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[phpMyID: roll your own OpenID provider]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/21/phpmyid-roll-your-own-openid-provider/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/21/phpmyid-roll-your-own-openid-provider/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/21/phpmyid-roll-your-own-openid-provider/#comments phpMyIDWith more and more web sites and services offering OpenID for authentication, you may want to use your own domain name as an OpenID provider instead of selecting from the wide array of other providers (like Blogger, AOL, Wordpress.com).

phpMyID is a pair of PHP files that allow you to easily use your domain name for authentication to OpenID-supporting sites like Sourceforge, Skitch, and Technorati.

To use phpMyID (substitute "yourwebsite" with your domain name or website address):

Continue reading phpMyID: roll your own OpenID provider

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phpMyID: roll your own OpenID provider originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> accountaccountsOpenIDopensourcepasswordusername Todd Ritter Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Indecent Haiku: inappropriate poetry]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/17/indecent-haiku-inappropriate-poetry/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/17/indecent-haiku-inappropriate-poetry/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/17/indecent-haiku-inappropriate-poetry/#comments Indecent HaikuWe're no strangers to potentially inappropriate versions of Internet memes, but why not apply that same inappropriateness to haiku? Indecent Haiku offers plenty of 3-line gems covering topics like sex, alcohol, love, and nature.

Like any good haiku site, they allow you to submit your own. Their submissions page even offers a reminder of haiku structure (5-7-5) and their take on good content.

If these types of haiku aren't your thing, learn how to write your own or check out some famous examples.

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Indecent Haiku: inappropriate poetry originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> haikupoetry Todd Ritter Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Whopper Sacrifice: ditch 10 Facebook friends, get a burger]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/09/whopper-sacrifice-ditch-10-facebook-friends-get-a-burger/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/09/whopper-sacrifice-ditch-10-facebook-friends-get-a-burger/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/09/whopper-sacrifice-ditch-10-facebook-friends-get-a-burger/#comments Whopper SacrificeWhopper Sacrifice is a new Facebook application from Burger King that promises to give you a free Whopper if you delete 10 friends from your Facebook profile. Simply install the application, click a friend to "sacrifice," click the little "x" by the friend's entry, and verify that you really want to remove the friend.

If you decide to complete the decimation by removing nine more friends, you'll receive a coupon for a juicy Whopper (if you live in the US). You can add the app to your profile page so that your other friends can mock the people you deemed less valuable than a burger, or perhaps they will beg you to not give them a similar fate.

I'm going to justify my deletions by considering it a housecleaning of people I don't communicate with on Facebook anymore. That should help me sleep at night.

[Via del.icio.us]

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Whopper Sacrifice: ditch 10 Facebook friends, get a burger originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> burger kingBurgerKingfacebook Todd Ritter Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Historical Tweets: Twitter posts from way back]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/06/historical-tweets-twitter-posts-from-way-back/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/06/historical-tweets-twitter-posts-from-way-back/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/01/06/historical-tweets-twitter-posts-from-way-back/#comments Historical Tweets
Historicaltweets.com takes us on a journey through time to see Twitter posts from historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Michael Jordan. There are categories for 1800's, various decades of the 1900's, and even Comically Old when the word "Twitter" would have fit nicely in iambic pentameter.

You can submit your own ideas, choose to view a random tweet, and will soon be able to buy merchandise which I'm sure will be decorated with popular historical tweets. This site has earned a distinguished spot in my feed reader so that I'm able to keep up with the tweets I missed from back in the day.

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Historical Tweets: Twitter posts from way back originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> historytweetstwitter Todd Ritter Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Openfire: cross-platform Jabber server]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/31/openfire-cross-platform-jabber-server/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/31/openfire-cross-platform-jabber-server/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/31/openfire-cross-platform-jabber-server/#comments Openfire Openfire is an open-source Jabber (XMPP) server that provides an easy way to offer and maintain internal instant messaging (including voice and video chat) for your company or organization. There are server plugins available which can add archiving and statistics capabilities as well as message of the day and multi-user chat (MUC) bookmarks.

Openfire conveniently supports LDAP and Active Directory authentication as well as SSL for encrypting communications. If you require high availability, you can enable clustering to eliminate a single point of failure. Common databases like MySQL, Microsoft SQL, and PostgreSQL are supported, or you can use Openfire's embedded database.

While the developers offer a web-based (SparkWeb) client and install-based (Spark) client, it's possible to use any IM client that supports Jabber (Adium, Pidgin, iChat, etc.). Openfire runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows and since it's Java based, it will require that you have a JRE installed.

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Openfire: cross-platform Jabber server originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareimjabberserverxmpp Todd Ritter Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Timeous: Simple Time Tracking in OS X]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/09/timeous-simple-time-tracking-in-os-x/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/09/timeous-simple-time-tracking-in-os-x/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/09/timeous-simple-time-tracking-in-os-x/#comments TimeousTimeous is a simple and effective time-tracking app for Mac OS 10.4 or later. It allows you to track time on multiple projects ("tabs") and set independent hourly rates and tax percentages. Each time you start the Timeous timer, an entry is created in your current project tab. These entries are then sorted by day and time. When you stop the timer, you will see the total time of that chunk of work, and you can add notes to the entry to explain what work was performed.

Data is automatically saved, and the program's status bar shows the total time and cost associated with the project. You can export the time entries to a text file (useful for providing to a client when you send them an invoice). Timeous is a free download and a Universal binary.

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Timeous: Simple Time Tracking in OS X originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> billingfreewaretime managementtime trackingTimeManagementTimeTracking Todd Ritter Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Three apps for the Windows sysadmin - Holiday Gift Guide]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/01/three-apps-for-the-windows-sysadmin-holiday-gift-guide/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/01/three-apps-for-the-windows-sysadmin-holiday-gift-guide/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/12/01/three-apps-for-the-windows-sysadmin-holiday-gift-guide/#comments Hyena If you have a Windows systems admin (the kind of person responsible for managing a computer network and/or server farm) on your holiday gift-giving list, check out these three commercial apps that they are sure to love:

Hyena ($199) - This Windows application is an Active Directory admin's sidekick. In addition to acting as a an AD Users/Computers snap-in on steroids, it also lets you easily change local account usernames and passwords on multiple computers, create helpful lists of group members, and manage services. Hyena also makes it easy to quickly view the currently logged in users of a machine and shutdown or reboot a group of computers.

Continue reading Three apps for the Windows sysadmin - Holiday Gift Guide

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Three apps for the Windows sysadmin - Holiday Gift Guide originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialhgghgg2008HyenaSecureCRTsysadmin Todd Ritter Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Glassbooth: it's not too late to choose a candidate]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/01/glassbooth-its-not-too-late-to-choose-a-candidate/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/01/glassbooth-its-not-too-late-to-choose-a-candidate/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/01/glassbooth-its-not-too-late-to-choose-a-candidate/#comments GlassboothBack in January I wrote about Glassbooth, the web service that helps you choose a Presidential candidate by answering questions about your views on common issues. Any voters who are still undecided may want to use the site as an aid in their decision-making process, especially because there have been some significant updates to Glassbooth since my last post:

  • Additional issue categories (like Science and Internet)
  • "Pulse" section serves as a mini-blog full of updates on the candidates' positions
  • Glassbooth Portable serves as a widgetized version of the quiz that you can put on your blog
  • New Zealand election quiz
  • Some Wisconsin state representative election quizzes

Glassbooth is a novel concept that I wish I could apply to all of my local elections. I find it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to research state representatives, school board members, judges, etc. It would be nice if all voters made their election decisions based on the candidates' views instead of how many signs they have posted or how many promises they may make.

Remember to vote on Tuesday!

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Glassbooth: it's not too late to choose a candidate originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> president 2008president2008presidential electionPresidentialElectionvoting Todd Ritter Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[WinAdmin: Remote Desktop on the iPhone]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/17/winadmin-remote-desktop-on-the-iphone/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/17/winadmin-remote-desktop-on-the-iphone/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/17/winadmin-remote-desktop-on-the-iphone/#comments WinAdminAs an iPhone user who works on Windows servers daily, I decided to purchase the WinAdmin application ($11.99) which promised to provide remote desktop connectivity from my iPhone to supported Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, 2003, 2008). So far the app has worked as advertised. I have a list of servers with all the necessary login information saved (name, IP address, username, password, screen resolution) so that I simply have to launch WinAdmin and touch a server name to be connected to a remote desktop session on the server.

Navigating the remote desktop screen simply requires a finger drag. To click, tap your finger once or twice (for single or double of course). To right-click, tap your finger, then tap again and hold. WinAdmin supports connecting to the console session, and it supports sending Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

I have tested all of the connection methods: internal WiFi, external WiFi with VPN, 3G with VPN, and Edge with VPN. All of the connections worked fine, but as expected connecting to our Cisco VPN over Edge caused a bit of latency in the RDP session in WinAdmin. However, the latency was not enough to make the program unusable by any means. Now I'm able to sit in traffic and reset Active Directory passwords, or drink coffee at Panera Bread while I add a printer to our print server.

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WinAdmin: Remote Desktop on the iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialiPhoneRDCRDPremote accessremote desktopRemoteAccessRemoteDesktop Todd Ritter Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: CoRD]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-cord/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-cord/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-cord/#comments CoRDSince I often have to connect to Windows servers (or sometimes workstations) from my Mac laptop, CoRD is my RDP client of choice. CoRD is a free and open-source application for Mac that allows me to save multiple servers' connection information in the handy sidebar so that I can quickly start remote desktop connections.

CoRD lets me connect to multiple servers simultaneously while only taking up one window of screen real estate, or I can use windowed mode so that each connection has a dedicated window.

Continue reading Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: CoRD

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Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: CoRD originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cordfavorite-appsfreewareRDPRemote Accessremote desktopRemoteAccessRemoteDesktop Todd Ritter Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: 1Password]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-1password/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-1password/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-1password/#comments 1PasswordSince practically every website requires some sort of user registration, I decided to purchase 1Password to manage all of my login credentials. 1Password is a Mac-only password manager that can also store secure notes, "wallet" information, and identity data.

Rather than use a single password for all of the websites I access, or try to create a convoluted password algorithm to have a list of unique passwords, I use 1Password to generate long, nearly impossible to guess passwords that are unique to each website. In the off chance that someone figures out one of my passwords, they will only have access to that one site instead of everything.

1Password can also auto-fill my login information or my registration information (common answers like name, address, etc.) to speed up my web browsing. It can sync all of my information to my iPhone (and accompanying free iPhone application), a Palm, or the my.1password.com service so that I can maintain my password security when browsing on my phone or without my laptop.

Continue reading Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: 1Password

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Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: 1Password originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 1passwordcommercialfavorite-appsform fillerFormFillerpasswordpassword managerPasswordManagerpasswords Todd Ritter Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: Skitch]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-skitch/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-skitch/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/todds-favorite-mac-apps-skitch/#comments SkitchAs a blogger and IT professional I often need to make screenshots for things like showing a program window, instructing where to find an obscure setting, or making a witty LOLcat. Thankfully, Skitch is available to fill this need and make my screenshot tasks quick and painless.

I didn't know about Skitch until it was released in public beta early this year. I downloaded the Mac-only client, installed it, and got myself a skitch.com account for easy uploading of my screenshots. Within seconds I was able to capture the entire screen (or a selection) and mark it up with arrows, text, boxes, and circles.

The key feature for me though is the ease with which I'm able to upload the screenshots and share them with others. Using the Skitch web account, I'm able to store my screenshots (for free) and get links to the direct picture file, forum/embed HTML, and a dedicated page that allows commenting on the screenshot. The screenshots can also be uploaded to a WebDAV server, Flickr, or FTP.

Continue reading Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: Skitch

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Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: Skitch originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> capturefavorite-appsfreewarescreenshotscreenshotsskitch Todd Ritter Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Home Inventory: track your belongings, have peace of mind]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/23/home-inventory-track-your-belongings-have-peace-of-mind/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/23/home-inventory-track-your-belongings-have-peace-of-mind/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/23/home-inventory-track-your-belongings-have-peace-of-mind/#comments Home InventoryHome Inventory is a free program for Windows or Mac that lets you create a home inventory complete with product photo and receipt scan. A home inventory is an important protective measure for any home owner, renter, or insurance-policy holder as it can be invaluable in times of disaster to help prove to a claims adjuster that you really did have a 50" wall-mounted plasma TV.

The program is easy to use: create rooms to organize your stuff and then add items to each room. For items, you can add information like purchase price/location, serial number, make, and model. You should also add a picture of the item in your house (not just from the manufacturer website), and a scanned receipt proving you paid for the item.

You can print your entire inventory room by room, export to .csv, or save to the Vault24 service (a secure, offiste backup service offered by the makers of Home Inventory). If, for instance, a fire takes your home (and you've been good and backed up your Home Inventory files offsite), you can make life easy for yourself and the insurance people by providing them a complete, organized inventory of all of your significant belongings.

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Home Inventory: track your belongings, have peace of mind originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> databasedisaster recoveryDisasterRecoveryfreewareinsuranceinventory Todd Ritter Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[PlanningWiz: plan and share room layouts]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/planningwiz-plan-and-share-room-layouts/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/planningwiz-plan-and-share-room-layouts/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/planningwiz-plan-and-share-room-layouts/#comments Planning Wiz If you're moving to a new place or just want to reorganize furniture in your current living space, PlanningWiz may be helpful by letting you plan and lay out objects in your rooms. Set your room dimensions (you can choose Imperial or Metric system, but for some reason you can't choose Imperial on the first step) and start selecting furniture pieces to begin experimenting.

You can choose furniture from categories like "child's bedroom," "bathroom," and "kitchen," and you can drag-to-resize the furniture objects to match the dimensions of your existing (or future) objects. PlanningWiz also lets you customize the design with color, text, and dimension guides.

The plan can have a custom scale from 1":1' down to 3/32":1'. Plans can be saved to your free account space, printed, or shared via e-mail.

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PlanningWiz: plan and share room layouts originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blueprintlayoutroom plannerRoomPlanner Todd Ritter Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[The Several Journeys of Reemus - Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/24/the-several-journeys-of-reemus-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/24/the-several-journeys-of-reemus-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/24/the-several-journeys-of-reemus-todays-time-waster/#comments The Several Adventures of ReemusThe Several Journeys of Reemus is a Flash game that is somewhat reminiscent of the 90's Lucasarts games like Day of the Tentacle, Monkey Island, and Sam and Max. SJoR has a minimalist point-and-click interface that lacks the obvious verbs like "Use," "Look," and "Pick Up."

The plot is centered around Reemus and his cute, yet melancholy purple-bear sidekick Liam. Reemus, an insect exterminator, is summoned by the local innkeeper to rid his establishment of ants before the prince and his bride-to-be arrive. The objective is to get Reemus and Liam out of each puzzle space, and that is accomplished by interacting with the environment to find a way out.

The game is a bit brief, but the puzzles are entertaining and rather trippy. There are two endings, and original music accompanies the game.

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The Several Journeys of Reemus - Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adventurepoint and clickPointAndClicktimewasters Todd Ritter Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Greasemonkey in Firefox 3]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/09/greasemonkey-in-firefox-3/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/09/greasemonkey-in-firefox-3/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/09/greasemonkey-in-firefox-3/#comments Greasemonkey in Firefox 3While Greasemonkey, the popular extension for changing the way websites display, might not be currently available via the Firefox 3 addons manager or the Mozilla addons website, you can indeed install a working version from the developer's site. We installed the greasemonkey-0.8.20080609.0.xpi into Firefox 3 RC2 on Mac OS 10.5, and our scripts worked like a charm.

In case you're new to the Greasemonkey realm, here are three scripts to get you going:

  • Gmail 2.0 Multiple HTML Signatures - allows you to maintain a set of HTML signatures for Gmail that are automatically changed when you select different "From" addresses in your compose mail window. Alternatively, you could use a bookmarklet.
  • Digg Add Mirrors - adds links to Coral Cache, Duggmirror, Duggback, and Google Cache to Digg stories.
  • Image Host Redirector - redirects image links directly to image instead of intermediate image host page.
[via gHacks]

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Greasemonkey in Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> addonsextenstionsfirefoxfreewaregreasemonkeyscriptscripts Todd Ritter Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ZAC: web browser for autistic children]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/06/zac-web-browser-for-autistic-children/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/06/zac-web-browser-for-autistic-children/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/06/zac-web-browser-for-autistic-children/#comments ZAC BrowserZAC (Zone for Autistic Children) is a Windows-only web browser designed specifically for children with autism (and other developmental disorders). The browser acts like a sandbox to isolate the children from things like Youtube, lolcats, and NSFW content, while providing access to educational games and resources that are particularly helpful.

ZAC has 5 main sections. It opens with a comforting, screensaver-like aquarium complete with fish, coral, and bubbles. There is a television section that lets the child select from video clips that come from Disney, Sesame Street, Pink Panther, etc.

The games section has a wide array of interactive (and mostly educational) games like Artbot Jr. where we were able to make a dazzling colored picture of a princess. A music area allows children to do things like play virtual instruments and listen to Wiggles songs. A story section rounds out the browser where children can listen to a birdie read nursery rhymes (with interaction) or make a lemonade stand with Elmo.

The ZAC browser is available as a Windows installer or a Windows .exe that requires no install (good for a portable drive).

[Via NPR Bryant Park Project]

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ZAC: web browser for autistic children originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> autismchildrentechnology in educat...TechnologyInEducat...web browswerWebBrowswer Todd Ritter Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Rulers: color picker, rulers, magnifier in one package]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/22/rulers-color-picker-rulers-magnifier-in-one-package/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/22/rulers-color-picker-rulers-magnifier-in-one-package/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/22/rulers-color-picker-rulers-magnifier-in-one-package/#comments RulersRulers is a Swiss Army app for Mac and Windows that combines rulers, a color picker, a magnifier, and screenshot tool into a free utility that even supports multiple monitors. You can customize the rulers' units (pixels, inches, or centimeters), opacity, color, and placement. Line markers can be placed (much like Photoshop) by dragging from a spot on the ruler to a spot on your screen.

The color picker tool provides the hex and RGB codes of the pixel your mouse cursor is currently hovering over, and pressing Ctrl+C or Command+C will copy the hex code to your clipboard. There is a small magnifier in the color picker window as well.

The screenshot tool can either do simple full-screen captures to your clipboard or desktop, or you can create an area with ruler markers and then select one of those areas for a screenshot.

[Via CyberNet]

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Rulers: color picker, rulers, magnifier in one package originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> color pickerColorPickerfreewaremagnifierrulerscreenshot Todd Ritter Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Fuelfrog: track gas mileage and cost]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/12/fuelfrog-track-gas-mileage-and-cost/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/12/fuelfrog-track-gas-mileage-and-cost/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/12/fuelfrog-track-gas-mileage-and-cost/#comments FuelfrogFuelfrog is a web service for tracking your gas mileage and cost-per-gallon trends which can provide insight into your empty wallet. By adding simple information each time you fill up your car, Fuelfrog will chart that data to provide a gas history.

Fuelfrog accepts updates via its website, but it also can accept data via Twitter direct message. Simply add your Twitter account to your Fuelfrog profile and Twitter the miles since your last fill up, price per gallon, and number of gallons purchased to @fuelfrog.

Someday you'll be able to log in to Fuelfrog and tell your children, "See, back in my day I only paid $4.00 for a gallon of gas!"

[Via del.icio.us]

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Fuelfrog: track gas mileage and cost originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 12 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> environmentgasgasolinegreenmileage Todd Ritter Mon, 12 May 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Vidnik: upload Mac webcam videos to YouTube]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/10/vidnik-upload-mac-webcam-videos-to-youtube/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/10/vidnik-upload-mac-webcam-videos-to-youtube/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/10/vidnik-upload-mac-webcam-videos-to-youtube/#comments VidnikVidnik is a new Mac application that lets you quickly record video from your Mac's iSight camera and then upload it to YouTube. Simply run Vidnik, set your YouTube account username and password, record some video, crop it, add some tags and a description, choose the video category, and then click "Upload."

The movies you record are saved as .mov files in ~/Movies/Vidnik so that you can use them for other things as well. You can also drag other movies onto Vidnik for easy upload to YouTube.

Vidnik is a good tool for video bloggers (who want to use YouTube's bandwidth instead of their own), video responses to other YouTube videos, and solo musicians who want to be able to quickly upload performance video.

[Via Google Mac Blog]

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Vidnik: upload Mac webcam videos to YouTube originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 10 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewarevideo journalVideoJournalyoutubeyoutube.com Todd Ritter Sat, 10 May 2008 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Chronotron- Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/08/chronotron-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/08/chronotron-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/08/chronotron-todays-time-waster/#comments Chronotron Chronotron is a trippy puzzle-solving game where your player's movements are recorded and then repeated when you warp back in time. It may sound confusing, but play a level or two and you'll quickly understand.

Basically you move around the level and carry out a set of actions that should ultimately help you collect the circuit board required to "skip" to the next level. The problem is, those actions won't be enough on their own, so you'll have to warp back in time. When you go back in time, your previous movements are replayed, but you can also move independently of those movements to work in tandem with yourself (or multiples of yourself).

Continue reading Chronotron- Today's Time Waster

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Chronotron- Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> puzzle gamePuzzleGame Todd Ritter Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Google for Educators: integrate Google in the classroom]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/07/google-for-educators-integrate-google-in-the-classroom/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/07/google-for-educators-integrate-google-in-the-classroom/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/07/google-for-educators-integrate-google-in-the-classroom/#comments Google for educatorsGoogle for educators is a landing spot for classroom resources that incorporate Google products like Google Earth, SketchUp, Maps, and Sky. The site offers everything from simple links to the aforementioned products, to classroom activities for various K-12 grade levels.

There are downloadable PDF posters covering Google search tips for kids, Google Scholar, Book Search, and Google Earth, and there are activities that utilize various media like PDFs, wikis, podcasts, and websites. These activities are organized by grade level: K-5, 6-12, and "all levels."

The Google for educators site also links to their "teacher community" which is a Google group filled with threads about using the many Google offerings in a school classroom.

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Google for Educators: integrate Google in the classroom originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 07 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> technology in educat...TechnologyInEducat... Todd Ritter Wed, 07 May 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Logoease: quick and easy logo creation]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/30/logoease-quick-and-easy-logo-creation/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/30/logoease-quick-and-easy-logo-creation/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/30/logoease-quick-and-easy-logo-creation/#comments Logoease
Logoease is a simple, web-based logo-creation tool that offers basic stock clip-art and fonts. You start by choosing a logo image from a general set of categories, and then you're taken to the main editing screen where you can add text and arrange your logo.

You can add up to five lines of text of various fonts and colors, and you can change options like bold, italics, and font size. Your logo picture can be colored, and objects can be layered with "send to front" or "send to back" functions.

When your logo is finished, you can download a zip file containing a .jpg, .eps, .tiff, and .png of your logo. You'll need to signup for a free account (surprise) to be able to download the logo. When we first tested the site, we got errors when attempting to save our logos; however, the site appears to work properly now.

[Via makeuseof]

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Logoease: quick and easy logo creation originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> logologos Todd Ritter Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Wrongcards: ecards for the insensitive]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/29/wrongcards-ecards-for-the-insensitive/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/29/wrongcards-ecards-for-the-insensitive/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/29/wrongcards-ecards-for-the-insensitive/#comments WrongcardsIf you're tired of cheery, politically-correct e-cards and want to say it like you mean it, check out Wrongcards' offerings. Their e-cards don't have animated fluffy bunnies or smiling sunflowers, but they do have direct, honest quotes and illustrations covering the obvious topics like birthdays and anniversaries.

For example, send a "get well" card that says what you're really thinking: "Get Well, but if you don't, I'd find it very consoling if you left me your Wii." Or for the confident romantic, try this one: "Obviously this anniversary comes as a surprise...because you should totally have dumped me by now...but whatever..."

Wrongcards has the standard featureset of other e-card sites: send the card to multiple e-mail addresses, add your own custom message to the card, and get notified when someone reads your card.

[Via del.icio.us]

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Wrongcards: ecards for the insensitive originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> e-cardsecardsgreeting cardsGreetingCards Todd Ritter Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Launchball- Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/24/launchball-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/24/launchball-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/24/launchball-todays-time-waster/#comments Launchball Launchball is a fun, smart, and polished game courtesy of the Science Museum in London. The game uses a common premise: coax a ball into a goal. The objects you can use to accomplish this task though are based generally on electricity, magnetism, and mechanics.

There are basic shapes like "ski jumps" and ramps, but there are also batteries and steam generators (which also require a water tank and fire) to power magnets and fans. There are switches, springs, cushions, and rubber blocks. Each level provides you with a certain set and quantity of objects to help you get the ball in the goal (not all objects need to be used though).

If you take a few seconds to create a free account, you'll be emailed a code so that you can login at a later time and resume where you left off. Otherwise you have to play through all of the levels each time. There are three main categories of levels: tricky, sneaky, and crafty.

You can even create your own levels and share them. In the "Extras" section, you can play levels that were created by players.

[Via toddkedwards]

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Launchball- Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> launchballscience Todd Ritter Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[ToonCrisis- Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/23/tooncrisis-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/23/tooncrisis-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/23/tooncrisis-todays-time-waster/#comments Toon Crisis
Using an interesting blend of real-world video and cartoon-enemy overlays, ToonCrisis is a fun Flash shooter with an original soundtrack of punk-ish/ska songs to keep you motivated.

The objective is simply to kill the monsters by aiming your laser-shooting hand (which is, of course, in the shape of a gun) at them and clicking the left mouse button. There are different types of enemies including some that don't move but shoot things at you, some that move and take a bunch of shots to kill, and bosses (complete with separate energy meter) that must be beat before moving to the next stage.

The game flow is similar to arcade games like Area 51, Time Crisis, and Virtua Cop in that you walk a bit, kill all the enemies, walk more, kill enemies, defeat boss, repeat.

[Via Violethemlock]

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ToonCrisis- Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> flash gamesFlashGamesshootertimewasters Todd Ritter Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[NPR Intelligence Squared - Download Pod]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/22/npr-intelligence-squared-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/22/npr-intelligence-squared-download-pod/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/22/npr-intelligence-squared-download-pod/#comments NPR IQ2USThe NPR Intelligence Squared US (IQ2US) audio podcast is a series of recordings of public debates held in New York focusing on hot-button issues (most specific to the U.S.) like immigration, affirmative action, and global warming. The debates are held in the Oxford-style meaning there are one motion (topic), one moderator, three speakers for the motion, and three speakers against the motion.

Prior to the start of the debate, visitors cast their votes for or against the motion. During the debate, the results of the initial vote are shown, and the visitors vote again at the end of the debate to decide which side "won."

The debates move quickly, and it's nice to learn things in the car on the way to work instead of listening to drunk 30-somethings talk about "news."

The IQ2US series holds five debates in the spring, and five debates in the fall, and is available from the iTunes Store or the NPR website.

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NPR Intelligence Squared - Download Pod originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> debatedebatesdownload-podissuesnpr Todd Ritter Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Fulfillment and Twinkle - Today's Time Wasters]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/fulfillment-and-twinkle-todays-time-wasters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/fulfillment-and-twinkle-todays-time-wasters/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/fulfillment-and-twinkle-todays-time-wasters/#comments Fulfillment Today we bring you two quick flash games to waste time. Fulfillment is a tangram-style game where you must fill a square area with shapes so that none of the background is exposed. The target area gets progressively larger (starting at a 3x3 grid), and each level is timed. Points are awarded for level completion, with extra points for completing a level quickly.

Continue reading Fulfillment and Twinkle - Today's Time Wasters

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Fulfillment and Twinkle - Today's Time Wasters originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> fulfillmenttimewasterstwinkle Todd Ritter Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[MacHeist Bundle vs MacUpdate Promo]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/19/macheist-bundle-vs-macupdate-promo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/19/macheist-bundle-vs-macupdate-promo/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/19/macheist-bundle-vs-macupdate-promo/#comments MacUpdate Promo There are currently two great software bundles now available for Mac OS X: the MacHeist Bundle and MacUpdate's Promo bundle. Both offer a collection of commercial Mac apps, and both offer great savings by purchasing the apps bundled instead of separately. Here is a quick breakdown of both bundles and our recommendation if you can have only one.

MacUpdate Promo
The initial bundle costs $64.99 (USD) and includes the following:

  • Hazel - folder organization, trash emptying, app cleaning,
  • Leap - Spotlight replacement that supports tagging
  • ArtText - create pretty, artistic text (for headings, banners, etc.) from predefined or custom styles
  • DVDRemaster Pro - compress DVD's to DVD5 (4.7GB) and convert DVD's to iPod formats
  • Typinator - repetitive text and image replacement
  • StoryMill - organization app for novel writing
  • MenuCalendarClock - iCal access via the menubar

Continue reading MacHeist Bundle vs MacUpdate Promo

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MacHeist Bundle vs MacUpdate Promo originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bundlecommercialmacheistmacupdate Todd Ritter Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[DarkCopy: web-based, distraction-free text editing]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/10/darkcopy-web-based-distraction-free-text-editing/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/10/darkcopy-web-based-distraction-free-text-editing/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/10/darkcopy-web-based-distraction-free-text-editing/#comments Dark CopyDarkCopy is a web-based alternative to programs like WriteRoom and DarkRoom that lets you compose text files in full (or almost full) screen to eliminate distractions like instant messages, Flash games, LOLcats, etc.

You can type in a regular browser window, or go full screen to make most of your screen (except for the browser's toolbar) black with greenish text. When you're done writing, you can save the file to your computer as a plain ole' .txt file.

This is handy if you want to work on a blog post, business idea, school paper, or love note without your attention being lost to something less significant.

[Via del.icio.us]

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DarkCopy: web-based, distraction-free text editing originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewaretexttext editorTextEditorwriting Todd Ritter Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Accelerate your job hunt with Get Yourself Fired]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/09/accelerate-your-job-hunt-with-get-yourself-fired/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/09/accelerate-your-job-hunt-with-get-yourself-fired/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/09/accelerate-your-job-hunt-with-get-yourself-fired/#comments Get Yourself FiredGet Yourself Fired is a site that lets you upload a picture of your face and insert it into one of about 25 various compromising pictures (that would theoretically get you fired if your boss found them). The site was created by itzbig, a company that specializes in letting job candidates anonymously search for jobs at technology firms.

Like FaceinHole, Get Yourself Fired accepts JPEGs which you then align to a face sketch so that your face can be properly matched to whichever picture you choose. However, Get Yourself Fired doesn't let you use a webcam to cut out the uploading step.

When your picture is created, you can email it to your boss (or yourself), and then you can peruse some time wasters while you wait to be fired.

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Accelerate your job hunt with Get Yourself Fired originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> jobssilly Todd Ritter Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[BoomsticK- Today's Time Waster]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/boomstick-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/boomstick-todays-time-waster/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/boomstick-todays-time-waster/#comments BoomsticK Boomstick is a Flash game where you move a stick-figure person left and right, and aim/fire a boomstick (gun). The object is to shoot the "bad guys," which are really just basic shapes that fly through the screen at varying paces.

When you hit the bad guys, debris falls like a candy from a piñata, and collecting this debris gives you more ammo to continue the cycle. There are two powerups as well: a nuclear blast that clears the screen of bad guys, and a speed boost that, you guessed it, increases your lateral movement.

The background music and sounds can be turned off, though the music is sort of like techno/house and made us want to shoot more bad guys.

[Via UberPike]

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BoomsticK- Today's Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> boomstickflash gameFlashGame Todd Ritter Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Desktoptopia: desktop background management for Mac and PC]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/desktoptopia-desktop-background-management-for-mac-and-pc/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/desktoptopia-desktop-background-management-for-mac-and-pc/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/07/desktoptopia-desktop-background-management-for-mac-and-pc/#comments Desktoptopia Desktoptopia is a utility that changes your desktop background automatically with well-designed pictures that are chosen by the Desktoptopia team. Originally created for Mac OS X, a PC version is now available in beta.

On OS X, the app installs as a preference pane where you can change the rotation time (hours, days, etc.) and select feeds from which to pull pictures. Desktoptopia offers categories like abstract, film, photography, and typography. You can also add your own feed, which greatly increases the functionality of the program.

Continue reading Desktoptopia: desktop background management for Mac and PC

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Desktoptopia: desktop background management for Mac and PC originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> desktopwalfreewarewallpaperwallpapers Todd Ritter Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[FSuite CD: portable apps for Mac OS X]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/03/fsuite-cd-portable-apps-for-mac-os-x/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/03/fsuite-cd-portable-apps-for-mac-os-x/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/03/fsuite-cd-portable-apps-for-mac-os-x/#comments FSuite CDFor those Mac users jealous of the helpful Portable Apps Suite for Windows, the Free Open Source Software Mac User Group (FreeSMUG) has a similar solution called FSuite CD. The application pack comes with a bunch of portable Mac applications for easy mobility of many necessary programs, and it runs on PPC and Intel hardware.

The FSuite CD image includes the installers of over 40 portable apps. In addition to the obvious programs like Firefox, VLC, OpenOffice, etc., FSuite CD also includes things like Adium, Transmission, Audacity, Nvu, Gimp, and Bean. The individual apps are available for download from the FreeSMUG site as well.

To create a handy launcher, you'll have to create a folder on your portable drive, drag aliases of each portable .app to the folder, arrange the icons, and adjust the folder view.

[Via makeuseof]

UPDATE: The FSuite CD is merely a collection of recommended FOSS apps recommended by the FreeSMUG group. The FreeSMUG website also has portable apps for download, but the FSuite CD does not include them. The original article combined two separate projects: portable apps for Mac OS X, and the FSuite CD disk image that makes it easy to download a grouping of popular open-source applications.

Sorry for the confusion.

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FSuite CD: portable apps for Mac OS X originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> freewareportable appsPortableAppstweet-this Todd Ritter Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[1337 Hakorz Pranks for April Fool's 2008]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/1337-hakorz-pranks-for-april-fools-2008/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/1337-hakorz-pranks-for-april-fools-2008/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/1337-hakorz-pranks-for-april-fools-2008/#comments Stapler in JelloToday is the day many people will tie their friend's shoelaces together, pull the chair out from under an unsuspecting coworker, or tell their boss that they are quitting to work on American Idol audition songs.

If you prefer pranks of the technical nature however, check out these suggestions:

Screw with Firefox - download/install the Total Confusion Combo pack on the victim's computer to wreak havoc on their Firefox installation. The pack of Firefox extensions will (at various times through the day) go two links back instead of one link forward, Rick Roll 2% of videos watched, change the user's Gmail inbox to display "666" messages, add "sigh" and "lol" to the end of sentences, and remove letters from text links. Thankfully though, the extensions will only be effective today (even if the victim doesn't uninstall them). [Via Lifehacker]

Continue reading 1337 Hakorz Pranks for April Fool's 2008

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1337 Hakorz Pranks for April Fool's 2008 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> afd08 Todd Ritter Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[RegExr: test regular expressions online]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/regexr-test-regular-expressions-online/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/regexr-test-regular-expressions-online/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/27/regexr-test-regular-expressions-online/#comments RegExr
RegExr is a web tool for testing those widely used (yet often confusing) regular expressions. Regular expressions (regex) are search patterns that help you find strings of text in e-mail messages, text files, etc.

Things like Usenet search tools, Google Code search, and Open Office support regex, and regex versatility far surpasses simple wildcard searches like *.exe. For instance, a regular expression like .*@([^.]+\.)*example.com$ will find all email addresses from example.com (and its subdomains).

To use RegExr, type your expression in the top box, and then type/insert text in the box below to see if it matches your expression. You can use the helpful sidebar to learn about and insert different regex strings to build your overall pattern.

If you want a more feature-rich program, are running Windows, and have $39.95 to spare, try RegExBuddy. The RegExr developer plans to release free AIR versions of his product for Mac OS X and Windows.

UPDATE: The developer has recently released a significant update to RegExr that adds a code-sense engine and replace functionality.

The AIR version is now also available.

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RegExr: test regular expressions online originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> regexregular expressionsRegularExpressions Todd Ritter Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[GTalk on Mac and Linux with Prism (sort of)]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/gtalk-on-mac-and-linux-with-prism-sort-of/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/gtalk-on-mac-and-linux-with-prism-sort-of/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/gtalk-on-mac-and-linux-with-prism-sort-of/#comments GTalkWhile Google's GTalk messaging application is currently Windows only, shankri-la points out that similar functionality can be achieved by using Mozilla's beta project, Prism, to create a standalone web application.

After Prism is installed, run the program and enter the following line as the application URL:

https://talkgadget.google.com/talkgadget/client

Next, give your application a name like "GTalk," and choose your shortcut locations. You'll then have a GTalk/Prism web application that runs separately from your regular web browser (which is helpful for keeping conversations on a separate monitor or to prevent accidental quitting of the application during web use).

Signing in to your newly-created gadget will present you with your contact list and basic GTalk instant messaging. You won't be able to do fancy things like send files or use the music status functions, but you will be able to group chat, use emoticons, and save your chat history (if you've enabled that preference in your Gmail settings).

We know you could use the Google Talk within Gmail or use a Jabber client for Mac/Linux to connect, but using Prism to create a web app can create a better workflow for some users. You won't have to keep a Gmail tab open for IM, and you won't mistakenly quit Firefox when you're done browsing on another tab (which would close your IM session as well).

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GTalk on Mac and Linux with Prism (sort of) originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> chatfreewaregtalkinstant messagingInstantMessaging Todd Ritter Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Doozla: drawing so easy a child can do it]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/doozla-drawing-so-easy-a-child-can-do-it/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/doozla-drawing-so-easy-a-child-can-do-it/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/doozla-drawing-so-easy-a-child-can-do-it/#comments Doozla Doozla is a drawing application (Mac OS X only) designed for children from Plasq, the geniuses behind Skitch and Comic Life. There are 4 main ways to use Doozla: free drawing on a plain white background, drawing on a webcam capture, drawing on one of the included background pictures, and coloring-book mode.

The interface is fullscreen and child friendly since it provides large icons and a simple feature set. There are standard tools like a color chooser, eraser, paint bucket, and ellipse tool, and clicking any of the tools triggers a jolly voice to vocalize the name of the tool or color that was chosen.

Unfortunately Doozla only saves drawings in .doozla files (not .jpgs, .gifs, etc.), so it's not very easy to share creations. However, you can print the drawing to a standard printer or to a PDF.

Doozla costs $24.95, but a 30-day trial is available.

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Doozla: drawing so easy a child can do it originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> commercialcreativedrawingtechnology in educat...TechnologyInEducat... Todd Ritter Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Cayra: mind mapping for Windows]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/cayra-mind-mapping-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/cayra-mind-mapping-for-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/cayra-mind-mapping-for-windows/#comments CayraCayra is a mind mapping and concept-planning application for Windows that lets you create graphical representations of thought processes and ideas like brainstorms, family trees, and product-release schedules.

The program lets you label link paths and change the colors of links and nodes. You can also add images, hyperlinks, dates, and yes/no fields to nodes. FreeMind and MindManager file imports are supported.

The Cayra team is working on a web-based Flash version of their product that can be used on any platform and will support map exchanging. The current Windows version requires .NET framework 3.0.

For mind mapping on Mac OS X, try MindNode.

[Thanks commenter upsilamba!]

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Cayra: mind mapping for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> brainstormconcept mappingConceptMappingfreewaremind mappingMindMapping Todd Ritter Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST Download Squad <![CDATA[Calq: quick calculator access for Mac or Windows]]> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/19/calq-quick-calculator-access-for-mac-or-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/19/calq-quick-calculator-access-for-mac-or-windows/ http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/19/calq-quick-calculator-access-for-mac-or-windows/#comments CalqCalq is a free, lightweight, shortcut-key accessible calculator for both Mac OS X 10.4+ and Windows 2000/XP. The idea is to give you quick access to math functions without launching another program just to do simple calculations.

Calq can run in your Mac menubar or Windows tray, but you can just have the program run in the background with no icons. You can select a hotkey to launch the calculator, and when you press that hotkey, the Calq window displays for you to enter your calculations.

The program has a few customizable options besides the hotkey combination like screen location of the calculator window, fade effect, and transparency.
[Via MacUpdate]

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Calq: quick calculator access for Mac or Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> calccalculatorfreewaremath Todd Ritter Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST Download Squad