Download Squad

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[15+ free Windows apps to help you tackle Thanksgiving tech support]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/21/15-free-windows-apps-to-help-you-tackle-thanksgiving-tech-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/21/15-free-windows-apps-to-help-you-tackle-thanksgiving-tech-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/21/15-free-windows-apps-to-help-you-tackle-thanksgiving-tech-support/#commentsFiled under: Features, Troubleshooting, Lists

The holiday season has always been a time for gathering -- but in recent years, it's also been a time when family and friends come bearing gifts of computer troubles. Their computer friends -- people like the Download Squad team and you, our readers -- get asked to do everything from installing RAM upgrades to the annual computer tune-up. We're happy to oblige, of course, because there's a decent chance someone will pay us in beer or baked goods. Cash is welcome too, but never seems to be offered quite as readily.

To make your holiday tech duties a bit easier, I've put together a list of some of my favorite troubleshooting apps for Windows.
Where download links for the files aren't on the application's main page, I've included a link to the appropriate download page. I've provided a handful of FileHippo links as well -- they're an excellent mirror site and they don't surround download links in advertisements or "recommendations."

Continue reading 15+ free Windows apps to help you tackle Thanksgiving tech support

15+ free Windows apps to help you tackle Thanksgiving tech support originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsavastcleancleaningdecrapifierdropboxfeatureshgghgg2010listsmalwaremalwarebytesmsepcdecrapifierrevosecuniasecurity_essentialssuperantispywareteamviewerthanksgivingtune-upuninstallerutilitiesviruswindirstatSun, 21 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Copy files to a Windows Phone 7 device in Windows Explorer]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/20/copy-files-to-a-windows-phone-7-device-in-windows-explorer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/20/copy-files-to-a-windows-phone-7-device-in-windows-explorer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/20/copy-files-to-a-windows-phone-7-device-in-windows-explorer/#commentsFiled under: Features, Windows Mobile, How-Tos

Don't get me wrong -- I really enjoy using Zune to listen to music on my desktop computer. When all I want to do is quickly drop a couple of songs or video clips onto my Windows Phone 7 device, however, it's a bit overkill. While my humble little Palm Pre has a USB mass storage mode which lets me copy files onto it like it was any other external hard drive, WP7 devices aren't quite as accessible.

Fortunately, there's an easy remedy -- and it only requires spending a minute in your registry. Make sure you've got the Zune desktop app installed before beginning. Now, on with the hacking!

Continue reading Copy files to a Windows Phone 7 device in Windows Explorer

Copy files to a Windows Phone 7 device in Windows Explorer originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyexplorerfileshowtosmusicvideowindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7zuneSat, 20 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - ex-CEO Jack Dorsey returns to Twitter]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/twitter-tuesday-ex-ceo-jack-dorsey-returns-to-twitter/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/twitter-tuesday-ex-ceo-jack-dorsey-returns-to-twitter/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/twitter-tuesday-ex-ceo-jack-dorsey-returns-to-twitter/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Twitter

Hey, Twitter fans! Before we jump into this week's cool apps, there's a bit of gossip hanging over the Twitterverse, and I don't think I can sneak by without mentioning that the Twitter founding team of Ev, Biz and Jack is now back together after Jack Dorsey's return to Twitter.

Jack was one of the original creators of Twitter, and he served as CEO when the company launched. Later, Evan Williams took over the position, and Jack pursued other ventures (like the Square mobile card reader). As we recently reported, Ev stepped down as CEO last month, to focus on Twitter's product development, letting Twitter's top money man, Dick Costolo, take over. It was understood that Costolo would be the guy to lead Twitter into greater profits based on a viable system of advertising.

But wait a minute ... Ev is focusing on Twitter's features and keeping it cool and relevant, but that's what Jack is coming back to do. Are the two working together, or are the rumors of bad blood between the founders true? My sense is that there might be some tension there, but various tech gossip blogs are exaggerating the story. Jack and Ev are both smart guys with a history of good ideas, and their two heads will probably be better than one for Twitter's future.

Now, onward to some excellent Twitter apps ...

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - ex-CEO Jack Dorsey returns to Twitter

Twitter Tuesday - ex-CEO Jack Dorsey returns to Twitter originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsdextrfeaturesjack dorseyJackDorseytweetdecktweets for honorTweetsForHonortwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 16 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to rescue your friends' email addresses from Facebook and export them to Gmail]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/how-to-rescue-your-friends-email-addresses-from-facebook-and-export-to-gmail/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/how-to-rescue-your-friends-email-addresses-from-facebook-and-export-to-gmail/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/how-to-rescue-your-friends-email-addresses-from-facebook-and-export-to-gmail/#commentsFiled under: Features, E-mail, Web services, Google, Yahoo!, How-Tos, Facebook

With Google calling out Facebook last week for trapping your contacts, it seems like a perfect time to offer a solution for rescuing those Facebook contacts and their email addresses -- sorry, still no phone numbers -- and exporting them to Gmail or your other address book of choice.

To do this, you'll need a Yahoo! account (Mozilla's Asa Dotzler says a Windows Live account works, too). It's free, so you can sign up for a throwaway if you don't already have one. Once you've done that, take a look at our step-by-step instructions for exporting your friends' contact info, after the jump.

Continue reading How to rescue your friends' email addresses from Facebook and export them to Gmail

How to rescue your friends' email addresses from Facebook and export them to Gmail originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contactsemailexportfacebookgmailgooglehowtohowtossocial networkingSocialNetworkingyahooTue, 16 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Your guide to Firefox 4 and its shiny new features]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/your-guide-to-firefox-4-and-its-new-features/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/your-guide-to-firefox-4-and-its-new-features/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/your-guide-to-firefox-4-and-its-new-features/#commentsFiled under: Features, Mozilla, Browsers

Firefox 4 - new look

Firefox 4, with the release of Beta 7, is as good as finished. From now until its release in early 2011, no new features will be added, no significant changes will be made -- Beta 7 is, for all intents and purposes, Firefox 4.

Unlike Firefox 3.5 (private browsing) and 3.6 (personas!!), version 4 has a significant number of new in-your-face features -- features that will take a little getting used to... like tabs-on-top! There are tons of neat little additions that improve your surfing experience, too. Many of these will exist in the background, under the hood, but it still helps to know exactly what your new browser is capable of; did you know that Firefox 4 is as fast as Chrome, for example?

This guide will fully prepare you for Firefox 4. It will teach you how to work with the big-hitters Panorama and Sync, and also introduce some other features you might not have heard about. If you're already using the Beta, this guide might teach you some new tricks. If you're holding off until the official launch in 2011, that's fine too -- bookmark this page and check back later!

You might find, after reading this guide, that you suddenly feel compelled to try out Firefox 4. It really is rather good.

Continue reading Your guide to Firefox 4 and its shiny new features

Your guide to Firefox 4 and its shiny new features originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>css3featuresff4firefoxfirefox 4Firefox4guidehtml5jaegermonkeyjavascriptmozillapanoramatabsThu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10+ handy Opera 11 extensions]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/10-handy-opera-11-extensions/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/10-handy-opera-11-extensions/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/10-handy-opera-11-extensions/#commentsFiled under: Features, Browsers, Lists

Opera 11 has finally joined the likes of Firefox, Chrome, and Safari in offering easy extensibility via extensions. While the list of available Opera extensions is comparatively short at the moment, there are already more than 100 to choose from -- and several that are quite handy.

You'll need Opera 11 installed to use these, of course. Grab a current snapshot build, as a number of extension-related issues have been fixed since the initial Opera 11 preview.

Now without further ado, let's jump in!

LastPass (new addition!)
I've been using LastPass to securely store and access my Web credentials since it first arrived. I've got it installed in Chrome, Firefox, Mobile Safari, and on my Droid Incredible. Now, I've even got it installed in Opera 11 -- it's a much more complete experience than the bookmarklet.

Translate (pictured)

A good number of extensions aim to add functionality from other browsers -- like Google Chrome's auto-translate feature. Translate (unsurprisingly) brings that functionality to Opera 11. Visit a page in a language other than your default (which you can set via a drop-down) and a toolbar offering to translate it appears.

Continue reading 10+ handy Opera 11 extensions

10+ handy Opera 11 extensions originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onadd-onsextensionsoperaopera 11Opera11Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - Are Twitter location check-ins coming soon?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/twitter-tuesday-are-twitter-location-check-ins-coming-soon/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/twitter-tuesday-are-twitter-location-check-ins-coming-soon/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/twitter-tuesday-are-twitter-location-check-ins-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, web 2.0, Twitter

Howdy, Twitter fans. Looks like it's Tuesday again already, and it's time for another installment of the best Twitter news and app of. Let's get to it!

The biggest news this week is an upcoming improvement to Twitter's Places feature. No, it's not a head-to-head Foursquare or Facebook Places competitor (yet), but it will allow businesses to claim their physical locations. If you haven't seen a Places page yet, take a look at the page for Twitter HQ. Note that these pages show all recent tweets sent from that location, which could be totally useful to a business.

Twitter told Mashable that "Claiming Twitter Places is not available at this time. We're experimenting with a variety features. Allowing businesses to claim a Place is a natural thing to consider for the future." This could mean any number of things, from a very basic tool for business to advertise specials and deals on their Twitter Places pages to a full-on check-in system. Twitter will need to find an incentive for business to claim pages, and an incentive for users to add their locations to tweets ... could Twitter Deals be around the corner (they worked so well the first time around as Early Bird)?

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - Are Twitter location check-ins coming soon?

Twitter Tuesday - Are Twitter location check-ins coming soon? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackbird pieBlackbirdPiederek powazekDerekPowazekmapmyfollowerstwittertwitter for adultstwitter placestwitter tuesdayTwitterForAdultsTwitterPlacesTwitterTuesdayweetwordpressTue, 09 Nov 2010 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday -- Twitter starts slipping ads into your stream]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/twitter-tuesday-twitter-starts-slipping-ads-into-your-stream/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/twitter-tuesday-twitter-starts-slipping-ads-into-your-stream/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/twitter-tuesday-twitter-starts-slipping-ads-into-your-stream/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Microblogging, Twitter

Hey, Twitter fans! It's another Twitter Tuesday, and there's one piece of Twitter news that's on everybody's mind: ads are here! Some folks see in-stream advertising as the end of Twitter as we know it, and we're about to find out whether that's true. Twitter's much-discussed Promoted Tweets -- paid Twitter ads that will be injected directly into your Twitter stream -- have started to roll out. Twitter is beginning cautiously by introducing the Promoted Tweets just for users of third-party Twitter client HootSuite.

This is the first time Promoted Tweets have jumped from trend pages and search results into users' personal Twitter streams, and Twitter is anxious to see how they react. HootSuite users are the guinea pigs for this advertising initiative, presumably because it would be crazy to unleash ads into Twitter's most popular clients (the official website and official mobile apps) without a bit of testing first. "We will expand the rollout only when we feel we're delivering a high-quality user experience," writes Twitter's Matt Graves on the official Twitter blog.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday -- Twitter starts slipping ads into your stream

Twitter Tuesday -- Twitter starts slipping ads into your stream originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adiumclitwifeathertwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 02 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[15+ Google Chrome extensions for better privacy control]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/15-google-chrome-extensions-for-better-privacy-control/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/15-google-chrome-extensions-for-better-privacy-control/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/15-google-chrome-extensions-for-better-privacy-control/#commentsFiled under: Features, Google, Browsers, Lists

If there's one thing all the recent Firesheep shenanigans have taught us, it's that we all need to take Web security and privacy a bit more seriously. Though you might not be aware, Google Chrome includes a number of privacy-minded features out-of-the-box. From blocking plug-ins, JavaScript, and the transmission of your location via its content settings to disabling prefetching, custom error messages, and usage statistics.

But for the truly privacy-minded, those features may not go far enough. Fortunately, there's no shortage of excellent options in the Chrome Extensions Gallery that can help provide you with better control over your browsing privacy.

Now, on to the extensions -- we'll get the big two out of the way first.

AdBlock

Apart from being an annoyance, Web-based advertising code also tends to harvest information about you and your browsing habits. It serves a purpose, obviously, allowing ad providers to serve more relevant ads. That doesn't mean you have to like it, of course, and AdBlock lets you choose which sites get to show you ads.

Flashblock

Some sites use Flash as a way to creatively store cookies and track you. Installing Flashblock gives you control over which pages are allowed to load Flash elements and which aren't.

Continue reading 15+ Google Chrome extensions for better privacy control

15+ Google Chrome extensions for better privacy control originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adblockbrowserchromechromiumflashblockgooglegoogle chromeGoogleChromenoscriptprivacyMon, 01 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox Friday: Mozilla refuses to ban Firesheep, a more-Awesome Bar, delayed Firefox 4, and more]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/firefox-mozilla-refuses-to-ban-firesheep-a-more-awesome-firefox-4/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/firefox-mozilla-refuses-to-ban-firesheep-a-more-awesome-firefox-4/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/firefox-mozilla-refuses-to-ban-firesheep-a-more-awesome-firefox-4/#commentsFiled under: Features, Mozilla, Browsers

Firefox Friday

This week has been a busy one for Mozilla, and not in a here-are-lots-of-awesome-toys-to-play-with way.

First of all, Firefox 4 was pushed back to 2011. We had originally hoped to see it launch before the end of 2010, but in all likelihood we probably won't see before March or April 2011. There are still a bunch of Beta releases to get through, and then the Release Candidates. On the flip side, FF4 is already very fast and a joy to use -- as long as you don't mind the occasional hiccup, it's well worth the upgrade from FF3.6!

Then there was Firesheep, a sidejacking add-on that gets its name from Firefox, which Mozilla has decided not to ban. Mozilla retains the ability to blacklist add-ons, but generally only blocks add-ons that cause browser crashes. There have been a few add-ons blocked for 'security issues', though, which raises the question: is Mozilla simply looking at the bigger picture -- a Web made all the more secure because of awareness-raising add-ons like Firesheep?

Finally, the Nobel Peace Prize website was hacked to exploit a 0-day Firefox vulnerability. The hole was summarily patched and new versions of Firefox 3.5 and 3.6 were released.

It wasn't all bad this week though! Mozilla Labs threw out a few of very fun toys to play with (an auto-complete Awesome Bar!), and I've found a few other goodies to show you, too.

Continue reading Firefox Friday: Mozilla refuses to ban Firesheep, a more-Awesome Bar, delayed Firefox 4, and more

Firefox Friday: Mozilla refuses to ban Firesheep, a more-Awesome Bar, delayed Firefox 4, and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onbrowsersextensionfeaturesfirefox friday fiveFirefoxFridayFivefirefozmozillamozilla labsMozillaLabsoptimizedpale moonPaleMoonFri, 29 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox Friday: Open Apps, Open Games, Open UI... and the world's fastest JavaScript engine]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/firefox-friday-open-apps-open-games-open-ui-and-the-world-fastest-javascript/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/firefox-friday-open-apps-open-games-open-ui-and-the-world-fastest-javascript/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/firefox-friday-open-apps-open-games-open-ui-and-the-world-fastest-javascript/#commentsFiled under: Internet, Features, Mozilla, Browsers

Good afternoon! Firefox Friday has been decidedly absent from the luridly green pages of Download Squad over the last few weeks, but it returns today with vengeance.

A lot has been happening at Mozilla, with developments emerging on all fronts. As always we've covered the most important bits, but there's still a lot more to tell you about.

Let's crack on with the first and perhaps most telling titbit:

Mozilla has a new CEO: Gary Kovacs

John Lilly, after almost three years at the top, has stepped aside for newcomer Gary Kovacs. Kovacs has a ton of experience in product management (10 years at IBM), and also significant knowledge of rich media and the mobile Web (5 years at Macromedia, then Adobe). For further reading, Lilly has a great blog post introducing Kovacs.

With this appointment it's clear that Mozilla is fully invested in making Firefox the best browser, both on the desktop and on mobile devices. If you thought the difference between Firefox 3.6 and 4.0 was a big leap, you can only begin to imagine what 5.0 will bring with Kovacs at the helm.

Continue reading Firefox Friday: Open Apps, Open Games, Open UI... and the world's fastest JavaScript engine

Firefox Friday: Open Apps, Open Games, Open UI... and the world's fastest JavaScript engine originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browsersfirefoxfirefox friday fiveFirefoxFridayFiveinternetmozillawebFri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - Microsoft shows off Twitter on Windows Phone 7]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/twitter-tuesday-microsoft-shows-off-twitter-on-windows-phone-7/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/twitter-tuesday-microsoft-shows-off-twitter-on-windows-phone-7/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/twitter-tuesday-microsoft-shows-off-twitter-on-windows-phone-7/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Social Software, Twitter

Hey, Twitter fans! With Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 just launching, it's time to take a look at Twitter on this new mobile platform. Microsoft has posted a brief live demo of the app, as well as a video showing off some of its features. If you're thinking about making the switch to Windows Phone 7, and Twitter is important to you, this is well worth checking out.

Twitter for WP7 uses the side-swiping "pivot" interface that will be common to many Windows Phone apps. That means you can flick sideways to switch from your stream to replies, DMs, nearby tweets and more. Microsoft seems particularly proud that they've pulled in Top Tweets and made them available even when you're not signed into Twitter. That sounds right in line with Twitter's new "we're not a social network, we're a news source" philosophy.

Visit Microsoft's Channel 9 for the latest demo of Twitter on WP7 (you'll need the Silverlight plug-in), and check out a quick promo for the app after the jump.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - Microsoft shows off Twitter on Windows Phone 7

Twitter Tuesday - Microsoft shows off Twitter on Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>snowflaketumbl.intwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdaywindows phone 7WindowsPhone7Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[DLS Faceoff: Grooveshark is a solid music streaming and recommendation app for Android]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-grooveshark-is-a-solid-music-streaming-and-recommendation-app-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-grooveshark-is-a-solid-music-streaming-and-recommendation-app-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-grooveshark-is-a-solid-music-streaming-and-recommendation-app-for-android/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Features, Android

Grooveshark Android start screen

This post is the second part of the DLS Faceoff that reviews two of the major audio streaming offerings currently available for Android. Erez has walked you through Rdio in the previous post, and this post will focus on Grooveshark. Make sure you read both and decide for yourself which app better suits your needs.

Grooveshark is an online audio streaming service at heart, and it works on your computer just by going to its website. Erez reviewed its newest version not long ago.

Like Rdio, Grooveshark has also expanded into the mobile space, and it now has an Android app (alongside apps for Symbian, Palm, and BlackBerry). The app comes with a free trial that's limited to 14 days and 50 songs played, after which a subscription to Grooveshark VIP is required. This will set you back US$3/month or $30/year. Among the benefits of a VIP subscription are a desktop (Adobe AIR) application, last.fm scrobbling, and ad-free listening.

Let's get on with the review, then.

Continue reading DLS Faceoff: Grooveshark is a solid music streaming and recommendation app for Android

DLS Faceoff: Grooveshark is a solid music streaming and recommendation app for Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidaudiocomparisonGroovesharkmusical-webradiostreamingTue, 12 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DLS Faceoff: Rdio is an incredible music streaming service for Android]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-rdio-is-an-incredible-music-streaming-service-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-rdio-is-an-incredible-music-streaming-service-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/dls-faceoff-rdio-is-an-incredible-music-streaming-service-for-android/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Features, Android

rdio

If you have a smartphone with a fast network connection and an unlimited data plan, do you really need to have a ton of music stored locally? Wouldn't it make more sense to just stream it from the cloud on demand?

I think it would make a lot of sense, and luckily for me, I'm not the only one. There are at least two major audio streaming offerings for Android at the moment: Grooveshark and Rdio.

We've decided to have a little Download Squad Faceoff: I will discuss Rdio in this post, while Vlad will cover Grooveshark in the next. You get to read both, and decide for yourself which one is the better solution.

Ready? Here we go!

Continue reading DLS Faceoff: Rdio is an incredible music streaming service for Android

DLS Faceoff: Rdio is an incredible music streaming service for Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsaudiocloudmusical-webradiord.iordiostreamingTue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Future of the Web: behind the scenes of Firefox 4 Mobile with principal engineer Vladimir Vukićević]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/08/future-of-the-web-behind-the-scenes-of-firefox-4-mobile-with-vladimir/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/08/future-of-the-web-behind-the-scenes-of-firefox-4-mobile-with-vladimir/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/08/future-of-the-web-behind-the-scenes-of-firefox-4-mobile-with-vladimir/#commentsFiled under: Features, Microsoft, Browsers

Just yesterday Mozilla released the first beta of Firefox 4 (Fennec) for Android and Maemo. We've reported on various versions of Firefox for Mobile, but this build is something else entirely -- this is actually Firefox 4, with the Fennec UI strapped on top.

Externally, from an end-user point of view, this is business as usual: Mozilla has been trying to produce a working version of Fennec for quite a while, and despite a few false starts, pruned code trees and canned versions, it looks like Firefox for Mobile will become a reality in early 2011. Most users won't know -- or care -- about the development process or what goes on under the hood.

Internally, however, and for the bleeding-edge technozealots, this underscores Mozilla's continuing efforts to retain its position as the innovative vanguard of the browser war. While Google and Microsoft plough their limitless resources into the desktop browser market, Android has been left with nothing more than Dolphin HD and a slew of lacklustre, third-party WebKit-powered browsers.

To put it another way, there is a gaping void in the smartphone browser market, and Mozilla is about to fill it.

Continue reading The Future of the Web: behind the scenes of Firefox 4 Mobile with principal engineer Vladimir Vukićević

The Future of the Web: behind the scenes of Firefox 4 Mobile with principal engineer Vladimir Vukićević originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfennecfirefoxfirefox for androidfirefox for mobilefirefox friday fiveFirefoxForAndroidFirefoxForMobileFirefoxFridayFivefuture of the webFutureOfTheWebinterviewmaemomozillavladimir VukićevićVladimirVukićevićFri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - Dick Costolo, Twitter's money man, becomes CEO]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/05/twitter-tuesday-dick-costolo-CEO/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/05/twitter-tuesday-dick-costolo-CEO/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/05/twitter-tuesday-dick-costolo-CEO/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Social Software, Microblogging, Twitter

In a big personnel move at Twitter, co-founder Evan Williams is stepping down as CEO. @ev has been one of the faces of Twitter, along with Biz Stone, but he's ready to focus more on product development and hand the reins of Twitter over to COO Dick Costolo. The change makes a lot of sense: Ev didn't get into Twitter to monetize, he got into Twitter to build something cool.

Costolo has done a great job figuring out how Twitter can make money, so he's the right CEO to lead the company forward into its new, more profitable form. Meanwhile, Ev will be free to do nothing but brainstorm and build new ideas for Twitter itself, or maybe invest in something new, like Twitter cohort Jack Dorsey did with mobile payment app Square.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - Dick Costolo, Twitter's money man, becomes CEO

Twitter Tuesday - Dick Costolo, Twitter's money man, becomes CEO originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CEOdick costoloDickCostoloevan williamsEvanWilliamstwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 05 Oct 2010 16:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - Twitter passes MySpace, kills Early Bird, and rolls out new website to half of users]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/twitter-tuesday-twitter-passes-myspace-kills-early-bird-and/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/twitter-tuesday-twitter-passes-myspace-kills-early-bird-and/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/28/twitter-tuesday-twitter-passes-myspace-kills-early-bird-and/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Microblogging, Twitter

It's been a busy week for Twitter itself, so I'll (mostly) lay off the third-party Twitter client news in this edition of Twitter Tuesday. Hit the jump for all the latest updates from Twitter -- including some hope for those of you who don't have access to the shiny new Twitter web interface yet.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - Twitter passes MySpace, kills Early Bird, and rolls out new website to half of users

Twitter Tuesday - Twitter passes MySpace, kills Early Bird, and rolls out new website to half of users originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brizzlyfeaturesnewtwittertwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 28 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - Tweetie 2 for Mac is coming, and it'll be free and unofficial]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/21/twitter-tuesday-tweetie-2-for-mac-is-coming-and-itll-be-free/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/21/twitter-tuesday-tweetie-2-for-mac-is-coming-and-itll-be-free/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/21/twitter-tuesday-tweetie-2-for-mac-is-coming-and-itll-be-free/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Social Software, Microblogging, Twitter

So, we've seen Twitter for iPhone, Twitter for iPad, and a new Twitter Web interface. Where's our Tweetie for Mac update? Twitter is finally releasing some details about what developer Loren Brichter -- hired by the big T to revamp Tweetie into Twitter for iPhone and create the official iPad app-- is doing with Tweetie for Mac.

Here's the deal: Tweetie for Mac won't become an official Twitter client. After all, Twitter just went through the biggest revision ever to its Web interface, making it look an awful lot like Mr. Brichter's iPad app, and they want desktop users to flock to that new website. So, Tweetie is just a side project for Loren, still developed under the banner of his still-sort-of-existent software company, Atebits. He won't be making any dough on it, though, because (according to Twitter), it's going to be made free.

That's good news for everyone except folks who bought the Mac software discount bundle MacHeist on the promise that they'd be let into an early Tweetie 2 beta and given free licenses for the new version of the app. Well, they'll still be getting free licenses ... but so will everyone else who wants to use Tweetie 2.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - Tweetie 2 for Mac is coming, and it'll be free and unofficial

Twitter Tuesday - Tweetie 2 for Mac is coming, and it'll be free and unofficial originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresitsytweetie 2tweetie for macTweetie2TweetieForMactwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox Friday - Panorama tab search, auto-updating and add-on sync (sort of)]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/17/firefox-friday-panorama-tab-search-auto-updating-and-add-on-s/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/17/firefox-friday-panorama-tab-search-auto-updating-and-add-on-s/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/17/firefox-friday-panorama-tab-search-auto-updating-and-add-on-s/#commentsFiled under: Features, Mozilla, Browsers

Greetings, fearless Firefox fans! I'm your fill-in host for Firefox Friday this week, because Sebastian is in San Francisco meeting with Mozilla! He should have some juicy Firefox tidbits for you when he gets back, but for right now, let's round up the awesome Firefox news that popped up over the past week.

IE9 got all the hype, but Mozilla's testing some new stuff for Firefox that's simply awesome: bug fixes, tab seach in Panorama and Firefox autoupdates (finally!) are all just around the corner.

Join me as we explore a great week in Firefox!

Continue reading Firefox Friday - Panorama tab search, auto-updating and add-on sync (sort of)

Firefox Friday - Panorama tab search, auto-updating and add-on sync (sort of) originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsauto-updateautoupdatefeaturesfirefoxfirefox fridayFirefoxFridaymozillapanoramatab searchTabSearchFri, 17 Sep 2010 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tuesday - third-party Twitter apps take a beating and keep on tweeting]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/twitter-tuesday-third-party-twitter-apps-take-a-beating-and-ke/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/twitter-tuesday-third-party-twitter-apps-take-a-beating-and-ke/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/twitter-tuesday-third-party-twitter-apps-take-a-beating-and-ke/#commentsFiled under: Features, Web services, Social Software, Microblogging, Twitter

It's certainly not a good week to be a Twitter app developer (unless you work for Twitter, that is). Tweet honcho Evan Williams just revealed on the Twitter blog that third-party apps make up a teeny-tiny percentage of all Twitter traffic, with the Twitter website and official apps pulling the bulk of the weight. Ev stopped short of saying, "You think we need you, but we don't," but that seemed to be the implication.

In case you were wondering which third-party apps are the most successful, TwitPic and TweetDeck top the list, with 4% and 3% of Twitter's traffic, respectively. To put that into perspective, the official Twitter iPhone app gets 8%, and so does SMS. Twitter.com is by far the most popular way to access Twitter, at 78%.

Meanwhile, the money is being cut off for Twitter devs, too. A report cited by ReadWriteWeb says that, while Twitter development is way up, investment in Twitter developers is way down. In fact, it's down 50% over the past year. The report only deals with startups whose products are built entirely on the Twitter platform, so hybrid apps might be okay. We just don't know for sure, but we do know that Twitter continues to muscle out developers. Twitter's "evolving ecosystem," which grew up on the work of enthusiastic outside devs, is now leaving them behind.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday - third-party Twitter apps take a beating and keep on tweeting

Twitter Tuesday - third-party Twitter apps take a beating and keep on tweeting originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurespush notificationsPushNotificationstwittertwitter tuesdayTwitterTuesdayTue, 07 Sep 2010 15:15:00 EST