Sunday, April 11, 2010

MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [April 10th]” plus 6 more

MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [April 10th]” plus 6 more

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Cool Websites and Tools [April 10th]

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 08:31 PM PDT


Check out some of the latest MakeUseOf discoveries. All listed websites are FREE (or come with a decent free account option). No trials or buy-to-use craplets. For more cool websites and web app reviews subscribe to MakeUseOf Directory.

List Your Website Here!

 

 Twegistry – is a web service that allows you to send gifts to your Twitter contacts even when you don't know their address. Twegistry acts as a bridge so you can send and receive gifts using Twitter. Read more: Twegistry: Send Gifts to Twitter Friends Without Knowing their Address.

 

 Miosota – When you start a web business, there are so many things to keep you busy that your domain expiry date often passes by without you noticing and then it becomes too late to do anything about it. Miosota is a free service that sends you email reminders when your domain name is about to expire. Read more: Miosota: Sends Domain Name Expiration Reminders.

 

 

 Librophile – The web offers a lot of resources that can provide us with digital forms of publications such as e-books and audio books. An example of this is Librophile, a website that compiles both free and paid audio books from LibriVox and Audible. Read more: Librophile: Free Audio Books For Download & Streaming.

 

 

 TheCommentor – Sending designs back and forth via email for feedback is so old fashioned now. Besides being messy and unorganized, it also consumes a lot of time. TheCommentor is a web tool that lets users collaborate and discuss design mockups on the web without emailing each other anything. Read more: TheCommentor: Design Mockup Collaboration & Discussion Tool.

 

 

 SheppardSoftware -SheppardSoftware is a collection of hundreds of games, activities, quizzes, articles and trivia that make learning fun. Simply start by choosing the subject you want to explore, for example, Geography, Vocabulary, Chemistry, Math, History, Animals and much more. Read more: SheppardSoftware: Hundreds of Games & Activities To Help You Learn.

 

List Your Website Here!

These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed.

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Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun]

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT


Check out the top picks from MakeUseOf Geeky Fun during the last week.

  1. Curious User Opened Up His New Apple iPad (Pic)
  2. The 8 Most Irritating Types Of Gadget Owners
  3. Working While Listening to Music (Pic)
  4. Internet Expert Evaluates New YouTube Layout (Video)
  5. Ad Blocker (Pic)
  6. Reasons Why Superheroes Aren't Online More Often (Pic)

If you would like to keep up with all latest Geeky Fun additions, please subscribe to the Geeky Fun feed here. You can also subscribe and get the latest additions via email.

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Become a MakeUseOf Fan on Facebook!

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT


If you enjoy reading MakeUseOf and have a Facebook account, become a MakeUseOf fan on Facebook and join in on the fun! Simply click on the “Become a Fan” button below to get started!

You’ll be rewarded with exclusive previews of future publications, what we refer to as “Sneak Peeks”; and the best posts from the day before, “Yesterday’s Best”.


If you can’t see the fanbox, click on this link.

We also use our fan page to inform you about premium software giveaways and discounts that are not announced on the website. We get a lot of those from software developers and distribute them mainly on Facebook.

So grab some friends and become our fans today!

Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out MakeUseOf fan page on Facebook. Over 15,000 fans already!

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Top Deals of the Day [April 10th]

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 03:30 PM PDT


If you’re in the market for a new computer, laptop, mobile phone, games and other accessories; don’t waste your time searching online. We’ve taken the liberty of locating the best deals tech deals and unifying them into a single post for your convenience.

Today, great high-definition TVs, Logitech’s cordless laser mouse and laptops below $500.

  1. Dell Inspiron 15 Intel Dual Core 2.2GHz 16″ Laptop for $399 + $19 s&h. This notebook features an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 2.2GHz processor, 15.6″ 1366×768 widescreen LED-backlit LCD, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11g wireless, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
  2. ASUS Eee PC 1001P-M Intel Atom 1.66GHz 10″ Netbook for $275 + free shipping. This netbook features an Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor, 10.1″ widescreen 1024×600 LCD, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, 802.11g wireless, media card reader, webcam, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Starter.
  3. HP Pavilion p6310 Athlon II X4 2.8GHz Quad Core PC for $500 + free shipping. Features include an AMD Athlon II X4 630 2.8GHz quad-core processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB 7200 rpm hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 9100 256MB graphics, DVD burner with LightScribe, 15-in-1 card reader, Ethernet, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
  4. Refurbished Apple iBook G4 1.33GHz 12″ Laptop for $300 + free shipping via coupon code “FREETAKER”. Features include a PowerPC 7447a G4 1.33GHz processor, 12.1″ 1024×768 LCD, 1GB RAM, 40GB hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD burner combo drive, ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 32MB graphics, Bluetooth, 802.11g wireless, and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. A 90-day Geeks warranty applies. Also, this item is listed as B-Stock, which means it may have cosmetic blemishes.
  5. Sharp 47″ 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $699 + free shipping. Features include a 1920×1080 (1080p) resolution, 450 cd/m2 brightness, 6.5ms response time, four HDMI inputs, and VGA, component, and other video inputs.
  6. Panasonic VIERA 50″ 600Hz 720p Plasma HDTV for $581 + free shipping. Features include a 1024×768 (720p) native resolution, 600Hz sub-field drive, 2,000,000:1 native contrast ratio, SD card slot, two HDMI inputs, and VGA, component, and other video inputs. Deal ends April 10.
  7. Logitech MX 1100 Cordless Laser Mouse for $39 + free shipping. This 2.4GHz wireless mouse features ten programmable buttons, two tracking modes (up to 1600dpi), up to nine months of battery life, and more. Note: This is a “dented box” unit; although the box may be scratched or dented, the contents are new with a full Logitech warranty.

All deals are accurate at the time of writing.

Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set

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How To Use Push-To-Talk On The iPhone For Free

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 12:31 PM PDT


Push-to-talk is available on a few Nokia and Motorola handsets, and this feature has come to the iPhone for free in the form of two apps, iPTT and HeyTell.

iPTT allows you to talk with anyone who has downloaded the push-to-talk iPhone app, whether with friends or complete strangers. HeyTell allows you to talk only with people who have your personal contact information, such as your cell phone number or email address. We’re going to take a brief look at what each push-to-talk iPhone app has to offer, so that you can determine which one is right for you.

iPTT

iPTT [iTunes link] is a relatively new app, and while there are still a few features that are lacking, it is definitely a step in the right direction. After downloading it from the iTunes App Store, you will be prompted to create a free account, and then you're ready to talk to friends and strangers alike.

You can tune into one of the public channels to have a chat with random strangers, although you should be warned that the choice of topics can sometimes get pretty graphic, as this is an entirely anonymous and unmoderated way of talking to people around the world.

push to talk iPhone

Tuning into a channel can be done, either by using the scroll wheel at the bottom of the screen, or by double-clicking the frequency itself to bring up the menu. From there you can select Featured Channels, and scroll through the various channels which include iPhone, General Topics, iPad, politics, along with channels dedicated for a variety of countries from the USA to Sweden to Oman.

If you would rather talk to people you know, simply choose a frequency that is not already in use for one of the featured channels, and share it with your friends. The push-to-talk iPhone app could be very useful for conference calls or online team meetings, but there is no way to block people from entering the conversation. If and when disposable password protected channels are added, it would take iPTT to another level.

push to talk iPhone

Communication in the channels can take place either in Public Mode, where everyone tuning in can hear you when you have the floor, or you can switch to Whisper Mode for a private one-on-one chat with another person. If you’re in a public channel, be sure to mute the public chatter first. You can then choose the person you would like to talk to privately by scrolling through the list of members present using the same scroll wheel at the bottom of the screen.

Other features available in iPTT include an ignore list, where you can choose to block specific users, and you can also mute whispers so that no one is able to communicate with you privately. iPTT works over 3G and WiFi.

push to talk iPhone

HeyTell

The only other free solution available for push-to-talk on the iPhone is the app HeyTell [iTunes link]. HeyTell takes a very different approach than iPTT, and while you do not have to create an account, you do have to add your own number and email address to your contact list, which will be used as your identity.

push to talk iPhone

The app makes use of the iPhone's push notification, by alerting you when a friend has sent you a message, and upon launching the app, you will be able to start communicating with them.

When you want to speak, hold the orange button down, and the app will also begin to automatically record your conversation. HeyTell can be used simply as a way to leave a voice message for a friend, or if you are both online at the same time, it is a great way to have a conversation.

HeyTell also allows you to share your location with your contacts as you speak, if you choose to, using the inbuilt GPS feature. As the developers point out, this is a great option to have if your friends aren't very good at giving directions.

HeyTell does afford you a lot more privacy than iPTT, allowing you to choose between three different levels. You can be contacted by anyone who has your phone number or email address, only by friends in your address book, or only by contacts whom you have already contacted.

The app is feature packed, allowing you to save and play back conversations, allowing you to block contacts, and it works over 3G, Edge and WiFi.

Have you used iPTT or HeyTell? Let us know what you think of them in the comments.

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Couchsurfing Lets You Find a Place to Stay Over When Travelling

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 10:31 AM PDT


courchsurfing iconThroughout history, travelers have been held in an extremely high regard around the world. Best of all, they were typically well taken care of. In the 15th century, Indian Emperor Sher Shah operated roughly 1,700 inns that provided free lodging to travellers regardless of status.

The Torah, the Quran and the Bible all include many passages specifically instructing God’s people to provide food and shelter to those travelling, be they strangers or not. In ancient Greece, Zeus was considered the God of hospitality (amongst other things) and taking care of travelers was considered a sacred obligation (see “Xenia”).

Throughout the Western world today, however, hospitality has become less of a sacred obligation and more of an industry. Hotels line highways with ample parking and big neon lights, but all cost money. It’s rare for anyone to allow strangers into their home, and in fact that very thought is considered counter-cultural at best and dangerous at worst. It would seem that hospitality in the Western world is dead, and finding a place to sleep is near impossible. Enter Couchsurfing.


This website looks to bring travel back to its generous roots by connecting those who need a place to sleep with those who have a couch to spare. Sign up for this service and you’ll meet people from all over the world, not to mention saving a ton of money on your next trip while making good friends everywhere you go. It’s travelling in the traditional sense, and it’s extremely rewarding. Best of all: it’s a worldwide network, so you can travel pretty much anywhere and find Couchsurfers to stay with.

Getting Started Finding a Place to Sleep

Like most web communities, Couchsurfing can seem a little intimidating at first. It doesn’t have to be. To get started all you need to do  is create a profile. There’s a lot of information to fill in, but if you expect people to invite you into their house, or stay in your home, you need to give them a lot of information. Be honest, express who you are and what you’re looking for. If you’re sincere, people will be kind.

a place to sleep

You’ll also fill in where you live, how many people you can host and what sort of accommodation you have to offer. This will give people an idea of whether or not you’d be an ideal host for them.

Hosting

To me, hosting is the best part of CouchSurfing. Once your profile is up you’re expressing your availability to host others. When people visiting your town or city need a place to stay, they’ll eventually find your profile and ask if you’d be willing to host. If you can’t, you don’t have to of course: nothing is obligatory. But hosting is a great way to make friends so I’d highly recommend it. Additionally, people are less likely to host you if you’ve never hosted before yourself.

find a place to stay over

In the past year I’ve hosted people from Atlanta, Georgia; Tazmania, Australia; and London, England. It’s been a great way to meet people from all around the world without significantly changing our day-to-day lives.

What you provide for your travelers is really up to you. You’re not obligated to provide food, though most guests really appreciate it. What the average couch surfer is looking for though, is knowledge. They want to know about your town, what it’s like living there, what’s fun to do in and around where you live. Share those things with them and you’ll have happy couch surfers.

Travelling

Planning your journey with Couchsurfing is easy. Before you start your trip, just look for lodging in all the towns you want to visit via Couchsurfing (much the same way you currently use a hotel’s website). You’ll typically find hundreds of people in any big city and a least a few in the smaller towns. Be sure to check out their profiles to find people you’d get along with well (not to mention people whose philosophy of life or career fascinates you).

find a place to sleep

When you request to surf someone’s couch you’ll send them a message. This will say when you’d like to stay with them, and when you will be arriving.

But don’t leave it at that. Explain why you’d like to stay with that given person, expressing your interest in their job or lifestyle. Say what you’d like to learn and what you’d like to teach. Spread knowledge. This was the essence of travelling before travelling was an industry, so take advantage and you’ll have life-changing experiences.

Security

Obviously there are a few security concerns with letting strangers into your house on a regular basis. It’s an unfortunate fact that this is never completely avoidable, but Couchsurfing is pretty safe overall for a number of reasons.

The main reason Couchsurfing is safe is the number of references surfers leave each other. You can tell a person is going to be an agreeable host or guest if other surfers leave positive notes about them. If you’re concerned about safety I’d say these references are the most important tool you have: read them all before hosting or staying with anyone. Yes, people could leave fake references, but those are typically easy to spot. Use your web savvy and you’ll be okay.

The second security measure is verification. A number of users have green checkmarks beside their pictures, like so:

verifiedThis means that these users have verified who they are by not only receiving physical mail at their address but also donating money to CouchSurfing HQ, via credit care, to confirm they have a bank account in that same name (not to mention donating to CouchSurfing to keep it running). If someone you want to host is verified, or someone who referenced them is, they’re very likely trustworthy.

Read more about Couchsurfing safety at the Couchsurfing website.

Other Relevant Tools

Of course, Couchsurfing isn't the only travel tool you'll need to plan a trip. You can find out a lot from travel guides, so I highly recommend your read Tina's article about the best free online international travel guides. And what trip couldn't benefit from some Google Maps magic?  Plan ahead and your trip will be much more rewarding.

Conclusion

Couch Surfing is a web service I sincerely love. I love the spirit it embodies: bringing travel back to its sacred roots of connecting to other people, and sharing what you have. I also love that it is the Internet that’s making this possible.

For all the (mostly accurate) talk out there of technology isolating people, Couchsurfing is an example of the Internet undoing some of the isolation modern lifestyles created. I’d highly recommend you try it out: you'll make new friends and learn about the world.

What do you guys think? Do you have any Couchsurfing experiences you’d like to share? Or do you perhaps suspect this isn’t such a great idea? Let me know in the comments below!

Image Credit: GreenWhiteOrange

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Tonido Giveaway Winners

Posted: 10 Apr 2010 10:00 AM PDT


We were a little taken aback by the response to this giveaway. Everyone wants to get their hands on a Tonido Plug, it will certainly make file-sharing so much easier.

Well, let’s see who will actually win one.

  1. Paul Ehrlich
  2. Stian Helnes
  1. Susan Vallee
  2. Joey Espinosa

Congratulations on winning a Tonido Plug!

Now, let’s not forget about the WebShare Pro winners:

  1. Nikos Gouveris
  2. Glen Payne
  3. Barrie Ramsey
  4. Flora Zhang
  5. Cale Glisson
  1. John A. Taylor
  2. Matt McNamara
  3. Jayson Harshbarger
  4. JeremyCee
  5. Blake Hickman
  1. Ezra Roark
  2. Vivian
  3. Karen Huber
  4. Joshua Schofield
  5. Rachmat Arsyadi
  1. Luiz Araujo
  2. Andrew Wayman
  3. Florin Iacob
  4. Jennifer Nguyen
  5. Fletcher Christian

Congratulations, everyone! Watch your email inbox for more information on how to claim your prizes.

MakeUseOf would like to thank Venkat and CodeLathe for their generosity while participating in this giveaway. Interesting in sponsoring? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us via email.

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