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[HoaxCall: A Web site for bullies who never grew up]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/23/hoaxcall-a-web-site-for-bullies-who-never-grew-up/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/23/hoaxcall-a-web-site-for-bullies-who-never-grew-up/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/23/hoaxcall-a-web-site-for-bullies-who-never-grew-up/#comments Dumb Web site of the dayApparently, the owner of the Web site HoaxCall is unable to determine just what it is his site actually does. According to a press release, he needs help answering the following question: "Is HoaxCall.com the Latest Form of Cyber-bullying"

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Grow up.

In the release, founder Marc Waesche explains, "I created this site with the prankster in mind. I can remember doing prank calls as a child and wanted to give prank calls a high-tech makeover." Well, here's a thought. If something is funny when you're nine then chances are, it isn't when you're twenty-nine.

Here's HoaxCall's schtick. Pick a prank call scenario, then dial any phone number right from the browser. Listen as a pre-made audio clip plays for the person you've called, and wait for hilarity to ensue. The three options available at the moment are "The Annoying eBay Buyer," "You're on Air [sic]!" and "Yeah, Who's This Then?" Evidently, there are more coming soon.

Before dismissing the site entirely, I listened to two different scenarios and they were predictably bad, over-acted, and just downright silly. In fact, the "funniest" part of any call would be if someone was actually tricked into thinking they were talking to a real person other than a recording.

The only thing this Web site got right is that it won't let you dial the same number more than once every two weeks. I wasn't able to verify that claim, however. According to the FAQs HoaxCall collects phone numbers in a database and I wasn't about to offer mine up to them.

While the site is no doubt sophomoric, the most troubling thing about it is the glib references to the very serious issue of cyber-bullying. Well, that and HoaxCall's attempt to provide "an outlet for the prankster in each of us." I don't know about you, but I grew out of making prank calls right about the same time burp jokes stopped being funny.

Judging by the terrific sense of humor I see in Download Squad readers, I'd say you've grown up, too. So, who's up for some real fun?

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HoaxCall: A Web site for bullies who never grew up originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dont try this at homeDontTryThisAtHomehoaxesprank callsPrankCallsweb services we dont needWebServicesWeDontNeed Lisa Hoover Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Dress up your Tweets with Twitterkeys]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/17/dress-up-your-tweets-with-twitterkeys/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/17/dress-up-your-tweets-with-twitterkeys/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/17/dress-up-your-tweets-with-twitterkeys/#comments Twitter KeysAre you leaving work early to fly off somewhere with your sweetie? You could Tweet that to your followers on Twitter, or you could tell them, "I'm going to ? out of work early today and hop a ? to Montego Bay with my true ♥."

Adding symbols to Tweets used to involve remembering a whole bunch of keystroke combinations but thanks to TwitterKeys, created by the folks at The Next Web Blog, all you have to do now is cut and paste.

Just drag the TwitterKeys bookmarklet to your toolbar and next time you're looking for a symbol, just click the link to open the directory. Find the symbol you like, copy it (Control + C), then paste it (Control + V) into your Tweet. Pretty sweet.

Two things to note: TweetDeck users will need to change the apps defult font setting to international/utf8 in order to use TweetKeys. Also, Mac users will recognize many of these symbols from the Special Characters set found on OS X. While not all of those characters will work cleanly in Twitter, the ones selected for TwitterKeys will.

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Dress up your Tweets with Twitterkeys originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> emoticonsiconssymbolstweetstwittertwitterkeys Lisa Hoover Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Want to be David Hasselhoff's BFF?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/want-to-be-david-hasselhoffs-bff/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/want-to-be-david-hasselhoffs-bff/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/want-to-be-david-hasselhoffs-bff/#comments The HoffsterIf you're social life won't be complete until you're socially connected to David Hasselhoff, I have some good news for you. Now you can sign up to be one of the Hoff's 15,000 closest friends by joining his social network HoffSpace. Woo.

Free membership on the site gets you your own home page, and access to Hasselhoff's media collection of pictures and videos (though I'm guessing not this one.) You'll also be able to read Hasselhoff's blog, shop for personalized gifts, and chat with his adoring fans worldwide. There's even a page filled with ringtones and wallpapers for your mobile phone.

I know you're probably thinking this has to be the oddest social networking site ever created. Probably not.

More on Hoffspace over at Switched.

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Want to be David Hasselhoff's BFF? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> david hasselhoffDavidHasselhoffhasselhoffsocial networkingsocialnetworkingyou cant make this stuff upYouCantMakeThisStuffUp Lisa Hoover Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[What's your Hue IQ?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/whats-your-hue-iq/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/whats-your-hue-iq/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/16/whats-your-hue-iq/#comments Hugh IQ

Ever wondered how accurately your eyes can see the subtleties of color? Find out by taking this quick test. Drag and drop colored squares in each of four rows according their hue, then submit the results for calculation. The lower your score, the better your eyes discern color.

The test indicates which hues you see best and also lets you compare your results with others in your gender and age range. I wasn't too thrilled when I got a 61 until I found out someone scored over 1,000. Wow.

For most people, this is just a fun little time-waster (or a way for you super-competitive types to beat up on your pals -- "Dude, I see olive-green better than you!"). For anyone in Web or graphic design, however, it might be an interesting little test to see how your eyes measure up.

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What's your Hue IQ? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> colorseyeshuestest Lisa Hoover Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Take your stalking to a new level with iSearch]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/11/take-your-stalking-to-a-new-level-with-isearch/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/11/take-your-stalking-to-a-new-level-with-isearch/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/11/take-your-stalking-to-a-new-level-with-isearch/#comments MicroscopeI know your secret.

You've searched online to find out what happened to an old flame, where your best friend from college ended up, or whether there are incriminating anecdotes about your boss on the Internet. Google will get you some good results, but use the new iSearch search engine created just for locating people and you'll probably find incriminating anecdote of your best friend and your old flame. With your boss. It's that good.

Simply type in a name and approximate location (the narrower the geographic area you choose, the more finely-tuned your results will be), then let iSearch do its thing. Soon you'll get a long list of names starting with exact matches and descending to near matches. Once you find the person you're looking for, you can choose to get information on your target's friend's professional contacts on LinkedIn, what social networks they're a part of, where they turn up on blogs or in the news, and even what email addresses and domain names are associated with them.

iSearch will also perform a public records search via and give you info on known addresses, bankruptcies, arrest records, and loads of other legal documents discoverable online. You'll need to pony up some cash for those goods, though, and pay anywhere from $2.99 to $49.95 to get the real skinny.

There are already some sites out there that do people searches and spit out public record information, but few do such a thorough job of it. Honestly, after searching my own name, I felt like I'd been x-rayed. And I know another secret. You're about to go check out your name at iSearch, too. Right?

[Via Wired]

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Take your stalking to a new level with iSearch originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> people searchPeopleSearchsearchsearch enginesSearchEnginesthere is no privacyThereIsNoPrivacy Lisa Hoover Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Educational software for your computer]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/09/educational-software-for-your-computer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/09/educational-software-for-your-computer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/09/educational-software-for-your-computer/#comments School busA reader dropped us an email recently, requesting information on where to find educational software for elementary and middle-schoolers. That's a great question -- there are plenty of Web-based sites to choose from but, as our reader pointed out, it can be tough to find things to put on your computer to use later without an Internet connection.

If you dig around a little, though, you can find a few gems.

Kaboose has a long list of downloads in lots of different categories, including math, science, social studies, and music. Each list is also broken down by age group and operating system (Mac and PC). Several links point to Web sites that only contain printable PDFs and worksheets, but be sure to hunt around for downloadable software too.

The HomeSchool Mom, a popular Web site among home educators has a mile-long list of free educational materials in every conceiveable subject from typing tutors to Forensic Medical studies. Some of the links are for Web-based activities but many take you to sites where you can download free software or send away to receive goodies in the mail.

Adam Smith Academy offers free educational podcasts you can download and listen to on an MP3 player or your computer's media player. Younger children will enjoy stories from Kipling or Aesop, while older kids will love hearing stories by James Joyce or Nathaniel Hawthorne. The site even has a number of history lessons and college lectures available for download as well.

If you're looking for help with specific topics, be sure to check the Web sites of museums and science centers in major metropolitan cities. You could get lost for days roaming the Web site of the Exploratorium, San Francisco's famous science museum. Though much of the information is Web-based and interactive, there are plenty of links to other sites for additional printables and downloads. Budding astronauts of all ages can find virtually anything related to space, astronomy, and space travel at the educational portion of NASA's Web site.

One of the best places to find free and fabulous educational software is within the open source community. Although a few programs require the Linux operating system to run, most will also run on Windows or Mac. Have a look at this comprehensive list to see what's available and what's recommended for students of all ages and skill levels.

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Educational software for your computer originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> childrencommercialeducationeducationalfreewarekidsopensourceschoolsharewaresoftwarestudents Lisa Hoover Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Three (more) educational Web sites to make your kids smarter]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/08/three-more-educational-web-sites-to-make-your-kids-smarter/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/08/three-more-educational-web-sites-to-make-your-kids-smarter/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/08/three-more-educational-web-sites-to-make-your-kids-smarter/#comments Flickr: iboy_danielNow that school is officially underway throughout most of the country, help your kids flex their brain muscles with these three terrific educational sites:

NickNews - Yes, that Nick. The folks at Nickelodeon have done a great job putting together a news Web site just for kids. It covers everything from the presidential election to poverty in America in a way that teens and pre-teens can grasp. Have your kids use it as a way to keep up on what's happening in the world, as well as a place to do research on current events.

Funbrain - This is the ultimate "education-disguised-as-fun" Web site. It helps teach important academic basics in ways that are nearly irresistible to kids: math skill builders are hidden in arcade games, reading enhancers are stashed in Web comics. It's as clever as it gets. As an nice added touch, there are even blogs targeted at different age groups.

EdHelper - This one's more for parents and teachers than kids. Use EdHelper to design worksheets, games, and other printables to give kids the extra practice they need in spelling, math, or reading. Total access to the site is available at various pricing levels, but the free area will be more than adequate for most families.

There are activities for every age and grade level from pre-k to high school. In one area of the site, you can enter your child's spelling list for the week and up pops a crossword puzzle using all the words. Another section offers SAT vocabulary word lessons for 9 - 12 graders, and yet another section contains writing prompts and critical thinking exercises. What the site lacks in visual pizzaz, it more than makes up for in educational value.

Stay tuned later this week when we explore ways to find educational software that you can download right to your computer. For even more educational Web site ideas, see this post.

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Three (more) educational Web sites to make your kids smarter originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> educationeducationallearningschooltutortutoring Lisa Hoover Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Roll your own 404s with Error Page Generator]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/04/roll-your-own-404s-with-error-page-generator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/04/roll-your-own-404s-with-error-page-generator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/04/roll-your-own-404s-with-error-page-generator/#comments custom 404Plain old 404 Web site error pages are so last century. Now you can make your own custom page with AllVoices' 404 Error Creator tool.

Choose a person from a pre-populated list to create the background image, or upload your own. Then, add a title, a few comments, and click "create." Your new 404 error page is created in seconds, along with the code you need to save it for your Web site or post it on your blog.

Judging by the inordinate amount of political figures in the list of background images, this tool was probably created to let people voice their opinions during the election season. Since you can upload your own image, though, the possibilities of how to use the 404 Error Creator are pretty much endless. Of course you can use it as a way to mess with your friends, but since you can add whatever text you want -- including URLs -- it's also not a bad way to put together a fun temporary redirect page for visitors to your Web site.

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Roll your own 404s with Error Page Generator originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 404404redirecterror page Lisa Hoover Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Take one guess what RoundMyCorners does]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/03/take-one-guess-what-roundmycorners-does/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/03/take-one-guess-what-roundmycorners-does/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/03/take-one-guess-what-roundmycorners-does/#comments


If you need a quick way to round the corners of an image but hate messing with a full-blown image editor, then make sure you bookmark RoundMyCorners. Similar to other apps like this we've covered before, it's a very basic online tool but it works exactly as promised.

Simply select an image from your computer then choose your options. Corners can be rounded from 1 to 10 pixels and customized with just about any color you can think of. Decide if you want a reflection included, what format you want the image saved as (PNG, JPEG, or GIF), then let RoundMyCorners do its thing. The final image will download automatically to your desktop, with "rounded" thoughtfully provided in the file name.

This is a fantastically handy tool, but there are a couple of small improvements I'd like to see. A preview function would be terrific, as would the ability to name the file before it's downloaded. The developer says additional functionality is on the way, so let's hope these are two features that make the cut.

There's nothing flashy or fancy about this Web site, but RoundMyCorners a great tool to get the job done.

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Take one guess what RoundMyCorners does originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> editorimageimage editingImageEditingphotophoto editingPhotoEditingpicture editing Lisa Hoover Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Get redecorating ideas with MyDeco]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/02/get-redecorating-ideas-with-mydeco/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/02/get-redecorating-ideas-with-mydeco/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/02/get-redecorating-ideas-with-mydeco/#comments

If you enjoy the concept of redecorating rather than the actual process of shoving furniture around the room, then you'll have a ball with MyDeco. Using real furniture in a 3D room, you can rearrange, repaint, and readjust without moving -- or spending -- a thing.

With this Flash-based tool, you can adjust the size of your room by simply dragging the walls into place, then select from thousands of furniture items neatly categorized by type. If you're designing a living room, start with the birds-eye view to figure out where to put the couch and coffee table, then switch to the side view to paint the walls and hang some art. It's unlikely you'll find an exact match of your sofa in the furniture catalog, but there's sure to be a reasonable representation.

If you're not sure just what to put in that goofy little niche in the corner of your bedroom, use the tool's search feature to find accessories of specific dimension. A secretary's desk might look silly, but you may find that a quilt rack is just the ticket.

MyDeco keeps a running list of the furniture you've tried and discarded, and also sports an adjustable "camera" that you can drag around the room to see it from every conceivable angle. When you've got everything the way you want it, save the layout so you can come back later.

MyDeco is a pretty cool way to have fun redecorating your house without emptying your wallet in the process.

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Get redecorating ideas with MyDeco originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> decoratingfloor planfloorplanredecorateredecorating Lisa Hoover Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Keep up with election coverage via podcast - Download Pod]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/01/keep-up-with-election-coverage-via-podcast-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/01/keep-up-with-election-coverage-via-podcast-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/01/keep-up-with-election-coverage-via-podcast-download-pod/#comments If you're as busy as rest of us, you may not have time to catch all the latest presidential election details on the evening news. Fortunately, you can still keep up by listening to a few really excellent podcasts while you're commuting or working out. [Note: All links open in iTunes.]

Listen to selected speeches from the Democratic National Convention in a podcast series put together by the DNC. It's got all the usual suspects like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but you can also catch speeches given by Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and some of the governors in attendance.

The Republican National Convention will also have speeches available as the event gets underway today in Minnesota.

For a general overview of what's happening with the election, have a listen to National Public Radio's "It's All Politics," a weekly podcast covering news and events in the presidential race. If it's political punditry you're after, choose from Bill Maher, Dan Carlin, Bill Moyers, and others.

Download Pod is an occasional series about our favorite podcasts. If you have suggestions for podcasts you think we should check out, let us know in the comments or via our tips page.

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Keep up with election coverage via podcast - Download Pod originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> democratitunespodcastpodcast-rounduppodcastspoliticalpoliticsrepublican Lisa Hoover Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Get your Buffy fix via podcast - Download Pod]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/18/get-your-buffy-fix-via-podcast-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/18/get-your-buffy-fix-via-podcast-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/18/get-your-buffy-fix-via-podcast-download-pod/#comments Vampire Killing KitIf you named your dog Spike, dream of vacationing in Sunnydale, and never quite got over what happened to Jenny Calendar, then you'll love the gem of a podcast we've uncovered for you. Buffy Between the Lines is original fan fic written and produced by a group of volunteers who probably know more about Xander, Willow, and Buffy than Joss Whedon himself.

Season One is, as they say, already in the can and all the episodes are available for download right from the site. All the usual suspects are featured, including some special appearances by Angel and his crew. The dialogue is snappy and spot-on, right down to the barbs Spike trades with, well, everyone.

Hurry up and get caught up with Season One. The cast is getting ready to start taping the second season and it should be available soon.

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Get your Buffy fix via podcast - Download Pod originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> buffy-between-the-linesbuffy-the-vampire-slayerbuffysummersdownload-podpodcaststvsquadvampires-love-podcasts Lisa Hoover Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AOL acquires new properties]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/aol-acquires-new-properties/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/aol-acquires-new-properties/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/aol-acquires-new-properties/#comments Download Squad's parent company AOL announced the acquisition of several small companies this week:

Originally intending to sue for copyright infringement, AOL decided to instead purchase the rights to AIM for Lindsay Lohan, a forked AOL instant messenger app designed by fans of the popular but troubled star. ALL was conceived by three Michigan teens who say they cobbled the program together in an effort to raise money to "help Lindsay buy a day at the spa so she can, you know, relax."

AOL also purchased Yore Aviary, an online genealogy service for African Grey Parrot owners hoping to trace their bird's ancestry. Though there are currently only 16 registered members, they make regular treks to the jungles of Africa in an ongoing effort to footprint each bird for posterity. The group made news recently when a fistfight erupted between members arguing over what type of crackers to serve at its monthly meetings.

AOL also acquired Silicon Valley startup Basar Technologies, which specializes in direct mail via USB key. According to an AOL spokesperson, future plans for Basar include bi-weekly mailings of thumb drives preloaded with AOL 9.0 to every household in America. Additional free distribution of the keys are planned via 11 other channels, including free with gasoline purchase and attached to the neck of every 20 oz. Coke product.

AOL president Ron Grant could not be reached for comment, however his office issued a brief statement saying, "ALL Yore Basar belong to us."

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AOL acquires new properties originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> afd08 Lisa Hoover Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Lip gloss alert: Yahoo! launches new Web site]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/31/lip-gloss-alert-yahoo-launches-new-web-site/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/31/lip-gloss-alert-yahoo-launches-new-web-site/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/31/lip-gloss-alert-yahoo-launches-new-web-site/#comments ShineYahoo! launched a new site this morning called Shine aimed at women aged 25-54. All the news accounts we've read trumpet how Shine plans to package news and information of interest to females. When we visited the site, all we really wanted to do was scream.

Oh, boy! According to Shine, all women care about fashion, beauty, love, and astrology! Geez, Yahoo!, stereotype much? So, what would the male version of this site look like? Would topics include cars, sports, tech, and beer? We know plenty of guys interested in treating acne and being better parents, and plenty of women who could code Yahoo!'s developers into a corner.

We guess what Yahoo! thinks passes for cogent topics of interest to women should come as no surprise since the site's editor-in-chief used to run Jane and Elle Girl, two print magazines that aren't exactly known for encouraging women to put down their lip gloss and pick up a book.

While we appreciate that Yahoo! is willing to dedicate a site to women, perhaps they could be a little less condescending. Women do change their own oil, build their own computers, travel, happily raise kids on their own, invest, and -- gasp! -- pursue lifestyles outside of what Yahoo! apparently considers "the norm."

Until Shine realizes that there's more to women than nail polish and a need to know the best way to hook a guy, this is one Web site we'll skip.

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Lip gloss alert: Yahoo! launches new Web site originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> shineskip-this-sitewomenyahoo Lisa Hoover Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Download Squad talks with Jono Bacon about LugRadio Live 2008]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/download-squad-talks-with-jono-bacon-about-lugradio-live-2008/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/download-squad-talks-with-jono-bacon-about-lugradio-live-2008/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/download-squad-talks-with-jono-bacon-about-lugradio-live-2008/#comments LugRadio LiveIf the idea of four Brits talking smack about open source, Creative Commons, and each other appeals to you, then you'll love LugRadio Live. In its fifth season, the Fab Four - Jono Bacon (of Ubuntu fame), Stuart 'Aq' Langridger, Chris Procter, and Adam Sweet -- produce regular podcasts that touch on all aspects of open source. While the Four Large Gents may be a bit irreverent (not always safe to listen to at work), they are always entertaining and fun.

Always a popular show, it gained increased attention after the first LugRadio Live UK event in 2005. Billed as a "rock conference," the two-day show blends presentations from many widely-recognized names in the open source community, along with great music.

This year, LugRadio Live UK will get underway July 19-20 in Wolverhampton, UK, and the the first ever LugRadio Live US will be held in San Francisco, CA, April 12-13. Amazingly, tickets are only $10 bucks (£5 for the UK show). We caught up with Bacon to get the inside scoop on why to go, how to win t-shirts, and gong-a-thongs.

Continue reading Download Squad talks with Jono Bacon about LugRadio Live 2008

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Download Squad talks with Jono Bacon about LugRadio Live 2008 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> gong a thongjono baconlugradiolugradio livepodcast Lisa Hoover Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Learn a new language at Babbel, por favor]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/24/learn-a-new-language-at-babbel-por-favor/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/24/learn-a-new-language-at-babbel-por-favor/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/24/learn-a-new-language-at-babbel-por-favor/#comments Babbel.com
If you can't get enough of the English-language Weblogs, Inc. blogs, you can always check out some of the ones we serve up in other languages -- Autoblog Chinese or Engadget Spanish, for example. What? You don't know any other languages? Well, it's time you learned.

Babbel is a well-designed Web site designed to teach you a foreign language. It's part instruction, part wiki, and part social (isn't everything these days? What's next? A social network for wood stork enthusiasts? But we digress). Babbel incorporates a few different methods to facilitate learning one of the five languages they offer: Spanish, French, Italian, English, and German.

Gallery: Babbel online language trainer

Continue reading Learn a new language at Babbel, por favor

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Learn a new language at Babbel, por favor originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> autoblog chinesebabbelengadget spanishenglishforeign languagefrenchgermanitalianspanish Lisa Hoover Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Get smart with these educational sites]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/08/get-smart-with-these-educational-sites/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/08/get-smart-with-these-educational-sites/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/08/get-smart-with-these-educational-sites/#comments Spelling CityParents know there are plenty of Web sites where children can waste time hone their fine motor skills playing games. But what about sites that actually teach kids something? They're out there, and here's proof.

Spelling City caught our eye because it's a nice departure from the typical shrill, flashy Web sites and doesn't rely on talking iguanas or silly voice-overs. It's got a bunch of different ways for kids to test their spelling chops, including interactive games, printables, and a tool that speaks any words kids are unsure how to pronounce. Spelling City has more than 25,000 words in its database but visitors can also create and save word lists of their own. C-O-O-L.

Timez Attack is one of the best free downloadable math games we've seen. A cross between Quake (without the violence) and Myst, players must solve multiplication equations to defeat monsters and get around the cave. Since most of us around here have already mastered our times tables, we tested the game on three kids, who declare it "awesome."

Starfall is a popular Web site for new or struggling readers. It uses Flash-based movies and interactive games to help kids learn phonics, vowel sounds, and other reading basics. In addition to word recognition, Starfall also teaches kids to read with tone, inflection, and expression.

Since there are about 70 gajillion educational sites out there, it was hard to narrow it down to only three. Parents, what are some of your favorites?

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Get smart with these educational sites originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Lisa Hoover Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Feed your face at Open Source Food]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/27/feed-your-face-at-open-source-food/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/27/feed-your-face-at-open-source-food/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/27/feed-your-face-at-open-source-food/#comments Open Source Food
When we first wrote about Open Source Food, we said we loved the idea but the site needed some love. Well, it seems that OSF's creator, Jon Yongfook Cockle, thought the same thing because he's overhauled the whole enchilada and it's tastier than ever.

Navigation is much more intuitive and background is minimalist so pictures of the delicious dishes really stand out (warning: some of the food pictures will make you want to lick your screen). More than just a Web site, it's a social network and members are encouraged to share photos, recipes, and meal ideas . Of course, tagging, voting, and commenting are also part of the fun.

The thing we really like about this site is that there are plenty of basic recipes for novices -- butter baked cabbage, chocolate chip cookies -- along with a ton of recipes for advanced cooks. Since the site's members are all over the globe, OSF also has the international flair thing going on. Hot Thai fish curry, anyone?

Bottom line: if you can't find a fabulous recipe somewhere on this site, then you're not really trying.

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Feed your face at Open Source Food originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cookingnow i'm hungryopen source foodOpenSourceFoodreciperecipesslashfoodsocial networking Lisa Hoover Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Open source pulse check on Twitter]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/25/open-source-pulse-check-on-twitter/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/25/open-source-pulse-check-on-twitter/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/25/open-source-pulse-check-on-twitter/#comments Open Source pulse check
Twitter doesn't have a grouping feature yet (even though they said 7 months ago it was "at the top of their list") but that hasn't stopped a group of open source aficionados from finding a way to form one anyway. Five Twitterers including SourceForge's Ross Turk and open source analyst extraordinaire Raven Zachary launched The Pulse of Open Source today, calling it a "collective stream of consciousness from the open source community." We just call it "cool."

All you need to do is bookmark and visit the site, or add it to your feed reader. As people the site follows update their Twitter feeds during the day, their tweets appear on the site or in your reader. The site follows a wide assortment of open source community members ranging from CEOs of companies like MindTouch, to community managers of projects like OpenSUSE and Hyperic.

The tweets don't always focus on open source, but we like that because otherwise the site wouldn't be as much fun. How else would we know how Zachary got those cool glasses?

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Open source pulse check on Twitter originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> linuxopen sourceopensourcetweet,twitter Lisa Hoover Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Score an invite to the private beta of iubo]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/18/score-an-invite-to-the-private-beta-of-iubo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/18/score-an-invite-to-the-private-beta-of-iubo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/18/score-an-invite-to-the-private-beta-of-iubo/#comments iuboIf you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, you probably collect dozens of little snippets of information each day: Web sites to visit later, documents you want to review some other time, contact info of people you want to catch up with next week, reminders about what to pack for your next trip.

There are all kinds ways to track your stuff online (Del.ici.ous, Remember the Milk), but they leave your data segregated across several Web sites. There are also a few options for corralling and indexing all your stuff right on the computer (Google Desktop, Mac OS X Spotlight), but they don't help much when you're away from your desk.

The folks at iubo feel your pain and have designed a Web site where you can store online all the dribs, drabs, and what-nots you accumulate and then access them later, no matter where you are. Once you create an account, you can add and track information on pretty much anything you can think of: pictures, bookmarked Web sites, contact information, notes, documents, and so on. You can even add tags and color-code data for easier searching later.

Gallery: iubo

Continue reading Score an invite to the private beta of iubo

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Score an invite to the private beta of iubo originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betadatafeatureinvitationinviteiubopersonal information managersearch Lisa Hoover Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Kill IRC repetition with the xkcd ROBOT9000]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/17/kill-irc-repetition-with-the-xkcd-robot9000/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/17/kill-irc-repetition-with-the-xkcd-robot9000/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/17/kill-irc-repetition-with-the-xkcd-robot9000/#comments Don't speakIf you're an IRC user, then you know the only thing more annoying than seeing the same comment repeated in rapid succession by four different people is seeing it repeated in rapid succession by 24 different people. The more members there are in an IRC channel, the more likely it is that someone just joining will ask a question that was asked moments before their arrival. Add to that the number of people "LOL"ing "+1"ing each other and the signal-to noise ratio quickly becomes deafening.

In an attempt to stop the madness, Randall Munroe (of xkcd fame) and his friend zigdon have coded a rather awesome little bot and named it ROBOT9000. It's designed -- get this -- to mute the messaging ability of anyone who says anything that's already been said in the channel within the past two years (boy, those xkcd guys mean business.).

Randall and zig are still tweaking the code but you can snag the initial version if you want to try it out in your own channel. They've also set up an IRC testing channel if you want to just play around with the bot. Just don't say "hi all" when you log in. You've been warned.

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Kill IRC repetition with the xkcd ROBOT9000 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> botchatterIRCmuteno talkingrandall munroerobot9000xkcd Lisa Hoover Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Organize your IE7 Favorites]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/15/organize-your-ie7-favorites/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/15/organize-your-ie7-favorites/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/15/organize-your-ie7-favorites/#comments IE7Recently, we told you about some ways to organize and manage your Firefox bookmarks, and one of our readers asked for similar suggestions to use with Internet Explorer. Since we want Michael and our other IE-using friends to loved too, we put together a few ideas for you.

Favorites Box lets you add extra attributes to your bookmarks to make them easier to find and organize. Add comments, categories, tags, or login information or even set up a reminders. This one's free to try, but sets you back $19.95 if you want to keep it.

Favorites Finder is a free extension that adds keyword functionality to your bookmarked sites so you can access them in just a couple of keystrokes. Just type a few letters of the site you're looking for and Favorites Finder will search your bookmarks and find all the matches, including whatever's in your folders.

Power Favorites is a slick little extension that merges bookmarks from IE, Opera, and Firefox, then syncs them across multiples computers. You can annotate each bookmark with notes and tags, then view them by tag list or tag clouds. (Tag clouds? Are you listening, Foxmarks?) Power Favorites has a 30-day free trial, then it's $19.95.

When you finally decide to winnow down that super-long list of Favorites you've accumulated over the past two years, it's a pain to have to check each bookmark to make sure the site still exists. Use the free tool Favorites Inspector instead. It will plow through your whole list for you and alert you to any "404 error" pages so you can delete those Favorites instead of filing them.

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Organize your IE7 Favorites originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bookmarksextensionfavoritesieie7internet explorerinternet explorer 7InternetExplorer7managerplugintool Lisa Hoover Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Resolve to organize your Firefox bookmarks]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/resolve-to-organize-your-firefox-bookmarks/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/resolve-to-organize-your-firefox-bookmarks/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/resolve-to-organize-your-firefox-bookmarks/#comments Firefox Bookmark extensions If you spend a lot of time on the Internet then you've probably accumulated dozens hundreds of bookmarks. Here are a few Firefox extensions to help keep them -- and you -- organized.

Bookmark synchronizer Foxmarks is a must-have if you like to access your bookmarks from multiple locations. Install the Foxmarks extension on your laptop and your desktop PC, and whatever Web site you add to your bookmark manager on one machine will automatically show up on the other. You can also access your bookmarks via the Web from any computer with Internet access, no download required.

People who use the Opera Web browser often rave about its "Speed Dial" function, which allows you faster access to sites you visit regularly than searching through a long list of bookmarks. Though similar functionality isn't available natively in Firefox, there are a couple of extensions that get the job done. Speed Dial for Firefox places a button on your toolbar; click it to bring up thumbnails of up to nine Web pages whose addresses you've pre-programmed. Adding a Web site to the list is easy: simplfirefox; ffy right-click and select "Set as Speed Dial." Fast Dial does the same thing as Speed Dial, and also adds middle-click functionality and keyboard shortcuts.

If you like your browser's address bar to do your thinking for you, then take a look at Autocomplete Manager. This little extension checks what you type in the address bar for matching bookmarked Web sites; it even checks page titles and names you've assigned to the bookmarks in your folders.

Want to give your boring old bookmark folders a face-lift? Use Favicon Picker to decide what icon you want appearing next to each bookmarked Web site. Once installed, simply open Firefox's Bookmark Manager and right-click on a bookmark. Choose "Properties", then the "Browse" button in the Icon section. Select a .jpg to replace the existing default icon and click "OK".

New to the whole concept of bookmarks? Then make sure this is the first site you save to your Bookmark Manager.

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Resolve to organize your Firefox bookmarks originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bookmarkbookmark managerbookmarkingbookmarksextensionsfirefoxopensourceproductivity Lisa Hoover Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Mister Wong offers empty bottle for charity]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/17/mister-wong-offers-empty-bottle-for-charity/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/17/mister-wong-offers-empty-bottle-for-charity/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/17/mister-wong-offers-empty-bottle-for-charity/#comments This is not the missing water.Well here's an idea you don't see every day. Geekdom superhero Tim O'Reilly stopped by the shoomze-booth of social bookmarking site Mister Wong at the recent Web 2.0 Expo and the forward thinking gents at the booth snagged the empty water bottle he was seen swigging from. They decided that selling it would be a great way to raise money for a worthy cause and now it's up for sale on eBay. The proceeds will go toward Unicef's safe water campaign.

No, seriously.

Look, we laughed ourselves right under the desk at first too. Then -- and maybe it's the heady sense of philanthropy talking -- it began to sound like a halfway decent idea. After all, where's the harm in it, y'know? Unicef is a worthwhile cause that could surely benefit from a few extra dollars and maybe there's someone out there who's been longing for a bottle that's known to have rested gently on the lips of the The Tim.

Let's just hope there's no backwash in it.

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Mister Wong offers empty bottle for charity originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> charityebaymister-wongmisterwongunicefwaterwater-bottleweb-2.0 Lisa Hoover Sat, 17 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Five places to download free movies (legally!)]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/five-places-to-download-free-movies-legally/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/five-places-to-download-free-movies-legally/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/five-places-to-download-free-movies-legally/#comments You've just laid out the scratch for a new 42" HDTV, hooked up surround sound speakers, and you're ready to tuck into a bowl of popcorn. Now all you need are some movies. Well, you've come to the right place.

Here are five great Web sites where you can legally download free movies and burn them to a DVD to watch with your sweetie, family, and friends this weekend.

The Internet Archive - This is the motherlode for all kinds of free media (it's even got video games). The Archive has loads of old movies, foreign films, documentaries, and more. There's even a couple of movies about ice cream (hey, we just blog about this stuff -- we can't explain it either).

Emol - If comedy and cartoons are what you're after, Emol.org is the place to go. Here's where you'll find Charlie Chaplin, The Three Stooges, Bugs Bunny, and Popeye.

AngryAlien - Just because none of these sites are likely to have the latest box office blockbuster available, that doesn't mean you can't still watch Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, or Star Wars. In less than 30 seconds. Acted out by bunnies.

PublicDomainTorrents - Head here for B-movies "Like Attack of the Giant Leeches", "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter" (wonder what that love child looks like?), and "Track of the Moon Beast". On the other hand, you'll also find "Night of the Living Dead" on this site -- so it's not all bad.

AtomFilms - There are some very creative films on this site made up of mostly user-created content. AtomFilms is a service of MTV Networks that serves up content to mobile phones and Web sites, but since they're partnered with Comedy Central and Spike TV there are a few gems on here if you poke around a bit.

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Five places to download free movies (legally!) originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bugs-bunnycartoonscinematicaldocumentariesfreefree-movie-downloadsmoviespublic-domain Lisa Hoover Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Blabberize: Where the cows say more than moo]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/blabberize-where-the-cows-say-more-than-moo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/blabberize-where-the-cows-say-more-than-moo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/01/blabberize-where-the-cows-say-more-than-moo/#comments Mona Lisa goes to lunch

Blabberize is just another Web site that's silly, pointless, and serves no purpose.

We love it.

The premise is simple: upload a photo of a person or animal, use the capture tool to isolate its mouth, record 90 seconds of sound, and -- presto -- a talking picture. Think Clutch Cargo, only better. Dozens of talking dogs and goofy-sounding talking heads have already been uploaded, but if you take the time to sift through the cruft you'll find some truly funny snippets.

If you want to try your hand at making a talking picture of your own, the tools to create your own talking picture are rudimentary at best, so don't expect high-tech output. Once you make your masterpiece, you have the option of emailing it to your friends, or grabbing the URL or embed code to post elsewhere. (A caveat about embedding: The Flash widget we tried embedding in this post worked in Firefox under Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard, but not on Firefox under XP. Your mileage may vary.)

There's really no practical value whatsoever to Blabberize but any Web site that has a talking llama for a mascot is all right by us.

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Blabberize: Where the cows say more than moo originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blabberizefuntalking-picture Lisa Hoover Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[BOOMj.com merges with Time Lending: Why we care]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/24/boomj-com-merges-with-time-lending-why-we-care/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/24/boomj-com-merges-with-time-lending-why-we-care/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/24/boomj-com-merges-with-time-lending-why-we-care/#comments BOOMj merges with Time LendingTechcrunch is reporting this morning that real estate sales company Time Lending California has acquired social networking site BOOMj.com. Time Lending admits that it deals in "direct marketing" and BOOMj.com is a site aimed at the Baby Boomer (and older) generation. Let's connect the dots, shall we?

Since it's not likely that social networking is part of Time Lending's business model, what other reason could they have for buying BOOMj? An opt-in mailing list full of sitting ducks, perhaps? According to a BOOMj.com press release, the merger (or acquisition, depending on which section of the release you read) will provide "shareholder value," give the company "access to capital markets," and "enhance (their) visibility and market awareness."

Continue reading BOOMj.com merges with Time Lending: Why we care

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BOOMj.com merges with Time Lending: Why we care originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> acquisitionboomjlending-timemergerprivacysocial-network Lisa Hoover Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Never miss a Woot! with these handy trackers]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/05/never-miss-a-woot-with-these-handy-trackers/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/05/never-miss-a-woot-with-these-handy-trackers/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/05/never-miss-a-woot-with-these-handy-trackers/#comments Woot trackers

If you're a fan of the deal-of-the-day Web site Woot! then you know Woot-offs (like, ahem, today!) are a big deal. That's when the deal-of-the-day becomes the "the deal that changes at random intervals throughout the day." There are some great bargains to be had -- if you have the time to babysit the site all day and wait for the new deal to be announced.

If you have, you know, a life, then download these handy Woot watcher tools and put them to work for you. The Windows-only Woot Agent pops up a notification on your screen when an item changes or sells out, while the Woot.com Widget for Mac lets you order the newest deal right from your dashboard.

What method do you use to make sure you never miss the Bandolier of Carrots?

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Never miss a Woot! with these handy trackers originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alertBOCwootwoot-agentwoot-offwoot-tracker Lisa Hoover Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Live customer service going the way of the dodo bird]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/03/live-customer-service-going-the-way-of-the-dodo-bird/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/03/live-customer-service-going-the-way-of-the-dodo-bird/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/03/live-customer-service-going-the-way-of-the-dodo-bird/#comments Wal Mart hangs up on customersBack in the day (meaning, only about five years ago), when you needed the customer service department of a company to solve a problem, you simply picked up the phone and talked to a real, live person. That soon gave way to working your way through phone trees more complicated than the schematics of the International Space Station. Gradually, we found ourselves shouting, ""Return a package....reeeee-turn a paaaaack-age!" to disembodied robotic voices that ask why we're calling.

Sick of the process? We are too, so the idea that Wal-Mart would do away with all that filled us with child-like glee. Until we realized what they had in mind.

Continue reading Live customer service going the way of the dodo bird

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Live customer service going the way of the dodo bird originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> customer-servicelousy-customer-careonlineshoppingwal-martwalmart Lisa Hoover Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[SugarLoving: Social bookmarking for the gals]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/02/sugarloving-social-bookmarking-for-the-gals/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/02/sugarloving-social-bookmarking-for-the-gals/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/02/sugarloving-social-bookmarking-for-the-gals/#comments
SugarLoving.com
New social bookmarking site SugarLoving is a great example of an excellent idea that's terribly executed. The idea is that women will use the site to share stories they think will be of interest to other women. Instead of being well-rounded and smartly put together, though, it screams OMG!! Ponies!!1!!!

Here's what SugarLoving does right: the site clearly understands that sites like Digg and Del.icio.us have gotten so huge that it takes forever to wade through the cruft to find interesting things to read. Niche-driven sites like SugarLoving are a good idea because they offer a place for people with similar interests to congregate, instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

But the pink and powder blue hearts have to go.

It's hard to take the site seriously when it's awash in graphics like "i (heart) this" and the tagline reads "Link love." (Yeah, yeah...SugarLoving...hearts, love...we get it). It's overkill, though, and reads like an overblown Valentine's Day card.

On a purely technical note, we're surprised there's no way to bury or vote down a story but maybe since the site is still new, that feature is still to come.

The folks at Sugar, Inc. have a good idea with this Web site, if they could just tone it down a bit and realize that all women are not shallow, shop-a-holic clones. If SugarLoving beefs up the business and tech sections, and adds some sports and news categories, they'd have a site geared toward a greater cross-section of women -- and one that's more inviting that it is now.

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SugarLoving: Social bookmarking for the gals originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bookmarkingdeliciousdiggsocial-bookmarkingsugarlovingwomanwomen Lisa Hoover Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AOL Desktop for Mac resurfaces after five years]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/28/aol-desktop-for-mac-resurfaces-after-five-years/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/28/aol-desktop-for-mac-resurfaces-after-five-years/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/28/aol-desktop-for-mac-resurfaces-after-five-years/#comments AOL Desktop for Mac
When we heard that AOL (this blog's parent company) was coming out with a new version of Desktop for Mac, we were pretty excited to see what they'd been up to since the last release five years ago. Now that we've had a chance to play with it, we like it but think it's still got a ways to go before there's a compelling reason to leave behind whatever browser / IM / email combo you're using now.

Though this new version of Desktop for Mac is still in beta, it seems stable. We tested Desktop on a new generation iMac and a MacBook Pro and it ran just fine on both. System requirements include a PowerPC G4 or greater, OS X 10.4 or higher, and at least 256 MB RAM. Surprisingly, Desktop only needs 60 MB of hard drive space (Firefox alone needs 52 MB).

Continue reading AOL Desktop for Mac resurfaces after five years

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AOL Desktop for Mac resurfaces after five years originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aolaol-for-macbetabrowserdesktopemailloginmacscreenshotsthe-unofficial-apple-weblogtoolbartuaw Lisa Hoover Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Sketch + broadcast = Sketchcast]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/25/sketch-broadcast-sketchcast/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/25/sketch-broadcast-sketchcast/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/25/sketch-broadcast-sketchcast/#comments Sketchcast screen shot Another online sketch service, Sketchcast, has entered the market and this one has a couple of neat YouTube-like integration features. Record yourself creating a sketch, add a voice over if you like, then save it for posterity. Once you're done, Sketchcast automatically spits out a URL that you can send to others and a code you can embed in your own Web site or blog post. Sketchcast also gives you your own channel where you can store your sketches so other people can view them or subscribe to your RSS feed.

Continue reading Sketch + broadcast = Sketchcast

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Sketch + broadcast = Sketchcast originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blogdrawonlinesketchsketchcastweb based Lisa Hoover Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Memory cards: size matters]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/24/memory-cards-size-matters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/24/memory-cards-size-matters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/24/memory-cards-size-matters/#comments It's an unwritten law of technology: Each subsequent generation of electronic equipment will shrink in direct proportion to how long it's been on the market. Back in the day, mobile phones had to be carted around in bags large enough to fit Paris Hilton's Pomeranian. Now they're so small you could accidentally ingest one if you're not careful.

Memory cards are a great example of this, too. CompactFlash and memory sticks have given way to postage stamp-sized SD cards, and its little brother, the mini-SD. All these variations on portable memory had to start somewhere though, right? Taking the laws of shrinking gadgetry into account, how much bigger do you suppose 1 GB of memory was 20 years ago than it is today? Now go find out if your guess was accurate.

[Thanks, TBF!]

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Memory cards: size matters originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> compactflashhardwarememory-cardmemory-stickpomeranian Lisa Hoover Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Ahoy, mateys! Win a license for CallBurner]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/ahoy-mateys-win-a-license-for-callburner/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/ahoy-mateys-win-a-license-for-callburner/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/ahoy-mateys-win-a-license-for-callburner/#comments Ahoy, mateys! Gather 'round the poopdeck for an important message from yer captains.

Today, in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we be givin' away a full license for CallBurner, a call recorder for Skype that we think is better than a chest full of pirate booty. To enter, all you landlubbers have to do is leave us a note in t' comment section. T' contest ends at 11:59 ET on September 21 (which gives us time to get our peg legs sanded and stained).

Enter now or we'll make ye walk the plank!

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Ahoy, mateys! Win a license for CallBurner originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> callcallburnercontestrecordskype Lisa Hoover Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Download Squad review: Recording Skype calls with CallBurner]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/download-squad-review-recording-skype-calls-with-callburner/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/download-squad-review-recording-skype-calls-with-callburner/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/19/download-squad-review-recording-skype-calls-with-callburner/#comments Riding high on the success of Skylook, a Microsoft Outlook extension for Skype, the development team has created Callburner, the newest application for your Skype toolbox. CallBurner makes recording calls an absolute snap and while other apps on the market perform similar functions, this one stands out for its high-quality recording capabilities and intuitive user interface.

We put CallBurner through its paces recently, and then caught up with company CEO Jeremy Hague to see what's on the horizon for this neat Skype tool. Here's what we learned:

UPDATE: Enter the contest for a free CallBurner license, Matey!

Continue reading Download Squad review: Recording Skype calls with CallBurner

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Download Squad review: Recording Skype calls with CallBurner originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Lisa Hoover Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AOL launches BlueString personal media management service]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/17/aol-launches-bluestring-personal-media-management-service/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/17/aol-launches-bluestring-personal-media-management-service/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/17/aol-launches-bluestring-personal-media-management-service/#comments BlueString
AOL has announced the launch of BlueString, an online personal media management service that allows users to upload and store up to 5 GB of pictures, music, and videos all in one place. BlueString users can also create and manage content right on the Web site and even collaborate with others to make movies and multimedia shows. Move over iLife (Oh, and Flickr. And you too, YouTube). There's a new kid on the block.

Continue reading AOL launches BlueString personal media management service

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AOL launches BlueString personal media management service originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aolbetabluestringmediamusicphotospicturesvideo Lisa Hoover Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:08:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[DrawAnywhere lets you make flowcharts on the fly]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/13/drawanywhere-lets-you-make-flowcharts-on-the-fly/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/13/drawanywhere-lets-you-make-flowcharts-on-the-fly/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/13/drawanywhere-lets-you-make-flowcharts-on-the-fly/#comments
DrawAnywhere is a neat little app that lets you make flowcharts right inside your browser window, no download necessary. There's a slew of shapes, arrows, fonts, colors, and clipart to choose from to jazz up a boring organizational chart or workflow diagram. When you're done, DrawAnywhere lets you save, print or export your masterpiece as a PDF file or image.

While it may not be as full-featured as OmniGraffle or Visio, DrawAnywhere is just the ticket for anyone who needs a quick and dirty way to show someone who's boss.

[Via Digital Inspiration]

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DrawAnywhere lets you make flowcharts on the fly originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> browserdiagramdrawanywhereflowchartorganizational-chartweb-appworkflow Lisa Hoover Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Skitch releases rockin' new beta version]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/12/skitch-releases-rockin-new-beta-version/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/12/skitch-releases-rockin-new-beta-version/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/12/skitch-releases-rockin-new-beta-version/#comments Skitch
If you're one of the lucky ducks participating in the beta release of Skitch, the super-cool "anyone can be an artist" photo editing tool, then be sure to download the newest update by firing up the app and choosing "check for updates" from the Skitch menu.

Released today, Skitch Beta 4 now:
  • supports TIFF files
  • sports improved help windows
  • offers better snap crosshair visibility on dark backgrounds
  • ensures images taken with Cam Snap are now automatically flipped to compensate for mirroring
  • allows users to adjust arrow heads in the preference pane (yay!)
  • has an improved launch screen

Not a Skitch user yet? Don't worry, it will be out, um, well, the team isn't really sure yet. But trust us, it's worth the wait.

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Skitch releases rockin' new beta version originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> best app everbetaphoto editingskitchtheunofficialappleweblogupdate Lisa Hoover Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Get the game while you're on the go]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/get-the-game-while-youre-on-the-go/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/get-the-game-while-youre-on-the-go/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/get-the-game-while-youre-on-the-go/#comments It's been a cruel, cruel summer without our beloved NFL football, and pre-season games don't really cut it. Fortunately, kickoff is tomorrow (not a moment too soon for the rabid fans around here) and we'll able to get our fill of long punt returns, bone-crunching tackles, and (hopefully) more hilarious MasterCard commercials.

If despite your best intentions to stay on the couch and catch all the games, you end up needing to be out being, you know, social or something, you can always avail yourself of the latest technology and take the games with you.

Mike Spitalieri over at Laptop Magazine takes a look at five ways to make your football games follow you wherever you go. Unfortunately, only one option is (almost) free, but that's mainly a symptom of a sports league trying to squeeze every last nickel out of fans.

If you need something to keep you occupied between games, be sure to add AOL's FanHouse blog to your RSS feed. Go Bears!

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Get the game while you're on the go originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aol funhousefootballineedfootballmobilemobile phonemust have footballnflslingboxslingplayersprint Lisa Hoover Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Search Facebook profiles with Google]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/search-facebook-profiles-with-google/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/search-facebook-profiles-with-google/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/05/search-facebook-profiles-with-google/#comments

Facebook added a new "feature" today that allows for limited public searching of users profiles without being logged into the Web site. Now visitors can search Facebook's directory without signing in or even registering, a move the company says is designed to let people "see which of their friends are on Facebook more easily"

Soon, search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and MSN will also start accessing the directory, making it possible to search for Facebook users right from a search engine. Results will be limited to name and profile picture -- the same information registered Facebook users see when searching from within the site.

Facebook users who don't want to be visible in public searches can adjust their privacy settings on the Search Privacy page to keep your profile from being indexed by external search engines, or from being discovered by people not logged into Facebook. You can further limit your visibility to only networks, friends, etc.

Facebook users, what do you make of this new "feature"? Like it, hate it, don't care?

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Search Facebook profiles with Google originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Lisa Hoover Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST Download Squad