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[Pandora now has classical music]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/19/pandora-now-has-classical-music/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/19/pandora-now-has-classical-music/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/19/pandora-now-has-classical-music/#comments classical musicThe number one requested feature from Pandora users is the ability to Pandora-ize classical music, and well, it is here. For all you fans of the concerto, symphony, the sonata, and all the finer styles of music the world has to offer, Pandora has your audio fix ready to download into your ears in grand style.

As with all previous Pandora ideas, you can type in the name of your favorite composer to create a station. Hard to say at this point just how much classical music is available, because it takes a while to classify all that music using the near 400 point genome scale. You will simply need to check that out for yourself, and let us know how you like it.

Who said you need smoke, mirrors, lights, and fancy stage antics to get music that is sublime? Well, open Pandora's music box, and you'll see what is possible.

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Pandora now has classical music originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audioclassicalfreewarelistenmusicpandorasonatasymphony Ryan Carter Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Wake up to your klokoo-clock]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/15/wake-up-to-your-klokoo-clock/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/15/wake-up-to-your-klokoo-clock/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/15/wake-up-to-your-klokoo-clock/#comments klokoo
If you broke your alarm clock because it made you mad yesterday, so you ended its pathetic life, or even if you didn't, you might consider waking up to an online alarm clock at Klokoo.com. You might even say the Klokoo improves on the traditional alarm clock by offering new and different options to wake up to, including an adequately obnoxious rooster crowing, that classic alarm bip-bip sound, and your choice of hip-hop, rock, trance, and "french songs."

Besides your choice of music, you can also enter an rss feed (hopefully downloadsquad.switched.com/rss.xml) to be displayed so that when you come to and scramble to your computer to turn off the alarm, or turn it up, you'll have the day's fresh news sitting there waiting for you.

Perhaps a few features would make this idea even better, including a multiple-feed rss reader, nothing fancy, but a way to get news from several sources, as well as the ability to enter your own internet radio station URL to be played upon wake-up would be especially helpful. The design isn't complete, and it is a work in progress, but it is an interesting approach to the age old problem of being awake. Coupled with enough strong coffee, you're on your way!

What better way for the geek to greet the world than use the web? Watch out for the trance station, that is almost more soothing than "wake-up" material, but to each their own.

Thanks Vincent!

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Wake up to your klokoo-clock originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alarmfreewareinternetradio Ryan Carter Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Toodledo, the killer task-list application]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/18/toodledo-the-killer-task-list-application/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/18/toodledo-the-killer-task-list-application/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/18/toodledo-the-killer-task-list-application/#comments toodledo
There are many task-list applications out there, but not many with the impressive feature set that Toodledo has. Its deceptive simplicity of task entry using inline editing via AJAX makes for lightning fast tasking and better productivity, while providing integration with Google Calendar, Google Personal Homepage, Firefox, and IMified.

One of the best features of Toodledo is the distinction between folders (for projects) and contexts (the many hats you wear). Contexts allows only your current frame of mind for work, and doesn't show you your home tasks. This keeps the honey-do list away from your work list, so you aren't thinking about that darn swing-set you have to put up in the middle of working on Mr. The-man's presentation.

If that isn't enough to make you jump over and check it out, they also have a printable tasklist, email alerts for your top tasks (called a hotlist), but also the ability to import/export tasks to iCal, Palm OS, XML, CSV, and text. Task lists can be published to the web if you want to share your inner-workings with the world, and with a non-free but reasonable price ($14.95/year) you can have others edit and append to your task list among other things. Toodledo offers a free 7-day trial of their pro account for your enjoyment.

Wait, there's even more. There is a developer API, it fully supports GTD, tags, history and stats, a scheduler, some goal-setting functions, RSS support, SMS support, WAP support and more. Tasks can be imported from Outlook, Apple iCal, and Remember The Milk. Seldom is there such a complete feature set in a free application. It is a major time-saver for the quick-and-dirty type task person who doesn't want to spend 8 years filling out a task form. If you don't have a solid task-list manager yet, this is the ticket.

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Toodledo, the killer task-list application originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialfreewareGTDhomelifeorganizationschooltakstasksto-dotodotoodledowork Ryan Carter Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[WAMP5 and EasyPHP, both great local web server options]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/wamp5-and-easyphp-both-great-local-web-server-options/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/wamp5-and-easyphp-both-great-local-web-server-options/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/wamp5-and-easyphp-both-great-local-web-server-options/#comments WAMP5EasyPHP is a great little web server package, as you might expect, it has the usual LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) stack, with phpMyAdmin, and a few other things. The only issue you might have with the EasyPHP 1.8 release is that it uses PHP 4. This may not be a problem unless you really need some of those sweet new features from PHP5. No word yet on when the folks at EasyPHP will be including PHP5, but we hope it will be soon. The more web development you do in PHP, you start to want those new features more and more. If you need a PHP4 based web server for testing or other purposes, EasyPHP is great.

If you just can't get enough of that PHP5 goodness though, you're out of luck, especially for someone who doesn't want to go inserting PHP5 into EasyPHP and bringing the whole shebang down on their heads. There is a web server solution that includes PHP5 in a slim package that is seamless and you could almost say exciting. WAMP5 installs quick and does a kill job of it. It more accurately reflects the fact that this is Windows not Linux we're using, thus the WAMP name. A great part of WAMP is the built in service support and simplified administration panel.

The downside to WAMP is that it is only a desktop installed application, not playing nice with your portable web-serving needs. While not a real drawback, it can be useful to have a portable web server running on a stick for a web developer on the go. EasyPHP does work well on a portable drive, so long as you can live without PHP5 for a bit. For most things either web server package will work just fine. They both are small downloads, easy to install and run without a hitch, and make your life easier. Both packages are also free, which helps with sticker shock.

Remember the days when you had to change each file one by one on FTP and re-upload? Yeah, those days are over.

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WAMP5 and EasyPHP, both great local web server options originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> apachedevelopmentEasyPHPfreewareMySQLPHPserverWAMPweb Ryan Carter Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[MXplay makes music yours in new ways]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/mxplay-makes-music-yours-in-new-ways/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/mxplay-makes-music-yours-in-new-ways/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/16/mxplay-makes-music-yours-in-new-ways/#comments MXplayAs a music fan, sometimes you feel as if you have heard it all. Every music playing application feels generally the same without too much difference. One music playing application stands out in this regard. MXplay is a different kind of music experience, in that it allows you to move the speakers, thus altering the sound in it's 2D panel (as seen in the gallery below). You can also move your head to make the music sound different, have more depth or sound closer, behind you are just right to the angle of your head.

Move my head? Yes, but a digital head, not your real head. This digital head lets you spin to hear at different angles or slide side to side for interesting audio perception results. This feature of MXplay is by far the most fun to play with and can take you a while to begin to stop playing with it, so you might not want to try it at work.

The real value in MXplay is in the social networking aspect, or so it would seem. The social features of the app include the ability to mix in videos from YouTube, Google, and others to add to your audiospace. Once done, you can save and share audiospaces (even though some contain video) with other users of the application. You can also make recordings of the various speaker moves in a pattern that is also saved as a part of your audiospace.

Running this app on Vista worked just fine and shouldn't give you to much trouble, however the use of certain features wasn't very clear in some cases, and there doesn't seem to be extensive documentation by any means, but it is at least worth playing with to experience the pseudo 3D sounds it produces.

There are MXplay plugins for Nintendo Wiimote, Last.fm, and even one in the works for MP3tunes.com as well. so stay tuned!

Gallery: MXplay

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MXplay makes music yours in new ways originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> audiofreewarelast.fmlistenmusicsoundwiimote Ryan Carter Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Divx Pro 6 bundle available free]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/07/divx-pro-6-bundle-available-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/07/divx-pro-6-bundle-available-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/07/divx-pro-6-bundle-available-free/#comments Divx Pro Bundle freeFor a limited time only...no not used cars, not poorly designed cleaning products, it's the Divx Pro bundle available free for the downloading. The bundle includes the Divx Pro Codec 6.6.1, Divx Content Uploader, Divx Converter 6.2.1 6.(MPEG2/DVD), Divx Player 6.4.3, and Divx Web Player.

Unfortunately, this Divx bundle is not ready for Microsoft Windows Vista (pout), despite the obligatory courtesy update-check on Divx's website. Everyone not running Windows Vista, feel free to download either the XP version or Mac Version and thumb your nose at anyone using Vista.

It is conceivable that the Divx programmers are hacking away at Vista logo requirements to make it ready for Microsoft's latest as we speak, but that is unconfirmed as of this writing.

Enjoy the free bundle, and note that the basic version (usually free) edition of this package contains a free 15-day trial of the converter, but today you get the full version of it with this limited time Pro bundle download from Divx.

Thanks George for the tip.

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Divx Pro 6 bundle available free originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bundlecodeccommercialdivxdownloadfreefreewarenewsprovideo Ryan Carter Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:50:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Blog easier with 17 Firefox extensions]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/blog-easier-with-17-firefox-extensions/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/blog-easier-with-17-firefox-extensions/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/blog-easier-with-17-firefox-extensions/#comments Extension cordThe folks at lifehack.org, (not LifeHacker.com) have cooked up the 17 best Firefox extensions that will make blogging easy. I'm sure you've seen some of these before, but just in case you haven't seen them all, they are:

  1. Google Notebook
  2. Session Manager
  3. coComment
  4. Speak It
  5. DocuFarm
  6. ScribeFire (formerly performancing)
  7. Deepest Sender
  8. Resizable Text Area
  9. Spellbound
  10. Google toolbar
  11. Tabinta
  12. Split Browser
  13. Copy Plain Text
  14. Copy As HTML Link
  15. Web Developer
  16. SnagIt
  17. Picnik
There are some widely-used extensions on the list, such as ScribeFire (formerly performancing), Split Browser, Session Manager and Google Notebook, but there are some that aren't so well known, like Picnik, DocuFarm, Deepest Sender, and Tabinta. Once installed, these extensions greatly help the organization and communication of information.

Are there other extensions that should have made this list from lifehack.org? What are the best extensions that make blogging easier, fun, or enjoyable for you?

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Blog easier with 17 Firefox extensions originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bloggingcocommentextensionsfirefoxfreewaregoogle notebookGoogleNotebookscribefiresnagitsplitbrowsertabinta Ryan Carter Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Rssfwd feeds to your email]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/rssfwd-feeds-to-your-email/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/rssfwd-feeds-to-your-email/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/rssfwd-feeds-to-your-email/#comments
Rssfwd is a web-service based tool which sends RSS feeds to your email, if that's your thing.

Working people are getting highly saturated with mountains of email, and many still prefer it to the wilds of web 2.0 newness. Rssfwd caters to this subset of people, making email an interesting and dynamic information tool by coupling the older technology with the newer RSS idea.

While it wouldn't be fun to get your 600-800 feeds all by email every day, it sure is nice to know the idea is there if you ever need it. What a useful tool for bloggers wanting to jump on big stories that shake down and want the big breaks to hit their inbox. You could have RSSFWD email you a few top feeds to read on your mobile device, without the hassle of installing some additional reader. That is worth it's weight in gold.

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Rssfwd feeds to your email originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> emailfeedsfreewarenewsrssrssfwd Ryan Carter Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[The many colors of Vista's windows]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/the-many-colors-of-vistas-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/the-many-colors-of-vistas-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/the-many-colors-of-vistas-windows/#comments Windows Colors
How many times have you wanted a way to change Windows XP's color scheme? Blue is nice, olive and silver are also good for a change when you get sick of blue, but what if orange, purple, or black is your favorite color, and you want your computer's desktop scheme to reflect that? Do you revert back to that Windows 95 goodness in putrid grey because there aren't so many choices in XP? I hate to say it, but Windows doesn't have a clue when it comes to color. You're not a cave-dwelling ancient, so we've got to find a better way. Stop the devolving!

Windows Vista has soundly answered this unrequited need for beautiful and colorful Windows. The key word here is "customizable." To check out the customizable color options, visit your Vista control panel and click on Personalization (or right click your desktop and choose Personalization). This option used to be "Properties" when right-clicking on the Windows XP desktop, if you chose to block that out. You will see a bunch of new options you didn't have before to customize the look and feel of Windows.

The first option is Window Color and Appearance which will let you change the color of windows with a slider for light to dark blue for example. These options are just one of the things that make Vista a bit more flexible to use and a little more fun. Check out the gallery below for some nice shots of what you can expect to see in Vista's color options screen and the results.

Gallery: Windows Vista Colors

Personalization optionsWindow ColorWindow ColorsLight BluePurple

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The many colors of Vista's windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aeroanalysiscolorglassvistawindows Ryan Carter Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:15:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[RIAA, extortion, and conspiracy, in the same sentence]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/riaa-extortion-and-conspiracy-in-the-same-sentence/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/riaa-extortion-and-conspiracy-in-the-same-sentence/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/06/06/riaa-extortion-and-conspiracy-in-the-same-sentence/#comments Finally someone, more specifically Ms. Del Cid has filed counterclaims against the RIAA under Florida, California, and Federal law. She's tired of the RIAA's nonsense and decided to uphold her right to defend herself and ultimately others, if this case turns out right.

The claims Ms. Cid is bringing against the RIAA are of Trespass, Computer Fraud and Abuse, Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices, Civil Extortion, and Civil conspiracy. Now we're talking. The RIAA has been terrorizing many people who they knew didn't have anything to do with alleged copyright violations, including dead people, young children, and the elderly. Ms Cid's counterclaim aims to prove exactly that the RIAA used questionable means to obtain what they refer to as evidence.

Who knows if it will slow down or bring any real resolution to the tyranny of the ridiculous, but here's crossing our fingers that it moves things in the right direction.

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RIAA, extortion, and conspiracy, in the same sentence originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> countersuitdigitalDMCADRMlegalmusicnewsRIAA Ryan Carter Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Top 12 ways to overcome PC disaster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/05/25/top-12-ways-to-overcome-pc-disaster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/05/25/top-12-ways-to-overcome-pc-disaster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/05/25/top-12-ways-to-overcome-pc-disaster/#comments PPC disasterPC World has put together a round-up of ideas to save you from the worst things that could happen to you. These end-game scenarios include:
  1. Your computer won't boot
  2. You just told off the CEO in an e-mail and instantly regret it
  3. No PCs show on the network
  4. Your identity has been stolen!
  5. Your Net connection is dead
  6. You're being sued by the RIAA/MPAA
  7. Your device just got doused with water--or worse
  8. You're inundated with pop-ups when you boot your PC (adware/spyware infestation)
  9. You deleted a critical file--and have no backup
  10. Your hard drive has crashed
  11. You forgot your Windows password
  12. Your presentation just croaked
These are some of the most frequent problems that an IT technician will be asked to deal with, but if you don't happen to have an IT person to beg and offer your life-savings, PC World has put together articles for each issue that may arise to help you out of your predicament.

You may want to bookmark these articles, or print them out and store them in a firesafe, just so when your PC takes a nose-dive, you'll have something to fall back on. There are a few gems that are not so common knowledge for your triumph over the untimely death of man's "new best friend" (that's the computer if you haven't had enough coffee yet today). Good luck, you're going to need it.

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Top 12 ways to overcome PC disaster originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 May 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crashdisasterfixhowtosnewspc worldPcWorldrepair Ryan Carter Fri, 25 May 2007 18:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Wordpress theme generator]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/wordpress-theme-generator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/wordpress-theme-generator/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/wordpress-theme-generator/#comments wp theme generator
Yvoschaap.com is a simple, easy-as-a-web-form way to generate your own color-coded wordpress theme, complete with standard options for sidebar placement and width, site name, logo URL, body width, color scheme, text scheme, the ability to add a third column to your theme and even insert-able Creative Commons and generic copyright text in the footer.

What used to take a fair bit of time -- tweaking and prodding a Wordpress theme to get everything just right -- now requires much less brain-power. Generated themes are handed to you on a sexy zip-file platter and are WordPress 2.1, WP widget and Yahoo UI compatible, not to mention it should work on any "A-grade" browser, sweet!

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Wordpress theme generator originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blogdesigndeveloperfreewaregeneratornewsthemewordpressWP Ryan Carter Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Toggl, free web-based time-tracking]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/toggl-free-web-based-time-tracking/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/toggl-free-web-based-time-tracking/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/30/toggl-free-web-based-time-tracking/#comments togglSo you use basecamp for project management or Google's apps, or something else, but how do you track your time on a project? basecamp offers time-tracking, but you have to pay a bit for that feature. Any cheapskates out there who like to get something for nothing, even if it means remembering yet another logon to yet another website? Many of us would jump at the chance, it isn't like any of us have a problem with web accounts, how many do you have again?

Toggl is an excellent solution, offered in a completely savvy web 2.0 interface that gets you where you want to go. The site tracks time and lets you hit a toggl (whoa, go figure) button to start and stop your "billable hours" timer. I was a bit wary at first that toggl wouldn't offer a way to change the time it had recorded, leave you stranded with pushing the button every 108 minutes until you got the right amount of time, but my worries were completely unfounded. I was ready for something much harder than clicking on the box and reentering my own length of time.

If you think pie is easy, toggl is easier. Complete with a reporting feature and multiple projects, toggl's goodness clocks in (pun somewhat intended) at the right price of free. As you know, our motto here is one more happy cheapskate, or wait, I don't think we actually have a motto. I'll have to get back to you on that. meanwhile check out toggl, and you will never wonder if you charged your client enough for the hours you spent on that killer project.

Add "toggl" to your spell-checker, jack, and you won't be disappointed.

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Toggl, free web-based time-tracking originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> clientcoderdevelopmentfreewaremanagementnewsproductivityprogrammerprojecttasktimetoggltrackerweb Ryan Carter Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[I haven't used basecamp, until now]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/27/i-havent-used-basecamp-until-now/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/27/i-havent-used-basecamp-until-now/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/27/i-havent-used-basecamp-until-now/#comments basecamp project management
Okay, confession time. Despite being an early adopter for most things, I hadn't caught the basecamp train and got on board. Why you ask? I had no good use for it, though it is an excellently crafted application. I love software, and thus I checked it out, but for some reason I didn't see how its use would fit into my busy life, until now.

Becoming a self-employed web developer threw my daily routine out the window in a big way, and my preciously corporate sanctioned work-flow as well, giving me a new set of problems. One new problem I've had is process tracking, central information storage and updating, and project management. If this sounds like three problems, you're right, but they are tightly connected.

Having many projects and lots of information to track, share, and modify, basecamp handles with ease and makes me work less and takes care of these problems without taking too much of my time. I am finally "with it" when it comes to project management.

Developing software is no picnic (as you know), but now at least I know where the utensils are. Try eating potato salad without a fork, and you'll get the idea. If you haven't checked out basecamp (by 37 signals) it is worth it, there is a free account, awesome simple tutorial videos, and a great application to help you track life and work.

If you are with it, and use basecamp religiously (or casually), do you have tips for a basecamp beginner like me, or ideas to get more out of basecamp? We're all ears.

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I haven't used basecamp, until now originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 37signalsbasecampinformationorganizationprocessproject managementProjectManagementsharingtrackingweb 2.0Web2.0 Ryan Carter Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Mapping WoW with Google's API]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/13/mapping-wow-with-googles-api/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/13/mapping-wow-with-googles-api/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/13/mapping-wow-with-googles-api/#comments
World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massive multiplayer online game (as if you hadn't heard about it already), one that has such vast landscapes for players to traverse, it really needs its own map or something. Among the many add-ons available for WoW, I have yet to find a mapping add-on that I actually like. Being an early adopter is hard when the rest of the world doesn't understand. I would love it if there was a resource for WoW that was up to my chronic downloader's standard, using something like Google's map API.

Alas, there is such a resource (many in fact, but few that use Google technology), called MapWoW.com. Long time players have known about it for ages (and are probably asking why I just found it now), but it does in fact use Google's API to create some of the best WoW maps available. There are resource overlays so a player can view graphics where and what things are with the check of a box, overlayed on the map. You won't be able to find your local burger joint on this map, but it is a very creative and well put-together use of the wildly popular Google Maps API.

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Mapping WoW with Google's API originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> APIgooglemapsWoW Ryan Carter Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Date Selector: a simple javascript web component]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/02/date-selector-a-simple-javascript-web-component/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/02/date-selector-a-simple-javascript-web-component/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/02/date-selector-a-simple-javascript-web-component/#comments Future Shock Software has a great component that quickly makes a field on your web page date-pickable. A simple line of javascript in your <head> tag and one line wherever you want the date picker in your page (preferably in the <body> tag), and you're done.

We love the quick and dirty-ness of this script, and yes there are tons of scripts out there that do the same thing, but this one works right out of the box zip file. There are free and paid versions (of course, there almost always are), the free version having a small link to Future Shock Software on the bottom of the component. One of the easier date pickers to implement that we've run across, and one I personally will be using again in other projects mostly because it is easy and quick.

Is there a better date picker you use in web dev projects we should know about, or another approach you would recommend other than using a "canned" date picker?

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Date Selector: a simple javascript web component originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialdate selectorDateSelectorfreewareFuture Shock SoftwareFutureShockSoftware Ryan Carter Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Online music stores tie up your money, Why?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/08/online-music-stores-tie-up-your-money-why/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/08/online-music-stores-tie-up-your-money-why/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/08/online-music-stores-tie-up-your-money-why/#comments Many digital music stores have a written policy to temporarily remove a certain amount of money from your bank account, to verify your worthiness to purchase music from them. Some stores tie up as much as $20/day when I buy a track. Is it that they enjoy the increased emotional stability of having an extra $20 bucks in their pocket? I know I would. The fact that the money isn't mine to use until the authorization charge is reversed gives me a slimy feeling.

So, you might tell me to never buy DRMed music, because it would be bowing to the man, and I'd concur. What about all the people that do buy music by the track? Should their money be tied up just to ensure they don't run off with a buck or two worth of music? Do any music store representatives care to comment on the policy of tying up $20 any day I decide to make a purchase?

Is this a big deal? No, but it hurts the fragile relationship that we as music lovers already have with online music services; It's a matter of trust. Stores should let customers know up front that this will happen in some sort of statement during the sign-up process, in their own best interest. (Maybe they do, who reads EULAs?)

What if the corner store nailed you for an extra $20 every time you bought a pack of gum? Sure, you get the money back but, in all likely-hood you'd never buy a pack of gum from them again. You could even go so far as to say that it's a practice which promotes music piracy. I'd much rather buy from places who don't act like they don't trust me.

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Online music stores tie up your money, Why? originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bankiTunesmoneymusicnewsonlinestore Ryan Carter Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Why all the social web angst? Readers Sound Off]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/07/why-all-the-social-web-angst-readers-sound-off/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/07/why-all-the-social-web-angst-readers-sound-off/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/07/why-all-the-social-web-angst-readers-sound-off/#comments Dig dirtIs there a reason members of social communities are so mean to everyone? All the wikipundits (those who think wikipedia is the library of congress or something) are so disparaging, so unfathomably harsh, and for what? Ruthless users of social news sites almost make me want to put non-labeled generic cleaning products in their coffee to prove a point, but not quite. I really don't get it, the social-sharable web culture is very generous, helpful, and interesting at times. At other times, not so much.

Why all the trolling, the war-mongering with no reserve, no calm, cool, and no collected? Seriously, what is the deal? Are social networks just prime communities for unmoderated smack talk and trashing less-educated users? Tell us why you think a hot social news community can be such a dangerous place to get your comments on, especially for the less-savvy.

Roger Clarke's "Ethics and the Internet" is an interesting read on the topic if you are interested, and though a bit dated it has some interesting tidbits to offer on the subject.

(thanks to David for the assist)

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Why all the social web angst? Readers Sound Off originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commentsdiggmeannewssocialusers Ryan Carter Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Gizmo 3.0 does VoIP and takes names]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/01/gizmo-3-0-does-voip-and-takes-names/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/01/gizmo-3-0-does-voip-and-takes-names/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/03/01/gizmo-3-0-does-voip-and-takes-names/#comments
Just about everyone has heard of Skype, the innovative free IM, VoIP, and all around communication app. Gizmo performs some the same functions as Skype, but hasn't become as popular. Admittedly more grassroots, but as a long-time Gizmo user, I can tell you that it's in line with the other big players such as Skype.

That was before today, when I looked at my email and saw all the new features of Gizmo 3.0. To my knowledge, Gizmo 3.0 is the first to support four different VoIP networks. Also sporting new custom avatars and file-sharing capabilities so you can drop your mountain of photos (or whatever else) on your parents, to show them what the kids have been up to this past year. Gizmo now has group (dubbed: multi-user) chat, making it easier to connect to many people, friends, colleagues, family, co-workers, and anyone else you want. If you haven't yet seen what Gizmo is capable of, there is no better time than now.

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Gizmo 3.0 does VoIP and takes names originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freefreewarenewsopensourceskypeVoIP Ryan Carter Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Convert web widgets into Vista sidebar gadgets]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/20/convert-web-widgets-into-vista-sidebar-gadgets/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/20/convert-web-widgets-into-vista-sidebar-gadgets/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/20/convert-web-widgets-into-vista-sidebar-gadgets/#comments Amnesty
Amnesty Generator is a free app which converts web widgets from Google, PicGames, SpringWidgets, Grazr, and You Tube into Vista Sidebar gadgets. Whoa, rewind, what? That's right, convert Google widgets into Vista Sidebar Gadgets. Where do I sign? You may remember that we covered this last year for Google Gadgets in the OS X dashboard, but alas it is in fact available for both OS X and Vista.

Amnesty makes the process very quick, but beware that most Google gadgets are huge and don't make great gadgets for reasons of size. I suggest resizing your widget on the "Add to your page" config page. You can change the border, the width and height, as if you were going to put it on your own site. It helps to play around with sizes a bit to get the optimum size for a sidebar gadget. Once you are happy, simply click the "get the Code" button on the Google config page and paste the code into Amnesty.

Continue reading Convert web widgets into Vista sidebar gadgets

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Convert web widgets into Vista sidebar gadgets originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewaregadgetsgoogleosupdatessidebarvistawidgets Ryan Carter Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Multi-Meter Dual-Core: Today's Vista Gadget]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/multi-meter-dual-core-todays-vista-gadget/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/multi-meter-dual-core-todays-vista-gadget/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/multi-meter-dual-core-todays-vista-gadget/#comments Multi Meter Dual coreMulti-Meter Dual-Core displays a dual-core system's usage stats much like the CPU Meter that ships with Vista. There aren't yet many friendly apps that cater to that dual-core behemoth you just purchased, but this is one Vista sidebar gadget to join the team.

Multi-Meter Dual-Core has a plethora of different background themes to customize the gadget any way you like. You can blend it with the your Windows Vista background or choose some other shiny motif to suit your whim. It displays real-time info on both your cores, as well as your current memory utilization too. It is fun to watch this gadget go crazy when you load Photoshop or some other CPU intensive app.


Continue reading Multi-Meter Dual-Core: Today's Vista Gadget

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Multi-Meter Dual-Core: Today's Vista Gadget originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialdual-coregadgetMicrosoftmulti-meternewsosupdatessidebarWindows VistaWindowsVista Ryan Carter Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Anyone have Vista running?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/anyone-have-vista-running/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/anyone-have-vista-running/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/19/anyone-have-vista-running/#comments Windows Vista
Are you running Vista? Which version are you running? Do you like it? I just bought a new PC with Vista pre-loaded, and it's nice. It's not completely perfect but, not completely sucky either, which in my mind computes to "just right."

For anyone who doesn't yet have Vista, but want to know about the ins and outs, there are a lot of new features, yet not a ton of truly "new" features. In an attempt to find out what Vista works like and plays like, I will be writing a bunch of Vista-related stuff over the coming weeks.

Continue reading Anyone have Vista running?

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Anyone have Vista running? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialMicrosoftoperating systemOperatingSystemosupdatesupgradevistaWindow SwitcherWindowsWindowSwitcher Ryan Carter Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Do you iPubble?]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/do-you-ipubble/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/do-you-ipubble/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/do-you-ipubble/#comments iPubble
i-What, i-How's that now, I said, iPubble. What is an iPubble? Like a mis-pronounced iPebble, I guess. Beyond that, iPubble is in the business of helping website operators get the word out while helping you improve your site. Their experts will tell you what you are doing right or wrong with your site, with some good suggestions on how to improve your site. iPubble is a social voting site as well, so visitors can rate the sites they see and if your site is popular, it will receive more attention and traffic. I imagine that iPubble is a play on the term I publish, but I could be wrong. If I disappear mysteriously after this post, don't worry, it is most likely because I ticked off about half of Apple with all the I's in the first half of this post. I think they are pretty sure they own the letter I. Wait til Sesame Street finds out. Be aware that iPubble is technically in "beta," and it doesn't look like there is much content yet to speak of.

Tim, thanks for the tip.

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Do you iPubble? originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adviceexpertshelpipubblenewssocialtratingvotingwebsite Ryan Carter Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Why you need the T-Mobile Connection Manager]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/why-you-need-the-t-mobile-connection-manager/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/why-you-need-the-t-mobile-connection-manager/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/why-you-need-the-t-mobile-connection-manager/#comments T-Mobile
For anyone who uses the T-Mobile wi-fi HotSpot service inside Starbucks, Kinkos, airports, and other places, this little free download comes in handy. I use the HotSpot service quite a bit, and generally it is pretty reliable, at least the Starbucks I frequent have it working well. For the first time the service continued to kick me off every few minutes for some reason. I use the Windows Zero Configuration wireless networking service, since it is often easier to use and requires no intervention on my part.

Not very happy with the quality of service at the moment, I downloaded the lightweight T-Mobile Connection Manager client. These proprietary clients are a dime a dozen, heck every wi-fi card maker has their own. This one isn't anything special except it did actually make my connection stay on and not drop me after I installed it. The client also manages any access point you might have nearby, including EDGE/GPRS and VPN networks. Why it works better, I don't know exactly, but it does. If you use the T-Mobile service in Starbucks or elsewhere, I recommend it. Less frustration equals happy bloggers. We don't want no mad and road-raging bloggers. That would be messy.

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Why you need the T-Mobile Connection Manager originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bloggingconnectionfreewarehotspotnewst-mobilewi-fiwireless Ryan Carter Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Saturday Beta Round-up for February 3rd]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/saturday-beta-round-up-for-february-3rd/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/saturday-beta-round-up-for-february-3rd/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/03/saturday-beta-round-up-for-february-3rd/#comments Beta round-upBeta Beta, get your Beta! This Saturday is another great opportunity to get yo beta on. Alright, enough with the puns, if you are once again bored, perhaps have a paper you really need to write, but just plain don't want to (I feel for you) or something, have yourself a little fun and check out a beta or two. This Saturday edition of the beta round-up is brought to you by the ACME corporation, the letter Q, and weirdly the entire blogging community. Okay, not really, but I had you going for a second there. Enjoy!

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Saturday Beta Round-up for February 3rd originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewarenewsopensource Ryan Carter Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Office 2007: The Rumors are true]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/31/office-2007-the-rumors-are-true/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/31/office-2007-the-rumors-are-true/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/31/office-2007-the-rumors-are-true/#comments Remember when we told you that Microsoft was giving away copies of Vista and Office 2007 as part of their "Power Together" campaign? They weren't blowing smoke. I received my copy of Office 2007 yesterday in the mail. It didn't come with an actual CD, only a license key and the URL to download it, but I did get it in the end. If you had been wondering if you would ever get yours, that is if you ever got the website to work at all, and completed the 3 webcasts you had to watch, you should get it soon (if you haven't already). I just thought you should know that Microsoft did live up to what they said, which makes this geek happy. I feel like I stuck it to the man, getting their software (which is usually expensive) for free, legally, and all shiny to boot.

Oh, did I mention that if you weren't able to get the site to work or couldn't complete the offer to get Vista, we are giving away a few copies of it. Sadly, we don't have copies of Office to give away.

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Office 2007: The Rumors are true originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> giveawaynewsosupdatesultimatevistawindows Ryan Carter Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Saturday Beta Round-up]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/27/saturday-beta-round-up/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/27/saturday-beta-round-up/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/27/saturday-beta-round-up/#comments Anyone bored out there? If you are bored, here are a bunch of new betas to play with today:
Hopefully, this will give something to play with if you can't find any TV that you haven't seen, and provided you aren't still sleeping, which of course, I envy. I love betas, I guess mostly because they represent the newness of freshly christened software, untainted by the daily use of users. Of course they break easier too, but it is the raw software feeling that I can't get enough of. Wow, I think I need help, and not in the "out in the garden" kind of help, yeah, the shrink kind, oh well.

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Saturday Beta Round-up originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betafreewareopensourcesoftware Ryan Carter Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[No more cable for you]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/26/no-more-cable-for-you/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/26/no-more-cable-for-you/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/26/no-more-cable-for-you/#comments CableLove cable, do you, huh? Why? Seriously, would iTunes (for TV shows) plus Netflix (movies, delivered and streaming) mean the end of your cable-consumed lifestyle? Honestly, what do you think, I want to know. I don't think I would use iTunes, since I don't like iTunes much and refuse to buy anything with DRM whenever possible, but other than that, I can see doing this. I am not a mindless drone who only likes the current hit shows, so the exception for me is that not all of my favorite shows are even on iTunes. A mere few years ago (let's say 5-7 years), there was no commercially available way to ditch your cable, but now, in the new age of information overload, we can. Just the sheer idea that it is possible will alert you to the fact that much has changed. You have no-doubt made some sort of jump to digital music media, CD sales continue to slip, but what about TV and movies? Let's just say that iTunes had everything cable does, as far as programming. Would you switch? What if you saved $300/year, as the story suggests?

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No more cable for you originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cableiTunesmoviesNetflixnewsshowsstreamingtvvideo Ryan Carter Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Free Small Business podcasts from SBA]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-small-business-podcasts-from-sba/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-small-business-podcasts-from-sba/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-small-business-podcasts-from-sba/#comments SBA podcastsThe Small Business Administration (SBA) has been around for a while mostly trying to make the life of a small business owner easier, and boy we need it. Running a small business is hard, and for many business owners, getting started, or better yet, keeping the thing going is especially tough. The SBA wants to help by offering a bunch of free podcasts to help you get or keep going with your fledgling enterprise. Here is the list of currently available podcasts:
  • Check List for Starting a Business
  • SBA Programs Support Entrepreneurial Veterans
  • Is Entrepreneurship for You?
  • The SBA Small Business Training Network-Log On!
  • Selecting a Business That Fits
  • Disaster Preparedness for Business Owners
  • Financing a Small Business
  • Creating a Business Plan
  • Making Your Business Plan Work for You
I haven't listened to all of them yet, but they seem to contain some useful information for business owners.

[via Lifehacker]

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Free Small Business podcasts from SBA originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> downloadmp3newspodcastsSBAsmall businessSmallBusinessstartuptools Ryan Carter Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:15:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AlZip unzips it al, um, all]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/alzip-unzips-it-al-um-all/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/alzip-unzips-it-al-um-all/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/alzip-unzips-it-al-um-all/#comments
I hate crippleware. I hate nag-ware, and all kinds of related vermin from the netherworld. Among them, WinZip for years has bugged the snot out of users instead of just providing a good product for free like the cool kids. Sure, they have their reasons, but those reasons are why you don't hear about WinZip anymore. They are old news. Now you hear about 7-Zip, which I do like, even better than WinRAR, for my many unzipping needs (on my computer at least).

Today, at least for me, a new little app enters the fray, called ALZip. AL has got some serious options built into the app, which makes it a bunch more customizable, and I suppose some would even say better. The goodness meter doesn't stop there, it keeps going.

Compression is simple, the interface is clean and looks like my four-year-old would like it and could run it. LifeHacker's Download of the Day is a keeper. Go unzip your AL!

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AlZip unzips it al, um, all originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ALZipcompressionESTsoftunzipwindowszip Ryan Carter Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:45:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Free T-Mobile HotSpot for Vista users]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-t-mobile-hotspot-for-vista-users/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-t-mobile-hotspot-for-vista-users/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/25/free-t-mobile-hotspot-for-vista-users/#comments T-Mobile free hotspotStep right up and claim your latte, oh and some free wi-fi. If you use Windows Vista that is. As a promotion, the 90 days of free HotSpot access will begin tomorrow (January 26th, 2007). Usually T-Mobile charges $30/month for unlimited HotSpot access including just about every Starbucks, Kinkos, some hotels and airport clubs, and the price is $20/month for T-mobile wireless subscribers. The only requirement for the 90 days free wireless is that you have Vista installed. Go enjoy some free wi-fi on T-Mobile, the service is generally very good, and by good I mean reliable, good connection, decent speed, and so on and so forth. I use it to write many of my posts you see here on Download Squad from an undisclosed Starbucks.

Free T-Mobile HotSpot for Vista users originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freehotspotT-Mobilevista Ryan Carter Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:45:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Uncrackable: The Gigabit Quantum-Encryption scheme]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/uncrackable-the-gigabit-quantum-encryption-scheme/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/uncrackable-the-gigabit-quantum-encryption-scheme/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/uncrackable-the-gigabit-quantum-encryption-scheme/#comments Ok, the title alone makes me quiver with delight, or maybe it is the coffee I just had. Geek-alert, everybody hit the deck! Fine, I wrote the title, but you have to admit, "quantum" anything is just freaking cool, not to mention "uncrackable encryption." That is cool too. So what is quantum encryption and why is it cool? Let's just say that is a complex way to encrypt data, and not by scrambling data, as is tradition, but it eliminates the possibility of eavesdropping by switching the position of any viewed bit. This makes intrusions easy to detect. The encryption is unbreakable. It is also traditionally very slow because it requires single-bit communication of quantum keys. Now, there is a new quantum scheme that is faster and still provides the same hardcore unbreakable encryption that the slower scheme had. The speed currently is 1Gbit, but there are plans to have 10Gbit speeds by the end of the year. Customers should get the technology by mid-year. Cool.

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Uncrackable: The Gigabit Quantum-Encryption scheme originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> encryptiongigabitnewsquantumuncrackable Ryan Carter Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Open Yahtzee - Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/open-yahtzee-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/open-yahtzee-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/21/open-yahtzee-todays-time-waster/#comments YahtzeeAlright, all you dice freaks. SourceForge has the Yahtzee hookup for you. OpenYahtzee is a free and open Yahtzee dice game. It isn't the prettiest UI I have ever seen, but it works, and it's fun. OpenYahtzee is even somewhat addicting, it took me longer to write this post because I couldn't stop playing with it. It has a distinctly gray and developer looking interface, which reminds me of the college days when the help desk guys would get so bored babysitting students that they decided to write simple apps to past the time. Best feature of the app is that it automatically totals the score for you. I hate having to add that all up in my head, I'm lazy. It is a game after all, no math allowed. You will like it, I promise.

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Open Yahtzee - Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 21 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewaregamesopensourcetime wasterTimeWastertimewastersYahtzee Ryan Carter Sun, 21 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[News at Seven]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/news-at-seven/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/news-at-seven/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/news-at-seven/#comments news at sevenWhere do gamers get their news? Not from a game, I can tell you that. The "News at Seven" show may not be in a video game, but it is made up of video game avatars. Alyx and her father Eli Vance from Half-Life 2 host this news show, which is automatically generated with images, video clips, and TTS voices. It is a little weird, interesting, and amazing to think about how it must have been put together. Definitely not a mainstream news product, so you won't see it on a local broadcast station anytime soon (I hope), but it presents an interesting question. Are news anchors needed? If a computer can do all this without help, look out Katie Couric! No, not really, but you still have to see this thing at least once just for kicks.

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News at Seven originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> AlyxEli VanceEliVanceHalf-life 2Half-life2news Ryan Carter Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Oracle's Free SQL Developer upgrade]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/oracles-free-sql-developer-upgrade/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/oracles-free-sql-developer-upgrade/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/20/oracles-free-sql-developer-upgrade/#comments
Like many web developers, I use MySQL constantly. Sure I can just use the command line, but it is faster to use some kind of graphical client with a decent UI. There are many out there, but my favorite for a while was MySQL's own MySQL Control Center (which has now been discontinued for a while). The replacement for Control Center is Administrator, and I am just not a big fan of it. I loved Control Center because it allowed query browsing and database management, and you'd be hard-pressed to find both features in Administrator which is why I don't like it as much. There are third-party alternatives as well, many of which are not free, which is a sticking point for me? Why, because I am cheap. I currently use (and love) SQLyog community edition (free and full-featured).

Oracle also has a SQL development client, called SQL Developer (oddly enough). They just upgraded it in fact. Now it does easy import and export data in many popular formats. Not retyping all that data, priceless. Oracle's client will manage MySQL, SQL, and Oracle databases, which is rare to find a free tool that handles all three.

I will stick to SQLyog for my database management needs however, since Oracle's java-based solution needs to be configured to work with MySQL's JDBC drivers apparently. Often I don't have the time to install third party drivers, and configure them, that is what a client should be responsible for. Ease of use, and dummy-proofing your app, even more priceless.

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Oracle's Free SQL Developer upgrade originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> databasefreewareMySQLOracleSQL Ryan Carter Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Why I think the iPhone is stuck with Cingular]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/18/why-i-think-the-iphone-is-stuck-with-cingular/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/18/why-i-think-the-iphone-is-stuck-with-cingular/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/18/why-i-think-the-iphone-is-stuck-with-cingular/#comments Apple ROKRDoes anyone remember the failed ROKR phone? Cingular was the carrier on that deal. No one bought it, I never heard about it once after Job's keynote that year. I think Apple may have signed a deal with Cingular for the iPhone because they were either contractually obligated (from the days of ROKR), or they felt guilty for their last flop. Either way, I agree with most that locking your new buzz-worthy device down to a single carrier was most likely a bad idea. Maybe Apple couldn't have just introduced the iPhone on another carrier for reasons I am not aware of, but it would have been so much better if they had. Did Apple's misdelivery on the ROKR get them in hot water with Cingular? I can't them making this decision unless there was a darn good reason for it that involved obligation. Steve Jobs and crew has to know that Cingular isn't the greatest out there. I hope. I guess now I will be holding my breath until the Cingular-only deal is up, or perhaps I will wait for another device that is similar instead. At least now everyone in the phone business has the bar set much higher to develop their own iPhone clone. If someone were to come out with a full version of Firefox on a mobile device, that would be worth buying.

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Why I think the iPhone is stuck with Cingular originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applecingularfirefoxhardwareiphoneipodnews Ryan Carter Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[iTunes to sell Sundance films]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/itunes-to-sell-sundance-films/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/itunes-to-sell-sundance-films/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/itunes-to-sell-sundance-films/#comments Sundance Film FestivalI am a closet indie film fan, in fact, I have always wished I could visit some sort of film festival, but never had the chance thus far. Now, the film festival comes to me (and you) via iTunes. The Sundance Film Festival, probably one of the most widely-known, is going to be selling some of its films on iTunes. Indie filmmakers will get the bulk of the $1.99 price for their films, with the rest of the money going to the festival, the Sundance channel and of course iTunes. The films are expected to be available for at least three years. If you happen to be an amateur filmmaker, you will still be free to "make deals" with other channels or networks, so good for you. Sundance films will be available on iTunes starting on January 22nd.

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iTunes to sell Sundance films originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> festivalfilmiTunesnewsSundance Ryan Carter Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:29:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AntiVir personal edition]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/antivir-personal-edition/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/antivir-personal-edition/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/antivir-personal-edition/#comments AntiVirAntiVir is an anti-virus program I hadn't heard of before. It handles just about everything you can throw at it. Here is the list:
  • Extensive Malware Recognition of viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, worms, etc.
  • Automatic incremental updates of antivirus signatures, engine and entire software
  • Permanent virus protection, with Virus Guard real time monitoring
  • Install and configuration in just a couple of steps, setup to protect your PC in minutes
  • Virus protection against known and unknown threats, using an advanced heuristic system
  • Scheduler where you can set the scanner to make automatic virus scans or updates on your system
  • Forum and phone support, Knowledge Base with virus descriptions available on web site
If you are sick of your current anti-virus client, check out AntiVir personal edition. One of the features I like the best is the real-time system protection that monitors a user's actions and any changes made to the system.

AntiVir personal edition originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Ryan Carter Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:26:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[CompUSA will Vista-proof your PC, for free]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/compusa-will-vista-proof-your-pc-for-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/compusa-will-vista-proof-your-pc-for-free/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/14/compusa-will-vista-proof-your-pc-for-free/#comments CompUSAMom and dad keep asking you what Vista is, if they need it, and how to tell if their computer is up to snuff for it? Tell them to take it to CompUSA for a free hardware evaluation. The techs will check out the goods and see if they are up to snuff. The evaluation is free, unless of course mom and pop have to upgrade memory or get a new video card. The evaluation will only take about five minutes and should tell your folks all they need to know about upgrading for Vista (if they even care). I guess you could just help them out your-hardware-savvy-self, but it is nice to know you don't have to if you don't want to. CompUSA says that the minimum hardware you need to run Vista is a 20GB hard-drive (15GB of free space), 32MB video card, and a 800MHz processor or better. Vista home Premium requires more than that under the hood, and CompUSA recommends at least a 40GB hard-drive (20GB free space), a DVD-ROM drive, 1GB of memory, and a 1GHz processor at least. With many machines now sporting dual cores this shouldn't be a problem, even for machines that are a year old or so. Note that these numbers are CompUSA's, not necessarily Microsoft's.

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CompUSA will Vista-proof your PC, for free originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> check-upCompUSAevaluationfreehardwareMicrosoftnewsvistaWindows Ryan Carter Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:58:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[AOL ditches MusicNow for Napster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/13/aol-ditches-musicnow-for-napster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/13/aol-ditches-musicnow-for-napster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/01/13/aol-ditches-musicnow-for-napster/#comments Napster and AOLAOL is trying to find a winning music service to feed to its users once again. AOL bought MusicNow from CircuitCity a while back, but apparently that wasn't working out so well. AOL is trying again, this time with Napster at the musical helm. Sure, Napster isn't perfect, but it is much better than MusicNow. AOL will do much better with Napster, and Napster is apparently pretty happy too, since AOL's move will put Napster in the number two spot for biggest music service by revenue according to PC World. Any current MusicNow users will be able to transition to Napster, but keep their accounts, as AOL plans to move all 350,000 accounts to the new service over the next 60 days.

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AOL ditches MusicNow for Napster originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> aolinternetmusicmusicnownapsternews Ryan Carter Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:22:00 EST Download Squad