MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [December 12th]” plus 8 more |  |
- Cool Websites and Tools [December 12th]
- Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun]
- Thank You To MakeUseOf Friends!
- Which Is The Best Site For Stock Photos? [MakeUseOf Poll]
- 5 Easy Troubleshooting Tips For When You Have Problems Sending Email
- Hot Tech Deals [Dec 12th]
- 10 Free MP3 Albums To Download [Sound Sunday]
- 11 Free iPad Board Games You Shouldn’t Miss
- 10 Free Christmas iPhone/iPad Apps to Get You in a Festive Mood
| Cool Websites and Tools [December 12th] Posted: 12 Dec 2010 07:31 PM PST
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. Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
    
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| Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun] Posted: 12 Dec 2010 04:08 PM PST
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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| Thank You To MakeUseOf Friends! Posted: 12 Dec 2010 03:31 PM PST
Thank you, guys! Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.
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| Which Is The Best Site For Stock Photos? [MakeUseOf Poll] Posted: 12 Dec 2010 02:30 PM PST
We tallied a total of 348 votes, with the results as follows: 49% readers buy digital music from Amazon; 30% purchase music from iTunes; eMusic held 6% of the vote; CDBaby was 4%; Walmart is used by 3% of readers; another 3% voters buy music at Zune; and 2% votes went to Spotify. All other services gained less than 2% of votes. Full results and this week's poll after the jump.
This week's poll question is: Which Is The Best Site For Stock Photos? We know there are many good reasons for choosing a certain stock provider over another, including photo quality, ability to search easily, upfront cost, subscription cost, variety of photos and numerous other concerns. Which of these is most important to you? Which stock photo provider offered the best service for that concern? Let us know in the comments. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.
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| 5 Easy Troubleshooting Tips For When You Have Problems Sending Email Posted: 12 Dec 2010 01:30 PM PST
Read on to find some quick tips to help you when sending emails become an issue.
1. Check The Spelling Of The Email AddressI would say this is the most common error that I come across. One of the first things I do when walking someone through an email problem is confirming that the email address they are trying to send to is the real email address of the person they are attempting to reach. The problem is further broken down into 2 types of typos – the first is the “username” part (the part of the email address before the @) and the second is the email domain (the part after the @). If the username part does not exist on the remote email system, one of two things will happen – the first is that you will simply hear nothing back. The second is that you will get a message back that says something to the effect of “the user ‘username’ does not exist on this system.” If the domain does not exist you will typically get a message back, from your own mail server, which states something like “DNS Error: Domain name not found“. Read The Error MessageUsually when an email is rejected for some reason, there is a detailed error message passed back with the technical details of why it failed. Most of this message is for technical system administrators who can trace back a message if there is a further problem, but I’ve found that usually the error message that is within this email explains what the problem is. If you read through the message, look for the “core” problem. Usually it is one of the following: 2. The Mailbox Is FullThis happens when the person whom you are sending the email to has no more disk space left on their email server. The most typical message returned is “mailbox is full” or “quota has been exceeded“. There is nothing you can do on your end about this and the best thing to do is to call or contact the person using another method and let them know about their problem so that they can talk to their email provider. 3. Your IP is on a blocklist
This is an anti-spam measure and if you aren’t sending spam then either your computer has been compromised in some form, or you are an innocent bystander in the “war on spam.” The error messages are usually technical in nature and can be hard to decode. Here is a sample message I recently received after sending a mail from Gmail:
The name for these lists vary but are typically called blacklists, RBL (realtime block/black list), black hole or blocklists. I’m personally not a fan of them because many times they do affect “innocent bystanders” – but using them does help to cut down on spam considerably. In this case, the actual blocked IP address is owned by Gmail and there is nothing you can do about getting off this list if you do not own the email server. In this particular case, I just re-sent the email and it uses another IP address going out and was delivered fine. What To Do If Your IP is on a Blocklist You can check to see if your local computer’s IP address is on a blacklist by visiting a website such as this one on AboutMyIP or via the Check My IP link at valli.org. Email servers do not necessarily use every RBL, but most usually use some. If you are on a consumer internet provider connection, chances are you will be listed in some and it will usually note that. This is because generally speaking, email does not actually go out on email servers hosted on a consumer internet connection – they provider their own servers for sending email. You can also check the IP of your outgoing email server if you know it, otherwise your email server system administrator would need to check it at the links above. On your end, make sure you have antivirus on any computer on your network because if you have been “hacked” and a bot is running on your computer this is a common reason why you might be on a blocklist. 4. When There Is No Error Message At AllIf there is no error message, and you have confirmed the email address is correct; it is very possible some anti-spam provisions implemented by the mail server administrator is filtering your email. This can be based on the IP (as above) or based on some content in your email such as an image, phone number, or other text. Unfortunately these can be hard to trace – since there is no error message you need to contact your mail service provider to see what the problem might be. 5. I’ve Checked Everything – What Next?If you have checked everything and you still can’t send email to someone – it is time to take it to the next level. If you are on a consumer internet connection and you are trying to send email from your provided email address, contact customer service to see what the problem might be. They will probably ask for a sample of the email you are trying to send along with any error messages or codes that you’ve received. Make sure to give them whatever they need to help solve your email mystery as they are your best bet at getting your email working again. Have you ever had problems sending emails? What did you have to do to get it fixed? Let us know below so that your experience can benefit others! Image credit: Shutterstock. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.
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| Posted: 12 Dec 2010 12:15 PM PST
For more fresh hot deals, visit our Hot Tech Deals page, which is constantly updated. Keep reading to find out today’s Hot Tech Deals.
Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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| 10 Free MP3 Albums To Download [Sound Sunday] Posted: 12 Dec 2010 11:30 AM PST
If you’re struggling to find the right Christmas present for the person that already has everything, why not compile a playlist for them? Browse previous editions of Sound Sunday for music genres you know they like and create a mixtape. Transfer your selection to a shiny new USB thumb drive or burn it to a DVD and create a nice label and wrap it up nicely. It’s a handmade and personal gift that doesn’t require a lot of skill, but tons of thought. Do use the comments to share your thoughts on this week’s edition or suggest genres and artists. You can also drop me an eMail [tina at makeuseof dot com] anytime. Now enjoy this week’s eclectic mix. Rise of the Masters – 24 Supreme Classical MasterpiecesGenre: classical
Rise of the Masters Homepage and Facebook. Twelve – Twelve:03Genre: alternative, indie, cosmic, electronica, instrumental, rock Twelve is an instrumental project of Chris Olley, the singer of Six.By Seven, whose 2004 album six.byseven:04 was featured in a previous edition of Sound Sunday. The present album is an instrumental that Olley released in 2007. Each song represents a painting by Escher, hence the German names. Download the album free from Bandcamp. Chris Olley Blog. Six By Seven MySpace. French Horn Rebellion – The Infinite MusicGenre: alternative, electro, indie
French Horn Rebellion MySpace and Homepage. Wisdom+Logic – Broken English Vol. Under SurveillanceGenre: hip hop Wisdom & Logic is the band project of Austin Eugene Brown (BlackLogic) and Just Wise. The language on this mixtape is not broken at all. The 18 tracks album features classic hip hop rhymes on a base of pushing beats and mellow melodies. Broken English Vol. Under Surveillance is a mixtape BlackLogic MySpace. Just Wise MySpace. Slow Burn Records – Label Compilation 2010Genre: metal, mixed
Slow Burn Records MySpace and Homepage. Slow Loris – Extra ColorsGenre: rock, pop Wes Doyle, the man behind Slow Loris, records all his tunes in a bedroom in Madison, Wisconsin. The voice has this distant echo, that gives the songs a heavy sound of melancholy, lightened up here and there by a guitar solo. Get the album from Bandcamp. Slow Loris Homepage. Drunken C – DreamvilleGenre: indie, minimalist, rock
Drunken C MySpace and Homepage. Paul Baribeau – UnbearableGenre: acoustic, folk rock, punk, pop The brief profile on his homepage reads: “My name is Paul Baribeau. I write songs.” I guess that says it all. Unbearable is a name your price download from Bandcamp. Paul Baribeau MySpace and Homepage. New Beats Media – Inspiration IspiratioGenre: mixed
New Beats Media Homepage and Facebook. Juj – SlackGenre: jazzy, lounge, lo-fi, electronica, hip hop Juj is part of the Wedidit Collective and can also be found on the Huh What & Where (HW&W) roster. This album is a beat tape like no other. If you don’t like mainstream Hip Hop, but do appreciate creative, lounge-type music with beats and a twist, then give this album a spin. It’s wild! Slack can be downloaded from Bandcamp. Juj MySpace. HW&W Homepage. Wedidit Collective Blog. Here is a little bonus late submission. The following album will be free from December 15 and 22. Preview now and mark it on your calendar for the free download mid-week in case you like it: Life Is My Soundtrack – A Silver Cloud (ambient, experimental, soundscapes) Past editions of Sound Sunday are available here. Feel free to get in touch with me [tina at makeuseof dot com] to share free material or suggestions and feedback you don't want to post in the comments below. Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
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| 11 Free iPad Board Games You Shouldn’t Miss Posted: 12 Dec 2010 09:30 AM PST
If you haven’t got around to buying an iPad yet – don’t worry, I know you will eventually – but until then Nancy has you covered with 8 iPhone games you won’t believe are free. Tim wrote about free board game alternatives that you can play online in your browser, and Mark showed you the top 5 games for the Android users among you. Let’s see what I found. Game RoomGame Room is actually 8 classic board games in one handy little app, and it takes an absolutely no nonsense approach to games. What’s included? I’ve linked a couple of the more obscure ones to Wikipedia, but the app also helpfully includes a complete set of rules for every game. If that wasn’t enough, there’s the option to create a custom iPad board game type too, in which you can choose the board size, as well as customize visual aspects of the board (checkered, leather, wood, stone, etc). In this mode, the app doesn’t restrict where you play pieces, but does give you a handy little shortcut of double-tapping a piece in order to flip the color.
The Game Room app is strictly for 1-device-for-2-player gaming though – there is no single player vs AI or internet play options. Still, as a straight abstract board game replacement app, you really couldn’t ask for more. Download GameRoom – Metaversal Studios [iTunes link] Words with Friends Free (Scrabble clone)Words With Friends adds one incredible feature that takes it above and beyond the officially licensed version – the ability to play not just one but multiple online games simultaneously. Switching between games is incredibly easy thanks to the quick-change menu that’s always one tap away, showing all your games and which require your attention.
Unfortunately, though this version is free, it’s also riddled with ads. If you’re fundamentally against in-game advertising and thought pop-ups were evil, you probably ought to move right along. After every few turns, a 2-second advertisement pops up and fills the screen demanding your attention. If you can handle that though, and you’re a fan of Scrabble and word games in general, the ability to play in multiple games is a feature for the hardcore Scrabbler not to be missed. Download Words With Friends HD Free – Newtoy Inc. [iTunes link] LudoNot exactly a difficult game, Ludo’s attraction has always been that it can be played by anyone, regardless of age or ability. While I normally wouldn’t advocate these kind of games, I did give it a few test runs with my wife and found myself genuinely having a lot of fun. I certainly don’t remember Ludo being so absolutely vicious though…
The game is 100% free, but does include in-app purchases for different board designs (the one pictured above is the default) and 3D dice. The multiplayer options are limited to local play only, but there are AI players to fill in if you wish. Download LUDO board game – SIS software [iTunes link] Blood and Honour Lite (Risk clone)This game is deceptively addictive – or maybe I just have latent desires for world domination. The only limitation of the ‘lite’ edition is allowing up to 3 total players (as opposed to 6), either human or AI. You can join online games too, but the game host will need a full version. The game adds the element of special cards you can play to give a little more strategic decision making and depth – bonus defense or attack die this turn, or nuclear bombs, for instance – and I have to say this adds a lot of value compared to the original. I was never a big Risk fan, but I’m certainly going to keep this on my iPad for a while yet. Download Blood & Honor Lite – Sandstorm Interactive [iTunes link]
Of course, I’m not suggesting the iPad can fully replace all those board games you have – the size constraint is perhaps the most limiting factor, making table-top play possible for a maximum of 2 players. I own a number of euro-games that simply have far too many physical bits to ever be replicable on the tiny iPad screen – an iPad per player, maybe. I am happy to say that “travel versions” of board games can now officially be killed off though – and anyone who has tried to play with weak magnetic pieces in a bouncy car with fat fingers should be as delighted as I am. What do you think about the iPad as a board gaming device? Do you see sales of chess and checkers sets declining, or do you prefer the feel of real pieces? Got any other free iPad-optimized board games you think I missed? Tell us in the comments! Note: I tested all of these free apps with iOS 4.2, but if you’re a fan of jailbreaking your iPad I urge you not to upgrade yet as the only jailbreak currently available is tethered at the time of writing, meaning you have to re-jailbreak when the battery dies or on a hard reset. Stay tuned and I promise a full tutorial when a better solution is out. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.
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| 10 Free Christmas iPhone/iPad Apps to Get You in a Festive Mood Posted: 12 Dec 2010 08:30 AM PST
To get you in a festive mood, here’s a list of 10 Christmas themed iPhone and iPad apps and games, available for download for free from the iTunes App Store. Christmas!!Christmas!! [iTunes link] is an iPhone-specific app with all sorts of goodies packed into one little app. With a Christmas countdown, an Advent Calendar filled with surprises that you can unlock each day, including iPhone wallpapers, jokes and a gift list. The app is the perfect companion to get you into the Christmas spirit as you count down the days to Christmas Eve.
Christmas TaleAn interactive Christmas story for kids of all ages, Christmas Tale is available in both iPad [iTunes link] and iPhone versions [iTunes link]- although it really comes to life on the iPad screen. Have the story read to your kids, or have them read it themselves, while also discovering little gems hidden in the gorgeous pictures on each page of the story from a Christmas wish list to helping Santa get the presents under the tree.
Amateur Surgeon Christmas EditionIt may not be entirely Christmasy but the developers behind Amateur Surgeon (the $2.99 iPhone game) have, strangely enough, put together a free Christmas edition [iTunes link] of their popular game. Rather than pull out shards of glass and nails from your patients (starting with an elf), how about Christmas lights, candy canes and crackers instead? You might never have imagined a Christmas take on the grizzly game, but they’ve somehow managed it, and are sharing the cheer for free.
Christmas Sound Shelf FreeWant to get some Christmas sound effects going? The Christmas sound shelf [iTunes link] has a variety of sound effects that you can play against the background of either Jingle Bells or Silent night. From sleigh bells, to a crackling fire, kids will have fun creating all the sounds that come with Christmas. Unfortunately, recording or continuous playback are features that are sorely missing from the free app.
Christmas Tree MakerDecorating the Christmas tree is probably one of the main events for kids in any family. Why not let them practice with the iPhone/iPad app, Christmas Tree Maker [iTunes link] which lets them choose the tree, lights, and decorations. When they’re done, they can share the tree with their friends via email.
Christmas SnowChristmasSnow [iTunes link] is another kid-friendly iPhone/iPad app perfect for holidays. Throw snowballs across the screen to uncover where the presents are hidden. The game is simple, and so is suitable for the much younger children in the family.
Waitrose ChristmasFrom the UK supermarket chain comes an app, suitable for mum and dad – Waitrose Christmas [iTunes link]. Jampacked with Christmas recipes, tools, planners and gift guides, the app has left no stone unturned. Avoid any disasters in the kitchen this Christmas with their Turkey Timer and Canape Calculator.
Fuzzle ChristmasAnother developer to release a free version of their paid game, Candy Cane are offering Fuzzle Christmas [iTunes link] for free. The free version does have its limitations – not all levels are available – but if you want to keep your kids busy for a bit with the ornament themed game – it will do the trick. Align five ornaments next to each other to make them disappear, while making sure the board doesn’t fill up.
Yummy ChristmasIf you want to get your kids involved in Christmas cooking, try some of the easy, child-friendly recipes in the free iPad app, Yummy Christmas [iTunes link]. From pineapple christmas trees to ice cream santas, the recipes are easy and will be lots of fun for the children. A word of warning, you may want to mute the music after a while, as the one song playing over and over could easily grate on your nerves.
Removem ChristmasRemovem is yet another iPhone game offering a free Christmas edition [iTunes link], packed with Christmas music and pictures, from snowmen to Christmas tree to ornaments. Play the traditional removem game, removing balls from the screen of the same colour that are side by side. The aim of the game is to clear the screen, or at least get the highest score possible.
What are your favourite Christmas iPhone/iPad apps? Let us know in the comments. Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out MakeUseOf page on Facebook. Over 24,000 fans already!
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Check out some of the latest MakeUseOf discoveries. All listed websites are FREE or come with a decent free account option. You can make use of them without spending a dime. If you want to have similar cool websites round-ups delivered to your email daily email subscribe 
Check out the top picks from MakeUseOf 
Last week, the MakeUseOf poll wanted to know 
As a part of my job, I deal with a lot of email issues – problems sending and receiving email. Over the years, I have noticed that many people experiencing email problems can have them easily fixed and actually fall under just a few categories. Occasionally, email problems will be caused by a problem that only a system administrator can fix but for the majority of problems, they can be fixed by the end user (you) with minimal effort.
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 tech deals and unifying them into a single post for your convenience.
Sound Sunday is a gift.
As you might already already know if you read my introduction, I’m passionate about my iPad and I regularly cover paid 
It’s hard to believe that it’s already December. But if the iTunes App Store is anything to go by, all the Christmas-themed apps can mean only one thing – the holidays are just around the corner. From games and stories for the little ones, to recipe and planning apps for the grown ups, there’s something for everyone, to ensure that this Christmas season is a tasty and fun-filled holiday.
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