Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/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[Androidify yourself with Google's new Android app]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/14/androidify-yourself-with-googles-new-android-app/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/14/androidify-yourself-with-googles-new-android-app/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/14/androidify-yourself-with-googles-new-android-app/#comments Androidify Ever wanted an Android robot-style avatar based on your own good looks? Well today's your lucky day! Google's just unleashed their Androidify app on Android Market, ready to turn Mr. Android into your own custom mascot, free to post across the Web. You start with the little green mean-machine as a template, customizing to your heart's content. Add clothes, facial hair, make him short and fat, tall and thin, or even add some super-stylish facial hair. A lovable Android to call your very own.

Hit the Androidify website, or the Android Market to download the app, and get creating. If you need some inspiration hit the jump for the promo video and kudos for the best looking creations posted in comments.

Continue reading Androidify yourself with Google's new Android app

Download SquadAndroidify yourself with Google's new Android app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAndroidifyandroidify yourselfAndroidifyYourselfappsavatarGooglelolzMon, 14 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Maps' little orange guy will receive a Santa hat tomorrow]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/google-maps-little-orange-guy-will-receive-a-santa-hat-tomorrow/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/google-maps-little-orange-guy-will-receive-a-santa-hat-tomorrow/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/google-maps-little-orange-guy-will-receive-a-santa-hat-tomorrow/#commentsPegman Santa hat
Have you ever wondered if that little orange guy that you can drag around in Google Maps to enter Street View has a name? Well, he does, and it's Pegman.

This modern-day Clippy is getting ready for some Christmas-themed dressing up. As of tomorrow, he'll be wearing a Santa hat -- as seen in the image above.

Pegman has slowly, but surely, turned into the de facto mascot for Google Maps. On previous special occasions, he's been known to dress up as a snowman, change his appearance in support of gay pride, dress as a hippie, witch, or Uncle Sam, and even ride a bike in the Tour de France.

Download SquadGoogle Maps' little orange guy will receive a Santa hat tomorrow originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle mapsGoogleMapshggLOLZpegmansanta hatSantaHatWebThu, 23 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[NoseDial for iPhone lets you use your nose to make calls in the cold]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/nosedial-iphone-dial-cold/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/nosedial-iphone-dial-cold/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/nosedial-iphone-dial-cold/#commentsJust in time for this year's harsh U.S. winter, NoseDial offers new way to dial your iPhone in the cold, without taking off your gloves. Yep, you're supposed to use your nose. It's got oversized contact buttons that your schnoz can easily hit, and you can even set favorites, to make your most-called friends easier to find (and tap your nose on). You can tilt to scroll through your contacts, so no nose-swiping is required. [That could be pretty messy... -Ed]

NoseDial has several styling options for your contact buttons. The basic metal skin will probably be good enough for most folks, but you can go wild with pink snakeskin, blue jeans or crystal ice. More importantly, you can set the number of contacts per page to match your NoseDialing skills. Fewer contacts equals larger buttons, which means a bigger target for your beak. Of course, you'll want to fire up NoseDial before you put your phone in your pocket, to avoid having to unlock the phone with your nose.

The bottom line: NoseDial sounds ridiculous, but it costs a mere 99 cents in the App Store, much less than a pair of those special iPhone-usable gloves. Of course, normal gloves won't impair you from popping in your Apple earbuds when you're out in the cold, and hold down the play-pause button on them to activate Voice Dial.

Download SquadNoseDial for iPhone lets you use your nose to make calls in the cold originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscolddialingiosiphonelolznosedialwinterThu, 23 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Favimon lets you collect and do battle with your favorite Web sites -- Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/22/favimon-lets-you-collect-and-do-battle-with-your-favorite-web-si/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/22/favimon-lets-you-collect-and-do-battle-with-your-favorite-web-si/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/22/favimon-lets-you-collect-and-do-battle-with-your-favorite-web-si/#comments
Ah, Pokemon. Your collect-train-battle cuteness is a guilty pleasure for so many geeks. But wouldn't it be nice if we had an alternative to the cutesy little monsters (no offense, Squirtle)? Matthew Hollett thinks so, and he decided to create one for all of us to enjoy. Witness: Favimon!

You'll begin the battle by collecting Favimon's own favicon, and you can then begin searching for other Favimon to do battle with -- just type a domain name into the search box. The game analyzes your choice and assigns stats and abilities to the new Favimon, and the battle is on! Special abilities include winners like Microsoft's Blue Screen of Death and Missed Opportunity to the powerful Tyrannosaurus Chomp packed by Mozilla.

I began by going after a few small, expendable sites so that I could wear down a beefier Favimon I actually wanted to keep -- like Mozilla. The Foxy Favimon powered through opponents like Opera, WebKit, Microsoft, and Chromium without breaking a sweat (dig that crazy defense stat).

Favimon is ridiculously addictive, and it's only going to get worse (or is that better?). Hollett plans to add a save game feature -- right now you've got to leave your Favimon tab open to keep the game going. That said, I've had the tab on my main desktop computer open for two days now...

Download SquadFavimon lets you collect and do battle with your favorite Web sites -- Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefaviconfavimongeekypokemontime-wastertimewasterswebsitesWed, 22 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opera 11 downloaded 6.7 million times on day one -- thanks to the power of bacon]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/17/opera-11-downloaded-6-7-million-times-on-day-one-thanks-to-bacon/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/17/opera-11-downloaded-6-7-million-times-on-day-one-thanks-to-bacon/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/17/opera-11-downloaded-6-7-million-times-on-day-one-thanks-to-bacon/#commentsWhile Opera 11's warm reception had a lot to do with a greatly improved browser and a very loyal fan base, the boys in Oslo had one clever trick up their sleeve which they saved for launch day. And with nearly 7 million downloads in 24 hours, you've got to hand it to Opera: they know how to tempt a geek.

How'd they do it? By dangling delicious bacon in front of Reddit users. You've got to admit, the Opera 11 Web advert is at least as enticing as those Evony ads -- you know which ones I'm talking about.

As for those of us who already tried Opera 11 and knew it was a solid browser... well, if you're like me, you're probably just craving some sizzlin' hot bacon right about now.
Curse you, Opera!

Download SquadOpera 11 downloaded 6.7 million times on day one -- thanks to the power of bacon originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbaconbrowserbrowserslollolzoperaopera 11Opera11redditviralwebFri, 17 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Holy unspeakable awesomeness, Batman! It's Robinisms for Android!]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/06/holy-unspeakable-awesomeness-batman-its-robinisms-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/06/holy-unspeakable-awesomeness-batman-its-robinisms-for-android/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/06/holy-unspeakable-awesomeness-batman-its-robinisms-for-android/#comments
There are a few things that would make every day that much more awesome. For some, it might be a Peter Griffin-style soundtrack following you around... or perhaps a personal sidekick who could chime in with memorable catchphrases like Burt Ward used to do on the classic Batman series. Yes, Robin was quite the wordsmith, slinging gems like "Holy atomic pile, Batman!"

If you've got an Android smartphone, you can take the golden-tongued Robin with you wherever you go -- thanks to Robinisms! Launch the app and tell Robin to speak, and Robinisms generates sidekick banter from its grab bag of verbage.

Now all we need is an augmented reality app which adds "Bang!" and "Kerrrrang!" balloons next to people's faces in real time...

Holy QR codes, Batman! Scan the image after the break to install!

Continue reading Holy unspeakable awesomeness, Batman! It's Robinisms for Android!

Download SquadHoly unspeakable awesomeness, Batman! It's Robinisms for Android! originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsbatmanburt wardBurtWardfunfunnylollolzrobinMon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Linux.fm is an online radio station that broadcasts the Linux kernel]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/29/linux-fm-is-an-online-radio-station-that-broadcasts-the-linux-ke/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/29/linux-fm-is-an-online-radio-station-that-broadcasts-the-linux-ke/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/29/linux-fm-is-an-online-radio-station-that-broadcasts-the-linux-ke/#commentsLinux.fm screenshot
Linux Radio (found at Linux.fm) is an online station that randomly broadcasts source files from the Linux kernel. Each time you visit the site, a new file is read to you by a virtual speaker. As if this project wasn't geeky enough, the virtual speaker that you hear is materialized through the open source (of course) speech synthesizer known as eSpeak. Oh, and Linux Radio is dedicated to Dr. Sheldon Cooper.

Naturally, this gets a whole load of bonus points for sheer geeky awesomeness, though whether it can be deemed useful for, well, anything, is another matter. Still, you have to try it at least once. And, as an anonymous reader notes over at Slashdot, this concept proves "the advantages of open source over proprietary software" yet again, because who "in his right mind would want to listen to binary files?". Well said.

Download SquadLinux.fm is an online radio station that broadcasts the Linux kernel originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funLinuxlinux kernellinux.fmLinuxKernelLOLZspeech synthesizerSpeechSynthesizerMon, 29 Nov 2010 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Fun Booth 2 adds World Cup paraphernalia to your photos]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/18/fun-booth-2-adds-world-cup-paraphernalia-to-your-photos/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/18/fun-booth-2-adds-world-cup-paraphernalia-to-your-photos/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/18/fun-booth-2-adds-world-cup-paraphernalia-to-your-photos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Because Download Squad is always* super-relevant and topical when it comes to sports coverage, here's another app that lets you show your virtual support for your favorite World Cup team. Fun Booth 2 is like a souped-up version of the Photo Booth app for Mac, and it now includes all kinds of World Cup props that you can add to your photos.

Adding team-colored beanies, jerseys, and more to your pics is Fun Booth's trendiest feature, but it's got other tricks that make it worth a look even after the World Cup. Fun Booth has a library of other props, and it uses facial recognition to make them fit your photo perfectly. It also lets you drag and drop your own props or draw on your photos. There are even some limited photo editing capabilities, like adjusting brightness/contrast and saturation. The full version of Fun Booth 2 is US $19.99, but there's also a free trial edition that you can download to see if it's something you want to keep around.


*for very, very small values of "always."

Download SquadFun Booth 2 adds World Cup paraphernalia to your photos originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fun boothFunBoothfunnymacphoto boothPhotoBoothphotospropsworld cupWorldCupFri, 18 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ok, now Google is just screwing with us...]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/ok-now-google-is-just-screwing-with-us/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/ok-now-google-is-just-screwing-with-us/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/ok-now-google-is-just-screwing-with-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few days back, I came across some vendor-specific files on the public Git repositories for Google Chrome OS. Labeled for Acer, Dell, and HP, the files likely hinted at the fact that the big three OEMs were at the stage where they needed driver support for their Chrome OS hardware.

Yesterday, however, those files disappeared from the repo, and they're still missing today. They've been replaced with what you see above. Yes, either Google is having a little chuckle about this, or Chrome OS is going to run on hardware that was cutting-edge back when I was in elementary school.

Man, I knew I should've tried to fix my C64 instead of scrapping it!

So, who's up for a little Native Client Lego Star Wars on an Amiga? Pics or it didn't happen.
Share submit to reddit StumbleUpon.com

Download SquadOk, now Google is just screwing with us... originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome osChromeOsfunnygitgooglelolosupdatesprankWed, 16 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Clubby the Seal gets his revenge in this Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/05/clubby-the-seal-gets-his-revenge-in-this-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/05/clubby-the-seal-gets-his-revenge-in-this-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/05/clubby-the-seal-gets-his-revenge-in-this-time-waster/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Clubbing baby seals is pretty much universally evil ... but what happens when the seals club back?!

That's what you get to find out in a game called Clubby the Seal, where you play the titular vicious arctic creature as he goes around beating the heck out of humans and monsters. It's gory, sure, but that's what makes it fun!

This adorable seal has some vicious moves, including jump attacks and ice attacks. You score points by taking out humans (in a splash of guts, naturally) and collecting stylish human-skin clothes. Gross!

The art and animation are excellent, and the controls are pretty decent. Challenging "dream-eater" bosses make the game a bit more fun, too. Clubby the Seal is definitely worth an hour of your time, if you don't mind a little blood.

Download SquadClubby the Seal gets his revenge in this Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clubbyfunnygamessealtime-wastertimewastersviolentWed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[8 reasons to love furries, and more, on Linkbait Generator]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/18/8-reasons-to-love-furries-and-more-on-linkbait-generator/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/18/8-reasons-to-love-furries-and-more-on-linkbait-generator/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/18/8-reasons-to-love-furries-and-more-on-linkbait-generator/#commentsFiled under: ,

Linkbait Generator

I'm going to file this one under "social commentary", actually. Linkbait Generator is a pretty interesting tool I found over at the always-interesting MakeUseOf. It does one thing, and does it quite well: generate titles for blog posts that will probably get clicks.

For some reason, people seem to be obsessed with lists. If you go to Digg's "Popular" page, you are sure to find at least one list (right now I see "10 Ways Women turn Men Off"). But it's more than just lists; there seems to be one simple formula that gets clicks. I think that's kind of sad, really, but it's true. Linkbait Generator lets you capitalize on that formula by generating titles (and ideas) for posts that are likely to get clicks.

If you already have something you'd like to write a post about, you can feed it in a textbox (not shown in the screenshot above), and get ideas. I put in "jogging" and got "The top 7 scariest videos of all time about jogging". I am positive that if I'd write a post like that, it would get tons of clicks. Sad, yet very useful for bloggers who rely on clicks for a living (or extra income).
Share StumbleUpon.com

Download Squad8 reasons to love furries, and more, on Linkbait Generator originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggingclickthroughdiggfunnygeneratorhumorlinkbaitlinksratingsThu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Favrd, a beloved Twitter favorites tracker, shuts down]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/favrd-a-beloved-twitter-favorites-tracker-shuts-down/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/favrd-a-beloved-twitter-favorites-tracker-shuts-down/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/favrd-a-beloved-twitter-favorites-tracker-shuts-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Favrd, a site created in 2008 by Dean Allen to track the funniest posts on Twitter, has shut down today. More than just a pointer in the direction of Twitter's most-favorited fart jokes, Favrd was the center of a vibrant community of wisecrackers. Its passing has been mourned in tweets and blogs by web luminaries including Jeffrey Zeldman.

Why did Dean decide to shut down Favrd? Well, it seems he felt that awarding and keeping track of stars on Twitter had become more of a self-indulgent ego trip than an indicator of quality content. "Alas, stars on Twitter have become mere take-out menus hung on the doors of other restaurants," he wrote in Favrd's farewell notice. Indeed, with the advent of more advanced sites like Favstar.fm (which even has a nice iPhone app now), more people are aware of the favorite function, and the worth of a star isn't what it used to be.

Farewell, Favrd, and thanks for all the laughs.

Download SquadFavrd, a beloved Twitter favorites tracker, shuts down originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dean allenDeanAllenfavoritesfavrdfunnyjokestweetstwitterMon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Favit by Favstar.fm brings the funniest tweets to your iPhone]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/05/favit-by-favstar-fm-brings-the-funniest-tweets-to-your-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/05/favit-by-favstar-fm-brings-the-funniest-tweets-to-your-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/05/favit-by-favstar-fm-brings-the-funniest-tweets-to-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Don't know where to look for the funniest material on Twitter? Favstar.fm keeps tracks of the most-favorited tweets on the site, and delivers them all in one place. And now they've got an iPhone app that's even better! It's called Favit and its extremely simple UI delivers the laughs directly to your face, with no clutter involved. It even filters out boring tech tweets and celebrities, making sure you only get the funny stuff.

Favit will show you a popular tweet, and the only decision you need to make is whether to give it a star or not. The tweets are all anonymized, unlike on Favstar.fm, which adds the extra element of trying to guess who wrote the joke in question. If you're curious, you can peek, but you have to favorite (or not) first, which removes bias. Favit is a good way to find funny people to follow, and it's also like having a constantly-updated joke book in your pocket. LOL!

Download SquadFavit by Favstar.fm brings the funniest tweets to your iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>favitfavoritesfavstarfavstar.fmfunnyhumoriphonejokestwitterSat, 05 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sumotori Dreams - sumo Time Waster with added WTF]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/04/sumotori-dreams-sumo-time-waster-with-added-wtf/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/04/sumotori-dreams-sumo-time-waster-with-added-wtf/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/04/sumotori-dreams-sumo-time-waster-with-added-wtf/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Perusing Videogum today, I came across one of the most hilarious games I've ever seen. It's called Sumotori Dreams, and, although I think it's supposed to be a sumo wrestling game, it's more like a falling-down-and-rolling-on-the-floor simulator. You can download and play the game, which weighs in at a surprisingly un-sumo-like file size of 96k, but it's just as funny to watch demo videos of the characters in motion.

Although the object of the game appears to involve attacking your opponent, actual gameplay includes flailing around like a bad tap dancer and occasionally falling on top of the other player through sheer dumb luck. The music - which apparently causes the game to crash sometimes - only adds to the absurd sumo slapstick routine. You couldn't make it any funnier if you replaced it with Yakety Sax. If you're looking for a fun game with plenty of challenge and hours of replay value, you haven't found it. If you want to laugh out loud for 5 minutes straight, check out Sumotori (or watch the video after the jump).

[via Videogum]




Continue reading Sumotori Dreams - sumo Time Waster with added WTF

Download SquadSumotori Dreams - sumo Time Waster with added WTF originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnygameslolsumosumotoritime wasterTimeWastertimewastersFri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Autocomplete Me is a gallery of Google users' bizarre searches]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/17/autocomplete-me-is-a-gallery-of-google-users-bizarre-searches/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google's autocomplete feature for searches can be pretty useful when you're looking for a common search term. Hey, neat! You don't have to type the whole thing! Sometimes, though, Google's suggestions take a turn for the hilarious or just plain weird. A site called Autocomplete Me collects some of the strangest ones for your amusement. Admittedly, some of these might be offensive, so viewer discretion is advised.

Who knew that searching for "the air s" would show you Monty Python's famous "air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" I suppose that's not too surprising, but "i like to t" will find you a number of strange results, notabiy "I like to tape my thumbs to my hands and pretend I'm a dinosaur" and "I like to pretend Jesus was a mischievous badger." If you took this site and added Bill Cosby, you'd have a show called "Kids Search for the Darndest Things."

Have any favorite Google autocomplete results of your own? Put them in the comments (and send them to Autocomplete Me, of course).

Download SquadAutocomplete Me is a gallery of Google users' bizarre searches originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocompleteautocomplete meAutocompleteMefunnygooglesearchTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halloween costumes from the Internet: happy Hallo-meme!]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/10/28/halloween-costumes-from-the-internet-happy-hallo-meme/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/10/28/halloween-costumes-from-the-internet-happy-hallo-meme/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/10/28/halloween-costumes-from-the-internet-happy-hallo-meme/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While it's still not possible to download a Halloween costume, stepping away from the computer for a few hours to trick or treat or go to a costume party doesn't mean you have to leave the Internet behind. In fact, Know Your Meme has come up with a guide to dressing up as your favorite online meme. They have instructions for everything from Keyboard Cat to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to that rabbit with a pancake on his head.

Unfortunately, because you can't trick-or-treat the Internet (yet), you and your friends might be the only ones who think your costumes are funny. To be fair, though, some of them are really, really funny, and going door-to-door with your kid dressed as the pancake bunny is a guaranteed candy goldmine.

If you're planning to dress up as an Internet meme or something software-related - anybody going as the Mozilla Firefox? - let us know in the comments. And post some photos if you've got them. This is the Internet, after all: pics or it didn't happen!

Download SquadHalloween costumes from the Internet: happy Hallo-meme! originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costumesfunnyhalloweenmemememesWed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kanye interrupts Arrington at TechCrunch50]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/kanye-interrupts-arrington-at-techcrunch50/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/kanye-interrupts-arrington-at-techcrunch50/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/kanye-interrupts-arrington-at-techcrunch50/#commentsFiled under: ,

We simply couldn't resist.

(In case you didn't catch Kanye West's antics at the Video Music Awards this weekend, here's some context.)

Download SquadKanye interrupts Arrington at TechCrunch50 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bitstripscartooncomichumortc50techcrunch50Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Translation Party achieves hilarious results using Google Translate - Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/14/translation-party-achieves-hilarious-results-using-google-transl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/14/translation-party-achieves-hilarious-results-using-google-transl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/14/translation-party-achieves-hilarious-results-using-google-transl/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Translation Party is a site that automates the old trick of running a sentence through machine translation until it's humorously unintelligible.

Instead of manually copy-pasting into Babelfish or Google Translate, you can just put in a phrase once, hit enter, and watch as Translation Party passes it back and forth between English and Japanese, getting further from your original meaning every time.

The translation doesn't stop until it reaches equilibrium, meaning that it repeatedly gets the same English result every time. Some phrases never achieve equilibrium, but Translation Party knows when that's happening and gives up after a while.

As an example of the strange results you might end up with, check out what came out when I put the first sentence of this post into Translation Party: "Party, machine translation, translation SAITOYUMORASU, perform the most common way to get to know me."

Download SquadTranslation Party achieves hilarious results using Google Translate - Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnygoogle-translatejapanesetimewasterstranslatetranslationtranslation-partyFri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to opt out of Google and protect your privacy: Move to remote village]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/11/how-to-opt-out-of-google-and-protect-your-privacy-move-to-remot/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/11/how-to-opt-out-of-google-and-protect-your-privacy-move-to-remot/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/08/11/how-to-opt-out-of-google-and-protect-your-privacy-move-to-remot/#commentsFiled under:

Google Opt Out
Google may be the top search engine in the world, and it may collect a lot of data about you if you use its email, chat, photo, or video services. Heck, even if you've avoided every Google product, Google probably still knows a few things about you if you've ever done anything that might have possibly left a trail on the web.

But America's finest news source, The Onion, lets us know that Google has a new service that lets you opt out. All you have to do is click the opt-out button and a van will show up at your door and relocate you to a remote 22 acre village where you'll be expected to sever all contact with the outside world. Your home will be destroyed to protect your privacy.

You can check out The Onion's satirical video after the break. Sure, it's all a joke. But you know what? It does highlight just how difficult it is to stay off the grid in the age of the internet.

Continue reading How to opt out of Google and protect your privacy: Move to remote village

Download SquadHow to opt out of Google and protect your privacy: Move to remote village originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlehumoropt-outprivacyTue, 11 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IE6ify: a bookmarklet that breaks the web]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/07/30/ie6ify-a-bookmarklet-that-breaks-the-web/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/07/30/ie6ify-a-bookmarklet-that-breaks-the-web/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/07/30/ie6ify-a-bookmarklet-that-breaks-the-web/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's a lot of rage directed at Internet Explorer 6 these days, including several very serious sites detailing the ways it's holding the web back and making designers' lives miserable. Sometimes rage isn't the best approach, though. Sometimes you need to have a sense of humor - or, if you're a designer who has to support IE6, laugh to keep from crying. That's where the IE6ify bookmarklet comes in.

When you IE6ify a site using the bookmarklet, you can see it breaking the webpage more literally than IE6 already does. Page elements shift and overlap, images are corrupted, and the whole layout generally just takes off directly for hell in a handbasket. The more times you click the bookmarklet, the closer you get to an experience as authentically horrible as actually using IE6.

Download SquadIE6ify: a bookmarklet that breaks the web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookmarkletbrowsersfunnyIE6ie6ifyinternet-explorerinternet-explorer-6Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft offers a *cough* totally unbiased comparison of the Big 3 browsers]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/18/microsoft-offers-a-cough-totally-unbiased-comparison-of-the-bi/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/18/microsoft-offers-a-cough-totally-unbiased-comparison-of-the-bi/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/18/microsoft-offers-a-cough-totally-unbiased-comparison-of-the-bi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Oh Microsoft, you and your wacky propoganda!

Yes, we know that Internet Explorer 8 isn't the same steaming pile of dung that past versions have been. Yes, we know it has some neat features like accelerators and InPrivate filtering. But we really had no idea that you had such a great sense of humor!

If you haven't seen the now infamous chart (and you likely have, thanks to Reddit), it's well worth a look. Don't go looking for any real world data to back things up though. There are no screenshots, nothing on the chart is linked to anything else, and the "mythbusting" page points only to two malware studies and the IE8 add-ons gallery.

There are, of course, some valid points - other browsers lacking enterprise tools, for example. The rest of it, well, you tell me. What do you think of the points they make?

My personal favorite: the Firefox add-ons I'd want to download are already built in to IE8. You know, like my three must haves - LastPass, Weave, and Greasemonkey. Oh wait, no...No, none of that functionality is built in.

I do like the little green checkmarks, Microsoft. They suuuuure are purty!

Download SquadMicrosoft offers a *cough* totally unbiased comparison of the Big 3 browsers originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browsershumorinternet-explorerpropogandaThu, 18 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Software Foundation Hiring]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/08/free-software-foundation-hiring/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/08/free-software-foundation-hiring/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/06/08/free-software-foundation-hiring/#commentsFiled under: ,

Have a doctorate? Hate web design, razors, soap and capitalism? Able to get by in Boston on $53,849 a year? You may be in luck. The Free Software Foundation is hiring a Campaigns Manager!

According to the FSF's own site, "The campaigns manager implements the FSF communications strategy and works as part of a team to develop and implement issue campaigns and community resources, acting as a spokesperson on matters of software freedom. The campaigns manager handles writing, editing, speaking, and research related to these activist and program efforts; coordinates the GNU chief webmaster and the other webmaster volunteers to develop FSF and GNU web sites; plans and implements proposals to increase fundraising; and serves as a main point of contact between the Foundation and the free software community."

Ok, ok.. so you don't actually have to hate soap. Candidates with significant dislike will also be considered.

Download SquadFree Software Foundation Hiring originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dirty hippiesDirtyHippiesfsfgnuhumorjobsopensourceMon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DrunkTwt: Tweeting while intoxicated]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/20/drunktwt-tweeting-while-intoxicated/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/20/drunktwt-tweeting-while-intoxicated/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/20/drunktwt-tweeting-while-intoxicated/#commentsFiled under: ,

"Don't drink and tweet" is probably some of the best Twitter advice I can give you. But if you must post to Twitter while intoxicated, at least try to do it from DrunkTwt. DrunkTwt posts your intoxicated Twitter ramblings anonymously, using an enormous text field that you don't have to be at all sober to click on.

Once your update is entered, it'll show up in DrunkTwt's Twitter stream, which you can follow if you're interested in other users' drunken antics. Because a hashtag is automatically entered, and to make sure your post fits, you're limited to 115 characters on DrunkTwt.com, instead of the standard Twitter 140. They probably figure the target audience won't notice anyway.

Download SquadDrunkTwt: Tweeting while intoxicated originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drunkdrunktwtfunnyhumortwitterWed, 20 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Full power to the deflector shields! Sophos releases Klingon Antivirus]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/19/full-power-to-the-deflector-shields-sophos-releases-klingon-ant/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/19/full-power-to-the-deflector-shields-sophos-releases-klingon-ant/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/05/19/full-power-to-the-deflector-shields-sophos-releases-klingon-ant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One thing that I always like to see in a corporate entity is the ability to have a little fun from time to time. If I was going to give an award for "Best Comedic Performance by a Software Vendor," it would go to antivirus developer Sophos, hands down.

Why? For their brand-new Klingon antivirus application.

The program is no joke - it's real Sophos AV, but it may not be a real benefit for you if you can't read Klingon. Of course, you can always improve your linguistic skills over at the Klingon Language Institute. Just make sure you pay attention to the compatibility notes:
"Runs on Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista.
This software has compatibility issues with the version of msxml4.dll used by cloaking devices on Romulan-modded D7-class battle cruisers. Installing this software on such vessels is punishable by ordeal of Ginst'a'Ed."
Sophos scores additional bonus points for the product's web page, which boasts such excellent touches as untouched "Lorem" text, the rarely-used <blurb> tag, and, of course, copious references to Star Trek.

Pics or it didn't happen, you say? Check out a few more screens after the break. Sorry for the lack of explanations, but my skills are limited to three human languages - English, Spanish, and bad English.

Continue reading Full power to the deflector shields! Sophos releases Klingon Antivirus

Download SquadFull power to the deflector shields! Sophos releases Klingon Antivirus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 19 May 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antivirushumorklingonklingon-antivirussophosTue, 19 May 2009 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Broken Picture Telephone - Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/09/broken-picture-telephone-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/09/broken-picture-telephone-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/09/broken-picture-telephone-time-waster/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Remember that kids' game, Telephone? You tell something to someone, who tells it to someone else, and so on. The message gets repeated incorrectly, and the person at the end of the line hears something completely different from the original message. Well, Broken Picture Telephone is like that, but online and with pictures.

Words and drawings alternate, which adds even more possibility for error into the game. If you've ever played Pictionary, you know how hard it is to guess what other people's drawings are supposed to be. That's what Broken Picture Telephone is counting on, to turn "Pirate fights Ninja" into "Three People Dancing for a Taco." You can check out the site to see how that one worked, and sign up so you can play your own. There's also an archive of past games, some of which are definitely amusing.

Download SquadBroken Picture Telephone - Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broken-picture-telephonefunnygamehumortelephoneThu, 09 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pantscast: a better breed of iPhone fart app]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/11/pantscast-a-better-breed-of-iphone-fart-app/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/11/pantscast-a-better-breed-of-iphone-fart-app/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/11/pantscast-a-better-breed-of-iphone-fart-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Much has been made of the amazing number of fart noise apps in the iTunes App Store. Sure, they can be amusing, but if you've heard one iPhone fart, you've heard them all. Or have you? Pantscast is a much more refined fart machine that injects flatulent sound effects into any podcast you choose, automatically timed for maximum hilarity.

Pantscast comes preloaded with some podcasts that could use a good farting-up, like NPR's Fresh Air (pun probably intended) and a Yoga Meditation podcast. It's a great sample of the humor Pantscast is capable of, but the best part is the ability to Pantscast any podcast by entering its URL. My only complaint is that, due to the lack of cut and paste, it's kind of tedious to manually put in longer addresses, and Pantscast can't access the podcasts on your iPhone or directly through the iTunes store. If these iPhone limitations can someday be overcome, we may truly achieve fart app enlightenment.

Download SquadPantscast: a better breed of iPhone fart app originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fartfunnyiphonepantscastpodcastWed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Weird Wednesday: Real websites making fake stuff]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/11/weird-wednesday-real-websites-making-fake-stuff/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/11/weird-wednesday-real-websites-making-fake-stuff/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/02/11/weird-wednesday-real-websites-making-fake-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Until we can finally allow robots to craft everything via iPhone CAD/CAM apps, you'll have to get your fix of fake tombstones and dress-up robots online. Here's a roundup of some helpful tools -- maybe. Honestly, several are horrendous to use. Others are merely fugly. One frightened my hamster. Still, if you are looking for a way to express yourself on the cover of TIME magazine, this may be your thing. Please add more in the comments, I know I've missed a few decent ones among the junk.

Make these crazy things online:

Tombstone
Great for making a very specific point (see above). Etch directly into a tombstone and right-click to download the result. Dead simple.

Internet Diploma
We've covered My Internet Diploma in the past. We sorta wish we hadn't. Luckily, now that we have all graduated with honors and have mad ninja skills, we know better. My Internet Diploma is as fake as My Little Pony.

Magazine
Put your face or drunk/nude torso on the cover of numerous magazines. There are bunches of these, but I chose the one with lots of real magazine covers. The workflow is irritating. You upload a pic, which opens a useless (new) window. Close that window, keep following the steps. Each step spawns a new window. If anyone knows a decent version of this, leave it in the comments.

Robot
It's a dress-up doll with robot parts. A little part of me died while playing with this. Still, the owner of this domain will be rich... when the robots take over.

Signs
The link takes you to the classic Church Sign Generator, but there are others. If anything comes up as sign generator in the URL, however, you may have stumbled upon one of the vast linkfarms of the interwebs.

There are many other examples, like a place that claims to print fake pay stubs (for a fee). I'm not linking to that one, but you get the idea. With the right web skillz you can fake just about anything. But with great power comes great responsibility, so don't go throwing your doctorate of hyperlinking in our faces -- we saw your nude cover for Byte magazine.

Download SquadWeird Wednesday: Real websites making fake stuff originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diplomagaghumormagazinerobotsigntombstonewebwareweirdwednesdayWed, 11 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Strewth! YouTube's Monty Python channel gets official]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/20/strewth-youtubes-monty-python-channel-gets-official/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/20/strewth-youtubes-monty-python-channel-gets-official/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/20/strewth-youtubes-monty-python-channel-gets-official/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Apparently fed up with horrid, low-quality ripoffs of their work being posted to YouTube, Monty Python has decided it's time to act. They're fighting back by uploading high-quality videos straight from their private vault.

Though there are currently only two dozen clips available, many have been uploaded recently. It's likely only a matter of time before favorites like the Cheese Shop, Fish Slapping Dance, and Nudge Nudge surface on the channel.

Don't fret - they quintessential Python clips are already there: the Black Knight, the Lumberjack Song, and even Pilate talking about his "vewwy good fweind in Wome," who shall remain nameless. Better yet, they've promised to upload HQ versions of the most popular clips.

Just what are they up to? The welcome message is honest enough: "None of your driveling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years."

Works for me, I've been a supporter for ages (I think I still have my copy of the old Complete Waste of Time "game").

Official HQ Python on YouTube: the videos have been posted, and there was much rejoicing.
[ via gHacks ]

Download SquadStrewth! YouTube's Monty Python channel gets official originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnyhumormonty-pythonvideoyoutubeThu, 20 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How we know that Matrix doesn't run on Windows XP]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/10/how-we-know-that-matrix-doesnt-run-on-windows-xp/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/10/how-we-know-that-matrix-doesnt-run-on-windows-xp/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/11/10/how-we-know-that-matrix-doesnt-run-on-windows-xp/#commentsFiled under: ,

So here's the thing about the advanced computer systems you see in movies like Terminator or The Matrix: They don't crash. They don't ask you to send error reports. And they don't bog down after you've been using them for a few months and the registry is filled with gunk from programs you've installed, uninstalled, and forgotten all about.

On the other hand, it'd be kind of funny if they did. With that in mind, the folks at College Humor have produced a short video showing what The Matrix would be like if it ran on Windows XP.

Anyone want to take a crack at letting us know what it would be like if it ran on OS X? Debian? PalmOS? Windows 7? Sound off in the comments!

[via Gizmodo]

Download SquadHow we know that Matrix doesn't run on Windows XP originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>college-humorhumorwindows-xpMon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unintelligencer Maeks U Rite Dum - Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/22/unintelligencer-maeks-u-rite-dum-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/22/unintelligencer-maeks-u-rite-dum-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/22/unintelligencer-maeks-u-rite-dum-time-waster/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Unintelligencer is full of win. Go there and make yourself sound dumb.
It's always nice to have a good laugh during an otherwise stressful workday, and what's more fun than laughing at outright supidity?

The Unintelligencer uses an array of sophisticated linguistic algorithms to convert your text from perfectly suitable English into the unrecognizable drivel you've gotten used to seeing on YouTube, Facebook, and all your other favorite sites.

Let's try an example from a favorite movie of mine: "i haved an wonderful girlfriend linda. 2gethr wee drove too small cabin ins da mountains. t seems an archeologist hads kum tew dis remote place 2 translate + study him latess phidn: necronomiconexmortis. thee book uv de ded."

Oh, the good times you'll have with this. Send that important departmental memo as a Moron, or shoot the moon and render it Incomprehensible. Unintelligencer offers 5 subtle shades of idiocy!

It's web based, so users of any operating system can utilize this fantastic - and unbelievably useful - tool. I'd like to see a reverse translation so I can finally understand what the hell some of these lolcat people are talking about.

Download SquadUnintelligencer Maeks U Rite Dum - Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dumbfunfunnyindiotslollolcatlolspeakstupidtimewasterstranslationFri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbanizer: You, But With a Turban! - Time Waster]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/turbanizer-you-but-with-a-turban-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/turbanizer-you-but-with-a-turban-time-waster/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/turbanizer-you-but-with-a-turban-time-waster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I tried not to post about this, but after using it I just couldn't help myself.

Yet another head-in-hole type photo manipulator, Turbanizer takes your image and allows you to overlay any of several fashionable turbans. The simple interface provides the granular controls you'll need to create an oh-so-convincing composite: it'll scale your photo or the turban as well as tweak the color intensity of your fabulous new headgear.

With more than 120,000 beautiful creations to date, the public is clearly embracing the opportunity to try on a turban without making the lengthy plane ride to the Middle East. Why, Turbanizer's not only fun, it's also environmentally friendly! There's even support for your Flickr and Facebook photos (though laziness and the desire to produce the screenshot above necessitated a Google image search, in my case).

As a bonus, Turbanizer even displays interesting facts about turbans while you wait for their Flash application to load. Give it a try yourself - and as-salaam alaykum!

Download SquadTurbanizer: You, But With a Turban! - Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funfunnygeorge bushGeorgeBushphotophoto manipulationPhotoManipulationtimewastersturbanturbansThu, 07 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Useless $1000 iPhone app disappears - did Apple remove it?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/useless-1000-iphone-app-disappears-did-apple-remove-it/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/useless-1000-iphone-app-disappears-did-apple-remove-it/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/07/useless-1000-iphone-app-disappears-did-apple-remove-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like Apple has removed one of the most talked-about iPhone apps in its app store. The app doesn't do chat, it doesn't connect you to any web services, and it doesn't even let you enter any text. It's called I Am Rich, and it does absolutely nothing. The price tag? A reasonable $999.99. Apparently having its red gem icon on your iPhone's home screen is supposed to bring you a grand worth of prestige.

When this app was first discovered, there was an immediate flurry of folks wondering how it got past Apple's screening process. Although I can't find any comment from Apple, and the app's creator hasn't updated his website, the app store link to I Am Rich no longer works. I wonder whether the author made any sales before it was removed. At around $100 to develop, a single sale would leave him with 10 times what he put in.

Download SquadUseless $1000 iPhone app disappears - did Apple remove it? originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnyiPhone appsIphoneAppsnewsoverpriceduselessThu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fonts Personified: Ever wondered what Wingdings would look like?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/22/fonts-personified-ever-wondered-what-windings-would-look-like/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/22/fonts-personified-ever-wondered-what-windings-would-look-like/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/22/fonts-personified-ever-wondered-what-windings-would-look-like/#commentsFiled under: ,


Have you ever wondered what Comic Sans, Times New Romans, or Futura fonts would look, sound, and act like if they were people? Yeah, neither have we. But after watching the video above, we can't believe the thought had never occurred to us. This video from College Humor probably qualifies as the funniest thing we've ever seen. At least today.

The short film also raises some serious issues though, like who the heck comes up with the names for these fonts? And has anybody ever used wingdings for anything? Why exactly is that font taking up space in Windows?

[via Gizmodo]

Download SquadFonts Personified: Ever wondered what Wingdings would look like? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>college-humorfontshumorTue, 22 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The ancient art of paper folding with a modern twist]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/02/the-ancient-art-of-paper-folding-with-a-modern-twist/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/02/the-ancient-art-of-paper-folding-with-a-modern-twist/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/02/the-ancient-art-of-paper-folding-with-a-modern-twist/#commentsFiled under: ,

Origami is the art of folding paper to create beautiful sculptures of animals or objects. No glue or scissors are used at all, only folds on the paper itself. It goes without saying that it can take years to master the art of origami. But instant-origami has developed some clever ways to shorten the learning curve.

Using the power of video, instant-origami gives you a birds eye view of some very modern techniques to this ancient form of paper folding. Here you'll be able to view and create some of the most breathtaking paper sculptures like an octopus, a frog or even the mythical dragon.

We followed the instructions on the site and were very impressed with our own results as they came very close to the one on the video.

So if you've always wanted to try your hand at origami, check out some modern techniques over at instant-origami.

Download SquadThe ancient art of paper folding with a modern twist originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funfunnyorigamivideoWed, 02 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Read books while working]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/read-books-while-working/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/read-books-while-working/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/25/read-books-while-working/#commentsFiled under:

Sometimes work can be a bit overwhelming and you just need to take a break. But in some offices you're watched like a hawk and if your boss catches you doing something other than work, it could mean trouble.

Maybe that's why the New Zealand Book Council developed the readatwork website. Designed to simulate a typical XP desktop, you won't find flash games here. You will find short stories, poems, originals from New Zealand authors and some familiar classics.

What makes things interesting is the layout of the stories are entirely in the "Power Point " style, complete with animations that's sure not to arouse suspicion at work. That is, of course, if your position doesn't require the use of Power Point.

We must admit that while the layout was fun, it did make it hard to read the stories easily, as you had to try to hunt for the next sentence.

If you're looking to catch up on your reading at work, you might as well look like you're reviewing last Monday's sales presentation.

Download SquadRead books while working originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksflashfunnyworkWed, 25 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Totlol provides vids for kids, adults cringe a little bit]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/27/totlol-provides-vids-for-kids-adults-cringe-a-little-bit/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/27/totlol-provides-vids-for-kids-adults-cringe-a-little-bit/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/27/totlol-provides-vids-for-kids-adults-cringe-a-little-bit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Where do you go when you know your kids love to watch online video content, but you're worried about what they might be seeing on YouTube? Totlol is a community-moderated video site for 6 month to 6 year olds, and they're hoping you'll think of them when it comes to kid vids. The moderators seem to be doing a good job gathering an age-appropriate collection of YouTube videos, although a few grown-ups at Download Squad might lose some sleep over a certain terrifying singing gummy bear.

The question that comes to mind about Totlol isn't whether they're succeeding at filtering YouTube, though. It's whether YouTube really needs to be filtered by an independent service. We figure that if your kids are on the younger side of Totlol's target age range, they're not going to be watching alone, and if they're a little older, they'll be able to figure out how to get to YouTube on their own -- especially with the YouTube logo on all of Totlol's embedded videos.

Download SquadTotlol provides vids for kids, adults cringe a little bit originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 27 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacutefunnykidsparentsvideoTue, 27 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[When Twitter is Down, a single-serving site seems like a good idea]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/25/when-twitter-is-down-a-single-serving-site-seems-like-a-good-id/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/25/when-twitter-is-down-a-single-serving-site-seems-like-a-good-id/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/25/when-twitter-is-down-a-single-serving-site-seems-like-a-good-id/#commentsFiled under: ,

In the tradition of humorous single-serving site status checkers like istwitterdown.com and downforeveryoneorjustme.com comes a new entry with none of the utility of the others, but about fifty times the comedic value. When Twitter is Down is a site by Adam "lonelysandwich" Lisagor, a well-known Twitter user and one of the hosts of the You Look Nice Today podcast.

Sandwich gathered up some of the best suggestions about what to do when Twitter is down, and the site's only function is to cycle through these and make you laugh during Twitter's frequent downtime. One of the funniest things about it, in our opinion, is that it's aware of its predecessors. In a nod to barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com, which is nothing but a collection of nice things about Barack Obama, one of the When Twitter is Down messages reads: "When Twitter is down, Obama wins a bicycle." Priceless.

DISCLAIMER: If you're averse to some mild profanity, you may want to look elsewhere for something to do when Twitter is down.

UPDATE: Sandwich has passed along some more info, including the interesting note that Mat Honan, the man behind Obama Is Your New Bicycle, actually shared his site's code for When Twitter is Down. Mat also contributed a When Twitter is Down joke, along with other funnybone-owning Twitter users fedge, LazyBonesMcGee, nevenmrgan, and wisekaren. Thanks for writing in, Adam!

Download SquadWhen Twitter is Down, a single-serving site seems like a good idea originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 25 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downtimefunnyhumorlonelysandwichtwitterSun, 25 May 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Favrd - Twitter with none of the "webcock"]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/16/favrd-twitter-with-none-of-the-webcock/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/16/favrd-twitter-with-none-of-the-webcock/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/16/favrd-twitter-with-none-of-the-webcock/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Believe us when we say that we know you're sick of hearing about Twitter, but there's a good reason it's one of Download Squad's favorite toys. We often find out about new software on Twitter before it gets blogged anywhere else, and the readers reap all the benefits. And did we mention that some people's Twitter streams are flat-out hilarious? Favrd, a new service from Dean Allen, will help you find some of the best. It keeps track of which posts people are marking as favorites, so you only have to read the good stuff.

Dean also uses a mysterious algorithm to filter out "webcock," a term he coined to describe "online-marketing, web-strategy, killer-startup cheerleaders/water-carriers." This is sure to offend some people, but it keeps the focus of Favrd on people who use Twitter to entertain. To put it another way, a way that probably wouldn't make it past Dean's algorithm, Favrd is crowdsourcing comedy, and everybody wins.

Download SquadFavrd - Twitter with none of the "webcock" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>favoritesfavrdfunnytwitterFri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Innocent Spam: Displeased with the measurement of your Willy?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/11/innocent-spam-displeased-with-the-measurement-of-your-willy/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/11/innocent-spam-displeased-with-the-measurement-of-your-willy/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/11/innocent-spam-displeased-with-the-measurement-of-your-willy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Innocent SpamCheck the junk folder of your email service, and we're guessing you'll find hundreds of messages offering to enhance various body parts, decrease others, or ask for your help withdrawing large sums of money from a bank account. But what if you're simply misreading all of these messages? What if you're the one with the dirty mind, not the marketers?

Yeah, we're pretty sure that's not the case, but artist Janet Nelson is definitely onto something with her Innocent Spam series. She's taken actual subject lines from junk email messages and turned them into cute comic images, with none of the innuedo attached. For example, "oh man, he is ridiculously huge" could refer to anything, right? Why not a big dog? And just because you think of something else when you hear the word "Willy" doesn't mean it has to be dirty.

You can buy Nelson's work on a T-shirt or mug. Or you can just check out the comics on her website for free.

[via AppScout]

Download SquadInnocent Spam: Displeased with the measurement of your Willy? originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comicshumorinnocent-spamspamSun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Download Squad moving to Planet of Internet]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/download-squad-moving-to-planet-of-internet/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/download-squad-moving-to-planet-of-internet/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/01/download-squad-moving-to-planet-of-internet/#commentsFiled under: ,

Regular Download Squad readers will remember that we reported last month on a revolutionary browsing platform that will completely change the way you use the web. That's right: Planet of Internet! Our initial review was almost entirely negative, but after a wild party at the Download Squad offices last weekend, we have seen the light. You heard it here first, people: Planet of Internet is going to be the next big thing.

If you have any money at all, you should probably just give it to Planet of Internet right now. That's what we're doing! Weblogs Inc. and AOL have been good to us, but Planet offers things that no collective of popular, credible blogs could ever give us. Eat your heart out, Engadget: have you SEEN our new house in Peacetown?

We're confident that our faithful minions readers are going to love the new site as much as we will. Now you can find out about the latest and greatest software while exploring the glorious 16-bit hallways of our new digs! Well, metaphorically, anyway. Houses on Planet of Internet don't actually have interiors. Regardless, you're all invited for fruity tropical drinks at our new rooftop pool. We'll even put in a little 16-bit umbrella, just to show how much we care.

Download SquadDownload Squad moving to Planet of Internet originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afd08funnynewsTue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST