Welocme to 2010 and a Happy New Year to everyone. Hope you all had a good one and its been a good 2 years or so keeping these website reviews going but its been a lot of hard work and time has not always been on my side.
Therefore, its with a sad heart that I have to announce that there will not be a daily website review anymore but any good websites I come across will be posted here periodically. Please dont expect a post every day.
A big thank you to all contributors and thanks for all the comments. If you want to promote your own site then go ahead and leave comments to this post with the web address to it
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Fly.com
This snappily-named flight-comparison service finds you the best deals on air travel with a single click.
www.fly.com claims to search every airline and a range of online travel agents to find the cheapest economy and premium fares, and then lets you refine the results to suit your requirements. You can use sliders to specify your desired take-off and landing times and trip duration, select alternative airports that may cost less to fly from, and view available flights in three different formats: summary, list and matrix.
This customisable approach is far preferable to scrolling through pages of results while the site's minimalist layout is a pleasure to use.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
StoryVault
This site continues the ancient tradition of oral storytelling via the medium of video.
www.storyvault.com encourages people to record and share their friends' and families' memories of events in their lives, be they of personal or historical significance.
You can already watch interviews with World War II veterans and the last Titanic survivor, and easily upload your own. The smart-looking site also features a family-tree builder and has a strong sense of community, letting you rate and comment on other users' content (unless they mark it as private). StoryVault is a great idea and the execution is superb.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
The BBC Story
Formerly called BBC Heritage, The BBC Story has been launched to provide an immersive online guide to the Beeb in the context of British history since 1922 (when the corporation was founded). Notable features include a scrolling History of Innovation timeline that displays key events by year; a Great Moments section highlighting important anniversaries; and the ability to browse and post photos, videos and recollections in the fascinating Memoryshare area.
There's loads to enjoy here, all presented in the BBC's reliably concise but comprehensive style. Complete with photo galleries, video tours and audio clips, this is nostalgia at its best.
The website address you need is www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc
Monday, 28 December 2009
Servicing Stop
Take a look at www.servicingstop.co.uk and Save money and hassle on motor maintenance at this smart site
Getting your car serviced or repaired can prove stressful and expensive, particularly if you're dealing with an unscrupulous garage.
Servicing Stop aims to take the pain out of the process by letting you arrange everything online with one of its 750 garages across the UK.
The site will collect and return your vehicle for free, clean it once the work is done and, for an extra £39, carry out an MOT.
Complemented by a friendly design, Servicing Stop couldn't be simpler to use, from its speedy booking form to the clear pricing information. It even offers reminders for when your next service is due. Save yourself time, hassle and money and get your motor running here.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
WORLD'S HEALTHIEST FOODS
There is something slightly disturbing about launching a website to find that the food of the day is proudly announced as cabbage.
What I've found is that it really is incredibly good for you, as explained on this site.
As well as recipes and ideas involving the so-called superfoods - which are said to keep you fit and healthy - you can visit the food adviser for tips on how to improve your intake and work towards living a healthier lifestyle.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Whats On (Wozzon)
If you're looking for something to do this evening, this site will tell you ‘wozzon' (what's on) in your area.
www.wozzon.com lets you search for a specific event or performer or browse the extensive entertainment categories. These span everything from film, music and dance to pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions, with WoZZon's simple and spacious layout delivering results in a clear and speedy manner. But this isn't just a plain listings resource; rather it's a community to which you can contribute venue and event information, reviews and ratings.
Friday, 25 December 2009
Christmas Day
Its Christmas again and its about time we had one as its been a good 12 months since we last had one.
Another day at work for me although I will take a little time out to be with my lovely family.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Another day at work for me although I will take a little time out to be with my lovely family.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Future Me
Todays website review of the day is about the Future..
www.futureme.org The concept is brilliantly simple - you just write a letter to yourself, add your email address and set a date for delivery and futureme.org will take care of the rest.
Don't forget to make the mail private if you don't want the world to read it - and talking of which, this is a really intriguing way to spend a few minutes.
Click the link to View Public Entries and you can scroll through some of the letters old and new which, although anonymous, have been made public by their authors.
It is a fascinating look at culture and attitudes - seeing what different people think are the important things to tell themselves today, tomorrow. If you get what I mean.
www.futureme.org The concept is brilliantly simple - you just write a letter to yourself, add your email address and set a date for delivery and futureme.org will take care of the rest.
Don't forget to make the mail private if you don't want the world to read it - and talking of which, this is a really intriguing way to spend a few minutes.
Click the link to View Public Entries and you can scroll through some of the letters old and new which, although anonymous, have been made public by their authors.
It is a fascinating look at culture and attitudes - seeing what different people think are the important things to tell themselves today, tomorrow. If you get what I mean.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Knitting help
This packed website, full of tutorials, patterns and advice to get the garments flowing off the tips of your needles can be found at www.knittinghelp.com
From casting on to casting off, and everything that comes in between, these tutorials are clear and unfussy
Navigation is also nice and straight forward, with expanding menu tabs at the top of the page to let you quickly leap between sections.
You will also find plenty of free patterns you can knit, once you have mastered enough of the art of needle waggling to tackle some creations.
Sign up for free membership and you can join in the forum activity too, perhaps sharing some of your own design ideas with this knit-crazy community.
From casting on to casting off, and everything that comes in between, these tutorials are clear and unfussy
Navigation is also nice and straight forward, with expanding menu tabs at the top of the page to let you quickly leap between sections.
You will also find plenty of free patterns you can knit, once you have mastered enough of the art of needle waggling to tackle some creations.
Sign up for free membership and you can join in the forum activity too, perhaps sharing some of your own design ideas with this knit-crazy community.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Chord Book
www.chordbook.com is the site you need if you are learning the guitar, or are a seasoned veteran working on composing your own songs, this website offers several really useful features to help you make the most of your musical talents.
The chords section boasts over 1,000 chords and inversions, and the interactive interface lets you actually strum them so you can get a feel for how it sounds - which could be a real boost if you are writing a catchy love song.
Click the My Chords link and hit save on the guitar to add a chord to your personal selection, which can then be played back in a loop - another useful composing tool.
There is a similar section on guitar scales, which will not only help you to learn but could also provide inspiration for a new style of music. And of course what guitar resource would be complete without a handy little tuner - so you need never play a bum note again.
The chords section boasts over 1,000 chords and inversions, and the interactive interface lets you actually strum them so you can get a feel for how it sounds - which could be a real boost if you are writing a catchy love song.
Click the My Chords link and hit save on the guitar to add a chord to your personal selection, which can then be played back in a loop - another useful composing tool.
There is a similar section on guitar scales, which will not only help you to learn but could also provide inspiration for a new style of music. And of course what guitar resource would be complete without a handy little tuner - so you need never play a bum note again.
Monday, 21 December 2009
Medtropolis
http://medtropolis.com is a medical website that aims to entertain and inform children and adults alike about the major health issues facing us today.
The content is written with a North American audience in mind - so the statistics and figures will not necessarily be relevant to where you live, and the Healthcare locator certainly will not be.
But there is one feature of this website that I found really interesting and wanted to share with the world - the virtual body.
Split into four key parts this interactive display allows you to tour the human body in several ways. There are stills with information panels, animated models, and even some narrated tours, which will help you reach a fuller understanding of how your body works.
Nice to navigate and clearly illustrated and labelled, this should prove a useful study guide as well.
The content is written with a North American audience in mind - so the statistics and figures will not necessarily be relevant to where you live, and the Healthcare locator certainly will not be.
But there is one feature of this website that I found really interesting and wanted to share with the world - the virtual body.
Split into four key parts this interactive display allows you to tour the human body in several ways. There are stills with information panels, animated models, and even some narrated tours, which will help you reach a fuller understanding of how your body works.
Nice to navigate and clearly illustrated and labelled, this should prove a useful study guide as well.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Bullying UK
The online home of the anti-bullying charity combines a vast amount of content with a smart, modern feel. The address you need is www.bullying.co.uk
Well-organised menus offer easy access to advice for both children and adults on topics ranging from cyberbullying to bullying in sport.
News stories and case studies sit comfortably alongside tips and social-media tools, which let you connect with Bullying UK on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
These compensate for the lack of discussion forums, as do the blog and an interactive help tool called The Oracle.
The site also provides information about the charity's work and lets you donate money to this worthy cause online.
Well-organised menus offer easy access to advice for both children and adults on topics ranging from cyberbullying to bullying in sport.
News stories and case studies sit comfortably alongside tips and social-media tools, which let you connect with Bullying UK on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
These compensate for the lack of discussion forums, as do the blog and an interactive help tool called The Oracle.
The site also provides information about the charity's work and lets you donate money to this worthy cause online.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Gig Locator
Take a look at www.giglocator.com and find out when and where your favourite artists are playing at this live-music portal.
GigLocator, a site that keeps you in the loop about upcoming gigs, looks impressively slick on the surface but currently lacks the substance to stand out. The idea is to provide a one-stop shop for live music fans.
You can search by gig, artist, genre or location and buy tickets from third-party links. However, several links we clicked on didn't work, and some sections seem incomplete.
On the plus side, GigLocator has such handy features as letting you add concert dates to your calendar, invite friends, find out who is attending and share details on social-networking sites. But, at the moment, it's not quite music to our ears.
GigLocator, a site that keeps you in the loop about upcoming gigs, looks impressively slick on the surface but currently lacks the substance to stand out. The idea is to provide a one-stop shop for live music fans.
You can search by gig, artist, genre or location and buy tickets from third-party links. However, several links we clicked on didn't work, and some sections seem incomplete.
On the plus side, GigLocator has such handy features as letting you add concert dates to your calendar, invite friends, find out who is attending and share details on social-networking sites. But, at the moment, it's not quite music to our ears.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Giveamonkey
This site takes the stress out of planning a party or other event by letting you organise everything online.
www.giveamonkey.com covers everything from choosing the perfect venue and sending out invitations to both researching and suggesting gift ideas.
I love the fresh and funky feel of the site, which makes full use of the web - from Google maps and online stores to social networks and bookmarking tools - to ensure your party goes with a bang. You can choose to keep your event details private or share them with the community, and let attendees share photos, videos and comments.
Free and very easy to use, Giveamonkey deserves three big cheers.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Yearbook Yourself
As the end of 2009 approaches why not have a go at at this website www.yearbookyourself.com and see yourself in glorious retro fashions dating back to 1950.
Finding the perfect image to use can be tricky - you may get best results from using the option to take a picture with your webcam if you have one installed.
Your face should be dead straight on to the camera, and have no hair or other obstruction across your face. Once you have an image inserted, tweak the size and position.
Each era can be fine tuned using the controls beneath the picture to get the best overall result, and is accompanied by music from the era and a smattering of information about fashion and trends on the right.
When you find an image you want to share you can post it directly to Facebook, save it to your computer, or use the share link to post it to a URL that you can share with whoever you want.
Finding the perfect image to use can be tricky - you may get best results from using the option to take a picture with your webcam if you have one installed.
Your face should be dead straight on to the camera, and have no hair or other obstruction across your face. Once you have an image inserted, tweak the size and position.
Each era can be fine tuned using the controls beneath the picture to get the best overall result, and is accompanied by music from the era and a smattering of information about fashion and trends on the right.
When you find an image you want to share you can post it directly to Facebook, save it to your computer, or use the share link to post it to a URL that you can share with whoever you want.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Earth TV
Head over to www.earthtv.com/en and take a look.
Earth TV transmits streaming video feeds from 70 cameras across five continents, creating a window for visitors to travel the width and breadth of the world from the comfort of their own homes.
The quality of these feeds is exceptional, and unlike the usual fixed camera viewpoint, Earth TV can motion control each camera to capture the very best of the action.
Each destination feed is complimented with information and fascinating facts, maps and local weather reports - with a relaxing music track running throughout.
Earth TV transmits streaming video feeds from 70 cameras across five continents, creating a window for visitors to travel the width and breadth of the world from the comfort of their own homes.
The quality of these feeds is exceptional, and unlike the usual fixed camera viewpoint, Earth TV can motion control each camera to capture the very best of the action.
Each destination feed is complimented with information and fascinating facts, maps and local weather reports - with a relaxing music track running throughout.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Looking for Property
If so then you need “Gartoo”. Go to www.gartoo.co.uk and get past its awful name and garish colour scheme and Gartoo provides a handy service for home seekers.
This property-search engine lets you hunt for houses and flats for sale or rent using keywords and phrases – for example “large garden in Barrow In Furness” – rather than checkboxes and drop-down menus.
Searches are impressively speedy and results provided in order of relevance, although you can sort them by price and date first advertised.
The site scours all the main property websites and many lesser-known names, including related-search suggestions, a map and a photo in each result, although some entries currently lack images.
This property-search engine lets you hunt for houses and flats for sale or rent using keywords and phrases – for example “large garden in Barrow In Furness” – rather than checkboxes and drop-down menus.
Searches are impressively speedy and results provided in order of relevance, although you can sort them by price and date first advertised.
The site scours all the main property websites and many lesser-known names, including related-search suggestions, a map and a photo in each result, although some entries currently lack images.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Savoo
Voucher-code site www.savoo.co.uk has been redesigned to give savvy shoppers even easier access to the latest online deals.
The homepage now features the most popular promotions of the moment, as voted by users, as well as staff picks and recently-added offers.
A tidier layout and improved search facility make finding deals from specific stores and brands much faster, as do keyword tags that show you what other people are looking for.
Sign up for free to receive email alerts about new codes, share deals you’ve found and contribute to Savoo.co.uk’s burgeoning
The homepage now features the most popular promotions of the moment, as voted by users, as well as staff picks and recently-added offers.
A tidier layout and improved search facility make finding deals from specific stores and brands much faster, as do keyword tags that show you what other people are looking for.
Sign up for free to receive email alerts about new codes, share deals you’ve found and contribute to Savoo.co.uk’s burgeoning
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Watzatsong
Do you ever get a song stuck in your head - going round and round, and you cannot quite put your finger on what it was? Or perhaps you have heard a snippet of something on a website and want to hear more?
www.watzatsong.com as the name suggests is all about putting names and artists to the tunes that are flying around in our heads.
Once registered, just record a snip of the song that has you stumped (whether you choose to sing it yourself or record it from wherever you heard it, the choice is yours) and wait for the suggestions to come rolling in.
www.watzatsong.com as the name suggests is all about putting names and artists to the tunes that are flying around in our heads.
Once registered, just record a snip of the song that has you stumped (whether you choose to sing it yourself or record it from wherever you heard it, the choice is yours) and wait for the suggestions to come rolling in.
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