but it does that thing really well.")

Taskbar Shuffle is a free download and is compatible with Windows all the way back to 95. It kind of amazes me that Microsoft didn't include this functionality to begin with!

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Rearrange your taskbar with Taskbar Shuffle originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Oct 2006 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> drag and dropDragAndDropfreewaretaskbarTaskbar ShuffleTaskbar Shuffle 2.0TaskbarShuffleTaskbarShuffle2.0Windows taskbarWindowsTaskbar Amber Rhea Fri, 13 Oct 2006 10:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Call for free with Futurephone]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/call-for-free-with-futurephone/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/call-for-free-with-futurephone/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/call-for-free-with-futurephone/#comments Futurephone Have you heard about Futurephone? It sounds sketchy to me, but everything I've read so far makes it sound like it's legit. Futurephone is a service that allows you to make free international calls on a regular phone. It works by channeling you through an access number in Iowa, of all random places. You call the access number, and then dial the international number you're trying to call, and voila! Free international phone call! (Caveat: calling international mobile phones doesn't work yet.)

Unfortunately, I don't know anybody in another country whom I can call. So I haven't personally tried it. I'm still not exactly clear on how it works, or why it's not illegal in some way or another. On the other hand, I'm always a proponent of free services and Sticking It To The Man[TM], so I figured Futurephone deserved a mention.

[Via Pogue's Posts]

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Call for free with Futurephone originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> free callsFreeCallsFuturephoneinternational callingInternationalCallingIowaphoneSkype Amber Rhea Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:19:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Soundflavor DJ: Find music by sound]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/soundflavor-dj-find-music-by-sound/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/soundflavor-dj-find-music-by-sound/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/soundflavor-dj-find-music-by-sound/#comments SoundflavorWant to shop for music by sound? Or have iTunes choose songs and create a playlist based on a few songs you've already played? Does this sound like a bunch of futuristic mumbo-jumbo? Well, it's what Soundflavor DJ is offering.

Soundflavor DJ is powered by something known as the "Music Recommendation Engine," which sounds very sci-fi to me. (But cool! Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking sci-fi.) Powered by more than six years of research and analysis, the Music Recommendation Engine can recognize and recommend songs in nearly every genre of music. Simply play a few songs in iTunes, and eventually the software begins displaying album artwork for upcoming songs it thinks you'll like. You can adjust the "Flavorizer" knob to control how often Soundflavor DJ makes recommendations.

Currently, Soundflavor DJ is available only for Windows, and works only with iTunes. Support for other music players, as well as a Mac version, will come soon.

Oh, and on a completely unrelated note... What is it with all these Web 2.0 companies that have delicious-looking fruit logos? There's the cherry with Soundflavor, Jump2Mail has a luscious strawberry; and there are plenty more out there, such as Vitamin (an orange) and Wild Apricot (take a guess). It's quite a phenomenon!

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Soundflavor DJ: Find music by sound originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aacfreewareiTunesmp3musicsong recommendationsSongRecommendationsSoundflavor Amber Rhea Thu, 12 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Consolidate your email with Jump2Mail]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/11/consolidate-your-email-with-jump2mail/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/11/consolidate-your-email-with-jump2mail/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/11/consolidate-your-email-with-jump2mail/#comments Jump2Mail A few weeks ago I wrote about ePrompter, a standalone (Windows-only) email notification app with a UI reminiscent of Windows 3.1. Responses in the comments ranged from nonplussed to downright offended (including speculations about malware). Now, I'm no ePrompter cheerleader; I just report on what I find. And today I've found a much better - and much more Web 2.0! - solution for managing multiple email accounts.

Jump2Mail bills itself as a "free web-based email retrieval application" that lets you check all your email accounts from one central location. Its web-based approach to email management makes a lot more sense than the desktop-centered approach offered by ePrompter, since these days most of us move around and use more than one computer.

In addition to allowing users to send, receive, delete, and reply to emails, Jump2Mail also includes:
  • Planning and reminders
  • Spam filtering
  • Personal rules
  • Contact management
  • Ajax-based RSS reader
  • Support for 7 different languages
More features are in progress, such as an RSS feed of new emails. Jump2Mail currently supports POP and IMAP, which can pose a limitation if you use a web-based mail service such as Yahoo (which doesn't allow free POP access). However, support for purely web-based accounts may be available at a later time.

Oh, and did I mention the delicious-looking strawberry icon?

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Consolidate your email with Jump2Mail originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Ajaxemailemail managementEmailManagementIMAPJump2MailmailPOPRSSWeb 2.0Web2.0webmail Amber Rhea Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Windows Vista RC2 now available for public consumption]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/windows-vista-rc2-now-available-for-public-consumption/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/windows-vista-rc2-now-available-for-public-consumption/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/windows-vista-rc2-now-available-for-public-consumption/#comments Windows VistaWindows Vista RC2 has been released and is available for download. Turns out we were wrong when we reported that RC2 would be available only to Microsoft beta testers. However, Microsoft is saying it will be available "for a limited time only" and "may not have the same level of support" as RC1 (whatever that means). The RC2 download is an ISO file that must be burned to a DVD, so if your computer doesn't have that capability, don't bother. Otherwise, go ahead and grab RC2 while it's hot, and have a look at some of those 1,400+ remaining bugs!

(Thanks, Bryan!)

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Windows Vista RC2 now available for public consumption originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 07 Oct 2006 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betacommercialmicrosoftosupdatespaul thurrottPaulThurrottRC2VistaVista RC2VistaRc2Windows VistaWindows Vista RC2WindowsVistaWindowsVistaRc2 Amber Rhea Sat, 07 Oct 2006 13:21:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Flickr MiniCards redux]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/flickr-minicards-redux/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/flickr-minicards-redux/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/07/flickr-minicards-redux/#comments Flickr MiniCards being offered by MOO. Obviously I took advantage of the free 10-pack offer, and yesterday my MiniCards finally arrived in the mail. They turned out great! I'm very impressed with the quality of the cards, and they're just so damn cute! When I ordered them, I didn't realize just how tiny they really are. Here's photographic evidence:

Flickr MiniCards - free 10-pack
The packaging the cards arrived in. Attractive and efficient!

Flickr MiniCards - size comparison
Flickr MiniCards - size comparison with my keys.

Flickr MiniCards - bite size!
All 10 cards fit in my hand!

I'll be ordering a 100-pack. In addition to personalized business cards, I also plan to use some as holiday gift tags. And I'm brainstorming about other possibilities, as well. Ideas? Share 'em here.

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Flickr MiniCards redux originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cardsdigital imagingdigital photographyDigitalImagingDigitalPhotographyFlickrFlickr MiniCardsFlickrMinicardsMiniCardsMOOMoo.com Amber Rhea Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:17:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[JacksonPollock.org - Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/06/jacksonpollock-org-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/06/jacksonpollock-org-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/06/jacksonpollock-org-todays-time-waster/#comments JacksonPollock.org, you can be a Flash-based abstract expressionist painter! Don't you think if Jackson Pollock were alive today, he'd take advantage of the technology available to him?

Admittedly, JacksonPollock.org is a bit disconcerting at first. The site loads as a blank window, so you're confused to begin with. (Although you won't be, dear readers, since I've given you the heads up.) When you move your cursor anywhere within the browser window, a streak of "paint" is splashed across your virtual canvas. Each time you click, the paint changes color. And you don't have the luxury of picking up your "brush" and deciding where to place it next; oh no, that wouldn't be abstract enough.

Potentially, this can provide hours of amusement and artistic exploration. Just look at the masterpiece I created:
JacksonPollock.org
Worth about $2,000,000, wouldn't you say?

(Thanks, Niki!)

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JacksonPollock.org - Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> abstract expressionistAbstractExpressionistartFlashJackson PollockJacksonPollockpaintingtimewasters Amber Rhea Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[SlideShare: Lovable bastard child of YouTube and Powerpoint]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/04/slideshare-lovable-bastard-child-of-youtube-and-powerpoint/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/04/slideshare-lovable-bastard-child-of-youtube-and-powerpoint/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/04/slideshare-lovable-bastard-child-of-youtube-and-powerpoint/#comments SlideShareRemember when Conan O'Brien used to do that "what if they made it" segment? (Maybe he still does it... I haven't watched the show in years. I'm so out of touch.) Well, here's one possible outcome of YouTube and Powerpoint hooking up: SlideShare.

SlideShare is a service that lets you upload Powerpoint or OpenOffice presentations and have them be playable on the web, via a handy navigation toolbar. (If you're using unsupported presentation software, such as Keynote, simply export the file to PPT format before uploading to SlideShare.) This way, the presentations have a permanent URL for easy sharing; no more toting around a USB key drive and hoping it works at the client's office, for example.

Why is SlideShare better than using web-based services such as S5, you might ask? Well, for one thing, it placates recalcitrant office workers who refuse to use anything other than Powerpoint. But there are other benefits as well. I already mentioned the permalinks, but here are a few more perks:
  • Files can be tagged.
  • Comments can be left by viewers.
  • Each slide has its own permanent URL for reference.
  • SlideShare is simpler and more specialized than WebEx competitors such as DimDim and TeamSlide.
What about the drawbacks and as-of-yet unimplemented features? (Surprise, SlideShare is in beta!) Here are a few:
  • Files cannot be larger than 20 MB.
  • No sharing or privacy options.
  • The original presentation file cannot be downloaded.
SlideShare says it will add support for these features in the future, however.

All in all, SlideShare looks promising. And I didn't mean to take a cheap shot at Powerpoint users, really. Let's face it, no web-based system currently has an interface that compares to Powerpoint in familiarity and ease of use.

[Via TechCrunch]

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SlideShare: Lovable bastard child of YouTube and Powerpoint originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> online presentation servicesOnlinePresentationServicesOpen OfficeOpenOfficePowerpointpresentation softwarepresentationsPresentationSoftwaresharingSlideSharevideoWeb 2.0Web2.0YouTube Amber Rhea Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:15:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Google rolls out SearchMash with little fanfare]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/03/google-rolls-out-searchmash-with-little-fanfare/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/03/google-rolls-out-searchmash-with-little-fanfare/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/03/google-rolls-out-searchmash-with-little-fanfare/#comments SearchMashA few days ago, Google quietly launched SearchMash. Of course, you wouldn't know by looking at the SearchMash web site that it's at all related to Google, but that's where - surprise! - Google comes in handy. Thanks to everyone's favorite search engine, I learned that this same search engine recently registered searchmash.com and a bunch of related domain names. I also came across this post at Search Engine Journal that attempts to cast some light on SearchMash.

SearchMash is being touted - among those who know of its existence in the first place - as "Google 2.0." It's currently in the "sandbox" stage, so feel free to check it out, play around with the new features (including plenty of Ajax, of course), and spread the word around the blogosphere.

[Via Search Engine Journal]

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Google rolls out SearchMash with little fanfare originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Ajaxsearchsearch engineSearchEngineSearchMashWeb 2.0Web2.0 Amber Rhea Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Adjust audio volume levels with The Levelator]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/01/adjust-audio-volume-levels-with-the-levelator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/01/adjust-audio-volume-levels-with-the-levelator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/01/adjust-audio-volume-levels-with-the-levelator/#comments The Levelator is a Java-based application that automagically adjusts the volume levels in audio files. It's a combination compressor, normalizer, and limiter - all with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Just drag any WAV or AIFF file onto the Levelator's magic rectangle (as seen below), and, the web site brags, poof! Magic! Audio levels optimized! (And saved as a separate file.)

The Levelator

I admit, it sounds too good to be true. I further admit that I haven't actually used The Levelator yet, though I intend to do so with my next podcast. Jake Luddington, however, has used The Levelator, and is singing its praises. So although I'm skeptical on one level (ha!), I've also got high hopes and can't wait to take this thing for a spin.

The Levelator is freeware and is available for Mac (universal binary) and Windows (2000, XP, or Vista).

(Thanks, Jake!)

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Adjust audio volume levels with The Levelator originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audio editingAudioEditingfreewareGigavoxGigavox MediaGigavoxMediaJavaLevelerThe LevelerTheLeveleruniversal binaryUniversalBinary Amber Rhea Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:38:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Songbird enters beta (perhaps too soon?)]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/30/songbird-enters-beta-perhaps-too-soon/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/30/songbird-enters-beta-perhaps-too-soon/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/30/songbird-enters-beta-perhaps-too-soon/#comments Songbird media player Songbird, the Mozilla-based desktop media player that's been in alpha since last year, has finally moved to beta status - or, as the Songbird crew is calling it, "test flight." Version 0.2 is available for download for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Songbird, as we've mentioned before, is a combination media player and web browser that can connect to almost any audio or video content on the web. When I first heard about it several months ago, it was available only for Windows. Enamored with the cute little farting bird icon, I sighed, bookmarked Songbirdnest.com, and hoped that one day it would be available for Mac.

That day has come, and I eagerly downloaded the "test flight" tonight. I'm sad to say I was a bit disappointed. I'm trying not to be overly judgmental; this is still a beta version, after all. But aside from the web browsing features, I really didn't have much luck at all with Songbird. When I tried to scan for audio files on my computer, Songbird insisted there was "no media to add!" When I tried to import an iTunes playlist, I received a cryptic error message. Sometimes the 'cancel' button on dialog boxes wouldn't work. And the interface for subscribing to podcasts has me flummoxed; I entered the URL of a podcast feed, but instead Songbird just took me to the URL via its built-in browser.

I still have high hopes for Songbird. If done right, it could be the next big thing in desktop media. It's open source, built on Mozilla's XULRunner platform, touts support for practically every media format out there - and don't forget the absolutely adorable mascot!

So, what are your thoughts about Songbird? If anyone has had a more positive experience, I would be very interested to hear about it.

Update: Songbird developer Nivi points out that this actually isn't a beta release, it's a pre-beta release. Thanks, Nivi!

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Songbird enters beta (perhaps too soon?) originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audiomp3musicopensourceSongbird Amber Rhea Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:46:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Cha-Ching: Tag-based money management]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/cha-ching-tag-based-money-management/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/cha-ching-tag-based-money-management/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/cha-ching-tag-based-money-management/#comments Cha-Ching Cha-Ching is a Mac OS X (universal binary) app for managing your personal finances. It uses a tag-based approach to categorizing incoming and outgoing transactions. Thanks to iSight integration, you can include photographs of your purchases (for tax or general pack-rat purposes). And of course, like any other personal finance application, you can schedule pending transactions and manage bill payment.

Cha-Ching's web site is sleek and polished and, like many Web 2.0 sites, appears to be perpetually in beta. Or rather, in this case, the app itself is in beta. But that's good news for you, because you can currently purchase a license for $14.95 - ten dollars off the price it'll be once it hits 1.0 status.

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Cha-Ching: Tag-based money management originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Cha-ChingcommercialMac OS XMacOsXmoneymoney managementMoneyManagementpersonal financePersonalFinanceWeb 2.0Web2.0 Amber Rhea Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Yotophoto: Find free photos by color]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/yotophoto-find-free-photos-by-color/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/yotophoto-find-free-photos-by-color/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/29/yotophoto-find-free-photos-by-color/#comments Yotophoto Yotophoto is a search engine specifically for free-to-use images. Most of the images it indexes have been released under Creative Commons, GNU FDL, or similar licenses, and a smaller percentage are in the public domain. This means you can use any images indexed by Yotophoto without feeling subversive. And if you don't want to go to the trouble of visiting the Yotophoto web site, there's a search plug-in available for Firefox.

Now, are you ready for the really cool part? Yotophoto allows you to search by color. Need an image that matches your site's color scheme? Either use the Javascript color picker to choose from a palette of over 16 million colors, or enter a 6-digit hex code. Yotophoto will find images containing the color you specified. For example, here's a selection of images that match Yotophoto's logo.

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Yotophoto: Find free photos by color originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> colorCreative CommonsCreativeCommonsFirefoximagesphoto searchPhotoSearchpublic domainPublicDomainsearch engineSearchEnginestock photosStockPhotosYotophoto Amber Rhea Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:15:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Microsoft releases Messenger for Mac 6.0]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/microsoft-releases-messenger-for-mac-6-0/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/microsoft-releases-messenger-for-mac-6-0/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/microsoft-releases-messenger-for-mac-6-0/#comments Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0 Microsoft has released version 6.0 of its chat client Messenger for Mac. This version, like the previous one, requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later. New features include custom emoticons, integration with Yahoo! IM contacts, the ability to display the currently playing iTunes song (a la iChat), and the option to have multiple contact list windows (this may be helpful in decreasing the likelihood of accidentally sending a steamy IM to your boss instead of your significant other). Additionally, if you're using Live Communications Server, you get the added benefits of secure chat, encrypted file transfers. Oh, and did I mention it's a universal binary version? Add one more to the list of apps that will run natively on Intel Macs.

(Thanks, Spluch!)

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Microsoft releases Messenger for Mac 6.0 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> chatcommunicationinstant messagingInstantMessagingMicrosoft MessengerMicrosoft Messenger MacMicrosoftMessengerMicrosoftMessengerMaconline chatOnlineChat Amber Rhea Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:35:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Google turns 8]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/google-turns-8/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/google-turns-8/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/28/google-turns-8/#comments Google turns 8Yesterday was Google's 8th birthday. Hard to believe it's already been 8 years! I remember first using Google, "this weird new search engine," as a freshman in college. It was brand new, and yet somehow it was, from the get-go, way better than Yahoo or anything else that was around at the time. It quickly became - among my group of friends, anyway - the default college student research portal.

The BackRub* web site has some archives of the original Google; fortunately I don't remember it looking like that. (I was going to say, "I don't remember it looking so 1996" - and then I realized that wouldn't be much of an insult, since the year was, in fact, 1998.) By the time I started using Google in late '98, it had the familiar, simplistic design it still sports today. (Or, at least, something very similar.) There's something to be said for simplicity and consistency.

And now, in 2006? Google is practically poised to take over the world. It's crazy how much can change in less than a decade.

* Trivia: did you know BackRub was the original name of Google?

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Google turns 8 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Google birthdayGoogleBirthday Amber Rhea Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:35:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Send yourself reminders with FutureMe]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/27/send-yourself-reminders-with-futureme/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/27/send-yourself-reminders-with-futureme/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/27/send-yourself-reminders-with-futureme/#comments FutureMe.org FutureMe.org is a simple, no-frills web site with one purpose: helping you stay on top of your various obligations. Its usage is self-explanatory, but I'll break it down for you anyway: use the form to write a reminder to yourself, enter your email address, and select a date to have the reminder emailed to you. This is way better than simply sending yourself an email, because in that case you get the email immediately - which doesn't do you much good if the event you need to be reminded of is two weeks away. You can set reminders to be delivered up to 30 years from now (assuming the zombies haven't taken over by then and obliterated all technology).

Also, you can set your reminders to be private (sent just to you) or public (viewable on the FutureMe web site). Browsing through the public messages makes for some good laughs.

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Send yourself reminders with FutureMe originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> FutureMeremindersscheduling Amber Rhea Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Pluggd: Semantic audio search]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/25/pluggd-semantic-audio-search/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/25/pluggd-semantic-audio-search/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/25/pluggd-semantic-audio-search/#comments Pluggd Pluggd recently debuted their latest feature: HearHear technology, which allows you to search for content within podcasts. I know what you're thinking... don't PodZinger and Podscope do the same thing?

Well, sort of. Pluggd purports to offer the same features as those services - and more. HearHear will find instances of a search term, and related terms. The result of your search will be a "heat map" that is color-coded by relevance. Hovering over an area of the map will show which terms were found in that section.

Pluggd is still in beta, and HearHear is currently available for public consumption only as a demonstration. It remains to be seen whether Pluggd can deliver on all they're touting. But if they pull it off? They could be cashing in big time on the next big thing.

[Via TechCrunch]

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Pluggd: Semantic audio search originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hearhearpluggdpodcastssearchsearch enginesSearchEngines Amber Rhea Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:05:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Bloglines Mobile: Now with Skweezer]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/22/bloglines-mobile-now-with-skweezer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/22/bloglines-mobile-now-with-skweezer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/22/bloglines-mobile-now-with-skweezer/#comments Skweezer (photo courtesy of Geekzone) While we're on the subject of mobile RSS readers... Bloglines announced yesterday that its Bloglines Mobile service now features integrated Skweezer technology.

What's Skweezer, you ask? Well, on its own, it's a free, platform-independent web service that optimizes page content for mobile devices. The benefit of Skweezer technology being added to Bloglines is that you won't have to specifically go to the Skweezer portal when you want to force a particular site to be friendly to your mobile device. When you visit a page via Bloglines Mobile, Skweezer compresses and reformats the content on the fly. Bonus: Skweezer can also translate content into more than a dozen languages.

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Bloglines Mobile: Now with Skweezer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> BloglinesBloglines MobileBloglinesMobileGreenlight WirelessGreenlightWirelessmobileRSSRSS aggregatorRSS feedsRssAggregatorRssFeedsSkweezersyndicationXML Amber Rhea Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:10:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[NewsGator Go! now available for Windows Mobile]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/newsgator-go-now-available-for-windows-mobile/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/newsgator-go-now-available-for-windows-mobile/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/newsgator-go-now-available-for-windows-mobile/#comments NewsGator Go! Earlier today, NewsGator announced a new addition to its suite of RSS aggregator software. NewsGator Go! is designed for portable devices running Windows Mobile. The software features full synchronization with NewsGator Online and all of the NewsGator desktop clients, and caches its data locally so you don't have to be connected to the internet when you browse your feeds. You can also use the "My Clippings" feature to archive content for access - via any NewsGator app, of course - at a later time.

NewsGator Go! costs $29.95 and is available for purchase via the NewsGator web site.

(Thanks, Tom!)

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NewsGator Go! now available for Windows Mobile originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aggregatorcommercialhandheldmobileNewsGatorNewsGator GoNewsgatorGorsssyndication Amber Rhea Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:10:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[New from MOO: Flickr MiniCards]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/new-from-moo-flickr-minicards/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/new-from-moo-flickr-minicards/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/20/new-from-moo-flickr-minicards/#comments Flickr MiniCards Got a Flickr Pro account? Then you'll want to take advantage of the new Flickr MiniCards being offered by MOO. The MiniCards are customized calling cards, each one featuring a different photo. If you work in a creative field, this could be a great way to give your business cards a unique flavor.

MOO is giving away 10,000 free packs of 10 MiniCards to Flickr Pro users, so get yours now. Or, if you want to go all out, you can order a pack of 100 MiniCards for $19.95. MOO is also offering free international shipping on all other orders through the end of September.

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New from MOO: Flickr MiniCards originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> business cardsBusinessCardsdigital imagingdigital photographyDigitalImagingDigitalPhotographyFlickrflickr minicardsFlickrMinicardsgraphicsminicardsMOOphotos Amber Rhea Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:55:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ResizR: Resize images the Web 2.0 way]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/18/resizr-resize-images-the-web-2-0-way/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/18/resizr-resize-images-the-web-2-0-way/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/18/resizr-resize-images-the-web-2-0-way/#comments ResizR Yes, it's another Web 2.0 app that has dropped the 'e' a la Flickr - and this one has also capitalized that final R! They're definitely kicking it up a notch.

Okay, all joking aside... ResizR is definitely a handy utility. It'll save you approximately 10 seconds in image resizing, since you don't have to fire up your graphics program and use the "image size" feature (or whatever it's called in the app of your choice). Use the slider to specify the image width (or just type it in the text box), select your image, and click the big 'ResizR' button. Voila! Your image has been resized.

Image resizing niftiness aside, the ResizR web site is, if nothing else, a one-stop shopping destination to see all the latest Web 2.0 tricks in action. It really feels like a developer who just learned AJAX decided to show off his or her new skill set. It almost feels like self-aware satire.

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ResizR: Resize images the Web 2.0 way originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ajaxgraphicsimage manipulationImageManipulationimagesjavascriptResizRWeb 2.0Web2.0 Amber Rhea Mon, 18 Sep 2006 10:45:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Blue Screen of Death... for Mac?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/15/blue-screen-of-death-for-mac/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/15/blue-screen-of-death-for-mac/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/15/blue-screen-of-death-for-mac/#comments explains how to bring the infamous Blue Screen of Death to Mac OS X. The default Mac OS X kernel panic screen isn't nearly as jarring as the Blue Screen of Death; by comparison, it's downright soothing. My iBook and I have survived three kernel panics together over the past two and a half years, none of which raised my blood pressure too terribly.

But, if you really want to go tinkering in your Mac's source tree, have at it. Perhaps this is suitable as an April Fool's Day experiment, or a one-time office prank. Amit explains how to simulate a kernel panic and bring up the dread blue screen. Hopefully you're not experiencing kernel panics all the time, anyway.
Blue screen of death
If reason prevails and you actually don't want to bring the Blue Screen of Death to your Mac, the article is also just an interesting read about the history of kernel panics. (I think I just upped my nerd quotient by using the word "interesting" in the same sentence as "kernel panic.")

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Blue Screen of Death... for Mac? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blue screen of deathBlueScreenOfDeathBSoDkernel panicKernelPanicMac OS XMacOsXunix Amber Rhea Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:20:00 EST Download Squad