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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Adobe Connect 8 gains XMPP support via chat pod extension]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/11/adobe-connect-8-gains-xmpp-support-via-chat-pod-extension/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/11/adobe-connect-8-gains-xmpp-support-via-chat-pod-extension/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/11/adobe-connect-8-gains-xmpp-support-via-chat-pod-extension/#commentsAdobe Connect XMPPAdobe Connect, Adobe's Flash-based Web conferencing solution, has just gained support for XMPP integration via a 'multi-user chat pod.' The chat pod will enable Connect users to chat with meeting participants using other chat clients and protols such as Adium or Jabber. Adobe hopes this will extend the collaborative possibilities of Connect using tools people already use, creating chat rooms, or 'text conferences' using the pod.

Connect 8 XMPP support is offered as a free downloadable extension available here.

Download SquadAdobe Connect 8 gains XMPP support via chat pod extension originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdobeAdobe ConnectAdobeConnectappsconferencingConnectJabbernetworkingproductivityvoipWebXMPPFri, 11 Feb 2011 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Egypt blocks Internet access, BlackBerry and SMS as civil unrest continues]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/28/egypt-blocks-internet-access-blackberry-and-sms-as-civil-unrest/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/28/egypt-blocks-internet-access-blackberry-and-sms-as-civil-unrest/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/28/egypt-blocks-internet-access-blackberry-and-sms-as-civil-unrest/#commentsEgypt Offline As civil unrest stretches across the country, Egypt has gone dark. The Egyptian government seems to have enforced a blanket Internet shutdown at the ISP level, in what is an unprecedented maneuver that has forced the country offline. If that wasn't enough SMS and BlackBerry services seem to be affected too, and there's even rumors of landlines and cellphone services being cut off.

It's certainly a scary time, as the populace rails against the government. Is the communication services blackout an attempt to stop organization of protests within the country, or is it to prevent the outside world from seeing what's really going on? Whatever is happening in the dead zone, as always, we hope for a peaceful conclusion and a return to stability for the country.

Download SquadEgypt blocks Internet access, BlackBerry and SMS as civil unrest continues originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackoutEgyptinternetnetworkingwebFri, 28 Jan 2011 04:30:00 EST<![CDATA[InMaps from LinkedIn helps you to visualize your professional network]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/25/inmaps-from-linkedin-helps-you-to-visualize-your-professional-ne/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/25/inmaps-from-linkedin-helps-you-to-visualize-your-professional-ne/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/25/inmaps-from-linkedin-helps-you-to-visualize-your-professional-ne/#commentsLinkedIn InMap It's often hard to visualize the connections between your plethora of contacts, more so when they're scattered across the globe. LinkedIn, the 'professional' network, is no exception; but InMaps from LinkedIn Labs is hoping to change that.

By creating a network of interconnecting nodes representing each of your contacts, InMaps help you visualize clusters of your contacts based on how well they're interconnected. You can then add labels to your groups of contacts, and zoom in and out of the map to discover trends or more detail. For instance, by studying the interconnectedness of certain nodes, you can see who is the 'bridge' in your relationships with groups of contacts. You can also see who knows the most people in a particular working sphere by how big their node is, which could be useful if you ever need to find a contact or someone with influence.

Of course, InMaps doesn't actually bring any new information to the table -- it just pulls everything from your LinkedIn account. But it might just prove useful if you've ever had a hard time seeing how your contacts are connected, and produces pretty pictures in the process.

If you've got a LinkedIn account, you can head on over to LinkedIn Labs to make your own InMap and share it with others via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn if you wish. Or hit the jump to see LinkedIn's InMap promo video.

Continue reading InMaps from LinkedIn helps you to visualize your professional network

Download SquadInMaps from LinkedIn helps you to visualize your professional network originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsInMapsLinkedInnetworkingsocial networkingSocialNetworkingWebTue, 25 Jan 2011 04:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Wolfram Alpha opens up API, makes it free for personal use]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/21/wolfram-alpha-opens-up-api-makes-it-free-for-personal-use/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/21/wolfram-alpha-opens-up-api-makes-it-free-for-personal-use/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/21/wolfram-alpha-opens-up-api-makes-it-free-for-personal-use/#commentswolframalpha Wolfram Alpha is already very powerful; just the other day I used it to chart United States crime rates, because I wanted to see at a glance if they've been going up or down over the last few years.

And now, Alpha has gone on to make all of its rich data freely available via a new API for developers. This means it's now easier than ever for developers to query Alpha and pull specific information back into their app for display to their users.

The API returns the result as a bunch of XML, which is very easy to slice and dice. You can either use Alpha's built-in charts and graphs, or just get the numbers and display them as part of your app.

Better yet, the API is free for personal use. I'm not sure what exactly qualifies as "personal use", but that does sound encouraging.

If this piqued your curiosity, you might be happy to know that Wolfram has put together a nice API Explorer. That's what you see in the screenshot: You can just feed it with any query you would feed into the "regular" Web interface, and then analyze the XML it spews out. Now we just have to wait and see what apps developer community comes up with!

Download SquadWolfram Alpha opens up API, makes it free for personal use originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiappsdevelopereducationnetworkingproductivityprogrammerswebwolfram alphaWolframAlphaFri, 21 Jan 2011 05:20:00 EST<![CDATA[How to use custom DNS servers on your Windows computer]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/18/how-to-use-custom-dns-servers-on-your-windows-computer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/18/how-to-use-custom-dns-servers-on-your-windows-computer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/18/how-to-use-custom-dns-servers-on-your-windows-computer/#comments This week we're running a series of posts that tackle common Windows networking issues, and some tips and tricks that might speed up or improve your network stability. You can find more tech tips in our Tips index.

There are plenty of good reasons to use a custom DNS server on your computers. Some services -- like Google DNS -- can provide a speed boost to your Web browsing. Other services -- like OpenDNS and Sunbelt ClearCloud -- can protect you and your family from inappropriate content and malware. So how do you set them up?

The best place to program a custom DNS server is on your router -- where it can take care of every computer on your network. If you're not comfortable poking around your router settings, however, you can make the necessary change on your computers instead.

Start by opening the Start Menu (hit the Windows Flag key!), typing ncpa.cpl, and pressing enter (as detailed in our previous how-to). Many computers have more than one network adapter -- like the plug-in and wireless ones in a laptop, for example. More than likely, only one is actually connecting you to the Internet.

Continue reading How to use custom DNS servers on your Windows computer

Download SquadHow to use custom DNS servers on your Windows computer originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clearclouddnsgooglednshow-toncpa.cplnetworknetworkingopendnssunbelttipstutorialwindowsTue, 18 Jan 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[World IPv6 Day, June 8th 2011 -- 24-hours of global IPv6 testing]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/13/world-ipv6-day-june-8th-2011-24-hours-of-global-ipv6-testing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/13/world-ipv6-day-june-8th-2011-24-hours-of-global-ipv6-testing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/13/world-ipv6-day-june-8th-2011-24-hours-of-global-ipv6-testing/#commentsIPv6 global statistics As well all know, the world is running out of IPv4 addresses. Whether you believe that's a major problem or not, the fact is we're going to run out -- and then what? IPv6 is set to take over, but convincing ISPs, hosts and backhaulers to implement the 128-bit protocol has been an uphill battle for years, and still only 0.2% of Internet users currently connect via the next-generation protocol to this day. That's why the Internet Society, in conjunction with Google and other major websites, is launching World IPv6 Day -- a 24-hour test period for the Internet's savior.

Kicking off on June 8th 2011, the idea is that by enabling IPv6 on major sites across the globe, we can stress test the new protocol on a massive scale, isolate any bugs, and get it all ship-shape for the inevitable global roll out. End-users thankfully, shouldn't have to do much but sit back and browse as normal. There is a possibility however, that a small minority of users will suffer connectivity issues mainly due to home network configuration problems (what's new?) -- and it's certainly better to know that ahead of time.

Google's unsurprisingly leading the charge on this one. If anyone has lots to lose by Internet Armageddon, it's Google. In fact if you've been using Google since 2008, chances are you've already connected to Google.com via IPv6 and didn't know it. YouTube has been IPv6-ready since the beginning of 2010 too.

So mark the day in your diary -- June 8th -- and perhaps make sure you don't have any important Internet-related business that day...

Download SquadWorld IPv6 Day, June 8th 2011 -- 24-hours of global IPv6 testing originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoogleInternetIP addressIpAddressipv4IPv6networkingWebWorld IPv6 DayWorldIpv6DayThu, 13 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enable tethering on your Palm Pre or Pixi with FreeTether]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/06/enable-tethering-on-your-palm-pre-or-pixi-with-freetether/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/06/enable-tethering-on-your-palm-pre-or-pixi-with-freetether/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/06/enable-tethering-on-your-palm-pre-or-pixi-with-freetether/#commentsIf you've been waiting for an easier way to tether your webOS phone and share its mobile data connection, the webOS Internals team has some good news for you. FreeTether has gone into beta, and that's exactly what the app is designed to do.

Once installed, you simply fire up FreeTether, select which interface(s) you want to enable, and configure its options. After that, all you've got to worry about is keeping an eye on your data usage so you don't get dinged by your carrier.

PreCentral reports that the tethered connection feels a bit slow at this point, but this is just the first release. webOS Internals has developed plenty of other great apps for the platform, so expect to see FreeTether improve dramatically in coming updates.

FreeTether is homebrew, so you'll need to make yourself familiar with how to install non-Catalog apps on your device via PreWare. It's a simple process, and there's no risk of bricking your phone -- so head on over to PreCentral for step-by-step instructions. You'll also need to add the testing feed to PreWare.

Download SquadEnable tethering on your Palm Pre or Pixi with FreeTether originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gappscellphonesdatanetworkingpalmpalm prePalmPretethertetheringutilitiesweboswifiThu, 06 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[5 ways to recycle or revitalize your old computer]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/24/5-ways-to-recycle-or-revitalize-your-old-computer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/24/5-ways-to-recycle-or-revitalize-your-old-computer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/24/5-ways-to-recycle-or-revitalize-your-old-computer/#commentsChristmas is coming, and you're about to have a ton of time off. Some of that time will be spent energetically tearing apart beautifully-wrapped gifts, and eating food is certainly next on the list of priorities. Obviously you have to play with your new gifts (or put on your new socks), but after that... after the postprandial sofa-surfing grunts and burps and farts... well, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

The other big thing about Christmas is the amount of waste it produces. Wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, the plastic packaging of the presents themselves... there's an awful lot of trash on Christmas Day. Then, of course, you need to throw out all of the things that have been replaced by new gifts: old kitchen appliances, clothes, televisions, printers and, most importantly, computers. A new laptop or desktop is incredibly cheap nowadays, which makes them very popular gifts.

But shouldn't we do something with the old stuff, rather than just throwing it out? Of course, you could Freecycle or wade into the Craigslist cesspit, or give your clothes to charity -- but hold onto those old computers! You'd be surprised with how many cool things you can do with an old desktop or laptop computer. You could finally learn how to use Linux, or set up a media center PC so that you can watch downloaded movies on your TV. You could create a locked-down box for your kids to surf the Web on, or a network-attached storage server for your backups. There's almost no end to the list of neat things you can do with an old PC!

Continue reading 5 ways to recycle or revitalize your old computer

Download Squad5 ways to recycle or revitalize your old computer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backupcomputerdesktopdismantleDLNAfeaturesfreenashardwarehgghow-tolaptoplinuxNASnetworkingrecyclingstoragestreamingtvvideowebwindowsFri, 24 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wifi Analyzer for Android helps you pick the best channel for your Wi-Fi network]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/wifi-analyzer-for-android-helps-you-pick-the-best-channel-for-your-wi-fi-network/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/wifi-analyzer-for-android-helps-you-pick-the-best-channel-for-your-wi-fi-network/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/wifi-analyzer-for-android-helps-you-pick-the-best-channel-for-your-wi-fi-network/#commentsWiFi analyzer Most people rarely think about this, but your Wi-Fi hot-spot is actually broadcasting its signal on something called a channel. In North America, you can pick one of 11 channels; in most of the world you can pick one of 13.

Still, most routers and access points come with a pre-set default (that appears to be 11, at least for the routers around me). When you have several routers broadcasting on the same channel, this can lead to some interference and a performance hit. If you live somewhere fairly isolated and your Wi-Fi signal is the only one in range, you've got nothing to worry about.

On the other hand, if you're trying to survive in a dense urban jungle, surrounded by paper-thin walls and lots of Wi-Fi-using neighbors, you may gain a bit of a performance boost by switching your access point's channel to a less congested one.

Wifi Analyzer is an Android application that helps you figure out exactly what that channel is. The screenshot to the right shows how channels 9 and 10 are occupied by a couple of wireless network fighting over the same frequency, while my network (the red one) lives comfortably on channel 1.

Wifi analyzer offers several views, including a simple "channel rating" screen with no graph, if you just want to quickly figure out what's the best channel for you. A beautiful app, and free. QR code is after the jump.

Continue reading Wifi Analyzer for Android helps you pick the best channel for your Wi-Fi network

Download SquadWifi Analyzer for Android helps you pick the best channel for your Wi-Fi network originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>802.11analyzerandroidnetworkingssidwi-fiwifiwifi analyzerwifi channelWifiAnalyzerWifiChannelwirelesswlanThu, 16 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Connect 8 is now available for purchase or upgrade]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/adobe-connect-8-is-now-available-for-purchase-or-upgrade/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/adobe-connect-8-is-now-available-for-purchase-or-upgrade/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/adobe-connect-8-is-now-available-for-purchase-or-upgrade/#comments The latest in the Adobe Connect line of Flash-based Web conferencing solutions is now available for purchase or upgrade. Featuring browser-based meeting and conferencing abilities, plus an iPhone and Android app, Adobe Connect 8 builds on an already strong teleconferencing package. Adobe is currently in the process of migrating eligible institutions over to Connect 8, starting with hosted solutions in North America and spreading to the rest of the world in 'early 2011.' If you're a system administrator with an on-premises Adobe Connect package, keep an eye on your inbox, as Adobe will be emailing customers in the next 7 to 10 days.

Head on over to the Adobe Connect 8 website for more information, including timelines for migration and purchasing details.

Download SquadAdobe Connect 8 is now available for purchase or upgrade originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeAdobe ConnectAdobeConnectconnectvoipweb conferencingWebConferencingTue, 23 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AOL Lifestream continues to evolve with release of Google Chrome Extension]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/13/aol-lifestream-google-chrome/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/13/aol-lifestream-google-chrome/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/13/aol-lifestream-google-chrome/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Full disclosure: AOL is indeed our benevolent overlord. However, Download Squad bloggers are under no obligation to speak kindly of their products or applications.

AOL Lifestream is an excellent app -- and it's certainly a far cry from the clunky, over-designed browser and dial-up software you used to see given away on floppy disks. Ahh, the good old days -- which are gone, and really weren't that great if you're comparing dial-up to DSL, cable, or fiber. Moving on!

Lifestream is a solid social networking aggregator. With support for key social sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Delicious, and now Foursquare, Lifestream presents a clean, simple way to keep tabs on all your friends' activity in one centralized location. While Lifestream might be a bit underpowered for social superstars, It's an excellent choice for average users -- as well as savvy users who don't need a more complex app.

Already available via the web and in the App Store, AOL has now added an extension for Google Chrome. While it's not going to transform Chrome into the super-social browsing experience that Flock 3 presents, the Lifestream extension is still a very handy way to keep your entire stream within easy reach without being distracted by it.


Continue reading AOL Lifestream continues to evolve with release of Google Chrome Extension

Download SquadAOL Lifestream continues to evolve with release of Google Chrome Extension originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggregatoraolchromeextensionfacebookgooglelifestreammyspacenetworkingsocialstreamstwitteryoutubeFri, 13 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla Labs' Contacts add-on for Thunderbird is a social networking superstar]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/05/mozilla-labs-contacts-add-on-for-thunderbird-is-a-social-networ/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/05/mozilla-labs-contacts-add-on-for-thunderbird-is-a-social-networ/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/05/mozilla-labs-contacts-add-on-for-thunderbird-is-a-social-networ/#commentsFiled under: ,

I'm not a fan of desktop email clients. I haven't been for some time, and I'm not shy about extolling the benefits of a Web-based email app. Mozilla, however, decided to put together a slick new add-on for Thunderbird that has me seriously thinking about switching back.

Like the project they launched earlier this year for Firefox, Contacts for Thunderbird is all about connecting with your friends and acquaintances beyond your inbox and address book. Contacts can tap in to a number of sources, like Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo!, Gmail, and LinkedIn. It's extensible, of course, so you'll be able to add support for other sites (Orkut? Windows Live?).

Once you've logged in to a service the fun begins. Click on a Twitter user -- Soluto's Roee Adler, for example -- and interaction options are presented under Services:. I can send Roee a DM or view his updates right in the Contacts tab. Click a Facebook friend and you can view their updates, photos, and photos in which they've been tagged. Unfortunately, no Facebook messaging options are available yet.

Just like other Mozilla Labs projects, you're getting an early look at what could very well be a core feature in upcoming versions of Thunderbird. While it's lacking some features now, rest assured they're on the way -- Contacts will eventually provide a powerful, centralized dashboard for both email and social networking conversation.
Share submit to reddit StumbleUpon.com

Download SquadMozilla Labs' Contacts add-on for Thunderbird is a social networking superstar originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contactsemailfacebooklabslinkedinmozillanetworkingsocialthunderbirdtwitterThu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flock 3 ditches Firefox core for Chrome, adds social networking awesomeness]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/flock-3-google-chrome-with-added-social-awesome/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/flock-3-google-chrome-with-added-social-awesome/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/flock-3-google-chrome-with-added-social-awesome/#commentsFiled under: ,

You may not be familiar with Flock -- even with a user base of 17 million plus, it's still not a Web browser that gets a lot of coverage. That could be about to change, however, with the release of Flock v3 beta.

Why? Because the new version is really good. I was more than a little put off by Flock 2. Apart from a Mozilla-based core which felt sluggish in comparison to other browsers, the user interface was a bit too cluttered for me. In the new v3 beta, Flock has switched powerplants -- moving to Google's Chromium -- and concentrated on a clean, minimal interface.

Using the same code base as Google Chrome obviously brings a big increase in speed, but Flock has built in a number of enhancements that offer some serious advantages over Chrome if you're a serious social networker. Like what, you ask?

For starters, there's the awesome sidebar I've outlined in the header image. Sure, there are plenty of Chrome extensions which add a little drop-down display of your Twitter or Facebook streams, but Chrome doesn't have sidebar support out-of-the-box. Flock coded it from scratch, and it's a fantastic addition.

Continue reading Flock 3 ditches Firefox core for Chrome, adds social networking awesomeness

Download SquadFlock 3 ditches Firefox core for Chrome, adds social networking awesomeness originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchromefacebookflockgooglenetworkingrsssocialtwitterWed, 16 Jun 2010 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Fizzik's social web browser enters public beta, but I kinda wish it hadn't]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/10/fizzik-social-web-browser-beta-confusing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/10/fizzik-social-web-browser-beta-confusing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/05/10/fizzik-social-web-browser-beta-confusing/#commentsFiled under:

Look, I know this is a beta app and that means it's not feature complete or bug-free, but I had higher hopes for Fizzik's "social web browser." When I first wrote about it, it seemed like an interesting concept -- perhaps this underscores the importance of waiting until you get your hands on a program before making that call.

When you launch Fizzik, you see the screen above. I'm no interface designer, but I think there might be one or two minor flaws with this. I'm going to pretend I'm an average user for the next few paragraphs:

For starters, what the hell do I click on? Where's my home page? When I start Internet Explorer I see MSN. How come I don't see anything but blackness on Fizzik. I see a magnifying glass which I assume is to search, but what if I don't want to search? What if I want to look at ilovebacon.com? Where do I type that? Can I type that? It doesn't look like I can.

I'll give up and perform a search for ilovebacon instead. That tone on tone button is nearly an inch wide, but I still have to click right on the magnifying glass?

Continue reading Fizzik's social web browser enters public beta, but I kinda wish it hadn't

Download SquadFizzik's social web browser enters public beta, but I kinda wish it hadn't originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 10 May 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserfizzikinterfacemedianetworkingsocialvideowebMon, 10 May 2010 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Novell to bring open source Silverlight clone to iPhone]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/14/novell-to-bring-open-source-silverlight-clone-to-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/14/novell-to-bring-open-source-silverlight-clone-to-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/03/14/novell-to-bring-open-source-silverlight-clone-to-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You've surely heard of Silverlight, Microsoft's shinier and altogether more-fluffy answer to Flash.

Silverlight is now at the stage where the only real feature it lacks is ubiquity -- the only real reason we keep using Flash is because the plug-in is installed on almost every computer in the world. Well, Microsoft wants to change that -- Microsoft wants Silverlight to be as prevalent as Flash. To that end, we just reported on Silverlight coming to Symbian phones -- and now it seems like the iPhone might also run Silverlight apps... but with Moonlight, Novell's open source, cross-platform Silverlight implementation.

This is big news because of the XNA and .NET support inherent in Silverlight and Moonlight. Last week you saw Microsoft demo the same game -- the same code -- running on Xbox, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7 (damn I hate their naming scheme), and now Novell has shown the same game running on an iPhone (image on the right).

Novell is, in effect, usurping Microsoft. Microsoft might even be working on a Silverlight implementation for iPhone -- perhaps Novell is just jumping the gun and announcing their intention first. If Silverlight reaches smartphone ubiquity in 2010 or 2011, the desktop computer will surely follow.

Down with Flash, woo!

[via Technologizer]

Download SquadNovell to bring open source Silverlight clone to iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cross-platformiphonemicrosoftmoonlightnovellopensourcesilverlightSun, 14 Mar 2010 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Novell and Microsoft cut out the GPL cancer from open-source Silverlight]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/24/novell-and-microsoft-cut-out-the-gpl-cancer-from-open-source-sil/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/24/novell-and-microsoft-cut-out-the-gpl-cancer-from-open-source-sil/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/24/novell-and-microsoft-cut-out-the-gpl-cancer-from-open-source-sil/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To say that Microsoft and Novell have a muddy history when it comes to open-source projects and the GPL would be an understatement. Things were looking up, with the release of the open-source implementation of Silverlight, Moonlight 2, last week, but today things took a turn for the worse: Novell has just cut all the open source code from MonoDevelop.

The implications of this aren't immediately clear, nor can we be certain of what Novell and the Mono development team have in store for us. All we know is that Novell has decided to lock Moonlight development up in a stricter, more-commercial LGPLv2 and MIT X11 license: generally it's a bad thing when free things become non-free.

This in itself might not be news, if it wasn't for Microsoft's recent 'Moonlight Covenant'. In it, Microsoft claims that end-users are safe from being sued should they overstep their ground -- sounds good, if their decree didn't have so many holes in. It is looking more and more like, after so much help from the community, Moonlight will be snatched back by Microsoft.

It is increasingly likely that Novell, in one last, desperate bid at freedom (hah) will screw Mono and Moonlight, pocket some cash from Microsoft, and make a runner. This is an example of the OSS movement gone wrong and I have a feeling that the community will fry Novell for it.

Download SquadNovell and Microsoft cut out the GPL cancer from open-source Silverlight originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpllicensemicrosoftmitmonomoonlightnovellopen sourceOpenSourcesilverlightThu, 24 Dec 2009 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[The reviews are in: Google Public DNS performance is... OK]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/the-reviews-are-in-google-public-dns-performance-is-ok/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/the-reviews-are-in-google-public-dns-performance-is-ok/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/12/07/the-reviews-are-in-google-public-dns-performance-is-ok/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stolen and altered from Jon Radoff's site. Made it a bit smaller.Google's Public DNS has been up and running for a few days now, and the reviews and benchmarks are slowly starting to trickle in. Initial results seem to suggest that it works well, but may not be a blanket solution for all, or even many, Internet users.

It seems to depend wildly from ISP to ISP. If you're fortunate enough to have an Internet provider like Verizon's FiOS that runs a finely-tuned, well-oiled network, Google Public DNS is simply not for you. If you're one of the (many) that has poorly-maintained DNS servers, the Google service might help considerably. But we're skirting the real issue here: does Google's Public DNS outperform the current 'industry standard' provisions from OpenDNS? Yes, it does. Just.

Either way, we're talking about a few milliseconds -- milliseconds that add up over days or weeks. It's well known that fractions of a second can change the outcome of someone looking to buy from an e-commerce website. I don't know about you, but I actually find myself drumming my fingers impatiently when a site takes more than a second or two to load -- crazy, when you consider just how quickly things are actually happening, compared to the online world a decade ago.

Let's not forget that Google just launched this service. OpenDNS have been around for years. Let's also not forget that their services are functionally different -- Google just want to speed up the 'net, while OpenDNS is an enterprise offering that can provide adult-content filtering and more.

[via Jon Radoff]

Download SquadThe reviews are in: Google Public DNS performance is... OK originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dnsFiOSgooglenetworkingopendnsperformancepublic dnsPublicDnsverizonMon, 07 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Comodo Easy VPN is a fast, free Hamachi alternative for Windows]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/09/comodo-easy-vpn-is-a-fast-free-hamachi-alternative-for-windows/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/09/comodo-easy-vpn-is-a-fast-free-hamachi-alternative-for-windows/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/09/comodo-easy-vpn-is-a-fast-free-hamachi-alternative-for-windows/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ages ago, I used a combination of Hamachi and UltraVNC for hassle-free remote support setups. At the time (again, this was a long time ago), Hamachi had a lot of reliability and speed issues - so I ended up switching to TeamViewer.

Recently, however, I decided to revisit my options. One alternative I happened upon was Comodo's free Easy VPN application.

Like Hamachi, Easy VPN supports multiple virtual networks. To give a friend access, simply provide the name and password and they're ready to join. When logged in, the icon next to their name will turn green and you can then ping, chat, and even remote control to your heart's content. All traffic is 128-bit encrypted.

Ping times and file transfer speeds are respectable and competitive with Hamachi. The remote control software (which feels and works a lot like many VNC apps) works well, and is perfect for quick, long-distance assistance.

Machines connected on a Comodo Easy VPN network function just like the computers attached to your home router. You can share files, folders, and even printers. Need to be able to print on the fancy color laser printer at work from the comfort of your kitchen table? Easy VPN is a hassle-free way to get the job done.

You can read more about how Easy VPN works over at Comodo's web site, where you can also download it. Easy VPN works on Windows XP or newer - both 32 and 64-bit builds.

Download SquadComodo Easy VPN is a fast, free Hamachi alternative for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comodoeasyvpnfreewarehamachinetworkingvpnMon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[monoTouch .net development kit now available for iPhone]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/monotouch-net-development-kit-now-available-for-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/monotouch-net-development-kit-now-available-for-iphone/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/14/monotouch-net-development-kit-now-available-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


While the Apple App Store is without doubt the largest available medium for a mobile developer to get their app in the hands of the users, for developers new to development using C / Objective C, the barrier to entry can be quite significant. Many developers working with other platforms (particularly Windows / Windows Mobile) have made significant investment into products developed in the .net languages (e.g. C#, VB.net) and therefore may be reluctant to completely port their application to a completely new environment.

Enter Novell with a commercial offering of their open source 'Mono' .net runtime dubbed 'monoTouch'.

Available immediately, monoTouch enables applications developed in any .net language to run on the iPhone. Significantly, monoTouch provides .net bindings to native API, allowing application developers will have access to iPhone specific functionality from within their .net applications. monoTouch integrates with both the free MonoDevelop IDE as well as Apple's XCode toolkit.

Applications developed using monoTouch compile completely to native code - they are not JIT compiled or interpreted.

Continue reading monoTouch .net development kit now available for iPhone

Download SquadmonoTouch .net development kit now available for iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>.netcommercialiphonemobile developmentMobileDevelopmentmononovellMon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch Windows 7 tcpip.sys for faster torrent downloads]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/14/patch-windows-7-tcpip-sys-for-faster-torrent-downloads/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/14/patch-windows-7-tcpip-sys-for-faster-torrent-downloads/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/04/14/patch-windows-7-tcpip-sys-for-faster-torrent-downloads/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Many of you have probably been adjusting Windows' half-open connection limit since Windows XP. It's widely regarded as one way to help increase the speed of your torrent downloads.

If you're running Windows 7 beta (or one of the plethora of leaked post-beta builds), Half-Open Limit Fix is a small, portable utility that is compatible with your OS and will patch your tcpip.sys in just a few clicks.

Download the application, launch it, and click the button for your preferred language - nearly a dozen are supported. Most sites recommend using 50-100 and the program will default to 100. If you want to, change it - otherwise, just click add to tcpip.sys and reboot.

Once Windows has loaded again you can head to your torrent app's configuration screens and adjust your connection preferences to utilize the new half-open connection setting (TorrentFreak has a good tutorial for uTorrent and BitComet).

Download SquadPatch Windows 7 tcpip.sys for faster torrent downloads originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freewarehalf-open-connectionsnetworkingosupdatestcp-iptorrentswindows-7Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Network Notepad creates quick diagrams and flow charts]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/31/network-notepad-creates-quick-diagrams-and-flow-charts/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/31/network-notepad-creates-quick-diagrams-and-flow-charts/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/31/network-notepad-creates-quick-diagrams-and-flow-charts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



While network planning and design isn't usually part of my job, I do sometimes need to put together a quick sketch of a client's systems to help me oragnize a plan of attack.

Network Notepad is exactly what I was looking for - a small, free app that lets me lay out network devices, servers, printers, and workstations quickly and easily. It's a great tool for documenting sites in case another tech has to attend to a call in my absence. Once you've set IP addresses, you're able to use the F1-F6 keys as hotkeys to ping, surf, or telnet to a device.

Don't be fooled by the Notepad in the name, though. This app is full-featured enough to tackle complicated networks. Be sure to download the Cisco-created object libraries and hub/switch pack, as they provide several icons that aren't included in the default set.

There's even a flow chart icon pack which turns Notepad into a kind of poor man's Visio (if you're looking for a Visio clone, try the open source Dia). You can't argue with the price, and the feature set is impressive for such a small download.

Download SquadNetwork Notepad creates quick diagrams and flow charts originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diagramdiagrammingflow chartflowchartfreewarenetworkingFri, 31 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Open source inSSIDer is a Vista-friendly netStumbler]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/open-source-inssider-is-a-vista-friendly-netstumbler/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/open-source-inssider-is-a-vista-friendly-netstumbler/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/08/open-source-inssider-is-a-vista-friendly-netstumbler/#comments
I had tried NetStumbler before on my Vista laptop and not met with much success. So when I read on MetaGeek's web site that their inSSIDer was designed to do the same job with native Vista APIs, I was intrigued.

If you're a road warrior, this is a great utility to keep at the ready. inSSIDer's scanner makes it a snap to identify available access points, quickly displaying available SSIDs and their channel, signal strength, speed, and encryption type.

Click the edit menu, and you can copy discovered AP data or the chart pane to the clipboard.

It does an admirable job of locating wireless signals, usually picking up at least one that Windows doesn't report. Not that it's very useful, as it's always turned out to be the weakest signal for me. Still, I like to know my surroundings.

inSSIDer is free, open source, and will run on 32 and 64-bit Vista or Windows XP (with the .NET 2.0 runtimes installed).

Download SquadOpen source inSSIDer is a Vista-friendly netStumbler originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>networkingwifiwirelessWed, 08 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IP Organizer is a Free Way to Manage Multiple Static IP Settings]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/03/ip-organizer-is-a-free-way-to-manage-multiple-static-ip-settings/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/03/ip-organizer-is-a-free-way-to-manage-multiple-static-ip-settings/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/10/03/ip-organizer-is-a-free-way-to-manage-multiple-static-ip-settings/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I can't read, write, or speak Turkish, but that didn't stop me from downloading BD IP Organizer. If you provide service for customers that need an easy way to switch IP settings, don't let it stop you, either.

NetSetMan - which I reviewed recently - may be English and sport a larger feature set, but it's not free for anyone but home users. I highly doubt that anyone that really, really needs this kind of application is not using it in at least one business environment.

What I was actually searching for was a free app that could be used commercially, and I found it. If you don't need NetSetMan's other features (like automatic drive and printer mapping or machine name changing), then IP Organizer is the way to go.

Continue reading IP Organizer is a Free Way to Manage Multiple Static IP Settings

Download SquadIP Organizer is a Free Way to Manage Multiple Static IP Settings originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freewareip addressIpAddressnetworknetworkingFri, 03 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NetSetMan Makes Managing Windows Network Settings Easy]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/15/netsetman-makes-managing-windows-network-settings-easy/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/15/netsetman-makes-managing-windows-network-settings-easy/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/09/15/netsetman-makes-managing-windows-network-settings-easy/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If there's one thing I hate having to talk a user through over and over, it's how to change their IP settings in Windows (especially Vista).

NetSetMan provides a simpler way to manage these settings. It allows you to set up profiles for any number of networking situations. Need to hard code an IP or leave it up to DHCP? Alter your hostname and workgroup? Map a printer and network drive? Create a profile, and NetSetMan will tackle all those tasks with a couple of clicks next time.

The system tray icon provides quick access to profile switching, and mousing over it will give you a detailed heads up display of all the adapters in your system. It's a nice feature, especially on a machine with 4 nics - it gives me all the info I need about my adapters in a hurry.

It's free for private, personal use and 12€ for the Pro license, and a nice way for any stressed-out technician to avoid some annoying phone calls.

Download SquadNetSetMan Makes Managing Windows Network Settings Easy originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freewarenetwork-profilenetworkingsettingsMon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freedom frees you (and your Mac) from the horror of the internet]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/05/freedom-frees-you-and-your-mac-from-the-horror-of-the-internet/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/05/freedom-frees-you-and-your-mac-from-the-horror-of-the-internet/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/08/05/freedom-frees-you-and-your-mac-from-the-horror-of-the-internet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

FreedomIf you're anything like me, you're probably at least a little bit addicted to your internet connection. The first thing I do when I wake up is check my email and RSS feeds, and it's also the last thing I do before going to sleep. But that addiction can sometimes be a problem.

Staying on-task these days is not easy, particularly if you work at an internet-connected computer. The possible distractions are virtually limitless. So what is a geek to do? One option is to simply pull the plug. The network plug, that is.

But of course, these days almost all computers have wireless capabilities, so turning off your internet connection isn't quite as simply as just pulling the plug. If you're on a Mac, you can use Freedom.

Freedom will turn off all of your Mac's wireless and ethernet networking for a set amount of time. So if you need to put your head down for an hour and get some work done, you can set Freedom to an hour, and know that you won't be tempted by any distractions.

If you absolutely need to get back online before the chosen duration is up, the only way to do so is to reboot your computer.

This is one of those apps that will be a life saver for some people, and seem totally ridiculous to others. Which are you?

Download SquadFreedom frees you (and your Mac) from the horror of the internet originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distractionFreedomfreewareinternet-addictionnetworkingtime-wasterwi-fiwirelessTue, 05 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Record books are for browsers, tattoos are for operating systems]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/17/record-books-are-for-browsers-tattoos-are-for-operating-systems/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/17/record-books-are-for-browsers-tattoos-are-for-operating-systems/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/07/17/record-books-are-for-browsers-tattoos-are-for-operating-systems/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BusyMonster tattoo and chameleonHey, we know some people really did care very much about the Mozilla world record for Firefox 3 downloads on Download Day. And hey, yeah, we'll concede mad props to the Mozilla team for getting out there and getting those downloads.

But OpenSUSE just upped the "let's get lots of new users" ante. Record books are all well and good, but what about stakes that are a little higher, a bit more exotic? For instance, what would happen if OpenSUSE hit a million installs of the OpenSUSE 11.0 release by the SourceForge Community Choice Awards at OSCON next week?

If OpenSUSE 11.0 hits the million registered installs mark by July 24, OpenSUSE Community Manager Joe ("Zonker") Brockmeier is putting his skin on the line. No, really, his skin. If this lofty goal is reached, by the end of OSCON Zonker will be sporting a nifty new tattoo of the deliriously happy OpenSUSE mascot, the "geeko."

Now, a million installs is a lot. You can't really blame Zonker though, as a tattoo is a pretty big deal, depending not only on one's pain tolerance, but the idea that one day you will have to explain to your grandkids why any given image is on your back (or arm... or...). We suppose he had to set the bar pretty high so that even the jaded future generations would be duly impressed. Zonker is still willing to amuse us, though, and has said that a more attainable 300,000 registered installs would get him to leave OSCON with green hair.

But c'mon, a tattoo is so much cooler. If you were thinking you'd like to try OpenSUSE 11.0, but needed just that little kickstart to try it, this is a pretty fine reason to at least give the LiveCD a whirl. If you like it enough to install it, you will have to register (no cost or spam involved) the install in order for it to count towards Zonker's new tattoo.

And no, no word yet on prospective placement of the geeko.

Download SquadRecord books are for browsers, tattoos are for operating systems originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geekojoe brockmeierJoeBrockmeierlinuxNovellopensourceOpenSUSEOSCONSourceforgetattooZonkerThu, 17 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OpenSUSE 11.0 proves chameleons can take on Herons any day]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/19/opensuse-11-0-proves-chameleons-can-take-on-herons-any-day/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/19/opensuse-11-0-proves-chameleons-can-take-on-herons-any-day/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/19/opensuse-11-0-proves-chameleons-can-take-on-herons-any-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

OpenSUSE 11.0 GNOME desktop versionOpenSUSE has always been an odd sort of Linux distribution. It's always been reasonably user friendly, very stable, and quite nicely pulled off the not-so-easy task of being good for new users while offering advanced and power users the flexibility and freedom they require.

Yet OpenSUSE often gets a bad wrap. There's that whole Novell/Microsoft/the world is ending conspiracy thing going on, for one thing. Certainly when Novell bought SuSE, it was disturbing. What were Novell's intentions? Where were things going to go from this point? Was openSUSE going to suffer for it?

Suffer? We probably wouldn't go as far as to say that. Were the changes and improvements to the distribution immediately after Novell took the helm earth-shaking? No, not particularly. They were modest, and worked well enough, but nothing that seemed leaps and bounds beyond the previous versions.

Nothing seemed leaps and bounds beyond -- until now. Today, OpenSUSE officially rolled out the 11.0 release. OpenSUSE seems to have scrutinized itself, from the kernel to the community. The developers pushed away from what seemed like an "adapt to survive" mode, and rolled out a release with changes so dramatic and beautiful that the distribution's chameleon ("geeko") mascot seems less cute and instead genuinely fitting.

If we had one word, and only one word to use to describe OpenSUSE 11.0, it would be this:

Fast.

Yes, dear readers. We just used the word "fast" (boldface, even) in relation to an OpenSUSE release. It starts and runs applications quickly, and we can say completely honestly, it installs quickly. We aren't just talking system updates and "here and there" YaST additions. No... You can boot the liveCD and have a complete OpenSUSE 11.0 system on your hard drive in what seems even slightly less time than an Ubuntu install.
next page

Download SquadOpenSUSE 11.0 proves chameleons can take on Herons any day originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>installerlinuxlivecdnovellopensourceopensuseopensuse 11Opensuse11osupdatestweet-thisThu, 19 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Create events on Twitter with Twitzu]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/17/create-events-on-twitter-with-twitzu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/17/create-events-on-twitter-with-twitzu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/17/create-events-on-twitter-with-twitzu/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Want to invite all your Twitter friends to one event at the click of a button? Twitzu has simplified the process, allowing you to quickly create and publicize events. Fill in the details and it's sent off as a link in a Twitter update, along with a short optional message. Your followers can then RSVP on the Twitzu website.

Twitzu has great potential for organizing public events like blog meets or advertising small gigs, but you won't want to use it to organize a private gathering. One of Twitzu's main drawbacks is the fact that your event is not only broadcast to all your Twitter followers, it's also posted up on the main Twitzu page. With talk of Twitter groups in the making - it would be nice to see the two concepts integrated - allowing you to invite only certain people who follow you. The website is also sorely lacking a privacy option. Another huge drawback is the inability to edit your event once you've submitted it. Don't be fooled by the 'Edit Event' tab. It seems to be there only for show.

Twitzu is far from perfect - and we don't just mean the glaring spelling mistake on the front page - but if it gets enough attention it could turn out to be one of the easiest ways to ensure a large turn out at your next public event.

Download SquadCreate events on Twitter with Twitzu originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eventsnetworkingsocialtwittertwitzuTue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OpenSUSE traffic report: Merged forums open, drive to 11.0 on schedule]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/10/opensuse-traffic-report-merged-forums-open-drive-to-11-0-on-sc/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/10/opensuse-traffic-report-merged-forums-open-drive-to-11-0-on-sc/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/06/10/opensuse-traffic-report-merged-forums-open-drive-to-11-0-on-sc/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Flickr user treefell road signThis morning, the good folks over at the openSUSE project announced the official launch of the merged forums. Prior to this, English speaking openSUSE users had a bit of a confusing ride when it came to joining a support community specifically for their distro -- they had the support forums at the Novell openSUSE site, suseforums.net, and suselinuxsupport.de to choose from. The merged forums, located at forums.opensuse.org, are archived and searchable, and the new forum is open for posting (openSUSE members with an account for the wiki or bugzilla will be able to use their existing accounts on the forums, but suseforums and suselinuxsupport users will need to create new accounts).

Those who have never used openSUSE might have difficulty grasping the significance of this. It seems like a little thing, really... But the real strength of Linux (and any distro) is the knowledge and experience of the community, its experiences with different bits of hardware in different configurations. That strength is undermined when the community is divided between three sites -- even if they're three very, very good sites. If a user asks a question on one site, but the person who knows the answer is on one or two of the others (or doesn't have endless hours a day to comb forums), it is a real disadvantage to the person asking, those searching for an answer to the same problem, and ultimately the distribution in general.

The openSUSE project hopes to add more languages to the merged forums in the near future. Okay, it probably won't happen anywhere near in time for the openSUSE 11.0 release (on schedule for June 19th), but we're guessing that most people really won't mind, being much too distracted with a faster install process and a new and improved version of Zypper.

Download SquadOpenSUSE traffic report: Merged forums open, drive to 11.0 on schedule originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityforumslinuxnovellopensourceopensuseosupdatessupportTue, 10 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[OpenSolaris 2008.05, and other places the sun don't shine]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/15/opensolaris-2008-05-and-other-places-the-sun-dont-shine/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/15/opensolaris-2008-05-and-other-places-the-sun-dont-shine/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/05/15/opensolaris-2008-05-and-other-places-the-sun-dont-shine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

OpenSolaris Screen shot. A hard fought thing to achieveWay back in the dark ages of 1993, we were introduced to this thing called email. Email in the olden days was not like email now. All the packets traveled uphill no matter where they were going, and usually there was a good three or four feet of snow on the internet backbone. We used these big hulking things called VAX/VMS nodes that were attached to some pretty sweet fourteen inch monochrome VT 100 terminals. There were also these machines that ran something called UNIX, which sounded to us like something that should have been found in the college health center, not the computer lab.

Eons passed, and things changed. Though there were many more email packets flying around, plate tectonics had changed the course of things so that now they traveled downhill, really really fast. The internet backbone became a series of tubes. All the VT 100 terminals banded together and created an archipelago in the South Pacific. And UNIX...

UNIX evolved. Mutated. It trickled down into various UNIX brands and distributions. There were things like BSD UNIX, HP-UX, and AT&T Bell Labs UNIX. There were other branches, too, rogue sprouts on the evolutionary tree: FreeBSD, and OpenBSD. Slightly alien but vaguely reminiscent life forms injected their DNA into the gene pool: Linux, and this weird little UNIX-esque animal called Solaris.

Sun recently let Solaris go open source. OpenSolaris is more a traditional UNIX environment than a Linux type environment, but the appeal of taking a peek at the 2008.05 OpenSolaris release was too great for us to resist. The folks at OpenSolaris knew this, and baked some goodies into the OS that no Linux user could refuse.

We were given a no-strings attached liveCD, so our Linux install would never know we cheated. We had a bash shell, and the GNOME desktop environment, so our eye candy and commands would feel familiar and easy.

Sometimes, though, evolution goes horribly, horribly wrong.

Continue reading OpenSolaris 2008.05, and other places the sun don't shine

Download SquadOpenSolaris 2008.05, and other places the sun don't shine originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonyGNOMELinuxlivecdnetworkingOpenSolarisopensourceosupdatesUNIXUSBThu, 15 May 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[openSUSE 11.0 Beta 1 released]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/opensuse-11-0-beta-1-released/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/opensuse-11-0-beta-1-released/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/21/opensuse-11-0-beta-1-released/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ScreenshotThe openSUSE team has released the first beta of their popular but controversial Linux distribution, and it has some spiffy features that make it worth checking out.

The most exciting improvements are in the area of speed, as this is one OS that is often ridiculed by reviewers, mainly for its historically sluggish boot times and sloth-like package system. In contrast, openSUSE now uses an improved version of "zipper", which, long story short, makes incredibly quick package installation possible, much faster than Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS. Not only that, the system installation has been trimmed to 60%, meaning that it only takes about 24 minutes on typical hardware, which is damn fast for Suse.

There are still way too many bugs for you distro-shufflers to start revving your DVD burners, but if you would like to help with testing, check out the download page.

Download SquadopenSUSE 11.0 Beta 1 released originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BetaDistroKDE3NovellopensourceRPMSuseMon, 21 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flipping the Linux switch: openSUSE, geeko of many colors]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/13/flipping-the-linux-switch-opensuse-geeko-of-many-colors/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/13/flipping-the-linux-switch-opensuse-geeko-of-many-colors/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/04/13/flipping-the-linux-switch-opensuse-geeko-of-many-colors/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

YaST looks really hawt today.Please, allow me to explain. This week's FTLS was not at all what I intended it to be. For weeks now, I've been toying with idea of dual-booting a Debian based distro with a RPM based distro. Ubuntu Hardy (now reasonably mature enough for day to day use with minimal bork ups) was the obvious choice for a Debian flavor, as it already existed on my hard drive.

I am not a big fan of RPM based stuff, in general. I historically have had some real issues with installing Fedora on any piece of hardware I touch. I am intrigued to pieces by PCLinuxOS, but not intrigued enough to actually try it. SuSE, when it was just plain ol' SuSE, was the first Linux I ever tried. I liked it well enough, and it does hold a dear place in my heart. I guess it's kind of like a first crush.

The last openSUSE install I tried for any real length of time was 10.1. I installed 10.3 a month or two back to try some things, and found, though it's really usable, there wasn't anything that made me want to say, "Screw Ubuntu."

But I wanted to try openSUSE as my RPM based distro, again, because there are some nifty little apps on the horizon that seem, for now, to work best/easiest with openSUSE and/or RPM distros. I intended, wholeheartedly, to write about one of those little apps this week.

Until I reinstalled openSUSE 10.3, with the GNOME desktop. I was taken by the whole presentation, the whole delivery of the OS. I am still blown away by it.

Maybe not blown away enough to stop using Ubuntu entirely... but I haven't actually booted into Hardy for some time now. And I am anxiously waiting to see what changes are in store for openSUSE 11.0, due this summer.

Continue reading Flipping the Linux switch: openSUSE, geeko of many colors

Download SquadFlipping the Linux switch: openSUSE, geeko of many colors originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginnerlinuxlinux-switchnew usernewbieNewUserNovellopensourceopenSUSEosupdatesSUSEUbuntuSun, 13 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DLS Interview: openSUSE's new Community Manager, Joe Brockmeier]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/dls-interview-opensuses-new-community-manager-joe-brockmeier/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/dls-interview-opensuses-new-community-manager-joe-brockmeier/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/04/dls-interview-opensuses-new-community-manager-joe-brockmeier/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Joe Today, Novell announced that Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier is taking the reins as openSUSE's Community Manager. Those familiar with the open source world might recognize Joe from his work with various Linux and free software publications.

A long time open source advocate, Joe began using Linux in 1996, after purchasing a set of Slackware CDs at a local store. He says, "...I was blown away by the concept of 'free as in beer' software. The idea that you could share software, and even modify it and distribute it, was (and is) extremely exciting to me.

"I also find the community aspect of Linux and free and open source software particularly compelling. I love the fact that people around the world can come together and build useful tools, and then make those tools available for anyone to use. I knew pretty early on that I wanted to be part of that community."

We recently got the chance to talk with Joe about Linux, Novell, and the direction openSUSE (and open source) is headed.

Continue reading DLS Interview: openSUSE's new Community Manager, Joe Brockmeier

Download SquadDLS Interview: openSUSE's new Community Manager, Joe Brockmeier originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community managerCommunityManagerinterviewJoe BrockmeierJoeBrockmeierLinuxmanagement changeManagementChangeNovellopen sourceOpenSourceopenSUSEZonkerMon, 04 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One more nail in the coffin: Nasdaq delists SCO]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/12/27/one-more-nail-in-the-coffin-nasdaq-delists-sco/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/12/27/one-more-nail-in-the-coffin-nasdaq-delists-sco/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/12/27/one-more-nail-in-the-coffin-nasdaq-delists-sco/#commentsFiled under: ,



After filing for Chapter 11 protection in September, The SCO Group has been delisted from the Nasdaq trading index. The companies ticker symbol, formerly SCOX is kaput, although the non-indexed SCOX.PK (PK stands for "pink sheet") remains.Groklaw has brilliantly juxtaposed today's press release with the 2003 release stating SCO's intent to sue IBM.

For the uninitiated, SCO, formerly known as Caldera Systems, was at one time one of the largest Linux distributors for the business environment. In 2003, the newly named SCO systems sued IBM for $1 billion dollars, claiming that IBM's Linux products used parts of UNIX (which SCO claimed to own the rights to), thus devaluing the SCO brand. The story is extremely sordid and complicated, this Wikipedia page has a pretty good assessment of the various controversies and Groklaw has covered the various lawsuits involving SCO since 2003.

In short, SCO tried to claim intellectual property ownership of various parts of source code they claimed to be part of the open-source Linux kernel (one of the more insane claims, that SCO owned UNIX was legally dismissed in August 2007, and the actual owner of the UNIX and UNIXWare code, Novell, was awarded damages). SCO then sued manufacturers of competing Linux distributions for various claims ranging from the usage of SCO owned source code, trade secret violations and anti-competitive practices. And this from a company who's most successful product was actually called, "OpenLinux."

Objectivity aside - we can't wait for these guys to finally be out of business for good.

[via Slashdot]

Download SquadOne more nail in the coffin: Nasdaq delists SCO originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delisted nasdaqDelistedNasdaqlawsuitlinuxlinux source codeLinuxSourceCodenasdaqnewsnovellopensourcescoThu, 27 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Home Server OEM leaked]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/15/windows-home-server-oem-leaked/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/15/windows-home-server-oem-leaked/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/10/15/windows-home-server-oem-leaked/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Windows Home Server OEMIf you're itching to get your hands on Windows Home Server, Ars Technica reports that a number of retailers are ready to ship the new Microsoft OS. But if you're not ready to drop $150+ on an operating system that essentially lets you backup and share files on your home network, it looks like the OS has reportedly been leaked onto the BitTorrent sites.

The folks at Ars Technica took Windows Home Server for a spin and report that it serves it purpose reasonably well. But they also conclude that if you've already got some sort of network attached storage device, you probably don't need a new machine and operating system, especially one that doesn't even integrate with Windows Media Center to let you store and access recorded TV programs on the same machine you use to store all of your other file backups.

On the other hand, it's nice to have a simple, easy to use backup solution for every PC in the house.

Download SquadWindows Home Server OEM leaked originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backupbittorrentnetworkingosupdateswindows-home-serverMon, 15 Oct 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo is latest computer maker to announce Linux-based PCs]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/06/lenovo-is-latest-computer-maker-to-announce-linux-based-pcs/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/06/lenovo-is-latest-computer-maker-to-announce-linux-based-pcs/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/06/lenovo-is-latest-computer-maker-to-announce-linux-based-pcs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lenovo ThinkPadDell's doing it. Acer's kind of, sort of doing it. Now Lenovo has announced that they too will begin selling laptop computers pre-loaded with Linux. While Dell has gone with the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution, Lenovo plans to offer Linux software provided by Novell (we assume that means Suse).

It's not clear which Lenovo laptop models will get the Linux treatment. But they should be on sale during the 4th quarter of 2007, and will be available to business and home users.

Pretty soon we're going to stop reporting every time a mass market computer manufacturer announces they'll

be distributing Linux PCs, because it's starting to get commonplace. Well, unless you count the possible scammers over at Medison that claim they'll be releasing a Linux-based PC for $150 using commonly available computer parts. That's not exactly commonplace. But it also looks like a case of too good to be true. We all know Microsoft Windows costs a lot of money, but picking up a fully functional PC for less than the price of Microsoft's operating system? That's probably just too good to be true.

Download SquadLenovo is latest computer maker to announce Linux-based PCs originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarelenovonewsnovellsuseubuntuMon, 06 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[See and be seen with 944Life]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/02/see-and-be-seen-with-944life/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/02/see-and-be-seen-with-944life/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/02/see-and-be-seen-with-944life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You do realize that everything you do these days must have a social element, right? If you're so inclined, you can socially network almost every component of your life: college, work, sports, hobbies -- heck, even dying. So, if that's your thing, you'll be happy to know that one of the last vestiges of solitary activity has given way to social media. That's right, you'll never have to read alone again.

The glossy print publication 944 Magazine, a regional mag that covers the nightlife scene in major markets like Miami, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, has just launched the aptly-named Web site 944Life: Your Clique Here. In a welcome departure from typical one-dimensional sites with nothing but the text of back issues you've already read, this site has social interaction features so readers have a place to meet up and talk about where they're going to, er, meet up.

With trendy events happening in and around its coverage areas faster than you can say "What should I wear?", 944Life lets readers check out videos, news, reviews, and find out where the latest parties are going to be. There's even a section that features the hottest restaurants in town, along with photos from the fah-bulous events they've hosted. Registered members can hob-hob with other users, keep a blog, upload media, and join forums.

Though the site is still officially in beta, it's already very user-friendly and just as slick and glossy as the magazine itself. While we still like to curl up with the classics and read into the wee hours, a socially interactive website for a magazine devoted to cultivating one's social life makes a lot of sense to us.

Download SquadSee and be seen with 944Life originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>944 life944 magazine944Life944MagazinenetworkingsocialsoftwareThu, 02 Aug 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bonjour for Windows updated]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/27/bonjour-for-windows-updated/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/27/bonjour-for-windows-updated/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/27/bonjour-for-windows-updated/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Those of us on a Mac have been fortunate enough to enjoy Apple's Zero-config technology Rendez-Vous Bonjour for years, however people are often surprised to know it's available for Windows too as a download from Apple.com. Now, there's probably some of you wondering what on earth Bonjour is as, at least in our experience, it's little known by Windows users. Thankfully, Apple answers that question on their downloads page: "Bonjour, also known as zero-configuration networking, enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks. Bonjour uses industry standard IP protocols to allow devices to automatically discover each other without the need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers."

Yesterday saw the release of Bonjour 1.0.4 for Windows, allowing Windows Vista (and of course XP and 2000/20003) users to enjoy the hassle-free networking and printer sharing that Bonjour offers. There's even a 64-bit version for Windows Vista available too, it that's your OS of choice.

[via MacNN]

Download SquadBonjour for Windows updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebonjourfreewarenetworkingwindowsvistazeroconfigFri, 27 Jul 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[8apps takes social networking to the next level]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/24/8apps-takes-social-networking-to-the-next-level/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/24/8apps-takes-social-networking-to-the-next-level/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/24/8apps-takes-social-networking-to-the-next-level/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Social networking sites have become an increasingly popular way for people to connect professionally but, once you've added someone to your contact list, what then? 8apps is one of the first sites we've seen that answers that question. It goes beyond just connecting people and actually gives them tools to develop whatever brainstorms happen to come up once they get to know each other.

Like other social networking sites, 8apps brings like-minded people together, but then it takes the concept a step further by offering tools to help shape the ideas that take root between members. Wikis offer the same collaborative tools as 8apps but start from the premise that all the users already know each other. 8apps puts the horse before the cart and helps you meet people, then develop a project together.

After completing the very simple sign-up process, find members by searching for groups or individuals in the Handshake section of the site. Map out your big idea in Blueprint, a virtual whiteboard that works a bit like a mind-mapping tool. Next, break down projects and assign tasks with Orchestrate. If your group decides that a face-to-face meeting is in order, use the Pinpoint map and scheduling tool to find your real-world middle ground.

While the four remaining applications are still under wraps, this new site is still useful even though it's technically under development.* It also has an outstanding, beautiful, and intuitive interface that makes navigation easy and painless.

While the world might not need Yet Another Social Networking Site, it does need a way to corral all those brainstorms between members so the ideas have a chance to grow up and become -- who knows? -- Yet Another Social Media Tool. 8apps is just the ticket.

*Note: As we were preparing this post for publication, we learned that the creators of 8apps have just put the site up for sale. Although further development has been temporarily put on hold, the site is still fully functional, and there are still private invites available. Want to know how you can score one? Stay tuned.

Download Squad8apps takes social networking to the next level originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8appsbetacollaborationgroupmind-mappingnetworkingsocial networkingwikiTue, 24 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do you know where your customers are?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/17/do-you-know-where-your-customers-are/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/17/do-you-know-where-your-customers-are/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/07/17/do-you-know-where-your-customers-are/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Get the FeedGen Y, a term sometimes used for those 20-35 years old, are old enough to be (some of) our kids but more importantly make up our next generation of clients. This generation, defined more by popular culture than by age, is an Internet-hungry and online-casual bunch. Currently, there are about 76 million of them in the U.S., not a bad market slice.

They communicated first via Instant Message and made the sport popular. After webcams were affordable, dating sites emerged. By the time YouTube opened up the face-to-face world, research as we knew it had changed permanently. Then social sites like MySpace, and Facebook blew onto the virtual landscape. Television is becoming secondary to seeing what you want when you want it (this is the ongoing theme) and BitTorrent (among others) is the way to find preferred media, not TV Guide.

If your business is looking for its next generation of customers, what kind of online presence do you need to attract and keep the techno-oriented Y'ers who spend big bucks online? Although neither exhaustive nor scientific (my sample was everyone I know under 35), here is a list of popular places where young folks come together online. If you market, you should consider these sites.

Download Squad and its cousins - people want to know what's out there as soon as it's launched. DLS not only tells you what's there but also make it easy to find plus they let you know if it's worthwhile. With so much information out there, DLS and its cousin sites offer today's specials so you don't have to bother with the entire menu.

Gmail, Google News Reader, Google Docs - free online services by King Google are the prime haunt of many 20-35 year olds. Make sure you know how they work so when you build apps on your site you try to mimic the look and feel. When they want world news, they often use the links at the top of the pages.

The News Empire - the business-oriented target group seems to enjoy CNN's plethora of sites including cnn.com for news, cnnsi.com for sports, and the new CNN video area. They find news at their local paper's site as well as at the major news sites including The NY Times, WaPo, Google and Yahoo!.

Things Technical - if the users are geeky (a term I use with respect), they're likely to grab the most current news available from sites like Slashdot, Digg, Techmeme, Engadget and Reddit. Never heard of them? Each is a field-leader and they all use a blog-like or RSS-like updating system. Ease of use and consistent uptime can be more important than design. (A site is successful when its name becomes a verb, like, "Google that..." or "My review was slashdotted...")

Sharing Socially - social networking sites are more than just a "what's new" news item. Facebook and MySpace connect this international generation like virtual glue. Many users consider these sites to be their homepages and include links to other sites they want to visit (like Twitter, Google Reader, Pownce, their favorite blogs) right from those pages.

Photo Share - Got a shelf full of quaint photo albums? Today's shelves are online on a Flickr, Picasa or other photo site's servers. With the rapid availability of fast bandwidth, pictures go online instantaneously and can circle the globe in less than a morning. Others can comment and you can share all the photos you upload from your digital camera or more likely from your phone. In the olden days, we taught people how to attach a photo to an email. Today, we read the Flickr feed to see a picture that might interest us.

It's All in the RSS - most everyone who leans toward the technical has an RSS reader, whether it's Google or FeedDemon or others. The younger online group gets the feed for whatever interests them and checks that feed several times a day. It's neater and cleaner than browsing all over the Web and they get what they want when they want it (the ongoing theme) and have time to read it. If you don't yet have an RSS feed, what are you waiting for?

Share, Share, Share - the definition of social sites is sharing. We share not only photos and text but also we expect sharing in return. It's almost as if the Web has come full circle. From the olden days of the early 1990s to the mid-first decade of this millennium, the Web has evolved from open and free (when I started) to pay-as-you-go (when they expected you to pay to get news) and has grown into freely shared spaces that are your own. The mantra of sites is "Twitter/Pownce - Digg - Flickr" for the younger and clued-in audience.

Whether you consider this generation of Internet users to be egocentric and instantaneous gratifiers or open-minded and savvy, the proof of the online pudding is in the feed. Click a few links and see how they are coming to the knowledge that will make them - or keep them - from becoming your future customers.

If your fav site was omitted, please add it in the comments. You'd be surprised how many great sites we find out simply by asking others who are slightly more geeky than we are.

Download SquadDo you know where your customers are? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bittorrentcnndiggengadgetfacebookgen YGenYinformationnetworkingnewsredditrsssocial mediaSocialMediayahooyoutubeTue, 17 Jul 2007 14:30:00 EST