The Download Blog

There's a temptation to mock people who still talk about Winamp, and its true that AOL gave up its industry-leading position to Apple without a fight. However, the past few years have seen Winamp reinvent itself as a jukebox for those who haven't been bitten by the iTunes bug, and the latest version introduces the proprietary song-scrobbler Orgler.

Orgler scrobbles music to give AOL Music some Web 2.0 flair, finally.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

Much like Last.fm's scrobbling, Orgler sends your music data up to the cloud. Also like Last.fm, it allows members of the AOL/Winamp community to contribute their played songs to a list of what's been on their stereos. Tracks get added to your AOL Music page, and since the service is a Winamp-designed plug-in, it integrates seamlessly and users should find none of the sluggish behavior that occasionally afflicts third-party Last.fm plug-ins. Orgler was originally available in beta as an external Winamp plug-in.

To set up the service, go to Online Services under the Media Library tab. Go to the second page of the site that opens in the built-in browser, and activate Winamp Charts. Log in with your Winamp or AOL log-in--your AOL IM log-in will work, too--and you'll be all set to Orgle.

Seeing as how there's been Last.fm support for Winamp for ages Orgler is more about not sending listeners elsewhere for their music community needs than dragging Winamp users into the present. Still, Orgler's not a bad service.

Last.fm is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes Download.com.

Music and Web surfing mashup Songbird is out with an impressive number of features that were missing from the last major update. For Windows, Mac, and Linux, version 1.1.1 introduces album art downloading, MTP device support, watch folders, improved sorting, and numerous other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

Album art comes to browser/jukebox Songbird.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

This version continues to push the more iTunes-esque feel of the jukebox/browser, but that's a change users will just have to get used to. Grabbing context-menu album art worked quickly, although users should remember to highlight an entire album to get the art to apply to all tracks. If you only remember to do that after the fact, select all the tracks and run the album art finder again to apply the art to all of them.

The album art feature doesn't work perfectly, though. Although users can replace album art through a track's metadata pane, if you resize the art window in the main dashboard the art itself won't resize. A minor bug, but slightly annoying.

The MTP device support includes the ability to sync DRM-restricted songs between Songbird and your portable media player. Zunes, Sansas, Zens, and others can now be used in conjunction with Songbird. The entire list of support MTP devices and known issues can be read here.

Using Watch folders to monitor regularly changed folders is one way to monitor for new songs or removed albums, but it also makes managing a third-party podcast catcher significantly easier. Setting this up takes a bit of hunting and pecking, but it turns out that the option lives under Tools/Options/Media Importer; then click on the Watch Folders tab. Note that this is a fairly sophisticated watch folder system, and it will remove from your library what you delete, as well as making additions.

Watch folders make it easy to keep your library free from detritus.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

Some of the other changes include replay gain normalization, so if the metadata includes that information, Songbird will now play back the song as you intended. 'Bird-watchers who've been frustated with the unicode and sorting support should find big improvements in handling indefinite and definite articles at the beginning of song, artist, and album names.

There's also support for the 7Digital online music store, which offers high-end MP3s up to 320Kbps. The Mac download size has been reduced by 45 percent, and the memory usage in large libraries has apparently been reduced significantly. I encountered no stability or playback problems running Firefox, Songbird, OpenOffice, Thunderbird, and other programs simultaneously.

If the first two programs you start up are your Web browser and your music jukebox, and not necessarily in that order, Songbird keeps getting better and is worth a look.

There are a lot of music jukeboxes out there that aren't iTunes but still work with iPods. Freeware Floola for Windows, Mac, and Linux is one of the few, if only, portable music players that not only works with your iPod, it will work from your iPod, too. The program's fully compatible with your desktop iTunes installation, but can be run from the iPod itself.

Floola, the portable, iPod-based jukebox.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The features it offers are comprehensive and robust, including music, video, note-taking, and photo support. The latest version, released today, includes bidirectional Google Calendar synchronization. Don't let the simple interface fool you, there's an incredible amount that you can do with Floola, which the publisher states is compatible with Windows 98 and newer, Mac OS X 10.3.9 and newer, and any GTK2 Linux distro.

It apparently can work on all iPods except for the Touch, although newer iPods--basically from the 5G on--will almost certainly require you to find the 16-digit fwid on both Windows and Macs. There are somewhat vague instructions on the Floola FAQ. Once you've retrieved it, close Floola and re-open it while holding down the CTRL and ALT keys and the menu that appears should walk you through the process.

Floola's latest feature is Google calendar synchronization.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Floola doesn't play very well with non-Apple jukeboxes and might require you to reformat or ''repair'' your iPod, but once you've got it going it's worth exploring. Album art, lyrics, playlists, podcasts, and Last.fm scrobbling are all supported from Floola. The context menu available from any given track will tell you which playlists the track is in, as well as giving you the option to add it to another one. Note that although album art is supported, there is no baked-in art discovery feature.

The Edit Song feature not only lets you change the track information, but adjust the track's specific volume, discover the real location of the track in Apple's labyrinthine iPod architecture, and instantly change a track from Song to Audiobook. The Song menu in the menubar contains options for drag-and-dropping folders, copying songs from your iPod to your desktop, and downloading tracks from the Web. This feature is quite cool: it lets you download a video, and then rip out the audio track to save as a new song or just load the video onto your iPod. Keyboard jockeys have hot-key commands for all these features.

The Song Edit window speaks volumes about the track.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The music management allows you to still sync with iTunes by using the CTRL+SHIFT+S hot key to pull up a customizable list of folders to synchronize. The option is also available from the Manage tab on the menubar. If you've been stuck using iTunes, it's hard to deny the appeal of finally getting to pick and choose which folders get synced. There is a separate photo sync feature, so you don't have to worry about syncing photos and music at the same time.

One of the essential things that Floola does, of course, is preclude the need for a desktop synchronization program. Since it runs from a self-contained EXE file that can live on your iPod, and it weighs in at a paltry 23MB for the Windows version, one of the key concerns with jukeboxes has been effectively eliminated.

Other support features include Snarl for Windows and Growl for Mac, built-in format conversion, and duplicated and lost song finder. In testing the format converter, I found it to work about half the time. Other imperfections in Floola include not being able to change many settings from their respective menubar options. For things like Last.fm, users must go through the Preferences or Advanced menu, which live under Tools on the menubar.

Buy from Amazon.com from within Floola.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

There's iPod safe ejection support, as the program will remind you when you close it down: hold down shift when closing to eject. Although not being able to eject while running Floola is frustrating because it discourages multi-iPod support, it reinforces that this is meant to be a portable jukebox that lives on your iPod.

The concept of a well-rounded jukebox that's both portable and player-specific is an interesting solution to the desktop juke question. I really like the idea of eliminating the hassle of syncing and instead just pointing to the folders you want copied over, and it's hard to dislike the built-in download and convert features. However, Floola's lackluster album art support doesn't do it any favors, and the persistent bugginess in the converter doesn't help, either. The Windows interface was far from clean, too, with labels often running outside their boxes and poor shading detracting from the overall look.

If you're more of a desktop than an on-the-go audiophile, I'd give Floola a pass, but for some, Floola will be the portable, multicomputer jukebox they've been looking for, bolstered by the backing of the Floola.com support forum.

You must have treated somebody well this year, because you've got a new computer to start 2009 off right. In this edition of the Download.com Windows Starter Kit, we've expanded our collection to include both the recommended free programs you've come to expect from us, and suitable alternatives if our choice doesn't make your grade.

This year's categories include Web browsers, e-mail clients, office and productivity tools, parenting, image editors, music jukeboxes, video jukeboxes and players, file compressors, chatware, torrent clients, and seven five-star, must-have utilities.

Notice the lack of security programs? Check out the Security Starter Kit for our freeware choices to help keep you safe when you surf.

Music and browsing mashup Songbird has kicked the remnants of its shell to the curb. With the release of version 1.0.0 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, the program's main emphasis as a music browser couldn't be more clear.

Songbird's familiar layout should make it easy for many to combine their browsing and music playback in one tool.

(Credit: Pioneers of the Inevitable)

If you looked at some of the earlier beta versions, Songbird's interface borrowed heavily from Firefox. More recent versions took their cue from iTunes, with Web browsing occurring in a second tab. Although toggling between your music library and the browser is as easy as switching tabs, since Songbird opens your library by default it's apparent where the publisher thinks users will want to focus.

This is arguably a smart strategy, too, given the attention that the latest round of browser battles has garnered. The music library layout feels intuitive, owing much to iTunes. Album art appears in the lower left corner with a navigation tree above it. A button at the bottom of the sidebar lets you toggle both. The music player controls can be configured to appear at the top or the bottom of the main window via the Views menu. Drag-and-drop would be a nice feature here, although not essential.

The Filter pane defaults to appear, and lives at the top of the interface above the browsing tabs. Again, it can be hidden in the Views menu. The Filter pane is included by default, but if you click on the dual-pane icon next to the Search box and click on Get more media views, you can install extensions that provide you with a Cover Flow facsimile, a tag cloud, and others.

The Library browsing tab is hard-coded to appear and the tab lives permanently above the left sidebar. Overall, though, the interface shouldn't be a drastic change if you're familiar with iTunes, and shares enough options with other media players that you won't feel like you're locked in to what Songbird's designers had in mind.

If you're into skins or Firefox themes, Songbird supports those as Feathers. A quick search through the feathers options on the Songbird Web site indicates that, just as with Firefox, black themes are in. Way in. Switching installed feathers works the same as in Firefox, although in Songbird the reboot happens so fast it appears as if it's doing it on the fly. A right-nav toggle reveals a pane for managing your display pane add-ons.

Songbird's not just about its plumage--it's got some meat on its bird-bones. Besides the rolled-in jukebox, there's the native support for Last.fm, and an included add-on for MashTape. Additional add-ons can provide a lyrics pane, music recommendations, and more. The audio engine is Gstreamer, which is used in all Songbird platforms, and an included plug-in provides device support that's otherwise still in beta. However, when syncing files with an iPod Classic, I ran into zero problems.

Songbird doesn't have all of the features that Firefox 3 does. The address bar lacks its "awesome" upgrade--some users will surely see that as an improvement. It appears that many of the Firefox 3 visual security improvements, such as the favicon color change and the unsafe site warning, haven't made it into Songbird.

There are other major features that are still in development. Album art fetching is not yet natively supported, nor is video playback, watch folders, or feed management. These drawbacks, though, shouldn't keep you from checking out Songbird.

Editors' note: Last.fm is owned by CNET's parent company, CBS Interactive.

There's a Democrat heading to the White House and the BS.Player is a rising star. What year is this again?

The BS.Player dashboard does a nice job of keeping the app's original aesthetic of a polished, slightly-futuristic look.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

OK, so the BS.Player doesn't stretch as far back as the Clinton administration. It was introduced to the public in 2001, and more importantly, around 18 months after developer WebTeh bundled adware with the program back in early 2007, they've finally removed it. Once again, the BS.Player is a viable freeware video playback choice. Except now it's got much more going for it than mere video playback.

The new jukebox feature supports video and audio playback and organization, so if you're sick of the bigger jukebox apps like iTunes, BS.Player makes a good stripped down playback engine that can still handle podcasts and other minor track differences. The redecoed interface does a nice job of keeping the app's original aesthetic of a polished, slightly-futuristic look.

The installation process checks your system for missing codecs and installs them if it can hunt them down. Be aware that the installation process still opts you in to a toolbar and search engine redirect, if you dislike that kind of behavior.

The BS.Player's new media library interface owes much to iTunes.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Users can add files via a folder or drive scan, or drag-and-drop them for instant playback. The player does a nice job of handling a variety of formats, including Real, Quicktime, AVI, WMV, FLV, and MPEG-formatted videos, and OGG, MP3, AAC, WAV, and most audio formats. Web audio streams can be plugged into the player, although YouTube and other Flash video streams I checked out didn't work.

The interface loads as a refurbished skin of the original dashboard, and you can even reskin it back to its original look. Track name, length, and time elapsed are front and center, and clicking on various features like the elapsed time cycles through display options. Note that the Menu tab is hidden until you mouse over it. Player controls live at the bottom, and a tab of gray options on the right expands to reveal further options for Video, DVD, Audio, Radio, and TV playback. Three circles marked ML, PL, and EQ toggle the detached Media Library, Playlist, and Equalizer panes.

Also note that the new Media Library window owes much to iTunes. There's not much you can do about that, since the included skins only change the look of the dash. BS.Player also lacks updated ancillary media functions like seeking out album art, but you can configure ID3 tags natively. Frankly, I'd rather have the ID3 tags.

There is a pro version as well. The differences between that and the freemium model include support for DVDs and capture/tuner cards, advanced equalizer features, expanded subtitle options, and tech support. The Pro-lite version goes for $9.95, while the full Pro version costs $29.95.

If you're feeling nostalgic for a stable media player with a familiar name but updated look and features, you can be bullish on the BS.Player.

Music jukebox and Web browser mash-up Songbird has begun to pull away from the beta gate. In its first release candidate for Windows, Mac, and Linux, the Gecko-powered browser aimed at audio junkies locks down a final list of features.

Songbird mimics the iTunes interface, but rolls in Firefox-powered Web surfing and Web-based music discovery.

(Credit: Songbird)

The improvements over the previous release, version 0.7, make changes both important and minor. Absolutely the most noticeable is that the program runs and feels faster. Responsiveness had been an issue, too, but this release candidate marks a strong improvement in that area as well.

The overall look of Songbird hasn't changed, but a lot of the must-have UI features are finally in place. Keyboard shortcuts have been added, as has a comprehensive list of them accessible from the Help menu. The right-click accessible Context menu and the File menu from the Menubar now allow users to open up the folder location of a track. Column headings properties are now easier to manage, too. New buttons control toggle individual panes, and smart playlists can be used as rules within other smart playlists.

With the exception of that playlist feature, which is unusual for jukebox playlist behavior, these changes make Songbird's interface as familiar-feeling as possible.

Audiophiles should appreciate that Songbird has switched over to Gstreamer as their playback engine across all platforms. This means that Songbird can play MP3, FLAC, and Vorbis files on all platforms, WMA tracks on Windows, and AAC on both Windows and Mac.

Also of note, the last official version of Songbird for PowerPC Macs was v0.6.1. According to the developers, this was done to save on developer resources.

I've been playing around with Songbird for about a year now, and it's great to see this innovative program come as far as it has. Although I'm curious to see how it adapts to being forever tied to Firefox improvements, that's also an ongoing concern for that other multi-use Firefox mash-up, Flock.

Throw in these drastically different Firefox-based browsers with the current browser battle going on between Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Firefox itself, and you're looking at a wide range of quality choices.

Miranda IM lacks the slick design of many instant-messaging programs, but makes up for it by supporting most IM clients in one fully customizable package. There's also a portable edition, designed for carrying around on a USB key. Like Pidgin or Trillian, it's easy to add your various IM accounts--including AIM, Yahoo, ICQ and MSN--and you'll have the same icons and status messages for each program. You can even manage the personal information for all your accounts from one central control panel.

Miranda IM's plain, gray instant-messaging window offers just the basics for typing and viewing messages; you won't find the text formatting options, heavy-duty emoticons, or links that a program like Yahoo Messenger offers. You will find numerous options to customize how chat or IM windows behave, including a handy option to have messages from a specific person always appear in the same location on your screen. You also can assign hot keys for a few actions, like opening the program or reading a message.

Miranda forces users to give up some of the unique features of the individual-IM programs, but it allows you to conveniently monitor and manage many of your chat and messaging programs in one place.

Other players may receive more attention, but it's hard to beat Quintessential Player's efficiency, stability, and flexibility. Easily customizable and built to support almost any plug-in, this freeware tool also has a fine video player. CD-ripping and MP3-converting features increase the program's value without bloat.

The stylish interface includes a lot of sensibly set hot keys, making playback and music management a no-click affair. It also is completely skinnable, with plenty of designs created by a large community of developers and fans. The extremely helpful Quintessential Player Web site provides a library of optional tools and full developer kits for creating your own skins or plug-ins.

Our only beef is that you can only exit the full-screen-video mode through the right-click context menu, whereas the other functions have buttons that appear when you hover your cursor at the bottom of the screen. Quintessential Player takes up less memory than other multitask jukeboxes, making it a smart choice for performance-conscious users.