2010 March 4

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YouTube rolls out auto-transcript, LOLs ensue

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

There are already plenty of third-party apps that allow you to leverage the power of Google Translate for hilarity's sake. Translation Party, Google Translate Boomerang. They're always good for a "Mr. Sparkle"-esque chuckle.

But now -- thanks to Google rolling out automatic transcripts on YouTube -- you get your insipid translation giggles directly from the source!

Just have a look at Brad's awesome Nexus One unboxing video. I'm pretty sure the first time I watched it I missed the bit about Hilary Clinton. Thankfully, Google displayed it in clear, readable text so that wouldn't happen the second time around.

Don't get me wrong -- I lean on Google translate frequently for actual translation, and I love how it works. But I love how it doesn't work even more. Check out some vids and share your favorite mis-translates in the comments. Make sure to click the up arrow and turn CC on, or you'll miss out on the fun.

Winner gets the bill from my physical therapist when I fall off my drafting stool!

YouTube rolls out auto-transcript, LOLs ensue originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Translation - Google - Google Translate - Download Squad - YouTube

Google’s stars let you save your favorite search results

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Web services, Google, Search

Oh my gosh, Google is full of stars! The popular icons that started as a way to mark messages in Gmail have spread into Google Reader and Google News, and now they're finally shooting into Google's search results! With Google offering the ability to mark your favorite sites and have them come up first in related searches, I think your browser's bookmark feature may have just become obsolete.

We already know that people use the search bar instead of the address bar, and they Google things instead of entering URLs -- heck, Google Chrome combined the two bars into one thing. Bookmarks have become a power-user feature, these days. Look at the hilarious-yet-illustrative saga of the ReadWriteWeb commenters who landed on the site via Google -- because RWW had a post that ranked well for "Facebook login -- and thought ReadWriteWeb was a new design for Facebook. They wondered why they couldn't log in!

Google knows that tons of users just click the first result without reading, so the power to change the first result is something that users will definitely take advantage of.

Google's stars let you save your favorite search results originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google - Google Reader - Google Chrome - Facebook - Google News

Parents, schools and churches need the Porn Detection Stick

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Internet, Security

... at least, that's what the Paraben Porn Detection Stick website claims. (And you thought I was mounting my anti-religious warhorse! For shame!)

Paraben are a 'forensics' company that specialize in a wide variety of kinda-cool solutions to odd, and mostly technological, problems. The Porn Stick, much like their 'Chat Stick' uncovers chat logs, is all about finding porn on a target system. Just plug it in, run an EXE and watch as it sorts porn into 'Suspect' and 'Highly Suspect' folders. It even searches by file header rather than extension, which is 'geek speak' for 'if you're gonna hide porn, you gotta do it properly'.

How does it detect porn though? 'Analysis of flesh tones, shapes and curvatures, face detection and body part separation.' I kid you not, that's what the How It Works section says. It even capitalizes it: Body Part Separation. Ew.

They claim a success rate of 99%, which is pretty impressive!

The thing is, I can't get my mind off an even better use of the Porn Stick. I travel a lot, and often I'm alone. Sometimes I get lonely... but if I had a Porn Stick, I could just plug it into a random computer and harvest all of the porn; problem solved.

Parents, schools and churches need the Porn Detection Stick originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EXE - Download Squad - Porn Detection Stick - Website - Pornography

Browser Ballot update: Opera downloads triple, crusty web geek finds reason to bitch

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Browsers

It appears as though the Browser Ballot screen Microsoft recently pushed to EU residents via Windows update is having the desired effect -- at least if you're not Microsoft.

Opera, who recently shined up version 10.50 of their browser, has seen downloads triple since the screen went live. In a post on ComputerWorld, Opera's Rolf Assev said that downloads have exceeded their expectations for a 'normal launch.' So surely if Opera has seen an increase that means the screen works and people are making their own choices, right?

Not so fast, says UK web designer Richard Quick! Did I say choice? Clearly, I'm insane (even though 12 different browsers are shown), because according to Quick there's very little actual choice involved with the ballot screen.

"Look at the rendering engines!" Quick said to the BBC, "That's what matters!"

Sorry. No, it doesn't matter in this case. While several of the browsers presented share rendering engines, they're quite different when you look at the whole program -- which is what people are choosing. Are Chrome and Safari (which share Webkit) the same? Firefox and KMeleon (Gecko)? Internet Explorer and Maxthon? That looks like three nos to me.

But wait! There are a bunch presented which use IE's Trident engine, and Microsoft isn't allowed to do that!

Microsoft is also not allowed to feature any browser "which is based on Internet Explorer's rendering engine and the development or distribution of which is funded in whole or in substantial part by Microsoft."

Oh, crap, there's an AND in there: "and the development or distribution of which is funded in whole or in substantial part by Microsoft." To my knowledge, Microsoft doesn't fund the guys at Maxthon or Sleipnir -- please correct me if I'm wrong.

The screen is working. Let it do its thing, and let the consumers who care about choice make their choices. Let's not force-feed people third-rate HTML renderers under the guise of "fairness."

Browser Ballot update: Opera downloads triple, crusty web geek finds reason to bitch originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera - Internet Explorer - Safari - Microsoft - Google Chrome

MeasureIt is a simple ruler extension for Firefox

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Design, Browsers

MeasureIt is another one of the simple, single-purpose tools I like because they make it easy for newcomers to develop basic web design skills. It simply lets you measure screen elements in pixels -- no more, no less.

Once you install it, you get a tiny icon on the left side of the status bar. Click the icon, click-and-drag anywhere on the page, and get a tiny tooltip showing dimensions. It's a one-trick pony, and it's much easier to get comfortable with it than with a massive solution such as Web Developer Toolbar (which also has a built-in ruler).

The only aspect which is a bit too sparse (IMHO) is activating the tool. I could only find one way -- by clicking the status bar icon. Some users hide their status bar and may not see it (or may just not notice the tiny icon). There is no "Options" menu for the add-on and no built-in help text (not even a tooltip). Since this add-on is aimed at such novice users, I think it should be easier to activate.

MeasureIt is a simple ruler extension for Firefox originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Download Squad - Mozilla Firefox - Add-on - Status bar - Firefox

Contrapuncus lets you play (with) music – Time Waster

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Audio, Time-Wasters

Contrapunctus is a wonderful way to irritate those around your computer while claiming you're trying to be artistic or learn about music.

It's actually one of the classier (get it?) timewasters I've encountered as of late. You select one of several instruments, and start wagging your mouse all over the place. That's what I did, at least (the tutorial tries to make you more civilized about it). The higher you bring your mouse, the "higher" the sounds. The faster you shake it, the more notes are played. Clicking does nothing. You can switch instruments midway, and the previous instrument keeps on playing so you can create a more complex composition.

If I make it seem retarded, it's only due to lack of musical talent. It's really a very nice Flash toy. Those of you who are musically inclined should go and check it out.

Contrapuncus lets you play (with) music - Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TimeWaster - art - Adobe Flash - Multimedia - Download Squad

Google Chrome tip: fast, easy access to extension options screen

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Google, Browsers

Not every extension in my Google Chrome browser action area (the chunk of space where all the buttons go) includes quick access to its options screen.

While it's certainly not all that difficult or time consuming to click through the wrench menu, then extensions, then click the options button next to whatever it is I want to configure, there's a more direct route.

Like many tasks in Windows, you can speed things up with a simple right-click.

Chrome has a built-in context menu (pictured above) which appears when you right click an extension button. As you can see, it's two-click fast to get to the Chromed Bird (or any other configurable extension) options this way!

Bonus: there's also a disable and uninstall option, making it a really fast way to get rid of those unimpressive extensions you test.

Google Chrome tip: fast, easy access to extension options screen originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Chrome - Google - Microsoft Windows - Download Squad - Context menu

Ubuntu finally gets new logo and looks in 10.04

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: OS Updates, Linux, Open Source

Ubuntu has been the "Flagship Linux" distro for quite a while now. This is the distro most people judge Linux by (and the only one I personally work with). However, its visual style remained constant for a long time, and has been starting to look a bit stale. It's difficult to convey "innovation" to end users when your product keeps the same look, version to version.

There's been a lot of talk of changing this, and yesterday Ubuntu finally announced their new look for Lucid Lynx, dubbed "Light". It includes a new logo (both light and dark), new theme (light and dark), bootsplash, and even logos for the Ubuntu forums, Xubuntu and other related projects. I've put up the theme and splash screen after the jump, and you can see more eye-candy on the announcement page itself.New splash (bootloader) screen:

New theme (dark variation):

Ubuntu finally gets new logo and looks in 10.04 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubuntu - Linux - List of Ubuntu releases - Operating system - Open source

TradingSim lets you practice day trading (and I ask if it’s any good)

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Business, Finance

TradingSim is an Flash-based day trading simulator. You can practice buying and selling all sorts of securities without involving (and risking) any money. Some might say I should have put this under our "time-wasters" category, but I think it can actually be a useful tool for people who are looking into day trading (that's how I found it).

The market for trading simulators (and training in day trading in general) is hectic, almost seedy. There is so much junk and hype, that it's very difficult to tell what's good and what's a scam. The key thing which makes me wonder about this tool is that I don't understand its business model. How do these guys plan to make money?

If any of our readers are active day traders, do share in the comments: What are the best tools you've used to practice "paper trading" (no money involved)?

Be warned, though: Since this is such a scammy subject, I will be particularly easy on the ban-hammer. No spammy links, whatsoever. Post only tools you've actually used and that you're not affiliated with.

TradingSim lets you practice day trading (and I ask if it's any good) originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Business - Trade - Investing - Day Trading - Business model

GGF, Pirate Bay’s flaky buyer, also tried to buy Mininova

4 Mar, 2010 No Comments

Filed under: Business, News, P2P

The Pirate Bay, one of the web's most well-known torrent trackers, may have been sailing into choppier waters than anyone realized when its owners agreed to sell to games company GGF and its eccentric CEO, Hans Pandeya. The deal eventually collapsed, but it turns out that The Pirate Bay wasn't the only major torrent site GGF wanted to buy.

Today, TorrentFreak is reporting that knowledgeable sources, including Pandeya himself, have revealed that GGF planned to purchase not just The Pirate Bay, but also Mininova.

Last year, when GGF made its original $7.8m bid for The Pirate Bay, Mininova was still the biggest torrent indexer on the web. Apparently, Pandeya and Mininova made a deal for 20 million Euros, but the was before Mininova lost a major court case and "went legal," greatly reducing its traffic and its value.

Considering Pandeya has a history of overstating his ability to pay up on these deals -- his investors for the Pirate Bay buyout never came through -- it's not clear that he could have acquired Mininova anyway. No word on whether Pandeya will press on with his scheme of trying to take major torrents sites legit and magically turn a profit, especially after Mininova's newly-legal status destroyed half its traffic. He claims to be working on "a lot of secret plans," though.

GGF, Pirate Bay's flaky buyer, also tried to buy Mininova originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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