Browsing the web

If you have a little time on your hands over the New year then I`ve added a few sites for you to take a look at.

• A DRIVE (www.adrive.com)

  How would you like 50GB of free online storage space with the option to share?

  To get your 50GB adrive.com - just click the big black button to sign-up and then click the link in the activation e-mail which you are sent to complete.

  Once logged in, managing your files is really simple, though the downloader/uploader runs on java so you will need to have that function activated to work successfully.

  Click on My Files at the top then use the Upload feature to begin backing-up data from your hard drive. You can also automatically back up all the files on your computer.

  Once your files have uploaded you will see a link giving you the option to share them. Click this link to add the file to your shared drive, and a URL will be generated for others to click on to access that file.

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• ANIMOTO (http://animoto.com)

  Picture sharing sites are all the rage, but do you wish you could add a little more pizzazz to your album distribution?

  How about adding a banging rock tune and having the pictures animate on and off in a video you can post on YouTube? But that would be far too much work, right? Wrong.

  Click Get Started to begin using this brilliant site. You will need to register to make either a 30 second short, which is completely free, or full-length film, which you have to pay for.

  Next, choose to upload pictures from either your computer or a photo sharing site. Fifteen shots is ideal for a 30 second short.

  Uploading them might take a few minutes, depending on your connection speed, how many pictures you have chosen and what resolution they are. Once they have uploaded, use the buttons at the bottom to rotate, spotlight or add more pictures from another location.

  Then add a banging tune. Click the Music tab at the side and choose either from their selection or a track off your own computer.

  Now you are almost done. The next screen asks you to enter a name and some details about your video, then just click Create Video and wait while the website does the fancy bit.

  You can start working on your next video while you wait, then click My Videos at the top to review your work. After playing the video you can choose to do a remix, altering the pictures and the music. A link to view your creation will also be e-mailed to you.

  Finally, use the buttons at the bottom to distribute your film either straight to YouTube or e-mailing your friends.

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• JOOCE (www.jooce.com)

  According to online application Jooce, 500 million people access the internet from cybercafes each day. And if you happen to be one of those people, or you just want a consistent experience when browsing the web from multiple locations, consider this place.

  The idea of this site is to bring the functionality of your personal computer at home to any computer you might happen to sit down at - even if you do not actually have a machine at home.

  You will be able to access files, e-mail, instant messaging, storage and lots of other applications.

  The first step is to register and reserve your own private space on their servers.

  Next up, enter your instant messenger account details and click the green arrow to confirm.

  Be warned, when you want to talk to a contact, Jooce will send them a message inviting them to sign-up every time you text them through their ordinary instant messenger client.

  Next, click the forward arrow to run through all the options and set up your desktop how you want. There is a useful tips run-through when you first start up, teaching you everything you can do with this application.

  As well as being able to use this virtual desktop in exactly the same way as a normal desktop - storing files, making folders and chatting to your friends - there is also a public desktop (known as a Joocetop) accessible through the green desktop icon at the bottom.

  Here you can allow friends to access and share files you have placed on it.

  It works in exactly the same way as the regular desktop, but through your Jooce instant messenger client, contacts can open up your Joocetop, and vice versa - making sharing files and information a breeze.

  As well as being a really useful tool, I love the way the interface looks and works. Though if you are stuck using an older machine on a low bandwidth connection, you might find all the animations make it slow to load.

National Transplant Trust

This is the last website review beofre New Year as things tend to change around a bit at Christmas and New year time with different presenters covering each others shows so that we can all gbet a bit of a break.

The National Transplant Trust is a UK organisation set up to support those who have had, or are waiting for a transplant. Take a look at www.thetxspace.com

There is something for everyone on this website, whether you are a patient, or a supporter or carer, or you know someone who has become a donor, or even if you work in the transplant sector.

On the site like-minded people discuss their experiences and offer support and advice to those going through a tough time.

Once you sign up, you will get an invitation e-mail to join the network. Check your spam folder as this is where the mail ended up for me.

Accepting the invitation and filling out your personal details gives you access to the groups and forums, or you can start your own network.

You get 20MB of free storage space for photos or anything you want to share. The site itself is simply presented and very functional and provides a very valuable resource to anyone who is affected by transplant.

80's Movies

This website offers a little bit of retro chic with an 80s movies tribute site. Thinking about it, can anything from the 1980s really be considered chic? .... You decide.

Log onto www.fast-rewind.com and you will notice straight away on the website that its styling is very much in keeping with the 80s theme.

There is a lot of really neat stuff on it, despite the slightly unsophisticated look of it. The information goes really in-depth and the site's creator has obviously put a lot of time into compiling it.

There is a featured movie trailer on the opening page with the sections easily accessed in a navigation panel on the left.

Once you have selected a movie, use the new navigation panel on the left to switch between reviews. These include the trailer, music and soundtrack, behind the scenes, trivia, locations and even bloopers and goofs.

If you are inspired to start watching some of these old classics there is impartial information on where to get them. There is even a guide to which releases have been given the HD and Blu-ray treatment.

It is a brilliant resource for all of us who cannot get enough of big hair and even bigger shoulder pads.

Gadget Blog

With the holiday season fast approaching you might want to know precisely what gift to get a gadget-mad relative.

Or you might just be interested in knowing what not to get them. Either way, www.gadgetblog.co.uk will provide the answers you seek.

According to the site's introduction, this is the 143rd best gadget site in the world. But who is counting?

I am not quite sure where they got that statistic, but it surely is a great read, stuffed full of fun and funky gadgets for you to feast your eyes on.

The in-your-face banner at the top of the page leads you to the top 10 gadgets you do not want for Christmas.

It features such wonders as the electronic snore stopper which shocks the poor sleeper every time it goes off.

The bathroom-ready "potty putter" offers keen golfers an interesting way to pass the time as they do their business.

On the plus side, there are many great gadgets featured too. Take a look at the "previously on gadget blog" panel on the opening page to jump to the features.

This site is well written, although the layout could do with a little more thought, but definitely one to bookmark if you like to keep up with what is hot in the gadget world.

Hassle-Free Christmas

With Christmas very close upon us you might be starting to feel the pressure of unwrapped presents and visiting relatives. So if you’re one of the thousands of people who have left everything a little late – help is at hand at www.worldofchristmas.net It’s packed with party ideas, recipes and decoration tips to make sure you have a cool yule this year

Family Tree

On www.ancestry.co.uk you cvan find out all about your family tree and ancestors. With access to government records and census reports dating back to 1841. It is perfect for anyone with an interest in tracing their family tree. You can build and save your own tree on the site
The Host(ess) with the Most(ess)

Be the best host around with the help of www.bartendersguide.com. It has an index of thousands of cocktail recipes with a featured drink each day, plus wine basics and popular recipes featured.
There is also a useful entertaining guide with ‘How To…’ guides on a variety of different party themes (obviously including a cocktail party!) plus poker rules, tips for playing Monopoly and Cleudo and many drinking games.

It’s a hosting godsend.

Serious Dieting

www.caloriesperhour.com is a useful tool for those very serious about losing weight. It has calories-burned calculators, where you enter an activity and your weight and find out how many calories you burn an hour doing it.

But it isn’t just limited to sports, there are literally hundreds of activities to choose from, from playing accordion to yoga, via applying make up and feeding the dog. There are also hundreds of useful tips and articles for the dedicated dieter.

Weekend web review - The Host(ess) with the Most(ess)

As Christmas is on the way in just over a week I thought I`d squeeze in a weekend website review that may help with the Christmas drinks

Be the best host around with the help of www.bartendersguide.com. It has an index of thousands of cocktail recipes with a featured drink each day, plus wine basics and popular recipes featured.
There is also a useful entertaining guide with ‘How To…’ guides on a variety of different party themes (obviously including a cocktail party!) plus poker rules, tips for playing Monopoly and Cleudo and many drinking games. It’s a hosting godsend.

Teachers.tv

Whether you are a teacher, student, or just someone who wants to learn more about the world we live in, you will find it at www.teachers.tv.

Based on content from the free to air digital channel called teachers tv. Here you can find hundreds and hundreds of great educational features that will help your children learn what they need to be successful in school.

The opening page highlights featured films and articles, but as soon as you enter any section you will find a handy navigation panel on the left which splits the films up into key stages or subject categories.

There is a short description below each film when you select it, which tells you what the content and target audience is. There is something here for everyone at every stage including documentaries about how some schools are overcoming education hurdles.

Whilst the channel is aimed at a UK audience the content is relevant the world over and really genuinely interesting. I strongly advise you take a look.

The Darwin Awards

www.Darwinawards.com is a site dedicated to the weirdest ways in which people have either accidentally or intentionally shuffled off this mortal coil.

There’s also a fascinating section on urban myths and tall tales.

Visitors to the site can also tell other readers about their first-hand accounts of the bizarre. However, you may want to take some of these with a rather large pinch of salt.

Small Talk

You need never be lost for small talk at parties again, after you’ve visited www.unkno.com. Here you’ll learn some priceless gems like:

“Did you know that the giraffe can store more water than a camel?”

and:

“Did you know that you are two inches taller when you wake up than when you go to bed?”

Eye on Earth

11.30pm Monday to Thursdays I review a website of the day on the show and tonights is described in such a way that a visit to http://www.eyeonearth.eu/ is a must if you are planning on taking a beach trip to anywhere in the EU. It will help you find your way to the cleanest spots in Europe.

Made by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the website allows users to check the EU water quality ratings for over 21,000 swimming spots in beaches, rivers and lakes around Europe.

It is laid out in a familiar click and zoom map style, so it is really easy to find the watery spot you are heading to marked on the map. You can switch between a graphical and satellite image version of the map by clicking between Road and Ariel.
The flags on the map represent either the EEA rating, or a user vote. See the key on the left for the options.

Once you zoom right in, you will see a tiny satellite picture of the location together with an option to leave your own vote.

As time goes by, this site should build into a really nice resource for beach lovers everywhere looking for a clean and safe spot to swim.

Ballroom Dancers

Tonights website review is about Ballroom Dancing.

Ballroom dancing is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in the UK just now, thanks to televisions shows like Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities battle it out on the dance floor.

If you want to waltz your way through life, or do a little foxtrot after work, take a look at www.ballroomdancers.com

This website is stuffed to the seams with videos stepping you, quite literally, through the moves. Use the navigation panel on the left to open the dance styles.

Each dance has an overview of the foot placings, a text description of both the male and female role in the dance, and then a video to help you piece it all together.

Once you click the video icon, you will need to choose between a Flash or Quicktime player before watching the no-nonsense films. Watch them again and again until you get the hang of it.

The website is simple and easy to navigate, and without many frills, so you will have to save the artistic impressions for the dance floor.

qik.com

Have you been at a family event, like a wedding or birthday party, and thought to yourself: I wish so-and-so could be here? Well, now they can, as long as you have a mobile videophone.

It is really simple to sign up to this ingenious website. Just pop your mobile number in, and everything you need to stream live video to the net, will be sent to your phone.

It is still fairly new so the list of supported phones is modest but growing. Check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for more information.

If your phone works, you can start streaming video straight away to the www.qik.com site, or even direct it to a Twitter account.

Capture all those magical moments and send them out live on the internet to your loved ones around the world. Streams are recorded and stored in your profile section so you can look at them time and again.

But do remember that others can watch them too, unless you choose to make them private.

Buying And Selling

www.FindsYou.com is a useful new service that aims to match online buyers with suitable sellers.

So if, for instance, you need a pair of tickets to a Premier League game, stick up your details and the site will find someone who is offering them for sale. Likewise, if you have something you want to flog the site will quickly track down prospective customers.

Great Care

www.iwantgreatcare.org is a new, independent website that lets patients rate and review their doctors.

Its two primary uses are either to read the opinions submitted by other users or to write a review of your own local doctor or health specialist.

The site isn’t just confined to GPs but a whole raft of medial professionals. Reviews are short and based on three caring categories: trust, listening and recommendation.