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[37Signals working overtime, release Basecamp API, Calendar for Backpack to follow]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/04/07/37signals-working-overtime-release-basecamp-api-calendar-for-b/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/04/07/37signals-working-overtime-release-basecamp-api-calendar-for-b/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/04/07/37signals-working-overtime-release-basecamp-api-calendar-for-b/#comments Calendaring coming to BasecamoOur favorite Web 2.0 company, 37Signals, must be working overtime these days.  They have announced the availability of an API for their popular Basecamp project collaboration product.  With this API, Basecamp users will be able to unleash their creativity in developing OS X dashboard widgets and Yahoo! widgets, or just generally hooking up Basecamp to all kinds of external systems.

Not to rest on their accomplishments, the crew over at 37Signals also signalled that calendaring will soon be added to Backpack.  For Backpack fanatics, this was the most requested feature on the popular list tracking web site.  Some would even say that calendaring is the missing link on Backpack.

While all this is exciting, it does make us wonder when we can expect Sunrise, their CRM application?

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37Signals working overtime, release Basecamp API, Calendar for Backpack to follow originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 37SignalsapibackpackbasecampcommercialfreewareGTDnewssunriseweb 2.0Web2.0 Nitin Badjatia Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[UMPC tuned applications begin to appear]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/umpc-tuned-applications-begin-to-appear/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/umpc-tuned-applications-begin-to-appear/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/umpc-tuned-applications-begin-to-appear/#comments FoodCalcNow that the excitement has died down, software products are starting to appear that are 'tuned' for the UMPC's form factor.  Yes, we know that Microsoft has made is a point to tell everyone who will listen that the UMPC's greatest appeal is that it can run any Windows XP application.  While that may be true, the smallish screen size of the UMPC made us wonder how we'd squeeze some of our favorite applications into such small digs.  While it looks like some applications from Microsoft (namely OneNote) will account for the new screen real estate, an entirely new cadre of applications are being readied to fill the (smaller) void.

One of the first applications to be released that is UMPC sensitive is abletFactory's abletFoodCalc.  FoodCalc is a nutritional calculator for keeping track of your eating habits while on the go.  FoodCalc comes with a large database of nutritional values for foods that will allow you to quickly accumulate your daily consumption habits with your UMPC.  This sounds interesting enough, although we're forced to ask one practical question:  Since input on the UMPC is mostly hand driven, won't our precious UMPC get 'all greased up' if we enter food data all day?  Well, it seems like a sure opening for another UMPC accessory, the UMPC sanitizer.

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UMPC tuned applications begin to appear originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialhardwareorigamitablet pctabletpcumpc Nitin Badjatia Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:05:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Clean up your Outlook inbox with Speedfiler]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/clean-up-your-outlook-inbox-with-speedfiler/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/clean-up-your-outlook-inbox-with-speedfiler/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/24/clean-up-your-outlook-inbox-with-speedfiler/#comments SpeedFilerLike many of you, much of my daily work pattern revolves around Microsoft Outlook.  Over the years, I've grown accustomed to Outlook, and have an understanding of its strengths and limitations.  One of the biggest limitations has been the ability quickly file inbox messages.  Outlook lets you build rules to auto fule stuff, but those rules tend to be pretty rigid.  Plus, I'm not a fan of auto filing, at minimum I want to glance at any incoming subject line before I banish it to a sub-folder.  Drag and drop is slow, and the built in filing command isn't powerful enough to give you folder options as you search. 

The last couple of days I've been testing a new, tiny application called SpeedFiler.  SpeedFiler does one thing, and it does it well.  The Outlook Add-in gracefully extends Outlook's filing command (Ctrl Shift v) with a smart window that narrows your folder list as you type.  This means you don't have to go searching for the appropriate folder by scrolling through a huge list of folders. Nice.  Need to get to a folder quickly?  Just begin typing the folder name in the SpeedFiler toolbar and optional folder names begin to autopopulate.  Cool stuff.

SpeedFiler can also be setup to request a folder to file sent mail, every time you send a message.  SpeedFiler has quickly become a part of my routine.  If you want to check it out, you can download a trial copy, valid for 30 days.  To purchase, SpeedFiler will set you back $19.95

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Clean up your Outlook inbox with Speedfiler originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialemailgtdoutlookproductivityspeedfiler Nitin Badjatia Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:25:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Check flight status in real time from your Treo]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/09/check-flight-status-in-real-time-from-your-treo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/09/check-flight-status-in-real-time-from-your-treo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/09/check-flight-status-in-real-time-from-your-treo/#comments Flight StatusSometimes the simplest applications make us smile.  Around here, we're generally not too fond of funky interfaces or whiz-bang graphics on every piece of software.  That is especially the case for PDA applications.  Take, for example, this wonderfully made donationware application called Flight Status.  Developed by some high school kid (Andrew), Flight Status fills a great gap on the Treo platform for the mobile professional.  You punch in your flight number and airline, and it sends you back real time flight status.  Don't remember the flight number?  No probs, just select the airline, departure and arrival airports, and it'll get the rest.  Simply said, it works.  Andrew has done a great job in designing a simple GUI, but we are wondering one thing:  When did a high school kid start thinking about mobile professionals?  Thanks to Eric Mack for the link.

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Check flight status in real time from your Treo originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> flight statusFlightStatusfreewarepalm Nitin Badjatia Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:45:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[GoBinder 2006 ships with an entirely new architecture]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/gobinder-2006-ships-with-an-entirely-new-architecture/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/gobinder-2006-ships-with-an-entirely-new-architecture/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/gobinder-2006-ships-with-an-entirely-new-architecture/#comments
While the Tablet PC world may still be considered a niche space, there are some really interesting applications that have been developed for tablets that cross boundries into the mundane computing world.  One of these is Agilix's GoBinder.  Agilix has just released a radically updated version of its note-taking, file storing, PIM capable flagship product.  Designed primarily for the college student (it has integration into the Blackboard course system used by many universities), GoBinder is a heck of a tool for all types of packrats and copious note-takers.  GoBinder 2006 takes a very strong inking capability, and expands it by building, from ground up, a totally new architecture.  This new architecture is designed for users to trade notes and forms through a WebDav syncing capability.  That means those of you who are still in college, and may skip a class or two, you can have notes from your friends synched right into your GoBinder.  In addition to that, the Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks capabilities get a major overhaul with this release.  You don't need to own a Tablet PC to take full advantage of this great application, as its features are great for anyone looking for a place to keep all their notes and stuff.  You can download a trial here; it will set a student back $49.95 and for the rest of us, it costs $99.95.

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GoBinder 2006 ships with an entirely new architecture originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AgilixcommercialEducationGoBinderInknewsTablet PCTabletPc Nitin Badjatia Wed, 08 Mar 2006 17:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Google Calendar: What does it look like?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/google-calendar-what-does-it-look-like/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/google-calendar-what-does-it-look-like/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/google-calendar-what-does-it-look-like/#comments CL2 Screen Shots

Not only does Google want to own all your data, Google wants you to plan your life on a Google platform.  As Google says, we must follow, right?  Well, on both points, Google's intentions have remained a closely guarded secret until this week.  Those as lofty as the Wall Street Journal reported on the PowerPoint mixup that exposed Google's file storage plans.  Now we have leaked screenshots of the super-secret "CL2", or Google Calendar.  Techcrunch scored the screens and they seem to validate that Google is building a expansive calendaring capability to augment the GMail platform.  Like all things Google, the interface looks spartan, but heavily splashed with AJAX.  It is also speculated that CL2 is a while away from gracing us lowly users.  Until then, you'll have to plan your life on something else, like with a pen on paper or your hand.

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Google Calendar: What does it look like? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AJAXCalendarCL2freewareGoogle Nitin Badjatia Wed, 08 Mar 2006 15:20:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Microsoft swallows Onfolio]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/microsoft-swallows-onfolio/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/microsoft-swallows-onfolio/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/03/08/microsoft-swallows-onfolio/#comments

Continuing on a quest to buy everything that Google or Yahoo haven't bought already, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Onfolio today.  Onfolio, for the uninitiated, is one of the most powerful web bookmark, page capture, research assistant tools available for Windows.  The big M will be adding Onfolio onto its Windows Live Toolbar as a free offering.  I'm sure that won't go well with those who ponied up $99 for their copies of Onfolio, but hey, now the rest of the world can share the wealth of your 'seed funding'.  It will be interesting to see what Microsoft does with the Firefox integration of Onfolio, since nearly everything that is going into the Live strategy requires the proprietary Internet Explorer browser.  Before you point your IE browser to Onfolio's website, be forewarned that the free version isn't available until "the afternoon".  Now, whose afternoon is the global giant referring to?

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Microsoft swallows Onfolio originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> onfolio Nitin Badjatia Wed, 08 Mar 2006 10:09:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Prevent unauthorized use of programs with Program Protector]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/prevent-unauthorized-use-of-programs-with-program-protector/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/prevent-unauthorized-use-of-programs-with-program-protector/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/prevent-unauthorized-use-of-programs-with-program-protector/#comments

Do you have a problem with junior venturing into programs that you don't want him to touch?  Is he trying to sneak a peak into your Zinio magazine rack (you know the one where you download Foreign Policy and BusinessWeek...among others...)?  Well, configuring Windows XP to keep him out of your things can be difficult, if not impossible.  This is where Program Protector comes in handy.  Program Protector lets you password protect any Windows application with a fairly tight protection scheme.  The program cannot be bypassed by renaming executable files, or even by deleting Program Protector.  You can also view an activity log to see of junior has tried to access a protected application,.  I've been testing a trial version, and it seems to work as advertised.  A license will set you back $29.95.

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Prevent unauthorized use of programs with Program Protector originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Need to protect the fort while you're away? Give Crime Catcher a test drive]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/need-to-protect-the-fort-while-youre-away-give-crime-catcher/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/need-to-protect-the-fort-while-youre-away-give-crime-catcher/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/16/need-to-protect-the-fort-while-youre-away-give-crime-catcher/#comments

Do you ever wonder what really goes on at home while you're away?  Want to make sure the cops catch any thieves that may want to steal your authentic MacGyver memorabilia?  Well, you may want to give Crime Catcher a try.  Crime Catcher is a motion detection driven webcam capture tool.  You can hook the software up to monitor upto four webcams, and have your computer fire off an email when motion is detected.  To deter would-be thieves, you can also setup the application to play sounds off of your computer's sound system.  I can just imagine it now, a burglar running in fear after crooner Tom Jones kicks in.   That is assuming that the bad guys don't steal your kick-butt speaker system.  The basic application will set you back $25, while a full featured, four camera version runs $49.

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Need to protect the fort while you're away? Give Crime Catcher a test drive originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[It's a slow ride to perfection, but Chandler seems to be getting there...]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/its-a-slow-ride-to-perfection-but-chandler-seems-to-be-getting/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/its-a-slow-ride-to-perfection-but-chandler-seems-to-be-getting/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/its-a-slow-ride-to-perfection-but-chandler-seems-to-be-getting/#comments

It seems like we've been waiting forever to see a working version of Chandler, the much anticipated collaboration-PIM tool that was being developed by the Open Source Foundation.  Well, they finally have released a presentable version of the Calendar Module for Chandler, and from the looks of it, Chandler is a winner.  More than just another pretty PIM, Chandler's vision was to challenge the Microsoft Outlook-Exchange standard with a more open, and robust tool.  It seems as though the OSA team is marching, very slowly, toward that goal.  Take a look for yourself here to see what the Chandler team as been up to.  You can also download a working version of this module, which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux environments.

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It's a slow ride to perfection, but Chandler seems to be getting there... originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> opensource Nitin Badjatia Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:35:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Soonr makes your mobile phone to be even more productive]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/soonr-makes-your-mobile-phone-to-be-even-more-productive/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/soonr-makes-your-mobile-phone-to-be-even-more-productive/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/13/soonr-makes-your-mobile-phone-to-be-even-more-productive/#comments A few months back there was a lot of activity in the mobile-to-desktop search space. Among the players we introduced you to were Avvenu and SoonR.  Both offered similar capabilities at the time, but SoonR has recently introduced a very interesting new feature. With SoonR now can access your desktop's Microsoft Outlook, as demonstrated here.  While there are many of us that access our Outlook data via a palm or Blackberry, this new feature extends accessibility to many more mobile phones. It is certainly worth a look for those cannot access their Outlook information while on the go in any other way.

Soonr makes your mobile phone to be even more productive originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Nitin Badjatia Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Paranoid about hidden tasks on your Windows system?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/09/paranoid-about-hidden-tasks-on-your-windows-system/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/09/paranoid-about-hidden-tasks-on-your-windows-system/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/01/09/paranoid-about-hidden-tasks-on-your-windows-system/#comments
Are you becoming increasingly paranoid about what is running on your Windows machine?  We're with you, too.  Since the Windows operating system is the favorite whipping boy of hackers the world over, it probably makes sense to stay on top of every process that is using your machine.  Windows task manager does an adequate job of telling you what's up, but it can still be fooled by many worms and keyloggers.  For a deeper look into the goings on inside your machine TaskInfo may be the solution.  TaskInfo's dashboard combines the task manager and System Information Tools into a more powerful display of activity on your computer.  It also gives you a better view into all processes, including the hidden ring0 VxD threads.

Beside for a better visual representation of processes, TaskInfo can be configured to provide you alerts of suspicious activity and quickly alter process prioritization, execution, and termination.  TaskInfo is free to test, but will set you back $35 for a licensed version.  That's a steep price to pay, but it may let you rest a bit easier about what (and who) is using your computer's processing power.

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Paranoid about hidden tasks on your Windows system? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 09 Jan 2006 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 09 Jan 2006 13:35:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Symphony, another blogging application now available]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/12/symphony-another-blogging-script/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/12/symphony-another-blogging-script/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/12/symphony-another-blogging-script/#comments
While the vast majority of bloggers choose to use an established service to publish their rants, there are those among us who want more control over the blog engine.  For that later group there are a lot of options, everything from dasBlog to Wordpress.  Most are open source, and therefore generally free.  This open source freedom allows people to custom tailor their rant-space to match their personality (or online personality).  You'd think with the growing strength of Wordpress, that developers would shy away from building other platforms, right?  And even if you developed a new blogging medium, you'd offer it up in open source format, right?  Enter Symphony.  Not only is Symphony a new blogging platform that you can download, but the developers expect you to pay $49.95, at least once for use of the system.  So, once you pay for one copy, you are free to reuse your Symphony as many times as you wish, just as long as you understand that support will only be provided to the 1st installation.  Interesting business model, I guess.

I took a test drive on Symphony a few days back, and besides a smoother interface and some AJAX funkiness, I didn't find anything spectacular about the software. As illustrated below, the developers were cutesy in labeling their menu structure as well:

Whereas $50 is not a lot of money to shell out, I just didn't see what the core value I'd get from paying for a simple blogging system.  Wordpress, however, unleashes the full power of the open source community.  There are a rich set of add-on features and capabilities that Symphony may never attain.  Still, if you are looking for a blogging script that has a simple, elegant interface, Symphony may be worth a look.

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Symphony, another blogging application now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:45:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:45:44 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Ten things we love about Microsoft]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/02/ten-things-we-love-about-microsoft/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/02/ten-things-we-love-about-microsoft/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/12/02/ten-things-we-love-about-microsoft/#comments Here at Download Squad we know that the holiday spirit means more than just shopping for the coolest gadgets (you know, for others on our list).  The holidays are also a great time to be thankful for all that we already have.  Many times we overlook the obvious positives in our lives to focus on the latest cool thing to attract our attention.  Those overlooked things do deserve some recognition, too.  In that spirit we'd like to send some holiday cheer toward Microsoft.  For those of you who just fell off your chair, yes we do believe that Microsoft deserves a big bear hug from us.  Here are ten reasons why:
  1. We love that Microsoft spread computing beyond geekdom.  Over the last thirty years,  Microsoft's unrelenting charge toward world dominance has brought computing technology to the forefront of society.  While many will argue that Microsoft is a great hindrance to the spread of computing, we are certain that without the Microsoft-Intel duopoly computers would still be the purview of pocket protector adorned, horn-rimmed glasses wearing geeks (sorry, no offense).
  2. We love to hate Microsoft.  It seems as though Microsoft cannot do right by its customers.  Being the biggest fish in the ocean, it's only natural that Redmond take the heat for any computer ailments we suffer. And, on a regular basis, Microsoft obliges us with one screw-up after another (here's the latest example).


  3. We love Microsoft's recent openness.  So many Microsoft employees write blogs. Whether it is an astute marketing ploy or not is yet to be determined, but hearing from the likes of Omar Shahine and Chris Pratley is a good thing. The spread of blogging throughout Microsoft has added a humanizing quality to the company that you can't imagine coming from other tech behemoths like IBM or (especially) Apple.

Continue reading Ten things we love about Microsoft

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Ten things we love about Microsoft originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:00:31 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Nitin Badjatia Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:00:31 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Secure your data on your Palm]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/secure-your-data-on-your-palm/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/secure-your-data-on-your-palm/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/secure-your-data-on-your-palm/#comments mess that can get you into.

Well, your Treo 650 may not have the bling factor of a Sidekick, but we're guessing that you carry it because you want to have a ton of important information within reach.  Of course, if that information falls into the wrong hands, you are in for a real headache.  This is where Central for the Palm OS can be your savior.  Central has a bunch of features, but one novel feature that can save your data from being stolen is the SMS Kill Pill.  Activated by sending a password to your Treo via SMS, the Kill Pill will force a data reset of your Treo, so your calendar, phone numbers, etc. don't fall into the wrong hands.

Other features that Central offers include several alarm functions (do not disturb, preset alarms), several cell phone antenna features (turn on after soft reset, turn off at prescribed times), and news and weather pull down capability.

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Secure your data on your Palm originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:31:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:31:44 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[CodeCharge Studio 3.0 released]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/codecharge-studio-3-0-released/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/codecharge-studio-3-0-released/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/codecharge-studio-3-0-released/#comments

While I'll never be mistaken for a programmer, from time to time I'll build a small application to serve as a front-end for a database requirement I may have at the moment.  In the past, I would use the dreaded Microsoft Access as the weapon of choice, but in recent years I've tried to build these smaller solutions on a web platform.  By being online, my application is available to me from anywhere, and I don't have to lug around a computer to access it.  It's not easy for someone who doesn't really know how to code to build applications on the web.  Enter CodeCharge.  I've used CodeCharge for several years now, and found it to be a very powerful and surprisingly easy solution for coding neophtyes.  YesSoftware has recently upgraded CodeCharge Studio to version 3.0.  The 3.0 product has added some really slick features such as web reporting , a web calendar builder, a CSS style builder, and internationalization capabilities.

While you can dig into actual code with CodeCharge, the beauty of this application is that it lets you build on any of the following platforms, PHP, ASP, JSP, Perl, ColdFusion, or ASP.NET, and you don't really have to know how to program a single line of code.  The downside is that CodeCharge isn't cheap.  It'll set you back $140.  Once you have a tool like this and access to a web server, however, you'll find yourself building all kinds of useful applications.  Who knows, you may unleash the hidden coder in you!  CodeCharge is a Windows based application.

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CodeCharge Studio 3.0 released originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:30:37 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:30:37 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ZLauncher for Palm updated]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/draft-zlauncher-for-palm-updated/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/draft-zlauncher-for-palm-updated/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/28/draft-zlauncher-for-palm-updated/#comments the interface's simplicity allows for broad adoption of Palm devices, I'm like many Palm users out there that need a little bit more than just the basic stuff.  My interface of choice for years has been ZLauncher, primarily because it allows me to install and run programs from my Treo's SD card.  ZLauncher has all the other bells and whistles that its competitors have, including skins, icon sets, a great file management application, and quick launch capabilities.  The latest version, ZLauncher 5.32, has some tweaks for the latest Palm devices.

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ZLauncher for Palm updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:42:46 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:42:46 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Top 10 things to do for mom's PC over Thanksgiving]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/23/top-10-things-to-do-for-moms-pc-over-thanksgiving/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/23/top-10-things-to-do-for-moms-pc-over-thanksgiving/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/23/top-10-things-to-do-for-moms-pc-over-thanksgiving/#comments
You love your mom, right?  Remember all those times she took you to soccer practice?  And that time when she was the only one clapping in the audience during your 'recital'?  She's always been there for you, and this Thanksgiving weekend it is time to give a little love back.  Since we are not the sentimental type here at Download Squad (flowers and puppies just don't do it for us), we thought we'd offer up 10 tips to make mom's computing experience more enjoyable.  So, take a break from the annual long weekend of awkward conversations, bad football games, and watching TV reruns in anticipation of the big feast.  It's time to fix mom's PC!

  1. When was the last time your mom did a full backup of her computer files?  When was the last time you backed up your computer (sorry, had to ask)?  Do your mom a favor and make at least two backup copies of her most precious files.  Keep one backup for your records, and have your mom store another copy in a safe place.  You might want to take a look at NTI Shadow 2 (on sale for 99 cents until the end of the year) as a backup utility, if mom's computer lacks one.
  2. Like all moms, we bet yours has collected a bunch of photo files over the years.  We are also confident that they are not as well organized as she thinks they are.  Clean up her photographs by putting them in the My Pictures folder on her computer.  Then download Picasa from Google and show her how to use it.  Picasa, along with its online companion Hello, are your friends.  They will make sending pictures to your mom much easier, and will make viewing pictures more pleasurable too.
  3. Now that her pictures are all sorted out neatly, it's time to buy her a nice LCD screen to get rid of that boat-anchor CRT monitor on her desk.
  4. While we're thinking of hardware upgrades, why not get your mom some real speakers to replace those tiny, screeching ones that came with the computer?  Your mom deserves better sound quality when she listens to music, right?
  5. Install Firefox.  Your mom will love it.  Trust us on this one.
  6. If your mom would like to keep one place to store notes, copies of web pages, and other clippings, setup Evernote for her.  Given that Evernote lets you copy and categorize notes, web pages and clippings, this program will help her keep track of all kinds of stuff in one place.
  7. Update the anti-virus software on her machine, as well as the spyware detection software.  It has probably been a while since she had the latest, and greatest, virus definintions on her PC.  We know you keep your virus definitions up to date, right?  To keep spyware at bay, we prefer Adaware by Lavasoft.
  8. Introduce your mom to the world of VoIP by setting up Skype.  We're pretty confident that all moms would love to be able to chat with their children at any time.  Even more inviting to most moms is when they can chat for free.  Of course you will thank us for this tip once your mom buzzes you while you are in some important meeting at work.
  9. Run a system check utility on her machine to clean out the cobwebs that slow down system performance.  Systweak does a good job in cleaning up PCs.
  10. Get her a real email account.  Many moms (and dads for that matter) fall into the trap of using some default, arcane email address that was provided by their internet provider.  Make her email address a memorable one.  Be a sport, move your mom onto a vanity domain  name and have it forwarded to her favorite email address.  Domain names can be bought for less than $9/year and will give your mom a special email address that is easy to remember (okay, this is sort of senitmental).
See, now that wasn't so hard was it?  We know you've got big plans for the coming four days, but we're confident you can make your mom's computing experience more enjoyable by just devoting a few minutes between the feast, football games and the Friday 5 a.m. Wal-Mart run that you plan every year.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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Top 10 things to do for mom's PC over Thanksgiving originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Nov 2005 08:20:43 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> howtos Nitin Badjatia Wed, 23 Nov 2005 08:20:43 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[KeySuite for Palm OS updated]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/22/keysuite-for-palm-os-updated/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/22/keysuite-for-palm-os-updated/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/22/keysuite-for-palm-os-updated/#comments Marc Orchant over at The Office Weblog notes that Chapura's KeySuite has recently been updated with several minor enhancements.

Updates include:
  • International, 24-hour time picker with an option for setting time in 1-minute or 5-minute increments.
  • Year view in KeyDates (for hi-res handhelds only).
  • You can set Week Start in KeyDates to any day of the week. All views now reflect this Week Start day.
KeySuite is an excellent Palm PIM replacement, especially if you are a heavy user of Microsoft Outlook.  KeySuite does an admirable job of replicating Outlook on the Palm.  I've used KeySuite over the years, and really liked it until I got my Treo 650.  Since KeySuite uses its own data file, it doesn't rely on Palm's sync utility.  This is fine, unless you are syncing your Treo, or other wireless device, with a Microsoft Exchange server.  With that scenario, only the Palm default mail and calendar applications are syncable.  Palm also implemented much needed calendar features like an attendees list, accepting meeting requests via the Treo 650, and settng appointments in multiple timezones.  So, despite the limitations, I now rely on the Palm applications for most of my PIM functionality.

The nice thing about KeySuite is that each application, Tasks, Calendar, Notes, Contacts, and Today, can be used individually.  As a result, I still use KeyTasks for syncing to Outlook and revert to the regular Palm applications for calendar, contacts, and email.

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KeySuite for Palm OS updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Nov 2005 15:23:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Tue, 22 Nov 2005 15:23:13 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Notepad++, yet another free text editor replacement for Windows]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/notepad-yet-another-free-text-editor-replacement-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/notepad-yet-another-free-text-editor-replacement-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/notepad-yet-another-free-text-editor-replacement-for-windows/#comments Yesterday we brought you a free text editor that gives you a good set of features with a small footprint.  Just about anything is better than the default text editor for Windows, right?  Well, today we bring you another text editor, Notepad++, which adds a bunch of bells and whistles to notepad functionality but still manages to have a small footprint.

I've used Notepad++ for years, and love the fact that it is being constantly improved (the latest version is 3.3).  Unlike BDV Notepad, Notepad++ has a tabbed interface, so you can open multiple files in one session.  It also has a really nice feature whereby you can tile the screen with either two different documents, or the same document cloned together.  Cloning is particularly useful when you have a really long document and want to compare sections (like php files and such).

Notepad++ can handle all of the following file types: C, C++, Java, C#, XML, HTML, PHP, Javascript, RC resource file, makefile, ASCII art file (extension .nfo , screenshot1, screenshot2), doxygen, ini file, batch file, ASP, VB/VBS source files, SQL, Objective-C, CSS, Pascal, Perl, Python, Lua, TCL, Assembler, Ruby, Lisp, Scheme, Properties, Diff, Smalltalk, Postscript and VHDL.

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Notepad++, yet another free text editor replacement for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:30:04 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareopensource Nitin Badjatia Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:30:04 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Basecamp, now free for teachers]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-basecamp-for-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-basecamp-for-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-basecamp-for-free/#comments Over at the 37Signals weblog the creators of the wildly popular Basecamp (and Backpack) have decided to offer up a basic subscription to teachers at no cost.  Basecamp is an easy to use, online, project management tool that has a ton of AJAX goodness to make project management easy and fun! (Did I just say fun?)

As we know, many teachers are 'resource constrained' due to tight budgets, so providing free basic access to a quality project management tool for teachers from K-12 and college, is a welcome sign from a progressive company.

Basecamp, for those who haven't used it, is the big brother of Backpack.  Besides for incorporating the to-do lists capabilities of Backpack, Basecamp also allows for time tracking by task and by person, as well as a decent scheduling system.


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Basecamp, now free for teachers originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 17:50:57 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Fri, 18 Nov 2005 17:50:57 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Evernote updated with some nifty features]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-evernote-updated-with-some-nifty-features/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-evernote-updated-with-some-nifty-features/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/18/draft-evernote-updated-with-some-nifty-features/#comments Evernote is one of the best free downloads available today.  We covered the first release of this application earlier this year.  Now the developers have extended the functionality of Evernote with some very useful features.  Evernote 1.1 introduces a couple of shortcut key combinations, one set that makes copying the Windows clipboard a breeze, and another set that pops up a new Evernote without using a mouse.  Several other shortcuts have been added for faster access to Evernote features while inside Evernote.

In addition to faster access to Evernote features,  color is now available for inking and category names.  Evernote's ribbon style filing system is very visual by nature, and the added color will certainly make it easier to find notes.

As with most software updates, Evernote 1.1 also corrects several outstanding bugs.  You can find more details here.

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Evernote updated with some nifty features originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 09:00:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialfreeware Nitin Badjatia Fri, 18 Nov 2005 09:00:13 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[SugarCRM makes the case for open source applications]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/17/draft-sugarcrm-makes-the-case-for-open-source-applications/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/17/draft-sugarcrm-makes-the-case-for-open-source-applications/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/17/draft-sugarcrm-makes-the-case-for-open-source-applications/#comments
As open source development comes of age, progress toward true enterprise applications has been a surprising focus of many developers.  Of note is SugarCRM, an open source, and remarkable Customer Relationship Management system with an odd name.  SugarCRM is being developed totally on an open source platform, and the company offers several flavors, including a free version.  This is a server based application, so if you have access to a server that runs the Mysql/PHP combo, and are in need of a solid sales force automation, project management, bug tracking system, give Sugar a try.

The most remarkable thing about Sugar is how well thought out the program is.  Those who have used Salesforce.com in the past will not be missing out on much here.  Sugar even offers a plugin for Microsoft Outlook, so you can synchronize your calendar, contacts, and soon email, with SugarCRM.  That plugin will set you back $40 per user.

Coming from the open source community, Sugar has seen love from an array of developers that have further advanced the base application in ways that a small start-up might not have.

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SugarCRM makes the case for open source applications originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Nov 2005 12:23:45 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialopensource Nitin Badjatia Thu, 17 Nov 2005 12:23:45 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Zagat-To-Go 4.0 now available for Palm and Windows Mobile]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/16/zagat-to-go-4-0-now-available-for-palm-and-windows-mobile/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/16/zagat-to-go-4-0-now-available-for-palm-and-windows-mobile/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/16/zagat-to-go-4-0-now-available-for-palm-and-windows-mobile/#comments to eat that isn't a restaurant chain.  That's where the Zagat's Dining Guides have come in handy over the years.  The problem with the books is that, well first off, they are books and carrying multiple guides can cramp your style.  Second, they are never with me when I actually need them.  Zagat solved this dilemma with the Zagat-to-Go applications for Palm and Windows Mobile devices.  Priced at a superb $24.95 for a year's access to all their electronic guides,  Zagat-to-Go lets you access a wide array of destinations across the United States as well as London, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo.

In addition to providing decent reviews, the Zagat-to-Go system lets you map out directions to your restaurant of choice, if you have a connected PDA like the Treo 650.  You can download additional guides via your cell phone, on the go.  Also, you can directly add an appointment onto your calendar, with reservation details from within the application.

For some cities, like New York, Boston,  and San Francisco you can also download a nightlife guide.  For New York, Zagat also offers a shopping guide for those visiting the Big Apple.

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Zagat-To-Go 4.0 now available for Palm and Windows Mobile originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:24:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Nitin Badjatia Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:24:13 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[DataViz adds Native PDF support to Documents to Go]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/14/draft/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/14/draft/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/11/14/draft/#comments Who says the Palm platform is dead?  DataViz certainly doesn't think so.  The company recently released an update to the flagship product, Documents To Go 8, that includes a native Adobe PDF reader.  This is a real PDF reader, not a text converter like Adobe's own PDF application for the Palm.  Most Palm manufactured PDA owners received some form of Docs to Go with their device, so the new version of Documents to Go can be purchased at the upgrade price of $29.95.  There are no substantial updates to the core Docs to Go applictions, so you are essentially buying a native PDF reader for the upgrade price.  That is pretty steep if you ask me, unless you have a real need to view PDFs on your Palm.  If you need to purchase the entire suite , it'll set you back $50.

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DataViz adds Native PDF support to Documents to Go originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:29:35 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Nitin Badjatia Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:29:35 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Anagram: Quickly capture addresses, meetings, and other stuff into Outlook]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/anagram-capture-stuff/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/anagram-capture-stuff/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/anagram-capture-stuff/#comments actually re-typing stuff that you should be able to cut and paste.  Anagram for Microsoft Outlook makes the process relatively painless, and dare I say fun?

Anagram is one of those elegant utilities that should be included with Outlook.  The concept is simple, you choose the address you wish to capture from just about any text source, whether it be a company website or an email that you've just received.  Then you press a pre-selected key sequence (ctrl-c, ctrl-c for example), and your text is copied into the correct Outlook Address fields for a new Contact.  Simple enough, and it works!

Anagram's meeting creator is even slicker.  Say you receive an email message with the statement "lets meet tomorrow at 11 for a half an hour to discuss our plans."  Highlight this text, just like an address, and press your magic key sequence, and your meeting in Outlook is created!  Just like that!  The text parser within Anagram works pretty well with most vague sentences like the one above.

Anagram also lets you create Outlook Tasks and and Memos with the magic key sequence.  You can test drive Anagram for 45 days to see if it simplifies your information gathering ability.

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Anagram: Quickly capture addresses, meetings, and other stuff into Outlook originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Oct 2005 20:03:46 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 31 Oct 2005 20:03:46 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AvantGo adds RSS feeds to mobile client]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/avantgo-rss-feeds/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/avantgo-rss-feeds/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/avantgo-rss-feeds/#comments AvantGo, the venerable quasi-browser application available for PocketPC, Palm OS, and Symbian PDAs has just released a beta client with RSS feed support.  Along with its traditional content "channel" offerings, you can now setup your AvantGo client to receive RSS feeds from your favorite weblog.  You will need to download a new version of the AvantGo PDA client to take advantage of RSS feeds.

Feeds are setup on your personal AvantGo account, and synchronization can be customized by frequency, link depth, and image inclusion.

While AvantGo was always a decent offline content browser, the number and quality of channels that were available had stagnated over the last few years.  By adding RSS feed capability, AvantGo breathes new life into a classic mobile application.

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AvantGo adds RSS feeds to mobile client originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Oct 2005 16:00:50 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freeware Nitin Badjatia Mon, 31 Oct 2005 16:00:50 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Oracle to offer a free version of database application]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/oracle-to-offer-a-free-version-of-database-application/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/oracle-to-offer-a-free-version-of-database-application/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/oracle-to-offer-a-free-version-of-database-application/#comments getting ready to release a free version of its flagship database product, dubbed Oracle 10g Express Edition.  As reported today on ZDNet, the Express Edition is aimed squarely at low cost open source databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL.  Many free, open source, and shareware applications have come to rely on the likes of MySQL, and it looks like Oracle wants to become a player in that game as well.

The new version is already available, and can be distributed with other products.

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Oracle to offer a free version of database application originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Oct 2005 15:37:20 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareopensource Nitin Badjatia Mon, 31 Oct 2005 15:37:20 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[UltraMon: Extend your Windows screen to many monitors]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/ultramon-extend-your-windows-screen-to-many-monitors/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/ultramon-extend-your-windows-screen-to-many-monitors/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/31/ultramon-extend-your-windows-screen-to-many-monitors/#comments
As the prices of monitors continue to plummet, many people I know are taking advantage of having a two monitor setup.  UltraMon is a great utility that extends your Windows screen across as many as 10 monitors (just imagine that for a second...), thereby increasing the real estate that you can work on at any given time.  UltraMon is different than Maxvista in that the later is best suited for those that have multiple PCs laying around.  UltraMon doesn't require that the additional monitor be hooked up to its own PC.

I've been using UltraMon for some time with my convertible Tablet PC in a very effective desk configuration.  I have UltraMon setup to extend my desktop to an external monitor, and I keep my convertible laptop in tablet mode.  I connect an external keyboard and mouse, and instantly I have the beauty of operating in both tablet mode, and traditional mode from one laptop.

Features of UltraMon include a smart taskbar that recognizes which monitor an application is on, so you don't have duplicate task bar buttons at the bottom of your screen.  UltraMon also lets you choose either a different graphic for each monitor, or the ability to stretch one wallpaper across attached monitors.

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UltraMon: Extend your Windows screen to many monitors originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Oct 2005 15:00:53 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Mon, 31 Oct 2005 15:00:53 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Flikr'ing Yahoo Travel]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/flikring-yahoo-travel/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/flikring-yahoo-travel/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/flikring-yahoo-travel/#comments

Ah yes, I don't know if Flikr'ing qualifies as a real word, but that is what Yahoo is doing with its travel site.  Yahoo!Travel Planner beta turns a mundane travel site into a very interesting picture and itinerary scheduling tool.  Lets say you're interested in planning a trip to Las Vegas.  Well, you search for Las Vegas on the beta Travel Planner site, and you get a listing of other people's public itineraries for Vegas.  Click on one, and you get to see where they went, pictures they added to Flickr that are related, and so on.  You can then copy that itinerary and book the same hotels, shows and restaurants, or modify them to your delight.  Of course you can add your own travel plan and choose to make it public so everyone can see your exploits across the world.

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Flikr'ing Yahoo Travel originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:00:27 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Nitin Badjatia Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:00:27 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Interested in getting iTunes to work with your Palm Device?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/interested-in-getting-itunes-on-your-palm-device/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/interested-in-getting-itunes-on-your-palm-device/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/interested-in-getting-itunes-on-your-palm-device/#comments Palm may not be as cool as an iPod, but for many of us, having a unified phone/pda/music player is more important than looking cool.  Well, developer Tea Vui Huang has just released a Windows based application that lets you synchronize your iTunes collection with your Palm based device.  The Mass Storage Synchronizer is an add-in for your Windows iTunes's application that enables users to sync music onto their Palm Treo or Sony Clie.  Support for other PalmOS 5 devices is to follow shortly.

Playback on the Palm is supported through RealPlayer or PocketTunes.  The add-in is freeware.

UPDATE:  To clarify, this add-in does not support Apple iTunes DRM music.  You can, however, synchronized your burned music from formats including:  mp3, mp4, and .wav files.

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Interested in getting iTunes to work with your Palm Device? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:35:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freeware Nitin Badjatia Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:35:13 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Tasks Pro: A solid web-based task manager]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/tasks-pro-a-solid-web-based-task-manager/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/tasks-pro-a-solid-web-based-task-manager/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/tasks-pro-a-solid-web-based-task-manager/#comments
If you're into managing your task list online, there are many options these days.  It seems like everyone is trying to build this functionality on the web.  The obvious choice for many are the products of 37Signals (Backpack being the one with the most buzz).  Or you can try the oddly named Remember the Milk.  Personally, I say you should also add Tasks Pro by King Design onto the list.

Tasks comes in several flavors, ranging from a free script that you can run off of your own server, to a hosted subscription based application.  Tasks Pro, the subscription version, offers a bunch of features including recurring tasks, collaboration with others on tasks, email reminders, RSS feeds, and iCalendar subscriptions.  The feature set is extensive.

Tasks Pro, and its lesser siblings, are constantly being updated and improved by a devoted developer.  It is certainly worth a look.

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Tasks Pro: A solid web-based task manager originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:09:17 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialfreewareshareware Nitin Badjatia Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:09:17 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[SnapStream signs deals to offer Hi-Def version]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/draft-snapstream-signs-deals-to-offer-hi-def-version/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/draft-snapstream-signs-deals-to-offer-hi-def-version/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/26/draft-snapstream-signs-deals-to-offer-hi-def-version/#comments Snapstream Media, makers of the Windows based personal video recorder (PVR) announced earlier this week that they have signed deals with three HDTV video card companies to bundle their flagship BeyondTV software with the cards.  The HDTV cards manufacturers that have signed on are DS Technologies, KWorld, and VBox Communications.

The tuner cards will initially ship with BeyondTV 3, and will be upgradeable to BeyondTV 4 which is expected to ship before the end of the year.



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SnapStream signs deals to offer Hi-Def version originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:05:15 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialhardwarenews Nitin Badjatia Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:05:15 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ScanR: From your cell phone camera to PDF in a flash]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/scanr-from-your-cell-phone-camera-to-pdf-in/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/scanr-from-your-cell-phone-camera-to-pdf-in/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/scanr-from-your-cell-phone-camera-to-pdf-in/#comments I spotted this new service over at Robert Scoble's Blog.  If you've got a cell phone with a one megapixel camera or more, stop over to the ScanR beta site to give this cool new service a try.  Basically, you take a high resolution picture of a document or whiteboard, email it to ScanR, and the service emails you back a cleaned up PDF of your picture.  I tried the service with my low-rez Treo 650 phone, and the service politely emailed me back saying that the resolution wasn't high enough on my camera.

I'd love to hear from someone out there who has a high-rez camera phone and has tried the service.  It sounds pretty cool.

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ScanR: From your cell phone camera to PDF in a flash originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 22:59:06 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Tue, 25 Oct 2005 22:59:06 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[KeePass: Free secure password manager for Windows]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/keepass-free-secure-password-manager-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/keepass-free-secure-password-manager-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/keepass-free-secure-password-manager-for-windows/#comments
Maintaining a secure list of all the passwords and serial numbers that we have to deal with today is a real challenge.  If you use a Smartphone SplashID is a great option.  For those who don't have a Smartphone, and are looking for a portable password store, KeePass is an excellent choice.

KeyPass is a free, highly secure, password storage system that doesn't require installation.  In other words, you can carry around your list of passwords on your favorite USB storage media.  KeePass supports the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and the Twofish algorithms to encrypt its password databases.  You can file and sort your passwords, attach memorable icons to them, as well as notes.  KeePass has a really nice random password generation feature that lets you set how sophisticated the random password should be.  This application is certainly worth a look if you are on the move, and trying to manage huge list of logins, passwords and serial numbers.

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KeePass: Free secure password manager for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:28:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareopensource Nitin Badjatia Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:28:13 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[RemoteCalendars: Access iCalendars inside Outlook]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/remotecalendars-access-icalendars/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/remotecalendars-access-icalendars/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/remotecalendars-access-icalendars/#comments If you're like me, you live inside Microsoft Outlook.  For maintaining your personal calendar, and company group calendars, Outlook is brilliant.  One area where Outlook falls short, however, is accessing iCalendar shared calendars.  Since iCalendar is sort of an internet standard, this is a frustrating issue.  RemoteCalendars is a free utility that solves that problem.  One of the many great open source applications available at Sourceforge.net, RemoteCalendars allows you to gain access to iCalendar based published calendars inside Outlook 2003 (previous versions of Outlook don't seem to work with this utility).  With RemoteCalendars installed, you can subscribe to calendars via http or webcal protocols.

It's nice to be able to see calendars from buddies who use Macs or Linux. 

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RemoteCalendars: Access iCalendars inside Outlook originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:01:30 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareopensource Nitin Badjatia Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:01:30 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Photocopier: Scanning directly to your printer]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/photocopier-scanning-directly-to-your-printer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/photocopier-scanning-directly-to-your-printer/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/photocopier-scanning-directly-to-your-printer/#comments I like having an All-In-One printer.  My weapon of choice is the HP Officejet 6210.  Like most ink jets, however, the ink can be very expensive.  And, the accompanying printer software doesn't let you photocopy onto other - preferably cheaper laser - printers.  After searching around a bit, I found a pretty good free utility called Photocopier by Nico Cuppen Software.

Photocopier is a very simple scan-to-printer utility that gives you very basic capabilities.  Just like a regular photocopying machine, you can select the number of copies, darkness of copy, and either 100% or reduced 70% copy.  You can copy in color or black and white.  The utility assumes your scanner is the default imaging device on your computer, and the printer you wish to print to is the default printer.  That's it.  Click on 'Copy' and off you go.

Nico Cuppen also offers a professional version, for a $29.95 fee, which gives you such whiz-bang features as autocroping and image centering along with the ability to select different printers for black and white or color copies.  The pro version also allows for duplex scanning, and flexible scaling (not just 100% or 70%).


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Photocopier: Scanning directly to your printer originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 13:28:15 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialfreeware Nitin Badjatia Tue, 25 Oct 2005 13:28:15 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[SoonR: More remote desktop file access goodness]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/soonr-more-remote-desktop-access-goodness/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/soonr-more-remote-desktop-access-goodness/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/25/soonr-more-remote-desktop-access-goodness/#comments Last week we introduced Avvenu , this week we have SoonR.   SoonR gives you similar capabilities as Avvenu, but adds the ability to Google Search your desktop files, much like FolderShare.  If you can't get to SoonR via a web browser, the desktop agent also installs an Instant Messenger profile (Yahoo or AOL) that you can ping, in command line fashion, to manipulate your SoonR installation.  The desktop agent is for Windows machines only.

Like Avvenu and FolderShare, SoonR has group file sharing capabilities.  You can grant access to specific viewers to specific folders on your desktop.  Google Search of the entire desktop is restricted by one more level of password security. 

I gave SoonR a try via my Treo 650, and can report that the application works as advertised.  SoonR's Palm Blazer interface is not as slick as Avvenu's, but I like the fact that I can get to a Google Search of my desktop from my Palm.

SoonR is in public beta mode right now, and is free.  Eventually, there will be a fee associated with the service.

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SoonR: More remote desktop file access goodness originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:37:21 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercial Nitin Badjatia Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:37:21 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Avvenu: Get to your files from anywhere]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/21/avvenu-get-to-your-files-from-anywhere/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/21/avvenu-get-to-your-files-from-anywhere/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2005/10/21/avvenu-get-to-your-files-from-anywhere/#comments it was Avvenu's turn.  Avvenu is a file sharing client that you download and setup on your personal computer (sorry, no Mac client yet).  You can setup multiple computers on one account.  Once setup, Avvenu lets you access your PC's file structure through just about any browser, and that's the kicker.  Avvenu's browser recognition picks up on what browser client you are using, and adjusts the interface to fit the client.  This means you can access your files on computers as well as Smartphones.  Like most startups in this space, they are also focusing on the ability to share your vast collection of photographs via the Avvenu service. 

I've tried the service out with my Treo 650, and can report that it is pretty slick, pretty fast, and pretty useful.  Photos are presented in thumbnail form, and when clicked on, you can access a larger version of the picture.

The downloaded client hints toward some sort of fee in the future, but for now the service is free.

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Avvenu: Get to your files from anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Oct 2005 17:30:30 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialfreeware Nitin Badjatia Fri, 21 Oct 2005 17:30:30 EST Download Squad