[Download Squad] 6 New Entries: Googleholic for December 19, 2008

Googleholic for December 19, 2008

Filed under: Internet, Google, Googleholic

Welcome to Googleholic, your sometimes weekly, often infrequent, fix of everything Google.

This week:

• OpenSocial API adds hooks for My Yahoo! and other popular languages
• Picasa 3.1 comes out swinging
• iPhone and Android get optimized search results
• Twitter connects to Google Friend Connect
• Port your Google Webtoolkit app to Facebook in 10 minutes
• YouTube goes HD
• Chromeaholic: Password security and RSS discovery

Continue reading Googleholic for December 19, 2008

Googleholic for December 19, 2008 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aviary online image editor leaves the roost, launches public beta

Filed under: Design, Web services, Beta, web 2.0, Web

Aviary provides a suite of web-based image editing tools that are pretty impressive when compared to the competition. Like Picnik, Fotoflexer, and others, Aviary lets users upload images and do some basic cropping, resizing, drawing, and color correction. But Aviary also has a web-based screen capture utility, a vector graphics editor, and filter and color management tools.

The site offers access to the basic image editor, called Phoenix, for free. But you'll have to pay $9.99 a month for a Pro account if you want unlimited access to some of the more advanced tools.

Aviary also incorporates a number of social elements. In addition to being able to import files from Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook, you can share files with other Aviary users, comment on images created by others, or even remix them.

We first looked at Aviary earlier this year when the service was still in private beta. But the service is now open to the public.

[via Somewhat Frank]

Aviary online image editor leaves the roost, launches public beta originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPR launches Mix Your Own Podcast tool

Filed under: Audio, Internet

NPR has rolled out a new feature that lets you build your own podcast by entering a list of topics you're interested in. Once you've finished building your list, you can subscribe to your custom podcast by hitting the iTunes or Zune buttons. Or you can copy the URL for the RSS feed into your podcast aggregator of choice.

Up until now you could subscribe to podcasts from NPR.org by selecting a radio program or by selecting one topic at a time. The topic-based podcasts include NPR news stories matching that topic drawn from a number of shows.

The new feature makes it much easier to find NPR content you're interested in. But I still wish there was a way to download entire episodes of Morning Edition and All Things Considered. With the Bryant Park Project having been pulled off the air this year and with Day to Day and News and Notes disappearing next year, soon there won't be any full length NPR news magazines available for download.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

NPR launches Mix Your Own Podcast tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIAA promises to sue fewer file sharers

Filed under: Audio, P2P

For the last few years the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has taken a rather aggressive stance on copyright protection by suing individuals who shared songs over the internet using file sharing software.

The Wall Street Journal reports that's all about to change. Well, somewhat anyway. After filing suits against 35,000 individuals the RIAA plans to give up on mass lawsuits. That doesn't mean it won't file any lawsuits against people who illegally upload and share music. But for the most part the group now plans to work with internet service providers instead. The goal is to hunt down customers who are violating copyright. Under the agreements, the ISP will give users a few warnings and then may terminate their accounts.

On the bright side, this means that ISPs don't have to fork over any personal data on customers. The RIAA can submit a list of IP addresses and the ISP can decide whether to go after the users based on that information.

It's not entirely clear whether the RIAA's efforts over the past 5 years have done more to alert people that file-sharing is against the law or to let them know that file sharing software exists and is a cool way to find free music. Now it's time to see if warning letters from ISPs do the trick. Considering how many people say they find internet access to be more valuable than sex, it just might.

RIAA promises to sue fewer file sharers originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travian makes empire building mobile - Time-Waster

Filed under: Fun, Games, Time-Wasters

If you like to rule the world, Travian might be the game for you. It's similar to Civilization or Empire Earth but it exists in your browser - so you can play it at work on the go. It might make the afternoon commute a great way to unwind if you're taking public transportation.

After registering for the game and choosing a server you have one week to build up your resources before you are open for attack. This is important because it takes time to build up wheat, wood, clay and iron production. It takes around 3 minutes to upgrade a wheat field in the early levels so to get your empire up and running takes more than just a few minutes.

It's one of those great games to keep running in the background so you can start a wheat field or building upgrade, and then move on to something else on your to-do list for a few minutes. In fact, as I write this there is a building being constructed in my village.

There are lots of good tips for beginners in the forums if you look for them as well as basic information in the game manual.

You can stick with one village or eventually expand your empire across the map, building palaces and residences for the King (or Queen) as you go. Remember though, after the first seven days you are vulnerable to attack. Of course, you can also send out your own raiding parties as well.

So far, I am enjoying Travian. I love building empires and it isn't sucking up system resources and taking up all of my attention the way Empire Earth might.

[Via Great Time Wasters on the Web]

Travian makes empire building mobile - Time-Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Easily and completely remove the Microsoft XPS doc writer

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Office, Freeware, Windows x64

I do my best to minimize confusion and headaches for my retail customers. One thing that never fails to confuse and annoy is the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

Most of them have no idea what it is or how it got added to their list of printers. To avoid phone calls from people saying things like "I thought you sold me an HP," I usually just click the icon, press delete, and go about my business.

Admittedly, that's not the most thorough way to get rid of a printer. To do a more complete job, download Rogosoft's Removal Tool. Not only will it delete the printer, but it also removes the driver, XPS library and Essentials Pack, and cleans up any package files that are left behind.

It's 32 and 64 bit compatible, and works on both XP and Vista. It's also fully portable, and free.

Easily and completely remove the Microsoft XPS doc writer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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