Popular do-it-all media player VLC has updated to version 1.1.5, and there are a handful of noteworthy changes nestled amongst the bugfixes and security patches. For starters, VLC can now play live streaming video wrapped in Google's WebM video container.

The second big addition can be found on VLC's playlist window. Click the arrow next to Internet in the Media Browser box, and you'll notice Channels.com has been added to the mix. While you won't be able to access the entire vast expanse of shows Channels.com offers, VLC does include more than 1,000 popular offerings.

VLC 1.1.5 also brings one seriously awesome new feature for classic gaming fans: it can now play back a variety of video game audio using the Game Music Emu engine. Yes, you can now play your favorite in-game music from Atari, Famicom, and Sega right alongside your MP3 collection.

Download VLC Media Player 1.1.5

VidCoder is a nice, little DVD ripper for Windows -- it provides a simple, streamlined interface, supports encoding presets, and uses Hanbrake's processing engine for the heavy lifting. One feature which was notably absent from the last version we covered was support for Blu-Ray discs. That has been added in version 0.7.0, and VidCoder is now better than ever.

One other nice feature VidCoder offers is automatic preview image creation. That's been tweaked as well, and you can now choose to create from 10 to 30 images via the options menu. The built-in previewer has also gotten more responsive (especially when displaying high-def content) thanks to the addition of memory and disk caching.

You'll need the .Net 4.0 framework to run VidCoder -- as well as an app to circumvent that bothersome copy protection on your discs.

Download VidCoder for Windows

Adium isn't the only instant messaging app powered by libpurple which has seen a healthy spate of updates recently. Pidgin -- the cross-platform multi-network massaging app -- has been updated twice in the past fortnight, squashing numerous bugs and tweaking its interface.

Among the lengthy changelogs for Pidgin 2.7.4 and 2.7.5 you'll find support from Chrome and Chromium on non-Windows systems, better handling of Google Apps domains, several AIM and ICQ tweaks, and enhancements to voice and video chat.

Download Pidgin for Windows, Mac, or Linux

Rémi Denis-Courmont, one of the primary developers of open-source media player VLC (Videolan Client), has announced that Videolan has sent Apple a formal notification of copyright infringement regarding the terms under which its iOS app is being distributed in the iTunes App Store.

The root of the issue is this: VLC is distributed under the GPL, while VLC's iOS app is distributed by Apple under their iTunes Terms and Conditions, which limit users to installing both free and paid apps on a maximum of 5 devices. This limitation is enforced through DRM and is basically in direct conflict with the terms of VLC's GPL license. This conflict must have been known to Videolan prior to the app's arrival in the App Store, but they claim they are not at fault since the app was ported to iOS by a third party developer.

A precedent exists for this situation, and it's not pretty for fans of VLC on iOS. Earlier this year, the same thing happened with Gnu Go, a chess game distributed under the GPL. Back then, Apple chose to remove the app from the App Store rather than change their Terms and Conditions to make them compatible with apps that are under a GPL license.

So it definitely looks like VLC for iOS will disappear from the App Store any day now. If you haven't yet, perhaps you should go grab a copy while it's still available.

[via Macstories]

Looking for an inexpensive -- or better yet, free -- way to track your laptop or Android smartphone in the event it gets stolen? Check out Prey, an open source project that offers multi-OS tracking, reporting -- and countermeasures!

Just download the Prey client software, install, and register an account -- you'll need one in order to be able to access the service's Web-based control panel. Prey can collect a ton of valuable information from your device should it go missing, like:

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has announced that the Unity shell currently used in Ubuntu's netbook edition will become the default user interface for Ubuntu's main desktop edition as well, starting with the next version of the operating system. Unity became Ubuntu's netbook UI with the release of the current version of the OS, 10.10 Maverick Meerkat.

Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal is set to be released before the end of April 2011, and will represent a significant milestone in Ubuntu's history. It will be the first version of the OS not to ship with the Gnome shell as the default UI. Gnome will continue to be the underlying framework, as Unity is based on it, but the interface layer will look nothing like Gnome.

The reasons for this shift are many, but consist mostly of differences of opinion between Ubuntu's leadership and the upstream developers of Gnome. According to Shuttleworth, Ubuntu tried to participate in the Gnome shell design process but found many philosophical differences that were impossible to reconcile. They decided to go their own way and improve Unity to the point at which it will become a viable replacement for the Gnome shell.

Gnome's rejection of global menus as well as performance issues with Gnome's new Mutter window manager are also to blame for Ubuntu's change of direction. A key factor was also multi-touch, and Shuttleworth's clear belief that extensive support for it should be built into the OS. Unity is already multi-touch-enabled in Ubuntu 10.10 but the plan is to bring richer touch interaction to the desktop with Ubuntu 11.04.

This move could anger at least some open source enthusiasts, but it probably shouldn't. Ubuntu is clearly trying to further differentiate itself in a Linux world filled with UIs and user experiences that are extremely similar. It is a risky bet, but Shuttleworth says that developers need not worry because fragmentation can be avoided by using FreeDesktop.org to ensure that desktop integration mechanisms are standardized and interoperable. Whether that will be enough to alleviate all possible issues or silence the critics of this decision remains to be seen.

The standard Gnome shell will continue to be available as a non-default installation option.

Campfire is a slick way for teams to communicate, collaborate, and share via the Web -- but if you're searching for a simple, free alternative, a new project called Holla is worth a look.

Holla is an open-source chat and file sharing Web app. While it lacks Campfire's more advanced features, like transcripts and voice calling, Holla still provides an elegantly simple way to assemble a group for keyboard-powered brainstorming sessions or socializing.

One of its best features is Gmail-style drag-and-drop uploading. As you can see, images that you upload are automatically displayed inline. Files of any type can be dropped in, and members of your chat can simply click to download.

Holla scales well to handheld devices, too. It felt every bit as snappy on my iPod touch as it did in my desktop browser (image after the break).

You can take developer Alex MacCaw's demo for a spin or download the code from GitHub and run it on your own server.

[via Hacker News]

Miro is an excellent do-it-all video program. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and it can do just about everything video-related you could ask one program to do. Miro will download torrents, organize your movies, play them back (with subtitles), and as of the just-released version 3.5 it will even convert your videos for a variety of devices.

Conversions are fast and painless, and everything from the iPhone and iPad to PSP and Nexus One is supported. Miro is a great app to recommend to your less-than-technical friends -- who may not be interested in running a separate torrent download, video player, and video conversion app.

Miro 3.5 now ready to download, manage, play, and convert all your videos originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>convertdownloadipadiphonemiromovienexus oneNexusOneopensourceorganizepsptorrentvideoFri, 22 Oct 2010 13:00:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/microsoft-attacks-openoffice-org-and-open-source-with-a-damning/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/microsoft-attacks-openoffice-org-and-open-source-with-a-damning/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/15/microsoft-attacks-openoffice-org-and-open-source-with-a-damning/#commentsFiled under: Microsoft, OpenOffice.org, Open Source

In a typographical and punchy masterpiece, Microsoft has published a video that boldly attacks OpenOffice. You can watch it after the break.

The video is simple in its execution, using what seems to the spoken, damning testimonials of those that have used OpenOffice. Beautiful fonty goodness expands, diminishes, whooshes and slides as each and every one of OpenOffice's claimed benefits are torn to pieces.

The basic purpose of the video is to show businesses that switching to free, open-source software isn't as easy or efficient as it sounds. You know what you're getting with Microsoft Office -- while with OpenOffice it's hard for a business to predict its total support costs, and seemingly that's something businesses really hate.

I don't think Microsoft Office is actually much better than OpenOffice -- it's just that almost everyone, by virtue of Microsoft's 20-year monopoly of the workplace, knows their way around Microsoft Office. In fact, the only real claim made by Microsoft in the video is that its macro support is better -- the rest of its arguments seem to boil down to 'most of the world uses Microsoft Office; so should you!'

Better the devil you know, in other words.

Continue reading Microsoft attacks OpenOffice.org and open source with a damning video

Microsoft attacks OpenOffice.org and open source with a damning video originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft officeMicrosoftOfficeOOoopenofficeopenoffice.orgopensourceFri, 15 Oct 2010 11:30:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/googles-chrome-os-may-launch-on-november-11/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/googles-chrome-os-may-launch-on-november-11/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/12/googles-chrome-os-may-launch-on-november-11/#commentsFiled under: OS Updates, Google, Open Source

It looks like Chrome OS, Google's most anticipated software project of the year, is on the verge of finally launching. TechCrunch uncovered the fact that the browser-based OS has already hit Release Candidate stage, which is the step that comes right before a full-blown release. Most likely, Google's engineers are now hard at work squashing bugs and getting ready for Chrome OS 1.0.

Further evidence of this lies in a thread over at Google Code where a Google employee referenced 'November 11' a couple of times in reply to new feature requests. As in, Google would only consider adding new features after November 11. And that certainly makes sense, since usually while you prep a software project for release, you freeze any new feature additions and focus on ironing out the last kinks.

So it seems plausible that Google will release Chrome OS on November 11, or at least code-freeze it then and maybe wait until November 19 to unleash it - that's the one year anniversary of the event where they first showed it. Either way, they will be able to make that initially promised 'in time for the holiday season 2010' target after all. And Chrome OS-powered netbooks (or even tablets) could be on your lap very soon.

Google's Chrome OS may launch on November 11 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome osChromeOsgooglegoogle chrome osgoogle-chromeGoogleChromeOsopen sourceopensourceosupdatesTue, 12 Oct 2010 11:30:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/freetuxtv-lets-you-watch-and-record-hundreds-of-free-to-air-tv-c/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/freetuxtv-lets-you-watch-and-record-hundreds-of-free-to-air-tv-c/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/freetuxtv-lets-you-watch-and-record-hundreds-of-free-to-air-tv-c/#commentsFiled under: Video, Linux, Open Source

As the name suggests, this is a Linux-only app. You could always use Ubuntu (or similar) under VMware, though, which is what I did to bring you this review! Now on with the show.

FreetuxTV, in essence, is a simple app that plays any TV or radio stream from around the Web. It comes bundled with lots of different channel groups, each one containing channels from a specific country, or broadcast by a single company. There's a lot more French channels than any other (presumably because the main developer is French) but it's easy enough to add your own channels if they're not listed.

Once you've added some channel groups, pick a channel and start watching! Not every channel works, and sometimes it takes an awfully long time for an image to appear -- but can you really complain about free TV? The video quality is generally OK, but highly variable -- FreetuxTV is just a go-between, simply displaying whatever stream the broadcaster pumps out.

In fact, despite being a great tool that collates hundreds of TV channels, the only feature of FreetuxTV is that you can record TV shows. Just hit the red circle and whatever you're watching is recorded. By default it saves the raw stream, but you can configure it to transcode to either Theora and Ogg Vorbis, or H.264 and MPGA. Again, most of the streams are such low quality that you'd be better off finding a recording elsewhere, but it's still a nice option to have.

[via Ubuntu Vibes]

FreetuxTV lets you watch and record hundreds of free-to-air TV channels originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freefreetuxtvlinuxopen sourceOpenSourcestreamingtvwebThu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/weppy-brings-webp-support-to-mac-os-x/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/weppy-brings-webp-support-to-mac-os-x/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/07/weppy-brings-webp-support-to-mac-os-x/#commentsFiled under: Macintosh, Open Source, Browsers

Itching to take Google's new, JPEG beating image format for a test drive? Got a Mac? Then Nick Zitzmann's Weppy might just be the answer.

A simple drag and drop and you're up and running with WebP support in Safari, Firefox, Chrome, OmniWeb, Opera, Camino and others. Weppy comes in two versions, one for WebKit-based browsers and one for browsers supporting Netscape plug-ins such as Chrome, Firefox and Camino. Copy the two files into Internet Plug-ins within your Library folder, restart and away you go with 40% better compression. Nick notes that a 350KB JPEG saved with WebP comes out at 65KB, looking identical. A dramatic saving indeed, but considering the two images load in the same amount of time on a modern computer with a decent broadband connection, will anyone care but webmasters?

Head on over to Nick's site to check out the two images in question and judge for yourself.

[Via Download.com]

Weppy brings WebP support to most Web browsers on Mac OS X originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserBrowserPlugingoogleMacmac os xMacOSXopensourceOSXplug-inpluginpluginswebpThu, 07 Oct 2010 05:47:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/01/ubuntu-10-10-maverick-meerkat-beta-now-available-full-release-c/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/01/ubuntu-10-10-maverick-meerkat-beta-now-available-full-release-c/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/01/ubuntu-10-10-maverick-meerkat-beta-now-available-full-release-c/#commentsFiled under: OS Updates, News, Linux, Open Source

The team at Ubuntu decided to make today a fun Friday, releasing Ubuntu 10.10 RC (Maverick Meerkat) for users to play with over the weekend. The full stable release is due to release on October 10th, so if you don't feel like running the outlandish risk of using a beta version, sarcasm intended, then you don't have long to wait for the real deal.

Changes and additions in this version are plenty, including an upgrade to Linux kernel version 2.6.35. For Netbook Edition, the Unity interface is now default, and desktop users get a revamped Ubuntu Software Center. Shotwell seems to have replaced F-Spot as the default photo-management tool on both. Kubuntu comes with global upgrades to version 4.5 (with a promise of 4.5.1 "soon"), and Rekonq as the new default browser. In Xubuntu, Totem's been replaced by Parole as the default media player, Xfburn is the new default burning app, and Gnome-Task-Manager got ditched in favor of Xfce4-Taskmanager.

The list of known issues is pretty decent, so be sure to go through them first to avoid surprises.

Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat RC now available, full release coming soon! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betanewsopensourceosupdatesUbuntuUbuntu 10.10 Maverick MeerkatUbuntu10.10MaverickMeerkatFri, 01 Oct 2010 05:49:00 ESThttp://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/26/amarok-based-clementine-gets-massive-upgrade/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/26/amarok-based-clementine-gets-massive-upgrade/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/26/amarok-based-clementine-gets-massive-upgrade/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Open Source

Clementine is a great little audio player for Windows, and the recent update to version .5 has brought a lengthy list of new features. Not least among them is support for USB-connected MP3 players -- including iPods and iPhones!

My iPod touch 3G was recognized, but I couldn't get Clementine to establish a connection. My wife's little Sony E344, on the other hand, worked flawlessly.

What else has been added? There are better library control, organization, and sorting tools, automatic transcoding for connected MP3 players, and the ability to drag-and-drop songs between playlists. Want more? How about the ability to use a Wiimote to control Clementine?

Clementine's best new feature, however, has to be the All Glory to the Hypnotoad plug-in. Take the jump to see what it looks like, but don't stare too long -- lest you fall victim to the awesome powers of the Hypnotoad!

Pay a visit to the Clementine changelog for more details about what's new. Clementine runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and is well worth a download.

Continue reading Amarok-based Clementine gets massive upgrade

Amarok-based Clementine gets massive upgrade originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarokaudioclementinemp3musicopensourceplayerSun, 26 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST