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[Create a real book from your... Facebook]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/19/create-a-facebook-book-from-your-facebook/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/19/create-a-facebook-book-from-your-facebook/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/19/create-a-facebook-book-from-your-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have you ever wanted to save your everyday Facebook activity for posterity? Want to make a book out of your Facebook to show your grandkids one day? Well now you can, with a bit of help from the Ninuku Archivist and a printer. For the princely sum of 24 of your hard-earned bucks, if you can stomach the massive privacy risk, Ninuku will automatically download your Facebook activity and make monthly logs divided into book-friendly, chronological chapters for one whole year. The chapters can then be download in PDF form, or combined into annals of your choosing. All you need then is a printer and you can create your very own leather-bound, ready-for-the-grandchildren, Facebook book -- if indeed books still exist by then.

Of course being the modern, tech-savvy person you are, you could always distribute it as an e-book, call it your memoirs perhaps. I'm sure people would love to read your daily stream. Adrian Mole eat your heart out.

[via Valleywag]

Download SquadCreate a real book from your... Facebook originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookninukusocial networkingSocialNetworkingFri, 19 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gravity attempts to be the Pandora of the Web]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/gravity-attempts-to-be-the-pandora-of-the-web/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/gravity-attempts-to-be-the-pandora-of-the-web/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/gravity-attempts-to-be-the-pandora-of-the-web/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gravity Interest Graph

Gravity, a new company set up by three former MySpace executives, has just had its public launch at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. The company's rather ambitious goal is to become the "Pandora of the Web," able to bring you the content it thinks you might be interested in based on your interests. To gauge what you might like to view, Gravity proposes to use your public social network feeds in order to create an "interest graph" and, from there, use a language model currently consisting of 100 million (!) phrases to distinguish how things fit together. For instance, "free throw" relates to "basketball," which in turn, relates to "sport" -- meaning you might like content revolving around sport.

First out the gate for Gravity is Twinterest, a product that can build-out an interest graph based on your tweets and then compare it with your friends. The Orbit, a personalized "Web newspaper" is also on the way, hoping to truly demonstrate Gravity's "this is what you might like" technology. The end game for Gravity, however, seems to be in the website personalization space, with the idea that you can land on your favorite site and hit a "personalization" button, which will bring highlighted content to the front, based on what you're likely to be interested in.

Interesting stuff, with serious potential, but other companies have been and gone attempting to do this kind of thing. Based on solid technology, but fighting an uphill battle for SEO against the force of nature, Gravity has a shot at making this work and has $10 million of venture capital behind them to do it. In the short-term, if you want to check out your "interest graph," then head on over to Gravity.com and check out Twinterest.

Download SquadGravity attempts to be the Pandora of the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookgravityinterest graphInterestGraphMySpaceThe OrbitTheOrbittwintereststwitterwebWeb 2.0 SummitWeb2.0SummitWed, 17 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Boutiques.com, Google's fashion shopping site, may launch on Wednesday]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/boutiques-com-googles-fashion-shopping-site-may-launch-on-wed/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/boutiques-com-googles-fashion-shopping-site-may-launch-on-wed/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/boutiques-com-googles-fashion-shopping-site-may-launch-on-wed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Google fashion event inviteA rumor has started making the rounds across the interwebs, and it has something to do with Google possibly launching a fashion shopping site. Apparently, it all started with a tweet from an "anonymous New York fashion PR", according to Frockwriter. That tweet was the cause for a lot of coverage in itself, until it was made public that many people in the fashion world had been invited to a Google party called "High Tech Fuses with High Fashion", that will take place on Wednesday. That certainly seems to confirm that Google is working on something fashion-related.

The word is that Google will launch Boutiques.com, a fashion site that will use image-recognition technology that Google got its hands on back when it acquired Like.com. Boutiques.com will apparently feature online shops selling merchandise from many designers and retailers, and will also sell the looks worn by celebrities and influencers.

Gizmodo has uncovered that Boutiques.com is owned by Like.com (also owned by Google) and this may be another small confirmation of the above being true. It would clearly make sense for Google to get into fashion e-commerce, because there's plenty of money to be made there. Whether or not that is what Google is doing, we're bound to know for sure in just a couple of days.

Download SquadBoutiques.com, Google's fashion shopping site, may launch on Wednesday originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boutiqueboutiquesboutiques.comfashiongoogleInternetonline shoppingOnlineShoppingrumorrumorsWebweb serviceweb servicesWebServiceWebServiceswebsiteMon, 15 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meebo gets into the website "check-in" game with the MiniBar]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/meebo-gets-into-the-website-check-in-game-with-the-minibar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/meebo-gets-into-the-website-check-in-game-with-the-minibar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/15/meebo-gets-into-the-website-check-in-game-with-the-minibar/#commentsFiled under: ,

Meebo MiniBarWe've got check-in apps for locations, media, and even wine, so why not for websites? That's where Meebo comes in with its soon to be released MiniBar. While it's not the first to bring check-ins to websites -- both Badgeville and OneTrueFan already do that -- Meebo has a significant amount of clout within the in-website add-on bar business with its popular Meebo Bar.

The MiniBar will let you check-in to your favorite websites as you visit them, optionally attaching individual pages and comments as you see fit. You can also share your check-ins on Twitter or Facebook, should you so wish, but Meebo will include a "friends feed" that'll show you what your friends have been visiting and sharing. There is, however, no game mechanic like that of Foursquare; the aim of the MiniBar is purely the discovery and sharing of websites, which is something that Twitter is currently used for. The MiniBar itself is a Meebo.com-served solution. It's essentially an extension that doesn't install any software on your system. As a consequence, the MiniBar will be available to Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer users in much the same way that the Meebo Bar is. The similarities don't stop there either -- the MiniBar also has chat features and other functions that are available on the Meebo Bar. Meebo's also rolling out "Profile pages," which will keep track of your check-ins and those of your friends, similar to most other profile systems in other social networks.

The extension is due to go live Tuesday for your check-in pleasure, with the MiniBar functionality eventually ending up in the main Meebo Bar once all the kinks have been worked out.

Download SquadMeebo gets into the website "check-in" game with the MiniBar originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgevillecheck-infacebookFourSquaremeeboMeebo BarMeeboBarMiniBaronetruefansocialtwitterWebMon, 15 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get emergency information faster with Google, now in 13 more countries]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/get-emergency-information-faster-with-google-now-in-13-more-countries/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/get-emergency-information-faster-with-google-now-in-13-more-countries/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/get-emergency-information-faster-with-google-now-in-13-more-countries/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Emergency Information
When a crisis happens, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling around for the correct phone number, or what to do before the emergency services arrive. Google's on the case, as they've launched an initiative to help you find emergency details in 13 more countries around the world.

By implementing a combination of special search results for keywords such as 'poison control' and 'suicide', with a list of common emergency numbers, they've created the one-stop shop that can help if you're in a panic. Just hit Google, plug in your crisis keywords and big G will do its best to get you what you need to help yourself or the injured person.

For the time being, 14 countries (Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US) are covered, with searches returning national hotlines, 24-hour emergency phone numbers and links to vital information. So next time you've got an emergency problem and you don't know who to contact, remember Google and hopefully you'll get the information you need.

Download SquadGet emergency information faster with Google, now in 13 more countries originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>112911999crisisemergencyGooglesearchFri, 12 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LoveFilm PlayStation 3 streaming now live in the UK for movies only]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/#commentsFiled under: ,

LoveFilm streaming to PS3
LoveFilm, the UK's Netflix equivalent, can now stream movies direct to your PlayStation 3, following through on the announcement from a couple of weeks ago. Streaming from the company's 'Watch Online' library is available free but with limited hours on a £5.99 per month package, which excludes games rental, or free and unlimited on a £9.99-or-more per month package. A quick look through LoveFilm's FAQs indicates that, at the moment, it's just free movie streaming, no TV or pay-per-view, and that there are currently over 2000 films available, with more added each week. Movies are streamed in 'near DVD-quality' at 1.6Mbps, not exactly mind blowing, but it's better than nothing. You can pause, rewind and fast-forward a stream, or even resume from a point where you stopped watching, handy if you need to pop to the shops for more popcorn in the middle of the movie.

LoveFilm can be accessed directly from the XMB using a brand new icon that should appear after a power cycle of a UK-based PS3. A free PlayStation Network account is required for streaming, but two PSN accounts can be used to link up two different LoveFilm accounts, while two PS3s can be linked to one LoveFilm account -- perfect if you happen to have a PS3 in the bedroom as well as the lounge.

A free trial is available for those who don't have a LoveFilm account, so there's no reason not to try it out. Fire up your PS3 now if you're in the UK, or head to LoveFilm's PS3 page for more information.

[via Engadget]

Download SquadLoveFilm PlayStation 3 streaming now live in the UK for movies only originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lovefilmmoviesPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3sonystreamingUKvideo on demandVideoOnDemandWed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google News enhanced for Android, iPhone and Palm Pre]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/google-news-for-mobile-enhanced-for-android-iphone-and-palm-pre/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/google-news-for-mobile-enhanced-for-android-iphone-and-palm-pre/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/google-news-for-mobile-enhanced-for-android-iphone-and-palm-pre/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google News for iPhone

Today, Google's rolling out a few new enhancements for the mobile version of Google News, which launched only this time last year. The cramped interface has been expanded to make accurate tapping easier for your chunky fingers, while the default story view has been collapsed to make story browsing a less scroll-intensive affair. A simple tap on the headline or snippet opens up the story for consumption, and if you want more -- Google's added a 'More Sources' link that furnishes you with related stories from around the Web.

If you haven't tried it yet, head on over to Google News on your Android, webOS or iOS device to check it out.

Download SquadGoogle News enhanced for Android, iPhone and Palm Pre originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Androidgooglegoogle newsGoogle news for mobileGoogleNewsGoogleNewsForMobileiOSiPhonewebOSTue, 09 Nov 2010 05:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Street View house blurring goes live in Germany]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-street-view-house-blurring-goes-live-in-germany/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-street-view-house-blurring-goes-live-in-germany/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-street-view-house-blurring-goes-live-in-germany/#commentsFiled under: ,

German blurred Street View House

Google Street View launched over the weekend in Germany, complete with a small proportion of houses "removed." Roughly 3 percent of Germans included in the Street View covered areas objected to having their house photographed and included in the service. German privacy standards allowed officials to force Google into providing an opt-out, which allowed German home owners to request the removal of their house from the panoramic photos. The result is a completely blurred out house, including any garden frontage that might appear in the photo.

Although it's almost impossible to recognize the house from the Street View image, it certainly attracts a lot more attention to said house, which sticks out like a blot on the virtual landscape. That's probably not what objecting Germans wanted. Check out the blurred images yourself in Oberstaufen.

[Via CNet]

Download SquadGoogle Street View house blurring goes live in Germany originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>germanygooglegoogle mapsgoogle street viewGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewstreet viewStreetViewTue, 02 Nov 2010 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Blekko, the "Slashtag" search engine is slow, cumbersome, and just plain broken]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/blekko-the-slashtag-search-engine-is-slow-cumbersome-and-ju/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/blekko-the-slashtag-search-engine-is-slow-cumbersome-and-ju/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/blekko-the-slashtag-search-engine-is-slow-cumbersome-and-ju/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blekko, despite how it sounds, is a search engine -- not a euphemism for vomit.

It's a search engine that, in its quest to go up against bigger opponents like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, has tried to set itself apart by lumping operators into "slashtags," calling itself "social," and touting how "open" and "transparent" its search results are. It also tries to put an overwhelmingly positive spin on human bias playing a huge role in search rankings. Blekko hopes to attract not just disillusioned power-users, but everyday users as well -- and from what I've seen, that doesn't seem very likely.

For starters, if you share the aversion to the three-letter acronym SEO that many users of social media tend to have these days, this search engine is not for you. If you like to get your search results very quickly, then this search engine probably isn't for you. If you like your search engine to be intuitive, and furthermore, to get decent results with a minimum amount of finagling, then I have to say that Blekko is not the search engine for you.

I spent a couple of solid hours using Blekko in a vain attempt to find a reason for all the hype. After all, The New York Times went as far as to call Blekko "A New Search Engine, Where Less Is More," and our own AOL compatriot Michael Arrington gave it plenty of positive attention at TechCrunch. I was actually hoping that there might be some worth to the plucky little upstart -- but instead I found a bloated, buggy search engine with largely worthless, extremely inaccurate results, regardless of what slashtag I used to "vertically narrow" my search.

Continue reading Blekko, the "Slashtag" search engine is slow, cumbersome, and just plain broken

Download SquadBlekko, the "Slashtag" search engine is slow, cumbersome, and just plain broken originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bingblekkogooglesearchseotwitteryahooMon, 01 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Connect 8 Flash-based Web conferencing solution announced with Android and iPhone support]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/adobe-connect-8-flash-based-web-conferencing-solution-announced-android-iphone-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/adobe-connect-8-flash-based-web-conferencing-solution-announced-android-iphone-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/adobe-connect-8-flash-based-web-conferencing-solution-announced-android-iphone-support/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Adobe Connect 8 mobile

Yesterday, Adobe announced the next version of Adobe Connect, its Flash Player-based Web conferencing and online meeting solution. For those unfamiliar with Adobe Connect, previously known as Macromedia Breeze and Presedia Publishing System, it is Adobe's browser-based answer to things like Cisco's video conferencing systems, Citrix's GoToMeeting, or in a very basic sense, Skype's screen sharing.

Online meetings have become more and more important as the cost of travel continues to rise, while budgets get slashed. Adobe Connect 8 attempts to reach out to more than just the desktop, with free support for Android [Market] and the iPhone [iTunes], allowing connected meetings on the go using devices that don't natively support Flash. An AIR-based client has also been made available for desktop management of your meetings, as well as access to recordings for later distribution.

Adobe Connect is primarily aimed at the Enterprise and Education market, but an online-only hosted plan is available for individuals for $55 a month per host. It's not something your bedroom blogger is going to use, but if you're an Enterprise manager looking for a new meeting solution, Adobe Connect 8 is worth throwing into your line of fire.

Download SquadAdobe Connect 8 Flash-based Web conferencing solution announced with Android and iPhone support originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeAdobe ConnectAdobeConnectandroidconnecteducationenterpriseflashGoToMeetingiPhonemacromedia breezeMacromediaBreezemeetingonline meetingOnlineMeetingSkypevideo conferencingVideoConferencingMon, 01 Nov 2010 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Flickr adds Google accounts to sign-in options, plans better OpenID support]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/flickr-google-account-sign-in-openid/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/flickr-google-account-sign-in-openid/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/flickr-google-account-sign-in-openid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Flickr Google account sign inStarting today, signing up for Flickr is possible using Google accounts. This feature is rolling out as part of a new push from Flickr to support OpenID. Google is the first partner, but support for more services is expected in the future.

Up until now, Yahoo-owned Flickr required a Yahoo ID to use. As you can see in the screenshot to the right, this is now also possible using an existing Google account. For now, Google accounts are supported only for those who are new to Flickr. Existing users will also get some enhancements to the sign-in experience, starting with the ability to sign in from any page on Flickr.

For more information, check out the FAQs here.

Download SquadFlickr adds Google accounts to sign-in options, plans better OpenID support originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flickrgoogleopen IDopenidphoto sharingphotographyphotosPhotoSharingvideo sharingVideoSharingYahooThu, 28 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Flash Media Gateway enables VoIP and video conferencing from Flash Player and AIR]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/adobe-flash-media-gateway-enables-voip-and-video-conferencing-from-flash-AIR/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/adobe-flash-media-gateway-enables-voip-and-video-conferencing-from-flash-AIR/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/adobe-flash-media-gateway-enables-voip-and-video-conferencing-from-flash-AIR/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Flash Media Gateway VoIP
Adobe announced yesterday that you'll soon be able to make VoIP calls right from Flash Player. A server solution from Adobe called Flash Media Gateway will enable you to make calls to landlines, cell phones, and computers using an SIP gateway. And if you happen to have a webcam (and who doesn't these days), it will even support video chat using H.264.

The interconnection fun doesn't stop there -- AIR apps will apparently get the same capability. That means that you might soon get cross-platform VoIP apps based around Adobe's AIR runtime, which recently made the jump to TVs, tablets, and smartphones. With Flash getting constantly knocked down in the embedded video market, it looks like Adobe's pulling out all the stops in order to keep it relevant. If Flash Media Gateway can use AIR apps to enable chat between the big screen TV and your tablet or smartphone, then color us excited.

Download SquadAdobe Flash Media Gateway enables VoIP and video conferencing from Flash Player and AIR originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeAdobe FlashAdobeFlashAIRflashFlash Media GatewayFlashMediaGatewaySIPvideo conferencingVideoConferencingvoipThu, 28 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Place Search introduces quick and easy, clustered local search]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/google-places-search-introduces-quick-and-easy-clustered-local/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/google-places-search-introduces-quick-and-easy-clustered-local/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/google-places-search-introduces-quick-and-easy-clustered-local/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Places Search Results

Today, Google has introduced even more fusion between its maps and search products by bringing in Place Search. It's a new kind of local search that brings up information about businesses, restaurants, and services that are centralized around a set location. OK, you've been able to do this for a while with Google Maps search, but Place Search automatically gives you this new results display when it thinks you're looking for something that's located around a particular area. If Google fails to predict your desire for a local search, you can also invoke the new feature by using the Places link in the left-hand column of the search results page.

With 50 million real-world locations already implemented, Place Search is an attempt to speed up the discovery, comparison, and selection of amenities around a given locale. This kind of clustered search relies on Google's ability to dynamically link hundreds of millions of websites with pre-programmed locations; that's no mean feat in and of itself. But the clever bit is that Google can apparently discern information on amenities that differ on spelling but actually represent the same place. The example that Jackie Barvaro from Google gave was "Stubb's BBQ," which could be represented by "Stubbs Bar-b-que," for instance. To a machine, the two entries are very different, but of course, to a human they mean the same thing.

Place Search apparently saves the average person two seconds per search for local information, and it's currently rolling out globally. It'll be localized into 40 different languages, but if you just can't wait for it to go live where you are, click here to get a taster.

Download SquadGoogle Place Search introduces quick and easy, clustered local search originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessgooglegoogle searchGoogleSearchPlace Searchplacesplaces searchPlaceSearchPlacesSearchsearchThu, 28 Oct 2010 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Flickr now imports Facebook friends, suggests users you may know]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/27/flickr-facebook-friends-user-suggest/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/27/flickr-facebook-friends-user-suggest/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/27/flickr-facebook-friends-user-suggest/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Flickr Facebook contacts import

Flickr has added a couple of new features today. People You May Know is a rather self-explanatory tool that suggests friends for you based on your existing contacts and the people they know. This feature now appears on the Find Your Friends page, but also has a module on the Flickr homepage. You can categorize people as a friend, family, or contact right within the module. To have new suggestions shown, just dismiss those who aren't interesting to you and new ones will pop up.

Don't want yourself showing up in other people's suggestions? Just make sure your profile is hidden from public searches (there's a setting for that) -- as that toggle also controls this ability.

You can also import contacts from Facebook now. The option checks which of your Facebook friends have a Flickr account and joins similar tools made for importing from Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo Mail.

Download SquadFlickr now imports Facebook friends, suggests users you may know originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookflickrphotophoto sharingPhotoSharingweb servicesWebServicesWed, 27 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vimeo adds Couch Mode 10-foot interface, mimics YouTube's Leanback]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/vimeo-adds-couch-mode-10-foot-interface-mimics-youtubes-leanba/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/vimeo-adds-couch-mode-10-foot-interface-mimics-youtubes-leanba/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/vimeo-adds-couch-mode-10-foot-interface-mimics-youtubes-leanba/#commentsFiled under: ,

Vimeo Couch Mode interface

YouTube's Leanback isn't the only big screen TV game in town anymore -- Vimeo's gone and launched its own TV viewing experience, cunningly called, Couch Mode. As the name implies, it's all about watching from the comfort of your sofa, using a 10-foot interface, letting you get on with enjoying interesting videos, and not having to squint to read a tiny UI.

Couch Mode still lets you do all the regular stuff you can do with the desktop version of Vimeo. You can like clips, save them to your Watch Later playlist, and get extended information on them and other users. While Vimeo has optimized the experience for Google TV and it's HTML5 and CSS3 heavy, that doesn't mean you can't get in on the action from the desktop or your HTPC. All you need is Chrome or Safari, with navigation taken care of using either keyboard or mouse. It'll start playing the moment you get there, and will continue to play through your choice of collections without interruption.

Got a Google TV or computer hooked up to your big screen, or even just a massive monitor? Then head on over to Vimeo.com/CouchMode and take if for a spin.

[Via UberGizmo]

Download SquadVimeo adds Couch Mode 10-foot interface, mimics YouTube's Leanback originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 foot experience10 foot interface10FootExperience10FootInterfacechromeCss3html5LeanBacksafarivideovimeoVimeoCouchModeTue, 26 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Holla is an open-source Campfire alternative you can run on your own server]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/holla-is-an-open-source-campfire-alternative-you-can-run-on-your-own-server/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/holla-is-an-open-source-campfire-alternative-you-can-run-on-your-own-server/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/holla-is-an-open-source-campfire-alternative-you-can-run-on-your-own-server/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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]

Continue reading Holla is an open-source Campfire alternative you can run on your own server

Download SquadHolla is an open-source Campfire alternative you can run on your own server originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ajaxappchatcollaborationgrouphtml5javascriptopensourceMon, 25 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe announces Project ROME public preview, brings all-in-one content creation to the cloud]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/adobe-project-rome-brings-all-in-one-content-creation-to-the-cloud/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/adobe-project-rome-brings-all-in-one-content-creation-to-the-cloud/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/25/adobe-project-rome-brings-all-in-one-content-creation-to-the-cloud/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Adobe let-fly its ROME free public preview over the weekend, for use on the desktop in AIR, or direct in the browser. Project ROME is an attempt to blend the kind of static content creation that InDesign allows, plus interactive media elements and a bit of PowerPoint thrown in for good measure, all wrapped in a cloud-based solution. It's difficult to describe exactly what ROME is, as it does so much -- but if you think about it as a simplified multimedia publishing solution you're just about there. Adobe describes it as "an all-in-one content creation and publishing application that lets virtually anyone at home, work or school inject the power of graphics, photos, text, video, audio, animation and interactivity into everyday projects."

Project ROME allows you to create, collaborate and share a whole host of projects using Acrobat.com, Google Docs, Facebook and Twitter. Adobe's even created an Education-specific release of ROME, partnering with several large schools, allowing the creation of interactive teaching materials with "safe, secure use of content.'"

After a quick play, we can safely say our days of using Paint are over. Project ROME seems incredibly simple to use, with a plethora of templates, text, shape and drawing manipulation tools, support for image and file import, plus embedding of maps and other interactive media -- it's certainly a jack-of-all-trades. For a professional designer, ROME will feel over simplified and limited, but for your average Joe, Adobe's target market for the project, we might have a winner on our hands. Whether it'll stand up to more rigorous use, we'll have to wait to find out, but it's certainly worth a try.

If you're still not sure, Adobe's provided a quick promotional video to better describe what Project ROME can do, which we've included after the break.

Continue reading Adobe announces Project ROME public preview, brings all-in-one content creation to the cloud

Download SquadAdobe announces Project ROME public preview, brings all-in-one content creation to the cloud originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeadobe romeAdobeRomecloudmultimediaProject ROMEProjectRomeROMEwebMon, 25 Oct 2010 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Musicians Wanted expanded "worldwide"]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/youtube-musicians-wanted-expanded-worldwide/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/youtube-musicians-wanted-expanded-worldwide/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/youtube-musicians-wanted-expanded-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , ,


YouTube's Partner Program for musicians, commonly known as Musicians Wanted, has been expanded out of the US this week. Musicians in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the U.K., Sweden, the Czech Republic, Argentina, and New Zealand, can now get in on the revenue sharing action for their music videos. By signing up for the Partner Program, you keep the rights to everything you do, which for many musicians is the biggest worry when signing with labels, let alone a video sharing site like YouTube. While the list of supported countries is now greatly increased, it's still well short of what Google would have you believe is "worldwide." Still, it's an improvement, and if you're a musician with a music video up on YouTube, and you haven't tried to have it pulled down already, perhaps now's the time to sign up and make some money off the back of your hard work from YouTube. What have you got to lose?

Interested people with musical talent, which counts us out, can head on over to YouTube.com/MusiciansWanted to sign up and see who else has joined the foray.

Download SquadYouTube Musicians Wanted expanded "worldwide" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlemusicmusicians wantedMusiciansWantedvideoyoutubeFri, 22 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acrobat.com services learning Italian and Spanish]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/acrobat-com-services-learning-italian-and-spanish/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/acrobat-com-services-learning-italian-and-spanish/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/acrobat-com-services-learning-italian-and-spanish/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Adobe is on a mission to bolster its Acrobat.com services, bringing direct integration with the recently announced Acrobat X, and new tools like Adobe CreatePDF and Adobe SendNow. In an effort to make Acrobat.com available to more users globally, translation efforts are currently underway to make Acrobat.com and all of its services available in both Italian and Spanish. Going live in the near future, Italians and Spaniards will finally be able to join their English, French, German, and Japanese friends, who can already take advantage of the majority of Acrobat.com services in their native languages.

That's great news if you want to use Acrobat.com to do collaborative work with colleagues from other non-English speaking countries. Who says we never cover EU-applicable stuff?

Download SquadAcrobat.com services learning Italian and Spanish originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrobatacrobat.comadobecreatepdfpdfsendnowThu, 21 Oct 2010 08:00:00 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