Get your eyes down and pucker up for Kiss My Bingo, which lets you play bingo for money online.
The site has relaunched with a fresh look and further ways to win and waste cash.
The boring brown design of old has been replaced by a bright blue and pink colour scheme, which gives the site a fun, modern feel.
The site now offers a broad choice of bingo games across its chat rooms, with some cards available for as little as 5p each and ‘free’ sessions open to players who have at least £30 in their accounts. Kiss My Bingo offers various incentives to sign up, including a £10 bonus when you deposit your first £10, but it lacks the community feel of some of its rivals.
The website can be found at http://www.kissmybingo.com
Monday, 7 December 2009
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Download Buyer
As its name suggests, www.downloadbuyer.com is an online software store with a difference.
Instead of products being sent out by post, everything this site sells is delivered directly to your Desktop. A wide range of programs are available for both PC and Mac, including titles from Avanquest, Magix and ZoneAlarm. Because there are no boxes, postal costs or overheads involved, you can buy most software for around 10 per cent less than the recommended retail price, although Amazon is slightly cheaper. Products are helpfully accompanied by screen shots, reviews and detailed specifications.
Instead of products being sent out by post, everything this site sells is delivered directly to your Desktop. A wide range of programs are available for both PC and Mac, including titles from Avanquest, Magix and ZoneAlarm. Because there are no boxes, postal costs or overheads involved, you can buy most software for around 10 per cent less than the recommended retail price, although Amazon is slightly cheaper. Products are helpfully accompanied by screen shots, reviews and detailed specifications.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Review Centre
Find out what people think of thousands of different products at this consumer-review website.
Take a look at www.reviewcentre.com
After 10 years of amassing consumer opinions, Review Centre was starting to look a bit creaky. Now the popular site has been spruced up and is slicker, quicker and easier to use.
Draped in regal purple and blue, the revamped layout makes finding product and service reviews a doddle, be it through browsing the tidied-up category menus, clicking keyword tags or using the search box. The community aspect of the site is more prominent, with the best member opinions flagged on the homepage, and the presentation of reviews has also been significantly improved. With further features to be added soon, including video reviews, Review Centre deserves a five-star rating.
Take a look at www.reviewcentre.com
After 10 years of amassing consumer opinions, Review Centre was starting to look a bit creaky. Now the popular site has been spruced up and is slicker, quicker and easier to use.
Draped in regal purple and blue, the revamped layout makes finding product and service reviews a doddle, be it through browsing the tidied-up category menus, clicking keyword tags or using the search box. The community aspect of the site is more prominent, with the best member opinions flagged on the homepage, and the presentation of reviews has also been significantly improved. With further features to be added soon, including video reviews, Review Centre deserves a five-star rating.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Find a Babysitter
www.findababysitter.com is a site for parents looking for a babysitter, nanny or au pair will find plenty to choose from at this relaunched site.
Findababysitter.com features a ‘geo-coded’ search facility that shows you at a glance how far away each candidate lives from your home.
This is handy for when you need to hire a suitable person in a hurry, while you can also search by qualifications, experience and language.
Findababysitter.com couldn’t be simpler to use and lets you save your searches, as well as providing helpful articles and advice.
The site charges parents £10 per month for unlimited access, but child carers seeking employment can post their details for free.
Findababysitter.com features a ‘geo-coded’ search facility that shows you at a glance how far away each candidate lives from your home.
This is handy for when you need to hire a suitable person in a hurry, while you can also search by qualifications, experience and language.
Findababysitter.com couldn’t be simpler to use and lets you save your searches, as well as providing helpful articles and advice.
The site charges parents £10 per month for unlimited access, but child carers seeking employment can post their details for free.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
OMGPOP
www.omgpop.com is flash game site where you can play on your own, wait for other users of the site to join in, or you can click the "invite a friend" link to copy a URL which you can then paste into a forum, twitter, or blog where your friends can jump directly into the game you are hosting.
If you prefer you can join a game in progress rather than hosting one yourself. Registering with the site will give you a little more functionality.
If you prefer you can join a game in progress rather than hosting one yourself. Registering with the site will give you a little more functionality.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Kids' Click
The web is a wonderful place for children to explore and learn - but as any net-savvy parent will tell you, there is plenty to be worried about out there as well.
www.kidsclick.org is a site created by librarians that aims to allay our concerns by providing a search engine of content that is suitable for younger surfers.
The site covers more than 600 subjects, from health to sports & the arts.
Instead of using spiders and search bots to sniff out the content like regular search engines, this content is all human-filtered - so you can be sure that the results you get back will be age-appropriate.
www.kidsclick.org is a site created by librarians that aims to allay our concerns by providing a search engine of content that is suitable for younger surfers.
The site covers more than 600 subjects, from health to sports & the arts.
Instead of using spiders and search bots to sniff out the content like regular search engines, this content is all human-filtered - so you can be sure that the results you get back will be age-appropriate.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Emoze
www.emoze.com is an amazingly easy to use mobile application which allows you to receive and send e-mails and other communication tools on your mobile phone.
Lots of popular email clients are supported, including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook and Hotmail - but you will have to pay a small premium subscription fee if you want it to work across multiple accounts.
You can add Facebook messages, calendars, tasks and contacts. Once you have all your options set up it is incredibly fast and easy to use.
This is the kind of application that once you start using it, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.
Lots of popular email clients are supported, including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook and Hotmail - but you will have to pay a small premium subscription fee if you want it to work across multiple accounts.
You can add Facebook messages, calendars, tasks and contacts. Once you have all your options set up it is incredibly fast and easy to use.
This is the kind of application that once you start using it, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.
Monday, 30 November 2009
World Digital Library
www.wdl.org has a virtual museum of cultural treasures such as manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, and architectural drawings.
It can be viewed in a variety of languages including Russian, Arabic and Chinese - click on the thumbnails to find details about each piece, videos and articles.
My only gripe is that there is no forward and back button on the details page itself, so use the browser back button to navigate the site.
It can be viewed in a variety of languages including Russian, Arabic and Chinese - click on the thumbnails to find details about each piece, videos and articles.
My only gripe is that there is no forward and back button on the details page itself, so use the browser back button to navigate the site.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Big Earth
From the producers of travel show Long Way Down, www.bigearth.co.uk aims to serve as a stop-off point for adventurers.
The site is neatly divided along three fronts: Plan, Share and Discover. Each category is intended to aid travellers on their journeys, offering maps and information about vaccinations, vehicle maintenance and taking photos on the go.
There are also tips and advice from seasoned explorers and a growing community of travellers’ blogs from all corners of the world. If you’re planning something a bit more adventurous than lying on a beach, Big Earth is worth dropping by.
The site is neatly divided along three fronts: Plan, Share and Discover. Each category is intended to aid travellers on their journeys, offering maps and information about vaccinations, vehicle maintenance and taking photos on the go.
There are also tips and advice from seasoned explorers and a growing community of travellers’ blogs from all corners of the world. If you’re planning something a bit more adventurous than lying on a beach, Big Earth is worth dropping by.
Saturday, 28 November 2009
This Is My Joystick
Some gaming websites are too elitist to be enjoyable, but www.thisismyjoystick.com pushes all the right buttons.
It delivers daily news, reviews and in-depth editorials, which are written in an authoritative but friendly manner that conveys real enthusiasm for all things game-related. Particularly good are the podcasts, in which the team discuss the latest releases, reveal what they’re playing and gossip among themselves.
We also like the fact that the Twitter feed and user comments are integral to the site’s sense of community, rather than seeming like an afterthought. With a mobile version to boot, This Is My Joystick has plenty of potential
It delivers daily news, reviews and in-depth editorials, which are written in an authoritative but friendly manner that conveys real enthusiasm for all things game-related. Particularly good are the podcasts, in which the team discuss the latest releases, reveal what they’re playing and gossip among themselves.
We also like the fact that the Twitter feed and user comments are integral to the site’s sense of community, rather than seeming like an afterthought. With a mobile version to boot, This Is My Joystick has plenty of potential
Friday, 27 November 2009
Speedfan
Speedfan is a useful little application that helps you monitor the temperature, voltage and fan speeds inside your PC. Find it at www.almico.com/speedfan.php
This app allows you to manually control the speed of the fans, so you can speed them up or slow them down depending on what you are doing.
Also, you can set your machine to look for events, such as CPU or GPU overheating, and to warn you with a beep or pop-up message.
Take a look at the Articles section for an in-depth overview of the features
This app allows you to manually control the speed of the fans, so you can speed them up or slow them down depending on what you are doing.
Also, you can set your machine to look for events, such as CPU or GPU overheating, and to warn you with a beep or pop-up message.
Take a look at the Articles section for an in-depth overview of the features
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Craftbits
www.craftbits.com is a hobbyist's dream, crammed full of great projects, ideas and instructions. Project categories are listed on the left - or you can perform a search if you know what you are looking for.
They all use commonly available materials, and in many cases help you to recycle your old stuff into glorious gifts.
There are plenty of videos to watch if you prefer to be guided, and if you sign up for free membership you can save the projects you like and even submit your own ideas to help contribute to the site's content. It is a pretty popular place to visit with around 13,000 people clicking on these pages every day.
They all use commonly available materials, and in many cases help you to recycle your old stuff into glorious gifts.
There are plenty of videos to watch if you prefer to be guided, and if you sign up for free membership you can save the projects you like and even submit your own ideas to help contribute to the site's content. It is a pretty popular place to visit with around 13,000 people clicking on these pages every day.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
NetDoctor
This is a site we touched on briefly a while ago but since then it has become a wealth of informastion.
Take a look at www.netdoctor.co.uk and see for yourself that this leading health website has relaunched with a wealth of new information and advice, and an easier to navigate layout.
In addition to the existing content, NetDoctor has introduced a range of helpful features including informative videos, virtual health and wellbeing centres where you can quickly diagnose symptoms, and enhanced chat forums that give you a better chance of finding help with your condition.
The site continues to provide trusted advice from doctors and health practitioners across Europe and its fresh-looking, user-friendly redesign makes all the information more readily accessible. NetDoctor is an invaluable resource for everyone.
Take a look at www.netdoctor.co.uk and see for yourself that this leading health website has relaunched with a wealth of new information and advice, and an easier to navigate layout.
In addition to the existing content, NetDoctor has introduced a range of helpful features including informative videos, virtual health and wellbeing centres where you can quickly diagnose symptoms, and enhanced chat forums that give you a better chance of finding help with your condition.
The site continues to provide trusted advice from doctors and health practitioners across Europe and its fresh-looking, user-friendly redesign makes all the information more readily accessible. NetDoctor is an invaluable resource for everyone.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Coffee Cavern
www.coffeecavern.co.uk is where connoisseurs will appreciate the distinct aroma of this site, which sells a variety of specialty coffees and loose-leaf teas.
These include blends from Africa and the Caribbean, as well as English favourites such as Earl Grey and Darjeeling. The tasteful brown design is complemented by a simple ordering process that lets you select the grind and weight of your coffee and request a free sample of most teas.
Join the Coffee Club for £9.95 per month to get coffee samples too, along with access to a members’ discussion forum and discounts. And if you want to get more from your beverages, the site also sells a range of syrups.
These include blends from Africa and the Caribbean, as well as English favourites such as Earl Grey and Darjeeling. The tasteful brown design is complemented by a simple ordering process that lets you select the grind and weight of your coffee and request a free sample of most teas.
Join the Coffee Club for £9.95 per month to get coffee samples too, along with access to a members’ discussion forum and discounts. And if you want to get more from your beverages, the site also sells a range of syrups.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Simonseeks
www.simonseeks.com is a holiday community where travellers share information and advice about their favourite destinations.
This travel-recommendation service provides both expert and user-submitted advice about places all over the world.
Its star attractions are the guides penned by celebrities, such as Cliff Richard waxing about Barbados, and pieces from professional travel writers.
The style and tone of the site is friendly and accessible, and it’s a great source of tips and inspiration, although we’d like to see more photo and video content. Also, Simonseeks pays for the reviews it publishes to give you some cash towards your next holiday.
This travel-recommendation service provides both expert and user-submitted advice about places all over the world.
Its star attractions are the guides penned by celebrities, such as Cliff Richard waxing about Barbados, and pieces from professional travel writers.
The style and tone of the site is friendly and accessible, and it’s a great source of tips and inspiration, although we’d like to see more photo and video content. Also, Simonseeks pays for the reviews it publishes to give you some cash towards your next holiday.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
RUNPEE
Is there ever a good time to run to the bathroom in the middle of a movie?
According to www.runpee.com , there is.
With the latest releases listed on the homepage, if you are heading out to the cinema tonight you can log on here first and check when is a good time to "go".
There is a helpful graphic timeline with pee-spots marked and triggers supplied. There is even an explanation of what you will be missing in the box below, though you need to click "unscramble" to read it as there are obviously spoilers included.
Print out the timeline, or if you want to get really serious about your bathroom habits and you have an iPhone, you can download the app from iTunes for 59p in the UK, though I am not sure that having a pee calculator on your handset is the smartest thing to tell your mates about.
According to www.runpee.com , there is.
With the latest releases listed on the homepage, if you are heading out to the cinema tonight you can log on here first and check when is a good time to "go".
There is a helpful graphic timeline with pee-spots marked and triggers supplied. There is even an explanation of what you will be missing in the box below, though you need to click "unscramble" to read it as there are obviously spoilers included.
Print out the timeline, or if you want to get really serious about your bathroom habits and you have an iPhone, you can download the app from iTunes for 59p in the UK, though I am not sure that having a pee calculator on your handset is the smartest thing to tell your mates about.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Moillusions
Things are not always what they seem. If that is true of life then it is especially true of the internet and at www.moillusions.com you will find oodles of examples, both classic and contemporary.
The way our brains process information can occasionally be misleading. Mighty Optical Illusions is a blog that lays bare those cunning cognitive confusions that have you blinking at the screen.
There is a breadth and variety of content on the site. We are not just talking about traditional illusions which fool the brain with spirals and squiggles and intersecting lines, there is also a good selection of pictures, images, animations and even audio files from all over the web which will make you go - eh?
There is a links panel with categories for ease of navigation, or you can just cycle through the illusions randomly. There is also a good explanation with all the illusions.
The way our brains process information can occasionally be misleading. Mighty Optical Illusions is a blog that lays bare those cunning cognitive confusions that have you blinking at the screen.
There is a breadth and variety of content on the site. We are not just talking about traditional illusions which fool the brain with spirals and squiggles and intersecting lines, there is also a good selection of pictures, images, animations and even audio files from all over the web which will make you go - eh?
There is a links panel with categories for ease of navigation, or you can just cycle through the illusions randomly. There is also a good explanation with all the illusions.
Friday, 20 November 2009
TV Cream
After 11 years without a redesign, this television-nostalgia site was looking as dated as the programmes it covers.
Now TV Cream has been completely revamped to make it bigger, brighter and better than ever, with a new web address to boot. As well as browsing the comprehensive index of classic TV shows, you can read the witty blog, watch videos of ancient adverts and chat about Seventies and Eighties culture in the forums.
I particularly like the guide to former Radio 1 DJs and round-up of classic Blue Peter moments.
There are shiny new elements such as RSS feeds, Spotify playlists and user comments, this fantastic celebration of the past has a promising future.
We have reviewed this site before and it was well worth another review. The web address you need is www.tvcream.co.uk . Go check it out
Now TV Cream has been completely revamped to make it bigger, brighter and better than ever, with a new web address to boot. As well as browsing the comprehensive index of classic TV shows, you can read the witty blog, watch videos of ancient adverts and chat about Seventies and Eighties culture in the forums.
I particularly like the guide to former Radio 1 DJs and round-up of classic Blue Peter moments.
There are shiny new elements such as RSS feeds, Spotify playlists and user comments, this fantastic celebration of the past has a promising future.
We have reviewed this site before and it was well worth another review. The web address you need is www.tvcream.co.uk . Go check it out
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Maps of War
The creators of www.mapsofwar.com are clearly fascinated by how various historical events linked to the act of war are connected. To show these connections they have made a number of flash animation maps.
There are a couple of examples on the opening page, but you can click "maps" to get the full listing. It is really interesting to see the way world events have played out and it only took a couple of minutes. The maps are nicely made and really clear - even for the non-history buff.
As well as having its own selection of maps, if you click the link to the library section you will find links to many other maps of war from all over the web.
There are a couple of examples on the opening page, but you can click "maps" to get the full listing. It is really interesting to see the way world events have played out and it only took a couple of minutes. The maps are nicely made and really clear - even for the non-history buff.
As well as having its own selection of maps, if you click the link to the library section you will find links to many other maps of war from all over the web.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Good Beach Guide
Do the words ‘British seaside’ conjure up images of shingle, sewage and safety concerns, crying kids and dying sealife?
Take a look at www.goodbeachguide.co.uk this site could either confirm or disprove your preconceptions.
It’s been relaunched to deliver the results of a recent survey of UK beaches by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which it does in the form of a Google map. The 370 beaches recommended by the MCS for excellent water quality are marked with yellow pins; those that didn’t make the grade have red pins.
Each marker is accompanied by a description, photograph and details, such as whether the beach is lifeguard-protected. It’s an excellent idea but the execution is rather dull and there are glaring gaps in many of the entries.
Take a look at www.goodbeachguide.co.uk this site could either confirm or disprove your preconceptions.
It’s been relaunched to deliver the results of a recent survey of UK beaches by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which it does in the form of a Google map. The 370 beaches recommended by the MCS for excellent water quality are marked with yellow pins; those that didn’t make the grade have red pins.
Each marker is accompanied by a description, photograph and details, such as whether the beach is lifeguard-protected. It’s an excellent idea but the execution is rather dull and there are glaring gaps in many of the entries.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
BidsNBobs.com
If you fancy getting your hands on a Sony PS3 for £25 or an iPod Shuffle for under a tenner, give www.bidsnbobs.com a go.
At this reverse-auction site, the prices of lots go down rather than up. Bids are bought in bundles of 20 to 200, and cost from 25p each.
When you place a bid, the price of the item drops by a penny and another eight seconds is added to the auction time, which could seriously test your patience.
Ilike the site’s streamlined design, simple bidding system and free delivery, but it will need to add more auctions if it wants to compete with similar sites.
At this reverse-auction site, the prices of lots go down rather than up. Bids are bought in bundles of 20 to 200, and cost from 25p each.
When you place a bid, the price of the item drops by a penny and another eight seconds is added to the auction time, which could seriously test your patience.
Ilike the site’s streamlined design, simple bidding system and free delivery, but it will need to add more auctions if it wants to compete with similar sites.
Monday, 16 November 2009
I stop over
www.istopover.com is for people with a spare room can register on this site to offer accommodation to holiday makers, backpackers or even business travellers.
Lodgers set their rates and availability, and anyone interested can negotiate and make arrangements through the site.
The rental is only released to the hosts after the visit is over, and the site takes a 9% fee for the service.
Lodgers set their rates and availability, and anyone interested can negotiate and make arrangements through the site.
The rental is only released to the hosts after the visit is over, and the site takes a 9% fee for the service.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Counter Measures
This well written blog will keep you updated on the dangers lurking around the internet, including the latest hacks, bugs and potential scams.
www.ountermeasures.trendmicro.eu is written by the CEO of an internet security firm, so it is on the pulse of all the issues we face online.
There is down to earth advice about how to keep your data safe, as well as broad-minded opinion pieces on anything and everything tech.
www.ountermeasures.trendmicro.eu is written by the CEO of an internet security firm, so it is on the pulse of all the issues we face online.
There is down to earth advice about how to keep your data safe, as well as broad-minded opinion pieces on anything and everything tech.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Wild Mood Swings
Internet users can now surf a multitude of different websites based on the mood they are in. Go to www.wildmoodswings.co.uk and there is an impressive number of moods with each one linking out to one other site.
Just pick a mood from the drop down box and an appropriate website to fit your state of mind will pop up.
There's not much to this site in itself, but whoever made it has really done a good job of hunting out some great content to put behind the moods.
Just pick a mood from the drop down box and an appropriate website to fit your state of mind will pop up.
There's not much to this site in itself, but whoever made it has really done a good job of hunting out some great content to put behind the moods.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Cs4f
www.cs4fn.org was created by Queen Mary University in London to persuaded us that computer science is fun.
Content is king on this site, which likens programming to conjuring magic tricks. There is a really nice downloaded file of a book of tricks you can learn at home.
Plus, the blog-style entries listed by date or topic show you how to turn computer science into a game.
The site reinforces the idea that understanding computers is about understanding people as much as making the maths work.
Content is king on this site, which likens programming to conjuring magic tricks. There is a really nice downloaded file of a book of tricks you can learn at home.
Plus, the blog-style entries listed by date or topic show you how to turn computer science into a game.
The site reinforces the idea that understanding computers is about understanding people as much as making the maths work.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
InStyle
www.instyle.co.uk is the magazine has given its website a makeover, bestowing it with a bolder, fresher look and expanding its content.
Notable new features include a dedicated Hair channel, which keeps you up to date with the latest product news and styles, and lots more videos.
These include beauty how-tos and behind-the-scenes footage of cover shoots and red carpet events. Clothes junkies will be pleased to know the site has kept its ever-popular Shopping section, with 1,000s of items available to browse through with ease.
You’ll also find competitions, fashion tips and celebrity interviews, all of which is now much easier to comb your way through.
Notable new features include a dedicated Hair channel, which keeps you up to date with the latest product news and styles, and lots more videos.
These include beauty how-tos and behind-the-scenes footage of cover shoots and red carpet events. Clothes junkies will be pleased to know the site has kept its ever-popular Shopping section, with 1,000s of items available to browse through with ease.
You’ll also find competitions, fashion tips and celebrity interviews, all of which is now much easier to comb your way through.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Parentdish UK
www.parentdish.co.uk delivers a healthy dose of news, advice and opinions for mums and dads, covering such diverse topics as the best time to conceive, how to dress your baby and making kids earn their pocket money.
A busy, blog-like layout packs in a wealth of content and cleverly uses a baby-blue-and-pink colour scheme.
While it’s a shame that many of the articles and galleries have to be tied to celebrities, a glance at the list of most-popular posts suggests that’s exactly what people want.
A busy, blog-like layout packs in a wealth of content and cleverly uses a baby-blue-and-pink colour scheme.
While it’s a shame that many of the articles and galleries have to be tied to celebrities, a glance at the list of most-popular posts suggests that’s exactly what people want.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
National Gallery
Squinting at JPEGs has never been the best way to appreciate works of art, but we're impressed with the National Gallery's online home.
|At www.nationalgallery.org.uk You can browse the gallery’s entire collection of more than 2,300 paintings in high definition, using the full-screen zoom facility to examine fine details and brushstrokes. An interactive floor plan and events calendar let you plan a visit in advance, while a selection of 30 must-see paintings highlights such masterpieces as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Despite the addition of reams and audio and video content, including a monthly podcast, the site remains impressively quick and easy to navigate, and there’s even an iPhone app to give you a culture fix on the move. Sterling stuff.
|At www.nationalgallery.org.uk You can browse the gallery’s entire collection of more than 2,300 paintings in high definition, using the full-screen zoom facility to examine fine details and brushstrokes. An interactive floor plan and events calendar let you plan a visit in advance, while a selection of 30 must-see paintings highlights such masterpieces as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Despite the addition of reams and audio and video content, including a monthly podcast, the site remains impressively quick and easy to navigate, and there’s even an iPhone app to give you a culture fix on the move. Sterling stuff.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Detouch
The media is often criticised for presenting a distorted view of society with fashion magazines and Sunday supplements crammed with images of impossibly beautiful people.
But they are not as perfect as they look.
www.DeTouch.org lays bare the tricks and chets used in photographic publishing, showing you what those picture perfect models looked like before the touch-up artist got involved.
Drawing from a number of online sources where before and after photographs are displayed, this site uses an open source tool called Processing to compare the images pixel by pixel and generate visualizations of the alterations.
Waists are sucked in, chests pumped out. Lines and shadows smoothed and removed.
There is even one lady who has had an eye shifted up - all in the pursuit of creating the illusive perfect beauty.
But they are not as perfect as they look.
www.DeTouch.org lays bare the tricks and chets used in photographic publishing, showing you what those picture perfect models looked like before the touch-up artist got involved.
Drawing from a number of online sources where before and after photographs are displayed, this site uses an open source tool called Processing to compare the images pixel by pixel and generate visualizations of the alterations.
Waists are sucked in, chests pumped out. Lines and shadows smoothed and removed.
There is even one lady who has had an eye shifted up - all in the pursuit of creating the illusive perfect beauty.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Cyber Mentors
The Internet can be a worrying place for children, especially when you hear stories about online bullying.
www.cybermentors.org.uk is a UK charity and a community where children can get support and advice from other children, as well as trained professionals - whether they are experiencing problems online or out in the physical world.
The young volunteers who make up the cyber mentor fellowship have all been trained by the charity to be children's first port of call if they feel they cannot talk about their problems with a grown-up.
They will support and encourage youngsters - urging them to go to a parent or teacher - but there are also councillors available to deal with any serious issues.
Since the site went live a few months ago they have helped 70,000 children, and have just trained up their 1,000th volunteer.
Users need to register to talk to a mentor, and they do ask for some details about your mobile phone, which the site's creators say is not used for marketing purposes - just their own internal research.
www.cybermentors.org.uk is a UK charity and a community where children can get support and advice from other children, as well as trained professionals - whether they are experiencing problems online or out in the physical world.
The young volunteers who make up the cyber mentor fellowship have all been trained by the charity to be children's first port of call if they feel they cannot talk about their problems with a grown-up.
They will support and encourage youngsters - urging them to go to a parent or teacher - but there are also councillors available to deal with any serious issues.
Since the site went live a few months ago they have helped 70,000 children, and have just trained up their 1,000th volunteer.
Users need to register to talk to a mentor, and they do ask for some details about your mobile phone, which the site's creators say is not used for marketing purposes - just their own internal research.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Goalpostr
Football fans can now discuss tackles, tactics and transfers Twitter-style at this kicking site.
www.goalpostr.com adopts the micro-blogging format, but expands the maximum length of posts from 140 characters to 500.
It also lets you rate other members’ updates by awarding them ‘respect’, with the most interesting posts promoted on the homepage for everyone to read. Despite its gloomy black-and-blue design, the site looks good and works well.
I particularly like the ‘pundit of the month’ league table, the option to filter content by team and the ability to reply and link directly to posts. Now all Goalpostr needs is a few more users.
www.goalpostr.com adopts the micro-blogging format, but expands the maximum length of posts from 140 characters to 500.
It also lets you rate other members’ updates by awarding them ‘respect’, with the most interesting posts promoted on the homepage for everyone to read. Despite its gloomy black-and-blue design, the site looks good and works well.
I particularly like the ‘pundit of the month’ league table, the option to filter content by team and the ability to reply and link directly to posts. Now all Goalpostr needs is a few more users.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Just Eat
www.just-eat.co.uk is there if you can’t be bothered to cook but you’ve binned all your takeaway flyers, check out this revamped site.
Just-Eat.co.uk lets you order meals online from more than 2,500 UK restaurants, each of which now has its own profile page.
Here you’ll find details of opening times, minimum order value and location, plus user reviews and that all-important menu.
You can save your favourite restaurants and meals for future reference and collect loyalty points to turn into food vouchers.
As well as beefing up its content, Just-Eat.co.uk has a tasty new design with a larger search box. It’s a site to savour!
Just-Eat.co.uk lets you order meals online from more than 2,500 UK restaurants, each of which now has its own profile page.
Here you’ll find details of opening times, minimum order value and location, plus user reviews and that all-important menu.
You can save your favourite restaurants and meals for future reference and collect loyalty points to turn into food vouchers.
As well as beefing up its content, Just-Eat.co.uk has a tasty new design with a larger search box. It’s a site to savour!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
eComparison
Take a look at www.ecomparison.co.uk and as an online shopper should find this site an invaluable bookmark. Not only does compare the prices of products and services across the web, eComparison also sources the latest voucher codes and cashback deals from thousands of big-name online stores.
A colourful, well-organised layout gives you easy access to comparison categories such as Money, Gas & Electricity and Shopping, and there’s an alphabetical Brands Directory you can comb for discounts for specific companies. Although currently lacking customer reviews, eComparison certainly has bags of potential. You can earn £5 for registering with the site and £5 for each friend you refer.
A colourful, well-organised layout gives you easy access to comparison categories such as Money, Gas & Electricity and Shopping, and there’s an alphabetical Brands Directory you can comb for discounts for specific companies. Although currently lacking customer reviews, eComparison certainly has bags of potential. You can earn £5 for registering with the site and £5 for each friend you refer.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
I Love Travel
Take a look at www.ilovetravel.co.uk . If you want to go on holiday somewhere different but have no idea where, give this site a try.
It features a dedicated ‘inspiration tool’ that helps you find the perfect destination based on your travel preferences.
You can specify the type of trip you’re looking for, how far you’re willing to travel and the type of activities you’d like to engage in, and ILoveTravel.co.uk will tell you its recommendations.
Alternatively, you can choose a place from the drop-down menu to view more details. The site features some great deals on an eclectic range of destinations worldwide, but it’s a shame that you only submit enquiries rather than actually booking your dream holiday online
It features a dedicated ‘inspiration tool’ that helps you find the perfect destination based on your travel preferences.
You can specify the type of trip you’re looking for, how far you’re willing to travel and the type of activities you’d like to engage in, and ILoveTravel.co.uk will tell you its recommendations.
Alternatively, you can choose a place from the drop-down menu to view more details. The site features some great deals on an eclectic range of destinations worldwide, but it’s a shame that you only submit enquiries rather than actually booking your dream holiday online
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Wix
www.wix.com has some impressive flash templates that could help spruce up your own site.
View the templates before picking one, then change the text and pictures, and have a play around with animations and effects.
Preview the pages to check your creation, and hit publish to get a wix.com URL where people can view your site.
There are premium upgrades for cash if you want to rid yourself of adverts and get more pages and features.
View the templates before picking one, then change the text and pictures, and have a play around with animations and effects.
Preview the pages to check your creation, and hit publish to get a wix.com URL where people can view your site.
There are premium upgrades for cash if you want to rid yourself of adverts and get more pages and features.
Monday, 2 November 2009
IrfanView
www.irfanview.com is the address you need. Irfanview is a super-fast and simple freeware image viewer and editor which supports all major graphic formats.
We looked at the site at the start of 2008, but there have been some good additions to the software since.
As well as the simple and quick editing features, you can download the add-on pack with some free extras as long as it is for non-commercial use.
These include direct FTP, e-mail tagging from the thumbnail viewer, running slide shows and doing batch conversions.
We looked at the site at the start of 2008, but there have been some good additions to the software since.
As well as the simple and quick editing features, you can download the add-on pack with some free extras as long as it is for non-commercial use.
These include direct FTP, e-mail tagging from the thumbnail viewer, running slide shows and doing batch conversions.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Nasa TV
This site came back to my attention recently when it broadcast live coverage of the space shuttle Atlantis mission to upgrade the Hubble space telescope.
Take a look at www.nasa.gov/ntv The event had audio from the voice communication channel between astronauts and mission control, and some commentary explaining what was happening.
Clips and highlights from various NASA missions can be found on their website.
If you are a Twitter fan, you might be interested to learn that astronaut Mike Massimino has made history by sending the first ever "tweets" from space.
Take a look at www.nasa.gov/ntv The event had audio from the voice communication channel between astronauts and mission control, and some commentary explaining what was happening.
Clips and highlights from various NASA missions can be found on their website.
If you are a Twitter fan, you might be interested to learn that astronaut Mike Massimino has made history by sending the first ever "tweets" from space.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Google Sightseeing
http://googlesightseeing.com is a sightseeing site/blog where visitors are invited to submit any unusual or interesting sightings they have found on Google Earth and Streetview.
For example, there is a shot of Paddington Bear taking a trip to the British Museum.
For example, there is a shot of Paddington Bear taking a trip to the British Museum.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Justin.tv
www.justin.tv began life when a man called Justin Tan decided to fix a webcam to his cap and stream every minute of his day to day life live online.
Thanks to his show's success, the site has evolved into one of the biggest online communities for broadcasting, watching and interacting around live streaming video.
Shows are organised into channels which have a chat box beside the video window so that viewers can interact
Some of the content can be pretty random; for instance one man is streaming an LED sign showing Twitter comments from his viewers.
Thanks to his show's success, the site has evolved into one of the biggest online communities for broadcasting, watching and interacting around live streaming video.
Shows are organised into channels which have a chat box beside the video window so that viewers can interact
Some of the content can be pretty random; for instance one man is streaming an LED sign showing Twitter comments from his viewers.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Chatter
If you find Twitter and Facebook too fast-moving and unfocussed, why not try a social network devoted to a specific topic? Such is the concept of Chatter, a community of more than 100 niche networks devoted to topics as diverse as butterfly-collecting, hairdressing, poetry, table-tennis and wine.
www.chatter-media.com is the address you need and despite that wealth of choice, the site is simple to navigate and lets you find your space of choice by browsing categories or from the A-Z list. All networks sport a smart, minimalist design that makes sharing content and comments very straightforward. However, you need to register for each one individually rather than using a single log-in to explore the lot.
www.chatter-media.com is the address you need and despite that wealth of choice, the site is simple to navigate and lets you find your space of choice by browsing categories or from the A-Z list. All networks sport a smart, minimalist design that makes sharing content and comments very straightforward. However, you need to register for each one individually rather than using a single log-in to explore the lot.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
KidStart
www.kidstart.co.uk offers an effective way to make savings from your online shopping and put them towards your children's future.
The service is backed by the Financial Services Authority and is completely free to use. KidStart has teamed up with hundreds of big-name companies including Tesco, Argos and Thomas Cook.
Each time you make an eligible purchase, a certain amount is lodged in your ‘Kiddybank’. The percentage varies with each retailer, but it doesn’t take long to build up some coffers. Once registered, you can set up a link to your child’s account and start shopping and saving for the next generation.
The service is backed by the Financial Services Authority and is completely free to use. KidStart has teamed up with hundreds of big-name companies including Tesco, Argos and Thomas Cook.
Each time you make an eligible purchase, a certain amount is lodged in your ‘Kiddybank’. The percentage varies with each retailer, but it doesn’t take long to build up some coffers. Once registered, you can set up a link to your child’s account and start shopping and saving for the next generation.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
We Are Hunted
Websites normally fall in two categories – those with names that explain what the site is about, and others that either confuse you or deliberately lead you astray.
http://wearehunted.com is one of the latter. Essentially it’s a digital music chart that trawls blogs, forums and social networks to discern what the most popular songs of the day are in terms of what’s being listened to and talked about.
From this aggregation, the top 99 tracks are displayed in a grid format, with the option to stream them in your browser or buy them from iTunes. We Are Hunted is impressively crafted and successfully connects the different musical strands of the web.
http://wearehunted.com is one of the latter. Essentially it’s a digital music chart that trawls blogs, forums and social networks to discern what the most popular songs of the day are in terms of what’s being listened to and talked about.
From this aggregation, the top 99 tracks are displayed in a grid format, with the option to stream them in your browser or buy them from iTunes. We Are Hunted is impressively crafted and successfully connects the different musical strands of the web.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Vet Help
www.vethelpdirect.com is an excellent resource designed to provide pet owners with advice about their beloved animals. It has just been revamped to include new categories for birds and reptiles, as catering for dogs, cats, horses, donkeys and rabbits.
Vethelpdirect.com is staffed by experienced vets, and presents its information in a authoritative and accessible manner. Simply click through the prompt questions to find out more about your pet’s symptoms.
Depending on your answers, you’ll be advised whether or not you need to contact your vet. Extra services like a vet search, pet-care tips and an insurance directory, as well as the cute ‘sick pet of the month’ feature, make this an essential bookmark for animal owners.
Vethelpdirect.com is staffed by experienced vets, and presents its information in a authoritative and accessible manner. Simply click through the prompt questions to find out more about your pet’s symptoms.
Depending on your answers, you’ll be advised whether or not you need to contact your vet. Extra services like a vet search, pet-care tips and an insurance directory, as well as the cute ‘sick pet of the month’ feature, make this an essential bookmark for animal owners.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Ciao
www.ciao.co.uk is the consumer-review and price-comparison site has relaunched with a fresh look and an increased emphasis on community interaction.
You can now view and post video reviews as well as text ones, sharing your views on an enormous range of products. Items that have been rated particularly good or bad are now flagged on the homepage, as are the most-reviewed products of the moment.
Navigation has been tidied up, offering easy access to the site’s many categories, while posting a review – for which you can earn up to £3 – is a doddle.
However, while videos are a welcome addition, Ciao should make sure that the sound works properly.
You can now view and post video reviews as well as text ones, sharing your views on an enormous range of products. Items that have been rated particularly good or bad are now flagged on the homepage, as are the most-reviewed products of the moment.
Navigation has been tidied up, offering easy access to the site’s many categories, while posting a review – for which you can earn up to £3 – is a doddle.
However, while videos are a welcome addition, Ciao should make sure that the sound works properly.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Unionview
There are more than a hundred universities in Britain, so choosing which one to apply to can be confusing and costly, involving lots of travelling up and down the country.
www.unionview.com lets you get a feel for a wide range of universities and towns from the comfort of your browser by watching short films about them.
These online videos, which span Aberdeen to Warwick, are expertly made and cover such topics as accommodation, studying and the cost of living. They’re each accompanied by a map and a link to the university website.
Unionview is an invaluable resource for students, although we found the main navigation menu rather fiddly.
www.unionview.com lets you get a feel for a wide range of universities and towns from the comfort of your browser by watching short films about them.
These online videos, which span Aberdeen to Warwick, are expertly made and cover such topics as accommodation, studying and the cost of living. They’re each accompanied by a map and a link to the university website.
Unionview is an invaluable resource for students, although we found the main navigation menu rather fiddly.
Friday, 23 October 2009
PDSA
Pet charity PDSA has created a little tool to help guide you towards the picking perfect animal companion for your lifestyle.
Take a look at www.your-right-pet.org.uk and by answering a few multiple choice questions, this tool will work towards focusing on a couple of recommendations.
Once a pet has been picked, advice is offered on the animal's five essential welfare needs and what kind of environment you should buy them from.
Finally, there is a downloadable checklist of what you will need to invest in before you go ahead and adopt your pet.
Take a look at www.your-right-pet.org.uk and by answering a few multiple choice questions, this tool will work towards focusing on a couple of recommendations.
Once a pet has been picked, advice is offered on the animal's five essential welfare needs and what kind of environment you should buy them from.
Finally, there is a downloadable checklist of what you will need to invest in before you go ahead and adopt your pet.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Monkey Jam
This site is home to a very easy to use animation package called Monkeyjam - there are plenty of good tutorials on how it works in YouTube.
Take a look at www.giantscreamingrobotmonkeys.com/monkeyjam
The software lets you capture frames using a webcam or scanner - or you can simply import individual photos, sound and even special effects using a package like Photoshop.
Lego seems to be a popular medium - but you can use whatever comes to mind.
Take a look at www.giantscreamingrobotmonkeys.com/monkeyjam
The software lets you capture frames using a webcam or scanner - or you can simply import individual photos, sound and even special effects using a package like Photoshop.
Lego seems to be a popular medium - but you can use whatever comes to mind.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
FriendFeed
www.friendfeed.com is a tool for sharing interesting content with friends.
A group of specified contacts are able to see someone's customized feed, including their updates on social networking sites and blogs.
When creating an account, remember to un-tick a box if you want to make the feed private. There is the option to subscribe to existing popular users channels.
The last big task is to link all social content sites, such as Flickr, Stumbleupon, Facebook and others.
The user can also create private rooms to discuss specific topics with a few select contacts.
A group of specified contacts are able to see someone's customized feed, including their updates on social networking sites and blogs.
When creating an account, remember to un-tick a box if you want to make the feed private. There is the option to subscribe to existing popular users channels.
The last big task is to link all social content sites, such as Flickr, Stumbleupon, Facebook and others.
The user can also create private rooms to discuss specific topics with a few select contacts.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Omegle
www.omegle.com harks back to a time before social networking when the most popular means of online communication was the chat room.
Click the ‘Start a chat’ button on the homepage and you’ll be connected to a random stranger for a chinwag.
Neither party’s name nor location is given, unless those details are voluntarily disclosed. The interface is as basic as can be, with none of the frills you get in instant-messaging chats, which is either refreshing or dull, depending on your point of view.
It’s a quaint concept, but it’s a shame you can’t talk to multiple strangers or change chat partner if your initial one fails to interest you.
Click the ‘Start a chat’ button on the homepage and you’ll be connected to a random stranger for a chinwag.
Neither party’s name nor location is given, unless those details are voluntarily disclosed. The interface is as basic as can be, with none of the frills you get in instant-messaging chats, which is either refreshing or dull, depending on your point of view.
It’s a quaint concept, but it’s a shame you can’t talk to multiple strangers or change chat partner if your initial one fails to interest you.
Monday, 19 October 2009
WAYN
Popular travel community WAYN (Where Are You Now) has undergone a radical transformation.
www.wayn.com Its cluttered old design has been ditched in favour of a more spacious and streamlined layout, which makes browsing the site a much less overwhelming experience.
Most notably, there’s an increased emphasis on lifestyle and social-networking elements in the vein of Facebook and Twitter.
You can view and reply to users’ status updates; share your travel and leisure plans and tips; and post photos, videos and blog entries. WAYN remains free to use and, with 15 million members worldwide, is now an even better place to connect with like-minded people.
www.wayn.com Its cluttered old design has been ditched in favour of a more spacious and streamlined layout, which makes browsing the site a much less overwhelming experience.
Most notably, there’s an increased emphasis on lifestyle and social-networking elements in the vein of Facebook and Twitter.
You can view and reply to users’ status updates; share your travel and leisure plans and tips; and post photos, videos and blog entries. WAYN remains free to use and, with 15 million members worldwide, is now an even better place to connect with like-minded people.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
GURL
This site hosts an online community and content aiming to make the teenage years a little less confusing. Take a look at www.gurl.com
It has videos, stories, fashion, body tips, games, quizzes, photos and even a helpful agony aunt called Heather.
The content is aimed at teenage girls aged 13 and up and deals frankly with the topics of sexuality, emotions and body image.
Parents might want to check how the site treats these subjects before recommending them to their daughter.
There is a whole section in the about pages explaining to parents what the website is trying to achieve.
It has videos, stories, fashion, body tips, games, quizzes, photos and even a helpful agony aunt called Heather.
The content is aimed at teenage girls aged 13 and up and deals frankly with the topics of sexuality, emotions and body image.
Parents might want to check how the site treats these subjects before recommending them to their daughter.
There is a whole section in the about pages explaining to parents what the website is trying to achieve.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Been There
Been There has been launched by Guardian Unlimited to serve as an online global travel guide.
Take a look at www.ivebeenthere.co.uk . It provides detailed profiles of both popular and lesser-known destinations, and combines articles written by Guardian staff with content and comment from users.
Travellers can recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions; enter their holiday photos in a monthly competition; and rate the advice posted by others to give prominence to the best tips and tipsters. While the site certainly isn’t unique, it’s less overwhelming than the likes of TripAdvisor and WAYN.com and is already amassing a knowledgeable community.
Take a look at www.ivebeenthere.co.uk . It provides detailed profiles of both popular and lesser-known destinations, and combines articles written by Guardian staff with content and comment from users.
Travellers can recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions; enter their holiday photos in a monthly competition; and rate the advice posted by others to give prominence to the best tips and tipsters. While the site certainly isn’t unique, it’s less overwhelming than the likes of TripAdvisor and WAYN.com and is already amassing a knowledgeable community.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Family Gamer
As the success of the Nintendo Wii and DS has proved, video games can be fun for all ages. This site has been set up to advise keen kids and puzzled parents about every aspect of gaming, from which console to buy to the best (and worst) titles.
www.familygamer.co.uk offers reviews from different perspectives including dad gamer, teen gamer and gamer wife, each of whom has their own profile page, newsletter and blog. The layout of the site resembles a family tree, which makes it easy to browse, but it would be nice to have some more images, such as photos of the people writing the reviews. Overall though, the site looks very promising.
www.familygamer.co.uk offers reviews from different perspectives including dad gamer, teen gamer and gamer wife, each of whom has their own profile page, newsletter and blog. The layout of the site resembles a family tree, which makes it easy to browse, but it would be nice to have some more images, such as photos of the people writing the reviews. Overall though, the site looks very promising.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Parliament
Reams of parliamentary information can be dull to browse, so try this relaunched website for presenting it in a digestibel format. Its much-improved design gives you easy access to a wealth of content, including the latest news from the Commons and Lords, details of recent bills and legislation, and masses of research material concerning topical issues. www.parliament.uk
You can also watch parliamentary debates (to discover how few members bother to attend them!), join the intelligent discussions in the forums and find contact details for your local MP. Everything is presented in a clear and in orderly manner, which looks much more modern than before.
You can also watch parliamentary debates (to discover how few members bother to attend them!), join the intelligent discussions in the forums and find contact details for your local MP. Everything is presented in a clear and in orderly manner, which looks much more modern than before.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Share My Playlists
www.sharemyplaylists.com provides a place for you to upload and share playlists you make using Spotify, the popular free music-streaming application.
You’ll need an account with both services to get started, after which you can compile a track-listing of your favourite songs in Spotify, and then share them with the world.
The site lets you browse through hundreds of other people’s mixes, which you can rate and post on social-networking sites. It’s a neat idea but the process of transferring your playlist could be made less laborious - you currently have to enter track information manually, rather than the service filling in details for you.
You’ll need an account with both services to get started, after which you can compile a track-listing of your favourite songs in Spotify, and then share them with the world.
The site lets you browse through hundreds of other people’s mixes, which you can rate and post on social-networking sites. It’s a neat idea but the process of transferring your playlist could be made less laborious - you currently have to enter track information manually, rather than the service filling in details for you.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Ustream
On www.ustream.tv anyone can broadcast themselves for free.
But you will need to give the site permission to access your webcam and microphone, and you can even broadcast from a mobile device.
There is the option to interact with other viewers and embed your video into a website or blog.
The usual caveats about user-generated and unmoderated content apply - if you find something you do not like, just move along or report it.
But you will need to give the site permission to access your webcam and microphone, and you can even broadcast from a mobile device.
There is the option to interact with other viewers and embed your video into a website or blog.
The usual caveats about user-generated and unmoderated content apply - if you find something you do not like, just move along or report it.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Shelfari
www.shelfari.com hosts a global community of book lovers who are more than happy to share their reviews of good and bad reads with others.
Once signed up, you can start adding the books you have already read, are currently reading, or plan to read in the future.
The site offers a graphical representation of a bookshelf and organises your titles into helpful categories.
Like other networking sites, you can join groups, start your own, and gradually expand your web of contacts.
Once signed up, you can start adding the books you have already read, are currently reading, or plan to read in the future.
The site offers a graphical representation of a bookshelf and organises your titles into helpful categories.
Like other networking sites, you can join groups, start your own, and gradually expand your web of contacts.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Frets on Fire
If you want to have a go at being a rock star, try out the open source project Frets on Fire which turns your keyboard into a guitar.
Download the full and free version from http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net where you can also watch a tutorial first to get the hang of it.
Use the F1 to F5 keyboard keys as your frets, and remember to hit the enter key for strumming action.
There are lots of tunes to entertain, at varying levels of difficulty, plus you can make your own compositions
Download the full and free version from http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net where you can also watch a tutorial first to get the hang of it.
Use the F1 to F5 keyboard keys as your frets, and remember to hit the enter key for strumming action.
There are lots of tunes to entertain, at varying levels of difficulty, plus you can make your own compositions
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Perfect Balance
www.kongregate.com/games/ttursas/perfect-balance is the web site address you need for this little gem.
The flash site is bursting at the seams with great and highly addictive games.
One example is Perfect Balance where the aim of the game is to balance the shapes perfectly within the play area.
The music and ambient sound effects are really hypnotic, and the levels themselves get tougher and tougher.
When you return to the game you can skip forward to the level you finished at last if you have cookies enabled.
The flash site is bursting at the seams with great and highly addictive games.
One example is Perfect Balance where the aim of the game is to balance the shapes perfectly within the play area.
The music and ambient sound effects are really hypnotic, and the levels themselves get tougher and tougher.
When you return to the game you can skip forward to the level you finished at last if you have cookies enabled.
Friday, 9 October 2009
DriveSpacio
Take a look at www.drivespacio.en.softonic.com
Once installed, this drive space manager shows how much data your internal and external hard drives, including pen drives and memory sticks, are carrying.
This application is free to download, and it caught my eye because of its ability to see the makeup of the data.
For instance, it shows what proportion are system files, downloads, documents, music or other file types.
This is a very lightweight and intuitive piece of software.
Once installed, this drive space manager shows how much data your internal and external hard drives, including pen drives and memory sticks, are carrying.
This application is free to download, and it caught my eye because of its ability to see the makeup of the data.
For instance, it shows what proportion are system files, downloads, documents, music or other file types.
This is a very lightweight and intuitive piece of software.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Medieval Castle
www.medieval-castle.com is a site about stately residences around Europe is a must for architecture and history fans alike - it has pictures and descriptive passages of text on this period.
Sections include architecture, life and entertainment, plus fantasy and haunted castles.
There is also a fascinating section on Count Dracula, his castles, and the horrific things he got up to within their walls.
There is also information on castles currently open to public tours, and even to host a wedding.
Sections include architecture, life and entertainment, plus fantasy and haunted castles.
There is also a fascinating section on Count Dracula, his castles, and the horrific things he got up to within their walls.
There is also information on castles currently open to public tours, and even to host a wedding.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Digsby
www.digsby.com brings together social networking sites and integrates instant messaging, e-mail and social network accounts into one easy-to-use interface.
When a friend logs on you can see which service they are using, chat and interact from this single downloadable client.
There is a warning when new messages arrive at any of your e-mail or social networking accounts, and you can read a summary of unread messages.
Once it is all set up, you can log in on any computer where the software is installed and have instant access to all your accounts.
When a friend logs on you can see which service they are using, chat and interact from this single downloadable client.
There is a warning when new messages arrive at any of your e-mail or social networking accounts, and you can read a summary of unread messages.
Once it is all set up, you can log in on any computer where the software is installed and have instant access to all your accounts.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Pink 4 Fun
www.pink4fun.com is a cheery-looking shopping portal deals exclusively in products that are pink. The site is cleverly structured around a virtual house – just select a room, for example the kitchen or lounge, to view the pink items available for it.
If you find something that tickles you pink, you can then click ‘Buy Now’ to visit an external online store to make your purchase.
Product categories range from toys and jewellery to stationery and plants, while suppliers include John Lewis and Next.
This diversity means you can get a pink iPod Nano in the same place as a feather duster, so unless you think pink stinks Pink4Fun should colour you impressed.
If you find something that tickles you pink, you can then click ‘Buy Now’ to visit an external online store to make your purchase.
Product categories range from toys and jewellery to stationery and plants, while suppliers include John Lewis and Next.
This diversity means you can get a pink iPod Nano in the same place as a feather duster, so unless you think pink stinks Pink4Fun should colour you impressed.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Your Gold For Cash
If you’ve got old, broken or bad-memory-tinged jewellery gathering dust at home, why not sell it to www.yourgoldforcash.co.uk
Simply request a free ‘Goldpack’, then place your gold ring, necklace, earring or other item in the padded envelope and take it to your local Post Office, where you’ll be given a tracking code.
Once the jewellery has been valued you’ll be called with an offer, which you can accept or refuse and get your item back.
The basic but clearly-explained site reassures you that this isn’t just a big scam, providing a Consumer Credit License number and real-world contact details, so could prove profitable in these tough times.
Simply request a free ‘Goldpack’, then place your gold ring, necklace, earring or other item in the padded envelope and take it to your local Post Office, where you’ll be given a tracking code.
Once the jewellery has been valued you’ll be called with an offer, which you can accept or refuse and get your item back.
The basic but clearly-explained site reassures you that this isn’t just a big scam, providing a Consumer Credit License number and real-world contact details, so could prove profitable in these tough times.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Everyday sale
Take a look at www.everydaysale.co.uk if you’re hungry for discounts, there plenty to be found at Everydaysale.co.uk.
The site offers 500 constantly-changing voucher codes across 13 shopping categories, and is partnered with more than 1,500 online retailers.
Discount-code sites are now a dime a dozens (minus savings) but this one stands out with its smart, colourful design and some brilliant futures.
These include the ability to save your favourite stores so you can receive instant code and sale alerts, free e-cards to send to friends and family and a blog packed with shopping tips and news.
EverydaySale seems more female-oriented than rival sites but has bargains galore for all.
The site offers 500 constantly-changing voucher codes across 13 shopping categories, and is partnered with more than 1,500 online retailers.
Discount-code sites are now a dime a dozens (minus savings) but this one stands out with its smart, colourful design and some brilliant futures.
These include the ability to save your favourite stores so you can receive instant code and sale alerts, free e-cards to send to friends and family and a blog packed with shopping tips and news.
EverydaySale seems more female-oriented than rival sites but has bargains galore for all.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Surviving the Credit Crunch
Even if you’re heartily sick of the term ‘credit crunch’, it’s worth checking out this excellent site www.survivingthecreditcrunch.org.uk It offers a wealth of money-saving tips that could save you thousands of pounds a year.
Launched by debt-busting expert Richard Fenton, it’s an invaluable source of advice on matters such as dealing with creditors, choosing the best savings account and supplementing your income. The big, bold design might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s more visually appealing than rival MoneySavingExpert.com.
A loyal community is already building in the forums and there’s a handy finance calculator to help you work out solutions to your money woes.
Launched by debt-busting expert Richard Fenton, it’s an invaluable source of advice on matters such as dealing with creditors, choosing the best savings account and supplementing your income. The big, bold design might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s more visually appealing than rival MoneySavingExpert.com.
A loyal community is already building in the forums and there’s a handy finance calculator to help you work out solutions to your money woes.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Bill Monitor
www.billmonitor.com - Mobile phone plans often involve such confusing combinations of free minutes and texts that it’s hard to tell their true cost.
BillMonitor helps prevent nasty statement surprises by finding you the best contract for your needs. At its simplest, you just specify roughly how many minutes of calls you make and messages you send each month, but there are further options for data use and overseas access. The site then lists the cheapest tariffs and lets you click straight through to the network site. It can also analyse your online bills to give you savings advice.
BillMonitor is a very useful comparison service that is impressively implemented.
BillMonitor helps prevent nasty statement surprises by finding you the best contract for your needs. At its simplest, you just specify roughly how many minutes of calls you make and messages you send each month, but there are further options for data use and overseas access. The site then lists the cheapest tariffs and lets you click straight through to the network site. It can also analyse your online bills to give you savings advice.
BillMonitor is a very useful comparison service that is impressively implemented.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
My Shopping Tips
www.myshoppingtips.co.uk aims to be your personal shopping assistant by finding you the best quality products at the lowest prices.
That may sound like a price-comparison service, but this site couldn’t be more different. All the bargains are handpicked from a wide range of online stores, and are written up in friendly and frequent blog entries.
Keyword tags make news and reviews of specific items easy to locate, covering everything from art and clothes to gadgets and gifts. There’s also a handy section devoted to sales, offers and discount codes. The design is busy but not baffling, and both content and community are building nicely
That may sound like a price-comparison service, but this site couldn’t be more different. All the bargains are handpicked from a wide range of online stores, and are written up in friendly and frequent blog entries.
Keyword tags make news and reviews of specific items easy to locate, covering everything from art and clothes to gadgets and gifts. There’s also a handy section devoted to sales, offers and discount codes. The design is busy but not baffling, and both content and community are building nicely
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Carmony
www.carmony.co.uk If you want to buy a car but don’t know where to start, take this site for a test drive. Carmony helps you choose the perfect vehicle based on your individual needs rather than confusing you with sales patter.
Specify criteria such as how much space you need, the number of passengers you carry, which colours you like and whether you’re environmentally friendly and the site will present details of matching contenders. Alternatively, you can search by manufacturer, model type or price, or just browse the most popular vehicles.
Carmony is very easy to use, and packed with clever features like asking a friend if they can see you in a particular car and saving models you like in an online showroom. It may still be in beta, but this is a site that’s destined to go far.
Specify criteria such as how much space you need, the number of passengers you carry, which colours you like and whether you’re environmentally friendly and the site will present details of matching contenders. Alternatively, you can search by manufacturer, model type or price, or just browse the most popular vehicles.
Carmony is very easy to use, and packed with clever features like asking a friend if they can see you in a particular car and saving models you like in an online showroom. It may still be in beta, but this is a site that’s destined to go far.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Qype
Consumer-review website Qype, www.qype.co.uk which covers everything from beauty salons in London to coffee shops in Barrow-in-Furness, has been spruced up.
The layout is now so bursting with information that it seems confusing at first but the fresh, attractive colour scheme helps you find your way around.
On the homepage is a handy local map service, which pinpoints the places you search for, while the main navigation bar can be customised to show your favourite categories.
Another nifty feature records your recently-viewed pages and searches.
With its ever-expanding range of honest, reliable reviews, Qype is an excellent resource for everyone.
The layout is now so bursting with information that it seems confusing at first but the fresh, attractive colour scheme helps you find your way around.
On the homepage is a handy local map service, which pinpoints the places you search for, while the main navigation bar can be customised to show your favourite categories.
Another nifty feature records your recently-viewed pages and searches.
With its ever-expanding range of honest, reliable reviews, Qype is an excellent resource for everyone.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Food TV
www.foodtv.co.uk Programmes like Master Chef have turned us into a nation of armchair foodies, but how can we improve our own culinary skills? After having a few clicks around Foodtv.co.uk we reckon we can put together anything from Salmon Florentine to Vegetable Rosti.
This beautifully-presented resource is stuffed with recipes and full-length food programmes. However, it’s the shorter videos that really impress – these are so expertly delivered as to make them as essential in your kitchen as a chopping board.
If we had to find one fault, it would be that the quantity of content makes pages load slowly, but that certainly doesn’t detract from its quality.
This beautifully-presented resource is stuffed with recipes and full-length food programmes. However, it’s the shorter videos that really impress – these are so expertly delivered as to make them as essential in your kitchen as a chopping board.
If we had to find one fault, it would be that the quantity of content makes pages load slowly, but that certainly doesn’t detract from its quality.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Desk Space Genie
Renting desk space is a cost-effective means of securing a place to work on a short-term basis.
This site finds you a desk in the area of your choice, and lets you sort the results by price and proximity.
The average cost of desk rental is around £170 per month, but this also includes internet access, tea and coffee-making facilities and of course a chair.
www.deskspacegenie.co.uk is fantastically easy to use and presents information clearly, complete with photos and maps. Listings are fairly sparse outside of major cities, but you can sign up to receive alerts when space becomes available.
This site finds you a desk in the area of your choice, and lets you sort the results by price and proximity.
The average cost of desk rental is around £170 per month, but this also includes internet access, tea and coffee-making facilities and of course a chair.
www.deskspacegenie.co.uk is fantastically easy to use and presents information clearly, complete with photos and maps. Listings are fairly sparse outside of major cities, but you can sign up to receive alerts when space becomes available.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Zefrank
www.zefrank.com is full of toys and interactive widgets - these are pretty simple to handle and make a great original use of interactivity.
The site has also put up a series of charming movies offering some thoughtful and somewhat crazy ideas about life and the world.
Click The Show to watch these films online for free or buy iPod downloads for $5 (£3).
Mildly adult language and humour throughout the site.
The site has also put up a series of charming movies offering some thoughtful and somewhat crazy ideas about life and the world.
Click The Show to watch these films online for free or buy iPod downloads for $5 (£3).
Mildly adult language and humour throughout the site.
Friday, 25 September 2009
1911 Census
This is a site for those serious about researching their family history.
The UK government has taken a census of its population every ten years since 1801, except during World War II in 1941.
The 1911 census is a record of everyone who lived in England and Wales in the year 1911. Take a look at www.1911census.co.uk
After registering, users can add at least one name and surname to begin browsing - but detailed reports are not free.
The UK government has taken a census of its population every ten years since 1801, except during World War II in 1941.
The 1911 census is a record of everyone who lived in England and Wales in the year 1911. Take a look at www.1911census.co.uk
After registering, users can add at least one name and surname to begin browsing - but detailed reports are not free.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
My Heritage
Plenty of people these days are learning about their roots using the multitude of tools provided online.
Signing up for www.myheritage.com is free and it has all of the features expected from a site of this nature - with the optional paid for premium options.
Storage is free up to 100MB for users wanting to build a family tree and upload pictures to share with family and friends.
There is a genealogy search engine to aide with your research, or just have a look around other people's sites.
The interface is family friendly, and users young and old should have no problems getting to grips with it.
Signing up for www.myheritage.com is free and it has all of the features expected from a site of this nature - with the optional paid for premium options.
Storage is free up to 100MB for users wanting to build a family tree and upload pictures to share with family and friends.
There is a genealogy search engine to aide with your research, or just have a look around other people's sites.
The interface is family friendly, and users young and old should have no problems getting to grips with it.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
MetaFilter
www.metafilter.com is a blog that anyone can contribute a comment or a link to.
There is no need to be a member to browse through the lively conversations on a variety of topics. Perhaps start with the Popular section to get a taste of the best the site has to offer.
The Tags section is also a nice little feature for anyone wanting to browse content based on a specific subject.
Joining up allows users to write entries and leave comments on others posts - but it costs a one-time payment of $5 (£3).
Creative types can also share and chat about their musical compositions, and take part in regular challenges.
There is no need to be a member to browse through the lively conversations on a variety of topics. Perhaps start with the Popular section to get a taste of the best the site has to offer.
The Tags section is also a nice little feature for anyone wanting to browse content based on a specific subject.
Joining up allows users to write entries and leave comments on others posts - but it costs a one-time payment of $5 (£3).
Creative types can also share and chat about their musical compositions, and take part in regular challenges.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Melzoo
www.melzoo.com looks much the same as any other search engine, until you hit enter on a search term and the screen splits into two.
Results are listed on the left with a preview pane on the right, showing a snapshot of the listing as you hover your mouse over each link.
This is a superfast way to scan through homepages for the information and links you are looking for. Ask.com runs a similar feature with their Binocular Site Previews.
Results are listed on the left with a preview pane on the right, showing a snapshot of the listing as you hover your mouse over each link.
This is a superfast way to scan through homepages for the information and links you are looking for. Ask.com runs a similar feature with their Binocular Site Previews.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Hushmail
www.hushmail.com has to be one of the most secure free e-mail providers on the web.
If you want to make sure your electronic communications are not being intercepted, by anyone - corporate spies, government agents, even little green men - then a hushmail address is where it is at.
Free account users beware - you have to log in at least every three weeks or your account will be deleted.
If you want to make sure your electronic communications are not being intercepted, by anyone - corporate spies, government agents, even little green men - then a hushmail address is where it is at.
Free account users beware - you have to log in at least every three weeks or your account will be deleted.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
VirtualBox
www.virtualbox.org allows you to treat a certain space on your hard drive as a completely new computer.
You can install a whole new operating system you control through a window - a bit like if you were using remote desktop. You can run VirtualBox on Windows, Linux, Solaris or the Mac OS X.
You can run a box with an older or newer version of an operating system or install a completely different one; this might help you to run occasional temperamental software without upending your entire configuration or run software that is not supported by your OS.
You can install a whole new operating system you control through a window - a bit like if you were using remote desktop. You can run VirtualBox on Windows, Linux, Solaris or the Mac OS X.
You can run a box with an older or newer version of an operating system or install a completely different one; this might help you to run occasional temperamental software without upending your entire configuration or run software that is not supported by your OS.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Screencast
Following on from yesterdays website review....
screencasting - where you literally broadcast your on-screen activity, adding narration and subtitling to make a kind of movie.
www.screencast.com is a place for you to store, save and share your screencasts - either making them available to the public at large - or to a selected group of people.
It is not the only file sharing service on the internet, but it is geared towards this kind of content. They will not lower the resolution of your piece and you maintain full ownership.
This is tempered by the 2GB storage and bandwidth restrictions for the free account.
The free account should be enough for most users. The bandwidth hungry will have to decide whether to opt for the paid for premium service.
screencasting - where you literally broadcast your on-screen activity, adding narration and subtitling to make a kind of movie.
www.screencast.com is a place for you to store, save and share your screencasts - either making them available to the public at large - or to a selected group of people.
It is not the only file sharing service on the internet, but it is geared towards this kind of content. They will not lower the resolution of your piece and you maintain full ownership.
This is tempered by the 2GB storage and bandwidth restrictions for the free account.
The free account should be enough for most users. The bandwidth hungry will have to decide whether to opt for the paid for premium service.
Friday, 18 September 2009
ScreenToaster
Screencasting is a growing fad on the net. You basically record your computer screen activity together with narration & subtitling embedded. It is being used to great effect in a number of different genres.
At www.screentoaster.com a brilliant online software tool exists that allows you to easily create your own screencast content and upload it to the internet compressed to a very acceptable file size.
All you do is register and then hit start recording.
You'll have to tell it if you want to use a microphone or webcam - then use the ALT-S key to toggle recording on and off.
This really is insanely easy to use considering the power of the content you can produce - animated movies, audio-blogs, tutorial guides or entertaining spoken-letters to distant friends and family.
Take a browse round the site at what others are making - the list of possibilities is endless.
At www.screentoaster.com a brilliant online software tool exists that allows you to easily create your own screencast content and upload it to the internet compressed to a very acceptable file size.
All you do is register and then hit start recording.
You'll have to tell it if you want to use a microphone or webcam - then use the ALT-S key to toggle recording on and off.
This really is insanely easy to use considering the power of the content you can produce - animated movies, audio-blogs, tutorial guides or entertaining spoken-letters to distant friends and family.
Take a browse round the site at what others are making - the list of possibilities is endless.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Livedrive
www.livedrive.com allows you to save, store and share data over the web.
Once registered you get your drive space URL and can then access and manage the files in much the same way as you would those on your computer's physical hard drive and there is no size limit to how much you can store so on there.
The application works well and fast and that is exactly what you want when you are transferring data back and forth.
If you have video stored on the drive you can stream it directly without having to download it onto your computer first.
This is only free for the duration of the initial 30 days trial period. But if you are thinking of investing in some on-line real estate this is definitely one to check out.
Once registered you get your drive space URL and can then access and manage the files in much the same way as you would those on your computer's physical hard drive and there is no size limit to how much you can store so on there.
The application works well and fast and that is exactly what you want when you are transferring data back and forth.
If you have video stored on the drive you can stream it directly without having to download it onto your computer first.
This is only free for the duration of the initial 30 days trial period. But if you are thinking of investing in some on-line real estate this is definitely one to check out.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Bikely
www.bikely.com contains a collection of bike trails and cycle paths from all over the world, submitted to the site by a growing and incredibly dedicated community of cyclists.
The site allows you to browse and add to the collection of routes and offers some simple and down to earth information about popular bike brands
The site allows you to browse and add to the collection of routes and offers some simple and down to earth information about popular bike brands
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Tiltshiftmaker
Tiltshift is a photographic technique that changes the focus of a picture in unusual ways, often making real life scenes look as though they are photographs of a model.
This website contains a tool which allows you to replicate the technique.
Take a look at http://tiltshiftmaker.com
Photos of overall views usually work better than those of a single subject. You can paste a picture's URL into the relevant box on the Tiltshift homepage.
The next screen allows you to adjust the width & position of the focus, and preview the result. You can also choose to upload pictures from your hard drive if you have anything suitable. Once you are happy with the results, you can download your tilt-shifted picture.
This website contains a tool which allows you to replicate the technique.
Take a look at http://tiltshiftmaker.com
Photos of overall views usually work better than those of a single subject. You can paste a picture's URL into the relevant box on the Tiltshift homepage.
The next screen allows you to adjust the width & position of the focus, and preview the result. You can also choose to upload pictures from your hard drive if you have anything suitable. Once you are happy with the results, you can download your tilt-shifted picture.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Be-at TV
Be-at TV can bring you all the thrill of a musical event with no aching feet or thrumming ears the next day.
Register & login to access the website's exclusive live recordings of some of the world's best DJs in action. The site address is www.be-at.tv
The events are filmed by Be-at TV on four cameras, which are then streamed with the audio from the website for people all over the world to enjoy.
Users can explore hundreds of hours of material.
This is a social networking platform too with the community encouraged to make connections with like-minded people on the site in much the same way as you would with Facebook.
Register & login to access the website's exclusive live recordings of some of the world's best DJs in action. The site address is www.be-at.tv
The events are filmed by Be-at TV on four cameras, which are then streamed with the audio from the website for people all over the world to enjoy.
Users can explore hundreds of hours of material.
This is a social networking platform too with the community encouraged to make connections with like-minded people on the site in much the same way as you would with Facebook.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
WHIZZ
www.whizz.com provides an online tutor to help children at all stages and levels of confidence to improve their maths skills.
Based on the UK and US curriculum, the first five lessons are free so users get a taste of what is to come.
A tailor-made tutor service is also available along with an on-going lesson plan which are part of a paid-for premium package.
Based on the UK and US curriculum, the first five lessons are free so users get a taste of what is to come.
A tailor-made tutor service is also available along with an on-going lesson plan which are part of a paid-for premium package.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Breathing Earth
At breathingearth.net you will find a lovely simulation of the aspects of the life-cycle on Earth, including global birth and death rates, as well as CO2 emissions.
I love the organic sound effect that accompanies the visuals. And having the birth and death rates pointed out in such an obvious way really was quite shocking to me.
It indicates an exploding population, with the continuous counter on the site showing births going up at twice the rate of deaths. Given global concerns about CO2 emissions, the figure underneath those is somewhat worrying too.
I love the organic sound effect that accompanies the visuals. And having the birth and death rates pointed out in such an obvious way really was quite shocking to me.
It indicates an exploding population, with the continuous counter on the site showing births going up at twice the rate of deaths. Given global concerns about CO2 emissions, the figure underneath those is somewhat worrying too.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Get Fit, Army Style
Want to get fit and healthy without the expense of joining a gym? Do it for free using the greatest fitness and health resource in the world - the US Army. Hooah4Health.com has advice on body, mind, spirit and environment. It has useful exercise tips (like weightlifting and sit-up instructions) as you’d expect, but also advice on spiritual and emotional wellbeing, along with solid healthy eating and PMA tips too (that’s positive mental attitude for the uninitiated!)
Thursday, 10 September 2009
All Natural
Fed up with paying a fortune for your beauty products and toiletries?
Well why not make your own.
Just visit allnaturalbeauty.us, a website that promotes natural beauty that is free of chemicals and additives.
It even has an extensive list of beauty recipes that can be made from the kind of things you’d find in your fridge. They even sound good enough to eat!
Well why not make your own.
Just visit allnaturalbeauty.us, a website that promotes natural beauty that is free of chemicals and additives.
It even has an extensive list of beauty recipes that can be made from the kind of things you’d find in your fridge. They even sound good enough to eat!
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Yes To Wind
www.yestowind.com doesn’t have anything to do with flatulence, it’s actually a site that has been launched by green groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and WWF-UK to raise awareness of the benefits of wind power and there’s plenty of info on offer.
There’s advice on starting a pro-wind campaign, a message board for activists in rural areas and downloadable posters and leaflets.
There’s advice on starting a pro-wind campaign, a message board for activists in rural areas and downloadable posters and leaflets.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Try Trading
Have you always fancied yourself as a City trader but you can’t face the early mornings and potential heart attacks? Well www.bullbearings.co.uk teaches you all the basics of trading and lets you try your hand at the stock market without risking a penny.
Plus it also lets you join simulated trading competitions. The site is also packed with other useful information, such as a trading news section and market overview.
And it’s sure to be a lot less stressful than working in the Square Mile!
Plus it also lets you join simulated trading competitions. The site is also packed with other useful information, such as a trading news section and market overview.
And it’s sure to be a lot less stressful than working in the Square Mile!
Monday, 7 September 2009
Be Ethical
If safeguarding the earth for the next generation is something you feel passionate about, www.ethicalbabe.com could interest you.
The site is dedicated to bringing you the best organic and fairtrade clothes and toys and the finest natural toiletries and cosmetics.
If you’re looking for last-minute birthday gifts, you’ll find one or two ideas, like a hedgehog jigsaw and a frog skipping rope.
There’s lots of practical advice too and information about the environmental benefits of using certain products.
The site is dedicated to bringing you the best organic and fairtrade clothes and toys and the finest natural toiletries and cosmetics.
If you’re looking for last-minute birthday gifts, you’ll find one or two ideas, like a hedgehog jigsaw and a frog skipping rope.
There’s lots of practical advice too and information about the environmental benefits of using certain products.
The end is Nigh
I may as well say this now as times change and as one door closes then another one opens and I have decided that this radio blog will come to a close at the end of 2009 into the start of 2010.
It wont acvtually close. It will remain here but it will no longer be updated.
The reason behind this is that I am not on the radio as much as I used to be and producing website reviews on this blog for other people to use has now been exhausted as resources are running out and with new commitments I dont have as much time to spend on the internet reviewing websites.
Various radio stations use this site for their website review of thew day features and they are more than welcome toi uise any material I have posted. In fact this goes for anyone and not just radio stations but sooner ort later the time it takes me to trawl the net looking for new stuff means that this is time I could be spending with more important issues.
In the new year the blog will be split into two. The website reviews and the radio interviews and audio files but nothing more will be updated as I dont have the time anymore
It wont acvtually close. It will remain here but it will no longer be updated.
The reason behind this is that I am not on the radio as much as I used to be and producing website reviews on this blog for other people to use has now been exhausted as resources are running out and with new commitments I dont have as much time to spend on the internet reviewing websites.
Various radio stations use this site for their website review of thew day features and they are more than welcome toi uise any material I have posted. In fact this goes for anyone and not just radio stations but sooner ort later the time it takes me to trawl the net looking for new stuff means that this is time I could be spending with more important issues.
In the new year the blog will be split into two. The website reviews and the radio interviews and audio files but nothing more will be updated as I dont have the time anymore
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Be Positive
www.relentlessly-positive.com is an antidote to the masses of ultra-critical beauty mags, blogs and celebrity nonsense. The site is aimed at any women (or men) who despair at the negativity of modern times.
It has its own blog and newsletter, as well as sections as diverse as Good Lovin', Never Diet Again and Shiny Happy People.
From fashion magazines that make you feel fat to beauty products that cost the earth, the site looks at some cheery alternatives.
It has its own blog and newsletter, as well as sections as diverse as Good Lovin', Never Diet Again and Shiny Happy People.
From fashion magazines that make you feel fat to beauty products that cost the earth, the site looks at some cheery alternatives.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Clothes Swap
If your wardrobe full of sale bargains that you’ve never worn, clothes you swore you’d slim into or simple fashion disasters. Well at www.whatweusedtowear.com you can trade these unwanted articles with other visitors to the site, either in the UK or nationwide
Friday, 4 September 2009
Parenting Tips
In this modern age of both parents working and not enough hours in the day, raising kids is even harder work than it used to be. But www.parenthacks.com could lend you a hand.
This site gives you daily doses of parenting tips, organised by childrens’ ages, activities, and common dilemmas, all submitted by fellow parents.
You can also learn how to stay organised, save some money, and stay healthy. And if you have any top tips of your own, don’t be afraid to share them!
This site gives you daily doses of parenting tips, organised by childrens’ ages, activities, and common dilemmas, all submitted by fellow parents.
You can also learn how to stay organised, save some money, and stay healthy. And if you have any top tips of your own, don’t be afraid to share them!
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Classic Clips
Have you ever trawled the web for funny clips and thought, there’s got to be a better way to sift through all this crap? Well you’ll be pleased to know that there is. www.classicshowbiz.blogspot.com gives you nothing but the best US TV clips. Perfect if you’re in need of a bit of light relief on a grey autumn day!
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Finance Advice
When it comes to finances, some people are experts and others are complete dunces. If you’re one of the economically puzzled, take a look at getrichslowly.org/blog. Here you’ll find lively discussions and research on a whole host of economics issues, so you should come away feeling far more financial savvy.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Who What Wear
If you dream of looking as effortlessly hip as Kate Moss or Sienna Miller, check out whowhatweardaily.com. Creators Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr are gossip mag fetishists who realised that their addiction was all down to their love of checking out what the celebs were wearing the night before. Laid out in a blog format, this site is a never-ending stream of the most stylish shoes, must-have make-up and hippest hairstyles
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