Mozilla's P2PU 'School of Webcraft' gearing up for another semester of nerdy teaching

It turns out Barney isn't the only dinosaur interested in education -- Mozilla (with its own Dinosaur) is ramping up the course count in its online education program, delivered via P2PU. 'The School of Webcraft' is basically a free online learning community with structured courses about a range of Web-related subjects, from HTML5, through JavaScript, all the way to social media management and SEO. Each class is between six to ten weeks long, with the Mozilla-supported program offering 15 classes last term. This coming semester, they're upping their efforts and running a full 30 courses.

Each class is led by an actual human being, and participation is required -- it's not just a bunch of videos you have to watch. There's a limited number of places available per class, and you have to actually do homework. Not all classes are for beginners either; some are for advanced coders, too. But registration isn't available just yet - it begins Jan 8, and there's a mailing list you can join to be alerted when registration opens.

If you're serious about your Web-related education, we suggest you sign up for the mailing list -- these courses tend to fill up quite quickly. Head on over to the School of Webcraft site for more information.

Mozilla's P2PU 'School of Webcraft' gearing up for another semester of nerdy teaching originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/mozillas-p2pu-school-of-webcraft-gearing-up-for-another-semes/

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The Humble Indie Bundle is back, with Braid, Machinarium, and a real-time counter

The most excellent Humble Indie Bundle is back, and yet again five excellent games are available at any price you choose. This year, Braid, Machinarium, Cortex Command, Osmos and Revenge of the Titans are part of the bundle -- and again, a percentage of every donation goes to the EFF and Child's Play charities. All five games work on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The site itself has been significantly overhauled, too. At the top, there's a 'buzz bar', showing all of the recent tweets. There's also a real-time counter that ticks up every time a purchase is made -- and I'm glad to say that since I've started writing, it's moved quickly, from 1500 to over 3000!

Most importantly, because you can pay whatever you like for the bundle, there's now a bunch of sliders that control what percentage of your donation goes to each group. You can give all of the money to the game developers, or every last cent to charity -- but the default is a 66/33 split.

The games, if bought separately, would cost around $85... so while you could get all five games for free, consider giving a few dollars at least. If you can't afford one of the five Steam games in our holiday gift guide, the Humble Indie Bundle would make a great gift, too.

The Humble Indie Bundle is back, with Braid, Machinarium, and a real-time counter originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/the-humble-indie-bundle-is-back-with-braid-machinarium-and-a/

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USB Go, connettere due computer tramite porta USB

In molte case odierne, vi sono pi� di due computer. Visto che il costo � diminuito notevolmente, e vista anche la diffusione dei NetBook, un computer pu� essere comprato anche da chi non ne abbisogna per lavoro. In questo modo, per�, i computer entrano in possesso di utenti che spesso non sanno usare a pieno [...]

Source: http://www.geekissimo.com/2010/03/17/usb-go-connettere-due-computer-tramite-porta-usb/

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Google teams up with Coca-Cola for a festive Android treat

Adding to the magical wonder of Coke's 'Snow Globe Santa' Christmas commercial, Google's AdMob team has collaborated with the One True Soda Master to create a truly festive Android experience: a snow globe live wallpaper (QR code after the break).

The live wallpaper -- which basically turns your Android phone into a very cute snow globe -- will be promoted via the AdMob network, which many free apps use to create revenue. When users see the ad, they'll be able to click straight through to the Android Market and install the live wallpaper. Google's even produced a video showing you how to install the wallpaper, which feels a bit like overkill, but it's included after the break anyway.

It's at this juncture that I like to remind people that Santa Claus's red-and-white garb was not created by Coca-Cola. It may be true that Coke popularized the color scheme, however. Before Coke's legendary commercialization of Santa, he usually wore whatever the local custom dictated. The original Santa, however, Saint Nicolas, was a monk; and monks at that time wore red and white.

Continue reading Google teams up with Coca-Cola for a festive Android treat

Google teams up with Coca-Cola for a festive Android treat originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/21/google-teams-up-with-coca-cola-for-a-festive-android-treat/

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Apple's Aperture 3.1.1 update improves iLife compatibility

Apple has updated Aperture, its professional photo editing and management software, to version 3.1.1. This is an incremental update, so no earth-shattering surprises here, but if you're an Aperture user you'll be happy to find:

• Better reliability when upgrading Aperture libraries created with older versions
• Less buggy photo publishing to MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr
• Improved compatibility with iLife Media Browser.

You can read the update release notes here and grab it via Software Update or direct from Apple, but you'll need Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.2 or later to install.

Apple's Aperture 3.1.1 update improves iLife compatibility originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/10/apples-aperture-3-1-1-update-improves-ilife-compatibility/

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CyanogenMod-6.1.2 for the Evo 4G -- support for newer hardware

Are you rockin' one of the newer revisions (some 003 and all 004 versions) of the Evo 4G, and want some CyanogenMod loving?  It looks like the man himself has got you hooked up, and it's only a flash away.  You'll need to be rooted (of course) and we can help with that -- head into the Evo 4G hacking forums, do a bit of reading, and holler if you need some help.  The fellas in there may seem a little gruff, (looking right at you Jerzy, igotsanevo4g, d3xn2o and company ;p ) but they have a heart of gold and the wits to match.  They'll get you up and running and point you towards the right path. 

This one isn't Gingerbread just yet, give the CM team some time, but as far as custom ROMs go, it's the creme of the crop.  So what are you waiting for?  Fire up Rom Manager and go! [@cyanogen via Android Central forums]

CyanogenMod-6.1.2 for the Evo 4G -- support for newer hardware posted originally by Android Central

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/5UX_t6NYDls/cyanogenmod-612-evo-4g-support-newer-hardware

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5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder

Let's be honest: if you're reading Download Squad, you're in the 99th percentile when it comes to computer technology. You probably know how to touch type, or send a file across the world at the speed of light, and in all likelihood you own one of the big three video game consoles. Like all things that you've grown up with and come to rely on, though, you don't realize just how lucky you are to have high-tech gadgets in your life.

Don't worry, I'm not going to go on about the malnourished kids in Sub-Saharan Africa and how you ought to feel thankful for food and good health this Christmas. Instead, just take a moment and think about what life would be like without a computer, without an Internet connection -- without LOLCATS.

The sad truth is, only the last couple of generations have attained computer mastery. Your parents might use computers, but as a means to an end, not as a tool. I don't think I've ever heard my mother say she likes Microsoft Word, but it gets the job done. You and I both know that technology can be so much more than that. It can become an extension of our everyday life -- and there's no reason your older relatives should miss out on the fun!

I've compiled a list of five items that can all massively improve a nascent computer user's enjoyment of technology. Some are cheap, and some are expensive -- but do your parents a favor and buy them something from this list this Christmas.

Continue reading 5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder

5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/13/5-perfect-computery-christmas-gifts-for-your-mother-father-or-f/

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France considering tablet tax, Windows bizarrely excluded

 

French tablet manufacturer Archos is none too pleased with the French government's move towards applying a Private Copy tax to tablets running Android and iOS. In France, the controversial "Copie Privée" levy is applied to sales of blank writeable media, under the assumption that it'll be used to infringe copyright. Some 75 percent of the funds brought in are then distributed to starving French writers, producers and performers.

Now the French government is considering imposing the levy on tablet computers with more than 40GB of on-board storage, which could lead to tablet prices increasing by €12.

This isn't as strange as it might sound. Personal media players and multimedia-capable phones are already subject to the levy, so this could be seen as eliminating a loophole for similar but currently untaxed devices. What is odd, though, is that Windows 7 tablets won't be taxed. This is all down to the very specific language used to determine what is and isn't a mobile device. Android tablets apparently fit the description of being "provided with an operating system for mobile devices", while Windows is considered a desktop OS even when it's running on a tablet of the same size.

Archos is understandably peeved, and claims that this unfairly targets French tablet manufacturers for extra taxation. [via Geek.com]

France considering tablet tax, Windows bizarrely excluded posted originally by Android Central

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/5PbLJf8yFaA/france-considering-tablet-tax-windows-bizarrely-excluded

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iPad Soon To Go On Sale In 9 More Countries

Most people around the globe have heard of the iPad by now, even in areas where it’s not yet being sold. The iPad no longer needs an introduction but it will become available in 9 more countries this Friday. Apple’s trend setting gadget, tablet computer, or whatever you’d like to refer to it as, is [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ipadbuzzblog/~3/Mv6_uydNX1c/

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No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard

My Android device has a tiny power button, and it's usually in a holster. Really, what are the odds of me turning it on accidentally?

If you purchased previously reviewed power-tool Tasker, you can use it to selectively disable the slide to unlock feature, amongst the myriad of other things it can do.

However, if you didn't purchase Tasker, or are just looking for a quick and free solution, No Lock might be right up your alley.

This no-frills app presents a huge button you can press to toggle the keyguard. When the keyguard is off, you need only press the power button on your device to start interacting with it - no sliding involved.

There's also a handy 1x1 widget you can put on your homescreen and tap whenever you want to toggle the keyguard. The only feature I wish it had is a "dual button" unlock, whereby I can press the power button and then the camera button to unlock; I think that could definitely keep me from switching the device on accidentally. Still, for most cases, No Lock gets the job done. You can find its QR code after the jump.

Continue reading No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard

No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/no-lock-for-android-disables-slide-to-unlock-keyguard/

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Facebook overtakes Yahoo! to become 3rd-most-visited Web property

Facebook has passed Yahoo! to become the 3rd-most-visited Web property in the world, according to web analytics site ComScore. ComScore's November numbers showed Facebook at 648 million unique visitors per month to Yahoo!'s 630 million. Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft are still hanging tough in the number 1 and 2 spots. These stats take into account all of the sites' separate services and pages, such as YouTube, Bing and Hotmail, and not just their homepages. This seems like it should work in favor of a large network like Yahoo!, but Facebook's growth has been massive in 2010, while Yahoo!'s numbers have remained flat.

Yahoo! can still take a little comfort in the fact that it's beating Facebook in the US (for now, anyway) by a margin of about 30 million unique visitors a month.

Facebook overtakes Yahoo! to become 3rd-most-visited Web property originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/27/facebook-overtakes-yahoo-to-become-3rd-most-visited-website/

INSIGHT ENTERPRISES INGRAM MICRO INFORMATICA INFOCUS ZORAN

Apple's Aperture 3.1.1 update improves iLife compatibility

Apple has updated Aperture, its professional photo editing and management software, to version 3.1.1. This is an incremental update, so no earth-shattering surprises here, but if you're an Aperture user you'll be happy to find:

• Better reliability when upgrading Aperture libraries created with older versions
• Less buggy photo publishing to MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr
• Improved compatibility with iLife Media Browser.

You can read the update release notes here and grab it via Software Update or direct from Apple, but you'll need Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.2 or later to install.

Apple's Aperture 3.1.1 update improves iLife compatibility originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/10/apples-aperture-3-1-1-update-improves-ilife-compatibility/

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News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable

This weekend, Gawker Media had its primary database compromised. In this monstrous breach, not only did 1.5 million users have their privacy breached and email address stolen, but they also had their passwords cracked. In a day and age where the currency of our email address and password -- and thus our identity -- is only superseded by our bank details, it's fair to label the Gawker breach as abominable.

Like all major disasters, though, this hack serves a higher purpose: it's now blatantly clear that you should not trust a website with sensitive details about yourself. There have been other hacks, of course; higher profile hacks (like the TJ Maxx debacle), with millions of credit card and social security numbers vanishing into the ether, causing billions of dollars of damage.

But they pale in comparison to the Gawker hack for one reason: it directly affected a huge swathe of the noisy, foot-stomping and petulant tech blogging minority.

Continue reading News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable

News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/news-flash-everything-on-the-internet-is-hackable/

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mPlayer -- the cross-platform, open source media player -- ported to webOS

Sure, the webOS App Catalog lags behind the markets of other mobile OSes -- but the homebrew community continues porting apps to HP/Palm's platform. One of the more recent additions is mPlayer, the cross-platform open source media app.

Ported to webOS by Treo8 forum member Woshíthb123, mPlayer for webOS is far from perfect -- but it's only a first release after all. Playback of Big Buck Bunny on my Pre was jittery throughout, so hopefully development will forge ahead and deliver a more polished app. It's worth noting that other PreCentral users have reported better performance, so it's certainly worth a try on your Palm smartphone if you've been looking for an app that can play a variety of video formats.

mPlayer -- the cross-platform, open source media player -- ported to webOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/30/mplayer-the-cross-platform-open-source-media-player-ported-webos/

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Twitter Tuesday: Twitter's year in review, top trends, and most powerful tweets

Hello again, Twitter fans! 2010 is drawing to a close, and the folks at Twitter are taking a look back at the way the site has been used this year by analyzing the 25 billion(!) tweets that were sent in 2010. They've picked out the top 10 trends, top 10 hashtags, and even the most powerful individual tweets. This week, let's review Twitter's 2010 before we jump into talking about apps and services.

First Up, Top Trends!

The largest ecological disaster in American history, the BP Gulf Oil Spill, edged out the world's largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, for top trend of the year. The oil spill had a global impact, but you'd expect mostly American tweets about it, so it's quite astounding that it was more discussed than the World Cup, which has fans in every country Twitter reaches. Other World-Cup related trends made the list, though, with vuvuzela (the annoying plastic World Cup horn) at #5 and Pulpo Paul (the octopus who predicted the World Cup results) at #10.

Inception, at #3, was the most talked-about movie of the year, while Justin Bieber ranked as the most-discussed person, at #8. In tech, Apple's iPad (#5) beat out Google's Android mobile OS (#6). You can check out the entire list at Twitter's 2010 trends page.

Continue reading Twitter Tuesday: Twitter's year in review, top trends, and most powerful tweets

Twitter Tuesday: Twitter's year in review, top trends, and most powerful tweets originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/twitter-tuesday-twitters-year-in-review-top-trends-and-most/

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Adblock Plus for Chrome coming soon

Adblock is already available for Chrome, and is working very well for us so far. But now Adblock Plus, of Firefox fame, may be joining making the jump to Google's browser platform.

AdBlock Plus' developer, Wladimir Palant, has had lots of time to convert the extension; after all, Chrome isn't exactly new. But so far, Palant has been reluctant to do the porting, due to the amount of work required and Chrome's limited blocking capabilities. Times have changed however, as according to TechCrunch, Adblock Plus is on its way. It won't be a complete re-write apparently, but based on an existing extension called AdThwart.

From an end user's point of view, having Adblock Plus for Chrome might not make a huge difference. After all, the existing options for Chrome do get the job done. But when you step back and look at the big picture, this is one more indication of the rapid rise of Chrome as a browser platform, and now, an OS.

Adblock Plus for Chrome coming soon originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/17/adblock-plus-for-chrome-coming-soon/

INGRAM MICRO INFORMATICA INFOCUS ZORAN ZIONS BAN

Google Maps 5.0 for Android introduces 3D maps and offline mode

Google has just released version 5.0 of Google Maps for Android, and it might be the most significant update in the five-year history of Google's mobile maps app. For the first time the, Google Maps mobile app features 3D maps and an offline mode, making it both cooler-looking and more useful for Android users.

Maps are now dynamically drawn as vectors, instead of stitched together from static images. It's the end of watching the map load square-by-square. With the new 3D vectors, you can tilt and rotate the map in ways you couldn't before, and zoom in and out smoothly. You can also tap the compass button on the map to make the map rotate to match your perspective while keeping all the labels in place and easy to read.

Google has also solved the problem of trying to use maps when you can't get reception -- like in the subway or bus tunnel, for example -- by introducing caching. Locations you frequently view will be cached on your device so you can load them up later regardless of whether you're connected to the internet. The new dynamic 3D drawing actually makes this possible, because it requires a lot less data than the static images did. Map caching happens invisibly overnight while you're connected to Wi-Fi, so you don't even have to worry about configuring it.

As an added bonus, there's even offline rerouting. If your internet's not connected, but your GPS works, Google Maps 5.0 can actually deliver turn-by-turn directions based on your cached maps. This feature hasn't been fully rolled out yet, but Google says it should hit everyone in the next few weeks.

Google Maps 5.0 is available in the Android Market now for Android 1.6+ devices. However, the new 3D and offline features only work with Android 2.0 and above.

Google Maps 5.0 for Android introduces 3D maps and offline mode originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/google-maps-5-0-for-android-introduces-3d-maps-and-offline-mode/

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McDonalds hacked, customer database stolen, your burger preference now in the wild

Don't worry, this one isn't quite as bad as the Gawker hack: McDonalds -- and over 100 other firms -- have had their marketing databases compromised, and summarily stolen. An email marketing company called Silverpop is to blame for the breach -- and fortunately, 'only' real names, interests and email addresses were breached; no passwords, and no Social Security or credit card numbers were stolen.

While McDonalds is probably the biggest name on the list, it seems the creative users of deviantART are also affected -- and a brief look at Silverpop's site suggests it might have upset some other very big names, such as Mazda and the banking giant Santander.

There's no information about how the hack was achieved, but the FBI has said that the attack originated from outside the US. In all likelihood, the attack was probably carried out by spammers, or the operatives of spammers. An email address database the size of Silverpop's would sell for millions.

McDonalds hacked, customer database stolen, your burger preference now in the wild originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/15/mcdonalds-hacked-customer-database-stolen-your-burger-preferen/

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Windows Phone 7 "Mango" may add HTML5, Silverlight support to WP7's browser

Over at ZDNet, Mary Jo Foley has been speculating about the future of Windows Phone 7. According to Foley, a major update is due around Jan/Feb 2011, adding copy/paste functionality and two major browsing enhancements: HTML 5 support and a Silverlight plug-in. Foley also wonders whether enterprise tweaks might be part of the game plan as well. Microsoft, of course, doesn't comment on rumors -- so we'll have to wait for someone to score some hands-on time with the WP7 update.

Despite the update's appetizing codename, Microsoft doesn't seem to be converging on a single food-related theme for its Windows Phone OS. The next release, Windows Phone 8, is codenamed "Apollo". We can only hope 8.5 will be codenamed "Starbuck".

Bear in mind this is all sheer speculation; however, after Windows Phone 7's somewhat lackluster launch, any sort of improvement could be exciting.

Windows Phone 7 "Mango" may add HTML5, Silverlight support to WP7's browser originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/windows-phone-7-5-mango-may-add-html5-better-silverlight-supp/

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XBMC 10.0 released with new add-on system and a ton of improvements

XBMC is a fantastic media center application, and while it works well for dedicated HTPCs, it also plays nice on desktop computers, alongside your other software. But now XBMC has hit the version 10.0 milestone with a plethora of changes and improvements. Here's a small sample of the goodies you can look forward to in 10.0:

• Add-on support: The biggest change -- add-ons can now be browsed, installed, and updated from within XBMC itself, making it easy to change XBMC's look-and-feel or give it new functionality.
• WebM/VP8 codecs: You can now watch videos encoded using Google's latest open-source video format right from within XBMC.
• Hardware acceleration added for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• Linux improvement: VDAPU support improved and VAAPI support added.

There's a comprehensive changelog with much more, but why not just take the new, free, XBMC for a spin?

XBMC 10.0 released with new add-on system and a ton of improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/xbmc-10-0-released-with-new-add-on-system-and-a-ton-of-improveme/

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Natale 2010: prime idee regalo geek

Secondo le ultime sconcertanti notizie pubblicate da Wikileaks, oggi � cominciato il mese di dicembre. Fa freddo, qualcuno comincia ad andare in letargo e s�, molti di noi stanno gi� pensando a cosa regalare o farsi regalare a Natale. Potevamo mai scegliere giorno diverso per inaugurare il nostro Natale geek e proporvi qualche bella idea [...]

Source: http://www.geekissimo.com/2010/12/01/natale-2010-prime-idee-regalo-geek/

MILLICOM INTL CELLULAR MOBILE TELESYSTEMS NANYA TECHNOLOGY NII HOLDINGS NIKON

Trillian for Android review -- not quite worth your money yet

Earlier this week, Trillian, one of the oldest third-party IM client developers, released its Android app. I've always found Trillian a bit gimicky -- kind of like a 'Super Mega' Windows Live Messenger, with more bells and whistles than I really need, and a bloated, hard-to-navigate UI as a result.

Trillian for Android, I'm sad to say, is no better. Ultimately, it's functional but it feels like the shedding of its beta moniker was more than a little hasty. If that wasn't bad enough, it'll cost you $5 from the Android Market.

Continue reading Trillian for Android review -- not quite worth your money yet

Trillian for Android review -- not quite worth your money yet originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/21/trillian-for-android-taken-for-a-spin-not-worth-your-money-just/

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Foursquare finally adds photos, comments and check-in history

Proving that we are well and truly ensconced by the 21st century, Foursquare has finally added photos to the check-in experience. We can only begin to imagine the technological mountains Foursquare had to scale in order to implement this much-wanted, but dauntingly-hard-to-implement feature. There's also a brand-spanking-new first-party Foursquare iPhone app.

You can now also comment on check-ins (above right), which should make the synchronization of schedules and meet-ups easier. To make the most of both photos and comments, there is now a History page on foursquare.com, which you can visit to see all of your previous check-ins -- including any photos and comments.

Foursquare has been working with its partners to make the most of the new functionality, too: Instagram and Foodspotting will both automatically create 'photo check-ins.'

For now, the only mobile Foursquare client for Android is picplz. WebOS is coming later this week, and BlackBerry in January. Developers will get access to the new API later this week.

Gallery: Foursquare App for iPhone

Foursquare finally adds photos, comments and check-in history originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/foursquare-finally-adds-photos-comments-and-check-in-history/

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Android Quick App: TuneIn Radio

There's no shortage of Internet radio apps out there. There are so many, in fact, that I once ran out of music while testing a few for a roundup. Yes, there are more Internet radio apps than there is music on the Internet. Go figure.

But the reason I keep coming back to TuneIn Radio is simple -- local stations. There are times I want to listen to local public radio, be it for the news, or local music, or just because. And TuneIn Radio has my local public radio station -- WUWF, for those of you stalking from home. It also has private local stations, too.

The app itself is pretty foolproof. Fire it up, chose "Local Radio" and it determines where you are through some sort of black magic (or any of your phones location services, we gather) and gives you a few options. Plus, you get all sorts of Internet radio stations, too.

Are there better Internet radio stations? Perhaps. But TuneIn Radio's worked very well for me. And at the low, low cost of FREE, the price is right. Give it a shot. More screenies and download links are after the break.

Android Quick App: TuneIn Radio posted originally by Android Central

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/sg2YbTfbYhk/android-quick-app-tunein-radio

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Android Market listings will soon be able to display demo videos

It's hard to convey what some applications actually do through the use of static screenshots. Take apps like Dropbox, Fiabee, or Awesome Drop, for example. It's just not that easy to explain in two images how files get from your desktop to the cloud and then down to your phone. A video demo, however, could be a lot more useful -- and soon apps in the Android Market will be able to display them.

Right now, there are about 2,000 apps with newly-added videos in the Market but they aren't being displayed just yet. They're also available via the Market API, so some sites like Appsfire have already begun integrating the video demos into their own listings via the Market API. Check out AppsFire's Dropbox, Twidroyd, and Skyfire pages to see how helpful videos can be in illustrating an app's functionality.

Android Market listings will soon be able to display demo videos originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/28/android-market-apps-can-now-show-off-demo-videos/

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LinkedIn shows technical savvy, deactivates Gawker-compromised accounts

It looks like at least one security team has their finger on the pulse: LinkedIn, after hearing about the Gawker Media hack, obtained the database of email addresses and cross-checked it against every member of LinkedIn. If a match was found, the account was immediately deactivated and an email sent to the user, forcing them to change their password.

Judging by a thread over at Hacker News, other tech-savvy companies might be following a similar process, including Blizzard, the operator of World of Warcraft.

LinkedIn shows technical savvy, deactivates Gawker-compromised accounts originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/15/linkedin-shows-technical-savvy-deactivates-compromised-accounts/

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Multitask With The New Compass iPad Stand

Twelve South is well known for their exclusive and stylish accessory designs for Apple products and most recently they have introduced the all new Compass stand for the iPad. You may recall back in April Twelve South was one of the first companies to release a quality iPad stand, also known as the Bookarc Stand. [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ipadbuzzblog/~3/uzqNbLw1z2A/

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Apple's iAd Producer is a Mac studio for creating iAds

Apple's aptly-named new iAd Producer for OS X is the Mac app behind the iOS ads. You can use iAd Producer to create and animate your own iAds using a graphical interface that automatically handles all the heavy HTML, CSS, and JavaScript lifting for you. You can also switch to Advanced Mode if you prefer to debug your own JavaScript, or if you want to take advantage of iAd Producer's extensions, which let you reuse your own templates and components.

Speaking of templates and components, Apple has thrown in a selection of pre-built animations and effects, as well as Apple-style buttons, sliders, and other interface elements. iAd Producer also comes with an iOS 4 simulator, so you can see (roughly) what your finished ad would look like on various iOS devices. Live testing over your carrier network is also available, but only to existing iAd customers. The app is available for free in the iOS Dev Center, provided you're a paid member of the Apple Developer Program.

Apple's iAd Producer is a Mac studio for creating iAds originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/apples-iad-producer-is-a-mac-studio-for-creating-iads/

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Ask DLS: how to change your Download Squad password, the best Android web browser, and tailoring our RSS feeds

We're back with more of your questions, and more of our excellent answers.

This week, with the high-profile Gawker Media hack, we've been innundated with commenters asking how to change their Download Squad password. Now, it's not the easiest thing in the world, and yes, we know our commenting system isn't the best in the world (and we know there are still a few 'Easter eggs' from the Switched merger; they'll be ironed out soon, I promise) -- so if you're struggling to change your password, follow these simple steps:

• Make sure you're logged in -- the only way to do this (at the moment) is to leave a comment on a post (any post will do!)
• Find one of your comments -- the comment you just made will work just fine
• Click your name -- it's a link to your profile page (it will look something like this). Marvel at your huge post counts!
• Type your old password, and confirm a new password -- hit Change Password and you're done!

Continue reading Ask DLS: how to change your Download Squad password, the best Android web browser, and tailoring our RSS feeds

Ask DLS: how to change your Download Squad password, the best Android web browser, and tailoring our RSS feeds originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/ask-dls-how-to-change-your-download-squad-password-android-browser-rss-feeds/

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Slow Down: iPhone App To Avoid Speeding Ticket

Using your iPhone for texting or calling while driving will fetch you a ticket and hefty fine in most countries. However, not many people know that their�iPhone can actually save them from a speeding ticket. Slow Down – an iPhone application developed by a Belgian organization OVK, Parents of Children Killed in Road Accidents, uses [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SimonBlog/~3/shNuvn22mNg/

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Update about iPhone 4 Unlock for Baseband 02.10.04 and 03.10.01

I’m sure some of you are awaiting the unlock solution for iPhone 4 with baseband 2.10.04 and 3.10.01. Here is a good news for you. According to RedmondPie, the unlock solution will be available by mid-January. Three weeks ago, the iPhone Dev team has rolled out an updated version of Ultrasn0w to tackle the unlock [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SimonBlog/~3/GHj3XAQ87As/

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Official Kinect drivers now available for Windows and Ubuntu

If the recent demonstrations of the Kinect's potential have you all hot and bothered, brace yourself: official drivers are now available for both Windows and Ubuntu. It's all thanks to the OpenNI (Natural Interaction) initiative, where PrimeSense -- the company behind the Kinect -- happens to be one of the founding members.

OpenNI aims "to accelerate the introduction of Natural Interaction applications into the marketplace," and releasing drivers is a good first step. Binaries for 32-bit Windows and both 32 and 64-bit Ubuntu systems are available for download and source code is also available. There's also a full OpenNI user guide in PDF format.

Here's hoping driver availability leads something more than slick demos -- we'd love to actually be able to control our desktops this way.

Official Kinect drivers now available for Windows and Ubuntu originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/20/official-kinect-drivers-now-available-for-windows-and-ubuntu/

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News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable

This weekend, Gawker Media had its primary database compromised. In this monstrous breach, not only did 1.5 million users have their privacy breached and email address stolen, but they also had their passwords cracked. In a day and age where the currency of our email address and password -- and thus our identity -- is only superseded by our bank details, it's fair to label the Gawker breach as abominable.

Like all major disasters, though, this hack serves a higher purpose: it's now blatantly clear that you should not trust a website with sensitive details about yourself. There have been other hacks, of course; higher profile hacks (like the TJ Maxx debacle), with millions of credit card and social security numbers vanishing into the ether, causing billions of dollars of damage.

But they pale in comparison to the Gawker hack for one reason: it directly affected a huge swathe of the noisy, foot-stomping and petulant tech blogging minority.

Continue reading News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable

News flash: everything on the Internet is hackable originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/14/news-flash-everything-on-the-internet-is-hackable/

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5 Steam games under $15 that make perfect Christmas gifts

It's that time again, folks: Christmas! 'tis the season to be jolly -- and how better to jollify than to give the gift of game?

Steam, as always, is obscenely overloaded with fantastic indie games that are just gagging to be gifted to your nearest and dearest. At these prices, you'd be forgiven for buying a copy of each game for yourself, too!

It's also worth noting that Steam usually has a massive Christmas sale towards the end of December, where some games have their price cut by up to 90%. Steam games are all digitally-purchased and delivered instantly, so if you want to pick up some last-minute Christmas deals, check Steam around December 23.

I've tried to pick out something for everyone -- so don't give up if the first game doesn't tickle your fancy!

Continue reading 5 Steam games under $15 that make perfect Christmas gifts

5 Steam games under $15 that make perfect Christmas gifts originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/10/5-steam-games-under-15-that-make-perfect-christmas-gifts/

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