Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 beta has been made available to testers]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft Office 2010 SP1 Beta

Microsoft has made the first beta of Office 2010 Service Pack 1 available to testers. This is not a publicly released beta, and probably never will be -- it is ready for download by those who Microsoft has invited to test it and people who have registered to test it via Microsoft's Connect beta testing portal. The version number for this beta is 14.0.6011.1000.

It doesn't boast any new features, for it is merely a collection of bug fixes and various enhancements and improvements -- so you aren't missing anything by not having access to it. You will, of course, be able to install the finalized SP1 when it's ready via Windows Update. The service pack should add stability and performance to what is already Microsoft's fastest-selling consumer version of Office in history.

[via Winrumors]

Download SquadMicrosoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 beta has been made available to testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaMicrosoftmicrosoft officemicrosoft office 2010Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1MicrosoftOfficeMicrosoftOffice2010MicrosoftOffice2010ServicePack1officeoffice 2010Office 2010 SP1 betaOffice2010Office2010Sp1BetaWed, 17 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 4.0 beta 7 brings faster JavaScript, WebGL, is now feature-complete]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/firefox-4-0-beta-7-brings-faster-javascript-webgl-is-now-feature-complete/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/firefox-4-0-beta-7-brings-faster-javascript-webgl-is-now-feature-complete/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/firefox-4-0-beta-7-brings-faster-javascript-webgl-is-now-feature-complete/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A new beta release of Firefox 4 has finally been made available. What was the hold-up, you ask? Well, with Firefox 4.0 beta 7 being tagged as the feature freeze, Mozilla had to make sure that everything they planned on being built-in by default was ready for prime-time testing. And since there's no shortage of new features and improvements in Firefox 4, it stands to reason that beta 7 took a little while to get here.

What's new in Firefox 4 beta 7? Taking center stage is the kicked up duo of TraceMonkey and JägerMonkey, which have combined to make JavaScript handling every bit as fast in Firefox 4 as it is in Google Chrome. Hardware acceleration has also been turned on by default, bringing faster page rendering via your GPU -- whether you're running WIndows XP, OS X, or Windows 7.

There's also better HTML5 support, WebGL for 3D awesomeness, and Firefox 4 beta 7 can now utilize OpenType fonts on Web pages. You're looking at the final version of Firefox 4, really. Since no new features will be added from this point forward, it's all about squashing bugs and preventing crashes between now and launch day.

We'll have more Firefox 4 coverage throughout the day, so stay tuned!

Download Firefox 4 beta 7

Download SquadFirefox 4.0 beta 7 brings faster JavaScript, WebGL, is now feature-complete originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrowserfeature completeFeatureCompleteff4ff4b7firefox 4Firefox4mozillawebThu, 11 Nov 2010 06:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Make Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview 6 look like IE9 Beta]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/make-internet-explorer-9-platform-preview-6-look-like-ie9-beta/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/make-internet-explorer-9-platform-preview-6-look-like-ie9-beta/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/make-internet-explorer-9-platform-preview-6-look-like-ie9-beta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As with earlier previews of Internet Explorer 9, the latest release is totally chromeless (there's no shiny user interface, just a floating window). That can make it a little tricky to test things, but fortunately Ars Technica has posted a simple guide on how to turn on the IE9 GUI in Platform Preview 6.

First, you'll need to download and install both the Internet Explorer 9 Beta and Platform Preview 6 if you haven't already. Once that's done, follow these remaining steps:

32-bit Windows 7
1. Create a new folder on your desktop (call it whatever you like)
2. Open My Computer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer
3. Copy iexplore.exe and paste it into the new folder you just created
4. Go back to your My Computer window and navigate to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer Platform Preview
5. Copy the iepreview.exe.local folder and paste it into the new folder you created in step 1
6. Rename the folder you just pasted iexplore.exe.local

64-bit Windows 7
1. Create a new folder on your desktop (call it whatever you like)
2. Open My Computer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer
3. Copy iexplore.exe and paste it into the new folder you just created
4. Go back to your My Computer window and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer Platform Preview
5. Copy the iepreview.exe.local folder and paste it into the new folder you created in step 1
6. Rename the folder you just pasted iexplore.exe.local
Once that's done, just double-click the iexplore.exe in your new desktop folder, and Platform Preview 6 will load with the full Internet Explorer 9 interface.

Download SquadMake Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview 6 look like IE9 Beta originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guiie9internet explorer 9InternetExplorer9microsoftpreviewFri, 29 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Facebook app for BlackBerry enters beta]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/new-facebook-blackberry-beta/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/new-facebook-blackberry-beta/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/new-facebook-blackberry-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Facebook for BlackBerry searchA new version of the Facebook app for BlackBerry is now available from BlackBerry Beta Zone. This is version 1.9, and it brings loads of new features to enhance your Facebook experience on BlackBerry OS devices.

First off, there's now a dedicated inbox for Facebook messages. This inbox syncs with the Web-based Facebook inbox in real-time, including read states. And if you want to, you can integrate it into the BlackBerry inbox as well.

Search functionality has also been enhanced. You can now search for people and pages from within the app. Depending on privacy settings, you can view mutual friends, enlarge people's pictures, 'Like" pages, and send friend requests all from the search results.

And if your device runs BlackBerry OS 6, Facebook search is now integrated into Universal Search. So if you enter a search query into your BlackBerry's Universal Search box, you'll also get search results from Facebook.

The design of the app has also been updated to accompany the new features, and there's an updated navigation bar that allows you to view your profile.

The final release of this app will also include support for Facebook Places and additional UI tweaks. Facebook Chat will be added in a future version.

The beta version is now available for a limited number of people who sign up for testing it here.

Download SquadNew Facebook app for BlackBerry enters beta originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBlackBerryblackberry beta zoneBlackberryBetaZonefacebookFacebook for BlackBerryfacebook mobileFacebookForBlackberryFacebookMobileTue, 26 Oct 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 4.0 beta 7 to get native SVG support]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/firefox-4-0-beta-7-to-get-native-svg-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/firefox-4-0-beta-7-to-get-native-svg-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/firefox-4-0-beta-7-to-get-native-svg-support/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Currently available in the Firefox 4 nightly builds, Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) support is due to be rolled out with the next iteration of the Firefox 4 beta. For those not in the know, SVG is a family of 2D XML-based image formats that can be created as either static or dynamic images, similar to what you can do with GIFs. The benefit of using vector graphics over raster or bitmap formats, such as JPEG, GIF, or PNG, is that SVG images are scalable without pixelation. This scalability makes them ideal for sites that have various target formats. For instance, an SVG image will look equally as crisp on a tiny phone screen, or blown up on a huge 4K projector -- that's not something that can be said for raster images.

Daniel Holbert has put together some simple examples of SVG use, including a Firefox persona as shown above, which you can see using the current nightly of Firefox 4.

Download SquadFirefox 4.0 beta 7 to get native SVG support originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betafirefoxFirefox4mozillapersonassvgvectorThu, 21 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FaceTime comes to the Mac, beta now available for download]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

FaceTime on Mac and iPhoneDuring an event in Cupertino this morning, Apple has announced FaceTime for Mac. A beta version of the application is already available to download.

This partially addresses one of the biggest gripes FaceTime users have had with the service -- lack of support for video chatting with people on their computers. It only partially addresses it though, since it's only available for the Mac as of now (no Windows, no Linux). The other major FaceTime annoyance -- lack of 3G support on the iPhone -- is sadly still there.

To set up FaceTime on the Mac, all you need is an Apple ID and an email address. FaceTime works with the Mac Address Book so you won't have to re-enter all your contacts' details. By default, whenever someone calls you, all your Macs will start ringing, even if you don't have FaceTime actively running. If you don't want this to happen, you'll have to turn FaceTime off from Preferences.

The FaceTime beta is a free download for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4 or newer.

Download SquadFaceTime comes to the Mac, beta now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facetimeMacvideo callvideo callingvideo chatvideo conferencingVideoCallVideoCallingVideoChatVideoConferencingWed, 20 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rhapsody app for BlackBerryMusic streaming service Rhapsody has just announced the release of its beta BlackBerry application. This app is very similar to Rhapsody's iPhone and Android offerings, in that it allows you to listen to any song in their 10.5 million-strong database on your smartphone. Aside from listening to albums and songs on-demand, you can also tune in to radio stations customized around artists or genres.

Currently, Rhapsody for BlackBerry only works while you're connected to a Wi-Fi or 3G network in the United States. Offline use is reportedly coming soon. Use of the application requires a subscription to Rhapsody's service, which will set you back $10 each month. It looks like you can only use one mobile client with each subscription.

The Rhapsody app for BlackBerry can be downloaded by going to Rhapsody.com on your BlackBerry smartphone. It will be available in the BlackBerry App World shortly. The demo video is after the break.

[via Mashable]

Continue reading Rhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry

Download SquadRhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobetaBlackBerrymusicmusic streamingMusicStreamingrhapsodyMon, 18 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Google launches In-Page Analytics]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/google-launches-in-page-analytics/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/google-launches-in-page-analytics/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/google-launches-in-page-analytics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Google In-Page Analytics screenshot

Google's Analytics service is a very useful tool for webmasters to track what their visitors are doing on their sites and what they're clicking on. However, up until now there was no good way to visualize how visitors navigate on a website. Analytics reports do contain a lot of data, but making sense of all the different elements of a page that are referenced in them can be a pain.

To address such issues, Google has launched a new beta feature for Analytics called In-Page Analytics, which superimposes your Analytics data over your website as you browse through it. This tremendously improves understanding of Analytics data and of your visitors' usage patterns.

In-Page Analytics is already available for all Analytics users who have English as their language. Being a beta means that there's a chance that not everything will work smoothly, but Google engineers are working on improving it.

There's a demo video waiting for you after the jump and you can find out more about In-Page Analytics by going to Google's Help Center here.

Continue reading Google launches In-Page Analytics

Download SquadGoogle launches In-Page Analytics originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyticsgooglegoogle analyticsGoogleAnalyticsIn-Page AnalyticsIn-pageAnalyticsWebweb servicesWebServicesFri, 15 Oct 2010 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac OS X to get Windows Phone 7 sync beta this year]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/macs-to-get-windows-phone-7-sync-beta-this-year/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/macs-to-get-windows-phone-7-sync-beta-this-year/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/macs-to-get-windows-phone-7-sync-beta-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite what you might think, Microsoft's no stranger to software on a Mac. Its Office suite from the Mac Business Unit is still one of the best-selling pieces of software on OS X. With all the commotion about Windows Phone 7, it's easy to just assume that Microsoft's new and shiny mobile operating system would play nice with Macs, but given the Zune's track record, it certainly wasn't assured.

Our sister site Engadget is reporting, however, that Microsoft is indeed intending to bring Metro-goodness to OS X users, with a beta sync client that will allow "select" content to be loaded onto a Windows Phone "later in 2010." Select content probably means DRM-free MP3s and maybe a bit of PIM data, but don't expect it to be syncing your iTunes rentals -- DRM issues aside, they're not that buddy-buddy.

Download SquadMac OS X to get Windows Phone 7 sync beta this year originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplemacMicrosoftos xOSXsyncWindows Phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:47:00 EST<![CDATA[How to show more sites on your Internet Explorer new tab page]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/how-to-show-more-sites-on-your-internet-explorer-new-tab-page/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/how-to-show-more-sites-on-your-internet-explorer-new-tab-page/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/how-to-show-more-sites-on-your-internet-explorer-new-tab-page/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Internet Explorer 9's new tab page (or about:Tabs) is a handy way to access your most frequently accessed sites. But suppose you'd like to display more than 10 sites -- there's no way to change the number in IE9's options screen! Fortunately, a quick registry edit is all that's required.

Thanks to Microsoft's Eric Law, you don't even need to get your hands dirty in regedit. On his recent blog post, there are four .REG files provided for download which allow you to display 15 (3 rows), 20 (4 rows), or 25 (5 rows) of sites. The default IE9 default setting is also there should you decide 10 sites was enough after all.

If you're the DIY type and registry editing is right up your alley, head to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing\NewTabPage and adjust the NumRows key to your liking. If you don't see NumRows listed, just add a new DWORD value and enter 2-5.

Haven't taken IE9 for a spin yet? It's well worth a download.

Download SquadHow to show more sites on your Internet Explorer new tab page originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ie9internet explorerInternetExplorernew tab pageNewTabPagespeed dialSpeedDialTue, 28 Sep 2010 18:17:00 EST<![CDATA[HyperDock adds eye candy, functionality to your Mac's dock]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/27/hyperdock-adds-eye-candy-functionality-to-your-macs-dock/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/27/hyperdock-adds-eye-candy-functionality-to-your-macs-dock/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/27/hyperdock-adds-eye-candy-functionality-to-your-macs-dock/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HyperDockHyperDock is a System Preferences pane, which you can install on your Mac, that adds some nice visual improvements to the dock, as well as some very useful window-handling functionality. Currently, it's in beta, but you'd never know it; I have yet to have a single problem with it on my system.

Visually, HyperDock adds window previews when you mouse over icons for running applications, much like what you see in Windows 7. I haven't decided if I like this feature (on my Mac, or on Windows), but even turned off, HyperDock is still worth having installed.

HyperDock adds the ability to set up mouse and keyboard shortcuts for your applications individually or en masse, with options like Activate App, Hide App, Hide Other Apps, Quit App, Kill App, Exposé, Reveal App in Finder, Open Location, and Execute AppleScript. But as much as I love adding keyboard shortcut functionality to my system, it's HyperDock's window handling abilities that really shine.

You can set hotkeys for moving and resizing windows. This fixes one of the biggest UI problems in OS X, which is that in order to resize a window, you must grab a tiny widget at the bottom right of the window. Using HyperDock, you can press a key combination (it defaults to Ctrl+Option) and whatever window the cursor happens to be over suddenly starts moving with your cursor. Release the keys, and the window stops right there. Adding Shift (for Ctrl+Option+Shift) resizes the window under the cursor.

HyperDock is currently in beta, and while so, it is a free download. Once it is released, it's likely to "cost a small fee" according to the site.

[via TUAW]

Download SquadHyperDock adds eye candy, functionality to your Mac's dock originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahyperdockkeyboard shortcutsKeyboardShortcutsOS XOsXsystem preferencesSystemPreferenceswindow managementWindowManagementwindowsMon, 27 Sep 2010 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 4 startup gets faster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/19/firefox-4-startup-faster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/19/firefox-4-startup-faster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/19/firefox-4-startup-faster/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Firefox 4 shutdown is already almost instant, but Mozilla has had their sights set on faster start-up times for quite a while. Over the summer, a pair of Mozilla interns looked at simple tweaks which would make Firefox appear faster. It now looks as if at least one of the suggested changes will make its way in to Firefox 4.

Thanks to what Mozilla is calling Cascaded Session Restore, the Firefox startup process has been altered so that tabs don't try to load all at once. While three or four tabs might not make the 'fox sluggish, opening larger numbers of tabs can make it seem very slow out of the blocks.

Now, with CSR, Firefox will only load a specified number of tabs at once -- three by default, though you can customize the number in about:config. As Mozilla Links points out, Firefox will do its best to load the tabs you're likely to use first (your last focused tab from a previous session or most frequently viewed pages). CSR also works with Panorama: you can change a page's load priority by moving it to a different group.

Mozilla has also taken inspiration from the BarTab add-on: set browser.sessionrestore.mx_concurrent_tabs to 0 and tabs won't begin loading until you give them focus.

Intrepid testers, download the new nightly build and give it a try! Does Firefox 4 seem to start up faster when processing your tabs in bite-sized chunks?

[via Mozilla Links]

Download SquadFirefox 4 startup gets faster originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartabbetafastff4firefox 4Firefox4launchmozillarestoresessionspeedstartuptabsSun, 19 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How to uninstall Internet Explorer 9]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/18/how-to-uninstall-internet-explorer-9/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/18/how-to-uninstall-internet-explorer-9/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/18/how-to-uninstall-internet-explorer-9/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Maybe you've seen enough of the Internet Explorer 9 beta for now -- you just wanted a taste, but you'd rather not use a beta browser on a day-to-day basis. Maybe you just want to know how to uninstall it because other people are going to ask you how to do it. Unlike most other programs on your computer, however, you won't find IE9 listed on the Uninstall or change a program screen.

That's because Internet Explorer 9 installs as a Windows update. Here's what you need to do to uninstall IE9 on Windows Vista or Windows 7:
  1. click your windows button and type view updates in the search box
  2. once the results appear, click view installed updates

    Don't want to search?     Press Win+R and paste in the following:
    C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{d450a8a1-9568-45c7-9c0e-b4f9fb4537bd}
    then press Enter.
  3. wait for the Uninstall an update screen to load completely
  4. scroll through the list until you find Windows Internet Explorer 9
  5. click once to highlight IE9, then click the Uninstall button (or right-click and uninstall)
  6. confirm that you want to uninstall (click yes)

Download SquadHow to uninstall Internet Explorer 9 originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahow toHowToie9internet explorer 9InternetExplorer9removeuninstallSat, 18 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet Explorer 9 news roundup from around the Web]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-news-roundup/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-news-roundup/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-news-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag, the Internet Explorer 9 news is coming hard and fast. I've compiled some of the best articles I've seen thus far, including hands on reviews from other bloggers, some slick demos and tutorials, and a ton of official postings from Microsoft.
...And in case you missed our quick hits from earlier today when the embargo was "accidentally" broken and previous coverage: Already got the Internet Explorer 9 beta installed? Why not see what it can really do!
For IE9 coverage straight from Microsoft, these links are for you:

Download SquadInternet Explorer 9 news roundup from around the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrowserie9internet explorer 9InternetExplorer9microsoftwebWed, 15 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet Explorer 9 now available for download]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-now-available-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Been waiting to get your hands on the Internet Explorer 9 beta? The bits are up, so go get 'em.

Both 32 and 64-bit installers are available, and more than 20 localized versions area provided. There are also additional standalone language packs for Catalan, Hindi, Hebrew, and Vietnamese.

Sebastian is currently live blogging the launch, so follow the news on his post as it breaks!

So what are you waiting for? Go download Internet Explorer 9 and try it out -- then share your experience in our comments!

Download SquadInternet Explorer 9 now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadownloadinternet explorer 9InternetExplorer9Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet Explorer 9 features a better download manager]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-download-manager/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-download-manager/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-download-manager/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As it turns out, that earlier post from Fast Company broke Microsoft's embargo. Now, however, the ban has been lifted, and the images and reviews will be coming rapid-fire. We'll do our best to keep you up to speed until Sebastian is online in California.

One incredibly nice new feature Ed Bott illustrates in his review is an improved download manager. If you follow Download Squad, you've no doubt seen me complain about Google Chrome's wimpy download manager. Microsoft has built a somewhat Firefox-y looking manager into Internet Explorer 9. IE users will finally have a single pane that maintains download history and provides centralized access to running or opening downloaded files.

Download SquadInternet Explorer 9 features a better download manager originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadfilesie9internet explorer 9InternetExplorer9managerWed, 15 Sep 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet Explorer 9 lets you pin Web apps to your Windows 7 taskbar]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-lets-you-pin-web-apps-to-your-windows-7-taskbar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-lets-you-pin-web-apps-to-your-windows-7-taskbar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/15/internet-explorer-9-lets-you-pin-web-apps-to-your-windows-7-taskbar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While no one else has gotten their hands on it yet, FastCompany has scored some time with Internet Explorer 9, and their images show a pretty killer feature at work. IE9 will allow you to pin your favorite Web apps right to the Windows 7 taskbar.

Just like your favorite desktop applications -- Chrome, Firefox, Winamp, you name it -- you'll be able to pin your favorite browser-based apps. Better still, it's not going to be limited to actual apps like Gmail or Twitter. Launch partners include everyone from Amazon to the Wall Street Journal.

Cooler still, the Web apps that you pin will also be able to feature customized jump lists (image after the break).

Sebastian will be live blogging the launch when it happens, but I've got to say -- for a first glimpse at what IE9 will be able to do, this is pretty damn cool.

Continue reading Internet Explorer 9 lets you pin Web apps to your Windows 7 taskbar

Download SquadInternet Explorer 9 lets you pin Web apps to your Windows 7 taskbar originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsie9internet explorer 9InternetExplorer9pintasbarwebwindows 7Windows7Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 4 may not get silent updates after all]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/14/firefox-4-may-not-get-silent-updates-after-all/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/14/firefox-4-may-not-get-silent-updates-after-all/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/14/firefox-4-may-not-get-silent-updates-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Firefox 4 is slated to receive a boatload of new features, it looks like silent updates might not be one of them. In notes from a recent Mozilla platform meeting, the Chrome-style update feature has been flagged as "at risk" and could well be dropped.

Firefox will still download updates automatically, as it does now, and offer to install them prior to launching the browser. A silent method would have been nice, since it remove the possibility of a user simply clicking cancel or deny and running an out-of-date version. That system has certainly worked well for Chrome, though Chrome does have one advantage over Firefox when it comes to being "silent."

Since Chrome installs in a Windows user's application data folder, UAC prompts aren't displayed when it updates. Firefox, on the other hand, defaults to installing into the Program Files directory. As a result, even if Mozilla did add silent updating, Firefox would still cause a UAC pop-up to appear, which a user could cancel. With Chrome, on the other hand, there's really no escaping the updates.

What do you think? Would dropping silent updates from Firefox 4 be a bad thing, or is it a non-issue?

Download SquadFirefox 4 may not get silent updates after all originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobetachromefirefox 4Firefox4silentupdateTue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 4 preview builds with JägerMonkey JavaScript engine now available for download]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/09/firefox-4-preview-builds-with-jagermonkey-javascript-engine-now/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/09/firefox-4-preview-builds-with-jagermonkey-javascript-engine-now/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/09/firefox-4-preview-builds-with-jagermonkey-javascript-engine-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've been waiting to take Mozilla's JägerMonkey JavaScript engine for a test drive, now's your chance! The Firefox crew has finally released a preview build which is now available for download.

I've got the Windows version installed, and I'll admit that I'm not gobsmacked at the moment. The build feels fast, but not noticeably faster than the nightly builds I've used up until this point. Benchmark scores are certainly good -- with the Firefox 4 preview hot on the heels of Chrome 7.0.517.0 on my system (a quick Sunspider run was nearly neck-and-neck between the two browsers).

Even on the Fluid Dynamics sim mentioned in the post from Mozilla's Dave Mandelin ran at a higher FPS in Chrome.

Maybe my system is having some issues, though -- so let us know! Grab the Firefox 4 JägerMonkey preview build for your platform and tell us how it compares to other browsers!

Download SquadFirefox 4 preview builds with JägerMonkey JavaScript engine now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benchmarkbetabrowserchromefirefoxfirefox 4Firefox4jaegermonkeyjavascriptpreviewwebThu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu 10.10 beta arrives, packs tons of tweaks]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/03/ubuntu-10-10-beta-arrives-packs-tons-of-tweaks/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/03/ubuntu-10-10-beta-arrives-packs-tons-of-tweaks/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/03/ubuntu-10-10-beta-arrives-packs-tons-of-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ubuntu 10.10 is due to arrive next month (10/10, of course), and if you've been waiting for Canonical to make the jump from alpha to beta before taking an early peek at it -- today's the day! The download page is up, torrents are seeded, and you can finally get your paws on the Maverick Meerkat beta.

The new release features refined visuals from the background to the default icons. The simplified installer also now features an option to download an MP3 decoder during the setup process -- giving users the ability to play back the popular audio format from the get-go. There's also a slick new audio menu which display album artwork and playback controls.

Multi-touch support has been added and the Unbuntu Software Center refined, and some of the default applications have been replaced as well. Ubuntu Netbook Edition has also been overhauled, and now sports the new Unity dock and a snazzy home screen.

WebUpd8 has posted loads of screenshots and a video walkthrough which are well worth a look if you're keen on seeing what Maverick Meerkat brings to the table.

Download SquadUbuntu 10.10 beta arrives, packs tons of tweaks originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicallinuxmaverickmeerkatubuntu 10.10Ubuntu10.10Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST