Most popular downloaded programs?

For an upcoming post, I’m putting together a list of the programs that someone is most likely to download and install after completing a clean installation of Windows.

Here are the programs that I come up with quickly:

* Firefox
* Picasa
* Skype
* iTunes + QuickTime
* Windows Live Essentials
* Adobe Reader
* Flash
* Java

Of course, I have more entries on my list of personal faves, and there are some essential categories where there isn’t a clear leader antivirus and security programs, for example. There’s also a second tier of popular but not essential software, like file compression tools, disk utilities, and disk-burning software. But right now I’m looking for the ones that are really , where someone is very likely to want a quick download link. Read more

iPhone OS 3.0 Officially Released

After a painfully long wait, Apple has finally released the much-hyped iPhone 3.0 Software Update, delivering improved functionality and tons of new features to iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide. Two days from now, the iPhone 3G S will also be available to the public. The device will “unlock” the complete set of new features available with iPhone OS 3.0.

“The new iPhone OS 3.0 is a major software release packed with incredible new features and innovations for iPhone customers and developers alike. It will keep us years ahead of the competition,” said Philip Schiller (Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing) back in March, when the company previewed the first developer beta of iPhone OS 3.0. Read more

Altair Leaps on iPhone, iPod touch

Published by Gameloft under license from Ubisoft Entertainment, Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles is now available for iPhone and iPod touch users running Software Update 2.2.1. The publishers tout the title as being recommended for fans of action, adventure, and historical games.

Connoisseurs (console players) needn’t any updates as far as the game’s plot goes, but iPhone and iPod touch owners might be interested in knowing that Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles takes place in Jerusalem, 1191 AD – the time when the Third Crusade between the Crusaders and Saracens was tearing the Holy Land apart. Read more

Talk of New Shuffle

I quite like iPods though I’ve never quite understood the near fanatical following. Rival mp3 players, even cheapo no-name models often do the job just as well, maybe not as smoothly, but they cost a whole lot less and you’re not tied to iTunes. Nevertheless, I can appreciate good design when I see it, and the new iPod shuffle looks like another winner. Less is most definitely more. The control wheel has disappeared and in its place there’s a voice synth, called VoiceOver, that tells you which track is playing. It’ll also speak your playlists and help you to navigate around your tunes. Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention that the capacity has been doubled to a respectable 4Gb. Read more

Apple to Seed OS X 10.5.5

Sources are reporting that Apple is close to issuing the first pre-release build of the next maintenance update to Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). Mac OS X 10.5.5 is said to include support for new Mac notebooks due out later this year (autumn).

“People familiar with the matter say Apple Developer Connection members and other high-profile software makers could receive the first test builds of the software prior to the start of the weekend,” AppleInsider reveals. “The first seedings will almost certainly arrive by the middle of next week,” the site notes, citing the same sources.

Apple’s latest maintenance update for Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5.4 was released on June 30, just a month after the first beta build had been seeded to the Apple developer community. Read more

Introducing Zune 2.5

Microsoft continues to hammer away at its Zune digital media player and the services built around the device, but the evolution is largely a case of going where Apple has already taken the iPod and iTunes. On May 5, 2008, Microsoft introduced the latest update to Zune, not only adding new features and enhancements to the device itself but also evolving the Zune software, Zune Social and the Zune Marketplace. The focus of the update is to build on top of what the company started with “Zune Social” in November 2007, namely to extend the social networking community created around the device.

“Zune owners are pretty passionate, and they had a lot of great ideas for making the community more valuable to music fans. And I definitely fall into that category myself – the main reason we’re all here is we love the music,” stated Brian Seitz, a Group Marketing Manager for Zune. Zune Social offers users the possibility to interact in terms of music discovery, comments, playlist browsing, with the update bringing to the table additional capabilities including the ability to send messages to friends, explore their music collections and even drag-and-drop Zune Cards. Read more

iPod Tune Grabber

If you own an iPod you’ll know that you are tied to iTunes to get tunes in and out of your player. There are alternatives, but generally speaking it’s a bit of a restriction. Here’s a program that will allow you to download music from your iPod to any PC, and no need to get involved with any new software, the program is stored on the iPod itself. It’s called Babya iGrab and all you have to do is download the program (it’s freeware) and copy two small files to the root directory of the iPod. To get at the tunes just plug the iPod into any XP or Vista PC, open the iPod, Read more